Jesse Bobo Gant & Family

Jesse Bobo Gant, our 3rd cousin 4 times removed, has already been mentioned here, when I talked about his father and other Bobos of the family.
Today, more about Jesse Bobo's immediate family.

👉 Jesse came to this world on 6 February 1866, in Waynesboro, Wayne, TN. His parents were Mr. Absolom Bobo Gant and Nancy E Martin. The family was registered on 23 June 1870 (1) in Civil District #7, Wayne, TN (post office Waynesboro). Absolom B. Gant (age 31) was a farmer. His wife Nancy (age 32) was keeping house. Their children were: Mary Elizabeth (age 9), Jesse Bobo (age 4), and Samantha A (age 3). There is also Ann Gant (age 14) mentioned in the record, who was a "domestic servant". Ann was most likely not Jesse's sibling, as his parents married in 1860 (2). I have not established their exact relationship, though. The family real estate was worth #600. The estimated value of their personal estate was given as $400.

 

Not long after the census, on 1 September 1870, Jesse's sister Nancy Emma was born in Wayne, TN. Another one, Sarah Clementine, arrived in January 1873. Then, on 13 April 1876, his sister Eliza Perry came to this world.

👉 The family had come to Hill County, Texas by 26 May 1879, when the youngest daughter of Absolom and Nancy Gant was born. They named the girl Tennie.

🏡 Census 30 June 1880 - Jesse lived with his parents and sisters in Precinct #1, Hill County, Texas. Absolom Bobo's (the father's) given in the record was 43, Nancy (the mother) was also 43. Then came Mary E (age 19), Jesse B. (age 13), S A (Samantha A - age 12), Nannie (age 10), S C (Sarah Clementine - age 5), Eliza P (age 4), and Tennie (age 1). Both Jesse and his sister Samantha attended school then (3).

⚭ 29 May 1881 - the family celebrated Mary Elizabeth's wedding, who married John Pritchard Clark (4). John was born on 26 July 1857, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. He was the son of Capt. John S Clark and Priscilla Pauline Pritchard.

⚭ 1 December 1885 - Jesse married Lillian Hanna Hoffmann (5). The lady was born in Hammonton, Atlantic, New Jersey, on 15 September 1868. Her parents were Jacob Boyer Hoffmann and Sarah Ann Shaw.

Another marriage in the Absolom Bobo Gant family took place on ⚭ 17 December 1885 (6). 18-year-old Samantha Arabelle married 20-year-old William Frank Brown - born on 6 April 1865, in Hill County, TX, to William Marion Brown and Margaret Elizabeth Smith.

♦ 22 October 1886 - Jesse and Lillian's daughter Gertrude was born. Sadly, the baby girl died on ♦ 2 November of the same year (7). 

Another daughter, ♦ Mertie Rosalee, was born to the young couple on 20 November 1887.

A few months later, on ⚭ 15 February 1888 (8), Jesse's sister, 17-year-old Nancy Emma, married her 1st cousin once removed Elisha Thomas Harbour. It took place in Hilsboro, Hill, TX. The man was born on 6 September 1864 in Savannah, Hardin, Tennessee, to Elijah Carol Harbour and Elizabeth Ann Gant.

 
⚭ 15 February 1891 (9) - Sarah Clementine Gant (age 18), Jesse's sister, married Mr. Ross Bartow Aldridge (age 25). he was born on 16 August 1865, in Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, to the family of Mr. Willliam Pope Aldridge and Sarah Charlotte Robinson.

Jesse and Lillian welcomed another son on ♦ 19 June 1892. His name was Albert Ivy (10).

Their next daughter Laura Leona arrived on ♦ 18 March 1893.

On ♦ 30 December 1894 baby girl Sadie Bell was born (11).

Then, on ♦ 13 October 1896 (12) - Theodore Floyd - another son of Jesse and Lillian's came to this world.

⚭ 20 Jan 1899 - the youngest sister of Jessie's, 19-year-old Tennie Gant married William Harvey Hardin (13). The groom was born in 1873 in Mississippi.

 

Source: "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8Y-NP5Z : Thu Jan 16 12:59:18 UTC 2025), Entry for W H Hordin and Tennie Gant, 20 Jan 1899.

