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Carvers of Merry-go-Round horses

Carvers of Merry-go-Round horses

Posted: 8 Aug 2002 11:18PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Schmyser
It is said that my great great grandfather and his brother (John C. and Frederick Schmyser who collaborated with a Philip Kappler) carved horses for carousels in the 1860's in the Huron County Michigan area. I have contacted the National Carousel Association and they have not heard of them. It is also said, that they invented a carousel which went vertically, The Califorina Swing is what it was called, it was the forerunner of the Ferris Wheel, (so the story goes)which was the main attraction at the 1869 Verona Fair (in Michigan). I have hit dead ends in all my research... if anyone knows anything let me know!!!

Re: Carvers of Merry-go-Round horses

phil capling (View posts)
Posted: 11 Jan 2003 7:11PM GMT
Classification: Query
Philip Kappler was my great grandfather. The same story is told in my family. there is a reference to this event in the HURON COUNTY CENTENNIAL HISTORY 1859-1959 by Chet Hey and Norman Eckstein [see page 25]. You could probably find this book at the library in BAD AXE.

Re: Carvers of Merry-go-Round horses

Deb Milka (View posts)
Posted: 11 Jan 2003 7:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Schmyser
I have the book, HURON COUNTY CENTENNIAL HISTORY and also ones called HURON COUNTY HISTORY Illustrated 1932 and one called BAD AXE Golden Jubilee 1855-1935 which make reference to this event. I also possess two news paper articles from the early 1970's that are about this history of Bad Axe and refer to this event, one which includes a copy of an original drawing by the Schmyser Brothers dated 1868 of the California Swing. One of these articles refers to an essay written in 1968 by a Lloyd Morley for a filed history services course at Central Michigan University. I have tried contacting CMU to get a copy of this, which is kept in their archives, but have not heard back from them yet.

I am told by the National Carousel Association, that if all this is true, this would make these men the earliest known carousel horse carvers in the U.S., but the association has not heard of them. I am wondering if they worked for a particular company.

Philip Kappler

David (View posts)
Posted: 26 Nov 2005 3:55AM GMT
Classification: Query
Looking for Philip J. Kappler, or Philip J. Kapler

Re: Philip Kappler

Jane Kappler (View posts)
Posted: 12 Jun 2006 6:57PM GMT
Classification: Query
I was married to Philip J. Kappler lived in Bad Axe, Michigan, Newton, Kansas and Kansas City.

Is this the person you are looking for?

Re: Philip Kappler

Deb Milka (View posts)
Posted: 13 Jun 2006 12:15AM GMT
Classification: Query
I am guessing you (or your husband) are related to the Philip J. Kappler I am looking for information about.

The gentleman I am looking for information about was a wood carver in Bad Axe, Michigan in the late 1800's and would have worked with my great grandfather John Schmyser. They are said to have carved carousel horses and invented a ride called the California Swing, which was the forerunner of the Ferris Wheel.

Re: Philip Kappler

Jane Kappler (View posts)
Posted: 13 Jun 2006 1:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
Yes, that was my ex-husbands grandfather's name and they were from Bad Axe, Michigan. My ex husband was named after him Philip John Kappler, his father was Thomas Garfield Kappler died in 1946. Thomas had 2 families (I found this out through research) and abandoned his 1st family and then married Allice Marie Cokeley and had 3 children, Patricia (now I think McNulty and I think in Texas), Kathryn (I think living in Lees Summit, MO, and my exhusband (I think living in Bear Lake, ID)....who repeated his father's sins and abandoned our son and me in 1961. Thomas' 1st family did send me the entire history but I have just moved after 25 years in the same house and it is somewhere in the 16 unpacked boxes in my garage.

I do remember the family emigrated from Germany, though Canada, to Minnesota and then to Michigan.

Hope this information is helpful.

Re: Philip Kappler

David Dillin (View posts)
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 3:16AM GMT
Classification: Query
It may be that I am looking for him. I know that his family comes from Kansas or Missouri. He dated my mother in 1964, in California, Oregon and Washington. I don't know if he knows I exist -- but I believe this person to be my father. If you have any information, please help as I have been trying to find this person for a long time.

Re: Philip Kappler

David Dillin (View posts)
Posted: 14 Jun 2006 5:23AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for your time and consideration. I have searched for my father, Philip John Kappler, for many years. I have almost no information about him at all, and I would like to find him. I understand that he abandoned my mother, and supposedly had another family when I was born.

If you have any details, please let me know. I will follow the links you've given me -- but if you were once married to my father -- you could probably help me with all this.

I was conceived in Oregon/Washington, and my mother was living in San Jose/San Francisco at the time. She said that he was older than her (she was 23, so I guess he was around 30 in 1964). That's about all I know, other than speculation. He was a used car salesman in San Jose? I don't know about that, but I surely would like to know who my father was regardless of any embarrassments.

Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you again.

David

Re: Philip Kappler

Jane Kappler (View posts)
Posted: 18 Jun 2006 2:42AM GMT
Classification: Query
I've sent you 2 emails about Philip Kappler, and I do believe the one you are looking for and my ex husband are one and the same.

I sent them to your email address from mine IRDotCom@aol.com. The 2nd one I sent I attached a small photo.

As I haven't heard back from you I wanted to see if you wanted to continue.

Jane Kappler
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