American spelling is Startz, original German spelling is Starz. Louis was the last child of Johannes F. Starz. Johannes or simply Johann Starz was born in the town of Fachsenfeld, grew up in Heilbronn and Stockheim, State of Wurttemberg, Germany. Or as the proud locals claim it is really the pre-Germany ancient country of Swabia.

Louis' father Johann Starz immigrated to Galvaston, the Republic of Texas 11/23/1844, and changed the spelling from Starz to Startz. Johann was a land owner and a citizen of the Republic of Texas. Johann was also a "First Founder" of the town of New Braunfels, Texas; established as a German community in 1845. Johann's son Louis is a "Son of Texas".

Louis Charles Startz was born Ludwig Carl Startz. Ludwig pronounced "Lood-vigg". When just a few years old, his adoptive brother Heinrich, called him by the American equivalent, Louis Charles Startz. Later in life, his children and friends called him Mr. LC.; and his wife Mary Jane Holman Startz was called Mrs. LC. Louis Charles Startz was born 9/23/1855 on his father's farm in Smithson Valley, now northeast of Bulverde, Texas(coordinates 29.771304, -98.337976). Louis died from pneumonia on 9/30/1936 while at the home of his son Emil Startz in Anadarko, Oklahoma. A senior family member recalled that event from their childhood; they said that everyone was very very quiet and subdued. Louis was transported to and buried in Wallace Creek Cemetery, about 7 miles southwest of San Saba, Texas, few miles north of the family farm. Louis was the youngest/last son of Johann F. Startz and the only child from his last wife Catherine E. J. Wenzel. After Johann and Catherine died in January 1858, within two weeks of each other, Louis (about 2 yo) was raised by his half-brother Heinrich Startz and his wife Louise Artzt on their farm in Canyon Lake(Startzville), Texas, the farmhouse is still there - (coordinates 29.858726, -98.282482). (Johann and his wife Margaretha Bertsch, some of her children from her previous marriage with Loeffler, and the rest of the Startz/Bertsch children including Heinrich Startz, immigrated through Galveston, TX in 1844.) Heinrich was born 11/4/1829 in Germany, died 11/2/1919 in Comal County, TX, burried Comal County Cemetery; his first wife was Johanne Louise Artzt Startz b.5/23/1838 in Weinsberg, Germany, d.9/10/1887 Comal Co., TX, buried Artzt Family Cemetery southwest of Startzville, TX, on the Kerr Ranch (coordinates 29.833875, -98.306731) . Heinrich and Johanne married 9/6/1853 in New Braunfels, Comal County, TX. The 1870 Comal County TX census included the 15 year-old Louis living with half-brother Heinrich Startz. The 1880 census indicates that the 25 yo Louis was living in precinct 2, Blanco, TX. The 1900 census also indicated Louis was born in Texas.

Louis was raised by his half-brother Heinrich Startz. When Louis was about 20 years old, he left the Heinrich Startz family farm and lived with/worked for Joshua and Carolina Hart Holman, and their daughters, in Blanco County, TX. Louis married Mary Jane Holman, a daughter of the Joshua and Carolina family, on 10/14/1877 in Blanco County, TX (per county marriage data). Mary Jane was born 9/20/1861, died 11/20/1925 at the home of her daughter Lucinda in Beaumont, TX.

In 1898, Louis bought a ranch from a man named Beasley in San Saba County. (Look up Beasley's story in J. Frank Dobe's book "Coronado's Children"). After Louis' children grew up and dispersed, one of Louis's sons Charley Startz Sr. bought the Startz family ranch, located 9.5 miles southwest of San Saba on CR-308, map coordinates N31:08:47.88 W98:50:44.57. Charley Startz Sr. built the rock house that currently serves as a bunkhouse for deer hunters. Charlie Startz Jr. inherited the ranch and raised their children there. The ranch is now owned by one of the children, Peggy Startz Wright. Some of Charlie Startz Jr. children were born in the house that Charlie Sr. and Louis built. Charlie Jr. and his wife Lou Jerry Goodman "Jerrie" continued to live at the ranch for most of their adult lives, then moved into the town of San Saba during their later years. I remember seeing the old cars left abandoned at the ranch with their car tags having a 1974 sticker; thus they were the last of the Startz family to actually live at the ranch. Now days, the house is rented out to seasonal deer hunters.

All of the Louis Startz children settled in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Effie and her husband William Taylor settled in Artesia, NM. George Startz settled in Carnegie and Emil Startz settled around Anadarko, OK. Minnie lived in nearby Burnet, and was noted to maintain a very close emotional relationship to her parents. Cinda (or Cindy) and her family moved to Beaumont for work; relocated to Austin after the near simultaneous and tragic deaths of her daughter and husband. The grandson of Charley Startz Sr., Mikey Carroll, was kind enough to provide valuable information he received from his mother, Tessie Bell Startz Carroll, daughter of Charley Startz Sr.

