Pastor Henry S W Basse & Family

Heinrich Stefan Wilhelm Basse, son of Pastor Basse and Charlotte Bof Dilinghofen, was born on 6 October 1804. The man married at the age of 28, on 29 February 1832 in Elsoff (1). Heinrich's spouse, Fredericke Charlotte Quentel (born 25 August 1810) lived with her father Pastor Karl Quentel, and mother Konradine in the Elsoff Community.

Google Maps - Map data Ⓒ2021 GEOBasis-DE/BKG Ⓒ2009 Google

 

Interestingly, there is another record of the marriage that took place in 1832. The groom's name was Stephan Heinrich Wilhelm Basse and his bride was Charlotte Caroline Quentel. The marriage was recorded in Deilinghofen, Iserlohn, Westphalia, Prussia (2). It seems it was the same Heinrich and the two - was it his first marriage and were the two Quentel ladies related? I do not know. Deilinghofen and Elsoff are in the same area.

Heinrich SW Basse worked for fourteen years as a minister in Erndtebrück, Siegen-Wittgenstein region, Rhine-Westphalia.

Towns and municipalities in Siegen-Wittgenstein

 

Children were born in Erndtebrück to Heinrich and  Fredericke Charlotte:

♦ Bertha Sophie Wilhelmine was born on 12 April 1835

♦ Emma Magdalene - born on 19 March 1837/christened on 30 March 1837 (2),

♦ Karl Philipp August - born on 7 March 1839/christened 13 March 1839 (3),

♦ Olga - born on 31 January 1841/christened on 12 February 1841 (4),

♦ Oscar Friedrich - born on 17 July in 1843/ christened on 25 July 1843 (5),

♦ Adolph Ludwig - christened on 28 September 1845 (6).

Erndtebrück

Pastor Basse personally knew Prince Solms of Braunfels. It probably influenced Heinrich's decision regarding relocating to Texas. Anyhow, like many other families who lived in the area, the Basses decided to leave the old country. First, they went to Antwerp, where they boarded the ship York. On 14 August 1846, the vessel left the Belgian port and sailed towards America. Sadly, ♦ baby Adolph did not survive the perilous journey - he died at sea. After over two months, on 23 October, the ship reached Galveston in Texas (7).

By the end of 1846, the family had been in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County area. During the very early time of the settlement, when the hardships of pioneers' life and epidemics were taking their toll, Pastor Basse was constantly busy providing religious service for dying people. He was the first minister in the community. At first, the services were held under an oak tree. In spring 1847, the cornerstone of the Vereins Kirche was laid and its construction started (8). Pastor Heinrich worked as the church Protestant preacher without a salary, the Basse family struggled to survive from one day to another.

Heinrich received two town lots, No. 91 and No. 174 (9).

Gradually, the congregation of Vereins Kirche broke and founded other churches in the town. A new minister, Pastor B. Dangers replaced Heinrich SW Basse in November 1848.  

Later, Mr. Basse opened a store in his house. 

On ♦ 7 October 1849, a son was born in Fredericksburg to Heinrich and Charlotte. They called him Adolf Friedrich, after the baby boy who died at sea. It was a common practice then to name a newborn baby after a child who had died earlier.

A few months later, in 1850, the family was registered during the census. Heinrich was recorded as a merchant (10).

♦ 2 February 1852 - another son, Wilhelm, was born.

♡ 28 November 1855 - the oldest daughter of Heinrich, Bertha left the family home. She married Friedrich Fresenius (11).

♡ Emma followed her sister and got married not long after that, on 30 December. Her husband was Mr. Heinrich Keller (born on 29 November 1833), the son of  Johann Peter Keller  (12).

 

The third daughter's wedding took place on ♡ 1 October 1859. Olga was married to Mr. Edward Tips, who was 9 years older than the bride. He was born on 23 May 1832 (13).

