Benno Bruno Luckenbach & Family

Benno Bruno Luckenbach came to this world on 15 March 1883 in Albert, Gillespie County, TX (1). His parents were Julius Jakob Luckenbach and Klara Foerster. The mother's and the father's ancestors came to Texas with their immediate families in the 1840s.

Benno got married on 12 May 1910 (2). He was 27, his spouse Alma Lina Braeutigam was 22. She was born to Otto Heinrich Paul Braeutigam and Minna E Stoffers on 24 May 1888 in Fredericksburg, TX.

Benno was a farmer Anna was a homemaker. In 1930 during the Census they were registered in Precinct No.3 of Gillespie County, TX (3). Ten years later, the census gives a more precise address of Benno's family. The man, his wife, and children lived in Luckenbach, TX (4). The data also informs that Benno had completed 9 years and Alma 8 years of school education.

During WW1 Benno was registered by the Army. His draft registration card says that he was medium height, stout had blue eyes and dark hair (5).

He passed due to myocardial infection before his 79th birthday on 25 Feb. 1962. The man died in his house 15 miles SE of Fredericksburg, TX (6).

Clipping source: Davis, Jack R. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 1, 1962, newspaper, March 1, 1962; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth866877/: accessed July 31, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.

Benno's wife Alma lived till 8 June 1979.

Benno and Alma had five children

Clara Anna Louise (b. 22 Dec. 1910, Fredericksburg, TX (7)

Alexander Jacob - b. 10 Oct. 1912 in Fredericksburg, TX (8)

Benno Felix - b. 29 Dec. 1914, Fredericksburg, TX (9)

Christine Minna - b. 17 Nov. 1916 (10)

Elgin Julius b. 14 Jan. 1921 (11).

Benno Felix was a ranchman, he went to the other side of life when he was 59, on 6 Feb. 1974. Clara, his older sister was the owner of the farm started in 1855, and inherited after their parents and grandparents. In the photograph taken at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas in 1974, you can see Clara Anna (second row, first from left).

Clipping source: Dietel, Norman J. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 46, Ed. 1 Friday, November 15, 1974, newspaper, November 15, 1974; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1034989/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

Clara Anna joined her younger brother Benno Felix on the other side of life many years later on 4 August 2003 (12).

Christine Minna married Mr. Adolph Boerner on 24 Feb. 1937 (13).

The broom's parents were Karl and Grethen Boerner. Adolph was a farmer and rancher. He and Christine had one daughter Genevieve Ellen.

Alexander Jacob was enlisted during WW2 (on 9 June 1942). At that time he worked as a stock clerk. He had completed four years of high school and was a single man without dependants. Alexander's serial number was 10106006 (14).

Corporal Alex J. Luckenbach was called by his fellow servicemen "Lucky". He served in an engineer aviation battalion and was part of the survey crew. The battalion built and maintained bomber and fighter airfields in Italy and Libya (15).

Elgin Julius started his primary education at a country school in Luckenbach. He graduated from High School in 1938. Then, the young man attended Drauhgouns Business College in San Antonio and later worked at Duncan Field.

Elgin J Luckenbach voluntarily joined the Air Force and was enlisted to the Army on 9 June 1942. He did his training at Fort Sam Houston, Sheppard Field, Santa Monica, CA; Las Vegas, Nevada and Greenville, SC.

Next, he left Hamilton field, CA on 22 July 1943 for the overseas service. After a few-day stop in Hawaii, he sailed to Australia and then the Nedzab in New Guinea.

In 1943 young Elgin served at 22nd Bombardment Group Medium. Later (1943-44), he was part of the 408th Bombardment Squadron.

Staff Sergeant Elgin J. Luckenbach was an engineer and a gunner. He had completed at least 35 successful missions before his last flight came on B-24J Liberator (16).

After the bombing mission at Hollandia (New Guinea), the crew of the plane flew toward the base at Nadzab Airport. Soon, due to bad weather, their Liberator crashed. Lucky and other crew members were reported missing on 16 April 1944.

Clipping source: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 5, 1944, newspaper, May 5, 1944; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135446/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

Here you can see Elgin's honorable death certificate.

The crew members of the B-24J Liberator were declared dead on 26 Feb. 1946. 
Their names are listed on tablets at Manila American Cemetery.
Elgin's name is also memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery.

