Pennsylvania Families

Frank Wilson Kiel, in Hendrik Gerrit Kiel -- Dutch Immigrant to Pennsylvania, has shown that this Kiel family can be traced back as far as Claas Clasen (patronymic surnames used), born about 1620 to 1640 in the Dutch Republic. Other lines go back to a couple born in the 1600's in Onna, Germany, and to a Maddelentje Jacobs, alive at her granddaughter's baptism in 1634 in Hoorn in North Holland.

Henry Kiel arrived in the United States at Baltimore in 1822, at the age of 18. He was on the Greensburg tax rolls in 1826 and was naturalized in 1827. His occupation in 1826 was a tailor. (Source: all from Frank Kiel's book, which cited Westmoreland County Naturalization Records and Greensburgh Borough Tax Lists.) The voters list for Greensburg in 1836 lists "Henry Kiel, tailor." (Source: J. K. Warter, Mainly German, Swiss, Scotch-Irish Families of Westmoreland Co., PA, a gedcom file at rootsweb.com, updated 12 Aug 2004.)

According to Jacob S. Royer's Reminiscences of My Grandmother [Mary Ann Kiel,]'s Life, 'Henry was a member of the Reformed Church in Holland, but later was a Lutheran, but in Greensburg they were all Methodists and Grandma [Mary Ann] attended the camp meetings around there.'

He is on the 1830 Census of Greensboro as follows: 1830 Census, Borough of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., PA, Series M19, Roll 164, Page 70

Henry Kiehl
1male0-51 female0-5
1male20-301 female5-10
1 female20-30

and in 1840:
1840 Census Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., PA, Series M704 Roll 498, Page 4 24:

Henry Kiel
1male 5 to 10
0male11 to 15
1male15 to 20
1 male 20 to 30
1 male 30 to 40
1 female 0 to 5
1female 10 to 15
1 female 15 to 20
1 female 30 to 40

 

Henry ran an advertisement in the Friday April 16th 1841 issue of the Pennsylvania Argus which read as follows:
"TAILORING. The subscriber respectfully informs his friends and the public generally that he has removed his shop to the corner house formerly occupied by Mr. Mechling, on Pittsburg Street, one square east of Mr. Goodlin 's Hotel, where he is prepared to execute work in the best manner, and on reasonable terms. He hopes for a liberal share of public patronage. Henry G. Kiehl" (Source: Volume 1 and 2 (Nov 1980) of The Old Westmoreland, which says the ad was dated April 9.)

On 21 Nov 1842, Henry was a witness to a codicil added by Robert McMillen to his will. Robert was the first husband of his wife Sarah's sister Catherine Ann. Mr. McMillen died 4 Sep 1843 and the will was proved 27 Sep 1843. (Source: Abstract of Willbook Number 3, Westmoreland Co., as found in Volume III, Number 2 (Nov 1982), of The Old Westmoreland.)

Henry Kiel worked as a tailor until becoming the Assistant Burgess of Greensburg, in charge of the jail. (Source: Frank Kiel's book, page 42, citing Royer's book as "Grandmother Mary Ann Kiel Snider.") Royer's manuscript says that Henry kept the court-house and jail for nine years. When he died, his son Daniel Morris seems to have taken over the jailor's job. The 1850 Census of the family is as follows:

1850 Federal Census, Greenburg Boro., Westmoreland Co., PA
Series M432, Roll 837, page 183. Census page 183, line 10.

Sarah Kiehl, 45, f, hskeeper
D. Morris, 18, m, jailor
Sarah E., 10, f
Syva A. , 7, f
Elizabeth, 6, f
Emmanuel H., 1, m [sic]

there were also six prisoners listed in the jail.

In July of 1847, Henry and his son Jacob traveled to New York, evidently by way of Philadelphia, to see a Mr. Sauer about getting Jacob a job. On July 12, he wrote from New York, back to his wife Sally (Sarah.) A transcript of the letter follows:

Transcript of letter from Henry Kiel to his wife Sarah (Sally) Kern
Kiel, from photocopy in possession of a descendant. Original was also in
the possession of a descendant. I have corrected spelling to modern
standards, and have added some punctuation and some capitalization.
July 12, 1847 was a Monday.

