John Henry Seelbach
John Henry, called Henry, Seelbach was the son of Anna Katrina Krotz and Daniel Seelbach who emigrated to Texas from Prussia. The family lived about 40 miles east of Cologne in the Siegerland, and left there on September 14, 1854, on William’s twenty-first birthday. They sailed almost three months across the Atlantic Ocean, up the Mississippi River and the Red River to the town of Shreveport, Louisiana. They were domiciled in a hotel there. William, the oldest child, was left in charge of the family while Henry, who was thirteen years of age, and father walked to the Union Springs community, Nacogdoches County, a distance of probably 80 miles. Daniel’s sister, Kathrina Elizabeth, had married William Kolb and their family had come to Texas in 1849 and lived near the Helpenstell Cemetery. They went to the Kolb home to get assistance to move the family and their household goods.
Daniel was granted a patent from the State of Texas in January 1858, for 148.4 acres of land, fourteen miles northeast of the town of Nacogdoches on the Naconichi creek. Acknowledged before Governor H.R. Runnels. Deed Records, Book Y, p. 637, Nacogdoches, Texas. Henry lived with his parents on their farm until April of 1862, when he joined the army of the Southern
Confederacy. He was twice captured by the Northern Army and carried to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, each time where he nearly starved to death. Henry was released from the army and reached home in June 1865. The next year he was married to Clara Ann Kolb, the daughter of Kathrina Elizabeth Seelbach and William Kolb. He was considered one of the best farmers in the country. He owned the Acrey Water Mill, later called Tonkawa, on the Acrey Mill Pond, where corn was ground into meal and cotton was ginned.
Mrs. Homer Russell (Willie Mae Green), Nacogdoches, Texas, a granddaughter, owns the Henry Seelbach Family Bible. The children are listed as follows:
Julia Liccabath, b. Sept. 18, 1867, d. Feb. 10, 1869; John William, b. Dec. 7, 1870; Mary Ann, b. Feb. 24, 1873; Rhoda Malviny, b. Feb. 8, 1875; Sarah Lavinia, b. March 20, 1877; Bud Daniel, b. Dec. 2, 1878; Walter Samuel, b. July 26, 1884; Lela Alles, b. Feb. 15, 1886; Ella, b. Nov. 18, 1887; Mina Rebecca, b. Nov. 9, 1889; Infant, b. Feb. 16, 1891.
MILITARY SERVICE: John Henry Seelbach enlisted 1 April 1862 Co. H., 17th Texas Calvary. Was captured at Battle of Arkansas Post; imprisoned at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois; recaptured in Tennessee and returned to Camp Douglas; Battle of Chattanooga. Source: People of Nacogdoches County in the Civil War.