Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 53

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922

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has spent money with a lavish hand in these direc- tions, his good deeds have always been quietly performed, and never preceded by a fanfare of trumpets or prompted by a desire to excite com- mendation. What he has done, has been done be- eause he earnestly desired to lighten burdens bowing fellow-beings in sorrow to the dust, and to make the world brighter and better as far as in him lay. In personal appearance he is of the Saxon type. He is five fect eleven inches in height, with fair complexion and bluish-gray eyes. His physique is well proportioned and he is what one may call a fine-looking man. He has been identified with Texas for more than forty-one years. He landed on our shores well-nigh penniless and friendless and with scarecly any knowledge of the country. The difficulties that confronted him would have proven insurmountable to a man of ordinary mold. He made opportunity his slave, not his master. He made a high position in the business and social community and the acquisition of wealth objective points, but honor and truth his guides. He deter- mined not to sustain defeat, but at the same time not to accept success except upon the terms he prescribed to Fortune, viz., that it should come to him because he deserved it.

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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

WILLIAM VON ROSENBERG,

AUSTIN.

From the days when the immortal Hermann in- flicted upon the legions under Varrus one of the first and most crushing defeats ever sustained by the Roman arms, the great Germanic race has been famous in history for its devotion to the principles of liberty and self-government. Its blood and strength of purpose have found expression in the annals of the composite English-speaking people who have encircled the globe with their conquests and promises to direct the future course of human progress. Its sons, from the first settlement of America - upon the field of battle, in legislation and in all the varied walks of private life - have contributed their full share to the prosperity and glory of the country. They have come to the United States from all ranks of life in the father- land - not only the peasant, dissatisfied with his lot; but, men of noble birth, who wished to cast their fortunes with the people of this country and exercise their energies iu a wider and freer field than the old world offered them. Of the latter class is the subject of this sketch, Mr. William von Rosenberg, for many years past a respected and influential citizen of Austin, Texas.

The genealogy of the Rosenberg family dates back to the twelfth century, when in the year A. D. 1150, Vitellus Ursini, of Rome, emigrated to the German Empire, built the town of Rosenberg in Bohemia, acquired the name of Ursini von Rosen- berg, and became the founder of the family of that name. In the early history of Austria for several centuries members of the family occupied promi- nent positions in church and political affairs. Reichsgraf (Count) Andreas Ursini von Rosenberg, who lived in the year A. D. 1685, may be mentioned as closing the fifth century of the family history. The von Rosenbergs, members of the order of Ger- man Kuights, scattered over Germany and the Bal- tic coast States. One of them, Wilhelm Dietrich von Rosenberg. in the year A. D. 1620 became a member of the Bench of Knights of Courland and from him the subject of this sketch is lineally de- scended, as shown by the family genealogy pre- served in the archives of the Bench. His father, Carl von Rosenberg (at the age of sixteen ) and his father's elder brothers, Gustav and Otto, volun- teered in the service of their country in 1813 in the war against Napoleon I.

llis father's youngest brother, Ernest, relin-

quished his commission as Lieutenant in the Prus- sian army for political reasons, came to America and in October, 1821, landed, together with about fifty-three other adventurers, on the Texas coast. The party, known as ' Long's Expedition," after having taking possession of La Bahia (Goliad), were taken prisoners by Mexican troops, but were re- leased upon the promise that they would peacefully settle in the country.

Ernest von Rosenberg, being a soldier, joined the Mexican army and was promoted to the rank of Colonel ; but, espousing the cause of the ill-fated Iturbite, was shot to death upon the downfall of the latter. He was among the first Germans to visit Texas.

