Ellinger

FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS

Colorado Citizen
October 28, 1880

The New Town of Ellinger

Excursion Last Tuesday – Lively Sale of Town Lots – Cotton – Shepard and Jones.

A little after 8-o'clock last Tuesday morning, the train for the new town of Ellinger, the depot on the Columbus and LaGrange tap, pulled out from the depot at this place, freighted with a jolly crowd on board, who had determined to combine business and pleasure, for one day at least. From this point the following persons were on the train: Maj. Jas. Converse, Superintendent of the "Sunset Line;" Capt. E. G. Thompson, Master of Transportation; T. U. Lubbock, auctioneer of Houston; H. A. Washburn; Conductor; J. F. Lucas, Civil Engineer; and Geo. W. Breeding, Agent; Maj. R. L. Oakes, Sheriff J. A. Toliver, Geo H. Allen, E. J. Sandmeyer, Esq., I. W. Middlebrook, Friench Simpson, Esq, District Clerk J. H. Johnson; W. L. Adkins, W. A. Engelhardt, Jose Cassagne, C. Hahn, R. Goldsmith, Mr. Hill and family, Chas. Creary and family, Geo B. Crawford, and Misses Wickware and Gourley. From Buescher's store, Messrs. J. H. Whitehead, Dock Anderson, Henry Buescher and Walter Greer. From Weimar, Messrs. W. B. & Stephen McCormick; Col. E. H. Fordtran, of Flatonia.

The train sped merrily along over the new road, though an accident occurred which, however, did not result seriously. Some cross-ties were placed too near the road, and as the train passed struck Mr. I. N. Leonard, who was on the step, giving him a slight wound, and came near knocking off Mr. Lucas, by his side. Mr. Leonard is now in the Railway Hospital at this place. Arriving at the site of the new town, the sale of town lots began, Mr. Lubbock acting as auctioneer in his usual felicitous style. Below we give the names of parties purchasing, the lot and block, and prices paid:

NAME.
J. A. Toliver
" " "
" " "
" " "
" " "
F. Erdnansky
J. Ehlinger
E. H. Fordtran
L. W. Wood
" " "
E. H. Fordtran
LOT.
20
19
1
2
3
18
17
16
15
14
11
BL'K.
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
VALUE.
$380
300
170
160
120
280
225
235
205
205
300
H. Farres
W. Frels
L. Mason
A. T. Bradshaw
Robson & Carter
F. Erdnansky
R. A. Shaver
E. H. Fordtran
" " "
Paul
Ruppenburg
F. Smpson
" "
Rudee
Geisbers
Sladeck
R. J. Zimmerman
" " "
F. Simpson
F. Hattman
J. F. Krumok
Kulbach & Stratton
John Matula
L. G. Bachelor
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
" " "
John Shumaker
J. Ehlinger
A. W. Meyer
A. T. Bradshaw
A. H. Willenburg
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
J. Sladeck
W. B. McCormick
F. Neiman
A. T. Bradshaw
John Shumaker
" "
" "
" "
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
" " "
" " "
T. Q. Mullin
H. Sass
" "
T. Q. Mullin
Kohert
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
" " "
" " "
" " "
" " "
Tom Stallio
John Shumacher
" "
H. Sass
Robson & Carter
" " "
12
13
4
5
11
12
13
14
20
19
18
10
9
17
16
15
1
7
8
11
10
10
9
1
2
3
4
6
8
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
12
13
1
10
12
13
9
8
14
16
15
17
18
19
20
10
9
1
3
13
16
2
4
5
6
7
8
16
16
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
16
14
14
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
235
195
95
60
500
335
300
240
380
295
275
200
190
250
250
300
120
90
100
320
180
270
185
250
160
170
195
170
175
290
175
205
200
185
205
200
240
200
130
100
80
65
75
80
65
65
65
60
65
70
105
115
115
125
90
80
70
100
90
100
80
80
80
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
F. Simpson
" "
J. S. Burleson
J. H. Carter
" " "
H. Hya
J H. Johnson
McKesky
F. Hottman
T. Q. Mullin
Willenburg
P. Heller
" "
J. H. Carter
" " "
A. Sarazin
A. T. Bradshaw
W. L. Hood
W. F. Robson
A. T. Bradshaw
E. H. Fordtran
H. E. Kohlman
John Shumaker
A. T. Bradshaw
" " "
F. Erdnausky
D. Ladringer
A. Haye
F. Sommerlatte
H. Mebus
John Schulze
J. D. Meyer
" " "
Total
1
2
3
4
10
8
9
11
12
14
15
17
18
19
20
20
19
20
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
1
18
17
7
3
11
11
12
9
9
9
9
11
21
21
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
17
17
9
2
2
2
2
23
23
23
23
23
23
17
17
2
21
17
13
13
115
95
60
50
225
115
145
130
75
75
75
80
95
95
105
200
150
150
100
75
50
65
1060
115
120
110
95
50
75
90
50
145
50
125
125
$16320

