Notes

{geni:about_me} M. L. WESTHEIMER: He Had Been In Business In Houston Since 1861.

Houston, Tex., Aug. 3.- At 5 o'clock this afternoon occurred the funeral services over the remains of the late Michael L. Westheimer, whose death occurred Wednesday afternoon, at St. Joseph's Infirmary.

Magnolia Camp No. 13, Woodmen of the World, attended the funeral in a body. The interment was in Beth Israel Cemetery.

Deceased had been confined to his bed but a day or two, being taken to the hospital the day previous. Because his death was so sudden the community was shocked to hear of it.

Michael L. Westheimer was born in Billingheim, Baden, Germany, 74 years ago. When yet a young man he emigrated to America, and shortly after landing here he settled in Texas. He had been engaged in business in Houston since 1861.He was one of the organizers of the volunteer fire department, and as a leader In various other enterprises his name is linked with the past of Houston. He was a prominent member of Magnolia Camp No. 13, Woodmen of the World.

Deceased is survived by his wife and five daughters, Mrs. W. S. Ray of Chicago, Mrs. Rosa Schwartz of Hot Springs, Ark., Misses Aurelia, Mollie and Carrie Westheimer of this city. Miss Carrie has been visiting in Chicago for the past two months and Miss Mollie is now in New York City.

-- Galveston Daily News, Fri, 4 Aug 1905, p3 c4

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"Westheimer and Billig had a livery stable on the corner of Milam and Congress. A native German, M.L. Westheimer had come to Houston in 1859. He had a farm and stables out in the country west of town. After the war, as his brother's children grew old enough, he brought five nephews and three nieces over from Germany. He had a number of employees and started a little school for their children. Other neighborhood children came as well. The shell lane that led to the schoolhouse came to be known as Westheimer Road."

-- Houston, the unknown city, 1836-1946 by Marguerite Johnston

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Mitchell (Michael) Louis Westheimer, businessman, was born in Baden, Germany, in August 1831. He moved to Texas in the 1850s, was naturalized as an American citizen in 1867, and with his wife, Bettie, raised sixteen children: eight of their own, three orphans, and five children of relatives.

Westheimer purchased at auction a 640-acre tract extending from what is now Bellaire Blvd. north beyond what is now Westheimer Road in Houston. The tract became known as the Westheimer Plantation. It featured a large, plantation-style residence on the site of present Lamar High School, stables for the livery, and a racetrack. In the 1860s Houston had no public schools, so Westheimer built a school on his farm, hired a teacher, and allowed area children toattend free.

A miller by trade, Westheimer owned a flour mill in Houston, became a hay merchant in the 1850s and 1860s, and built the first streetcar rails in Houston. He spoke seven languages and often served as an interpreter for the bank and post office. Beginning in the 1880s Westheimer opened the Houston Livery Stable and eventually brought over five nephews from Germany-Max, Sidney, Adolf, Sigmund J., and David. Some of his nephews formed in 1883 the WestheimerTransfer and Storage Company, which has been in operation ever since, and a funeral home.

Westheimer and his family became leaders in Congregation Beth Israel, the oldest continually active affiliated synagogue in Texas, and he served as an officer and trustee of the congregation in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1895 Westheimer dedicated a portion of the land from his plantation to Harris County to provide right-of-way for a short-cut road to Columbus and Sealy. This road was denominated Westheimer Road and runs west from near downtown Houston over thirty miles to Fulshear. It is the longest major thoroughfare in Texas.

M. L. Westheimer died around 1906. His descendants include a great nephew, the author and playwright David Westheimer.

-- Texas State Historical Association

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwets.html

Westheimer, Michael Louis (I25890)

5948

{geni:about_me} Novelist. A native Texan, he graduated from San Jacinto High school in 1933, worked for the Houston Post as a journalist from 1940 to 1960. Moving to Los Angeles to write full time, he was author of fifteen novelsand one non-fiction book. He is well known for his best sellers "Von Ryan's Express," a 1965, 20th Century Fox Oscar-nominated movie and "My Sweet Charlie," a 1966, Emmy Award television movie. In the Army Air Forces during WW II, as a navigator on a B-24 bomber that was shot down in 1942, he spent 28 months in POW camps. He also served in the Korean War and left the service as Lieutenant Colonel, recipient of an Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. "The Greast Wounded Bird", is recollections of World War II, and his last novel, "Delay En Route," was published in 2002, is a lighthearted tale of an American POW. Cause of death: Heart failure Survived by wife: Dody & son: Fred D. Westheimer.
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David Westheimer, who wrote the novels ''My Sweet Charlie'' and ''Von Ryan's Express,'' which was turned into a movie starring Frank Sinatra, died here on Nov. 8. He was 88. The cause was heart failure, said his son Fred.

Mr. Westheimer, who was born in Houston, graduated from Rice University in 1937 and joined The Houston Post, where he was an editor and columnist. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces and was a navigator aboard aB-24 bomber that was shot down by Italian fighter planes. He spent 28 months as a prisoner of war and was released in 1945.

He drew upon the experience and wrote ''Von Ryan's Express,'' a story about an American P.O.W. leading his fellow prisoners on a daring escape in Italy. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for best sound effects.

In 1965, Mr. Westheimer wrote ''My Sweet Charlie,'' which dealt with racial tensions in a Texas town. The novel focuses on a bond that develops between a black civil rights activist and a white teenager who is pregnant but not married.

''My Sweet Charlie'' was made into a successful play, which was produced on Broadway in 1966. It was later made into a television movie that earned an Emmy Award for Patty Duke, who starred as the teenager. Mr. Westheimer's otherbooks include ''Summer on the Water,'' ''Sitting It Out'' and ''Delay En Route.''

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dody; his sons Fred and Eric; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

-- New York Times, November 20, 2005

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E1D71E3EF933A15752C1A9639C8B63

Westheimer, David Kaplan (I25873)

5949

«b»FISHMAN-Beatrice Fishman of 6327 Crombie St. dled May 7. She is survived by her husband Morris (Tete) Fishman; two sons, Dr. Bernard of Long Beach, Calif., and Ronald of Monroeville, Pa.; a daughter, Mrs. Mayer (Anita) Cohen of Uvingston, N.J.; two brothers, Gaorge and Irwln Dunn, both of Pgh.; and a sister, Mrs. Arnold (Shirley) Kann of Monroeville, Pa. Also six grandchildren. Services ware held at Ralph Schugar Chapel. Interment Beth Shalom Cemetery.«/b»

Dunn, Beatrice (I11981)

5950

«b»Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - March 13, 1992
Deceased Name: MADALINE S. JANUARY
«/b»Madaline S. January, 86, died March 5, 1992.
Mrs. January was born in Norfolk. She was the widow of Herbert Charles January.
Survivors include a daughter, Letty L. Stein of New London; a grandchild and a great-grandchild.
Friends may join the family from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday in R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Suffolk. Burial wll be private. Memorial donations may be made to Arden House Patients' Fund, 850 Mix Ave., Hamden, Conn. 06514.
«b»Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - March 13, 1992
Deceased Name: MADALINE S. JANUARY
«/b»Madaline S. January, 86, died March 5, 1992.
Mrs. January was born in Norfolk. She was the widow of Herbert Charles January.
Survivors include a daughter, Letty L. Stein of New London; a grandchild and a great-grandchild.
Friends may join the family from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday in R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Suffolk. Burial wll be private. Memorial donations may be made to Arden House Patients' Fund, 850 Mix Ave., Hamden, Conn. 06514.

Stern, Madaline (I15869)