Doebner Family Information:

Arrived from Orhdruff, Germany aboard the ship Harriet, this ship was built in 1839 and was 15 feet long weighing 285 tons. The Harriet
sailed between Hamburg and the ports of Louisiana and Texas. Silmer (Samuel) Doebner was born in May of 1839 in Orhdruff, Germany, he arrived with his father Christian Doebner, Grandfather Johann (John) Christian Doebner and sisters. (Source:
Texas Seaport Museum database. (www.tsm-elissa.org/.

1850--The first US census which shows the Doebner family is the 1850 US Census from Gillespie co. TX
In the 1850 census in Pioneers in God's Hills. Vol 1 The people living in the Doebner home were
Christian Doebner 68 (first name anglicized from Johann to John)
Christian Doebner 40    (first name anglicized to Chas)
*Silmer H. Doebner   12    (first name anglicized to Samuel)
Mary Doebner    10
Mathilda Doebner    8
Bertha Doebner   7
(Source: 1850 census in Pioneers in God's Hills. Vol 1).

1860--US Census from 1860 for Galveston, 1st Ward in Galveston lists
"Chas" Doebner age 48 working as a Carpenter. Real Estate value
3000.00
*Silmer Doebner age 21 working as a Seaman. (This is Samuel)
Bertha Doebner age 18.
(Source: Ancestry Census records).

Civil War record--
Muster in Roll—Oct 13, 1861 Bolivar Point, TX with the 26th Cavalry, Co.F, with Capt. Medard Menard’s Co., Davis’ Mtd. Batt’n Texas Vols.

Co. Muster Roll for Nov and Dec 1861 on Bolivar Point has the remark “Horse not appraised.”

Continues service through Jan and Feb of 1863. Muster-roll
remark, “No horse since Feb 15, 1863”.

In June of 1863 a Report lists Samuel Doebner of Co F, Debray’s Regt.
lists him in the Marine Dept of Tex. “Capacity Fireman, Age 24, date of detail June 20, 1863, boat J.F. Carr.”

On Oct 26, 1863 S. Doebner of co. F, Debray’s is reported in Galveston, TX. “Nature of Marine Service, By order of Maj.
Gen. Magruder. Remark: “Special Order”.

Jan and Feb 1864 Sam’l Doebner pvt, co. F, Debray’s, Company Muster Roll lists him as “Absent” with remarks “Detached Marine service. Sp. Order No.-Hd.Qro. Dist. of Texas June 2, 1863.”

Feb 29 1864, S. Doebner of co. F, Debray’s is reported at “Camp at Willow Bar Ford, Nature of Sailor, Place Tex Navy, Remarks—Det’d in Marine Service by order of Maj. Gen’l Comdg.”

March 1865, S. Doebner, Pvt. Co F, 26th Regiment Texas Cavalry.
Notation: “Absent enlisted men accounted for: Detached since S.O.90{?}, June 26,64 Marine Dept. Dist. Hd. Qtrs.”

Description of Samuel Doebner—
“I certify that the within named Samuel Doebner, Private of Captain F.C. {?} Armstrong, co F of Debrays Regiment of Texas Cavalry, born in Saxony in the State of Germany, aged 24 years, five feet, eight inches high, light complexion, Grey eyes, Red hair and by Occupation a Sailor, was enrolled by Maj L.B. Davis at Bolivar Point, on the 13th day of October 1861, and mustered into service at Bolivar Point on the 13th day of October, 1861, to serve during the war, and is now entitled to dischage by reason of having been transferred to the Marine Service by Special Order no. 172. Head Quarter District Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, dated Houston, Texas, June 25th, 1863. The said Samuel Doebner was last paid by Capt. Thompson Harrison, to include the 28th day of February 1863 and has pay due from that time to the present date. There is due him, for use of horse from the First day of March, 1863, to date of discharge, 117 days at 40 cents per day, Forty Six {dollars and 80 cents} for use of horse…There is due him Twenty Six {dollars and 50 cents} on account of clothing not drawn in kind.”

Transcribed from Civil War Record as provided by the NARA by Ella Hendrix GGG Granddaughter.

J.F. CARR, 1863, Confederate cottonclad on Sabine R., Tex.
Silmer (Samuel) Doebner served in the Civil War with the 26th Texas Cavalry Co. F, he was also transferred to the riverboat/gunboat J.F. Carr and worked as a "fireman" on the boat. This information was received from George Wright on the 'Texas in the Civil War' message board.