 

The time of mourning came again on ♦ 22 February 1904, when Absolom Bobo Gant, Jesse's father died (14).

In the same year, on ⚭ 27 July 1904 (15), the eldest surviving daughter of Jesse's, Mertie, married Mr, Andy Glass, who was born on 24 January 1895 in Peoria, Hill, TX, to James William Glass and Katherine Victoria Winters.

On ♦ 17 September 1900 (16), baby girl Nannie Maud was born to Jesse and Lillian.

A wedding again - ⚭ 5 June 1904 (17) - Jesse's sister Eliza Perry (age 28) married a 4-year-older Mr. John Marion McDaniel. He was born in 1872 in Wayne, TN.

 

Jesse's son Albert Ivy (age 17) married Miss Ella Harris on ⚭ 21 March 1910 (18). Ella was born in the Hill County, TX, on 23 March 1892, to Archibald Barkley Harris and Martha Ann Colville.

🏠 Census - 7 May 1910 - Jesse Bobo lived with his nuclear family in Justice Precinct #7, Hill County, TX.The record mentions Jesse B, (age 44), his wife Lillian (age 41, born in New Jersey). By the time of the census, the lady had given birth to 8 children, only 6 survived*. Jesse and Lillian's children given in the record, who still live at home were Ivy (age 17), Sadie (age 15), Floyd (age 12), and Nannie (age 9). Jesse was a farmer. His daughter Mertie (age 22), her husband Andy (age 25), and their two children Blanch (age 4), and Claude (age 1) lived in the next house (19).

 

In the following year. Jesse and Lillian's family grew again. On ♦ 27 May 1911, their daughter Lillian Lorene was born (20).

On ⚭ 5 October 1913 (21), 19-year-old Sadie Bell left her parents' home. She married 2-year-older James Monroe Smith, born on 23 December 1892 in Waco, TX.

Source: "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-MZ6Z : Thu Jul 11 19:03:59 UTC 2024), Entry for and Sadie Gant, 04 Oct 1913.

Their first child was born next year, in July.

 From: "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LCR-D4ZM : 12 March 2020)

Jesse's mother Nancy E Gant died on ♦ 22 October 1913, in Hillsboro, Hill, Texas.

 

👉 It appears cousin Jesse had a creative mind. He rationalized and patented a cotton chopper in 1915.

Source: Gant, Jesse B. Cotton-Chopper., patent, March 23, 1915; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth857830/: accessed February 24, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department. 

 
On ⚭ 26 November 1916 (22), Nannie Maud (age 16) married James John Hrabal (age 19), born on 2 February 1897 in Hilsboro, TX, to Joseph F Hrabal II and Aloisie Winklar.

 🏠 1920 - Census - only Theodore F (age 21) and Lillian (age 8) lived with their parents Jesse and Lillian in Justice Precinct #7, Hill County, TX (23).

Sad time came again, when Nannie's husband James (age about 29) died of broncho pneumonia on  ♦ 21 January 1926, in Waco McLennan, TX (24).

Grief stayed with the family - on ♦ 21 March 1927 Sadie Bell Gant Smith passed away, due to TB, at the age of 26 (25).

 

⚭ Lillian Lorene married Otis Charles Wade by 23 March 1928. On that day, their baby girl Francis, born on 12 February 1928, passed away (26, 27).

🏠 In 1930 (28), the Jesse and Lillian lived in Justice Precinct #4, Hill County, TX. The census of the 14th April registered also in their their son Theodore F (age 31) in the same household also. They looked after the children of Sadie's, who after their mother's passing lived with their grandparents and uncle. The children were Pauline (age 15), Orvis (age 13), Raymond (age 21), Hannah R (age 4), and Jack T (age 9).

Otis Wade, Lillian Lorene's husband, left this world on ♦ 2 January 1934. He lived 24 years.

Jesse Bobo Gant passed on ♦ 22 January 1934, about a week before his 68th birthday. He lived in Whithey, Hill County, TX at the time of his death (29).

Two years later, Lillian Gant mourned her child again. This time, it was Mertie, who died of influenza/pneumonia on ♦ 29 April 1936 (30). Mertie Rosalee lived 48 years, 5 months, and 9 days (30).

♦ 3 February 1941 - another daughter, Laura Leona, passed due to flu and pulmonary problems, in Waco, McLennan, TX,. She was  47 years, 10 months, and 15 days old (31).

Jesse's wife, Lillian Hannah Hoffman Gant joined her spouse on 3 June 1961, when a cardiac arrest took her from this world. She lived 92 years, 8 months, and 18 days (32).

--

Nannie remarried. Her second husband was Ben Meart Drennan who was 4 year older than Nannie. He was born on 12 March 1896 in Saline, Arkansas. His parents were John Harvey Drennan and Mary C White. Ben was also a widower.

Lillian Lorene's second spouse was Henry Tracy Boyd, born on 8 December 1910, Texas, to Robert Arthur Boyd and Edna Lee Cook.


Sources:

1. "United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8Z-GC4 : Sun Jan 19 03:12:44 UTC 2025), Entry for A B Gant and Nancy Gant, 1870.
2. "Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN8X-5NH : 4 December 2014), A B Gant and Nancy Martin, 27 Aug 1860; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 20, Wayne, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
3. "United States, Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNK-8SY : Sun Jan 19 10:13:00 UTC 2025), Entry for A. B. Gant and Nancy Gant, 1880.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-TFB5 : Fri Jan 17 15:47:02 UTC 2025), Entry for John P Clark and Mary Gant, 29 May 1881.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-TVVN : Fri Jan 10 09:47:30 UTC 2025), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian H Hoffman, 17 Dec 1885.
6. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MS-BCP : 22 January 2020), S. A. Gant in entry for W. F. Brown, 1885.
7. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLQ-LNGD : 5 August 2020), Jessie Gertrude Gant, ; Burial, Peoria, Hill, Texas, United States of America, Peoria Cemetery; citing record ID 85826568, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-DGMN : Thu Jan 16 13:29:55 UTC 2025), Entry for E T Harber and Nancy M Gant, 15 Feb 1888.
9. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2M3-4PK : 22 January 2020), S. C. Grant in entry for R. B. Aldrige, 1891.
10. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LGK-FHZM : 12 March 2020), Albert Ivy Gant, .
11. familysearch.org
12. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L6G-B86Z : 12 March 2020), Theodore Floyd Gant, 1896.
13. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX95-RX3 : 22 January 2020), Tennie Gant in entry for W. H. Hardin, 1899.
14. "Texas, Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HW5M-TZ2M : 14 April 2023), Absolen B. Gant, 1904.
15. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX9G-BNP : 22 January 2020), Mertie Gant in entry for Andy Glass, 1904.
16. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L6F-WXPZ : 14 February 2020), Nannie Maud Gant, 1900.
17. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX9G-YPK : 22 January 2020), Eliza P. Gant in entry for John R. McDaniel, 1904.
18. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK85-K5CQ : Sat Mar 09 09:08:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Ivy Gant and Ela Harris, 1910.
19. "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MK-5RG : Sat Mar 09 00:54:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Jesse B Gant and Lilian Gant, 1910.
20. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LCR-D4ZM : 12 March 2020), Lillian Lorene Gant, .
21. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-66WB : Thu Jan 09 09:52:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Mr J M Smith and Miss Sadie Gant, 05 Oct 1913.
22. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-672H : Sat Jan 18 12:27:54 UTC 2025), Entry for James J Hrabal and Nannie Maud Gant, 26 Nov 1916.
23. "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCS3-B43 : Thu Jan 16 21:59:30 UTC 2025), Entry for Jesse B Gant and Lillian H Gant, 1920.
24. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZNX-PSQ : 24 May 2014), James John Hrabal, 21 Jan 1926; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 2844, Mclennan, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
25. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QD-KSG : Sun Jan 19 22:33:57 UTC 2025), Entry for Sadie Smith and J B Grant, 21 Mar 1927.
26. "Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8QR-SWG : 1 January 2015), Lorine Gant in entry for Francis Gant, 12 Feb 1928; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CMNV-86Z : Sat Mar 09 09:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian Gant, 1930.
27. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QY-Y58 : Sun Jan 19 02:18:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Francis Loraine Wade and Otis Wade, 23 Mar 1928.
28.  "United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CMNV-86Z : Sat Mar 09 09:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian Gant, 1930.
29. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDZ-9HL : 24 May 2014), Jessie B. Gant, 22 Jan 1934; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 2943, Hill, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
30. "Texas, Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TY-YFM : 14 April 2023), Mertie Glass, 1936.
31. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K393-ZKG : Thu Jul 11 10:29:52 UTC 2024), Entry for Laura Leona McMurray and J B Gant, 3 Feb 1941.
32. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H4-FNB : Mon Jul 22 15:09:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Lillian Hannah Gant and Jacob Hoffman, 3 Jun 1961.
 

