[byrne.ftw]
! The Hartman and Vogel families were always close friends. Both
families moved by train from Illinois to Muenster, Texas. This was in
December of 1905. In August of 1906 Frances was born, the only one of
George Hartman's eleven children born in Texas. Four years later
Frances' mother died and this was really hard on the younger children
to grow up with out the love and concern of a mother. Frances lived
with her father for about ten years, he then went back to Illinois to
stay in a home for the aged. He asked Maggie, Frances' sister to care
for her. Victor, her brother just a little older, stayed with their
other sister, Rosa Becker. The Vogels had several boys and their
friendship grew even stronger as Victor made the Vogels his second
home. The Vogels were happy to have him and treated him as one of
their own. He and Joe Vogel became very close. Maggie would not allow
Frances to go to dances until she was sixteen years old. When the
time finally arrived, it was a Thanksgiving dance, Frances' first
dance and Joe ask to take her home. This was the beginning of their
courtship. Soon after this Frances and Victor went to another dance
by horse and buggy. Victor tied the horse up but must not have done a
good job because after the dance was over the horse and buggy were
gone. It was very dark but they decided to walk the streets to find
"Old May" and the buggy. While looking and hunting they came across
Joe Vogel and his brother Al. Al said he would help Victor find the
horse and Joe said he would take Frances home so this became a treat
for everyone. Joe and Frances dated off and on but did not get too
serious because Frances had made up her mind not to get married until
she was twenty one years old. On October 11, 1927, Frances and Joe
were married in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster. Father
Frowin officiated and Angeline Hartman and Al Vogel were their
attendants. They lived and farmed most of their married life and in
1956 they moved to town, Muenster. Joe died six years later. Frances'
address: Rt 1 Box 177 Muenster, Tx. 76252 Ph. 817-759-2594