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Our German Roots
The Earliest Recorded Grobbel Ancestors
Johannes Grobbel, of Schmallenberg, Germany has researched the Grobbel family genealogy in Germany and is the source for much of the information in this document about the early Grobbels. Michael Harder, a co-worker of mine who is originally from Witten, Germany, assisted me with some of the translations.
The Grobbel Origins
In the year 1248, work began in the ancient German city of Cologne (Köln) on a magnificent Gothic cathedral that would take over 600 years to complete. Two years later, in a village called Wormbach (located 60 miles to the east of Cologne in the area of Westphalia known as the Sauerland), construction began on a relatively more modest church. The Bishops of Cologne had established a missionary outpost in Wormbach back in the ninth century and as Christianity took hold over the years, the simpler structures were replace by larger ones in 850 and again in 1000. Now in 1250, a much more substantial church would be built, one that would continue to serve the inhabitants of the village and surrounding countryside for at least the next 750 years.
A manuscript titled "Geschichte der Wormbacher Kirchengemeinde" (The History of Wormbach Parish) indicates that in 1398, an individual identified as "der schwarze Gobelen von Obringhusen" (the black Gobelen from Obringhausen) belonged to the Wormbach Parish. Obringhausen was a tiny settlement consisting of six farms, located about three-quarters of a mile east of Wormbach. The fact that he was the proprietor of one of the six farms in Obringhausen has been confirmed by examination of old assessment records that had been prepared by the Benedictine Monastery in nearby Grafschaft, since the Church held title to most of the land in this area. The reference to "der schwarze" could mean that he had a dark facial complexion and/or black hair.
The Wormbach Parish records during the period of 1398 through 1670 describe this family and their descendants by various surnames such as Gobelen, Groteboel, Groite Boill, Grotebeul and Grobbelen. Beginning around 1670, their family name would become consistently spelled as "Grobbel."
The origins of the Grobbel surname come from two Low (northern) German words (Groite and Boill), that were used to identify the family based on a description of their farm's location. Of the six farms in Obringhausen, the Grobbel farm was the one that was farthest up the side of the slopes overlooking the village. The High (southern and literary) German equivalent of "Groite Boill" is "Großer Beule," which translates literally as "major bump." Johannes Grobbel also indicates that the High German word "Bergabhang" is derived from the Low German word that was spelled "boele" or "beul". "Bergabhang" translates literally as "downhill slope" and in regular use means "hill lump." So you can take your pick of meanings: "major bump," "major downhill slope" or "major hill lump."
Through the centuries, the "Ursprünghof Grobbel" (literally, "origin farm Grobbel", which refers to the Grobbel family ancestral farm in Obringhausen, also called the Grobbel Hof) was usually inherited by the eldest surviving male of each successive generation, in accordance with the laws of primogeniture that were followed during those times. Sometimes a daughter would inherit a Hof because there was no surviving male child. Also, in some areas, the primogeniture laws would allow the Hof to go to the eldest child, regardless of their gender. So whenever a Hof went to a female, she became "choice" marriage material since it represented an opportunity for a non-oldest male to acquire a Hof of his own through marriage.
Since the practice of the time was to "call" people by the name of the Hof they lived on (i.e., the name of their Hof was commonly used for their surname), this caused a complication for a male who acquired a Hof through marriage. He and his offspring would now be "called" by the name of the Hof, which was likely to be the same name as his wife's maiden name. As an example, if Maria Müller inherited the Müller Hof and she married Johann Schmidt, his name would be written as "Johann Schmidt, gt. Müller and he would be spoken of as "Johann Müller". Their children would also be called Müller, and their surname would be written "Schmidt, gt. Müller" (gt. is the abbreviation for the German word "genannt", meaning "called").
This happened with the Grobbel Hof when it was inherited by a daughter, Elisabeth Grobbel, who married Jakob Böddecker in 1670. He became "Jakob Böddecker, gt. Grobbel", and was called "Jakob Grobbel".
Of the six farms in Obringhausen, five had their houses clustered together and they would walk to their land on the outskirts, which is typical for most European agricultural villages. However, the Grobbel Hof was different in that the house was surrounded by their land and it was separated from the other five houses by a distance of about 1,600 feet (perhaps this could be why they were given a surname based on the location of their Hof?). In 1729, a new house was built to replace an older structure, and in 1824, Johannes and Maria Walburga (Eickhoff) Grobbel enlarged it with an addition on the west side of the existing structure, making it one of the largest and nicest homes in the area.
