Franz Nowotny was the oldest son of Winceslaus and Agnes Solek Nowotny to come to the United States. He must have been about fifteen or sixteen years old at the time, as the 1860 census of Comal County, Texas, show him to be twenty one years of age.

In the fall term of court in the year 1866, Franz petitioned and was granted his Unted States citizenship. Church records show him born 28 October, 1838 at Bechim, Bohemia. He married Marie Daum in 1858 in Nassau, daughter of Johann and Marie Daum, and together they raised a fine family of twelve children.

Franz was a kind, gentle man, as well as a devoted husband and father. He was loved by all people who knew him, and was a highly esteemed man in the community. Many times he went out of his way to help his friends and neighbors. In his book, The History of New Braunfels and Comal County, 1844-1946, Mr. Oscar Haas points out that it was Franz Nowotny, with pick, shovel, crow-bar and axe, who widened the narrow places on the River Road so that his neighbors, in their wagons, could travel the road into town. His gruff speech and manner covered a heart of gold, but could not cover his quick wit and humor.

According to his obituary notice, during the Civil War Franz was the city marshall and sheriff of New Braunfels. For a short while, he was also a member of the Texas Rangers. By trade, he was a farmer and a stone mason, but would tackle any job to help his fellow man. No one was ever turned away when they sought his help. Franz Nowotny was a fine man, and a credit to his country. He died on 18 March, 1912.

He was a Texas Ranger

NOWOTNY, Frantz (Ind. Sur. No. 13640)
Born Octoberr 28, 1837, in Bechim, Austria, died
March 12, 1918, in New Braunfels, Texas. Married Mary
Daum in 1859, in Austin, Texas; she died October 17,
1899. Application based on service in Captain H.R. Von
Biberstein’s Company L from October 10, 1870, to April
30, 1871. Application approved.
In an apparent attempt to Americanize his name,
Nowotny served under the name of Francis Nootug, but
was pensioned under his true name.