John Gottfried Kegel^[1]

1827 - 1866  (39 years)

• Name	John Gottfried Kegel
  Born	1827	Urach, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Grocer
  Residence	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Lutheran
  Misfortune	1866	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
  	suicide
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-154381
  Died	1866	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
  Person ID	I154381	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Christina Miloyd,   b. 1836, , Nova Scotia, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. John Wilhelm Kegel,   b. 6 Apr 1856, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Mary Kegel,   b. 1857, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Frederick Kegel,   b. 1859, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Johanna Maria Kegel,   b. 16 Jan 1859, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. John Friederich Kegel,   b. 29 Feb 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. George Gustav Kegel,   b. 25 Aug 1861, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. John Bernhardt Kegel,   b. 27 May 1863, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F38604	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  THE MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE AT DETROIT - Regarding the suicide of an unknown man at a Detroit described in their last issue the Detroit Free Press of yesterday contains the following additional particulars on Saturday morning Constable Tisler visited the house designated in the memoranda left by the late suicide, J. Gottfied Kegel and found in the chest alluded to a quantity of clothing together with a large number of papers the greater part of which alluded to what appears to have been his former business transactions with Toronto merchants and business men in Berlin and Stratford C. W. From these we gather that he had dealer in wines and liquors, Yankee notions, &c., before coming to Detroit A receipt dated in 1860, for the payment of the rent of a store in Berlin from Wm. K Moore, was among these papers, and a bill of sale of goods from John Anstett. There was also a reference from the William Hespeler alluded to, certifying that he had been in his employ as clerk for 2 years and had proved himself to be honest and industrious and of good character. After leaving Berlin he appears to have gone to Stratford, as his accounts or dated at that place in 1864. He then seems to have been involved in financial difficulties which were no doubt partially the cause of his removing to Michigan on A note against A. G. Collins of Pontiac dated June 3d 1864 for $30 in Canada currency on which the payment of $15 in greenbacks was endorsed, was the only paper of any value whatsoever discovered. The statement made that his children were in Boston would now seem to be in error; but as the word was imperfectly written and the paper having remained so long in the water but the writing was very difficult to decipher appeared to be the nearest solution. It is more than probable that his children are in Berlin C.W. An adjourned inquest will be held on Monday afternoon to further inquiry into the cause of the unfortunate man's death Hamilton Weekly Times 15 Mar 1866 pg 3 ____________________ A STRANGE MYSTERY AT DETROIT. PROBABLE SUICIDE INCITED BY PARTIES IN CANADA The body of an unknown man was found in the river at Detroit, on Friday last, had apparently been in the water for some months and discoveries in connection therewith seem to indicate the unfortunate has been driven to self-destruction through injuries to his domestic happiness and estate at the hands of certain parties in Canada. The Detroit Free Press, from which we glean the circumstances of the affair, remarks that if the truth were brought to light, it would no doubt reveal deep dark and disgraceful deeds of wrong and injustice. Here was a man of apparent honesty and integrity quite, undemonstrative, and no match for the wily and designing in whose way he might fall: and that he did fall victim to such a treachery is too well shown if we are to trust the seemingly genuine record of his grief and hopelessness of mind in the pockets of his clothing were found several papers and memoranda, among which the most important was a confession and recital of wrong and Injustice which no doubt had that the unfortunate man to self-destruction. The writing is not grammatically correct, and there wanderings and repetitions in the style, which show a partial Insanity on the part of the writer. It is written pages of a diary or memorandum-book as follows: - "God bless my poor children. I am disappointed in every way - was robbed out of all my property, of all my family happiness, &c. I thought I could get a situation as clerk in this town but never yet met with success, I thought I had some friends here, but I found out they are all for No. 1, as I am betrayed out of my family happiness and all my property, by a bad miserable woman, with whom I was married for eleven years, who robbed me out of everything, betrayed me every day. I hope the Lord will have mercy upon her sould and soon meet me before the right judge, in a better world all will be discovered. Good-bye to all my friends that will remember me, I hope lord will take care of my children, which I left in Boston [Berlin] and be the righteous judge of my enemies who betrayed me out of all my family happiness who is George Gillies clerk at Mr. Scott's, Stratford where I found my first frater [traitor]. 