When my paternal grandfather’s father moved his family from Tennessee to Texas in the early 1900s, my paternal grandmother’s German cousins were there to greet them. Anton Heinrich Dreyer, my 1st cousin, 5x removed, immigrated to America with his wife and children in 1842. Arriving in Galveston aboard the sea-faring vessel Francisco, Anton and his pioneering family made their way first to Columbus, Texas before settling finally in Oakland, Texas. In the “old country”, Anton had manufactured tobacco. Thus, farming tobacco and producing cigars in his “chosen country” was a logical choice of professions. Anton was reportedly one of the first tobacco farmers where he resided.
Anton’s oldest son, Henry, served two years as a Texas Ranger battling the Comanches. (A German Texas Ranger and distant cousin? Genealogy doesn’t get any better than this!) When the Civil War started, Henry and his younger brother, Hermann, joined the Confederate ranks. After the war, honorably-discharged Henry returned home where he became a prominent business man and sawmill operator. Dreyer, Texas, which is located an hour and thirty minutes east of San Antonio was named after him. According to the Texas State Historical Association’s website, Dreyer, or Dryer, reached its peak population of 100 in 1940. By 2000, it had dropped to 20.
Okay, so Dreyer, Texas isn’t exactly a thriving metropolis. But it’s still pretty cool that it bears the name of my distant cousin. And speaking of names, although I cannot say with certainty I suspect that Henry’s father, Anton Heinrich, was named after his uncle and my ancestor, Anton Heinrich Winter.
Until recently, I had always associated Texas with my Trantham ancestors. Of course, that has changed now that I know that Texas is a bit Dreyer.
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 1st cousin, 5x removed
Common ancestors: Anton’s grandparents, Johann Heinrich and Anne Catherine (Brand) Winter, are my 5th great grandparents
Reference:
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnd59
Johnson, F.W. (1916). A History of Texas and Texans (Vol.3). Chicago: The American Historical Society.
Hello to you Sir, my name Is Gary D Dreyer from Texas. My Dad Henry Dreyer and all the other Dreyer you mentioned are my 3 rd great grandparents. I’m glad to hear from you, you say you’re from Tennessee. On my Mothers side of the family her Dad was a Porter and his great grandfather was from Marion county Tennessee and born in White county Tennessee. Small world
Hello, Cousin Gary
Good to hear from you. Yes, it is a small world. My Trantham fourfathers – Martin, Jesse, Campbell and Lutiness – lived in Williamson, Henry and Weakley counties in Tennessee at different times. My great grandfather, Lutiness, broke the mold and moved to Texas. My grandfather left Texas and moved to Kansas City, Missouri where my father and I were born. And just to show you how small the world really is… my grandfather met and later married a German girl from New Franklin, Missouri. Her 1st cousin, Cornelia, married a DREYER. Since I know your Dreyers and my grandmother’s German ancestors came from the same part of Germany, it wouldn’t be a stretch to find a connection.
Ken
I am a Great Granddaughter of Henry Dreyer for whom Dreyer, TX was named. Growing up I heard many stories about this remarkable early Texas pioneer from the days of the Republic from my Grandmother, my father George Rogge and my aunts. He was not only a Texas Ranger, but was in the freighting business bringing settlers into the state but was also a successful planter and businessman. In addition to extensive farming interests he owned a bank, a lumber yard, and cotton gins through out Texas. During the War Between the States, he used his freighting knowledge to transport cotton across the sand dunes in south Texas to Port Isabelle by wrapping his wagon wheels with wide rawhide strips creating in effect a forerunner of the Caterpillar tractor. This prevented the heavily laden wagons from being mired in the deep sand dunes as they moved forward. The Union Navy thinking the sand dunes impassible had not blockaded that port. He also was a tinkerer and inventor with I believe it was six patents to his name.
Hello, Cousin Ann
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for sharing these fascinating stories about Henry Dreyer. Please keep in touch!!
Good afternoon. My name is Christopher michael Dreyer, son of David Michael, grandson of Allen Henry Dreyer, son of Henry Dreyer (the second, I believe). I have three children, Michelle Marie, Hunter Jackson and Christian Elias. Thank you for posting and maintaining this site.
Hello, Chris
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by!
Ken
My name is Jene Allan Dreyer Jr. I live in Gonzales Tx. My grandfather was Edward Henry Dreyer. My father and my uncles were born and raised in Dreyer Tx. We still own a ranch in Dreyer the same land that my grandfather and great grandfather were raised on.
Nice to hear from you, Cousin.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Wow, that is truly something that you live on the same land owned by your forefathers.
Ken
Hi Jene, my great granddad Henry August Dreyer from Dreyer, Texas. My granddad Reinhard Rudolph Dreyer the brother off ,Robert Dreyer’s grew up in Dreyer, Texas. I have bin to the Dreyer store when it was still open back in the late 1970s. My grandmother Ida Amelia Deharde Dreyer was born in Gonzales county, they got married in 1915. They moved too Wilson, Texas at that time. Our family spent a lot off fun time out on the farm between Slaton and Wilson Texas.
Hi, Gary
Thanks for sharing this information. Sorry I am a bit behind on reading messages!
Ken
Wow, I’m glad that I found this little blog. I am Allan Rhys Dreyer and 1st cousins with Jene Allan and Gary Dreyer who have already chimed in. We still have property in the Dreyer area
Hi, Allan
Thanks for visiting. I am bit behind on posts and reading messages. I decided to redo the first floor of my house and that’s taken up quite a bit of my time. But, it’s nearing completion so I can get back to genealogy!
Ken
Allan Rhys Dreyer here, Glad to hear that you are back at it. I was back in Dreyer and Glaze City this past weekend. It was beautiful weather. Last month, I contacted the Texas Highway Dept. to replace the signs in Dreyer. One was missing the other was in bad shape. I’m glad to report that they were on it and have already replaced the signs.
I would enjoy seeing your genealogy report from the Anton Dreyer Side if possible. If you need information that I may be able to help with feel free to contact me at dreyertx@gmail.com
Hi, Allan. I’ll be in touch.
Ken