Joseph William Hannig

(1834 – 1890)

Joseph William Hannig was born on June 14, 1834 in Germany. Shortly after arriving in Texas he operated a hotel in Lockhart. After moving to Austin in the 1860’s he was an undertaker while running a furniture store at 824 Congress Avenue. In 1857 he married Mrs Susanna Dickinson, the last survivor of the Battle of the Alamo. She was eighteen years his senior and died in 1883.

He was raised to the degree of a Master Mason on June 10, 1868, served as Worshipful Master of Austin Lodge No. 12 in 1872, 1876, 1877, 1879 and as DDGM in 1877. His other Masonic honors include being the York Rite Grand Standard Bearer in 1875, and Grand Commander in 1881.

In 1877 the Grand Lodge of Texas changed its masonic year to begin from the original January, to July. In 1878 the lodge changed from twice monthly Stated Meetings held on the first and third Saturdays, to one Stated Meeting per month.

He died on January 6, 1890, and is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.