Biography researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock. Please do not publish elsewhere without providing proper credit. Thank you.
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Maria (Mary) Kegler Nickel(s) was born in Woltersdorf, kr. Randow, Pomerania, Prussia. This village was absorbed into Kreis Greifenhagen when Kreis Randow was dissolved on 15 October 1939. Most of the former Kreis Randow is now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but a small section around Gartz, including Woltersdorf, is now in Brandenburg.

Mary was the daughter of Michael Kegler and Karolina Brauer Kegler. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1881, sailing aboard the 'Braunschweig' from Bremen, Germany, to Baltimore, Maryland. Some of Mary's siblings remained in Germany, but Frederich, Christine, Ferdinand and Louise also immigrated with their parents.

Mary was wed to Louis Nickel(s) and together they raised at least five children, including Adelena M. "Lena" Nickel Kuechenmeister (#134590393), Daniel Ferdinand Nickel (#19104307), Raymond John Nickel (#19104329), Elizabeth Nickel (#134590427) and Elinore Maria Nickel Riedel (#94932207). From the large gap in birth years, it is probable that they had more children who are yet to be identified. Additional information would be appreciated (please submit via the "Edit" tab).

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The current-day municipality of Casekow [ka:ze ko:] was created on 31 December 2002, by merging the formerly independent communities of Casekow, Blumberg, Luckow-Petershagen, Wartin and Woltersdorf. Michael Kegler's birthplace was the village of Casekow (then known as Kasekow). Karolina Brauer Kegler and her children were born in the village of Woltersdorf. Both of these smaller villages are now included in the municipality of Casekow. Geographic location is: 53°13′00″N 14°13′00″E .

For best results, enter the birth location as "Woltersdorf, Uckermark, Brandenburg, Germany" on Ancestry.com and other genealogical websites.