William Tell Amsler second son of Louis Philip and Sophia (Flato) Amsler was born July 1, 1880 and died March 31, 1952. William Tell married Cora Elizabeth West born Apr 25, 1882 and died May 1 1952.

Cora Elizabeth West was niece of George West who owned a large ranch in South Texas and for whom the town [George West] (IR)was named. Cora's parents were David Marion and Katie (Fairchild) West.
[George West Map](IR)[handbook of texas](IR) [globalindex.com] (IR)Texas communities and [Shiner, Texas](IR)

Upper left photo of William Tell, second son of Louis Philip and Sophia (Flato) Amsler, was born 1 July 1880 and died 31 march 1952 in Lavaca County, Texas. He was buried in Flatonia Cemetery. Tell married Cora Elizabeth West, born 25 April 1882; died 1 May 1952 in Lavaca County.)

Their son Phil says that William Tell Amsler was a cattle man and worked in Oklahoma Territory as a youth for Charles Flato who at that time had thousands of head of cattle on open range.

Stories retold by William Tell Jr. in October 2002 were that his father rode the fencerows in Oklahoma and made friends with the Indians. If the Indians wanted a steer, there was one of him and several Indians, so William Tell did not raise any objection. He visited two Indian camps and learned two different dialects, one for each camp. William Tell was able to converse with the Indians, Germans, and Mexicans fairly well. On one occasion William tell met up with some unfriendly Indians who shot the saddle horn from his saddle.

Another story told in June 11, 2011 family gathering is William Tell met Indians on one occasion and an Indian with his hand cupped offered what he was holding to William Tell. He took the tarantula, looked at it, cupped it in his hand and handed it back to the Indian. From that time on the Indians showed respect when they noticed that he was not afraid. Riding fence rows he had to be on good terms with the Indian bands in the area. Such stories are priceless and when you are young, listen to the stories of your elders so you will be able to relay such stories to future generations.


Later, Charles Flato was head cattle buyer for the King Ranch. Tell Amsler for many years managed the big Ray O'Connor Ranch and the Fitzpatrick ranches in South Texas. In his later years he ran a grocery store and butcher shop. He knew what to look for when buying beef for his market. Sammy Amsler recalls accompanying Papa to Corpus to buy beef for his butcher shop in Clarksville, Texas. Sammy was convinced that Papa knew how to pick the best sides of beef. Tell´s Wife, Cora Elizabeth was a niece of George West who owned a large ranch in South Texas and for whom the town of George West was named. Cora's parents were David Marion and Katie (Fairchild) West. William Tell and Cora Elizabeth (West Amsler had five children: 1. Louis Philip II, 2. David West. 3.Lillian E., 4. William Tell Jr., and 5. Charles Conrad. Louis Philip Amsler II reveals this amusing bit: 'it seems that all the kids in my family were nicknamed after some kind of food. West was hash, Lillian was tea, Charles was chili, William was corn Willie, and I (Philip) was lippy.

Louis Philip and Lorena Derina (Tyree) Amsler were parents of two sons: 1. Louis Philip III, and 2 Henry William/ 13th-15th generations Louis Philip Amsler III. Phil was an agent telegrapher during his active business life, starting in 1918 at Galveston for Sante Fe Railroad. As a sideline Phil operated an archery range and supply store (first in Brownsville, then at Llano.)

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This picture postcard was written by Mama (believed to be Cora Amsler's Mother) on April 6, 1910 and mailed on April 7, 1910 in Moulton, Texas. Moulton, Texas is located about 10 miles south of Flatonia, where both William Tell (Papa) and Cora Amsler (Mama) are buried. Moulton is ten miles north of Shiner. Shiner is about eighteen miles southeast of Gonzales, Texas. The card was addressed to David West Amsler's Uncle Charlie who was living in Shiner. I understood from my Dad, David West Amsler, that Tea was on Mama's lap and Phil was in front of Mama while David West was to extreme right in the photo. The identity of the other ladies is not certain, but one of the ladies was described as “Aunt Sophia” by my Dad. Apparently all of the ladies were related to David West Amsler's Father, who was also named “Cora” Amsler. This is somewhat confusing, as the picture postcard was written by “Mama” and she wrote “we miss Cora's Children..” David West born on May 4, 1904 and was almost 6 years old; Lillian (Tea) was born in 1909, was bout a year old and Phil was born in 1901 about 8 years old. ” Visit Moulton, Flatonia and Shiner: [Moulton ](IR) -Moulton Texas web site [Flatonia ](IR) -Flatonia Texas web site [Shiner ](IR) -Shiner Texas web site. but don't miss: [Shiner ](IR) - Shiner's old (oldtimers) geezers site.

