Louis Authenrieth1

b. 15 June 1837, d. 4 June 1897
Birth15 Jun 1837 Louis Authenrieth was born on 15 Jun 1837 in Ulm, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.2 
Full Name His full name was Johann George Ludwig Authenrieth.1 
Marriage24 Apr 1860 Louis married Mary Jane Debusk, daughter of Andrew Debusk and Mary (?), on 24 Apr 1860 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Cens-186012 Jul 1860  A few months after their marriage Louis and Mary were enumerated in the household of Frank Murenthen in Washington County. Louis was 23 and Mary was 19. Louis' place of birth was noted to be "Wirtenburg", Germany, as was Frank's. Both men were employed as vine dressers.4 
  Louis' wife Mary Jane Debusk was the sister of Frank's wife Susannah Debusk. It seems likely the two couples were living on land owned by the Debusk family as their immediate neighbors in 1860 included the women's parents as well as their brothers William and David. William Debusk owned land valued at $6,000.5 
  Interestingly Louis and Frank's other adjacent household belonged to William E. Jones who a few years later would become a prominent figure in the Confederate Army. By 1860 William was actively engaged in cultivating a vineyard on his property. Although no evidence has been found to date linking Louis and Frank to Gen. Jones, one wonders if they helped him establish his vineyards. 
  Family records note that at some point Louis was employed as a vine dresser and groundskeeper at Martha Washington College.1 
Military20 Aug 1861  Louis enlisted for one year in company F. of the 37th Virginia Infantry at Glade Spring, Virginia. At the end of the year he was discharged because he was not a resident of the Confederate States. The paperwork created at that time stated that Louis was born in the Kingdom of Wurtenburg, Germany, was 27 years old, stood 5 feet, ten inches tall and had grey eyes and dark hair. He was noted to be a vine dresser by occupation. The Confederate Army owed him $13.96 in pay but Louis owed them $26.00 for clothing.6  
  Louis and Mary Jane were the parents of 16 children. The 1880 census enumerated 12 children: Catherine [Mary Katherine] (18), George [George Leonard] (16), Charlie [Charles Conrad] (15), Jackson [Andrew Jacob Frederick] (13), August [William August] (12), Frank [Thomas Franklin] (11), Lewis [Louis] (9), Flora (8), Harry (6), Minnie [Wilhelmene] (5), Oscar (3), Benj. (4/12, b. Jan.). The full names in brackets were added from Louis and Mary Jane's entry in Families of Washington County and Bristol, Virginia 1776-1996 (see citation). The authors of the entry provided these 4 names in addition to those listed on the 1880 census: Rachel Anna (b. Feb. 1862), Nellie (Oct. 1876-Dec. 1876), Robert (1882-1882) and Ella (1883-1899).7,1 
Widowed3 Jun 1889  Mary Jane died on June 3, 1889. 
Death4 Jun 1897 Louis died on 4 Jun 1897 at age 59.2 
Burial He was buried at Sinking Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Last Edited16 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S23] Pauline Nash, Louise Prevo, Betty Arnett and June Bowen, "Johann George Ludwig (Louis) Authenreith" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 74.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 100. Stone reported to read: Louis Authenrieth b. 15 Jun 1837 in Ulm Germany, d. 4 June 1897.
  3. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 9. Louis Authenreath, 22, sgl, b. "Kingdom of Wertenburg Germany", res. WCV, vine dresser, s/o George & Mary Authenreath AND Mary Jane Debusk, 18, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Andrew & Mary Debusk.
  4. [S234] Frank Murenthen household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 103 (original script), dwelling 744, family 721, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2013. Household includes: Frank Murenthen, 24, vine dresser, owns personal property of $100, b. Wirternburg, Germany; Susan, 20, b. VA; Louis Authenreith, 23, vine dresser, b. Wirternberg, Germany, Mary, 19, b. VA.
  5. [S16] Frank and Susannah's Washington Co., Virginia 22 Feb. 1860 marriage record (Colley, Washington Co., Virginia Marriages 1853-1880, p. 259) spelled his surname Muentler.
  6. [S2729] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed Nov. 2013); Louis Authenreath, private, Co. F., 37th Virginia Infantry.
  7. [S163] Lewis Authenreath household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, p. 54B, dwelling 485, family 487. Nov. 2013. Household includes: Lewis Authenreath, 47, farming, b. Germany; Mary J., 42, b. VA; Catherine, 18, dau; George, 16, son; Charlie, 15, son; Jackson, 13, son; August, 12, son; Frank, 11, son; Lewis, 9, son; Flora, 8, dau; Harry, 6, son, Minnie, 5, dau; Oscar, 3, son; Benj., 4/12, son, b. Jan; all children b. VA.