Mail Call

Hello from Spring, TX,
      My husband and I will be visiting his brother near Frankfurt in August and we plan a side trip to Würges. I’ve heard there is still a church there with names of our long ago relatives and would love to see it. Could you give me the name of that church?
      My name was Brenda Meuth before I married David in 1974. He was adopted in Stuttgart in 1953 and recently discovered some of his biological family still living in Germany. Small world, isn’t it? My dad is Melvin Meuth, mom is Mildred (Seidel) and I grew up in String Prairie. I look forward to hearing from you and hope you can help me with my search.
Thank you!
- Brenda Pyka -

      I visited the Rockne Museum on July 4th with some of my family. My brother, Fred, donated some prints showing different parts of the Mass. The prints were brought from Rome in the early 70’s by Msgr. F.O. Beck, our great uncle, and given to Fred (who is named after the Msgr.). Fred had never been to the museum and enjoyed the exhibit on Msgr. Beck and other family memorabilia. I was so excited to see the Erlene Goertz collection of newspaper clippings on display. I will have to go back when I have more time so that I can look at more of them. I was really awed by the large color tintype picture of my great grandmother, Pauline Hilbig Beck. I had never seen a photo from that time that was that big, much less a tintype. I was so happy that the family donated that to share with all of us. It was so great to see all the new things that have been donated. Of course, Minnie and Melvin were very friendly and helpful. And as usual, the Rockne Historical Association is doing a great job preserving our heritage.
- Gayle Fischer -

      I have the red Rockne Book and there are some errors in there concerning my family. I am trying to research the Friebe (Freabe) family from that area. We have some pictures that have not been identified. I was told that you might have pictures of my ancestors. Barbara Carter who is a relative should have the corrected info. Please let me know if you can help? I will attach the picture. Thanks.
- Janet Denn -
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      I met with Janet Denn Saturday at the museum. We found some baptisms and deaths in the old St. Mary’s String Prairie church records which made her very happy. We searched for about 2 ½ hours then she went to Smithville to see whether she could find anything in their museum. She is planning on coming to the Pin Oak bazaar in the fall. She wants to meet Regina Landry (who has done a lot of work on some of our families). She hopes that Regina might have photos or info that she doesn’t have.
- Minnie Bartsch -
Rockne Museum Curator

      We enjoyed the fundraiser, seeing all our relatives and friends, eating a delicious meal (great job on the food), the silent action (one of my favorites) the auction (Mike and Arthur provided top entertainment, as usual).
      To each and eveyone who worked to put together the event, job well done.
- Albert and Clara Hilbig Klinkovsky -

      I just finished reading the story of Tom and Alberta Goertz, written by Cheryl Goertz Daniel. I figured out that Tom is the son of my Great Aunt Anna Goertz. She lived in Austin for a while and I remember my family going to visit her. For a long time, I did not know she had children because, by the time we were visiting her, her children were all grown and were not living with her. We used to call Aunt Anna, Tante (not sure of the spelling) which, I found out later, meant Aunt in German. For a long time, I thought Tante Anna was her name.
      Reading the Stories and Remembrances that are submitted to RHA is so interesting. To read what our ancestors lived through and lived with and about how their faith directed them through it all is very inspirational.
      I want to encourage more people to write these stories and send them to the RHA website for publication.
      Thank you and the RHA for all they do to preserve our ancestral history in this way.
- Gayle Fischer -

      Roman Kraft, a WWII Veteran, with roots in Rockne died on December 2, 2008 at the age of ninety (90). Funeral mass was celebrated in the Catholic Parish in Marion, Texas and burial took place in Selma.
      His daughter, Joyce Kraft Friesenhahn, asked me to post you on it, as she was often told by her father, Roman, how much he loved his time in Rockne in years past as a youngster… before the community was even named ‘Rockne’, I believe.
      Doris & I took him on a tour of the Rockne community a few months back and he enjoyed seeing the museum and log cabins at Hilbig Park.
- Ramon -

