Round Top, Texas - Fayette County, Her History and Her People

Texas Physician

place important enough to deliver their public addresses there before intelligent audiences.* These feasts are still very famous and always attract a large crowd. They are generally arranged by the Round Top Shooting Club, an organization known throughout South Texas, The president of this organization is Fritz Fricke, the secretary is Hy. Pochmann.

There are two lodges at Round Top : Knights of Honor, G. Froehlich, sr., secretary ; and Sons of Hermann, H. C. Ruramel, president, Fritz Fricke, secretary, (membership 32).

*NoTB. - In those early times Round Top was quite apolitical center. It was the home of the two leading politicians of the north side of the county, Judge C. Henkel, a democrat, and Robert Zapp, a republican. Both took an active interest in politics and were great campaigners.

Dealer In Stoves, Ranges

As remarked before, Round Top is, for a town not connected by any railroad, on account of its surrounding rich agricultural country, a very considerable trading place. Of the business men who appreciated the work of the writer on their home county to such an extent as to plac3 with him a small ad. and to whom, therefore, the friends of the book should feel kind, because it enabled the writer to get out such a work, he mentions Ernst Fricke, the accommodating postmaster of Round Top, who is the proprietor of a good sized mercantile establishment, dealing in groceries, crockery and hardware; W. J. Dippel & Bro, in the general merchandise business ; \Vm. Ginzel, the old popular tin man of Round Top ; O. H. Helmecke, who is the proprietor of one of the largest blacksmith and whcelwrigiit shops in the county and a skillful workman; Gus Bender, whose saloon is the popular meeting place of the Round Top people ; and Dr. A. Posch, a skillful and learned physician and surgeon, a man of high standing among his colleagues and the people. Round Top has lour stores, three saloons, one drug store, one tinsmith shop, one gin, one blacksmith shop, one cigar factory, one photograph gallery, one physician and one shoemaker. Quite a considerable place. It is the seat of justice for the precinct. A nice court house and calaboose stand on the public square.

A fire company has been organized to protect the city against fire. The president of the fire company is Hermann Rummel, the captain of the hook and ladder company Otto Poppe.

No city in Texas has a greater reputation for the congeniality of its people than Schulenburg. The free and easy and yet refined manners of its inhabitants never fail to make the stranger feel at home. The splendor and the tasty arrangements of its festivities have made for Schulenburg the name of the festive city of South Texas.

Schulenburg is situated in the soutiiern part of Favette County on the Southern Pacific Uiilroad. It is at a distance of eighteen miles from the county seat. It lies in the rich black land Navidad prairie, one of the richest agricultural sections in the state. The elegant farm residences, the beautiful gardens in front of them, the rolling prairie laid out into fertile corn and cotton fields, speak of the industry and energy of its people and leave on the traveler a pleasing impression. The section is traversed by the Navidad and its tributary the Mixen Creek.

One mile southeast of Schulenburg lie the grounds of the Schulenburg Live Stock and Fair Association. The semi-annual races held there attract the sporting element of the wliole state. Dr. I. E. Clark, Mr. \Vm. Cornelson and Mr. H. (Iraf may be mentioned as the principal promoters of the races. One mile northwest of Schulenburg is the Filers Park. The same is not yet finished, but gives promise to become one of the most attractive spots in Texas. A sixteen feet high dam, forty feet widp at the foot and thirty feet wide at the top has been built across a creek. On the lake which this dam will hold, two boats will invite the visitor to take a row along its beautiful banks covered with verdure and interspersed with liveoak groves. This park, the writer predicts, will become a very popular resort for the Schulenburg people and their guests.

John Vaoeik Schul.Enburg, Texas

Not less attractive t,han its surroundings is the city, itself. A stranger walkine: through its streets will be , impressed by the solid and substantial business houses and the elegant residences. In the fall of the year, the business streets, viz , Main street - which presents quite a metropolitan appearance - and Lyons and Upton Avenues are crowded willi wagons, buggies and other vehicles, and give a good idea of the extent of Schulenburg's business. Of tlie more noticfable buildings may be mentioned the Sengelmann Building, tlie most elegant saloon in the county; the Perlitz Building ; the R. A. Wolters Building; the Ilussek Bank Building ; the Schaefer Building, and the Wolters Business Buildings. The Southern Pacific owns a fine garden, nicely laid out, in front of the depot.

