Person:Franz Apel (1)

Franz (or Frank) Apel was born in Germany to Ignatius and Julia (or Julianna) (Hockhaus) Apel around 1848 (different U.S. Census reports give 1847 and 1849). He immigrated to the U.S. in 1866, settling in Detroit, Michigan, where he was a musician (piano), music teacher, and the founder of the Detroit School of Music.

Franz married Ellen A. O'Connell of Maine, whose parents were born in Ireland. In 1910, when Franz was 61 (and a citizen) and Ellen 59, there were three other people in the household: daughter Ilene (or Aillien), 27, a stenographer for the steel works; daughter Isabell, 25, a music teacher; and granddaughter Jay Ennery, 10, who was born in Mobile. By 1920 there were just Franz, Ellen, and their daughter Ilene, now 36 and still single, working as a bookkeeper for a leather company. According to family sources there was another daughter, Lillian, who was a concert pianist.

1.   Oral history.

   Interview with the daughter of John Apel, who was the son of Franz' brother Heinrich.

2.   Family tree created by John Apel.

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

3.   1910 U.S. Census.
4.   1920 U.S. Census.