The Exhibits at the Rockne Museum and Hilbig Park

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On November 30, 1846, two young brothers, Andreas and Franz Meuth, pioneered the way for the future communities of Rockne and String Prairie. Born in Würges, Germany, they settled on a beautiful spot near Sandy Creek known today as Meuth Hill. Here they built a home and a room upstairs with a cupola that served as a church. Four more Meuth brothers had joined Andreas and Franz by 1856. Meuth Hill was probably the first place many immigrants stopped before continuing to their destination or building a home of their own. More significantly, church services were held here for the next twenty years.

On April 20, 1997, a celebration at Meuth Hill commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the Meuth brothers. The celebration began with a trail ride from Rockne. Women rode in surreys or wagons dressed in traditional long dresses and bonnets. Horses pranced while their proud owners rode the last mile across a field of bluebonnets. Die Junge Herzen Saenger sang German hymns before the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving.

Anni Balthaus of Bad Camberg, Germany, represented the connection that binds the communities to their heritage in Würges. She researched the families who immigrated to Texas from Würges and wrote the book "Auswanderung nach Texas 1846-1883". 

She spoke to the crowd at the Meuth Hill 150th anniversary, thanking them for keeping in touch with their "roots". 

• Author of the book "Flucht Aus Der Not in Die Neue Welt", translated to "Flight out of Need to the New World", Manfred Kunz, also of Germany was presented with a proclamation from Gov. George Bush declaring him an honorary Texan. 
• A picnic lunch was served afterward to a crowd of several hundred people. 

Learn about the fascinating history of brothers, Herman Lehman and Willie Lehman, who were taken captive by the Apache Indians. Willie managed to escape several days later, however, Herman remained, first with the Apache tribe for several years, then due to certain circumstances, became a warrior with the Comanche tribe, and was recognized as an adopted son of Quannah Parker.

The German Catholic settlers' strong faith provided the strength to endure the hardships of daily life.

Explore 

• Meuth Hill history
• Walnut Creek and the first church built
• An arsonist burned the church. See the original note that was nailed to a tree nearby
• Rebuilding of the church
• Altar and artifacts from the 2nd Church 

Meuth Brothers

1. Andreas Meuth b. 04/29/1821 in Wurges, Germany, and died on 01/01/1886. Andreas arrived at Galveston on November 18, 1846, from Antwerp, with brother Johann Franz "John Frank" Meuth. On October 23, 1857, Andreas married Magdalena Wilhelm on Sandy Creek. The Meuth home was used for religious services from 1856-1876 for Sandy Creek and Walnut Creek Catholic settlers. In 1876 Sandy Creek and Walnut Creek were divided into two parishes. Sandy Creek Catholics continued to worship at Meuth Hill until the church at Brushy Creek was built in 1878. Refer to the book "Rockne" for the Meuth family tree page 451.
2. Johann Franz "John Frank" Meuth was born 12/11/1825 in Wurges, Germany died 10/8/1887.  Johann Franz arrived at Galveston on November 18, 1846, from Antwerp, with brother Andreas Meuth. On May 10, 1853, Johann Franz married Kathrina Brahm at Meuth Hill. They settled in Pin Oak, Texas. Refer to the book "Rockne" for the family tree on page 440

 Meuth Brothers, continued

1. Johann "John" Peter Meuth was born on 7/11/1809 in Wurges, Germany. He died on 3/10/1857. On December 14/1841 he married Elizabeth Defeld in Limburg on Lahn. Refer to the book "Rockne" for the family tree on page 432
2. George Meuth was born on 04/17/1815 in Wurges, Germany, and is buried at Meuth Hill cemetery; date of death unknown. George arrived in Galveston on February 12, 1856. His second marriage was to Maria "Mary" Eichhorn in Germany. Settled in String Prairie, Texas Refer to the book "Rockne" for the family tree on page 440

Daniel Lehman was born March 20, 1812, in Friedersdorf Laubnitz, Silesia, Prussia d. after 1880.  Daniel arrived at Indianola, Texas November 9, 1846, with his wife and children. Also arriving with Daniel was his father, Gottfried, his uncle, Gottlieb, and his brother, Mortiz. All Lehman family members, except Daniel settled in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Daniel married on January 1832 in Prussia to Johanna Erdmuth.

