In Jan. 1831 Charles Fordtran, a German of Huguenot descent, joined the colony of Stephen F. Austin. His first work was to survey land for Austin's partner, Samuel May Williams. He was given a league (4,428.4 acres) as his fee. Soon he brought in . . . — — Map (db m146168) HM
Fisches Park is part of the original land granted to Frederich Ernst, known as "The Father of German Immigration to Texas." Industry is the oldest permanent German settlement in Texas and was settled by J.F. Fisches, who came to Texas from . . . — — Map (db m176188) HM
Christian Friedrich Ernst (Dirks) was born in Germany in 1796. Friedrich Ernst was inducted into the German Army in 1814 and served for five years. He married Louise Gesine Auguste Weber in 1819. They became the parents of Caroline, John . . . — — Map (db m165425) HM
Nicholaus Henniger (1794-1853) came to Texas from Germany in 1847 with his wife Fredericke and children Christian, Hermann, August, Caroline and Pauline. On his farm he built a log house, kept peace with passing Indians, and prospered as a . . . — — Map (db m96289) HM
Founded by Friedrich Ernst • Born at Varel, Oldenburg, Germany • Immigrated to America, 1829 and to Texas in 1831 • Died here in 1858 • The Town was laid out in 1838 — — Map (db m165426) HM
The Industry Brethren Church is the third oldest congregation of the Unity of the Brethren located in the German settlement of Industry. Periodic worship services were conducted in Industry beginning in 1860. The Rev. Josef Opocensky was the first . . . — — Map (db m176210) HM
German settlers Friedrich Ernst and Charles Fordtran founded Industry, Texas in 1831. The settlement was part of the Stephen F. Austin Colonial Land Grant and was the first permanent German settlement in Texas. Although cigar making dominated the . . . — — Map (db m176171) HM
Organized 1847 by the Rev. Henry Bauer, missionary to the German settlers. In 1867, this building was erected under the leadership of the pastor, the Rev. Karl Biel. This was an era of financial difficulty, and the funds were raised only by very . . . — — Map (db m176223) HM
Soon after Friedrich Ernst and Charles Fordtran came to the area at the western side of Stephen F. Austin's grant in 1831, now Austin County, the town of Industry became the first permanent German settlement in Texas. Following the Gotier Trace, . . . — — Map (db m176225) HM
During Mexican rule of Texas, a post office was established in May of 1830 at San Felipe, the center of Stephen F. Austin's Texas colony. On the Gotier Trace, a road connecting San Felipe to what would become the town of Bastrop, the German family . . . — — Map (db m165423) HM
On February 11, 1911, a group of local citizens took the first steps in forming a bank to be called First Guaranty State Bank of Industry. Dr. B.E. Knolle served as the bank's first president and E. Lindemann served as first vice president. By . . . — — Map (db m176172) HM
This burial ground has served Industry, the oldest permanent German settlement in Texas, since the mid-1800s. Property for a cemetery was deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1854. During the 1860s, the church split into the Methodist . . . — — Map (db m201959) HM
A native of Oldenburg, Germany, John Friedrich Ernst (1820-1863) emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of nine. In 1831, they traveled from New York City to Texas, finally arriving in what is now the town of Industry. The . . . — — Map (db m165424) HM
This house dates to 1870, when Jacob Ott (1848-1932) began construction on a home with his carpenter neighbor, August Gruensendorf. The bottom story of the two-level structure was used for his baking business and the upper story was Ott's . . . — — Map (db m176213) HM
The history of the Lindemann store dates to 1884, when Edward Lindemann (1859-1931) and Franz Getschmann opened a general store in the German community of Industry. By 1889, the business had prospered so well that Lindemann bought his partner's . . . — — Map (db m176212) HM