Elgin J "Lucky" Luckenbach was awarded

in 1944
Purple Heart Medal,
the Air Medal,
American Campaign Medal,
Army Good Conduct Medal,
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal,

in 1945
WWII Victory Medal (17).

In 2002 the remains of the plane and the crew were found by a local New Guinea man. After a long time, Elgin finally came back home to his parents in Fredericksburg, TX (18).

Resources:

1. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LC7-LYT2 : 14 February 2020), Benno B. Luckenbach,

2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9PVT : 22 December 2016), Benno B. Luckenbach and Alma Braeutigam, 12 May 1910; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,803.

3. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HY9F-TW2: accessed 26 July 2020), Buno Luckenbach, Precinct 3, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 5A, line 29, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2335; FHL microfilm 2,342,069.

4."United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWV2-4GR : 29 February 2020), Benno B Luckenbach, Luckenbach, Justice Precinct 3, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 86-5, sheet 6B, line 77, family 127, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4040.

5. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXZ-KLG : 24 August 2019), Benno Bruno Luckenbach, 1917-1918.

6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3X8-2D9 : 13 March 2018), Benno Bruno Luckenbach, 25 Feb 1962; citing certificate number 08772, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,932. 

7. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZN-BW4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Clara Anna Louise Luckenbach, 22 Dec 1910; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,112,476.

8. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2BZ-GF3 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Alexander Jacob Luckenbach, 10 Oct 1912; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 35674, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,129,206.

9. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6P9-S2X : 13 February 2020), Benno B. Luckenbach in entry for Benno Felix Luckenbach, 1914.

10. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TM-VV4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Christine Minna Luckenbach, 17 Nov 1916; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 45340, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,092.

11. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TM-VV4 : 4 April 2020), Benno B Luckenbach in entry for Christine Minna Luckenbach, 17 Nov 1916; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 45340, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,092.

12. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V38B-GQ9 : 22 July 2020), Clara Luckenbach, 04 Aug 2003; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).7. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935,"

13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-DM9F : 10 December 2017), Adolph Boerner and Christine Ninna Luckenbach, 24 Feb 1937; citing Marriage, citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,764,046.

14. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LH-RZ6 : 5 December 2014), Alexander J Luckenbach, enlisted 09 Jun 1942, San Antonio, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland. 

15. Veterans of Gillespie County

16. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, March 22, 1946, newspaper, March 22, 1946; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1135243/: accessed July 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library. 

17. Together We Served

18.  Pacific Wrecks

Benjamin Franklin Mayo & Family

Benjamin Franklin May was born on 17 Oct 1870 in Freestone, Texas. He came to Mason County with his parents and siblings in 1893.

Three years later, he married Miss Minnie Moslete Coats. It happened on Sunday, 23 October at 4 PM, the ceremony was led by Judge McKnight. Minnie was born on 23 August 1874 in Nacogdoches, TX. The bride was the daughter of Mr. Daniel Franklin Coats and Miss Harriett Burrows.

 At first, Ben was a farmer, and also a teamster in the summer. In 1915 he bought his first truck he started his own trucking company. He drove his hauling truck from Mason to Llano. Then he bought another truck - those were the first trucks in Mason. Ben hired Mr.Jesse Schmidt as a driver and they also drove to Brady. Benjamin Franklin's retirement day came in 1946.

He and Minnie had seven children, two died when they were little. Other children were
Leon Franklin,
Lenora Odelia who married Mr. Martin Behrens,
Wenona Mae who married Mr. Frank Polk,
Audrey Beatrice who married Mr. Walter Grobe,
and John Ervin.

Ben passed due to endocarditis, on 23 August 1935. The man died in his home at 104 Schmidt Str. in Mason (1).

Ben's parents were Mr. Benjamin Manning Mayo (b. 16 March 1835 in Washington, Georgia/d. 3 June 1906, Mason, Mason, TX), who was a farmer, and Miss Mary Jane Hogues (b. 30 June 1842/d. 2 March 1930, Marion County, TX).

The couple had eleven children. Two died when they were infants. The ones who lived till adulthood were: sons
Ervin James, Silas, Ben, Newton
and daughters
Almeda, Larissa, Caroline, and Lillie.

