From Meiyssel
Meixel Mikesell by
Ardella M. Rhode
Most of the Mikesell family in America
can be traced back to Johann Wolfgang Meyssel or Meiyssel. He
was born about 1640 in in Grieskirchen, Ob Der Enns, Wels Dist.,
Austria. His son Andreas MEIXEL (MEIYSSEL) was born about 1670
in Leimen, Baden, Germany. Andreas came to America shortly
after he married his second wife, Anna Maria Schwab in 1719 and
before 1724. He came with his wife's family to Conestoga Twp.
Lancaster County Pennsylvania. He later moved to the northwest
to Denegal Twp. where he died in March 1739.
Andrea's son Jakob from his first marriage came to the same area
in 1728. Hans Martin, Jakob's brother also came to America.
The descendents of these two brothers retained the Meixel or Meixsell
spelling of their name. The sons from the second marriage -
Johannes, Andrew and Conrad appear to have changed the spelling to
Mikesell sometime between 1752 and 1759 when they started to move
out of Pennsylvania to Maryland, Virginia and places further west.
During this period of America's history, individuals responsible
for the records were very apt to spell the names as they sounded
to them, not as they were spelled in their original country. Also,
neither the recorders or the individuals were very well educated
or consistent in their spell of anything.
Some known variations are:
Micksell Miskill Mikels Mixsell Micksel Mikesele Meixel Mikezel Mickesel
Mickel Myksel Mikle Mixel Maxwell Mickelal Mickle Maxwel Mickesel
Meixell Miksell Meixell Mixell Maxel Mikel Mikesley Mikeshell Maxcel
Mixell Miksel Mieksol Mikesall Miskill Mexel
Andreas Meixel/Mikesell
ANDREAS MEIXEL/MIKESELL was born abt. 1670
in Leimen, Baden, Germany, and died abt. 1740 in Donegal Township, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. He emigrated to America abt. 1719,
with two children and his new wife Anna Maria and her family, the
Schwabs.
He was married two times. His first wife was to ANNA EVA HERZOG/HERTZOGIN
and they were married on 17 Mar 1704 in Leiman, Baden, Germany. She
was the daughter of SEBASTIAN HERZOG/HERTZOGIN and ANNA WOLFHARDT.
She was born abt. 1674, and died 09 May 1719 in Leiman, Baden, Germany.
He then married ANNA MARIA SCHWAB on
19 Sep 1719 in Leimen, Baden, Germany. She was the daughter
of JOST SWAB and ANNA WOLFHARDT. She was born 03 Oct 1698 in
Sincheim, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, and died 1748 in Lancaster
Co., Pennsylvania.
Andrew Mixsell's name is on the Assessment List of Conestoga Tsp.
1724-1725.
In his will written 25 Oct 1735, Andreas Meixell of Donegal Township,
Lancaster County Pennsylvania named his wife Ann and Emanuel Carpenter
and John Swope as executors. The will was probated 3 March 1740.
On 6 Dec. 1748 the Lancaster Co. Orphans Court record states that
Conrad Mixsell one of the sons of Andreas Mixsell, chose Emanuel
Carpenter and John Swope as his guardians. John was probably his
Uncle. He was over age 14. Emanuel Carpenter and John Swope
were also appointed guardians of Mary and George [under age 14] orphan
children of Andrew Mixsell. The Trinity Lutheran Church in New Holland
and Heller's Salem Reformed Church of Upper Leacock Tsp. list a Jacob
Meixell born about 1712 and Hans Martin Meixell born 10 Nov 1713.
More About ANNA EVA HERZOG/HERTZOGIN:
Baptism: 1674, Eppingen (Kreis Sinsheim).
Marriage: 17 Mar 1704/05, Leiman, Baden, Germany
Medical Information: Died at age 45.
Marriage Notes for ANDREAS MEIXEL/MIKESELL and ANNA HERZOG/HERTZOGIN:
We find both of Andrew's marriages in the Leimen Church record but
later they were members of the Moravian Church, Lilityz, Lancaster,
PA. [The Mikesell Family, p.3.]