About this time, October 14, 1821, William von Rosenberg, the subject of this notice, was born on his father's estate, known as Eckitten, near the town of Memel, in East Prussia. After completing the high school course at Memel, he engaged as an apprentice to a government sur- veyor. In 1838 he was the private secretary of an administrative officer in landed affairs and, when the latter was transferred to the province of Saxony, went with him to his new appointment and remained his private secretary until 1841 and then eutered the army to serve his term as a soldier, aud in 1844 was appointed a Lieuteuant in the reserves. Iu 1845 he entered the examination for government surveyor and obtained the unusual qualification "excellent." After filling a government appoint- ment for some time, he, in 1846, entered the Uni- versity of Architecture in Berlin, and two years later qualified as royal architect. He was then employed in supervising the erection of two govern- ment school buildings in Berlin, upon the comple- tion of which he found himself, in June, 1849, proscribed as a Democrat and onable thereafter to secure any further employment under the Prussian government, which had assumed reactionary tend- encies in the direction of despotism. Owing to his outspoken Democracy he was advised by the major commanding the reserve battalion in which he served, that, if he would apply therefor, he would receive an honorable discharge from the army; meaning, of course, that otherwise he would be dismissed without such discharge.

At this time he was twenty-eight years old with a prospect before him that whatever he might en-

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gage in he would be opposed by influences beyond his power to control. With his career in the father- land thus abruptly ended, he concluded to leave the country. At that time a great deal had been written and printed in Germany about Texas, in con- sequence of the efforts of the German Emigration Company, and he therefore selected Texas as his future home. His parents and family looked upon him as a self-reliant man who had made his own way in the world and, he being the oldest of seven children, they did not attempt to persuade him to remain in Germany, where they knew that he would be the vietim of persecution ; but, deeply attached to one another, they concluded that the whole family, consisting of thirteen persons, would emi- grate together and seek happiness under freer in- stitutions. Previous to their departure he married Miss Auguste Anders, to whom he was betrothed. After a sixty days' voyage in a sailing vessel they landed at Galveston, Texas, on the 6th of Decem- ber, 1849. They settled in Fayette County at and in the vicinity of Nassau Farm. He there followed farming for six years, learned the English language and in 1855 became a citizen of the United States. Being a skillful draughtsman, he was called upon to draw a design for the courthouse of Fayette County which was built at La Grange. This work gave such general satisfaction that he was recom- mended by American friends to the Commissioner of the General Land-Office of Texas, the Hon. Stephen Crosby, as a well-qualified draughtsman and, in consequence thereof, moved to Austin in April, 1856, and was appointed to the first vacancy as such in October of the same year. The Land Office was then in a small building in the Capitol yard and the business of the office had not then developed to the proportions which it has assumed in later years. The personnel of the office at that time consisted of the commissioner, chief elerk, translator, chief draughtsman, six assistant draughtsmen and twenty clerks.

In November, 1857, Stephen Crosby was suc- ceeded by F. M. White, who held the office of Commissioner for four years. Mr. Crosby was then again elected to the office, took charge in November, 1861, and appointed Mr. von Rosen- berg whom he had selected therefor to the position of chief draughtsman, which he held until the fall of 1863, when he was requested to serve as topographical engineer under Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, in the Confederate army.

When the question of secession came to be de- cided by the voters of Texas, Mr. von Rosenberg cast his ballot for it, his reasons therefor being that he had left Prussia on aceount of having been

proscribed for his political opinions, had selected Texas for his future home with full knowledge of the existence of the institution of slavery in the State and had not come as a reformer, but to live with its people, who received him as a stranger un- conditionally. He felt it to be his duty, whether right or wrong, to stand with the people of Texas in upholding the cardinal principles of self-govern- ment as laid down in the Declaration of Independ- ence and Constitution of the United States.

When the clouds of sectional animosity and miseonstruction that had so long hovered like a pall over the country burst in the tempest of war and the brave and true, both North and South, were hurrying to the front, Mr. von Rosenberg's father, although too old for active service in the field, dressed himself as a Prussian Uhlan and, riding through the streets of Roundtop, the village where he then resided, called upon the young men of the place to enlist in the Confederate army and to remember how their fathers had dared to do and. die in the old land in 1813, when their country was threatened by invasion. Known to be an old hero of the Napoleonic wars, his martial bearing and stirring words fired the hearts of the patriotic young men of the town and many of them afterwards tes- tified their devotion to the cause of constitutional freedom upon hard fought fields in the war between the States. Some of them lived to, in later years, receive honors at the hands of their fellow-citizens ; others filled soldiers' graves.