Silas was once Mason House Livery Stable manager and a tax collector of McCulloch County.

In In 1870 the family lived in Beat No. 3, Navarro, TX (2). Ten years later, they were registered during the census in Precinct No. 4, Navarro County (3). In 1900 Ben rented a farm at Mason Township, Mason County, where he lived together with his wife Mary, four sons, and a granddaughter (4).

The family line goes from Benjamin Franklin Mayo to Andrew Morgan Gant - our 2nd cousin twice removed - grandson of our great-great-grandfather's brother (see below)

 Ben F Mayo
⇒ his father Ben Manning Mayo
⇒ his brother Christopher Columbus Mayo (b. 15 July 1851, Georgia/d. 21 Sept 1921, Voca, McCulloch, TX)
⇒ his wife Mary Elizabeth (Leddy) Mayo (21 July 1861, Jerseyville, Illinois/d. 21 Oct. 1931, Sipe Springs, Comanche, TX)
⇒ her mother Miriam Burban (Anderson) Leddy (b. 4 Oct 1842, Sumner, TN/d. 18 August 1923, Marlow, Stephens, Oklahoma)
⇒ her brother John Austin Anderson (b. 8 Oct. 1826, Sumner, TN/d. 26 Dec 1871, Portland, Sumner, TN)
⇒ his daughter Johnnie Isabella (Anderson) Gant (b. 8 May 1872, Sumner, TN/d. 30 Jan 1952, Dallas, Dallas, TX)
⇒ her husband Lucillious Lee Gant (b. 6 March 1868, Sumner, TN/d. 26 Feb. 1928, Wylie, Collin, TX)
⇒ his brother Andrew Morgan Gant - our 2nd cousin twice removed
⇒ his father James Abram Gant
⇒ his father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather


Sources:

1. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX99-5HC : 4 April 2020), Ben Mayo in entry for John Irvin Mayo, 18 Nov 1907; citing, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 104440, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,371,100.
2. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGW-YM7 : 18 March 2020), B M Mayo, 1870.
3. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNZ-ZYH : 15 July 2017), Benjamin M Mayo, Precinct 4, Freestone, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 54, sheet 537D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,304.
4. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P2-M7B: accessed 22 July 2020), BM Mayo, Mason Township Mason, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 53, sheet 12B, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658.

• Mason County Historical Book, Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.
• Findagrave.com

Henry Montgomery Dye Jr. & Family

Henry Mongtgomery Jr. was born in Dallas on 30 Nov. 1857. He was the eldest son and the second child of Henry Montgomery Dye Sr., MD, and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Skiles.

Henry M. Jr. lived in Mason County for many years. He moved to the Hill Country with his parents and siblings when his father needed the change of climate due to his health problems. There the young Mr. Dye met his future spouse.

In 1878, Henry Montgomery Jr. married Miss Caroline Philippena Lehmann, whose parents were Moritz Lehmann and Auguste Adam. After the young couples' marriage, they must have gone back to the Dallas area as Henry Jr.'s family was registered during the Census in 1900. At that time, they lived in Justice Precinct 5, between Dallas/McKinney rd. & Muddy Creek, Collin, TX. Henry Dye Jr. worked as a dry goods salesman then (1).

By 1910, Mr. Dye Jr.'s family lived in Justice Precinct 1, Mason, TX. Henry ran a farm that he rented (2).

Henry M. Junior and Caroline Dye had seven children, one daughter Augusta May and six sons
William Henry, Arthur C, George Christie, Harold Morris, Uriah Baxter, and Tom Moseley.

May (b. 3 May 1883 in Loyal Valley, Mason, TX) married Rev. Claude Livingston Smith (b. 26 Dec. 1872, Amacolola, Dawson, Georgia/d. 22 April 1946, Sao Paulo, Brazil), son of Wilbur Fisk Smith. The couple served 50 years in Sao Paulo, Brazil as Methodist missionaries.

Rev. Claude L Smith  1918 (2)

The letter from the Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Missions was attached to Rev. Smith's passport application (3)

May and Claude had four children. Three of them were born in Brazil. The oldest son Wilbur K was later a Methodist Church bishop in Sao Paulo.

Wilbur K Smith - age 5 (2)

George Christie Dye (b. 19 March 1885 in Texas/d. 30 May 1963, Dallas, Dallas, TX) was a carpenter.