Pictures taken on 18 August 2020

Rev. David Albert Heidtke

David Albert Heidtke was born on October 5 in Jackson, Washington, Wisconsin, to Rudolf August Franz Heidtke (b. May 15, 1896) and Erma Bertha (Melita) Groth (b. October 31, 1894).

👉 Census April 29, 1830 - David lived with his parents and brothers (Frederick, age 8 and Robert, age 4) in Jackson, Wisconsin. Mr. Rudolf A Heidtke had a farm (1).

Young David received his primary education at St. John Lutheran Parish School in Jackson. Later, he attended Cedarburg High School.

👉 In 1949, 20-year-old David A Heidtke started his studies at the Wartburg College in Waverly.  
👉 In 1950, during the census he was recorded as a lodger in the North Hall Men's Dormitory, in Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa. At that time, David also worked at a restaurant, engaged in the past time food service. He graduated the Wartburg College with a B A degree (with a major in music).

Subsequently, the man continued his education at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He received a B. D. degree and was ordained on 🕇 June 6, 1954.
Rev. Heidtke's first call took him to Calvary Lutheran Church in San Angelo, Texas.

👉 In June 1957, the Pastor married Miss Mary Frances Wright.

 

Clipping source: The Cuero Record (Cuero, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 142, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 16, 1957, newspaper, June 16, 1957; Cuero, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth696129/: accessed August 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Cuero Public Library.

⛪ On 1 September 1959, Rev. Heidtke, his wife and baby boy moved in to the parsonage/started his pastoral service at Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, Texas. 

➜ December 1959 - Christmas Eve candlelight service was introduced,

➜ 1960 - total renovation of the church was completed - the dedication Service took place on October 16, 1963 - Zion received three new bells (sponsored by the Family of Robert Klingelhoefer, Mrs. Albert Sagebiel, Mrs. and Mr. Lon Simon, and Mrs. and Mr. Felix Saenger. The old bell was placed on display outside the church.
➜ 1963 - the youth choir received a processional cross donated by Mr. Werner Weber.

 

👉 Rev. David A. Heidtke worked at Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, TX until October 1963. During his service at the church, the Parson officiated 41 baptisms, 37 confirmations, 14 weddings, and 31 funerals. 

Clipping source: Dietel, Norman J. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, November 20, 1959, newspaper, November 20, 1959; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1062299/: accessed August 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

👉 Next, the Pastor received a call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor, Texas. He later continued his pastoral work at the following churches in Texas:
⛪ Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church n Amarillo,
⛪  Kinsman Lutheran Church in Houston, and
⛪  St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorktown.
Rev. Heidtke retired  on December 1931, 1990. Later, he moved back to Fredericksburg and since December 19, 1995, served as a Visitation Pastor at Zion.
Rev. David Albert Heidtke was also a Supply Pastor at other Texas churches, including
⛪  Immanuel Lutheran Church in Comfort, St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Doss, and ⛪  Christ Lutheran Church in Cherry Spring.

Pastor Heidtke passed on ♦ March 23, 2006. His body was interred at the Greenwood Cemetery in Fredericksburg.

---

They Lived in Texas

Sources:
"150 Years of God's Grace 1852-2002", Zion Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, TX.

1. "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X93C-Y6T : Fri Mar 08 03:40:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Rudolph A Heidtke and Melita Heidtke, 1930.
2. "United States Census, 1950", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FQZ-PDJD : Tue Mar 19 05:15:04 UTC 2024), Entry for Melvin L Kramer and Carl S Wengler, 4 May 1950.
3. https://swtsynod.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Heidtke%2C%20David%20Albert

Johann Heinrich Strackbein and Family

The research related to creating this post took me quite a lot of time.

As usual, I first tried to find as many sources of information on the family members as possible. Then, I analyzed and compared the data to discard discrepancies and possible errors. It was again followed by more research to complete the missing pieces of information and possibly find new threads. The fact that quite a few family members (both men and women) used the same given names, did not help at all. Quite contrary. All in all, here are the results of my work.

★

Heinrich Strackbein was born on 9 September 1807 in Frohnhausen, Hesse-Nassau, Prussia. He was the son of Georg Andreas Strackbein (b. 2 November 1776, Frohnhausen/d. 28 November 1851, Frohnhausen), a miner and Marie Elisabethe Kunz (b. 18 July 1771, Frohnhausen/d. 26 September 1836, Frohnhausen).
Heinrich worked as a weaver in Frohnhausen and was also a citizen of Steinbrücken.

⚭ On 28 November 1830, he married Elisabeth Anna Eckhardt (born on 25 December 1809 in Steinbrücken), She was the daughter of Johann Philipp Eckhardt (b. 1 May 1783, Strassersbach/d. 3 February 1828, Steinbrücken) and A. Katharina Bräuer (b. 6 February 1778, Steinbrücken/d. 18 February 1833, Steinbrücken). The marriage ceremony took place in Steinbrücken.

Clipping source: Frohnhausen - religious marriage records 1817-1874

Children born to the couple in Steinbrücken:
♦ 27 November 1831 - daughter Elisabeth Katharine,
♦ 4 March 1834 - daughter Katharine Margarethe came to this world.

♦ Son Friedrich was born on 16 April 1836/ ♦ died 10 May 1836
♦ Christian was born on 7 May 1838/ ♦ died 13 June 1838.

♦ 22 November 1839 - Heinrich Johannes was born,
♦ 16 December 1842 - the oldest child/son, Christian Johann Heinrich, arrived.

🚢 On 15 August 1845, the family boarded brig Semiramus (Arminius) and sailed to Galveston where they arrived on 25 October of the same year (1). Heinrich had obtained a Fisher-Miller grant

The family traveled with other persons of their area, including Elisabeth's brother, Heinrich Anton Eckhardt, born in 1821 in Steinbrücken, and the Wickel, von Reede, Scholl, and Kraft families.

Jakob Aurand (b. on 19 December 1801 in Ebersbach), farmer and innkeeper in Steinbrücken, traveled with his wife Elizabeth Anna and their 6 children (all born in Steinbrücken):
♦ Jakob - born 10 June 1827,
♦ Friedrich -  born on 14 January 1830,
♦ Wilhelm Friedrich - 14 February 1835,
♦ Christine - b. on 22 March 1838,
♦ Wilhelmine - b. on 3 February 1841,
and ♦ Karl - born on 5 August 1844.

Their son, Daniel - born 4 July 1832/died on ♦ 10 September 1834 in Steinbrücken.
 
Jakob Aurand Sr. died on ♦ 10 June 1846* in New Braunfels (2) and was buried there (grave without a marker.)  He was the son of Johann Danie Aurand (b. 1756/d. 1813), church elder of Ebersbach and Anna Christine Blecher (b. 1760/d. 1885) of  Mandeln/lived in Ebersbach.

Before 1847, Heinrich's wife, Elisabeth Anna passed, too. Some time after that, the man remarried. His second wife was Elisabeth Aurand nee Wickel of Ebersbach, widow of Jakob Aurand. She was the daughter of Jakob Wickel the younger (b. 1777/d. 1813) and Anna Christine Nassauer (b. 1878/d. 1823). Elizabeth Anna was born on 18 July 1804*, in Steinbrücken.

1847 - Heinrich received town lot #147 in Fredericksburg, TX. Jakob Aurand owned lot #492 (3).

👉 Heinrich Strackbein (age 43), his second wife Elisabeth (age 45), and children were recorded in Fredericksburg during the 1850 census. The children were: Elisabeth (age 18), Christiana (Aurand? age 15), Henry (age 10), Christian (age 8), and Minna Aurand (age 8). The family name is given as Strackbein (4). I am not sure what happened to Karl Aurand. At first, I thought he might have died on their way to Texas, but another source** gives that Karl lived until 1934.

