Heinrich Friedrich Kothmann

Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Friedrich was born on 10 February 1835. I have written about his parents, Heinrich Konrad and Ilse Katharine nee Pahlmann in the article here.

Heinrich Friedrich was about 10 when he came to Texas with his family. Just after they got with the first settlers to the Fredericksburg area, there was a big nothing but wilderness. Starvation was the immigrants' everyday experience. Young Fritz (barefoot) and his father walked to Austin where the two got a job. They split wood to make some money and buy supplies for their family.

Fritz had an accident when he was making a sheep pen. While he was cutting wood for the pen structure, a limb struck him and permanently damaged his right eye. 

In 1849, Heinrich Friedrich and his younger brother Dietrich often walked to Fort Martin Scott, to pick the corn which was left on the ground during the feeding time of the soldiers' horses. The corn grains were washed and ground at home. The boys' mother, Ilse Katherine used the cornflour to bake bread.

Some time later, both brothers worked as surveyors in Gillespie and Mason Counties under Capt. Bieberstein.

On 12 September 1856 (1), Fritz married 22-year-old Miss Sophie Hartwig who came to Texas together with his family. Not long after that, Heinrich Friedrich's parents and siblings moved to the area of Upper Willow Creek.

♦ 9 May 1857,  the first child/son, Heinrich Friedrich  was born to Fritz and Sophie (2).

1858 - Fritz, his wife Sophie, and the baby boy moved to another place which was half a mile from the old house. 

1858 - Mason County came into being, Fritz Kothmann was its first sheriff.

♦ 5 April 1859, Mathilda, the first daughter was born to the H F Kothmanns (3).

23 August 1860, the young family was recorded in Mason County during the census (4) by W B Coffee Assistant Marshall.

♦ 3 May 1861, son August was born (5).

In 1862, the Fritz Kothmanns made their home by the Llano River, not far from Hedwig's Hill. The new house was built on the 320 acres which Fritz had been given by his father Heinrich Konrad. The latter also sold his son a team of oxen and Friedrich did freight, supplying military stations in the west of Texas. At the same time, the young man collected money to develop his cattle herd.

During the Civil War, Fritz and his brother, Dietrich joined Capt. Herman Biberstein's Llano Leather Jackets, Frontier Home Guard Company (6).

 

After the war, Mr. Fritz Kothmann was engaged in frighting again. With the help of a hired teenage boy, Charles Wartenbach, Heinrich Friedrich got cotton in San Antonio, transported it to Monterey, and then with led bars on his cart, came back to Texas. Each such hauling trip lasted 3 months.

♦ 16 January 1865, son Karl was born (7).
♦ 1 June 1867, Louis was born (8). Sadly, the baby boy did not live long. ♦ Louis passed on 20 October 1868.

 

In the very same year, Fritz, his brother Karl, two Lehmberg men, and Mr. C Winkel drove their cattle to Louisiana. It turned out to be unsuccessful - while crossing the Mississippi during the flood they swam with their cattle in the river. The rainy weather brought bunches of mosquitoes biting the cattle so much that the herd stampeded. When the drovers finally reached New Orleans, they learned that the market had ended. They could only get some money for the hides and beef fat. Fritz lost all his money and the equipment in the unlucky endeavor.

 

Two years later, Mr. Kothman and other men from the Macon County area drove their cattle to New Mexico. That time, the enterprise was successful and profitable. Fritz sold out and made good money.

 

♦  Daughter Emilie was born on 29 December 1869.

1870 Census official, Mr. Francis Kettner, came to Fritz and Sophie's home on 1 June. The family real estate was worth $600 then,  and all their personal property value was $1600. Heinrich Friedrich Sr.'s brother, Dietrich lived nearby. Their other neighbors were Henry Leifeste, Friedrich Leifeste, preacher Konrad Pluenneke, Henry Hasse, and Henry Doell (9).

♦ 29 December 1886 - mourning in the family - 17 year old daughter Emilie died.

In 1891, Fritz Kothmann took his cattle for sale in Kansas.

