A FAMILY HISTORY

Edited by David A. Culp

"There is more here than just a list of relatives who happen to be our ancestors.  Herein lies a typical, subtle story of human drama and endeavor that helped shape our nation!"  

Excerpt from A Tribute to Courage written by the late Joe Kubicek of Austin, Tx. in tribute to his great grandparents, Frank and Mary Ann Culp.

INTRODUCTION

My father, S. "Howard" Culp (1925-1995) became involved in genealogical research in the early 1970's when asked to contribute information on his father's "Outlaw" family ties. The Outlaw family information was being supplemented at the time (1972) by Mr. Albert Henry Outlaw of Greensboro, NC.  The original work being entitled Outlaw Genealogy copyrighted in 1930 by Albert Timothy Outlaw of Kenansville, NC.

This sparked a life-long interest in genealogical research and Dad spent the next five years pursuing what he called the "European Connection".   The information you will see on this page is a result of his tireless research and the research of countless others who have spent many hours at this tedious endeavor and been kind enough to share it with me.   So in that regard...  I dedicate these pages to my father and to all of you...

Genealogy, like any other science is based on information which is subject to change with further research.  The information presented as to the first three generations is conjecture subject to correction, but is believed to be accurate from what is known so far. I have attempted to go beyond the mere "dates" which can sometimes make genealogical research rather tedious and provide as much anecdotal information as possible.   Hopefully, family traditions and stories can help bring these "names on a page" to life for the reader.  All the information is designed to be viewed in standard browser software and I have kept the file sizes to a minimum to expedite the viewing experience.  However, several of the documents are in word format and will require Microsoft® Word to view.  Also, the USGS maps included will require Adobe® Reader.

This story is written from my viewpoint looking back to my direct male ancestors.  I did this to keep the information manageable and it also held the most interest for me personally.  I have received quite a large number of responses over the years and have included any information received to date on the web pages before you.  I am not a genealogist-just a mere reporter!  Therefore, all the information that I possess on this subject is available for viewing on this site.  Unfortunately and as a result, I cannot answer most questions or provide any additional research materials for other branches of the Culp family.  I still like hearing from you though, so keep the emails coming.  I am always grateful for any comments, additions and/or corrections concerning the material presented.  Importantly, if you have any information, anecdotes, photos, etc. to contribute about this branch of the family or the locales in which they lived; by all means, send it to me and it will be included where appropriate with credit given to you on the site.   Thank you or your attention and enjoy the story.

David A. Culp, Editor

 

"THE EUROPEAN CONNECTION"

KOLB-KULP-CULP is a name of Germanic origin.

The early origins of the family seem to have been in the Palatinate area of southern Germany in the vicinity of Munich and the Austrian border.  I will delve into Germanic history only to a depth necessary for the casual reader to understand the basic origins of race and the possible motivations for our ancestors to eventually relocate to the new world.  I will cover the eras up to the late 1600's-early 1700's at which point we have the first record of a Kolb which we can trace to our line.

Generally speaking, the Celts were the first recorded occupants of the present day German territories with a heavy influence from migrating Scandinavian tribes who eventually conquered them between 1000 and 100 BC.  In approximately 12 BC to 16 AD the Romans attempted their conquest of the area with only a small portion of southwestern Germany ever really coming under Roman control.  Thus, the Germanic tribes were able for the most part, to maintain their traditional ways.

The Germanic tribe known as the Franks began their climb to prominence and by the 5th century under the reign of Clovis (reign 481-511 AD) established the Merovingian Empire and were in control of a large area of Germany including Bavaria. Clovis converted to Christianity and the Merovingian Empire prospered until the 8th century at which time it gave way to a new line of Frankish kings beginning with Charlemagne (Charles Martel 768-814 AD) who was eventually crowned emperor by the Pope.

After Charlemagne's death, the empire was plunged into civil wars with the West Franks (France) and the East Franks (Germany) emerging about 870 AD.  Shortly thereafter, Viking and Magyar (Hungarians from northeastern Europe) invaders wreaked havoc on the Franks who sought protection and fell under the influence of local nobles with the resulting collapse of any form of centralized government.  In 876, Charles III emperor of the German East Franks, began to consolidate power and by 884 had acquired most of Germany, Italy and France.  Still the conflicts continued with the Magyars and it was not until the emergence of the Saxon kings Henry I and Otto I that the Magyars were finally defeated.  In 962, Otto established the Roman Empire which later became known as the Holy Roman Empire in the 12th century.  Feudalization of Germany was well on its way by this time and Germany remained fragmented under a succession of rulers who held loose control and were variously in and out of favor with the catholic church.

