Round Top African American Pioneers
A Story of Struggle, Perseverance, and Survival Part II of II
The Round Top Census of 1900
At the turn of the Century many African American Pioneers of Fayette County began to migrate to other counties and other states due to the lack of job opportunities here. The 1900 census was the last before the great migration began from Fayette County.
My analysis of the census, indicates that there were 336 dwellings with 2,073 individuals living in what was in the late 1800s Precincts 2 and 3 in the Round Top area. There were 1,579 German or Anglo individuals and 474 African Americans. Living within Round Top city limits were four (4) Blacks, A. B. Moore, his wife Josepine and daughter Ora and James Vincent who was single.
One of the prominent Black families that Georgia Etzel-Tubbs knew and grew with was William Banks (62), his wife Louise (38), and (5) children.
The other Black families included: Mat Daniels, Renzy Jones, Anderson Leonard, Archie Leonard, Tom Shields, Julia Dobbins, Robert Rivers, George Craft, Jack Williams, Paul Rivers, Steve Louis, Henry Lee, W. H. Brady, G. W. Whitfield, Lorenz Warner, George Townsend, with Lizzie & Estella Ross, Dan Moses, Albert Bran, Annie Branford, Frank Hollins, Walter Tehoft, George Townsend, Clemon Shelby and Thigpins, Bunk Taylor, William Daniels, Isea Buford, John Moore, Henry Harris, Cyrus McCoy, Oacar Anderson, Benjamin Knotts, William Knotts, Sarah Sampson-Oscar Knotts, John Paul, Harrrison Hendricks, Green Rivers, Ann Peroy, with Etta Schatt, Anderson Hayes, Pink Tucker, and Bird Tucker, Sam Allen, Bob Barton, Jane Branford, Tom Martin, Eugene Phenix, Willie Hawkins, Walter Young, Walter Harris, Burl Anderson, John Roberson, Jasper McCoy, C. L. Rhone, John Collins, Jud McConley, Thomas Rivers, Jam Washington, Mat Rivers, Ann Simpson, Laney Henry, John Rivers, Ed Gaines, William Wyatt, Hy Wade, Adam Rivers, Norris Pheniz, Alan Tany, William Sorrels and Peter Tony.
Some of the German, Czech, Bohemian, or Anglo Families who lived in the same area included Adolph Hackemack, Oscar Wagner, Fritz Richter, Wilheim Mathes, Anne Rummel, Charles Wagner, Henry Neimeier, Martn Spitzenberger, Charles Levin, Fritz Lehman, Joseph Wagner, Gustav Noack, Adolph Marberger, William Birkelebach, Henrich Etzel, August Schultz, Ernest Nagel , W. H. Stuermer, T. A. Weyand and Henry Weyand.
As each day passes and as I continue my research, I meet interesting descendents of Round Top Pioneers. One such person is Harley Weyand, whom I met on June 9, 2014, the Great-Great Grandson of Robert Zapp, who established the Zapp Store in Round Top in 1867. During our visit he showed me an old original general ledger dated 1869. The ledger kept track of all sales and transactions as well as a one line statement about the customer. One such statement that caught my eye was a customer named Hattie M. Collins, a Freewoman and a listing of her purchases/charges.
As we continued to review the general ledger, Harley indicated that Robert Zapp was an Engraver who came from Germany in 1846 and settled in La Grange and in 1858 he opened a store in La Grange. He later moved his store to Nechanitz until 1869 at which point he relocated to Round Top. In 1873 he became a State Representative and in 1880 he ran for the Senate and lost. He passed away in 1883.
Harley took the time on February 3, 2015, to continue our review of The Zapp Store General Ledger of 1869. Some of the Free Persons of Color listed in the General Ledger include: Sam Stowit, Hattie Collins, Matt Rivers, Ball Elder, Dick Anes, Andrew Johnson, Peter Taylor, Bob Gaither, Jim Stowet, George Stowet, Ben Ledbetter, Sam Perry, Amos Sampson, Bunk Taylor (lived in Carmine next to the Carmine Cemetery in 1890, according to Harley), Phinex, Wash Wade, Beire White, Adam Rivers, Ned Howe, Will Banks, Jerry Croffet, Joe Nelson, David Holens, Armster (Armstead) next to Sergel, and Fred Sampson. For some reason Mr. Zapp gave credit to Free Persons of Color and listed such by each of their names. Apparently there were many African American people in and around Round Top that were free in 1869 and owned land.
According to Harley Weyand, Robert Zapp was a prominent citizen of Round Top who owned the store until about 1883, at which point he sold it to von Rosenberg.
These are just some of my ancestors/relatives who lived within a five (5) mile radius of Round Top. They were not only instrumental in developing their farms they were also involved in building their community, churches and schools in Round Top, Texas.
Sources:
Fayette County, Texas Deed Records
Lee County, Texas Deed Records
U.S. Census Records for 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920
Harley Weyand, great-great grandson of Robert Zapp
Word County 1810
Footprints Of Fayette
Fayette County is one of the most historic counties in Texas. In this weekly feature from the County Historical Commission, a rotating group of writers looks back at local history.