" He was engine room crew (fireman) aboard the transport/gunboat J.F. Carr. The date of June, 1863, suggests that he was part of the original crew when the Carr was converted to a gunboat. She had been commandeered from her owners to carry backup troops during the Battle of Galveston in January, 1863, but didn't get into the action at that time. Carr ended up working the Matagorda Bay-Corpus Christi area in 63 and 64. She shows up as one of the surrendered vessels at Galveston in June of 65. He was detached, so consider him "loaned". In theory, his original unit still owned him. Many of the steamer crews were actually civilians and "exempt" from military service in terms of being conscripted. The gun crews and sharpshooters were put aboard when action was anticipated and used regular Army personnel. This caused some heartburn with the Army regulars who believed the Marine Departments "exempt" types had it much better than the troopers. If I'm reading this correctly, he was technically still in the Army, but assigned as a skilled occupation aboard the steamer and under the Marine Department (Quartermaster Department). Do you have any idea whether he volunteered or was just ordered to the Marine Department? There is at least one other case like this, a trooper from one of the units at Sabine Pass was assigned aboard a former Union gunboat converted into a runner as an engineer."
(Source: George Wright, correspondence from ‘Texas in the Civil War’ Thread dated
Saturday 12 Aug 2006 at 245pm).

On 16 Jul 1867 Samuel Doebner married Rebecca Barnes (b.1847 in MO/d. 18 Jan 1871 Wallisville, Chambers, TX. To this marriage was born one child—William Doebner, b. Nov 1870. Samuel, Rebecca and baby William lived with Rebecca’s family. See the 1870 US Census for Chambers county, TX-transcribed below.

1870--1870 Chambers county TX census Dwelling #7 Living in same dwelling with Wife's family.
DOEBNER, Rebeca,7    (wife #1. Married 16 Jul 1867 Chambers, TX)
DOEBNER, Sam,7         (Silmer Doebner)
DOEBNER, William,7
   BARNES, Jake, 7            (Rebecca’s family members)
   BARNES, John, 7
   BARNES, Linas, 7
   BARNES, Rebeca, 7
   BARNES, Willis,
(Source: USGENWEB.com Chambers county online resource and
Ancestry.com US census pages. Posted by Temple Dunaway-).

After the death of Rebecca (Barnes) Doebner, Samuel left baby William (Willis) with Rebecca’s parent’s Willis and Rebecca Barnes. Baby William was less than a year old. This is verified with the 1880 US Census of Chambers, Wallisville, TX—transcribed below.
1880--1880 US Census for Chambers, Wallisville, TX
Barnes, Willis age 63 (1817),farmer, born in CT, parents both CT.
Barnes, Rebecca age 66 (1815), wife, born NH, NH, ?
Barnes, Jacob age 37 (1843), laborer, son, born IL, CT, NH.
Barnes, “Lannas” (Linus), age 23 (1857), laborer, son, born TX, CT,NH.
Doebner, Willie age 10 (1870), Grandson, born in TX, Prussia, MO.
*Willie is William Doebner born in 1870 and is the son of
Samuel/Silmer Doebner and Rebecca Barnes.

Samuel Doebner relocated to Stephenville, Erath, TX sometime after 1871 and married Mariah Q.D. (maiden unk) in 1873. He and Mariah had a family which was well started by 1873 with the birth of his first daughter. See the 1880 US Census for Stephenville, Erath, TX. Although the last name is spelled “Debener” it is obvious the Doebner family as the dates and family names match exactly.

1880-- US Census collection for 1880 Stephenville, Erath, TX, it lists the family as-*This census shows Samuel/Silmer with new wife, marriage date 1873, and family.
-Debenor, S.M. Age 40, Farmer, TX, blank, blank. (Silmer/Samuel Doebner).
Debenor, M.Q.D. Age 38, wife, keeping house, TX,TN,TN.
(Mariah Q (maiden? Davenport) this is Silmer’s 2nd wife married
1873).
Debenor, M.F. Age 7 daughter, TX,blank, TX. (Matilda Francis)
Debenor, R.S. age 5 daughter, TX, blank, TX (R.S?)
Debenor, E.M. age 3 daughter, TX, blank, TX (Emma)
Debenor, M.S age 1 son, TX, blank, TX (Silmer)
Davenport, E.P. age 25 Ga, Ga, Ga. (?boarder/relative)
(Source: USGENWEB.com online resource, posted by
Temple Dunaway).