Tensions between the fragmented Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic church reached their peak in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his famous theses on a Catholic church door attacking the core of catholic doctrine.  This event triggered the reformation and along with the invention of a movable-type printing press to spread the new "Lutheranism"; sowed the seeds of the religious discontent which eventually destroyed Germany's religious unity and lead to numerous uprisings and wars.  In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg was signed which granted recognition to both Protestant Lutheranism and the Roman Catholic church in Germany.   It did not include the more stringent protestant form of Calvinism* and eventually the shunned Calvinists created trouble which came to a head in 1618.  It was then that the Bohemian nobles chose Fredrick of the Palatinate, a German Calvinist to be their king.  The Thirty Years War (1618-1648) ensued; fought between Catholic and Protestant factions it was eventually settled by the Peace Of Westphalia and a recognition of Calvinism.

*The theological system of John Calvin (ca. 1570) and his followers marked by a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of mankind and the doctrine of predestination.

The Thirty Years War was particularly devastating to the population and the economy of Germany which was already in decline with the growing prominence of the Atlantic nations of Spain, France and England.  Germany in the late middle ages and the first half of the 16th century found itself no longer at the center of European trade and commerce resulting in a prolonged economic stagnation which lasted well into the 19th century. 

The afore mentioned history sets the stage for an understanding of the political and religious climate in Germany at the time of the earliest Kolb records that I have.  Dielman Kolb, Sr. was born the same year the Peace of Westphalia was signed.  What follows now is conjecture though fairly well held by researchers about the generations previous to 1777.

GGGGGGGGG Grandfather

Heinrich Kolben, 1st. Dates and Wife unknown but the following offspring:

OR....

Heinrich Kolb Born about 1615 in Wolfsheim, Hesse, Germany.  Still living in 1650 according to census.

Maybe these two records of Heinrich Kolben or Kolb are the same person?

GGGGGGGG Grandfather

Dielman Kolb was born in 1648. He resided in Wolfsheim in Baden, Germany.  He died in 1712, aged 64 years.  He is buried at Mannheim, Germany.  Dielman married Agenes Schumacher.  Agenes (Schumacher) Kolb born 1652 and died in 1705, aged 53 years and is buried at Wolfsheim. Dielman and Agenes had at least seven children, perhaps ten. A 1685 census in Wolfsheim shows them with 5 sons and 2 daughters.

An excellent link to Dielman Kolb information.

Offspring with Agenes are:

GGGGGGG Grandfather

Peter Kolb (1671-1727) buried at Mannheim, Germany.  Wife Maria Barbara (?)

Offspring with Maria Barbara (?) are believed to be:

An excellent link to Peter Kolb information.

 

ANABAPTISTS/MENNONITES/GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN

The religious reforms of Martin Luther didn't go far enough for some of the pietistic reformers who would later subscribe to the Anabaptist doctrine.  That doctrine held that in order for baptism to be valid, it must come as a result of a reasoned profession of faith.  This required a re-baptism in adulthood regardless if one had been baptized at birth, thus the term-Anabaptist.  This flew in the face of the Catholic doctrine of course and even the Lutheran and Reformed doctrine of the time held baptism at birth as being valid.  In addition, for all the reforms of the Catholic church that Martin Luther promulgated, his political views were much more conservative. Even though he personally believed the end of the world was near, he supported civil obedience to worldly authorities as long as they allowed freedom of worship.  However, this was a freedom that Luther himself was less then generous with when it came to the Anabaptists.  He opposed this very strict sect as well as the other offshoots and at one point, wrote an impassioned tract demanding their quick suppression.  The authorities gladly obliged and later willingly adopted Luther's faith with the result being that Lutheranism became the accepted state religion in most protestant areas. 

