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Charles De Montel
1812 – 1882 DeMontel Family Cemetery
Photo added by texasbaron
- Birth
- Death
- 3 Aug 1882 (aged 69)
- Burial
-
Medina County, Texas, USA Add to Map
- Memorial ID
- 81170789 View Source
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Charles De Montel, colonizer, lawyer, engineer, soldier, and public servant, was born in Königsberg, Prussia, on October 24, 1812. Aka Charles Scheidemonte, he attended the University of Heidelberg, where he was a member of a student military guard unit. He probably first gained an interest in Texas while attending the Sorbonne at the University of Paris. Although most accounts of De Montel's arrival in Texas indicate that he left Pennsylvania in 1837 for Indianola, there is some evidence to suggest that he was present at San Jacinto in 1836, although not during the battle. During this time he changed his name from Scheidemontel to De Montel. In 1837 he bought property and lived in Palacios before taking residence at the Lockmar Inn in San Antonio in 1839. There he met Henri Castro, who convinced him to join his colonization efforts as an aide, guide, and land surveyor.
De Montel traveled to Indianola in the employ of Castro to help lead the original Castro colonists to San Antonio, where, on September 1, 1844, he and the colonists joined Castro's first trek to his land grant. De Montel was present at the founding of Castroville on September 3, 1844.
In 1848, at the conclusion of the Mexican War, De Montel commanded a company of Texas Rangers camped on Seco Creek near D'Hanis; in 1849 the site became Fort Lincoln. In 1853 he acquired 15,000 acres of land in the Hill Country in partnership with John Hunter Herndon and John James. James had surveyed Castroville in 1844. Together James and De Montel surveyed and plotted a townsite, constructed a commissary, sawmill, and cabins and helped to sponsor many of the Polish settlers in what soon became the town of Bandera. De Montel subsequently returned to Castroville to continue farming and ranching. He had great success raising cotton and had earned the nickname Cotton Planter by 1858.
He was the first county clerk of Medina County and was one of the three petitioners in the move to establish the first public school in Castroville. He was the Medina County delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861. Convention records indicate that De Montel was forty-eight years of age, a lawyer, and the owner of nine slaves and slightly more than 30,000 acres.
He was appointed by Brig. Gen. Hamilton P. Bee to the position of provost marshal of Bandera, Uvalde, and Medina counties. By appointment of Governor Francis R. Lubbock he also served as captain of Company G (later changed to D), Mounted Rangers, for Bandera, Blanco, Medina, and Uvalde counties in the Frontier Regiment. He was discharged from service on February 9, 1863, and commissioned by Jefferson Davis on March 14, 1863, as commander of the steamer Texas, a privately owned vessel of the Confederate States. In 1864 De Montel returned to Medina County and raised a company of cavalry to serve under Col. John S. "Rip" Ford. William "Big Foot" Wallace was his lieutenant.
After the Civil War he traveled to the Mexican border to sell cotton and other farm products produced in part by Polish farmers. He frequently attended social and cultural functions in San Antonio and served as a master Mason of the Alamo Lodge. In 1871 in Medina County he organized the Charles De Montel Company, which combined his business interests in real estate and lumber and shingle production. In the late 1870s De Montel led the unsuccessful drive to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad through Castroville. His last act of public service was as Indian advisor to Company G of the Texas Volunteer Guards. The company, known as the Montel Guards, was organized at Montel, Texas, in August 1881. De Montel died on August 3, 1882, at Castroville and was buried with Masonic rites in the family plot on the old Montel ranch north of Castroville.
. . . . . . . . . .
DE MONTEL, SR., CHARLES
Along in 1835 there came to the United States from Germany a young man named Charles Scheidemontel. He was of good family, well educated, and ambitious, and having read and heard of the wonderful opportunities in free America, he ran away from the Fatherland and came to Philadelphia, where he tarried for awhile, then came to Texas, which at that time had begun the task of throwing off the Mexican yoke to become a republic. Sam Houston's little army needed men. and Charles Scheidemontel enlisted with the Texans. He reached the San Jacinto battle field just after the glorious victory had been won, and helped to guard Santa Anna while the Mexican dictator was Houston's prisoner. While in the army Mr. Scheidemontel often met General Houston and became intimately acquainted with him. One day the General overheard some of the soldiers taunting the young German about his long name, and after reprimanding the tormentors, he called Scheidemontel to him and gave him authority to shorten his name to Montel, or de Montel, and he did so, thereafter being known as Charles de Montel.
