Hoelscher-Buxkemper Family Heritage Association Third Book
The Hoelscher Family of Texas History and Genealogy of Anton and Mary Katherine Hoelscher (Eight Generations)
1846 – 1978
Complied by Theresa Gros Gold And Donald T Hoelscher
Family Histories by Jackie Wooley Lipski
Dedicated to Casper Hoelscher Who began the genealogical research in the 1920’s
Edward G Hoelscher Who took up his grandfather’s dream and published the four-generation book in 1954
Lillie Hoelscher Moeller Who compiled the seven-generation book published in 1958
Without their dedicated work, this book would not have been possible.
Foreword
In a day and age when people are just beginning to research their family history and genealogy in a search for their roots and identity, the Hoelscher Family is unique. We are able not only to trace our ancestry and history back to our American immigrates, and three generations farther into our European origins, but are also able to trace virtually all descendants of the original immigrants. The Hoelscher Family is also unique in another sense, in that family members feel a sense of identity with the family origins, no matter what their surname or how many times that surname has changed over the generations. This sense of identity can be attributed to the first two editions of the “family book” and to the thirteen large reunions this family has held over the past twenty-four years. To begin now to search for all the thousands of descendants of one family would present an impossible task. But thanks to those who took an interest in the family long ago — before many of us were born and long before it was the popular thing to do – the names of the early ancestors and later generations were recorded. We are particularly indebted to the late Casper Hoelscher who dreamed of printing a record of the family. In the 1920’s he traveled throughout Texas and wrote letters to collect information about his grandparents, Anton and Mary Katherine Hoelscher, and their descendants, with the dream of having it published. On one of his trips, his trunk full of notes was lost. At the time, he was seventy-nine years of age and realized that he could never collect all the information again. In 1928, Casper spent the winter at the home of his son Henry. During this time, Henry’s son Edward became interested in his ancestry and recorded the facts that his grandfather could recall. A friend, C.J. Raabe, helped Edward continue the work. In 1954, the late Edward G. Hoelscher published a 38-page book of the 561 names of the first four generations – Anton and Mary Katherine Hoelscher and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, thus fulfilling the dream of his grandfather, Casper Hoelscher. In the next few years, a massive campaign was conducted to add the names of the later generations, so that the complete genealogy of the family – seven generations – was published in 1958. This book was made possible by the efforts of Mrs. Frank B. (Lillie) Moeller, who compiled a 275-book containing an estimated 7,000 names. Over the next eighteen years, it was often said that the book “needed updating.” But the task was too much for any one person. At the 1976 family reunion, the interest was renewed when we agreed to begin the task and others offered to help. The past two and a half years have been filled with hard work, frustration, excitement, and appreciation. The hard work is evident from the size of this book. The task could never have been accomplished by two, three, or four people. Special thanks must go to Geneva Kahlich, who supplied much information on the family history and the records from the Catholic Archives in Austin; to Emma Helpert for copies of historical letters and other information; and to Gene Dierschke for records from the National Archives. Geneva and Emma also contacted large parts of the family for updated information, as did Barbara Hoelscher, Isolda Haliburton, Doris Mae Voltin, Alvin and Serena Buxkemper, Wilma Regmund, Ruth Kunz, Melvin Buxkemper and his daughter Connie, Mary Mechler and Rosemary Untermeyer, Irene Simon, Gladys Hoelscher, Olivia Schwertner, Elmer Entrop, Odelia Blossman, Annie Raabe, and Carolyn Meiners. We must also express our thanks to each individual who contributed to the faily history or who took time to “fill out a form.” Thank you also to San Antonians Madeline Wessels, Edna Westmoreland, Joan Campbell, Maureen O’Grandy, and Irene Kissling, who helped type the preliminary manuscript shown at the 1978 reunion. Helping with the massive task of indexing over 12,000 names in the genealogy were Mary Ann Petray, Terry Simmons, Edna Westmoreland, Erika Arnold, Alma Ernst, Regina Gros, Freda and Ann Kerr, Marjorie McCelland, Peggy Gomez, and Madeline Wessels, all of San Antonio. A special note of thanks must be included for statistical typist Sandra Forbess, who, although not a member of the family, contributed many hours of her time to the professional typing of this book. And to the guy for whom she normally works, Bernie Bernsen, CPA, who did the first proofreading. The final compilation, editing, review and proofreading were done by Theresa Gold. The genealogical information was obtained by asking each married couple to complete a biographical questionnaire. Although the questionnaires contained much more information than could be printed. They were very helpful in establishing family relationships. These completed papers will be kept in a file for future reference so that the next edition (and surely there must be a next!) will be easier to compile. Because a family is alive and growing, it is certain that there have been additional births, marriages, and deaths since the information was collected for this book. We invite all relatives to use the questionnaire blanks at the back of the book to furnish updated information on their families. These blanks may also be used to inform us of corrections needed. We also invite anyone who has additional information on the family history to share it with us. Frustration is a by-product of any research project as large as this. At times, it seemed like a tangle of string that would never be unraveled or a heap of puzzle pieces that must somehow fit together. Some were slow in responding with information – some never responded at all. Obtaining current addresses was a frustration in itself at times. But as the envelopes of information arrived, the excitement grew. We discovered relatives with interesting occupations, proud accomplishments, and varied interest. Each week meant another date found, another history written, another old photograph discovered, another generation updated. Relatives were located faraway and nearby, and we feel closer to each one we contacted. It is with appreciation that we reflect on the family itself. Although Anton and Mary Katherine could be considered typical of the many Nineteenth Century German immigrants, they have bequeathed to all of us a unique heritage. In reviewing the histories of the original couple, their children and grandchildren, we are impressed with their courage and faith. As they courageously set out to a new land they must have had a great faith in God and in themselves. The second and third generations were true pioneers in establishing strong German Catholic communities in unsettled areas. It is true that the communities they settled have not become great centers of population and the early generations ancestors were not famous people, but they left their mark on their later generations. If this book will help the later generations feel a sense of identity with this family and appreciate their ancestral, ethnic, and religious heritage, then our work will be considered a success. January 1979 Theresa G. Gold Donald T. Hoelscher Jackie W. Lipski