John O. Meusebach

John O. Meusebach, born Baron Otfried Hans von Meusebach, (May 26 1812–May 27 1897), was at first a Prussian bureaucrat, later an American farmer, politician, and member of the Texas Senate.

He was born in Dillenburg, Duchy of Nassau, one of four children of Baron Carl Hartwig Gregor von Meusebach, a judge solicitor, and Ernestine von Meusebach née von Witzleben. Upon arriving in Texas, he dropped his noble title and became simply John O. Meusebach. In 1845, he became the second commissioner general of The Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas or Adelsverein, succeeding Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. For Prince Carl, Meusebach oversaw the development of New Braunfels, Texas and as commissioner of the Society, he founded the town of Fredericksburg, Texas which became a home for many German Texans. He later forged a 1847 treaty with the indigenous Comanche people. This treaty is regarded as one of the few treaties between white settlers and Native Americans that was not broken. On September 28, 1852, he married seventeen-year-old Countess Agnes of Coreth. Meusebach died on his property in Loyal Valley near Fredericksburg.

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*cite web|title=John O. Meusenbach|publisher=Handbook of Texas Online| url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fme33.html| accessdate=2008-08-06
*cite web|title=History of the Pedernales River Valley | url=http://www.pedernalesrivervalley.com/texashillcountryhistory.htm | accessdate=2006-05-27 | last=Kennedy | first=Ira
*cite web|title=John O. Meusbach (1812-1897)|publisher = The Texas Horticulture Hall of Fame | url=http://arboretum.sfasu.edu/halloffame/john%20meusbach.htm | accessdate=2006-05-27