15 Facts About Nicolaus Zink

Nicolaus Zink was the founder of Sisterdale, Texas, and builder of the fort Zinkenburg.

Under the direction of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, Zink led a caravan of new settlers from Indianola to New Braunfels.

Nicolaus Zink laid out the town and divided the original allotted farm acreage.

Nicolaus Zink was born in Bamberg, Kingdom of Bavaria, on February 4,1812.

Nicolaus Zink was a career civil engineer and former Bavarian army officer.

For four months, December 1844 to March 1845, Nicolaus Zink oversaw the settling of the colonists who arrived at Indianola, renamed Carlshafen in honor of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels.

The colonists rode covered wagons, pushcarts, and walked, as Nicolaus Zink led them to New Braunfels, arriving on March 21,1845.

In return for his labors, Nicolaus Zink was given 25 acres in New Braunfels and 100 acres of farmland.

Nicolaus Zink subdivided the farm acreage and sold it in tracts.

Nicolaus Zink originally intended to settle in Fredericksburg when he left New Braunfels.

Nicolaus Zink was among the 1847 Petitioners to Create Gillespie County, Texas.

In Sisterdale, Nicolaus Zink gained success in farming, and became shrewd in his financial dealings when selling his wheat crop to the United States Army posts.

In 1853, Nicolaus Zink was living in Comfort, which had opened to German settlements in 1852.

Nicolaus Zink acquired land on the Kendall County settlement of Welfare in 1868 and built a limestone house there.

Nicolaus Zink died in Welfare on November 3,1887, and is buried in an unmarked grave on the property.