Axel's birth is recorded in the Swedish church records of Säby, Jonkopings, Sweden as May 27th 1852. He is the son of Carl Mangus Appel and Eva Sara Swensen (Samueldattr). Säby is located on the western shore of Lake Sabysjon, south, southwest of Tranas, Sweden at the intersection of Route 32 and 133. It is a crossroad with a church. We know that he departed from Göteborg aboard the ship Orlando December 6, 1872 for Marinett in Michigan . After staying in Michigan for approximately a year, he relocated to Liberty Grove, Door County in Wisconsin as there was a great need for lumberman there. He was with his father Charles
and brothers Charles and Sanders
Orlando
Laura Christine Kofoed was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 20, 1860. She is the eldest child of Martin Hanson Kofoed and Johanne Marie Johnson. By 1870 she is recorded on the census as living in Gibraltar, Door County Wisconsin and attending school. The area she was raised in was near Fish Creek and is currently part of Peninsula State Park.
Kofoed Home Fishcreek
While in Liberty Grove Axel originally was lumberman but as time
went on he put down roots. On July 13, 1878 he is noted as a charter member of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church now called the Zion Lutheran Church of Sister Bay. On December 31 1879, the eve of a new year, he was married to Lourine Christine Kofoed at Fish Creek by John J. Groenfeldt, the minister of the
Moravian Church in Ephraim.
Ephraim Wisconsin
Axel became a naturalized citizen in 1880 and in 1881 their first child Carl Albert Appel is born. In 1883 he petitioning the state government for approval to built a dock in Lake Michigan and get the approval. The dock and a store was built at the end of the present Appleport road. The pier is mentioned in an article from the Milwaukee Sentinel on April 25 1883. It says the dock will be 1000 feet long. From here he shipped cordwood to Chicago. Axel sold the dock and store to Captain HA Porth in September 1884 and then did some faming on the present Sunstrom farm on County road 22 in Liberty Grove. In 1887 their second son Ralph Martin Appel is born and in 1895 he sold the farm to the Sumstoms and moved to Chicago. This move was in hope that the doctors in Chicago would be able to help Laura with a sickness that she had contracted, however on July 17, 1895 she passed away despite the doctors efforts. Laura was buried in the Mount Olive Cemetery in Chicago. Her death is noted in an article in the Door County Advocate date August 3, 1895.
Mount Olive Cemetery
Chicago Illinois
Chicago Illinois
In 1895 we find Axel is living at 847 East Chicago and is listed as a driver. The area in Chicago is where many Sweeds settled. On April 24, 1899 he married Emily Gustafsen Appel in Kenosha Wisconsin. She was the wife of his deceased brother John.
Emily Appel
Second Wife of Axel
Second Wife of Axel
Axel also took on the responsibility of raising two additional children Cora and Harry. He was working as a motorman on the street railroad through the 1930 census. They lived in a number of rental houses prior to buying a house at 630 South Cuyler Street in Oak Park, Illinois in 1930 The Census notes that he owned a radio.
630 South Cuyler Street
Oak Park, Illinois
1980
Oak Park, Illinois
1980
Axel died on May 28, 1934 and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery, section 188, lot 212, in Chicago. He was a member of Lodge No 141, I.O.O.F. (Oddfellows), Local Union 241 and Humboldt Tent No. 26 K.O.T.M. (Knights of Maccabees Fraternal Humboldt Tent)
Axel Appel Memorial
Rose Hill Cemetery
Rose Hill Cemetery