Schulenburg is named after Louis Schulenburg who owned a four hundred and fortv acre farm south of the, railroad. trp,ck which he sold to W. Pierce. Schulenburg stands, on the; l^nd; owned by him, on sixty acres of Mr. Chris. Baumgarten's land, which is offered their patrons upon most reasonable terms. They pay the highest value for country produce and always offer more for cotton than can be obtained elsewhere.

on one hundred acres of Frank and Rosine Stanzel's land, on liftcen acres of John Wittbecker's land and on cue and a half acres of Franz and Rosine Stanzefs land. All these parties gave one-half of their lands to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as an inducement to locate the town thereon. fSchuIenburg was built in 1873. A great many Higli Hill jjeople moved to Schulenburg on the arrival of the Southern Pacific and built up the latter place. The city grew rapidly ; May 24, 1875, it was incorporated.

Of the old settlers of Schulenburg may be mentioned first Mr. Chris. Baumgarten who by a great many ])eople is called "The Father of Schulenburg," not only on account of his age, but because there wab no man who took more interest in building up Schulenburg and promoting its industrial enterprises than he. Other old citizens of Schulenburg are Krnst Baumgarteu who established Uie first lumber yard in Schulenburg, it consists of oUO acres of FincBotlom Land. The Navidad River runs through the farm, of wliich one hundred acres is well set with iJerniiKhi (ira>^s and JJiirr Clover. Alfalfa grows finely on this farm, an 1 in fact is the only hay fed on the i)remises. 'J'here are two stallions on the farm,

Cotton and Country Produce are bought at Highest Market Prices. Come and see our immense stock of brand new goods before you buy elsewhere. SCHULENBURG, TEXAS.

R. Wolters, sr., the capitalist, M. C. Levey, H. P. Schaefer, Max and Julius Schwartz, I. Russek, H. Graf, W. D. Keuper and a great many others. Of those who have died may be mentioned: Heinrich Schaefer (came to the United States in 185G, first settled at Round Top, came to Schulenburg in 1872, died in 1885;; Henry Perlitz and Paul Breymann, sr.

The population of the town is nearly entirely German ; with a sprinkling of Americans and Bohemians. Like ail towns of South Texas, it has its share of negroes. The population numbers about 1200 inhabitants.

It has been remarked before that Schulenburg has a wide reputation for sociability and the splendor of its festivities. People who do not approve of feasts and tlie drinking incident thereto speak of this city as the "Free Republic of Schulenburg," a name that rather pleases the burghers. If people of a prohibition stamp who condemn such feasts would only once visit a Schulenburg feast, the orderly behavior of the guests, the innocent enjoyment of life with many harmless, humorous incidents would convince the most scrupulous that these feasts are really necessary to build up an independgnt, contented, happy and strong race of people. Tlie Turn Verein is an ardent promoter of these festivities.

A literary society which owns a fine library attends to tlie pertaining of a higher education and to elevating the moral tone of JSchulenburg society to a higher plane.

He will promptly write out his Official Certificate and Seal every Legal Document you may present to him. He will aJso write for you Land Deeds, Releases, Bills of Sale, Powers of Attorney, Wills and anything else in that line, in English, German or French. If you have any land, houses or any property to sell, give a description of it - price, locality and so on - to M. C. Levey and he will look up a purchaser for you; or if you want renters, he will hunt them for you; if you want to buy land or other property, go right away and

The old fellow is not noisy; he will not pull you in by the coat collar, but if once you buy of him, you will always do so. He carries as a specialty the most popular brands of Chewing and Smoking Tobaccos, the Best of CofTees - green, roasted or ground, the Choicest Stock of Candies, Fruits, Nuts and Pastes. Also a complete assortment of Notions, Overalls, Jumpers, Socks, etc.. Toys, Dolls and Christmas Goods, Fancy Vases, Fancy Cups and Saucers.

JB^i°'And then if you want anythmgfrom New York, Chicago or any other big city, simply leave your order with the man who will attend to it right; his name is

Most of the people of iScliulenburg and neighbjrhood are communicant& of tlie Catholic cluirch. Schulenburg has a fine Catholic church of which Kev. Father Madiis is the priest. The otlier denominations ; Lutheran. Christian, Methodist, Baptist, etc., own togetiier a church building, called the Union church, in which preachers from otlier communities explain the scripture of Our Lord and show the audience liow to walk tlie way of righteousness.

