Elisabetha (Appel) Keil (abt. 1826 - 1907)

Born about 1 Feb 1826 in Sichenhausen, Schotten, Hesse, Germany

Descendants

Died 29 Jun 1907 at about age 81 in Plains, Plains Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathryn Martin [send private message]

Biography

Elizabeth was born on February 1, 1826 in Sichenhausen, Bavaria to parents Heinrich Appel and Catharina Kirchner. She had three children, John, Catherine and Henry, all born out of wedlock. The father of her eldest two children is currently unknown. He is not named in either of their baptism records. The father of her youngest child, Henry, was Johannes Noll III, whom Elizabeth would eventually marry. The couple lived together for about ten years before Elizabeth left Mr. Noll in Germany and sailed to America. There, she assumed a new identity - that of the wife of Christian Keil (even though they didn't marry until later).

In 1873, Johannes Noll published a notice in the regional newspaper seeking information on the whereabouts of his wife. Roughly translated, it says:

"Marriages in Schotten on August 19, 1873 before the Grand Ducal District Court.

In the matter of Johannes Noll III from Sichenhausen against his wife Elisabetha, née Appel, from there, then unknown where absent in America, Defendant, separation of the marriage because of malicious abuse regarding the plaintiff submits: Around May 10, 1866, I had a son with her before marriage, Heinrich, who was legitimized by our subsequent marriage.

I have now lived with my named wife in unseparated community until February 26, 1869, where, while I was earning daily wages abroad, without my prior knowledge and my reputation, secretly traveled to America, later also sent our son to her, and left me so badly.

I submit and request hereafter, on the understanding that we are both spouses of evangelical confession, and that the attached party is unknown where in America

I oblige the defendant to come back to me immediately and continue the marriage she has entered into with me, or that this marriage be severed and the defendant at the same time sentenced to all costs incurred here."

Sources

• "Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1967," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 6 April 2022) Certificate #63654 for Elizabeth Keil, 29 Jun 1907.
• Bradsby, H.C. History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections (Chicago: S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers, 1893), p. 1051, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 April 2022), Biographical Sketch of Christian Keil.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZP1-ZZ3 : 29 May 2021), Elizabeth Kyle in entry for Christian Kyle, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWNC-QBV : 14 January 2022), Lizzie Coyle in household of Christopher Coyle, Plains Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3QQ-WYK : accessed 6 April 2022), Elizabeth Keil in household of Chris Keil, Plains Township, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States.
• "Mrs. Christian Keil Obituary," Pittston Gazette, 1 Jul 1907, Mon, p 8; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 6 April 2022).
• Schaffer, William I. Pennsylvania State Reports Containing Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Volume 215 (New York: The Banks Law Publishing Co., 1907), Keil's Estate, pp 464-69.
• "Emigration Notice for Elisabetha (Appel) Noll," Darmstädter Beitung, No. 244 – Sep 1873, image copy courtesy of German Genealogy Group Emigration Database (https://www.germangenealogygroup.com/records-search/german_emigrants.php : accessed 5 April 2022).