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.

One Birth And Baptism Certificate

Last month we visited the exhibition mentioned in the previous post. It was all about the History of the Lutheran Church. Among the exhibits, there were quite a lot of various old certificates.

This birth and baptism certificate (Geburts und Tauf Schein) caught my attention not only because it is so pretty, but also because of the birth date on it: 11 December. I know somebody else who was born on that day, more than a hundred years later.

The quote at the top comes from Matthew 28:19 (Luther Bibel 1545):
"Darum gehet hin und lehret alle Völker und taufet sie im Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des heiligen Geis(tes)"/
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".

The certificate states that the spouses Elias Rode and his wife nee Wendel were parents of the girl born on 11 December 1882 in Cherry Springs, Gillespie County, TX. The baby girl was baptized by Pastor D. Rode. She was named Rebekka Elisebetha Leonora Alvina. The godparents were Lorenz Wendel, Adolph Willmen, Elisebetha Wendel, and Maria Wendel.

 

D. (Dietrich) Rode was Elias' father. 20-year-old then Dietrich left Bremen with his family on 20 December 1844, they traveled on the ship Apollo (1) and came to Texas. At first, young Dietrich and his folks were members of Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. The man became a prominent rancher in the Cherry Spring area. During the Civil War times, Dietrich and a few other previous parishioners of Zion started religious meetings at Dietrich's house. He was granted a preacher's license by the war military government and served as a minister in the Cherry Spring neighborhood. The services were held in the hall of Mr. Rode's house (2).

Elias married Mathilde Wendel when he was 27. It was on ♡ 30 June 1881, about a year before Rebekka was born (3). 

 

The girl lived with her parents and siblings (Sarah, Sem, Seth, Enos, Regu, Thirza, Elam, Aaron, Obediah, Elie, and Artie) in Justice precinct #4, Gillespie County, TX.

Rebekka was married to William Friedrich Lehmann on ♡ 8 May 1918 (4). She was 19, her spouse was about 21 years older. 

William was a widowed stock rancher. His first wife ♦ Sophie Light passed at the age of 28 (5). The man was also the brother of two ladies mentioned on this blog before: Wilhelmina (who married John H Keyser) and Phillipena (wife of Henry Montgomery Dye).

Anyway, on the day of her marriage, Rebekka became a mother of 4 (21-year-old Maurice John, 20-year-old Alma, 17-year-old Augusta, and 13-year-old Gus).

In the same year, on 5 June, Maurice Lehmann had been drafted and enlisted (on 3 September) into the army. At that time, the young man lived in San Antonio, at 409 Presa St., and worked at Brooks Field (6,7). Luckily, the war ended and Maurice never had to be deployed overseas. He was honorably discharged at demobilization on 9 June 1919 (8). Rebekka's stepson came back home.

♡ Alma was married to Mr. John Ziriax (9), the son on William Ziriax and Katherine Wartenbach.

On ♦ 30 October, Rebekka and William's first daughter Gerda was born (10).

In 1920, the census recorded the family in Loyal Valley, Mason County, TX. William Lehman was 58, Rebekka 37, Maurice 22, Augusta 22, Gustave 13, and Gerda was a few months old (11).

Soon, ♡ Augusta became a wife and left the family home as well. Her husband was Mr. Herbert H Hoffmann (12), the son of Karl Louis Hofmann and Ellen Keller. ♡ Maurice married Nancy Saunders. His in-laws were Mr. Joseph and Ms. Annie Schuetz Saunders.

 

The second daughter of Rebekka, ♦ Esther, was born on 5 October 1923 (13). 

Two years passed and mourning came - ♦ Mathilda Rode, Rebekka's mother passed on 19 June 1925 (14).

By 1930 Rebekka and William Lehmann had lived with their two daughters Gerda and Esther. At that time William's 70-year-old brother Herman was recorded at their household as well (15). 

Decades ago, in 1870, both Herman and Willie were captured by Apaches. The latter managed to escape, the older brother lived for about 9 years with the Indians.

Gus had moved to Merzton town in Irion County. He rented a room at the John F Vardy family /census 1930 (16).

Brother Herman died of heart failure on ♦ 2 February 1932 (17). He was 71 years old.