In modern times, even with the more liberal inheritance laws, the Grobbel Hof was kept in the family. After World War II, the farm operations were focused on cattle breeding, but by the 1980's, this was no longer profitable, so the land and buildings were sold at auction. Fortunately, the house and outbuildings, along with a small portion of the land, was purchased by Johannes Grobbel's first cousin and her husband, who have meticulously restored the 1729 house and addition to its former glory.
Paternal Ancestors of J. Heinrich GROBBEL
12 (1702-1762)
The "History of Wormbach Parish" has an entry that states: "Groteboel (Grobbel) heißt 1398 'der schwarze Gobelen von Obringhusen' " (Groteboel (Grobbel) 1398 called 'the black Gobelen from Obringhusen'). Based on this, we will assign the surname Groteboel to "der schwarze" as well as to his son and grandson, about whom there are no known records (the dates with "Abt" are estimates; other surname spellings, plus all of the dates in parentheses are as noted from entries in the "History of Wormbach Parish"). Since all of the Grobbel emigrants to the U.S.A. were descendants of Johann Heinrich GROBBEL12 , all ancestors and descendants are listed with respect to him.
Generation Name Birth Marriage Death
1 der schwarze Gobelen von Obringhausen
(GROTEBOEL) (1398) b: Abt 1370 m: Abt 1400 d: Unk
2 unk1 (GROTEBOEL) b: Abt 1400 m: Abt 1430 d: Unk
3 unk2 (GROTEBOEL) b: Abt 1430 m: Abt 1460 d: Unk
4 Hans GROTEBOLLE, the elder (1518,19) b: Abt 1460 m: Abt 1490 d: Unk
5 Hans GROITE BOILL, the younger (1536) b: Abt 1490 m: Abt 1520 d: Unk
6 Ebert GROTEBOELE (1563) b: Abt 1520 m: Abt 1550 d: Unk
7 Matthias GROBBELEN (1602, 1613) b: Abt 1560 m: Abt 1590 d: Unk
8 Becker GROBBELEN (1649) b: Abt 1590 m: Abt 1615 d: After 1649
9 Georgen GROTEBOEL (1670, 1684) b: Abt 1615 m: Abt 1640 d: 03Mar1683/84*
10 Jacobus Böddecker, gt. GROBBEL b: Abt 1640 m: 11Aug1670d: Unk
+ Elisabeth GROBBEL b: Abt 1640 d: Unk
11 Heinrich GROBBEL b: 15May1671 m: Abt 1700 d: Abt 1700
12 J. Heinrich GROBBEL b: 24May1702 m: 19Oct1733 d: 17Sep1762
- *Double Dates = Julian (old)/Gregorian (new) calendars
Descendants of J. Heinrich GROBBEL
12
It was at the Grobbel-Hof in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany, that Johann Heinrich GROBBEL12 was born on 24 MAY 1702. Heinrich eventually inherited the Grobbel Hof. In Wormbach, on 19 OCT 1733, he married Anna Brigitta SELLMANN. Brigitte was born in nearby Kirchrarbach on 25 JUN 1715. They both died in Obringhausen, Henrich on 17 SEP 1762 and Brigitte on 17 DEC 1785. Eight of their children were:
- Joannes Matthias GROBBEL
13 (b. 17 OCT 1734 in Obringhausen, d. Unk)
Joannes Ludwig GROBBEL13 (b. 3 NOV 1737 and d. 13 DEC 1827, both in Obringhausen)
Anton Hermann Lorenz GROBBEL13 (b. 26 MAR 1742 in Obringhausen and d. 19 NOV 1804 in Lenne, Westphalia).
Johannes Rotgerus GROBBEL13 (b. abt. 1745 in Obringhausen and d. 10 FEB 1826)
Johannes Theodor GROBBEL13 (b. 1 JUL 1747 in Obringhausen and d. 22 DEC 1815 in Schmallenberg, Westphalia)
Joannes Nicholaus GROBBEL13 (b. 10 DEC 1749 in Obringhausen and d. Unk)
Antonius GROBBEL13 (b. abt. 1753 in Obringhausen and d. 11 FEB 1823)
Jacob Theodor GROBBEL13 (b. 6 APR 1757 in Obringhausen and d. Unk)
Both Ludwig and Lorenz would have descendants who eventually emigrated to the United States.
