John Burkel, born in Arlin County, Belgium, October 15, 1850; came to America in 1870, landing in New York, February 22d. He finally located in Byron, Genesee County. May 10, 1874, he married Barbara, oldest daughter of John and Kate Coltax of Sheldon, Wyoming County. They have had three children, namely: John, Jr., born May 20, 1875; Lizzie, who died aged one year and nine months; and Sylvester, born September 29, 1882. Mrs. Burkel's parents are of French extraction. Her father, John Coltax, came to America from France in 1846, when he was 21 years old, and located in Wyoming County, N. Y. He married Kate Coltax, of his native country, and they bad seven children, viz.: John, Michael, Barbara, Mary, Libbie, Anna, and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Burkel reside on road 6, in Bethany.

FROM: Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1890