Daniel Lehman was not a landowner until January 3, 1857; therefore, the exact place he first settled in the area is unknown. He is not grouped with the Meuths in the 1850 census. The 1850 census groups Daniel Lehman and his family with Joseph Harris  and Sarah Lentz who are mentioned in the "Rockne" as "being in the area of the Meuth home." Daniel is listed as a farmer and his son, John, as a "farmhand". 

See Family Tree book "Rockne" page 418

 Frank Seidel was born on June 15, 1827. He died on 01/24/1893. His arrival in Texas and the  Sandy Creek area of Bastrop County was before 1858. On August 12, 185,8 he married Margaretha Meuth, born on May 9, 1843.

See Seidel Family Tree on page 495 Rockne

Philip Goertz was born on January 18, 1825, in Wurges, Germany. Philip died on March 28, 1900. On April 30, 1854, Philip married Catherine Hartmann. Catherine died in 1861. On February 27, 1862, Philip married his second wife, Ferdinanda Schwab at Meuth Hill.

On March 27, 1856, he purchased 515 acres on Walnut Creek with brother-in-law John Hartmann and John Wolf. 

The Goertz home was the center of social life for the community and the site of religious services for some years preceding the building of the church in 1877 on land owned by Philip Goertz and Michael Wolf. The first Mass at Walnut Creek was celebrated in the Philip Goertz house in August 1876. After the church was deliberately burned in January 1891, a new church was built in 1892 on land donated by John T Lehman. Many people in Rockne can trace their ancestry to Philip Goertz, known in the community as "Uncle Philip". See Goertz family tree on page 336, of the book Rockne.

 John Wolf was born on May 1, 1811, in Wurges, Germany. He passed away in 1868. On October 30, 1838, he married Catherine Bermbach. John, Catherine, and their children arrived in New Orleans on January 6, 1856. On March 27, 1856, he, purchased 515 acres on Walnut Creek,  along with Philip Goertz and John Hartmann.

See Wolf family tree on page 535, of the book Rockne.

 Johannes "John" Wilhelm was born on August 17, 1835, in Wurges, Germany. He arrived at the Port of New Orleans on January 6, 1856. On April 19, 1866, he married Elizabeth Meuth. The Wilhelm family owned a mill in Wurges, Germany, and had been millers since the mid-1600s. However, they lost the mill around 1800 due to financial difficulties and had to work as day laborers. John Wilhelm, who worked as a mason, struggled to make a good living and borrowed money from his parish priest to afford the passage to emigrate to Texas. His application to emigrate to Texas was approved on November 11, 1855. In Germany, the mill no longer exists, and the stream has been filled to make room for new homes. The lineage of the Wilhelm family can be traced back to 1690.

See Wilhelm Family Tree on page 525 of the book Rockne.

Daniel Clay Hendrix was born in 1825 and died in 1899. His arrival date was in the mid-1850s. Daniel married M. Frances Smith - date unknown.

See Hendrix Family Tree on page 379 of the book Rockne.

John George Frerich was born on June 8, 1825. John arrived in Bastrop County in 1859. On May 22, 1860, John married Elizabeth Heimann. See Frerich Family Tree on page 324 of the book Rockne.

August Grohman was born in 1830 in Heinzendorf, Silesia, Austria. He died in 1891. August arrived at New Orleans from Bremen, Germany on May 17, 1861. Circa 1853 he married Anna Winkler in Austria. 

See Grohman Family Tree in the book Rockne, page 354

Joseph Hoffman was born on May 27, 1836 in Austria. He died on March 10, 1902. Joseph arrived at Galveston in the last quarter of 1869. In 1869 he married Josepha (Sophie) Bienek.

See Hoffman Family Tree in the Rockne book, page 388.

George Till and Teresa Till - The Till ancestry dates back to 1741 in Moravia where vital records still exist. Heinrich Till, the adventurous one, journeyed to the United States while brothers, George, Franz, and Mathias, remained in Germany. In 1867 Heinrich and Teresa Till came via Bremen, Germany, and settled in Texas. 

They brought six children: Ferdinand, Joseph Norbert, Edward, Anna, Teresa, and Veronica. Edward Till's account of the trip to his daughter, Alvina Till Estes, states: "They left Germany on May 2, 1867, in a wooden sailing ship and arrived in Galveston on July 4, 1867. Since the water there was not deep enough for the ship to come to shore, a barge met the ship and the people with their belongings were transferred to it. Wagons with oxen teams took them to High Hill. While on the wagon trip, they met some Negroes who gave them some boiled potatoes to eat. See Till Family Tree on page 516 of the book Rockne.

