Emil Adolph Loeffler & Family

Emil Adolph Loeffler was born in Texas on 8 February 1881 to Paul Loeffler and Mina Neffenorf. Little Emil grew up in Hilda, Mason County.

On ♦ 3 November 1895, Emil's baby sister Hulda died at the age of 1.

1898 - Emil became a member of the Methodist Church in Hilda. In the same year, the man relocated to Port Lavaca where he worked in a hotel. The young man self-taught himself bookkeeping, English, and Spanish.

In 1900, 19-year-old Emil lived with his parents and 5 siblings in Mason, TX. Mr. Paul Loeffler was a carpenter, and Emil was a day laborer (1).

In the following years, Emil spent some time in San Antonio working as a bookkeeper and night clerk at the Mahncke Hotel.

⚭ 27 December 1906, Emil married Miss Emma Ruth Spicer (2) who also had lived in San Antonio, working at the telephone company. Miss Spicer was born on 5 November 1877, in Brighton England to John Spicer and Ruth Nelson. The family came to Kerr County, TX in 1879.

Clipping source: The Daily Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 363, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 29, 1906, newspaper, December 29, 1906; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth440978/: accessed July 3, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

1907 - Emil and Emma moved to Junction, Kimble, TX and Emil took up a position at A J Hamer Company.

In the same year, on ♦ 1 October, the couple's first son Louis Athol was born.
♦ 3 February 1910, their second son Reuben Spicer was born.

 January 1911

Newspaper clipping: Briggs, George Waverley. The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 15, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 15, 1911, newspaper, January 15, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1533394/: accessed July 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

A few months later, on 31 April, a census clerk recorded Emil and his family in Junction, Justin Precinct #1. Emil's profession was given as a bookkeeper then (3).

1911, Mr. Emil Loeffler was a co-founder of the Junction Hardware Company. The next year, brought another enterprise which Emil was part of. The Loeffler Motor Company (Ford agency) came into being. Emil Loeffler was president and general manager of both businesses.

1914 - E. Loeffler was one of the organizers of the local Chamber of Commerce and was its president as well.

1916, the First National Bank was opened in Junction. Mr. E. Loeffler was its president.

Clipping source: The Junction Eagle (Junction, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, January 21, 1921, newspaper, January 21, 1921; Junction, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth801077/: accessed July 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu;.  

♦ 1 May 1917 - Paul Friedrich Loeffler, Emil's father, died in Mason.

12 September 1918, Military Draft Registration took place (4).

On ♦ 8 October 1918, Emil's brother Max Theodore died of pneumonia at the age of 35 (5).

3 January 1920, Emil was recorded as a boarder at Mr. Joe Fritz's place, Justice Precinct #1, Kimble County (6).

 

 

Clipping source: Perry, H. Grady. Junction Eagle (Junction, Tex.), Vol. 38, No. 42, Ed. 1 Friday, February 10, 1922, newspaper, February 10, 1922; Junction, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth890509/: accessed July 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Later, it was Reuben Spicer Loeffler who graduated as valedictorian from Alpine High School.

1926, together with a business associate, Emil built a hotel in Junction.

Newspaper clipping: The Austin Statesman (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 55, No. 317, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 27, 1926, newspaper, May 27, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1445254/: accessed July 3, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

1928, Mr. Loeffler was involved in the works of the local Rotary Club (being its charter member). Later, was elected its president and also worked as a school trustee.

♦ 26 November 1928 - Emil's mother Mina Loeffler passed.

1930 census - Emil Loeffler (age 49), Emma (age 52), Louis A (age 22), Reuben S (age 20) lived in Junction. Emil's profession appears in the record as manager of a Hardware Store. Louis worked as a bookkeeper at the store (7).

1931/33 - Emil Loeffler was elected mayor of Junction.

Clipping source: Williamson, J. T. Coleman Democrat-Voice (Coleman, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 23, 1931, newspaper, April 23, 1931; Coleman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth747610/: accessed July 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Coleman Public Library.

♦ 26 August 1932 - Emma, Emil's wife, died of pneumonia.

