Carl Gustav Fitze

Carl Gustav Fitze

• Carl Gustav Fitze was born on 13 January 1829 in Preußen.
• He was known as Charles in the United States.
• Carl Gustav Fitze arrived in the Port of Galveston, Texas, on 3 December 1849, aboard the Bark Reform from Bremen, amongst 42 German immigrants, three of whom died during the voyage. According to the passenger manifest, he was a tutor from Derenberg.
• He married Pertima Olivia Thomason on 13 April 1854 in Fort Bend County, Texas.
• Carl Gustav Fitze and Pertima Olivia Thomason appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Waverly PO, Walker (later San Jacinto) County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Elmore Fitze. Also in the household were Pertima's sisters Ildergirt (age 29) and Dorthula Thomason (28).
• He was a professor of music, according to the 1860 census.
• Carl Gustav Fitze became a widower at the 10 January 1867 death of his wife Pertima Olivia Thomason.
• He married Sarah Caroline Baldwin, daughter of William Owen Baldwin and Mary Ann Caroline Rugeley, on 15 August 1867 in Polk County, Texas.
• Carl Gustav Fitze and Sarah Caroline Baldwin appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Livingston PO, Polk County, Texas. Other members of the household included William Elmore Fitze, Clara Olivia Fitze, Edwin Hunt Fitze, Joseph Rugeley Fitze, Charles Baldwin Fitze and George Shelby Fitze. Also in the household were two domestic servants.
• He was a merchant, according to the 1870 census.
• The following appeared on 10 November 1871 in The Galveston Tri-Weekly News: (Marianna, late Drew's Landing) Mr. C. G. Fitze, of the above place, is kind enough to inform us that a postoffice has been established at that point, now call Marianna, Polk county. Mr. Fitze has received the appointment of postmaster. The mail will arrive and depart twice a week.
• Carl Gustav Fitze and Sarah Caroline Baldwin appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Polk County, Texas. Other members of the household included Joseph Rugeley Fitze, Charles Baldwin Fitze, George Shelby Fitze, Mary A. Fitze, Cornelia Goodrich Fitze, Hortense Irene Fitze, Owen Kirk Fitze, Sarah Fitze, Pedigo Fitze and Horace Fitze.
• He was a merchant, according to the 1880 census.
• The following appeared on 24 December 1883 in The Galveston Daily News: (Railway Notes) Mr. Charles G. Fitze, who is to be the general freight agent of the new Houston and Gulf Shore of Messrs. Charles Tinsley and Paul Bremond, has for some years been employed in the same capacity, and successfully, in the main office of the Houston East and West Texas (narrow-gauge), at Houston.
• Carl Gustav Fitze became a widower at the August 1897 death of his wife Sarah Caroline Baldwin.
• The following appeared on 12 August 1897 in The Galveston Daily News: (Houston, Aug. 11) A telegram was received here to-day bringing the news of the death of Mrs. C. G. Fitze at Pueblo, Mexico. She was the wife of Mr. C. G. Fitze, at one time treasurer of the Houston East and West Texas narrow gauge road, and of [sic] Judge Charles B. Fitze. At the time of her death she was there on a visit to Joseph B. Fitze, one of her sons, for pleasure and health, though she was usually in excellent health. She leaves several children to mourn her death, among them being Mrs. Mamie Jones, wife of an ex-sheriff of Wharton county; Mrs. Gus Cook, Mrs. Wm. P. Arnold, Justice Chas Fitze, and several younger children.
       The news was a shock to the family and their large circle of friends in this part of the state. Mrs. Fitze was a sister of Wm. Baldwin of this city. She is from one of the old Alabama families and was a native of that state.
  :TAB: The remains will be interred in Pueblo, for the present at least.
• Carl Gustav Fitze appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Harris County, Texas. Other members of the household included Julia Maude Fitze, Elizabeth Fitze, Gustav Cook and Cornelia Goodrich Fitze. Also in the household were Cook granddaughters Leona (age 5) and Nellie (3), and one female domestic servant.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1900 census.
• Carl Gustav Fitze appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Also in the household was housekeeper Nannie Bauman.
• Carl Gustav Fitze died on 22 April 1915 at age 86 in Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma.
• He was interred at Magnolia Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 25 April 1915 in the Cleburne Morning Review: (Houston, April 24) Charles G. Fitze, eighty-six years old, the son of a Prussian Grand Duke, died at Ponca City, Okla., as the result of paralysis, following accidental asphyxiation at his home in Houston several weeks ago. The body will be sent to Houston for burial.
       Mr. Fitze was born in Prussia in 1829. His father was Charles G. Fitze, Grand Duke of Weiringerod, and his mother was the Grand Duchess Sophia. He left his native country and came to Galveston in 1848, where he taught music for a livlihood. After leaving Galveston he went to Independence, Texas, and became a professor of music and mathematics in Baylor university and located at that place. Later he engaged in the mercantile business.
       Mr. Fitz secured the right-of-way for the Houston, East & West Texas railroad and was made the first general frieght and passenger agent of that road. After severing his connection with the railway company he became bookkeeper of the Bering Lumber company. He retired from active business activity about twelve years ago.

• Last Edited: 28 Feb 2013