MASONIC

Columbia Grand Lodge No. 28 of Free & Accepted Masons

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*=C.H. Burden Undertaker Records 1890-1953 HT= Hart Ralph Tambs 1987

Masonic Member History: Joseph Andrea Bixel

November 30 1818: Born in Wendenreute, Saulgau Oberamt, Donaukreis, Wurttemberg (1860 census)before Germany was a country. He was raised and educated in the town of his birth. He had four brothers (That there were 4 brothers is shown by matching church and passenger records.*)

1849-He emigrated to the United States (with his 4 brothers, wife Anna Maria and son Paul from the port of Antwerp, Holland and boarded the ship Glasgow for the Port of New York. *) settling at Cleveland, Ohio.

In Cleveland the brothers started by opening a cigar shop. Brother Anton married and had a son. Anton then went to Ontario, Canada. Started the first brewery with his brothers Mathias [Mathew] and Leonhardt [Leonard] as partners. The Canadian Brewerys were quite successful at making German Beers. Enough to being bought out by major brands.*

October, 1851- he and Anton moved to California via the Isthmus of Panama, landing in San Francisco in October, 1851. He came direct to Tuolumne county, stopping at Jamestown, where he mined for gold during the Winter of ’51-2. (Anton [Antoine] did not take his wife Fanny or child. She fabricated the story that he died out of town. She bought a suit and held a funeral.*) Anton waited till she died before he married again in Nevada after she died. Joseph had purchased the Columbia brewery before this time from him. Anton again sold the Elko, Nevada brewery and moved on to Los Angeles for real estate where he died in 1907. He lived on Bixel Street now an apartment area.

Spring 1852- He went to Fresno, remaining there until the Fall of that year, and then moved to Merced County, where he purchased a farm in 1853.

February 8, 1856- Came to Columbia and bought an interest in his present brewery, and has been engaged in the manufacture of beer. The brewery above mentioned was built by A.(Anton) Bixel, his brother, in 1854, and was owned by Anton Bixel until 1856, when Joseph Bixel bought an interest of the brewery and then bought the remainder in 1869. (After the sell of the brewery Anton remarried again after the death of his wife Fanny in Nevada Anton again sold the Elko, Nevada brewery and moved on to Los Angeles for real estate where he died in 1907. He lived on Bixel Street now an apartment area.*)

July 9 1860-The census shows him living in the same dwelling. The inhabitants of his home: Anton Bixel age 37, Joseph Bixel age 41, Anna Bixel age 37, Paul Bixel age 14 (all born in Wurttemberg), Emilie age 2 and Louise age 4 months born in Columbia. The Census further states that he is a brewer and living with his brother Anton and Joseph’s wife. There are many workers listed as the building where the census was taken was most likely the Brewery itself. This brewery is located at the head of Matelot Gulch near the Pine Log road, and is a wood building 40×60 feet, one story high, the malt-room and kiln of brick, one story and basement, 20×80 feet; the fermentation cellar is 20×60 feet, hewn out of almost solid limestone; the floor faced with marble. One large stable of wood, carriage-house and dwelling-house, also of wood, 30×40 feet, and one and a half stories high.

Mr. Bixel married Anna Maria Dirr. She is a native of Germany (Wurttemberg). Paul, Amelia, Louisa and Arthur are their children. – History of Tuolumne County – 1882

He died 3 August 1887 in Columbia and was buried in the I.O.O.F. cemetery. He left the brewery to his wife. His son died from recovery complications after he fell from a wagon.*

Information with an * from a family member (maternal great grandson) Edwin Poor May 2018

Picture Gallery of Headstones: (click on a photo to see gallery)