We understand there were $1680 worth of lots sold after the sale was over which maks total amount $18,000. The tract of land on which the new town is laid off cost the railroad company $2900. Something over 100 lots sold. At the new town, two or three framed buildings are on the grounds, waiting to be put up as soon as parties could purchase lots. About 250 bales of cotton have already been shipped from Ellinger. Now that lots have been secured, we expect building to go on lively.

On the train the vote was taken for our Congressional nominees, and resulted as follows: For Shepard, 35; for Wash Jones, 3.

A dinner prepared for the occasion waas discussed with evident relish by all present, free of charge.

The party returned in the evening in good health and spirits, having enjoyed the excursion vastly.



The La Grange Journal
January 27. 1881

Ehlinger.

Ehlinger, the R. R. station on the La Grange Branch, presents the appearance of a live business town, and with the country surrounding it, promises in the near future to be a place of considerable importance. This town was laid off and the sale of lots commenced on the twenty sixth of October last, since which time lots to the amount of over $20,000 have been sold. It requires live, active men to build up a town, and we will venture to say that no town in the state of its size can boasst of a more active set of business men than ehlinger. There are now three houses here doing a general merchandis business, viz: Hotmann & Co., Shaver Bros., and Jos. Kreneck, and all have as much as they can do to supply the trade. Hotmann & Co. are also doing a general receiving and forwarding business, and those having anything to do in this line, would do well to do in this line, would do well to call on them. See their card in another column.
Ehlinger has also three lumber yards to supply the town and surrounding country, viz: L. G. Bachelder, Messrs. Wilkins & Nare and Messrs. Hall & McCormick. Mr. Bachelder is also dealing in builder's hardware, and buys and pays the highest market prices for cotton seed, hones, &c. Parties going to Ehlinger to buy lumber should give him a call. See his advertisement in this issue. In addition to these business houses there are three saloons, one barber shop, one physician and drug store and two hotels, Mr. John W. Hill will soon open a family grocery with a full and ocmplete stock of grocerieis. In the person of Mr. W. J. Storms Ehlinger has one of the most polite affable and accomodating R. R. agents of any town in the stae, and while we do not want to rob Ehlinger of her agent, we trust that the R. R.authorities will see proper to transfer Mr. Storms to La Grange. It is a pleasure to do business with such a man, and the change would be entirely acceptable and satisfactory to the citizens and business men of La Grange.

If Ehlinger continues to improve in the future as it has in the past, it will not be long before it will be one of the best R. R. stations in the State. It has some of the best portions of Fayette and Colorado couties to support it, and gets a good trade from the Colorado valley. The company in laying off the town reserved some very desirable lots for church and school purposes, and we understand that the citizens of the town contemplate putting up a suitable buildingon them for those purposes.

Over 2000 bales of cotton have been shipped from here since it became a town.

Colorado Citizen, 7 Apr 1881, page 2

Last Monday we visited Ellenger [sic.], going down on the morning and returning on the evening train. We were about five hours in the town and made the acquaintance of nearly all the business men. They received us very kindly indeed, for which we return our thanks. We found that Ellenger has three lumber yards, four general merchandise and two grocery stores, one drug store, one furniture store, four saloons, three hotels in operation and one building , a livery stable, saddlery shop, one bucher, one wheelright, steam and grist mill, two painters, one carpenter, and lastly a most clever and polite gentleman, in the person of Mr. B. W. Russell Railroad Agent.—La Grange Journal.

