DeMontel, Charles S., 1812-1882

An immigrant from Germany, Charles DeMontel was involved in the settlement of Castro's Colony and other communities in Texas.

From the description of Charles S. DeMontel papers [manuscript], 1844-1947. (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library). WorldCat record id: 310370093

Born in Königsberg, Prussia; colonizer, lawyer, engineer, soldier, and public servant, of Texas.

From the description of Papers, 1844-1947. (Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library). WorldCat record id: 70927411

Charles S. DeMontel (1812-1882) was born in Königsberg, Prussia, and emigrated to Texas in 1837. He met Henri Castro and joined his employ as an aide, guide, and land surveyor in 1839, and he led colonists from Indianola to the Castro land grant in 1844. DeMontel commanded a company of Texas Rangers in 1848 who camped at the site that was later called Fort Lincoln. In the 1850s, in partnership with John Hunter Herndon and John James, DeMontel acquired land, plotted a townsite, and sponsored Polish settlers in what became the town of Bandera . He became the first Medina County clerk and was the Medina County delegate to the Texas Secession Convention in 1861. During the Civil War, DeMontel served as provost marshal of Bandera and Medina counties, captain of a Confederate cavalry company, and commander of the Confederate steamer Texas .

From the guide to the Charles S. DeMontel Papers, 1852-1863, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)