Week 8 #52in52: Power

 Week 8 of #52AncestorsIn52Weeks prompt is "Power."

Johannes Christian Imel, was born in 1871 in Rheinhessen-Pfalz, Germany to his parents Anna Maria Schlosser and Michael Immel. He was the youngest of 6 children. 

In 1809 Christian immigrated to Southern Russia. The village of Landau in the Beresaner Valley was established by Roman Catholic German immigrants in 1810 and Christian was among the first settlers. Most of the colonists also came from Rheinhessen-Pfalz.

The distance between where Christian was born in Germany and Landau

In 1811 he married Katharina Magdalena Helbing. The couple had 7 children, 3 girls and 4 boys. 

In 1825 Christian, who was said to be a very energetic and intelligent man, became the Chief Mayor of the Beresan district. It was described as having a parish school, a town hall, and the Beresan University, as well as a post office and a bank. 

During his 11 year term in office Beresan suffered through a series of disaster which included cattle disease, a grasshopper infestation, a cholera outbreak, and in 1833 a famine fell across the land. Christian sent two of his son Nikolaus and another man to Poland to purchase grain cheaply. The grain was brought to Landau and put into large granaries for food during the famine. This move ensured that the people of Landau were able to eat and therefore recovered from the famine. Christian's term as mayor ended in 1834. 

He died in 1850 at the age of 69.

Johannes Christian Imel is my 5th great grand-uncle

Christian is not the only family member who has held the office of mayor. Check out this post about my husband's Great Granduncle Thomas Gangemi, mayor of Jersey City here