 

 

At the time of Olga's wedding, her mother Charlotte and father Heinrich were expecting their youngest child, who came to this world on ♦ 27 December 1859 (14). The baby boy was named Alfred.

 

The 1860 census records tell that Heinrich Basse still ran his store. The estimated value of his real estate was $2750, the man's personal estate was worth $8000. Heinrich's son Karl was then a farmer and Oscar worked as a clerk (15). During the Civil War, both young men were engaged in freighting.

Mr. H S W Basse passed on ♦ 10 January 1865. After his death, his sons and wife Fredericke ran the store. Mrs. Basse purchased some land, cattle, and horses as well.

Soon, Oscar was betrothed to 7 years old younger Miss Mathilde Pape (born on 6 May 1850), the daughter of Friedrich Pape, and on ♡ 7 February 1867, the two got married  (16).

 

 

In the next year, on ♡ 9 November, Karl started his own family (17). He married Miss Agnes Johanna Bertha Doebbler, who was born on 11 December 1849, to Friedrich Wilhelm Doebbler and Wilhelmina Amalie Henrietta Hahnzog.

Oscar and his brother Karl were co-owners of the mill on Baron's Creek. Later they moved to San Antonio. 

Mourning came when Olga's husband ♦ Edward Tips passed on 20 June 1872. The couple had lived with their two daughters in Austin.

♡ William got married on 22 October 1874 (18). His bride was Miss Louise Wahrmund (born on 28 February 1855), the daughter of Emil Wahrmund and his wife Auguste Zander.

William then ran the family store.

A year later, ♡ 26-year-old Adolph married a few years younger Miss Lina (Emma Caroline) Schnerr on 14 November (19). She was born on 20 April 1855 in Gillespie County, to Mr. Friedrich Wilhelm Schnerr and his spouse Ms. Elizabeth Emma Schneider.

Another year passed and Heinrich and Charlotte's widowed daughter ♡ Olga remarried. Her second husband was August von Gehren.

 

Alfred opened his own merchandise place too. His wedding took place on ♡ 2 December in 1882 (20). Alfred, age almost 23, married his sister-in-law Miss Lina Wahrmund, who was born on 18 August 1861.

Both William and Alfred later relocated to San Antonio and started their own business there. Only one of the sons of Henry and Fredericke, Adolph, remained in Gillespie County, where he farmed and operated a ranch.

The mother of the family ♦ Fredericke Charlotte Quentel Basse passed on 17 August 1886.

☆

Resources:

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

Findagrave.com

Map of Siegen-Wittgenstein: By TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4653960

Photo of Erndtebrück: Mario Rösler, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

1. "Deutschland Heiraten, 1558-1929", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JHNZ-DT9 : 13 July 2021), Friedericke Charlotte Quentel in entry for Henrich Basse, 1832.

"Deutschland Heiraten, 1558-1929", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JH3C-9XQ : 13 July 2021), Stephan Heinrich Wilhelm Basse, 1832.

 2. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68B-RHV : 26 March 2020), Emma Magdalene Basse, 1837.

 3. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68B-68N : 26 March 2020), Carl Philipp Basse, 1839.

4. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NPVR-BM5 : 26 March 2020), Olga Basse, 1841.

5. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68B-JM9 : 26 March 2020), Oscar Friedrich Basse, 1843.

6. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68B-R4V : 26 March 2020), Adolph Ludwig Basse, 1845. 

7. List of ships from Europe to Galveston 1846-187

8. German Pioneers in Texas: A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles  and Achievements: Biggers, Don Hampton, 1869-1957. German Pioneers in Texas; A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles and Achievements, book, 1925; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth29394/: accessed September 29, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas at Arlington Library. 