      Doris & I are continually in awe . . . , for RHA and the Community there and the community, a big one, which has reached out across the whole world to many, many folks.
      From Father Alois Goertz’s big start, and with Mr Thomas Hilbig’s great work on the internet part, you have created a network of people who are NOW interested in ‘family’, in the Rockne story as it affects them, and they are loving it! With Hilbig Park as a central ‘happening place’ which they can see and touch, they have proof of what ‘their people’ have done over the years… and, you (RHA) made that happen, too. Keep doing it, too!
- Ramon & Doris Cook -

      We are researching the Bartsch family tree, and accidently came across a Bartsch family in Texas.
      Until now we had assummed based on extensive family (name) research that 98% of the Bartsch family in North America came from northern Holland, Germany and the Ukraine. Bartsch is a Mennonite name. My wife is Anne Bartsch, Winkler, Manitoba, Canada. We lived in Hessen for 27 years using our free time for family research, and visited Wurges (near Bad Camberg) on several occasions, not knowing of a Bartsch family name. The Bartsch family name was not located in Hessen in our search of records. (My family is from Darmstadt, Hessen). Jacob Bartsch, my wife’s direct ancestor, led 240 Mennonites from Prussia to the island of Chortiza on the Dnieper River (Ukraine) in 1763, to set up a very prosperous colony following a meeting with Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg, allowing freedom of relgion. That contract was abrogated by Czar Nicholas II in 1898, and the Mennonites left Russia to settle in Kansas, the Dakotas, and western Canada as farmers. The name Mennonites, came from Menno Simon, whose followers were known as Anabaptists, persecuted both by Catholics and Protestants alike during the Reformation. The Anabaptist movement was situated along the Rhein along the Swiss, German and French border, and with persecution moved to a somewhat more tolerant Holland and Northern Germany until forced to flee to Prussia. Their close (religious) cousins, the Amish, eventually came to Pennsylvania, along with the remaining Holland Mennonites. The book (still in print) “Marytr’s Mirror” details the horrific persecutions of the Mennonites during the Reformation. Jacob Bartsch led the first Mennonites to the Island of Chortiza, on the Dnieper River (below Kiev). 240 started, and only 40 remained alive 2 years later. Other Mennonite names: Goertz, Wall, Wieler, Froese, Friesen, Hoeppner. As best I gather, many residents of Rockne, are Catholic. However, there are also Texas Mennonite farmers scattered throughout Central Texas. There may have been a conversion to the Catholic faith by a Bartsch family member. Any assistance in understanding the Bartsch background would be helpful.
- Robert L Schneider MD -
You may reach Dr. Schneider by contacting the Web editor at mhnelson@austin.rr.com

      I am the youngest son of Ernest and Dean Bartsch of Rockne and am currently at college at Louisiana State University. I just recently came across the Pioneer website and just thought I would send an email of thanks. I found so many of the stories of these people inspiring. With all the hardships and tough times in their lives, they survived because of their loving families and strong catholic faith. It really paints a great picture of the people of Rockne and the support of the community. Being only 21 years old and the youngest child and grandchild, I never heard or remember many stories from my grandparents about their childhood in Rockne so it was great to read some here.
      I was speaking to someone earlier tonight about these people and their lives and how it’s such a large contrast to current lifestyles. It seems in our society today, we’re all so worried about our income and personal satisfaction that we constantly strive to make more money and gain a higher status. The people in Rockne’s past all seemed to love life, and the most important things in their lives were their families and faith, how it should be. If more people would look to the simple lives of the past, maybe they too would take a step back and realize the most important things don’t involve money and status. It's very humbling.
      I especially took interest in the story about Fr. Chris and the experience we had in the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. I remember that all too well. I actually was one of the youth chosen to do a reading that day and I remember being a little shaken up after mass from the sudden thunder and lightening that had shut the power off briefly in the church. I remember all of the dozens of visitors who poured in the cathedral during the mass had also noticed what had happened and they were surprised as well. To this day, the people on that trip all speak of what a wonderful and eye opening experience the pilgrimage was for us, and also that Holy experience in the Cathedral of St. Francis.
      I also found interesting the story of the outlaw Albert Kadura. I remember going to Henry’s (store in Rockne) when I was very young with my Aunt Nellene and Uncle Jake Frerich and listened to Lee Lehman telling these stories to me. I had forgotten all the details.
      Well, I better get to bed. I had planned on studying economics all night until I came across this site! Thanks again, and I hope more stories keep being posted. Its great to learn more about the past in Rockne and all the great people who have come through it. I have a few people in mind that I could write about someday and I always tell people here in Louisiana about Rockne and how the next time we make a trip there, I will take them by the museum. I keep a Rockne Book on our coffee table and it’s quite a conversation piece.
Great job on the website!
- Trey Bartsch -

