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Westheimer, Michael Louis

Male 1831 - 1905  (73 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Westheimer, Michael Louis  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Born 22 Aug 1831  Baden Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Gender Male 
    Alt. Birth 22 Aug 1831  Billigheim, Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 9, 10
    Name M.L. Westheimer 
    Died 2 Aug 1905  Houston, Harris, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    Buried 3 Aug 1905  Beth Israel Cemetery Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I25890  Our Family
    Last Modified 16 Jan 2024 

    Father Westheimer, Isack Baer,   b. 14 Jun 1804, Billigheim, Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1888, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Joel, Riel Wolf,   b. 1796,   d. 1832, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 36 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F9670  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hirsch, Babette "Bettie",   b. Abt 1838, Lautershausen, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Feb 1915, Houston, Harris, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years) 
    Married 1858  Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11
    Children 
     1. Westheimer, Gustave
     2. Westheimer, Mollie
     3. Westheimer, Aurelia
     4. Westheimer, Samuel
    +5. Westheimer, Rosa L.
     6. Westheimer, Bertha
    +7. Westheimer, Carrie C.
     8. Westheimer, Hettie
     9. Westheimer, Simon
     10. Westheimer, Elonora
    Last Modified 16 Jan 2024 
    Family ID F9748  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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

      **********

      "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

      **********

      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
      {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

      **********

      "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

      **********

      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

  • Sources 
    1. [S128] 1880 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc;), Year: 1880; Census Place: Harris, Texas; Roll: 1309; Page: 286C; Enumeration District: 084.
      1880 United States Federal Census
      1880 United States Federal Census


    2. [S3145] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA.
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982


    3. [S3145] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA.
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982


    4. [S3145] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA.
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982


    5. [S3145] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA.
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982


    6. [S3145] Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA.
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
      Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982


    7. [S1957] Germany, Baden, Archdiocese of Freiburg im Breisgau, Catholic Church Records, 1678-1930.

    8. [S132] 1880 United States Federal Census.

    9. [S128] 1880 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc;), Year: 1880; Census Place: New York City, New York, New York; Roll: 888; Page: 518D; Enumeration District: 437.
      1880 United States Federal Census
      1880 United States Federal Census


    10. [S15] Obituary.

    11. [S200] Obituary, for Bettie/Babette.