Summary
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Ernst von Rosenberg (1852-1915), longstanding draftsman and chief draftsman at the Texas General Land Office, was born in 1852 near Round Top, Texas. Correspondence, land records, financial documents, records of fraternal organizations, and family papers document the business and some personal affairs of Ernst von Rosenberg, as well as land ownership and some personal affairs of his family, including sons Ernest Jacob and Paul von Rosenberg, mother Auguste von Rosenberg, and Charles von Rosenberg.
Biographical Note
Ernst von Rosenberg (1852-1915), longstanding draftsman and chief draftsman at the Texas General Land Office, was born in 1852 near Round Top, Texas to Carl Wilhelm and Auguste von Rosenberg. Ernst’s father, Carl Wilhelm (William) von Rosenberg (1821–1901), was also a chief draftsman at the Texas General Land Office and an emigrant with the Adelsverein. The family moved to Austin in 1856, when Ernst was three years old. Public education options were limited in Austin, but Ernst von Rosenberg was self-educated and, following in his father’s footsteps, he was appointed draftsman of the General Land Office in 1876. He was appointed chief draftsman in 1913. With the exception of a two-year period from 1891 to 1893, Ernst von Rosenberg was a draftsman at the Texas General Land Office for thirty-seven years, from 1876 until the time of his death in 1915.
In 1879 von Rosenberg married Helene Lungkwitz, daughter of Texas landscape artist Herman Lungkwitz. Ernst and Helene had eight children, two of whom, Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg and Herman Ursini von Rosenberg, continued the family tradition by pursuing careers at the General Land Office. Ernst von Rosenberg was actively involved in the Austin community throughout his life. As a young man he served in the Travis Rifles, a volunteer infantry company. He was a long-time member of the Austin Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and served as its secretary-treasurer for forty years; he also served on the board of the Friends in Need Society, an early fraternal benefit society and insurance organization for whites. Von Rosenberg also served as Alderman on the Austin city council.
Carl Wilhelm (William) von Rosenberg (1821–1901) and Auguste von Rosenberg had eleven children in all, including Ernst, Paul, William, Jr., Frederick, Laura, and Emma. Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg (1889-1975), draftsman, was born to Ernst and Helene von Rosenberg in Austin and worked as an engineer at the Reclamation Department, the Texas General Land Office, and at the Texas Highway Department.
Sources
Von Rosenberg Family.
Web. 11 Sept. 2019. http://www.vonrosenberg-family.org/.
Von Rosenberg Family Papers (AR.112.VRF). Archives and Records, Texas General Land Office.
Scope and Content
In 1879 von Rosenberg married Helene Lungkwitz, daughter of Texas landscape artist Herman Lungkwitz. Ernst and Helene had eight children, two of whom, Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg and Herman Ursini von Rosenberg, continued the family tradition by pursuing careers at the General Land Office. Ernst von Rosenberg was actively involved in the Austin community throughout his life. As a young man he served in the Travis Rifles, a volunteer infantry company. He was a long-time member of the Austin Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 and served as its secretary-treasurer for forty years; he also served on the board of the Friends in Need Society, an early fraternal benefit society and insurance organization for whites. Von Rosenberg also served as Alderman on the Austin city council.
Carl Wilhelm (William) von Rosenberg (1821–1901) and Auguste von Rosenberg had eleven children in all, including Ernst, Paul, William, Jr., Frederick, Laura, and Emma. Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg (1889-1975), draftsman, was born to Ernst and Helene von Rosenberg in Austin and worked as an engineer at the Reclamation Department, the Texas General Land Office, and at the Texas Highway Department.
Sources
Von Rosenberg Family.
Web. 11 Sept. 2019. http://www.vonrosenberg-family.org/.
Von Rosenberg Family Papers (AR.112.VRF). Archives and Records, Texas General Land Office.
