Castroville in Medina County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of the Homestead of Henri Castro
Photographed By Brian Anderson, February 17, 2019
1. Site of the Homestead of Henri Castro Marker
Inscription.
Site of the Homestead of Henri Castro. . Henri Castro (1786-1861), a naturalized American of French origin, befriended the Republic of Texas and became interested in settling here. In 1842 he was given authority to establish a colony of Europeans in Southwest Texas. He succeeded in obtaining some land here on the Medina, from a 1766 grant made by Chares III of Spain. He recruited 485 families and 457 single men, mostly Alsatians. Using his personal wealth, he cared for the colonists as though they were his children. In 1844 he had the Castroville townsite platted, reserving as his homestead this block next to the courthouse site, in the center of town. He erected a stone dwelling and outbuildings, and planted an experimental garden, to discover crops suited to the locality. Bringing his wife Amelia (Mathias) and their four foster children from France, he lived here permanently. As a moral obligation, he continued to direct the state affairs for his colony, although it had impoverished him., On the eve of a trip abroad when the Civil War was beginning (1861), Castro and his wife deeded the homestead to their adopted son, Lorenzo. Castro died at Monterrey, Mexico, soon afterward, and was buried there. Lorenzo sold the homestead in 1872.
Henri Castro (1786-1861), a naturalized American of French origin, befriended the Republic of Texas and became interested in settling here. In 1842 he was given authority to establish a colony of Europeans in Southwest Texas. He succeeded in obtaining some land here on the Medina, from a 1766 grant made by Chares III of Spain. He recruited 485 families and 457 single men, mostly Alsatians. Using his personal wealth, he cared for the colonists as though they were his children. In 1844 he had the Castroville townsite platted, reserving as his homestead this block next to the courthouse site, in the center of town. He erected a stone dwelling and outbuildings, and planted an experimental garden, to discover crops suited to the locality. Bringing his wife Amelia (Mathias) and their four foster children from France, he lived here permanently. As a moral obligation, he continued to direct the state affairs for his colony, although it had impoverished him.
On the eve of a trip abroad when the Civil War was beginning (1861), Castro and his wife deeded the homestead to their adopted son, Lorenzo. Castro died at Monterrey, Mexico, soon afterward, and was buried there. Lorenzo sold the homestead in 1872.
Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4933.)
Topics. This historical
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marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.
Location. 29° 21.381′ N, 98° 52.566′ W. Marker is in Castroville, Texas, in Medina County. Marker is on Fiorella Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1109 Fiorella Street, Castroville TX 78009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The house visible in this photo is the stone dwelling mentioned in the marker text.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2019, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 21, 2019, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas.