2021-4 Remembrances Special Edition1
City of Schertz REMEMBRANCES Special Edition Article 2021-4
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Writer: Jackie Hollis A Tale of Two Cities 1843-1850:
Riedisheim, France/Schertz, Texas
In 1859, Dickens penned his famous work A Tale of Two Cities, the fictional story of turmoil and despair in the cities of Paris and London. The French Revolution was a result of the accumulation of decades of poverty, social injustices, and abuses of power. London was depicted by Dickens as having its own problems with social and class injustices. At the same time
Dickens’ fictionalized life events in these two European cities, a similarly desperate but true tale of history was evolving in the two cities of Riedisheim, France and Schertz, Texas. The mid-19th century saw economic, political, cultural and religious pressures on the citizens of Riedisheim in the province of Alsace, France. One of the primary motives for French and
German citizens to migrate was the economic impact of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought prosperity to the upper classes, while working class people and farmers suffered unemployment, malnutrition and extreme poverty. Taxes were many and high in the provinces. Riedisheim’s economic and social problems were exacerbated by the doubling of the population in the Upper Rhine area to 470,000 during the period from 1784-1876. The citizens of
Riedisheim were hungry for political freedoms. Important aspects of their lives were supervised, restricted or regulated. Most young men were subject to mandatory military service. Police regulated religious services and processions, creating conflict between the leaders of the Catholic church and civil authorities. One’s home could be taken for the monarchy if deemed necessary, and citizens were unable to move freely about the provinces without permission.
Across the Atlantic, the recently created independent Republic of Texas needed money and people to settle the territory. Land grant sales of Texas real estate appeared to be a solution to both country’s problems. Henri Castro was named the Council General of Texas to France. In exchange for a land grant sale of territory west of San Antonio, he agreed to recruit, sponsor and
deliver new European colonists for settlement of the granted lands. Some of Castro’s tactics were questionable and led him to begin recruiting in Alsace France and in Germany, away from oversight of authorities. By fall 1843, he had secured enough Alsatian/German colonists to start the trip to Texas. Ironically, because Castro colonists were to arrive in Texas with clothing, provisions for six months, and a means of subsistence for a year, the very poor of French society
were financially not able to immigrate to America.
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After a perilous four months at sea, the colonists arrived in Galveston, only to find that neither Castro nor his representative were there to meet them and lead them to the new territory. By
spring 1844, most of the colonists were living in poverty, camped at the old Alamo mission
grounds in San Antonio. It was clear that Castro’s recruitment promises would remain unfulfilled. The Schertz and Mergele families resolved that the best choice was to return to France. In spring 1845, the two families set off for the Texas coast in route back to Reidisheim, France. Fate intervened in the form of a chance meeting with Prince Karl of Solms-Braunfels.
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Price Karl of Solms-Braunfels had come to Texas as the head of a group of wealthy nobles with
a financial interest in seeing a new Texas settlement succeed. After hearing the colonists’ story
of hardships, and betrayal by Castro, he convinced the Schertz and Mergele families that they could succeed in the establishment of a stable and prosperous community. The colonists reversed course from the coast of Texas and headed to the territory of New Braunfels. They arrived at the site of New Braunfels on March 25, 1845 to begin their new lives in the Republic of Texas.
Thus, began a Schertz family migration movement that eventually would result in the settlement
of land along Cibolo Creek destined to be called Schertz, Texas.