Tombstone Tuesday–Michael & Elizabeth (Grauberger) Stroebel

Michael & Elizabeth Stroebel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Michael & Elizabeth Stroebel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Michael and Elizabeth Stroebel, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

STROEBEL
Michael
Aug. 4, 1863
Mar. 9, 1930

Elisabeth
Nov. 18, 1863
Jan. 22, 1938

This surname is spelled several different ways in various records. Spellings include Strabel, Strable, Strobel and Stroebel. Michael’s parents usually spelled their surname as Strabel and Michael’s name was spelled Strabel on his baptism record. That spelling was used most around Chatt.  However, I believe Michael changed the spelling of their surname to Stroebel about the time he married. Just about every record he and his wife Elizabeth generated used the Stroebel spelling. In this post I am l am going use the spellings as they were written in the various records. Just know that Strabel and Stroebel are interchangeable here. Michael Strabel and Michael Stroebel is the same person.

His wife Elizabeth spelled her given name Elisabeth and Elizabeth, but used Elizabeth most often.

Johann “Michael” Strabel was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 5 August 1863 to Peter and Dora (Herbolzheimer) Strabel, according to his baptismal record at Zion Chatt. His parents were both born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and they immigrated to America in 1849. The family lived in Cincinnati for several years before moving to Mercer County, Ohio, in about 1863.

Michael Strabel was baptized at Zion Chatt on 30 August 1863 with Michael Burger and his wife serving as sponsors. He was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 25 March 1877, confirmed as Johann Michael Strobel.

Michael married Elizabeth Grauberger on 19 January 1886 in Mercer County, Ohio. [1] The spelling was Stroebel in the church record.

Elizabeth was born in St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio, on 18 November 1864, the daughter of George Adam and Anna Maria (Schaffer/Shaffer) Grauberger. Her father was born in Neidhardwinden, Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria. Her mother was born in Gronau, Hessendarmstadt, according to Zion Chatt’s records. The Grauberger family was living in Blackcreek Township, north of Chattanooga, by 1868. She was confirmed as “Lizzie” Grauberger at Zion Chatt on 16 April 1882.

Note that several records disagree concerning Michael’s birth date. Michael’s baptism record indicates he was born 5 August 1863. His marriage record gives his birth date as 4 August 1864. And his tombstone is inscribed as 4 August 1863.

George Stroebel, the only child of Michael and Elizabeth, was born 25 September 1887 and was baptized at Zion about a month later. They seem to be consistently using the Stroebel spelling by this time.

In 1910 Michael and Elizabeth and son George were living in Auglaize County, near St. Marys, Ohio. Michael, age 47, farmed, and Elizabeth, 47, was not employed. Their son George, 22, helped on the farm, which was mortgaged. Elizabeth had given birth to one child, who was living. [2]

In 1920 Mike and Elizabeth lived on Ft. Wayne Road in St. Marys Township, Auglaize County. That was probably known as route 33 today. In the household were Mike, 56, Elizabeth, 56, Barbra Williams, 64, and Grace Williams, 8. Barbra was Michael’s widowed sister and Grace was his niece. No one in the household was employed. [3]

Neither Michael’s nor Elizabeth’s death or burial are recorded in Zion Chatt’s records. Their death records are on-line however.

Michael Stroebel died of apoplexy on 9 March 1930 in St. Marys, Ohio, where he was living. He died at the age of 66 years, 7 months, and 5 days, was married, and was a retired farmer. Peter Stroebel was named as his father but his mother’s name was not recorded. Michael was buried on the 11th and their son George Stroebel, St. Marys, was the informant. [4] [5]

Widow Elizabeth (Grauberger) Stroebel died of myocardosis on 22 January 1938 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, at the age of 74 years, 2 months, and 4 days. Her death certificate confirms that her parents were George A. Grauberger and Mary Shaffer, both of whom were born in Germany. Elizabeth was a housekeeper and her son George Stroebel, of Wapakoneta, was the informant. Ketcham Bros were in charge of the funeral arrangements and Elizabeth was buried on the 24th. [6]

Michael and Elizabeth (Grauberger) Stroebel had one child:
George (1887-1957), married Nellie Gladys Brodbeck; married Matilda M. Kohler

Michael and Elizabeth are buried beside her two brothers John and George Grauberger, and her parents, George & Anna.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.orh : accessed 15 May 2016), Michael Strabel & Elizabeth Grauberger, 19 Jan 1886; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 5, p.361; from FHL microfilm 914956.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Noble, Auglaize, Ohio, ED 61, p.1B, dwelling 16, family 16, Michael Stroebel; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375167, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1154.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, St. Marys Township, Auglaize, Ohio, ED 77, p.2B, dwelling 40, visited 40, Mike Stroebel; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1348.

[4] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 15 May 2016), Michael Stroebel, 9 Mar 1930; citing Death, Saint Marys, Auglaize, Ohio, Vol. 4-5, p. 223; from FHL microfilm 963055.

[5] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https:ffamilysearch.org : accessed 14 May 2016) Michael Stroebel, 9 Mar 1930; from St. Marys, Auglaize deaths; from FHL microfilm 1992086.

[6] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https:ffamilysearch.org : accessed 14 May 2016) Elizabeth Striebel or Stroebel, 22 Jan 1938; from Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, deaths; from FHL microfilm 2023554.

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