Frels Family History
Descendants of Captain Wilhelm Frels
Generation No. 1
1. CAPTAIN WILHELM1 FRELS was born 1811 in Germany, and died March 26, 1870 in Frelsburg, Texas. He married LOUISE FRERICHS September 07, 1845 in Frelsburg, Texas. She was born 1820, and died 1859 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas.
Notes for CAPTAIN WILHELM FRELS:
On the 26th day of December, 1912, William Albert Struss, known also as Willie Struss, entered into matrimony with one Miss Jennie Frels, a direct descendant of Captain William Frels, a pioneer German immigrant from the Duchy of Oldenburg who donated the land necessary for the establishment of Frelsburg, Texas in Colorado County.
Wm. Frels sailed over to America on the vessel "Congress" in the year of 1834. After a common stopover in New Orleans for a few days, the vessel continued its voyage until it arrived at the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. Wm. Frels did not immediately settle in Frelsburg, but rather followed the letter that Friederich Ernst had written and was widely publicized to an area north of Frelsburg known as Industry, Texas.
Captain Wm. Frels military career was quite outstanding. He began fighting for TEXAS when he was only 23 years old. In 1835 and 1836, Frels enlisted with a group of men led by Stephen F. Austin to remove the Mexican forces from San Antonio. For his participation in these battles, he was awarded by the Government of Texas 640 acres of land for his services to the Republic.
Wm. Frels donated a portion of his land grants from the Republic of Texazs to an area that would later be named after him. The land he donated was designated for a Lutheran Church, a school, a parsonage, and a cemetery.
Captain Wm. Frels was about 36 years of age before he would marry. In 1845 he married Louisa Frerichs in the Frelsburg Lutheran Church. Capt. Wm. Frels was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg. Even though the church did not have an official beginning until 1855, as early as 1852 in Frelsburg, Capt Frels and his wife had two of their first children baptized. On the sixth day of February 1852 Wilhelmina Frels was baptized and then on the 26th day of January 1854, their son Wilhelm was baptized.
The small town of Frelsburg did not gets its name at the beginning of the residency of Wm. Frels in 1838. It was some fifteen years later before it was called FRELSburg. At first the small German settlement was called Kraewinkel, which in German stands for CROWS NEST. The many German settlers in this area found an abundance of Spanish Moss hanging in many of the surrounding trees of the area. The moss found in the trees had many uses. The moss acted as insulation, it provided coolness in the summertime and warmth in the winter and it was used to make rope and saddleblankets. The moss was also used to feed the cattle during the winter.
Two men were involved as leaders in the community. Wm. Frels donated land where the Trinity Lutherean Church still stands today and Peter Pieper donated land where the Catholic church still stands today. As more settlers had arrived over the course of ten years after the donations of land were made, it was decided that a vote should be taken for a more dignified name for the community. The information in history books reflect that the vote was to be for either Pipersville or Frelsburg. The Lutherans won by only one vote! Frelsburg.
The April 6, 1870 edition of the Colorado County Citizen sums up Wm. Frels Epitaph:
Captain Frels, one of the survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, has died at his home near Frelsburg on the 26th of March, 1870....respected citizen and father of the community for whom it is named.
More About CAPTAIN WILHELM FRELS:
Burial: March 28, 1870, Frelsburg Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
Military service: 1845, Captain at the Battle of San Jacinto
More About LOUISE FRERICHS:
Burial: 1859, Frelsburg Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
More About WILHELM FRELS and LOUISE FRERICHS:
Marriage: September 07, 1845, Frelsburg, Texas
Children of WILHELM FRELS and LOUISE FRERICHS are:
2. i. WILHELMINA2 FRELS, b. February 06, 1852, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas; d. February 25, 1921, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
3. ii. WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT FRELS, b. June 03, 1846, Frelsburg, Texas; d. July 07, 1911.
iii. JOHANN DIETRICH FRELS, b. January 17, 1855.
4. iv. LOUISA 'LOUISE' FRELS, b. February 06, 1857, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas; d. May 26, 1928, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas.
Generation No. 2
2. WILHELMINA2 FRELS (WILHELM1) was born February 06, 1852 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas, and died February 25, 1921 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She married JOSEPH EHLINGER, son of CHARLES EHLINGER and WILHELMINA MUELLER. He was born August 15, 1852 in Live Oak Hill, Fayette County, Texas, and died January 15, 1913 in Ledbetter, Fayette County, Texas.
