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Note: Notes from Lydia Lehl Becker Horney.
Peter Lehl was married 3 times. He had 21 children with his 3 wives (she can only name 13.) Peter and his first wife Sinner had Henry (my note: Henry is a child of Peter's third wife) and Christina. They did not come to America with the family. She thinks they remained in Russia. Peter's 2nd wife Louisa Repp died when her father (John) was a baby. She thinks probably from complications from childbirth - but is not sure. Peter then began courting young Kate Seadar (20 years younger then Peter). His family wasn't happy with this match as the Seadar's were not high in standing of the Norka village and she wasn't considered "good enough." Peter was the head of the family and his wife and children were there to wait on him. Lydia said she hated it when the grandfather Peter came to visit, he demanded the best and kept everyone running to meet his wants. Peter as far as she remembers did not speak English. Peter died in Brighton, Colo. and is buried Elmwood cemetery.
John Lehl (Lydia"s father) was born in Norka, Russia and his mother died when he was a young baby. His stepmother Kate raised him and his sister, Elizabeth, "Lizzie." He came to America with his family when he was 13 years old. He met and married her mother (Amalie "Mollie" MIchel) in Kearney, Nebraska in 1901.
He (John) learned very little English and preferred speaking German at home. He never became a citizen of the USA although he declared his intentions during World War I. He followed in his father manner as being the boss of the family and the children were meant to work and not go to school.
He was in trouble with the school district at least twice for not sending his children to school. Lydia only completed through the 6th grade. His children taught him to write his name in English and this proved not to be the best thing as he would sign anything put before him and on occasions this would get him in to trouble financially. Then Ed, his oldest son, would have to try and straighten things out. He (John) was known to have a few drinks too many and then Mollie would get her dander up and make him sleep it off in the basement.
She remembered the large gatherings of the Lehl family in the Denver area. Grandpa and Grandma Lehl. Uncle Alex and family, Uncle Adam and family, Uncle Jacob and family, Uncle Chris (Harry Chris) and family and the two Aunts.
She didn't seem to know much about the families of Laurence or Henry Lehl. She was able to give me who they married (1st names), but not the children.
Johh Lehl's sister Lizzie lived with them in Loveland for a time and she had a picture of Lizzie and husband and family hanging in the bedroom of her home. Lizzie and husband separated when they were elderly and she lived with a son in the Brighton area till she died.
John Lehl and family belonged to the German Congregational Church in Loveland, Colo.
Lydia said that her family did not speak about the families in Russia or the past in their home. She said that it was mostly work, church and very little play. She and her older sister, Pauline were expected to work as men even though they were women. Being the two oldest children, they were expected to keep up their end of the work load. She worked the beet fields from the age of 4 until she married her 1st husband. Memories of her mother were of baking bread and having babies.
Adam Lehl moved permanently to the Fresno area of California in 1934 during the Depression. He and other members of the family were working as laborers in California about 1925/1926 shortly after Lydia lost her first husband. She went to California with them and worked as a babysitter and maid for the Richards family. They were back in Colorado by 1928.
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