♦ Eli Henry came to this world on 10 September 1872 (10). 

 

1873 - Heinrich Friedrich went to Kansas City with his cattle again. The man was accompanied by his brothers Dietrich and William. They drove the cattle with no big problems. On their way through the Indian territory, Fritz bought a wild, blue horse. At some point, the drovers were approached by a group of Indians who were speaking in their language (unknown to the brothers) and pointing at the horses. The Kothmann men found them friendly and talked to them in their language as well. Obviously, there was no communication between the two parties. The Indians rode away.

 

In the evening, the drovers installed a camp, organized the cattle and horses for the night, and had a quick meal. The sky got cloudy, the storm was coming. The men were aware a difficult night was coming. Then came the storm, lightning, and thunder. The wild white horse got even wilder and caused the stampede of the cattle. Fritz and his men worked in the pouring rain all night, trying to save the herd and prevent them from getting lost. In the morning, it appeared that not too many animals were gone but the best eight horses were missing. The very same ones which the visiting Indians found attractive. The tracks found by the drovers told them that the very same visitors had taken the horses. The blue horse, however, was not stolen.

 

 

In Kansas City, the brothers sold their cattle, made a deal with Colonel Meyer who gave them a note for $10000 + some down payment. Unfortunately, the colonel died before paying for the cattle.

Later, Fritz and his family moved close to the Loyal Valley and fenced a ranch there. The stone fence around his Premier Ranch was built from 1973 to 1877.

 

Within years 1875/1877, Fritz built a two-story house made of brown stone.

 

Fritz, being an honest and friendly man, signed notes for friends and neighbors and, unfortunately, in connection to that experienced some money loss. Later he wrote a letter (published in a local newspaper) warning others on that matter.

♦ Son Heinrich Daniel was born on 29 May 1875 (11).
♦ Robert Enoch Benjamin was born on 13 December 1877 (12).

♡ 1881 - Mattie (Mathilda) married Mr. Fritz J Lehmberg
♡ 1882 - Heinrich Fritz Jr. married Mis Conradine Pluenneke (born 1 April 1856 to Konrad Pluenneke and Sophie Christine Leifeste).

♦ 1883 - Sophie Kothmann, Fritz's wife passed. 

His second wife was Mary Augusta Miller Eversberg, born on 1 August 1847 in Industry, TX to Edward Miller and Phillipine Holzman (13). The two got a marriage license on 17 May 1884 (14), and married four days later.

Mary was a widow of Mr. Charles Eversberg and had a son from the previous marriage. The boy, Charles R, later attended a dental college and became a dentist.

♡ 1884 - son August married Miss Elise Geistweidt (born 25 December 1862).

♦ Elgin Otto was born to Fritz and Mary on 15 December 1887 (15).

♡ 1888 - Karl married Miss Sophie Brandenberger (born on 11 May 1868), daughter of Gottlieb Brandenberger and Marie Katherine Bierschwale. 

 

♦ 3 March 1890 - grief in the family again - Mattie's husband Fritz died.

 

 
♡ 1891 - Daniel Heinrich married Miss Lena Loeffler (born 8 January 1872 to Paul Friedrich Loeffler and Mina Neffendorf).

 

♡ 1892 - Mathilda married again. Her second husband was John Dietrich Eckert (born 15 September 1856).

 

♡ 28 Sepetmeber 1898 - another wedding in the family - stepson Charlie Eversberg married Miss Alma Amsler (16), born 12 July 1872 in Texas, to Edward Amsler and Emily Schmidt. 

♡ 1899 - Lee (Eli) married Amelia Hahn (born 8 November 1875).

 

1900 census - Fritz (age 65) his wife Mary (age 52) and son Elgin (age 12) were registered by Louis J. Kettner in Justice Precinct #6, Mason County, on 13 June. 21-year-old servant, Ms. Alvine Eckert and 29-year-old laborer, Henry Land lived with the family as well (17).

