Recently I went to the Comal Cemetery to visit family and friends. Don’t tell me that I’m the only one that does that; someone brings the flowers! Since I started writing this column I have greatly increased the number of people that I know in the cemetery, particularly those born in the 19^th century.

Take an over-all look at the cemetery and certain things stand out. One is the number of obelisks, particularly in the old section of the cemetery. The dictionary describes an obelisk as a four- sided stone monument that rises to the point at the top. Ancient Egyptians used to place obelisks at the entrance of tombs.

The granddaddy of obelisks in the Comal Cemetery is the one dedicated to Senator George Pfeuffer. This monument is 24 feet tall and towers over all the others. It was given in Pfeuffer’s honor by the Granite Association of Texas. Here’s the story:

In 1877 George Pfeuffer was appointed Comal County Judge, filling the unexpired term of Dr. Theodor Koester and was elected to that position in 1880. In 1882 he was elected to a seat in the Texas Senate. During his tenure, he led the fight within the Senate to have the State Capitol in Austin built of Texas granite instead of Georgian marble. The obelisk is made of that Texas granite and that’s the reason for the memorial.

Pfeuffer had other irons in the fire besides politics; he owned a dry goods store in NB on the south corner of San Antonio St. and Castell Ave. After he died in 1885, the business was carried on by the family until the 1920s. The building is the one with the mural of Prince Carl on the side. Pfeuffer also owned a lumber yard in NB and other lumber yards elsewhere.

Pfeuffer as a young man worked for Ferguson and Hessler Dry Goods store. He was sent to Corpus Christi by Ferguson to tend to businesses in that city. There he met and married Susan Gravis. In 1861 when the Civil War broke out, they returned to NB because he felt his family would be safer here.

When Pfeuffer became County Judge, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of A&M College in Bryan. He is given credit for putting the finances back in order, allowing A&M to build its first dormitory, Pfeuffer Hall. Sophienburg President David Pfeuffer is George Pfeuffer’s g-g-g-grandson.

George Pfeuffer

So many families have plots in the Comal Cemetery and if you know NB history, you will recognize the names of Ferdinand Lindheimer, Hermann Seele, the Hennes, Guenthers, Fausts, and the list goes on and on. Many of the older family plots have ornate iron fences and elaborate tombstones.

A practical and decorative grave covering can be seen scattered around the old cemetery section. I’m referring to the shell-covered graves. Made by H.T. Mordhurst, I found about 10, most of who died in the early 1900s. Mordhurst, born in Germany, came to NB in 1900 and began a business of producing concrete blocks for buildings, several of which are still in NB. He went into this business with Emil Heinen.

In the meantime, Mordhurst developed this technique of decorating graves. Using a wooden form to create a mound, he covered it with iron mesh, and then poured concrete into the mold. Cockleshells from the Texas coast were brought to NB by train in barrels. They were filled with cement and a wire was twisted inside before they were attached. Mordhurst died in 1928 and that was the end of the shell-covered graves.

There’s a lot of history out there – some we know and some we don’t.

“May they rest easy in their final abodes beneath hallowed soil, these hardy pioneers, these staunch characters who built a nation”. From a Centennial editorial.

Chas.W. Scruggs, Editor

“New Braunfels Herald”1946

By Myra Lee Adams Goff

When my parents went to school in NB, they were taught all subjects in German, including the German script. It had been that way for three generations. Suddenly, as a result of possible war with Germany in 1916, it was against Texas law to teach children in German. Overnight, they switched to English. The result of this propaganda against Germans was that most of my generation was not taught German. Wie schade! (What a shame). German wasn’t even offered as a foreign language until years after WWII.

America wanted to remain neutral from the war raging in Europe. Neutrality was strained when Germany offered Mexico a deal to join in an alliance against the US in exchange for territories in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. When German submarines sank several American merchant ships, public opinion shifted in favor of war, consequently, Congress voted to go to war on April 6, 1917.

