USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 21
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Hon. George Pfeuffer, the eldest son of George Sr., was fifteen years of age at the time of the family's arrival in Texas. He was edu- cated in Germany, and following his return to Texas he embarked in merchandising at Corpus Christi, following that pursuit until the out- break of the Civil war, while subsequent to the period of hostilities he re-established the business at New Braunfels, where under the firm name of George Pfeuffer & Brothers a large establishment was devel- oped and an extensive trade built up in the general mercantile line. Of this firm Christoph Pfeuffer was also a member. They were largely en- gaged in other business affairs in that county and section of the state in addition to general merchandising, holding extensive landed inter- ests and also carrying on farming and cattle raising. They built up a comfortable fortune in this way, carefully managing varied business in- terests so that success resulted. George Pfeuffer, Jr., also became prom- inent in politics. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to the office of county judge of Comal county and elected him to represent his district in the lower house of the state legislature and also in the senate. His life was notable because of its business success and for its official prominence and he commanded high respect and regard wherever known. He died in New Braunfels in 1886 at the age of fifty-six years. Valentine Pfeuffer, the second son of the family. died at New Braunfels in the latter part of 1904. Dan Pfeuffer, another son, served as a Confederate soldier throughout the Civil war, becom- ing a lieutenant under Captain Sayers and died at San Antonio in 1905. The two daughters of the family are Mary Pfeuffer and Mrs. Barbetta Cline, the former living in Gonzales, Texas; Mrs. Cline, who also made her home in Gonzales, died in that city.
Christoph Pfeuffer acquired a good education and was reared to mercantile pursuits, becoming a member of the firm of George Pfeuffer & Brothers. As the years passed by thev extended their efforts from one line to another until their business affairs covered a wide range of activity and resulted in splendid success. In 1884, Mr. Pfeuffer re- moved to San Antonio, where he has since made his home. Having been very prosperous in business his financial resources were such that he could retire from active connection with trade or commercial inter- ests and devote his time to the supervision of his property and invest- ments. For a long period of years he owned a fine ranch twenty-five
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miles north of San Antonio, on which he raised racing and other fine stock.
Mr. Pfeuffer was married in New Braunfels in 1882 to Miss Bettie Pasel. They have a beautiful home in San Antonio at No. 133 Cedar street with large and attractive flower and vegetable gardens extending to the corner of Pereida street. The furnishings of the home are ail that wealth can secure and refined taste suggest and the social func- tions here held are among the most attractive of the city.
JOHN MARBACH. The thriving city of New Braunfels has a full quota of live, energetic, and persevering business men, prominent among whom is John Marbach, an extensive real estate dealer, and one of the leading men of this section of Comal county. Coming from substantial German ancestry, he was born November 30, 1845, in the Rhine Province, Germany, which was also the place of birth of his father, John Joseph Marbach.
After attaining man's estate, John J. Marbach was for a number of years employed as a road builder in the fatherland. Wishing, however, to better his financial condition, he emigrated to the United States in 1853, coming on a sailing vessel from Bremerhafen to Galveston, being on the ocean thirteen weeks. From there to Indianola he went by water, and then continued his journey by team to Comal county. After remaining here two months, he proceeded to Austin, where he resided three years, but never quite contentedly. Returning therefore to this county, he purchased a tract of wild land lying about eleven miles from New Braunfels, and having erected a frame house immediately began the im- provement of his estate, and on the farm which he cleared he lived and labored until his death, in 1885, at the good old age of seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Eikel, was born, reared and married in Germany. She survived him ten years, dving in 1895, at the age of eighty-seven years. They reared three children, all of whom were born in the fatherland, namely : Stephen, Andrew, and John. Stephen served in the Civil war as orderly sergeant of Captain Hoffman's com- pany, which was attached to Sibley's brigade, and was killed in the battle of Glorieta. Andrew was for many years actively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, but is now a resident of New Braunfels.