Clipping source: White, James C. Brownwood Bulletin (Brownwood, Tex.), Vol. 31, No. 268, Ed. 1 Tuesday, August 25, 1931, newspaper, August 25, 1931; Brownwood, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1023950/: accessed July 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Brownwood Public Library.

⚭ 2 June 1932 - 22-year-old Reuben married 16-year-old Miss Jewel Riley in Eddy, New Mexico (8).
⚭ Louis married Kate Ellen Lewis in the same year.

1935 - Mr. Loeffler was on the board of directors of the Junction National Bank which was opened that year.

♦ 18 November 1938 - another sibling of Emil, his sister Emma Christina Standtke, died in Art.

1940 - the census record shows that Emil's sister Selma had lived in his household as well (9).

1947 - Emil Loeffler retired after an active professional career and 35 years of serving as president of the hardware store and the Motor Company. At his retirement, Mr. Loeffler divided his business shares between his brothers Robert and Alvin William (who had been Emil's associates), and the two sons Reuben and Louis.

18 April 1950 - census again. Emil (age 69) was then a roomer (since 1949) at the place of Mr. Coke R Stevenson, a rancher in Kimble County (10).

♦ 24 July 1953 - Selma Loeffler, Emil's sister, died (11).

♦ 17 June 1956 - another sister of Emil's, 84-year-old Lina Rosa Kothmann passed away in Mason County (12).

♦ 14 June 1962 - Emil Loeffler came to the end of his life journey. He passed away in the Junction Kimble Hospital (13) and then was buried in Junction Cemetery.

Read about Emil's parents here.

 Sources:

• "Families of Kimble County" Volume II 1998, Kimble County Historical Commission, South Llano Printing Company, Junction, Texas 
• Findagrave.com

1. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3P2-V5T : 14 January 2022), Emil Loefler in entry for Paul Loefler, 1900.
2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMM-5Z62 : 28 November 2018), Emil A Loeffler and Emma R Spicer, 27 Dec 1906; citing Kerr, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm .
3. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M23R-32C : accessed 27 June 2023), Emil A Loeffler, Justice Precinct 1, Kimble, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 148, sheet 4A, family 70, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1570; FHL microfilm 1,375,583.
4. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXV-P3L : 23 December 2021), Emil Adolph Loeffler, 1917-1918.
"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXV-P3L : 23 December 2021), Emil Adolph Loeffler, 1917-1918.
6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3ZB-WR4 : 5 April 2023), Max Theodore Loeffler, 1918.
"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCSC-76M : 3 February 2021), Emil A Loefler, 1920.
7. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CSP5-DPZ : accessed 30 June 2023), Emil A Lorffler, Junction, Kimble, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 11B, line 51, family 255, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2367; FHL microfilm 2,342,101.
8. "United States Western States Marriage Index", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZFC-YV4 : 19 October 2018), Reuben S. Loeffler and Jewel Riley, 1932.
9. "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:KW2N-BMC : Sat Jun 10 00:11:46 UTC 2023), Entry for Emil A Loeffler and Selma Loeffler, 1940.
10. "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6XP9-RY2V : Mon Jan 30 01:11:34 UTC 2023), Entry for Earl G Hill and Minnie B Hill, 18 April 1950.
11. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K377-72P: 6 April 2023), Selma Loeffler, 1953.
12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QN-5MZ: 6 April 2023), Lina Rose Kothmann, 1956.
13. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBZ-FQ8: 5 April 2023), Emil Adolf Loeffler, 1962. 

Photos: July/August 2020

Karl Dietrich Kothmann

Karl Dietrich Kothmann was born in Wedelhine, Germany, on 14 February 1837. He was one of the children of Heinrich Konrad Kothmann and Ilse Katherine Pahlmann. The boy was only 9 when he came with his parents and siblings to Texas. During their stay in Indianola, due to miserable living conditions there, both Karl and his 3-year-younger sister Marie Karoline got seriously ill. The boy recovered after a long time of suffering, but the girl passed away.