After Texas gained her independence he spent a number of years in San Antonio, and became associated with John James in the work of surveying the Henry Castro grant and the Bexar district. When the first Castro colonists reached Port Lavaca in 1843, Charles de Montel piloted them to their new home on the Medina river, and was present at the founding of Castroville in 1844. The same year he was married to Miss Justine Pingenot, a daughter of one of the colonists. Fifteen children were born to them, seven of whom are still living: Cnarles de Montel of Camp Verde, Ed de Montel, Mrs. Pauline Taylor, and Miss Mollie de Montel of Hondo, Robert de Montel of Castroville, and Oscar de Montel, who is now in South America.
Mr. de Montel resided at Castroville until his, death which occurred some time in the 80's, when he was in his 76th year. His wife died in 1898. A short time after locating with the colonists, Mr. de Montel built a sawmill at Castroville, later moving it up the river to about where the Mormon Camp was afterward located, and after running it there awhile he moved it to the present site of Bandera in 1853. Having acquired a large body of land here, Charles de Montel, John James and John H. Herndon induced some Polish colonists to settle on the land, and thus established the settlement that made Bandera. Mr. de Montel often traded with the Indians and was held in high regard by them. It is related that the Indians once stole some horses at Castroville. Sometime later a friendly Indian rode one of the horses into the town and when the horse was recognized the Indian was seized, a rope was placed around his neck, and the colonists were preparing to swing him to the limb of a tree, when Mr. de Montel came up. The Indian explained to him that he had secured the horse in a trade with other Indians, and soon convinced Mr. de Montel that such was the case, and he was released. Mr. de Montel convinced the colonists that no man, though an Indian, would hardly steal a horse and then deliberately ride the animal back into the community from which it was stolen. (Pioneer History of Bandera by John Marvin Hunter, Hunters Printing House, Bandera, Texas, 1922
Charles De Montel, colonizer, lawyer, engineer, soldier, and public servant, was born in Königsberg, Prussia, on October 24, 1812. Aka Charles Scheidemonte, he attended the University of Heidelberg, where he was a member of a student military guard unit. He probably first gained an interest in Texas while attending the Sorbonne at the University of Paris. Although most accounts of De Montel's arrival in Texas indicate that he left Pennsylvania in 1837 for Indianola, there is some evidence to suggest that he was present at San Jacinto in 1836, although not during the battle. During this time he changed his name from Scheidemontel to De Montel. In 1837 he bought property and lived in Palacios before taking residence at the Lockmar Inn in San Antonio in 1839. There he met Henri Castro, who convinced him to join his colonization efforts as an aide, guide, and land surveyor.
De Montel traveled to Indianola in the employ of Castro to help lead the original Castro colonists to San Antonio, where, on September 1, 1844, he and the colonists joined Castro's first trek to his land grant. De Montel was present at the founding of Castroville on September 3, 1844.
In 1848, at the conclusion of the Mexican War, De Montel commanded a company of Texas Rangers camped on Seco Creek near D'Hanis; in 1849 the site became Fort Lincoln. In 1853 he acquired 15,000 acres of land in the Hill Country in partnership with John Hunter Herndon and John James. James had surveyed Castroville in 1844. Together James and De Montel surveyed and plotted a townsite, constructed a commissary, sawmill, and cabins and helped to sponsor many of the Polish settlers in what soon became the town of Bandera. De Montel subsequently returned to Castroville to continue farming and ranching. He had great success raising cotton and had earned the nickname Cotton Planter by 1858.
He was the first county clerk of Medina County and was one of the three petitioners in the move to establish the first public school in Castroville. He was the Medina County delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861. Convention records indicate that De Montel was forty-eight years of age, a lawyer, and the owner of nine slaves and slightly more than 30,000 acres.
