Josephine Bettis

Josephine Menke was born in Prussia on 20 January 1821, a daughter of Joseph Menke. Joseph was born about 1793 and died on 21 September 1852, in Texas. Joseph Menke brought Josephine and her four brothers and sisters to Texas before 1847. Josephine married, had children by, and buried three husbands. Her first husband, whom she married and buried in Germany, was named Plemper. Her second husband was Herman Baker and her third husband was Henry Bettis. She was living with her husband, Henry Bettis, age 40, a baker, born in Germany, in the 1860 Census of Independence, Washington County, Texas. Living with them were her children; Frederick, Henry, Joseph, Bettie, and John. She would have two more sons, James and Wallace. Henry Bettis died prior to the 1870 Census.

Frederick, aka Fritz, used both Bettis and Plemper as his sir name. He was born 27 September 1842, in Germany, and came to Texas about 1845. He served as Fritz Plemper, a private, in Company I, 5^th Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Hood’s Texas Brigade, C.S.A. He enlisted on 5 February 1862, in Washington County, Texas. Fritz was detailed to nurse wounded from the Fall of 1863 to Spring of 1864. He was paroled at Appomattox on 12 April 1865. Frederick Plemper married Adeline Bass on 6 May 1869, in Burleson County, Texas. Adeline was born 16 February 1853, in Louisiana. Fritz and Adeline had these children; Lee, Elizabeth, John, Jim, William, Ola, Maurine, Rex, and Biddie. Fritz Plemper died 11 October 1912, and Adeline Bass Plemper died 20 January 1923. They are buried in the Plemper-Bettis Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas.

Henry W. Baker was born 12 August 1846, in Texas. He filed Civil War Pension Application # 41393. His wife Julia A. was born 17 July 1856, in Mississippi. Some of their children are: A.R. born in 1874; Clara L, born in October 1875, married D.B. Bryan; Robert W. born 5 February 1877, died 12 July 1904; Annie L. born in July 1878; Theodore born 22 September 1880; Wallace born in March 1882; Joe H. born 12 December 1885; and Forest born in August 1885. Mrs. Julia Baker died 31 May 1921 and Henry W. Baker died 15 January 1928. They are buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Somerville, Burleson County, Texas.

Joseph H. “Joe” Bettis was born 3 January 1848, in Texas. He married Emilie Reinhart on 28 October 1876, in Washington County, Texas. They had a daughter Kase Bettis, born about 1878. Joseph H. Bettis married Mary J. Burk (Bourke) on 22 December 1880, in Burleson County, Texas. Mary was born 25 March 1861, in Ireland, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Bourke. Joseph “Joe” and Mary had children: Lillie, born in January 1885; Madge, born in January 1887; Ennis, born 17 January 1889; and Hal, born in March 1891. Joseph H. Bettis died 29 October 1900, and Mary Burk Bettis died 17 July 1938. They are buried in the Plemper-Bettis Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas.

Betty Bettis was born about 1852 in Texas. She was in the 1860 and 1870 Census.

John T. Bettis was born 10 October 1855, in Texas. His wife Carolyn M. was born 6 January 1857, in Texas. Their son Robert W. Bettis was born in July 1885. Mrs. Carolyn Bettis died 23 August 1900 and John T. Bettis died 14 October 1917. They are buried in Plemper-Bettis Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas.

James Monroe “Jim” Bettis was born 20 July 1860, in Texas. He married Laura E. Brazzle on 22 November 1892, in Burleson County, Texas. Laura was born in January 1870, in Texas.  James’ children are Jim, John, and Estelle. He was a private in the Texas Infantry during the Spanish-American War. James M. Bettis died 10 July 1910, and is buried in the Plemper-Bettis Cemetery in Burleson County, Texas.

Wallace Bettis was born about 1862 in Texas. The 1870 Census of Burleson County, Texas, is the only record found for Wallace.

Josephine Menke Plemper Baker Bettis died 20 August 1886, and is buried in the Plemper-Bettis Cemetery, south of Snook, in Burleson County, Texas.