Taken from the writings of granddaughter Pansy Luedecke, published in Early Women of Texas.
Magdalena Hornberger Henninger (1825-1906) Great-great grandmother of SAC member, John C. Luedecke
Magdalena Hornberger was born on April 26, 1825 in Bavaria. She married John Henninger, also a native of Bavaria, where his family owned large vineyards and extensive real estate. Because of the many wars between France and Germany, the taxes on their property became so excessive that John and Magdalena decided to migrate to America.
In 1853 the Henningers sailed from Germany to New Orleans. It took them seventy-three days to cross the Atlantic. On the way, their sailboat was rammed, and the passengers had to bail water until repairs could be made. It was a sad trip for they had left their infant son Jacob in Bavaria with Magdalena’s sister. Magdalena’s brother, Adam Hornberger, had preceded them to American and was the owner of a candy manufacturing plant in New Orleans.
John and his pregnant wife’s plan to land in New Orleans had to be changed because a yellow fever epidemic was raging and their boat was diverted to Galveston. Since Magdalena’s other two brothers, Jacob and Christian, were established as merchants in Austin, the Henningers decided to travel to Austin. They went to Houston by rail and then on to Austin by oxcart.
They arrived in Austin May 10, 1853. They bought a farm on the north side of the Colorado River. Their home on the west side of Congress Avenue at 3rd Street was a two-story rock house. Later the house became the first location of the International and Great Northern Railroad Station until a new station was built just off Lamar Boulevard and West 3rd Street.
Magdalena and John later sold their farm and bought two lots on San Antonio at 17th Street. The Henningers had four children born in Austin: Katherine, Philipena, Emma Dorothy and Henry. Jacob who had stayed behind in Germany joined the family.
Magdalena saw to it that her children received an education. She even sent Emma Dorothy to the German-American Ladies College run by Matile von Schenck and Alice Nohl. At the college there was a large house where boarding students lived and smaller cottages on the property where classes were held. The school not only taught the academic subjects but also manners and fine handwork. Emma Dorothy rode to school on her pony and returned home evening.
Magadalena Hohnberger
According to a granddaughter, Magdalena was short in statue and had pretty dark eyes and hair. She was a sturdy housekeeper, an excellent cook and a did fine handwork. Magdalena was a charter member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church. When the church moved to its new location on 15th Street, a pew was dedicated in her memory.
After her husband’s death in 1882, Magdalena lived on the farm with her mother who had migrated to Austin. She later was to spend the rest of her live with her youngest daughter and son-in-law William Luedecke and their children at Manor. Her grandchildren adored her and profited by her presence. Magdalena died January 24, 1906 and is buried next to her husband in Oakwood Cemetery.
Oakwood Cemetery Section 1, Henninger lot