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Friday, October 30, 2020

Arhelger Family

Johann Jacob Arhelger  was born on 16 May 1796  in Rittershausen, Germany. His parents were Johann Jakob Arhelger (b. 1754/d. 1810) from Bergebersbach and Anna Maria Schlappig (b. 1763/d. 1814). The couple were married on 27 August 1820 in Begebersbach, Germany.

Johann Jacob Jr. was a farmer in Ritterhausen. He married Elisabeth Müller (b. 9 October 1794 in Rittershausen. Elisabeth was the daughter of Peter Müller (b. 1765/d. 1837), a cartwright, and his second wife Elizabeth Kunz (b. 1761/d. 1823 in Rittershausen).

Johann Jacob and Elizabeth had eight children. Their third son Heinrich (b. 27 Nov 1825) died in Rittershausen on 22 April 1830. The Arhelger family (Johann Jacob, Elisabeth, and their seven children) emigrated to Texas on the ship Herschel. Their sea journey started in Bremen in August 1845, and they traveled to Galveston, and later to New Braunfels.

The Arhelgers came to the Fredericksburg area with the very first settlers on 8 May 1846. The father and adult sons were granted land/town lots. At first, the men built a Mexican-type hut for a temporary shelter, then a log cabin was constructed. Johann Jacob took care of his farm. With the help of his sons he fenced it with rock and rail fences, built pens for cattle and other livestock, planted crops. He died on 30 June 1857 in Fredericksburg. His wife Elisabeth passed four years later on 13 February 1861.


Fredericksburg City Cemetery
 

The Arhelgers' children who came to Texas were:

Jakob  - b. 31 March 1817/d. 10 December 1894 Fredericksburg 

He was 29 when the family arrived in Texas. Jacob was part of the scouting group who cleared the trail leading to the Fredericksburg area.

Johann Jacob married Karolina Stahl on 17 April 1854 in Fredericksburg (1).


Daniel  was born on 17 February 1821. In Texas, he married Christine Müller (b. 1819 in Prussia). the marriage took place probably before 1850.

In 1860, Daniel and Christine lived in Precinct #2, Gillespie County. Daniel was a farmer (2).

Four years later, during the Civil War, Daniel was Private in Company B (II), Gillespie County, 3rd Frontier District Texas State Troops (3).

Daniel Arhelger died on 8 Sept 1909 Fredericksburg, TX. He lived 88 years.


Clipping source:  Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 8332, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 11, 1909, newspaper, September 11, 1909; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1084815/: accessed October 28, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Elizabethe (b. 1 December 1827). 

On 16 October 1847 (4), she married Louis Martin (b. 20 November 1820) from Erndterruck, the son of Nicholas Martin and Hedwig Sinner. 

Louis came to Texas on the deck of Johann Dethardt. He arrived in Galveston on 23 November 1844.  Martin was the first Sheriff of Gillespie County and a District Clerk (1850) He was also a farmer and rancher, and had a freight business. In 1856, Martin signed a contract with the US - he delivered beef to the army stations along the frontier including Fort Martin and the settlers of Fredericksburg (among others). Martin was also involved in buying and selling land. In 1853, he became a legal guardian of Johann/John Grün after the death of John's father Frederick (5).

In 1853, Elizabethe and Louis Martin moved to Mason. The place where they lived was called Martin's Farm at Hedwig's Hill,  (named for Louis' mother Hedwig). Louis Martin was the first postmaster of Hedwig's Hill. From 1861 to 1862, he was Mason County Justice of the Peace. In 1861 he also served with captain Alf Hunter's Minutemen.

On 16 June 1864, Louis and his nephew were on a freighting trip to Mexico transporting cotton. The men had gold hidden under the layers of bacon. The freighters were ambushed by a mob near Eagle Pass and hanged by a gang of outlaws.
 
 
Elizabeth had their bodies recovered and buried at the Cemetery in Fredericksburg. Later Louis remains were moved to the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock (6).
 
Elizabeth Martin died on 24 December 1908 in Brenham, TX.
 