This was a very difficult time for German-Americans. Many still had family ties in the “old country” and discrimination against Germans was at its peak. German measles became “liberty measles” and sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage”. Americans were charged with the responsibility of spying on their neighbors (the postmaster had the greatest responsibility)

Communities were asked to show their allegiance with so called “loyalty parades”. In May of 1917, a parade in NB had thousands of flag waving participants with hundreds of school children, several bands, and federal soldiers in parade dress. In addition, Gus Reininger read a proclamation of loyalty to be sent to Pres. Woodrow Wilson.

Gen. John J. Pershing who was stationed in San Antonio was the honored dignitary of the day. As a former Pancho Villa fighter, Pershing soon became the organizer of the US Expeditionary Forces.

All men between 21 and 30 were required to sign up for the draft (increased later to men between 18 and 45). Registration began June 5, 1917. Texas Gov. James E. Ferguson (Ma’s husband) contacted Sheriff Bill Adams to be prepared for the registration.

Comal Countians went overboard to show their patriotism. They exceeded their required sale of Liberty Bonds, planted Victory Gardens, and practiced government food saving practices of wheatless, meatless, porkless days and the fat and sugar saving days. Sounds like one of those modern diets.

Besides discrimination, other disturbing things were happening locally. According to New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas (the Sophienburg’s book by Gregory, Goff, and Nuhn), the state purchased land in the county for a leper colony in 1918.There was great alarm locally at this action, for fear of further discrimination to the town. It never happened.

Prohibition was another issue that was locally disturbing. The Germans loved their beer. In 1918, Texas voted in favor of Prohibition. Comal County voted 100 percent against it, but old timers say that the beer merely went under the table rather than on top of it.

It wasn’t all bad times, however. About this time a group of US Army soldiers stationed in San Antonio set up an encampment on the Landa Ranch overlooking NB, and there was camaraderie between them and the locals. These soldiers were mostly from Wisconsin and NBHS chose its fight song “On New Braunfels” from the song that they heard those soldiers sing. “On Wisconsin, on Wisconsin, fight right through that line”.

When Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, thirty- one men from Comal County had died (some from the deadly flu). Records show that an impromptu parade took place on that day and that even then groups from neighboring counties drove cars through the business district, recklessly firing guns at random. Another group hung Kaiser Wilhelm in effigy, firing guns the whole time. After the parade, speeches, and a dinner at Seekatz Opera House, dancing took place at Landa Park.

And so ended the “War to end all wars”.

Caption: Bruno Borgfeld, WWI

By Myra Lee Adams Goff

Sophienburg Board member Tobin Hoffmann invites you to the Sophienburg’s July 4^th parade and celebration on the Plaza. A big group of the members of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association will be gathering in New Braunfels and they will be in the parade. Plenty of folks will be showing their patriotism. The short parade will begin on Castell Ave., turn left on San Antonio St. and end at the Plaza with speeches and the rousing patriotic sounds from the popular Community Band. Hoffmann is a good choice for July 4th chairman. He has vivid memories of parades, picnics in Landa Park, and fireworks.

Before the July 4^th celebration was taken over by the Sophienburg in the late 1970s, it was sponsored by the Volunteer Fire Department. In the early days, a parade on July 4th culminated in water competitions on the Plaza. A real crowd pleaser was water polo in which a beer keg was suspended from a cable. Two fire department teams faced each other, each team holding a fire hose in “tug of war” fashion. They would turn on the water, point the hose at the barrel and “let ‘er rip” trying to move the barrel over the line. If you were at the Plaza, you were guaranteed to get wet.

The New Braunfels Volunteer Fire Department has an interesting history. There was no fire department for 40 years and the biggest early fire was in 1861 when the Torrey Mill on the Comal River was destroyed and no one could do anything about it. Oscar Haas’ translation of the “Zeitung” reveals this: In 1866 the City Council passed an ordinance that no combustible material could be used for roofs, thus NB became known as the “City of Tin Roofs”. Mayor Hermann Seele recommended that fire equipment be ordered, but this didn’t happen due to an inability to raise funds.

Over 10 years later, a firefighting contraption called a “Feuerspritze” was purchased. It was an upright square box mounted on a 2-wheeled cart, equipped with pressure pump and two pulling ropes. It was pulled by six men and pushed by six men, with eight men operating the pump shaft where they got water from private wells.

