Wm. Frels sailed over to America on the vessel "Congress" in the year of 1834. After a common stopover in New Orleans for a few days, the vessel continued its voyage until it arrived at the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. Wm. Frels did not immediately settle in Frelsburg, but rather followed the letter that Friederich Ernst had written and was widely publicized to an area north of Frelsburg known as Industry, Texas.
Captain Wm. Frels military career was quite outstanding. He began fighting for TEXAS when he was only 23 years old. In 1835 and 1836, Frels enlisted with a group of men led by Stephen F. Austin to remove the Mexican forces from San Antonio. For his participation in these battles, he was awarded by the Government of Texas 640 acres of land for his services to the Republic.
Wm. Frels donated a portion of his land grants from the Republic of Texazs to an area that would later be named after him. The land he donated was designated for a Lutheran Church, a school, a parsonage, and a cemetery.
Captain Wm. Frels was about 36 years of age before he would marry. In 1845 he married Louisa Frerichs in the Frelsburg Lutheran Church. Capt. Wm. Frels was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg. Even though the church did not have an official beginning until 1855, as early as 1852 in Frelsburg, Capt Frels and his wife had two of their first children baptized. On the sixth day of February 1852 Wilhelmina Frels was baptized and then on the 26th day of January 1854, their son Wilhelm was baptized.
The small town of Frelsburg did not gets its name at the beginning of the residency of Wm. Frels in 1838. It was some fifteen years later before it was called FRELSburg. At first the small German settlement was called Kraewinkel, which in German stands for CROWS NEST. The many German settlers in this area found an abundance of Spanish Moss hanging in many of the surrounding trees of the area. The moss found in the trees had many uses. The moss acted as insulation, it provided coolness in the summertime and warmth in the winter and it was used to make rope and saddleblankets. The moss was also used to feed the cattle during the winter.
Two men were involved as leaders in the community. Wm. Frels donated land where the Trinity Lutherean Church still stands today and Peter Pieper donated land where the Catholic church still stands today. As more settlers had arrived over the course of ten years after the donations of land were made, it was decided that a vote should be taken for a more dignified name for the community. The information in history books reflect that the vote was to be for either Pipersville or Frelsburg. The Lutherans won by only one vote! Frelsburg.
The April 6, 1870 edition of the Colorado County Citizen sums up Wm. Frels Epitaph:
Captain Frels, one of the survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, has died at his home near Frelsburg on the 26th of March, 1870....respected citizen and father of the community for whom it is named.
Captain Wm. Frels military career was quite outstanding. He began fighting for TEXAS when he was only 23 years old. In 1835 and 1836, Frels enlisted with a group of men led by Stephen F. Austin to remove the Mexican forces from San Antonio. For his participation in these battles, he was awarded by the Government of Texas 640 acres of land for his services to the Republic.
Wm. Frels donated a portion of his land grants from the Republic of Texazs to an area that would later be named after him. The land he donated was designated for a Lutheran Church, a school, a parsonage, and a cemetery.
Captain Wm. Frels was about 36 years of age before he would marry. In 1845 he married Louisa Frerichs in the Frelsburg Lutheran Church. Capt. Wm. Frels was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg. Even though the church did not have an official beginning until 1855, as early as 1852 in Frelsburg, Capt Frels and his wife had two of their first children baptized. On the sixth day of February 1852 Wilhelmina Frels was baptized and then on the 26th day of January 1854, their son Wilhelm was baptized.
The small town of Frelsburg did not gets its name at the beginning of the residency of Wm. Frels in 1838. It was some fifteen years later before it was called FRELSburg. At first the small German settlement was called Kraewinkel, which in German stands for CROWS NEST. The many German settlers in this area found an abundance of Spanish Moss hanging in many of the surrounding trees of the area. The moss found in the trees had many uses. The moss acted as insulation, it provided coolness in the summertime and warmth in the winter and it was used to make rope and saddleblankets. The moss was also used to feed the cattle during the winter.
Two men were involved as leaders in the community. Wm. Frels donated land where the Trinity Lutherean Church still stands today and Peter Pieper donated land where the Catholic church still stands today. As more settlers had arrived over the course of ten years after the donations of land were made, it was decided that a vote should be taken for a more dignified name for the community. The information in history books reflect that the vote was to be for either Pipersville or Frelsburg. The Lutherans won by only one vote! Frelsburg.
The April 6, 1870 edition of the Colorado County Citizen sums up Wm. Frels Epitaph:
Captain Frels, one of the survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, has died at his home near Frelsburg on the 26th of March, 1870....respected citizen and father of the community for whom it is named.
Wm. Frels sailed over to America on the vessel "Congress" in the year of 1834. After a common stopover in New Orleans for a few days, the vessel continued its voyage until it arrived at the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. Wm. Frels did not immediately settle in Frelsburg, but rather followed the letter that Friederich Ernst had written and was widely publicized to an area north of Frelsburg known as Industry, Texas.
Captain Wm. Frels military career was quite outstanding. He began fighting for TEXAS when he was only 23 years old. In 1835 and 1836, Frels enlisted with a group of men led by Stephen F. Austin to remove the Mexican forces from San Antonio. For his participation in these battles, he was awarded by the Government of Texas 640 acres of land for his services to the Republic.
Wm. Frels donated a portion of his land grants from the Republic of Texazs to an area that would later be named after him. The land he donated was designated for a Lutheran Church, a school, a parsonage, and a cemetery.
Captain Wm. Frels was about 36 years of age before he would marry. In 1845 he married Louisa Frerichs in the Frelsburg Lutheran Church. Capt. Wm. Frels was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg. Even though the church did not have an official beginning until 1855, as early as 1852 in Frelsburg, Capt Frels and his wife had two of their first children baptized. On the sixth day of February 1852 Wilhelmina Frels was baptized and then on the 26th day of January 1854, their son Wilhelm was baptized.
The small town of Frelsburg did not gets its name at the beginning of the residency of Wm. Frels in 1838. It was some fifteen years later before it was called FRELSburg. At first the small German settlement was called Kraewinkel, which in German stands for CROWS NEST. The many German settlers in this area found an abundance of Spanish Moss hanging in many of the surrounding trees of the area. The moss found in the trees had many uses. The moss acted as insulation, it provided coolness in the summertime and warmth in the winter and it was used to make rope and saddleblankets. The moss was also used to feed the cattle during the winter.
Two men were involved as leaders in the community. Wm. Frels donated land where the Trinity Lutherean Church still stands today and Peter Pieper donated land where the Catholic church still stands today. As more settlers had arrived over the course of ten years after the donations of land were made, it was decided that a vote should be taken for a more dignified name for the community. The information in history books reflect that the vote was to be for either Pipersville or Frelsburg. The Lutherans won by only one vote! Frelsburg.
The April 6, 1870 edition of the Colorado County Citizen sums up Wm. Frels Epitaph:
Captain Frels, one of the survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, has died at his home near Frelsburg on the 26th of March, 1870....respected citizen and father of the community for whom it is named.
Captain Wm. Frels military career was quite outstanding. He began fighting for TEXAS when he was only 23 years old. In 1835 and 1836, Frels enlisted with a group of men led by Stephen F. Austin to remove the Mexican forces from San Antonio. For his participation in these battles, he was awarded by the Government of Texas 640 acres of land for his services to the Republic.
Wm. Frels donated a portion of his land grants from the Republic of Texazs to an area that would later be named after him. The land he donated was designated for a Lutheran Church, a school, a parsonage, and a cemetery.
Captain Wm. Frels was about 36 years of age before he would marry. In 1845 he married Louisa Frerichs in the Frelsburg Lutheran Church. Capt. Wm. Frels was also a charter member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frelsburg. Even though the church did not have an official beginning until 1855, as early as 1852 in Frelsburg, Capt Frels and his wife had two of their first children baptized. On the sixth day of February 1852 Wilhelmina Frels was baptized and then on the 26th day of January 1854, their son Wilhelm was baptized.
The small town of Frelsburg did not gets its name at the beginning of the residency of Wm. Frels in 1838. It was some fifteen years later before it was called FRELSburg. At first the small German settlement was called Kraewinkel, which in German stands for CROWS NEST. The many German settlers in this area found an abundance of Spanish Moss hanging in many of the surrounding trees of the area. The moss found in the trees had many uses. The moss acted as insulation, it provided coolness in the summertime and warmth in the winter and it was used to make rope and saddleblankets. The moss was also used to feed the cattle during the winter.
Two men were involved as leaders in the community. Wm. Frels donated land where the Trinity Lutherean Church still stands today and Peter Pieper donated land where the Catholic church still stands today. As more settlers had arrived over the course of ten years after the donations of land were made, it was decided that a vote should be taken for a more dignified name for the community. The information in history books reflect that the vote was to be for either Pipersville or Frelsburg. The Lutherans won by only one vote! Frelsburg.
The April 6, 1870 edition of the Colorado County Citizen sums up Wm. Frels Epitaph:
Captain Frels, one of the survivors of the Battle of San Jacinto, has died at his home near Frelsburg on the 26th of March, 1870....respected citizen and father of the community for whom it is named.
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