Pioneer helps build Immanuel Lutheran

Pioneer helps build Immanuel Lutheran

Written by Christopher Kincade Tuesday, 07 March 2006

William Bohls exemplified the pioneering spirit of the Europeans who settled into the Pflugerville area. When only 16, he stowed away on a ship from Olenburg, Germany arriving on the coast of Texas in 1843. About a year later, his father, Dietrich, stepmother Anne and brother Henry arrived at the port city of Indianola near Galveston.

Dietrich received 640 acres of land from the Fisher-Miller Land Grant, which was set up by the Republic of Texas to promote the settlement of Texas by Europeans from 1842-1844.  Unhappy with this land, they soon moved to what is now the Rosewood area of Austin and finally bought land around Bee Caves and Highway 71.

William eventually moved away from the family to the Pflugerville area to begin farming on his own. He also served as a private in a Mounted Calvary Division during the Mexican American War.

In 1852, William married Catherine Elizabeth Pfluger and they began farming on land south of present day Immanuel Lutheran Church and built their house near Gilleland Creek. They had six sons and three daughters.

The area was still inhabited by Indians in the 1870s when William had a life-changing experience. He and his stepbrother, Charles were down by the creek near his farm and noticed Comanche Indians riding toward them.  They crossed the creek at a shallow point and rode their horses along the creek forcing the Indians to remain on the other side since the creek was too deep for the Indians to cross. 

William felt like God had spared his life, and decided to donate five acres of land for the building of a church. Immanuel Lutheran Church opened in 1874, with William as one of the charter members. 

William’s oldest son was Henry and his son, G.W. Bohls, built the home that now houses the Heritage House museum. Interviewed for this story were Clarence and Treldon Bohls, Harriet Bohls-Hocker and Janelle Bohls-Hebbe, first cousins through Henry. Their great-great grandfather was William.

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