Ludwig GROBBEL13 married Anna Elisabeth SCHÜTTE (b. 3 MAY 1742 and d. 3 NOV 1831 in Obringhausen, Westphalia) on 27 AUG 1777 in Wormbach. Ludwig inherited the Grobbel Hof upon his father's death. Ludwig and Elisabeth had two sons that we know about:
- Johannes Everhard Martin GROBBEL
14 (b. 11 OCT 1778 and d. 23 MAY 1851, both in Obringhausen, Westphalia)
Johannes Röttger GROBBEL14 (b. 8 MAR 1781 in Obringhausen, Westphalia and d. 4 APR 1838 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia).
Lorenz GROBBEL13 married Anna Maria NIEDERSTEN (b. 10 NOV 1748 and d. 20 JUN 1817 in Lenne) on 16 JUN 1766 in Lenne, Westphalia. Their home in Lenne is still in use today as a private residence. Lorenz and Anna Maria had at least one son:
- Joannes Caspar GROBBEL
14 (b. 3 APR 1769 and d. sometime before 1849, both in Lenne, Westphalia).
Ludwig's son, Everhard GROBBEL14 married Maria Walburga EICKHOFF (b. 16 SEP 1792 in Wormbach and d. 12 SEP 1869 in Obringhausen, Westphalia) on 22 NOV 1808 in Wormbach, Westphalia. Everhard inherited the Grobbel Hof. Everhard and Walburga had at least one child:
- Franz Joseph GROBBEL
15 (b. 29 AUG 1814 and d. 22 JUN 1874, both in Obringhausen, Westphalia).
Ludwig's other son, Röttger GROBBEL14 married Maria Catharina EICKHOFF, genannt Spot (b. 1793 in Kückelheim, Westphalia, d. unknown) on 28 NOV 1815 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia. Catharina Spott had inherited the Meister Hof farm in Cobbenrode, and Röttger moved there when they married, where he became a "Bürger und Ackermann" (citizen and farmer). He and Catharina had seven children, three of whom (Anton, John and Daniel) would emigrate to the U.S.A. around 1855, plus another (Josephina) who would emigrate with her husband (probably in the 1880's).
- Joannes Francis Joseph GROBBEL
15 (b. 19 NOV 1817 and d. 1 NOV 1867, both in Cobbenrode, Westphalia) who married Anna Maria Elisabeth HEBBECKER (b. 15 MAR 1826 in Hebbecke, Westphalia and d. 11 JAN 1905 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia) on 19 JUL 1849 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia.
Franz Anton GROBBEL 15 (b. 4 NOV 1819 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia and d. 24 MAR 1900 in Warren Twp., Macomb Co., Michigan, U.S.A.)
Johannes Caspar Anton GROBBEL15 (b. 22 AUG 1822 and d. 25 DEC 1886, both in Cobbenrode, Westphalia) who remained single and lived in the Meister-Hof with his brother Francis, which he eventually inherited.
Joannes (John) GROBBEL 15 (b. 21 OCT 1825 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia and d. 31 JAN 1870 in Hamtramck, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.)
Josephina GROBBEL 15 (b. 6 JUN 1828 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia and d. Unk in the U.S.A., probably in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Josephina and her husband's oldest child married and then emigrated with her new husband to Grand Rapids, Michigan about 1872. Josephina and her husband apparently followed their daughter to Grand Rapids late in life, since all of their other children were born in Westphalia).
Maria Anna GROBBEL15 (b. 1 FEB 1831 and d. 11 FEB 1832, both in Cobbenrode, Westphalia)
Daniel GROBBEL 15 (b. 3 DEC 1836 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia and d. Unk , probably in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.)
Lorenz's son, Caspar GROBBEL14 married Maria Elisabeth SCHLEIME (b. 9 MAR 1770 and d. 19 FEB 1849, both in Lenne, Westphalia) on 2 DEC 1793 in Lenne, Westphalia. Elizabeth inherited her family's house in Lenne. Elisabeth's family farmhouse (Schleimen-Hof), which was their son's birthplace, still stands in Lenne. [Note: Karl-Hans Voß, the current owner of Schleimen-Hof, operates it as a "bed and breakfast". Guests and their children have the opportunity to experience "life on the farm" (smells are included at no extra charge - the barn is adjacent to the house). Nightly rates are between DM 30 and DM 55. It is located at Uentropstraße 12, 57392 Schmallenberg-Lenne, North Rhein-Westphalia, Germany, Tel. (02972) 5500)]. Caspar and Elisabeth had at least one son:
- Joann Jacob Anton GROBBEL
15 (b. about 1823 in Lenne, Westphalia and d. unk).
