Indianola Key Attractions
Indian Point
Group 1 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6Johann Swartz' home was the first house erected on the site of what was to become the Port of Indianola. Swartz died in that house on October 31, 1860 and was considered the oldest inhabitant and the first settler on the site of the City of Indianola, where he built the first house, which he occupied up to the hour of his death.
(7)Means of travel was obtained in January of 1845 to move the German immigrants to their first stop at Agua Dulce on Chocolate Creek, just twelve miles from the bay. The immigrants traveled to the Northwest to Spring Creek just above Victoria, Texas. Price Carl left the immigrants to find and purchase a tract of land to be used for the initial settlement.
(8)By March 5th, the first immigrants train had reached McCoy Creek, seventy-eight miles from Indian Point. Fortunately, Prince Carl was able to purchase a tract of land in Comal County. The immigrants journey came to an end on March 21, 1845 in a town to be known as New Braunfels, which was divided up into farm tracts.
(9)Prince Carl was replaced by (Baron) von Meusebach, who was appointed commissioner general by the Verein on February 24, 1845. Meusebach visited Indian Point and traveled to New Braunfels to discover the Verein had financial troubles. Meusebach purchased land for the establishment of Fredrichsburg. During 1845-1846, 5,247 men, women and children arrived at Indianola in 36 ships. (10) Dr. Joseph M. Reuss reached Indian Point in 1845 and settled there where he practiced medicine and opened an apothecary. He met and was charmed by German fraulein, Anna G. Stubbeman, who arrived alone. He married her on December 2, and for the next thirty years they were leaders in the business and social life of the community.
(11)Henry Runge was a young German who played a leading role in the development of the Port at Indian Point. He opened a bank in a tent in 1845, the first in the area and one of the early banks in Texas. Henry Huck was another young German who established a lumber yard in Indian Point in 1845, and assisted many German settlers. (12)