Constructed circa 1890s, the Kleb Family Home and its wooded site in northwestern Harris County reflect a time of dispersed rural settlement in the area. Edward Kleb, a descendant of German immigrants who arrived in Texas in 1846, built the house on property acquired from his father, Andrew. Elmer "Lumpy" Kleb, the son of Edward and Minnie Willmann, was born in the house and inherited the property after his mother died in 1967; Edward had died in 1951. Deeply attached to the family land, Elmer planted many of the area's trees, cared for wildlife, and often nursed injured birds. He lived there without utilities and did not pay taxes, amassing a debt of more than $150,000 by 1986. Despite his wish to donate the land to the Audubon Society, a court-appointed law firm worked to sell part of the property, whose monetary value had risen significantly, to cover what was owed. The case drew national attention, and lawyers, county officials, charities, and other agencies worked to find a way to pay the bills and preserve the habitat. In 1991, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant enabled Harris County to buy the land, pay the debt, and create the Kleb Woods Nature Preserve. Elmer's determination, along with help from others, preserved a wildlife refuge in a rapidly urbanizing area. The county also established a trust fund for his needs until his death, and later restoration began on his vernacular hall and parlor style house with side gables and returns.