Sisterdale diary by Julius Dresel

This collection consists of several hundred typed pages and many photographs, deals with the early immigration of Germans into Texas (ca. 1835-1860). Clyde H. Porter of Kansas City, Missouri collected the material and then sent about a dozen copies of his work to various libraries and individuals. Oswald Mueller of Houston received the material and donated this collection to Rice University.

The main portion of the material focuses on the families of Dresel and Spiess. Gustav Dresel (1818-1848) came to Texas in 1837, and while in Galveston, served as business agent of the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants into Texas. His brother Julius (1816-1891) immigrated to Texas in the fall of 1848 and settled near Sisterdale on the Guadalupe River. This collection contains an English translation of his “Sisterdale Diary.” In this diary, Julius Dresel describes his immigration from Germany to Texas, his life as a farmer, and several encounters with Indians.

The collection contains both a notebook containing some of Hermann Spiess’ personal papers and a group of interesting letters sent to his family in Germany. In his personal papers, he describes his appointment as General Commissioner of the Adelsverein (Association of Noblemen) in Texas, as well as the monetary and organizational difficulties that this association faced. He goes on to describe a gunfight as well as several court trials he was involved in, all regarding the rightful ownership and occupation of Nassau Plantation in Fayette County. In his letters to his family in Germany he describes the land, climate, growing conditions, and community of New Braunfels. Spiess writes often to his sister, telling her how important education is for her children, and also expressing his personal opinions regarding American and German politics and Christianity.

The collection also contains letters from Ernst and Ida Kapp, settlers of Sisterdale, a company contract of the “German Colonization Company,” and numerous photographs of people mentioned throughout the papers.