More About WILHELMINA FRELS:
Baptism: February 06, 1852, Frelsburg Lutheran Church
Children of WILHELMINA FRELS and JOSEPH EHLINGER are:
5. i. JOSEPH OTTO3 EHLINGER, b. August 05, 1890, La Grange, Texas; d. March 29, 1952, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
ii. AMELIA EHLINGER.
iii. ELIZABETH EHLINGER.
iv. RICH EHLINGER.
v. CAROLINE EHLINGER.
3. WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2 FRELS (WILHELM1) was born June 03, 1846 in Frelsburg, Texas, and died July 07, 1911. He married ANNA MARGARETA FRIEDERICKA LEYENDECKER September 07, 1869 in Frelsburg, Texas, daughter of JOHANN LEYENDECKER and JOSEPHINE ZIMMERCHEIDT. She was born January 29, 1849 in Frelsburg, Texas, and died August 06, 1933 in Colorado County, Texas.
More About WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT FRELS:
Baptism: January 26, 1854, Frelsburg Lutheran Church
Burial: July 09, 1911, Zimmerscheidt - Leyendecker Cemetery, Colorado County, Texas
Notes for ANNA MARGARETA FRIEDERICKA LEYENDECKER:
Friedericka Frels final resting place is the Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery between Columbus and Frelsburg, Texas. It is located approximately 7 miles north of Columbus, Texas.
More About ANNA MARGARETA FRIEDERICKA LEYENDECKER:
Burial: August 08, 1933, Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery; Colorado County, Texas
More About WILHELM FRELS and ANNA LEYENDECKER:
Marriage: September 07, 1869, Frelsburg, Texas
Children of WILHELM FRELS and ANNA LEYENDECKER are:
6. i. JENNIE3 FRELS, b. September 25, 1885, Frelsburg, Texas; d. June 01, 1953, Shaws Bend, Colorado County, Texas.
ii. LOUIS ANTON FRELS, b. January 21, 1883; d. August 19, 1884.
Notes for LOUIS ANTON FRELS:
Louis Anton Frels's final resting place is the Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery between Columbus and Frelsburg, Texas. It is located approximately 7 miles north of Columbus, Texas.
More About LOUIS ANTON FRELS:
Burial: August 21, 1884, Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemeter, Colorado County, Texas
iii. ELLA AUGUSTA FRELS, m. THOMAS NUGENT BEMUS.
iv. VICTORIA FRELS, b. June 06, 1879, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas; d. October 29, 1955, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas.
More About VICTORIA FRELS:
Burial: October 31, 1955, Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
v. C.W. FRELS.
vi. RHUBIN FRELS.
vii. NORMA FRELS, b. February 08, 1874, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas; d. March 04, 1941, Columbus, Texas.
More About NORMA FRELS:
Burial: March 06, 1941, Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
4. LOUISA 'LOUISE'2 FRELS (WILHELM1) was born February 06, 1857 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas, and died May 26, 1928 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas. She married AUGUST W. BERNHARD BECKER. He was born September 15, 1851 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas, and died April 12, 1934 in Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas.
More About LOUISA 'LOUISE' FRELS:
Burial: May 28, 1928, Frelsburg Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
More About AUGUST W. BERNHARD BECKER:
Burial: April 14, 1934, Frelsburg Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
Children of LOUISA FRELS and AUGUST BECKER are:
i. THEODORE WILHELM3 BECKER, b. April 23, 1880, Frelsburg, Colorado County, Texas.
More About THEODORE WILHELM BECKER:
Christening: January 11, 1881, Frelsburg Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery
ii. CAROLINA A.W. BECKER, b. May 15, 1879; d. July 10, 1881.
7. iii. ELO AUGUST BECKER, b. November 15, 1888; d. March 15, 1974.
iv. META MARIA BECKER, b. June 01, 1878; d. July 25, 1878.
More About META MARIA BECKER:
Burial: July 27, 1878, Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
Generation No. 3
5. JOSEPH OTTO3 EHLINGER (WILHELMINA2 FRELS, WILHELM1) was born August 05, 1890 in La Grange, Texas, and died March 29, 1952 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. He married CORNELIA LOUISE PAGEL. She was born January 20, 1891 in Fayettville, Fayette County, Texas, and died 1973 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.
Child of JOSEPH EHLINGER and CORNELIA PAGEL is:
i. DORIS4 EHLINGER.
6. JENNIE3 FRELS (WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born September 25, 1885 in Frelsburg, Texas, and died June 01, 1953 in Shaws Bend, Colorado County, Texas. She married WILLIAM ALBERT STRUSS December 26, 1912 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Frelsburg, Texas, son of WILHELM STRUSS and JULIA LILIE. He was born October 11, 1888 in Shaws Bend Colorado Riverbottom, Near Columbus, Texas, and died November 26, 1964 in El Campo, Texas.