9. 1847 Town Lot Owners of Fredericksburg, Texas 

10. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL2-7P2 : 23 December 2020), Henry Bass, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-26B : 10 March 2021), Frederick Fresenius and Bertha Basse, 28 Nov 1855; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

12. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-2XS : 10 March 2021), Henry Keller and Emma Basse, 30 Dec 1855; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

13. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VC2 : 10 March 2021), Edward Tips and Olga Basse, 01 Oct 1859; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

14. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K375-V8H : 20 February 2021), Alfred Basse, 07 Dec 1925; citing certificate number 41660, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,979.

15. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-VBD : 18 February 2021), Henry Basse, 1860.

16. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VPP : 10 March 2021), Oscar Basse and Mathilde Pape, 07 Feb 1867; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

17. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-GYP : 10 March 2021), Karl Basse and Agnese Doebbler, 09 Nov 1868; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801. 

18. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-LSF : 10 March 2021), William Basse and Louise Wahrmund, 22 Oct 1874; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

19. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VG9 : 10 March 2021), Adolph Basse and Lina Schnerr, 14 Nov 1875; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

20. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXSN-4JF : 10 March 2021), Alfred Basse and Lina Wahrmund, 02 Dec 1882; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

Heinrich Konrad Pluenneke

Heinrich Konrad Plünneke (Pluenneke) was born on 26 December 1819 in the village Klein Lafferde, Kingdom of Hanover (nowadays Kreis Peine, Niederschasen).

In 1845,  Konrad, his parents, and 7 siblings left for America. They encountered a storm when they were reaching Galveston and their ship was wrecked at the Texas coast. The family lost their belongings, nevertheless, they all survived the wreck. However, Konrad's sister got separated from her people. Tragically, later, the parents and three of Konrad's siblings died of cholera. The Plünneke orphans continued their travel until they reached Fredericksburg. Konrad obtained a town lot and 10 acres of land in the settlement area, which would have been granted by the German Emigration Company to his late father.

When the war with Mexico started, Konrad became one of the Texas Mounted Volunteers.  His wartime comrades were, among others, Christian, Fritz, and Henry Leifeste (Leiweste). Konrad was introduced to their sister Sophie Christina (born 7 January 1824). He was very much taken with the young lady and the two got married on 23 August 1847.

After the war, Heinrich Konrad came back to Fredericksburg. 

♦ Sophia Emma was born to Sophie and Konrad in Fredericksburg on 1 March 1850. 

In 1850, Konrad and Sophie moved to the Llano River area, Mason County, where they made their dwelling. 

♦ Son Heinrich Conrad was born on 17 May 1852.

♦ Son Henry was born on 9 June 1854 (1).

♦ Daughter Dina (Conradine) was born to Konrad and Sophie on 1 April 1856 (2). 

♦ Johanna was born on 28 November 1857 (3).

1859 - Konrad obtained 640 acres of land, which had been granted to his father (Fisher-Miller grant).

♦ Son Heinrich August was born in Hilda, Mason, TX on 5 August 1859 (4). 

♦ Son Carl Friedrich was born on 28 December 1860 in Hilda (5).

♦ Son John Friedrich was born on 16 August 1862 in Hilda (6).

Due to the common demand soon, the Methodist Mission was founded at the Llano River. Heinrich Konrad Puenneke was its minister for 45 years. Since there was no doctor there, besides spiritual service, Konrad helped local people with his homeopathy based healing treatment when it was needed. Visiting members of his congregation, minister Pluenneke always carried not only the Bible, but a bag with herbal medicine as well.

♦ Maria Elizabeth was born on 5 February 1865, Hilda, Mason, TX (7). Grievously, the girl did not live long. She passed a few days after her 1st birthday anniversary, on 17 February 1866.

A joyful day - ♦ Daniel was born on 26 May 1867 (8). The youngest child of Konrad and Sophie did not have a chance to grow up. Sorrow came again when the baby died on 7 December 1867.

In 1870, the family lived in the town of Mason, Mason County. Conrad Sr. was registered as a Methodist Preacher, his son Conrad Jr. did the farming (9) with the help of the family.