More About ANNA MARIA SCHWAB:
Christening: 09 Oct 1698, Sincheim, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany
Marriage Notes for ANDREAS MEIXEL/MIKESELL and ANNA SCHWAB:
Married at the Reformed Church in Leimen, Baden, Germany, 19 Sep
1719, Leimen, Baden, Germany
Jacob Mikesell
Jacob enlisted in the newly formed Colonial
Army at Frederick Co. MD. as a Private in Capt. Daniel Dorsey's
Company, in Col. Josias C. Hall's Maryland Regt. of Flying Camp
on July 1776, and was discharged at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania.
He was in General Smallwood's Brigade at that time. Then in 1781
he was impressed with his wagon and team in the city of Baltimore
to aid in conveying General Lafayette's baggage from Annapolis
to Yorktown, Virginia, but the English fleet having departed,
he was released after a week and returned home. He was at the
battle of White Plain. He belonged to General Bill's Brigade,
which was called the "Flying Camp" of the Maryland troops.
In 1795, Jacob bought 150 acres for 150 pounds in Bourbon County,
Kentucky. Jacob's family lived in Bourbon County until about 1819
when then they moved to Jefferson County, Indiana. Jacob sold his
land in Kentucky, 2 Oct 1823.
As per the Revolutionary Claim Act of 7 June 1832, Jacob put in a
claim for a pension, which he received $20.00 every three months
until Nov of 1843. He enlisted and entered the service of the United
States in July 1776, and continued to serve until the middle of December
the following year. He was discharged in Philadelphia and returned
home to Frederick county Maryland.
In a two page life story compiled by Ardella Maybell Rohde, Jacob's
4th gr. granddaughter she has this story that appeared in the Madison
Cty. newspaper 4 Jan 1939:
"Reclimbing the fence of the Miles farm on the Ohio River. The writer led by
Mr. Miles, went to the Cemetery of the Revolutionary soldier whose memory is
still preserved among the older people of the neighborhood. Mr. Miles has fenced
in the graves of the man and such members of his family that headstones still
standing may identify.
The soldier was named Jacob Mikesell and his wife was Mary Mikesell.
He was born in 1756 and died in 1841 while she was born in 1758 and
died in 1816. His headstone gives his name and time of birth and
death and then has the simple statement carved below this, "A Revolutioner".
One thing is certain, he was a strong man. A story they tell of him
is that when he come and built "the stockade", a stones throw from
where his grave is located, his wife was quite indignant over having
to leave her Kentucky home and come to this place. She was so angry,
in fact, that when she saw the spring, which is about 200 yards from
the house, she swore she'd never carry a bucket of water from that
spring to the house as long as she lived. And she never did.
When the water bucket was empty in the house she would take her tin
cup and wander down to the spring, fill her cup and drink all she
wanted and carry back a single drink for herself later.
Of the old "revolutioner" himself one of the best stories is of the
time that the old man went down into the field where he had a savage
bull. The bull and he had a feud that endured through the life of
the former. On this occasion the old man wasn't as quick as usual
or he may have been thoughtless enough to have his mind on other
matters. Anyway, the bull caught him unawares and charged upon him.
The old man ran as fast as he could but the bull caught up with him
and gave him a beautiful messing up. When the old man could, he crawled
to safety and went into the house and got his injuries dressed. All
the time he was itching for revenge. Finally, after finishing touches
had been put to his wounds, he got up and took his old flintlock
from the rack over the fireplace and shoved in an extra heavy charge
of gunpowder. He then rammed in a number of heavy wads. Then he went
out into the field and no sooner did he show than the bull headed
for him again. The old man stayed on the right side of the fence
this time and when the bull got up to him he let him have the full
charge of gun wads in the face and head. The bull was literally staggered
and went down to his knees. He got up and gave a bellow and turned
and lumbered away as fast as he could. Ever after the bull kept away
from the old man."
John Aylor Mikesell
JOHN AYLOR5 MIKESELL was born 08 Feb 1784
in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, and died 02 Dec 1858 in
Payson, Utah, Utah. His parents were John Mikesell and Catharine
(Catherina) AHLENTZ. He married Catherine MIKESELL on 12
Dec 1807 in Bourbon Co. Kentucky, at Catherine's parents home.
