Frances Knoedler (pronounced "Needler") was born May 27, 1858 in Hancock County, Illinois. Frances, who was known as Fannie her whole life, was the first of nine children born to Johann (John) Knoedler and Catherine (Kate) George. Her father was born in Germany, her mother in Augusta, Virginia, to German-born parents. The George family had immigrated … Continue reading Frances Knoedler
Nichols
Nathaniel Asa Siepel
Nathaniel Asa Siepel was born February 25, 1856 on his family’s farm in Hancock County, Illinois. Nathaniel’s father, Philip Siepel, was born in Germany, his mother, Eliza Fawver, in Virginia. Philip and Eliza were married in Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1848. From there, they migrated to Illinois, pioneer fashion, in 1854, with three young children in … Continue reading Nathaniel Asa Siepel
Rachel Annie Osborn
Rachel Annie Osborn was born December 15, 1849, in McDonough County, Illinois. Her parents were Andrew J. Osborn and Elizabeth Cockerham. Andrew and Elizabeth were both born in Indiana and had migrated to Illinois in the 1830s with their parents. They met and were married in McDonough County in March 1841. Two years later, Andrew … Continue reading Rachel Annie Osborn
William H. Nichols
William H. Nichols was born in December 1846. I don’t know the names of William’s mother or father, although in the 1880 and 1900 censuses, he reported that both parents were born in Pennsylvania. Those censuses, along with William’s Civil War records, also show William’s nativity as Pennsylvania, but provide no city or county. I have not found any other source that … Continue reading William H. Nichols
Edythe Mae Siepel
My dad’s maternal grandmother, Edythe Mae Siepel, is the youngest of my eight great-grandparents. She was born October 11, 1885, in Hancock County, Illinois. Edythe was the oldest of four children, two boys and two girls, born to Nathaniel Asa Siepel and Fannie Knoedler. By the time Edythe was 16, both of her younger brothers … Continue reading Edythe Mae Siepel
Finis Ewing Nichols
My dad’s maternal grandfather, Finis Ewing Nichols, was born December 17, 1882, in McDonough County, Illinois. Finis was the fourth of five children (three girls and two boys) born to William H. Nichols and Rachel Annie Osborne. The seemingly unusual name of Finis is more common than I would have imagined. Finis Ewing (1773-1841) was … Continue reading Finis Ewing Nichols
Evelyn Josephine Nichols
Snap.…snap.…snap flash! There’s Grandma Evelyn with her ever-present Kodak Instamatic! Come sit awhile, Grandma, and let’s hear about you. The youngest of my four grandparents is my dad’s mother, Evelyn Josephine Nichols. Evelyn was born in Galesburg, Illinois on December 5, 1908, to Finis Ewing Nichols and Edythe Mae Siepel. Grandma Evelyn was the second … Continue reading Evelyn Josephine Nichols
The Singing Oak 