 
Clipping Source: Tucker, George. Brenham Evening Press. (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 187, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 31, 1908, newspaper, December 31, 1908; Brenham, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth519890/: accessed October 28, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

Katharine (b. 11 November 1830/d. June 1877, Simonsville, TX) - married Adolph Albert von Reichenau on 16 October 1848 (7). 

Adolph A Reichenau was born on 16 Nov 1824 at Frankfurt on the Main, Dillenburg, Germany. At the age of 16, he traveled to new York where he lived with his uncle for about two years. Then, he moved to New Orleans and joined the Minute Men. In 1846, Adolph fought in Mexican-American War including the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de Palma, and in Monterrey. During that time the man was wounded three times.


Adolph married Katharine, when he stationed at Castell. Later, in the very same year, he went on the Texas Chihuaha Expedition.


The young Reichenau family had their first house at Live Oak Creek. Four children were born to Katharine and Adolph there - Mathilda, Adolph, Gustav, and Augusta. They all moved to Castell in 1856. During the Civil War, Adolph Sr. served with the Llano County Minute Men. There more children arrived - Emma, Ida, and Albert.

Later, Adolph bought 15 sections of land in Kimble County and the family relocated there. Adolph was a cattle raiser and freight hauler. He was also a chief drover on the Chisholm Trail to Kansas. In Kimble, two sons, Alex and Max, were born.

During the Mason County War, The Reihenaus' house was raided and there was a shooting attempt to kill Adolph. Luckily, the man had managed to move the family to hiding, and nobody got hurt.

By 1867 the Indians had become hostile and life in the area was no longer safe. Adolph sold their land, the family put their belongings on the cart, and they walked to the Hedwig's Hill settlement on the Llano River. Adolph built a rock house by the river and bought a ranch at Simonsville. New babies were born there - Emil and Olga. Baby Emil and his mother Katherine died (1877) of the typhoid and were buried at the Reichenau Cemetery.

Two years later, on 25 August 1879, Adolph married Johanna Moldenhauer (b. 1849/d. 1943).
The two had four children Hugo, Katherine, Willie, and a baby girl who died.


Adolph was a respected man - he served as President of a school trustee and was elected a Justice of the Peace. He was a co-organizer of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He died on 23 December 1904 at the ranch where he lived.


Heinrich  - born on 17 October 1833. In Texas, he was a farmer on Grape Creek. He married Karoline Itz in Fredericksburg on 17 April 1854 (8). Karoline came to Texas from Westerburg, Germany. She was born in 1834/d. 1910.

Marriage license was granted on 14 April 1854

Heinrich was killed by Indians on 13 February 1863. The man was in the frontier ranger service - on the day of his death, Heinrich and his associate were scouting not far from Fredericksburg. The two were suddenly attacked by Comanches. Heinrich's companion who rode a fast horse was able to escape. Sadly, Heinrich with the mule he rode was condemned to death. Despite that, he fought fiercely, trying to defend himself. Henry killed one Indian and wounded others. Finally, the Indians left and did not scalp Heinrich. He, despite being wounded, managed to move away from the place of the attack. Henry was found dead with thirteen arrows in his body (8). After his death, Karoline married Christian Reeh from Brethausen, Germany.


Wilhelm - b. 6 April 1838/d. 20 December 1918. He was a cartwright and a cabinet maker, for some time a Texas Ranger. He married Katharine Grün (b. 1842/d. 1903) from Altendiez on 14 May 1865 in Fredericksburg (9).

 
In the Civil War, William was Private in Company A, Gillespie County, 3rd Frontier District Texas State Troops, which he joined in 1864.
 


August (b. 1 August 1843) - a cartwright and a Fredericksburg storekeeper.

From 1861 to 1862 August was with Texas Rangers. On 1 May 1862, he joined Company E, Buechel's 1st Regiment, Texas Cavalry/later, 8th Battalion,Company C, Texas Cavalry (Taylor's Battalion, Mounted Rifles).

When his Company stationed in San Antonio, he married Therese Schulze who was the daughter of Ferdinand Schulze and Eleonora Grossman. The marriage took place on 6 July 1868 (9).

The Schulze family came to Texas in 1846 on the vessel Eliza-Charlotte.
Theresa and August had three children: Theresa Rosa, Max and Ernest. The latter died in infancy. Theresa passed when he was giving birth to Ernest. 