Schulenburg, in the center of tlie richest ngncuUural section of the county, is a great trading jjoinl. Perhaps its merchants do more business than tliose of any other town in tlie county. Schulenburg has nine general merchandise stores, four groceries, one hardware store, one jewelry store, two saddleries^ two blacksmith shops, one livery stable, two lumber yards, one furniture stoie, one buggy and wagon business, three bjilding contractors, one joiner, two newspapers, one bank, one opera --hous'e^ two dancing halls, six full saloons, two beer saloons, two hotels, two restaurants, three meat markets, one bakery, three physicians, two drug stores, one dentist, one photographer, three beer agents, one tailor, three shoemakers, two millineries, three gins, one oil mill and one compress.

The oil mill is the property of Mr. Chris. Baumgarten, sr., and under the able management of his son, Gus- Baumgaiten. It is.a model oil mill and hardly e([ualed anywhere in the United States.

Of the business men to wliom the writer is obliged for their patronage he names Boettcher Bros. Co., Perlitz Bros., and U. A. Wolters in the general merchandise business, H. P. Schaefer who is the owner of a lirst-class hardware store, the largest between Houston and San Antonio, Schwartz J5ros., the proprietors ot a lirst-class livery stable and successful horse traders, Dr. I. E. Clark, the widely known owner of the Bermuda Valley Stock Farm, a farm as famous as the blue grass region of Ken-

Schulenburg, Texas

Invites the public to try his' noted fine brands of Whiskies, Liquors, Wines and Cigjars. Fresh Beer always on tap. Call on us, you will be pleased and call again. Fine Restaurant in connection with the bar.

Keeps in stock the Finest Brands of Whiskies, Wines and Liquors, especially the Famous Saratoga, Pennland, Metropolitan Club and Old Reserve. Keeps the choicest brands of Cigars. The famous New Orleans beer always on Tap. SCHULENBURG, TEXAS.

tucky for breeding fine horses, Paul Breymann, -the proprietor of a drug store of metropolitan style, 0. Kallus, who does a large business in the saddle and harness line, Sengelmann Bros,, Beniker Bros., E. J. Gully, John Vacek and H. F. Skarke in the saloon business, F. M. VVilks, the popular jeweler of Schulenburg. VVm. Tauch, who makes as fine a photograph of yourself as can be made in any city as large as San Antonio or Houston and not to forget, M. C. Levey, real estate agent, notary public and leading grocer and contributor of original writings to the county papers. The writer found him a well educated gentleman and most interesting talker. In his writings there breathes a spirit of true iiuman kindness that attracts and pleases the reader.

The writer may mention once more the two newspaper men of Schulenburg to whom he is indebted for many interesting hours. With Mr. \V. R. King he was in business relations in regard to printing his book which relations haye been altogether pf the

1 keep in stock a large assortment of the latest and most fashionable styles of Jewelry which I sell at the very lowest prices. If you need any jewelry for presents to your family or friends, you will obtain better and more satisfactory bargains by dealing with a reliable home firm than by sending money away to fraudulent concerns and receiving shoddy goods. Repairing of Watches and Jewelry a specialty.

most pleasing nature. The priming entailed a great amount of very particular work and the style in which it is done is a credit to the Sticker and will no doubt meet tho approval of tiie reader as it has met that of the writer.

To Mr. Frank Miller the writer is obliged for repeated kind mention in that lively paper, the Schulenburg Sun, of his book on Fayette County. It would be hard to iind a more accomodating and pleasing gentleman than Mr. Miller.

Schulenburg has for fire protection seven wells and watertanks. It has a fire department with one engine company and one hook and ladder company, consisting of about 36 members. The officers are Henry Eilers, President and Gus. Depmore, Chief. The latter is a very experienced lire-man, having been lor a number of years chief of the Columbus fire department and having served also in the St. Louis and Galveston fire depa:rtments. The city voted to issue $11,500 in bonds for erecting a stand-pipe and laying mains through Schnlenburg for its protection against fire. Tlie proposition carried and the bonds have been approved by the Attorney General. As soon as they are sold the work will start. This thriving little city will then be protected against fire as few cities in the state.

The city officers are: Mayor, Theo. Wolters ; Marshal, Hy. Eilers; Aldermen, H. Bohhnann, Dr. I. E. Clark, Chas. Windel, F. F. Schaefer, serving also as city secretary and R. A. Wolters, serving also as city treasurer ; \V. R. King, City Attorney,