Although but seven years old when he came across the Atlantic with his parents, John Marbach has a vivid recollection of many of the incidents of the long trip by water and land, and of the wild, rough country which he found on coming here, through which wild animals and the savage redskins roamed at large. He received his elementary education in the pioneer schools of Selma, completing his early studies at St. Mary's College, in San Antonio. He subsequently began life as a cattle trader, and in his transactions in this line made a good start in life. On the death of his father, Mr. Marbach and his brother Andrew suc- ceeded to the ownership of the parental homestead, and his share he sold to said brother in 1896. Buying then a farm lving on the line between Bexar and Comal counties, Mr. Marbach was there engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until 1901, when he removed to his present home in New Braunfels. Although giving up active farming at that time, he has been greatly interested in other enterprises, and at the present time is asso-
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ciated with Hon. Joseph Faust, H. D. Greene and George Knoke in the real estate business. These gentlemen are operating extensively through- out this section of Texas, buying large tracts of land, which they sub- divide, and sell to actual settlers, and while financially benefiting them- selves are also doing much towards developing and building up the coun- try roundabout. Mr. Marbach is likewise profitably engaged in the bat guano business, at the present time owning and operating two caves, one in Comal county, and one in Uvalde county.
Mr. Marbach married, in 1873, Minna Meurin, who was born in Guadalupe county, Tex., where her father, J. P. Meurin, located on emigrating to this state from Thier, Germany. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Marbach eight children have been born, namely: Ida, Robert, Paul, Laura, Walter, Tony, Emma, and Annie. Ida married Adolf Haag. Robert married Huldah Epple, by whom he has three children. Paul married Dorothea Strolcke, and they have four sons. Laura, the wife of William Bremer, has one child. Tony married Louis Brunne, and they have one child. Politically Mr. Marbach has always been a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has served his fellow citizens in many offices of importance. In 1875 he was elected justice of the peace for Precinct No. 2, and served three years; for six- teen years he was county commissioner ; and for four years he filled the office of county judge most acceptably.
OTTO HEILIG. 'Many of the most enterprising and substantial citizens of Comal county 'are of German birth, among those of prominence being Otto Heilig; well known as postmaster at New Braunfels. A son of Prof. Ferdinand J. Heilig, he was born November 8, 1852, in Germany, the descendant of a family of some importance in the fatherland.
A native of Germany, Prof. Ferdinand J. Heilig received an excel- lent education, and chose teaching as his profession. Having taught school in different places in his native country, he was ambitious to try life in the new world, and in 1860, accompanied by his wife and their four children, he sailed from Bremen, and after an ocean voyage of nine weeks landed in New Orleans. From there he proceeded by boat to Galveston, where he secured passage on a prairie schooner, which was equipped with a camping outfit so that the passengers could cook and camp en route. On Christmas eve, he and the entire party camped within sight of Victoria, and a week later, on New Year's eve, were in New Braunfels. Two months later the professor moved with his family to the settlement just across the river, where his brother-in-law lived, and there, under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Kipper, studied until he had mastered the English language. Resuming then his professional labors, he taught at Spring Branch and other places until 1865, when he secured a position at New Braunfels, where he remained as a teacher for twenty-eight years, a period of time that bespeaks his popularity and efficiency as an instructor, and his influence as a man. He was indeed honored and respected during his life, and his death, which occurred March 1, 1903, was a loss to the community in which he had so long resided. His wife, whose maiden name was U. F. Habermann, survived him, and is still a resident of New Braunfels. She bore him nine children
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that grew to years of maturity, four of whom were born in Germany, and the others in Texas.
Eight years old when he came with his parents to this country, Otto Heilig attended school very regularly for a time, and being studious and eager to learn acquired a substantial knowledge of the common branches taught in the public schools. Leaving school when about thirteen years old, he worked in a cotton mill for a year, after which he served an apprenticeship of three years at the cabinet maker's and carpenter's trade. Going then to Austin, he worked at his trade two years, after which he continued his chosen occupation in New Braunfels until 1882. From that time until 1899 he conducted a saloon in this city. Being then appointed postmaster at New Braunfels by President Mckinley, he has since filled this responsible position most ably and acceptably, at the expiration of his first term in 1903, being reappointed to the same office by President Roosevelt.
