12. | William E Gentz, (immigrant) was born on 28 Apr 1838 in Dewichow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Prussia (son of George* Christian "Johann" Gentz, (immigrant) and Charlotte* Uecker, (immigrant)); died before 1900 in Grigsby Bluff, Port Neches, Jefferson Co, Texas. Other Events and Attributes:
- Military: Civil War
- Immigration: 13 Jun 1850, "Bark Neptune," Bremen, Germany; Galveston
- Census: 2 Nov 1850, Tyler (part of), Tyler Co, Texas
- Census: 13 Jul 1860, Grigsby Bluff, Port Neches, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 8 Jun 1880, Jefferson Co (District 41), Texas
Notes:
Name in Germany evidently Johann, according to ship passenger list. (Johann Ludwig Wilhelm bapt record)
Enlisted 3/29/1862. Co. E, Spaights Texas Battalion, Confederate States Army
Detailed on gunboat "Uncle Ben" 3/30/63. Captured by enemy at Sabine, TX.
Sapphire on the Neches: William Gentz married Susan Keith on September 27, 1866 in Jefferson Co. Susan was born January 1849 in Texas and listed her father's birthplace as Georgia and her mother's as Louisiana in the 1880 census. They livn a farm now a part of Jefferson (Texaco) Chemical Co.
In 1880 there were three children in this household. (Indicated that all were sick/disabled at the time of the census, taken on 7 Jun 1880, and could not do business). On September 6, 1881, the Grigsby's Bluff Methodists held their organnal meeting in the W.E. Gentz home, where 16 charter members became a part of the first Methodist congregation here, organized by Rev. W.H. Crawford. The earliest services were conducted in the homes of the following families, namely: margaret Keith, A. Smith, J. Beaumont, W. Gentz, S. Remley, Samuel Lee, W.M. Nelson, M.E. Merriman, and D.W. Sampson. Rev. Crawford once remarked about the hardships of his circuit-riding days, which resulted in the etablishment of the Port Neches congregatin, as follows:
"In 1881 I served Sabine Pass and Terry Mission (now Orange Co.) and elsewhere in Orange, Jefferson, and Hardin counties. Old Hardin was then the county seat of Hardin County. I traveled 200 miles each month and organized a church at Grigs Bluff of 16 members... Alligators which infested Taylor's Bayou by the hundreds were the only inhabitants of what is now Port Arthur. I was once lost between Grigby's Bluff and Taylor's Bayou in a dense fog, and came near losing my life."
The 1900 census suggests that William E. and Susan Gentz were dead as of that year and were probably buried in the old Gentz cemetery near the home. Living in the same house and on the same farm in that year were their son, Willie G., and hisife, Matilda Kline Gentz, who were married at Port Neches in 1890. By 1900, this couple had three children of their own in the household, as well as W.G. Gentz' youngest sister, Ida Mae, who was born in Port Neches in 1885. The Gentz cemetery was moved to Oak Bluff park after World War II.
Military:
Name: William Gentz
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: Texas
Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Texas 11th Cavalry Battalion.
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records
Immigration:
92 Johann Knickkel 61 M Farmer Lassan
93 Louise Knickkel 50 F
94 Ferdinand Knickkel 26 M
95* Ernst Knickkel 24 F
96* Friedr. Hillert 27 M Carpenter Stellin
97* Friedr. Koch 48 M Farmer Lassan
98 Augusto Koch 34 M
99 Augusto Koch 12 M
100* Cristine Koch 8 M
101 Alwine Koch 6 M
102 Frederich Koch 5 M
103 Peter Koch 2 M
104* Christian Koch 9m M
105* Christo Gentz 56 M Farmer Usedam
106 Charlotte Gentz 54 F
107 Fredinke Gentz 17 F
108* Alwine Gentz 12 M
109* Johann Gentz 12 M
110* Carl Friedr Gentz 10 M
111 Carl Ferdin Gentz
Bark Neptune Manifest
Includes Captain Carl Vespermann's signature, information about the baque of the middle 19th century. Family members who sailed this voyage are linked to the respective pages within this file.