⚭ Elisabeth Katharine was married on 18 August 1851, to Johann Georg Steubing, Comal County, TX (5)

⚭ 15 December 1851, Gillespie, TX - Katharine Margarethe married Johann Durst (6) of Dettenhausen (born on 13 January 1829). Johan was the son of Johannes Durst and Christine Margaretha Binder.

👉 1855 - Heinrich paid taxes for 53 acres of land and 53 acres granted to J. Aurand (7)
18 November 1859 - Christine Aurand married Theodor Schlaudt from Westerburg (8), the son of Georg Schlaudt. Theodor was born on 6 March 1835.

⚭ 18 November 1859, in Gillespie, TX, Christine Aurand married Theodor Schlaudt (9). He was the son of Georg Schlaudt and was born on 6 March 1835.

👉 1860 - Henry Strackbein (age 52), Elizabeth (age 56), Henry (age 20), Christian (age 17), Fritz Aurand (age 30), a wagoner, and Minna Aurand (age 17) were registered in Precinct #2, Fredericksburg during the census (9).

The Civil War came - Christian Johann Heinrich and his brother Heinrich Johannes Strackbein served in the CA (10):

•     Company E, 1st Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Yager's) (1st Mounted Rifles),
•     Company C, 8th Battalion, Texas Cavalry (Taylor's Battalion, Mounted Rifles).

⚭ 4 December 1865 - Wilhelmine Aurand married Wilhelm Wiedmann (11), the son of Christina Lauterwarser Wiedmann.

⚭ 2 April 1866 - Johann Heinrich Strackbein married Katherine Elisabeth Crenwelge (born on 26 March 1844), the daughter of Johann Peter Crenwelge and Katharine Henriette Siegmund (12).

♦ 29 Ferbuary 1868 - Heinrich Strackbein Sr., the father of the family, died.

👉 1870 Census -  Elizabeth Strackbein, the widow of Henry, lived with her daughter Minna and her husband Wilhelm (13).

⚭ 16 December 1870 - Christian Strackbein married Katharine Eckert (14), the daughter of Karl Friedrich Eckert and Eva Katharine Guthörle. 

♦ 2 December 1878 - Anna Elizabeth Wickel Aurand - Strackbein passed away. Interestingly, her gravemarker does not include the name Strackbein (?).

★

According to the info given on findagrave.com, Friedrich Aurand received 320 acres of land between Fort Mason and Fort McKavett. Later, he relocated to Williamson county where he married Eliza Jane Montgomery on ⚭ 23 January 1862 (15).  Elisa died on 19 September 1889.

 

⚭ 24 December 1890 F. Aurand married Mrs. M J Haskeill (16). 

 

 

 

Another record reads that on ⚭ 4 August 1897, F. R. Aurand married Mrs. M. J.Williams (17). 

 

 

Unfortunately, I have not found much information on Friedrich Aurand. Nothing more on his brothers Jakob, Wilhelm Friedrich, and Karl either. In case of new founds, I will post an update below this post.

 

 ★

 

*Dates according to the book mentioned below. Galveston database gives different dates:

Jakob Aurnad's death - 5 June 1846,  Elisabeth Wickel Aurand's birth date as 12 July 1804.

** geneanet.org

Sources:
"From Dillenburg to Texas. Emigration in the District of Dillenburg from 1845 to 1846" Ursula Hatzfeld, translated by Henry Salzhandler, El Gritodel Lobo Press, 2015.