Notes for JENNIE FRELS:
Last rites were held for Jennie Frels Struss on a Tuesday afternoon who died at the age of 67 years in her home on Monday morning after having been in ill health for some time. The Reverend G. Wolf officiated and burial was in the Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery.
Jennie had spent her entire life in Colorado County, Texas. She was born Jennie Frels September 25, 1885, the daughter of William G. and Margaretha Leyendecker at Frelsburg, a community which bore her family name.
She was a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church and a past president of the Lutheran Ladies' Aid; a member of the Columbus Study Club which organization she served as president from 1934 to 1936; an active member of the Columbus Garden Club; member of the Eastern Star; member of the Sam Houston State Teachers College Ex-Students Association; and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy having been recording secretary of the local chapter.
Pallbearers were her four son-in-laws, V.H. Ueckert, Lloyd Barrow, Walter Presley, and Robert Schiller and two nephews, Leon Huebel of Houston, Texas and John Huebel of Lake Jackson.
More About JENNIE FRELS:
Burial: June 03, 1953, Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus, Texas
More About WILLIAM ALBERT STRUSS:
Burial: November 28, 1964, Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Columbus, Texas
More About WILLIAM STRUSS and JENNIE FRELS:
Marriage: December 26, 1912, Trinity Lutheran Church, Frelsburg, Texas
Children of JENNIE FRELS and WILLIAM STRUSS are:
8. i. RUBY ANNA4 STRUSS, b. November 18, 1918, Shaws Bend, Texas.
9. ii. ROSANNA ELIZABETH STRUSS, b. August 16, 1924, Columbus, Texas.
10. iii. ROBERTA CLARA 'BEEPSIE' STRUSS, b. January 15, 1921, Shaws Bend, Texas.
iv. NORMA STRUSS, b. Shaws Bend, Texas.
7. ELO AUGUST3 BECKER (LOUISA 'LOUISE'2 FRELS, WILHELM1) was born November 15, 1888, and died March 15, 1974. He married EMMA JOHANNA BAUER February 07, 1918 in Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg, Texas, daughter of GEORGE BAUER and SOPHIA DIETERICH. She was born February 21, 1893, and died July 21, 1982.
Notes for ELO AUGUST BECKER:
Veteran of World War I.
More About ELO AUGUST BECKER:
Burial: March 17, 1974, Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
More About ELO BECKER and EMMA BAUER:
Marriage: February 07, 1918, Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg, Texas
Child of ELO BECKER and EMMA BAUER is:
i. RUBEN A.4 BECKER, b. November 12, 1920; d. June 04, 1940.
More About RUBEN A. BECKER:
Burial: June 06, 1940, Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery, Frelsburg, Texas
Generation No. 4
8. RUBY ANNA4 STRUSS (JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born November 18, 1918 in Shaws Bend, Texas. She married ROBERT EDWIN SCHILLER, JR. March 16, 1941 in Columbus, Texas. He was born July 17, 1918 in Wichita Falls, Texas.
More About ROBERT SCHILLER and RUBY STRUSS:
Marriage: March 16, 1941, Columbus, Texas
Children of RUBY STRUSS and ROBERT SCHILLER are:
11. i. ROBERTA ANN5 SCHILLER, b. September 19, 1943, Providence, Rhode Island.
12. ii. REBECCA SCHILLER, b. October 12, 1946, Columbus, Texas.
13. iii. ROBERT JOHN SCHILLER, b. February 06, 1950, Bryan-College Station, Texas.
iv. RICHARD CARL SCHILLER, b. September 29, 1954, Bryan-College Station, Texas.
9. ROSANNA ELIZABETH4 STRUSS (JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born August 16, 1924 in Columbus, Texas. She married VERDES HARDING UECKERT August 16, 1944, son of EDWIN UECKERT and TONIE ZAJICEK. He was born October 17, 1921 in Bellville, Austin County, Texas.
More About VERDES HARDING UECKERT:
Degree: 1942, Texas A&M University in Veterinary Medicine
Military service: Bet. 1941 - 1944, United States Naval Corps
More About VERDES UECKERT and ROSANNA STRUSS:
Marriage: August 16, 1944
Children of ROSANNA STRUSS and VERDES UECKERT are:
14. i. WILLIAM P.5 UECKERT, b. March 19, 1949, Bryan, Texas.
ii. DOUGLAS UECKERT, b. August 24, 1954, Las Vegas, Nevada; d. May 13, 1985, Las Vegas, Nevada; m. DIANA SMITH, August 20, 1983.
