Wilhelm Thielepape
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Carl August Thielepape (July 10, 1814 – August 7, 1904), was an architect, engineer, teacher, photographer, and lithographer. He was Mayor of San Antonio, Texas
during part of the Reconstruction era, and later an attorney in Chicago, Illinois.
, Germany
to Werner Philipp and Elisabeth (Thompson) Thielepape. He married Mathilde Gössling in 1841.
Following graduation from a Gymnasium in Kassel
, he attended various universities during the 1840s.
colony accompanying Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
from Germany
. After participating in a tour of the eastern and central United States in 1850, Thielepape settled in Carlshafen (Indianola
), Texas as a surveyor.
hired Thielepape, to plat and lay out Encina, the town later known as
Uvalde, Texas
. For a short time, Thielepape lived in Comal County
where he designed the 1860 courthouse.
On April 2, 1858, he was among the organizers of the San Antonio's German-English School.
In 1857, Thielepape designed the San Antonio Casino Club on Market Street, which opened in 1858.
The club had its beginnings as a social gathering in 1854 in the home of Carl Hummel. When the club was chartered in 1857, its membership consisted of 106 German Texan
men. The Market Street location hosted family entertainment, balls, social gatherings, music, activities, lectures and plays. Thielepape was a tenor who also founded the Beethoven Männerchor (men's choir) on February 23, 1867, to preserve German song, music, and language. He conducted the Beethoven Männerchor at the Casino.
Wilhelm Thielepape was among those who raised the Union flag over the Alamo
on July 21, 1865, and who also passed out wine and songbooks in celebration of the Union victory. The four-month delay between the end of the Civil War
in April and this celebration is not long in light of the 2½ years between the Emancipation Proclamation
and the news of it being delivered in Galveston
.
Thielepape was appointed Reconstruction Mayor of San Antonio on November 8, 1867. In his tenure as Mayor, Thielepape's administration built bridges, laid macadam streets, and strengthened the public schools. On March 12, 1872, Thielepape was removed from office, but he remained active in the community.
In April 1874, Thielepape turned the Beethoven Männerchor over to Andreas Scheidemantel.
to participate in the building boom that followed the Great Chicago Fire
. By 1887, he was an attorney with the Germania Life Insurance Company in Chicago
. He died in Chicago on August 7, 1904.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
during part of the Reconstruction era, and later an attorney in Chicago, Illinois.
Early years
Wilhelm Thielepape was born July 10, 1814 in Wabern, HesseHesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to Werner Philipp and Elisabeth (Thompson) Thielepape. He married Mathilde Gössling in 1841.
Following graduation from a Gymnasium in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, he attended various universities during the 1840s.
Arrival with Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Thielepape arrived in Texas in 1844, with the first AdelsvereinAdelsverein
Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas, better known as Adelsverein , organized on April 20, 1842, was a colonial attempt to establish a new Germany within the borders of Texas.-History:...
colony accompanying Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels
Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels , was a German prince and military officer in both the Austrian army and in the cavalry of the Grand Duchy of Hesse. As Commissioner General of the Adelsverein, he spearheaded the establishment of colonies of German immigrants in Texas...
from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After participating in a tour of the eastern and central United States in 1850, Thielepape settled in Carlshafen (Indianola
Indianola, Texas
Indianola is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The community, once the county seat of Calhoun County, is a part of the Victoria, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a...
), Texas as a surveyor.
Uvalde County and Comal County
On May 2, 1855, Reading Wood BlackReading Wood Black
Reading Wood Black , was the father of Uvalde County, Texas and city of Uvalde, Texas, which he founded as the town of Encina. In 1979, Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 4209 was placed in the Hillcrest Cemetery to honor Reading Wood Black. In 1997, Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 4208 was placed...
hired Thielepape, to plat and lay out Encina, the town later known as
Uvalde, Texas
Uvalde, Texas
Uvalde is a city in and the county seat of Uvalde County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,929 at the 2000 census.Uvalde was founded by Reading Wood Black in 1853 as the town of Encina. In 1856, when the county was organized, the town was renamed Uvalde for Spanish governor Juan de...
. For a short time, Thielepape lived in Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
where he designed the 1860 courthouse.
San Antonio
Thielepape moved to San Antonio in 1854.On April 2, 1858, he was among the organizers of the San Antonio's German-English School.
In 1857, Thielepape designed the San Antonio Casino Club on Market Street, which opened in 1858.
The club had its beginnings as a social gathering in 1854 in the home of Carl Hummel. When the club was chartered in 1857, its membership consisted of 106 German Texan
German Texan
German Texan is an ethnic category that includes residents of the state of Texas with German ancestry who identify with the term. This identification may include cultural agreements—German language, German cuisine, feasts, music, hard work, frugality, and close family ties. From their first...
men. The Market Street location hosted family entertainment, balls, social gatherings, music, activities, lectures and plays. Thielepape was a tenor who also founded the Beethoven Männerchor (men's choir) on February 23, 1867, to preserve German song, music, and language. He conducted the Beethoven Männerchor at the Casino.
Wilhelm Thielepape was among those who raised the Union flag over the Alamo
Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a battle fought during the Texas Revolution.Alamo may also refer to:-Places:*Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas*Alamo, California*Alamo, Georgia*Alamo Township, Michigan*Alamo, Nevada*Alamo, New Mexico...
on July 21, 1865, and who also passed out wine and songbooks in celebration of the Union victory. The four-month delay between the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in April and this celebration is not long in light of the 2½ years between the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
and the news of it being delivered in Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
.
Thielepape was appointed Reconstruction Mayor of San Antonio on November 8, 1867. In his tenure as Mayor, Thielepape's administration built bridges, laid macadam streets, and strengthened the public schools. On March 12, 1872, Thielepape was removed from office, but he remained active in the community.
In April 1874, Thielepape turned the Beethoven Männerchor over to Andreas Scheidemantel.
Chicago and later years
Thielepape then moved to ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to participate in the building boom that followed the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
. By 1887, he was an attorney with the Germania Life Insurance Company in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He died in Chicago on August 7, 1904.