1. Arminus passengers list
2. Deaths in New Braunfeld 1845-46
3. Fredericksburg, TX town lots - 18474. "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-LNG : Sun Mar 10 18:10:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Strachbine and Elizabeth Strachbine, 1850.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL43-PV3 : Fri Mar 08 16:49:37 UTC 2024), Entry for Mr. Johann G Henbing and Miss Cath Elizabeth Strackbei, 18 Aug 1851.
6. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX3B-BMJ : 22 January 2020), Katharine Strackbein in entry for John Durst, 1851.
7. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-RNKV : Sun Mar 10 19:56:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Strackbein, 1855.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VC1 : Fri Mar 08 05:57:33 UTC 2024), Entry for Theodor Schlaudt and Christine Aurand, 18 Nov 1859.
9. "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-BTM : Fri Mar 08 16:48:57 UTC 2024), Entry for Henry Strackbein and Elizabeth Strackbein, 1860.
10. Soldiers database
11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-L8L : Sun Mar 10 22:30:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Wilhelm Wiedmann and Wilhelmine Aurant, 04 Dec 1865.
12. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1T-Q8T : 22 January 2020), Johann Heinrich Strackbein, 1866.
13. "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-NLN : Tue Mar 05 12:44:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Wm Wiedmann and Wilhelmina Wiedmann, 1870.
14. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VKZ : Sun Mar 10 21:06:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Christian Strackbein and Katharine Eckert, 16 Dec 1870.
15. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MK-H8L : 22 January 2020), Eliza Jane Montgomery in entry for Frederick Arrand, 1862.
16 "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-G6TQ : Sun Mar 10 10:28:02 UTC 2024), Entry for Mr F Aurand and M J Haskeill, 24 Dec 1890.
17. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6BW-L22 : Thu Mar 21 00:34:08 UTC 2024), Entry for F. R. Aurand and M. J. Williams, 04 Aug 1897.

Peter Metzger & Family

Peter Metzger was born on 10 March 1861, north of Fredericksburg.  His birthday is coming soon.

Peter was the second youngest child (the youngest son) of Jakob Metzger and Anna Maria Trumm. Peter's grandparents, Catherine Leyendecker and Friedrich Metzger, were mentioned in the previous post dedicated to Johann Leyendecker. 

Baby Peter was about 17 months old when his father died. Jakob Metzger was a farmer. The man owned 113 acres of land, which he claimed on 24 September 1857 (1).

👉 Census 30 June 1870 - Peter, his mother Anna (age 44), and his siblings were recorded by a Census clerk, Rudolph Runge. They lived in the Fredericksburg Valley, Gillespie County, Post Office Fredericksburg (2). Anna ran the family farm with the help of her children Johann (age 20), Wendelin (age 19), Adam (age 16), Friedrick (age 15), Christian (age 12), Eva (age 7), and 9-year-old Peter. The boy's grandfather Friedrich (age 89) lived with the family as well.

 

 

A few months after the census, on ♦ 9 February 1871, Friedrich Metzger, the patriarch of the Metzger family, passed away.

On 12 February 1874, Peter's eldest brother Johann started his own family and left the family home. Johann's spouse was Elisabeth Kunz (3).

Wendelin, the second eldest brother of Peter, married their sister-in-law, Anna Maria Kunz, on 13 November 1877 (4).
 
When Peter grew up, he continued to help his mother run the farm and earn money to make ends meet. At the age of 17, he hauled hay for his brother (on a wagon with a team of 8 oxen) to Fort McKavitt and Fort Concho.

 

At the age of 24, on 9 September 1885 (5), Peter married Miss Emma Sophie Houy (born on 22 August 1862). She was the daughter of Ernst Houy and Dorothea Mengis.

 

 

Peter and Sophie moved to the Cherry Mountain area. The young man bought 320 acres from his father-in-law and built a log house there. It had two rooms and a dirt floor.

Children were born to the couple:

• Alvin August - born on 4 June 1887 (6),
• Edward - on 9 November 1888 (7),
• Hulda - 23 December 1895 (8),
• Dorothea - 18 October 1899 (9).

👉 Tax Records 1896 - Peter had bought more land (160 acres) from Sophie's father. Those acres were of better quality than the 320 he got previously as the record informs the 160 were worth $500 and the 320 only $400. In that year Peter also paid taxes for 4 horses and 15 head of cattle (10).

Mr. Peter Metzger was a farmer. Besides cattle, he also raised sheep and hogs. His additional job was cleaning out dirt tanks (with a horse and a scraper) for the public.

 

👉 Census - March 1900 - the family was registered during the census in Justice Precinct #4, Gillespie, TX. 80-year-old mother of Sophie, Dorothea Houy, lived with Peter, Sophie, and their children (11).

