This genealogy centers around the Hampel, Kemme, Bendel, and Fautz families. In 1996 I traveled to  the areas where the Hampel, Bendel, and Kemme families came from and visited with relatives that  live there. We are still in communication. If you wish to correct, add, or delete any of your  family's information, please contact me through this Web site.

The HAMPEL name was originally spelled Hampl. The earliest Hampl member found so far is Karel  Hampl, born (place unknown) in 1684. He lived in the village of Velky Kbel in Bohemia (now the  Czech Republic) with his wife Katriny. Karel was a cottager (similar to a tenant farmer but he  owned his own home and had a small garden plot). The area was a silver mining region that supplied  the ore and charcoal to the mint in Kutna Hora (the largest city 30 KM away). When the mines were  depleted, the area turned into mostly farming communities. This area is approximately 100 KM  south-east of Prague.  
      Four generations later, Josef Hampl, a tailor and living in Uhlirske Janovice, emigrated to  the USA in 1858 from the port city of Bremen, Germany on the ship 'Ottilie' and settled in  Cincinnati. He came with his wife (Josephina Vlach) and his 3 sons (Franz, Louis,and Anton).  During the Civil War, he made uniforms for the Union soldiers.       Two of his sons (Frank and Louis) went to Dayton to raise their families, Joseph went to  Cleveland and Anton (or Anthony) remained in Cincinnati. Upon Josef's death, he left $10,000 to  each of his sons, a tidy sum for back then.

The oldest imformation comes from the KEMME family. In the 1500's, the Bailiff in the northern  county of the Duchy Osnabrück, collected farms when freefarmers could no longer meet their  obligations. By 1600, he had 20 farms including the Kemme farm. In 1590's he had some difficulties  with the tenants (not our relatives)on the Kemme farm and asked them to leave. He brought a bonded  man and his wife from a nearby convent to work the farm. His name was Otto Dobblehoff. Otto came  to the Kemme farm in 1602 and accepted the name of the farm (Kemnade at that time) as his surname  in 1604. The Dobbelhoff farm (where Otto came from)is located near Bersenbrück and was owned at  that time by the Cistercian Convent (founded in 1231 by Otto von Ravensberg).      Otto (now Otto thor Kemnade) was successful in managing the farm, even though farming was  difficult during the 30 Years War. During this time, his son, Harms, protected the farm by hiding  the livestock in the nearby dense oak forest.  The farm has remained in the family for 11  generations, usually the youngest son inheriting the farm. In 1760, the Kemnade family name (from  the latin 'Kaminata' meaning stone house) was abbreviated to Kemme. The Kemme family remained  bonded (working for the land's owner) until 1827. That year they bought their freedom and farm  ownership for 2000 Talers. 
      Because the Prussians were drafting citizens of the area into their Army, August Kemme, at age 19 in 1883, walked from the farm through the night to Bremen, Germany,  the closest free harbor.  There he booked passage to America. Upon arriving in Cincinnati, he lived with relatives and  immediately went to work for his uncle, Anton Hesselbrock learning the cooper trade (making wooden  barrels). He met his wife, Anna Drees, at a family function in Cincinnati.   
      The earliest date found in the BENDEL family was the birth of Johannes Bendel, born on  December 12, 1743 in Magenhaus, Germany. He was the son of Johan Georg Bendel of Magenhaus and  Kunegunde Zant from Hillershof. Both Johannes and his father were farmers in this southern German  region (Württenburg) near Lake Constance (Boden See). Magenhaus is a small village nestled between  the larger cities of Ailendorf and Waldsee.
   Johannes's grandson Karl was a baker and tavern owner in Tettnang (just south of Magenhaus).  In 1884, Karl sold his business and came to America with his wife (Maria Wacker) and four children  (Maria, George, Karoline, and Elizabeth), settling on a farm just outside London, KY. In 1889,  Karl's wife Maria and daughter Elizabeth returned to Germany to live out the rest of their lives.  Besides farming, Karl and his son, George, were carpenters in London, KY.

The FAUTZ family originates in the Black Forest area of Baden in the town of Ohlsbach, Germany.  The earliest Fautz family member found was Franz Josef, born around 1750. His great-grandson,  Mathias Fautz, a tailor, move to Switzerland with his wife (Franziska Werpler) where their son,  Paul was born. From there, they emigrated to America in 1887, living briefly in Cincinnati and  Louisville, before settling in London, KY. Franziska died two years after arriving in the USA due  to childbirth complications and Mathias remarried to Alphonsia Ebner from Untergaimberg, Tirol,  Austria. Besides working as a tailor in London, he was also the organist at the Catholic Mission  Church of St Andrew.