Bernhard Meckel & Sophia Weinheimer

When I was writing a post dedicated to Konrad Meckel, I knew little about him and his relatives. Thanks to the information provided by Mr. H. Meckel, Konrad's relative in Germany, and my further studies, I learned more about the Meckel family.

Bernhard Meckel, born on 24 July 1829 in Geisenheim, Prussia, was the youngest son of Herr Konrad Meckel (carpenter) and his wife Gertrude Mabreuerinn. Bernhard's older siblings were:

twins Adam and Konrad - born 14 September 1818 (Konrad died in infancy),

Georg - born 24 January 1820,

Elizabeth - born 23 April 1822,

Susanna - born 13 March 1825,

and Konrad - born 11 November 1826.

Little Bernhard was baptized in the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Gisenheim, Rheingaukreis, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia on the day of his birth (1).

Bernhard got older and he decided to emigrate. He came to New Orleans, Louisiana on 9 November 1852. Next, he moved to Texas, then to Fredericksburg where he worked as a cooper.

Bernhard Meckel also raised cattle and had a registered (1855) brand (M4 on the left hip of the cattle).

On 4 August 1855, Mr. Meckel married Miss Sophia Weinheimer (2), daughter of Jacob and Theresia of Münster bei Bingen, am Rhein, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia. The young couple were united in matrimony at the Catholic Church in Fredericksburg.

Sophie was born on 8 December 1836 in Bad Münster am Stein, Bad Kreuznach, Rhein, Prussia to parents Jacobi Weinheimer and Theresiae Engels (3). She was christened on the same day at the church in Sarmsheim, Bad Kreuznach, Rhein (4).

A year later, on 20 March, Bernhard applied for US citizenship. The man also bought a town lot with a log house on Creek Street (on 17 July 1856). 

• Daughter Anna was born to Bernhard and Sophia on 18 April 1856.
• Son Adolph Konrad was born on 3 May 1858. Sadly, he lived only a few months. The baby passed on 18 November 1859.
  
• Son Jacob was born on 27 March 1860, died when he was about 4 months old, on 16 July 1860.
  

25 February 1861 - B Meckel enlisted in the Mounted Minute Ranger Company (Capt. Phillip Braubach) and served until 26 November of the same year.

• Daughter Marie Ida was born on 25 September 1861.
• Son William was born on 13 May 1863.

 

In 1865, Sophia and Bernhard moved to a new place (nowadays West Main Street, Fredericksburg) on 30 September. B Meckel had a cooper shop there. During the following years he obtained 4 more lots neighboring their home and expanded the house and business.

• Son Louis Georg was born on 31 July 1865.
  

25 October 1866 - a tragic day came - Bernhard's brother Konrad was killed by Indians. 

• Son Adolph Joseph was born on 6 October 1867.
• Son Jacob Ferdinand was born on 29 May 1870.
  

9 February 1873, Bernhard Meckel bought 160 acres on Baron's Creek. Together with Heinrich Bierschwale, he was also a co-owner of 32 acres on the south bank of the Pedernales River.

 

• Daughter Maria was born on 22 April 1874. 

Mr. Benhard was quite an enterprising man, he served on the Fredericksburg Arbeiters Verein board of directors and was the Gillespie County Treasurer from 24 May 1869 to 22 November 1880.

• 21 August 1878 - 22-year-old daughter Anna married Johann William Kunz (5) of Frickhofen, Germany.

• Son Otto Jacob was born on 29 September 1878.

 

• Death in the family - 13-year-old Louis Georg, the Meckels' fourth son and sixth child died on 2 October 1879.

 

Louis was buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Fredericksburg

 

• Death and mourning once more - 9-year-old son Otto Jacob passed over on 14 December 1887.

 

 

Otto's grave at the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery

• 3 May 1892 - son Adolph Joseph married Miss Susanna Schandua (6).

 

 

Summer 1892, Death visited the family and brought dark and heart-breaking time again

• the Meckels grieved the departure of their child -  Marie Ida, age 31, died on 1 August 1892,
• passing of another daughter - Anna Meckel Kunz left this world on 15 August 1892 - she was 36;
• Bernhard and Sophia lost another son - William died on 19 January 1893. He fell off a horse, got injured, and died two days later (7), William was about 30 years old.

