Stelzer
Christian Stelzer was born in Germany on March 1, 1815. In 1844 he left that country and came to New York. The boat trip from Germany then required nine weeks. On board ship he met Annie Elizabeth Harbic and on July 5, 1844, they were married in new York. She was also born in Germany on March 25, 1825. After living in New York for a short time, they moved to Pennsylvania where they remained for eight years. Next they moved to Indian Territory, making the trip by boat to Shreveport, thence overland to Boggy Depot, a stage stop near Tishomingo. In 1858 they moved to Collin County and settled two miles east of Celina and one-fourth mile south of Cross Roads Cemetery.
Christian and Elizabeth Stelzer were the parents of nine children, Mrs. John P. David, Mrs. Charles B. Fields, Mrs. Sam Beck, Mrs. Ab Noble, Mrs. F. S. Finley, Abiel D., Edmond, and two children who died in infancy. Christian Stelzer was murdered near his home on April 1, 1861, and was buried there. A stone which marked his grave was moved to the cemetery adjoining Celina on the east side. [Union Cemetery] The murder was over a trivial matter of building a fence. Christian and his son Abiel were building the fence when two men rode by on horseback. The men made fun of the way the fence was being built and Abiel threw a rock at them. In the argument that followed, Christian was stabbed repeatedly in the stomach. Abiel helped him back to their house where Christian died. Because of the unsettled conditions prevailing at the outbreak of the Civil War the murderer was never apprehended.
Abiel Drake Stelzer was born in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania on July 7, 1845, and came to Collin County with his parent in 1858. On May 2, 1862 when less than seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the Confederate Army in Company E, Martin's Regiment, Gano's Brigade. He was discharged in May 1865. He married Ellen Shawver of Roseland, where she was born in 1854. They had eight children, four of whom survived their parents: Mrs. Tom Glendenning, Mrs. George Lynn, Miss Emma and W. D. Stelzer. Abiel Stelzer died on November 5, 1929 and his wife on October 21, 1931. George W. Tillerson and John T. Tillerson, half-brothers of Mrs. Stelzer, also survived her. Ellen Shawver Stelzer was a charter member of the Baptist Church of Celina.
Alice Very Stelzer married Thomas John Glendenning on January 17, 1917 in Celina. They were the parents to two children, Emma Dolores and Don Thomas Glendenning. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Glendenning live in the home at 704 Third Street in Celina, Texas.
Christian and Elizabeth Stelzer were the parents of nine children, Mrs. John P. David, Mrs. Charles B. Fields, Mrs. Sam Beck, Mrs. Ab Noble, Mrs. F. S. Finley, Abiel D., Edmond, and two children who died in infancy. Christian Stelzer was murdered near his home on April 1, 1861, and was buried there. A stone which marked his grave was moved to the cemetery adjoining Celina on the east side. [Union Cemetery] The murder was over a trivial matter of building a fence. Christian and his son Abiel were building the fence when two men rode by on horseback. The men made fun of the way the fence was being built and Abiel threw a rock at them. In the argument that followed, Christian was stabbed repeatedly in the stomach. Abiel helped him back to their house where Christian died. Because of the unsettled conditions prevailing at the outbreak of the Civil War the murderer was never apprehended.
Abiel Drake Stelzer was born in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania on July 7, 1845, and came to Collin County with his parent in 1858. On May 2, 1862 when less than seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the Confederate Army in Company E, Martin's Regiment, Gano's Brigade. He was discharged in May 1865. He married Ellen Shawver of Roseland, where she was born in 1854. They had eight children, four of whom survived their parents: Mrs. Tom Glendenning, Mrs. George Lynn, Miss Emma and W. D. Stelzer. Abiel Stelzer died on November 5, 1929 and his wife on October 21, 1931. George W. Tillerson and John T. Tillerson, half-brothers of Mrs. Stelzer, also survived her. Ellen Shawver Stelzer was a charter member of the Baptist Church of Celina.
Alice Very Stelzer married Thomas John Glendenning on January 17, 1917 in Celina. They were the parents to two children, Emma Dolores and Don Thomas Glendenning. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Glendenning live in the home at 704 Third Street in Celina, Texas.
