Near Bastrop in Bastrop County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Rockne
Photographed By Larry D. Moore, June 7, 2018
1. Rockne Marker
Inscription.
Rockne. . Beginning as a farming community, Rockne traces its roots to German settlers who came to the area in the 1840s. In November 1846, the Daniel and Mortiz Lehman families arrived at Indianola, Texas from Schlesien, Prussia. They soon settled in this vicinity on Walnut Creek. Later, Andreas and Franz Meuth arrived from Wurges, Germany and settled on Sandy Creek. Also from Wurges, John Wilhelm, John Wolf, John Hartman and Philip Goertz arrived in 1856 and established farms along Walnut Creek.
In 1876, Philip Goertz and Michael Wolf donated land to area settlers to build the first Catholic church, Ascension of Christ Church. The building was destroyed by an arsonist's fire in 1891. The next year, on land donated by John T. Lehman, local residents established the Sacred Heart Church and Cemetery.
During its long history, the community has been known by many names. First called Walnut Creek because of its proximity to the stream, it was known as Lehman when a store and post office was established in 1900 with Martin Lehman as postmaster. The settlement later came to be called Hilbigville after William Hilbig and his sons opened a general store.
In 1931, the children of Sacred Heart School renamed the town in honor of Knute Rockne, renowned coach of Notre Dame University, who had died in a plane crash earlier that year.
Rockne continues to be a rural community, with Sacred Heart Catholic Church at its center.
Beginning as a farming community, Rockne traces its roots to German settlers who came to the area in the 1840s. In November 1846, the Daniel and Mortiz Lehman families arrived at Indianola, Texas from Schlesien, Prussia. They soon settled in this vicinity on Walnut Creek. Later, Andreas and Franz Meuth arrived from Wurges, Germany and settled on Sandy Creek. Also from Wurges, John Wilhelm, John Wolf, John Hartman and Philip Goertz arrived in 1856 and established farms along Walnut Creek.
In 1876, Philip Goertz and Michael Wolf donated land to area settlers to build the first Catholic church, Ascension of Christ Church. The building was destroyed by an arsonist's fire in 1891. The next year, on land donated by John T. Lehman, local residents established the Sacred Heart Church and Cemetery.
During its long history, the community has been known by many names. First called Walnut Creek because of its proximity to the stream, it was known as Lehman when a store and post office was established in 1900 with Martin Lehman as postmaster. The settlement later came to be called Hilbigville after William Hilbig and his sons opened a general store.
In 1931, the children of Sacred Heart School renamed the town in honor of Knute Rockne, renowned coach of Notre Dame University, who had died in a plane crash earlier that year.
Rockne
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continues to be a rural community, with Sacred Heart Catholic Church at its center.
Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9223.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1846.
Location. 29° 59.746′ N, 97° 25.86′ W. Marker is near Bastrop, Texas, in Bastrop County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 535, 0.1 miles east of Lehman Lane (County Highway 233), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bastrop TX 78602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2018, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. This page has been viewed 399 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2018, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