Everhard's son, Joseph GROBBEL15 , married Maria Walburga Henrichs (b. 2 MAY 1819 in Felbecke, Westphalia and d. 13 NOV 1894 in Obringhausen, Westphalia) on 9 OCT 1845 in Wormbach, Westphalia. Joseph inherited the Grobbel-Hof. Joseph and Walburga had fourteen children, four of whom are listed below and two of whom (Emil and Joseph) would emigrate to the U.S.A. in 1879.
- Franz
Anton GROBBEL16 (b.7 JUL 1844 and d. 1 NOV 1893, both in Obringhausen, Westphalia) who married Lisette Josepha SCHÜTTE on 22 SEP 1874 in Wormbach, Westphalia. As the firstborn male child, Franz inherited the Grobbel-Hof.
Wilhelm Emil GROBBEL 16 (b.8 SEP 1852 in Obringhausen, Westphalia and d. 18 FEB 1939 in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.) Emil was their seventh child.
Maria Josepha Bertha GROBBEL16 (b. 7 FEB 1854 in Obringhausen, Westphalia and d. 14 SEP 1950 in Wormbach, Westphalia) Bertha was their eighth child.
Franz Joseph GROBBEL 16 (b. 18 JAN 1856 in Obringhausen, Westphalia and d. 1923 in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.) Joseph was their ninth child.
Caspar's son, Anton GROBBEL15 , married Anna Maria Elisabeth STILPER, who was born sometime between 1820 and 1830 in Hundesossen, Westphalia, which is near Lenne. Anton and Elisabeth had at least one son, who emigrated to the U.S.A. around 1884:
- Anton GROBBEL
16 (b. 2 JUN 1851 in Lenne, Westphalia and d. 9 OCT 1926 in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan, U.S.A.)
Ancestors of Johann Heinrich Grobbel - Outline Tree
1 "der schwarze Gobelen von Obringhausen" Groteboel b: Abt. 1370 in Obringhausen,
- Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1400 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
2 unk1 Groteboel b: Abt. 1400 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1430 d: Unknown
3 unk2 Groeteboel b: 1430 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1460 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
4 Hans Grotebolle, the elder b: Abt. 1460 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
+unk b: Unknown m: Unknown d: Unknown
.5 Hans Groite Boill, the younger b: Abt. 1490 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1520 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
6 Ebert Groteboele b: Abt. 1520 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1550 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
7 Matthias Grobbelen b: Abt. 1560 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
+unk b: Unknown m: 1590 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
8 Becker Grobbelen b: Abt. 1590 in Winkhausen?, Westphalia d: Aft. 1649 in Obringhausen, Westphalia
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1615 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
9 Georgen Groteboel b: Abt. 1615 d: 03 Mar 1683/84 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany
+unk b: Unknown m: Abt. 1640 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
10 Elsa "Elisabeth Grobbel" Grobbelen b: Abt. 1640 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unk
+Jacobus "Jakob Grobbel" Boddecker, gt. Grobbel b: Abt. 1640 in Lenne, Westphalia, Germany
m: 11 Aug 1670 in Wormbach, Westphalia d: Unk
11 Heinrich Grobbel b: 15 May 1671 in Obringhausen, Westphalia d: Abt. 1710 in Wormbach, Westphalia
+Anna Maria Vogt b: 16 Apr 1675 in Ebbinghof, Westphalia, Germany
m: Abt. 1700 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany
d: 04 Nov 1738 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany
12 Georgius Grobbel b: 12 May 1701 in Obringhausen, Westphalia d: Unk
12 J. Heinrich Grobbel b: 24 May 1702 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: 17 Sep 1762 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany
+Brigitta Sellmann b: 25 Jun 1715 in Kirchrarbach, Westphalia, Germany
m: 19 Oct 1733 in Wormbach, Westphalia, Germany d: 17 Dec 1785 in
Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany
12 Joannes Rotgerus Grobbel b: 08 Oct 1709 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany d: Unknown
11 Hermannus Grobbel b: 15 Feb 1677/78 d: Unknown
11 Johannes Grobbel b: Unknown d: 24 Feb 1733/34
Grobbel Emigrants to the U.S.A.
