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: 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.
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.
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