Johannes Durst & Family

Johannes was born on 24 February 1799 in Dettenhausen, not far from Tübingen, Kingdom of Württemberg. He was a farmer. On 11 September 1822, 23-year-old Johann married Christina Margarethe Binder (born on 4 November 1801).

The parents had 11 children, 4 of them died in Dettenhausen. The ones who survived till adulthood were:

• Johann Christian born 8 January 1825
• Johannes Jr. - born 13 January 1829,
• Catherine - born 12 October 1836,
• Johann Georg - born 20 June 1831,
• Johann Jakob - born 15 December 1838,
• Johann Bernhardt - born 13 June 1841,
• Fredericke - born 31 October 1845.

 

On 25 August 1846, Johann, Margarethe, and their 7 children arrived in Texas. They traveled on the ship Element and endured the same privations and hardship as other emigrants. The Durst family got to Fredericksburg on 6 February 1847 where Johann Sr. and each of the two adult sons - Christian and Johann Jr. - were granted town lots and 10 acres of land. 

Two years later, on 6 August 1848, ♡ Christian married Sophie (Gern) Schlueter (1). He owned a piece of land which included a mountain near Fredericksburg, Christian called it "Cross Mountain" when he discovered the remains of the cross which had been put there by the Spaniards. 

On 18 September 1850, Johann (John), his wife Margarethe, and their children Johann Jr. (John), Catherine, Jacob, Bernard, and Fredericka were registered during the census. Both John Sr. and John Jr. were laborers (2).

In 1849,  when the Methodist Church came into being in Fredericksburg, the Durst family were some of the church's first members.

♡ Johann Jr. married Katherine Strackbein on 15 December 1851 (3), 

♡ Catharine Caroline married Jacob Treibs on 13 January 1853 (4), 

After 1855, the family of John Durst Sr. moved to the Bauer Community, Mason County, by the Llano River. The three eldest children and their immediate families stayed in Fredericksburg.

♡ 4 October 1856 Johann Georg married Charlotte Siegmann. It happened in Gillespie County, TX (5, 6).

When in Mason County, the Dursts became members of the Methodist Church Llano Circuit.

John Jr. served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. First it was 8th Battalion, Texas Cavalry (Taylor's Battalion, Mounted Rifles), Company C - John entered the service as a corporal, later he was promoted to 1st Sergeant. Then, he served with 1st Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Yager's 1st Mounted Rifles), Company E (7).

♡ Fredericke, the youngest child of John Jr.'s, was married to Mr. Thomas Lindsay shortly before 1870. 

That year, another Census took place. On 16 June in Mason, Mason County, the John Durst family ( John, Margarethe, Jacob, and Bernhardt) was registered. John and his sons appeared in the record as cattle raisers. The Durst's neighbours were John Georg, his wife Charlotte and her father (?) 59-year-old Friedrich Siegmann - a shoemaker, the Melhior Bauers, the William Bickenbachs, the Henry Hasses, and the Henry Hoersters (8).

Two days later, Fredericke (Ricke) was registered with her 27-year-old husband Thom (born about 1843 in Alabama). The young couple lived in the town of Mason as well, and Thom was a cattle raiser, too (9).

Johann Durst senior died of pneumonia on 14 October 1870. He was buried at the Lower Willow Creek Cemetery. 

Two months later, on 8 December 1870, ♡ Johann Jacob Durst married Miss Sophie Leifeste (10), the daughter of Johann Heinrich Gottfried Leifeste and Mrgarethe Rheinhard.

♡ Johann Bernhardt, the youngest son of Johann Sr. and Margarethe Durst's got married on 6 April 1881 in Gillespie, Texas. His wife was Miss Maria B Finke Kopp (11).

After her husband's passing, Margarethe Durst came back to Fredericksburg and lived there till the day of her death - 16 January 1887. Years later, on Johannes Durst's death anniversary, 14 October 1941, his remains were transferred to the Cemetery in Fredericksburg.

 

Pictures: the Cross Mountain area, Fredericksburg, Texas.

Resources:

• "Mason County Historical Book", Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.  
• Findagrave.com
  

1. "Pioneers in God's Hills. A History of Texas and Gillespie County People and Events." 1960, Gillespie County Historical Society. Printed by Boeckman-Jons, Austin, Texas.

2. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-P7Q : 23 December 2020), Catherine Durst in household of John Durst, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

3. Gillespie County, Texas - Marriages: Gillespie County Marriage Records 1850-1865.

4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-28N : 17 January 2021), Jacob Treibs and Caroline Durst, 13 Jan 1853; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

5. Gillespie County, Texas - Marriages: Gillespie County Marriage Records 1850-1865.

6. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VZP : 17 January 2021), John Geo Durst and Charlotte Siegmamo, 04 Oct 1856; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 

7. National Park Service. Soldiers and Sailors Database.

8. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-X51 : 2 January 2021), John Durst, 1870.

9. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-X51 : 2 January 2021), John Durst, 1870.

10. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-22Z : 2 January 2021), Ricke Lindsay in entry for Thom Lindsay, 1870.

11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9K84 : 22 December 2016), J. B. Durst and Mary B. Kopp, 06 Apr 1881; citing , Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.