Anton, John and Daniel GROBBEL
15
Around 1850, three great grandsons of J. Heinrich GROBBEL12, Anton, John and Daniel GROBBEL15 , decided to emigrate to the U.S.A. Anton, John and Daniel were the sons of Röttger GROBBEL14 and Maria Catharine SPOTT. Daniel settled in Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan (MI), while Anton and John began farming in Section 17 of Warren Township, Macomb Co., MI.
An entry in the "Business Directory" portion of the 1875 Macomb County Atlas lists Anton as "Anthony Grobbel" and indicates that he was born in Germany and gives 1849 as the date of settlement for his farm in Section 17. So far, I have been unable to find any record of their emigration or journey from Germany to Michigan, nor have I found any Naturalization papers to indicate they applied for US citizenship. Dierk Stoetzel, of Eslohe, Germany, has examined the 19th Century emigration records for this region at the "Landratamt" in Meschede, Germany, and concludes that they never applied for their "consens" papers, which would have allowed them to legally emigrate from Prussia.
During the Civil War, the increased demand for copper caused a mining boom in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. In 1865, Anton and John took their families and moved to Hancock, Houghton Co., MI. to work in the mines. Anton and John stayed in the UP for only about a year and then returned to their farms in Warren Twp.
Franz Anton GROBBEL15 , was the oldest of these three brothers. He was born on 4 NOV 1819 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia, Germany, and died on 24 MAR 1900 in Warren Twp., Macomb Co., MI. Anton married Elizabeth GÖBEL, who was born on 8 APR 1829 in Germany, emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1853, and died on 21 MAR 1917 in Warren Twp. Macomb Co., MI. Both are buried in the St. Clement Cemetery in Center Line, Macomb Co., MI.
According to the Rinke Family History, Elizabeth came from a large family in Germany. Her family faced such difficult times that they sent Elizabeth to America with strangers when she was about 12 years old. The journey supposedly took about three months to complete. However, the 1910 U.S. Census records indicate Elizabeth GÖBEL emigrated to the U.S. in 1853, when she would have been 24 years old. St. Clement Parish Baptismal records indicate that a Francis GÖBEL was Catherine GROBBEL's Godfather, so apparently others in her family may also have come to Michigan.
The children of Anton and Elizabeth GROBBEL15 were all born in Warren Twp., Macomb Co., MI.:
1. Elizabeth Grobbel16 b. 8 OCT 1856, m. Jacob SCHLAÜT, d. 25 SEP 1934
2. Elizabeth Grobbel16 b. 2 SEP 1857, d. 2 SEP 1857
3. Marie Elizabeth "Mary Ann" Grobbel16 b. 31 MAY 1859, m. Frank LANGE, d. unknown
4. Catherine Mary Grobbel16 b. 7 OCT 1860,
m. Bernard SCHNÖBELE (Schnoblen), d. about 26 JAN 1930
5. Marie Therese Grobbel16 b. 16 FEB 1863, d. 29 MAY 1864
6. Anthony John Frank Grobbel16 b. 30 OCT 1865, m. Mary MINICK, d. 12 MAR 1942
7. Bernard John Grobbel16 b. 17 SEP 1867, m. Catherine OHLERT, d. 4 MAR 1954
8. Frances Mathilda Grobbel16 b. 20 OCT 1869, m. Anthony MINICK, d. 1905
9. Joseph Grobbel16 b. 8 MAY 1873, unm., d. 8 MAR 1954
The St. Clement Parish records are the source for most of the children in the above list, except for Elizabeth (b. 1856) and the name "Mary Ann", whose source is John Schlaud, of Grand Blanc, MI.. The Rinke Family History lists six children: Catherine, Elizabeth, Anthony, Bernard, Joseph and Mary. It provides dates only for Anthony, Bernard and Joseph (it credits cousins, obituaries and gravestones as the sources). It also indicates marriages for Elizabeth (husband's last name Jasper) and Mary (husband's last name Jostock). However, the St. Clement Parish records indicate no baptism for an Elizabeth, only a burial on 2 SEP 1857 with the handwritten Latin phrase "aetatis (of age) aligust momentorum (lived for a moment?)". The St. Clement Parish records also indicate that an Elizabeth Grobbel married Jacob "Schlaüt" and are the source for the birth dates for all of the children shown above except Elizabeth (b. 1856). The 1860 U.S. Census adds to the confusion because it lists an Elizabeth (b.1857) and Mary (b. 1859) by name and birth year. My conclusions are that the St. Clement Parish and John Schlaud records provide more accurate documentation and that the Census information on Elizabeth's birth year may have been given in error
The 1880 U.S. Census records show Catherine, Anthony, Bernard, Frances and Joseph as living at home and gave their ages as of 01 JUN 1880. The 1900 U.S. Census indicated (6) living children at that time from a total of (9). The 1910 U.S. Census indicated that they had (5) living children from a total of (7). From this, one could conclude that the information from the 1900 U.S. Census indicating a total of (9) live births was correct if Mary Ann died between 1888 and 1900, and that the 1910 U.S. Census should have read (5) of (9) children living.