He was appointed by Brig. Gen. Hamilton P. Bee to the position of provost marshal of Bandera, Uvalde, and Medina counties. By appointment of Governor Francis R. Lubbock he also served as captain of Company G (later changed to D), Mounted Rangers, for Bandera, Blanco, Medina, and Uvalde counties in the Frontier Regiment. He was discharged from service on February 9, 1863, and commissioned by Jefferson Davis on March 14, 1863, as commander of the steamer Texas, a privately owned vessel of the Confederate States. In 1864 De Montel returned to Medina County and raised a company of cavalry to serve under Col. John S. "Rip" Ford. William "Big Foot" Wallace was his lieutenant.
After the Civil War he traveled to the Mexican border to sell cotton and other farm products produced in part by Polish farmers. He frequently attended social and cultural functions in San Antonio and served as a master Mason of the Alamo Lodge. In 1871 in Medina County he organized the Charles De Montel Company, which combined his business interests in real estate and lumber and shingle production. In the late 1870s De Montel led the unsuccessful drive to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad through Castroville. His last act of public service was as Indian advisor to Company G of the Texas Volunteer Guards. The company, known as the Montel Guards, was organized at Montel, Texas, in August 1881. De Montel died on August 3, 1882, at Castroville and was buried with Masonic rites in the family plot on the old Montel ranch north of Castroville.
. . . . . . . . . .
DE MONTEL, SR., CHARLES
Along in 1835 there came to the United States from Germany a young man named Charles Scheidemontel. He was of good family, well educated, and ambitious, and having read and heard of the wonderful opportunities in free America, he ran away from the Fatherland and came to Philadelphia, where he tarried for awhile, then came to Texas, which at that time had begun the task of throwing off the Mexican yoke to become a republic. Sam Houston's little army needed men. and Charles Scheidemontel enlisted with the Texans. He reached the San Jacinto battle field just after the glorious victory had been won, and helped to guard Santa Anna while the Mexican dictator was Houston's prisoner. While in the army Mr. Scheidemontel often met General Houston and became intimately acquainted with him. One day the General overheard some of the soldiers taunting the young German about his long name, and after reprimanding the tormentors, he called Scheidemontel to him and gave him authority to shorten his name to Montel, or de Montel, and he did so, thereafter being known as Charles de Montel.
After Texas gained her independence he spent a number of years in San Antonio, and became associated with John James in the work of surveying the Henry Castro grant and the Bexar district. When the first Castro colonists reached Port Lavaca in 1843, Charles de Montel piloted them to their new home on the Medina river, and was present at the founding of Castroville in 1844. The same year he was married to Miss Justine Pingenot, a daughter of one of the colonists. Fifteen children were born to them, seven of whom are still living: Cnarles de Montel of Camp Verde, Ed de Montel, Mrs. Pauline Taylor, and Miss Mollie de Montel of Hondo, Robert de Montel of Castroville, and Oscar de Montel, who is now in South America.
Mr. de Montel resided at Castroville until his, death which occurred some time in the 80's, when he was in his 76th year. His wife died in 1898. A short time after locating with the colonists, Mr. de Montel built a sawmill at Castroville, later moving it up the river to about where the Mormon Camp was afterward located, and after running it there awhile he moved it to the present site of Bandera in 1853. Having acquired a large body of land here, Charles de Montel, John James and John H. Herndon induced some Polish colonists to settle on the land, and thus established the settlement that made Bandera. Mr. de Montel often traded with the Indians and was held in high regard by them. It is related that the Indians once stole some horses at Castroville. Sometime later a friendly Indian rode one of the horses into the town and when the horse was recognized the Indian was seized, a rope was placed around his neck, and the colonists were preparing to swing him to the limb of a tree, when Mr. de Montel came up. The Indian explained to him that he had secured the horse in a trade with other Indians, and soon convinced Mr. de Montel that such was the case, and he was released. Mr. de Montel convinced the colonists that no man, though an Indian, would hardly steal a horse and then deliberately ride the animal back into the community from which it was stolen. (Pioneer History of Bandera by John Marvin Hunter, Hunters Printing House, Bandera, Texas, 1922
. . . . . . . . . .