Mr. William von Rosenberg's three younger brothers, Eugene, Alexander and Walter, were among the first to enlist in the Confederate army. Eugene was a member of Waul's Legion and was at the siege of Vicksburg. Alexander and Walter were soldiers in Creuzbaur's company of artillery and took part in the Louisiana campaign. Another brother, John von Rosenberg, served in the Engi- neer corps with him. After having served as topo- graphical engineer, in the department of Texas, during the war, Mr. von Rosenberg, at the elose of the struggle, was ealled back to the General Land Office as chief draughtsman, but was swept aside by the military usurpers, who trampled eivil govern- ment under their feet in Texas at the time. At the election in 1866, Stephen Crosby was recalled to administer the affairs of the Land-Office and again made Mr. von Rosenberg chief draughtsman, a position that he filled until during the " reconstrue- tion " period, when the officials selected by the people were removed and aliens appointed in their stead.

At this time Maj. C. R. Johns, formerly Comp- troller of the State, had opened a land agency bus-

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iness in Austin and induced Mr. von Rosenberg to enter into partnership with him, under the firm name of C. R. Johns & Company. The firm was composed of C. R. Johns, J. C. Kirby, F. Everett and W. von Rosenberg and did a large and profit- able business for a number of years. They then thought that by combining the business of banking and exchange with their land agency they would greatly increase their profits. In this they erred .. The land department of the business was under Mr. von Rosenberg's exclusive management. The banking department was not successful and in November, 1876, the firm of C. R. Johns & Com- pany made an assignment.

Being thus broken up and without financial resources, Mr. von Rosenberg commenced the land agency business on his own account in February, 1877, at Austin, in which business he is still engaged.

Politically he is a Democrat, but has ever reserved to himself the right to act in accordance with the dictates of his conscience. He has never sought nor desired office. He was solicited to run for the Legislature on the Horaee Greely ticket ; but, being opposed to Mr. Greely's nomination, declined to make the race.

Ile has cared little for society, preferring the quiet enjoyments of home. His wife is devoted to her husband and children and seeks happiness within her family. She, however, has never forgot- ten the prospective positions apparently in store for them in the fatherland at the time of her betrothal to him.

His family consists of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all of whom are married but the youngest daughter. This generation, born and bred in Texas, have ent loose from the advantages of nobility and maintain as a self-evident truth " that all men are created, and by right ought to be, free and equal." As they have grown up they have had instilled in their hearts by their parents the undying principles that underlie civil govern- ment and are free from the prejudices of caste, as it becomes citizens of this free country to be. The children are: Charles, born July 18, 1850, in

Fayette County, farmer and stock raiser, lives near Manchaca, Texas, married Walleska Sutor ;

Arthur, born September 1, 1851, in Fayette County, clerk in his father's office and notary publie, lives in South Austin, married Mary Holland ;

Ernest, born November 25, 1852, in Fayette County, compiling dranghtsman in the General Land-Office of Texas, lives in Austin, married Hellena Lungkwitz ;

Paul, born August 10, 1854, in Fayette County, farmer and stock raiser, lives near Manchaea, mar- ried Cornelia MeCuistion ;

Lanra, born February 26, 1856, in Fayette County ; married C. von Carlowitz, attorney at law, resides in Fort Worth, Texas ;

Emma, born May 15, 1857, in Austin, Texas, married August Giesen, druggist and business manager in the hardware establishment of Hon. Walter Tips, resides in Austin ;

William, born January 14, 1859, in Austin, attorney at law, was justice of the peace for pre- cinct No. 3, of Travis County, from 1882 to 1886, and county judge from 1890 to 1894, lives in Austin ; married Louise Rhode ;

Anna, born October 10, 1860, in Austin, mar- ried Wm. C. Hornberger, farmer and stock raiser, resides near Fiskville, Travis County ;

Lina, born October 27, 1864, in Austin, mar- ried George G. Bissel, stenographer with D. W. Doom, Esq., resides in Austin ;

Frederiek C., born November 3, 1866, in Austin, attorney at law, resides in Austin, married Nina E. Stephens ;

Mina Agnes, born January 17, 1869, in Austin, unmarried, lives with her parents.

There are thirty-nine grandchildren living and three deceased.

Mr. von Rosenberg has at all times manifested a deep interest in the prosperity and general wel- fare of the city of Austin and the State of Texas, and has come up to the full stature of good citizen- ship. Kind, genial and courtly, he is loved by many and respected by all.

