Pius Friemel of Umbarger, Texas
| Thanks to the efforts of Viola Bedenk Wieck and Lynn Wieck, I was able to obtain the following family tree information from their book titled "The Friemel Family Tree- Descendents of Pius Friemel July 1985". Pius was born on November the 6th 1858 in Mittlewalde, Sudetenland, Germany, near the Austrian border.His father, also named Pius, was a well to do farmer who was blessed besides with seven sons and two daughters.Among the scarce commodities much sought after at that time was tobacco which could be had cheaper and easier across the border in Austria.The young Pius- who wasn't quite so pius at the time- began smuggling it. After being caught, his father advised Pius to leave the country, and young Pius took off for the coast.Having located a ship bound for America, he smuggled aboard as a stowaway.After three days on the ocean, the hunger pains became too great and he gave himself up to the captain who in his generosity, hired him as a cook. Arriving in Galveston, Texas, his luck continued to stay with him.A German family, by the name of Wendler, adopted him as a son, and when they became citizens, he also recieved his citizenship.Pius settled down, worked hard and eventually married Magdalina Winkler.Like his father, he aspired to have his own farm.As soon as he had saved enough money, Pius leased and bought land in High Hill, near Schulenburg, Texas in Fayette County.It was in 1899, when Pius, now in his forties, was prospecting for land in the Umbarger, Texas area.What he saw pleasedhim and in 1902 he settled down in a place which was to become a thriving German settlement.The Friemels were considered some of the first settlers who intended to stay. In 1905, he became the first successful wheat farmer in the area with 40 bushels per acre (dry land). When Pius died on June 5th, 1946, he had lived at his Umbarger residence for exactly 43 years and 8 months. | Pius Friemel of Umbarger, Texas Updated April 27, 2005 |
Rhonda M. Meadors | |
My Family History | |
Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees | |