George Heinrich Conrad Henkel was born October 8, 1888, in Cassel, Germany, the son of Milly H. Henkel. He was trained as a structural engineer, and in 1923 was living in Dusseldorf. He traveled to the U.S. in December of 1923, originally stating that his intent was to stay for less than one year. George sailed from Hamburg, Germany to New York City on the S.S. Mongolia. He was tall- 6'3", with a fair complexion, brown hair and gray eyes.
Although his original plan was to return to Germany, he may have been influenced by a blonde, blue-eyed young lady named Frieda Sorger. She was also a native of Germany, having come to the U.S. in 1922 on the ship Hansa. She had traveled with her cousin, Elise Braun, and both of their passages were paid by Elise's brother, Gustav Braun, who lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
George and Frieda were married December 28, 1927, in Manhattan. On August 29, 1928, George filed his petition for citizenship. The couple was then living on Union Street in Brooklyn. In May of 1930 his naturalization request was granted by the Eastern District of New York Court. George continued to work as an engineer in the construction industry.
Frieda Henkel died April 21, 1976, in Palm Beach, Florida. George Henkel died November, 10, 1982, at Cabrini Medical Center, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; 1930 U.S. Federal Census; New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937; U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995; Selected U.S. Naturalization Records-Original Documents, 1790-1974; Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934; http:// libertyellisfoundation.org/passengerdetails.