SETTEGAST, William J. and Julius J.

Among the valuable men who came to this country from Germany, bringing with them the sturdy characteristics of their Teutonic ancestors, stands Maria William Settegast, father of our subjects, and a man of great force of character and undaunted enterprise. It is with true interest that the biographer takes up his pen to speak of this worthy citizen, whose active life has ceased on earth, but whose influence extends still and will continue to extend among those favored with his acquaintance.

Maria William Settegast was born in Coblentz, a beautiful city on the celebrated river Rhine, about the year 1818. His father was an eminent physician, who owned the title of "Sanitats Rath". Maria William Settegast was married in his native country to Miss Josephine Matoni, a young lady about eight years his- junior, who belonged to a very wealthy and aristocratic family in the old country. They had been married but a short time when Count Castell, of the capital of Bieberich (at that time the residence of the Duke of Nassau, who was the head of the German Emigrant Company, which settled New Braunfels), engaged Mr. Settegast as general agent of hat company. He remained with the Count several years, and then, as the "Texas fever" was sweeping over a large portion of Germany at that time, he was seized with it, and could not rest until he had crossed the ocean to the land of his hopes. With his family, and a relative or two, he left the old country on the 29th of October, 1851, and arrived at Houston on the 19th of December of the same year. His family consisted of himself and wife, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Settegast had been partly induced to come to this country on account of his wife's health. She had been a sufferer for some years with a trouble from which it was believed she could get relief in this climate, but in this the family's hopes were disappointed; she died only a few months after she came to Houston. Mr. Settegast purchased a tract of land in the Buffalo bayou bottom, and, although he was advised not to purchase there by some, he took the advice of an old friend, a Mr. Zeiner, who had lived there for some time, and located. During the next epidemic of yellow fever the old friend and all his family died, and two of Mr. Settegast's children died with that dread disease. This was the summer of 1852, and Mr. Settegast died on the 14th of October of the following year, of the same disease. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and had received a thorough education in the excellent schools of Germany. Had he lived he, no doubt, would have been one of the German cornerstones of the great State of Texas. He was industrious, intelligent and honorable, a devoted husband and an excellent father. Mrs. Settegast, who was born in 1818, possessed traits as wife, mother, woman, that left little to be desired. She had been her husband's faithful companion, wise counselor, inspiration and helpmate. She impressed every one she met as a woman of rare good sense, of great force of character and of a kindly and genial nature. The two children who survived the yellow fever's ravages were our subjects, William J. Settegast and Julius J. Settegast.

Both were born in Coblentz, on the Rhine, Germany, the former on the 17th of September, 1843, and the latter March 19,1845. After the death of their parents they were reared by a Mr. J. W. Shrimp, a butcher by trade, and both boys learned this trade. They remained with this gentleman until 1862, and then William J. enlisted in the Confederate army, Company K, Colonel DuBray's regiment of cavalry, and served in Texas and Louisiana. Julius J. also enlisted and was on detached service. In 1864 both went to Matamoros, Mexico, and obtained employment in the Globe Hotel, where they remained until the cessation of hostilities.

Returning to Houston they opened a butcher shop on a small scale, and began buying and trading in cattle. They did a large business during those years, and made money rapidly. They are still in the cattle business, but not so extensively since 1 888. They own several thousand acres of land and much valuable real estate in Houston and Galveston. They are honorable and popular gentlemen and have thus far succeeded well in life.

William J. Settegast has been three times married,-first, May 5, 1866, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Scholibo, who was born November 1, 1846. Eight children were the fruit of this union : Emma E., now Mrs. Oliver (who has one child, William J.); Sophia, now Mrs. C. W. Lewis (who has one child, George H.); Katie H., single; Mary E., now Mrs. S. H. Williford (who has one child, Vernon); Julius J.; Charles Edward; Mary Blanche Brown, and Charles Steward. The mother of these children died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, July 14, 1881. Mr. Settegast's second marriage was to Miss Annie Williams, and one child was born to this union, Annie. This wife died March 31, 1890, in New York City, and Mr. Settegast took for his third wife Miss Dora R. Miller, who is still living. In the year 1889 Mr. Settegast had a stroke of paralysis, and since then has given very little attention to business. For five years past he has been a great sufferer, has been under the treatment of many physicians and has visited numberless places in quest of health.

Julius J. Settegast was married in 1867 to Miss Katie Floeck, and nine children have been born to this union ; Delia, William, Ella (deceased), Jennie, Lillie, Alma, Leon, Julia and Julius. The father of these children is a thorough, wide-awake business man, looks after all the interests of the firm, and has the happy faculty of making his business associates, as well as all his neighbors, his friends.

*Source: History of Texas Biographical History of the Cities of Houston and Galveston (1895), transcribed by Sarah Montgomery

Joseph Settegast