Hermann Spieß
Hermann Spieß (born June 15, 1818 in Offenbach am Main , Hesse , † around 1873 in Texas , USA ) was a student leader, emigrated to Texas in 1847 and was the third and last general commissioner of the " Mainz Aristocracy Association ".
family
Spieß was the son of the musician and pastor Johann Balthasar Spieß (1782–1841), promoter of the public school system in Offenbach, and Maria Luise Werner (1780–1836).
He married Lina Spiess on November 10, 1853 in Comal, Texas / USA. His brother Adolf Spieß was the teacher of the young Carl Prinz zu Solms-Braunfels , the first general commissioner of the Mainz aristocracy.
Life
During the student unrest of 1833 (see also: Frankfurter Wachensturm ) Spieß fled to Burgdorf in Switzerland . In 1835 he returned to high school in Darmstadt , where he graduated from high school in 1838. In the spring of that year he began his studies at the University of Giessen , but was excluded for two and a half years after protesting against the reactionary system. During this time he attended the Polytechnic Institute in Karlsruhe and the " Academy for Natural Sciences ". In 1842 he returned to the University of Giessen and took his exams there. From 1842 to 1845 he was a member of the " Wood and Forestry Commission " in Darmstadt, where he passed his second exam at the end of 1844.
In the spring of 1845 he took a two-year "break" and went to New York City , then to Milwaukee in the state of Wisconsin , New Orleans in Louisiana , Galveston (Texas) and finally in the spring of 1846 came to New Braunfels , the Texan "headquarters" of Mainz Aristocratic association. Spieß soon returned to Germany, but felt uncomfortable in his homeland due to the social conditions (see: March Revolution 1848/1849 ). He convinced his friends Dr. Ferdinand von Herff , a relative of Otfried Hans Freiherr von Meusebach , the second general commissioner of the “ Mainzer Adelsverein ” in Texas, and Gustav Schleicher , in Wisconsin to found the socialist colony Bettina (Texas) on the north bank of the Llano River. After he had inspired a group of young people who called themselves the “ Darmstadters ”, “ Society of the Forties ” or the “ Freethinkers ” for his plan , this plan became public knowledge in Darmstadt. Carl Graf zu Castell-Castell , member of the " Mainz Adelsverein ", convinced him in Wiesbaden to found this colony in Texas in the area of the association. Spieß agreed with this consideration. He and Herff reached New York in April 1847 and continued their journey to New Orleans and Galveston. While Spieß moved on to New Braunfels, Herff initially stayed on the coast to receive the " Darmstädter " in Carlshafen (today: Indianola (Texas) ) founded by Carl Prinz zu Solms-Braunfels in 1844 .
From July 20, 1847 to the dissolution of the " Mainzer Adelsverein " on February 23, 1848, Spieß was the third and last general commissioner of the association in Texas - after Carl Prinz zu Solms-Braunfels and Otfried Hans Freiherr von Meusebach, however, continued his work for the Successor organization, the " German Colonization Society for Texas " continued until 1852, when he was replaced by Louis Bene . However, no new settlements were established during his tenure.
See also
Web links
- Biography and Bibliography in the Handbook of Texas
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Spit, Hermann |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | General Commissioner of the Mainz Aristocracy Association |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 15, 1818 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Offenbach am Main , Hesse |
| DATE OF DEATH | around 1873 |
| Place of death | Texas , USA |