The * (asterisk) marks direct-line ancestors. The (-5G), etc. after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma

I am sure that he had no other siblings besides Alma who was born on 02 Oct. 1894 in Palestine, TX..

In the 1900 Fed. Census for Texas (vol. 1, e. dist. 5, sheet 15, line 24), we see Jas (sic! John) W Vossler living at 814 Magnolia St. in Palestine, Anderson County. He is 36 years old, born in Missouri in Feb. 1864. His wife, Rena, is 32 years old, born in Texas in Mar. 1868. Son Jas. M. is 7 and was born in Aug. 1892 in Texas. Daughter Alma is 5 and was born in Sep. 1894 in Texas. Also living there is Mary E. Mears, John's mother-in-law who is 52 years old, born in Jul. 1847 in Texas and Kate Mears, his sister-in-law, 23 years old, born in Oct. 1876 in Texas.

In the 1910 Fed Census for Texas (enum. district 9, supv. district 7, sheet 2, line 46) we see John Vossler, 46 years old, born in Missouri, living in Palestine, Texas. He is working for the railroad as a clerk. Both his parents were born in Germany. His wife, Rena, is 42 years old, born in Texas of a father born in Missouri and a mother born in North Carolina. They have been married 19 years and have had 2 children. Their son, James M. Vossler is 18 and was born in Texas. He does not yet have an occupation. Their daughter Alma is 15, also born in Texas and without an occupation. They own the house in Palestine.

Here is a picture of the Vossler house in Palestine, Texas. It was taken before 1917. Click thumbnail to enlarge.

James received an engineering degree from Texas A&M University in College Station before he was married (in Jan. 1918).

Here is a picture of James during his time at Texas A & M University, dated ca 1914-15. He was an engineering student and was also a cadet in their military program. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

Miriam and James were introduced through James' sister Alma. Miriam was the daughter of John McCleary and Mary Theresa Frank. She was born ca. 1895. Through Miriam James converted to the Catholic faith. That caused a rift with his father who had been critical of Catholics.

Married to Miriam Genevieve McCleary (-2G) on 18 Jan. 1916 (or 16 Jan. 1918?) in Houston, TX at Annunciation R. C. Church. One source says 16 Jan. 1918 but more sources give the 1916 date which seems most logical.

The Houston City Directory of 1917 lists Jas. M. Vossler, a salesman at Thos Goggan & Bro, residing at 2806 Chenevert.

A stillborn child was born in 1917. Their first living child was son John Joseph, born 26 Feb. 1918 in Texas.

The 1920 Fed. Census for Texas (vol. 83, supv. dist. 8, enum. district 57, sheet 12A, line 38-40, taken Jan. 08) shows James Vossler, 27 years old in Houston (Harris County). James' mother was born in Texas. According to this Census, James' father was born in Illinois, but James' 1930 Census (see below) and other sources say Missouri. James is an electrical engineer at a tool company. Living with him are his wife Miriam, 25 years old, and a son John J., 1 year 10 months. All three were born in Texas. John was born in late Feb. or early March 1918. Miriam's parents and siblings are living next door. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Texas. Miriam has no listed occupation. They are living at 1614 [street unreadable] in ward 3. Since the address in the 1930 Census (see below) is 1614 Elgin in the same Justice Precinct No. 1, we can assume that the street name in the 1920 Census is also Elgin.

Daughter Mary Helen Vossler (-1G) was born 12 Oct. 1920 in Texas.

Here is a picture of John W. Vossler (-3G), the father of James, and his grandson, John Joseph Vossler (-1G). It was taken in ca 1921, probably in Texas. John Joseph was the first living child of James and Miriam McCleary. He was born 26 Feb. 1919 and died in World War 2 during the Normandy invasion and was buried on 26 Apr. 1945 in England.

Daughter Frances Louise Vossler (-1G) born 18 June 1924 in Texas. Daughter Dorothy Ann Vossler (-1G) was born 2 (or 4) May 1927 in Texas.

The 1929-30 Houston City Directory shows Miriam and her husband living at 1614 Elgin Ave. He is a welder for Southern Pacific Lines. No doubt their children are also living there (see the 1930 Census below).

James M. Vossler and his family are found in the 1930 Fed. Census for Texas (roll T626_2347, supv. dist. 66?, enum. dist. 101-80, page 34A, printed page #184, dated April 14, lines 5-10). They are living at 1614 Elgin in the city of Houston, Harris County, Texas (Justice Precinct 1, block 1159, dwelling 234, family 411). They are renting for $35/month and have a radio. James, is 37, married at 22, born in Texas. His father was born in Missouri and his mother in Texas. James is a welder for the railroad. He was not a war veteran. He is not in school but can read, write, and speak English. Miriam is 35, married at 21, born in Texas. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Texas. Miriam is not in school but can read, write, and speak English. Also living there are their children: John J, Mary Helen, Fran..[?]. L., and DorothyA. Miriam's parents and sisters Loretta and Helen are living next door.

Son Lawrence Jerome Vossler (-1G) was born 4 Aug. 1930 in Texas.

