In His Footsteps The History of Wilhelm Friedrich Eduard Klier 1834-1907

The "Klier" roots were transported from Muenster, Germany to Texas with the arrival of the immigrant ship Barque Franziska in Galveston on December 6, 1849. Aboard was 14-year-old Wilhelm Klier, founder of the Klier Family in Fredericksburg, Texas and his 24-year-old brother-in-law, Julius Schlickum.

Wilhelm Klier became an American citizen and was a Union sympathizer during the Civil War; he survived the Battle of the Nueces which is detailed in Letter #8. The Confederates arrested Wilhelm, and he was almost hung at Prison Town in Boerne, Texas. Wilhelm was conscripted into the Confederacy and endured the Civil War. After the Civil War, Wilhelm Klier married Ida Striegler and 14 children were born to this union. Wilhelm Klier was honored by the Former Texas Rangers Association for his service at a Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Dedication on June 19, 2021.