Paul Machemehl

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Paul Machemehl (June 22, 1845 – January 22, 1932) was a prominent leader among the German Texans in the Central Texas community of Bellville, (Austin County).

1 German Texans and the Civil War Years
2 Passage to Mexico
3 Hermine Brune
4 Louis A. Machemehl
5 Links

[edit] German Texans and the Civil War Years

By the early 1860's a number of German Texans came to believe that the Confederate fight was immoral and decided to move their families to Mexico. Paul Machemehl is known for his participation in the passage to Mexico which numerous German Texans endured during the American Civil War [1] [2]. Many Central Texas Germans rode to Mexico. All of these individuals met hardship and many were killed at the Nueces Massacre which set a fearful example to others German Texans trying to ride to Mexico.

[edit] Passage to Mexico

Many individuals from Central Texas joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico, hoping to return to Texas after the American Civil War had ended.

Documents located at the Eula and David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake, Texas report that:

"Many Germans did not believe this was their fight and many joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico to sit out the war before returning... On Paul Machemehl's return from Mexico, it was around 1868 that Paul began his courtship with Hermina Brune in Colorado County, Texas." [3].

[edit] Hermine Brune

On January 8, 1881 Paul Machemehl married Hermine Brune. The marriage was performed by Colorado County Judge, Charles Riley [4]. Mrs. Hermine Brune Machemehl died on December 18, 1936 and was laid to rest in Austin County [5].

[edit] Louis A. Machemehl

Paul Machemehl's son was Louis A. Machemehl (1881-1952), a prominent rancher and civic leader in Austin County. Louis A. Machemehl's homestead is a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission [6]. The family residence was designed by prominent Houston architect Alfred C. Finn [7]. It was built in 1920 for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl (d. 1949), and their five children. The house was a center of social activity for the Central Texas community of Bellville. The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953.