20 March 1872 - a family event and celebrations - the eldest daughter Sophie Emma was married to Theodor Wiedemann (10).

Two years later, on 11 June 1874, Heinrich Konrad Jr. married Miss Elise Brandenberger in Hilda, Mason, TX (11).

2 December 1878 - Death visited the family - Konrad Jr.'s wife Elise passed. The widower and their three little children were left behind. A year later Konrad Jr. remarried. Karoline Henrietta Wiesemann was his second wife.

Johanna married John Henry Brandenberger in 1880, before the Census. The groom's parents were Rudolph Gottlieb Brandenberger and Maria Katherine Bierschwale.

18 June 1880, the Census recorded Conrad (farmer and stock raiser) and Sophie, who lived with their children at Precinct #4, Mason, Texas. Dena (Dina), August, Charles, and John still lived at the parents' home (12).

A year later, Dina left the family home - she married Mr. Heinrich Friedrich Kothmann, the son of Heinrich Friedrich Kothmann Sr. and Sophie Anna Hartwig. 

4 May 1886 - the family in mourning - Sophie Christine Leifeste Pluenneke, the mother of the family, Konrad' s wife passed.

A few months later, on Christmas Day 1886, Karl Friedrich married Miss Emilie Lemberg (13). After her death (which came in 1914), his second wife was Annie Willenberg nee Raesener, widow of Edward Bruno Willenberg. Karl (Chas) and Annie married on 20 August 1917 (14).

 

Heinrich August married Miss Mina Pape on 28 February 1889 at the Bethel Methodist Church in Hilda, Mason County (15). His in-laws were Mr. Heinrich Friedrich Simon Pape and Ms. Johanna Georgine Sievers.

John Friedrich started his family in the next year. His spouse was Miss Emma Mathilda Heins. John became a minister. He was President of Blinn College in Brenham, TX from 1901 to 1909.

Minister Heinrich Konrad Pluenneke retired in 1895. He passed two years later, on 13 May 1897. Konrad Sr. was buried at Lower Creek Willow Cemetery, Mason County, TX.

 

Resources: 

• "Mason County Historical Book", Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Historical Commission, 1976.
• "Homestead: German Family Makes Texas Home"
  
• Findagrave.com 

1. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WQ-VJB : 20 February 2021), Conrad Pluenneke in entry for Henry Pluenneke, 14 Aug 1913; citing certificate number 18835, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,050,996.

2. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-43T2 : 14 February 2020), C. Pluenneke in entry for Dina Pluenneke, 1856.

3. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LG8-83MM : 14 February 2020), C. Pluenneke in entry for Johanna Pluenneke, 1857.

4. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-MN3Z : 14 February 2020), Conrand Pluenneke in entry for H. August Pluenneke, 1859.

5. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-DLZM : 14 February 2020), Conrad Pluenneke in entry for Carl Friedrich Pluenneke, 1860.

6. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-XN3Z : 14 February 2020), C. Pluenneke in entry for John Friedrich Pluenneke, 1862.

7. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L27-DC2M : 14 February 2020), Conrad Pluenneke in entry for Maria Elisabeth Pluenneke, 1865.

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

9. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXGQ-4BV : 2 January 2021), Dina Pluneke in entry for Conrad Pluneke, 1870.

10. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-48C : 22 January 2020), Sophie Pluenneke in entry for Theodor Wiedemann, 1872.

11. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-F6P : 22 January 2020), Elise Brandenberger in entry for H. Conrad Plunneke, 1874.

12. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJM-LGW : 20 February 2021), Conrad Pluenneke, Precinct 4, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 104, sheet 502D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,319.

13. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-W2X : 22 January 2020), Carl Pluenneke, 1886.

 14. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-88QT : 23 February 2021), Chas Pluenneke and Annie Willenberg, 20 Aug 1917; citing Marriage, citing Llano, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 982,996. 

15. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MM-4ZT : 22 January 2020), August Pluenneke, 1889.