Paul Machemehl

Paul Machemehl (June 22, 1845 – January 22, 1932), a German-Texan of the Forty-Eighters, was a prominent leader among the German Texans in the Central Texas community of Bellville, (Austin County). [1] [2]

Family in Germany

Paul Machemehl's father, John Machemehl, was a university educated forester for the city of Annaberg in Saxony. His wife Henrietta, born in Switzerland, was a French Huguenot who was a governess for the family of a Russian prince of Courland whose estate was on the Baltic. She met John Machemehl in Saxony while traveling with the Russian family. Henrietta died in Texas in 1850. John married two more times, had four more children, and died in 1880. [3]

In 1849, John Machemehl led his family during from Annaberg, Saxony, to an area near the present day town of Bellville, Texas. [4]

German Texans and the Civil War Years

By the early 1860's a number of German Texans came to believe that the Confederate fight was immoral and decided to move their families to Mexico. Paul Machemehl is known for his participation in the passage to Mexico which numerous German Texans endured during the American Civil War [5] [6]. Many Central Texas Germans rode to Mexico. All of these individuals met hardship and many were killed at the Nueces Massacre which set a fearful example to others German Texans trying to ride to Mexico.

Passage to Mexico

Many individuals from Central Texas joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico, hoping to return to Texas after the American Civil War had ended.

Documents located at the Eula and David Wintermann Library in Eagle Lake, Texas report that:

John Machemehl "was discussing the hostility between the North and the South with Paul Machemehl of Bellville, Texas. Many Germans did not believe this was their fight and many joined Paul Machemehl and rode south to Mexico to sit out the war before returning." [7]

On Paul Machemehl's return from Mexico, it was around 1868 that Paul began his courtship with Hermina Brune in Colorado County, Texas." [8]

Return to Bellville and Marriage to Hermine Brune

Paul was a successful farmer and cattleman and acquired land in many areas within Austin County before retiring to Bellville in 1913. Paul’s wife was Hermine Brune of the adjoining Colorado county, also of German immigrant stock. [9] [10]

On January 8, 1881 Paul Machemehl married Hermine Brune. The marriage was performed by Colorado County Judge, Charles Riley [11]. Mrs. Hermine Brune Machemehl died on December 18, 1936 and was laid to rest in Austin County [12].

The Family of Paul Machemehl

Paul Machemehl's son was Louis A. Machemehl (1881-1952), a prominent civic leader and successful land and cattle broker, was a native of Austin County. He was vice-president of Austin County State Bank, horseman of note, and owner of the 3rd. automobile in Bellville. [13] [14]

Paul Machemehl's grandson was Charles W. Machemehl (1922-2005). Mr. Machemehl was a member of the Texas A&M class of 1944 that was transferred to Army Officer Candidate School in 1943. He served in the European theater with several airborne units as a forward observer and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the Ruhr Pocket, and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest. His unit linked up with the Russian army at the Elbe River precipitating the end of the war. He received several medals for gallantry in combat including two bronze stars and a silver star. At the end of the war he had attained the rank of captain and was a member of the staff of General Matthew B. Ridgeway, 1st Allied Airborne Army [15].

Paul Machemehl's great grandson is Chuck Machemehl (1947-present), a prominant rancher, businessman and civic leader in Washington County,Texas [16]. Chuck Machemehl was also a Cleveland Indians pitcher during 1971 [17].

Machemehl Family House

In 1920, Paul's son Louis A. Machemehl commissioned famed Houston architect, Alfred C. Finn, to design the Machemehl Family House in Bellville, Texas. The structure is a one and one-half story house built in Airplane-Bungalow style. The the upstairs portion is set behind the large wrap-around porch. Many festivities took place on that spacious porch, including dances by the youth of the city to a Victrola. Mahogany crown molding and doors and a fireplace with inlaid decorative tile, original brass wall sconces and chandeliers and a door into the kitchen for ice deliveries set this house apart. It remained in the Machemehl family until 1953. The architect's original watercolor rendition and detailed floor plans are in the archives of the Houston Public Library [18]. This house, a Texas Historic Landmark of the Texas Historical Commission was built for Louis A. Machemehl, his wife Adelheid Machemehl (d. 1949), and their five children. The house was a center of social activity for the Central Texas community of Bellville, was where Charles W. Machemehl lived. The landmark remained in the Machemehl family until 1953. [19] [20] [21]