Correspondence, land records, financial documents, records of fraternal organizations, and family papers document the business and some personal affairs of Ernst von Rosenberg, as well as land ownership and some personal affairs of family members, including sons Ernest Jacob and Paul von Rosenberg, mother Auguste von Rosenberg, and Charles Wilhelm von Rosenberg. Ernst’s personal land interests are well documented from 1896-1915 through business correspondence, many with his land agent George Myers. More information about family land holdings, in particular lands on the Walker Wilson, J.G. McGehee, Cocke, and Crawford surveys, is found in Land Papers in the Family Papers sub-group. Documentation of Ernst’s employment at the Texas General Land Office is limited to his applications for employment as draftsman in 1899 and chief draftsman in 1903, a printed circular demanding an increase in draftsmen’s salaries, and a paystub for the special project he worked on to determine the extent of vacant public land in 1899. Letters of reference written to Land Commissioner John James Terrell (1857-1920, Land Commissioner 1903-1909) from associates across Texas supporting Ernst’s employment at the land office show his wide and varied support and associations; correspondents of note include George Littlefield, George Myers, and O. W. Williams. The Financial Documents include tax receipts and other household invoices, and illuminate aspects of the Von Rosenberg household as well as local government and businesses in Austin in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Family papers are few and limited to birth and professional certificates of Ernest J. von Rosenberg. Family members are also mentioned in Ernst’s land business and GLO-related correspondence, in the tax receipts, and especially in the Land Papers series mentioned above.
Some insight into Ernst von Rosenberg’s civic life is provided in the Fraternal Organizations papers. The bulk of this series is from the Friends in Need Society. The correspondence, addressed to G. A. Wheatley, the Secretary of the organization, is from members requesting benefits. Also included is limited documentation of the Select Knights of Texas, the Austin Hook & Ladder Fire Co. No. 1, and the Ancient Order United Workmen of Texas. Ernst’s interest in local politics and his opinions about development in the City of Austin and the fire company’s involvement in political elections are shown in the notes and clippings.
There is a small addition of correspondence from Ernst's father Carl Wilhelm von Rosenberg to W. G. Hansbrough regarding a land ownership dispute with Carl Wilhelm acting as land agent for Hansbrough.
Date
Some insight into Ernst von Rosenberg’s civic life is provided in the Fraternal Organizations papers. The bulk of this series is from the Friends in Need Society. The correspondence, addressed to G. A. Wheatley, the Secretary of the organization, is from members requesting benefits. Also included is limited documentation of the Select Knights of Texas, the Austin Hook & Ladder Fire Co. No. 1, and the Ancient Order United Workmen of Texas. Ernst’s interest in local politics and his opinions about development in the City of Austin and the fire company’s involvement in political elections are shown in the notes and clippings.
There is a small addition of correspondence from Ernst's father Carl Wilhelm von Rosenberg to W. G. Hansbrough regarding a land ownership dispute with Carl Wilhelm acting as land agent for Hansbrough.
1871-1964
Extent
2.50 Linear feet (6 document boxes, 1 oversized box)
Language
English
Arrangement
These records are organized into three series:
Ernst von Rosenberg Papers, 1899-1915,
Von Rosenberg Family Papers, 1859-1964,
Carl Wilhelm von Rosenberg Correspondence, 1882-1884
The Ernst von Rosenberg Papers are further organized into 4 subseries:
Texas General Land Office Employment 1899-1902,
Land Business Correspondence 1896-1915,
Financial Records 1871-1908,
Civic Activities 1899-1908,
The Von Rosenberg Family Papers are further organized into 2 subseries:
Land Records 1859-1901,
Family Documents 1902, 1927-1964,
Preferred Citation
Ernst von Rosenberg Papers, 1899-1915,
Von Rosenberg Family Papers, 1859-1964,
Carl Wilhelm von Rosenberg Correspondence, 1882-1884
The Ernst von Rosenberg Papers are further organized into 4 subseries:
Texas General Land Office Employment 1899-1902,
Land Business Correspondence 1896-1915,
Financial Records 1871-1908,
Civic Activities 1899-1908,
The Von Rosenberg Family Papers are further organized into 2 subseries:
Land Records 1859-1901,
Family Documents 1902, 1927-1964,
Von Rosenberg Family Papers (AR.112.VRF). Archives and Records Program, Texas General Land Office, Austin.
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