A year later, in 1877, August married Therea's sister Alvina Schulze.

August, Alvina and children moved to Mason in 1878 where the man started a tool and blacksmith shop and built a rock house. The children born to the union of Alvina and August were Gustav, Ella, Harry, and Meda. Three of them died in infancy.


Besides his work in the shop, August did hunting. He died on 11 April 1908 and was buried in the Gooch Cemetery in Mason.


Clipping source:  The Daily Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 106, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 15, 1908, newspaper, April 15, 1908; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth441661/: accessed October 30, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

 

Jacob , Heinrich, and Daniel Arhelger were among the signers of the petition (submitted to the Texas Legislature on 15 Dec 1847) requesting the founding/formation of Gillespie County in Texas (10). 

The family connection from the Arhelger family goes again to our cousin Rufus Monroe Angel:

Johann Jacob Ahrelger

his daughter Elisabeth (Arhelger) Martin
her daughter Hedwig Martin
her husband Julius Kordzik
his sister Therese Marie (Kordzik) Nimitz
her husband Ernest Albert Nimitz
his sister Anna Bertha (Nimitz) Nauwald
her husband Friedrich Luckenbach
his brother Louis Karl Luckenbach
his wife Jeannie Katherine (Hart) Luckenbach
her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
her husband Rufus Monroe Angel

UPDATE

On All Sants' Day, we visited the Catholic Cemetery in Fredericksburg where we found Katherine and Adolph Reichenau's grandson Clarence John's grave. Clarence's spouse was Miss Dorothy Louise Koch who was interred next to Clarence. His father was Harry Gustav Willie Reichenau. Clarence and Dorothy's infant son Robert found his eternal resting place in the family grave as well.


Resources:

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

"From Dillenburg to Texas. Emigration in the District of Dillenburg from 1845 to 1846" Ursula Hatzfeld, translated by Henry Salzhandler, El Gritodel Lobo Press, 2015. 

1. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-V7C : 22 December 2016), Jacob Arhelger and Caroline Stahl, 17 Apr 1854; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 
2. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-Y5Y : 18 March 2020), Daniel Ahrhelger, 1860.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL83-54M : 4 November 2017), Louis Martin and Elisabeth Arhelger, 16 Oct 1844; citing Bexar, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 24,917
5. "Death of a Texas Ranger: A True Story of  Murder and Vengeance on the Texas Frontier", Cynthia Leal Massey, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014
6. Wikipedia
7. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-V78 : 22 December 2016), Heinrich Arhelger and Caroline Itz, 17 Apr 1854; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.
8. "German Pioneers in Texas", Don H. Biggers, Gillespie County Edition, Press of the Fredericksburg Publishing Co., 1925
9. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-LZ4 : 22 December 2016), Wilhelm Arhelger and Katharine Grun, 14 May 1865; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 




Sunday, October 18, 2020

Otto von Donop

Otto von Donop was born in Lippe Detmold, Westphalia on 18 August 1829. He was the youngest son of Solomon Friedrich Karl Ludwig von Donop and Amalia Magdalene von Vangerow (1). Otto's noble ancestors had lived in Lippe from 1227.

Otto von Donop studied at the University of Berlin. Due to the political changes in Prussia, some members of the von Donops emigrated to Texas - Antoinette and Pauline of Bremen, Otto's cousins, relocated to Texas in 1834. They left the old country on 30 September, together with a group of other Germans willing to settle in Texas. They traveled on the ship Congress, which Captain was J. Adams.

Pauline had married (2) Mr. Friedrich Arnold Otto Ludwig (Otto) von Roeder on 20 August 1834 (at Sankt Josephus Church, Bredenborn, Westfalen, Prussia), their travel companions were Otto's parents , his sisters Louise and Caroline, brothers Rudolph and Wilhelm, and the Kleberg family. Later, Antoinette married Rudolph von Roeder (3). Sadly, Pauline died in Galveston in 1836 (4) . 

Another Otto's cousin, Baron Georg Karl von Donop of Saxe-Meiningen was a numismatic archeologist of the Royal Society. The man visited Mexico in 1842.

