Father: Johann Heinrich Schulte
Mother: Catherina Margaretha Agnes Bodecker
__________________________________________________________________________
Spouse:
Hilke Harms
GERDES
Birth: 9 Sep 1840 Aurich, Ost Friesland,
Niedersachen, Germany.7
Census: __ ___ 1880 John Henry SCHULTE (1 Nov 1863-27
Nov 1946); Medina County, Texas; Household #120, Quihi.8
Death: 11 Apr 1906 Medina County, Texas.7
Burial: __ ___ ____ Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery,
Quihi, Medina County.1
Father: Harm Harms
GERDES (18 Feb 1807-14 Mar 1867)
Mother: Eite
Schmidt EHMEN (2 Feb 1812-16 Mar 1873)
__________________________________________________________________________
Seven
Known Children
__________________________________________________________________________
F Anna Katherine
SCHULTE
Birth: 23 Mar 1858 Quihi, Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1860 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #333 New Fountain.5
Census: __ ___ 1870 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #191 New Fountain.6
Marriage: 8 Jan 1876 Jans Martin SAATHOFF (12 Mar
1850-15 Sep 1889), son of Martin Jansen SAATHOFF and Maria Lubben ADEN; Hondo,
Medina County, Texas.3
Marriage: 30 Mar 1891 Charles August REITZER (28 Apr
1868-2 Feb 1957), son of Ambroise REITZER Jr and Ottalia BIHL; St Louis Catholic
Church, Castroville, Medina County.9
Death: 10 Sep 1928 San Antonio, Bexar County,
Texas.1
Burial: __ ___ ____ Oakwood Cemetery, Hondo,
Medina County.1
__________________________________________________________________________
M Frank Christian
SCHULTE
Birth: 6 Sep 1859 Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1860 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #333 New Fountain.5
__________________________________________________________________________
F Angelina SCHULTE
Birth: 29 Jul 1861 Quihi, Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1870 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #191 New Fountain.6
Marriage: 3 Aug 1878 Joseph H HORN (20 Aug 1851-11 Jul
1936)3
Death: 14 Feb 1947 Medina County, Texas.1
Burial: __ ___ ____ Quihi Community Cemetery,
Medina County.1
__________________________________________________________________________
M John Henry
SCHULTE
Birth: 1 Nov 1863 Quihi, Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1870 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #191 New Fountain.6
Census: __ ___ 1880 Hilke Harms GERDES (9 Sep 1840-11
Apr 1906); Medina County, Texas; Household #120, Quihi.8
Marriage: 2 Apr 1891 Wilhelmina REITZER (1 Feb
1871-16 Sep 1942), daughter of Jean REITZER and Elizabeth LOESSBERG; Medina
County, Texas.10
Death: 27 Nov 1946 Hondo, Medina County, Texas.11
Burial: __ ___ ____ Quihi Community Cemetery,
Medina County.1
__________________________________________________________________________
M Orlando Ehme
SCHULTE
Birth: 22 Nov 1865 Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1870 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #191 New Fountain.6
Census: __ ___ 1880 (w); Hilke Harms GERDES and John
Henry SCHULTE; Medina County, Texas; Household #120, Quihi.8
Death: 5 Jan 1948 Hondo, Medina County, Texas.11
Burial: __ ___ ____ Quihi Community Cemetery,
Medina County.1
__________________________________________________________________________
F Maria SCHULTE
Birth: 17 Aug 1868 Quihi, Medina County, Texas.1
Census: __ ___ 1870 (w); Franz Friederich SCHULTE and
Hilke Harms GERDES; Medina County, Texas; household #191 New Fountain.6
Census: __ ___ 1880 (w); Hilke Harms GERDES and John
Henry SCHULTE; Medina County, Texas; Household #120, Quihi.8
Marriage: 3 Jul 1888 Otto Henry BRUCKS (24 Mar
1866-30 Oct 1934)1
Death: 8 Dec 1938 Medina County, Texas.10
__________________________________________________________________________
M John William
SCHULTE
Birth:
circa __ ___ 1877 Medina County, Texas.11
Census: __ ___ 1880 (w); Hilke Harms GERDES and John
Henry SCHULTE; Medina County, Texas; Household #120, Quihi.8
Death: 2 Apr 1914 El Paso, El Paso County,
Texas.11
__________________________________________________________________________
Researcher's Notes by Donna Schulte Loth, great-great-granddaughter