http://sherrysharp.com/genealogy/documents/Bark-Neptune-manifest.htm
Census:
2 Nov 1850 Tyler County
res 118/118
A Knuppel 28 28 Germany Farmer
John Knupple 61 Germany
Louisa 57 Germany
Ernest 24 Germany
res 119/119
Chas Maass 40 Germany Farmer
Mary 25 Germany
Eliza Deurand 38
Henry Durand 6 PA
M Prieto 37
res 120/120
Chas D Maass 66 Germany Carpenter
Mary Maass 62 Germany
res 121/121
Fred Koch 49 Germany Farmer
Augusta 35 Germany
Augusto 13 Germany
Amistine 8 Germany
Alvena 7 Germany
Fred 5 Germany
Peter 3 Germany
Reinholt 1 Germany
Charles 2/12 TX
res 122/122
Christian Gentz 55 Germany Farmer
Charlotte 50 Germany
William 13 Germany
Charles 11 Germany
Ferdinand 5 Germany
Census:
Residence 392
Behlke Frederick 64 1796 Germany
Behlke Menah 36 1824 Germany
Behlke Henry 14 1846 Germany
Behlke Menah 10 1850 Germany
Residence 393
Gantz Christian 66 1794 Germany
Gantz Charlotte 62 1798 Germany
Gantz William 22 1838 Germany
Gantz Charles 20 1840 Germany
Gantz Ferdinand 16 1844 Germany
Residence 394
Beaumont John 53 1807 Pennsylvania
Frederica 26 1834 Germany
Josephine 17 1843 Texas
Residence 394
Beaumont Jacob 23 1837 Pennsylvania
Beaumont Luiza 6 1854 Texas
Beaumont Hellen 4 1856 Texas
Beaumont James A 3 1857 Texas
Beaumont John C 1 1859 Texas
Census:
Note: It appears the first page is the Sparks Settlement. And the 2nd page seems to be the Port Neches, Grisgsby Bluff area, a few miles north.
7 Jun 1880 District 41 Justice Precinct No. 2
Page 1
residence 1
Gentz Fred 35 Dec 1845 laborer Prussia Prussia Prussia
R. Belle 28 Aug 1852 TX NC TN
Welby 8 Jun 1872 TX NC TX
H.M. 7 Feb 1873 TX NC TX
M.J. dau 6 1874 TX
J.W. son 4 1876 TX
Buler 2 dau May 1878 TX
J. Lee 4/12 son Jan 1880 TX
Charlotte 77 mother widow Prussia NC TX
(census taker just carried the NC down the columns.
Only person from NC is Belle's father.