More About DOUGLAS UECKERT:
Degree: University of Nevada in Reno, Nevada
More About DOUGLAS UECKERT and DIANA SMITH:
Marriage: August 20, 1983
iii. EDWIN J. UECKERT, b. August 27, 1958, Phoenix, Arizona.
More About EDWIN J. UECKERT:
Degree: BS in Criminal Justice at University of Nevada
10. ROBERTA CLARA 'BEEPSIE'4 STRUSS (JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born January 15, 1921 in Shaws Bend, Texas. She married DR. WALTER DUSON PRESLEY October 21, 1944 in Lutheran Church in Columbus, Texas, son of JOHN PRESLEY and NELLIE HICKS. He was born August 16, 1915 in El Campo, Texas.
More About WALTER PRESLEY and ROBERTA STRUSS:
Marriage: October 21, 1944, Lutheran Church in Columbus, Texas
Children of ROBERTA STRUSS and WALTER PRESLEY are:
15. i. JENNIFER 'JENNIE' LYNN5 PRESLEY, b. July 20, 1946, McAlaster, Oklahoma.
16. ii. KATHLEEN PRESLEY, b. June 20, 1949, El Campo, Texas.
Generation No. 5
11. ROBERTA ANN5 SCHILLER (RUBY ANNA4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born September 19, 1943 in Providence, Rhode Island. She married (1) JAMES W. CRAIG, JR.. She married (2) JOHN HOWARD THAMES December 22, 1985 in Kingwood, Texas.
More About ROBERTA ANN SCHILLER:
Christening: Construction Battalion Center Chapel in Davisville, Rhode Island
More About JOHN THAMES and ROBERTA SCHILLER:
Marriage: December 22, 1985, Kingwood, Texas
Children of ROBERTA SCHILLER and JAMES CRAIG are:
i. JENNIFER LYNN6 CRAIG, b. October 17, 1968, Bryan-College Station, Texas.
ii. JAMES ROBERT CRAIG, b. June 28, 1973, Bryan-College Station, Texas.
12. REBECCA5 SCHILLER (RUBY ANNA4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born October 12, 1946 in Columbus, Texas. She married MR. ENLOE.
More About REBECCA SCHILLER:
Christening: First Presbyterian Church in Bryan-College Station, Texas
Children of REBECCA SCHILLER and MR. ENLOE are:
i. J. CARROLL6 ENLOE, b. April 15, 1966.
ii. JOHN D. ENLOE, b. December 13, 1967.
iii. ELIZABETH ANNETTE ENLOE, b. January 18, 1969.
13. ROBERT JOHN5 SCHILLER (RUBY ANNA4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born February 06, 1950 in Bryan-College Station, Texas. He married DONNA SUE SEALY. She was born in Abilene, Texas.
Child of ROBERT SCHILLER and DONNA SEALY is:
i. ROBERT DON6 SCHILLER, b. August 08, 1986.
14. WILLIAM P.5 UECKERT (ROSANNA ELIZABETH4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born March 19, 1949 in Bryan, Texas. He married LINDA CHRISTY.
Child of WILLIAM UECKERT and LINDA CHRISTY is:
i. W. PAUL6 UECKERT, b. September 16, 1979.
15. JENNIFER 'JENNIE' LYNN5 PRESLEY (ROBERTA CLARA 'BEEPSIE'4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born July 20, 1946 in McAlaster, Oklahoma. She married JACK EDGAR REED March 19, 1966 in Presbyterian Church in El Campo, Texas. He was born April 06, 1941 in El Campo, Texas.
More About JACK REED and JENNIFER PRESLEY:
Marriage: March 19, 1966, Presbyterian Church in El Campo, Texas
Children of JENNIFER PRESLEY and JACK REED are:
i. JOHN CLAYTON6 REED, b. June 28, 1968, El Campo, Texas.
ii. MELISSA DIANE REED, b. February 25, 1970, El Campo, Texas.
16. KATHLEEN5 PRESLEY (ROBERTA CLARA 'BEEPSIE'4 STRUSS, JENNIE3 FRELS, WILHELM 'WM.' GERHARDT2, WILHELM1) was born June 20, 1949 in El Campo, Texas. She married (1) PAUL JOHN BRODSGAARD. She married (2) THOMAS NOLAN POTTER. He was born June 20, 1949 in Dallas, Texas.
Children of KATHLEEN PRESLEY and PAUL BRODSGAARD are:
i. DEENA6 BRODSGAARD, b. December 26, 1968, El Campo, Texas.
ii. SAM PRESLEY BRODSGAARD, b. October 10, 1972, Wharton, Texas.