Friedrich Diercks
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Dierckswas born on June 18, 1796, at Burg (Castle) Gödens near the village of Neustadtgödens. In February 1814 he joined the Oldenburg
Regiment of the Duke of Oldenburg, and he remained a soldier
until June 1819. In 1831, Friedrich Diercks http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/texasczech/Studies/Chronology.htm received land at Mill Creek in Austin County and began writing letters to friends in Oldenburg and Westphalia
. Upon reading about the favorable conditions in Austin's colony, he and his family set out for Texas
. On April 16 Ernst obtained a league of land on the west bank of the west fork of Mill Creek
in Austin's colony. Ernst became well known as a benefactor to new German immigrants
and acquired the nickname "father of the immigrants." Later on in life, he became a justice of the peace
in Austin County and sold lots from his league to new immigrants. The resulting settlement, Industry
, was the first German town in Texas. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/GG/png2.html
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
Regiment of the Duke of Oldenburg, and he remained a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
until June 1819. In 1831, Friedrich Diercks http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/texasczech/Studies/Chronology.htm received land at Mill Creek in Austin County and began writing letters to friends in Oldenburg and Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
. Upon reading about the favorable conditions in Austin's colony, he and his family set out for Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. On April 16 Ernst obtained a league of land on the west bank of the west fork of Mill Creek
Mill Creek
- In Canada :*Mill Creek, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality*Mill Creek, Cumberland, Nova Scotia, in Cumberland country- In the United States :*Mill Creek, California, a town in Tehama County...
in Austin's colony. Ernst became well known as a benefactor to new German immigrants
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and acquired the nickname "father of the immigrants." Later on in life, he became a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Austin County and sold lots from his league to new immigrants. The resulting settlement, Industry
Industry, Texas
Industry is a city in Austin County, Texas, United States. The population was 304 at the 2000 census. Industry was the first permanent German settlement in Texas...
, was the first German town in Texas. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/GG/png2.html