Johann Keller and Katharine Menges

Johann Keller was the son of Johann Adam Keller (b. 1776) and Anna Maria Sanner, daughter of Johann Sanner and Anna Barbara Lembers. He was born on 25 March 1815 in Niederelbert, Unterwesterwaldkreis, Heese-Nassau, Prussia (1).

Johann had at least 5 siblings:

• Anna b. 1800 (2) - on 13 November 1821, she married Johhan Vogel son of Johann Matthew Vogel and Anna Margaretha Hört (3).
  
• Barbara b. 1807/ d. 28 Jan 1854. On 2 July 1833, she married Adam Klein, son of Johann Klein and Katharine Kapitein (4,5).
• Anton b. 1809 (6), married Maria Hertz, daughter of Johann Hertz and Maria Eva Baal, on 23 June 1835 (7).
  
• Margareth b. 12 July 1819 (8)/ d. 24 February 1820 (9).
  
• Christian b. 21 August 1822 (10)/ d. 9 May 1823 (11).

When Johann was 8, his mother Anna Maria Sanner Keller passed. It was on 14 May 1823. Mrs Keller was buried three days later (12).

Johann Adam Keller, the father of the family, remarried on 6 November 1827. His second spouse was Anna Maria Menges (b. 1795), daughter of Peter Philippi and Margratha Veit (13). Anna Maria was the widow of Herr Anton Menges, the son of Christian Menges and Anna Barbara Lorn, who passed over on 23 October 1819 (14). 

Anna Maria's children from the first marriage were:

Anna Maria Menges born in 1810 - married Anton Merz (b. 1812) on  13 Jan 1835 (15),

Elisabetha Menges b. 1813 - married Johann Mahr (b. 1802) on 6 November 1832 (16),

Katharine Menges (b. 21 August 1815),

Anton Menges b. 29 January 1820 in Niedelelbert - two months after his father's passing. Anton married Anna Catharina Muller (b. 1817) on 10 August 1841 (17).

Johann Keller, the son, tied the knot at the age of 24. His sweetheart was (his stepsister) Katharina Menges (b. 1815), daughter of Anton Menges and Anna Maria Philippi on 14 May 1839. Their marriage took place in Niederelbert Catholic church which belonged to the Diocese of Limburg, Hesse-Nassau (18). 

On 15 November 1839, the couple's first child was born. The baby girl was named Maria Magdalena, she was baptized on 18 November (19).

Three year's later, on 23 February 1842, Johann's father died. The man was buried on 25 February in Niederelbert where the family lived. Johann Adam Keller's informs that his parent's (and young Johann's grandparents) were Johann Adam Keller and maria Margaretha Lindscheid (20).

Three months after Johann Adam's departure - there was joy in the family.

Anna Keller, daughter of Johann and Katharina's was born on 4 May 1842. The baby girl was baptized on 7 May 1842 (21). Their son Johann Adam came to this world on 20 January 1844/baptized on 21 January 1844 (22).

 

1845 - Johann (a wheelwright and farmer), Katharina and their children emigrated to Texas. They were accompanied by Johann's stepmother Anna Maria and his half-brother Johann Adam Keller, born on 12 October 1827/baptized on 18 October 1827 in Niedelelbert. Johann Adam was the son of our Johann's father and Anna Maria Menges (23). The family traveled on the barque "Straba" - from Antwerp which they left on 13 September 1845 - they arrived in Galveston on 20 November. Maria Magdalena Keller, the oldest daughter of Johann and Katherina's, appears on the passengers list as Helena (24).

The family settled in Live Oak Community and Johann became a Texas farmer.

1849 - the fourth child was born to Johann and Katherina. They named him Karl.

1850 - Johann his wife and children were registered during the census in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County.

1851 - another son was born to the family on 10 February. His name was John. 

1854 - on 9 June Johann Adam Keller, Johann's half-brother, married Katherina Lang (25).

In the same year,  on 11 June, the son Adolph Adam was born to Katharina and Johann.

1855 - the Johann Kellers moved to Schepp Creek situated not far from Simonsville.

1856 - August William was born. 

1857 - Helena (Maria Magdalena), the oldest daughter of Johann and Katherina's was married to William Jung (b. 8 February 1830), on 9 July 1857. He was the son of Philipp Jung and and Anna Katherina Kunz (26).

1860 - another Census - Johann is still a farmer (27).

On 16 October, Anna Keller was married to Jacob Jung (b. 1. January 1835), a younger brother of Wilhelm Jung, Maria Magdalena's husband (28).

 

Johann built a house at Hedwig's Hill, north of the Llano River.

He  was now called John, and he ran a store in one of the rooms in the new house. The family  kitchen was situated in a log house behind the main house. Johann enjoyed the company of visitors who often stopped by. They entertained themselves with beer, wine, card games, and dancing. 

1870 Census - Johann and family lived in Mason, Mason County. Johann registered as "dealer of merchandise" (29).

1873 - the family became members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Before the church in Mason was constructed, the Sunday service had been often held ( and conducted by traveling priests) in Johann's house.

1872 John Keller married Magdalena Stehling on 1 May 1872 in Gillespie, TX (30).

1876 - Adolph Adam married Emma Katherine Reichenau - more about the couple here.

1877 - Catherine Keller, mother of the family passed on 16 May. After the wife's death, Johann (John) lived at his son Charles' (31), and he ran the store with the help of his granddaughters until 1890. 

