After Popo passed away, I was able to locate and gather his decades worth of photographs and research of the early pioneer families of Winedale. I inventoried, digitized, and archived hundreds of documents and made some fantastic discoveries along the way. The Clayton Public Library and Washington County Genealogical Society helped in expanding upon …
Author: George Z.
Secretary of the Jaeger Witte Heritage Cemetery Association.
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Alone
Johann Albert Naegeli and Frances Witte Franciska Witte was the second out of nine children born to Victor and Anna Marie Witte. She was born on April 28, 1864 and grew up in Washington County. She married Johann Albert Naegeli on December 22, 1881 at the age of 17. Johann was born on April 24, …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Labor
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Labor Elsie (Naegeli) Dittrich was the daughter of Johann Albert and Francisca (Witte) Naegeli. She was born on March 6, 1891 and was married to Karl Otto Heinrich Dittrich on September 30, 1913. The Brenham Weekly Banner describes the wedding as a beautiful affair that was attended by an abundance …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Gratitude
Gratitude If you want to see an example of gratitude, look at a dog. You give them food and shelter and they thank you with love and loyalty. Dogs are everywhere on farms and ranches. Any farmer knows the importance of having a good dog. But they serve a much greater purpose than just being …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Close to Home
There is a place that all Jaegers of a certain generation remember well. Warmth, holidays, loose tiles, Popo and Granny, flowers, dogs, and family. Those are just a few of the things I think of when I remember the house at 5900 Jaeger Rd. Some of the cousins had the opportunity to live there long …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Scary Stuff
Aunt Jeanette, known as Katza to many, shares a spooky story of walking home in the dark. https://youtu.be/-KTS4GL3vJ0
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Back to School
The Winedale School, taken sometime between 1907 and 1914 Research of the Winedale School building, presently located at the Winedale Historical Complex in Round Top, Texas, brings us back to three of the original pioneer families who settled in the Winedale community. They are the John Burkhardt family, brothers Heinrich and Martin Mayer, and the …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Benno and Louise
Benno and siblings Herbert, Marvin, Elmeda, and Henry Benno Jaeger was born on August 30, 1899 to Henry and Alvina Jaeger. He was the fourth child out of nine (two died in infancy). Benno, called Bennie by most of the family, grew up on …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Fire
Irvin Lloyd Jaeger was born on April 24, 1930. He was called “Sonny” or “Sonny Boy” by his loved ones and was the only son of Benno and Louise Jaeger. He grew up with his sisters Dorothy and Dorris Pearl (“Mipsie” and “Sweety Pie”) on the Steffen farm in Needville, Texas. Sonny attended school up …
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Land
Close your eyes and think of the word "land." What do you see? Maybe it's a forest you've walked through. Or maybe you see a vast field of corn. You might even picture an image from Google Earth! When I pause and think of land, I am brought back to my grandparent's farm in Burton, …