Riesel in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Riesel

Photographed By James Hulse, October 26, 2022

1. Riesel Marker

Inscription. Fertile soil, good water, and available rail transportation attracted cotton farmers to this area after the Civil War. They were soon joined by German settlers from Washington County led by the Rev. Friedrick von Schleumbach. A nearby postal station known as Roddy first served the area, but a town developed here following construction of a cotton gin by William Henry Riesel in 1890. The townsite of Riesel was platted by the Rev. von Schleumbach and the new settlement grew as an early agricultural center of southeastern McLennan County. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986

Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4265.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 31° 28.467′ N, 96° 55.473′ W. Marker is in Riesel, Texas, in McLennan County. Marker is at the intersection of North Memorial Street (State Highway 6) and East Frederick Street, on the left when traveling north on North Memorial Street. The marker is located along the highway at a gas station. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Riesel TX 76682, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow

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flies. Friedens Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Friedens Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Judge Albert G. and Harriet Elizabeth Grimes Perry (approx. 5.3 miles away); Indian Battlefield (approx. 5.3 miles away); Torrey's Trading Post No. 2 (approx. 5½ miles away); Santa Cruz Cemetery (approx. 6.4 miles away); Site of St. Paul School (approx. 6.6 miles away); St. Paul United Church of Christ (approx. 6.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riesel.

Also see . . . Riesel, TX. Texas State Historical Association

Riesel is at the intersection of Farm Road 1860 and State Highway 6, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad fourteen miles southeast of Waco in southeastern McLennan County. The Houston and Texas Central Railway built a sectionhouse called Roddy on the site about 1880. A number of German families settled in the community, and in 1890 W. H. Riesel built a gin there. A post office called Prospect was opened in the community in 1890, and the following year the name of the post office and community was changed to Riesel, after the gin owner. According to some sources, Baron Bertman von Hollweg, an early settler in the community, built two large buildings to be used as orphanages,
Photographed By James Hulse, October 26, 2022

2. Riesel Marker
but both were destroyed by fire.

(Submitted on October 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Riesel Marker from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, October 26, 2022

3. The view of the Riesel Marker from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.