 

Siblings Anna and Willie were buried next to each other

 

Merry days finally came

• 10 April 1894 - daughter Maria married Mr. John Gantemann (8),

• 16 October 1894 - another wedding in the family - son Jacob Ferdinand married Miss Maria Schandua (9).
  

Mr. Bernhard Meckel lived 74 years. He died on 27 December 1903. Sophia passed 7 years later on 31 May 1910.

Their children

Jacob Ferdinand passed away on 15 September 1919.

Adolph Joseph died on 1 August 1938.

Maria Meckel Gantemann passed on 11 December 1839.

 UPDATE

William Meckel possibly married Miss Bertha Doell (born 31 March 1867), the daughter of Johann Doell and Wilhelmine Kensing. 

Any additional information regarding William and his family is appreciated.

Resources:

1. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DWY6-K73Z : 2 October 2020), Bernard Meckel, 1829.

2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-26K : 17 January 2021), Bernhard Meckel and Sophie Weinheimer, 06 Aug 1855; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

3.Deutschland, Rheinland, Bistum Trier, katholische Kirchenbücher, 1704-1957, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WXWG-DTZM : 12 September 2019), Sophia Weinheimer, 8 Dec 1836; citing Birth, certificate 38, Bad Münster am Stein, Bad Kreuznach, Rhein, Preußen, Deutschland, Bistumarchiv (Diocese Archive), Trier, Germany.

4. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C46C-8HT2 : 25 March 2020), Sophia Weinheimer, 1836.

5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-P9X : 17 January 2021), William Kunz and Anna Meckel, 21 Aug 1878; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

6. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-92S7 : 17 January 2021), Adolph Meckel and Zussana Schandtua, 03 May 1892; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

7. Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 3275, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 17, 1893, newspaper, January 17, 1893; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1082226/: accessed February 21, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

8. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSN-HZP : 17 January 2021), John Geutemann and Maria Meckel, 10 Apr 1894; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

9. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1T-8BF : 22 January 2020), Maria Schandua in entry for Ferdinand Meckel, 1894.

• "PIONEERS IN GOD'S HILLS" : a History of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County People and Events", Part 1, Gillespie County Historical Society, 1960.
  
• Family Tree information provided by Mr. H. Meckel 
  

Henry William Keller and Cora Keiser

Henry was born on 11 January 1882 in Mason County to Charles Keller and Karoline Keiser (1). His brothers were Charles Christie - b. 10 September 1878 (2), Otto A - b. 24 October 1879 (3), Alonzo E, - b. 10 December 1883 (4), and Archie. The children's parents died early (Charles - the father passed in 1849). The orphaned brothers were raised by their relatives until the time when the boys were legally able to take over the land left by their parents.

Henry and Otto studied in Dallas. In 1900 the two brothers lived at ED 108 Dallas City Ward 6, Dallas, TX. They rented a room at Mrs. M. Hill's house (5). Henry William graduated from men's business college in Dallas.

On 1 March 1904. Henry Keller married Miss Cora Auguste Caroline Keiser (b. 30 December 1882), daughter of Johann Keiser and Wilhelmina Lehmann. The ceremony took place at Cora's parents' home. The young couple soon settled on Henry's ranch which was 3 miles South East of Royal Valley (6). Mr. Keller was a rancher-farmer, he raised cattle, goats, hogs, cotton, and fodder crops.

 

Henry had sharecroppers to whom he gave a hog each Christmas. Cora helped the sharecropper's wife when the latter delivered babies. The family transport means were a horse, a buggy, and a wagon with a team of horses.

In 1817, Henry William Keller was registered by the Army. The draft registration card informs that the man was of medium weight, medium built, had brown eyes and brown hair (6). 

 

Mr. Keller was exempted from the service because of family reasons. Henry and Cora had already had two children then. It was Henry Jr. (born on 3 January 1907), and Keyser Kith (Kelly), born on 5 August 1914.

In 1918 Henry bought a Model T automobile. As a family story says his father had predicted that in the future men would fly in the air and travel in horseless carriages.

Mrs. Cora Keller tended a big garden, she also made preserves, cured meat, and made clothes for the family. The Kellers helped relatives with butchering beef and hogs. 

 

Two Keller girls were born in the 20s:

Chleo Katherine (Bobby) - born on 19 May 1920, Loyal Valley, Mason, TX (7),

Louis Lorene - born on 4 May 1924.