Charles De Montel, colonizer, lawyer, engineer, soldier, and public servant, was born in Königsberg, Prussia, on October 24, 1812. Aka Charles Scheidemonte, he attended the University of Heidelberg, where he was a member of a student military guard unit. He probably first gained an interest in Texas while attending the Sorbonne at the University of Paris. Although most accounts of De Montel's arrival in Texas indicate that he left Pennsylvania in 1837 for Indianola, there is some evidence to suggest that he was present at San Jacinto in 1836, although not during the battle. During this time he changed his name from Scheidemontel to De Montel. In 1837 he bought property and lived in Palacios before taking residence at the Lockmar Inn in San Antonio in 1839. There he met Henri Castro, who convinced him to join his colonization efforts as an aide, guide, and land surveyor.
De Montel traveled to Indianola in the employ of Castro to help lead the original Castro colonists to San Antonio, where, on September 1, 1844, he and the colonists joined Castro's first trek to his land grant. De Montel was present at the founding of Castroville on September 3, 1844.
In 1848, at the conclusion of the Mexican War, De Montel commanded a company of Texas Rangers camped on Seco Creek near D'Hanis; in 1849 the site became Fort Lincoln. In 1853 he acquired 15,000 acres of land in the Hill Country in partnership with John Hunter Herndon and John James. James had surveyed Castroville in 1844. Together James and De Montel surveyed and plotted a townsite, constructed a commissary, sawmill, and cabins and helped to sponsor many of the Polish settlers in what soon became the town of Bandera. De Montel subsequently returned to Castroville to continue farming and ranching. He had great success raising cotton and had earned the nickname Cotton Planter by 1858.
He was the first county clerk of Medina County and was one of the three petitioners in the move to establish the first public school in Castroville. He was the Medina County delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861. Convention records indicate that De Montel was forty-eight years of age, a lawyer, and the owner of nine slaves and slightly more than 30,000 acres.
He was appointed by Brig. Gen. Hamilton P. Bee to the position of provost marshal of Bandera, Uvalde, and Medina counties. By appointment of Governor Francis R. Lubbock he also served as captain of Company G (later changed to D), Mounted Rangers, for Bandera, Blanco, Medina, and Uvalde counties in the Frontier Regiment. He was discharged from service on February 9, 1863, and commissioned by Jefferson Davis on March 14, 1863, as commander of the steamer Texas, a privately owned vessel of the Confederate States. In 1864 De Montel returned to Medina County and raised a company of cavalry to serve under Col. John S. "Rip" Ford. William "Big Foot" Wallace was his lieutenant.
After the Civil War he traveled to the Mexican border to sell cotton and other farm products produced in part by Polish farmers. He frequently attended social and cultural functions in San Antonio and served as a master Mason of the Alamo Lodge. In 1871 in Medina County he organized the Charles De Montel Company, which combined his business interests in real estate and lumber and shingle production. In the late 1870s De Montel led the unsuccessful drive to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad through Castroville. His last act of public service was as Indian advisor to Company G of the Texas Volunteer Guards. The company, known as the Montel Guards, was organized at Montel, Texas, in August 1881. De Montel died on August 3, 1882, at Castroville and was buried with Masonic rites in the family plot on the old Montel ranch north of Castroville.
. . . . . . . . . .
DE MONTEL, SR., CHARLES
Along in 1835 there came to the United States from Germany a young man named Charles Scheidemontel. He was of good family, well educated, and ambitious, and having read and heard of the wonderful opportunities in free America, he ran away from the Fatherland and came to Philadelphia, where he tarried for awhile, then came to Texas, which at that time had begun the task of throwing off the Mexican yoke to become a republic. Sam Houston's little army needed men. and Charles Scheidemontel enlisted with the Texans. He reached the San Jacinto battle field just after the glorious victory had been won, and helped to guard Santa Anna while the Mexican dictator was Houston's prisoner. While in the army Mr. Scheidemontel often met General Houston and became intimately acquainted with him. One day the General overheard some of the soldiers taunting the young German about his long name, and after reprimanding the tormentors, he called Scheidemontel to him and gave him authority to shorten his name to Montel, or de Montel, and he did so, thereafter being known as Charles de Montel.
