Person:Johann Klingelhoefer (2)

written by Tammy Hensel, gggg-granddaughter, on 11/29/2011

Johann Jost Klingelhoefer grew up in Eiershausen, Hessen-Nassau, Preußen, Germany. He was educated as a surveyor at Schmalkalden and Dresden. In 1828 he married Maria Elizabeth Weil in Eibelshausen, where the couple then made their home. They had 7 children. (See family page for offspring) She died in 1840 and Johann remarried in 1842 to Elizabeth Heiland. (See family page for list of offspring)

On 24 September 1845, the family sailed from Bremen Germany on the ship Brig Johann Dethardt as part of the German immigration to Texas sponsored by the Adelsverein, (aka Mainzer Verein, Texas-Verein, or German Emigration Company). They were listed on the ship's manifest as follows: Klingelhoefer, Johann Just, Elise nee Heiland, August, Louise, Henriette, Elise, Wilhelmine. Twin infants were born and died during the voyage. Wilhelmine either died on shipboard or soon after their arrival in Galveston, Texas in December. (Pioneers in God's Hills incorrectly lists the family's arrival as 1846 in Indianola.)

After disembarking in Galveston, the family went to New Braunfels, and then settled in Fredericksburg, Gillespie county in the spring of 1847. Klingelhoefer, John Josh was listed as owner of lot 271 in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas. The house, which is the oldest residence in Fredericksburg, still stands today and is owned by a Klingelhoefer descendant. T.U. Taylor in his article "Heroines of the Hlls" published in The Frontier Times in January 1941 described the house: "On the northeast corner of the left side of the road to Harper, on the main street, the traveler will notice a low-setting house with a huge grapevine twining along the eaves of the front porch. This is the spot where the Klingelhofers located ninety-four years ago, and here their children and grandchildren were born. . . The rooms, about sixteen feet square, were built of logs, accurately notched to the corner and fitted into the log below. . . all the braces were cut out of native timber with the broadaxe, and were fitted to the joints and to the plates by the sturdy workmen. This house will rival any in the state for housing one family for ninety-four years." The article goes on to give enchanting detail after detail about this historic home.

In the 1850 U.S. Census the family listed in Gillespie county as: John Klingelhoefer, age 50, occupation laborer, birthplace Germany; Elizabeth Klingelhoefer, age 39, birthplace Germany; Elizabeth Klingelhoefer, age17, birthplace, Germany; Henrietta Klingelhoefer, age 10, F, Germany; Julius Klingelhoefer, age 1, birthplace Texas. (No mention of August or Louisa. Wilhelmine died on ship or shortly after arrival. See family page)

In 1850, Johann ran for Chief Justice of Gillespie County and won, but was then disqualified because not U.S. citizen. His citizenship was granted 11 November 1850. He ran for the office again in 1851 and was elected. During his administration, work began on the first Gillespie County Courthouse. He also served as Justice of the Peace in 1852 and from 1856-1861.1852

The 1860 U.S. Census listing for family included: Klingelhaufer, John, age 57, occupation, Justice of the Peace, birthplace Nassau, Ger.; Elizabeth, age 50, birthplace, Nassau, Ger.; Julius, age 11, birthplace, Texas; William age 7, birthplace Texas Hitzfeld, Louise, age 7, birthplace Texas.

1.   The Handbook of Texas History Online - Klingelhoefer, Johann Jost. (Texas State Historical Association).
2.   Descendants of Johann Jost KLINGELHOEFER.
3.   Galveston Historical Foundation Database. Immigration Details:Johann Jost Klingelhoefer family.
4.   1850 Gillespie County Census.
5.   Klingelhöfer Family Association. Genealogy of the Klingelhöfer family in Eibelshausen and surrounding areas.
6.   Index to Naturalization Records of Gillespie County, Texas.
7.   Wanda Qualls. Wanda Qualls Genealogy Page.
8.   Pioneers in God's hills: a history of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County people and events. (Austin, Texas: Von Boeckmann-Jones, c1960 ; Fredericksburg, Tx. : Gillespie County Historical Society, c1974).
9.   T.U. Taylor. Heroines of the Hills. (The Frontier Times).