History of the German Element in Texas from 1820-1850, and Historical Sketches of the German Texas Singers' League and Houston Turnverein from 1853-1913 . By Moritz Tiling , Instructor in History, Houston Academy. (Houston, 1913. 12mo. Pp. viii, 225.)

This volume is one of the proofs of the increasing attention that is given to the part played by the Germans in the development of this State. In his preface the author calls attention to the brevity of the mention made of Germans in Texas by former historians. “This plain, unpretending monograph has been written,” he informs the reader, “for the purpose of preserving to posterity the records of German achievements in the colonization and upbuilding of the great State of Texas.” (Preface.)

The volume is divided into five parts: 1. The German Element in Texas, 1820-1850 (pages 1-131). 2. Historical sketch of the Texas German Singers' League, 1853-1913 (pages 135-159). 3. Historical sketch of the Houston Turnverein, 1854-1913 (pages 163-175). 4. German Day celebrations in Houston, 1889-1910 (pages 177-181). 5. Appendices (pages 183-225).

The section entitled, “The German Element in Texas, 1820-1850,” constitutes the principal part of the book. It is the least satisfactory part of the book. There is no valid reason why the author should select the years 1820 to 1850 as representative of the history of Germans in Texas. Few Germans came to Texas prior to 1830; most of them arrived after 1845. As a matter of fact, the author deals with less than five years of the history of the majority of Germans in Texas in 1850. No one will assert that only those years of disappointment and hardship deserve a special memorial, or that the Germans have not since greatly aided in the upbuilding of the State.

Almost half of this section of the book (pages 58-113) and a large part of the Appendix (pages 204-225) are devoted to the “Verein zum Schutze deutscher Einwanderer in Texas.” The mistakes made at the outset by this association are detailed, and the author severely denounces the whole course pursued by it with reference to the colonization of Texas. The author is too much concerned with the Verein as a business organization and not enough attention is paid to the movement, which the Verein inaugurated, for colonizing Texas with Germans. For instance, the author says (page 83), “This sending of 4,000 immigrants in the fall and winter of 1845 probably was the most inexcusable of the many blunders of the Adelsverein.” As a matter of fact, whether the Verein was swindled or not, whether its officers were efficient or ignorant, whether its objects were humanitarian or selfish are minor details viewed from the vantage ground the passing years have given us. The essential thing to the student of the history of Texas is that this Verein so successfully turned the tide of German emigration toward Texas in 1845 that emigrants continued to pour into this State for years after the Verein had been smashed.

On page 108 the author again speaks of “the senseless haste with which the emigrants were sent to Texas by the Adelsverein.” Yet when the direful catastrophe occurred and the Verein in 1847 was declared bankrupt, he notes (page 110) rather naïvely that “it proved well for them [the colonists] that they were forced to remain” in Texas, and that “after the first outbursts of despair and agony . . . they all set determinedly to work, and by hard and persistent labor . . . and living on the barest necessities of life for several years, they not only succeeded in establishing a firm existence for themselves, but in course of time made New Braunfels and Fredericksburg the garden spots of Texas.” The Verein failed, but the German colonists prospered.

The “Historical sketch of the Texas Staats Saengerbund, 1853-1913” is the best part of the book. The principal fault to be found with it is the partiality shown the Houston members of the Saengerbund; after 1891 only those of the biennial meetings are described which met at Houston. While the author is content to present a purely chronological sketch, he brings to the subject a fund of first hand information and shows an appreciation of the cultural worth of music and song when fostered by a people.

The History of the Houston Turnverein and the account of the German Day celebrations at Houston are also well written, but, of course, are primarily of local interest; similar organizations and events in other Texas cities are nowhere touched upon.

E. W. Winkler .

How to cite:
Winkler, E. W., "History of the German Element in Texas from 1820-1850, and Historical Sketches of the German Texas Singers' League and Houston Turnverein from 1853-1913", Volume 017, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 212 - 214. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v017/n2/review_20.html
[Accessed Sun Nov 23 3:36:17 CST 2008]