As was said, the Anabaptist movement which Luther had opposed in his day evolved into many new pietistic groups after his death some of  which included the Mennonites (an Anabaptist offshoot) and a new group, called the Brethren.   In 1708, the Schwarzenau Brethren were formed by Alexander Mack (1679-1735) of Schwarzenau, Germany.  Known as the New Baptists, Dunkers, Dunkards or Tunkers this group distinguished itself from the original Anabaptist groups by requiring among other things, trine baptism.  This involved the candidate for baptism kneeling in the water and being immersed three times face first in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  In addition, was their celebration of communion always in the evening and at a common table having been preceded by a washing of feet.  Their very strict adherence to the New Testament also provided for praying over the sick and anointing with oil.

Politically, they were rigid non-resistors, non-voters and generally shunned formal legal proceedings and oaths.  They were almost immediately persecuted by the rigid German religious society of the time and in about 1720, almost completely driven out of Germany into Holland.  Here they settled among the Mennonites reportedly in  the Surhuisterveen-West Friesland area.  In 1729, all but a few emigrated to America.

Having left from Rotterdam for America in 1729 aboard ship with the founder of the German Baptist Brethren, I can only conclude that Hans Casper Kolb (Kulp) and some of his brothers whom would have been in their twenties at the time-may have become Dunkers, were driven from their home in Germany to Holland due to religious persecution and then eventually to America.  Upon arrival here, they took refuge with the Mennonite community in Pennsylvania as they had done in Holland.  In fact, some of Hans Casper's relatives were already in America and were ministers in the Mennonite sect in Pennsylvania.  In addition, I believe that Hans Casper's brother Dielman (1700-1763) arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on or about August 19th, 1729.  A Dielman Kolb is listed on the manifest of the ship Mortonhouse which arrived from Rotterdam on that date.  This was a little less then 30 days prior to Hans Casper's arrival.  This lends even greater weight in my opinion, to the belief that Hans Casper was the son of Peter Kolb (1671-1727).

Further information is available on the "Church of the Brethren Network" , including a photograph of present day Schwarzenau.

 

KOLB, KULP AND CULP IN COLONIAL AMERICA

KOLB-KULP-CULP

GGGGGG Grandfather

Hans Casper Kolb (Kulp) (1692-1770) born in Schwarzenau, Palatinate, Germany arrived in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on September 11 or 15, 1729 aboard the ship "Allen" which had sailed from Rotterdam on July 7th 1729.  He immigrated along with Rev. Alexander Mack who had founded the German Baptist Brethren in 1708 in Schwarzenau.  Also listed on the ship's manifest is Anna (Alcordas?) (Felicitas?) (Phillis?) Kulp (1701/15-1764)  I and others believe that this may have been Hans Casper Kolb's wife.  Other evidence suggests that in fact, Anna Phyllis may have been a sister.  There is recorded a Phyllis Kolb living in New Castle, Delaware at the time Hans Casper was residing in Pennsylvania.  Hans Casper Kolb (who signed some documents Kulp) eventually settled on land grants in South Carolina about 1754 though part of the land was in North Carolina at that time.  All Casper's descendants it is believed changed their name to Culp.

*Offspring of Hans Casper Kolb (Kulp) and perhaps Anna Phillis Kulp(?) were:

* Additional information provided by Wylma Culp Ficco.  Thanks Wlyma!

 

KOLB-KULP-CULP

GGGGG Grandfather 

Henry Culp 1st* born 1738/39 in Pennsylvania died circa 1800 in Rowan County, North Carolina, burial place unknown.  He was married and spouse's name was Barbara.  Note:  On the 1800 Rowan County census, Henry and son Adam, age 20 were living alone.

Offspring with Barbara were:

Before continuing on... I want to take some space to pay a special tribute to Ms. Wylma Culp Ficco for supplying me with information and copies of documents which I believe make the connection between Casper, Henry the 1st and Henry Culp Sr..  This has been a perplexing question over the years and I believe that the information recently provided by Wylma may have finally solved it.  Is it irrefutable?  No... nothing is, but it is compelling.

Thanks Wylma!