John GROBBEL15 was born on 21 OCT 1825 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia, Germany, and died on 31 JAN 1870 in Hamtramck, Wayne Co., MI. at age 43, according to a 1963 copy of his death certificate. St. Clement Parish records indicate he was buried on 2 FEB 1870. On 28 JAN 1864 in St. Clement's church, he married Mary Anna WARNER. She was born on 08 MAR 1844 in Pennsylvania (perhaps Philadelphia); the Rinke Family History gives her birthdate as 08 MAR 1841, however the correct year was 1844 based on the St. Clement Parish Marriage records that give her ages as 19 and 27 years old at the time of her two marriages. Mary died on 11 JAN 1916 in Warren Twp. Macomb Co., MI. (the same day as the wedding of her granddaughter Catherine Ann GROBBEL17 to Peter BURG). Both John and Mary are buried in the St. Clement Cemetery in Center Line, Macomb Co., MI.
John and Mary GROBBEL15 had four children:
1. Anna Victoria Grobbel16 - b. 13 NOV 1864, m. William DEGRANDCHAMP, d. 20 MAR 1955
2. Ferdinand Grobbel16 - b. 13 MAR 1866, m. Apollonia WIEGAND, d. 21 FEB 1919
3. John Anthony Grobbel16 - b. 15 OCT 1867, m. Elizabeth ELLIOT, d. 10 MAR 1911
4. Josephine Magdalene Grobbel16 - b. 1 AUG 1869, m. Frank LINTO, d. 15 MAR 1925
After Anna's birth in Warren Twp., Macomb Co., MI, John moved his young family to Hancock, Houghton Co., MI so he could work in the copper mines. It was during this period that Ferdinand was born. Mary was desperately lonely and little Anna's health was poor, so the family returned to their farm in Warren Twp., Macomb Co., MI, where John and Josephine were born.
In January 1870, John was clearing his land of timber and hauling the cordwood into Detroit to be sold for fuel. At the intersection of Harper and St. Cyril, the wood extending out from his wagon became entangled with a hay wagon driven by a man named Engleman from Center Line, MI, and John was killed in the resulting crash. [Item from the Detroit Free Press, Tues. Nov. 16, 1869: "Exhilarating - a walk out on the Gratiot Road in the morning and meeting a hundred loads of wood and fifty tons of hay coming to market, gives a grand idea of the great city and its powers of consumption."]
Mary was left with four small children and a farm with only a small portion of the wooded acreage cleared. There was no way for her to earn a living, especially with four babies to care for. The only thing a woman in her situation could do was to marry again, which she did within a year. On 09 JUNE 1871, she married Joseph RINKE, a bachelor six years younger than herself. Although the marriage proved congenial, she felt that it had been wrong to load her troubles onto so young a man, and this bothered her all the rest of her life. Some time after she had married Joseph, she received a settlement from Mr. Engleman. Catherine "Kate" GROBBEL17 Burg thought that the amount she received was two thousand dollars, but Hugo RINKE insisted that it was only five hundred dollars. Either amount would have been a substantial sum at a time when wages were typically less than two dollars per week!
Daniel GROBBEL15, who was the youngest of these three brothers, was born on 3 DEC 1836 in Cobbenrode, Westphalia, Germany. After emigrating to the U.S.A., he operated a combination Grocery and Meat Market at 413 Chene St., in Detroit (not to be confused with "E.W. Grobbel Sons Inc.", a wholesale meat supplier that still operates today in Detroit's Eastern Market, which was founded by Daniel's first cousin once removed, Emil GROBBEL16 ).
