(Ed's Note: this sketch details the Kestel family's departure from the Kingdom of Bavaria and arrival in New York in 1857 and 1858.  As with other sketches in these works, the details are realized from numerous sources, some are just good educated guesses based upon research data. As with most of my family sketches, I've included supporting essays which are listed in the Table of Contents and linked from this article with hyperlinks.  George and Barbara (Vetter) Kestel are my GG Grandparents, and Michael Fuch is my 2nd great grand uncle.  Margaret Kestel is George and Barbara's eldest daughter and first Kestel born in America, and my Great Grandmother; she married Charles Daniel Rash in 1890.  Their union marks the shift from rural to city life for our family.)

The Kestels of Will County

    George Kestel Jr. and Michael Fuch left the Kingdom of Bavaria in the Spring of 1857 and Summer of 1858, respectively and immigrated to America.  George and Michael were half brothers, both having the same mother and and different fathers.  Along with them, George's spouse, Barbara (Vetter) Kestel and young son, John, and Michael's bride to be, Ursula Hanna made the journey.  George, Barbara and John boarded the ship Young Sam in Bremen and arrived in New York City on July 1st, 1857.  Michael and Ursula came aboard the Steamer Austria, and departed from Hamburg with a stop at South Hampton and then onto New York.  From there, they made there way by rail to Chicago and then finally to Joliet in Will County.

    George Kestel Sr., George's father, was a miner living near, Kronach, in northern Bavaria.  More specifically, as mentioned in some family notes, the family lived near the small villages of Hasslach and Glosberg, about 3 miles to the north.  He fathered three sons, George Sr., John and George Jr. born in 1827.  He passed on and his wife remarried Mr. Fuch.  They had a son, Michael born in 1832.

Map Image of Kronach area in Northern Bavaria around 1882

    George married Barbara Vetter and their first born, John, arrived late in 1856.  Sometime either shortly before or after John's birth, he and Barbara decide to emigrate to America.  This decision was probably based upon economic reasons and was influenced by letters received from America from other German immigrants.  Little is known about these times, but what is known is that the three came to America and directly to Will County in Illinois and the city of Joliet.  More specifically, they came to the German Catholic community centered around St. John's Parish in the center of Joliet.  The city of Joliet has a rich history.

One can only speculate as to the reason or reasons George and Michael undertake this move.  One fact is apparent, they wasted little time getting to Will County once they arrive in America.  I have no timeline for George and Barbara, but Michael marries Ursula Hanna in Will County in September of 1858, just 2 months after arriving in New York.  An interesting note from the state marriage logs:  a John Kestel marries a Barbara Vedde on September 9, 1857, also in Will County.  This bears a close resemblance to George and Barbara, even though they married in Germany.  Possibly, they were validating the marriage for legal purposes.  If the license is theirs, the close proximity to there arrival day in New York  validates timely travel to Illinois.  More research to follow.

   As for leaving Germany, in the 1850s, there was a tremendous amount of political, social and civil unrest in a yet disjointed country.  There were areas of strong nationalistic feelings and desires following the unrest of the 1848 Revolution.  But ultimately, they may have come to Joliet and Will County because of the German community already there, quite possibly either relatives or old friends from Bavaria already enjoying the freedoms of America.  Letters to the homeland have proven to be a strong factor in bringing Germans to America.  A discussion of the German Confederation  1815 - 1866 

    George and Michael were farmers  They arrived in Will County with the expectation to continue their trade.  Apparently, they may not have had the funds to purchase desired property.  They may have lived in the city of Joliet or on the outskirts and worked as laborers.  The 1860 census details George living in Joliet Township as a farmer with no real estate.  Michael and Ursula are detailed as living about 8 miles south of Joliet in Jackson Township, Elwood City Post Office with no property (upon review, next to Ursula's name on the census is a property value; I suspect this is a mistaken entry for the next person on the census made by the census taker).  Notes detail that when Cunegunda Kestel, George's niece, immigrated to America, she lived with them just south of the southeast part of Nowell Park in Joliet.  There is no time reference for this residence, but she was born in 1857.  She marries George Vetter (not sure if related to Barbara) in Saint John the Baptist Church in 1890.  She is not on the 1880 census.  This residence is about 6.8 miles from the land on Delaney and Cedar Roads and south east of Joliet.  Saint John the Baptist Church, established as a nationalistic German Catholic church in 1852, was their place of worship.

    And thus, the great story of the Kestels of Will County begins.

Michael Fuch	Ursula Hanna Fuch Kestel

    Both George and Michael raise large families.  George and Barbara have eight children, all but one reaches adulthood.  In Manhattan, Margaret is born in 1860.  She is the first Kestel born in America.  Michael arrives two years later in 1862, then George in 1864, Mary in 1865, Andrew in 1867 and finally, Joseph in 1872.

    Michael and Ursula, not to be outdone, have John in 1860, Mary Barbara, 1862, Michael Jr. In 1866, Helena in 1868, Margaret Theresa, 1870, Peter in 1873 and lastly Elizabeth in 1876 for a total of seven children.

   Keeping track of these two families would not be too difficult, even with their large family size, which was fairly common, except for some reason, Michael decides to change his last name to Kestel.  This probably occurred between the years of 1864 when George and Michael went over to the Grundy County Courthouse to swear allegiance to the United States and the initial land purchase at Delaney and Cedar Roads in 1866 in New Lenox Township.  As you can see on the property deed, the land is bought by Michael Kestel and George Kestel.  By the time the 1873 plat maps are constructed, George and Michael are depicted as owning half of each of these two purchases or 120 acres each as depicted below.  Their plots are adjacent, straddling Delaney Road at the corner of Cedar Road, roughly three miles north of Manhattan. Even though Manhattan is depicted on this map, the town was not yet established.  They considered themselves to be residents of Joliet.

    As you can see, comparing Michael's and George's children's names, that quite a bit of confusion would follow.  Our story leaves Will County with George's daughter, Margaret, around 1885 or so.  Margaret heads to the city of Chicago's Southside as a single woman to find employment.

George Kestel goes home July 24th 1893 at the age of 66.   Michael and Ursula retire from the farm around 1901 and move to 205 North Hickory Street in Joliet, about a block south of Saint John the Baptist Church.  Michael goes home June 23, 1909 at the age of 76.  Barbara goes home next, at age 87, a note from the local newspaper details her death on February 28, 1917 - Mrs. Barbara Kestel, 81, New Lenox pioneer, at her home in Chicago.  The 1910 Chicago census places her with Charles and Maggie at 5245 South Justine in Saint Augustine Parish.  The Joliet directories for the next 18 years detail Mary Kestel, Ursula's daughter living at their residence with her on Hickory.  Mary is not married and is a dressmaker.  Ursula goes home August 21st, 1929, at age 90.  Both woman far exceeded life expectancies as did Michael.

George and Barbara Kestel	Michael and Ursula -George's stone is to the far right
	As this sketch ends, like most, with the burial ground of George, Barbara, Ursula and Michael.  As in life, as in death, their gravesites are in close proximity reflecting their great friendship and love.  They are interned along the south portion of Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, located on west Ruby Street in Joliet. (off site link)

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