A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
A Whole Lotta Family - Person Sheet
NameThomas P Imel 
2
2FlagsCivil War
FatherChristian Immel (Imel) (1804-1881)
MotherMarie “Mary” Schuster (1800-1874)
Spouses
FatherJacob K Riegel (1816-1857)
MotherChristianna “Chrissie Ann” Ohl (1821-1893)
ChildrenGeorge B. McLellen (1864-1889)
John Franklin (1866-1937)
Elmer Lawrence (1867-1953)
Ida Samantha (1869-1914)
Ira Oscar (1871-1927)
Noma Alzina (1876-1941)
Notes for Thomas P Imel
According to an obituary which was copied in the Imel Family Bible in the possession of Robert Lee
Thomas, “Thomas Imel was born October 3, 1838, in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co., Pa. and passed away
January 30, 1917, at 1 A.M. having reached the age of 78 years, 2 months, 37 days.
On October 12, 1863 he was married to Miss Viletta Riegel, Northampton Co, Pa. In 1876 he
came West with his family settling at Bennet Lane, north of Savannah, Mo. Three years later they came to
Savannah, and then to King City, Mo. Where Mr. Imel followed the carpenter trade as in former places.
Later he moved on a farm in Caldwell Co. And from there to St. Joseph where he has since lived. For a
number of years he with a brother, now deceased, was in the contracting business, but in recent years
retired because of age and infirmities.
A little more than a week ago Mr. Imel contracted a severe cold which brought on complications
issuing in his death. The last hours were quiet and peaceful, and he fell asleep to awaken on the other
shore, in obedience to the summons of his Savior, ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest.’”
In the Imel Family Bible, the birth place of Thomas Imel is given as “Harrisburg Pa.” and the
birthplace of Viletta Riegel Imel is given as “Milton Pa.”
Mildren Imel Neenan recalled to Fr. Benedict Neenan about 1974 that her grandfather, Thomas
Imel, was a small, stooped man in old age but always industrious. He would sharpen saws by taking a
stand with a vice around to various stores and homes. He gave up woodworking because of asthsma. He
rose at 5:30 each morning and loved pie: he once told his wife if she gave him pie he would never want
anything else. He was very neat: kept his beard combed and kept his basement workshop neat and orderly.
He was very strict but gentle. He liked to rock little children but his granddaughter, Mildred Imel
Neenan, refused because it made her sick. He built two houses in St. Joseph at 1002 and 1004 North 18th
St. in St. Joseph. He lived in 1002 and his son John lived in 1004.2
Thomas, “Thomas Imel was born October 3, 1838, in Mifflin Twp., Columbia Co., Pa. and passed away
January 30, 1917, at 1 A.M. having reached the age of 78 years, 2 months, 37 days.
On October 12, 1863 he was married to Miss Viletta Riegel, Northampton Co, Pa. In 1876 he
came West with his family settling at Bennet Lane, north of Savannah, Mo. Three years later they came to
Savannah, and then to King City, Mo. Where Mr. Imel followed the carpenter trade as in former places.
Later he moved on a farm in Caldwell Co. And from there to St. Joseph where he has since lived. For a
number of years he with a brother, now deceased, was in the contracting business, but in recent years
retired because of age and infirmities.
A little more than a week ago Mr. Imel contracted a severe cold which brought on complications
issuing in his death. The last hours were quiet and peaceful, and he fell asleep to awaken on the other
shore, in obedience to the summons of his Savior, ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest.’”
In the Imel Family Bible, the birth place of Thomas Imel is given as “Harrisburg Pa.” and the
birthplace of Viletta Riegel Imel is given as “Milton Pa.”
Mildren Imel Neenan recalled to Fr. Benedict Neenan about 1974 that her grandfather, Thomas
Imel, was a small, stooped man in old age but always industrious. He would sharpen saws by taking a
stand with a vice around to various stores and homes. He gave up woodworking because of asthsma. He
rose at 5:30 each morning and loved pie: he once told his wife if she gave him pie he would never want
anything else. He was very neat: kept his beard combed and kept his basement workshop neat and orderly.
He was very strict but gentle. He liked to rock little children but his granddaughter, Mildred Imel
Neenan, refused because it made her sick. He built two houses in St. Joseph at 1002 and 1004 North 18th
St. in St. Joseph. He lived in 1002 and his son John lived in 1004.2