The Menzel Family Reunion is a gathering of the descendants of Johann Karl Ernst Menzel. He was born April 1, 1825 in Schriebersdorf, near Lauben, Kingdom of Prussia. (Schriebersdorf is now named Pisarzowice, near Luban, in Poland.) Johann Karl Ernst Menzel was born to Johann Gottfried Menzel and his wife Anna Rosina Kretchmar. Johann Gottfried was a shepherd and cottager in lower Schreibersdorf n
ear Lauben, Kingdom of Prussian. Johann Gottfried Menzel and Anna Rosina Krechtmar Menzel had 10 children. Johann Karl Ernst Menzel was baptized April 5, 1825, as recorded in the Ev. Lutheran Church in Groditz, Kingdom of Saxony. After eight years of school education, he was confirmed at the age of 14. At the age of 20, he joined the army and served 3 full years at Koenigreich, Preuszen. After his service, Johann moved back to Sachsen and continued his service to his superior. At age 32, he was working in banking or bookkeeping in Zoblitz. He married 20 year old Johanne Christiane Gross on July 20, 1857. Johanne Christiane Gross was born July 14, 1837 in Weicha, Sachsen, Germany, and baptized on July 18, 1837 at the Ev. Lutheran Church in Groditz, Germany. She is the daughter of Johann Gross, born October 5, 1800 in Weicha, and Gertrude (Hertha) Lowke, born July 16, 1800 in Nechem. They owned a small mill between Weicha and Wuischke. They had two sons and four daughters. On April 20, 1859, Johann Karl Ernst Menzel and his young wife, expecting a child, departed from the port of Bremen with her parents and her sister Agnes. They sailed on the vessel IRIS with captain Deetjen. Three days later, Christiane delivered a girl whom they named Iris, but she only lived one day. The voyage lasted 44 days, with IRIS arriving in Galveston, Texas on June 5, 1859 with 89 passengers and a load of assorted goods for merchants. In April 1860 Johann Karl Ernst and Christiane paid $921 for 133 acres of land at Knobbs Branch near Serbin, Texas. This is where they settled down and became farmers. Johann became a citizen of the United States on December 30, 1865. Christiane's life was cut short on August 22, 1866, at the age of 29, from fever and pregnancy complications. The funeral was held the following day at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin, Texas. She was laid to rest in the Serbin Cemetery. She left a widower and three children; their oldest son Herman Otto followed her in death on March 12, 1867. On May 7, 1867, Johann Karl Ernst Menzel married for the second time to Louise Amalia Simmank in a ceremony performed by the Rev. Hearms. Louise was born in Carlsbrunn, Kingdom of Saxony on December 12, 1844 and baptized on the 15th at the Ev. Lutheran Church in Kittlitz. Her parents, Carl August Simmank and Anna Magdalena (Roessler) were cottage owners. They emigrated from Carlsbrunn, with their 4 children and the original Wendish Lutherans. The voyage was made in the fall of 1854 on the BEN NEVIS, a three-decked Australian packet ship. They arrived December 14, 1854 at Galveston, Texas with approximately 500 passengers. The Simmank family settled on 138 acres on Cummins Creek near Fayetteville and became farmers. The family of Johann Karl Ernst included 9 children of which 2 died at a young age. Johann Karl Ernst Menzel died August 12, 1920 at the age of 95. Louise Amalia Simmank Menzel died three years later on April 4, 1923 at the age of 78 years. They are buried next to each other in the Serbin Cemetery.
~Story by Donald W. Pratho
Children of Johann Karl Ernst Menzel and Johanne Christiane Gross Menzel:
Iris Menzel
Marie Theresia Menzel Niemtschk Weiser
Hermann Otto Menzel
Ernst Hermann Menzel
Children of Johann Karl Ernst Menzel and Louise Amalia Simmank Menzel:
Emil Gustav Menzel
Emma Paulina Menzel
Maria Bertha Menzel Weiser
Johann Karl August Menzel
Anna Maria Clara Menzel Weiser
Johann Bernhard Otto Menzel
Ernst Paul Gerhard Menzel
Selma Therese Menzel Mitschke
Paul Bernhard Menzel