From Fayette County, Her History and Her People by F. Lotto, 1902:

Ellinger

Ellinger is situated on the branch road of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Columbus to La Grange about twelve miles southeast from La Grange. It is located on the W. O. Burnham league; one hundred acres of its present site belonged to John H. Meyer and one hundred to Henry Fordtran of Galveston. The name of Ellinger was given to the place by a Bohemian named Andreas Ondrey, who suggested the name to James Converse, superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad, while in conversation with him. It was laid out in 1883 and the first men who opened up business in Ellinger were Fritz Hotmann, Charles and Dan Meyer, Chas. v. Rosenberg and Hill & Hill.

North of Ellinger lies the rich black land Ross prairie, south of it the productive bottom lands of the Colorado River. These rich, fertile lands are separated from each other by a sand and gravel ridge covered with postoak. Therefore the surrounding country of Ellinger, with the exception of said gravel ridge, is a rich agricultural section.

Ellinger has two churches—a Lutheran, with Rev. Robert Heise, who also preaches in Fayetteville and Haw Creek, and a Catholic, situated about one mile north of Ellinger at a place called Live Oak Hill. The Catholic Church is under the care of Rev. Father Chlapic.

The school of Ellinger is under the able management of Prof. Dippel, a conscientious and faithful teacher.

Ellinger has four lodges: The Sons of Hermann, C. F. Steves, president, A. F. Weber, secretary; Woodmen of the World, E. J. Weber, presiding officer, A. F. Weber, secretary; Odd Fellows, and C.S.P.S., a Bohemian lodge.

A large public hall serves as meeting place for public gatherings and for festive occasions.

Before the building of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad to Fayetteville the business of Ellinger was considerably larger. This road, running at a distance of about four miles from Ellinger, has cut off a large part of its trade. Still, as it lies in a rich agricultural section, which, year by year, becomes more developed, it maintains the volume of its old trade and does as much business now as ever, though the scope of country which was tributary to Ellinger has been somewhat reduced.

Ellinger consists of four general merchandise stores, three groceries, two furniture houses, three hardware stores, one implement and carriage house, one drugstore, two gins, two blacksmith shops and four saloons.

The writer is obliged to the following gentlemen who took some interest in his work on their home county for their patronage and hopes that the bestowal of their confidence may have been placed on a worthy enterprise and that his work may meet their approval.

The oldest business men in Ellinger are Messrs. J. and B. Wacker, who established themselves in business at Ellinger in 1884. They carry a large stock of staple and fancy groceries, hardware and crockery, and especially a fine assortment of pistols, guns and ammunition. They are reliable gentlemen and substantial, solid business men. Their father, Mr. Dietrich Wacker, was one of the first settlers in Ross prairie. C. F. Steves has a lumber and hardware business of the most extensive assortment, carrying everything from a nail to a stump-pulling machine. A customer can get there articles which he often would fail to get in large size cities. E.J. Weber keeps in his elegant drugstore pure and fresh drugs and other lines of goods that are usually kept in a first-class drugstore. He also serves the public as notary public and sets up all legal documents in binding shape and style. W. F. Burow owns a first-class gin and turns out a superior class of cotton. He constantly studies how to improve his machinery, and on account of his close attention to business has become a model ginner in the county. J. Y. Machalek is a popular young merchant in the furniture and hardware business at Ellinger, and a skillful mechanic. Scheel Brothers are the proprietors of a first class barroom, which has become the headquarters for the farmers of Ellinger.

In Live Oak Hill, one mile north of Ellinger, Mr. Aug. Girndt welcomes in his elegant saloon his guests from near and far, keeps the purest whiskies and other liquors. He is the proprietor of a fine hall with one of the best floors for dancing that can be found in the county. Young and old gather there for amusement and recreation.

The population of Ellinger is German and Bohemian. Among the first and oldest settlers of the Ellinger neighborhood may be mentioned Dietrich Wacker, Dan Meyer, John Meyer, Aug. Beyer, Joseph Raabe, Chas. Ehlinger, Sarrazin, Dohm, Jacob Dirr, Peter Koehl, Joe Koehl, Jacob Koehl, Andreas Schreiner, Muegge, Henry Cook, Jos. Sommers, Wm. Hoelscher, Anton Holster, Fietsam, Hy Fattmann.

