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 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. 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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