Saturday, May 2, 2020

Wahrmund Family - Part 2

The Wahrmunds were recorded on a passenger list of the vessel Talisman. The head of the family Johann Christian with children Louis, Susan, and Charles. Johann's wife Wilhelmine is not listed there. Charles was Karl August mentioned above. 

Three of Christian's sons were listed separately

  • Emil Wahrmund (b. 1828) single.
  • Wilhelm Wahrmund (b. 1827) and wife Amalie Schildknecht + son Ludwig. Wilhelm's profession on the passenger list was given as stonemason.
  • Then there is Louis again - a single man of Wiesbaden. That was probably Philip Ludwig Wahrmund (b.1822), the oldest son of Johann's.

What were the full names of Louis and Susana recorded with their father? Most probably they were minors as their brother Karl (Charles). However, I have not found any information about them and what happened to them later. Maybe they died?


WILHELM Daniel Ferdinand WAHRMUND, originally a stonemason, later ran a store (1). He also served as county judge. On 24 Nov. 1885, the judge was assaulted by an angry local teacher who fired two shots aiming at William Wahrmund but did not manage to wound the man. It was all about a case related to voucher approval. The teacher was caught by the sheriff. However, the assailant died shortly after the shooting. Supposedly he took some sort of poison and killed himself (2).

The house of William Wahrmund's still stands in Fredericksburg.




William's wife was Amalie Schildknecht*.

Their children
1. Son Otto married Miss Sophie Nimitz
2. Son Henry married Miss Meta Nimitz
3. Daughter Klara married Mr. Eugene Staffel
4. William Jr. married Miss Elise M. Hopf
5. Christian

 William died suddenly on 20 June 1890. The eulogy placed in a local newspaper, issued in German, describes him as one of the best-known citizens of Fredericksburg, a very popular and generally regarded man. William and his parents were co-founders of Fredericksburg.


Clipping source: Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2484, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 26, 1890, newspaper, June 26, 1890; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1083032/: accessed April 25, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; . 

* Adolphus Schildknecht (b. 1810) of Wiesbaden, his wife Caroline (b. 1805) and children Augustus (b. 1826) and Augusta (b. 1837) came to Texas on Bohemia in 1846 (3,4). Were they Amalie's parents and siblings? 


CARL Heinrich WAHRMUND known as "Emil"

He married Miss Auguste Sander born 20 Sept. 1827 in Braunschweig, Germany. Their marriage took place on 26 Nov. 1847 in Bexar County, Texas (5).  At the time of the marriage, Emil was listed in the records as "Principal".


In 1860, Emil was a farmer and butcher (6), later he was engaged in merchandising (7).
The couple had 3 sons and 4 daughters:
  • Adolph married Miss Elise Schildknecht,
  • Emil Jr. m. Miss Auguste Feller, daughter of Clara and Wilhelm Feller,
  • Louise m. Mr. William Basse,
  • Emma m. Mr. Albert Lee Patton,
  • Mathilde m. Mr. Henry Meckel,
  • Lena m. Mr. Alfred Basse (3).

Emil Sr. was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Clara Keller* whom he helped when the lady was in a critical moment of her life.

Clara was married to Mr. Wilhelm Feller when she was eighteen. The couple bought 200 acres of land from a Mr. Ingram, they paid the man $400, 2 dollars per acre. The land was situated on Dry Creek, 15 miles from Fredericksburg. In 1853, the Feller family moved in. They built a house and cultivated their acres. After 13 years of Clara and William's marriage, William was hanged by the mob for the man's alleged anti-slavery and anti-Nueces massacre attitude. William's wife and children continued their fieldwork although without Mr. Feller's help they obviously had to work much harder. However, they managed to collect a good crop.


At that point, a certain man appeared in the area. He claimed the land the Fellers bought was bought/sold unlawfully as he was its real owner. Mr. Ingram had already moved Texas and nothing else was known about him. The newly come out owner wanted Mrs. Feller to pay him 300 dollars for the property. The lady was not able to pay that so the man took everything - the land, the house, even the crops. Whether he was the real legal owner of the property, it is not known.

