Houston, TX, 77055 US / TX
In 1845, the new state of Texas needed people and advertised land to Americans in other states and to people in other countries. At the time, Germany was suffering from overcrowding and political strife. The chance to build a new life of freedom, own land, and provide a safer future for their families, influenced thousands of Germans to leave their homeland for Texas. A group of German noblemen and Texas land developers formed a German Society (Adelsverin) to oversee this immigration. The society promised to help the Germans settle in special areas and help to build homes, businesses, and communities. 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. Spring Branch is one of these areas. Karl Kolbe came from Gotha, Germany to settle 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.
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