Henry William Keller Sr. was a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School in Loyal Valley. The school and the church which the family attended were at the small, rock house. They all took part in the  church camp meetings held under a brush bower every summer (for a week). The meetings included  baptism ceremony performed in the Llano River.

 

Henry was also an athlete - he played second base for the Loyal Lads (the Loyal Valley baseball team).

Besides that, Henry W mounted deer heads as he was a taxidermist. The man was an active community member - he served as a school trustee and deputy sheriff and an officer of the Loyal Valley Game Protective Association (which was created to protect wild game before the State Department came into being). The members of the organizations did night watches regarding persons who violated hunting rules. An interesting thing is that the game protectors used mounted deer heads (which had mirrors installed in their eyes) as a decoy.

 

In October 1925, a fire happened - it started in the kitchen flue. Anyway, the Kellers' home was totally destroyed. The family lived in the garage until a new house was built in 1926.  During that critical time, the neighbors supported Henry, Cora, and their children providing them with clothing and necessary household items. Later, Mrs. Cora also raised turkeys for sale to help with the house payments.

In 1926, Mr. Keller became a state game warden. His wife Cora raised deer. The lady fed the fawns with bottled milk when the animals were old enough, the family sold them to the State of Texas (for $20 per deer).

 

In 1935, Cora Keller was bitten by a rattlesnake when she was working in her garden. Luckily, the mother of the family was cured and recovered.

1940, the family was registered during the Census. Henry, Cora, their two daughters Chleo and Louis, their son Keyser Keith and his 19-year-old wife Imogene lived in Justice Precinct #7, Mason, Texas (8).

On 30 October 1942, Henry was attending his warden duties near Junction, he suffered from a heart attack. 

He was taken to the hospital in Kerrville where he passed at 4:30 a.m (9). Henry William Keller was 60 years 9 months and 19 days.

Cora Augusta Caroline Keller lived 66 years and 4 days. She died of breast cancer (which she had fought for 8 years), after 5 weeks of treatment, at the Fredericksburg hospital, on 10 January 1949 (10).

Resources:

1. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS1K-JVN : 13 March 2018), William Henry Keller, 30 Oct 1942; citing certificate number 45612, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,184.

2. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SV-9DK : 13 March 2018), Charles C Keller, 20 May 1915; citing certificate number 10877, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,051,271.

3."United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBM-S6T1 : 17 October 2019), Otto A Keller, 9 Mar 1899; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

4. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBX-XSJ : 13 March 2018), Alonzo E Keller, 11 Oct 1962; citing certificate number 59730, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,117.

5. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3LC-PFT : accessed 27 January 2021), Otto Keller in household of Mrs. M Hill, Dallas city Ward 6, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 108, sheet 3B, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,625. 

6. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX2-Y77 : 20 January 2021), Henry William Keller, 1917-1918. 

7.  "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2T2-Z87 : 4 April 2020), Chlo Catharine Keller, 19 May 1920; citing Loyal Valley, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 26928, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,516,038.

8. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4S4-CMP : 10 January 2021), Keyser Keith Keller in household of Henry W Keller, Justice Precinct 7, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 160-8, sheet 4B, line 75, family 88, 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 4103.

9. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS1K-JVN : 13 March 2018), William Henry Keller, 30 Oct 1942; citing certificate number 45612, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,184.

10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39B-H93 : 13 March 2018), Cora Augusta Caroline Keller, 10 Jan 1949; citing certificate number 1889, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,118. 

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

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Franz Kettner and Katherine Keller

Francis Kettner, the son of Dr. Franz Lambert Kettner, doctor, surgeon, assistant of the Grand Duke of Baden, and Anna Maria Kettner (1). He was born on 12 October 1826 in Oberkirch, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. Francis received his education in Germany as well. 

In 1848 he joined the revolutionary party which aimed to create the Republic of united Germany. The revolution was suppressed by the army and Franz had to flee the country (before finishing his studies) to avoid retaliation. He went to France, then traveled to Texas on the ship Louis. The ship passengers landed in Galveston on 20 November 1848.

Francis first tried farming in New Braunfels, on the Guadalupe River. Later, he enlisted in the Texas Rangers, Capt. Conner's Company.

