Nicolaus Zink
K
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Marker Text: In 1844 Bavarian-born civil engineer Nicholas Zink (1812-1887) was selected to lead a group of German immigrants oversea to established settlements on a Texas land grant. This colonization effort was headed by Prince Solms-Braunfels and financed by a German corporation known as the Mainer Adelsverein.
Upon arrival in Texas in late 1844, Zink realized that the grant to be settled by the colonists was in the heart of Comanche Indian territory. He persuaded Prince Solms to settle at an alternate site, which became the town of New Braunfels. Zink's leadership in the face of unrest, disease, starvation, and monetary problems was vital to the survival of the colony. He eventually was responsible for the supervision of about one-half of the German immigrants found for New Braunfels. After 1847, Zink built homes in a variety of places, including Sisterdale, Comfort, and an area south of Fredericksburg in 1868, he acquired this property and built the central portion of the limestone house southeast of this site. He later gave land for and helped engineer the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroads bed to Kerrville. Zink lived here until his death and is buried in an unmarked grave near this site. (1994) |
Marker No: 3595
Aluminum 27 x 42 Subject Marker
Geographic: 29.890015, -98.788315
Location: at gate of Don Strange Ranch - from Boerne take IH-10 5 miles north to Welfare Road - continue on Welfare Road north about 3 miles to ranch