HERMAN HITZFELDER, SR. (August 8, 1889- )
WANDA PFEUFFER HITZFELDER (August 29, 1892- )
Source: Unknown- probably a Hitzfelder
Herman Hitzfelder was born on August 8, 1889 on the Hitzfelder ranch on the Cibolo Creek in Comal County. His growing years were spent here playing with his brothers and sister or working in the fields. He attended school at Smithson and Green Hill and went through sixth grade. His favorite teacher was a Mr. Rosenburg who was the grandfather of Wilfred Rosenburg.
Herman's favorite school days story is one which involves this teacher. He, Herman, rode a donkey to school each day. The saddle he used on the donkey had a girth on each side. One day after school he was saddling his donkey for the ride home. Another boy, larger than Herman, came up to the donkey and loosened one of the girths. When Herman went around to tighten this girth, the boy loosened the girth on the opposite side.
This continued for some time when Herman finally became quite angry (and took out after the boy. He caught him, got him down and sat on top of him. Mr. Rosenburg, who had been watching all of this activity, looked sternly at the boy and said, "Ach! Little Herman gave you what you deserve."
Wanda Hitzfelder was born on the ranch at Spring Branch. She attended school at Spring Branch and after her graduation from this school attended s female college in San Antonio.
Herman and Wanda were married on November 19, 1912 at Spring Branch and they made their home in the house on the hill on the ranch.
A year later on December 13, 1913 a baby daughter was born to this union. The daughter was named Irene. Ten years later on September 13, 1923 Irene died suddenly. Other children born to this couple were Joyce, Gloria, Dorene, and Herman, Jr.
The couple moved into the big house when Mina Pfeuffer passed away and lived there since that time.
Many changes and improvements were made in the ranch by Herman Hitzfelder. Beck Place was added to the ranch, the big garage was built of lumber from the cypress trees at the river, the big barn was enlarged, and the small barn was built. The big house was remodeled, enclosing the upstairs and downstairs porches and the restrooms added. Up until now water was pumped to the house from the river. Now a well was dug, and plumbing was added to the house. The house was wired for electricity. The county road which once wound through the pasture was straightened and improved and a new Guadalupe River bridge built. The slab was built to link the Rye bottom on the other side of the river with the rest of the ranch.
When the Hitzfelders were first married it took a day to travel to New Braunfels to get supplies. It took two days to drive cattle to market in San Antonio. In those days fresh meats were brought to the ranch by way of a peddler's wagon and was bought in small quantities due to a lack of refrigeration. Jacob Schmidt came around in a wagon selling dry goods. In those days all the crops were harvested by hand and hauled by wagon. Today transportation, good roads and machinery have seen a tremendous change in a way of life on the ranch in one generation.
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