Anyhow, Clara and her children were aided by Mr. Emil Sr. who gave her $100 for the past due debt note - the only thing she had had not counting some household items. The note was for less than $100. Mrs. Feller used the money to buy a house in Fredericksburg. The house had a dirt floor only but another brother-in-law, Mr. Louis Wahrmund, helped as well. He gave Clara wooden logs to make a proper floor in the house (2).

Louis Wahrmund mentioned above was Emil's brother Philip Ludwig Friedrich. He was a husband of Clara's sister Susanne.

* Clara Feller nee Ressemann (Ressmann/Roessmann) was born on 12 December 1832 in Heiligenrroth, Amt Montebaur, Nassau, Germany. She traveled from Europe to Indianola on the vessel Strabo together with her parents Johann Peter (age 53), Margarite (55), and siblings Susanne (17), a brother Christian (10), and a half-brother Caspar Ressemann (20).


Emil passed at the age of 74 on Monday, 4 March 1901. The obituary published by Freie Presse für Texas informs that he was born in Wiesbaden and came to Gillespie County, Texas through Galveston and then New Braunfels in 1845. The passenger list of the ship Talisman on which the Wahrmunds traveled to Texas gives 1846 as the year of their arrival in the New World.  Emil was a brother of an ex-judge (William Wahrmund) and an uncle of Otto Wahrmund (who was William's son), the vice president of a brewery in San Antonio.


Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 5730, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 5, 1901, newspaper, March 5, 1901; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1085824/: accessed April 25, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Emil's wife Amalie lived 83 years. The lady died on 10 February 1910. The obituary which was published in a local German-language newspaper mentions that Amalie came to Texas in 1846, together with her parents. They got to Fredericksburg area through New Braunfels.


Clipping source: Hanschke, Robert. Freie Presse für Texas. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 8464, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 12, 1910, newspaper, February 12, 1910; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1086526/: accessed April 25, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Both Emil and his wife were survived by a son (Emil), and three daughters (Emma, Louis, and Lena).

The Family branch which leads us to Emil and William Wahrmund


William/Wilhelm Daniel Ferdinand Wahrmund
⇒ his brother Emil Wahrmund (b. 3 June 1828, Wiesbaden, Germany/d. 4 March 1901, Texas)
⇒ his daughter Mathilde (Wahrmnud) Meckel (b. 20 Feb. 1859/d. 17 Sept. 1913)
⇒ her husband of Heinrich Bernard Meckel (b. 16 May 1854, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, TX/d. 16 March 1909, Fredericksburg, TX)
⇒ his mother Henriette (Luckenbach) Meckel
⇒ her brother Friedrich Wilhelm Luckenbach
⇒ his son Louis Carl Luckenbach
⇒ his wife Jeannie Katherine Hart
⇒ her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
⇒ her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin once removed
⇒ his father James Monroe Angel
⇒ his mother Elizabeth Sarah (Gant) Angel
⇒ her father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather

UPDATE: 

Additional info regarding Mr. Emil Wahrmund

When the Wahrmund family moved to Fredericksburg, Emil, and William Wahrmund stayed in New Braunfels - the brothers worked for the Verein (German emigration company) for 18 months.

Emil was a tall and well-built man. He had dark hair and wore a mustache. Emil's wife Auguste was a good-hearted lady, very good at cooking, sewing and managing the household.

In 1849, Emil + his immediate family moved to the Pedernales area, then to Bear Creek.

At the end of the Civil War, they moved to Fredericksburg. Emil Wahrmund built a store on the town lot which had belonged to his father Johann Christian (he passed in 1868). The porch of the store was next to the house porch. Behind the house, there was also a barn made of rock and a stable.

Emil had freight wagons which were drawn by three pairs of horses. The cargo included lumber, farm utensils, dry goods, groceries, hides, cotton, and grain as well. The farmers, Emil's customers, could buy at his store on credit until the harvest came. Then, the due payment was brought by them to the store in produce. Later, Emil was a contracted freighter for Fort Cosco too. He also ranched and raised Holstein dairy cattle.