      It was fun reading about the “hog killing days” - so many memories. Would be fun to have another one of those days again, along with all that good fresh hog meat.
      The City of Houston looks a lot cleaner after the Ike debris is finally cleared away. I lost power for two weeks, got my phone service back Oct. 8th and just today, got my internet and cable services back. Yep! I was brave and stayed home through 9 hours of whipping winds and rain. No damages to my home - just an uprooted tree on my corner lot. So much debris (large tree limbs and branches) on my lawn that you could not even see the green lawn. Got it all cleaned up and I’ve even replaced the tree with a new Savannah Holly which is about as tall as the house. Hope to get to live long enough to watch it grow another couple of feet.
      I was surprised to read about Alice Beck’s death. That’s the first I knew of her passing. She was always one of my best pals. She had such a beautiful round smiling countenance!
- Annabel Harris -
Houston

Many or our readers enjoyed the Meuth story. Below are some of their comments.

Marian,
      I was just FASCINATED by this event (Meuth reunion). What a joy it must have been to reunite with your long lost cousins. I have been wanting to do this with my Father’s side of the family and now I am energized again to do this. Thank you for this amazing tribute to your heritage.
- Joan Seidel -
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      Thank you for the news on the Meuth’s. Jim and I enjoyed reading all about them. I have shared it with the rest of the family.
- Jim and Dinah Meuth -
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      This was a great story----thanks for sharing it.
- Cecil Martinez -
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Marian,
      Thanks so very much for sharing this (Meuth Story) with me. It’s always fun to learn more about the Rockne Families. I am not too sure how the Wendland and Wilhelm Family Trees work but one day I would definitely like to research it all - or read what anyone else has done so far. It amazes me. I will look forward to the next newsletter.
Thanks again.
- Amanda Wendland Gravis -
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      Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing!
- Vanessa Burzynski -
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      Great story!
Mona Breeze, Realtor®, GRI
RE/MAX Heart of Texas, Realtors®
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      OUTSTANDING ARTICLE!! Thank you so much for doing such a great job of writing this article. I printed it out and showed several persons at work and they were just amazed at the article.
      Keep up the good work. God Bless.
- Diane Fuerst -
Missouri
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      That is absolutely beautiful, inspiring, and awesome! Thank you for sharing.
- Sandy Stakes -

      This is a picture of the two women that are the most responsible for what the RHA is today. We are very proud of the RHA and we give special thanks to the both of you.
- Daniel Lehman -

