Von Rosenberg, Ernst, 1852-1915

Ernst von Rosenberg (1852-1915), longstanding draftsman and chief draftsman at the Texas General Land Office, was born in 1852 near Round Top, Texas to Carl Wilhelm and Auguste von Rosenberg. Ernst’s father, Carl Wilhelm (William) von Rosenberg (1821–1901), was also a chief draftsman at the Texas General Land Office and an emigrant with the Adelsverein. The family moved to Austin in 1856, when Ernst was three years old. Public education options were limited in Austin, but Ernst was self-educated and, following in his father’s footsteps, he was appointed draftsman of the General Land Office in 1876. He was appointed chief draftsman in 1913. With the exception of a two-year period from 1891 to 1893, Ernst von Rosenberg was a draftsman at the Texas General Land Office for thirty-seven years, from 1876 until the time of his death in 1915.

In 1879 von Rosenberg married Helene Lungkwitz, daughter of Texas landscape artist Herman Lungkwitz. Ernst and Helene had eight children, two of whom, Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg and Herman Ursini von Rosenberg, continued the family tradition by pursuing careers at the General Land Office. Ernst von Rosenberg was actively involved in the Austin community throughout his life. As a young man he served in the Travis Rifles, a volunteer infantry company. He was a long-time member of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 in Austin, and served as its secretary-treasurer for forty years; he also served on the board of the Friends in Need Society, an early fraternal benefit society and insurance organization for whites. Von Rosenberg also served as Alderman on the Austin city council.

Carl Wilhelm (William) von Rosenberg (1821–1901) and Auguste von Rosenberg had eleven children in all, including Ernst, Paul, William, Jr., Frederick, Laura, and Emma. Ernest Jacob von Rosenberg (1889-1975), draftsman, was born to Ernst and Helene von Rosenberg in Austin and worked as an engineer at the Reclamation Department, the Texas General Land Office, and at the Texas Highway Department.

From the guide to the Von Rosenberg Family Papers, 1871-1964, bulk 1871-1907, (Texas General Land Office, Archives & Records)