The man was an active community member. he participated in various social events organized by the Hermann Sons, Turnverein (gymnastic club), and the Casino (including Sylvester dance/ New Year's Eve with dinner served at midnight). At Easter, he held the family gathering and BBQ at his ranch.

Fifty years after the Wahrmunds arrival in Texas, Emil and his wife went back to the old country for a visit. They brought souvenirs for their grandchildren - girls got garnet jewelry and boys were presented with watches (9).

Emil and Auguste's grave site in the Old Fredericksburg City Cemetery.








Sources:
1. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN8-GP5 : 15 July 2017), William Warhmund, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 61, sheet 257D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,305. 

2. "German Pioneers in Texas", Don H. Biggers, Gillespie County Edition, Press of the Fredericksburg Publishing Co., 1925.

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

4. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-G96 : 4 April 2020), Adolphus Schildknecht, Gillespie county, part of, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing family 27, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). 

5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL83-X66 : 4 November 2017), Emil Wharmund and Augusta Sander, 26 Nov 1847; citing Bexar, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 24,917.

6. )"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-BFT : 18 March 2020), Adolph Wahrmund in entry for Emil Wahrmund, 1860.

7. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN8-2KG : 15 July 2017), Emily Wahrmund, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 61, sheet 257D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,305.

8. Findagrave.com.

9. "PIONEERS IN GOD'S HILLS" : a History of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County People and Events", Part 1, Gillespie County Historical Society, 1960.




Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Wahrmund Family - Part 1

For some time, I have been working on the article regarding the Wahrmund family + doing research on the family Pioneers in Texas. It appears the post is going to be quite long as I have come across interesting information besides dates and census records only. The longer I study the family history, the more I find and the less I am likely to complete my work soon. That is why I decided to create a series of posts about the Wahrmunds (well, at least three) instead of one. In this way, I can share it all with you partially quicker. Besides, I do not enjoy long posts on other people's blogs and I do not want to bore the reader with a tedious epistle either.

 

 Louis Wahrmund was born to Mr. Karl August Wahrmund and Miss Dorothea Juenke on 7 August 1853 in Gillespie County, Texas. Louis' father was one of the early German pioneers in Texas. Karl August Henry Ernst Wahrmund came to Texas with his parents and siblings on "Talisman" in Jan. 1846. He was born on 23 March 1832 in Wiesbaden, Germany. The head of the family was Louis' grandfather Johann Christian Wahrmund born on 30 Sept. 1792 in Wiesbaden, Germany as well.
The Wahrmund family decided to settle in Fredericksburg, they lived in a tent till they were able to build a log cabin.

Louis married Miss Bertha Kott on 30 March 1880 (1). He had his own farm. In 1880 the couple was recorded by Census. The two lived in Precinct 2, Gillespie, Texas (2).

Bertha was born in Fredericksburg, TX. Her father August was a soap boiler there. However, the man was born in Saxony, her mother Karoline Menzel Kott was born in Prussia(3) Louis and Bertha had three children Mathilde, Lina and Ernst. In 1910 the family lived in Harson, Gillespie, TX. (4). Louis passed on 12 Feb. 1933 (5)


The Family

Who little Alfred was, I do not know. Maybe one of Louis' children, maybe a son of Louis' cousin. The baby was buried in the old cemetery in Fredericksburg, TX.


Louis' father, Karl was 13 when the Wahrmunds arrived in Texas. Three years later, the boy went hunting with a rifle. When he was passing a neighbor's place, Karl heard a woman's voice calling for help. He found out that the woman was sick with cholera and her husband was lying next to her dead.

The young man went back home to get help. The boy's father and other neighborhood people got to the sick family's house by an ox-cart. The men buried in one grave all the dead persons found in that house, the women cared for the sick lady who lived two days more before she passed away.

During those days Karl shot a buffalo in the area where the nowadays Fredericksburg High School is situated.


