Kathinka, the eldest daughter of Conrad and Adalbertha Bergmann Adam, was born on 7 September 1857. Her great-grandson, Marion Toepperwein, told this story about her. “Before her marriage while living at her father’s place near Boerne, Texas. Due to no fences, horses had to be hobbled, a band of Indians rode through scattering the horses. Indians were still wild and would steal cattle and kill white people. Kathinka had just unhobbled one horse and was able to ride back to the farm house in time to escape the Indians.” Can you image how scary that would be?
On 30 December 1875, she married Paul Johannes Toepperwein. Kathinka and Paul lived in Leon Springs until 1882 when they purchased property four miles south of Boerne. They sold the farm after living there thirty years and purchased a smaller farm. In 1919, they purchased a house in Boerne.
Paul and Kathinka had six children: Albert Paul born in 1877, Edwin born in 1882, Ella Clara born in 1884, married Willie Stein, and Wally Bertha born in 1889, married Adolph Wendler, Rudolph Herbert born in 1892, married Alma Pearl Alexander, and one son died as an infant.
Paul was born in Germany on 17 February 1844 to Ferdinand Lucian and Marie Elizabeth Toepperwein. The family settled ten miles east of Fredericksburg on Grape Creek where his father taught school. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army and was assigned to the regiment band. His brother Herman was the band leader. Paul played the trombone in the band but could play several other instruments. He died 11 July 1929.
Kathinka died in 10 June 1943. Her obituary in the Boerne Star stated, “She was a very good hearted and fine old lady, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, everyone she came in contact with she had a kind and good word for and of course had very many dear friends.”
” Mrs. Kathinka Toepperwein,” obituary, The Boerne Star (Boerne, Texas), 17 June 1943.
Toepperwein, Marion. “Paul Toepperwein.” 1980s.
Conrad's Stories 