This is Emil Muenzel (1866-1939). He was married to my 1st cousin 4x removed, Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960).

I’ve recently connected with two relatives from this side of the family who helped fill in some gaps and make some photo identifications. This particular photo was obtained from the Michigan Tech University Archives and Historical Collections, which holds a wealth of Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula historical documents and photographs.

Here is Emil making the same strong-man pose (far left) in a photo from the same collection. This time wearing a shirt.

I am not entirely sure what is going on in these photos, but the collection notes say:

“A shirtless man poses as a muscle man for the camera.”
“Interesting group of men and women outside of a striped tent that has a sign which reads ‘Cock eye, Pork-a-pine, Parthridge Clerk.’”

Emil was born in Germany to August Muenzel and Wilhema Schmidt. He came to the United States and settled in Donken, Michigan, near Houghton, in the early 1900s. Here he is with his wife, Martha, and an unidentified child. Emil and Martha had no children of their own.

This photo shows Emil with Elvira Gundlach on the right and Lavetta Zenner in the center. Lavetta is the grandmother of one of the relatives I connected with.

**L-R: Elvira Gundlach, Lavetta Zenner, and Emil Muenzel**

The old log cabin Muenzel homestead still exists today and is owned by the current generation Zenner family. The core of the building remains authentic to its original state, with added upgrades and remodeling.

Emil died in 1939. Martha lived another 21 years without him. Here is a photo of her later in life.

Emil and Martha are buried together at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton, MI.

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Emil Muenzel (1866-1939) of Donken, Michigan

Emil Muenzel (1866-1939), a German immigrant who settled in Donken, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, was married to my 1st cousin 4x removed, Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960).

President of the Lake Superior Beagle Club - Eugene Timothy Hanley (1896-1958)

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Making Kuchen, Bread, and Wickelklöße With a Smile: Martha Zenner Muenzel (1868-1960)

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