Stinchie's name has also been spelled Stintje. Stintje was born March 8, 1823 in Nenndorf, Germany. Stintje's father was Hinrich (Heinrich) Siebels (Siebel) Behrens (born Feb. 22, 1786) and her mother was Trientje (Trintje) Ennen (Emmen) Behrens, from Nenndorf, Germany.
Stintje married Johann Christian Kruse on August 25, 1849 in the Church at Westerholt when she was 25 and he was 26 years old.
Stintje and Johann had two sons, born in Nenndorf, Johann Christophers Kruse was born Nov. 12, 1849, and Enno Christoff Kruse was born Jan. 28, 1853. They also raised as a son Heinrich Bele "Henry" Behrens Kruse who was born Nov. 18, 1844.
Three of Stintje's brothers came to Texas in 1857 to pave the way for the rest of the family. One brother, Johann Behrens, purchased 150 acres in the Bell Settlement, Fayette County, Texas on June 20, 1858. Johann Christian Kruse came to Texas later with his wife, three sons and an extended family group of at least 14 people. This group included Stintje's parents, two of her sisters, a brother-in-law and four of her nieces and nephews. At 73, Heinrich Siebels Behrens, Stintje's father, was the oldest of the group. Enno Kruse, only a 6 year old boy, was the youngest. They all left Bremen on the sailing ship "Adolphine" on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1859, and arrived in Galveston on Sunday, Nov. 27, 1859, after 70 days at sea.
The next year in 1860, two of Stintje's brothers bought more land in the Bell Settlement. B.H. Behrens and Siebels each bought 100 acre tracts in the Bell Settlement area. By the time of the 1860 census on June 30, the Kruse and Behrens immigrants were all living near each other in the Bell Settlement. Sometime in 1861 or 1862, Johann and Stintje Kruse purchased the 67.5 acres adjacent to the 150 acre tract.
They were soon caught up in the Civil War. Johann Kruse joined the Long Prairie German Company as Private on June 22, 1861. The Confederate draft law of 1862 exempted men over 35 for a time and Johann was 39.
According to family tradition, Johann hauled cotton to the Rio Grande. The cotton trade was vital and considered a branch of military service.
Many of the men faced bandits, Yankees and sometimes even Confederates who might confiscate the cotton.
Some men would take along an extra bale or two for personal profit and did well because of the high price of cotton in Mexico. Not long after the Civil War, Johann Kruse had enough silver and gold to buy land when many were destitute.
Over 100 years later, a descendant remembered stories of how Johann brought back a whetstone and spurs from Mexico. On July 4, 1865, Johann and Stintje Kruse sold their 67.5 acres in Bell Settlement for $150.
On July 9, 1866. they purchased 100 acres in the Wilkinson League at Nechanitz for $700 ($100 in coins and two notes). The 1867 tax roll shows Johann's property valued at $975, including 3 horses ($100) and 10 cattle ($30). The old house was a classic old German-Texas farmhouse with high-pitched roof and was probably built between 1872 and 1875.
In 1872, Johann bought 311 acres in the Robert G. Baugh grant for $650 in gold to see that each of his sons had a farm. The next year in 1873, the first of Johann and Stintje's 27 grandchildren would be born. After 46 years of marriage, Johann's beloved wife Stintje died on Christmas day 1895. Johann's feelings were well expressed in the epitaph he had written on her tombstone: the German translated "Only here where she rests, will I someday find rest, may her ashes rest in peace."
The 1900 census indicated that Johann was a naturalized citizen.
Stintje married Johann Christian Kruse on August 25, 1849 in the Church at Westerholt when she was 25 and he was 26 years old.
Stintje and Johann had two sons, born in Nenndorf, Johann Christophers Kruse was born Nov. 12, 1849, and Enno Christoff Kruse was born Jan. 28, 1853. They also raised as a son Heinrich Bele "Henry" Behrens Kruse who was born Nov. 18, 1844.
Three of Stintje's brothers came to Texas in 1857 to pave the way for the rest of the family. One brother, Johann Behrens, purchased 150 acres in the Bell Settlement, Fayette County, Texas on June 20, 1858. Johann Christian Kruse came to Texas later with his wife, three sons and an extended family group of at least 14 people. This group included Stintje's parents, two of her sisters, a brother-in-law and four of her nieces and nephews. At 73, Heinrich Siebels Behrens, Stintje's father, was the oldest of the group. Enno Kruse, only a 6 year old boy, was the youngest. They all left Bremen on the sailing ship "Adolphine" on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1859, and arrived in Galveston on Sunday, Nov. 27, 1859, after 70 days at sea.