Finally, Ludwig von Donop (b. 24 June 1821, Westphalia), Otto's older brother, traveled to Texas in 1845. He fought in Mexican-American War, and later settled in Sisterdale in 1848.


Ludwig married Miss Caroline Schmitz on 1 Sept 1850 (5). 

 

In that year, Louis and Karoline lived in New Braunfels (6).

The experiences of the relatives inspired Otto to go to Texas as well. In Dec 1851, young Otto von Donop traveled on the vessel Magnet from Bremen to Galveston. He arrived in Texas on 2 Feb 1852.
At first, and till 1854, Otto stayed at his brother Louis' place which was at Upper Willow Creek then. By the year 1854 a log house had been built on Wasp Creek and Otto moved there and lived on his own.


Two years later in December, he married Miss Wilhelmine Dannheim (born in Prussia), the daughter of Ernst Friedrich and Juliana Kaelberlein Dannheim  from Upper Willow Creek. The two obtained a marriage license on 19 December (7).


The marriage took place on 30 December (8).


Otto and Wilhelmine joined the Methodist Episcopal Church on 8 March 1856.

In 1858, on the east side of Willow Creek, a log building was erected - it was used as a school and church as well. Otto was the first teacher of that school. The first minister was Rev. C A Grotte.


The first son Otto Donop was born to Otto and Caroline on 22 Jun 1858 (9). In that year, Otto Sr. was elected Justice of the Peace (10).

A year later Emma, born on 18 Jul 1859 joined the family (11). + Peter Jordan


On 25 March 1861, Otto von Donop Sr. started his service as one of the Mason County Minute Men.
At the end of that year, on 18 Nov 1861, the second daughter was born to the family. The baby girl was named  Bertha (12).

 

On 17 Jan 1862 Lewis was killed by Indians with about 10 or 12 arrows (as the investigation run by Col. H V Henderson stated). The incident happened near Boerne, Blanco County and was described in an entry published by The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, TX).

 

Clipping source: Cushing, E. H. The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 47, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 5, 1862, newspaper, February 5, 1862; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236180/: accessed October 17, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

He orphaned two children Hermann (b. 25 April 1855), and Hermine (b. in 1859). Hermine later married Mr. William Magers.

Rosa Anna Emilie Donop, daughter of Otto and Minna's came to this world on 1 August 1863 (13).


Four years later on 11 Oct 1865, Otto was appointed (by Andrew Hamilton, Provisional Governor of Texas) County Clerk.

William, the second son and fifth child was born to the family on 18 Apr 1865 (14).

 

In 1867 Otto von Donop worked as Vice County Clerk for J D Bridges. In the very same year, on 3 June, Carolina Louise, the fourth daughter arrived (15). Many years later, on 22 July 1886, Caroline married Mr. Richard Grosse (16).

The third son, August Ernest Donop, was born to Otto and Minna on 12 Sep 1868 (17). When August was 21, on 12 October 1889, he married Mary Leifeste (18).

In 1870, Otto and Minna's family were registered during the census. They lived in Mason, Mason, TX. Otto was a cattle raiser (19).

 On 4 August 1872 Otto and Minna's infant son Alex died. The child lived only for five months - Alexander was born on 31 March 1872 (20).


In 1873 Otto Sr. was elected County Treasurer and Justice of the Peace for Precinct #2.
During the same year, on 10 June Alwin August Donop was born (21).

 The youngest son was named Alexander Julius Friedrich. The boy came to the family on 25 Feb 1875. he was christened, as all his younger siblings in Hilda, Mason - at Hilda (Bethel) Methodist Church (22).

Otto von Donop Sr. died of TB on 5 October 1875.

I am planning to write more about the Donop family members in other posts, however, right now I cannot say when it will happen. There are other people who are waiting to be remembered on this blog as well


Other Otto's siblings were (23):

- Luise (b. 27 Nov. 1808/d. 24 Sept. 1891), she was a canoness of Lemgo, in Lippe, Northern Westphalia;
- Josephine (b. 22 Oct 1810/d. 28 Jan 1885), a canoness in reppel, Lippstadt;
- Friedrich Wilhelm Moritz (b. 15 Nov 1812, Schötmar/d. 25 August 1862, Berlin) - Major, Battalion Commander, married Anna Karoline Lubowitz von Flemming;
- August (b. 29 Oct 1826/g. 5 June 1866, Ludwigsburg) Captain in 3rd Infantry Regiment.

