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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/RgXBAEB/71.2.1.1
Message Board Post:
Unfortunately, I know nothing about your grandfather. However, there are other Wisconsin
Zabels concentrated in Marquette County and I do believe that one of their surnames was
Otto. Your grandfather's middle name might be the surname of his mother's people.
Our original surname was Zaabel. I can not connect with these other Zabels.
My grandfather was living near Berlin, Germany before he left for Wisconsin. It is
possible that your grandfather may have been a cousin. I searched for many years for
information regarding my grandfather's origins. I finally located the records and now
have verified his ancestral village, the names of his parents and siblings. I now have a
record of his baptism in West Prussia. Don't give up. The only surviving Wisconsin
record with information was a marriage certificate.
You could also try naturalization records and a death record if you haven't already
searched those documents. From there I went to the Family History Center to search
European records.
Good searching.