The Anton Bartsch (01/14/1820-12/16/1905) and Agnes Helwig Bartsch family migrated from Germany circa the 1870s. They had three sons: Joseph,  Frank, & Julius.

1, Joseph Bartsch was born 02/15/1849-01/02/1939. On January 9, 1875, Joseph married Catherine Goertz, daughter of Phillip and Catherine Goertz. All families named Bartsch in Rockne stem from the union of Joseph and Catherine Goertz, Bartsch.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 286.

2. Frank Bartsch was born on September 5, 1859, and passed away on September 5, 1950. On November 12, 1883, he married Bertha Rathman.  See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 291.

3. Julius Bartsch was born on October 17, 1863 and passed away on January 2, 1951.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 291.

  Bernhardt Probst was born in 1828 in the state of Schlesien, Prussia. He passed away on August 10, 1883, and was laid to rest in Walnut Creek Cemetery. Bernhardt married his first wife, Threse Lucks, around 1855 in Prussia. She passed away in 1869. Bernhardt arrived in Galveston in September 1871. His second wife was Veronika Hilbich (Hilbig) whom he married before coming to America.  

The fifth son of Bernhardt and Threse Probst was Wilhelm Stephan Probst, who arrived in Galveston with his father, Bernhardt, and stepmother, Veronika. Wilhelm was born on December 26, 1867, in Grottkau, Kospendorf, Schlesien, Prussia. On January 14, 1895, Wilhelm married Mary Goertz, daughter of Philip and Ferdinanda Goertz. 

See Probst Family Tree on page 490 of the book Rockne.

Joseph Kadura (Katura) was born on May 30, 1834, in Wangem, Prussia, and passed away on October 26, 1902. Joseph arrived at Galveston on December 19, 1871. Joseph married Carolina Schubert; the date of marriage is unknown.

See Kadura Family Tree on page 407 of the book Rockne.

Anton Hilbig was born on September 14, 1831, in Koschpendorf, Schlesien, Prussia, and passed away on December 10, 1909. Anton married Carolina Herford on October 22, 1859. They arrived at Galveston on December 25, 1871. Anton donated the land for Hilbig Park School which served the German Catholic children of the community between 1894 and 1900.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 381.

Joe, Johanna, and their children arrived at Galveston in 1871, settling in Wharton where Joe died. Johanna's date of birth is unknown. She arrived at Walnut Creek prior to 1881. On October 4, 1881 she married Robert Beck.

See Rathman family tree on pg. 491 Rockne book

John S Ebner was born on February 5, 1859, and died on December 28, 1926. John arrived at New Orleans on November 12, 1872, and then at Galveston on November 15, 1872. On April 15, 1879, he married Maria Hartman.

See Ebner Family Tree on page 317 of the book Rockne.

August Boer was born on December 4, 1824, in Frieburg, Silesia, Prussia, and passed away on October 26, 1899. August arrived in Texas in 1877. He married Hedwig - last name and marriage date unknown.

August Boer drew the plans for the new church after the first church was burned on January 22, 1891.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 310.

Julius August Wolf was born on September 8, 1863, in Germany and passed away on January 27, 1944. Julius arrived in America circa 1880.

On January 18, 1886, he married Mathilda Lee Friske.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 550.

John M Klaus was born on September 6, 1834 in Germany. He arrived in America circa 1881. He married Anna Hanke, date unknown.

See Family Tree in Rockne book on page 416.

Robert Beck was born on September 28, 1835 in Germany and passed away on November 22, 1888. John arrived in America on July 5, 1881

from Bremen. 

See Beck Family Tree on page 298 of the book Rockne.

John M Goertz was born on September 19, 1863, in Wurges, Germany, and passed away on August 8, 1953. John arrived at Walnut Creek in the Autumn of 1883. On January 8, 1887, he married Anna Boer.

John was a cousin to Philip Goertz.

See John M Goertz's family tree on page 333 Rockne book.

Anton Friske was born on July 19, 1866, and passed away on November 7, 1934. Anton arrived Circa 1883-1885. On October 19, 1891 to Augusta Kadura. See Friske Family Tree on page 331 Rockne book.