Gebhard Bertele Born: 28 January 1817 Gmünd, Kingdom of Württemberg Died: 16 January 1887 Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio

Gebhard was the youngest of eight surviving children of Johann Bertele and Maria Anna Ammann.

His mother died when he was fifteen years old. He had moved from Gmünd to Friedrichshafen, Württemberg by 1843.

Gebhard married Josephine Ganter on 12 September 1843 in Friedrichshafen.

Between 1844 and 1851, Gebhard and Josephine had three children, including Gebhard Carl Bartley.

By 1851, the family was living in Ravensburg, Württemberg. Gebhard was working as a day laborer. In 1853, he was employed as a master baker.

In 1853, Gebhard "finally acquired by frugal saving enough to bring his family to America" (Winter, 1917, p. 969). He applied to the district of Tettnang for permission to emigrate on 18 May 1853. The reason he gave was to "search for better prosperity" in America. He was discharged from citizenship on 21 June 1853.

The family departed from the port of Antwerp on the Colombo. The ship left Flushing on 18 July 1853 with 258 passengers. It arrived at New York City on 29 August 1853, so the voyage took six weeks.

Gebhard first settled in Perrysburg in Lucas County, Ohio, but moved after two years to Oregon Township.

Josephine died in 1859, and Gebhard remarried on 7 December of that year to Julia Ritwegen. (Her last name also appears as "Rittenburger" and "Rittineger.") She was born on 21 July 1831 in Saxony, and emigrated in 1859.

Between 1860 and 1875, Gebhard and Julia had six children:

1. Elizabeth (17 Nov 1860 - 27 Jan 1948)
   She married Isadore Momenee (1863-1936)
2. Rosa (Rose) (25 Dec 1861 - 21 Aug 1943)
   She married Peter Burnor (1859/60-1942)
3. Juliana (Julia) (21 Sep 1863 - 10 Jan 1955)
   She married Napoleon J. Cousino (1865-1938)
4. John H. (29 Dec 1865 - 10 Feb 1931)
   He married Julia Grace Schnieder (1868-1942)
5. Joseph L. (19 Aug 1868 - 3 May 1933)
   He married Emma Zoe Leroux (1871-1951)
6. Henry G. (15 Jul 1875 - 9 Jan 1944)
   He married Abbie Herman (d. 1930)

His obituary states that he was one of the most successful farmers in Oregon Township. He moved to Toledo after 1880. He was a Republican, and a devout member of St. Mary's Church.

Gebhard died at age 69 at his home on 281 Walnut Street. His cause of death was recorded as a "debility of age" that had afflicted him for several months. Gebhard was survived by his wife and nine children. He was buried in St. Mary's (later, part of Mt. Carmel) cemetery in Toledo. The surname on the tombstone is "Berthele."

Julia died on 23 October 1916 on Cherry Street in Toledo; she was 85. The cause of death was old age and senility. She was also buried in the Mount Carmel cemetery.