Harold Morris Dye (b. 20 June 1888, Loyal Valley, Mason, TX/d. 18 Dec. 1947, Dallas, TX). At the time when he was drafted in the Army (WWI), he was single and worked as a clerk in Dallas. Harold was a tall man with brown hair and brown eyes (4).

Harold was honorably discharged on 31 Dec. 1918 (5).

Uriah Baxter Dye was born on 16 April 1890 in Georgetown, Williamson, Texas (6). He lived in Mason until his death in 1970. Baxter married Florrie Pluenneke on 29 August 1916 in Gillespie, TX (7).

Florentine Emilie was the daughter of Mr. Karl Friedrich Miss Emilie Pluenneke.
Baxter worked as a jitney driver and was self-employed.  He was a tall man of medium built, gray eyes and brown hair. The man had hearing difficulties (8).

The Baxter Dyes had four sons, one son died when he was little. Their oldest son Charlie Henry was born on 6 Dec. 1918 in Dallas. He married Miss Winnie Marie Alexander on 27 Sept. 1940 in Fredericksburg, TX (9).

Winnie was from McCulloch County. The couple had one son Timothy who lived in Denver Colorado, and one daughter Carolyn who married Mr. Calvin Johnson.

Mr. Dye was a livestock farmer. He was elected county commissioner of Precinct 4 twice, in 1970 and 1974.

Richard M Dye (b. 8 Oct. 1920), the second son of Charles and Winnie (10), was born in Mason County. The man married Miss Gloria Clark of El Paso. He was the president of K & D Development and Construction Company in El Paso.

Herbert Thomas, the youngest son of Charlie's, was born in Mason, Mason County on 28 June 1923 in Mason. He married Miss Edith Roberts, a girl from McCulloch County. Herbert T was a farmer-rancher in Trenton, Kentucky.

Henry Mongtomery Jr.'s two sisters married the men from the Keyser family who lived in Keyserville, Mason County, TX.

In 1879, Euphemia Priscella Dye's (b. 17 May 1859, Plano, Collin, TX) spouse became Mr. William G Keyser (b. 7 July 1859).

Minnie May Dye (b. about 1869) married George Christian Keyser (b. 10 Nov. 1864, Mason, TX), a stockman, on 4 Dec.1884. Both William and George were sons of Christian Johann Keyser and Caroline Ottmers.

Minnie and George's children were Myrtle, Flora, Minnie, and Amzie H. George died on 6 March 1938 due to a tragic incident, the man shot himself accidentally (11).

The eulogy published in a local newspaper after his death told more about the accident.

Clipping source: The Llano News. (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 12, 1936, newspaper, March 12, 1936; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth823821/: accessed July 18, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.

As for the children

Florrie Keyser married Mr. Friedrich Karl Perry Pluenneke.

Minnie Keyser married Rev. Bascom Watts, bishop of the Methodist church.

Amzie Henry Keyser married Miss Minnie Ida Concordia (Cordie) Pluenneke, daughter of Charlie Pluenneke and Emilie Lehmburg. The marriage took place on 30 July 1909 in Llano County (12).

Amzie and Cordie lived in Keyersville. Their son Lester Langford Keyser, MD was a co-founder of Fredericksburg Hospital and Clinic.

Lester was born on 20 Oct. 1910 near Castell. He gained his education at Mason High School and Southwestern College in Georgetown and then John Sealy Medical School. Lester graduated from the latter school with a medical degree in 1937.

The internship took him 2 years, later he practiced in Fredericksburg until 1959. In that year he became the head of the Southern Methodist University Medical health Center in Dallas. The end of his earthy life came to Dr. Keyser suddenly on 7 January 1969 when he was enjoying a symphonic concert (13).

Amzie Henry Keyser, Lester's father, died of influenza on 10 Feb. 1937 (14).

Two family lines connect us to Mr. Henry Montgomery Dye Jr.

