Louis Ferdinand Huth, Jr.

Born in Neufreystadt, Baden, Louis Ferdinand Huth, Jr. first met Henri Castro in Paris in 1842 and became an important figure in establishing Castro's Colony in Texas. Huth's father, Ludwig, provided much of the funding for immigrant supplies and travel, and the Huth family also helped enlist colonists. As Director General of the new colony, Louis Jr. sailed from Antwerp on the third Castro ship, the Jean Key, arriving at Port Lavaca on January 9, 1844, where earlier immigrants met them. Using his personal funds, he arranged transportation for the colonists to their destination near San Antonio. After the colony was established at Castroville and Castro returned to Europe, Huth remained in charge. In 1846 he led ten families to establish a second colony at Quihi. He owned a grist mill and a brewery, was part owner of a store, and served as Justice of Peace, County Tax-Collector, and County Clerk of Medina County. He married Rosalie Rihn in 1846, and they had two sons. After Rosalie and one son died in 1849, he married Sophie Louise Kuhnen in 1851, and they had four children. In 1863 Huth and his family moved to San Antonio, where he operated a successful hardware and seed business. He died in 1890 at age 77. His contribution to establishing the first colonies west of San Antonio was second only to that of Henri Castro.

Castroville, Texas · United States