Louis (Ludwig) Martin
Encyclopedia
Louis Martin (1820–1864) 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. Martin was a co-founder of the Mason County
community of Hedwigs Hill.
North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
, to Nicholas Martin and his wife Hedwig Sinner Martin.
settlers. He disembarked at Galveston
on November 23, 1844, from the Johann Detthard After living in New Braunfels
, he moved to Fredericksburg when John O. Meusebach
opened up the area to settlements.
In 1847, Martin had Town Lot 311. He was one of the 1847 signers of the petition to create Gillespie County.Martin was the first sheriff of Gillespie County. He became District Clerk in 1850. Martin engaged in farming and ranching, while also selling livestock forage and supplies to area settlers. He ran a freight business that serviced Fort Martin Scott
and other military installations. Martin was in the livelihood of buying and selling land during this period.
, on the banks of the Llano River
. The settlement became known as Hedwigs Hill
, thought to be named for his mother and daughter. Martin was the first postmaster of Hedwigs Hill. His nephew Charles Martin became postmaster three times, being succeeded by Charles' wife Anna Mebus Martin
in 1879. From 1861–1862, Martin served as Justice of the Peace of Mason County. During 1861, he saw service under Captain Alf Hunter and the Mason Minutemen. During his life at Hedwig Hill, Martin continued the business endeavors he had in Gillespie County, in addition to hauling cotton to Mexico.
, 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
. His wife was informed of the incident and recovered the bodies. When she moved back to Fredericksburg, she had the bodies buried in a common grave in Der Stadt Friedhof
. In 1971, Martin's home was moved to the National Ranching Heritage Center
.
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...
. He was the first sheriff of Gillespie County
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...
, and also served as District Clerk of the county. Martin was a co-founder of the Mason County
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...
community of Hedwigs Hill.
Early years
Ludwig Martin was born November 25, 1820, in ErndtebrückErndtebrück
Erndtebrück is a municipality in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Location:Erndtebrück situated on the river Eder in the Rothaargebirge, approx...
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, to Nicholas Martin and his wife Hedwig Sinner Martin.
New Braunfels and Fredericksburg
Martin emigrated to Texas with the first wave of AdelsvereinAdelsverein
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:...
settlers. He 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 After living in New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
, he moved to Fredericksburg when John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach
John O. Meusebach , born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer and politician who served in the Texas Senate, District 22.-Early years:John O...
opened up the area to settlements.
In 1847, Martin had Town Lot 311. He was one of the 1847 signers of the petition to create Gillespie County.Martin was the first sheriff of Gillespie County. He became District Clerk in 1850. Martin engaged in farming and ranching, while also selling livestock forage and supplies to area settlers. He ran a freight business that serviced Fort Martin Scott
Fort Martin Scott
Fort Martin Scott is a restored United States Army outpost near Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, United States, that was active from 1848 until 1853...
and other military installations. Martin was in the livelihood of buying and selling land during this period.
Hedwigs Hill
In 1853 the Martin family moved ten miles south of what is now MasonMason, 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
Hedwigs Hill, Texas
Hedwigs Hill, Texas is an unincorporated farming and ranching community, established in 1853 just off U.S. Highway 87, located south of Art in southern Mason County, Texas.-Establishment:...
, thought to be named for his mother and daughter. Martin was the first postmaster of Hedwigs Hill. His nephew Charles Martin became postmaster three times, being succeeded by Charles' wife 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...
in 1879. From 1861–1862, Martin served as Justice of the Peace of Mason County. During 1861, he saw service under Captain Alf Hunter and the Mason Minutemen. During his life at Hedwig Hill, Martin continued the business endeavors he had in Gillespie County, in addition to hauling cotton to Mexico.
Civil War and death
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:...
, 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...
. His wife was informed of the incident and recovered the bodies. When she moved back to Fredericksburg, she had the bodies buried in a common grave in Der Stadt Friedhof
Der Stadt Friedhof
Der Stadt Friedhof is a pioneer cemetery established in 1846 along Barons Creek on the corner of East Schubert Street and Lee Street, in Fredericksburg, Texas. It is the oldest known cemetery within Fredericksburg and is the final resting place for many of the original German colonists who arrived...
. 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...
.