SCHUETZ, CARL

Carl Schuetz left with his parents, Ludwig and Maria M.(Hild) Schuetz from their home in Langenbach, Nassau, Germany and sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on October 31, 1845, on the ship "Harriet". The day before he sailed Ludwig signed an immigrant contract with the Verein Zum Schuetz Deutscher Einwanderer in Texas (Protection of German Immigrants in Texas) entitling him to 320 acres of land in the fisher-Miller Grant. Also included was the sea voyage, land transportation upon arrival, food and other provisions for survival: such as housing and materials for agriculture. Two months after leaving Belgium, on January 18, 1846, they arrived in Galveston, Texas where they were then transferred to a smaller ship bound for Indianola, the port debarkation. There were many more miles overland by ox drawn wagon to New Braunfels, their destination. Upon arriving in New Braunfels, family learned that the land in the Fisher-Miller Grant was unsafe for settlers due to Indian raids. Thus the family decided to stay in New Braunfels where Carl's father worked as a laborer. Carl and his family lived in and around New Braunfels until 1869 when he purchased 257 acres near Twin Sisters in Blanco County. While living in New Braunfels Carl served as a private in Company B, 7 Texas Cavalry with the Confederacy. He served with that company until the end of the Civil War. Carl was born April 11, 1838. On June 23, 1861 he married Katharian Fries in New Braunfels. She had been born January 5, 1840 in Germany. At the age of 12, she came to Texas with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Kneupper. Both parents had died in Germany. In 1882 the family moved to the Kendalia area where they purchased the Dr. J.C. Nowlin place on Shephard's Creek. The Schuetz helped the Nowlins move to Center Point. It was so cold the Guadalupe River was frozen solid. When they crossed the river with loaded horse drawn wagons and the ice held firm.
Carl died August 8, 1923 and Katharian died February 15, 1909. She was buried in a cemetery near the house. The Schuetz had ten children. Many of their descendants still reside in Kendall County