Peter Köhl was born in Chur (Switzerland) as the illegitimate child of the butcher Anton Köhl and Luzia Meier. His father died very early so he grew up with his mother on the Kirchgasse, right next to the Martinskirche. She later married Johann Nepomuk Merz and the family lived in a house at Bärenloch 6. In 1866 Peter left Switzerland and emigrated to Indianapolis. 3 years later he married Marie Schnabel, a native of Germany. In 1871 Peter's half-brother, Johann Ulrich Merz of Chur, also emigrated to Indianapolis with his fiancée, Maria Dorothea Cabalzar of Alvaschein. Peter contracted neuralgia in 1880 and died of its effects in Indianapolis at only 48 years of age. Peter was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. His widow was left alone with their 8 minor children.

Source: Biography of Peter Köhl, written bei Markus Köhl (https://www.koehlfamily.net/peter-koehl-1842-1890-the-emigrant.html)

Peter Köhl was born in Chur (Switzerland) as the illegitimate child of the butcher Anton Köhl and Luzia Meier. His father died very early so he grew up with his mother on the Kirchgasse, right next to the Martinskirche. She later married Johann Nepomuk Merz and the family lived in a house at Bärenloch 6. In 1866 Peter left Switzerland and emigrated to Indianapolis. 3 years later he married Marie Schnabel, a native of Germany. In 1871 Peter's half-brother, Johann Ulrich Merz of Chur, also emigrated to Indianapolis with his fiancée, Maria Dorothea Cabalzar of Alvaschein. Peter contracted neuralgia in 1880 and died of its effects in Indianapolis at only 48 years of age. Peter was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. His widow was left alone with their 8 minor children.

Source: Biography of Peter Köhl, written bei Markus Köhl (https://www.koehlfamily.net/peter-koehl-1842-1890-the-emigrant.html)