Karl August Kensing & Family

Karl was one of the children born to Karl Kensing and Friedericke Reeh. He came to this world on 13 March 1869, in Gillespie County.

On 13 July 1870, Carl, his parents, and elder siblings, Heinrich (born 10 March 1853), August (born 16 February 1855), Christine (born 23 March 1857),  Lina (born 16 June 1859), Anna (born 14 February 1861), Ida (born 15 October 1863), and Maria (born 14 February 1867) were registered during the census at their home in Live Oak Creek settlement, Gillespie County, Texas (1). Carl's half-sister Mina (Wilhelmina), born on 28 January 1848 in Fredericksburg, TX, had left the family home a few months earlier. On ♡ 25 January 1870, she married a widower, Mr. Henry Döll (Doell), born on 22 January 1842 in Prussia (2).

 

Johann Heinrich Doell came to Texas with his father, Johann Adam Doell, mother, Anna Margaretha Kraemer, and brother Georg. They arrived in 1845 on the ship Garonne. The father of the family died in winter 1845/46. Anna later married Mr. Georg Anschutz. During the Civil War, young Henry served with Capt. Alf Hunter's Company of Mason County. Heinrich first married Miss Christiane Eckert (on 7 August 1864) with whom he had three children. Christiane passed on 2 March 1869 (3).

Later, Karl and family moved to Honey Creek, where his younger sister ♦ Sophie Anna arrived on 21 April 1871. 

The Hoo Doo war escalated in Mason County. One of its victims was Mina's husband ♦ Heinrich, a stock raiser. The man was killed on 20 July 1875. Mina and Heinrich had 4 daughters and a son.

 

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 35, No. 175, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 31, 1875, newspaper, July 31, 1875; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth462794/: accessed July 30, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

In the same year, on Christmas Eve, a merry event in the family. ♡ 18-year-old sister Christina (4) married Jacob Baumann (born 10 May 1852, to Johann Anton Baumann and Katharina Metzger), a rancher. The two lived at Honey Creek, later they moved to Fredericksburg. Christina and Jacob had 5 children.

Not long after that, on ♡ 11 March 1876, Karl's eldest brother Heinrich married about a year younger, Miss Catharine Strackbein, born on 30 November 1854 (5).

Heinrich and Katharine had 6 children.

In ♡ 1876, Mina remarried as well. Her second husband was Herman Theirs. They had seven children. 

Two years later, another sister of Karl's, Lina, started her own family. On ♡ 11 September 1878 (6), she married Mr. Julius Friedrich Lange (born on 13 December 1850), the son of Friedrich Wilhelm Lange and Johanna Friederike Steines.

The newlywed couple found their home at Lange's Mill on Threadgill Creek. Julius Managed the family mill after his mother's death. Lina became a Postmistress of the local post office when it found its seat at Lange's Mill. She bore five children to Julius.

June 1880 - another census came. At that time, Karl Kensing, the father, was recorded as a blacksmith. The Kensings lived then in Justice precinct #2, Gillespie, Texas. 27-year-old brother August lived on his own next to his parents and other younger siblings (7).

♡ August got married not long after the census. On 9 November 1880 (8), he tightened the knot with 21-year-old Bertha Houy (born 16 September 1859). 

 Seven children were born to August and Bertha.

Sister Anna's wedding was on ♡ 1 January 1882 (9). She married Mr. Carl Wilhelm John Schmidt (born 19 January 1860).

Anna and Carl had six children.

As Steven B Kensing mentions in his Family Book*, young Karl August was a boy of his own ideas who not always followed his parents' instructions/orders. That might have been a reason why Karl's father sold the son's pony and rifle. Young Karl left the parents' home (ran away) and lived at his sister Lina's and later with Anna, another sister of his. Finally, he came to Mason, where he made his home. The man worked at a local livery. At that time, Karl often drove Dr. Granstaff when the latter needed to attend his house calls. Then, Karl met Miss Marie Louise Jung /yung/ (born 2 January 1872 in Gillespie County) who was Dr. Granstaff's housekeeper. Karl  repaired rifles as well. 

