Walking Tour of Fredericksburg - Marktplatz 1

At the edge of Marktplatz, facing Main Street is a bust of John O. Meusebach, the founder of Fredericksburg. Meusebach was born Baron Otfried Hans Freiherr von Meusebach, on May 26, 1812, at Dillenburg, Germany. As he grew, Meusebach attended the finest schools and could read five languages, and he spoke English fluently.

In 1845 the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, the Adelsverein, appointed Meusebach to succeed Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels as its commissioner general in Texas. Meusebach, who had dropped his noble title and assumed the name John O., arrived in New Braunfels, Texas in May of 1845, and took up his duties, only to learn that the Adelsverein was in serious financial trouble.

Besides general indebtedness, the Adelsverein had too many colonist to settle. The United States was fighting the Mexican War, and there was a shortage of carts and wagons to take the colonists to the interior. Nevertheless, Meusebach managed to found Fredericksburg, Castell, and Leiningen.

In 1846, Meusebach realized that in order to settle the Fisher-Miller Grant, he had to reach an agreement with the Comanche Indians. In May of 1847, Indian leaders signed a treaty, which is the only unbroken treaty between white settlers and Native Americans. Satisfied with his achievement, Meusebach resigned as administrator. In 1851, Meusebach was elected a Texas Senator, and was instrumental in establishing Texas' public school system.

Meusebach retired to his farm in Loyal Valley in 1869 where he and his wife raised seven children to adulthood. He died at Loyal Valley on May 27, 1897, and is buried at Cherry Spring, near Fredericksburg.