Frederick Arnold Obenhaus ^{1 2 3}

   Cause of his death was hypostatic pneumonia. A contributory cause was chronic myocarditis..⁴

  General Notes:

At the time of the 1880 census, Frederick was a farmer in Colorado County, Texas. He was next door to his father.

F. A. Obenhaus, 92, Hauled Cotton To El Paso With Oxen

Out at Osage there's a nice old fellow who had lived ninety-two years of about as full a life as anyone could ask for.

His name is F. A. Obenhaus and Sunday his four generations of descendants paid tribute to him with an "open house" at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Geo. Goode, welcoming between 50 and 60 guests.
In speech manner and appearance he typifies a story book Southern colonel, and when he gets to tapping his cane and stroking his snow-white goatee and moustache, he can keep you sitting on the edge of your seat with tales of his early life.

His was bound to be an adventurous life – for he started it on August 16, 1849, the year of the gold rush. In those days just living was pretty much of an adventure. He was born four miles east of Columbus, on Skull Creek and has been a life-long resident of Colorado County. You might say he and Texas were playmates who grew up together, for Texas was only four years a state in the Union when Mr. Obenhaus was born.

A little too young for the army when the Civil War broke out, he turned his energy to farming and cattle raising. At sixteen years of age he began hauling cotton by ox cart from Alleyton to El Paso and was in San Antonio with a load of cotton when the war of the states ended.

Carrying eight bales of cotton on each of six or eight wagons, the trip down the Old Spanish Trail to El Paso and back usually took three months, that is if we didn't get stuck too often in the sand. Twelve miles was considered a day's journey, the distance varying with the number of streams to ford and other hazards.

Whenever the party made camp at night they arranged their wagons in a circle for protection They never had much trouble with Indians, Mr. Obenhaus said, but frequently passed groups of them. "Their main trouble was with the dadgummed Mexicans."

"They'd steal our oxen and hide them out in the woods. Then they'd come to us and say, 'Me find oxen – you give me five dollars,' and that's what we'd have to pay to get 'em back."

Once, he said, his bunch came upon a spot where some cowboys and a band of Indians had just had a fight. "The cowboys had cut off the old chief's head and stuck it up on a mesquite bush."

With such a background, it would seem that a quiet life of cattle raising and farming afterwards would become mighty dull, but not so for Mr. Obenhaus. His interest in the future is rather enhanced by his vast store of experience. Jokingly asked if he attributed his longevity to "good whiskey and good tobacco" as some old-timers do, he replied, "No, sir!" I've never touched whiskey in my life.

And then a twinkle came into his eye. "But I've chewed tobacco for more than seventy years, and I'm still chewing it."

Mr. Obenhaus hold some sort of record for keeping sound teeth. He has lost only two. The others are worn down to the gum, but are still in excellent condition otherwise.

On New Year's Day, 1874, Mr. Obenhaus married Miss Ida Trott, who lived near Columbus. Four children were born to the couple, three of whom are living now, the fourth dying in infancy. The children are all residents of Colorado County; F. E. Obenhaus of Columbus, Willie Obenhaus of Oakland, and Mrs. C. F. Sanders of the Oak Grove community, with whom he has made his home since the death of his wife in 1916.

He has one brother living in Weimar, Mr. E. L. Obenhaus, who is 82 years old.

His living descendants include three children, sixteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild, a two-year-old girl.
Asked if he expected to pass the century mark, Mr. Obenhaus expressed the ideal attitude toward old age: "I'm going to try to live as long as I can, but when my time is up, I'm satisfied. And I don't want to be waited on as long as I can still get around by myself."

And from the way those candles crowded that three-tiered birthday cake, he's been getting around for quite some time.

Weimar Mercury, August 22, 1941
Transcribed by Judy Talkington

Obenhaus, Frederick Arnold

Frederick Arnold Obenhaus, 92, died Sunday. Following the funeral service the body was taken to Live Oak Cemetery near Weimar for burial. Rev. C. L. Boone of Weimar officiated.

Mr. Obenhaus was a native of Columbus, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Obenhaus, pioneer German immigrants.

Survivors are a daughter, Mr. C. F. Sanders of Oak Grove, two sons, W. D. Obenhaus of Oakland and F. E. Obenhaus of Columbus and a brother E. L. Obenhaus of Weimar.

Colorado County Citizen, December 4, 1941
From the files of Miss Lee Nesbitt
Transcribed by Judy Talkington

Nonogenarian Dies At Hospital Here As Result of Fall

Frederick Arnold Obenhaus, 92, died at Bell hospital here Sunday as result of a fall last Friday when he sustained a fractured hip at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Sanders of Oak Grove. Following funeral services at the Columbus Funeral Home Monday, the body was taken to Live Oak cemetery near Weimar for burial. Rev C. L. Boone of Weimar officiated.

Mr. Obenhaus was a native of Columbus, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Obenhaus, pioneer German immigrants. He was a member of the Baptist church.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. C. F. Sanders of Oak Grove; two sons, W. D. Obenhaus of Oakland and F. E. Obenhaus of Columbus; and a brother, E. L. Obenhaus of Weimar.

Colorado County Citizen, December 4, 1941
Transcribed by Judy Talkington

F. A. OBENHAUS DIES AFTER STROKE FRIDAY

Funeral services for Mr. Frederick Arnold Obenhaus. 92-year-old retired farmer and ranchman. who died Sunday in the Bell Hospital. Columbus were held from the Columbus Funeral Home Monday. Dec. 1, the Rev. C. L. Boone officiating. Interment was made in the Live Oak Cemetery

Mr. Obenhaus suffered a stroke Friday and fell. injuring his hip. and was taken to the hospital. Too frail to stand the shock, he sank rapidly and died three days later.

Born August 14. 1849, the year of the Gold Rush, Mr. Obenhaus followed a colorful career of farming and ranching. and for awhile hauled cotton by ox cart from Alleyton to El Paso. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Obenhaus of Columbus, and spent his entire life in the Live Oak, Weimar and Columbus sections. On New Years Day, 1874, be married Miss Ida Trott, who lived near Columbus. Four children were born to the couple, three of whom are living now, the fourth dying in infancy. His wife died in 1916. On his 92nd birthday anniversary during the past summer, his descendants and friends honored him with an "open house" at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Geo. Goode. Mr. Obenhaus was a member of the Live Oak Baptist Church.

His survivors include three children. Mrs. C. F. Sanders, Weimar; W. D. Obenhaus, Oakland; and F. E. Obenhaus, Columbus; a brother, E. L. Obenhaus of Weimar; sixteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Pallbearers w e r e the following grandsons and grandsons-in-law: Leo Obenhaus. Columbus; Jess Scheller, Robstown; G. W. Sanders, Eagle Lake; Geo. Goode, Weimar; Willie Lorfing, Weimar; and Bowers Cousins of West Point.

The Mercury extends deepest sympathy to the family in their bereavement.

Weimar Mercury, December 5, 1941, page 1

  Additional Information:

• FindAGrave: Memorial# 57731412.

• Death Certificate Image: here.

Frederick married Lucy Ida Trott, daughter of John B. Trott and Julia Plummer, on 11 Jan 1874. (Lucy Ida Trott was born on 25 Aug 1849 in Tennessee,^{3 6} died on 15 May 1916 in , Colorado County, Texas ⁶ and was buried in Live Oak Cemetery, Colorado County, Texas ⁷.)