From First 100 Years Nolan County Texas, page 310, published 1985 by the Nolan County Genealogical Society (no longer in print, but transcribed with permission):

OHLENBUSCH FAMLY

Herman and Emma (Mueller) Ohlenbusch arrived in Nolan County, Texas, on November 1, 1906. With three sons (Henry, Frederick and Ernest) all under five years of age, they came by covered wagon from Karnes County, Texas. They bought a farm west of Roscoe where they lived until 1911. Their first daughter, Alma, was born in 1908, and in 1910, they were blessed with another son, Albert.

Herman Ohlenbusch was the oldest of five children of Henry and Anna Ohlenbusch. Emma was the oldest of ten children of Henry and Kunnigunda Mueller. Traditionally, in German families, the eldest children are given much responsibility for the younger ones. Consequently, Herman's sister Anna and her husband Henry Coldewey also came to Roscoe. Emma's brother, Ben Mueller, followed them, and two of Emma's sisters, Annie (Mrs. August Henrich) and Bertha (Mrs. Arno Rannefeld), were influenced to settle in the Roscoe area.

Their home was about four miles from Brownlee School where Herman was a trustee. When the schoolhouse was relocated two miles farther west, it became a serious problem for the little fellows to walk to and from school. The family bought a farm a mile south of Loraine in 1911. Three more daughters, Lena, Hilda and Louise, were born there. The family lived at Loraine until seven of their eight children had graduated from high school and the youngest only had two more years. Those last two years were completed in Goldthwaite, Texas. Education and their Lutheran religion were most important.

Emma was skilled in the art of homemaking, cooking, sewing, crocheting, gardening, canning, making bread, and even making lye soap as part of her every-day life. Her four sons and four daughters were her pride and joy.

Herman was a man of many talents. He did his own blacksmithing, sharpening tools, making horseshoes, harnesses, etc. as needed. No piece of wood, leather, iron or steel was thrown away, for he could refashion them into something useful. He was an expert carpenter, not only building barns, houses, wagons and sheds for his own family, but also for neighbors. One of his structures is the Ben Mueller house west of Roscoe which was featured in the Parade of Homes of Nolan County in the 1981 Centennial Celebration. He delighted in teaching young people the "how and why" of the trade. He was liberal in sharing his knowledge. He was an excellent farmer and believed that it is every person's duty to leave the world in a better condition than he found it.

Once, when Ben Mueller was getting acquainted in Roscoe, he told a new-found friend he as living with his brother-in-law. The friend said, "Yes, Ohlenbusch. I've heard of him. Is he the man who is trying to be God and make water run up-hill?" Herman was probably the first in the area to practice contour plowing and to build terraces.

The Ohlenbusches believed in progress. They wanted the best for their family, yet practiced conservation of all things. They believed all things should be done right and all transactions should be honest.

Although the family lived in Mitchell County while growing up, their interests remained in Nolan County. The children often jokingly comment on Johnson grass-infested land and say, "If Papa were here, he would buy the place, put us kids in it with hoes and clean it up---in the right moon." They invested in several of such farms in the Wastella area, some of which are still owned by members of the Ohlenbusch family.

Herman and Emma Ohlenbusch lived in New Braunfels, Texas the last years of their lives. Both of their bodies have been laid to rest in Roscoe City Cemetery.

Submitted by Lena O. Dozier
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COMAL COUNTY DEATH CERTIFICATE

Name: Louise Emma Ohlenbusch
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 06 Nov 1956
Event Place: Comal Sanitorium, New Braunfels, Comal, Texas, United States
Cause of Death: Basal skull fracture due to automobile accient on Hwy 81, New Braunfels, Texas
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Age: 73 yrs, 12 days
Birth Date: 24 Oct 1883
Birthplace: Lavaca Co., Texas
Father's Name: Henry F Mueller
Father's Birthplace: Texas
Mother's Name: Kunigunda Seibert
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Route 2, New Braunfels, Comal Texas
Burial/Removal: Roscoe Cemetery
Date: 07 Nov 1956
Informant: E. A. Ohlenbusch
Certificate Number: 57463
GS Film number: 2114936
Digital Folder Number: 005145191
Image Number: 02937
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