Louis' father Karl married when he was nineteen. Miss Dorothea Juenke became Karl's bride on 26 June 1851. The couple had 11 children who survived till adulthood, 2 of their children died young. Dorothea came to Texas from Brunswick, Germany. Together with her parents Wilhelm Juenke, Henriette nee Tilly and siblings Karoline, Wilhelm, Heinrich she sailed on "Mathilde" in 1846.

Karl August has experienced a few face-to-face encounters with Indians. One of them was when the latter ones had already become hostile regarding their contacts with the German settlers. That was on a rainy day when Mr. Karl was hunting. The man met an Indian who was carrying a rifle wrapped in a buckskin (in order to prevent the gun powder from getting wet). Not being able to use the gun quickly, the Indian dropped his weapon and raised his hands. Mr. Wahrmund took the rifle, shut all the bullets out of it and gave it back to the Indian who bowed, said something in his native language and left the spot.

During the Civil War, Karl August Wahrmund served as the first sergeant in a Confederate Army unit under Captain Frank von Stunke. He also worked for the US government - he delivered food and clothes to the Indians and at the same time looked for the captive white children. It happened that Karl and his men found a little girl wrapped in a bundle that was guarded closely by 4 Indian men. After the talks, the latter agreed to trade the girl for food and clothing. The child was later returned to her relatives.


When the war ended Mr. Wahrmund, his wife and children moved to Tivydale when they ran a farm (6). In 1910, Karl and his wife were recorded during the census. They lived in Harson, Gillespie, TX (7).

Karl August Ernst Heinrich Wahrmund lived 79 years, he died on 27 Feb. 1911. His wife passed eight years later on 18 May 1919.

Family Line

Louis Wahrmund
⇒ his father Karl August Wahrmund (b. 23 March 1832, Wiesbaden, Germany/d. 27 Feb. 1911, Texas)
⇒ his brother Emil Wahrmund (b. 3 June 1828, Wiesbaden, Germany/d. 4 March 1901, Texas)
⇒ his daughter Mathilde (Wahrmnud) Meckel (b. 20 Feb. 1859/d. 17 Sept. 1913)
⇒ her husband of Heinrich Bernard Meckel (b. 16 May 1854, Fredericksburg, Gillespie, TX/d. 16 March 1909, Fredericksburg, TX)
⇒ his mother Henriette (Luckenbach) Meckel
⇒ her brother Friedrich Wilhelm Luckenbach
⇒ his son Louis Carl Luckenbach
⇒ his wife Jeannie Katherine Hart
⇒ her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
⇒ her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin once removed
⇒ his father James Monroe Angel
⇒ his mother Elizabeth Sarah (Gant) Angel
⇒ her father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather

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.

1. "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1Y-9LW : 22 January 2020), Louis Wahrmund, 1880.


2. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN8-2CQ : 15 July 2017), Louis Wahrmund, Precinct 2, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 283C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,305.
3. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-VTJ : 12 December 2017), August Kott, 1860.


4. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK12-7BW : accessed 1 March 2020), Louis Wahrmund, Harson, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 152, sheet 13A, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1554; FHL microfilm 1,375,567.


5. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QQ-MZ6 : 13 March 2018), Louis Wahrmund, 12 Feb 1933; citing certificate number 8070, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,344.


6. Dietel, Norman J. The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 11, Ed. 1 Friday, March 19, 1982, newspaper, March 19, 1982; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1035935/: accessed April 8, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

7. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK12-7Y2 : accessed 1 March 2020), Karl Wahrmund, Harson, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 152, sheet 13A, family 22, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1554; FHL microfilm 1,375,567.




Saturday, December 28, 2019

Conrad Meckel and Henriette Luckenbach

I do not know who Conrad's parents were or when he came to Texas. I do not know what the original spelling of his surname was either. Was It Moeckel/Möckel?

In the 1860 Census records (1), there is another man of the same name, born in Nassau in 1827 who lived in Gallon Polk Township, Crawford, Ohio with Catherine Meckel who was 62 and was born in Nassau as well. That Ohio Conrad was a stone cutter. I guess Catherine was probably his mother.

