Roehl Family

The History of the Roehl Family

From Europe to America: A Legacy Begins

In 1854, Joseph and Catherine RÖHL made a courageous and life-altering decision—to leave their home in Europe and embark on a journey across the Atlantic to begin anew in the United States of America. Their emigration would ultimately shape the lives of eight generations of descendants, laying the foundation for the Roehl family legacy in America.

This section of the Borlin Family website is devoted to preserving and sharing that legacy. Through careful documentation, historical interpretation, and personal narratives, we aim to tell the story of how one family’s journey became part of the larger American experience.

Preserving a 150-Year History

Spanning more than 150 years, the Roehl family’s history is a rich but imperfect record. Time has obscured many details—some individuals appear only briefly in the records, with little more than a name and a date. Still, wherever possible, we have used historical context and informed interpretation to better understand the lives and motivations of our ancestors.

Some entries are based on factual documentation, while others have been augmented with period-specific information to offer insight into what life might have been like during that time. These interpretations are designed to honor the spirit of discovery while acknowledging the gaps that inevitably exist in genealogical research.

A Broader Family Story

Although the main focus of this project is on the descendants of Joseph and Catherine RÖHL, family histories naturally expand beyond a single surname. Through marriages and relationships, other families have become part of the Roehl story. Wherever information about these individuals is available, it has been included to enrich the narrative and offer value to other researchers and descendants.

Opinions and Footnotes

Each chapter of this website includes a dedicated "Opinions and Footnotes" section. These postscripts provide:

• Citations and sources for key information

• Modern interpretations of historical events

• Explanatory notes on context, names, or translations

This transparency allows visitors to distinguish between verified fact and thoughtful interpretation, while encouraging deeper exploration and discussion.