Mr. Heilig has been twice married. He married first, in 1874, Margarethe Reszczynski, who was born in New Braunfels, a daughter of Alexander Reszczynski. She died, leaving three children, namely : Alexandra, Melanie, deceased, and Wanda. Mr. Heilig married, second, Mathilda Forke, a daughter of J. L. Forke, and of this union four chil- dren have been born, namely: Victor, Norma, Marcella, and Werner. Politically Mr. Heilig cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes, and has since been a, stanch supporter of the principles of the Re- publican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights of Honor, of the Praetorians, of the Wood- men of the World, and of the New Braunfels Mutual Aid Society.
CHARLES A. JAHN. In the development and advancement of the public interests of New Braunfels there is no more important factor than Charles A. Jahn, who for nearly ten years has been at the head of the government of this municipality, filling the mayor's chair with ability and fidelity. Intelligent, enterprising and industrious, he is known as an excellent business manager, and is universally honored and respected as a man and a citizen. He is a native of this city, his birth occurring August 12, 1851. His father, John Jahn, was born June 12, 1816, in Barth, near Stralsund, Prussia, a son of William Jahn, who as a soldier in the Prussian army died in service.
Having learned the trade of a cabinet maker while serving an appren- ticeship of five years, John Jahn subsequently worked as a journeyman in Prussia for many years. In 1845 he came on a sailing vessel to Texas, landing at Galveston after a long voyage. From there he went by boat to Indianola, thence by mule team to what is now Comal county, where he arrived a stranger in a strange country. The inhabitants were then few and far between, and notwithstanding that the best land in South- western Texas could be purchased for twenty-five cents an acre he was unable to buy even a small tract, his only assets being ten cents. Deer could be seen at any time, and occasionally a buffalo made its appear- ance. Locating in New Braunfels, he assisted the early pioneers in building their log cabins, and when there came a demand for furniture he resumed the trade which he had learned in the fatherland. Begin- ning in a very modest way, he gradually enlarged his operations, and in
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course of time employed two men to help him. In 1866 his business warranted him in sending to New York for his first order for furni- ture, and this was shipped to Indianola, and from there brought with teams to his New Braunfels store, which occupied the site in which the business that he established is now conducted by his heirs. He won a substantial trade, and continued successfully employed as a furniture dealer until his death, June 12, 1883. He married Anna Klein, who was born at Hattenheim, on the Rhine, November 18, 1818, and they reared two children, namely: Charles A., the special subject of this brief sketch, and Emma.
Having received a practical education in the public schools of New Braunfels, Charles A. Jahn commenced as a young man to assist his father in the management of his affairs, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the details of the business. At his father's death, he and his sister succeeded to the ownership of the entire business, and have since con -. ducted it with a wisdom that has brought good success. Mr. Jahn has ever taken a genuine interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the public, and has served the city most efficiently in an official way. As one of the leading Democrats of the city, he was first elected alderman in 1880, and after serving for a number of years in that capacity was elected mayor of the city, and has since been re- elected to this high position four times, and is now serving his fifth term of two years each.
In 1886 Mr. Jahn married Emma Holtz, who was born in New Braunfels, a daughter of Christian H. and Georgiana (Conring) Holtz, natives of Germany. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Jahn has been blessed by the birth of eight children, namely: Anna, Rudolph, Nellie, Paul, Benjamin, Georgiana, Johanna, and Harriet. Religiously Mr. Jahn is a Catholic, and Mrs. Jahn is a Protestant.
GUS REININGER. An active enterprising citizen of New Braunfels, and a man of ability and worth, Gus Reininger is rendering good service as county assessor of Comal county, performing the duties devolving upon him in this capacity to the satisfaction of all concerned. The descendant of a pioneer family of prominence, he was born January 19, 1863, in Comal county, a son of John George Reininger.
Mr. Reininger's paternal grandfather, John Reininger, was born in Nassau, Rhine province, Germany, and during his earlier life was there employed as a tiller of the soil. Coming with his family to Amer- ica in 1846, he located as a pioneer in Comal county, about four miles southwest of New Braunfels, where he purchased a few acres of land, and resumed the occupation to which he was reared. There were then no railways in the state, and as the farmer had but little to sell he earned what ready money he had by teaming, taking his oxen when not busy working the land, and going to Port Lavaca for a load of freight, which he would take either to San Antonio, Fredericksburg, or New Braunfels. The country through which he passed in making these trips was very sparsely populated, while deer, bear and other wild game was abundant, and occasionally a herd of buffalo might be seen. He was a fine musician, and the clarinet which he played is still preserved by his descendants. He was a successful farmer, and resided on his homestead until his death
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at a ripe old age. Two of his brothers, Henry Reininger and George Reininger, came to Texas, and were pioneer settlers of Comal county.
