Betty Holekamp
Betty Holekamp | |
---|---|
Kingdom of Hannover, German Confederation | |
Died | 1902 Comfort, Texas |
Spouse |
Georg Friedrich "Fritz" Holekamp (1812–1862)
(m. 1844–1862) |
Betty Holekamp (1826–1902) was a German colonist and pioneer in Texas. She is recognized for several "firsts" as a Texas pioneer, such as being the first to sew an American flag upon Texas's acceptance into the Union, and thus is known as the Betsy Ross of Texas.[1] She was also among the first residents in four Texas Hill Country communities: New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Sisterdale, and Comfort.
Life in Germany
Betty Holekamp was born Betty Wilhelmine Abbenthern in the
While playing music together at court gatherings, she met Georg Friedrich "Fritz" Holekamp (1812–1862), the son of a wealthy Hannover builder and an educated royal architect and musician. Once engaged, the couple learned of opportunities in Texas from
Settlement of the Texas Hill Country
New Braunfels
Led by Prince Solms, the 228 immigrants from the Johann Dethard proceeded overland from Indianola to the site chosen to be the first German settlement in Texas,
When word first broke of Texas being admitted to the Union in 1845, Betty Holekamp gathered pieces of cloth from her home and from her neighbors and used them to sew a 6-by-3-foot (1.83 by 0.91 m) United States flag (with a lone star in the field of blue) that was unfurled and flown in the town square of New Braunfels. This was the first American flag flown in New Braunfels, and believed to be the first flown in Texas. The sewing of that flag was a bold political statement for the time. Prince Solms, having come from the world of European aristocracy, governed New Braunfels as a king, but the flying of the flag symbolized to the prince and to the populus that Texas was now part of a free and democratic nation.[5]
Fredericksburg
After about two years in New Braunfels, the Holekamps moved and were among the first residents of Fredericksburg. On January 18, 1847, Fritz Holekamp received 320 acres (130 ha) of land, just outside Fredericksburg, from the Fisher–Miller Land Grant colonization.[6] He added his signature to the December 15, 1847 List of Petitioners to Create Gillespie County.[7]
Sisterdale
After two years outside Fredericksburg, the Holekamps purchased 55 acres (22 ha) in Sisterdale from Nicolaus Zink and became the third family to settle in the new German colony.[8] There, Betty Holekamp gave birth to her second son, Julius, who was born on June 10, 1849, making him the first white child born in Kendall County.[2] While in Sisterdale, Betty Holekamp became an expert marksman who was known to shoot as well as any of the men. She hunted bear and panthers, and suffered regular raids from Indians who became adept at stealing food from settlers.[2]
Comfort
After briefly living in San Antonio, the Holekamp family settled in Comfort in 1854. Fritz Holekamp worked with surveyor Ernst Altgelt in the laying out and founding of the city of Comfort.[9] The Holekamps built the first house in the town (Fritz and his son George started construction before Comfort was officially founded) and Fritz was in charge of Comfort's cannon.[10]
When the
Widowed, Betty Holekamp took in boarders and opened a sewing and washing business to provide for her seven children (her son, Ernest, later became the first mayor of Junction, Texas). Remaining in Comfort, she never remarried and outlived her husband by 40 years.[2]
See also
- Adelsverein
- German Texan
References
- ^ a b c d Ransleben, Guido E. A Hundred Years of Comfort in Texas. Press of The Naylor Company, 1954, p. 191.
- ^ a b c d Van Winkle, Irene. West Kerr Current, "Holekamps’ Dream of a Better Life Eventually Realized", September 25, 2008.
- ^ "Geo Holekamp-German Immigration Company". Texas General Land Office. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Holekamp-ship record". Immigration Database. Galveston Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas L.E. Brown, 1880, p. 520-521.
- ^ "Fisher Miller Colony Transfers". Texas General Land Office. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ "Petitioners to create Gillespie County". Gillespie County Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Morgenthaler, Jefferson. The German Settlement of the Texas Hill Country. Mockingbird Books, 2011.
- ^ Stewart, Anne and Mike. Ernst Hermann Altgelt: Founder of Comfort, Texas. University of North Texas Library, 2010, p. 1.
- ^ Stewart, Anne and Mike. Ernst Hermann Altgelt: Founder of Comfort, Texas. University of North Texas Library, 2010, p. 2-3.
- ^ Stewart, Anne and Mike. Ernst Hermann Altgelt: Founder of Comfort, Texas. University of North Texas Library, 2010, p. 7.