Catherine Mikesell & John Mikesell were 1st cousins. She
was the daughter of JACOB MIKESELL and MARY BAST. She was born
11 Oct 1784 in near Franklin City, Frederick, Maryland, and died
19 Jul 1851 in Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Utah.
He married (2) ISABEL SYMPSON 16 Aug 1850 in Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake, UT.. She died Unknown.
He married (3) JEANETTE SYMPSON 16 Aug 1850 in Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake, UT.. She died Unknown.
He married (4) SARAH HAUCK 27 Mar 1853 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake,
UT.. She died Unknown.
More About JOHN AYLOR MIKESELL:
Also known as: John Eller Mikesell
Occupation: 1809, Tavern, Inn keeper, Harrison Co. Kentucky.
Residence: Left Nauvoo, Illinois 22 July 1846, arrived in Salt Lake
20 Sept. 1848.
Marriage: 12 Dec 1807, Bourbon Co. Kentucky, at Catherine's parents
home. Catherine Mikesell & John Mikesell were 1st cousins.
John Aylor Mikesell, was born 8 Feb 1784 in Maryland. He married
his 1st cousin, Catherine. Catherine's father, Jacob was living in
Bourbon County, Kentucky where he ran an inn. He appears on the 1809
and 1810 tax list, and it cost $50.00 for his tavern license. He
took one of his tenants, James McCabe to court for nonpayment of
$45.78 for meat, drink, diet, washing, and lodgings at his home and
tavern. Some time before June of 1812 John and Catherine moved the
family to Liberty, Montgomery County, Ohio where he ran a store (1816).
He moved to Ohio to be near his father and uncle Philip, who had
moved there as early as 1802.
In Montgomery County, in 1819, there were probably 15 houses in town.
Among them a brick tavern owned by John A Mikesell.
Chancery court records of February 1826 - "Henry Weaver vs. Jacob
Crull and John A Mikesell. Weaver is 1819 possessed in partnership
with Mikesell, goods to value of $10,000. Charges that Jacob Crull
entered store and forcibly took them. Henry Weaver, November 24,
1817, entered partnership with John A. Mikesell of Indiana to vend
merchandise in Liberty.
John and Catherine were in Jefferson County, Indiana between 1824
and 1830, and then moved to Quincy, Illinois. Some time before 1839
they joined the Mormon Church. In November of 1839 John and three
of his sons put in a claim against the state of Missouri for loss
of property to the amount of $2500.00
On his way to England on a mission, Heber C. Kimball stopped at John
A. Mikesell's home near Quincy.
On the 28th day of July, 1840, John A. and George Miller were asked
by the church to examine the southwest corner of Iowa territory to
see if it was suitable for a stake or branch. 90,000 acres of unclaimed
land by the Des Moines River and a creek called Chequest.
Indenture - 3 Sep 1842, John and Catherine sold their property on
the Mississippi River to Josiah Allison for $800.00. It consisted
of about 5 acres of bounty land with a steam mill, house and out
buildings. After selling this land they moved into Nauvoo and lived
on a lot next door to Brigham Young and John Taylor.
On 17 May 1844, in Nauvoo, John was a delegate from Missouri and
made a member of the central committee of correspondence.
23 Aug 1844, the brethren of the twelve at Nauvoo got ready to go
to dine with father Mikesell at his home, but were called to go and
see Lyman Wight near the upper stone house. He and thirty others
were sick.
30 Aug 1844, in company with his brethren of the Twelve, father John
Smith and many others with President Young, visited at father Mikesells.
Partook of dinner and an abundance of peaches from the orchard; the
family was glad to see the brethren and spent a pleasant day. Many
of the brethren in the city being apprehensive that they might fall
into the hands of the mob, took their guns and went a-hunting around
the timber bluffs below Mikesell's on the Mississippi River.
The Nauvoo Temple was just being finished and the saints were starting
to leave their homes. John A. and Catherine went to the Temple on
24 Dec 1845, and were sealed to each other on 6 Feb 1846.
Wednesday, 22 July 1846, on the west side of the Missouri River,
starting for the mountains. At dusk President Young and his traveling
companions fell back on the bluff, suppered with father Mikesell
in whose tent President Young and Brother Kimball lodged. They were
much afflicted with mosquitoes.