In his young days, Karl Dietrich and his two-year-older brother Heinrich Friedrich spent most of their time together. After the older's brother marriage, Karl assisted his father in the day-to-day duties, helping him take care of the cattle and haul freight from San Antonio to Waco and Brenham. The latter supported the family budget.

18 September 1850, Dietrich and his family (father, laborer, age 53, mother, age 40, and four siblings) were recorded during the Census (1). They lived in Fredericksburg, TX.

♡ 11 October 1862 (2), Karl Dietrich married Miss Clara Luise Stahl (born on 1 March 1845 in Germany). She was the daughter of J. Friedrich Stahl and Henriette Nickel.

The 17-year-old bride was 5 feet tall and had dark hair and brown eyes. The groom (age 35) was 6'4", and had blue eyes and a goatee. He enjoyed smoking a pipe and playing the violin.

The couple settled on the Llano River, where Dietrich built a log house. There also was a piece of land for a garden that both spouses attended to. Since there was no well, they carried water from the river situated about 400 hundred yards from the house.

Dietrich continued hauling freight to Austin. During one of those trips, the man was robbed by two strangers who, at first, pretended to be friendly. The villains took away Dietrich's brand-new Navy Six-Shooter.

♦ 15 October 1863 - the first child,  daughter Clara Emilia Hulda was born in Mason (3).

February 1864 - Karl Dietrich Kothmann joined the Mason County Minute Men (4).

♦ 19 May 1865 - daughter Alvina was born.

♦ 8 January 1867 - another daughter, Clara, came. 

In the same year, Karl Dietrich arranged a government contract to cut wood (for McKavett and Chadbourne Forts) and to mow hay prairie grass for Fort Griffin. The contract participants were also Heinrich Friedrich Kothmann, Dietrich's brother, and Charles Lehmberg. Dietrich hired men and completed the commitment. After that, he looked after his cattle. Besides being a farmer, the man was also a cattle raiser.

♦ 29 January 1868 - Theodore Louise was born (5).

♦ 5 May 1869 - Dietrich Adolph joined the family (6).

1870 - with the help of his two brothers, Karl and Wilhelm, Dietrich drove Mr. Chipman's cattle to Kansas. When the brothers were coming back home, Karl contracted typhoid and sadly, he died.

1871 - Dietrich, his brother Wilhelm and Major Lewis drove two herds (1500 heads each) of Mr. Chipman's cattle to Kansas again. Initially, Dietrich was the boss of one of the herds only. When they all reach the Forth Wort area, due to the cowboys' strike in Major Lewis' team, Dietrich was assigned as the trail leader of both herds of cattle. They all had to cross the Red River, which was swollen at the time, its current was strong and ran wild. Despite the high water on the rampage, Dietrich and his men (32 riders altogether) managed to transport their provisions to the other side of the river and crossed all the chuck wagons, 3000 heads of cattle, and 150 horses. The party got to Kansas and successfully sold the cattle. Then, Dietrich came home by train and a stagecoach while Wilhelm and the 32 riders traveled on horseback.

Karl Dietrich Kothamnn drove cattle to Kansas two more times - in 1872, and a year later.

♦ 20 January 1870 - Little Clara passed. She was 3 years old.

1 June 1870 - census time. The family lived in Mason, Mason, TX (7).

♦ 22 October 1870 - a daughter was born. They named her Clara, after the late baby girl who passed a few months earlier.

♦ 31 December 1872 - son Frank was born.

1873 - having driven the cattle to the Kansas market, Dietrich bought a pair of fine horses and a brand-new hack, then started his journey back home. The man was accompanied by Mr. Adolph Reichenau, Sr.  The Llano River was up and still raising when they reached it. With major difficulties, the men managed to cross the wild river stream. While the horses when resting at the Llano bank, the water rose, and a big tree came brought by the river current hit the back of the hack, turned it down, and pulled the vehicle and the horses into the wild water. Dietrich tried to save the horses, but despite all his effort, the animals drowned.

About that time, all the horses and mules Dietrich had were stolen by the Indians.

1874 - Hoo Doo war started.

