|
|
|||
|
The original name of this family from Baden, Germany, was Mayerhofer. Joseph Mayerhofer and his wife, Eva, brought their four sons and two daughters to the Republic of Texas in 1845. The wife, Eva Elizabeth, died in Matagorda on February 7, 1847; the husband, Joseph, died in Indianola in 1849. The children were taken into homes in Matagorda where they worked and learned a trade for their keep. Texans spelled the name the way they heard it, so by 1850, the sons were signing their name Mahavier and that spelling has been in use since then. Both daughters married and moved from Matagorda. It is not known what happened to the youngest child, Adam. Antone served in the Civil War. Joseph, Jr., married and reared a large family in Williamson County. Valentine Hoenig Mahavier was born on May 12, 1829, in Helmhof, Baden, Germany, and came to Texas with his parents at the age of sixteen. He acquired some land and cattle, and on July 31, 1852, he married Ann Senfelder, an immigrant from Prussia. They lived in Matagorda and reared their family, five sons and four daughters. Both parents died in Matagorda--Valentine in 1887, and Ann in 1888. Albert Henry Mahavier, oldest son of Valentine and Ann, was born on December 16, 1856, in Matagorda. In 1880, he married Emma Lorraine Eidlebach, daughter of John Eidlebach and Elizabeth Keichenbach. The Texas State Gazetteer, dated 1882-83 and 1884-85, lists Albert Mahavier's meat market. Albert and Emma had four sons and three daughters. Emma died in 1927 and Albert died in 1941. Both were buried in Matagorda.
Albert and Emma's son, Charles, married and moved to Liberty where he reared his family. Curtis, Martha, and Louise lived in Liberty; Clayton lived in Matagorda. Addie married Charles Bauer and moved to Victoria where they reared their family. Grace married twice, and had one daughter; they are all deceased. Henry was a bachelor until late in his life. He liked the outdoors and spent most of his life hunting and fishing, and died without issue. Chester spent the earlier years of his life helping to care for the elderly invalids in the family, and he, too, died without issue. Annie died unmarried. James Arthur Mahavier "Jim" was born on September 18, 1898, in Matagorda. He served in the U. S. Navy in World War I, and in 1922 he studied Practical Electricity at Coyne Trade and Engineering School in Chicago. He married Johnnie Jewel Allen of Mt. Pleasant, Texas in 1923, and they had one son, James Arthur, Jr. This marriage ended in divorce, and in 1935, he married Alelia Otto of Wharton. Jim and Alelia had a son, David Henry, and a daughter, Elizabeth Lorraine. Jim worked thirty-seven years for Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, first in the plant at Gulf and later at the Newgulf plant. He retired in March of 1963, and enjoyed two years of travel before his death in 1965. James Arthur Mahavier, Jr., married Dorothy Nell McClung. He worked thirty-five years for Texas Gulf Sulphur Company before he retired in Matagorda. They had three children and two grandchildren. David Henry Mahavier married Jane Lang Fraley. He was an artist and president of an art production and design studio in Houston. They lived in Spring, Texas, and had two children. Elizabeth Lorraine Mahavier married Robert Ray Petter, a Civil Engineer with the U. S. Government. She worked eight years as an accountant before her marriage. They had one son and made their home in Virginia. J. A. Mahavier Jr.