This primitive method ended in 1886 when the city water works system was installed and wooden water mains were dug up to the Plaza. According to Battalion Chief Darren Brinkkoeter 20 locations for fire hydrants and trenches had been identified. Two hose carts were purchased, one of which is in the Fire Department Museum. In addition, Mayor Joseph Faust announced that the City Council had taken steps to acquire hoses and asked for the formation of two volunteer fire companies. Forty young men showed up at Lenzen Halle and on June 10, 1886, the New Braunfels Volunteer Fire Dept. was organized with one hook and ladder company and two hose and reel companies.

The Hook and Ladder Co.’s elected officers were Capt. Joseph Roth, and Asst. Capt. Richard Weber. Hose and Reel Co. #2 elected Capt. William Schmidt and Asst. Capt. Carl Jahn. Hose and Reel Co. #1 elected Capt. Richard Gerlich, and Asst. Capt. John Sippel.

The Volunteer Fire Department was more than a fire-fighting organization. They sponsored the July 4^th parade, conducted a Maifest, sponsored dances, put on costumed shows, had a band, and for years were the most active of all social organizations. In 1918 a professional Fire Department was organized and by 2001 the Volunteer Fire Department disbanded.

Just like old times, leading this year’s July 4^th parade will be a 1950 Ford Pumper Truck. There won’t be any water displays but it will be exciting. While you’re thinking of all those military heroes past and present, give a thought to the Fire Department, Police Department, the Volunteer Fire Department, and all those helicopter pilots.

Caption: A 1929 Fire Department Race Team. L-R: Marcus Adams, Herbert Barth, Norman Henne, and Ted Eggeling.

By Myra Lee Adams Goff

Even as a child I perceived that there must be some connection between one’s personality and one’s genes because when I behaved myself, both parents were quick to claim their genetic contribution. On the other hand, when I did something wrong, both disclaimed their genetic bestowal. Since my parents were complete opposites in abilities and personalities, it was inevitable that I was going to be claimed by one of them at least half of the time. They would say, “She’s from your side of the family.” or “She’s from my side of the family”. This is my favorite: “She’s from the other side of the family”. The subject of how much of your personality is inherited or how much is environmental is questionable but your genealogy is provable.

Before you can try to answer this age old question, you must know who your ancestors are (genealogy). The Comal County Genealogy Society has been the backbone of research at the Sophienburg for quite a while. Their research in booklet form can be used in family research. And some booklets are for sale in Sophie’s Shop.

The Genealogy Society has compiled a Comal County death record index from 1903 to 1931, a birth index for New Braunfels from 1910 to 1970, marriage records from 1846 to 1929, a naturalization index from 1847 to 1927, probate indexes from 1846 to 1940 and Census lists from 1850 to 1930. In addition there are cemetery records in and outside of New Braunfels.

The genealogists are never finished. They complete one project and then go on to the next. For example, Everett Fey and Marlena Schlather are compiling lists of emigrants who arrived at Indianola from 1844 until 1847. I asked, “Don’t we already know that?” to which Fey answered, “Not all the emigrants settled in New Braunfels and we want to trace where they went”.

Jane Phelps is another one of those busy genealogists. Fey calls what Phelps is doing “a genealogist’s dream”. She takes the translated obituaries from the newspaper and puts the information on the computer. The eventual aim is for a person to access an ancestor’s name, and find out parents’ names, date of birth, marriage, and date and cause of death.

Connie Krause is working on cemetery lists and preservation and Wilfred Schlather is researching Comal County’s Civil War involvement.

Through the generosity of about 400 families, Sophienburg has family books that are open to researchers. Sophienburg employee LaVerne Pearce is a good source of information because genealogy is one of her primary interests. Give her a local name and she can just about tell you who you’re related to.

Volunteer Ralph Koch’s job at the Sophienburg is to catalog the extensive Oscar Haas collection. In spite of his German name, Koch had no NB family connections until his parents moved here in 1955. Koch moved his young family here in 1974.

