Edward Rubel (1850-1907)

Edward Rubel was born on January 24, 1850 in France. His parents were Johannes and Margaret Schaeffer Rubel. Edward had at least four older sisters -- Eva, Barbara, Mary Ann and Catherine, and one younger sister, Louisa. The Rubel family lived in the northeast section of France between the Voges and the Rhine. The story goes that Johannes was a baker. The family lived in several different cities in France. Eva was born in Alsace Lorraine, Mary Ann in Metz and Edward in the same area in France.

In 1866, Edward Rubel traveled to America by ship. He was only sixteen but his family feared war was ahead. They did not want their only son to be drafted. They felt America had more opportunities for him. His oldest sister, Eva, had already settled in Galena, Illinois and had married and started a family so Edward headed for that area. Where he settled is uncertain. However, in 1870, Edward lived in Bellevue, Iowa per the United States Census of 1870. This stated he was single, 20 year old, a farmer and was from France. About the same time war did break out in France just as the Rubels had feared. The section the Rubels had lived in became a part of Germany from 1871-1917 and again in 1940-1944.

Around 1875, Edward Rubel married Katherine Heim at St. Mary's Church in Galena, Illinois. Edward continued to farm. Their first child was born in 1876. They named him John. In 1878 another son was botn and named Edward II. Sometime before 1881 the family to Springbrook, Iowa. There Charles was born in 1881, followed by Arnold in 1883, Abbie in 1884, Josephine in 1885, Emma in 1887 and William in 1890.

Edward was known to have red curly hair, was rather stout, wore a mustache, and was rather short for a man. On November 27, 1907, while visiting Chicago, Illinois, Edward died of an accident in his hotel room. Apparently a gas heater had gone out and he died from the fumes. His two older sons, John and Edward II, brought his body back to Springbrook, Iowa for burial. He was only 57 years old.

From Edward Rubel and family, compiled by Florene Hubenthal Rubel, 1985

Photo from Find a Grave memorial.