The Crawford man was naturalized in 1859 (2).


Were he (the stone cutter) and his mother related to our Texas Conrad's family? Very likely considering that Conrad Meckel who lived in Fredericksburg was also born in Nassau (11 Nov. 1826) according to the 1860 Census data.

German Birth and Baptism records inform that Conrad Franz Peter Möckel was born on 24 Nov. 1827. The baby was christened on 9 Dec. 1827 in the Evangelic Church in Stuttgart, Neckar, Wuerttemberg. Conrad Franz Peter's parents were Conrad Möckel and Charlotte Katharine Wild (3). The baby could be the man who later lived with his mother Catherine and was recorded in Polk Township, Crawford, Ohio.

It all seems quite possible - I checked on the map of Germany that Nassau is situated not far from Stuttgart. However, the place of birth given in the census records could be not the city of Nassau itself but the Duchy of Nassau - an independent state then. It means the people mentioned above were born in a town or village in the Nassau area. I have checked (on the map) the distance between the two cities Nassau and Stuttagrd - it is only about 270km (3 hours drive by car).


Source: Google maps

Anyway, I assume the original spelling of the surname Möckel was changed in America into Meckel.
Conrad Meckel who lived in Fredericksburg was a wheelwright. Possibly his first name was Heinrich and Conrad was the man's middle name. He ran a store in the town, he was also a cattle trader.




On 6 June 1853, Conrad married a three year younger Miss Henriette Luckenbach.


Record source: "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-2D6 : 22 December 2016), Conrad Meckel and Henrietta Luckenbach, 12 Jun 1853; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

Seven years later, the couple lived with their children August and Emilie in Precinct 2, Gillespie County, TX. Conrad's brother Henry was recorded at their dwelling during the 1860 Census (4).


On an October day in 1866, Conrad and his two brothers Bernhard and Heinrich (Henry) left Fredericksburg with their cattle. They headed towards Mr. Meckel's ranch which was situated at Willow Creek. After about twelve miles the brothers parted. Bernhard took some cattle and went to Squaw Creek. Conrad and Heinrich reached the Meckel's ranch and returned to Fredericksburg. On their to the town, on the third day of their trip between Loyal Valley and Cherry Spring, the two men stopped for a rest. At that spot, they were attacked by Indians and killed. Conrad was shot in the head and knee. The bodies of the brothers were later found by Ludolph Meier. Their clothes, guns, and horses had been stolen. Conrad and Heinrich were buried at the Fredericksburg Cemetery.
Sometime after the fatal incident, the Indians were seen with the horse which had been owned by Conrad Meckel (5).

Henriette Luckenbach Meckel lived seven years longer. She passed on 17 Sept. 1917.


We are related to Mr. Conrad Meckel via Louis Carl Luckenbach. He was Louis' uncle by marriage.

Conrad Meckel
⇒ his wife Henriette (Luckenbach) Meckel
⇒ her brother Friedrich Wilhelm Luckenbach
⇒ his son Louis Carl Luckenbach
⇒ his wife Jeannie Katherine Hart
⇒ her sister Elizabeth (Hart) Angel
⇒ her husband Rufus Monroe Angel - our 3rd cousin once removed
⇒ his father James Monroe Angel
⇒ his mother Elizabeth Sarah (Gant) Angel
⇒ her father Benjamin Thomas Gant
⇒ his brother Jacob Rippy Gant - our great-great-grandfather

Passengers lists (6)

recorded the immigrants who came on various vessels from Germany to Texas. Among them, there were quite a few persons by the name Meckel from the village of Bicken in Nassau Germany. Some of them settled in Comal County, TX. Maybe relatives of Conrad Meckel of Fredericksburg?

John George Meckel, age 41, arrived on Herschel in 1845, with wife Catherine nee Graaf, age 29, Catherine age 23, Anna Elisabeth age 21, Phillip D age 11, and Catherine age 9. They settled in Comal County.

