In Germany, our earliest ancestors were herdfolk, living between the small villages of Rubow, Flesnow and Alt Schlagsdorf, that dotted the Mecklenberg countryside on the eastern side of the Schweriner See (Lake Schwerin).  When land holdings were given to the junker lords after the liberation of Mecklenburg, they lost their grazing rights and were forced to work as peasants.  They toiled the junker estates for a home and often meager wage.  They were heavily taxed, and could not move or even marry without the permission of their lord.  In later years, they even lost their rights to home on the estates, and became merely day-laborers, moving from place to place to find work.  Link here to a short history of Mecklenberg.

As populations swelled on the estates with peasants begging for work, the junker lords became more lenient in allowing them to move, and often paid for their voyage to America to rid themselves of the responsibility of caring for them.  Our ancestors obtained permissions to emigrate from their lords, and then packed up their meager belongings and headed for the port cities of Havre, France, and Hamburg, Germany, respectively, to seek passage to America.  Our ancestors came to the United States aboard "barks", usually three masted, square-rigged ships with little space.  The voyage was usually cramped and uncomfortable with numerous unimaginable hardships. Link to a Trip Diary of Atlantic Ship Crossing from Germany.  It's not our family, but our ancestors probably endured similar hardships on their journey.

Our ancestors came to America with the modest dream of owning and working their own land.  They worked as laborers for a time in west Toledo, but together on January 31, 1860, the three families of Friedrich, Heinrich, and Sophia were able to purchase a 60 acre farm on Stitt Rd. in Monclova Twp., Lucas County, Ohio from John and Elizabeth Heffelbower.  Each of the families was deeded 20 acres of the original farm for the sum of $250 each.  Friedrich in 1871 bought a larger farm, and sold his portion to his brother in-law William Grimm.  Friedrich, Henry and Sophia lived the remainder of their lives in Monclova and Waterville Townships, raised families, and were laid to rest in Swan Creek and Wakeman cemeteries.

As we now approach the 200th anniversaries of our immigration, our families have grown large and apart.  There are over 500 descendants of these families living in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Arizona, New Jersey, and several other states.  This web page is a reminder of the hardship and strife our ancestors endured as servants in Germany and immigrants to a new land.  It is also a tribute to their bravery and tenacity in becoming masters of their own destiny, and ensuring the same and better for their descendants.
 

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Family History Files

• Our Earliest Ancestors
• The Family of Friedrich and Elizabeth (Lagrain) Abel
• The Family of Lewis and Mary (Marti) Abel
• Descendants of Lewis H. Abel
• Descendants of Christ J. Abel
• Descendants of Henry B. Abel
• Descendants of Lydia Abel
• Descendants of Carrie R. Abel
• Descendants of Frank N. Abel
• Descendants of Sophia B. Abel
• The Descendants of Henry C. and Sophia (Prestin) Abel
• The Descendants of William and Sophia (Abel) Grimm

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Helpful Links
Mecklenburg Vorpommern WorldGenWeb Page
Abel Surname Genforum
Ebel Surname Genforum
Lucas County GenWeb Page