♡ 3 March 1901 - Benjamin (Robert Enoch) married Hulda Gusta Matilda Brandenberger (born 9 August 1890 to John Brandenberger and Sophie Leifeste).

Census 1910, 6 May - Fritz was 75, Mary 62, Elgin 22. They had a cook, Therese Jordan (age 22). A hired man helped with the work at the farm and ranch. He was 22 years old, his name was Harry Jordan (18). The man was also a relation of the Kothmanns.

In the same year, there was a wedding in the family, the youngest son ♡ Elgin Otto married Miss Anna Jordan, daughter of William Jordan and Augusta Keller. Annie was born on 25 February 1888 in Fredericksburg.

♦ Heinrich Friedrich Kothmann passed on 1 September 1915. 

 

Clipping source: San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 247, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 4, 1915, newspaper, September 4, 1915; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth432336/: accessed July 17, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

The note contains an error. Heinrich Friedrich was much younger when he came with his parents to Texas.

After his death, Fritz's wife Mary lived with her son Elgin. At the end of her life the lady suffered from gangrene of toes of her left foot. She died of cerebral hemorrhage on 20 August 1933 (19).

 

Clipping source: Brenham Banner-Press (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 126, Ed. 1 Monday, August 21, 1933, newspaper, August 21, 1933; Brenham, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1181425/: accessed July 17, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library. 

 

Resources:

"The Kothmanns of Texas 1845-1931", Selma Metzenthin Raunick and Margaret Schade, Press of Boeckmann-Jones Company, Austin, Texas,

Findagrave.com

1. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1Y-QJQ : 22 January 2020), Frederick Kothmann, 1856.

2. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CD-Y6V : 20 February 2021), Fritz Kothmann, 25 May 1922; citing certificate number 15159, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,545.

3. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-K5T2 : 14 February 2020), Mathilde Kothmann, 1859.

4. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFV-372 : 18 February 2021), Metilda Cothman in entry for Fredrick Cothman, 1860. 

5. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-CQZM : 14 February 2020), August Kothmann, 1861.

6. "Texas, Confederate Army and Commanding Officer Card Index, ca.1861-ca.1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z4X3-LQMM : 18 June 2020), Fritz Kothman, 1864.

7. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-8RMM : 14 February 2020), Carl Kothmann, 1865.

8. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-F56Z : 14 February 2020), Fritz Kothmann in entry for Louy Kothmann, 1867.

9. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-41Q : 29 May 2021), Mathilde Kothman in entry for Fritz Kothman, 1870.

10. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3Z9-JY8 : 20 February 2021), Eli Henry Kothmann, 01 Aug 1951; citing certificate number 41157, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,776. 

11. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QZ-8WP : 20 February 2021), H Dan Kothmann, 01 Nov 1956; citing certificate number 60521, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,134,916.

12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37P-G1T : 20 February 2021), Enoch Benjamin Kothmann, 15 Oct 1954; citing certificate number 51202, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,282

13. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3C3-RXG : 20 February 2021), Mary A Kothmann, 20 Aug 1933; citing certificate number 38144, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,618.

14. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1C-6855 : 23 February 2021), H F Kothmann and Mary Eversberg, 17 May 1884; citing Marriage, citing Washington, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 956,487.

15. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MS-83S : 20 February 2021), Elgin Otto Kothmann, 03 Feb 1938; citing certificate number 9251, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,657.

16. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8R-8TJ2 : 23 February 2021), Charles R. Eversberg and Alma C. Amsler, 28 Sep 1898; citing Marriage, citing Washington, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 956,491.

17. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-JTD : accessed 11 July 2021), Elgan Kothman in household of H F Kothman, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet 6A, family 67, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658. 

18. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2Q4-5CJ : accessed 11 July 2021), Elgin Kothman in household of Fritz H Kothman, Justice Precinct 4, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 203, sheet 7A, family 91, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1576; FHL microfilm 1,375,589. 

19. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3C3-RXG : 20 February 2021), Mary A Kothmann, 20 Aug 1933; citing certificate number 38144, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,618.