Born in Nassau, Germany, John George Reininger went as a young child to live with his uncle, Peter Horme, with whom, in 1845, he emi- grated to Texas, coming to New Braunfels with the Germany colony conducted by Prince Solms. He was then seven years old, and now has the distinction of being one of the very few survivors of that early colony. He was brought up about four miles southwest of New Braun- fels, on the farm which his uncle purchased on coming here, and having succeeded to its ownership on the death of Mr. Horme, was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1892. Selling out in that year, he again became a frontiersman, removing to Presidio county, where he purchased a ranch, on which he has since been employed in stock raising. He married Charlotte Haag, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Peter Haag, who came to Comal county at an early period of its settlement, and having purchased land twelve miles west of New Braunfels was there engaged in farming until his death. Nine children were born of their union, namely: Anna, Gus, Margaretha, Mary, August, George, Peter, Emma, and Theodore.
Brought up on the home farm, Gus Reininger attended the short terms of the public schools during his boyhood and youth, and while yet a boy was thoroughly drilled in the various branches of agriculture. Leaving home when twenty-three years old, he was for a number of years engaged in mercantile pursuits, first in Blanco county, and later in Comal county. In 1902 Mr. Reininger was elected assessor of Comal county, and in this office has served with great fidelity ever since. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and is classed by his fellow citizens as one of the public spirited and representative men of town and county, deserving and receiving the esteem and confidence of the community.
Mr. Reininger married in 1886, Anna Fey, who was born in New Braunfels, a daughter of Valentine Fey, an early settler of this place, and into their home four children have been born, namely: Otillie, Laura, Bernhardt, and Lottie.
Atascosa County.
A. M. AVANT. It is difficult to conjecture what would be the busi- ness, industrial and commercial status of Pleasanton if A. M. Avant had not figured so prominently in its public life, for all who know aught of the history of the town recognize in him a man of ability, whose labors have been resultant factors in the growth and progress of this place. His life history began in Gonzales county, Texas, in 1862, his parents being Abner and Alitha (Elder) Avant. The father removed from Tennessee to Texas in 1852, and located in Gonzales county, where he carried on business as a farmer and stockman, remaining a resident cf that locality until his death, which occurred in August, 1901. His wife was born in Georgia, and died in Gonzales county in 1878.
One is apt to think of a boy's life upon a farm as being quiet and uneventful but the youth of A. M. Avant was quite the contrary. He was reared upon his father's homestead and in the stock business at a period when there were still many evidences of frontier life and experi-
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ences. He made the trip over the trail with cattle to Port Robinson, Nebraska, in 1882. He came to Atascosa county in 1886, locating near Campbellton in the southeastern part of the county. He there took up one hundred and sixty acres of land under the old pre-emption law, which was in effect at that time. Turning his attention to farming and stock- raising he became closely associated with those industries, two of the most important sources of revenue in a business life in Texas. In 1894 he was elected sheriff and tax collector of Atascosa county and was re-elected at each succeeding election for ten years, filling the position therefore for a decade, or until 1904, and making a reputation as one of the best sheriffs of the state. He was prompt and fearless in the dis- charge of his duties, and in 1903 was honored by being elected president of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas at the annual meeting held in San Antonio. During his incumbency in the sheriff's office he was notably brave and efficient in the capture of criminals. He was instrumental in breaking up the "white cap" organization in Atascosa county and in punishing the leaders. He took a prominent part in the capture and subse- quent prosecution of the suspected murderers of Mrs. Barber and her sons, Wiley and Levi. Perhaps the most notable capture in which he participated was that of the Mexican, Cortez, who murdered two sheriffs and a constable in Karnes and Gonzales counties. In the chase of this criminal Mr. Avant and his deputies, Mr. A. Toms and Joseph Kerr, did twelve days of hard riding, and for their efficient efforts in this case each of the first two gentlemen were presented with a fine gold watch by the citizens of Karnes county. The Cortez case was of state-wide reputa- tion, arousing a great deal of race prejudice on the part of certain Mexi- can elements and in this way taking a political turn.