Historic Matagorda County,
Volume 2, page 334 |
|||
|
Immigrant Parents Franz Joseph Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer Born February 8, 1808 Helmhoff, Baden, Germany Died 1849 Indianola, Calhoun County, Texas
Married |
|
Family of Valentine Hoenig & Ann Senfelder Mahavier |
|||||||||||||
|
Son of Franz Joseph & Eva Hoenig Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer
Valentine Hoenig Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer
Married July 31, 1852 Matagorda County, Texas |
|||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Betty Mahavier listed as the oldest child on
the 1860 Matagorda census |
|||||||||||||
|
Daughter of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer
Amelia S. Mahavier Buried Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas Married September 9, 1873
Matagorda County, Texas Amelia Bedford Matagorda, Texas, Mar. 27.—March 11, 1924, at 8 o’clock p. m., Mrs. Amelia Bedford, from an illness of three years, caused by a paralytic stroke, passed away, after intense suffering at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. H. P. Baxter, at the age of 69 years, 3 months and 29 days. She was a life-long resident of Matagorda as, also, was her husband, George Bedford, who preceded her to the grave many years ago. She was of the Episcopal faith and worshipped all her life in Christ Church here, which has the distinction of being the Mother Episcopal Church of Texas. Surviving her are two sons, W. E. and George Bedford, and two daughters, Mrs. Henry Baxter, the three above of Matagorda, and Mrs. Jessie Martin of Victoria, all being at her bedside when the end came. There are also six grandchildren. Rev. G. T. Storey of Bay City impressively officiated at the funeral and a large number of friends followed the hearse to the cemetery where the body was laid to rest near her daughter, Mrs. Kate Connaly who was buried there only six short weeks previous and whose death, no doubt, hastened that of her mother who craved to go saying repeatedly that she was “full ready and only waiting.” There in, her native soil her loved ones left her lying beneath lovely roses and other flowers sent in by friends of the family. Her children have the deep sympathy of their friends in their great loss and especially to her son, George Bedford, who was truly a devoted son to his equally devoted mother, and her going has left an empty place in his life that can never be filled. Daily Tribune, March 27, 1924
George Thomas Bedford George T. Bedford of Matagorda was seriously, if not fatally wounded while dragging a Winchester rifle into the boat, two miles up the Colorado River from his home. The bullet penetrated the throat, tearing away most of the tongue, all of front teeth and shattering the jawbone. Mr. Bedford rowed the boat two miles down the river, tied the boat and crawled three-fourths of a mile to his home in the city and alarmed the relatives by making a noise. He is unable to speak. Daily Tribune, November 4, 1918 Mr. George Bedford of Matagorda, who accidentally shot himself through the face a few days ago, is in the Bay City Hospital doing well. Strong hopes are now entertained for his speedy recovery.
Daily Tribune,
November 5, 1918 |
|||||||||||||
|
Son of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer Married July 22, 1880 Matagorda
County, Texas
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
5 Son of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer Antoine F. "Tony" Mahavier Married June 30, 1892 Matagorda County, Texas Bettie remarried to James Richmond, March 28,
1901 Matagorda County, Texas |
|||||||||||||
|
6 Daughter of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer Katherine Mahavier
Buried Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Matagorda
County, Texas |
|||||||||||||
|
Daughter of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer
May Mahavier Married April 27,
1896 Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas Both buried Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas
May Vonweg Mrs. May Vonweg Mrs. May Mahavier Vonweg, who was under a physician’s care for 15 months for an incurable malady, departed this life October 2, 1930 at her residence in Matagorda. Her faithful husband and daughter constantly saw that her surroundings were kept cheerful and had all done for her that human hands could do, to make her comfortable all through her illness which she bore with great Christian fortitude, always looking on the bright side even though she realized she was doomed. She was born July 8, 1867, and was a life-long member of the Christian church and her faith in her Lord was undaunted. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Mahavier, were early settlers coming here when Matagorda was in its infancy. All their children were born and reared here, Mrs. Vonweg being youngest daughter. She was happily married to Will Vonweg in 1896 and they took up their residence in the shadow of her parental home, and there is where she passed away. Surviving her in death were her husband, William Vonweg, and only child and daughter, Miss Annie Theresa Vonweg; three brothers (one dying since), one sister, several nephews and nieces.