Karl August's sister Ida also lived in the area. She married Mr. Harry Bierschwale ♡ on 9 May 1885 (10). 

Ida and Harry had four children. Karl August found employment at Ida's husband's tin shop.

Another sister's wedding day came on ♡ 22 May 1886. Maria Anna Mathilda married Christoph Feuge of Klein Frankreich. The spouse was born on 7 May 1858.  They had six children. 

♡ On 15 December 1892, Karl and Louise got married (11). The bride was the daughter of Karl Jung and Anna Tietze. The newlyweds lived in Mason.

A half a year later, ♡ on 3 June 1893, the youngest sister of Karl's Sophie Anna was married to William Caulder.  Later, Sophie ran her own grocery store, William was a painter and paper hanger. They had five children.

♦ The first son/child was born to Karl and Maria Louisa on 4 May 1895. They called him Harry William (12).

♦ Daughter Bessie Marie was born on 4 September 1899 (13).

1st day of June 1900 - Carl, Mary, and Bessie Kensing were recorded in Mason Township (ED53) during the census. Carl's occupation was given as "tinner" (14).

A week later, sister ♦ Maria Anna Kensing Feuge died of typhoid fever on 8 June 1900. She was 33 years old.

The family met at another funeral ceremony two years after Maria's death. ♦ Karl's father, Karl Sr., passed on 26 June 1902.

♦ Son Harold Henry was born to Karl on 8 January 1903. At the end of the year, grief visited the Kensing family again. On 21 November, Karl's mother died.

♦ Daughter Anna Louise was born on 8 April 1906 (15).

In about 1910, Charlie started working in an automobile sales and repairs place. Later he founded Mason Auto Company and bought some acres in the area as well. Charles' garage, which was also used as a storage place of the firemen's equipment got burned twice.

16 April 1910, census clerk, Mr. Lamar Thaxton visited Carl's home in Justice Precinct 1, Mason, at "(part of) all south public road". Charles A Kensing was then a "machinist" who worked at his own shop (16).

♦ Son George Washington was born on 6 January 1914 (17).

WW1 came, and 22-year-old son Harry got drafted. Then, the man worked at his father's Auto Company garage (18).

Harry William was enlisted on 10 December 1917 and served with Company C Replacement Unit Motor Transport Corps. From 17 September to 26 July 1919, the soldier (SN 1 111 866) was at the war front in Europe (19).

Sergeant 1st Class H W Kensing was honorably discharged on 6 August 1919 (20).

A few months before Harry came back home, Marie Louise's mother, ♦ Ms. Anna Tietze Jung died on 8 February 1919 in Fredericksburg (21). Karl's mother-in-law lived 71 years, 5 months, and 21 days. The lady was  buried at the City Cemetery.

A merry event came again ♡ on 20 July 1920 when Harry married Miss Nettie Oldham (born 29 February 1888).

♡ Harold Henry got married on 25 July 1925. His wife was Maude Smart, born on 18 October 1910.  The couple had two sons, Kenneth, born 12 February 1926 (22) and Lee Roy, born 24 September 1927.

Another death in the family took Marie's father, ♦ Mr. Charles Jung, stonemason, on 30 May 1925. The man had suffered from cardiac problems and nephritis as well (23).

A chain of sorrow seems to have no end - Karl's youngest sister, 45-year-old ♦ Sophia Anna Kensing Cronley died of apoplexy on 31 August of the very same year (24).

A year later, painful news came one more time - heart paralysis took ♦ Anna Kensing Schmidt, Karl's sister. She passed on 11 December 1926 in Fredericksburg. Anna lived 65 years, 8 months, and 27 days (25). 

Tears and happy moments followed each other. ♡ 21-year-old daughter Anna Louise married Adolph Heep (born 26 March 1905) on 5 September 1927 (26).

