Adolph Adam Keller and Emma Katherine Reichenau

Adolph Adam was born on 11 June 1854 in Live Oak Community, Gillespie County, TX. His parents were Johann Keller and Katherine Menges.

 

When he was 1, the family moved to Mason. The boy attended the school at Hedwig's Hill.

On 16 February 1876, Adolph Adam Keller married Emma Katherine Reichenau (b. 3 February 1857 in Castell), the daughter of Adolph Albert Reichenau and Katherine Arhelger.

 

A year later, Adolph and Emma purchased land from Louis and Augusta Eckert. The couple's first house was a log cabin, later, it was a two-roomed rock house. Three children, Ellen, Edward and Katherine  were born to the Adolph Kellers in that rock house:

• Ellen/ Helen Keller - born on 28 November 1876 (1),
• Edward John Keller - born on 26 September 1878 (2),
• Katherine - born August 1882 (3).

In 1883, A. A. Keller sold the land to Mr. Anton Willmann, and then bought a ranch situated on the James River. 

• Imogene Keller - born 13 November 1891.
  

Two more children, Mary and Esther were born in the new place. Mary died in infancy.

• Mary Keller - born on 3 September 1884 / died 18 August 1887 (4),
  
• Esther Anna  Keller - born on 25 Jan 1889 (5).

On 10 July 1889, James and Llano Rivers flooded the area including the house of the young Keller family. After the flood, Adolph, Emma and children lived for some time with the Bell family. Mr. Adolph moved two log houses (bought from Louis Eckert), log by log, to a new location. One of the houses was used as a kitchen and dining room. Later, a porch was added to the house, so the family could have meals outside, A lumber-room was added onto the kitchen too. The previous kitchen room served then as a living room. The other log house accommodated family bedrooms. During the years, the house extension - two rock rooms - were constructed.

• Emeth James Keller - born on 14 January 1897 (6).
  

Adolph A Keller was the first sheep-man in Mason County who fenced his herd in. He raised the sheep with the help of Mexican herders - in 1900 Mr. Keller had about 2000 sheep. Eight years later, Mr. Keller sold 600 ewes to Mr. William Hoffmann. 

The herder had to move the ewes to Hoffmann's and at the same time 600 of his own muttons which were meant to be sold at the market. The animals had to be guided across the river which was not an easy task. Mr. Keller and his helpers tried to do it 5 times in a row, with no success. The next day, they built a brush pen with which, assisted by two lines of men, the sheep were led across the water. About 25 sheep were lost then. Al in all, it took the men 5 days to drive the animals to Hoffmann's place, and 12 days to take the muttons to the train in Brady, and later to the Fort Worth market.

Adolph was a cattle raiser as well. He registered his brand during the open range times. Later, all his children and the wife had their brands too.

Mr. Adolph A Keller was raised in the Catholic faith. All the children of Adolph and Emma's, besides James Emeth and Katherine, attended the Catholic School in Fredericksburg for a year. During that time, they stayed at their relatives in the town. The other two went to school in Mason.

When Emeth married Miss Suzanna Emma Donop, Emma Keller, the mother, joined the Catholic Church as well. In the same year, Miss Imogen Keller moved to the house which had been bought from Mr. Ed Lehmberg.

Adolph died of appendicitis in Mason Sanitarium on 13 March 1919. The man had had surgery (on Friday - the previous week) which went well. Unfortunately, after a few days of general recovery, Adolph's condition worsened on Wednesday, and Death took him on Thursday at 10:50 p.m. He was 64 years, 9 months, and 2 days (7). Adolph was buried at Crosby cemetery. His wife Emma lived 100 years, she passed on 12 November 1957.

Resources:

1. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3F9-K6D : 13 March 2018), Adolph A Keller in entry for Helen Hofmann, 14 Mar 1967; citing certificate number 18776, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,138,495.

2. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39Z-FJL : 13 March 2018), Adolph A Keller in entry for Edward John Keller, 01 Sep 1946; citing certificate number 40954, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,423.

3. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-K46 : accessed 7 January 2021), Adolph A Keller, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet 14A, family 144, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658. 

 4. PeopleLegacy.com

5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3DF-K6T : 13 March 2018), Adolph A Keller in entry for Esther Anna Moneyhon, 20 Aug 1969; citing certificate number 66674, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,110.

6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38B-B72 : 13 March 2018), Adolph Keller in entry for Emeth J Keller, 15 May 1976; citing certificate number 39030, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,243,935.

7. The Llano News. (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 27, 1919, newspaper, March 27, 1919; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth766553/: accessed January 7, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library. 

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