I am researching the KNOBEL surname from Switzerland. I have very limited information but here's what I know: My great grandmother was Isabelle S. KNOBEL, born 1880 in Bern, Switzerland. Her father was John KNOBEL and she may have had a brother, Benjamin KNOBEL. This family emigrated from Switzerland in 1882 to Kentucky, probably Louisville, Jefferson County. John later owned land in other parts of KY and in Ohio. Isabelle and my g-grandfather, Thomas Alva MCDONALD, born 1875 in Meade Co., KY, were married in 1902 in Louisville. Thomas had returned as a disabled veteran of the Spanish-American War in Cuba and was either still in law school or just starting his law practice in Louisville when they were married. They had 2 children, Benjamin C. McDonald and Verena McDonald, both born in KY. They eventually moved to Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN and later retired to a farm in Elberfeld, Vanderburgh Co., IN. Isabelle died in 1951 in Elberfeld and Thomas died there in 1959. I don't have any information as to where in Switzerland this KNOBEL family may have originated or how or why they emigrated to the US. I don't have Isabelle's mother's given name or surname. I believe Verena is/was a popular Swiss name but also wonder if it could have been from Isabelle's mother's name? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Regards, Terri McDonald Hauk thauk@home.com