Thursday 23 Jul 1846, Elkhorn River. Very pleasant weather. President
Young, Brother Kimball and the Brethren of the First 50 in council,
Elder Mikesell, etx, were appointed to preside over that 50. The
President and his companions crossed the Elk Horn on a raft, saw
the brethren a few minutes, returned and instructed father Mikesell
to see that the names of all who crossed were registered with the
number of every living animal to be left for the benefit of the camp.
Tuesday, 4 Aug 1846, in the camp of Israel 4 miles west of the Missouri
River, they were told that it was not advisable to cross the mountains
this fall. They must prepare for winter here. John A. Mikesell was
among the council of 12 men to superintend the affairs of the church,
both temporal and spiritual in this area. One of their biggest concerns
being the Indians would burn the grass to gather the buffalo. This
would not leave any grass for their livestock.
20 Jan 1848, Iowa. John A. Mikesell and his son, Garrett W. Mikesell
signed a petition to have a post office placed in the vicinity of
the log tabernacle, which was situated on the government purchase
of Pottawattamie in Iowa to be called the Tabernacle Post Office
and receive mail semi weekly.
30 June 1848, Friday. John A. Mikesell killed a buffalo which he
brought in and distributed among the brethren at Pulsipher's camp
near the Skunk Creek camp.
President Young went back to Winter Quarters and brought back the
largest company to Salt Lake in June of 1848. They were 1229 souls
and they had with them 397 wagons, 74 horses, 19 mules, 1275 oxen,
699 cows, 184 loose cattle, 411 sheep, 141 pigs, 605 chickens, 37
cats, 82 dogs, 3 goats, 10 geese, 2 hives of bees, 6 doves and one
crow. John A. Mikesell and Catherine brought with them their son,
John Harrison Mikesell and family, one team of oxen, wagon and one
cow. John A. Mikesell was in the 1st division, 7th company. This
was led by President young. They arrived in the Great Salt Lake valley,
20 Sep 1848.
While in Salt Lake City, Catherine died of a violent hemorrhage of
the lung in 1851. She was coming out of Sunday meeting at the Bowery.
In 1853 John A married Sarah Hauck, and had two children by her.
John A Mikesell and his family lived in Salt Lake until about 1854.
Then he moved with his son John Harrison Mikesell to Payson where
he died. He was to be buried by his wife, Catherine, in Salt Lake
City, but it was too hard to travel in December, so it is believed
he was buried in the Payson Cemetery, but because the records were
burned, there is no proof.
GARRETT WALLS MIKESELL
By Jay Greaves Burrup
(3rd great grandson)
Garrett W. Mikesell, born 18 May 1810, in Cynthiana, Harrison County,
Kentucky, was the first son and second child of John Aylor and Catherine
Mikesell. Not much information is known about Garrett's early life.
The John A. Mikesell family moved from Kentucky to Liberty, Montgomery
County, Ohio, sometime before June 1812. At Liberty, as in Kentucky,
the Mikesell's operated a tavern. Around 1820 the family moved to
Clark County, Indiana, where Catherine Mikesell's family was living.
It was in Clark County that Garrett, at age 20 married Ruth "Ruthey " Cunningham,
the daughter of John and Frances Jones Cunningham. The marriage took
place on 20 June 1830, and was performed by William Bullock, Justice
of the Peace.
It was not many years afterward that the Mikesell family was introduced
to Mormonism. An L.D.S. ward membership record notes that Garrett
was baptized on January 1835 by Perry Durfee. It is not known where
this baptism occurred - in Indiana, Ohio or Missouri. A subsequent
L.D.S. church record states that on 26 January 1839, Garrett was
ordained an Elder along with James Worthington, Henry W. Bigler,
Levi Bracken, Philo Dibble and Jonathon H. Hale. Another ordination
apparently took place on 8 March 1839; this ordination was performed
by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball and was perhaps ordained to
the office of Seventy.
