In
1845, the new state of Texas needed people and
advertised land to Americans and to people in
other countries. At the same time, Germany was
suffering from overcrowding and political strife.
The chance to build a new life of freedoms,
especially to own land, influenced thousands
of Germans to leave their homeland for Texas.
A group of German nobleman and Texas land developers
formed a German Society (Adelsverin) to oversee
the immigration The society promised to help
the Germans settle in special areas, build homes
businesses and community necessities. Unfortunately,
these promises were not kept.
The
money ran out quickly and the Germans were left
to make their own way in this new and rugged
state. The freedoms in America outweighed the
hardships and any need to return to Germany.
Their ability to work together helped them build
many small towns and communities throughout
Texas and Spring Branch is one of these areas.
Karl Kolbe settled on a branch of the Buffalo
Bayou and named it Spring Branch. In 1848, five
families (Kolbe, 2 Hillendahl families, Bauer
Family, Ahrenbeck Family) held the first service
for St. Peter Church... reading from a Bauer
family prayer book they brought from Germany.
Many
of the Spring Branch and Memorial area streets
are named for these early settlers: Kolbe, Hillendahl,
Bauer, Schroeder, Hedwig, Bauer, Sauer, Witte,
Campbell, Look, Tappenback, Beinhorn, Rummel,
Clay, Ojeman, Oberpriller, Telchow, Tendler,
Mueller, Neuen, Kuhlman, Bingle, Reidel, Reichart,
Beutel, Pech, Burkhardt, Emnora, Fredrich, Hufmeister,
Weiman and Koehn.
The
Karl Kolbe and Fredrick Schroeder families are
honored as being the first settlers in the area.
The Hillendahl's had the first post office,
the first railway stop and last working farm
in Spring Branch. Their family cemetary remains
on Long Point. The Rummel family gave the property
to build St. Peter Church and it remains a place
of worship at the intersection of Long Point
and Campbell. The Rummel and Bauer families
had the first sawmills in the area and the Schroeder
family members were the first settlers in the
Piney Point area. The Beinhorns owned and worked
a large farm in the Memorial area and ran a
grocery store. The Oberprillers ran the early
general store in Spring Branch and the Reidels
had the first and last feed store in the area.
The Conrad Sauers were dairy farmers and the
William Sauers had a sausage business. The Telchows
were farmers, as were most of the early pioneers.
Family members worked the land because they
did not believe in slave labor. All the residents
shared information about the land, livestock,
weather and ways to prosper and protect each
other. They formed clubs to share information,
music, sharp shooting (Spring Branch Gun Club),
dancing (Tin Hall), sewing (Quilting Bees) and
insurance (Sons of Hermann)... and a handshake
was an official contract.
The
St. Peters minister held the first school in
the log cabin church in 1854. The first public
school was built next to the church in 1889
when a teacher was hired. The small one room
schoolhouse would eventually become what is
known as Spring Branch School System. Arnold
Hillendahl served on the school board for 10
years and the Hillendahl family members were
some of the most active good citizens and good
neighbors in this community.
The
first settlers from Germany, other countries
and other parts of America were hardy pioneers
who worked and lived through difficult times
- The Civil War, malaria, yellow fever, Texas
size storms, floods, extreme heat and droughts.
They taught us how to build a community with
determination, cooperation, hard work and fun.
Celebrations were as important to their success
as their work. They loved to congregate and
celebrate for any holiday or occasion. These
celebrations usually included a picnic, shooting
contests, music and dancing. St. Peter Church
had an annual Anniverasy BBQ under the large
oak trees for this community and surrounding
areas... which continues today and will celebrate
it's 156th year in October, 2004.
Many
of the descendents of these original families
still live in Spring Branch and are members
of St. Peter Church. Many of those first pioneers
are buried in the cemetery behind the church
and we honor their legacy. The community and
church have changed through the years but one
outstanding trait remains... this is a muliticultural
American community that has survived and grown
through hard work, determination, cooperation,
and fun.
In
keeping with this spirit, the Multicultural
Fest Parade will be held to celebrate
the past and present of the Spring Branch Community.
Remember, the parade will begin at the Wal-Mart
Neighborhood Market on Wirt and Long Point but
it ends at the intersection of Long Point and
Campbell.... where it all began.
Pictures &
text by Charles Clark, II
Neighborhood