Below is information which has been confirmed from multiple sources:

 

LIFE IN TENNESSEE

GGGG Grandfather

(William) Henry Culp Sr. born in 1776 in Rowan County,  North Carolina.  Henry relocated to Tennessee circa 1805, first into Bedford County and eventually moving to Wayne County sometime between 1827 and 1845; dying there in 1853.  His grave is in Matthews Cemetery, Perry County, Tennessee.  This cemetery may also be referred to as Powell's Hill Cemetery.  Henry Sr. was married to Mary born in 1780 in Rowan County, North Carolina and she died in 1845 at age 65 and is buried in Matthews Cemetery next to Henry Sr.  Henry may have come to Tennessee because his brother Adam and sister Hannah had moved there and were living in Bedford County.   Another description of the cemetery by TNGenWeb.org which calls into question the occupants of the stone or concrete coffins in the picture.  Apparently Henry Culp Sr. and Mary are buried on the grounds and are not in the coffins as the first photo would have us believe.  Maybe the coffin photo was staged with the plaque shown in the picture?

Offspring with Mary were:

Letter from William to Henry Culp Jr. November 23, 1857

Offspring with Mary were:

Offspring of W. J. Hopper and Eliza Culp according to 1860 census were:

              Information on William Culp and family provided by Jimmy Culp.  Thanks Jimmy!

         Off Spring of Amos B. Culp and Jane were:

                   Information on Amos B. Culp provided by Debra Carlson. Thanks Debra!

                  Information on Benjamin Culp provided by Dora Robinson.  Thanks Dora!

GGG Grandfather

Henry Culp Jr. (1802-1887) born 1802 in Rowan County, North Carolina, relocated to Tennessee approximately 1805.  Lived near Beech Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee.  He was a furniture maker and had personal property worth $ 23,763.00 according to the 1860 census. In 1824, he bought 190 acres in Wayne County  and another 12 acres in 1837.  Died there in 1887.  Henry was married twice, first to:

Sarah Robinson (1804-1853) born in 1804 in Maury County, TN and died about 1851-53 in Wayne County, TN.  She is buried in the Zion Church Cemetery.  Sarah Robinson was the daughter of Michael Robinson, Jr. (1764-1844) and granddaughter of Michael Robinson, Sr. (1732-1807) of Orange County, North Carolina and later of Williamson County, TN.  Michael Robinson, Sr. was a patriot and served with the North Carolina Militia.  He was born in Ulster, Ireland and came to America in 1744 settling originally in Pennsylvania then moving on to North Carolina in 1754 and then to Williamson County, TN prior to 1806 and died there in 1807.

Then to Elizabeth Briley Crossno (1825-1894).  Henry and Elizabeth are buried in the Henry Culp Family Plot in the Long Hollow at Beech Creek, TN.

Pictures of the Henry Culp Jr. Home place

Picture of a bed that was built and used by Henry Culp Jr.

Information on Henry Culp Jr., the Tennessee Culps and numerous photos provided by Fred Culp.  Thanks Fred!

Offspring with Sarah (1804-1853(?)) were:

         Offspring with Susan R. Jackson Culp were:

Offspring of Harrison Green Culp and Mithie Briley are:

Offspring of Grady Culp and Fronie C. Middleton are:

  • Newell Culp
  • Floyd Culp (1929-1995)

Offspring of Floyd Culp and Ruby Whitson are:

  • Glenn Culp
  • Ann Culp
  • Amy Culp (Reina)

Offspring of Amy Culp Reina and Roland Reina are:

  • Allison Reina
  • Austin Reina
  • Jacob Reina
  •  Ferrel Culp
  •  Eva Culp

          Information on Anderson R. Culp descendants provided by Amy and Jacob Reina.  Thanks Amy and Jacob!

          Offspring of Polly Culp and B. R. Vise were:

          Offspring with Julia Ann Newsom were:

Information on Sarah Robinson, Mary Ann "Polly" Culp and offspring of John Henry Culp provided by Poke Mamzic. Thanks Poke!