It is not known when the Mikesell families moved to Missouri, but
they were among the thousands of Mormons who were driven out by anti-Mormon
mobs during the winter of 1838-1839. In November of 1839 the Mikesell's,
along with many other Mormons who had lost their Missouri properties
to illegal seizures, submitted a billing to the State of Missouri
for reparation. Garrett's losses amounted to $850.00, a sizeable
amount for that era.
After being expelled from Missouri, the Mormons crossed the Mississippi
and settled temporarily at Quincy, Illinois. The Mikesell's lived
near Quincy for several years. On one occasion Brigham Young and
Heber C. Kimball stayed with the family for several days while they
regained their health prior to leaving for their missions in England.
As yet, Garrett's entry in the 1840 federal census has not been located.
It is entirely possible that the census taker missed the family or
that the family was not at home when the enumerator came by. Garrett's
father and brother (Hiram W.) are listed in the census schedules
of the "Half Breed Reservation" in Lee County, Iowa (1840).
L.D.S. Church records indicate that Garrett belonged to the 3rd Quorum
of Seventies. He and Hiram are listed in the Seventies Hall donation
ledger (ca 1844) as subscribers to the building of a meeting hall
for Seventies Quorum members. Garrett and Hiram each subscribed for
a $5.00 share. They were issued share receipts numbered 6 and 7 respectively.
According to a notation in the 3rd Quorum of Seventies records, Garrett
was living, ca 1844, at his residence 4 miles south of the Nauvoo
Temple.
In mid April, 1844, both Garrett and Hiram were called by church
leaders to return to Kentucky and preach the gospel. Along with finding
new converts, the Elders were to talk up the candidacy of Joseph
Smith for President of the United States and find electors who would
back the Smith ticket. Thirteen Elders were sent to Kentucky; the
president of the group was John D. Lee, later an instrumental figure
in the infamous massacre at Mountain Meadows. At the martyrdom of
Joseph and Hyrum Smith in June of 1844, the Elders returned to Nauvoo.
The anti-Mormon sentiment in Illinois eventually caused the Mormons
to flee Nauvoo. The first organized group to leave followed Brigham
Young across the frozen Mississippi River in early February 1846.
The initial vanguard company was soon followed by thousands of evicted
Mormons.
The Mikesell families again found themselves on the move.
They joined up with the main company and encamped with their neighbors
and friends near Council Bluffs located in Pottawattamie County,
Iowa. At this time Garrett and Ruth's family consisted of 8 children,
the oldest of whom was 15 years old. Four more children would later
be born in this vicinity.
On 22 September 1846, Brigham Young and the Council of Twelve Apostles
decided to build a water powered flour mill for the Mormon body.
The estimated cost was $800.00 with an output capacity thought to
be equal to one barrel of flour per hour. Willard Richards was appointed
by the council to write to Garrett and Hiram Mikesell and advise
them to "leave the ferry and boat in care of John Higbee and William
Empey and prepare for sawing lumber for the flour mill."
While encamped on the Iowa plains, Garrett was chosen to serve the
Mormon community as one of the "Regular Standing Police." Brigham
Young and Heber C. Kimball attended the organizational meeting of
the Standing Police which was held in November 1846. Hosea Stout,
who recorded the event in his diary, was chosen as Police Head. More
than once the police were called upon to calm both upset pioneers
and hostile indians. Hosea Stout also mentions in his diary that
Garrett W. Mikesell was skilled at dressing buffalo skins. Stout
purchased 4 of them from Garrett in 1846.
According to the 1850 U.S. Census, Garrett and family were still
living in Pattawattamie County, Iowa (District # 21). On October
5th, the same day as the census enumerator visited the family, Ruth
and Garrett received Patriarchal Blessings at Driggsville under the
hands of Patriarch William Draper.
While Garrett's parents and other family members left Iowa for Utah
- as early as 1848 - Garrett and family remained behind for several
more years. It is not understood why they remained in Iowa for so
many years after all of the other Mikesell's had pressed on to Utah.
When the enumerator of the 1860 U.S. Census visited Iowa he found
Garrett's family living in Silver Creek Township, Pottawattamie County.
Garrett was listed in the census schedules as a farmer with his personal
estate valued at $330.00.
