JACOB POTH

Yoakum Daily Herald, August 22, 1912, page 1.

Native of Germany Comes To America When But a Small Child.
Pioneer of South Texas Nearly Three Score and Ten Years at Time of Death

The venerable Jacob Poth, who passed away at his estate on Hochheim Prairie on August the 13, was a native of Germany. He was born at Buedesheim-on-the-Rhein, August 15, 1843. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Poth joined a company of emigrants to sail for America when young Jacob was only three years of age. In this company were 75 people. Their destination was the republic of Texas.

In early winter they landed at Galveston. Here they entrained via the ox wagon route for what was known as Bernard Prairie. This trip required more than two weeks time. It takes less time now, much less, possibly not much over two hours. On this journey they encountered a Texas Norther, a veritable blizzard. This introduction to their new home was all but pleasing and it left one memory that time could not erase. A child in the party was frozen to death.

They finally reached Bernard where a colony had previously settled. The senior Poth, a farsighted man, decided it would not be wise for too many to settle in the same community, so advised that his friends go further.

After prospecting, or rather exploring for some time they decided to settle in what is now Austin County. They named their little village settlement New Ulm, which name it still bears. Here the subject of our sketch grew to manhood. During this period the senior Mr. Poth followed his vocation of blacksmith and wheel-wright.

In those days money was scarce, in fact there was no money in the country, and Mr. Poth took his pay in such things as the colonist had to offer. For instance the fee for relaying a plow point was a good horse. So in this way these early settlers compensated each other for their work.

Young Jacob was a weakly child. He could not stand the strenuous work of the blacksmith so aided his mother, and the only sister, now Mrs. Brune in doing the work of the farm. This sister still survives and was at the funeral of her brother last week.

At the age of 19 Poth enlisted in the Confederate army and followed the Stars and Bars until the close of the war. He was a member of Welhausen's Company of Artillery.

On the 27th day of June, 1865 he was married to Miss Anna Laake, who through all these years since has shared his joys and his sorrows and now survives to grieve over the separation from her life long companion. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Poth remained with the New Ulm colony five years and then moved to Lavaca County in the year 1870. They settled near what is now Moulton.

There they improved the elegant place. Four years later he erected a cotton gin and grist mill. This was the old time horse gin, horses and oxen being used to furnish the motive power.

In addition to running this plant he was engaged in farming and sheep raising continuously up to 1890. At that time he purchased some three thousand acres of fine land out on Hochheim Prairie, which has developed into one of the best agricultural sections of DeWitt County. Mr. Poth moved to this place and established one of the best country homes to be found anywhere.

The physical weakness that characterized his childhood gave way as he grew to manhood and he became a very hale and robust man. He led an active aggressive life, being very stern and emphatic in his dealings with his fellowmen and very prompt in meeting any obligations he may have incurred.

In 1884 he was the victim of an accident that resulted in a broken leg, the effects of which he never fully recovered from. He always limped on this broken member. Again on May 25, 1911 he sustained a fall which resulted in breaking his hip. This accident proved too much for him and his decline set in from that date and rapidly carried him to the end.

Mr. Poth was fond of travel and had seen a considerable portion of the country. In 1903, he made the trip to Europe, accompanied by his two youngest children and spent some time in the land of his birth.

Mr. Poth and wife reared a large family of children; fourteen in all. Of these all survive except one son, Jacob Poth, Jr., who died at the age of 13 years and shortly after the family had moved to their present home. Also surviving are forty-five grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

These children and grandchildren had planned a family reunion to celebrate Mr. Poth's sixty-ninth birth, which would have fallen on August 15th. They came, not with joy and gladness to celebrate his natal day, but with sadness and gloom to consign his earthly remains to their last resting place.

His death had not been expected so soon. In fact it was no thought but what he would live for a long time just until a short while before the end came. So suddenly did the final summons come that not even could the swift speeding auto and railroad train bring the members of the family to his bedside, after it was apparent that the end was near.

Hence his death was a severe shock to his aged companion and to the entire community.

Of the large family of children, all are married except the two youngest.

Mr. Poth's remains were laid to rest in the family burying ground at St. Ann's Catholic Church on August 15th, 1912, the day he would have been 69 years old.

As stated above, Mr. Poth is survived by his aged companion and thirteen children as follows: Richard Poth, Hochheim Prairie; Edward Poth, Corpus Christi; Will Poth, Cheapside; Edmund Poth, Elgin; Arnold Poth, Poth; Arthur Poth, Hochheim Prairie; Dr. Norman Poth, Marian; Charley Poth, Elgin; Ewald Poth, Louis Poth, both of Hochheim Prairie; Mrs. A.L. Leissner, Nopal; Mrs. A.H. Gerhardt, Yorktown; and Miss Elvira Poth, Hochheim Prairie.

Source: http://www.txgenweb2.org/txlavaca/obituaries_p.htm