The Legacy of Charles and Josephine Teubner

By Diane Euston

Described by his brother-in-law, George Husmann, as "tall and dark with regular features and an intelligent face," Karl Gottlieb Teubner, better known as Charles, was born March 8, 1808 in Stollberg, Saxony, Germany. 

Little is known about his life prior to entering the horticulture industry in Hermann. Records do indicate that Charles Teubner arrived in New York just after his 30th birthday aboard the ship Formosa in May 1838. His life for the next nine years remains somewhat of a mystery. Direct descendants of Teubner state he settled with some of his family in Alabama where they operated a billiard hall and grocery store. 

In the fall of 1846, 38-year-old Charles Teubner arrived in Hermann apparently with the knowledge that the town had developed a fondness of viticulture; he brought 8,000 fruit trees and vines from Cincinnati with him. In addition to these vines and fruit trees, Teubner also collected some root stock from his prior home. George Husmann wrote in his 1869 publication the Grape Culturalist, “Mr. Charles Teubner brought a number of Scuppernong vines, of both white and black varieties, from Alabama, and planted it on the place where we now reside, in the neighborhood of Hermann.”  

The place where Husmann was residing was 200 acres of land just east of the town. In February 1847, Charles Teubner purchased this land and began planting his orchard and vineyard. Around this time, Teubner built a large, impressive two-story brick house and a hillside presshouse and wine cellar which both still stand at Hermann Farm. 

During these early months in Hermann, Charles became acquainted with the Husmann family and developed a fondness for 25-year-old Josephine. Described by historian Linda Walker Stevens as “a well-educated, well-traveled and cultured gentleman,” Charles Teubner ended his bachelorhood in September 1847 when he married Josephine Husmann in a ceremony in his orchard.

Unfortunately, wedded bliss was short-lived when just two months later, Josephine’s father, Martin Husmann was crushed to death in machinery at his mill. With no other family left in the area, 20-year-old George Husmann moved in with the newlyweds and began a two year apprenticeship under his brother-in-law, Charles.

Within a short amount of time, Teubner’s land became one of the largest and most reliable nurseries in the entire state. Historian Linda Walker Stevens was able to obtain a copy of Husmann’s unpublished autobiography where he described Teubner’s farm as the “nucleus of fruit growing and winemaking in Hermann.” 

Teubner became one of the most respected winemakers in Hermann as the industry was just gaining momentum and his family was growing. In November 1849, Josephine gave birth to a son, Charles George Teubner, Jr.  

In 1847, St. Louis businessman Alex Kayser launched an annual wine competition where first prize received $100. In 1850, it attracted 27 competitors to send bottles of their best vintages to St. Louis; the top two wines came from Hermann. Jacob Rommel’s 1849 Catawba took first place and second prize was awarded to Charles Teubner. 

Many of Hermann’s young men caught the fever of the California Gold Rush. The power of the Gold Rush was felt by leading Hermann winemaker Michael Poeschel who wrote in 1849, “It is wonderful that so many of our citizens subject themselves to the privations and hardships incident in a trip to California, in search of gold, when it can be so easily obtained by dressing the vine.”

In March 1850, George Husmann abandoned the vines to try his luck in California mining. The Teubner home, despite George’s move west, was full of family. Charles Teubner’s 26-year-old sister, Emilia and her newborn son, Charles Ernst Nuerenberger were living with them along with their 13-year-old niece, Frances Teubner.

Rather abruptly, Carl Teubner passed away from an illness September 10, 1851 at the age of 43 leaving pregnant 30-year-old Josephine and two-year-old Charles, Jr. behind.

In his will, he gave Josephine his 200 acres of land which included their impressive Greek revival home and “all livestock, horses, cattle, hogs [and] sheep” on the farm. 

The care he had for his family can be inferred from the pages of his will written just days before his death. Charles asked that his brother, Frederick, and sister, Emilia, receive $50. His niece, Frances, was to receive $100 “provided she remains with my wife until she comes of age.” He requested that his mother, Joanna, receive $50 annually from his estate.

His children — one still in the womb — were also carefully named in his will. It was his wish that they each receive $1000 at the age of 21 and if Josephine opted to remarry, the property would be transferred to their children.

An orchard and vineyard was too much for Josephine to manage alone. In March 1852, her brother, George, returned from California to help with the extensive operation. This move greatly affected the future of young George Husmann.

The wine industry had been suffering in the community due to lack of training and unsanitary practices during wine production. Husmann identified these problems and experimented with practical solutions such as vine grafting while taking over the operations started by Teubner. His father, Martin had encouraged the growing of grapes in Hermann, and it was George Husmann’s turn to teach others how to process wines effectively.

Tragedy struck once again at the Teubner house when Josephine Husmann Teubner passed away in May 1854. She was one of the first victims of a cholera epidemic; she had been infected “caring for afflicted travelers coming up river from St. Louis.” Her will indicated that she wished for her brother, George, to care for the land left to her by her late husband as well as her two boys, Charles (b. 1849) and Frederick (b. 1852).  

Although both Charles and Josephine Teubner’s lives were tragically cut short, their legacy was able to continue. With the love and affection of George Husmann, both of their children lived to adulthood and were raised in the stately brick home that is now occupied by the Hermann Farm Museum. 

The Teubner home, built c. 1847, was occupied by the family until it was sold in 1877. Today, the life and legacies of the Teubner and Husmann families is preserved 𑁋 a permanent time capsule of early Hermann’s viticulture and architectural history.