John F. Imel1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12399, (1866 - 1937)
FatherThomas Imel4,5,6,3 (3 Oct 1838 - 30 Jan 1917)
MotherVioletta Riegel4,5,6,7 (18 Feb 1844 - 31 Mar 1924)

Key Events:

Birth: May 1866, Pennsylvania8,9,10
Marriage: 23 Aug 1892, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, Dorothea Johanna Vasterling (6 Dec 1867 - 5 Dec 1954)11,12
Death: 7 Feb 1937, Los Angeles Co., California13
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     John F. Imel was born in May 1866 in Pennsylvania.8,9,10 He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., Missouri, in the household of his parents, Thomas Imel and Violetta Riegel.3

Practicing Law in St. Joseph --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     By 1887 John was a working as a stenographer for law firms. That year he is listed as working for McKinney, Hudley & Walker, and the next year for Ramey & Brown. By 1890 he was working for Stephen S. Brown, who had left his previous partnership. By 1893 John had become a lawyer, in partnership with Brown, using the firm name Brown & Imel. By 1895 he had a new partner, K.B. Randolph, using the firm name of Randolph & Imel.14
     John married Dorothea Johanna Vasterling, daughter of Friederich Vasterling and Johannah Floerke, on 23 Aug 1892 in St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, with Rev. Carl C. Nestel officiating.11,12
     About 1896 John briefly formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles C. Crow, under the name of Imel & Crow. They listed themselves as attorneys and also as counselors for Snow-Church Collection Co. That partnership was short-lived; by 1898 they had gone their separate ways.15 From 1899 until 1906 John practiced by himself, with offices in the German-American Bank building in St. Joseph.16,17,18
     John and Dorothea appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1006 18 St., enumerated 1 Jun 1900. Their daughter Mildred was listed as living with them.19

A Probate Judge --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     John served as judge of probate court from about 1907 until 1914.20,21,22 His niece, Violetta Marie Imel, worked for him as a stenographer in 1913-1914.23
     While a probate judge, John raised an objection to the disposition of the fees he collected that resulted in litigation. Under state law at the time, probate judges were required to pay to the county 90% of the amount the fees they collected, after deducting expenses, exceeded the salary of circuit court judges in the same county. The payments were to go to the school fund in the county. He had collected $5,558 in fees in 1907 and $6,675 in 1908. After deducting the allowed amounts $2,426 was due the county for the two years. He filed suit claiming the provisions requiring paying a portion of probate judge's fees was unconstitutional. The Circuit Court agreed with him, but was reversed by the state Supreme Court 28 Mar 1912 and he was required to make the payments. The law was changed for Buchanan Co. in 1915 requiring probate judges to turn over all fees collected and receive a fixed salary of $3,000 per year.24,25
Hollingsworth Building, Los Angeles
courtesy University of Southern California Libraries

     John and Dorothea appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1006 18 St., enumerated 4 Apr 1910, reporting that the family owned its home, free of mortgage. Their daughter Mildred was listed as living with them, as was her mother, Johannah Floerke.26

Moving to Los Angeles --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     In 1914, while still living in St. Joseph, John established a partnership with a Los Angeles law firm known as Delmas, Imel & Banks.27
     John and Dorothea moved to Los Angeles, California about 1915, initially living at 623½ S. Spring.28 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 1236 Crown Hill Ave., enumerated 5 Jan 1920, reporting that they were renting their home. Their daughter, Mildred, and her husband are shown as living in the same dwelling.29
     John established his own practice when he moved to Los Angeles, with offices in the Hollingsworth Building at 606 S. Hill St., "one of the finest office buildings on the Pacific Coast" by one account.30,31 By 1925 he formed a partnership with Neal E Dow, under the name of Imel & Dow.32
     John and Dorothea moved to 7133 Huges Ave. by 1925.33 They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 3756 Hughes Ave., enumerated 8 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home valued at $9,000, and had a radio.34
     John died on 7 Feb 1937 in Los Angeles Co., California, at age 70.13

Children:
     Child with Dorothea Johanna Vasterling:

Citations

  1. [S237] Viletta Imel obituary, Gazette, shows name as John F. Imel.
  2. [S4442] John F. Imel and Dorathea J. Vasterling, marriage license.
  3. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri.
  4. [S235] St. Joseph Gazette, 1 Apr 1924.
  5. [S236] St. Joseph News Press, 1 Apr 1924.
  6. [S237] Viletta Imel obituary, Gazette.
  7. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri, shows him as the son of her husband.
  8. [S379] Thomas Immel household, 1880 U.S. Census, Gentry Co., Missouri, shows age 14 and state.
  9. [S1594] John Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows month, year, age 34, and state.
  10. [S1591] John F. Imel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows age 43 and state.
  11. [S4442] John F. Imel and Dorathea J. Vasterling, marriage license, shows date, city, county, state, and officant.
  12. [S1594] John Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows married 7 years.
  13. [S4443] "California Death Index, 1905-1939," Ancestry.com, record for John F Imel.
  14. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1887 pg 216; 1888 pg 245; 1890 pp 95, 262; 1893 pg 269; 1894 pp 102, 266; and 1895 pp 272, 417.
  15. [S4458] Hoye's City Directory of St. Joseph, 1896 pp 148, 268.
  16. [S4466] Combe Printing Co's Directory of St. Joseph, 1898 pg 365, 1899 pg 406, 1900 pg 430, 1901 pg 432, 1902 pg 480, and 1904 pg 481.
  17. [S4467] Combe-Polk Directory Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1905 pg 505, and 1906 pg 528.
  18. [S1594] John Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows occupation as lawyer.
  19. [S1594] John Imel household, 1900 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri.
  20. [S4467] Combe-Polk Directory Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1907 pg 498.
  21. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 1908 pg 466, 1909 pg 486, 1910 pg 436, 1911 pg 443, 1912 pg 406, 1913 pg 425, and 1914 pg 263; 1915 pg 286 shows him with no occupation listed.
  22. [S1591] John F. Imel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri, shows occupation as lawyer.
  23. [S4468] R. L. Polk & Co.'s St. Joseph City Directory, 19134 pg 425, and 1914 pg 263.
  24. [S4729] The Revision Committee R. S. McClintic Chairman, The Revised Statues of the State of Missouri 1919, III:4237-8.
  25. [S4728] State ex rel. Buchanan County v. Imel, The Southwestern Reporter, 146: 783-786.
  26. [S1591] John F. Imel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Buchanan Co., Missouri.
  27. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1914 pg 1286, shows his residence as St. Joseph Mo.
  28. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1915 pg 1110.
  29. [S1589] John F. Imel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  30. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1915 pg 699, shows Demlas without partners, pg 1110 shows John as attorney but no affiliation, as does 1916 pg 1076 and 1917 pg 1085.
  31. [S1589] John F. Imel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as attorney.
  32. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1925 pg 1098.
  33. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1915 pg 1076, 1917 pg 1085.
  34. [S1092] John F. Imel household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  35. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Mildred Lorene Neenan, Soc. Sec. No. 489-68-9473.