Record citation of his birth/baptism in Lintorf, Wittlage, Hannover, Germany showing his birthdate as 24 Jun 1827. Passenger list of the ship "Goethe" arriving in Baltimore, Maryland on 09 Sep 1844 showing the names of Johann Heinrich Schulte, his wife Catherina, Franz (spelled "Frantz"), his brothers Gerhardt and Wilhelm, and his sister Maria. Copy of his marriage license to Hilke dated 17 May 1856 in Castroville. He became a naturalized citizen on 28 Jul 1858. He shows up in the 1860 census for Medina County, along with Hilke and their children Anna Katherine and Franz Christian (who died the next year). In 1870 he was appointed a trustee of the common land along Quihi Creek, including what we know as Quihi Lake. In 1870 the family is living in New Fountain, and Franz's occupation is shown as "Merchant". This ties in with Hilke later saying (in one of her affidavits) he once had a store in Quihi. Also in the family is Anna Katherine, Engelina, Henry John (also called John Henry), Ehme Orlando, and Maria.
He doesn't appear in any further census records. In 1889 or 1895 (both dates are present), Hilke applies for a pension due to Franz's supposed military service. She states he served in an unknown company of Ohio Volunteers during the Mexican War. The Department of the Interior and the War Department begin to search for any records of his service. In a letter from Hilke's attorney, he states that some of her neighbors, Ludwig Moehring and Louis Boehle, were aware of Franz's service in Mexico. Hilke says any records she may have had were washed away in a flood in July of 1869. Supposedly he knew or served with "Big Foot" Wallace, who she says can attest to Franz's service. There is actually an affidavit sworn by W. A. A. Wallace (known as "Big Foot"), saying he knew Franz, and saw him in Monterrey, Mexico, as a soldier!
Hilke emphatically states (several times) that Franz died 23 Jul 1872 in San Antonio and that she lived with him until the date of his death. She denies ever having been divorced or remarried. I suspect somehow someone got wind of the existence of her youngest son, born in 1877 of an unknown father (although there are rumors), and just assumed she had remarried after Franz's death.
She further states that "before the Rebellion" Franz was a farmer, and a mail carrier between Eagle Pass and San Antonio. During "the Rebellion" she says he was a peddler, and afterwards had a store in Quihi. She lists the names of his siblings: Gerhard, Wilhelm, and Maria Clara (married name Kunning) all of New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio. This matches with the passenger list mentioned earlier. (There was actually an older sister, also named Maria Clara, who died as an infant before the family left Germany).
Hilke describes Franz as "dark brown in color, light brown eyes, dark brown hair".
There is a lot of correspondence back and forth between Hilke's lawyer and the various government departments, but the bottom line seems to be that no one could prove Franz had served in the Mexican War, so her application for pension was denied.
I have actually found the records of the burials of Franz's family in Auglaize County, Ohio. Also, I have quite a few DNA matches to Schultes in the northeastern part of the US, and have been corresponding with some of them in hopes of finding out exactly how we match up. It's an ongoing project. I have received a clipping from the 1872 San Antonio Daily News announcing his death and funeral, which was presided over by Alamo Masonic Lodge #44. Information from the Secretary of that Lodge: "I have researched the old minutes of Alamo Lodge and found that on July 24, 1872 Alamo Lodge on request from Hondo Lodge 252 did bury Bro. Frank Schulte here in the Masonic Cemetery. I have not found a tomb stone with his name on it but I will continue to try. There is more than one Masonic cemetery in San Antonio so I may have to search more than one"
From the Masonic Grand Lodge & Museum of Texas 02 Oct 2025:
"Here's what we were able to find:
Hondo Lodge No. 252, Hondo Valley, Medina County
(As Frank Shuler on records except 1872 annual return as Frank Schulter)
EA - 9 Feb 1861 (Entered Apprentice)
FC - 8 Feb 1962* (Fellow Craft) 1862
MM - 8 Mar 1982* (Master Mason) 1862
Tiler 1865 (The Tiler is the officer who stands guard at the outer door of the Lodge, preventing unauthorized individuals from entering and ensuring the security and privacy of the meeting)
Treasurer 1866 - 1869
Master Mason in good standing on date of death, listed on the lodge's report and our official records as 12* July 1872."
