Lincoln Dining Room Chair

[Excelsior]

Hi -

Nice sleuthing - the " Emma" and Emily would seem to match, meaning I believe the California Dinkels are real descendants with an actual chair. My Michael Dinkel does have a father and grandfather named Johann. My Michael's father Johann is born 1799, the gentleman in the article (John M.) is 88 in 1861 so he's born in 1872, so it works if Barbara is Michael's cousin and their grandpa is living in Springfield. Wurttenburg does border Bavaria, the cousin's would have to be from different towns ....

He (Michael Dinkel) was born in Bavaria on August 16, 1833, and his youth was passed in his native land. Our information is that he came to America when 18
years of age because he did not see fit to submit to compulsory military service for causes in which he did not believe. He landed in Baltimore, where he remained
for a year, during which time he learned the tailor's trade. After the year was completed, he enlisted in the Second Regiment of United States Infantry, in which military unit he served for five years. Much of this enlistment was spent in the west in Indian campaigns. On his discharge from the army he opened and conducted a small general store at Perryville, Mo. This first period of enlistment by Mr. Dinkel is
worthy of more than passing notice, for it covered a most critical period of the history of Missouri during the Civil war. Missouri was normally a southern state and much of the state was in sympathy with the southern cause and there is little doubt that Missouri would have seceded from the union in 186l had it not been for the influence of the German immigrants who had settled in the state. One of the most thrilling historical novels in American history was written by Winston Churchill in depicting this period of our history. Michael Dinkel and his relatives were among those who held Missouri for the Union. His army service in Uncle Sam's regular army had taught him the way to wage war. At first, the loyal portion of the state was organized in what was called the state troops. His unit was the 4th Missouri. Latter this body of troops was reorganized with regular army officers. In this reorganization, Mr. Dinkel became an orderly sergeant and his brother-in-law was first sergeant. As we have stated, in 1865 Michael Dinkel became a storekeeper at Perryville. Mo., but he had other ambitions and in 1866 sold out and set out for the north, reaching St. Cloud, where he worked for a year as a bridge carpenter. The next spring, 1867. he was joined by Mike Nesslein and Aaron Schrenk, and the three came to Todd county and took homesteads in Long Prairie township. This was the year that Todd county was organized and Mike Dinkel took an active interest in all that went on. It was indeed a new country and much was to be done to build up a prosperous settlement. These half dozen settlers from Missouri were the material of which pioneers are made.

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A little too hasty - Barbara would be his cousin's wife, but "Grandpa Dinkel" could be living there ...

Tom