“She is not dead, but they
miss her, The Daily Tribune, October 20, 1930 William Vonweg William Vonweg, a life resident of Matagorda, died Thursday, February 6, 1936, at the age of 66 years, 1 month and 7 days. He had been in ill health for several years but kept at work until just a short time before his passing. He always lived a good, clean, quiet life and had many warm friends here. For years he was drayman for the various business houses and his last occupation was that of night watchman for the county dredge “Fred Robbins.” Surviving him are his daughter, Miss Annie Vonweg, and his sister, Mrs. Henry Schubert, of Victoria. The day following the death, Rev. S. H. Innes conducted the funeral rites at the family residence and at the cemetery. A large funeral procession followed the hearse to the cemetery where the remains were interred beside the grave of his wife, who passed away five years ago. Many lovely florals contributed by relatives and friends marked his last resting place. Out-of-town relatives present for the funeral were his sister, Mrs. Schubert, and the Bauer family of Victoria. “He had fought a good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness.” Miss Vonweg has the entire sympathy of Matagorda in his bereavement. Matagorda County Tribune, March 19, 1936
|
|||||||||||||
|
Son of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer Buried Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas Funeral Services For Vallie Mahavier, 79, Held At Matagorda Funeral services for Vallie Mahavier, 79, of Matagorda were held at the Methodist Church in Matagorda Sunday afternoon with the Rev. J. A. Rakestraw officiating and burial in Matagorda Cemetery. Mr. Mahavier died at his home after an illness of several years. He was a life-long resident of Matagorda. Surviving are four nieces, Miss Annie Vonweg and Mrs. Mae Baxter of Matagorda, Miss Annie Mahavier of San Antonio and Mrs. W. H. Holmes of Aransas Pass; four nephews, Will Bedford, Chester, Henry and Arthur Mahavier of Matagorda, and other relatives. Matagorda County Tribune, November 11, 1948
|
|||||||||||||
|
Son of Valentine & Ann Senfelder Maierhoefer/Mayerhoefer
Earl Mahavier Buried Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Matagorda County, Texas Earl Mahavier Earl Mahavier, who would have reached his 59th birthday Christmas eve, 1930, passed out of this life Sunday afternoon, October 12, at the Gulf hospital. Although it was generally known among his friends that he suffered with stomach trouble, no one considered him in serious danger, so his death came as a shock to the community. Although he went about his daily tasks he spoke often, the past six weeks, of not feeling so well and finally collapsed without warning. His relatives rushed him to Houston Friday and the attending physician there gave no hopes for his recovery and he was brought back to the Gulf hospital Saturday in an unconscious state in which he continued until the end came. He was a descendant of one of Matagorda’s pioneer families, was born and reared here. In his boyhood he united with the Christian church which faith he followed all his life. He was unmarried, a loyal citizen, a neighbor and friend to all, honest and true and betrayed no man’s trust and if he had an enemy it is not known. “Another life ends in the circle of friends.” The remains were in charge of the A. A. Duffy undertakers and the funeral was conducted at the home of his brother-in-law, Mr. William Vonweg, by Rev. Terly Wilson of Bay City, and concluded at the cemetery where he was laid to rest near his sister, Mrs. William Vonweg, who preceded him to the grave only ten days previous. The floral offerings were just enough to make the place beautiful under which that semblance of Earl Mahavier rests. Surviving him are two brothers, Albert and Vollie Mahavier, and a sister, Miss Kate Mahavier, several nieces and nephews.
The Daily Tribune, October 20, 1930 |
Michael Clyde Mahavier, “Mike” 72 of Bay City, Texas passed away on
Wednesday, May 4, 2022, following a 22-year courageous battle with
angiosarcoma. He was born on April 11, 1950, in Newgulf, Texas to
the late James Arthur Mahavier and Dorothy Nell McClung Mahavier.
John Charles Mahavier, 63, of Bay City passed away on Sunday
afternoon, March 6, 2016, at Kindred Hospital in Sugar Land due to
complications caused by pneumonia. He was surrounded by family and
had a very peaceful transition from this life into his heavenly
home. Johnny was born in Newgulf Texas on March 20, 1952 to James A
Mahavier, Jr. and Dorothy McClung Mahavier. John graduated from
Boling High School, United Electrical Institute in Dallas and
attended Howard Payne University studying music and Old and New
Testament. He was a past member of the Coastalaires, deacon at
Newgulf Baptist Church and Matagorda First Baptist and First Baptist
Church in Bay City.