After about 17 years in the Cherry Mountain area, Peter Metzger sold his land and purchased 640 acres in Mason County, between the Union Community and Fly Gaps. The family moved to the new place on 28 December 1901.

⚭ Alvin August was married in about 1909 to Annie Mary Jung (born on 14 January 1896, Gillespie, TX). She was the daughter of Jacob Rudolph Jung and Maria Hartmann.
⚭ 1909 - Ed (Edward Arnold) was married to Alma Alice Brown (born on 14 May 1890, Mason County, TX), the daughter of Robert Leonardo Brown and Elizabeth Adella Fleming (12).

Sophie's mother, Dorothea, passed on ♦ 19 February 1910.

👉 Census 7/8 May 1910 - Peter Metzger (age 49), his wife Sophia (age 47), and their two daughters, Hulda (age 13), and Dora (age 10) lived in the household in 🏡 Justice Precinct #8, Mason County, TX (13).

After 12 years in Mason County, Peter sold half of his acres to Ernest Leifeste. The sons Alvin and Ed were given 160 acres each. Peter, his wife, and their daughters moved to Fredericksburg.

⚭ 29 December 1913 - 19-year-old Hulda married 27-year-old Mr. Harold Edward Stork (14). He was born on 11 July 1886 in Gillespie, to Adolph Stork and Angelina Markwardt Stork.

 👉 12 January 1920 - another census - Peter, Sophie, and their youngest daughter Dorothea lived in Justice Precinct #1, Gillespie, TX (15).

In the same year, on ⚭ 28 April (16), Dorothea (age 20) married a year older Edward Louis Woerner (born on 23 December 1898). Dotothea's in-laws were Mr. Louis Woerner and Mrs. Kornelia Treibs Woerner.

 

Peter Metzger lived in Fredericksburg with his wife until the day of his passing, which came at 7:05 PM, on ♦ 11 April 1937. The man lived 76 years, 1 month, and 1 day (17). His body was buried at the City Cemetery in Fredericksburg.

Peter's wife Emma Sophie passed about a year later, on ♦ 13 February 1938 (18).

 

---

This post is part of our series "They lived in Texas".

Sources:

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

1. Cushing, E. H. The Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 15, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 23, 1863, newspaper, June 23, 1863; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth236238/: accessed February 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

 2. "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-J5D : Tue Oct 03 23:17:57 UTC 2023), Entry for Anna Metzgar and John Metzgar, 1870.

3. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX3B-YXS : 22 January 2020), Johann Metzger, 1874.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-K7S : Thu Nov 30 11:49:30 UTC 2023), Entry for Wendelin Metzger and Anna Maria Kunz, 13 Nov 1877.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9VBQ : Thu Nov 30 11:52:17 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Metzger and Sophie Hauy, 09 Sep 1885.
6. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6P9-SL2 : 13 February 2020), Peter Metzger in entry for Alvin August Metzger, 1887.
7. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LKL-TK6Z : 14 February 2020), Edward Arnold Metzger, 1888.
8. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PM-74N : 13 February 2020), Peter Metzger in entry for Hulda Emma Metzger, 1895.
9. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PM-3Y6 : 13 February 2020), Peter Metzger in entry for Dorathea Metzger, 1899.
10. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-TP7X : Sat Dec 16 08:23:52 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Metzger, 1896.
11. "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3GZ-7DB : Fri Oct 06 07:59:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Metzger and Sophia Metzger, 1900.
12. Mason County Marriages
13. "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2QH-Q1K : Fri Oct 06 08:54:35 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Metzger and Sophia Metzger, 1910.
14. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9G2W : Thu Nov 30 02:13:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Harold E. Stork and Hulda E. Metzger, 29 Dec 1914.
15. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9C-SMQ : Thu Dec 07 23:02:58 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Metzger and Sophie Metzger, 1920.
16. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-95VZ : Thu Nov 30 11:48:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Erwin L. Weerner and Dorothea Metzger, 28 Apr 1920.
17. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H5-2HH : Fri Feb 16 21:35:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Peter Metzger and Jacob Metzger, 11 April 1937.
18. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDV-VLB : 24 May 2014), Emma Sophie Metzger, 13 Feb 1938; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 7623, Gillespie, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin. 

 

Photos: August 2020