According to Julia DeGrandchamp17 , her great-uncle Daniel had a large family. She thought that there were twelve or thirteen children, and that he had a long life but mourned the fact that he had no grandchildren. If this is true, then perhaps there are no living descendants of this branch of the Grobbel family. A Detroit Directory (1893?) listed the following six children living at the Chene St. address:
1. Dan C. Grobbel16 Jr. - a lawyer with offices in the Hammond Building and later the Buhl Building; he was a Detroit City Assessor and possibly the Secretary of the Board of Commissioners for the Detroit Water Department. His name is on the brass dedication plaques at the Detroit Water Board Building, the Detroit Springwells Water Treatment Plant and the Water Intake Screening Structure at the head of Belle Isle (Water Board information source: Mark Edward Grobbel19 ).
2. Elizabeth Grobbel16 - a school principal.
3. Maggie (?) Grobbel16
4. John S. Grobbel16 - a student in 1893.
5. William S. Grobbel16 - a bookkeeper for the Peter Koenig Coal Company; d. 8 DEC 1899 at age 25.
6. Edward J. Grobbel16 - a clerk.
According to the Rinke Family History, two other Grobbels that might belong to the Daniel GROBBEL15 family are:
1. Anna Grobbel - m. Louis Rinke (son of Carl Rinke)
2. Gertrude Grobbel - m. a man named Rehms; according to descendants of Carl Rinke, she was Anna's sister.
Emil and Joseph GROBBEL
16
About 25 years after Anton, John and Daniel GROBBEL15 left Germany for Michigan, their first cousins once removed, Emil and Joseph GROBBEL16 , followed their lead and came to the U.S.A. in 1879. Emil and Joseph were the great-great grandsons of J. Heinrich GROBBEL12 , and the sons of Joseph GROBBEL15 and Walburga HENRICHS of Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany. Their brother Franz and sister Bertha also emigrated to the U.S.A., but eventually returned to Germany to rejoin their other brothers and sisters who remained behind. Bertha would also make two other trips to the U.S.A., but returned home each time. Franz was the firstborn of Joseph and Walburga Grobbel's 14 children, while Bertha was eighth in the birth order.
For the Rinke Family History in 1966, Miss Edith Grobbel stated that she, Emil and Joseph were related to Daniel GROBBEL15 , but that she had never heard of Dan's brothers Anton and John (who lived out in the countryside of Warren Twp., unlike Dan who lived nearby in Detroit).
Emil GROBBEL16 was born on 8 SEP 1852 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany, and died on 18 FEB 1939, probably in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. German genealogy records indicate that he was christened "Wilhelm Emil Grobbel", but he apparently perferred to be called Emil and used Wilhelm as his middle name. He was the seventh child of Joseph and Walburga Grobbel. He married Elizabeth CAMPEAU, who was born on 27 AUG 1862 and died in DEC 1955. She was the daughter of Sam and Mary Campeau.
In 1883, Emil began operating a Meat Market at 1 Central Market in Detroit. Today, his business is still operating as a wholesale meat supplier in Detroit's Eastern Market under the name "E.W. Grobbel & Sons, Inc." at 2500 Orleans St., near the corner of Adelaide St.
