I need some new ideas... I have been searching for any information on the "elusive George MICHEL(s)"...he has become somewhat of a joke in my family...because he has caused me the most headaches--and still I have no futher information than he was born in "Prussia"-- George Michels was born in the year 1795. --arrival in the Port of Baltimore on August 16, 1840 -- (Actual Ship Record says Aug 19, 1840) and he arrives alone--no wife or children. Both he and his wife die before the 1900 Census..so I have no idea what year she immigrated --George's 1st daughter, Elizabeth, was born in "Prussia" February 04, 1834...some of you may be related to the Henry JONEN line from Lommersum, Rheinland, Prussia and then Granville, WI. George's 2nd daughter, Ann--her birth place varies from census to census: November 22, 1843-Prussia, or Mequon, Ozaukee Co., WI (Notice a 7 year gap in births here)--some of you may be related to the Jacob HOLZEM line of Ollheim, Rheinland. Germany (Ollheim is close to Rheinbach, near Koeln (Cologne) George MICHEL(S) --Date of Declaration: Dec 25, 1844--Circuit Court --Date of Naturalization: October 27, 1854--Circuit Court From Port Washington, Ozaukee County, WI..neither give more information regarding his town of origin, nor do they mention his wife/children George Michel(s) --Lived in Belgium, Ozaukee County (1848-??) --First purchased land in the Town of Belgium, about 8 miles north of Port Washington. He got the land through a land patent from the United States Bureau of Land Division. He later sold the land and purchased land in the Thiensville area (1855) --Patentee Name; State; County; Issue Date Land Office Doc.; Nr. Accession MICHELS, GEORGE WI Ozaukee 2/10/1848 Milwaukee 23440 WI2930__.373 MICHELS, GEORGE WI Washington 5/1/1855 Milwaukee 36033 WI3180__.156 ---Patents and Deeds/Sales show Anna Marie as his wife, but no further information... George MICHEL(S) is --Not listed in Ozaukee's early census records of 1855, 1860, or 1865. George's 3rd daughter, Eva, was definately born in Wisconsin --September 09, 1847 in Thiensville, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin (per death certificates and Census info) ---US Federal Census/Wisconsin/Washington County/Township of Mequon Enumerated on 10th of October 1850--Line 24; page 12; dwelling 20; family number 1232 George Michels aged 41 male; white; farmer- value of Real Estate: $200.00; born in Prussia...lists Anna Marie-his wife, Elizabeth, Anna, and Eva, his daughters. George's only son, Joseph, was born February 1851 in Wisconsin..and he also disappears without a trace... Then: --1860 Town of Granville: MICHEL*, George, aged 52; farmer; Prussia; *No "S" here Anna M.; aged 48; wife; Prussia Anna; aged 16; Wisconsin Eva; aged 12; Wisconsin Joseph; aged 10; Wisconsin Their daughter, Elizabeth, had married Heinrich JONEN, by the 1860 Census; they lived in Engelsburg area and were the next owners of George and Anna's farmland. Neither J. P. MICHELS or George MICHELS were shown on the 1870 Granville census. I have checked the church records of both St. Martin's in Granville (now housed by St. Agnes in Butler) and St.Anthony's Catholic Church in Fussville. I check records of both Catholic churches in Watertown and the church records of St. Lawrence (just outside of Jefferson). --From: WATERTOWN DEMOCRAT: Thursday, November 19, 1868: Drowned--Last Friday night, Mr. George MICHELS, a farmer residing near the village of Jefferson, was drowned in this city, having fallen into the river near Bursinger's Brewery, where the old bridge used to stand. His body was acquired last Saturday and taken to his home for burial... I obtained the coroners report, which also gives no further information about who his relatives were or where he was buried...it was ruled an accidental drowning... ---He may be buried in Busse Cemetery off County Road "J" (Pewaukee Road) and Busse Road in Waukesha County, Wisconsin...but the stones are gone-or there never were any and Pewaukee does not have the index for the older graves...he was not buried in a Catholic Cemetery in Jefferson or in the Cemetery just outside of Jefferson near St. Colletta's. He is not buried in St. Martin's Cemetery where his wife is bured--next to her daughter Elizabeth Jonen. Nor is he buried in Milwaukee Catholic Cemeteries. Neither George nor Ann(a) Michael(s) or their children are found in 1870 census anywhere in Wisconsin. --By 1880, George's wife is enumerated by herself/alone: --1880 town of Granville: MICHELS, Anna M.; aged 68; keeps house; Prussia She lives next to Peter Porth and the Neithard families. Anna, Sr. died 3/27/1887; aged 75 years; buried St. Martin's Catholic Cemetery. (Gravestone 1/7/1825 to 3/27/1887) Anna Maria MICHEL(s) is Buried in St. Martin' Cemetery, Englesburg, Granville Township, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin aged 75 years. My gggg-granfather was George MICHELS. He had three daughters and one son that I know of. He married Anna Marie THELEN or THIELEN. Their daughters were Anna, Eva and Elisabeth. They had a son named Joseph MICHELS. H-E-L-P!!! Any ideas to locate George's grave or any more information about him would be greatly appreciated. (I think he arrived in Prussia via terydactyl and left Wisconsin via space ship) Thanks, Susan [email protected]