♦ 8 November 1874 - Emil came to this world

♦ 14 February 1876 - Alexander Friedrich arrived (8).

1878 - Dietrich sold the land on the Llano River for $1000. The purchaser was Mr. Bernhard Durst. Dietrich Kothmann also sold the hogs he owned and the range mark to Mr. August Meckel (for $600). Subsequently, Karl Dietrich obtained a large tract of land at Fly Gap where he built a two-story house made of stone and cleared the land.

♦ 22 June 1878 - daughter Anna joined the family.

♦ 6 August 1879 - Albert was born.

Dietrich and his family raised hogs again. The lard, ham, and bacon from butchered hogs were sold at the market in Austin or San Antonio. At that time, the products were more profitable than beef.

18 June 1880 - the family of Dietrich Ktohmann was registered by a census clerk in Justice Precinct #4, ED 104, Mason, TX. John Kothmann (age 18), Dietrich's nephew, lived in the family house. He was a farm laborer (9).

♦ 27 August 1881 - Dietrich's father (age 77) passed. 

♦ 9 September 1881 - daughter Lillie was born.

♦ 19 January 1883 - Nellie came to this world.

♦ 15 August 1884 - 16-year-old Louisa died.

♦ 15 March 1885 - the youngest son, Sam was born.

In the same year, ♡ Hulda married Mr. John Muennek (Muennink), born on 1 August 1859 in New Fountain, Medina, TX, to Frederich F Muennink and Antje Freden Schoen.

♡ 1887 - Alvina married 8-year-older Mr. John Schneider. Around that time, Dietrich began fencing his property.

♡ 1892 - Adolph married Lydia Sophie Hoerster, the daughter of Daniel Hoerster and Wilhelmina Jordan.
♡ 1897 - Clara married Fritz Charles Grote (born 3 February 1870), the son of Friedrich Adolph Grote and Conradina Bertha Lemberg.

♡ 1899 - Lillie married her brother-in-law Emil Louis Charles Hoerster (born 8 May 1874, Mason County, TX), the brother of Lydia Hoerster.
 

1900 - Census - Dietrich and the family had a boarder, 16-year-old Alonzo Keller, who had been attending school for three years. They all lived in justice Precinct #1, ED 50, Mason, TX (10).

♦ 9 January 1901 - 15-year old son, Sam died.

A few weeks later, on 23 January, a merry event in the family, ♡ 25-year-old Alexander married Alma Sophie Kothmann (born 3 August 1882, Castell, Llano, TX), who was the daughter of Heinrich Friederich Kothmann and Konradina Pluennneke (11).

♡ 9 October 1903 - Nellie married Ernest Frank Karl Leifeste (born 21 August 1880), the son of Karl Leifeste and Fredericka Jordan.

 

Clipping source: The Austin Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 33, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 10, 1903, newspaper, October 10, 1903; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1454722/: accessed January 4, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu;. 

 

♡ 1905 - Albert married his sister-in-law, 6-year-younger Milda Kothmann (born 15 July 1885), the daughter of Heinrich Friederich Kothmann and Konradina Pluennneke.

 

♦ 15 February 1905 - Dietrich's mother died (age 94).

 

 

Clipping source: The Fort Worth Record and Register (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 127, Ed. 1 Sunday, February 19, 1905, newspaper, February 19, 1905; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1494374/: accessed January 4, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu;. 

 
About a year later, mourning came on ♦ 20 May, when Albert's 20-year-old wife died.

♡ 25 June 1908 - Albert remarried in Hilda, Mason, TX. His second wife was Lena Hulda Wiedemann, the daughter of Theodore Karl Wiedemann and Sophia Emma Pluenneke (12).

♦ 10 Nov. 1908 - daughter Hulda died at the age of 45.

♦ 14 July 1914 - Karl Dietrich Kothmann left this world at the age of 77. He was a good-hearted and hard-working man who was not afraid of life's obstacles. He took risks and applied discipline when it was necessary. Besides his own children, eight girls and six boys, he also raised his nephew, John W. Kothmann.

