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County Coordinator is Jane Keppler.County Co-Coordinator is Jean Huot Smoorenburg
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TXGenWeb Robertson County Books & Master's Thesis |
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N E W B A D E N |
The following excerpt is taken from A History Of Robertson County, Texas, by John Walter Baker, copyright 1970, by the Robertson County Historical Foundation, pages 363 � 369.[1]
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The fifth edition of A History Of Robertson County is available for purchase through the Robertson County Historical Foundation. This well written, 560-page, hard cover book is a "must have" for people researching Robertson County and its families (sample chapters on New Baden & Wootan Wells). Contact clazhome@msn.com to make purchase arrangements (including credit card sales). (as of this date 11/01/2014, this book may not be available) |
Of the Europeans who came to Texas as colonists in the second half of the nineteenth century, Germans were by far the largest in numbers. Because of economic conditions and religious and political turmoil, many enterprising families sought freedom and opportunity in the new land. Many of the Germans settled in Texas. Brought over to America by noblemen who organized a society to promote settlement in Texas, these hardy people brought with them their cultural heritage that is still evident in their homes, farms, and their lives.
One of the many settlements was New Baden, Texas, settled by the Texas Land and Immigration Company in 1881. The colony was organized under the leadership of Matern Leber, John George Meyer, and A. B. Langermann who were elected as trustees of the enterprise. The plan of organization of the colony was simple. Any person of German descent was eligible for membership by buying a lot in the settlement and one hundred acres of farmland near the town. The land was to be purchased from the company sponsoring settlement. John George Meyer, agent for the colony, authorized all purchases. The certificate issued by Meyer entitled a man and his family to share equally with all others in the benefits arising from the sale of land.
On February 17, 1882, the New York and Texas Land Company deeded eighty-five acres to the colony. This land was divided into blocks and lots. The newly created town became New Baden. The first building constructed was an �Immigrant House� which was designed to serve the needs of settlers until they could build homes. In time, the structure became known as the �Colony House.� The Colony House was a two-story building with two large rooms on the ground floor and several small rooms on the upper floor. The large rooms were used for religious services and a school; ministers and teachers occupied the small rooms. The second story was for the use of immigrant families until they could secure land.
Among the early settlers in the colony were Phillip & Catherine Reichert; Hermann William Sr. & Marie Mattie Hoffer Sauer; John Gerhard Sr. & Emilie Helene Charlotte Becker Rabe; John George & Helene C. F. Meyer; Charles Christian Frederick & Dora Levin; Frank & Annie Marie Bersch Benndorf Brunett/Brunette, Charles �Charlie� Webb & Bertha Meyer Rutkowsky; Charles G. & Emma Schultz; Jacob & Marie Catharina Luedemann Dieckmann; Karl Frederick & Minnie Caroline Stassen Peters; William Fred[2] & Sibilia Pfistner; Jakob U. & Anna Hiltpold; John & Mrs. Ziert; John N. & Laura Garland Reagan Dodds; John David & Elizabeth Anna Becktold Zweifel. William[3] & Annie Christiansen were also early settlers as were John Henry & Annie Marie Zweifel Niemann[4]. Others who joined the colony were Anna Barbara Gasser[5]; Johann Nepomuk Beck[6]; George & Johanna Urbanke; J. H. Strutthoff; William & Ida Rehberg; Albrecht & Marie Hiltpold Naeter; Franz Schech; Gotthelf Franz & Christina Augusta Hennig Ullrich.
An interesting letter written in German in the early days of the New Baden settlement gives an account of the town and its people:
�On my trip through Texas, paying particular attention to German settlements, I learned that in the blossoming colony, New Baden, an old German by the name of Phillip Reichert lived, from whom I could receive more detailed information about the colony."
�I went there and found to my surprise, that Mr. Reichert was a university friend of my father, Baron Von Mechterach, who knew he had gone to the United States. Mr. Reichert owns a small drug store in New Baden, and near the little town a small model farm. However, he lives a very modest and retired life. His wife provided excellent food, and played my hostess in a fine manner. His children speak the German language."
�I found there outstanding business people, and the father of the settlement, a Mr. Meyer, his wife and daughter, as well as a son, who was the railroad station agent."
�The land has a low price and the conditions of sale are easy. This is the best opportunity for ambitious Germans to become independent in a short time."
