MECHLER PAGES

This Mechler family relocated to the San Antonio, Texas area in 1847-50 from Alsace Lorraine, through the immigration efforts of Henry Castro. Most of them settled in what is now the Castroville, Texas (Medina County) area....including La Coste, Rio Medina and Hondo. This genealogy concentrated on the JOHN MEINRAD MECHLER Family History, and contains incomplete data on siblings, cousins and other extended family. It is also interegrated with the ECHTLE Family Pages. (Most of the information on these pages are the results of work done by KATHERINE MECHLER CZAJA and PAUL ECHTLE, and my sincere thanks go to them.)

THE BEGINING

FRANCIS JOSEPH MECHLER (1797-1870) arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 4, 1850 at age 53. With him was his wife, MARIA ANN MURRE (1798-1872), and his children, AUGUSTIN MECHLER (12/12/1826-1902) , MARIE ANN MECHLER (1822-1859), FRANCIS II (1825-1875), JACQUES (1829-1855), AND RICHARD (1832-1901). Two other Mechler children died in infancy and are buried in Alsace.

In the Spring of 1851, AGATHA TRAWALTER MANN (1807-1889) arrived in New Orleans, Louisianna with eight of her children. The widow of BARTHOLOMEW MANN (1800-1847). One of the eight children, EMERENTIA (Also spelled Amarantiana), age 19, married AUGUSTIN MECHLER, on April 5, 1853 in Castroville, TX, and eight children were born to the union.

1 Augestin Mechler b: December 12, 1826 in Alsace, France d: 1902 in Castroville, Medina Co. TX
. +Emerencia Mann b: August 30, 1828 in Alsace, France d: May 12, 1912 in Castroville, Medina Co. TX m: April 05, 1853 in Castroville, Medina Co. TX Father: Bartholomew Mann Mother: Agatha Trawalter
... 2 Theresa Mechler
....... +Joe Naegelin
... 2 Mary Mechler
....... +Joe Mehr
... 2 Joseph Mechler b: 1858
....... +Agatha Hoffmann
... 2 Emil Mechler b: 1860
....... +Mathilda Biediger
... 2 Andres Mechler b: 1861
....... +Mary Tondre
... 2 Louis Mechler b: 1863
....... +Theresa Etter
... 2 Valentine Mechler b: 1865
....... +Anna Mann
... 2 John Meinrad Mechler b: February 02, 1868 in Noonan Ranch, West of Castroville d: February 09, 1957
....... +Katie Biediger b: August 03, 1873 d: February 05, 1958 m: October 18, 1892 Father: Jacob Biediger Mother: Mary Halty (see below).

THE BIEDIGER'S

JOHN BIEDIGER and his wife AGATHA MARTINI arrived in the United States in 1845. With them were their four children, including JACOB BIEDIGER, age 10. Four more children were born to the Biedigers after they settled in the Castroville, TX area.

JOSEPH HALTY (2/6/1804-10/10/1878) (also HALDY or HALDI) and his wife KATHERINA HALLER (3/18/1807-3/13/1849) arrived in the United States from Switzerland in the Spring of 1847, with their daughter, MARY HALTY (8/12/1843-7/27/1906) and a son, JOSEPH HALTY, who was born enroute to Castroville, TX.

MARY HALTY married JACOB BIEDIGER in 1865, and had seven children, KATIE BIEDIGER was the third daughter (fourth child) born August 3, 1873.

Katie Biediger and John Mienrad Mechler had six children:

1 Katie Biediger b: August 03, 1873 d: February 05, 1958
. +John Meinrad Mechler b: February 02, 1868 in Noonan Ranch, West of Castroville d: February 09, 1957 m: October 18, 1892 Father: Augestin Mechler Mother: Emerencia Mann
... 2 John Henry Mechler b: September 08, 1893 d: 1989
....... +Josephine Zinsmeyer b: March 10, 1893 d: 1989 m: April 15, 1913 Father: Emil Zinsmeyer Mother: Mary Magdelen Echtle
... 2 Robert William Mechler b: September 09, 1896 d: August 23, 1979
....... +Laura Mangold b: October 13, 1900 d: March 01, 1986 Father: Mother:
... 2 Arthur John Mechler b: September 16, 1901 d: October 10, 1966
....... +Emma Matilda Riff b: December 09, 1905 m: November 12, 1924 Father: Mother:
... 2 Edward Oscar Mechler b: October 14, 1904 in Bexar Co TX d: April 16, 1995 in Bexar Co TX, Bur. Our Lady of Grace Cem. La Coste, TX
....... +Kathleen Mary Magdalen Keller b: March 26, 1915 in BexarCO TX m: April 18, 1933 in Our Lady Of Grace RCC, La Coste. TX Father: Henry William Keller Mother: Elizabeth Carolyn Zinsmeyer
... 2 Katherine Mechler b: April 19, 1907 d: 1993
....... +Edwin Grossenbacher Father: Mother:
... 2 Elmer Alois Mechler b: June 21, 1910 in La Coste TX d: December 21, 1982 in La Coste TX
....... +Clementine Elizabeth Keller b: October 26, 1916 m: July 15, 1936 Father: Henry William Keller Mother: Elizabeth Carolyn Zinsmeyer