Offspring with Elizabeth (1825-1891-94) were:

 

THE CONFEDERACY AND TO TEXAS

GG Grandfather

John Franklin Culp(1839-1870) was born in Tennessee in 1839 probably in Wayne County.  Appears on the 1850 Wayne County census as aged 11.  Appears on the 1860 Perry County census as married to Mary Ann (Sowell) Culp (1836-1873). Enlisted February 17, 1863 at Columbia, TN into Company "I", 19th Tenn. Cavalry, CSA  by Col. Jacob B. Biffle.  Orders of Battle indicate  that he most assuredly was involved in actions at the battles of Thompson Station, Chickamauga, Springhill, Franklin and after harassing Sherman on his march to Atlanta, the unit was ultimately paroled May 9,1865 at Gainesville, AL. as the 9th Tennessee Cavalry.  After the war, probably facing the recrimination of Union sympathetic neighbors, the family left Tennessee and moved to Bastrop County Texas which is approximately 25 miles SE of Austin.  Mary Ann Sowell had relatives already living there.  The trip supposedly took nine weeks by ox cart.  Frank bought a 254 acre plot to farm near Piney Creek (5 miles north of the town of Bastrop).  He lived only eight more months, until August 31, 1870 and is buried in Mt. Bethel (Piney Creek) Cemetery which is accessible today.  According to family tradition, Mary Ann continued on the farm until her death in 1873.  Other information holds that she remarried a James A. Fletcher from the Piney Creek area.  She is buried in Mt. Bethel Cemetery.  Frank and Mary Ann's children were raised by her brother and sisters.  They were descendants of Ryon W. Sowell and Anna Letsinger of Maury County, Tennessee.  (This link is to a .doc file so that the formatting would not be lost)

Information on the Sowell family in this section provided by Ed Sowell.  Thanks Ed!

Offspring of Franklin and Mary Ann Culp were:

         Children of Amos Cornelius and Sarah:

          A.C. Culp Family Portrait circa 1910

          A. C. Culp family information provided by Ms. Jane McCord and Family Thanks Jane!

*Enoch K. Smith had settled in the Republic of Texas in 1836, is believed to have fought in the Battle of San Jacinto (though he is not listed in the official records of the battle) and donated the land for the Mt. Bethel Cemetery referenced above.

          Sowell Family information in this section provided by Roy Pfeiffer.  Thanks Roy!

Great Grandfather

James Henry Culp (1860-1914)  Upon his mother's death, he was raised by James and Sarah (Coleman Walker) Sowell;  married to Sarah Rebecca (Outlaw) Culp (1864-1898).  Married again after Rebecca's death to Augusta Roemer Culp.  He was in the hardware business in Elgin, TX.  Sold out in Oct.1899 to Mr. G. W. Prewitt.  He is buried in the Elgin Cemetery.

Offspring of James Henry and Sarah Culp were:

Grandfather

Samuel Henry "Sam" Culp (1893-1971) born in Elgin, Tx.  My grandfather had a great love of baseball and played competitively until past age sixty.  He was in the hardware business from 1915-1943.   In 1943, he became business manager of the Elgin hospital until retirement in 1961.  He was married to Mildred (Wood) Culp and after her death in 1943, he wed again in 1952 to Ella Mae (Ridings) Culp.  All are buried in the Elgin Cemetery.  Obituary from Elgin Courier

Sam and Mildred

Sam and Ella Mae

Sam Culp Retirement Picture

Offspring of Sam and Mildred Culp were:

No offspring born to Sam and Ella.

Father

Samuel Howard "Howard" Culp (1925-1995) born in Elgin, Tx.  Attended the University of Texas in Austin, remained an Austin resident and wed Betty Ruth (Inscore) Culp (1931- ).  My dad was an office manager For Dean Johnston Electrical Company in Austin.  With the advent of computer and information technology, he re-trained and worked as a programmer and systems analyst for the Comptroller of Public Accounts for the State of Texas.  During his tenure, being principally involved with the digital conversion of the state sales tax system.  Medically retired,  he was an accomplished pianist and genealogist.  He enjoyed reading and tending to his garden in later years.  Died of stroke in 1995.  Buried in the Elgin Cemetery.  Obituary from Elgin Courier

Howard as an infant, ca. 1925-26

Howard as a child, ca. 1930

Howard in college, ca. 1942

Howard and Sam ca. 1944

Howard with twins, ca. 1960

Howard and family, ca. 1965

Howard in later years, ca. 1993

Howard's gravestone, 1995

Offspring of Howard and Betty Culp are:

          Early Picture of Tami Culp, Betty Culp and Steve Culp  

          Picture of Tami Culp, Betty Culp and Steve Culp

About The Author

Born and raised in Austin, Texas.  I was brought home from the old St. David's hospital to an address on Concordia Avenue in East Austin.  I attended Maplewood Elementary School and Pierce Jr. High and then our family moved to South Austin off of Riverside Drive in the summer of 1968.  I graduated from Travis Sr. High School in 1973.  I attended college at Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas received an Associate degree and later, graduated from the American Technological University aka University of Central Texas aka Tarleton State University with a B.S. in Aviation Technology.   ATU/ UCT/Tarleton State has since become Texas A&M University-Central Texas.

