Baethge-Behrend Homestead
Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Johann Heinrich Baethge (1814-1888), his wife Sophie Konradine (Pape) (1824-1888), and their two children immigrated to Texas from Germany in 1854. They lived at several locations in the Central Texas area before settling here on about 120 acres in 1867. The Baethges' homestead consisted of a main house constructed of handmade clay and straw bricks and a number of outbuildings. The Baethges' sons, Ferdinand and Heinrich, Jr., inherited the farm upon their parents' deaths in 1888. The family of Ferdinand and Louise Baethge lived here until 1937 when the property was sold to the August F. Behrend family. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845 - 1995
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
A German family immigrated to Texas in 1854 and, after moving about the central part of the state, settled roughly 120 acres in the Fredericksburg area in 1867. Their homestead centered on a house built of handmade clay-and-straw brick alongside a cluster of outbuildings. Their sons inherited the farm, and the family held it until 1937, when it passed to another German-Texan family.
Why it matters
The homestead reflects the German immigrant wave that shaped the Texas Hill Country, bringing distinctive building traditions and enduring family farms to the frontier.
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Related people
- · Johann Heinrich Baethge
- · Sophie Konradine Baethge
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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