The distant family line leads from Otto von Donop to our 3rd cousin once removed, Rufus Monroe Angel.

Otto von Donop

his son Otto von Donop Jr.
his wife Susanna Meckel
her mother Henriette (Luckenbach) Meckel
her brother Friedrich Wilhelm Luckenbach
his son Louis Karl Luckenbach
his wife Jeannie Katherine (Hart) Luckenbach
her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin once removed

Resources:

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

1,23. "Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der adeligen Häuser", Justus Perthes, Jan 1900.

2. "Deutschland Heiraten, 1558-1929", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JH84-M6B : 22 February 2020), Otto von Roeder, 1834.

3. "History of the German Element in Texas from 1820 - 1850 And Historical Sketches of the German Texas Singers' League and Houston Turnverein from 1853-1913", Moritz Tiling, Published by Moritz Tiling, 1913.

4. Otto von Roeder

5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL43-LV9 : 4 November 2017), Louis Donop and Caroline Schmitz, 07 Sep 1850; citing Comal, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,014,966.

6. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLV-RFN : 4 April 2020), Lewis Donap, New Braunfels, Comal, Texas, United States; citing family 270, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

7. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-V87 : 22 December 2016), Otto Donop and Wilhelmina Danheim, 19 Dec 1856; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

8. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VDY : 22 December 2016), Otto Donop and Wilhelmina Danheim, 30 Dec 1856; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 

9. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-H9N2 : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Otto Donop, 1858.

10.  "The Mason County 'Hoo Doo' War, 1842-1902", David Jackson,University of North Texas Press, Denton, Texas, 1984.

11. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-RVPZ : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Emma Donop, 1859.

12. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-K5ZM : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Bertha Donop, 1861.

13. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-2Q6Z : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Rosa Anna Emilie Donop, 1863.

14. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LGH-7PN2 : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Willy Donop, 1865.

15. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-MG6Z : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Carolina Louise Donop, 1867.

16. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-HSF : 22 January 2020), Louise Von Donop in entry for Richard Grosse, 1886.

17. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2N-MY2M : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for August Donop, 1868.

18.  "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-H3M : 22 January 2020), August Donop, 1889.

19. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG3-137 : 19 March 2020), Otto Donop, 1870.

20. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-3L3Z : 14 February 2020), Alexander Donop, 1872.

21. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-RJZM : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Alwin August Donop, 1873.

22. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-MNPZ : 14 February 2020), Otto Donop in entry for Alexander Julius Friedrich Donop, 1875.

My own MyHeritage research





Thursday, October 8, 2020

Feller Family

Johann Philipp Feller was born in Dillenburg, Germany on 24 August 1775 in the family of Johann Heinrich Feller (b. 1740/d. 1794) who was a master tanner, and Friedericke Blum (b. 1751/d. 1787).
Johann Philipp - when he grew up - worked as a tanner, probably with his father. In 1795 he joined his brother Karl who had emigrated to England earlier. Karl lived and worked in London. Johann became a shoemaker and also a brewer.

In 1812, the man married Miss Maria Badland, the daughter of Thomas Badland. Maria was younger than her spouse, she was born about 1790/95 in Preston, England. Three of the couple's children were born in England as well:
Marie (b. 5 May 1812, Preston, England),d. 24 March 1848
Philipp (b. 12 March 1816, London),
Heinrich (b. 1 June 1818, London).

In 1819, the family came back to Dillenburg. Johann worked as a tanner again, later he was a miner in Nanzebach.


On 22 August 1821, the fourth child was born to the family. The son's name was August Valentin Heinrich Philipp Martin. In the same year, on 31 October, little Heinrich, who was about 3, died.

