CLAREN, OSCAR VON (1812-1845). Oscar von Claren, naturalist, was born in Germany in 1812. As a colonist of the Adelsverein,^qv he immigrated from Hannover to New Braunfels, Texas, probably early in 1845. His family correspondence indicated his interest in botany and wildlife of the New Braunfels area, and he collected turtles and snakes to sell to naturalists in Germany. He wrote Indianer bei Neu Braunfels im Jahre 1845 (1845), a group of essays depicting Texas Indians. In October 1845, while on a collecting trip, Claren and his companion, Friedrich Wilhelm von Wrede,^qv were killed by Indians near Manchaca Springs.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Rudolph L. Biesele, The History of the German Settlements in Texas, 1831-1861 (Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1930; rpt. 1964). S. W. Geiser, "A Century of Scientific Exploration in Texas," Field and Laboratory 7 (January 1939). Selma Metzenthin Raunick, "A Survey of German Literature in Texas," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 33 (October 1929). Solms-Braunfels Archives (transcripts, Sophienburg Museum, New Braunfels, Texas; Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin).

Clinton P. Hartmann