As a young man with a bicycle and living in close proximity to the old Austin airport (Robert Mueller), I used to ride over to the airport and just watch airplanes all day long.  You used to be able to just walk right out to them and look inside the cockpits of the small aircraft parked at the fixed-based operators located on Airport Boulevard.  Sometimes, the pilots would be around and open them up, let you sit inside and then answer endless questions.  Those were definitely the good old days... Before oil embargos and 9/11.

With the love of aviation firmly implanted, I joined the Civil Air Patrol in junior high and later in high school, I took flying lessons at the old Tim's Airpark off of Dessau Road and I-35 in Austin.  There's a little company by the name of Dell Computer that owns that property today... But in 1973, I did my first solo landing on what is one of their parking lots today.  Then it was on to CTC for further flight training and a four year degree awarded in 1977.

After college, I moved to the Houston area and begin making a living plying my trade wherever I could find the opportunity in everything from single-engine aircraft to corporate jets.  In 1982, United Parcel Service purchased 40 old Braniff 727's to start their overnight express service and I was able to land a job as a flight engineer with a company out of North Carolina (Orion Air) whom they had contracted to provide crews and maintenance.  Four years later found me at Federal Express back in the 727 flight engineer's seat having been a Captain on the same airplane at my old carrier.  Such is aviation...  Always be nice to your crew because you never know when you may end up working for them at some later time in your career! 

I have been very fortunate to be employed nearly 25 years now with FedEx and I am currently a Captain on the Airbus A-300.  My career goal was always to fly as Captain on an airplane that I could walk underneath the belly without having to bend over.  I have accomplished that goal.

Of course, it wasn't exactly easy.  Not on me or the people close to me.  I have been married three times but out of those, I have three "great" children and three beautiful grand kids.  My wife Lisa and I have been married for 11 years and we are enjoying living out on the lake in Hill Country with our three dogs and two cats.  I enjoy my time on the lake in my sailboat and Lisa stays socially active in our lake community.  She is in the real estate business; so she knows everybody and we have many good friends and neighbors.

I would guess most of you are reading this having been brought here by a search engine while searching for Culp family history.  Thanks goes to my deceased Father for all his work in that area for which I am now merely the reporter..

Thanks for stopping in...  If I happen to have known you in another life, don't hesitate to drop me a note.  I have been busy my whole life it seems and it would be nice to do some catching up!

             

David Alan Culp (1955-)  Wed in 1978 to Jill and in 1990 to Jana.

Offspring with Jill are:

Offspring with Jana are:

 

                     Pictured with my lovely wife, Lisa.

I have gone to great lengths to make the information on this page as accurate as is possible-always taking care to note my personal opinions where they appear.  Comments, contributions or corrections are very much desired and appreciated.

David A. Culp

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Disclaimer:  The Information presented on these pages reflects the contemporary research and in some cases, the informed conjecture of a wide ranging group of interested individuals, reporters and researchers.  The information presented here has not been and in most cases, cannot be independently verified by the author. Therefore, no guarantee as to the accuracy of the material presented is intended or implied.  Caution should be taken in its use in any other than a recreational forum. Supplemental information included and credited to individuals was taken at its face value and has not been independently verified as being accurate.  Photographs are used with permission and remain the copyrighted property of the respective photographers or photograph owners. The views expressed on this page are the author's own and no other representation is made. This page may contain links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations.  The owner/operator of this site cannot guarantee and does not warrant the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information.  The information and images contained on this site are for reference purposes only and as such, should not be downloaded for the purpose of illegally copying or mass distributing in violation of applicable copyright laws.

Revised:  03/01/10