Dietrich's wife, Louise lived 4 years longer until ♦ 4 November 1918. Mrs. Kothmann passed due to liver cancer (13). She was buried next to her husband at the Kothmann cemetery in Art, Mason, TX.

 

Sources:

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

1. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-PQL : 23 December 2020), Deidrick Kothman in household of Henry Kothman, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-HSX : 22 January 2020), Dietrich Kothmann, 1862.
3. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-46W2 : 14 February 2020), Diedrich Kothmann in entry for Clara Em. Hulda Kothmann, 1863.
4. "Texas, Confederate Army and Commanding Officer Card Index, ca.1861-ca.1865", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z4NW-NH2M : 18 June 2020), Dederick Kathman, 1864.
5. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LG4-J43Z : 14 February 2020), Diedrich Kothmann in entry for Theodora Louyse Kothmann, 1868.
6. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L2Q-T9ZM : 14 February 2020), Diedrich Kothmann in entry for Diedrich Adolph Kothmann, 1869.
"Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K372-ZXG : 20 February 2021), Dietrich Kothmann in entry for Adolph Dietrich Kothmann, 06 Mar 1954; citing certificate number 12076, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,146.
7. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-41H : 29 May 2021), Dietrich Kothman, 1870.
8. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QG-Q6L : 20 February 2021), Dietrich Kothmann in entry for Alexander Fredrick Kothmann, 24 Nov 1954; citing certificate number 56529, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,284.
9. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-LGN : 15 January 2022), D. Kothmann, Justice Precinct 4, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
10. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-HYN : 14 January 2022), Dietrich Kothmann, 1900.
11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-PXLW : 10 March 2021), A F Kothmann and Alma Kothmann, 23 Jan 1901; citing Llano, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,995.
12. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HCMV-VMN2 : 22 January 2020), Albert Kothmann, 1908.
13. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SZ-13L : 20 February 2021), Louise Kothmann, 04 Nov 1918; citing certificate number 51535, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,073,413.

• Mason County Marriages 1 
• Mason County marriages 2
• Findagrave.com 

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Photos included in the text were taken during one of our walks, on 29 July 2020.

Gustav Adolph Loeffler & Family

Gustav Adolph Loeffler was the youngest son of Johann Martin Loeffler and his second wife Julianna Ziezelmann, born in Fredericksburg on 14 November 1862.

On 11 June 1870, young Adolph, his parents, and siblings (Christian, age 15, and Caroline, age 7) were recorded during the Census. The boy's father was then a joiner (1). The online dictionary (Oxford Languages) gives a definition of who a joiner was: "a person who constructs the wooden components of a building, such as stairs, doors, and door and window frames". 

 

Young Adolf received little formal schooling as he was needed at home.

Adolph's mother grew vegetables in their family garden. The boy sold them to the neighbors, going on a wagon from door to door. The money supported the family income.

Later, when he was 14, Gustav Adolph found employment at the farm which belonged to Mr. Fritz Brandenberger. The money Gustav Adolph earned there supported his family as well.

By June 1880, Adolph lived in the household of Mr. Brandenberger in Justice Precinct #4, Mason County (2).

Three years later, on ♡ 18 September, 20-year-old Adolph married Miss Emma Eckert, the 22-year-old daughter of Karl Friedrich Eckert and Eva Christina Guthoerle. The girl was born on 5 April 1861 in Hilda, Texas.
When a child, Emma attended the local grammar school only for three months.

Karl Eckert gave the newlyweds some land and Adolph built a house there. Soon, children were born to the young couple:

♦ Herman Karl Johann 20 October 1884 (3),

♦ Otto Ludwig 16 March 1888 (4),

♦ Meta Marie 14 November 1890 (5).

♦ ♦ 1891 - death of Adolf's father (in January) and mother (in November).

Daughter ♦ Anna Christine was born on 11 October 1894, and ♦ Walter Gustav on 21 September 1899 (6). All the children were born at home (with the help of Emma's mother).

Adolf and his family were of Lutheran faith, and they all attended the Sunday church service very regularly. The family had a Sunday house in Mason where they spent Christmas, among others.