*I'm confident that the typist got "one off" on their keyboard, and the dates should begin with 18, and his death date 23.
QUIHI LAKE Waterfront a Common for public
A 8 p 60 - John C. McKean, of Caldwell Co. Texas, owner & proprietor--Quihi, Feb. 28, 1870
Citizens of the Town of Quihi
All that waterfront as a common that is still unsold from Meyers lot of 14 acres to the Eastern boundary line of the Original Survey made for I. Allison, N. 23, the object of this conveyance is to keep the Quihi Creek open for the convenience of the Citizens and for the benefit of the stock.
To have and to hold the above described land and donated premises to the sole proper use, benefit and behoof of the aforesaid citizens of the Town of Quihi, their administrators or assigns in fee simple forever. Louis Boehle & FRANK SCHULTE are hereby appointed trustee to carry out this arrangement and the said McKean binds himself, his heirs, administrators & assigns to warrant & defend the title to the above described premises against the claim or claims of all persons legally claiming the same.
John C. McKean
Ack. before Nic Haby
by Jos. Kempf etc. 28 Feb 1870
Filed 28 Feb 1870 at 3pm etc. A 8 p 60-61
In presence of Charles de Montel
Jos. Kepmf
Source: H. E. Haas Collection, Institute of Texan Cultures library, San Antonio, Texas
__________________________________________________________________________
Endnotes
1.
TXGenWeb - Medina County, online http://www.txgenweb3.org/txmedina/. Hereinafter
cited as TXGenWeb Medina.
2.
Multiple entry; Sea Queen, Johan Schmidt, Anna Delius Globe Passenger
Lists, 1853; in Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans,
Louisiana, 1820-1902; M-259 (n.p.: U. S. Archives), Roll #38.
3.
Calvin D Foster, compiler, Marriage License Book D, Medina County, Texas
(San Antonio, Texas: Our Heritage, 1978). Hereinafter cited as Medina Co
Marrs Bk D.
4.
WPA Index to Texas Naturalizations 1846 - 1939; (Medina County: WPA: Texas
District & County Courts). Hereinafter cited as Medina Co Natlztn.
5.
Family Quest, 1860 Census of Medina and Other Counties in Texas., CD-ROM
(n.p.: Family Quest), Medina County. Hereinafter cited as 1860 Census.
6.
Family Quest, 1870 Census of Medina and Other Counties in Texas., CD-ROM
(n.p.: Family Quest), Medina County. Hereinafter cited as 1870 Census.
7. G.
McLin, compiler, Medina County, Texas Cemeteries (n.p.: G. McLin, 1985).
Hereinafter cited as Medina Co Cems I.
8.
Family Quest, 1880 Census of Medina and Other Counties in Texas., CD-ROM
(n.p.: Family Quest), Medina County. Hereinafter cited as 1880 Census.
9. LDS
Microfilm, compiler, St Louis Catholic Church, Castroville, Medina County,
Texas (n.p.: GEDCOM by an unknown person). Hereinafter cited as St Louis
Church Gedcom.
10.
GenCircles, online www.gencircles.com. Hereinafter cited as GenCircles.
11.
Family Search - Labs, online http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/#p=0.
Hereinafter cited as Family Search - Labs.