After Texas gained her independence he spent a number of years in San Antonio, and became associated with John James in the work of surveying the Henry Castro grant and the Bexar district. When the first Castro colonists reached Port Lavaca in 1843, Charles de Montel piloted them to their new home on the Medina river, and was present at the founding of Castroville in 1844. The same year he was married to Miss Justine Pingenot, a daughter of one of the colonists. Fifteen children were born to them, seven of whom are still living: Cnarles de Montel of Camp Verde, Ed de Montel, Mrs. Pauline Taylor, and Miss Mollie de Montel of Hondo, Robert de Montel of Castroville, and Oscar de Montel, who is now in South America.
Mr. de Montel resided at Castroville until his, death which occurred some time in the 80's, when he was in his 76th year. His wife died in 1898. A short time after locating with the colonists, Mr. de Montel built a sawmill at Castroville, later moving it up the river to about where the Mormon Camp was afterward located, and after running it there awhile he moved it to the present site of Bandera in 1853. Having acquired a large body of land here, Charles de Montel, John James and John H. Herndon induced some Polish colonists to settle on the land, and thus established the settlement that made Bandera. Mr. de Montel often traded with the Indians and was held in high regard by them. It is related that the Indians once stole some horses at Castroville. Sometime later a friendly Indian rode one of the horses into the town and when the horse was recognized the Indian was seized, a rope was placed around his neck, and the colonists were preparing to swing him to the limb of a tree, when Mr. de Montel came up. The Indian explained to him that he had secured the horse in a trade with other Indians, and soon convinced Mr. de Montel that such was the case, and he was released. Mr. de Montel convinced the colonists that no man, though an Indian, would hardly steal a horse and then deliberately ride the animal back into the community from which it was stolen. (Pioneer History of Bandera by John Marvin Hunter, Hunters Printing House, Bandera, Texas, 1922
Charles De Montel, colonizer, lawyer, engineer, soldier, and public servant, was born in Königsberg, Prussia, on October 24, 1812. Aka Charles Scheidemonte, he attended the University of Heidelberg, where he was a member of a student military guard unit. He probably first gained an interest in Texas while attending the Sorbonne at the University of Paris. Although most accounts of De Montel's arrival in Texas indicate that he left Pennsylvania in 1837 for Indianola, there is some evidence to suggest that he was present at San Jacinto in 1836, although not during the battle. During this time he changed his name from Scheidemontel to De Montel. In 1837 he bought property and lived in Palacios before taking residence at the Lockmar Inn in San Antonio in 1839. There he met Henri Castro, who convinced him to join his colonization efforts as an aide, guide, and land surveyor.
De Montel traveled to Indianola in the employ of Castro to help lead the original Castro colonists to San Antonio, where, on September 1, 1844, he and the colonists joined Castro's first trek to his land grant. De Montel was present at the founding of Castroville on September 3, 1844.
In 1848, at the conclusion of the Mexican War, De Montel commanded a company of Texas Rangers camped on Seco Creek near D'Hanis; in 1849 the site became Fort Lincoln. In 1853 he acquired 15,000 acres of land in the Hill Country in partnership with John Hunter Herndon and John James. James had surveyed Castroville in 1844. Together James and De Montel surveyed and plotted a townsite, constructed a commissary, sawmill, and cabins and helped to sponsor many of the Polish settlers in what soon became the town of Bandera. De Montel subsequently returned to Castroville to continue farming and ranching. He had great success raising cotton and had earned the nickname Cotton Planter by 1858.
He was the first county clerk of Medina County and was one of the three petitioners in the move to establish the first public school in Castroville. He was the Medina County delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861. Convention records indicate that De Montel was forty-eight years of age, a lawyer, and the owner of nine slaves and slightly more than 30,000 acres.
He was appointed by Brig. Gen. Hamilton P. Bee to the position of provost marshal of Bandera, Uvalde, and Medina counties. By appointment of Governor Francis R. Lubbock he also served as captain of Company G (later changed to D), Mounted Rangers, for Bandera, Blanco, Medina, and Uvalde counties in the Frontier Regiment. He was discharged from service on February 9, 1863, and commissioned by Jefferson Davis on March 14, 1863, as commander of the steamer Texas, a privately owned vessel of the Confederate States. In 1864 De Montel returned to Medina County and raised a company of cavalry to serve under Col. John S. "Rip" Ford. William "Big Foot" Wallace was his lieutenant.