�New Baden has in addition to the aforementioned drug store, two grocery stores, two saloons, a restaurant, two express offices, a post office, a neat railway station, as well as a large two-story immigrant building for the temporary housing of newcomers. A wagon maker and a blacksmith, a clockmaker and a German physician could do well here, if they could speak English."
�There are still enough deer, turkey, and rabbits here. The settlers are well satisfied with their choice, and the settlement is headed for a big future. Wine grows wild here, and as Mr. Reichert assures me all types of fruit do well with the exception of cherries, plums, and German walnuts, which have not stood the test."
�Newcomers arrive almost weekly. In general I like the settlement of New Baden better and the people like it better than I saw and found in other settlements."
�The aforementioned Dr. Phillip Reichert had a very successful medical practice in a southern state before the Civil War. The war ruined it and he never tried to reestablish it thereafter.�[7]
It was the custom of Germans to support their countrymen in developing colonies in the United States. In fact, an association for the protection of German immigrants in Texas had been in operation since 1843. The settlers took an active part in political affairs. As time passed, many thousands came to develop small colonies. They maintained a close relationship with their fatherland. As can be understood, the time came when some were unjustly treated and criticized for their attachment to the land of their origin. The background of the German settlers in New Baden is one of intense loyalty to their adopted country. During two world wars in which their homeland participated, they have remained patriotic citizens of the United States.
The journey to Robertson County by the immigrants was by various routes and means. Some landed at Galveston, others at New Orleans, and a few came overland from the East Coast. John George Meyer worked for the Land Company and had circulars printed and sent to the receiving stations and to immigrants �advertising and picturing the land as very favorable for settlement.�
The five members of the Pfistner family came from Bavaria in 1886 and were quartered in the Colony House for a time. While there, an eight-year-old son and an infant daughter died and were buried in the community cemetery. Elizabeth Christina �Lizzie� Pfistner Rabe[8] (William Fred & Sibilia Pfistner�s daughter) was five years of age when her family arrived in New Baden. She recalls the early days of the colony vividly. Her father bought one hundred acres from the Company for three dollars per acre and built his home in the village. Mrs. Rabe attended church and school in the Colony House and played with other children on the �smooth ground around the railroad property.� One of her saddest memories is that of the colonists having to move the community cemetery because surface water came above the ground.
The Evangelische Ebenezer Gemeinde Church was built in 1894 when Mrs. Rabe was thirteen years of age. The colonists were very proud of their attractive place of worship. Members of the church included John Henry Niemann, John Gerhard Rabe Sr., and Charles �Charlie� Webb Rutkowski. Early respected ministers included Reverends W. Vollbreckt, Hagenstein, Vooge, and Randolph.
About the time the church was built in New Baden, the first hotel was erected in the colony. It was two-story, with the upper floor in guest rooms. John George Meyer and George Urbanke operated the ground floor general store and saloon. The first home built in the colony was the property of John George Meyer. It faced the railroad and was built in two separate parts, of two rooms each. The Meyer family lived in two of the rooms; the other two were used as a post office, a railway ticket office, and freight depot. In later years, the parts were joined together into a complete residence. This structure remained until 1965 when it was torn down.
The Charles G. Schultz family came to New Baden in 1884. Schultz had been a successful merchant in Germany and had made several trips to America before moving to Texas to live. In December 1884, he opened a general merchandise store and his family resided in the building. When Schultz died (ten years after his arrival in New Baden), his wife, Emma, and her son, Paul, continued to operate the business. The store was operated for a time in the name of �Mrs. E. Schultz and Son.� During this time, Mrs. Schultz wrote: �This small stock of merchandise and all other property I have is turned over to my son, Paul Schultz. He shall manage same to my satisfaction until he becomes of age on July 20, 1897, at which time, I will take him in as a partner in the concern.� Mrs. Schultz estimated the value of her property was �about two thousand dollars.� Mrs. Schultz and her son built a new home and store in 1906. Several years later (in 1913), Mrs. Schultz died, leaving the entirety of her property to her son.
The German church remained in New Baden until the 1930�s when some of the descendants of the first settlers began moving their affiliation to the Methodist Church in Franklin. Others joined the Baptist Church in their hometown and in other places.
In 1970, the only store remaining in New Baden is the Paul Schultz & Son store, built in 1906. The remaining people are descendants of the Niemanns, Rabes, Pfistners, Dieckmanns, Brunettes, Reicherts, and Schultzes. In addition to the one store, there is a garage as well as a feed and gristmill. The main occupation of the people is, as it was in the past, farming and raising cattle. Most of the good land in the area is still in family names.