(bio updated 12/31/2023)
William Christ Engel was born August 12, 1855* in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was the eldest child of Jochim Heinrich Christian (aka Henry C.) Engel and Louise Maria Christiane Harning. His middle name, shown on his death certificate as "Christ", could be an abbreviation of either Christian (his father's middle name) or Christoph (his uncle's name). Or it may very well be "Christ" - which was uncommonly used as a name in those days.
Like his father, William was a gardener (farmer) in Hamtramck Township - near Baldwin & Mack Ave on the eastern edge of Detroit (now fully part of the city of Detroit).
William married Bertha Marie Damerow on January 11, 1881 in Detroit. Together they had 5 children:
Clara J. - 1883
Nettie Louise - 1884
baby boy - 1886 (died age 8 days)
William Albert - 1887
Ada Helen - 1891
As the city of Detroit rapidly expanded around them (the area of Hamtramck Township where the Engels lived was annexed by the city in 1891), it is unclear how long William was able to successfully operate the family farm. The 1920 census still shows William (and his son William A.) employed as farmers.
William died on May 7, 1926 in Detroit at the age of 69. He is buried in Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. His wife Bertha passed away 16 years later on April 25, 1942, also in Detroit.
*NOTE - William's death certificate shows his birth date as August 12, 1856 (not 1855), and his headstone also shows 1856. However, other documents indicate that William was actually born in 1855.
William Christ Engel was born August 12, 1855* in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was the eldest child of Jochim Heinrich Christian (aka Henry C.) Engel and Louise Maria Christiane Harning. His middle name, shown on his death certificate as "Christ", could be an abbreviation of either Christian (his father's middle name) or Christoph (his uncle's name). Or it may very well be "Christ" - which was uncommonly used as a name in those days.
Like his father, William was a gardener (farmer) in Hamtramck Township - near Baldwin & Mack Ave on the eastern edge of Detroit (now fully part of the city of Detroit).
William married Bertha Marie Damerow on January 11, 1881 in Detroit. Together they had 5 children:
Clara J. - 1883
Nettie Louise - 1884
baby boy - 1886 (died age 8 days)
William Albert - 1887
Ada Helen - 1891
As the city of Detroit rapidly expanded around them (the area of Hamtramck Township where the Engels lived was annexed by the city in 1891), it is unclear how long William was able to successfully operate the family farm. The 1920 census still shows William (and his son William A.) employed as farmers.
William died on May 7, 1926 in Detroit at the age of 69. He is buried in Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. His wife Bertha passed away 16 years later on April 25, 1942, also in Detroit.
*NOTE - William's death certificate shows his birth date as August 12, 1856 (not 1855), and his headstone also shows 1856. However, other documents indicate that William was actually born in 1855.
(bio updated 12/31/2023)
William Christ Engel was born August 12, 1855* in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was the eldest child of Jochim Heinrich Christian (aka Henry C.) Engel and Louise Maria Christiane Harning. His middle name, shown on his death certificate as "Christ", could be an abbreviation of either Christian (his father's middle name) or Christoph (his uncle's name). Or it may very well be "Christ" - which was uncommonly used as a name in those days.
Like his father, William was a gardener (farmer) in Hamtramck Township - near Baldwin & Mack Ave on the eastern edge of Detroit (now fully part of the city of Detroit).
William married Bertha Marie Damerow on January 11, 1881 in Detroit. Together they had 5 children:
Clara J. - 1883
Nettie Louise - 1884
baby boy - 1886 (died age 8 days)
William Albert - 1887
Ada Helen - 1891
As the city of Detroit rapidly expanded around them (the area of Hamtramck Township where the Engels lived was annexed by the city in 1891), it is unclear how long William was able to successfully operate the family farm. The 1920 census still shows William (and his son William A.) employed as farmers.
William died on May 7, 1926 in Detroit at the age of 69. He is buried in Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. His wife Bertha passed away 16 years later on April 25, 1942, also in Detroit.
*NOTE - William's death certificate shows his birth date as August 12, 1856 (not 1855), and his headstone also shows 1856. However, other documents indicate that William was actually born in 1855.
William Christ Engel was born August 12, 1855* in Springwells Township, Michigan. He was the eldest child of Jochim Heinrich Christian (aka Henry C.) Engel and Louise Maria Christiane Harning. His middle name, shown on his death certificate as "Christ", could be an abbreviation of either Christian (his father's middle name) or Christoph (his uncle's name). Or it may very well be "Christ" - which was uncommonly used as a name in those days.
Like his father, William was a gardener (farmer) in Hamtramck Township - near Baldwin & Mack Ave on the eastern edge of Detroit (now fully part of the city of Detroit).
William married Bertha Marie Damerow on January 11, 1881 in Detroit. Together they had 5 children:
Clara J. - 1883
Nettie Louise - 1884
baby boy - 1886 (died age 8 days)
William Albert - 1887
Ada Helen - 1891
As the city of Detroit rapidly expanded around them (the area of Hamtramck Township where the Engels lived was annexed by the city in 1891), it is unclear how long William was able to successfully operate the family farm. The 1920 census still shows William (and his son William A.) employed as farmers.
William died on May 7, 1926 in Detroit at the age of 69. He is buried in Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. His wife Bertha passed away 16 years later on April 25, 1942, also in Detroit.
*NOTE - William's death certificate shows his birth date as August 12, 1856 (not 1855), and his headstone also shows 1856. However, other documents indicate that William was actually born in 1855.
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