|
2009 HOLZ-KOEPKE FAMILY REUNION
|
The 2009 Holz-Koepke Reunion will be held on Saturday, May 2nd
at St. John's Hall in St. John, TX
( Map to St. John's )
A BBQ Chicken & Sausage lunch will be served at 12:00 Noon.
Please bring a side dish or a dessert.
There is now a Favorite Family Recipe section on the website!
Please bring a copy of the recipe for the dish you bring to the reunion
along with any others you would like to share with our families.
Come early and stay late!
There will be another "Live" Auction as well as a "Silent" Auction for smaller items. Please donate if you can.
There will also be games for everyone
to enjoy, including Bingo, with prizes for the winners!
We will have a pinata for the kids to enjoy as well!
SO JOIN US FOR A DAY SPENT WITH FAMILY...
With Lots of Memories to Create, People to Love, and Happiness to Share!
Sure Hope to See You there! ~ Sandra ~
|
The Hermann Koepke family received a
Great Big "Welcome Back to Texas" !
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Many of the Texan Holz-Koepke family members came out to visit with the
Hermann Koepke family from Kyritz, Germany at the Swiss Alp Farm Bureau Hall in Swiss Alp, TX,
where Hermann, Christine, Viviana, and Florian were greeted Texas Style!
(Click photo to see the full-size image)
Hermann is the grandson of Carl Koepke.
Christine is his wife.
Viviana and Florian are their children.
|
The day was filled with great food, great stories, music, dancing, and laughter!
A wonderful pot luck meal was served, after which the guests of honor spent time visiting with each of their Texas cousins, listening to stories (some in German) from the old days, and sharing stories of what they do in Germany as well as comparing how life in Germany differs from life in the United States.
They played a German CD for us and Christine & Florian showed off their dancing skills to one of the polkas. We weren't able to talk Florian into singing for us in person, but he did let us listen to a recording that he made for friends and family in Germany. Some of the songs he sang were in English and some were in German.
Finally it was time to say goodbye. After lots of hugs all around, they left us, saying they'd be back again in 2 years. So if you missed out on all the fun, you might still get a chance to meet them the next time they come to visit.
Hermann, Christine, Viviana, and Florian - You are truly wonderful people and it was a great joy to spend time getting to know you! We all hope you had as much fun as we did and have a safe journey back to Germany!
|
|
(Click photo to see the full-size image)
|
SOME FAMILY HISTORYWilhelm Carl Christian Friedrich Koepke was born in Tischendorf,
Mecklenberg, Strelitz, Germany on June 14, 1840. In 1867, in Loitz, Germany, Wilhelm married Friedericke "Maria" Dorothea Toll, who was
born in Tischendorf, Macklenberg, Strelitz, Germany on June 14, 1843.
Wilhelm and Maria moved frequently,
as the birthplaces of their children indicate, but they stayed in Rehberg for several years before emigrating
to Texas in 1896.
Maria's children before she married Wilhelm Koepke were -
- Carl Ludwig Christian Toll (1863-1863), born in Loitz.
- Wilhelm Toll (June 24, 1866 - March 30, 1952), born in Loitz.
Married Maria Gau.
The children of Wilhelm and Maria Koepke -
- Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Koepke (1869-?), born in Cantnitz.
Married Emilie Adolphine Karoline Kock
- Friedrich Carl Johann Koepke (1871-?), born in Loitz.
- Albert Friedrich Christian Koepke (1873-1945), born in Quadenschoenfeld.
Married Friedericke Christiane Witt in 1894.
- Auguste Wilhelmine Johanne Koepke (1875-1950), born in Dewitz.
Married Paul Carl William Holz (1871-1935).
- August Carl Friedrich Koepke (1878-1941), born in Dewitz.
Married Clara Citzler (1882-1925) on Dec 26, 1915.
- Wilhelmine Auguste Friedericke Koepke (1880-1899), born in Quadenschoenfeld.
Married Herbert Niemeyer.
- Heinrich (Henry) Johann Friedrich Koepke (1883-1960), born in Quadenschoenfeld.
Married Louisa Kiesling (1876-1933).
- Theodor Karl Friedrich (Louis) Koepke (1885-1952), born in Quadenschoenfeld.
Married Louisa Mohrhusen (1883-?)
Quadenschoenfeld is about 6 miles west of Rehberg, and Dewitz is about 6 miles northwest.
In October of 1896, Wilhelm and Maria, together with their five youngest children
(now aged 11 to 21), boarded the ship POLARIA at Hamburg bound for America. They arrived at
Galveston, Texas, on November 22 after a voyage of about four weeks. Upon arrival, Wilhelm had
$25.00 in his pocket. Carl, Friedrich, and Albert remained in Germany. Wilhelm Toll had already
come to Texas in 1893. It is fairly certain that it was at his suggestion that the rest of the
family followed, because he paid the fare for the family.
The family settled in Fayette County at the Trinity Hill community just west of La Grange.
Less than four years later, Maria died on September 27, 1900, at the age of 57. She is buried in
the Trinity Hill cemetery. Wilhelm later moved in with William & Marie Toll in Giddings and then
with his son, Henry, and Henry's wife, Louise, at Trinity Hill, staying some time with each one. Wilhelm
finally made his home with his daughter, Auguste (Oma) Holz, and her husband, Paul, at the O'Quinn community southwest of
La Grange. There he died on July 16, 1928, at the age of 88. He, too, is buried
in the Trinity Hill cemetery.
|
| |
* * Information on the next generations will be added soon. * *
|
|
|
