List of Darmstadt Society of Forty members

Hermann Spiess,[1] Ferdinand Ludwig Herff[2] and Gustav Schleicher [3] founded Darmstadt Die Vierziger (the Society of Forty), sometimes referred to as the Socialistic Colony and Society. The founders, as well as many of the members, were from Darmstadt. They originally planned to establish socialistic communes in Wisconsin.

Spiess and Herff were approached in Wiesbaden by Adelsverein Vice President and Executive Secretary-Business Director Count Carl Frederick Christian of Castell-Castell,[4] who made a deal with them to colonize 200 families on the Fisher-Miller Land Grant territory in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, equipment and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves.[5] The colonies attempted were Castell,[6] Leiningen, Bettina,[7] Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County.[8] Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.

The Forty

Darmstadt Society of Forty
Name Ship Notes
Amelung, OttoOtto AmelungSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Lawyer
Backofen, HeinrichHeinrich BackofenSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Maker of musical instruments
Bub, PeterPeter BubSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Maker of musical instruments
Deichert, UnknownUnknown Deichert Blacksmith
Flach, ChristophChristoph FlachSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Mechanic
Friedrich, WilhelmWilhelm FriedrichSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Lawyer
Fuchs, RudolphRudolph Fuchs Lawyer
Hahn, AdolphAdolph HahnSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Lieutenant of the military
Heff, UnknownUnknown Heff Carpenter
Herff, Ferdinand LudwigFerdinand Ludwig Herff 1846Physician
Herrmann, UnknownUnknown Herrmann Forester
Hesse, ChristianChristian Hesse Lawyer
Hoerner, JohannesJohannes Hoerner
Kappelhoff, LouisLouis Kappelhoff Ship carpenter
Kattmann, HeinrichHeinrich KattmannSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847
Koeppel, AdamAdam KoeppelSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847
Kuechler, JacobJacob KuechlerSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847 Forester
Lerch, AugustAugust LerchSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Architect
Lindheimer, Ferdinand JacobFerdinand Jacob Lindheimer1834 Naturalist
Friedrich, LouisLouis FriedrichSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Forester
Merting, UnknownUnknown Merting Minister
Michel, FriedrichFriedrich MichelSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Brewer
Mordes, FranzFranz Mordes
Mueller, EdwardEdward MuellerSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Agriculturalist
Neff, UnknownUnknown Neff Carpenter
Neff, UnknownUnknown Neff Butcher
Ottmer, UnknownUnknown Ottmer Miller
Reinhardt, Ludwig (Louis)Ludwig (Louis) ReinhardtSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Botanist
Rockan, UnknownUnknown Rockan American who joined in Victoria, Texas
Schenck, Phillipp Friedrich Karl Theodore (Fritz)Phillipp Friedrich Karl Theodore (Fritz) Schenck St. Pauli, July 4, 1847Forester
Schleicher, GustavGustav SchleicherSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Engineer
Schlenning, TheodoreTheodore SchlenningSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Physician
Schuze, LeopoldLeopold Schuze
Schunk, AntonAnton Schunk Maker of musical instruments
Spiess, HermannHermann Spiess1846
Strauss, AugustAugust StraussSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Mechanic
Vogt, AdamAdam VogtSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847 Forester
Wagner, JuliusJulius WagnerSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847 Lawyer
Wundt, UnknownUnknown Wundt Lawyer
Zoeller, PhillipPhillip ZoellerSt. Pauli, July 4, 1847Architect

References

  1. Ragsdale, Crystal Sasse. "Hermann Spiess". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  2. Stembridge, Vernie A. "Ferdinand Ludwig Herff". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. Heinen, Hubert Plummer. "Gustav Schleicher". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  4. Brister, Louis E. "Count Carl of Castell-Castell". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  5. King (1967) p.122
  6. Heckert-Greene, James B. "Castell, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  7. Lich, Glen E. "Bettina, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  8. Lich, Glen E. "The Forty". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2011.

Source material

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