The Rev. Jindrich Juren
Fayetteville, Fayette County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Jindrich (Henry) Juren was born in Hradiste, Bohemia, on March 20, 1850. A Protestant minister's son, he studied theology at several universities and became fluent in Czech, English, German, French, and Polish. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1876 as the newly-ordained pastor of the Ross Prairie Czech-Moravian Brethren Church. He served locally and traveled by horse and buggy and train to Czech congregations throughout Texas. Also a public schoolteacher for 40 years, Juren was a revered leader in Ross Prairie and the statewide Czech community. He was buried here in the churchyard cemetery in 1921.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Bohemia in 1850, Jindřich (Henry) Juren studied theology and mastered five languages before immigrating to Texas in 1876 as a newly ordained pastor to Czech-Moravian settlers. Traveling by buggy and train, he ministered to Czech congregations across the state while also teaching public school for four decades. He became a revered leader of Texas's growing Czech community before his burial here in 1921.
Why it matters
Juren embodies the immigrant clergy who helped Old World communities like Texas's Czechs preserve language and faith while putting down American roots.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · Jindrich Juren
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Fayetteville Brethren Church Cemetery
Fayetteville, TX
Czech-Moravian Brethren settled at Ross Prairie in the early 1850s and, in 1855, held what is remembered as the first Czech worship service in Texas. Their society Osveta founded the state's first Czech-English school in 1871, and in 1874 the Jecmeneks gave land for a church, parish house, school, and this cemetery. Among the graves is that of Reverend Jindrich Juren, who served as pastor and schoolmaster here for some 45 years.
The Reverend Joseph Chromcik
Fayetteville, TX
When Czech Catholics settled in Fayette County in the 1850s, they had no priest who spoke their language, so they petitioned the Bishop of Texas for one of their own. In 1872 the Rev. Joseph Chromcik arrived from Europe and became the state's first permanent Czech Catholic priest, holding his first service in Fayetteville that year. Over his life he founded a school and numerous churches and helped establish the Czech Catholic Union of Texas, earning the affectionate title "Taticek" — dear little father.
Trinity Lutheran Church of Frelsburg
Frelsburg, TX
German immigrant William Frels reached Texas in 1834 and settled among fellow pioneers whose spiritual needs were met by circuit-riding frontier pastors. In 1855 he gave land for a church and cemetery, and the Rev. C. Roehm organized the congregation, whose ministers long doubled as day-school teachers. The congregation later helped found the American Lutheran Church and shifted to English-language services in 1932.
Frelsburg
Frelsburg, TX
Frelsburg was the first German settlement in Colorado County, founded in 1837 by William Frels, who had come to Texas in 1834 and fought in its war for independence. The little colony was chosen as the proposed home of Hermann University, the first German-sponsored institution of higher learning in Texas, chartered by the Republic in 1844 though never actually built. Frelsburg endures as a landmark of early German settlement on the Texas frontier.