2. Wm. Hespeler of Waterloo C. W., who robbed me out of all my property live with my wife, etc. The man came to me in Buffalo and said he would took possession of my property and would settle with my merchants in Toronto, Messrs. Boyd and Anthurs. I only owed to Hespeler about $200, and to Boyd and Arthurs about $125. So now I am destroyed of all my family happiness. I thought I overcome all that trouble but as I always was a man of honesty I cannot forget my former circumstances and my present. I hope the Lord and some good people will show mercy upon my children The Lord will be my best judge, but I hope he will punish my enemies my misfortune shall come over Hespeler and his family for ever. I have got some friends here, which knows all my circumstances and I hope he will suffer for this. My wish is that my wife will soon stand before me and give account for her bad conduct. All particulars you will find in my chest, corner of St. Aubin and Waterloo streets where my goods is left. signed John Gottfried Kegel born in the city Urach, Wurrtemberg Germany There were also notes for memoranda of items paid for board to Mr. Rogers on the corner of Hastings and Franklin streets, From other papers it appears that he had one time been bailed out of prison upon a bond of $100 for good behavior and one year, by Philip Kumpf. A note for $50, due in September, 1866 was signed, as witness by Chief Constable Harrison, of Stratford C.W. In another place is written the following, which, though quite legible, had been scratched over with a lead pencil as if to erase it: "I am called John Root in Buffalo, Isaac Lentz at Stratford" The coroner's jury record of it "found drowned" which the Free Press does not consider a proper exposition of the case. Hamilton Weekly Times 15 Mar 1866 pg 4 ___________________________________________ Waterloo, C. W. March 13, 1866. To the Editor of the Evening Times: Sir, - Under the heading of a "Strange Mystery at Detroit," in your yesterdays' paper you make assertions which are not only untrue but injurious to my character. The publication of falsehoods against myself, found amongst the effects of a person who, through the disappointment of his dishonest intentions, was driving to self-destruction, will not likely be endorsed by those to whom I am known, especially as the article itself show the character of the "injured one," whose statements you apparently, accept as true. I consider it a duty to myself in a business point of view to place the facts before the public, leaving the vindication of my private character to my friends. J. G. Kegel was enables through my assistance and recommendation, to start business five years ago. He absconded from Stratford in January, 1865, having secreted his goods with the intent to defraud his creditors. The goods were discovered, and in order to get a settlement, and to save costs, I went, by the advice of the remaining creditors, to Buffalo, and arranged with him, getting a bill of sale of the goods, under which I disposed of them, and divided the proceeds amongst the creditors pro rata. Kegel had latterly become dissipated in his habits, and it was probably in a fit of despondency, brought on by excessive drinking, that he drowned himself. I most emphatically deny that I ever acted toward the deceased otherwise than as a friend, and my prevention of his committing several murderous attacks on his wife has, in his discased mind, been metamorphosed into improper intimacy. Your obed't serv't Wm. Hespeler Supplement to Hamilton Weekly Times 22 Mar 1866 __________________ THE MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE AT DETROIT Regarding the suicide of an unknown man at a Detroit described in their last issue the Detroit Free Press of yesterday contains the following additional particulars on Saturday morning Constable Tisler visited the house designated in the memoranda left by the late suicide, J. Gottfied Kegel and found in the chest alluded to a quantity of clothing together with a large number of papers the greater part of which alluded to what appears to have been his former business transactions with Toronto merchants and business men in Berlin and Stratford C. W. From these we gather that he had dealer in wines and liquors, Yankee notions, &c., before coming to Detroit A receipt dated in 1860, for the payment of the rent of a store in Berlin from Wm. K Moore, was among these papers, and a bill of sale of goods from John Anstett. There was also a reference from the William Hespeler alluded to, certifying that he had been in his employ as clerk for 2 years and had proved himself to be honest and industrious and of good character. After leaving Berlin he appears to have gone to Stratford, as his accounts or dated at that place in 1864. He then seems to have been involved in financial difficulties which were no doubt partially the cause of his removing to Michigan on A note against A. G. Collins of Pontiac dated June 3d 1864 for $30 in Canada currency on which the payment of $15 in greenbacks was endorsed, was the only paper of any value whatsoever discovered. The statement made that his children were in Boston would now seem to be in error; but as the word was imperfectly written and the paper having remained so long in the water but the writing was very difficult to decipher appeared to be the