John Edward Kauffman

b. 31 December 1857, d. 22 July 1913

John Edward Kauffman, 1857-1913
  • John Edward Kauffman was born on 31 December 1857 in Galveston, Texas.
  • He married Ann Clarke Williams, daughter of William Howell Williams and Edwin Eliza Campbell, on 1 February 1883.
  • John Edward Kauffman and Ann Clarke Williams appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Austin, Travis County, Texas, at 2717 Rio Grande. Other members of the household included Ann C. Kauffman.
  • He was county tax collector, according to the 1900 census.
  • John Edward Kauffman and Ann Clarke Williams appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Galveston, Texas, at 3005 Avenue O. Other members of the household included Ann C. Kauffman.
  • He was employed as an accounant by the Business League, according to the 1910 census.
  • John Edward Kauffman died on 22 July 1913 at age 55 in Milam County, Texas, at the ranch of W. B. Wortham, near Buckholtz.
  • His wife Ann Clarke Williams became a widow at his death.
  • He was interred at Old City Cemetery, Galveston, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 24 July 1913 in The Galveston Daily News: State Senator John Edward Kauffman of Galveston, aged 56 years, died late Tuesday night near Buckholtz, Milam County, at the ranch of W. B. Wortham, former state treasurer, bank president and a prominent business man of Austin, where he had gone to recuperate from a nervous collapse that had confined him to the John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for several weeks. Telegraphic advices of the Galvestonian's death were received Wednesday morning.
         Senator Kauffman was secretary of the Galveston Commercial Association, and was a widely known figure throughout Texas. He was elected to the Texas senate in 1910, representing Galveston, Brazoria, Chambers, Matagorda and Wharton counties. He was prominent in fraternal and lodge circles, maintaining membership in the Masons, the Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and many other organizations. He was a noble of El Mina Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Travelers' Protective Association, in which he was executive committeeman of Texas.
         The late Galvestonian is survived by his wife, Mrs. Annie Kauffman; his daughter, Miss Ann Kauffman; his father, C. A. Kauffman, and a sister, Mrs. Alex. Russell, all of Galveston.
         The funeral is to be held under Masonic auspices at 10 o'clock Friday morning in Galveston, the body having been shipped to Glaveston, accompanied by Mr. Wortham. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
         Many Marks of Respect. The news of Senator Kauffman's death came as a distinct shock to his hundreds of friends in Galveston. The flags on many buildings throughout the city, including the Galveston Cotton Exchange and the Galveston Commercial Association headquarterts, Elks' Home, Scottish Rite Temple were half-masted. The Commercial Association upon receipt of the news closed for the day. A special called session has been summoned for this morning, when the board of directors will pass suitable resolutions. The Texas senate, in special session at Austin, also passed resolutions of condolence and appointed a committee to come to Galveston and attend the funeral. The train bearing Senator Kauffman's body to Galveston was received at the Union Depot by a large crawd of friends, including the executive committee of the fifth annual cotton carnival, of which he was secretary, and which went to the station in a body.
         A Native Galvestonian. Senator Kauffman was born in Galveston Dec. 31, 1857, and resided in the Oleander City continuously for twenty-five years until appointed auditing clerk in the office of the Texas state controller at Austin, when he moved to the state capital.
         He was appointed by President Cleveland in the year 1893 to be internal revenue collector of the Third District, which embraced Galveston County. He served for five years in that capacity and resigned to accept the appointment of state and county tax collector of Travis County. He was secretary of the state democratic executive committee for four years, and was on that committee during the Hogg-Clark contest.
         He was married in the year 1883 to Miss Annie Williams, daughter of ex-County Judge Beaver Williams of this county, and grandddaughter of Hon. S. M. Williams, who was of the firm of McKinney & Williams, the first banking firm of the state, which was located at Galveston. S. M. Williams was also the first colonial secretary of the state of Texas, founded by Stephen F. Austin.
         Jan 1, 1907, he was appointed secretary of the Galveston Business League, succeeding W. A. Gardner, resigned. When the Galveston Business League and the Galveston Chamber of Commerce amalgamated he was unanimously elected secretary of the new organization, and up to a few weeks before his death was actively engaged in the work of the Galveston Commercial Association.
  • The following appeared on 24 July 1913 in The Dallas Morning News: (Galveston, Tex., July 23) State Senator John Edward Kauffman of Galveston, aged 56 years, died late Tuesday night near Buckholtz, Milam County, at the ranch of W. B. Wortham of Austin, where he had gone to recuperate from a nervous collapse that had confined him to the John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for several weeks. Telegraphic advices of the Galvestonian's death were received Wednesday morning.
         Senator Kauffman was secretary of the Galveston Commercial Association, and was a widely known figure throughout Texas. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1910, representing Galveston, Brazoria, Chambers, Matagorda and Wharton Counties. He was prominent in fraternal and lodge circles, maintaining membership in the Masons, the Elks, the I. O. O. F., the Knights of Pythias and many other organizations. He was a Noble of El Mina Shrine and a member of the Travelers' Protective Association, in which he was executive committeeman for Texas.
         He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ann Kauffman, a daughter, Miss Ann Kauffman; his father, C. A. Kauffman, and a sister, Mrs. Alex Russell, all of Galveston.
         The funeral is to be held under Masonic auspices at 10 o'clock Friday morning in Galveston, the body having been shipped to Galveston, accompanied by Mr. Wortham. Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
  • The following appeared on 24 July 1913 in The Dallas Morning News: (Cameron, Tex., July 23) Senator J. E. Kauffman of Galveston died at the W. B. Wortham ranch, ten miles west of here, last night after a brief illness. He and Mr. Wortham went to the ranch yesterday afternoon, and in seven hours after reaching it, Senator Kauffman was dead. The body was shipped to Galveston, accompanied by Mr. Wortham, this afternoon.
  • The following appeared on 26 July 1913 in The Galveston Daily News: Followed by hundreds of friends from all walks of life, the body of State Senator John Edward Kauffman of Galveston was borne to its grave Friday morning by the Masonic brothers of the widely-known Texan. The coffin was hidden from view by the masses of flowers brought to the church as the offering of those to whom Ed Kauffman had long been a familiar and well-loved friend. In Trinity Episcopal Church, where the funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. S. Aves, there gathered Galvestonians and Texans of all classes. Committees from the Texas senate and legislature joined with humbler citizens in honoring the man who had for years been a prominent figure in all movements for the betterment of his city.
         The body was laid at rest in the old City Cemetery, beneath high-banked floral offerings, by members of Harmony Lodge No. 6, A. F. and A. M.
         It was at the church services that the greatest crowd gathered. The board of directors and advisory board of the Galveston Commercial Association attended the funeral en masse, wearing mourning badges. The Texas senate committee in attendance was composed of Senators Hudspeth, Watson, Warren, Baily and Aspin. The Texas legislature committee was composed of Representatives Campbell, Macgill, Savage, Byrne and Roach.
  • Last Edited: 18 Feb 2013

Family: Ann Clarke Williams b. December 1861, d. 29 June 1946