PAUL. G. DENKE

 

 

     Paul G. Denke, b October 31,1876 in Germany, d October 21, 1958 in Falls County, Texas and buried in the cemetery of Perry Methodist Church - was a son of August and Henrietta Pauline (Hainke) Denke of Germany. After his mother's death, his father brought his children to the Perry area of Falls County, Texas.

     On January 8, 1903, Paul married Auguste Inselmann, b July 31, 1880 in New York, d September 19, 1950 in Falls County, Texas - a daughter of Frederich Inselmann, b December 19, 1842, d October 4, 1914 in Falls County, Texas, and his wife, Elizabeth (Dietrich) Inselmann, b February 28, 1847 in New York, d June 29, 1930 in Falls County, Texas.

     Paul G. Denke and his wife, Auguste ("Gussie"), established their near the Alexander School in the Perry area of Falls County, Texas, where he was a school trustee and bought the school a hand bell. He was a successful farmer and landowner, and they worshipped in the Perry Methodist Church. When they were able to replace their 1910 Standard phonograph in their for a "first-class" Columbia model in 1925, their parlor became the center of attention for family and friends.

     Cotton was the chief crop produced by Paul, and with careful management, he was able to purchase a 364-acre farm on the Otto-Mart road in 1925. In 1935, "Gussie" took her daughters to visit relatives in Detroit, Michigan; in 1939 Paul and "Gussie" attended the World's Fair in New York; and in 1959 they took their daughter, Lydia, back to Germany to visit relatives there.

     Paul G. and Auguste (Inselmann) Denke had five children:

     Adolf Friedrich Robert Denke, b October 16, 1903 in Perry, Falls County, Texas, d there September 12, 1981 - married December 8, 1932 to Irene Ludwig, b June 6, 1913, and became a successful farmer and rancher near Riesel, Texas. Adolf Friedrich Robert and Irene (Ludwig) Denke had one son, Fredrich Eugene Denke, b November 11, 1935.

     Alice Elizabeth Henrietta Denke, b October 27, 1906 at Perry, Falls County, Texas - married first to a Mr. Grant, and second to a Mr. Owen - and moved to Houston, Texas.

     Reinhard Henry Charles Denke, b May 19, 1909 at Perry - married January 12, 1939 to Elsie Grams, b July 25, 1917. He farmed in the Otto, Texas community of Falls County, and their children were: Joy Ann Elsie Denke, b May 3, .1940 in Marlin - married Robert Cummings; Paulette Linda Denke, b February 24, 1943 in Marlin - married C. D. Parsley; and David Reinhard Denke, b November 7, 1949 in Waco, Texas - married Linda Steinke.

     Lydia Beatrice Adelheid Denke, b May 9, 1915 at Perry, Falls County, Texas - married Austin Daniel Bryan.

     Erwin Paul Harry Denke, b April 15, 1921 at Perry - married in 1948 to Lucille Koester, b October 22, 1921. They reside in the built by his parents, and had four children: Dewain Erwin Denke, b March 28, 1949 in Waco - married Joyce Rice; Marilyn Au- guste Denke, b September 2, 1951 in Waco - married Joe Potthoff; Dolores Clarienne Denke, b January 8, 1957; and Paul William Denke, b January 4, 1963 in Waco, d April 8, 1984 in an airplane crash near Hilo, Hawaii, while serving as Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps.

 

 

 Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 119 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.