In 1844, Bavarian-born civil engineer Nicolaus Zink (1812-1887) was chosen to lead a group of German immigrants overseas to establish settlements on a Texas land grant. The colonization effort was headed by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels and financed by the Mainzer Adelsverein. After arriving in Texas in late 1844, Zink recognized that the grant lay in the heart of Comanche Indian Territory and persuaded Prince Solms to settle at an alternate site that became New Braunfels. His leadership amid unrest, disease, starvation, and monetary problems was vital to the colony's survival, and he eventually supervised about one-half of the German immigrants bound for New Braunfels. After 1847, he built homes in places including Sisterdale, Comfort, and an area south of Fredericksburg. In 1868, he acquired this property and built the central portion of the limestone house southeast of this site. He later gave land for and helped engineer the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad bed to Kerrville. Zink lived here until his death and was buried in an unmarked grave near this site.