#1

Henry Montgomery Dye Jr.
⇒ his sister Eliza Belle (Dye) Anglea (b. 21 March 1861, Collin, TX/d. 9 Dec. 1891, Plano, Collin, TX)
⇒ her husband Andrew Benjamin Anglea (6 June 1853, Sumner County, Tennessee/d. 31 May 1928, Birdville, Tarrant, TX) - our 2nd cousin twice removed
⇒ his mother Elizabeth Sarah (Gant) Anglea (b. 4 August 1834, Sumner, Tennessee/d. 22 August 1891) - our 1st cousin 3 times removed
⇒ her father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather

#2

Henry Montgomery Dye Jr.
⇒ his sister Addie Lee (Dye) Brown (b. 23 June 1866, Plano, Collin, TX/d. 5 Jan 1930, Collin, TX)
⇒ her husband John Wesley Brown (b. 24 Sept. 1858, Sumner, Tennessee/d. 21 March 1934, Plano, Collin, TX)
⇒ his brother Robert Jefferson Davis Brown (b. 11 Sept. 1860, Sumner, TN/d. 23 May 1890, Bethany, Collin, TX)
⇒ his wife Rachel Clementine (Howard) Brown Gant - our grandmother

UPDATE

A message from Maggie M.:

"Hello, I'm a descendant of Andrew Benjamin Anglea and his second wife, Florence. I have some information about that side of the family if you ever want it. His mother's name was actually Sarah Elizabeth Gant and she moved down to Texas with her second husband, Philip Mabry, and her sons after her fist husband was shot at the end of the Civil War. She actually passed away 04/24/1904 in Plano, Texas."

Thank you Maggie for the information.

 
Resources:

1. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3L3-F2C: accessed 14 July 2020), Henry N Dye, Justice Precinct 5 (between Dallas/McKinney rd. & Muddy Creek), Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 18, sheet 3A, family 41, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,621. 

2. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2QH-Q8Q: accessed 14 July 2020), Henry M Dye, Justice Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 197, sheet 2A, family 33, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1576; FHL microfilm 1,375,589.

3. "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5B-F4L8 : 16 March 2018), Claude Livingstone Smith, 1918; citing Passport Application, South Carolina, United States, source certificate #22743, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 537, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). 

4. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX3-N81: 24 August 2019), Harold M Dye, 1917-1918.

5. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-6SLW : 13 March 2018), Harold M Dye, 26 Aug 1918; citing Military Service, Dallas,, Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.

6. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L24-GXW2: 12 March 2020), Baxter Uriah Dye.

7. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-8MPG : 10 December 2017), Baxter U Dye and Florentine Pleunnecke, 29 Aug 1916; citing Marriage, citing Llano, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 982,996.
8. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX3-N8T: 24 August 2019), Baxter Uriah Dye, 1917-1918. 

9. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-SNGM : 10 December 2017), Charles Henry Dye and Winnie Alexander, 27 Sep 1940; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,764,046.

10. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KLQL-W7N : 15 July 2020), Richard Dye, 02 Jun 2013; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

11. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HJ-TJ2 : 13 March 2018), George Christian Keyser, 06 Mar 1936; citing certificate number 16293, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,862.

12. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-PVWH : 10 December 2017), A H Keyser and Cordie Phuenneke, 05 Aug 1909; citing Llano, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,995.

13. https://img9.newspapers.com/clip/49018421/obituary-for-lester-l-keyser/

14. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HR-NCR : 13 March 2018), Amzie Henry Keyser, 10 Feb 1937; citing certificate number 10526, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,169.


Mason County Historical Book, Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.

Findagrave.com

Hugo Emil Klaerner

Hugo Emil Klearner, the son of Alfred Klaerner and Emma McDougall, was born on 15 October 1908 in Fredericksburg, TX (1).

Hugo attended Live Oak School (for 6 years), north of Lady Bird Park. When he was 12, Hugo learned to play musical instruments. Soon the young man whose, nickname was "Dutch" or "Hoog", started his career as a pitcher.

In 1923, he pitched for the first time during a sandlot game. In 1929, he tried his luck with San Antonio Indians. Hugo paid with his own money for the training which took part in Laredo. During the training, the man broke his right-hand ring finger. The contusion never healed well and the finger (after several rebreaking injuries) got stiff. Thanks to that, Hoog was able to pitch a ball with a certain unusual spin which was named "the slider".

In 1935, Hugo Emil Klaerner married Miss Esther Louis Peterman, daughter of Edward William Petermann and Anna Mueller. The marriage took place in Longview, TX. At that time Hugo pitched for Longview Cannibals.

