Charles W. Machemehl
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Charles W. Machemehl (1922-2005), a German Texan civic leader from Bellville, Texas, was a rancher, businessman, oilman, and director of Washington-on-the-Brazos. In his youth he was a member of General Matthew B. Ridgeway’s staff in the 1st Allied Airborne Army. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
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[edit] Belville Native
A direct decendant of Michael Machemehl, Charles W. Machemehl was born in the German Texan community of Bellville in 1922 and raised in the Machemehl Family House. [6] [7]
[edit] Military History
In his youth Charles W. Machemehl was a member of General Matthew B. Ridgeway’s staff in the 1st Allied Airborne Army. Mr. Machemehl participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. His unit linked up with the Russian army at the Elbe River, the same river valley which his family had left a century before. [8] [9] [10]
Mr. Machemehl received several medals for gallantry in combat including two bronze stars and a silver star. [11].
[edit] German-Texan Heritage
Mr. Machemehl is the son of Louis A. Machemehl [12], a prominent Central Texas leader in the German-Texan community of Bellville, Texas. [13] Mr. Machemehl is also the grandson of Paul Machemehl and great-grandson of John Machemehl, both German Forty-Eighters, who led their German companions from Annaberg, Saxony, to an area near the present day town of Bellville, Texas. [14] [15] [16] A Bellville native, Charles W. Machemehl grew up in the Central Texas German milieu, and within this community he became an immportant leader and businessmen. [17] [18]
[edit] Life in the Machemehl Family House
Mr. Machemehl grew up in the newly built Machemehl Family House, a one and one-half story house built in Airplane-Bungalow style. The Machemehl Family House is a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission [19]. Prominent Houston architect Alfred C. Finn designed the family residence. [20]. The house built for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl, and their five children. It was this center of social activity for the Central Texas community of Bellville in which Charles W. Machemehl lived. The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953. [21]
[edit] Texas Leadership
Aside from being a rancher and businessman, Charles W. Machemehl was also a Texas civic leader. [22]
Mr. Machemehl provided leadership as a director for the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Association and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. [23]
Mr. Machemehl was also a member of the boards of the Soil Conservation Service, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association. [24]
[edit] Notable Decendents
Mr. Machemehl’s son, Chuck Machemehl, also a Central Texas rancher, was a Cleveland Indians pitcher during 1971 [25].
