Julius was born Carl Heinrich Julius Obenhaus in Lippe Detmold, Germany October 25, 1829. He was the son of Heinrich Carl Obenhaus and Anne Wilhelmina Christine Klinksieck. It is believed he emigrated to the United States in 1843 at 14 years old.
On December 25, 1853, Julius married Jane Thompson in Colorado County, Texas. They were blessed with three children, Charles born approx. 1854; George born approx. 1856; and William born Dec. 1858. On June 16, 1862, Julius enlisted as a Private in the Confederate Army. Before long, he received word that his wife and children were ill with typhoid fever. He requested a furlough so that he could go home. His wife and two children died, leaving only one son William (Billie), who was three years old. Julius was so depressed that he took Billie, deserted the Army, and went to Lucerne, Indiana.
He married Mary Hubenthal Huyo, March 15, 1866 in Colorado County, Texas. Mary had experienced tragedy in the loss of her husband in a fire that destroyed her home. She was left with three children—George, Chris and Mary.
Julius was a farmer in Swiss Alp, Fayette County, Texas. Julius and Mary had the following children: Hanna born July 1867, Henry born about 1870, Frank F. born Jan. 26, 1873, Adolf born about 1875, and Otto Julius born Sept. 14, 1877.
Their children moved to various areas. Billie Obenhaus married Penelope Ingram and moved to Wellington, Collingsworth County, Texas. Mary’s children from her first marriage: George remained on the family homestead; Chris moved to Eagle Lake, Texas; Mary married John Bader and moved to Wisconsin.
Hannah married Charlie Kiesling and later moved to Wichita County; Henry married Anna Umlang and lived in Wichita County; Frank married Hannah Meyer and lived in Colorado County; Adolf married Clara Ramming and lived in Wichita County; Otto married Alvena Schoppa and lived in Wilbarger County.
In 1901, Julius moved to Electra and then to Wichita Falls. Both Julius and Mary are buried in the city cemetery at Wichita Falls. Julius died February 11, 1902 and Mary died December 6, 1908. Julius' obituary reads:
“Mr. Julius Obenhaus a former resident of Fayette and Colorado counties, passed away February 11, 1902 at Wichita Falls, Texas. He was an honest, upright, Christian gentleman, highly respected and loved by all who knew him, and on who always had the welfare of everyone at heart and worked for the elevation of mankind and the best interest of his country. Mr. Obenhaus moved from Germany to this country fifty years ago and devoted himself to the advancement of the country and building up of mankind in moral and intelligent lines. His many deeds of kindness will long be remembered by his hosts of friends in Fayette and Colorado Counties.”
Sources: 1900 Schulenburg newspaper article, Baptismal record of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Serbin, Texas, http://www.columbustexas.net/library/history/confederate.htm, Microfilm: M259-23 Passenger List, Obituary of Julius Obenhaus, The Otto and Alvene Obenhaus Family History written by their children April, 1977, Robert Moore, and United States Census Records.
Written by Angie Collier March 2002
Updated January 12, 2007