Clipping: The Lampasas Daily Leader (Lampasas, Tex.), Vol. 28, No. 285, Ed. 1 Friday, February 5, 1932, newspaper, February 5, 1932; Lampasas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth894667/: accessed June 7, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lampasas Public Library.

More about Herman and his life was written in the article here.

 

At the end of April 1940, Rebekka, William, and their two daughters were recorded during the census at their home in Llano Valley. William was 78, Rebekka 57, Gerda 20, and Esther 16 (18).

William Lehmann was the youngest child of his parents (Johann Moritz Lehmann and Agusta Johanna Adams). While children were being born to Rebekka's stepchildren, all of Willie's siblings preceded him in death.

Sister Caroline Phillipena passed on ♦ 24 January 1937.

A few weeks later, death knocked on the family's door again when Rebekka's father, Elias Rode, died on ♦ 3 February 1937 (19).

A happier event came when ♡ Gerda married Mr. Kothamn Lansing in 1940 (20), the son of Heinrich Daniel Kothmann and Lina Rosa Loeffler. Sadly, in the same year, the family attended another funeral - brother ♦ Gustav Adolph Lehmann passed over on 29 March 1940.

Clipping source: Collins, Will. The Llano News. (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 4, 1940, newspaper, April 4, 1940; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth816082/: accessed June 6, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.

The first child of Rebekka and William's daughter Gerda's was born on ♦ 13 December 1942 (21), two days after Rebekka's 60th birthday. It was a baby girl, she was named Carol Ann.

The second child was born to Gerda and Lansing Kothmann eight years later, on 28 January 1950. The boy's name was ♦ Lester Lansing.

William Friedrich Lehmann's last day of life came a few weeks before his 89th birthday. The man died of heart failure/senility on ♦ 11 September 1851. It happened in Fredericksburg. The man had been treated in Fredericksburg hospital for 20 days (22).

Clipping source: Davis, Jack R. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 13, 1951, newspaper, September 13, 1951; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth852198/: accessed June 7, 2022), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.

In July 1951, Carol Ann, Rebekka's granddaughter, got sick. She was taken to the Breckenridge hospital in Austin. On 18the day of the month, the girl was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis. Tragically, ♦ Carol passed after two days. She was 14 years, 7 months, and 14 days (23). Carol's body was buried in the Gooch Cemetery in Mason (24).

Rebekka possibly lived with her daughter Esther. The mother died on ♦ 11 September 1961, exactly ten years after her husband's passing (25). In two months Rebekka Lehmann would have been 78. She was survived by her children and many grandchildren.

PS

When in Poland, I had a student whose name was Rode and a co-worker by the name of Lehmann. According to the site polskienazwiska.pl which counts the surnames existing presently in Poland, nowadays about 588 persons of the surname Rode live in the country and 2574 Lehmann people as well.

Sources:

findagrave.com, 

bible-hub.com

1. Galveston Immigration Database.

2. "German Pioneers in Texas: A Brief History of Their Hardships, Struggles and Achievements", Don H. Biggers, Gillespie County Edition, Press of the Fredericksburg Publishing Co., 1925.

3. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9JMH : 10 March 2021), Elias Rode and Mathilde Wendel, 30 Jun 1881; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9PMR : 10 March 2021), Wm Lehmann and Rebecka Rode, 08 May 1918; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,803.

5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17395687/sophia-lehmann 

6.  "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZXY-VDJ : 23 December 2021), Maurice John Lehmann, 1917-1918.

 7. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7Y2X-962M : 23 October 2019), Maurice John or John M Lehmann or Lehman, 9 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

8. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7Y2X-962M : 23 October 2019), Maurice John or John M Lehmann or Lehman, 9 Jun 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

9.  "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PM-MRX : 13 February 2020), Gerda Mathilde Lehmann, 1919.

10. Mason County Marriages

11. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHBQ-WFB : accessed 3 June 2022), Rebecca Lehmann in household of William Lehmann, Mason, Texas, United States; citing , sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll ; FHL microfilm .

12.  Mason County Marriages 

13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159975469/esther-wilhelmina-lehmann

14. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDP-3DP : 24 May 2014), Mathilda Rode, 19 Jun 1925; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 21901, Gillespie, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin. 

15. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HXRH-BPZ : accessed 4 June 2022), Rebeka Lehmann in household of William W Lehmann, Precinct 7, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 8, sheet 5A, line 38, family 104, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2375; FHL microfilm 2,342,109. 

16. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C97K-5PZ : accessed 4 June 2022), Guss A Lehmann in household of John F Vardy, Mertzon, Irion, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 2B, line 76, family 52, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2360; FHL microfilm 2,342,094. 

17. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33C-HN2 : 20 February 2021), Hermann Lehmann, 02 Feb 1932; citing certificate number 7941, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,794. 

18. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4S4-CMT : 10 January 2021), Rebecka Lehmann in household of Wm Lehmann, Justice Precinct 7, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 160-8, sheet 4B, line 78, family 89, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4103.

19. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3HR-HH1 : 20 February 2021), Elias Rode, 03 Feb 1937; citing certificate number 8610, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,168.

20. Mason County Marriages 

21. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDGB-948 : 1 January 2015), Carol Ann Kothmann, 13 Dec 1942; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.

22. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CK-BDM : 20 February 2021), William F Lehmann, 11 Sep 1951; citing certificate number 46770, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,074,778.

23. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K338-WRS : 20 February 2021), Carol Ann Kothmann, 20 Jul 1957; citing certificate number 40582, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,797.

24. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2V-XR7D : 9 June 2020), Carol Ann Kothmann, 1957; Burial, , ; citing record ID , Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

25. "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZV4-V8D : 24 May 2014), Rebecca Lehmann, 12 Sep 1961; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 60152, Mason, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.

Frank Emil Jordan

Frank Emil was the son of Daniel Jordan and Emilie Willmann. He was born on 19 February 1896 in Plehweville. The boy received his primary education in the one-room school in Plehweville. Later, he studied at Mason High School, Cherokee Junior College, and Southern Methodist University. 

When WW1 time came, Frank was registered by the Army on 5th June 1918 (1).

He was enlisted a few months later, on 3 September. Private Frank Emil Jordan served with the Headquarters Detachment 19 Field Artillery. Luckily, the war ended in November, and he was not sent overseas (2).

 

After his honorable discharge on 7 February 1919 (2), Frank came back to Mason County and helped his parents with ranching.

On 17 December 1919, 23-year-old Frank got married. His bride was 19-year-old Miss Ella Lillie Eckert (b. 16 January 1900) the daughter of John Dietrich and Mathilda (Kothmann) Eckert. The Eckerts also lived in Plehweville, and young Ella was a graduate of the San Antonio Women's College.

Frank bought a few tracts of land, ranched and raised cattle.

27 January 1920 - Frank and Ella lived in Justice Precinct #7, Mason County, next to his parents Dan and Emilie, and siblings Milton, Gilbert, and Emelia (3).

♦ Son John Driskell was born to Frank and Ella on 30 December 1920 (4, 5).

Some animals of Frank's livestock were awarded the championship medals in the national Stock Show contests. Frank E Jordan was also a judge in the stock show competitions.  

♦ The first daughter Ethel Mae was born on 6 January 1928 in Art (6).

 

♦ The second daughter Louis Laverne was born on 23 April 1932 in Mason (7).

♦ Son Willard Kenneth was born on 27 October 1934 in Art (8).

Four years later, on ♦ 17 June, Frank's father Daniel died. He was buried in Art West Cemetery.

1935 - the Jordan family had their reunion which was noted in the local newspaper.

Clipping source: The Llano News. (Llano, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 8, 1935, newspaper, August 8, 1935; Llano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth823818/: accessed December 1, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Llano County Public Library.

 Census 1940, 10 April - Frank (age 43), Ella (age 40) and children JD (age 19), Ethel Mae (age 12), Louis Lorene (age 7), and Willard Kenneth (age 5) were registered at their homestead in Justice Precinct #7 (9).

♦ Two years later, on 6 December, Mrs. Mathilda Kothamnn Eckert, Ella's mother passed.

♡ John Driskell married Carolyn Joyce La Barr a few weeks later on Christmas Eve. John was a Texas Farm Bureau field representative and operated a registered Hereford Ranch. The couple had 3 children.

December 1948 brought death to the family again. Ella's father, ♦ John Dietrich Eckert died on the first day of the month.

Frank and Ella Jordan were very active regarding their social and community life.

The man was a co-organizer of Mid Texas and the Hill Country Hereford Associations. Mr. Jordan was also their first president and the director of the Concho Hereford Association as well.  