When Emma's parents reached elderly age, Adolf + family moved in (1899) to Mr. and Mrs. Eckert's home to help and take care of them.

1900 - they all were registered by a census clerk Louis J Kettner in Justice Precinct #6, Mason County, TX. Karl Eckert was 77 then, his wife Christine 76 (7).

1905 - Adolph Loeffler was a member of the committee which was responsible for the construction of the new church in Mason. During that time, on Mondays, he left his home on a chuck wagon and spent the weekdays at the construction site, hauling rocks and working there.

23 April 1910 - the census found the family in Justice Precinct #3, Mason County. Adolph was the head of the family, and the Eckert grandparents/in-laws also lived in the household (8).

Three years later, on ♦ 2 February, Emma's father died.

The year 1914 brought two weddings of Adolph and Emma's children

♡ Herman married Martha Kroll (born on 1 December 1889 in Blanco County), the daughter of Karl Ludwig Kroll and Bertha Mueller.

♡ Otto married 5-years-younger Mary Ziriax (born on 19 September 1893). She was the child of William Ziriax and Catherine Wartenbach. The Ziriax family lived in the Mason County area as well.

1916 - ♡ Metta Loeffler married Seth Paul H Martin (born on 11 February 1889 to Karl Louis Martin and Ida Reichenau). The young man was 2 years older than Martha.
 

♦ 25 June 1917 - the death of Emma's mother, Catherine Eckert.

1920 - only 25-year-old Anna lived with her parents, Adolph and Emma, at their family home (10).

In the same year, Adolph bought a car, and a year later, a new house was built in Mason.

♡ Anna married her brother-in-law Paul Henry Martin (age 32 then) in 1922. Since then, Adolf and Emma lived on their own.
Mrs. Loeffler taught herself English, read books, and copied recipes into her recipe book. She also enjoyed knitting, growing flowers, and making lace.

1930 - recorded Adolph and Emma (9) in the South of Justice Precinct #1 (the town of Mason).

Gustav Adolf Loeffler took care of his ranch business and of his livestock until the day when he suffered a stroke. The man died two days later, on ♦ 18 November 1930. He was 68 years old.

His wife Emma lived two years longer, she died on ♦ 11 July 1932. Both spouses were buried in the Gooch Cemetery in Mason, TX.

⌛

Sources:

• "Mason County Historical Book", Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.
• "The Eckert's Golden Opportunity" by Julius E DeVos, Mason, TX, 1977,
• "The Eckert Record. Story of Georg Bernhardt Eckert and his descendants 1793-1957" by Mrs. Estella Hartmann Orrison, San Angelo, Texas, 1957.
• Mason County Marriages

1. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-6RB : 29 May 2021), Adolph Loeffler in entry for J M Loeffler, 1870.
2. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-BVT : 15 January 2022), Adolph Loeffler in household of Fritz Brandenberger, Justice Precinct 4, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
3. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33H-KJ4 : 20 February 2021), Adolph Loeffler in entry for Herman Carl John Loeffler, 11 Apr 1957; citing certificate number 21608, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,700.
4. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7D9-3NS : 20 February 2021), Adolph Loeffler in entry for Otto Louis Loeffler, 09 Jan 1964; citing certificate number 04933, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,404.
5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3C5-4CZ : 20 February 2021), G A Loeffler in entry for Meta Marie Martin, 23 Oct 1951; citing certificate number 50290, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,868.
6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K38J-3QL : 20 February 2021), Adolph Loeffler in entry for Walter G Loeffler, 15 May 1973; citing certificate number 41635, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,242,784.
7. "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-63L : 14 January 2022), Adolph G Loefler in entry for Charles Eckert, 1900.
8. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2QH-DZH : accessed 7 July 2022), Adolph G Loefler, Justice Precinct 3, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 203, sheet 3A, family 34, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1576; FHL microfilm 1,375,589.
9. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHBQ-VPK : accessed 7 July 2022), Adolph Loeffler, Mason, Texas, United States; citing , sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll ; FHL microfilm .
10. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HXTY-NW2 : accessed 7 July 2022), G A Loeffler, Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 4B, line 95, family 101, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2375; FHL microfilm 2,342,109.