This census shows Samuel/Silmer with his 2nd wife, Mariah and children. Notice that Samuel says he is born in TX and leaves the
location of his parents birth blank. Why?? Was there racial tensions
then?
All of the children leave the notation for father’s birth blank.

1900—US Census for Anderson county, Dinson? Spring Village, TX
Anderson’s Store
Doebner, Silmer H., head of household, born May 1839, age 61, married for 27 years, born in Germany, both parents Germany. Year of Immigration 1846, number of years in US-54, occupation Farmer,
Can read/write/speak English.

Doebner, Mariah (transciption error—‘Marian”), wife, born June 1842, age 57, married for 27 years, 4 children/4 living, born in TX, parents in TN. Able to read/write/speak english.
Doebner, Emma M. daughter, born Mar 1877, age 23, single, born in TX, Germany, TX. Able to read/write/speak english.
Doebner, Silmer M. son, born Apr 1879, age 21, single, TX, Germany, TX. Farm Laborer, able to read/write/speak english.

Also living with the family is

Williams, Matilda F. daughter, born Oct 1873, age 26, married for 9 years, 3 children/3 living, born in TX, Germany, TX. Able to read/write/speak english. (maiden Matilda F. Doebner).
Williams, Lizzie B. Grand daughter, born Mar 1892, age 8, single, born in TX, father born in MO, mother born in TX.
Williams, *Ella M. (middle name Mariah) Grand daughter, born Jan 1894, age 6, TX, MO, TX.
Williams, Silmer P. Grand Son, born Jan 1894, age 6, TX, MO, TX.

Matilda’s husband was C. W. Williams (Walter) born in 1870 in MO or TN. Marriage date was 25 Dec 1890 in Stephenville, Erath, TX.

*Ella Mariah Williams was a twin, and she is my Grandmother.
I am unsure where Matilda’s husband Walter was during this census
but he is found again in 1910.

1910—US Census of 1910 Erath, Pct. 27

Lines 32-35
Williams, Walter C. Head, Wd. born in MO. Both parents born in MO. Occupation: Farmer on General Farm.
Lizzie B. Daughter 18 years old born in TX.
Ella 16 Daughter born in TX
Fannie M. 6 born in TX.

Silmer P. was married by the time this census was done. Notice that Walter is a widow. Matilda died sometime after 1914.
(Source: Ancestry online census database).

1920—US Census for 1920 Stephenville, Erath, TX

Williams, Walter C. head, married, age 49 (1861), MO, MO, MO
occupation drilling, water well.
Williams, Pearl, wife, age 30 (1880), TX, MO, MO.
Williams, Fannie, daughter, age 16 (1896), TX, MO, MO?
(Source: Ancestry online census database).

Walter and Pearl Williams are again located in the 1930 census for Erath, TX.

Here is where my brick walls are--
Marriage record—W.S. Hendrix and Ms. Ella Williams were married
in Stephenville, TX 17 Aug 1912.
Children from this marriage—
Marsha La Vern Hendrix born Sept 22, 1918 in AZ. See birth cert.
Helen Ruby Hendrix born 1924 in TX. (Family info.)
Lavern M. Hendrix, born 1912 in AZ (Family info) ?? two Laverns??

I am unable to find Ella M. (Williams) Hendrix in the 1920 census—did W.S. die?? If so where TX, AZ, CA??
*W.S. Hendrix may be William S. Hendrix b. 26 Feb 1884 Stepehville, Erath, TX/d. 1971 in Denton, TX. Parents were James Jackson Hendrix b. 1859 and Lelia Lee Overbey b. 1863 both in KY.
(Located online—Ancestry.com Family Trees).

1930—US Census for Matador, Motley, TX

Swan, Henry D. head, renter, property value $10, age 47 (1883),age at first marriage 17, born in AL, parents “US”, occupation laborer
on General Farm.

Swan, Ella M. wife, age 36 (1894), age at first marriage 18 (yes, married to first husband-W.S. Hendrix in 1912), born in TX, father in TN, mother in TX.
children in this household—
Hendrix, Lavern M. age 18 (1912), Step daughter, born in AZ, TX, TX.
Hendrix, Ruby M. age 6 (1924), Step daughter, born in TX, TX, TX.

This census was completed April 10, 1930. Three days later my father was born—See birth record.
Verlin Swann, male, born Apr 13, 1930 in Motley county, Matador, TX. Parents G.H. Swann from AL age 48 and Ella Williams age 36.
Number of children born to this mother 5/5 living.
(Sources—Birth records, marriage records).

Information recorded by Ella Hendrix (ehendrix1@elp.rr.com).