My post is quite late today!

On my vacation I read a book about Texas history called Adelsverein: The Gathering by Celia Hayes. It’s part one of a trilogy she wrote describing a German immigrant scheme from the 1840’s. The scheme, named the Adelsverein or Mainzer Verein, was arranged by various German nobility to relieve the economic stagnation of the German middle class as well as perhaps to found a New Germany. In line with general ideas about colonization they wanted markets for German products, and the establishment of bases for German influence. I knew nothing of this history before reading Celia Hayes’ book even though I spent several years in Houston. I did learn about football since that’s what my Texan roommate thought was important.

The Texas Historical Society says that though the Adelsverein itself only brought a few thousand Germans over it did establish Texas as an important center for subsequent German migration to the United States. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/adelsverein

The action in the book takes place away from the coast, except for the initial landing of the German colonists. The port they used was eventually named Indianola. Hayes describes the sickening conditions of the Atlantic crossing and the deaths that were common. Even after landing conditions took quite a while to improve. The desperation of the colonists upon discovering that the Adelsverein company was almost bankrupt, and had no good way to transport them away from killing conditions is graphically portrayed. 

The colonists end up founding and settling New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. Austin, originally called Waterloo, also plays a role in the story and eventually San Antonio does as well. I’m not writing a real book review but I will say that I’d recommend the book. Celia Hayes wrote a very nice heroine and does an incredible job of mixing in the actual history within which her imaginary characters live. She is skilled at creating a lot of different personalities and keeping them consistent, making this is a hard book to put down.

Indianola as a port was destroyed in a hurricane after the Civil War, and the rebuilding efforts were destroyed again ten years later. Galveston became the premier access port to Texas. It was also was destroyed in an even worse hurricane in 1900 and Houston itself became the port. Galveston still plays a role but Indianola is gone completely.

Stories about how people migrated here and there are important, both for the human impact and for helping us to consider how to move on to the moon or Mars. The problems will still be food, clothing and shelter. The solutions will be different. The people will not have changed essentially. Some will be brave and some, even though they chose to move, will not be brave enough. 

In case you want to try the book…