For this blog I will be focusing on the family history of my dad’s side of the family, specifically on my Grandma’s family and ancestors. My grandma was very interested in genealogy and our family history so all of my information is from papers and other things that she had given to us over the years.
Muell Family
The information that I have on the Muell family goes back to my great-great-great-great grandparents. The Muell family all originated from Germany and on November 9th 1822 my great-great-great grandfather Johannes Jacob Mull was born to my great-great-great-great grandparents Johannes and Clara Funk - Mull. He was born in Mosel, Germany. On December 13, 1836 Margaretha Engel was born in Trier, Germany to George Engel and Catherine Haw - Engel, my great-great-great-great grandparents. Johannes Jacob Mull and Margaretha Engel married and had eight children. From those eight children my great-great grandfather, Johann Muell was born on November 29, 1859 in St. Marien, Zurlanben County, Trier, Germany. He married my great-great grandmother, Anna Marie Zimmer, daughter of Philipp Zimmer and Magdalena Schmitz Zimmer, on May 10, 1884 in Trier, Germany. Anna Marie was born in Biewer, Germany on August 8, 1864. It was sometime after their marriage that they came over from Germany to America and settled here in Shelby County. Anna Marie died on March 4, 1915 in Panama and Johann passed away on October 5, 1930 in Earling. Together they had eleven children and of these eleven children, my great-grandfather Peter Edward Muell was born. Peter was born on July 4, 1894 in Panama and died on February 12, 1960 in Panama. He married my great-grandmother, Anna Rosalie Schechinger on October 18, 1920 in Panama, together they had six children, including my grandma, Anna Mary Muell - Blum.
My great-great grandparents Johann and Anna Marie Muell came to America from Germany, searching for a better life than the one they had in Germany. On their journey they brought over a large angel statue from Germany that can now be found in the Panama Catholic Cemetery.
Schechinger Family
Along with the Muell family, the information that I have on the Schechinger also goes back to my great-great-great-great grandparents. The Schechingers also originated from Germany. My great-great-great grandfather, Martin Schechinger I, was born to my great-great-great-great grandparents Jacob and Anna Schechinger on November 1, 1826 in Heupthal, Bevaria, Germany. My great-great-great grandmother, Katherine Riedel, was born on October 18, 1828 in Menzenbach, Germany. Martin passed away on March 26, 1909 and Katherine passed away on December 19, 1893, they both died and are buried in Westphalia, Iowa. From their marriage they had eleven children, which included my great-great grandfather Martin Schechinger II. Martin Schechinger II was born on September 25, 1856 in Bavaria, Germany. Anna Mary Buch was born on March 17, 1864 in Clear Creek, Iowa. She was the daughter of Peter Paul Buch and Mary Leuck – Buch. Martin and Anna Mary were married on August 20, 1884 in Westphalia, IA. Anna Mary died on July 29, 1930 in Panama and Martin died on August 15, 1937 in Panama, with the burial in Westphalia. Together they had twelve children which included my great-grandmother Anna Rosalie Schechinger who was born on December 22, 1897 in Lincoln Township, Harlan, Iowa and died on January 28, 1965 in Avoca. As I said previously, she married Peter Edward Muell on October 18, 1920 and together they had six children, which included my grandma.
My great-great grandfather, Martin Schechinger II, came to America by himself when he was only 17 years old. He was a stow-a-way on ship coming from Germany to the states and arrived at the New York Harbor in 1872. He stayed in La Salle County, Illinois for three years and then rode a train to Avoca. Once he reached Avoca he walked all the way to Dunlap, but eventually settled in Westphalia.
My Grandma
Descending from the Muell and Schechinger families, my grandma, Anna Mary, was born in Merrill, Iowa to Peter and Anna Muell on May 1, 1921. As a child she moved from Merrill to Panama. My grandpa, Cecil Joseph Blum, was born on May 30, 1919 in Buck Grove, Iowa to Nicholas and Sophia Blum. Anna Mary and Cecil married on May 26, 1942 in Panama. They had eleven children, including my dad, Bryan Blum. My grandpa died on April 14, 1990 and my grandma died on June 9, 2014.
I have learned many things about my family history from my grandma as I grew up, so I really enjoyed being able to go back and look through some of the information that she provided us about my ancestors and being able to see where I come from. I am also very fortunate that we have such in-depth records of our family’s history where as some people don’t have any at all.
Peter Edward Muell and Anna Rosalie (Schechinger) Muell
Left to Right: Peter Muell, Anna Muell, Anna Mary Blum, Cecil Blum, Sophia Blum, Nicholas Blum.
Comments
Excellent job Lauren!