With the exception of Louis Christopher Startz who was likely born in San Saba, all remaining children of Louis Charles and Mary Jane Holman Startz were likely all born in Cypress Creek, Blanco County TX, although their delayed certificates indicated San Saba:

(1) Wilhelminie "Minnie" C. Startz born 12/19/1879 in Cypress Creek, Blanco County TX; died 1/27/1934 in Burnet TX. Minnie married Henry Hill Harness on 3/14/1901 by M. A. Black, Minister of the Gospel, San Saba County, Texas. Henry born 4/4/1877 in Texas, died 11/15/1945 in Burnet. They lived in Burnet, TX. It was said that Minnie remained very emotionally attached to her parents, visited often, and lived in close-by Burnet, TX. Minnie and Henry are believed to be buried together in the Harness family cemetery, estimated about 5 miles west of Burnet, TX on FM3509. There were no children from this marriage. (I tried but I need help finding this hidden grave yard!)

(2) Emil Lawrence Startz 4/1/1885-5/9/1937 Memory Lane in Anadarko, OK.(ok per 1900 census)Emil had three sons and one daughter; Son: Clarence Lawrence Startz b.9/26/1911 in San Saba, TX d.4/12/1995 in Chickasha, OK buried Mountain View Cemetery, OK. Son: Thomas Neal Startz b.1/10/14 d.5/5/98 Memory Lane in Anadarko, OK. Son: Carlie Startz b.9/17/1916 d.1/1/1976 in Oklahoma City. Daughter: Vadena Earline (Hickman) b. 3/6/1910 d.1/1/1996 Fair Lawn in Chickasha, OK. The 1910 census lists a potential daughter Vanna E. Startz born around 1910; suggesting this was referring to Vadena Earline Startz. Clarence's only son: Lawrence Eldon b.1932 d.2002 Fair Lawn in Chickasha, OK. Tom's sons: Glen, Tommy, Steve, and infant Debbie LaVaughn Jan.4-5,1955. Emil owned orchards and cotton farms and raised cattle in the Anadarko, OK area. Emil's farms were the center of life for the local Startz clan. Emil died in Albuquerque when a train hit his truck. He had moved from Anadarko, OK to ALB the previous fall to start again after he lost all of his Oklahoma farms during the great depression and the collapse of the cattle market.

(3) Effie Wade Startz Taylor b.July 1886, Married William Elkin Tyler b.10/31/1881 Comanche, TX, d.2/29/1956 Lake Arthur, NM. [Note: I have much more info on this family but I'm running way behind updating, please be patient.] Children of Effie and William:
1st: Effie Taylor born about October 1909 San Saba, TX.
2nd: Travis A. Taylor b.1/29/1907 San Saba, TX.
3rd: Rachel Taylor, born abt 1911
4th Jeff Taylor, born abt 1912
5th Bulah Taylor, born abt 1914
6th Naomi Taylor, born abt 1916
7th Ciepha Taylor, born abt 1918
8th Mary Jane Taylor (see her obituary above November 7 issue, 1999 - Artesia, NM), born: 2/20/1920, in Mountainair, NM married John August Nelson in Roswell on June 1, 1957; died 11/5/1999 - Artesia, NM; Nelson moved from Mountainair to the Cottonwood area in 1926. Their children:
Jay Nelson of Tatum; living as of 1999
Jan Sargent; four granddaughters
Ricky Allen Nelson, passed as of 1999
Jeff August Nelson; passed as of 1999
William Elkin Taylor Jr., born abt 1922-1995
Elizabeth Taylor, born abt 1925

(4) Charley Startz, born April 27, 1888 in San Saba, TX., died December 8, 1953 San Saba, TX, married Winsfred Pope Woods 9/19/1890 San Saba, TX, 2/12/1991 Austin, TX. Children: (1st) Charlie Jr. 11/23/1921-11/3/2004, on 2/9/1946 he married Jerrie Lou Goodman 5/18/1929-7/25/2008, both buried Wallace Creek: (2nd) Cozette Startz Tyler currently in a nursing home in San Saba as of November 2011/ update: Cozette passed 1 Jan 2015 (aged 101), and (3) Tessie Bell Startz Carroll b. 9/10/1918 San Saba, d. 6/4/2007 Waco, TX. Tessie married Samuel Nathan Carroll in San Saba about 1933. Samuel was born 9/1/1914, and died 10/7/1990. Both buried Goldthwaite Cemetery, Mills Co., TX. Their children included Teresa, Nancy, and Mikey.

