Biographical Insights about
Dorothea Elizabeth Johanna (HARBRECHT) PAGEL
(7 Sep 1850 - 29 Apr 1925)

Dorothea HARBRECHT was born 7 Sep 1850 in Klinken, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a territory which ordered the Baltic Sea and was just east of Pommerania. Mecklenburg-Schwerin was in turn an area of the larger territory of Mecklenburg, which became part of Unified Germany in 1871. She was one of 13 children of Johann Jochim Daniel 'John' HARBRECHT and Hanna Maria Dorothea 'Dora'HINZ, both parents also born in Klinken.

Thanks to the diligent preservation of birth and marriage records by the Lutheran church, Dorothea's Harbrecht ancestry can be traced back several centuries in the Klinken and Garwitz areas of Mecklinburg-Schwerin. The earliest identified relative of hers is Rev. Anthomius Woltke (b. cir 1636) , first pastor of the Gross Poserin Lutheran Church. in Gross Poserin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Not a great deal is known about Dorothea's life beyond her lovely albeit short 1925 obituary :

Aged Woman Passed Away Mrs. Frederick Pagel Died At Fred Harder Home. Funeral Held Saturday On Wednesday morning, April 29th Mrs. Frederick Pagel, who resided at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Harder, in Chilton town, passed away at 5:30 o'clock. She reached the age of 74 years, four months and twenty-two days. Dorothea Harbrecht, was born Dec. 7, 1860 [1850], in Klingden, Mechlenberg, Germany, She came to this country in 1854, with her parents, the late John and Dorothea Harbrecht. The family resided about a year at Chicago and then moved to Manitowoc county where they resided on a farm. She assisted her parents about the farm, until married to Frederick Pagel in the town of Rhine on Nov. 21, 1871. Following their marriage they located on a farm in the town' of Rantoul where they lived until 1882 when they purchased the farm now owned by John Fochs. In 1911 they disposed of this farm and moved to Chilton. Mrs. Pagel, last fall, was seriously ill with dropsy, and felt unable to keep up her home duties so went to reside with her daughter. She was able to be up and about. Tuesday evening she retired at 8 o'clock and her daughter noticed she appeared to be quite uneasy. Mrs. Harder remained at her mother's bedside until she passed away. She was a member of the Ebenezer Reformed Church at Chilton where funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, the Rev. W. A. Arpke officiated. Interment was made in the family lot in Breed cemetery. She was favorably known and enjoyed a large circle of friends. She leaves her husband, two sons, Fred of Brillion and William of Chilton, and two daughters, Mrs. Anton Fochs of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. Fred Harder of Chilton town. She also leaves 20 grandchildren and two great grand children; four brothers: John Harbrecht of Mill Home, Ernest Harbrecht of Neenah, Louis Harbrecht of Cudahy, Wm Harbrecht of Dorchester, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Teege of here. from : Hilbert Favorite; May 7, 1925; Front page, column 5.

Dorothea with her 4 Youngest Children

A portrait of Dorothea (HARBRECHT) PAGEL with husband Frederick and their five children is found on their Family Page.

Information on Dorothea (HARBRECHT) PAGEL's husband, Frederick, is found HERE.

Dorothea (HARBRECHT) PAGEL and her husband are buried in the family plot in Hillside Cemetery (also known as Breeds Cemetery) in Chilton, Calumet Co., WI. The family homestead is located directly across the road from the cemetery, with the home and barn still is use as of August, 2008.