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Photos included in the post were taken on 29 July 2020.

August Willmann Family

August, the youngest child of Anton Willmann and Theresa Knolle, was born on 2 October 1851 in Rauschwitz (Ruszowice), Silesia, then Prussia, now Poland.

The boy was about two when the family came to Texas. Not long after that, his mom died. In 1860, the census found them in Comal County, where August lived with his father, stepmother, and sibling, Hermann, Theresa, Pius, Maria, Wilhelm, Johanne, and Anna. Mr. Anton was a farmer, Hermann worked as a wagoner (1). Ten years later, the Anton Willmanns still lived in Justice Precinct 2, Comal County. 19-year-old then August had more siblings. Mathilda, Heinrich, Emilie, Louise, Caroline, Anton, and Christine had joined the family as well (2). 

The young men farmed with his father, the younger children helped with the house and farm work too. At that time, August left home and worked at other farms for about $12 per month. He met a Mr. Fischer of Fredericksburg who were visiting New Braunfels. The man asked August to work for him and the two went to Fredericksburg. While staying at Mr. Fischer's, August Willmann rode horseback to the Llano River Valley and Upper Willow Creek where he participated in church services. One of the families who attended them also were the Ernst Jordans. Since there was a lot of work in the area, the young man relocated to Mason County and stayed with the Jordans.

On 28 November 1878, August married Miss Sophie Jordan, the daughter of Ernst Jordan and Lisette Bickenbach. The bride was born on 23 March 1854. At first, the newlyweds rented a farm. After a year, August purchased 400 acres, and with the help of his brother-in-law Peter Jordan built a house. The construction was based on a wooden frame and had stone walls. With the time passing by, the house was gradually expanded and in its final version had 10 rooms, including a bath, cellar, and porches. The family got the water from Willow Creek and from a small well drilled near the house.

In 1880, 29-year-old August and his wife Sophie were registered in Precinct No. 1, Mason County, during the census (3). August raised livestock. He fenced his land with rail fences. After some time, t man bought some more land. Life and farming were good there so soon, other August's family members came to Mason County and settled there as well.

August and Sophie had six children.

♦ Louis C, born on 16 July 1881 (4).

♦ Ernest Fritz, born on 7 November 1884 (5),

♦ Emil (John Henry Emil), born 7 September 1887 (6),

♦ Minnie A, born 6 May 1890 (7),

♦ August Anton, born 3 August 1895 (8),

and ♦ Lillie Sophie, born 25 October 1897.

Three years later, the family was recorded during the census in Justice Precinct #6, Mason County. August, the father, was 49, Sophie, his wife 46. The eldest son Louis was 19, the youngest child Lillie was 3. Louis worked with his dad at the family farm (9). Other kids - Ernest, age 16, Emil, age 13, Mina, age 10, and August age 5, also helped their parents to do everyday chores. However, they did that before and after school hours.

The children did their primary education at the Plehweville school. Their parents taught them all they needed to know about house and farm/ranch work. They also received religious instructions at the German Episcopal Methodist Church South.

♡ ♡ 1906 - Louis married Miss Ida Durst, Ernest married Miss Cora Donop, daughter of Otto von Donop Jr. and Suzanne Meckel.

1910 census - by that time, Emil and August were fully involved in running the family farm. The August Willmanns had a live-in servant in the person of 26-year-old Miss Lizzie Bickenbach (10).

♡ 1913 - Minnie married Rev. E W Dechert, born in 1888.

♡ 1 June 1916 - John Henry Emil started his own family. His bride was Miss Ida Louise Erck (11), born 3 June 1888. She was the daughter of Ms. Lizette Klingeman.

Emil had already worked in San Antonio as a bookkeeper. Sadly, Ida got sick with influenza two years later. It developed into pneumonia and within 19 days of sickness, Mrs. Ida Louise Willmann passed on ♦ 26 March 1918, she was 30 years old (12).

