Hedwigs Hill, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hedwigs Hill, Texas is an unincorporated farming and ranching community
, established in 1853 just off U.S. Highway 87, located 5 miles (8 km) south of Art
in southern Mason County, Texas
.
, who emigrated to Texas with the Adelsverein
groups. Voges arrived at Galveston on January 2, 1846, on the Gesina originally destined to settle in Comal County
. Martin disembarked at Galveston
on November 23, 1844, from the Johann Detthard, and was with the first settlers of Fredericksburg
. In 1853 the Martin family moved 10 miles (16.1 km) south of what is now Mason
, on the banks of the Llano River
. The settlement became known as Hedwigs Hill, thought to be named for Martin's mother and daughter, both of whom shared the name Hedwig. John Kline was another early settler, who is thought to have built the dogtrot house
later occupied by Louis Martin. In 1971, Martin's home was moved to the National Ranching Heritage Center
.
His nephew Charles Karl Martin became postmaster on August 21, 1861, after Texas had joined the Confederate States of America
.
Charles was re-appointed postmaster by the Union on April 10, 1866 to service the San Antonio-El Paso Mail. Conrad Gustavus became postmaster on November 23, 1866. The post office was discontinued March 17, 1868. Charles was again appointed postmaster to a re-established post office on May 18, 1874, a position he held until his 1879 death. His widow Anna Mebus Martin
took over the postmaster position on December 9, 1879. John Keller became postmaster on June 14, 1899, and held the position until the post office was discontinued on April 15, 1907. Thereafter, the mail was directed to Mason
, Louis Martin and his niece's husband Eugene Frantzen had gold hidden beneath a load of bacon. They were ambushed at Eagle Pass
and hanged by deserters from the Confederate States Army
.
Anna and Charles Martin ran the community store at Hedwig Hill. When Charles became disabled because of rheumatism
, Anna became the business person in the family. She grew the business and branched out into wool, cotton, barbed wire and cattle. She eventually acquired 50,000 acres in Mason, Llano
and Gillespie
counties, at the time making her one of the wealthiest Texans of German ancestry. Martin established the Commercial Bank of Mason in 1901, which she ran with her two sons for twenty-four years. Anna Martin died on July 10, 1925, and is buried in the family cemetery at Hedwig's Hill.
Hedwig Hill had a school in the district from the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
, established in 1853 just off U.S. Highway 87, located 5 miles (8 km) south of Art
Art, Texas
Art is an unincorporated community in Mason County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the highly-dispersed community had an estimated population of 18 in 2000.-Geography:...
in southern Mason County, Texas
Mason County, Texas
Mason County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 4, 012. Its county seat is Mason...
.
Establishment
Hedwigs Hill was settled by German settlers Christopher Voges and Louis (Ludwig) MartinLouis (Ludwig) Martin
Louis Martin was with the first settlers to Fredericksburg, Texas. He was the first sheriff of Gillespie County, and also served as District Clerk of the county...
, who emigrated to Texas with the Adelsverein
Adelsverein
Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, better known as Adelsverein , organized on April 20, 1842, was a colonial attempt to establish a new Germany within the borders of Texas.-History:...
groups. Voges arrived at Galveston on January 2, 1846, on the Gesina originally destined to settle in Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
. Martin disembarked at Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
on November 23, 1844, from the Johann Detthard, and was with the first settlers of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census estimate, the city had a population of 10, 530...
. In 1853 the Martin family moved 10 miles (16.1 km) south of what is now Mason
Mason, Texas
Mason is the seat of Mason County, Texas, United States. The town is an agricultural community on Comanche Creek southwest of Mason Mountain, on the Edwards Plateau and part of the Llano Uplift. The population was 2,114 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, on the banks of the Llano River
Llano River
The Llano River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 105 mi long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains part of the Edwards Plateau in Texas Hill Country northwest of Austin....
. The settlement became known as Hedwigs Hill, thought to be named for Martin's mother and daughter, both of whom shared the name Hedwig. John Kline was another early settler, who is thought to have built the dogtrot house
Dogtrot house
The dogtrot, also known as a breezeway house, dog-run, or possum-trot, is a style of house that was common throughout the Southeastern United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most theories place its origins in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Some scholars believe the style...
later occupied by Louis Martin. In 1971, Martin's home was moved to the National Ranching Heritage Center
National Ranching Heritage Center
The National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum of ranching history, is located on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It features almost fifty authentic ranch buildings dating from the late 18th to the mid-20th century...
.
Post office
Louis Martin was the first postmaster of Hedwigs Hill in 1858, succeeded by D.B. Anderson in 1861.His nephew Charles Karl Martin became postmaster on August 21, 1861, after Texas had joined the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Charles was re-appointed postmaster by the Union on April 10, 1866 to service the San Antonio-El Paso Mail. Conrad Gustavus became postmaster on November 23, 1866. The post office was discontinued March 17, 1868. Charles was again appointed postmaster to a re-established post office on May 18, 1874, a position he held until his 1879 death. His widow Anna Mebus Martin
Anna Mebus Martin
Anna Henriette Mebus Martin was a German-born Texas rancher and business woman. She rose from poverty to become one of the wealthiest Texans of German ancestry in her time. She chartered the Commercial Bank of Mason in 1901, and served as its president for twenty-four years...
took over the postmaster position on December 9, 1879. John Keller became postmaster on June 14, 1899, and held the position until the post office was discontinued on April 15, 1907. Thereafter, the mail was directed to Mason
Mason, Texas
Mason is the seat of Mason County, Texas, United States. The town is an agricultural community on Comanche Creek southwest of Mason Mountain, on the Edwards Plateau and part of the Llano Uplift. The population was 2,114 at the 2010 census.-History:...
Commerce
Both Martin families were farmers and ranchers, engaging in the business of freight transport. On June 16, 1864, on a freight hauling trip to Piedras Negras, CoahuilaPiedras Negras, Coahuila
-Natural Resources:This region generates a large amount of the national production of coal, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.-Tourism:Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:...
, Louis Martin and his niece's husband Eugene Frantzen had gold hidden beneath a load of bacon. They were ambushed at Eagle Pass
Eagle Pass, Texas
Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County The population was 27,183 as of the 2010 census.Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the Rio Grande. The Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Metropolitan Area is one of six...
and hanged by deserters from the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
Anna and Charles Martin ran the community store at Hedwig Hill. When Charles became disabled because of rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, Anna became the business person in the family. She grew the business and branched out into wool, cotton, barbed wire and cattle. She eventually acquired 50,000 acres in Mason, Llano
Llano County, Texas
Llano County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 19, 301. Its county seat is Llano, and the county is named for the Llano River....
and Gillespie
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
counties, at the time making her one of the wealthiest Texans of German ancestry. Martin established the Commercial Bank of Mason in 1901, which she ran with her two sons for twenty-four years. Anna Martin died on July 10, 1925, and is buried in the family cemetery at Hedwig's Hill.
Churches and school
In 1870, a Methodist Episcopal church became the first church in the area, later joined by Art Methodist Church and Hilda Methodist Church. The Louis Martin family was Catholic and often held services in their home.Hedwig Hill had a school in the district from the late 1800s to early 1900s.