The next year in 1860, two of Stintje's brothers bought more land in the Bell Settlement. B.H. Behrens and Siebels each bought 100 acre tracts in the Bell Settlement area. By the time of the 1860 census on June 30, the Kruse and Behrens immigrants were all living near each other in the Bell Settlement. Sometime in 1861 or 1862, Johann and Stintje Kruse purchased the 67.5 acres adjacent to the 150 acre tract.
They were soon caught up in the Civil War. Johann Kruse joined the Long Prairie German Company as Private on June 22, 1861. The Confederate draft law of 1862 exempted men over 35 for a time and Johann was 39.
According to family tradition, Johann hauled cotton to the Rio Grande. The cotton trade was vital and considered a branch of military service.
Many of the men faced bandits, Yankees and sometimes even Confederates who might confiscate the cotton.
Some men would take along an extra bale or two for personal profit and did well because of the high price of cotton in Mexico. Not long after the Civil War, Johann Kruse had enough silver and gold to buy land when many were destitute.
Over 100 years later, a descendant remembered stories of how Johann brought back a whetstone and spurs from Mexico. On July 4, 1865, Johann and Stintje Kruse sold their 67.5 acres in Bell Settlement for $150.
On July 9, 1866. they purchased 100 acres in the Wilkinson League at Nechanitz for $700 ($100 in coins and two notes). The 1867 tax roll shows Johann's property valued at $975, including 3 horses ($100) and 10 cattle ($30). The old house was a classic old German-Texas farmhouse with high-pitched roof and was probably built between 1872 and 1875.
In 1872, Johann bought 311 acres in the Robert G. Baugh grant for $650 in gold to see that each of his sons had a farm. The next year in 1873, the first of Johann and Stintje's 27 grandchildren would be born. After 46 years of marriage, Johann's beloved wife Stintje died on Christmas day 1895. Johann's feelings were well expressed in the epitaph he had written on her tombstone: the German translated "Only here where she rests, will I someday find rest, may her ashes rest in peace."
The 1900 census indicated that Johann was a naturalized citizen.
Stinchie's name has also been spelled Stintje. Stintje was born March 8, 1823 in Nenndorf, Germany. Stintje's father was Hinrich (Heinrich) Siebels (Siebel) Behrens (born Feb. 22, 1786) and her mother was Trientje (Trintje) Ennen (Emmen) Behrens, from Nenndorf, Germany.
Stintje married Johann Christian Kruse on August 25, 1849 in the Church at Westerholt when she was 25 and he was 26 years old.
Stintje and Johann had two sons, born in Nenndorf, Johann Christophers Kruse was born Nov. 12, 1849, and Enno Christoff Kruse was born Jan. 28, 1853. They also raised as a son Heinrich Bele "Henry" Behrens Kruse who was born Nov. 18, 1844.
Three of Stintje's brothers came to Texas in 1857 to pave the way for the rest of the family. One brother, Johann Behrens, purchased 150 acres in the Bell Settlement, Fayette County, Texas on June 20, 1858. Johann Christian Kruse came to Texas later with his wife, three sons and an extended family group of at least 14 people. This group included Stintje's parents, two of her sisters, a brother-in-law and four of her nieces and nephews. At 73, Heinrich Siebels Behrens, Stintje's father, was the oldest of the group. Enno Kruse, only a 6 year old boy, was the youngest. They all left Bremen on the sailing ship "Adolphine" on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1859, and arrived in Galveston on Sunday, Nov. 27, 1859, after 70 days at sea.
The next year in 1860, two of Stintje's brothers bought more land in the Bell Settlement. B.H. Behrens and Siebels each bought 100 acre tracts in the Bell Settlement area. By the time of the 1860 census on June 30, the Kruse and Behrens immigrants were all living near each other in the Bell Settlement. Sometime in 1861 or 1862, Johann and Stintje Kruse purchased the 67.5 acres adjacent to the 150 acre tract.
They were soon caught up in the Civil War. Johann Kruse joined the Long Prairie German Company as Private on June 22, 1861. The Confederate draft law of 1862 exempted men over 35 for a time and Johann was 39.
According to family tradition, Johann hauled cotton to the Rio Grande. The cotton trade was vital and considered a branch of military service.
Many of the men faced bandits, Yankees and sometimes even Confederates who might confiscate the cotton.
Some men would take along an extra bale or two for personal profit and did well because of the high price of cotton in Mexico. Not long after the Civil War, Johann Kruse had enough silver and gold to buy land when many were destitute.
Over 100 years later, a descendant remembered stories of how Johann brought back a whetstone and spurs from Mexico. On July 4, 1865, Johann and Stintje Kruse sold their 67.5 acres in Bell Settlement for $150.
On July 9, 1866. they purchased 100 acres in the Wilkinson League at Nechanitz for $700 ($100 in coins and two notes). The 1867 tax roll shows Johann's property valued at $975, including 3 horses ($100) and 10 cattle ($30). The old house was a classic old German-Texas farmhouse with high-pitched roof and was probably built between 1872 and 1875.
In 1872, Johann bought 311 acres in the Robert G. Baugh grant for $650 in gold to see that each of his sons had a farm. The next year in 1873, the first of Johann and Stintje's 27 grandchildren would be born. After 46 years of marriage, Johann's beloved wife Stintje died on Christmas day 1895. Johann's feelings were well expressed in the epitaph he had written on her tombstone: the German translated "Only here where she rests, will I someday find rest, may her ashes rest in peace."
The 1900 census indicated that Johann was a naturalized citizen.
Stintje married Johann Christian Kruse on August 25, 1849 in the Church at Westerholt when she was 25 and he was 26 years old.
Stintje and Johann had two sons, born in Nenndorf, Johann Christophers Kruse was born Nov. 12, 1849, and Enno Christoff Kruse was born Jan. 28, 1853. They also raised as a son Heinrich Bele "Henry" Behrens Kruse who was born Nov. 18, 1844.
Three of Stintje's brothers came to Texas in 1857 to pave the way for the rest of the family. One brother, Johann Behrens, purchased 150 acres in the Bell Settlement, Fayette County, Texas on June 20, 1858. Johann Christian Kruse came to Texas later with his wife, three sons and an extended family group of at least 14 people. This group included Stintje's parents, two of her sisters, a brother-in-law and four of her nieces and nephews. At 73, Heinrich Siebels Behrens, Stintje's father, was the oldest of the group. Enno Kruse, only a 6 year old boy, was the youngest. They all left Bremen on the sailing ship "Adolphine" on Sunday, Sept. 18, 1859, and arrived in Galveston on Sunday, Nov. 27, 1859, after 70 days at sea.
The next year in 1860, two of Stintje's brothers bought more land in the Bell Settlement. B.H. Behrens and Siebels each bought 100 acre tracts in the Bell Settlement area. By the time of the 1860 census on June 30, the Kruse and Behrens immigrants were all living near each other in the Bell Settlement. Sometime in 1861 or 1862, Johann and Stintje Kruse purchased the 67.5 acres adjacent to the 150 acre tract.
They were soon caught up in the Civil War. Johann Kruse joined the Long Prairie German Company as Private on June 22, 1861. The Confederate draft law of 1862 exempted men over 35 for a time and Johann was 39.
According to family tradition, Johann hauled cotton to the Rio Grande. The cotton trade was vital and considered a branch of military service.
Many of the men faced bandits, Yankees and sometimes even Confederates who might confiscate the cotton.
Some men would take along an extra bale or two for personal profit and did well because of the high price of cotton in Mexico. Not long after the Civil War, Johann Kruse had enough silver and gold to buy land when many were destitute.
Over 100 years later, a descendant remembered stories of how Johann brought back a whetstone and spurs from Mexico. On July 4, 1865, Johann and Stintje Kruse sold their 67.5 acres in Bell Settlement for $150.
On July 9, 1866. they purchased 100 acres in the Wilkinson League at Nechanitz for $700 ($100 in coins and two notes). The 1867 tax roll shows Johann's property valued at $975, including 3 horses ($100) and 10 cattle ($30). The old house was a classic old German-Texas farmhouse with high-pitched roof and was probably built between 1872 and 1875.
In 1872, Johann bought 311 acres in the Robert G. Baugh grant for $650 in gold to see that each of his sons had a farm. The next year in 1873, the first of Johann and Stintje's 27 grandchildren would be born. After 46 years of marriage, Johann's beloved wife Stintje died on Christmas day 1895. Johann's feelings were well expressed in the epitaph he had written on her tombstone: the German translated "Only here where she rests, will I someday find rest, may her ashes rest in peace."
The 1900 census indicated that Johann was a naturalized citizen.
Inscription
German: Nur hier wo sie ruht, werde ich einst ruhe finden, Friede ihrer Asche
English translation: Only here where she rests, will I someday find rest, may her ashes rest in peace.
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