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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

GEORGE S. WALTON,

ALLEYTON.

George S. Walton, postmaster at Alleyton, Colorado County, Texas, was born in Jefferson County, Ala., March 22, 1821, and emigrated to Missouri with his parents, Jacob and Jane Walton, in 1827.

His maternal grandfather, Thomas Goode, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War of 1776, and his paternal grandfather was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence.

Mr. Walton served with conspieuous gallantry in the Mexican War as a soldier in Company N., Second Missouri Cavalry, commanded by Col. Priee, and particularly distinguished himself at Puebla, Colorado, on the 24th of January, 1847. On that occasion he mounted to the top of a seven- story building, tore down the black flag (signify- ing no quarter ) which the Mexican commander had hoisted above it, and planted the stars and stripes in its place. This he did under a heavy fire of

musketry. Fourteen bullet-holes were shot through his clothing, but fortune, which is said to favor the brave, stood him in good stead, and he eseaped withont a wound. His intrepid act was followed almost immediately by the surrender of the enemy, and a three-months' siege was brought to a glorious close.

He was married, June 20, 1849, to Miss Abigail Walton, and came to Texas with his wife, in 1858. They have no children.

During the war between the States, Mr. Walton was Second-Lieutenant in the Sixteenth Texas, and fought for the success of the Confederaey until its star paled in the gloom of defeat.

He has resided at Alleyton since 1860 (except during the period covered by the war) ; is a popu- lar and efficient public official, and has done much to promote the development and prosperity of his section.

JAMES H. ROBERTSON,

AUSTIN.

The subject of this sketch is neither a " pioneer " nor an " Indian fighter," but is one of the younger men now prominent in Texas, who came here early in life without money or acquaintances, and who have succeeded well professionally and from a bus- iness point of view. He was born in Room County, Tenn., May 2d, 1853. His parents were James R. and Mary A. (Hunt ) Robertson. His father, who was a physician and local Methodist preacher, died April 15th, 1861, leaving the nurture and training of six small children to the widowed mother. She was a woman of remarkably strong character and possessed in a high degree of common sense and practical judgment. She devoted her life to the . welfare of her children and died surrounded and mourned by them in Austin, November 16, 1894, at the age of eighty years and sixteen days. Whatever of success the subject of this sketch has attained in life he attributes to the teaching and care bestowed upon him by his devoted mother.

James H. Robertson received a practical English education, and at twenty years of age began the study of law in the office of Col. P. B. Mayfield, at Cleveland, Tenn. In June, 1874, he moved to Austin, Texas, where he continued the study of the law and was admitted to the bar in the summer of the year following. In September, 1876, he moved to Williamson County, where he resided for eight years, during which time he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. In 1882 he was elected to the Eighteenth Legislature, from Williamson County, and served his constituency with credit to himself and to their entire satisfaction in that body, but deserved further honors in this line. In 1884 he was nominated by the Democracy and elected to the office of District Attorney of the 26th Judicial District, embracing the counties of Travis and Williamson, and was successively re-elected to that office in 1886, 1888 and 1890.

Upon his elcetion to the office of District Attorney

110 Belvilla

JAMES HENRY MITCHELL.

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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

in November, 1884, he moved to Austin, where he has since resided. During his six years service as District Attorney he conducted many important criminal prosecutions, and, of the many criminal cases tried, although defended by a bar of ability equal to any in the State, the records show that more than seventy-five per cent of the trials re- sulted in convictions and that crime diminished more than fifty per cent in the distriet.

In addition to the criminal business of the office, he, as a representative of the State, brought and tried many important civil suits, most of which were appealed to the Supreme Court, and all of which, except one casc, resulted in final judgments in favor of the State for all that was claimed. The Twenty-second Legislature at its regular ses- sion in 1891, created the Fifty-third Judicial Dis- trict, consisting of Travis County, which required the appointment of a judge, and Governor James S. Hogg tendered the District Judgeship of the dis- trict to Mr. Robertson. He accepted the appoint- ment and qualified May 27, 1801. He was subsequently nominated for the position by the Democracy of the distriet in convention assembled and elected in November, 1892, by a flattering majority, a just and fitting recognition of his eminent services on the bench. On March 16th, 1895, he resigned the judgeship to enter

into copartnership with Ex-Governor Hogg, for the purpose of practicing law at Austin under the firm name of Hogg & Robertson, since which time he has devoted himself exclusively to the large and paying practice which has come to them as a result of a knowledge upon the part of the public that they constitute one of the strongest law firms in the country. Added to unusual legal learn- · ing and superior capacity of mind, Judge Robertson is a powerful, persuasive and elegant speaker, and cau sway judge and jury as it is not given to every man to do.