Years later, Garrett and family decided to leave Iowa and join the
main body of Mormons in Salt Lake City, They traveled to Utah in
A.H. Patterson's independent wagon train and arrived on 4 September
1863. The Deseret News commented on the train's arrival and noted
that the company's cattle looked "quite poor, indication that they
had seen hard times in crossing the plains." The news placed blame
for the cattle's condition on "overdriving, and for the want, at
least, of requisite care and attention." Mention was also made of
the fact that many of the company members had experienced illness
enroute to Utah.
By the time
Garrett arrived in Utah both his mother and father had been dead
many years. Catherine Mikesell died in Salt Lake City on 20 July
1851, as the result of a massive hemorrhage of the lungs. She
died while leaving the Bowery after having listened to a Sunday
sermon by Brigham Young. John A. Mikesell and his two other wives
moved to Payson, Utah County, Utah, in the mid 1850's. He married
once more (1833) and died in Payson on 2 December 1858. It is
not known if Garrett knew of his parents' deaths before he arrived
in Salt Lake City.
Garrett's life and activities after his arrival in Utah in 1863 are,
strangely enough, more difficult to trace than his earlier life in
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. From 1863
to 1869 the record is sadly blank; his whereabouts and dealings remain
undiscovered.
On 10 November
1869, Ruth Cunningham Mikesell died of "neuralgia" in Richville,
Morgan County, Utah. Her body was taken to Salt Lake City to
be interred in the Mikesell family burial plot in the city cemetery.
A small death notice printed in the Deseret News noted that she
died on the 10th and was aged "59 years, 9 months, and 20 day's."
The next recorded event in Garrett's life occurred on 21 September
1879; on that date both he and Mary Ann Carter Mikesell (his second
wife) were re-baptized, apparently in Richville. It has not yet been
determined when Garrett and Mary Ann were married. There do not appear
to have been any children born in this marriage.
The 1880 Richville, Utah, Census show that the Mikesell household
consisted of 3 members - Garrett, aged 70, farmer; Mary A., aged
48, laundress; and Willard R., aged 26, farm worker. Another gap
of information exists from 1880 to 20 April 1888, when church records
state that Garrett died. His death apparently took place in Richville
and he was buried in the vicinity. He would have been nearly 78 years
of age at the time of his death.
It is regrettable that so little is known about Garrett and Ruth
Mikesell. These intriguing ancestors were among the early members
of the Mormon Church and witnessed some of the most exciting and
traumatic events in the church's history. Unfortunately, they didn't
take the time to record their memories. It appears that few of their
large posterity have found it worthwhile to record the family's heritage.
The author, Jay G. Burrup, is a descendant of Garrett and Ruth C.
Mikesell through their daughter, Cynthia Ann Mikesell Green Walker;
her daughter, Margaret Florenza Green Fox; her daughter Elizabeth
Fox Burrup, and her son, Clyde L. Burrup (the authors' father).
GARRETT WALLS MIKESELL was born 18 May 1810 in Cynthiana, Harrison,
Kentucky, and died 20 Apr 1888 in Richville, Morgan, Utah. He married
(1) RUTH CUNNINGHAM 20 Jun 1830 in Clark Co. Indiana, daughter of
JOHN CUNNINGHAM and FRANCES JONES. She was born 09 Jan 1811 in Cincinatti,
Hamilton, Ohio, and died 10 Nov 1869 in Richville, Morgan, Utah.
He married (2) MARY ANN CARTER 11 Feb 1881. She was born Feb 1833,
and died 18 Feb 1921.
More About GARRETT WALLS MIKESELL:
Burial: Unknown, South Morgan Cemetery, Morgan, Morgan Co. Utah.
Military service: Civil War Veteran
Residence: Garret & Ruth and 6 children left Florence Nebraska
by wagon train 29 June 1863 and arrived in Great Salt Lake City 4
September 1863.
More About RUTH CUNNINGHAM:
Marriage: 20 Jun 1830, Clark Co. Indiana
Burial: Unknown, The Mikesell family plot, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Cause of Death: Neuralgia
More About GARRETT MIKESELL and MARY CARTER:
Marriage: 11 Feb 1881