John Phillip Meckel (32) arrived on Herschel in 1845 with wife Catherine (30) and children Wilhelm Friedrich (7), Pauline (5) and Friedrich (3). John passed on 4 August 1848, his wife on 4 March 1846.

Catherina Elisa Meckel came to Texas on Herschel in 1845. Her place of origin and destination was not recorded.

Phillip Heinrich Meckel settled in Comal County as well. He came to Texas on Hersce4l 1845 as well. Phillip was 25 then.

Wilhelm Meckel of Braunschweig sailed on Brig Semiramus. He left Bremen on 18 August 1845 and arrived in Galveston on 22 Oct. 1845.

UPDATE

I have been contacted by Mr. H. Meckel (a relation of Konrad Meckel ) of Germany who provided me with detailed information regarding Konrad, his siblings and ancestors. I am delighted to share the news with you.

1. The surname is and was Meckel - no changes of spelling occured during/after Konrad's immigration to Texas.

2. Konrad was born in Geisenheim - province of Nassau. He was born on 11 Nov. 1826 as the grave marker says (you can see it in one of the photos included in the text). I did not mention it in the above text though as I thought the marker would speak for itself. I did, however, deliberate on a possible Konrad's relation's (and his date of birth) who emigrated to different part of America. It all could cause a confusion regarding Konrad's passing day.

3. Konrad's parents were Conrad Meckel (b. 1773) and Gertrude Mebreuerinn
 
His siblings:
Elisabeth (b. 1811), Adam Meckel (b. 1818), Konrad Meckel (1818 - 1819), Georg Meckel (b.1820). Elisabeth Meckel (b.1822/d. 1905), Susanne Meckel (b. 1825), Bernhard Meckel (b.1829/d. 1903)

Thank you Mr. H. Meckel!



Sources:
1. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLJ-3SH: 13 December 2017), Conrad Meckel, 1860.

2. "Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGDZ-TG2Q : 3 June 2019), Conrad or Konrad Mackel or Meckel, 1859.

3. "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NH1S-94L : 10 February 2018), Conrad Franz Peter Möckel, 09 Dec 1827; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,055,682.

4. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFX-GB4: 12 December 2017), Conrad Meckel, 1860. 

5. "Fredericksburg, Texas ... The First Fifty Years. A Translation of Penniger's 50th Anniversary Festival Edition", Fredericksburg Publishing Co., Inc., 1971, page 75. 

6. A New Land Beckoned: German Immigration to Texas, 1844-1847
By Chester Geue, Chester William Geue, Ethel Hander Geue, 1966


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Joseph Wilson Baines and Ruth Ament Huffman

At the beginning of November, we visited the oldest cemetery in Fredericksburg. The town was founded on 8 May 1846. Its earliest settlers and pioneers were buried in the graveyard "Der Stadt Friedhof" (City Cemetery).





Joseph Wilson Baines, the maternal grandfather of President LB Johnson, was born in Louisiana, later he moved with his family to Texas. Joseph Wilson studied law at Baylor University, then the man moved to Collin County, Texas where our paternal ancestors lived as well. J. W. Baines served as Secretary of State of Texas (1883-1887). He died in Fredericksburg Texas.



Joseph's wife Ruth Ament Huffman was born on 10 Dec. 1854 in Rowlett, Collin County, Texas. The marriage took place on 12 Sept. 1869.


Record source: "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K61P-832 : 10 December 2017), J W Baines and Ruth A Huffman, 12 Sep 1869; citing Marriage, citing Collin, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,289,595.

Ruth passed in San Antonio, TX, on 13 Feb. 1936, three decades after her husband. Both spouses found their resting place at "Der Stadt Friedhof".


We are related to Ruth Ament Baines via Silas Liter Harrington, the husband of Vera Virginia Andrews, our fourth cousin twice removed.