Mr. Avant was through all of these years a successful stockman and still continues as such. He has a cattle ranch of four thousand acres about twenty miles southwest of Pleasanton in Atascosa county, and another pasture of one thousand acres near Pleasanton. On the Ist of January, 1905, he purchased the Monitor, and is its publisher and editor, carrying on his newspaper interests in connection with the conduct of other business enterprises. The Monitor is a weekly newspaper of the highest character and is read and enjoyed by the best people of the county. being an old and welcome visitor in many homes, as it was established in 1873.
In 1906 Mr. Avant began operating in the real estate business, especially ranch property. He is associated with the Rock Island Colony and Land Company, the other members being originally Penfield and Peterson of San Antonio.
Mr. Avant was also one of the organizers and is vice-president of the First National Bank of Pleasanton, which institution was opened for business April 9, 1906. He takes a very active part as a business man in promoting the new growth and development of Atascosa county, enlisting investments of capital by outsiders, etc., and in all his interests is actuated by a purpose that is undeniably public-spirited. He was instrumental in getting the Eureka Telephone, Company's lines extended to Pleasanton, and his daughter, Mis's Blanche Avant, is acting as local manager of the office.
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Mr. Avant was married to Miss Ida Johnson, of Gonzales county, in which locality the wedding was celebrated, and they now have three children, Blanche, Byron and Ben. The boys are in the West Texas Military Academy. Mr. Avant is a strong man and popular with the public, and whether in office or out of it he has always stood for general progress and improvement, co-operating in many measures for the gen- eral good. In all of his business dealings he is thoroughly reliable and his integrity as well as his enterprise stands as an unquestioned fact in his career.
HENRY G. MARTIN, president of the First National Bank of Pleasan- ton, in Atascosa county, was born in that city in 1860. His parents were Judge A. G. and Mary (Rutledge) Martin. The mother, who is still liv- ing in Atascosa county, was born in Alabama. The father, who died in Pleasanton, in September, 1900, was one of the most prominent of the Texas pioneers. He was born in Georgia and came to this state in April, 1849, on his way to California, but being pleased with the coun- try and its prospects he decided to remain and accordingly lo- cated at San Antonio. From there he went to Seguin in Guadalupe county, where in the early '50s he was elected county and district clerk. In 1856 he came to Atascosa countv, and was one of its organizers, mak- ing Pleasanton the county seat, his home thereafter. Before the war he was engaged in the cattle business. He served as a member of the Confederate army during the period of hostilities between the states, or until 1864, when he returned home on a furlough and was elected county judge, serving in that capacity until displaced by the reconstruction organ- ization. Following this, however, he was county and district clerk, and for nearly eighteen vears continuously filled the position. He afterward served as county judge for one term. His eldest son, Tudge I. L. Martin, was born at Seguin, Texas, and became a member of the bar. He figured prominently in local circles and was a man of much influence in public life. He became judge of the thirty-eighth judicial district of Texas, was a member of the twenty-fourth general assembly and is now living at Uvalde.
Henry G. Martin was reared and educated in Pleasanton, and for about eight years was assistant and deputy under his father in the office of county and district clerk. In November, 1890, he was elected to this position to succeed his father, and at each successive election was chosen by popular suffrage until the period of his incumbency covered fourteen years. ending his term of office in 1904. In the spring of 1906 Mr. Martin with a number of associates organized the First National Bank of Pleasanton, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. The bank was opened for business April 9. 1906, its charter number being 8,103. It is the first bank ever established in this town and has been a most prosperous institution from the beginning. Pleasanton is the county seat and the only town of any size in a rich country of growing agricultural importance, and the bank has proved a valuable acquisition to business interests here. Mr. Martin is president of the institution, while A. M. Avant is vice-president, and J. K. Lawhon, cashier. The directors are H. G. Martin, A. M. Avant. J. W. Hunt. James A. Walton, Charles Peterson, W. S. Hall and F. H. Burmeister, all of whom are resi-
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