Cuero in DeWitt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Keller-Grunder House
Photographed By Dave W, March 12, 2022
1. Keller-Grunder House Marker
German native Antone Keller (d. 1857) came to Texas in 1846 as a colonist with the German Emigration Company. He arrived with his family at the port city of Indianola (65 miles southeast), where he later opened a crockery, glassware, and grocery store. He built this house there in 1851 for his second wife Charlotte (Kuester) Keller (1824-1897).
Three years after Keller's death, Charlotte married her stepson Antone Keller, Jr. (1836-1900). Following a destructive hurricane that struck Indianola in 1875, they moved the house to this site. Antone, a Confederate veteran, continued to operate his father's Indianola store until after the second major hurricane in 1886, when he moved the business to Cuero.
Augusta (Keller) Grunder (1863-1951), the daughter of Antone Keller, Jr., acquired the home in 1900. Her husband Victor J. Grunder (1863-1940) was a prominent Cuero businessman and civic leader. Alterations were made to the residence during their ownership.
John Junior Bell (d. 1963), the grandson of Victor and Augusta Grunder, was born in the house in 1910. First elected to public office in 1936, he served in the Texas Legislature (1937-47), the Texas Senate (1948-54), and the United States Congress (1955-57).
Erected 1980 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 29° 5.2′ N, 97° 17.337′ W. Marker is in Cuero, Texas, in DeWitt County. Marker is on East Morgan Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 E Morgan Ave, Cuero TX 77954, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morgan Steamship Line (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cuero Land and Immigration Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Texas Bandstands (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brayton Flying Field (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Michael's Catholic Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Buchel Bank (approx. 0.3 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Cuero (approx. 0.3 miles away); James Norman Smith (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cuero.
Photographed By Dave W, March 12, 2022
2. Keller-Grunder House and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 89 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
