My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE HAMEL, SR., an old and respected citizen of Edge Hill, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, highly esteemed for his sound business judgment and many excellent personal qualities, is a son of John C. and Catherine (Zink) Hamel, both of whom were of German descent.

John C. Hamel, the father of George Hamel, was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and when a youth of about sixteen years of age was drafted into the French army under Napoleon. Preferring freedom to his arduous service, he deserted and fled to America, landing in New York, whence he came to Philadelphia. There he entered a packing house, and after some years experience as assistant he embarked in the business. He remained until 1834 engaged in mercantile pursuits, and then purchased a farm in the suburbs, below the city, and later another in Abington township, Montgomery county. His death occurred in Philadelphia, August 27, 1854, in his sixty-fifth year. He married Mrs. Catherine Zink, daughter of Henry Zink, and whose children were: Margaret (Mrs. Daniel Williams); Henry W.; George; Amanda L., (Mrs. Robert Zane); Emeline, who died in youth; and John C., whose death also occurred at an early age. Mrs. John C. Hamel was born January 22, 1785, and her death occurred at Jenkintown February 13, 1880, in her ninety-sixth year.

George Hamel, son of the parents named, was born June 6, 1821, in Philadelphia, at the southwest corner of Tenth and Buttonwood streets, and his boyhood until his sixteenth year was passed there and at Eighth and Noble streets. He then removed to Montgomery county and resided upon his father’s farm, meanwhile educating himself with such books and newspapers as he could obtain from different sources. He became interested in the various branches of labor incident to the life of a farmer. August 21, 1841, he married Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Rachel Tyson. After his marriage he removed to a place then owned by Mrs. Hamel’s grandfather, Benjamin Tyson, near Weldon, and later to an adjoining farm in the same township. He embarked for a brief time in mercantile ventures at Willow Grove, Montgomery county, and in 1854 made agriculture the business of his life. On this farm was a product known as gannister-stone, chiefly used in lining cupolas and converters in Bessemer steel works.

Mr. Hamel is largely identified with the best interests of Abington, having been for thirty years auditor of the township, and filled the office of school director for several years. He was for many years a director of the Willow Grove and Germantown Plank Road Company. He has been actively identified with Tacony Grange No. 59, of Montgomery county. His political convictions led to his affiliation with the Democratic party, which he represented during the years 1856-57-58 in the state legislature, serving on the committees on banks and banking, agriculture, and others of equal importance. He is a member and an elder in the Carmel Presbyterian church at Edge Hill, having formerly filled the same office in connection with the Abington Presbyterian church, and has been superintendent of the Sabbath school at Edge Hill from which grew the present church organization, since its commencement in 1872.

Mr. Hamel, in his long and active career, has witnessed the rise and development of many of the most important agencies of the industrial world of today. He recalls the time when coal first came into vogue as fuel for domestic purposes; when the Conestoga wagon was superseded by the locomotive engine; and has seen the introduction of petroleum oil, illuminating gas, the telegraph, the telephone, the reaper and binder, and the sewing machine.

The children of George and Hannah (Tyson) Hamel were: 1. John C., born May 29, 1842, married Jane S. Stevens, November 4, 1868; their children are George M., Maria S., and Grace R. 2. Mary C., born June 23, 1844, died August 25, 1892. 3. Margaret, born April 4, 1846. 4. George, born March 5, 1848; died in youth. 5. Charles T., born April 11, 1850; died in youth. 6. George Hamel (second), born October 7, 1852, married Sarah Mann, and their children are Harrold M. and Ethel R. 7. Franklin P., born August 28, 1854, died in youth. 8. Hannah, born October 13, 1856; died in infancy. 9. Rachel T., born February 5, 1858, who became the wife of Joseph Douckenmiller and their children are Florence, who became the wife of Rev. Albert F. von Tobel, and son Earl. 10. Ida Amanda, born March 12, 1860, who became the wife of Frank T. Comly, and their children are John A. and Hutchinson S. Comly. 11. Harry I., born November 14, 1862; married Elizabeth Rhine, and their children are Alfred R., Catherine A. and Tyson Hamel.

Hannah (Tyson) Hamel, the wife of George Hamel, Sr., passed away at her home in Abington township, Montgomery county, May 28, 1896. She was a most estimable woman, and was beloved and esteemed by a wide circle of friends for her many deeds of kindness and benevolence. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.