The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-26
NEW RELIGIOUS SECT.
SOUTH TEXAS TO GET 4 COLONY
OF MENNoNITEs.
4 Lot of Good citizens From Kansas
and south Dakota Coming
TO Tcxns.

Yesterday The Post reporter interviewed
a representative body OF men from Kansas
and South Dakota. all members OF the
Mennonite Brethren church. Who have been
very closely investigating the advantages
OF the coast country and after due consul
tation, decided to come to Texas" and
become citizens. The gentlemen are ac-
| companled by their preacher. Rev. David
| Schroeder OF Kansas. the other members
OF the delegation being Franz Hcinrichs.
also of Kansas Henry Il. unruh and John
! +. klasscn of Kansas; also y. ID schmidt
/ J, Williams and Aaron Peters OF south
| Dakota. These representative business men
and farmers came over the Atchison. To-
peka and Santa Fe railway. accompanied
by Colonel W. b. Slosson OF this city. who
went directly to their Kansas settlement
from here last week by request OF w. j.
Black general passenger agent OF the
Santa Fe company at Topeka
When asked why the colony was about
10 be established here and moving from
Kansas. the reporter was told this sensible
reason I'VE came to Kansas twenty to
/ twenty-five years ago from Russia in
/ ilucnced largely Ia our removal ny the adj
vertising of the Santa Fe people We
bought good lands then at from S, to s.
per acre. now worth S25 10 $40 per acre
and Nc propose TO repeat this for our own
benefit and that OF our children in this
coast country We have decided TO locate
and after looking over three tracts OF 5000
to l2.o0G acres each, will now return to
Kansas and South Dakota and report TO
our friends there the advantages as we
see them here near Houston"
When asked by The Post reporter OF
their belief and nationoy he was told
that many wears ago their forefathcrs went
from Germany to Russia, hut retaining all
of their German characteristics and lam
guagc and though called Russian Germans.
they were such only as they would b. II
they removed to England from this couu
try they would then he called American
Germans
They are Fro,estants. do not believe in
wars or fighting and use no courts to set
tle disputes among members and do not
vote at elections We always take care of
own own poor. sustain homes for the
friendless. assist each other and pay our
debts. The reporter was furnished many
interesting points characteristic of their
creed by their preacher, Rev David
Schroeder, who is quiet. mild.mannered
Christian man, whose influence among his
flock is sreai.
Central Kansas last week in the Menotee
settlement, ives, of Florence. Kan. They
occupy twelve by thirty miles of fine Kan
sas farms among the hest in the State.
and more prosperous community | never
visited. They are honest economical
thrifty good farmers, stock and fruit grow
ers and have made a garden out of a
former desert in Central Kansas. The
church is always first and foremost in
their esteem and watchtul care. They have
no paid ministers. the preacher is called
by the people and serves thus for their good
Wit bout compensation. working as do his |
people with his hands. In driving five !
hours in one Of their carriages last week |
We passed four churches away from towns |
or railroads, one of them having a seating /
capacity Of 20o0 people and in one DAYS /
drive saw more grain. good stock. fruit (
of all kinds. turkeys ducks chickens.
geese and good. sensible, comfortable liy- I
ing han ever before compressed into a /
like territory in any state. and at night (
had he peculiar sensation Of comfortably /
shopping between two airy feather beds
Yes South Texas Will gladly welcome so
ehtcrprisinG people and her wonderful
resources will be rapidly developed when /
she receives these cntcrprisng prosperous
and honest people as citizens