Alfred Wilhelm Kensing & Family

Wilhelm Alfred Kensing, born on 5 July 1885, was the eldest son of Friedrich Heinrich Kensing and Mathilde Lemburg. The baby boy was christened at the Hilda/Bethel Methodist Church in Mason (1). His grandfather was Johann Friedrich Heinrich Kensing and Hanne Justine Wilhelmine and Sophia Louise Borchers.

 

Alfred went to school in Mason. In the days of his youth, Alfred Wilhelm did many jobs to support the family. He worked in freighting, well drilling, farming, he was also a carpenter and a ranch hand, and cattle drover.

On 24 December 1913, the man married Miss Marie Gross (born 21 August 1894 in Mason County), the daughter of Louis Georg Gross and Christine Marine Ischar. The wedding took place at the bride's home in Grossville.

 

Ida attended the Grossville school. When she was a young girl, she picked cotton in the summertime and worked for the neighborhood families as a live-in maid. 

After their marriage, Albert and Ida lived in a tent, owned only very little, only a few necessary items, and both worked for small wages to make a living. 

• Ernest Eddie was born on 23 July 1914 (2).
• Seth Herbert was born on 8 March 1916 in Big Spring, Howard, Texas (3).
• Esther Lucille was born on 9 February 1918 in Mason, Mason, Texas (4).

In 1919/1920, the family lived in Menard (5). Alfred and Ida were employed by Mr. Charlie Kothmann on his ranch. 

• Leroy T was born on 16 December 1919 in Menard, TX (6). His twin brother Elroy died at birth.

 

Later, they moved to Fort McKavett, and the Billy Bevins Ranch near Opp. After that, the Alfred W Kensings relocated to Mason County.

• Emma Marie was born on 1 September 1921, Mason, Texas (7)
  
• Alfred and Ida lost their baby - died at birth in Mason on 25 May 1925 (8). 

 

 

1930 Census recorded Alfred and his family (wife Ida, children Seth H, Ernest E, Leroy, and Emmie M) in Justice Precinct #6, Mason, Texas. Alfred was a farmer (9).

• Wilburn Perry was born on 26 March 1931, Mason, Mason, Texas (10).
•  Richard Alfred was born on 10 September 1934 in Mason, Mason, Texas (11).

In 1940, Alfred, Ida, and their children still lived in Justice Precinct #1, Mason. The man's occupation was "Contractor". Alfred W Kensing worked in "Building" then (12).

 

 

During WW2, Alfred also did construction work in San Antonio. In his older years, he worked as a carpenter.

 

Seth married Miss Linda d'Spain on 5 May 1941 in Menard, TX (13).

 

Esther Lucille married August Daniel Jordan (b. 20 November 1917 in Mason County) about 1941. He was the son of Daniel Anton Jordan and Estella Sophie Pluenneke. Later, on 21 July 1984 Esther was married to William Edgar Hartmann (14). His parents were Konrad Hartmann and Rosa Anna Eckert.

 

Emma Marie married ID Trammell on 13 January 1942, Williamson, Texas (15).

Lee Roy married miss Betty Lula Latimer (b. 29 May 1925, McCulloch Counyt, TX) in El Paso, TX on 17 November 1942. She was the daughter of Charles Alfred Latimer and Becky Haleen Huffmann (16).

In 1953, Wilburn Perry married Marilyn Joyce Ohlenbusch (b. 5 December 1932). Her parents were Ernest A Ohlenbusch and Martha S Schmidt (17).

 

Ida and Alfred were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mason.

Alfred enjoyed fishing in his spare time. On 15 October 1955, together with Mr. Ernest Reichenau, he went fishing on the James River. Tragically, Mr. Kensing suffered a stroke during the fishing trip. The man died on the next day in Mason Memorial Hospital. Alfred W Kensing was buried at the Gooch Cemetery in Mason.

After the husband's passing, Ida lived in an apartment in Mason. She was keen on quilting and growing flowers (18). Ida Maria Kensing died on 19 November 1981.

 

Resources:

1. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LGR-TDMM : 14 February 2020), Wilhelm Alfred Kensing, 1885.

2. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2V-XRWP : 9 June 2020), Ernest E Kensing, 1977; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

3. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSYR-FPP : 13 March 2018), Alfred W Kensing in entry for Seth Herbert Kensing, 15 Apr 1972; citing certificate number 29258, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,768.

4. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2KD-8JN : 4 April 2020), Esther Lucille Kensing, 09 Feb 1918; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 9296, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,503,144.

5. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH1S-P2Q : accessed 12 February 2021), Ernst Kensing in household of Alfred Kensing, Menard, Texas, United States; citing , sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll ; FHL microfilm. 

6. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X22F-RLS : 4 April 2020), Leroy T Kinsing, 16 Dec 1919; citing , Menard, Texas, United States, certificate 62508, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,492,608.

7. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8CD-Q53 : 5 December 2014), Emmie Marie Kensing, 01 Sep 1922; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.

8.  "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3Q1-L5P : 13 March 2018), Alfred Kensing in entry for MM9.1.1/K3Q1-L5G:, 19 May 1925; citing certificate number 19004, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,920.

9. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HXTL-2ZM : accessed 12 February 2021), Esther L Kensing in household of Alfred Kensing, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 5A, line 10, family 94, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2375; FHL microfilm 2,342,109.

10. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHNY-V44 : 4 April 2020), Alfred Kensing in entry for Wilburn Perry Kensing, 26 Mar 1931; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 25226, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,281,405.

11. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6G3-1YD : 4 April 2020), Alfred Kensing in entry for Richard Alfred Kensing, 10 Sep 1934; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 74864, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,283,672.

12. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4SW-YL4 : 10 January 2021), Ernest Kensing in household of Alf Kensing, Justice Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 160-2, sheet 5B, line 59, family 125, 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. 

13. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-SBCV : 7 December 2020), Seth Kensing and Linda d'Spain, 05 May 1941; citing Marriage, citing Menard, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 4,333,494.

14. "Texas Marriages, 1966-2010," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT17-5GN : 6 December 2014), William E Hartmann and Esther Kensing, 21 Jul 1984; citing Tom Green, Texas, United States, certificate number 108985, Vital Statistics Unit, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin.

15. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-526J : 7 December 2020), L D Trammell and Emma Marie Kensing, 13 Jan 1942; citing Marriage, citing Williamson, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,579,018.

16, 17. Fingagrave.com 

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