Joseph Wilson Baines
⇒ his wife  Ruth Ament Huffman - Silas' cousin - twice removed
⇒ her father John Smith Huffman III (b. 7 May 1825, Bourbon County, Kentucky/d. 22 June 1865, Plano, Collin, Texas)
⇒ his sister Martha Harrington nee Huffman (b. 1830/d. 1864)
⇒ her son Silas Liter Harrington (b. 29 April 1851, Plano, Collin County, TX/d. 21 March 1932, Collin Co., TX)
⇒ his son Joseph Alfred Harrington (b. 31 March 1874, Collin, TX/d. 9 April 1957, Plano, Collin, TX)
⇒ his son Silas Liter Harrington (b. 1896, Texas/d. 1942, Texas)
⇒ his wife Vera Virginia Harrington nee Andrews (b. 26 Dec. 1897, Collin, Texas/d. 3. March 1955, Texas) - our paternal fourth cousin twice removed
⇒ her mother Ora Susan Andrews nee Forman (b. 23 Feb. 1869, Plano, Collin, TX/d. 1932, Texas)
⇒ her mother Lucette Abigail Thomas (16 August 1823, Bowling County, Kentucky/d. 20 Jan. 1987, Plano, Collin, TX)
⇒ her husband Jarrot Howard - our great-great-grandfather






Friday, October 11, 2019

Fort Martin Scott

Fort Martin Scott is the place where the US Army stationed. Besides the soldiers, Texas Rangers and the very first settlers of Fredericksburg lived in the fort area as well. It was built in1848. You can read more about the fort history here.




Monday, July 1, 2019

Mary Peck Butterworth

I hesitated whether to write about Mary as her alleged achievements may be regarded as doubtful. On the other hand, she is in our family tree* and whatever someone held against her was found untrue.

That indirect relation comes via Miss Hannah Titus nee Butterworth who was the wife of our second cousin twice removed, John Titus. Mary Butterworth nee Peck was Hannah's niece.

Mary was born in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts on 27 July 1686 to John and Elizabeth Peck. She was a wife and mother like many other women. Her husband was Mr. John Butterworth (b. 7 May 1679, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts) whom she married on 26 Sept. 1710.

What was so special about Mary? Allegedly, she became a counterfeiter about five years after the marriage. Mary and other persons were accused of making fake money using wetted silk and iron to transfer the money pattern on paper. The people who testified against her claimed that Mary was the one who invented the method and organized the counterfeiter group. To make it more interesting, it was one of the lady's brothers and his wife who were witnesses of the prosecution. According to their testimony, the couple worked together with Mary and later turned against her. Why would they have done it? Was it all about money, or they suddenly decided to be honest citizens of the colony?

Was it all really true? The suspicion and accusations started when John, Mary's husband, bought an expensive house for his immediate family. Maybe the relations were simply jealous about that? Maybe they did not like the fact that Mary and her husband were well off? However it was, no evidence of Mary's alleged criminal activity was found and the charges were dropped.

After the court case, Mary lived the peaceful life of a wife and mother. She passed away where she lived on 7 Feb. 1775, about 4 years after the day of John's death.




Family line

Mary Peck Butterworth

⇒ her husband John Butterworth - the son of John Butterworth and Hannah Wheaton

⇒ his sister Hannah (Butterworth) Titus (b. 14 Feb. 1680, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts/d. 1 Feb. 1709, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts)  - as you can see, Hannah passed before her brother and Mary got married so she did not witness the events described above

Hannah Butterworth
Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915
(1)

Gender: Female
Birth Date: 14 Feb 1680
Fother's Name: John Butterworth
Mother's Name: Annah

⇒ her husband John Titus III - I wrote more John and the following family line in the previous post
 
⇒ his father John Titus II
 
⇒ his father John Titus I

⇒ his brother Thomas Titus - our 6 times great-grandfather

⇒ his daughter Sarah (Titus) Crea Howard

⇒ her son Stephen Howard

⇒ his son Rev. Obediah Howard

⇒ his son Christopher Howard

⇒ his son Jarrot Howard - our great-great-great-grandfather

⇒ his son William James Howard

⇒ his daughter Rachel Clementine Howard


Resources:
1. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC7J-24F : 10 February 2018), Hannah Butterworth, 14 Feb 1680; citing REHOBOTH,BRISTOL,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 908,952.
Photos: Rehoboth, Massachusetts website 



Friday, June 28, 2019

Susan Brownell Anthony

Every day comes something new. Some new discovery in the family tree. This one amazes me. I did not know whom we have in the family ancestry until MyHeritage matches service sent me a message. I looked at its content and found myself surprised. Hello, I know that name! I learned about her while preparing for the citizenship civics exam.