nearest solution. It is more than probable that his children are in Berlin C.W. An adjourned inquest will be held on Monday afternoon to further inquiry into the cause of the unfortunate man's death Hamilton Weekly Times 15 Mar 1866 pg 3 ____________________ A STRANGE MYSTERY AT DETROIT. PROBABLE SUICIDE INCITED BY PARTIES IN CANADA The body of an unknown man was found in the river at Detroit, on Friday last, had apparently been in the water for some months and discoveries in connection therewith seem to indicate the unfortunate has been driven to self-destruction through injuries to his domestic happiness and estate at the hands of certain parties in Canada. The Detroit Free Press, from which we glean the circumstances of the affair, remarks that if the truth were brought to light, it would no doubt reveal deep dark and disgraceful deeds of wrong and injustice. Here was a man of apparent honesty and integrity quite, undemonstrative, and no match for the wily and designing in whose way he might fall: and that he did fall victim to such a treachery is too well shown if we are to trust the seemingly genuine record of his grief and hopelessness of mind in the pockets of his clothing were found several papers and memoranda, among which the most important was a confession and recital of wrong and Injustice which no doubt had that the unfortunate man to self-destruction. The writing is not grammatically correct, and there wanderings and repetitions in the style, which show a partial Insanity on the part of the writer. It is written pages of a diary or memorandum-book as follows: - "God bless my poor children. I am disappointed in every way - was robbed out of all my property, of all my family happiness, &c. I thought I could get a situation as clerk in this town but never yet met with success, I thought I had some friends here, but I found out they are all for No. 1, as I am betrayed out of my family happiness and all my property, by a bad miserable woman, with whom I was married for eleven years, who robbed me out of everything, betrayed me every day. I hope the Lord will have mercy upon her sould and soon meet me before the right judge, in a better world all will be discovered. Good-bye to all my friends that will remember me, I hope lord will take care of my children, which I left in Boston [Berlin] and be the righteous judge of my enemies who betrayed me out of all my family happiness who is George Gillies clerk at Mr. Scott's, Stratford where I found my first frater [traitor]. 2. Wm. Hespeler of Waterloo C. W., who robbed me out of all my property live with my wife, etc. The man came to me in Buffalo and said he would took possession of my property and would settle with my merchants in Toronto, Messrs. Boyd and Anthurs. I only owed to Hespeler about $200, and to Boyd and Arthurs about $125. So now I am destroyed of all my family happiness. I thought I overcome all that trouble but as I always was a man of honesty I cannot forget my former circumstances and my present. I hope the Lord and some good people will show mercy upon my children The Lord will be my best judge, but I hope he will punish my enemies my misfortune shall come over Hespeler and his family for ever. I have got some friends here, which knows all my circumstances and I hope he will suffer for this. My wish is that my wife will soon stand before me and give account for her bad conduct. All particulars you will find in my chest, corner of St. Aubin and Waterloo streets where my goods is left. signed John Gottfried Kegel born in the city Urach, Wurrtemberg Germany There were also notes for memoranda of items paid for board to Mr. Rogers on the corner of Hastings and Franklin streets, From other papers it appears that he had one time been bailed out of prison upon a bond of $100 for good behavior and one year, by Philip Kumpf. A note for $50, due in September, 1866 was signed, as witness by Chief Constable Harrison, of Stratford C.W. In another place is written the following, which, though quite legible, had been scratched over with a lead pencil as if to erase it: "I am called John Root in Buffalo, Isaac Lentz at Stratford" The coroner's jury record of it "found drowned" which the Free Press does not consider a proper exposition of the case. Hamilton Weekly Times 15 Mar 1866 pg 4 ___________________________________________ Waterloo, C. W. March 13, 1866. To the Editor of the Evening Times: Sir, - Under the heading of a "Strange Mystery at Detroit," in your yesterdays' paper you make assertions which are not only untrue but injurious to my character. The publication of falsehoods against myself, found amongst the effects of a person who, through the disappointment of his dishonest intentions, was driving to self-destruction, will not likely be endorsed by those to whom I am known, especially as the article itself show the character of the "injured one," whose statements you apparently, accept as true. I consider it a duty to myself in a business point of view to place the facts before the public, leaving the vindication of my private character to my friends. J. G. Kegel was enables through my assistance and recommendation, to start business five years ago. He absconded from Stratford in January, 1865, having secreted his goods with the intent to defraud his creditors. The goods were discovered, and in order to get a settlement, and to save costs, I went, by the advice of the remaining creditors, to Buffalo, and arranged with him, getting a bill of sale of the goods, under which I disposed of them, and divided the proceeds amongst the creditors pro rata. Kegel had latterly become dissipated in his habits, and it was probably in a fit of despondency, brought on by excessive drinking, that he drowned himself. I most emphatically deny that I ever acted toward the deceased otherwise than as a friend, and my prevention of his committing several murderous attacks on his wife has, in his discased mind, been metamorphosed into improper intimacy. Your obed't serv't Wm. Hespeler Supplement to Hamilton Weekly Times 22 Mar 1866 _______________________________ King Street, Kitchener Benton to Eby Street.