In the 1840s an organization of German noblemen; the Mainzner Adelsverein; attempted to settle thousands of German emigrants on the Texas frontier. Nassau Plantation; located near modern-day Round Top; Texas; in northern Fayette County; was a significant part of this story. No one; however; has adequately documented the role of the slave plantation or given a convincing explanation of the Adelsverein from the German point of view.James C. Kearney has studied a wealth of original source material (much of it in German) to illuminate the history of the plantation and the larger goals and motivation of the Adelsverein; both in Texas and in Germany. Moreover; this new study highlights the problematic relationship of German emigrants to slavery. Few today realize that the society’s original colonization plan included ownership and operation of slave plantations. Ironically; the German settlements the society later established became hotbeds of anti-slavery and anti-secessionist sentiment.Responding to criticism in Germany; the society declared its colonies to be “slave free zones†in 1845. This act thrust the society front and center into the complicated political landscape of Texas prior to annexation. James A. Mayberry; among others; suspected an English-German conspiracy to flood the state with anti-slavery immigrants and delivered a fiery speech in the legislature denouncing the society.In the 1850s the plantation became a magnet for German immigration into Fayette and Austin Counties. In this connection; Kearney explores the role and influence of Otto von Roeder; a largely neglected but important Texas-German. Another chapter deals with the odyssey of the extended von Rosenberg family; who settled on the plantation in 1850 and helped to elevate the nearby town of Round Top into a regional center of culture and education. Many members of the family subsequently rose to positions of leadership and influence in Texas.Several notable personalities graced the plantation—Carl Prince of Solms-Braunfels; Johann Otto Freiherr von Meusebach; botanist F. Lindheimer; and the renowned naturalist Dr. Ferdinand Roemer; to name a few. Dramatic events also occurred at the plantation; including a deadly shootout; a successful escape by two slaves (documented in an unprecedented way); and litigation over ownership that wound its way to both the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
#141635 in Books Triumph Books 2000-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .90 x 6.00l; 1.07 #File Name: 1572433663224 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. One of the Great Heroes of the 20th CenturyBy Robert S. Mortenson; Jr.This book traces one of the greatest events of the 20th Century in my opinion: the rescue of 14;000 fleeing Korean civilians by a merchant marine vessel during the Korean War. Tragically more has not been written; no great film has been made to document this great event. The Captain of the ship who was the proximate cause of the rescue; Leonard Larue; went on to become and to live the rest of his life a Benedictine monk of St. Paul's Abbey; Newton; NJ. Surely this man should be one of the great heroes of the 20th century. But I wonder if there are 100 people in all of NJ who know anything about him. St. Paul's Abbey; once the home of 70 or so monks; closed its doors as monks passed away and new men did not come to replace them. About a decade ago a Benedictine Abbot in Korea decided to honor Leonard Larue (who had become Benedictine Brother Marinus) by sending some of his Korean monks to reopen the Abbey. St Paul's Benedictines special calling is to missions. So today the Abbey is supported by Korean Benedictines who work as missionaries in Africa. Isn't God good!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Well worth readingBy bee readsIn the foreword to this book; Alexander Haig wrote "(t)his book did not just deserve to be written - it needed to be written." I agree. It is a thorough and gripping account of a miraculous rescue which could have ended in disaster any number of times. The account is largely written through quotes from those who were involved in some way - crew members; the captain; Koreans who were rescued; and others. Once in a while the style of writing distracts from the content; but I give the book 5 stars anyway because the story is so engrossing and the reader is easily involved. I used this book in a presentation and the audience was fully engaged. It is an inspiring account of a truly miraculous rescue.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. was good reading and had been recommended by a fellow Army ...By Connie MadottMy husband was in the Army in Korea during this period and this book; while mostly about the Marines; was good reading and had been recommended by a fellow Army vet.