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Amslers of Austin´s Colony published the photo below the picture postcard . The photo below the 1910 picture postcard was taken in 1976, 66 years later than the post card photo. In the second photo, left to right sitting is Phil Amsler and “Tea” Kurc; standing from left to right is David West and Bill Amsler. Bill was the last surviving sibling of W.T and Cora Amsler, who are affectionately remembered as PaPa and MaMa by their Grandchildren. (Charlie Amsler is not shown in the photo as he passed away earlier.)

Phil Amsler(Louis Philip II) in Brownsville, Texas

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Phil Amsler, Son of William T. Amsler and Cora West Phil kills two 45 pound javelina. “Phil Amsler stated that he killed one with a shot from 27 yards, hitting the hog in the heart, and dropped the the from 18 yards with a lung shot.” circa 1940-50's

Phil Amsler(Louis Philip II)letter 11/10/56

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Phil Amsler, Son of William T. Amsler letter to Sammy Amsler describing night hunt calling up bobcat and coyote. He describes the “squealers” working well to call up animals. Uncle phil describes his growing archery business.

Tribute to Bill Amsler(IR)
Tribute to Bobbie Amsler(IR)

Amsler Family celebrates Christmas 1939 in Luling, Texas. Sammy is in background on €Trigger” wearing an aviator's cap.

Amsler Family Christmas circa. 1938 in Luling, Texas Sammy is in on “Trigger” wearing cub scout uniform. Spot, is the dog behind the horse, “Trigger”. Note that Sammy climbed corral fence in back yard to mount the horse in those days! Trigger was eventually let out to pasture and became too wild to ride.

Amslers of Austin's Colony presents two images of Phill Amslers sons on page 94 Henry and Lewis served in WW II, Sammy enlisted in the Air Force in July, 1947, serving six years and was discharged in 1953 just before entering U.T. Other 13th generation Amslers included Bill and Bobbie's children Sherry Shaw, Bob Amsler, Tella Amsler. Marjorie daughter of Lilian Amsler and Donne Lynn Kurc and Jeannine Kurc, were daughters of Lillian (Amsler) Kurc and Leon Kurc.
Images are limited, but those that are available can be located in family reunion Albums . If you look closely all of the 13th Generation cousins can be found within the albums. Let us know which ones you recognize.

13th Generation Amsler page will be created as photos are collected as page progresses for displaying 14th, 15th and 16th generation of Amslers. Recent additions for 13th Generation on 4/15/09 for W. T. Amsler, Jr family page and Charlie Amsler Page. in addition the Amslers of Austin's Colony image for four of 13th generation.

Amanda Amsler compiled Amslers of Austin´s Colony In Acknowledgement, “A great debt is due Amanda (Howze) Amsler, not an Amsler bloodline descendant but one whose love and devotion, interest in and concern with the early history of the family of her husband, Hervey Meyer Amsler, caused her to rove across the prairies of Texas, travel to other parts of America, and ultimately to visit Switzerland, crossing that same ocean that the Amslers of yesterday traversed when they first came as settlers to Texas. The title, Amslers of Austin´s Colony is not intended to imply that the Amslers were among Stephen F. Austin´s Old Three Hundred, but that they settled within geographical boundaries of his colony. These were described in Davis and Grove's “New Encyclopedia of Texas”as beginning on the San Jacinto River, ten leagues form the coast, up the river to its source and thence in a line to the Nacogdoches-San Antonio road, this road being the northern boundary; the western boundary was the Lavaca River and a line form its source to the above named road.

According to the Handbook of Texas (IR)(Vol II p. 184), “The law provided for settlement by the local governments of immigrants not introduced by empresarios.” Title to Charles Conrad Amsler’s headright was issued by the Board of Land Commissioners for the County of Austin on March 1, 1838.

The fourth class Land Certificate granted by the Republic of Texas to Marcus Amsler was signed by Edwin Waller, Chief Justice and Ex Officio President of Board of Land Commissioners for Austin County in 1845.

References:
Amsler's (IR)Handbook of Texas:
SHINER, TX. The Handbook of Texas Online. (IR)[Accessed Fri Dec 13 20:27:01 US/Central 2002 ]
Handbook of Texas:
GEORGE WEST, TX. The Handbook of Texas Online. (IR)[Accessed Fri Dec 13 20:23:19 US/Central 2002 ].