JOHN GEORGE WOLDERT AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 26 May 2001 ***************************************************************** JOHN GEORGE WOLDERT AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter XI - Pages 59-63 - Picture on Page 61 John George Woldert was born at Adorf, in Saxony, July 18th, 1814. Rebeling at the military tyranny of that kingdom he fled to America, landing in New York, November 5th, 1838, when, notwithstanding his extreme youth, became foreman in the guitar establishment of the celebrated Marton, in Maiden Lane. The spirit of the rover here overtook him and he went to Charleston, South Carolina, where he remained until summoned back to New York by letters from Henry Fisher, who at that time was organizing a colony to the then Republic of Texas. After assisting Fisher in getting up the colony, without which the project would have failed, he being the master of four languages; they differed about certain methods by which the best ends could be reached and parted company. Mr. Woldert came to Texas alone, arriving at the then small village of Galveston, November 5, 1839. Finding yellow fever prevailing as an epidemic, he only remained in Galveston one day, and started out on foot and alone through the wilderness of Eastern Texas to find an old classmate, the celebrated Dr. Siebold, who, having on account of his political views been banished, and who had taken up his abode with the Indians in the wilds of Jasper county. While on his way he fell in with the Hon. Geo.W. Smyth, one of the Land Commissioners of the Republic of Texas, who was then surveying the line between Texas and Louisiana. The two became fast friends, and as Mr. Woldert had become an expert engineer in the army of Germany he was prevailed upon to assist in locating the line. After doing this Mr. Woldert started alone on foot, at some point on Red river to find his way back to Jasper county. While on his way, he was captured by a band of Indians and carried to some point near Bastrop, where he made his escape, and after a few weeks wandering alone in the wilds of the then wilderness, he reached the home of Dr. Siebold. San Augustine was his first permanent residence, where he lived for eleven years. By industry and frugality, he accumulated quite a large amount of land, situated in twenty-seven counties. In 1850, he visited the world's fair in London, and from there to his native heath in Adorf, and there married Miss Alma Edilina Richter. After traveling over most of the Old World, the newly wedded pair set sail for America, arriving at San Antonio in the year 1853. Here all worked well with them and business prospered. Immigration about this time began pouring into Texas and settling on all unoccupied lands indiscriminately. Having a very large landed interest in East Texas these complications brought him to Tyler in the fall of 1859. Mr. Woldert was a personal friend in frequent social intercourse with the founders of Texas--Sam Houston, Thos.J.Rusk and J.Pinkney Henderson. When General Henderson was tried for murder of one of the many desperadoes who infested the state at that time, Mr. Woldert was foreman of the jury that acquitted him. Mr. Woldert was the first one to make native wine out of the lucious Texas grape. He was a prominent merchant of Tyler, making a success of the mercantile business. He died in this city April 3rd, 1887, and his remains were interred in Tyler cemetery. His life, full of energy and adventure, reads like a romance. He left behind him the name of an honest man, and has made his impress upon the history of Texas. His mind was a cultivated one, and the thorough training received in youth was never neglected up to the time of his death. The accumulation of his useful life was well protected, and he left to his heirs a large fortune. He was a builder of his town and left his money in improvements by the erection of several large brick business houses that clearly shows that he was one who helped Tyler on to her present prosperity. Mr. Woldert raised a very intelligent family of children. They are prominent in social, political and church circles. I mention them as follows: William Albert Woldert married Miss Loulia Dent Pace, the daughter of John Trimble Pace and Mary Sophia Pace, of Omen, Texas. John Trimble Pace died gallantly defending his country in 1861, during our civil war. Mrs. Mary Sophia Pace is still living. Mrs. Julia Dent Woldert died in Tyler, Texas, January 19th, 1898. She was an intelligent woman and possessed many charms of Christian womanhood. They have three children---Alma Mary, William Albert, Jr., and Christine Ellen, all of whom live with their father in this city. Theodore Oscar Woldert is a prominent lawyer of Tyler, and is known to be an able lawyer and a safe counselor. He is a single man. Miss Alma Louisa Woldert married Hon. Webster Finley. Mrs. Finley died in Tyler on February 22nd, 1883. She was a lovely woman of great intelligence. By this marriage they had two children---Alma Mary and Mamie Olevia. Both of these intelligent, sweet girls live with their father, Judge Finley, in Dallas, Texas. Gustave Julius Woldert married Miss Mamie Johnson, of Fort Smith, Arkansas. They have one child. They live in Fort Smith where Mr. Woldert conducts a wholesale brokerage business. Alexander Woldert married Miss Levonia E. Payne, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. They have three children, Elizabeth Edelina, Jack Wofford and Alexander. He is at the head of the Woldert Grocery Company, Tyler, Texas. Edwin Albert Woldert is a practicing physician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is single. Miss Clara Edelina Woldert, a most charming and educated young lady. She resides in this city.