In 1853, Francis Kettner came to Gillespie County. Some time after that, he ran a store together with  Emil Kriewitz. The man also did farming, freighting, and raised livestock until the year 1855. Then, he was called back by the Texas Rangers service, his company assisted government wagons that traveled to El Paso.

 

After the completion of the Ranger's duties, Francis purchased a farm at Fredericksburg. On 3 September 1857, he married Miss Katherine Keller, daughter of Johannes Peter Keller (b. 1802/d. 1882) and Anna Maria Mohr (b. 1817). The marriage ceremony took place in the Vereins Kirche.

From 1858 to 1859, Franz served as Gillespie County Sheriff. Two years later, the family relocated to the Llano River, Their new home was at Foley's Crossing.

In 1861, Francis Kettner was Sheriff of Mason County.

The area were the Kettners lived were often raided by the Indians who tended to steal horses of the settlers. Franz happened to have closer encounters with Indians as well. First time five Indians leading about forty stolen horses passed the man, his wife, and son Louis (who was ready to fight) when they were riding on an ox wagon. Not long before that their neighbors had been killed and scalped by Comanches so the scare was high. However, the Indians just passed them by, without attacking the family.

Another time, two Indians got close to the Kettner's home and stayed around for two days. Franz locked his horses in the house in the night and during the day he guarded them on the meadow. On the third day, the two Indians left and went to Franz's neighbor's place where they finally managed to steal three horses. Despite his efforts, some time later, Francis lost two horses during a later incident. That time Franz used his rifle, his wife and son Louis helped to chase the Indians away.

Looking for a safer place, the Kettners moved to the area situated six miles south of Mason on Comanche Creek. After a few years, they all moved to the town.

 

Francis was an active community member. Besides serving as sheriff, he was a revenue officer, cattle inspector (in the early 1870s), county commissioner (and was reelected a few times).

Francis and Katherine Kettner had five children

Louis John - b. 16 December 1858 in Fredericksburg (2), married Lina Meckel, daughter of Konrad Meckel and Henriette Luckenbach;

Ida Clara - b. 7 December 1860 in Mason County, married August William Keller;

Alice - b. 1862, Mason County, married John William Gamel;

William F - 1 May 1864 (3), married Bertha Meckel, Lina's sister, on 27 October 1892 (4);

 and Charles - b. 12 March 1866, married Louise Schmidt.

At the age of 81, on the day of his Golden Wedding Anniversary, Francis suffered from a stroke. About a week later, on 8 September 1907, at 4 p.m., he passed away. He was buried at the Crosby Cemetery in Mason. Here is the eulogy written by his son Louis. It was published in "Freie Presse für Texas" on 19 September 1907 (5).

 

Katherine Keller Kettner died at the age of 74, on 31 July 1913 (6).

UPDATE:

A message from Kathleen Kriewitz Jordan, a descendant of Emil Kriewitz:

 

" (...) .  I am one of the keepers of the genealogy for the Kriewitz family and have a large collection of information and artifacts relating to my family. (...)

A tidbit about Emil:  One of the Comanche's requirements for the German settlers to live on Comanche land was that one German live with the Comanches in their camp and learn their way of life as a "sign of peaceable intention".  Only one German settler volunteered...Emil.  He knew that what he was volunteering for could potentially cost him his life.  During his time with the Penateka, Santa Anna grew so fond of Emil that he offered him one of his daughters as a wife however, Emil politely refused."

 

Resources:

1. Die Kettner Briefe: the Kettner letters: a firsthand account of a German immigrant in the Texas hill county (1850 - 1875), Ilse Wurster, Wilmington, DE : Comanche Creek Press, 2008.

2. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ML-JYH : 13 March 2018), Louis John Kettner, 01 May 1940; citing certificate number 24789, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,118,552.

3. "United States, Cemetery Abstracts, 1949-1969," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPTW-LXXJ : 13 November 2020), William F Kettner, 4 Jul 1916; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah; FHL microfilm 007897015.

4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9VM2 : 17 January 2021), W. F. Kettner and Bertha Meckel, 27 Oct 1892; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

5. Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 7728, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 19, 1907, newspaper, September 19, 1907; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1087263/: accessed January 25, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; . 

6. San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 48, No. 215, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 3, 1913, newspaper, August 3, 1913; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth432112/: accessed January 25, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium. 

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

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