The MyHeritage software says she is our 7th cousin twice removed. Who? Miss Susan Brownell Anthony. And her brother Mr. Daniel Read Anthony as well. Both of them were abolitionists. Susan was a civil rights activist and a suffragist, the women's rights movement supporter.

Daniel Read was a lieutenant colonel in 7th Regiment of Kansas Volunteer Cavalry (Union Army).
Susan B and Daniel R Anthony's parents were Daniel Anthony and Lucy Read.

Susan (born on 15 Feb. 1820 in Bowens Corners, Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts/d. 13 March 1906, at 17 Madison St., Rochester, Madison County, New York).


Clipping source: Evans, Ashley. The Bonham News. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 82, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 1906, newspaper, March 16, 1906; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth922407/: accessed July 1, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bonham Public Library. 



Clipping source: Evans, Ashley. The Bonham News. (Bonham, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 82, Ed. 1 Friday, March 16, 1906, newspaper, March 16, 1906; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth922407/: accessed July 1, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bonham Public Library.



The family relationship goes via the Read, Titus and Howard family.

Susan B Anthony
⇒ her mother Lucy (Read) Anthony (b. 2 Dec. 1793, Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts/d. 3 April 1880, Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts) married Daniel Anthony on 3 July 1815

Adams, Massachusetts

⇒ her father Daniel Reid/Reed (b. about 1751, Newton, Middlessex, MA/d. about 1838) married Susannah Richardson on 29 Jan 1776

⇒ his father Joshua Read (b. 21 July 1728, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts/d. 27 Oct. 1780, Cheshire, Berkshire, Massachusetts)  + wife Elizabeth Barney

⇒ his mother Hannah (Titus) Read (b. 27 Oct. 1701, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts/d. 11 Feb. 1764, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts) - on 6 Dec. 1727 she married Mr. Joseph Read

⇒ her father John Titus III (b. 12 March 1678, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts/d. 9 Oct. 1732, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts), his wife was Hannah Butterworth

⇒ his father John Titus II (b. 18 Dec. 1650, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts/d. 12 Dec. 1697, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts) married Sarah Mildred on 16 August 1716

⇒ his father John Titus I (b. in about 1627, St Catherine's, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, England/d. 16 April 1689, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts) + wife Abigail Carpenter (b. in about 1629, Shalbourne, Berkshire, England/d. 5 March 1710, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts) - he emigrated from England to America with his brother Edmond and parents Robert Titus and Hannah Carter. Robert and Hannah Titus are our direct ancestors (10 generations back). The family left London on 3 April 1635 (the ship Hopewell)

⇒ his brother Thomas Titus - our 6 times great-grandfather (b. about 1630, Isle of Wight, Virginia/d. about 1660, Bertie County, North Carolina)  married Miss Mary Warren Chown

⇒ his daughter Sarah (Titus) Crea Howard (b. 11 Dec. 1702, New Kent County, Virginia/d. 27 Dec. 1748, Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts) - she had two husbands, Thomas Crea and James Obediah Howard - our direct ancestor whom she married about 1691 in Virginia

⇒ her son Stephen Howard (b. 18 March 1694, Nansemond, Virginia/d. about 1745, New River, Onslow, NC) married Miss Sarah Sanders about 1720

⇒ his son Rev. Obediah Howard

⇒ his son Christopher Howard

⇒ his son Jarrot Howard - our great-great-great-grandfather

⇒ his son William James Howard

⇒ his daughter Rachel Clementine Howard