The Gotleib Krause Family

Gotleib Krause was born on November 14, 1832 in Posen, Prussia.  He was a member of the Cavalry Division for four years.  At the age of twenty, having been advised by his superior officer to go to America where he could have a better life, he set sail. 

Gotleib arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 27, 1859 aboard the ship "Adler".

Full Passenger List; Ship: Adler; arrived in New Orleans on May 27, 1859

 An enlarged portion of the passenger list below:

Gotleib embarked by boat up the Mississippi River planning to contact relatives in St. Louis, Missouri.  He spoke several languages so he was able to readily learn English.  He decided to leave the boat with an acquaintance at Waterproof, Louisiana.  Upon hearing of the fine farm land around Sicily Island, he made his way here and began work in a sawmill owned by Mr. Glover.  

For the amount of $10 a month, he boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt.  In 1861, he joined the First Louisiana Cavalry of the Confederate Army.  He left his money (all in gold) with the Schmidt's.  During a battle in Tennessee, his horse was shot from under him and he was shot in the head.  He was left for ded.  When Mr. Hopkins (Allena Hopkins Stafford's father) went back to look for him, he was found alive.  Later he was shot in the elbow and used to let the children feel the bullet which was still in his arm.

At the end of the Civil War, he returned to Sicily Island to find that Mr. Schmidt had died.  Mrs. Schmidt told him they had to use some of his money.  She offered to sell him 258 acres of land in return for the money they had used.  The sale included the log house which had two large rooms about 20x20 ft. raised high off the ground.  Each room had a large fireplace with hooks for cooking utensils.

Freight came by boat in those days from New Orleans to Start's Landing on the Ouachita River where Gotleib would pick it up.  Charlie Start told Gotleib of his pretty aunt from New Orleans, Caroline Rotham.  

Caroline's oldest sister, Louisa Rotham, married William J. Start in New Orleans.  They migrated up river looking for a place to settle and start a business.  Sighting a bend in the Ouachita, near the mouth of the Boeuf River, they landed and purchased a tract of land on which they built their home and a store in 1860.  It was from this beginning that Start's Landing got its name.

Caroline Rotham was born in New Orleans on February 10, 1852.  She was the daughter of Peter Rotham and Caroline Therisia Herzer.  Caroline Therisia Herzer came to New Orleans from Wurttemberg, Germany in 1831.  (Editor's note:  photograph of Caroline Therisia Herzer is courtesy of Marthanne Williamson, Herzer descendant)

Caroline Therisia Herzer

When Caroline Rotham came to visit her aunt Louisa, Charlie saw that she and Gotleib met.  Gotleib visited her two or three times before going to New Orleans to see her once.  On this visit to New Orleans, she promised to marry him.  They were married during Gotleib's next trip down to New Orleans on March 18, 1878.  They came to the landing by boat and then rode horses home.  They added two rooms and an off-set kitchen to their home.  These were built by their neighbor, James Luther Smith.  Later, they bought the strip of land around Lockett Pond to square off their acreage. 

Their home became a haven of hospitality.  Their generosity to neighbors and acquaintances is well remembered by their descendants.  Their daughter, Caroline "Lina", recalls many instances of their aid to people in need and says that her father traveled many miles on horseback to deliver supplies to those who had need.  

The Krause family were faithful members of the Old Pine Hill Methodist Church.  They regularly hitched two well kept horses to the big surrey and filled it with seven children and a basket of food to attend Sunday Services whenever they were held. 

Caroline, left a widow with six remaining children to help her, continued to operate the farm until her retirement.  After retirement, she made her home with her son, Oscar and his wife, Birdie.

Gotleib Krause died on December 16, 1898.  Caroline Rotham Krause died on June 27, 1944.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of Gotleib and Caroline Rotham Krause:

Henry Markham, Sr. was born on January 24, 1879.  He first married Myrtle Bennett in 1907.  Myrtle was the daughter of Zachariah and Sarah Jane Myers Bennett.  She died six weeks after their wedding on April 20, 1907.  

Henry later married Earle York, daughter of Zebulon and Mollie Earle York.  Earle was born on December 6, 1889.  In 1940, Henry and Earle bought the Harris House pictured below.  Earle and her son, Albert Earl and family continued to live in this house after the death of Henry.  After the deaths of Albert Earl and his wife, Thelia Marie Huff Krause, the house was sold.

Harris-Krause House, 2011

Henry Markham Krause, Sr. died in June of 1963.  Earle York Krause died in April of 1978.  The location of their burials is not known at this time.

Henry and Earle Krause had the following children:

Henry Markham, Jr., 1912-1992 (m. Mary Ford Johnson)
Albert Earl, Sr., 1915-1996 (m. Thelia Marie Huff)
Frederick Oscar, 1920-1978 (m. Mildred Passman)

Albert Gotleib was born September 2, 1880 and died on November 1, 1889.  He is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Kate "Katie" Louisa was born January 7, 1882.  She married Fort Ofney Ellis, who was born on May 17, 1878.  Fort Ellis was the sheriff of Catahoula Parish from 1912-1920.  They had one son, Ofney Krause Ellis.

Kate "Katie" Louisa Krause Ellis died on October 7, 1963.  Fort Ofney Ellis died on December 20, 1944.  Both are buried in the Harrisonburg Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Catahoula, Louisiana.  (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Eva Merryman at FindAGrave.com)

Augustus "Gus" Samuel was born on August 10, 1883.  In 1910, he married Josie Wardie Reeves who was born on March 17, 1889.  Wardie was the daughter of L. V. and Sarah Ellen Dias Reeves, Jr. of Franklin Parish.  She and Gus had one child, Augusta Krause, who married Walter "Bunk" Taliaferro. 

Augustus "Gus" Samuel Krause died on April 21, 1972.  Josie Wardie Reeves Krause died on January 27, 1976.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Oscar Otto was born on November 18, 1885.  He married Birdie Talbert who was born on August 30, 1898.  Birdie was the daughter of Ben and Elizabeth Talbert of Arcadia, Louisiana.  Oscar and Birdie had no children but reared her nephew, Ben Westerburg.  Birdie taught school in Sicily Island for many years. Oscar lived out his life on Sicily Island where he farmed the land on which his father had first settled.

Oscar Otto Krause died on January 13, 1972.  Birdie Talbert Krause died on March 18, 1984.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island. (Editor's Note:  Birdie T. Krause tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Caroline "Lina" was born on October 30, 1887.  She first married Dr. Henry Seth Bennett, Jr. who was born on August 29, 1877 to Henry Seth and Sallie Cotton Bennett, Sr. of Jonesville.  Lina and Henry had two daughters, Elaine Bennett Parks Emerson and Hattie Bennett Peacock.  

Dr. Henry Seth Bennett, Jr. died on June 18, 1920.  He is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.   (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

After Dr. Bennett's death, Lina married Robert A. Wilkinson of Jonesville.  Robert was born on November 10, 1883.  There were no children born to this marriage.

Caroline "Lina" Krause Bennett Wilkinson died on June 25, 1981.  Robert A. Wilkinson died on August 1, 1962.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Mary Gertrude was born on August 13, 1890.  She married Samuel Sig Boniel who was born on April 3, 1882 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  No children were born to this marriage.

Samuel Sig Boniel died on April 21, 1933.  He is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

After the death of Samuel Sig Boniel, Gertrude married Glenn Barbee who was born in 1886 in Minnesota.  There were no children born to this marriage.

Mary Gertrude Krause Boniel Barbee died on February 24, 1968.  Glenn Barbee died in 1968.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Reference:  Our Island Heritage, Vols. 2-3, 1977-78, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith