Person:Charles Apel (1)

Charles Apel was born in Germany to Ignatius Joseph Apel and Julia (or Julianna) (Hockhaus) Apel in 1852. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1866 with his brother Franz and settled in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1910 Charles, 58, was working as a salesman and lived with wife Marietta, also 58. (According to family sources his wife was Antionette Carp; the first name was probably remembered incorrectly due to her nickname "Nettie," the name given in the 1920 Census.) Other household members were son Frank, 33, foreman for a wholesale sugar company; son William, 29, a clerk; daughter Mary, 28, who assisted at home; son Alfred, 25, foreman in a jewelry store; daugher Nettie, 23, a stenographer; daughter Frances, 21; daughter Cordelia, 19, a bookkeeper in a jewelry store; and son Joseph, 14.

In 1920 father Charles, a broker working at home (they owned their own home), and mother "Nettie," working as a private secretary, were still living with Frank, Mary, Nettie, Stella (presumably Frances, as her age is given as 31), Cordelia (still bookkeeping for a jewerly shop), and Joseph, now working as an electrician in an electrical shop. In 1930 it was just Charles and Marietta, now 78, Frank (50), Mary (40), and Joseph (33). By 1940 Charles, 88 years old, was a widower. Still in the house were Frank, working as a cleaner in the sewer division; Mary Emily; and Joseph, now an electrician for the Board of Education.

1.   Oral history.

   The author interviewed the daughter of John Apel, who was the son of Charles' brother Heinrich.

2.   Letter and family tree by John Apel.

   These items are in the possession of the daughter of John Apel.

3.   U.S. Census.

   For the years 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940.