(5) Jefferson Davis Startz b.9/28/1889 d.3/8/1965 Wallace Creek Cemetery. Married Eva Mae Anderson about 1920. Eva born about 1903. Daughter: Ruth Inez Startz, born about 1923. Please supply more history for Jeff's family.

(6) Lucinda "Cinda" Startz, b. 1/19/1891 d.5/5/1969 Beaumont, TX, married David Pike Smith on 2/20/1910 in San Saba County by Reverend W. O. Slaughter, noted as a Missionary of the San Saba Association. David Pike Smith b.8/19/1882 in Comanche County, TX d.11/1/1938. Both buried Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont, TX. The 1930 census in Jefferson County, Beaumont,TX:
David Pike Smith 45
Cinda Smith 40
Fred Smith 19
Eugean "Gene" Victor Smith 17
Clarice Lavada Smith 11

Clarice Lavada Smith b.1/13/1919 possibly in San Saba, TX; d.11/3/1938 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, TX death #51268. David Pike Smith b.8/19/1882 in Comanche County, TX and died 11/1/1938 in Beaumont per record # 51267. Daughter Clarice and her father David died within two days of each other after a religious fasting went too far. After the deaths, Cinda and her two sons moved to Austin, TX, later they moved to Beaumont where Cinda died in the home of her son Eugean Victor Smith on 5/5/1969, buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont, TX. It was said that family members blamed Cinda's religious fervor and extremism for the deaths of her daughter Clarice and husband David, and isolated themselves from her. More coming soon.

Per WW1 draft registration card; David was a fireman that worked at the Magnolia Pot. Refinery in Beaumont, TX. The family lived at 522 Sherman, Beaumont, TX. He died 11/1/1938 in Beaumont, Texas.

(7) George Christopher Startz b.11/10/1894 San Saba, d.4/15/1961 Carnegie Cemetery, OK, Married Lena Lee Hector 9/3/1913. Parents of (1st) Avis Startz 2/27/1915-6/10/2000; on 5/3/1937 in Anadarko, OK, Avis married George B. Brewster, buried Stigler Cemetery, Haskell, OK. (2nd) Alton L. Startz b.12/30/1916 in San Saba, d.7/27/2003, (3rd) Idell Richardson, (4th) Lila Mae Startz Thomas b.4/2/1921 in San Saba, d.1/24/2007 Ponca City, OK, on 10/6/1941 she married Norman Edmond Thomas d.2002, first lived in Carnegie then Ponca City in 1950, buried Resthaven Memorial Park Ponca City.OK. Thomas children: Donald Gene Thomas d.1955; Ron Thomas d.2005; Lewis Thomas/wife Sylvia of Ponca City; Rita Jackson/husband Tom of Spicewood, TX: Marie Rogers/husband Jim of Ponca City: and Patricia Long/husband Ron of Sparta, MO. (5th) Georgia Lee Startz b.10/171923 Beaumont, TX, d.5/20/2009 Carney Cemetery, OK. (6th) Mr. W. Eldridge Startz b. 8 AUG 1927 d. 11 NOV 2015 in Amarillo, Texas.

(8) Louis Christopher Startz "LC Jr" (19 yo son) b. 13 NOV 1898, d. 9 SEP 1918. Buried second plot to the right of his parents Louis and Mary in the Wallace Creek Cemetery. His dark gray-green stone is lightly engraved and best viewed at sunrise. Louis Christopher died during the 1918 flu pandemic. The 1918 flu pandemic (the Spanish Flu) was an unusually severe and deadly influenza pandemic that spread across the world. Most victims of the Spanish flu were healthy young adults, in contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or weakened patients. The pandemic lasted from June 1917 to December 1920, spreading even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. Between 50 and 100 million died, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. An estimated 50 million people, about 3% of the world's population (1.8 billion at the time), died of the disease. Some 500 million, or 28% were infected.

Louis Charles and Mary Jane Startz are buried together in Wallace Creek Cemetery, San Saba County, TX. Their old farm is several miles southwast of the cemetery. Mary's obituary was listed in the San Antonio Express on 11/25/1925. "Mary Jane Holman Startz died in Beaumont, TX on Friday 11/20/1925; with final interment in Wallace Creek Cemetery, TX. Louis' grave is next to her. The family graves are L-R: son Jefferson Davis Startz, grandson Charlie/wife Jerrie Startz, Louis and Mary Startz, an empty space with unknown, and youngest son Louis Christopher Startz are to the right. The graves are in the southwest quadrant, about 50 feet south of the large tree on the main road. Wallace Creek Cemetery is located about 7 miles southwest of San Saba, TX.

Please email corrections, additions, stories, and photos to new email [email protected]

Thanks so much for everyone's information and help, P. Startz Revised, added death of Eldridge Startz 11/11/2015. Revised 3/18/2021.