 

 

The couple had two daughters, Mary Ann, born on 13 September 1828, and Betty Ann who was born on 15 November 1829 (27).

 

♡ Daughter Bessie Marie married Emil Ischar (born on 5 November 1890) on 4 March 1928. They had a daughter Doris Colleen and a son Charles Bernhardt.

A serious of deaths brought sorrow again and again. Karl's half-sister, ♦ Wilhelmina died on 8 January 1929. A year later, on ♦ 27 April, 75-year-old brother August passed. The man's death was caused by pellagra/low levels of vitamin B3 in his body (28).

4 April 1930 - only the youngest son, 16-year-old then George, lived with his parents at the family home in Precinct 1, Mason, TX. The boy worked at his father's garage. Karl Kensing, the garage owner, was 61, Marie, his wife, 59 (29).

Another death in the family - ♦ on 29 August 1930, sister Christina Kensing Baumann died.

♦ Sister Ida Kensing Bierschwale died on 22 June 1934.

♦ Brother Henry Kensing died of heart failure on 2 March 1938, at 12:20 AM, in Doss, Gillespie County. He was 84 (30).

Clipping source: The Harper Herald (Harper, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 9, Ed. 1 Friday, March 4, 1938, newspaper, March 4, 1938; Harper, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth896835/: accessed July 31, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Harper Library.

Karl's wife ♦ Marie Louise Jung died of cancer in 1940, on 27 May, at 9 PM. The lady had suffered from the disease for 2 years, she was 68 years old on the day of her death (31). 

Not long after his mother's passing, on 19 November 1940, George Washington enlisted into the Army at Fort Sam Houston (32). It was WWII time. George was part of the Second Infantry Division, 23rd Regiment ATCO/Headquarters Company and also served with 394th Infantry Regiment.

Three years later, on ♡ 13 January, the man married Lina Zimmerman (born 8 June 1874), a widow. The marriage did not work out, and Charlie lived then at Marie's sister Tillie Hahne's.

♦ Charles August Kensing died from coronary thrombosis on 28 January 1945 in Fredericksburg. He lived 75 years, 10 months, and 15 days (33). All siblings, except one sister Lina, had crossed over already. Charles was buried near his first wife, Marie Louise. in Gooch Cemetery, Mason.

In the very same year, on ♡ 6 December (34), son George Washington Kensing married Amanda Erna Goewe (born 10 February 1923). 

Later, George remarried on ♡ 6 November 1954 (35). His second wife was Ufa Bennett.

 UPDATE

Information provided by Mr. Steven Kensing: "Anna and Adolph Heep's daughters were:

 - Mary Helen named for her 2 grandmothers. Died in infancy, buried in Catholic Cemetery in Fredericksburg.

 - Betty Ann was born in 1929. Married Arthur Crenwelge. One daughter, Shelley Vaughn Crenwelge."

Resources:

*"Kensing, A Family Tree" by Steven B Kensing,

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

Findagrave.com 

Mason County Marriages

1. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXL5-KS9 : 29 May 2021), Carl Kensing in entry for Case Kensing, 1870.

2. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VJ1 : 10 March 2021), Henry Doll and Menia Kensing, 25 Jan 1870; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

3.  The Mason County "Hoo Doo" War, 1874-1902 by David D Johnson, University of North Texas Press, Denton, Texas, 2006.

 4.  "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VGH : 10 March 2021), Jacob Baumann and Christine Kensing, 24 Dec 1875; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-VP3 : 10 March 2021), Heinrich Kensing and Catharine Strackbein, 11 Mar 1876; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

6. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXGC-PSM : 10 March 2021), Julius Lange and Lina Kensing, 11 Sep 1878; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,801.

7. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN8-5BB : 20 February 2021), Charley Kensing in household of Carl Kensing, Precinct 2, Gillespie, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 62, sheet 273D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,305.

8. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9KZ7 : 10 March 2021), August Kensing and Bertha Hony, 09 Nov 1880; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802. 

9. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9J91 : 22 December 2016), Carl Schmidt and Anna Kensing, 01 Jan 1882; citing , Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

10. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9J63 : 22 December 2016), Harry Bierschsvale and Ida Kensing, 09 Mar 1885; citing , Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

11. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-9V9X : 10 March 2021), Charles Kensing and Mary Jung, 15 Dec 1892; citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 982,802.

12. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PM-B9S : 13 February 2020), Charles A. Kensing in entry for Harry William Kensing, 1895.

13."Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3S3-61D : 20 February 2021), Chas August Kensing in entry for Bessie Marie Tochar, 20 Jan 1947; citing certificate number 3433, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,565.

14. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3PK-FX4 : accessed 31 July 2021), Chas Kensing, Mason Township Mason, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 53, sheet 1A, family 2, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,658.

15. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX99-L8Q : 1 March 2021), Chas Kensing in entry for Kensing, 08 Apr 1906; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 104258, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,371,100. 

16. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2Q4-CM4 : accessed 31 July 2021), Charles A Kensing, Justice Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 197, sheet 2A, family 39, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1576; FHL microfilm 1,375,589.

17. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLSQ-XZC : 1 March 2021), Chas Kensing in entry for George Washington Kensing, 06 Jan 1914; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 2712, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,153,664.

18. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZX2-Y7C : 23 February 2021), Harry William Kensing, 1917-1918.

19. "Texas, World War I Records, 1917-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV18-XF3K : 9 March 2021), Harry W Kensing, 10 Dec 1917; citing Military Service, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States, Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin.

20. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPTV-7BKW : 17 October 2019), Harry Wiliam Kensing, 6 Aug 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.

21. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SR-5WL : 20 February 2021), Anna Jung, 08 Feb 1919; citing certificate number 6969, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,073,561.

22. "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXMF-W5T : 1 March 2021), Harold Kensing in entry for Kenneth Lincoln Kensing, 12 Feb 1926; citing Mason, Mason, Texas, United States, certificate 12347, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,240,078.

23. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37N-FL4 : 20 February 2021), Carl Jung, 30 May 1925; citing certificate number 17933, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,846.

24. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K379-Y15 : 20 February 2021), Kensing in entry for Sophia Anna Cronley, 31 Aug 1925; citing certificate number 28762, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,922.

25. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K37P-7XB : 20 February 2021), Anna Schmidt, 11 Dec 1926; citing certificate number 41771, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,114,211.

26. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K61F-15S : 23 February 2021), Adolph Heep and Anna Kensing, 06 Sep 1927; citing Marriage, citing Tom Greene, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 4,255,800.

27. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PM-9B2 : 13 February 2020), Anna Kensing in entry for Betty Ann Heep, 1929.

28. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K33Y-CZZ : 20 February 2021), August Kensing, 27 Apr 1930; citing certificate number 18653, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,135,323.

29. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HXTT-HN2 : accessed 31 July 2021), C A Kensing, Precinct 1, Mason, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 1A, line 9, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2375; FHL microfilm 2,342,109.

30. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3M3-3FR : 20 February 2021), Henry Kensing, 02 Mar 1938; citing certificate number 12855, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,658.

31. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MG-H76 : 20 February 2021), Mary L Kensing, 27 May 1940; citing certificate number 23425, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,118,507.

32. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8PL-P7K : 5 December 2014), George W Kensing, enlisted 19 Nov 1940, Ft Sam Houston, Texas, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

33. "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3S8-252 : 20 February 2021), Charles A Kensing, 28 Jan 1945; citing certificate number 1981, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,867.

34. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-DSWM : 23 February 2021), George W Kensing and Amanda Erna Goewe, 06 Dec 1945; citing Marriage, citing Gillespie, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 1,764,046.

35. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K61K-HBC : 23 February 2021), George Washington Kensing and Ufa Ethel Bennett, 06 Nov 1954; citing Marriage, citing Concho, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 4,468,478.