The 1935 Houston City Directory lists James M. Vossler, welding instructor for Southern Pacific RR Lines. He, his wife Miriam, and children are living at 1614 Elgin Ave. There are separate listings for his son John Joseph and also for his mother Rena, at the same address. The 1936 Houston Dir. shows Jas. M. Vossler (with wife Miriam), welding instructor for Southern Pacific Lines, living at 1614 Elgin Ave. In the same directory we find a separate listing for their daughter Mary, employee at F.B.D.G. Co., also living at 1614 Elgin.

His mother died on 01 Nov. 1938 in Houston,TX. She had been living with James ever since her husband had a stroke (see below).

His father suffered a paralyzing stroke about 1931 and was hospitalized in the I. G. N. RR. ("railroad") hospital in Palestine, TX. At that time James' mother moved in with him in Houston but they would visit John often. The father, John, died on 24 May 1939 in Palestine and was buried in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

Here is a picture of Frances Louise, the daughter of Miriam. The young man next to her is her cousin Earl Austin (-1G). Picture was taken ca 1938-42. Click on thumbnail to enlarge.

The 1943-44 Houston City Dir. shows James M. Vossler, supervisor at Southern Pacific RR Lines (with wife Miriam and 3 children), living at 1614 Elgin Ave. In the same year there is a separate listing for daughter Mary, employee at F.B.D.G. Co., also living at 1614 Elgin.

His son John Joseph was inducted from Texas. He was killed during World War II when the 706 bomber (in the 446th Bomber Group) crashed during a test flight. He was buried in Cambridge, England on 26 Apr. 1945 by his wife's uncle, James McCleary who lived in England. Another source has 1944. He was ordinarily a radioman on a B-24 plane and had the rank of Tech. Sgt. There is a monument in Cambridge. He received the Air Metal and additional Army metals. Our great aunt Cecilia Thake (-2G) and her husband John Mueller (-2G) wrote a letter of condolence to James and Miriam on the death of John.

Here is a picture of Miriam McCleary and her husbamd James M. Vossler. It was taken in 1945. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

The Houston City Directory of 1946-47 shows Jas. M. Vossler (with wife Miriam) as a supervisor of welding at Southern Pacific Lines, living at 1614 Elgin Ave. The 1949 Houston Dir. shows James M. Vossler (with wife Miriam) supervisor at Southern Pacific Lines, living at 1614 Elgin Ave. Also living there at this time and having separate listings in the directory are their children Dorothy A. Vossler, bookkeeper for W. J. Rickling & Co. and Laurence J. Vossler, chkr. at Anderson Clayton.

James worked for the Southern Pacific R. R. and traveled extensively for them. On one business trip to New Orleans he suffered a stroke in his hotel room on 16 Dec. 1950. The client he was meeting discovered the body when he went to his hotel to check on "Mr. Vossler who was never late to a meeting."

He was buried in Forest Park, Lawndale, in Houston, TX (the same cemetery where his parents are buried). His grave is in Section 52, lot 82, space 2.

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Son John Joseph: He married on 03 June 1942 to Christine Gullo who was born in 1918.

Daughter Frances Louise: Frances had married an Adolph Hollmann on 09 Sep. 1943. They had three children. According to a living relative, James' daughter Frances Louise died of cancer in Lamesa, TX around 1960. A check of the Texas Death records on Ancestry.Com produces a Frances L. Hollmann who died 14 Feb. 1971 in Dawson County, TX. Lamesa is in Dawson County.

His wife, Miriam McCleary, died after him on 08 Jan. 1978 in Harris County, Texas. She is buried next to her husband in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Section 52, lot 82, space 3.

Son Laurence Jerome: The 1953 Houston Dir. has a separate listing for Lawrence J. who is in the U.S.A.F. The 1956 Houston Directory has Lawrence J. Vossler (with wife Mignonette), electn at Texas & New Orleans RR Co., living at 711 Welch Ave. Apt. 2. The 1957 Houston Directory shows Laurence J. Vossler (with wife Mignonette S.), hlpr at H & P Co. living at 1138 Panama(?). Also in the 1962 Houston Dir. we find Laurence J. Vossler (with wife Mignonette S.), a driver for H.L.&P. Co., living at 7422 Lakewood Dr. The 1964 Houston Texas City Directory lists Laurence J. Vossler (with wife Mignonette) as a driver for H.L.&P. Co. They are living at 7422 Lakewood Dr. The 1969 Directory lists Laurence J. Vossler as a lineman operator for H.L.&P. Co., living at 11810 Nanette. Laurence Jerome died 13 Aug. 1998 of cancer in Baycliff, TX.

Daughters Mary Helen and Dorothy Ann are still living (as of Feb. 2005). Daughter Mary Helen Vossler married on 08 Aug. 1945. Dorothy Ann Vossler married on 09 July 1949.

His sister, Alma Vossler, married Amory Earl Austin (Sr) on 21 Nov. 1921 in Houstin, TX. They had one child. Alma died on 01 Mar. 1975 in Macon, Macon County, IL. She had been living at the Eastern Star home there. She was buried in the New Salem Cemetery in Couch, MO.

Much of the information on this page and four of the pictures were supplied by living relatives. My appreciation is extended. Other material was taken from the Houston City Directory found in the Houston Library and Census sheets and certain databases.

Created 03 June 2002. Updated 28 Mar. 2006.