GEORGE BARDEL is a successful farmer, and is now located on section 8, Ridott Township, where he owns eighty acres of well-improved land with first-class farm buildings. Mr. Bardel was born in Alsace, Germany, Dec. 11, 1823. His father, Jacob Bardel, a small farmer of Alsace, was married twice, the last time to Catherine Weilheim, by whom he had six children, one of whom is now deceased, and died at his home in Germany at the age of forty years.

George Bardel is the third child in the order of their birth, and was fourteen years of age at his father’s death. In 1845, the mother and her family of sons and daughters, six in all, came to the United States, and in the same year settled first in Silver Creek Township, where they afterward purchased land. This they afterward sold and came to Ridott Township, where they made their permanent home. The mother died of cholera at her son Michael’s house in 1852.

Mr. Bardel first purchased forty acres in Ridott Township, where he made his home and subsequently added forty acres more. To this he afterward added eighty acres of well-improved land in Silver Creek Township. Mr. Bardel has been married twice, the first time to Miss Lizzie Dorr, in Silver Creek Township, in 1852. She was born in Germany, and came to this country alone when twenty-two years old. She died at her home in Silver Creek Township in 1853, and left one living child, Margaret, the wife of Philip Mower, now of Lancaster Township.

Mr. Bardel married the second time in Silver Creek Township; Katie Dorr, a sister of his first wife. She also came to the United States alone, after her elder sister, and has borne to her husband three daughters and two sons. Of these, Catharine is the wife of Samuel Scheleich, of Ridott Township; George is married to Rosa Stanchorn, and lives in Silver Creek Township, pursuing the occupation of a farmer; Lizzie, Mary and Henry reside at home. Mr. Bardel’s family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 731