In social life he is urbane and approachable, a good friend and a good citizen, and is popular with all classes of his fellow-citizens of Austin, among whom he has passed many years of usefulness, and to whose welfare and best interests he has at all times shown himself to be devoted. In the prime of intellectual and physical manhood, he has but fairly started upon his life-work and there is scarcely any distinction in his profession that he is not capable of attaining. In addition to his success in his profession he has been successful as a business man and has accumulated a large property and is now one of the largest property owners in the city of Austin. No man in Texas enjoys more fully the confidence of his neighbors than does James H. Robertson.

JAMES HENRY MITCHELL,

BRYAN.

The trne heroes of America are those who from time to time have left the comforts of civilized life and, penetrating deep into the wilderness, have there planted the seeds of new States. Of this number was James Henry Mitchell, who came to Texas in the infancy of the Republic and here passed the greater part of a long and exceptionally active life. Mr. Mitchell was born in Connersville, Tenn., October 22, 1817. His father was James Mitchell and his mother bore the maiden name of Jane Mc- lutyre Henry, both of whom were descendants of early-settled American families of Scotch-Irish origin. James Henry Mitchell was reared in his native State.and came thenee in January, or Febru- ary, 1837, to Texas, as a member of Capt. Griffin Baines' company of volunteers which had been raised in Tennessee for Texas frontier service.

Shortly after his arrival in this country, he re-cn- listed at old Tinnanville, Robertson County, in Capt. Lee C. Smith's company, with which he served for about a year. He then returned to Tennessee but came again to Texas in the fall of 1838, when he again enlisted in the public service as a member of a local company of " Minute Men," with which he was identified more or less during the following year. In the meantime opposition to the independence of Texas on the part of Mexico hav- ing in a measure subsided and the troublesome Indians having been put under control, the more enterprising spirits of whom the subject of this sketch may justly be reckoned as one, began to turn their attention to the pursuits of peace. He bought an interest in a general store at Old Wheelock where for a year or more he did a profit-

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able business trading with the settlers and Indians. The attachment for his native State seems to have been strong for about this time he made another visit back to his old home, but returned in a few monthis, reaching the country just in time to become a member of the famous Snively Expedition with which he was connected from its inception to its inglorious end. He was in one other expedition of a similiar nature about the same time which was equally as fruitless in results.

Late in 1842, or early in 1843, Mr. Mitchell settled at Old Springfield in Limestone County, where he engaged in farining and afterwards in the mercan- tile aud hotel business. It was while residing at that place in 1853 (February 3d) that he married Miss Mary Herudon, who thereafter till the end of his years on earth shared his joys and sorrows, and who still survives him. Mrs. Mitehell was a daugh- ter of Harry and Elizabeth Herndon and a native of Kentucky, having accompanied her parents to Texas in early childhood. Mr. Mitchell resided at Springfield for twenty-odd years, during which time by thrift and industry he accumulated what for the time was a very considerable amount of prop- erty. The greater part of this, however, was lost by the late war, and he left there for Bryan in Brazos County in 1867 with but little more than enough to establish himself in his new home and meet his current expenses. During the war he ren- dered to the Confederacy such service as was re- quired at his hands (being past the age for military dnty) becoming agent for the government for the collection and distribution of supplies, and assist- ing, also, in the fortification of the Gulf coast country against attack by the Federals. From first to last he saw a great deal of service of a mili- tary and quasi-military nature during his residence in Texas, but he was very little in public life. To his brother Harvey who at one time discharged the duties of every offlee in Brazos County and was more or less connected with public affairs in that county for a number of years, this sort of service

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Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 53

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel] Number of Pages: 922

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922