Dear Diane,
Dear Relatives,
Dear Meuth Descendants,
      For some years I have been in close contact with the Rockne Historical Association and am regularly reading the online edition of The Pioneer. My hometown Bad Camberg is the central city in the Goldener Grund; Würges, the village where your ancestors are from, is now a part of Bad Camberg. Anni Balthaus is also living here, who greatly contributed to the excellent contacts to the Würges emigrants; I meet her regularly.
      Since Johann Meuth and his wife Sophia Wagner are both relatives of me and most of their ancestors are also my ancestors, I have tried to find out about their descendants in the USA and enter them into my genealogic database in the recent years, too. The RHA, Marian Nelson, Anni Balthaus und the World Wide Web have been a great help at that. However, I had no success with John and Sophia’s youngest son John.
      After reading about your reunion, I can imagine that a list which I collected of Johann’s (John’s) and Sophia’s ancestors may be interesting to you. You will find a printable list as an attachment to this email, and I am also enclosing the list in the Gedcom standard. I hope you will find it helpful. In return I would be glad to get a file with the descendants of your ancestor John (1830-1912) and his nine children.
      I wish you a happy family reunion. Maybe one can read something about the reunion’s course somewhere? I would be happy to help you with further information.
- Franz Peter Martin -
Bad Camberg
Anyone wishing to contact Franz Peter Martin for information may do so through the RHA Website Pioneer Editor.

      Hi Marian. Until today, I had never seen the very kind and well-written story you put together about my dad in the Pioneer. When was this written/published?
Thanks so much.
- Brian Viktorin -

Dear Marian,
      Thanks for the info. and a copy of letter addressed to you from Ernst and Renate Schuber. In our communications after our visit to Würges in 2007, Ernst agreed to further check the church records on the Wolf family. He found information on the brothers of my great great grandfather Johnannes Wolf. Ernst is related to the Wolf family through the daughter of brother Phillipp. I very much appreciate the research Ernst did on this project.
      On your question on more info. on the Wolf binder, I unfortunately do not have anything to add at this time.
- Mitchel Wolf -

Würges, 07/08/2008
Dear Marian,
      Thank you very much for your information about Father Bernhard Goertz and his brother Thomas. I think it’s fine to be able keeping in touch via internet. So it’s become a habit to me to look at the homepage of RHA in order to collect information about what’s going on with you.
      Now, recently I’ve found further relatives of mine, besides the Goertz family, who immigrated to Texas, too. They are the brothers Mitchel and Roger Wolf. Mitchel lives near Houston and Roger lives in Florida. They are relatives of my granny on my father’s side, whereas I’m related to the Goertz family by my grandfather on my mother’s side.
      Roger Wolf, his wife Carole and his brother Mitchel visited Anni Balthaus last year in order to look for their roots. We spent a nice but hot day together in our district and diocesan town of Limburg on the river Lahn and became better acquainted with each other. So there live two different families in Texas now who I have ancestors in common.
      Our priest, Helmut Neumann retired after 19 years of work in our parish. Quite a lot of you got to know him. Whenever a group from Texas visited Würges, Father Neumann said the Sunday mass together with Father Goertz. Father Neumann will move to our diocesan town of Limburg. There he’ll mainly be engaged in doing spiritual welfare at an old people’s home.
      Our new priest is a young man of 33 years. He’ll be introduced in his new parish of Bad Camberg on August 17th.
Love,
- Ernst and Renate -

Hello:
      I am a descendant of Julius Beck and have been doing research for a few months now. I was just wondering if you/anyone knew whether or not Julius Beck (born 1839) and Robert Beck (born 1835) were brothers. I have not found any information that confirms this, but while looking at pictures I found that my father looks more like Reinhold (Robert's son) than Julius Jr. I just figured that they were brothers but wanted to know if anyone knew for sure.
Thank you.
- Martha Waneck Satterwhite -
icfg70@hotmail.com
Editors note:  The Rockne History Book lists them as brothers.

      Thanks for creating the Rockne history site. I visited it just now because of some Fort Worth history I'm researching. Just this past weekend, I learned that Sam Kujawski, who ran a hotel in Fort Worth in the late 19th century, had lived in Bastrop before coming to Fort Worth. I have no idea whether the (obituary) meant Bastrop the town or Bastrop County. Since the Kujawskis were evidently Catholic, I thought perhaps they might have lived in Rockne and been part of the Sacred Heart parish.
      Do you have any information on the Kujawski and Zelichowski families in Bastrop County?
      I'll be glad to share what I know if it turns out there is a Rockne connection.
In appreciation,
- Juliet George -