Louis Cachand Ervendberg

Louis Cachand Ervendberg was born in Herford, Prussia (now Germany), and emigrated to the United States, first to Chicago, and then, in 1840, to Houston where he established a Lutheran congregation. Later, he founded churches in the Frelsburg, Cat Spring, and Industry areas, finally settling north of New Braunfels, where he set up an orphanage following an epidemic. In addition to his ministry work, Ervendberg was involved in botanical collections in the Edwards Plateau, and agricultural experiments with wheat and tobacco. He corresponded with Asa Gray, the Harvard botanist, and also with other early Texas naturalists, such as Ferdinand Lindheimer.