residence 2
Lee, Samuel 62 farmer Denmark Denmark Denmark
E. Jane 36 Oct TX NC TN
Emma A. 12 Jul 1868 TX
Hayes, Eliza Black 19 Jan 1861 servant Texas Texas Alabama
Eddy, Albert 37 Jul 1843 carpenter Ireland Ireland Ireland
Sparks, William E. 27 Mar 1853 TX
residence 3
Melinda Sparks 61 Mar 1819 TN VA TN
Worthy 24 Mar 1856 TX NC TN
James 26 son Dec 1854 TX NC TN
Ella 23 Nov 1857 dau-in-law TX TN PA
Thomas George, Black 8 1872 servant TX
residence 4
Sparks, Caroline 60 May 1820 self widow SC VA SC
Sparks, J.M. 26 Aug 1854 son TX
residence 5
Kilgore, James S 28 1852 Mar Michigan Michigan Michigan
Elizabeth 50 Oct 1830 mother wid Michigan Michigan --
Columbus 28 25 May 1855 brother Texas Michigan Michigan
Susan F. 20 Feb 1860 sister Texas Michigan Michigan
Eugenia 17 Jun 1863 sister Texas Michigan Michigan
Swift, Fuller 3 May 1877 nephew Texas Michigan Michigan
Swift, Ida 3/12 Feb 1880 niece Texas Michigan Michigan
residence 6
Brewton, W.P. 47 Aug 1833
Sarah C. (Sparks) 30 Dec 1850
Grace 15 Feb 1865 TX
Silas F. 10 Oct 1870 TX
Esther 8 Dec 1872 TX
Almond 6 Apr 1874 TX
Inas 3 dau Aug 1877 TX
John Smith 14 June 1866 TX TN PA
residence 7
Gray, H.L. 33 head Sep 1847 Michigan VA MI
Gray, S.E. 33 wife Aug 1847 LA PA Indiana
Carey, Coy 11 son May 1869 TX Indiana Louisiana
Clara 7 dau Mar 1873 TX Indiana Louisiana
Gray H.E. son 9 Sep 1871 TX MI TX
Smith, T.F. 21 Apr 1859 TX TN PA
Courts, E.M. 20 1860 TX unk TX
___________
page 2
8 Jun 1880
residence 8/1
Yantz (Gentz), Wm Apr 42 1838 farmer Prussia Prussia Prussia
Susan 31 Jan 1849 wife TX GA LA
Leuvinia 12 Jan 1868 dau
William Y. 10 Jan 1870 son
H.L. 6 mos Nov 1879 son
residence 9/2
J. T. Rogers 28 Aug 1852 TX TN TX
Izzie J. Rogers 27 Aug 1853 TX NY LA
C. O. Rogers 3 Dec 1877
Wm. A. Rogers 1 Sep 1879
Levina Keith 68 Feb 1812 mother-in-law tx ga tn
residence 10/3
Keith, O 39 Feb 1841 Self TX OH LA
Margaret 39 Jun 1841 TX TN TN
George 7 Jun 1873 son LA TX TN
William O. 5 Mar 1875 son
Berry, Lethean female 11 Jan 1869 servant TX Prussia Prussia
11/4 Remes, J.T. and family
12/5 Stockholm, P.D. May 1855 working on farm Texas New York unk
Ella D. 27 Sep 1853 Texas Texas Texas
Maggie dau 2 Jan 1878 Texas
A.E. son 1 Feb 1879 Texas
13/6 Stockholm, George 26 1854 working on farm May Texas New York Gorgia
Mafa 25 1855 Apr Texas New York Texas
14/7 Remly, Sam and family
residence 15/8
G.F. Block 76 Jan 1804 painter Prussia Prussia Prussia
Augusta 64 Jan 1816 wife Prussia Prussia Prussia
Leopole 32 Oct 1848 son Prussia Prussia Prussia
residence 16/9
Block Joseph 26 Sep 1854 self farmer Texas Prussia Prussia
Maggie 17 1863 Dec wife Texas Sweden
Joseph 8/12 son Nov 1879 Texas
residence 17/10
Block August 27 Jul 1853 Texas Prussia Prussia
Nancy 15 June 1865 wife Texas Ireland unk
Brown, William A. 21 Dec 1859 bro-in-law Laborer TX Sweden Unk
(new page)
residence 2
Block Albert 39 Sep 1841 self farmer Prussia Prussia Prussia
Urcilla 30 May 1850 LA LA LA
Martin 12 Sep 1868 Texas
Ernest 9 Dec 1871 Texas
Willie 8 Aug 1872 Texas
Albert 4 Jun 1876 Texas
Matilda 3 Apr 1877 Texas
C.S. female 1 Sep 1879 dau Texas
William married Susan Keith on 27 Sep 1866 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Susan (daughter of George Keith and Mrs. Lavina (Myers?) Keith) was born in Jan 1849 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; died before 1900 in Grigsby Bluff, Port Neches, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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