Joseph Koehler was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States, settling in Denison, Texas, by the spring of 1873, if not before.  His occupation was that of a carpenter.  One of the first acts of the town government was to build a public school.  In March 1873 the Denison Town Company had donated $2,000 and a block of lots on West Sears Street for the purpose of building a public school, with the stipulation that the lots could be exchanged for more desirable lots.  (Denison Weekly News, April 3, 1873).  In April of that same year the City Council authorized $15,000 in bonds and specified that the school would be built on a location at the upper end of Main Street, instead of the lots originally donated by the Denison Town Company.  The city block selected was then in the western part of the city and bounded by Main and Woodard streets and Armstrong and Barrett avenues.  The Council advertised for architectural plans to be submitted by April 15 to the City Clerk.  On April 17th, after examining several plans, the City Council chose the design of Capt. Charles Wheelock of Sherman, who was paid $46 for the drawing of the plans. (Denison Herald, June 25, 1971).

"The Education Institute is to be built of brick with stone trimmings, two stories with basement, mansard roof and towers.  The first floors consists of four rooms, each 21x27 feet; second story two rooms 27x37 feet; two recitation rooms 12x14 feet, and two cloakrooms, each 6x21 feet.  Entrance to the building is by two wide stairways in the front tower.  Height of first story 15 feet, second story 16 feet.  The building is to be heated by a furnace in the basement and will be furnished with all the modern improvements for ventilation.  The roof will be covered with tin and furnished with mansard railings...." (Denison Daily News, April 18, 1873).  On April 18th and 19th the Daily News advertised for sealed construction bids to be received by May 18.  With bids ranging from $8,539 to $22,800, the City Council awarded the contract to build The Educational Institute to the firm of Koehler & Keffer, bid $19,850.
In July work on the school building began and the educational committee paid Koehler & Keffer $3,049.65 for the first month's work done on the school.  However, "work was discontinued a few month later with the building only half-completed" due to the fact that bonds issued by the City Council had not been sold.  When Edward Perry was elected Mayor and $20,000 in bonds were issued the plans to proceed with the building of the school were begun.  But "on September 1, 1873, the City Council was told that the contract for construction of the new school building had 'mysteriously disappeared.'" Since the efforts to find the contract failed between Koehler & Keffer, and a new contract was awarded to the firm of Ely & Meadors.  (Denison Daily News, February 21, 1874)

Other buildings which Mr. Koehler had a part in building were:
Maj. Strong's residence, corner of Houston & Sears St
Paris, Texas courthouse
Hot Springs, Arkansas hotel
Mike Brown, 2 dwelling houses
Mr. Thomas Foley, addition to house on Sears St.
Mr. McDougall, new brick building
W.F. Davey, residence on Sears St.
Le Grane Saloon
Mr. Wolf, remodel business house
Editor of Cresset, new residence
Arctic Ice Co building, new board siding

Joseph married Lizzie Hopkins on December 23, 1874, certified by Rev. A.J. Lyenberger.   Just before his marriage to Miss Hopkins, Joseph had a home built at 321 West Gandy.  Just four months after their marriage, burdened with debts, the Koehlers sold the home to D.W.C. Davis.  (Denison Daily Cresset, April 7, 1875, pg.4)

321 West Gandy Street

By September 1875 Ben Keffer was no longer a business partner of Joseph Koehler's, possibly because of the financial setback caused by the loss of the contract to build the public school. (Denison Daily Cresset, September 15, 1875, pg. 4)  According to a news bit in the Denison Cresset of June 1875, Joe Koehler was to go to Hot Springs to build a large hotel.  Joe Koehler continued his construction business in the Denison area, including two houses for Mike Brown (Denison Daily Cresset, August 14, 1875, pg.4) as well as a pauper's coffin for which he was paid $8.50 by the City Council in November of 1875. (Denison Daily Cresset, November 15, 1875, pg. 4)

The couple had a son, Charles R., born in Texas (1885 Colorado State Census, 1 June 1885)   Joe Koehler was a well-sought-after carpenter as witnessed by the many mentions of his buildings and contracts, from a simple job of putting shelves in a grocery store to building palatial residences.  In addition, his reputation as a carpenter and contractor seems to have taken him all over the United States.

Denison Daily Cresset
July 18, 1877
pg. 4

PERSONAL REMINISENSES
"Joe Koehler returned Tuesday from Chicago....Joe Koehler was the best known contractor and building in all that section of Western country.  The last "big job" that Joe took was the contract to build a three hundred thousand dollar hotel in Omaha.  Work suspended when the building was partly built, and Joe went to Denver, Colorado, and the next place we meet him is in Denison.  It seems strange that after a separation of several years, we should all meet again..."

According to the 1885 Colorado state census, Joe, Lizzie and son Charles R. are living in Arapahoe County, Colorado; Joe is still in the carpenter business.  At the beginning of the 20th century, the Koehlers are living in Cripple Creek, Colorado, the county seat of Teller Co, formed in 1899.  Joseph Koehler may have moved to the newly formed city, which was famous for its gold mines, because of the bustling business for carpenters, as it was in 1873 for Denison.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, September 15, 1878
pg. 8

The round house and blacksmith shop of the Denison & Pacific railway were completed Saturday.  Joe Koehler was the contractor.
Mr. Ledrick will immediately erect a palatial residence on his property on Gandy street.  The contract was let on Saturday to Mr. Joe Koehler.

At the time of the 1885 Colorado state census, Joseph, Lizzie and son Charles R. are living in Colorado.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, November 3, 1901
pg. 3

Another old pioneer is dead and gone.  Joe Koehler passed away recently at Cripple Creek, Colorado.   Joe Koehler was about the first contractor that hung our his shingle in Denison.   He built the Main street high school building.   At that time a clamor was raised that the building was "too far out in the country."  It was in fact almost isolated on the edge of the woods.  Koehler left here and located at Denver, Colorado.  He married Miss Hopkins of this city.  His wife survives him.

Within a year, Mrs. Lizzie Hopkins and daughter return to Denison to make their permanent home.

The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, September 14, 1902
pg. 4

Ines Kohler of Cripple Creek, Colorado, has arrived to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ruthroff in the country north.  Mrs. Kohler is expected in a few days.  She is the sister of Mrs. Ruthroff.
Mrs. Joe Kohler and daughter have arrived from Cripple Creek, Colorado, and expect to locate here permanently.  Mrs. Kohler was one of the first ladies to cast her lot in Denison in 1873.  When she lived here there were but very few lady residents of the city. She was brought up at the old Hopkins farm southeast of the city.  Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins, are dead. The hospitality of the old Hopkins mansion was proverbial.  Mrs. Kohler's husband (now dead) was the first contractor that ever located in Denison.   He built the Washington school building.

Source : Bryant, Mavis Anne & Donna Hord Hunt.  Two Schools on Main Street : The Pride of Denison, Texas, 1873 - 2007.  Denison, Texas: Gate City Publishing, c2009