The Michel Family of Abington, PA

This site is focused on the John Lewis Michel (JLM) Sr family who lived in Abington, PA until approximately 1965. Other families discussed are related to the ancestors, descendents, and other relatives of this family.

The JLM tree begins with the birth of his father reported by JLM to be Alsace-Lorraine, which was under German rule at the time of his birth. JLM wrote that his father was born about 1865 and was 66 years old when he died and is buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, 3499 West Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. According to one website "the cemetery is not abandoned; however, no plots have been sold since 1968 and it has become heavily overgrown. Mount Vernon is not open to the public. The owner requires an appointment to be made for visitations 24 hours in advance and only for people who have a family plot in the cemetery and know the location." Similar information is seen at this site. This is all that is currently known about JLM's father.

Alsace-Lorrain

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Alsace-Lorraine, German Elsass-Lothringen, area comprising the present French departements of Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Moselle. Alsace-Lorraine was the name given to the 5,067 square miles (roughly the size of Connecticut) (13,123 square km) of territory that was ceded by France to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-German War. This territory was retroceded to France in 1919 after World War I, was ceded again to Germany in 1940 during World War II, and was again retroceded to France in 1945. Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Alsace-Lorraine

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The Maternal Side of JLM

More is verifiable on JLM's mother's side of the family.

• The father of JLM's mother was Mathias Braun, who is thought to be from Belgium [Lindgoo, Luxenburg]. He was born about 1831 and came to America in about 1844. He was a machinist by trade and along with his brother William started the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Company. Mathias is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa.
• JLM's mother's mother was Kunigunde Dietrich. She was born (1839 estimated) in Tranau, Lichtenfels, Bayern in Germany. "Lichtenfels is a town in the Upper Franconian region of Bavaria, Germany, the administrative seat of Lichtenfels district. It is chiefly known as the German "Basket City"." Kunigunde is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.
• Mathias and Kunigunde married on 21 Oct 1860 at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. ref

Detailed information on these and other relatives are provided by presenting their information as a member of a family from their birth up until they marry. Once married, their life is detailed in that new family's timeline.