Alsatian Immigration Through Lavaca Bay

The marker stands in Ranger Cemetery, which began with a death in the Linnville raid of August 1840. Hugh Oran Watts had been customs collector for the District of Lavaca since 1839, and he was killed when the Comanches sacked the port. His body was the first buried here. Most of Linnville's people gathered afterward at Labbacca, a site three and a half miles southwest near the mouth of Linn Bayou, and that settlement, the Lavaca of the Alsatian landings, grew into Port Lavaca.

What the plaque says

Alsatian Immigration Through Lavaca Bay Texas land empresario Henri Castro contracted to bring colonists of various European nationalities to Texas beginning in 1842. The first of these were Alsatians, most of whom spoke German and held German sympathies. They arrived at Galveston, their official port of entry, with 114 passengers from France in early 1843; most then sailed for Lavaca (later Port Lavaca). They waited here before beginning their overland journey to what became Medina County, to establish the town of Castroville. Another, largely Alsatian, group of 129 arrived at Galveston January 1, 1844. About 40 continued to Lavaca, landing on the 10th. Conditions were difficult, and many immigrants succumbed to various coastal fevers. Other ships followed in 1845 and 1846. Castro's contact expired in 1847, after he had transported more than 2,000 colonists to Texas, most through Lavaca Bay. (1999)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• First Baptist Church of Port Lavaca — 0.3 mi
• Civil War Torpedo Works — 0.4 mi
• Civil War Bombardment of Port Lavaca — 0.4 mi
• Beach Hotel — 0.4 mi