[Phila scratched out] Newyork July 12th 1847

Dear Sally

After spending one Sabbath in New York I will give you the
particulars of what has happened. In the first place the sabbath is not
observed here. The first thing that saluted my ears after I got up was a
parcel [?] of boys in the street crying out "Newspaper for Sale." After
while the different church bells began to chime and play very
beautiful. After that I went upstairs to my room waiting for Mr. Souer
to come. He did arrive til eleven o clock. I wondered why he did not
come sooner. I begin to think that he had over done himself on Saturday
night owing to us walking about so much for the visit and paid [Mr or
Dr or?] Vogeley a visit. He lives about 3 miles from where we board. We
spent a very pleasant evening. The doctor and his lady was very glad to
see us. They are well and doing very well. We left that about 10 o clock.
It was after 11 o clock befoe I got home to my boarding house. Well Mr
Souer had to walk about two miles after that and that was the reason why
I thought he had over done himself. But to return to Sunday, after Mr
Souer had arrived he came up to my room and excused himself for not
coming sooner. He said he had overslept himself. He took some time and
then proposed to take a walk. We to the Bowery and from there to Castle
Garden. Then we went on board a Dutch vessel and asked for the Captain.
He came forward and was introduced and we were invited down in the
Captain's cabin. he then brought out some Dutch beer. After that he
brought out his long smoke pipes and we began. I wish you had been here,
you would have laughed to kill yourself, and the Dutch had to go it with
a perfect rusch[?] after. Staying a while, the Captain took us and
showed us every apartment in his vessel. I was much pleased with my
visit. It brought back the days of my childhood and I thought I was
really in Amsterdam. But to proceed, we returned to our boarding house
after dinner. Mr Souer took me down to his boarding house that was about
two miles and remained there til almost six o clock. He has a splendid
room fitted up for himself in great style. After that we went to a
family by the name of Camp, a low Dutch family, a merchant that is worth
about eight thousand dollars. We stayed their a little while and then
Mr. Souer and Mr Camp and Jacob and myself started down Broadway. Mr
Souer observed to me he thought that my supper would be over and
proposed to go to a saloon and take supper. So we did and called for
four suppers elegantly served up. After that he would have me to go to
the great Castle Garden one of the most splendid places I ever saw.
There was at least about ten thousand persons there. They played sacred
music til ten o clock. After that I went home and went to bed after
spending a very laborious Sabbath. New York certainly is one of [the]
greatest places in the United States. Jacob is well and is very well
contented. I think that this week or next week he will get a situation.
Give my best love to my children and a kiss to my little [?]. New York
is a place to spend money if a man has it. Nothing more at present, but
remain,
Yours, H G Kiel

Mr Souer sends his respects to you all.

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Besides this trip to New York, Henry is said to have made several trips back to Amsterdam.

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Henry Kiel died 14 Feb 1848, before his last daughter, Emma Henry, was born. Frank Kiel in his book, suggests two possible burial locations for Henry. The first is Old St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg and the other is Old German Cemetery, also in Greensburg.

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Index to Henry G Kiel's probate information is at:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28809-16566-11?cc=1999196&wc=9PML-HZ3:268494501,268525101

Keel, Henry G, of Greensburg Boro
Jno Fullwood, administrator

Letters of administration: Volume A, Docket Ad, Page 418, File Number blank, Year 1848
Letters of administration: Volume 1, Docket Ad, Page 194, File Number blank, Year 1848
Citation: Volume 4, Docket OC, Page 16, File Number 30 M, Year 1851
Admr Attch [attachment?]: Volume 4, Docket OC, Page 48, File Number 35, Year 1852
Citation: Volume 4, Docket OC, Page 98, File Number 13 F, Year 1853

The actual records are not at familysearch.org as of October 2014.