German Colony

[Craig Tx]

From the Texas State Historical Association

German nobles unite for Texas colonization

On this day in 1842, the Adelsverein (the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas) was provisionally organized by twenty-one German noblemen at Biebrich on the Rhine, near Mainz. The society was formed to establish a new Germany on Texas soil by means of an organized mass emigration. In May 1842 the association sent two of its members, counts Joseph of Boos-Waldeck and Victor August of Leiningen, to Texas to purchase land. In January 1843 Boos-Waldeck bought a square league (4,428 acres) in what is now Fayette County, near Industry, as the base for future colonization. The first immigrants disembarked in Texas in December 1844, near Carlshafen (later Indianola). The society brought more than 7,000 Germans to Texas. It also established Texas as a major goal of subsequent emigration from Germany.


Craig

[sse]

Never heard of this one...!

[Craig Tx]

Yup, Texas has had many German colonists, especially in the "Hill Country", New Braunfels, Fredricksburg, Giddings, Bastrop (Mina) pop immediatly to mind.  There is also a strong Czech presence in the area of West, TX so rencently in the news.

Craig

[Uncle Russ]

Yup, Texas has had many German colonists, especially in the "Hill Country", New Braunfels, Fredricksburg, Giddings, Bastrop (Mina) pop immediatly to mind.  There is also a strong Czech presence in the area of West, TX so rencently in the news.

Craig

FWIW;
I would suspect the area of New Braunfels, or Neu Braunfels, is likely the best known.

However, you're absolutely right about the strong German influence in the "Hill Country".
I was surprised to read the number of initial immigrants back in the mid 1800's....I have always known the influence was strong, but 7,000 is a much larger number than I had somehow  imagined for the time period.

Some of the best processed meat, ie sausages and smoked hams to be found anywhere are still done in the Hill Country, and it's still done the so-called "old fashioned way", even today.

The Hill Country has great food, great people, and is a great place to visit.

Uncle Russ...

[Craig Tx]

Unca Russ, you are absolutely right!  The best of sausages (wurst) etc. do come from the Hill Country!  And indeed, the people are the best!  I'm hopin' for a Hill Country excursion the next time I'm back home.

Craig

[Riley/MN]

I got to visit Fredricksburg on my recent trip to Texas! Adm. Nimitz's home town!

[Craig Tx]

Yessir!  Didja get a chance to see the Nimitz (actually I think it's called the Pacific War Museum now...) Museum while you were there?  It keeps gettin' better as the years go by.

Craig

[Riley/MN]

They gave us three hours to see the museum and do lunch - It should've been an all-day deal! Then we went out to FDR's homesite & saw the Texas White House.

[Bison Horn]

I got to visit Fredricksburg on my recent trip to Texas! Adm. Nimitz's home town!

Yes a great museum. It's a great place with down under basement cafes and yes the best sausages. Octoberfest is lots of great food. BH

[Craig Tx]

<snork>  I think you mean LBJ Riley...  ;-)

[Riley/MN]

Heh, heh... yeah....