Maria Anna Haller

Henry Christian Hardt came to Texas with his father Johann Wilhelm Hardt on the ship Strabo landing in Galveston on Nov. 20 1845. From Galveston they walked to Indianola, TX. a freighting station, where they worked until the beginning of the Civil War. Henry enlisted and spent a little more than six months in the service. He received $25.00 a month and board. After the war he was honorably discharged at New Orleans. When he returned to Texas he found his father in Victoria. Johann Wilhelm (William) had been building houses there and was well acquainted with many of the Germans in the Indianola-Victoria area. DeWitt County, Texas situated to the northwest of Victoria had been organized in 1846 out of part of Green DeWitt’s colony established in 1827. This is where Henry became acquainted with Maria Anna Haller who had emigrated with her parents from Alsace in 1844 to Castroville, Texas as colonists of Henry Castro. They were married in Yorktown, Texas on September 20, 1849 and had 13 children. They lived to spend their 60th wedding anniversary together even though they were both to sick to celebrate it with their family. I am proud to be a descendant of Johann Wilhelm and Henry Christian Hardt who came to this country to build and defend it. Their efforts helped make Texas the wonderful place it is today! Becoming a Daughter of the Republic of Texas is my contribution in preserving their memory and the history of this family. I am proud to follow the lead of my Mother and Father in joining the Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas.