Texas Day by Day

On this day in 1847, John O. Meusebach resigned as general commissioner of the Adelsverein, the society formed by German nobles to encourage the colonization of Texas. Meusebach, born Baron Ottfried Hans Freiherr von Meusebach in Dillenburg, Germany, in 1812, succeeded Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels as commissioner and arrived in Texas in 1845. In just over two years, and despite facing numerous obstacles, including the Adelsverein's inept planning and management, Meusebach presided over the initial growth of New Braunfels and also founded the settlements of Fredericksburg, Castell, and Leiningen. He also successfully negotiated the Meusebach-Comanche treaty. Meusebach died in 1897.