-Successive occupation was as follows: From Benton Street easterward, before 1855, a one-story brick building with gable facing King Street was erected at the corner and used by Jacob Benner as blacksmith shop. Later Benner moved to West Montrose and the next occupant was Valentine Gildner and after him his son John Gildner . This blacksmith shop continued until comparatively recent years. A frame building painted white, with veranda in front, was Gildner s residence.. Vacant lot. A tinsmith shop owned by Mr. Lehnen . This had a nice front with two good-sized glass windows on either side of the door. A dwelling house built by Henry Rothaermel 1848-9. He was a carpenter and later was market clerk and tax collector. A lane. A one and one-half story building, with gable facing King Street and a verandah extending over the sidewalk, occupied by a Mr. Coleman 1855-1860. Adjoining it was a warehouse. The store passed to Coleman's son and then to John Kegel. Later John George Schmidt, shoemaker, occupied the building. A lane. A double, frame building about 50 feet along King St.; the east half used as a dwelling had a veranda; the west half was occupied by Charles Koehn, shoemaker. Open space. Dwelling of Gabriel Bowman, carpenter, who built the house. A one and one-half story building occupied by Balzar Allendorf, a coverlet weaver, about 1840. Allendorf later moved to New Hamburg. There was a veranda at the front of the house and under it a well. Cattle ran at large in the streets at this time and one Sunday afternoon a steer got on the veranda floor, which was partly rotted, broke through, fell into the well and had to be pulled out by means of a windlass. The building was torn down later. frame building ocupied by Henry Sippel, former employee of Allendorf, as a weaver's shop. In 1855 there was a frame building one and one-half story high along King Street divided into two parts, one part a dwelling and the other part a hat shop, owned by John Kidder, who made felt hats and old-fashioned bonnets. The shop was a few steps above the sidewalk level. A dwelling. A one and one-half story frame building lengthwise with King street occupied by a widow, Mrs. Caroline Lehnen. A driveway. A two story brick building with gable toward King Street, occupied by J. J. Lehnen, son of the widow Lehnen, as a copper and tinsmith shop and a store. Lehnen made his own tinware. Later Jacob Doebler occupied this building as a bakery. A one and one-half story frame building with gable toward King Street occupied by George Yantz, a cabinet maker. He had a tavern in this same building for a time, and lived there. In the early years a garden. A small shop with sloping roof used by Christian Enslin as a book store and book-bindery, the first book-bindery in Berlin Enslm arrived in Berlin about 1830. Jacob Stroh remembers going with his father to the store to buy school supplies. Enslin later was editor, for Henry Eby, the publisher, of the Deutsche Canadier which began publication in 1840. Enslin's House, one-half story, frame, standing lengthwise with King Street and having a veranda over the door, was on the site of Dr. Hetts present office and house. At the rear there was an orchard. About 60 feet back of King Street there was a house built by Henry Eby. Shubel Randall, brother of George Randall, lived in it later. In 1860 the building was destroyed by fire and a servant girl Dina Hertz, perished in the flames. The walls remaining standing, the house was re-built, and is still in use. A brick building, abutting on King Street with gable facing the street, was Henry Eby's printing office. The main floor was she or seven feet above the sidewalk level. In 1860 this building was changed to a church and was the first Anglican Church in Berlin. A frame building, one end of which was used by Henry Bowman as a general store; he lived in the other end. This was known as the Bowman building. Later William Stein had a tailor shop in it and after him William Thoms used it as a shoe repair shop. REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder. Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

  
  

• Sources

  [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. George Gustav Kegel son of John Gottfried and Christina Miloyd born 25 Aug 1861, bapt. 25 Dec 1863 sponsors: John Fleischaur and wife Catharine [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 4 Page 37.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1827 - Urach, , Baden-Württemberg, Germany Occupation - Grocer - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Misfortune - suicide - 1866 - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States Died - 1866 - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States  = Link to Google Earth