On the afternoon of October 5, 1902. Julius Franz Conrad Wurzbach passed from the scenes of earth to the life that is eternal.

For long weary months he endured the sufferings of a fatal illness.  All that human love, or human agency and skill could do to restore him to health, was done, but in vain.  He was entering the shadows and silence of the valley that intervenes betwixt this world and that beyond, and no human agency could stay his going.  As the sun purpled the western hills on the evening of his sixty-fourth birthday, he passed through the vale, and rested on the sunlit hills beyond.

Mr. Wurzbach was the second son of Franz Justus and Renetha Carnelia Rosalo Schneider Wurzbach, and was born in Witzbug, Bavaria, Germany on October 5, 1838.  When seven years of age, he came in company with his parents to America.  The family landed at Galveston where they remained until 1849 when they removed to San Antonio.  After a residence of two years in that city, the family came to Medina county, and established themselves upon the upper Medina.

Julius Wurzbach was engaged in the cultivation of the farm until he reached the age of sixteen.  He then gave up farming, and began freighting from Port Lavaca to San Antonio.  He continued this business until the outbreaking of the Civil War.  In his sixteenth year he and his brothers, Rudolph and Adolph, were confirmed in the Lutheran church.  They were members of the second class that received this rite in the Lutheran church at Castroville.

War Record

In 1862 Mr. Wurzbach entered the Confederate Army as a private in Company H Third Regiment of Texas Volunteers.  This Company was commanded by Capt. S. G. Newton.  The company remained at San Antonio until the Spring of 1863, when it was ordered to Brownsville where it remained for two months.  The command was then ordered to Harrisburg from where it moved to Houston.  The regiment was presented by the citizens of Brownsville with a handsome flag as a token of the high appreciation in which the officers and soldiers of the command were held by them.  The regiment participated in the battle of Sabine Pass at which 300 men and 2 vessels of the enemy were captured.  During the next few months the command was stationed at Valasco, Cam Slaughter, and Bernard Creek.

In 1864 the company was sent to Louisiana by way of Houston, Crocket and Huntsville.  At Shreveport the command was hurried to Mansfield as a battle was pending near that place.  The Company, however, arrived too late to participate in the engagement.  In the spring of 1864 the regiment was attached to Scurry's Brigade of Walker's Division and sent into Arkansas.  A Federal force under Stell was entrenched at Campton.  A forced march was made to capture this force, but on reaching Campton they found that the enemy had retreated.  Following the retreating enemy they overtook them at the Saline river and an engagement ensued.  In this battle Generals Scurry and Randle were killed, and Gen. Wall lost his right arm.  Capt. Newton's horse was shot from under him.  The day following this battle, the Confederates buried their dead, and retired to their Camp near Princeton, returning in a few days to Alexander in Louisiana.  From this place the command went to Fort Monroe where they received orders to go to Georgia.  This order was not executed as it was impossible to procure boats for their transportation across the Mississippi river.  The command was then stationed at Monte Stella, Campton, Ark., Menton, and Shreveport, La.

In the Spring of 1865 the company was again on Texas soil.  At Hempstead news of the surrender of the Confederate forces east of Mississippi was first learned.  The end had come.  The Confederacy was dead.  The Southern Cross that had floated over the bravest soldiery that the world ever saw, was furled forever.

Mr Wurzbach and his comrades of "the last cause" having received an honorable parole turned their faces homeward.  As they turned away from the scenes of their glorious achievements with sad hearts and silent tread, the earth resounded with the plauditis of those who appreciated their heroism and patriotic valor.

On December 28, 1868, Mr. Wurzbach was married to Miss Caroline Heusinger.  Five children were born of this marriage.  One, a girl, died; the others and six grand-children and his wife survive him.  His children are: Henry and Otto, Mrs. Emil Zoller and Mrs. Fritz Tuerpe.

On Monday afternoon the mortal remains of this devoted husband and father, good citizen, and gallant Confederate soldier were followed from the town of Castroville by a large procession of sorrowing relatives and friends to their last resting place in the family burial grounds on the banks of the Medina river where amid prayers and tears ashes were consigned to ashes, and earth to earth to await that morn when the grave shall give up its dead, and the mortal shall be clothed with immortality.  The last sad rites of the Lutheran church were performed by the Rev. E. J. Rod.  The Knights of Honor, of which order the deceased was a member in good standing, attended the burial of their deceased brother.

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat,
The soldier's last tatoo
No more on life's parade shall we meet
Our comrade brave and true.

On fame's eternal camping ground
His silent tent is spread,
While glory guards with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.

Mrs. Wernette was taken sick on Friday morning, suffering a stroke of paralysis while seated at the breakfast table.  Medical aid was immediately summoned, and all the care and love that skilled physicians and an anxious household could devise and apply for her comfort and assistance were brought into play, but to no avail, and despite the prayers and entreaties of all who knew and loved her, their appeals were overruled, and shortly after the beautiful Sunday morning was kissed by the risen sun, the sufferer's spirit took its flight to that Home above.

Mrs. Wernette (nee Meuret) was born in Ruefach, Ober-Alsace, Germany, November 11^th 1834.  She came to the United States in 1850, and in the year 1851 she was married to Mr. Philip Jagge, who preceded her in death in 1857.  From this union two sons were born, the oldest dying in infancy, while the youngest, A. F. Jagge survives.

In 1859 she was married to Mr. J. B. Wernette Sr., which union was blessed with ten children, seven of whom are living, namely, Messrs. Joseph, Charles, Philip and John Wernette Jr., and Mesdames Wm. Rhin, J. W. Galbreath and Frank Grimsinger.  Besides her grief stricken husband and children she is survived by thirty-two grand children, one great-grand-child, also one brother Mr. Joseph Mueret of Runge, Texas, and one sister, Mrs. Augustine Kobe, of Portland, Oregon, to mourn her demise.

The life journey of this noble woman is ended.  Yes, it is a path marked with deeds of kindness and cheer.  Flowers, not thorns, sunshine, not shadow, did she scatter everywhere.  With these was she lavish.  Truth was the inspiration of her life, and by kindness she exemplified its great worth.  She was a devout Catholic, a faithful wife and loving mother, a kind neighbor, and beloved and respected by all who knew her.

The funeral took place from St. Louis Catholic Church after Mass of Requiem, on Monday morning, and interment was made in the Catholic cemetery.  Rev. Father Kirch performed the last sad rites.  A large number of sorrowing relatives and friends followed the remains to its last resting place.  The flowers and floral offerings were beautiful, but not not more beautiful than the face which rested so peacefully among them.

We feel that there is not a single person in Medina County who has known her in life but that joins in extending their deepest heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved ones.

Card of Thanks

We take this method of giving to our friends our thanks for their many kindnesses during the illness and death of our wife and mother.  Again we wish to thank all those who attended the funeral, also many beautiful floral offerings.
                                                                                                                             J. B. Wernette Sr. and family