Alvin Frederick Feuerbacher was born September 9, 1846 in Saxon, Germany. Around 1869 he married Emma Theresa Hernsdorf in Dresden, Germany. Emma was born in Meissen, Germany, January 16, 1850. As a young man Alvin was trained to be a carpenter and cabinet maker, the trade he followed all his life. It will be hard to tell their story until Grandfather reached Austin, Texas, without relying on hearsay somewhat. It is said that "Grandfather was a stage carpenter in Vienna just before he came to America in 1883". He landed in America at Baltimore, Maryland and it is said also that "Grandfather spent some time in Pennsylvania with an uncle who was a blacksmith". Uncle Ed said that "his father told him that the uncle resembled his father". (Chester W. Feuerbacher's Note: I have not found any Feuerbacher living in Pennsylvania at that particular time. I have found a Feuerbacher living in Lincoln, Illinois at this time who was a blacksmith but no verification of relationship could be established.) After visiting his uncle in Pennsylvania, he is supposedly to have gone to St. Louis to visit another uncle. (CWF's Note: The only Feuerbacher I have found living in St. Louis at this time who may have been the 'uncle' had died in 1870 in Vienna, no relationship with these people has been established either.) Grandfather therefore never met the uncle. Later he is known to have worked on the Mississippi River levies in route to New Orleans to seek out another uncle. I have found the only Feuerbacher in New Orleans spell their name Fabacher bearing out the question of kinship. So no doubt Grandfather was disappointed again. By now news had spread of the building of the state capitol of Texas, so Grandfather feeling capable of his abilities and no doubt feeling very disappointed, came to Austin hoping to work on the Capitol. My father said his father walked to Austin, traveling by night because he was ashamed of his very tattered clothes.
After his arrival in Austin, Texas, facts are more evident. The Austin City Directory for 1885-1886 lists: "Alvin Firebaucher. Carpenter, working for Gardner and Company." This information had to be gathered in 1884. Grandfather must have done all right in his new home for in 1885 he bought a home and sent for his wife and 7 children from Germany; the date that he bought passage was November 18, 1885. His wife and children left Bremen, Germany and landed at Baltimore by steamer, and from Baltimore to Austin, Texas was by train. The whole trip cost $157.50.
The home he bought shows up in the next City Directory, 1887-1888. "Alvin Feuerbacher. Carpenter. R. sw Cor E 17, 3rd St. E. of Comal." This would be Salina St. (note from KW: not Salina, but corner of 3rd and Chalmers) in East Austin which at that time was a small German community.
In 1888, Grandfather was busy again helping organize the carpenters in Austin of which he was a charter member. The union was organized on August 10, 1888 and he joined on August 18, 1888. The initiation dues were $1.00 and his monthly dues were $.50.