Salm, Robert

March 1855 – 14 March 1898

     Robert Salm worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad at the local shops for several years before he died of pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of forty-two. His worn iron cross stands in St. Joseph’s Society Catholic Cemetery.  

     Like so many of Mr. Salm’s compatriots his place of birth is confusing. His death certificate states he was German. When he registered to vote in 1895 he gave his birth place as France. On the 1900 federal census, after his death, his wife said France. Finally, checking Robert Salm’s naturalization record of 15 October 1892 in the Bexar County Probate Minutes the question is solved. Phil[ippe]. R. Salm, born in Rouffach, France, arrived in New York on 25 January 1891. Rouffach is a historic town in the Alsace region fought over and claimed by both France and Germany for decades.

     By 1895 Robert first appears in the San Antonio city directory, as well as the City’s voter registration list. The 1900 census lists Marie, Robert’s wife, a laundry woman, and their daughter, also Marie, both having been born in France. In 1903 the city directory shows daughter Mary Salm as a clerk at the San Antonio Paste Works, and in 1905 as a stenographer at the City National Bank.

Our knowledge of Robert’s life is limited. However, we know he was involved in local politics as the San Antonio Light reported on 17 February 1896 that he was chosen as a delegate to the Bexar County Republican convention.

      Mr. Salm and his wife resided at 117 Crosby. Mary remains there after Robert’s death and is (mistakenly) listed as Mary Salm in 1903 when the city directory gives her address as 214 Dakota.

Mistaken because Marie (Mary) Salm married Robert Doering on 2 February 1901 (Bexar County, number 18418).The house on Dakota was that of Robert Doering and his family. He had been married to Emelie, nee Dielmann (Thielemann).

      Marie Salm Doering passed on 15 January 1929 and, like Robert Salm, buried in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.