Click on saloon photo for enlarged view.

Ellinger Post Office

Footprints of Fayette article written by Lillie Mae Brightwell

Ellinger began as a settlement at Live Oak Hill (also called Hostyn Hill) east of the present site, between La Grange and Columbus. The town was moved to the modern location to be on the new railroad. The town was named for Joseph Ehlinger, a native of France and a veteran of Napolean's army during the Russian campaign. Ehlinger, came to Texas in June of 1835 and served in the Texas Army at San Jacinto. For his service, he was granted 640 acres, which he chose to be located in present day Fayette and Colorado counties. This extensive acreage included the present site of Ellinger, which prompted Andrea Ondrej, a Czech who immigrated to Texas in 1869, to suggest the town be named in memory of Ehlinger, who drowned crossing Buffalo Bayou. The town was laid out in 1883 on 100 acres given by John Meyer and Henry Fortran. Fortran was a surveyor, whose family had extensive land holdings.

The first Ellinger Post Office was established in October of 1877. It was located in a red brick building on FM 2503 near the downtown area of Ellinger. It was advanced to3rd class status from 1945 to 1949 and again in 1956-57.

In 1965, the Post Office was moved to a building owned by the Juren family at 706 FM 2503. Mrs. Juren kept a delightful row of roses blooming in front of the building during her lifetime and Mr. Juren gave haircuts.

In 1966, the Jurens received President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Natural Beauty Program Citation of Merit" with a rating of superior for maintaining the grounds and exterior of the Postal unit "in such a manner as to reflect credit upon the community and the Post Office Department." Ellinger was the only 4th class office to receive this merit award in the Dallas Region with 2,200 Post Offices under its jurisdiction. In 1968, a "Continuation of Excellence" award was issued.

The following is a list of US Postmasters of Ellinger: F. Hotmann, 1877; G. Wacker, 1882; C. von Rosenberg, 1883; B. Martin,1889; C. Ehlinger, 1891; A. Weber, 1894; E. Weber, 1896; T. Hruska, Jr. 1904; C. Meyer, Jr. 1907; C. Ehlinger, 1911; C. Meyer, Jr., 1940; D. Juren, 1941; W. Jurajda, 1974; K. Kay, 2000. Kathy Kay is the present postmistress and answers the phone with a smile in her voice.

The German Hotel
Mary Birkman Koehl and some of her family in front of The German Hotel, which she ran in Ellinger, c. 1915.
Left to right are: Carrie Koehl Prasifka, Nola Koehl (later Glithero), Mary Birkmann Koehl, Reyburn J. ("Rip") Prasifka, Eugene Koehl, Carrie Mae Prasifka (later Weakley), Gladys Koehl (later Magruder), and her mother, Louisa December Koehl (wife of Elo John Koehl). Click on photo for close-up of people. [1]
Koehl - Prasifka Store, ca 1917
From about 1910, there was a general merchandise store in Ellinger, known as "Koehl & Prasifka". It closed about 1919, when its owners, Elo John Koehl and his brother in law, Joseph Prasifka, moved with their families to Wharton, TX. This shows the inside of the store, with (from left) Elo John Koehl and two sisters of the other owner, Bessie Prasifka and Millie Prasifka (later Hayes). [1]

Ellinger Town Map

Related Links

Ellinger Post Office
C.S.P.S.
Cesko Narodni Hrbitov
Ellinger Catholic Cemetery
Jarmon Cemetery
St. John Lutheran Church Records

Related articles at the Handbook of Texas Online:

Ellinger, Texas
Live Oak Hill

People of Ellinger

Daniel & Ellen Zabcik Juren
Dan was a barber, postmaster, and income tax preparer in Ellinger. [2]

Photo Credits

  1. German Hotel and Koehl & Prasifka store photos contributed by Judy Koehl.
  2. Daniel and Ellen Juren contributed by Ruth Juren.
  3. Girndt Saloon contributed by Rox Ann Johnson