Now here’s where Pearce comes in: Koch received an obituary for an Alva Koch from a friend wanting to know if he was related. He and Pearce looked through the Weidner family book, found no connection between Ralph Koch and Alva Koch, but Pearce discovered her name instead and found out surprisingly that she was related to Alva Koch. That’s how genealogy works.

This next Saturday, the Genealogy Society is going to conduct a class at the Sophienburg in how to trace your genealogy - how to get started, what resources to use, etc. For a small fee of 10 dollars, members of this group will guide you in your quest to discover your ancestry (and maybe why you act the way you do, just kidding). The time is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an hour off for lunch. Call Lil at 629-1572 for a reservation.

Caption: Ralph Koch and LaVerne Pearce examine the 1862 muster roll of Capt. John W. Stayton Co. Infantry of Atascosa County, part of the vast Oscar Haas collection at the Sophienburg.

By Myra Lee Adams Goff

On the floor of the Sophienburg Museum is a strange looking hunk of steel that seems out of place because it has no apparent use. But this object wasn’t always useless. As a matter of fact, it had a very prominent place in New Braunfels history, because it’s the breech of a cannon.

Seeing photos of the medieval- looking Prince Carl, it makes sense that he would insist on two cannons for protection of the new colony. He had them made in Victoria, Texas. Now just imagine this:

Prince Carl chose 1^st Lt. L.L. von Coll to be in charge of guns and the cannons. Sophienburg Hill was to be the defending fortress and the guns were to be kept there in the magazine (warehouse) to be distributed when needed. Hence, we have Magazine Ave.

The two cannons were to be set up at an appropriate point near the magazine. The Prince felt that in case of an attack, the streets could be swept over with cannon shots and the enemy would be cleaned out.

In later years, Mayor C.A. Jahn wrote this account about the cannons for the “Neu Braunfelser Zeitung Jahrbuch”: “They lay for many years several feet apart on the slope of the Sophienburg Hill”.

Jahn goes on to say that before the Civil War, both cannons were used at every celebration of the 4^th of July. The cannons were fired alternately to give the 2 ½ - 3 inch thick cast- iron walls time to cool. Once, one cannon was reloaded too early and the firing came off during the loading and catapulted the gunman down the hill.

When news reached the town that the Civil War was over, the cannons were loaded and fired. Jahn said that as a young boy, he and his friends watched this firing from a distance and observed the gunners hurridly placing themselves behind a large elm tree. Suddenly there was an explosion. The one cannon had blown up, scattering parts everywhere.

Jahn’s story about the other cannon is that in 1870, it was taken to the 5^th Ward (Comaltown) to be part of the 25^th Anniversary Festival to be held there. During the three day celebration, the lone cannon was fired many times. Jahn related that after that, the cannon was seldom used. Some years later four young boys decided to scare the town by shooting off the cannon, but it blew up.

There are dozens of different versions of the demise of that last cannon, but Carlo Fischer in a 1980 Reflections tape claims that he has the “real” story. He claims that on Christmas Eve, 1894, his father, Emil Fischer, plus Harry Galle, Adolph Henne, and Emil Gerlich decided to shoot the cannon to create a little life in the town. At that time the cannon was on the banks of the Comal. First they went to the bowling alley on Seguin Ave. and played cards. Then they sneaked out after the manager Gottlieb Oberkampf dozed off, went to the river and hid under the iron bridge (early San Antonio St. Bridge) until the pump was cut off at Clemens Dam, as it was every night. Henne brought the powder, Fischer brought the loading rod, Gerlich was the cannoneer, and Galle crossed the Comal to get dry cow pods. They inadvertently blew up the cannon and then scurried back to the bowling alley. About 500 of Harry Landa’s cattle across the river stampeded Comaltown. Landa offered a $500 reward and the boys were identified. Oberkampf (who was also the Justice of the Peace) claimed that it couldn’t have been the identified boys because they had been playing cards at the bowling alley all evening.

The boys agreed that the story wouldn’t be told until the last of them died. That was Emil Fischer. So now you know.

Caption: The fate of the last cannon. Artist Patricia S. Arnold