1823
Karl Heinrich, the fourth son of Johann and Marie's, was born on 4 Dec.


1826
Wilhelm Philipp was born on 5 Feb.

1831
Christian Karl, the seventh child and the youngest son was born on 4 March.


1835 

Tragedy struck - Johann Philipp, the father of the family passed on 23 Oct. Was his death related to the job he was doing? Very likely. The miner's work was very dangerous, however, a bit better paid than a day-laborer's.

1836
5 June - the Fellers celebrate the marriage of Marie, 24-year-old bride. Her broom was Jost Heinrich Stahl, a tanner of Mademühlen. He was born in 1803 (d. 1875).

1843
Philipp who worked as a joiner and day laborer passed away on 15 April.


The economic situation of the people in the Dillenburg area worsened with the potato famine, trade downfall, skilled labor market collapsed, and skyrocketing prices of food with the lowering labor pays.
Mrs. Maria Feller and her children must have struggled as well. 


1844

Another family tragedy - Christian Karl - the youngest son - died on 22 June.

 

Maria and her two youngest sons Karl Heinrich and Wilhelm Philipp decided to emigrate to Texas. They traveled on the ship Arminius in 1845.


Later in the same year, on 2 November, August who worked as a gentleman's tailor in the town of Dillenburg, married Miss Auguste Lepper (b. 19 April 1822). She was the daughter of Herr Friedrich Lepper (b. 1779/d. 1845) and Frau Marie Johannette Klauer (b. 1787/d. 1855).

The belongings and land of the widow of Mr. Heinrich Feller and his grown-up children were sold at an auction held in Dillenburg, Germany on Thursday, 19 March 1846.

In Texas, Karl Heinrich became Charles Henry and Wilhelm became William.

According to one source (1) Charles got married on 20 Jan. 1850 to Miss Sophia Jung (b. 1825) of Niederossbach, Westerwald, the daughter of Mr. Johann Martin Jung and Maria Betz.

In 1850, the family of Charles and Sophia Feller was registered during the census. They lived in the Pedernales settlement in Gillespie county together with their children Lora (b.1848), Charles (b. 1850), brother William, and Miss Susana Rump, age 16, who was a laborer (2).

 

The death certificate of (3) Charles Feller, the son of Chas and Sophie's, shows that he was born on 20 Jan. 1850. If the information regarding Karl and Sophie's marriage is correct, the two got married on the very same day.


Sophie and Karl had at least three more children (4) Mathilda (b. 6 August 1861), (5) Thomas (b. 9 May 1857), and (6) Franziska (b. 24 August 1863).

On 1 January 1851 Maria Feller, the mother, remarried. Her second husband was James S King. Maria passed in about 1853.


Charles remarried after Sophie's death (which came on 29 August 1865). The family lived on Bear Creek then. The second wife was Maria Magdalene Markwordt nee Hoffmann. She had been widowed by Mr. Heinrich Markwordt. The marriage of Charles and Maria's took place on 19 August 1867 (7).

Children born to the couple were (8) Oswald C (b. 15 April 1872), (9) Alice (b. 12 March 1874), (10) Cornelia (b. 27 January 1878) and (11) Olfen A (b. 1870).


Charles was Justice of the Peace and a Tax-collector, and Gillespie county commissioner from 1872-1874 (12). The man died on 18 Feb 1899 on Bear Creek.


Before his emigration to Texas, William Feller was a brewer and innkeeper in Dillenburg. In Texas -William became a farmer. He was also Justice of the Peace (county commissioner). At first, the man lived in the Fredericksburg area, later, around 1860, moved to Cave Creek.

Wilhelm Philipp married Miss Clara Ressemann from Heiligenroth in 1851. Clara was born 12 Dec. 1832/d. 27 Feb. 1930 in Fredericksburg. I wrote about them more in the article dedicated to the Wahrmund family - to whom Wilhelm and Clara were related.

The 1860 census data (13) informs that William, Clara, and their children Mary (b. 10 August 1851), Auguste (b. 1 August 1853), Clara (b. 6 August 1855), Emma (b. 1 April 1857), and Rosa (b. 1859) lived in Precinct #4, Gillespie County, Texas. August Hoffman, a wagoner, age 17 (born in Prussia) lived with the family (13, 14, 15).