After the Civil War he traveled to the Mexican border to sell cotton and other farm products produced in part by Polish farmers. He frequently attended social and cultural functions in San Antonio and served as a master Mason of the Alamo Lodge. In 1871 in Medina County he organized the Charles De Montel Company, which combined his business interests in real estate and lumber and shingle production. In the late 1870s De Montel led the unsuccessful drive to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad through Castroville. His last act of public service was as Indian advisor to Company G of the Texas Volunteer Guards. The company, known as the Montel Guards, was organized at Montel, Texas, in August 1881. De Montel died on August 3, 1882, at Castroville and was buried with Masonic rites in the family plot on the old Montel ranch north of Castroville.
. . . . . . . . . .
DE MONTEL, SR., CHARLES
Along in 1835 there came to the United States from Germany a young man named Charles Scheidemontel. He was of good family, well educated, and ambitious, and having read and heard of the wonderful opportunities in free America, he ran away from the Fatherland and came to Philadelphia, where he tarried for awhile, then came to Texas, which at that time had begun the task of throwing off the Mexican yoke to become a republic. Sam Houston's little army needed men. and Charles Scheidemontel enlisted with the Texans. He reached the San Jacinto battle field just after the glorious victory had been won, and helped to guard Santa Anna while the Mexican dictator was Houston's prisoner. While in the army Mr. Scheidemontel often met General Houston and became intimately acquainted with him. One day the General overheard some of the soldiers taunting the young German about his long name, and after reprimanding the tormentors, he called Scheidemontel to him and gave him authority to shorten his name to Montel, or de Montel, and he did so, thereafter being known as Charles de Montel.
After Texas gained her independence he spent a number of years in San Antonio, and became associated with John James in the work of surveying the Henry Castro grant and the Bexar district. When the first Castro colonists reached Port Lavaca in 1843, Charles de Montel piloted them to their new home on the Medina river, and was present at the founding of Castroville in 1844. The same year he was married to Miss Justine Pingenot, a daughter of one of the colonists. Fifteen children were born to them, seven of whom are still living: Cnarles de Montel of Camp Verde, Ed de Montel, Mrs. Pauline Taylor, and Miss Mollie de Montel of Hondo, Robert de Montel of Castroville, and Oscar de Montel, who is now in South America.
Mr. de Montel resided at Castroville until his, death which occurred some time in the 80's, when he was in his 76th year. His wife died in 1898. A short time after locating with the colonists, Mr. de Montel built a sawmill at Castroville, later moving it up the river to about where the Mormon Camp was afterward located, and after running it there awhile he moved it to the present site of Bandera in 1853. Having acquired a large body of land here, Charles de Montel, John James and John H. Herndon induced some Polish colonists to settle on the land, and thus established the settlement that made Bandera. Mr. de Montel often traded with the Indians and was held in high regard by them. It is related that the Indians once stole some horses at Castroville. Sometime later a friendly Indian rode one of the horses into the town and when the horse was recognized the Indian was seized, a rope was placed around his neck, and the colonists were preparing to swing him to the limb of a tree, when Mr. de Montel came up. The Indian explained to him that he had secured the horse in a trade with other Indians, and soon convinced Mr. de Montel that such was the case, and he was released. Mr. de Montel convinced the colonists that no man, though an Indian, would hardly steal a horse and then deliberately ride the animal back into the community from which it was stolen. (Pioneer History of Bandera by John Marvin Hunter, Hunters Printing House, Bandera, Texas, 1922
Family Members
- Created by: BeNotForgot
- Added: Nov 29, 2011
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
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Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81170789/charles-de_montel: accessed ), memorial page for Charles De Montel (24 Oct 1812–3 Aug 1882), Find a Grave Memorial ID 81170789, citing DeMontel Family Cemetery, Medina County, Texas, USA; Maintained by BeNotForgot (contributor 46974545).