A year later, he was one of the players who participated in the first-ever Texas League All-Stars Game.

Mr. Klaerner was engaged with his baseball career for 27 years until the 1940s.

Later, from 1951 to 1981, he was Gillespie County Sherriff.

Hugo Emil Klaerner

He was the third County Sheriff in the family. His father Alfred "Smokey" Klaerner held the same position from 1918 to 1920 and from 1925 to 1943. Hugo's uncle, Mr. John Klearner served as County Sherriff for ten years from 1900 to 1910.

H. E. Klearner loved music - he played accordion, E-flat hornet, and tuba. He was a member of the Pehl's Old Time Brass Band for many years. Besides that, Mr. Klaerner also sang in the Arion's Men Choir and the Zion Lutheran Church Choir.

"Dutch" passed on 3 February 1982. He was survived by his wife Ester, four sons (Travis, Tommy, Carlos, and Patrick), and a daughter Evelyn. His other daughter Gladys Virginia passed away in 1941.

UPDATE

Not long ago, we visited the old cemetery in Fredericksburg - we came across the graves of Mr. Klearner's parents Alfred and Emma.

Resources:

1. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX96-31W : 4 April 2020), Hugo Emil Klaerner, 15 Oct 1908; citing Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States, certificate 75776, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,380,570.

Paper Clippings including the photograph: 

Dietel, Norman J. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, February 12, 1982, newspaper, February 12, 1982; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1035193/: accessed July 10, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library. 

"Our Way of Life. Voices of Gillespie County in the 1970s.", Philip O'Bryan Montgomery III, Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, Texas, 2013.
 

Gustav Alfred Basse

Mr. Gustav A. Basse once said that many young people do not know the hardships which older generations had*. That thought seems to be always relevant.

Gustav Alfred Basse (b. 22 April 1895 in Fredericksburg to Adolph Friedrich Basse and Emma Caroline Schnerr) was a pupil of Pecan Creek School, later he attended Fredericksburg High School. When WW1 came, Gustav was drafted and stationed in Baltimore, he was in charge of the ammunition place (1).

After the honorable discharge, before coming home, Mr. Basse traveled to see various big cities in the north of the country. He decided to become a teacher and studied at the University of Texas where he was also captain of a wrestling team and a member of the T Association (related to sports).

Gustav Alfred Basse graduated from the university in 1922 with a BBA degree (he was the first in his family who completed university studies), by then he had changed his mind regarding his future career as he felt he did not like living in a big city. Therefore he came back home and together with his brother, Gus ran his father's farm. During the years, he expanded it from 160 to 1600 acres.

Gustav married Miss Lina Cora Evers in 1927 (1).

After her death in 1955, the man married Estella Treibs Keyser.

Mr. Basse was Pecan Creek School trustee and a member of the following organizations:
Baron Creek Schuetzen Verein,
Gillespie County Fair Association,
Gillespie County Historical Society,
and the Louis Jordan post of the American Legion.

Gus Basse also worked as secretary of the Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg.
He loved ranching and the land where he lived.

Gustav Alfred Basse passed on 3 July 1994.

His father  Adolph Friedrich Basse (b. 7 Oct. 1849, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, TX/d. 20 Oct. 1919) married Miss Emma Caroline Schnerr (b. 20 April 1855, Gillespie, TX/25 Feb. 1956, Fredericksburg, TX), daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm Schnerr (a German nobleman) and Elisabeth Emma Schneider. The ceremony took place on 14 Nov. 1875 (3).

Gus' grandfather from his father's side was Heinrich Stefan Wilhelm Basse (b. 9 Oct. 1804, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany/d. 10 Jan. 1865, Fredericksburg, TX) was a German minister. The latter one became Fredricksburg's first Protestant pastor - he celebrated the first mass in the Verein Kirche.