 William and Clara Feller had also twins - a girl (Louise) and a boy (Herman) - born on 3 August 1861.

During the Civil War William and some of his neighbors were killed by the mob, so-called "Hängerbande" (16).

 

Wilhelm Feller met death on 9 March 1864. He was 38 years old. The man's body was buried at the city cemetery in Fredericksburg, TX.

The Feller family was related (among others) to the Wahrmunds, Meckels and Luckenbachs. The Luckenbach line leads in the family tree to Mr. Rufus Monroe Angel, our 3rd cousin once removed.

UPDATE:

Karl and Sophie had ten children (one died young): Charles, Thomas, Willie, Lora, Emelia, Francisca, Carlena (married Louis Herbort), Sophie (married Mr. Jenschke), Mathilda (married August Herbort).

Maria Markwordt, the second wife of Karl's, had five children from her first marriage (to Heinrich Markwordt). They were Berthold, Sarah, Ottilie, Amanda, and Angelia.

Karl and Maria's children were Emil, Hugo, Oswald, Alice (married John Warterbach), Cornelia (married John Warterbach), and Martina.

Karl had seventeen children and five step children.

Doing the tax assessor and collector's duties, Karl rode from one farm to another on a white horse. He carried documents and the money in two saddlebags. The man had to deliver the money to the bank in Austin as there was no bank in Fredericksburg where he lived and worked. Karl most often traveled to Austin accompanied by his friend Mr. Haman Klein. For safety reasons they first rode to a certain point and checked the area. If everything seemed to be alright, they rode fast  ahead. Such a trip always took a few days. The men spent the nights then, sleeping hidden in a dense thicket (17).

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More about that family line in

Konrad Meckel and Henriette Luckenbach

Wahrmund Family - part 2 

Resources: 

Many thanks to Ms. Ursula Hatzfeld for her book "From Dillenburg to Texas."

1. "From Dillenburg to Texas. Emigration in the District of Dillenburg from 1845 to 1846" Ursula Hatzfeld, translated by Henry Salzhandler, El Gritodel Lobo Press, 2015.

2. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-GSJ : 4 April 2020), Charles Feller, Gillespie county, part of, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family 34, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

3. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WK-SSV : 13 March 2018), Chas Feller, 10 Jul 1911; citing certificate number 15672, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,050,487.


4. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MV-PWD : 13 March 2018), Carl Feller in entry for Mathilda Herbort, 01 Jan 1940; citing certificate number 2320, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,118,469.

5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3Z7-TKZ : 13 March 2018), Chas Feller in entry for Thomas Feller, 13 Jan 1924; citing certificate number 1568, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,075,023.

6."Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K363-VQX : 13 March 2018), Carl Feller in entry for Franziska Herbort, 12 Jul 1949; citing certificate number 41105, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,522.

7. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-V5Y : 22 December 2016), Charles Feller and Marge Magdalene Markwords, 19 Aug 1867; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.8. 

8. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XD-1YX : 13 March 2018), Charles Feller in entry for Oswald C Feller, 27 Jul 1962; citing certificate number 40372, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,022.

9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XD-886 : 13 March 2018), Charles Feller in entry for Alice Wartenbach, 26 Feb 1962; citing certificate number 18164, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,967.10. 

10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3Q1-74W : 13 March 2018), Charles Feller in entry for Cornelia Wartenbach, 27 Mar 1953; citing certificate number 15342, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,849.

11. findagrave.com

12. Biggers, Don Hampton, 1869-1957. German Pioneers in Texas; A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles and Achievements, book, 1925; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth29394/: accessed October 5, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas at Arlington Library.

13. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-GZ2 : 18 March 2020), William Feller, 1860.

14. "Texas Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TD-S2X : 13 February 2020), William Feller in entry for Mrs. Auguste Wahrmund, 1944. 

15. findagrave.com

16. The Weekly State Gazette. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 32, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 23, 1864, newspaper, March 23, 1864; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181540/: accessed October 7, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.  

17. "PIONEERS IN GOD'S HILLS : a History of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County People and Events", Part 1, Gillespie County Historical Society, 1960.

My own MyHeritage research