On 12 September 1918, Ernest Fritz was registered during the WW1 draft. The man worked as an assistant cashier at the Mason National Bank then (13).

Some time after his wife's death, John Henry Emil devoted himself to the studies at Georgetown Southwestern University, and later, became a Methodist preacher. On ♡ 4 January 1921, Emil married again. His second wife was Miss Hedwig (Hattie) Emilie Donop, born 23 October 1890, to August Ernest Donop and Maria Elizabeth Leifeste. In 1924, after the three-year trial period,  J H E Willmann started his career as a religious Minister and served the Methodist congregation in Harper. On 10 May 1924, a daughter (Mary Nell) was born to Emil and Hattie. The mother passed over on the very same day, due to child birth-related complications. She was interred at the Art East Cemetery in Mason County.

♡ 1926 - J H E remarried. His third wife was Miss Nettie Hereford (born on 30 October 1886), the daughter of Hardin Staples Hereford and Sarah Minerva Meers.

♡ 21 March 1923 - August Anton married Miss Clara Mathilda Leifeste born on 30 December 1895, to Wilhelm Leifeste and Mathilda Ernesting Brandenberger. I will write more about August Jr. and Clara in another post, sometime later.

♡ 9 August 1923 - Lillie married Mr. George Heinrich Daniel Eckert, son of Ludwig Bernard Eckert and Mathilde Leifeste, born in beaver Creek Community on 15 March 1895. Lillie and Dan had two daughters, Roscoe Ryland and Odessa Maxine.

On 1 March, August Willmann was struck by cerebral hemorrhage, he also suffered from nephritis. After about a month time, on ♦ 4 April at 6 a.m. August's life ended. He was buried on the next day at Art Cemetery (14).

Sophie Willmann, August's wife, lived 5 years longer. On 10 January 1937, the lady was taken ill with influenza. ♦ Seven days later, at 1 p.m., apoplexy took her from this world (15).

Resources: 

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

"Look Unto the Hills". The Leifeste Family in the United states" by Ruby E and Julius E DeVos, 1985,

Findagrave.com, 

Mason County Marriages.

1. "History of New Braunfels

2. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXG5-4TT : 29 May 2021), August Willmann in entry for Anton Willmann, 1870.

3. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-LHY : 20 February 2021), August Willmann, Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 103, sheet 476A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,319.

4. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K781-13L : 20 February 2021), August Willmann in entry for Lewis C Willmann, 06 Oct 1965; citing certificate number 66015, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,865.

5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBS-1M7 : 20 February 2021), August Willmann in entry for Ernest Fritz Willmann, 18 Jan 1966; citing certificate number 05524, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,922.

6. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SC-FRX : 20 February 2021), August Willmann in entry for John Henry Emil Willmann, 23 Mar 1968; citing certificate number 21213, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,138,979.

7. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K36F-8GN : 20 February 2021), August A Willmann in entry for Minnie A Dechert, 18 Aug 1971; citing certificate number 66619, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,316.

8. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3D1-P56 : 20 February 2021), August A Willmann in entry for August Anton Willmann, 19 Oct 1970; citing certificate number 74531, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,909. 

9. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-DKB : accessed 7 August 2021), August Willman, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet 2A, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658. 

10. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2QH-63C : accessed 7 August 2021), Lizzie Bickenbuch in household of Aug Willmann, Justice Precinct 6, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 202, sheet 1A, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1576; FHL microfilm 1,375,589. 

11. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K612-DK9 : 23 February 2021), J H Emil Willmann and Ida Louise Erck, 01 Jun 1916; citing Marriage, citing Bexar, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 24,938.

12. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K389-QT3 : 20 February 2021), Ida Louise Willman, 26 Nov 1918; citing certificate number 47585, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,073,412.

13. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX2-YVD : 23 February 2021), Ernest Fritz Willmann, 1917-1918.

14. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33K-YL1 : 20 February 2021), August Willmann, 04 Apr 1932; citing certificate number 17881, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,872.

15. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HV-5XC : 20 February 2021), Sophie Willmann, 17 Jan 1937; citing certificate number 4044, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,126.