Mary Jane Debusk1

b. 13 March 1842, d. 3 June 1889
FatherAndrew Debusk1
MotherMary (?) b. abt 1800, d. May 1870
Birth13 Mar 1842 Mary Jane Debusk was born on 13 Mar 1842 in Washington County, Virginia.2,1 
Marriage24 Apr 1860 She married Louis Authenrieth on 24 Apr 1860 in Washington County, Virginia.1 
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.3 
  Mary Jane's sister Susannah Debusk had married Frank Murenthen [Muentler?] in Feb. 1860. 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 $6,000.4 
  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.5 
  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).6,5 
Death3 Jun 1889 Mary died on 3 Jun 1889 at age 47.2 
Burial She was buried at Sinking Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Last Edited16 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [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.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 100. Stone reported to read: Mary Authenrieth b. 13 Mar 1842, d. 3 Jun 1889.
  3. [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.
  4. [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.
  5. [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.
  6. [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.