The family tree branch

Gus A Basse
⇒ his father Friedrich Basse
⇒ his brother William Basse (b. 2 Feb. 1852/d. 2 April 1914)
⇒ his wife Louise Wahrmund (b. 1855/d. 1897)
⇒ her sister Mathilde (Wahrmund) Meckel (b. 20 Feb. 1859/d. 17 Sept. 1913)
⇒ her husband Heinrich Bernard Meckel (16 May 1854/d. 16 March 1909)
⇒ his mother Henriette (Luckenbach) Meckel (b. 13 Oct. 1829, Stein, Marienburg, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia/d. 17 Sept. 1917, Fredericksburg, TX)
⇒ her brother Friedrich Wilhelm Luckenbach (b. 14 Sept. 1823, , Marienburg, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia/d. 24 Feb. 19122, San Antonio, Bexar, TX)
⇒ his son Louis Carl Luckenbach (b. 25 Oct. 1882, Willow City, Gillespie, TX/d. 20 Feb. 1975, , San Antonio, Bexar, TX)
⇒ his wife Jeannie Katherine (Hart) Luckenbach (b. 20 Dec. 1887, Bexar, TX/d. 28 April 1958)
⇒ her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
⇒ her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin 4 times removed

Sources:

*"Our Way of Life. Voices of Gillespie County in the 1970s.", Philip O'Bryan Montgomery III, Shearer Publishing, Fredericksburg, Texas, 2013.

1. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-8THK: 13 March 2018), Gustav Alfred Basse, 26 Jun 1918; citing Military Service, Fredericksburg, Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.
2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8B-SZL2: 10 December 2017), Gustov A Basse and Cora L Eueno, 04 May 1927; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,764,045.
3. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1Y-QVD : 22 January 2020), Adolph Basse, 1875.

Karl Heinrich Nimitz Jr.

Tons have been written about Admiral Nimitz and his ancestors. I am adding just a few lines to it.

Karl Heinrich Nimitz built the first part of his hotel in 1846 which was a one-story, wooden building. Later he continued expanding the structure and gradually add another one-story part (made of stone) to the wooden section, and then "the steamboat" section was put on as well. The stone part was used as a saloon. The hotel had its ballroom too.

Don H. Bigges writes in his book "German Pioneers in Texas" (1) that Karl liked practical jokes and was a practical joker himself. According to a story mentioned in the book, once a guest died in his hotel. The man's relatives wrote to Mr. Nimitz and asked him to have the body of the dead man embalmed and sent him back home. The hotel owner wished to fulfill that request but since the embalmment was not available, he gutted the body himself and smoked cured the body. Afterward, the remains were shipped where the hotel guest came from. Of course, it was just a joke, told by Karl to his friends Mr. Mogford and Judge O. A. Cooley who were practical jokers too.

The story and the joke was described in the article published in The Banner-Leader on 12 May 911, after Karl's death. To enlarge the clipping simply click on it.

Clipping source: Shepherd, C.P. The Banner-Leader. (Ballinger, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, May 12, 1911, newspaper, May 12, 1911; Ballinger, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1184157/: accessed July 4, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Carnegie Library of Ballinger.

Karl Heinrich Nimitz, son of Karl Heinrich Nimitz Sr., sea merchant, and Miss Dorothea Magdalena Dressler was born on 9 Nov. 1826 in Bremen, Germany. Following his parents, Karl Jr. emigrated to America, South Carolina in 1844. Later, in 1846, he moved to Texas with other German colonists.

Karl H. Jr. married Miss Sophia Mueller on 2 February 1848 in Bexar County, TX(2).

He passed on 28 April 1911 and was buried in Fredericksburg.

Clipping source: The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 27, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 2, 1911, newspaper, May 2, 1911; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth604917/: accessed July 4, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

The person who leads us in the family tree to that very, very distant and indirect branch line is again Mr. Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3d cousin once removed.

Here how it goes:

Karl Heinrich Nimitz
⇒ his daughter Anna Bertha (Nimitz) Nauwald
⇒ her daughter Anna (Nauwald) Luckenbach
⇒ her husband Friedrich Luckenbach
⇒ his brother Louis Karl Luckenbach
⇒ his wife Jeannie Katherine Hart
⇒ her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
⇒ her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin once removed
⇒ his father James Monroe Angel
⇒ his mother Elizabeth Sarah (Gant) Angel
⇒ her father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather.


Sources:
1. "German Pioneers in Texas", Don H. Biggers, Gillespie County Edition, Press of the Fredericksburg Publishing Co., 1925.
2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL83-XXL : 4 November 2017), Chas Henry Nimitz and Sophia Muller, 02 Feb 1848; citing Bexar, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 24,917.