Elizabeth was remembered as a "tough, sharp matriarch of the clan" who "didn't miss a thing" and who "ruled the Grobbels". She and Emil had 7 children:
1. Edith Grobbel17 b. 1886, d. 1974
2. Bertha Grobbel17 b. 09 SEP 1888, m. William SCHULTE, d. 09 APR 1968
3. Florence Grobbel17 b. 1889, m. Morton CHARBENEAU, d. unknown
4. Irene Grobbel17 b. 28 MAY 1893, m. Daniel BEAUFAIT, d. 02 MAR 1969
5. Emil L. Grobbel17 b.16 JUL 1895, m. Margaret (Fitzpatrick or Fitzgerald?), d. 10 NOV 1985
6. Cyril Anthony Grobbel17 b.1897, m. Margaret (Fitzpatrick or Fitzgerald?), d. unknown
7. Leo Bernard Grobbel17 b.14 JAN 1902, m. Mary Margaret "Mae" JOHANNES, d. 31 MAY 1969
Joseph GROBBEL16 (b. 18 JAN 1856 in Obringhausen, Westphalia, Germany, d. 1923 in Detroit, Wayne Co. MI) was the ninth child of Joseph and Walburga Grobbel. He was an Upholsterer, who resided both on St. Joseph and Canfield Avenues in Detroit. His wife was Helen Lathen, who was born on 11 JAN 1861 in Bonn, Germany and died on 20 MAY 1940 in Detroit. Old Detroit business directories indicate that in 1887 he was an umbrella maker for the C. Lingeman Co. After 1891, he was doing business as "Keves & Grobbel". 6 Joseph and Helen had six children:
1. Joseph Grobbel17
2. Helen (Helene) Grobbel17, m. Ben BICK
3. Alfreda (Elfriede) Grobbel17, m. Harold CORSON
4. Josephine Grobbel17, m. Luke LUCHETTI
5. Wilma (Willima) Grobbel17
6. Anthony (Anton) Bernard Grobbel17, b. 12 APR 1890, m. Mary Anna PETRIK, d. 08 MAY 1940
Anton GROBBEL
16
Another Grobbel who was also a great-great grandson of J. Heinrich GROBBEL12 , also emigrated to the U.S.A. and eventually found his way to Detroit in 1884. Anton "Anthony" GROBBEL16 , the son of John Jacob Anton GROBBEL15 and Anna.Maria Elizabeth STILPER, was born on 2 JUN 1851, in Lenne, Westphalia, Germany, and died 9 OCT 1926 in Detroit, MI. He married Elizabeth SCHÄFER in Lancaster, New York. Elizabeth was born 11 OCT 1859 to Franz SCHÄFER and Margarete SASSE in Lenne, Westphalia, Germany, and died on 27 JAN 1918 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. Anthony and Elizabeth moved to Detroit in 1884 when their son Albert was 5 weeks old, and resided for many years on Meldrum Ave. Anthony worked as a grinder and polisher for the Detroit Edge Tool Co. As far as is known, Anthony had only two siblings, a brother named Frank and a sister who apparently died at a young age.
Anthony and Elizabeth had seven children, and along the way, at least one of their children dropped a "b" from their last name.
1. Albert Anthony GROBEL17 , born on 20 August 1884 in Lancaster, NY; married Mary Anderson (born in Rosseau, Muskoka Co., Ontario, Canada to Alexander and Julia Anderson). Albert Grobel said in 1967 that he remembered going with his father, Anthony Grobbel, to visit Emil Grobbel at his Market. Emil and Anthony would try to thrash out their relationship, but always ended up resolving it to be "about 42nd cousins" (they were actually 3rd cousins). Albert and Mary had three children: Elva T. Grobel (b: 1918), Norman A. Grobel (b: 1921, unmarried) and Vera Ann Grobel (b: 1929).
2. Florence Johanna GROBBEL17 (b: 14 March 1886 in Detroit, MI, d: 20 February 1959), married Francis J. Muer, Sr. (b: 29 August 1886, d: 27 April 1939).
3. Mary GROBBEL17 (b: 27 June 1888 in Detroit, MI, d: 04 August 1950), married Andrew Kelly (b: 27 November 1885, d: 16 April 1961).
4. Leo Frank GROBBEL17 (b: 21 March 1890 in Detroit, MI, d: 09 April 1952), married Maude (unk), moved to St. Paul, MN.
5. Josephine GROBBEL17 (b: 10 August 1891 in Detroit, MI, d: 15 November 1957 from a heart attack in Detroit, MI), married Harvey J. Dumon (b: 09 January 1886, d: 1951 from cancer). They had two sons, James Dumon and Harvey "Bud" Dumon, who married Clair Stenger (d: 1961). (Their children are Jerry Dumon and Mary Jo Dumon. After the death of Clair, Harvey "Bud" Dumon married Joan Hayden in October 1962). The Rinke Family History noted that James, Harvey and the sons of Josephine Mary (GROBBEL16) Linto (daughter of John GROBBEL15): "look enough alike to be of the same family".
6. Caroline GROBBEL17 (b: 18 March 1898 in Detroit, MI, d: 1919, unmarried)
7. Lillian GROBBEL17 (b: May 1902 in Detroit, MI) married Vincent G. Rogers (b: 28 December 1896, d: 13 December 1953)
On the next page is a Family Tree showing the relationships between the seven Grobbel emigrants who came to the U.S.A. from the Sauerland during the 19th Century. It is also avaliable on my FTM User's Home Page in the "Family Photos" section under the title "Grobbel Emigrants Family Tree".
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