1890 - on 29 December, Johann (John) Keller died of a heart attack during a visit at his half-brother Johann Adam Keller. He was buried not far from his wife Catherine in the St. Mary's Catholic Church cemetery.

As for Johann and Katherine's sons:

August William married Miss Ida Kettner, daughter of Francis and Catharine Kettner.

Karl/ Charles P married Caroline Keiser, daughter of Heinrich Keiser and Catherine Kothmann.

 Meta Barbara and Teclara Ida were daughters of John and Magdalena (Stehling) Keller.

Johann Keller's stepbrother

Anton Johann Menges (mentioned above) emigrated to Texas as well. However, I do not know what happened to his wife Anna Catharina Müller  - the two married on 10 August 1841 in Niederelbert (31).

Anna C Müller was the daughter of John Adam Müller and Margareta Nebgen.

The couple's first child, Anna Maria was born on 30 October 1841 (32), died on 26 November 1841 (33). Their second daughter Katherina was born on 2 October 1843 (34).

Probably Anton's first wife Anna Catharina passed before or during their emigration to Texas. Later, Anton married Maria Catharina Josephina Meurer (b. 1825). She traveled on Straba together with her parents and siblings, and the Kellers. During my research, I noticed that the Meurer family were related to the Kellers via Johann Keller's mother Anna Maria Sanner.

Anyway, in 1850 Anton lived in Fredericksburg with his second wife, daughter from the prior marriage Katherine, and Adam, the son born to him and his second wife in 1848.

The daughter married Mr. Reinhard Reh on 29 June 1863 (35).

In 1870 Anton, his second wife Catharine + their 10 children (all born in Texas) were registered during the Census in Gillespie County, Texas (36).

 Anton Johann Keller passed on 15 February 1899 in Junction, Texas.

Johan Adam Keller died in Fredericksburg, five years after his half-brother Johann's passing, on 20 April 1905. He was buried at the Catholic Cemetery as well.

Otto was one of the children of Johann Adam and Katharina (Lang) Keller's.

Resources:

1. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WF-FY2M : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Anna Maria Keller Sanner, 1823.

2. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WC-6DZM : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Margareth Keller, 1819.

3. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4QM-9QZM : 2 October 2020), Joh Adam Keller in entry for Joh Vogel, 1821. 

 4. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WJ-FBN2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Adam Klein, 1833.

5. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W6-8YMM : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Barbara Keller, 1854. 

6. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WF-CGT2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Anton Keller, 1835.

7. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D49Z-32T2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Anton Keller, 1835. 

8. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WC-6DZM : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Margareth Keller, 1819.

9. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-C9PZ : 2 October 2020), Joh Adam Keller in entry for Margaretha Keller, 1820.

10. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-F76Z : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Christian Keller, 1822. 

11. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-TNMM : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Christian Keller, 1823.

12. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WF-FY2M : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller in entry for Anna Maria Keller Sanner, 1823.

13. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-P5N2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller, 1827.

14. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-Z3N2 : 2 October 2020), Anna Maria Phillipp in entry for Anton Menges, 1819.

14. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W6-5KT2 : 2 October 2020), Johannes Keller, 1839.

15. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4CX-ZS2M : 2 October 2020), Anna Maria Philipp in entry for Anton Merz, 1835. 

16. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WJ-FTPZ : 2 October 2020), Anna Maria Philippi in entry for Anton Mahr, 1832.

17.  "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W6-1XT2 : 2 October 2020), A Maria Philippi in entry for Anton Menges.

18. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WN-3ZZM : 2 October 2020), Johannes Keller in entry for Maria Magdalena Keller, 1839.

19. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W8-DFT2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Keller, 1842.

20. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W6-P82M : 2 October 2020), Johann Keller in entry for Anna Keller, 1842.

21. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WX-GWZM : 2 October 2020), Johann Keller in entry for Johann Adam Keller, 1844. 

22. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WX-M2T2 : 2 October 2020), Johann Adam Menges Or Keller, 1827.

23. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~txgilles/s-stra.html 

24. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1R-54H : 22 January 2020), J. A. Keller, 1854.

25. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-LHD : 22 December 2016), William Jung and Maria Magdalena Keller, 09 Jul 1857; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

26. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFV-Q7G : 11 November 2020), Carl Keller in entry for John Keller, 1860.

27. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-L7F : 22 December 2016), Jacob Jung and Anna Keller, 16 Oct 1860; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 

28. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-2GN : 22 December 2016), John Keller and Magdalena Stehling, 01 May 1872; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

29. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG3-1SP : 2 January 2021), John Keller, 1870. 

30. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-BJQ : 14 November 2020), John Keller in household of Charles Keller, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 104, sheet 498D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,319.

31. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WD-FST2 : 2 October 2020), Anton Menges, 1841.

32. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W6-PWPZ : 2 October 2020), Anna Müller in entry for Maria Anna Menges, 1841. 

33. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4W8-DF3Z : 2 October 2020), Anna Müller in entry for Anna Maria Menges, 1841.

34. "Deutschland, Hesse-Nassau, Diözese Limburg, Katholische Kirchenbücher, 1601-1919", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D4WX-4YZM : 2 October 2020), Anna Müller in entry for Katharina Menges, 1843. 

35. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VFM : 22 December 2016), Reinhart Reh and Katharina Or Catharina Menges, 29 Jun 1863; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

36. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-KSS : 2 January 2021), Anton Menges, 1870.

PeopleLegacy.com

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