♡ Ethel Mae got married when she was 22. On 21 December 1950, she became the wife of Harold Newman Byrn (born on 27 March 1922 in Wade, Oklahoma). At the time of the marriage, Harold was a student of seminary at the Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX. He graduated from the school in 1951 with Bachelor's degree and high honors. Then, the two lived in Arizona and Southern California, where Harold served as a minister (10). The couple had 1 child.

♡ Willard married Miss Peggy Joyce Chew on 7 April 1954. She was born on 5 February 1935, to Dayton Cecil and Ruby Edna (Wainscott) Chew. Willard and Peggy had 2 children. Mr. Willard Jordan was the runner-up to the World Champion Auctioneer. He owned and operated the Junction Stockyard.

♡ Louis Laverne Jordan married William Wayne Koock in 1959. The bride was 27, her spouse (11) was 2 years younger (born on 22 January 1934, to William K Koock and Vera Henrietta Dannheim). William worked for Dr. Pepper Company. They had 3 children.

Death once more on ♦ 6 June 1963 - Mrs. Emilie Willman Jordan, Frank's mother passed on that day.

Frank and Ella celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on 17 December 1969.

1972 - Frank was granted life membership of the Texas Hereford Association for his contribution to the Herefords promotion. Ella became the first member of the Texas Hereford Auxiliary and was awarded a  gold plaque for her efforts related to the Hereford business. The lady taught music at home, she was a pianist and the organist at the local church. Mrs. Ella Jordan was a very active lady. She was a Sunday School teacher, the President of the Mason Methodist Women's Missionary Society, and its district officer for eight years. Moreover, she was the president of the Federated Women's Club,  the director of the local Historical Society, and was involved in the works of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Frank Jordan was elected (twice) a delegate to the Methodist General Conference and was vice president of the Conference Youth Work Board. Many times he was a delegate to the Church Annual Conference as well. He was also a member of the Methodist Hospitals and Homes Conference Board. Adittionally, Mr. Jordan was the director of the San Saba Production Credit Association (for 9 years), and its president for 2 years. He held the position of Mason County Fair Board director and the director of the Mason County Historical Society.

If that was not enough, Frank and Ella took care of 3400 acres they acquired during their marriage. Despite being so busy, the couple managed to find time to do some trips around the US. They also visited Canada and Mexico. 

Frank Emil Jordan passed over on ♦ 28 February 1987 in Gillespie County, TX (12). Ella lived about ten years longer. She died on ♦ 24 May 1997 (13).

Sources:

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

Mason County Marriages 

Findagrave.com

1. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX2-YQG : 23 February 2021), Frank Emil Jordan, 1917-1918.

2, "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-XD1D : 9 March 2021), Frank Emil Jordan, 03 Sep 1918; citing Military Service, Mason, , Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.

3. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHBQ-4DX : accessed 27 November 2021), Frank Jordan, Mason, Texas, United States; citing , sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll ; FHL microfilm .

4. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TT-4D9 : 1 March 2021), Frank Emel Jordon in entry for J D Jordon, 30 Dec 1920; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 68562, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,519,763.

5. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2TT-4D3 : 1 March 2021), John Driskell Jordan, 30 Dec 1920; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 68562, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,519,763.

6. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH8H-M8J : 1 March 2021), Ethyl Mae Jordan, 06 Jan 1928; citing Art, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 5746, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,240,509.

7.  "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6G8-CTP : 1 March 2021), Lois Laverne Jordan, 23 Apr 1932; citing Art, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 31920, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,281,854.

8. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6G7-ZJZ : 1 March 2021), Frank Emil Jordan in entry for Willard Kenneth Jordan, 27 Oct 1934; citing Art, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 85214, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,283,676.

9. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4S4-SSJ : 10 January 2021), Frank E Jordon, Justice Precinct 7, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 160-7, sheet 2A, line 3, family 23, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4103.

10. Rev. Harold N Byrn - obituary

11. "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDGZ-3YT : 1 January 2015), William Wayne Koock, 22 Jan 1934; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services

12. "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JVTP-NY9 : 5 December 2014), Frank Emil Jordan, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.

13. "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JV5W-MZ2 : 5 December 2014), Ella Lillie Jordan, Mason, Texas, United States; citing Department of State Health Services, Austin.