From: Father Wore Gray, by Lela Whitton Hegarty, published by Naylor Co.

, 1963
XI
Frederick Jaggi
Elizabeth and Katherine Jaggi

Father was born April 15, 1838 in Strasbourg, France, a beautiful city situated on the Rhine
River at the German border. His parents were wealthy, and he never suffered the hardships of the
peasants and lower classes in France. He was sent to a traditional private school in Strasbourg
until he was ten years old although Napoleon had established a system of education for the entire
nation consisting of elementary, secondary, and superior schools, which he hoped would abolish
private education in France.
For nearly a century, all Europe seemed to be in a political upheaval. In 1793 Napoleon
overthrew the monarchial system of government during the French Revolution. Then he set up
the First Republic in 1794, and then the First Empire in 1805 which he ruled to 1814. Napoleon
was overthrown, and a monarchial government was re-established which lasted to 1848. During
the political unrest in the 1840's many people from France, Germany, and other countries in
Europe immigrated to the United States of America, which offered the better opportunities for
freedom, happiness, and wealth.
Godfred Jaggi Immigrates to Texas
Grandfather Godfred Jaggi and Grandmother with their seven children decided to immigrate to
Texas which offered peace, freedom, happiness, and greater opportunities for their children in
many fields of endeavor. In 1848 when Father was ten years old, the family sailed across the
Atlantic Ocean and into the Gulf of Mexico to a little port called Indianola, Texas. There was
very little to see as the port had a few warehouses build near the wharf, an inn or two, and
several shanties in which people lived. After spending a few days in an inn to rest after the long
ocean voyage, Grandfather secured ox carts to transport the family from Indianola to San
Antonio, Texas. They loaded the family, a few household goods, and food supplies in several ox
carts, and began the long tiresome overland trip to San Antonio. The country was sparsely
settled, but the quaint houses, cacti, and mesquite trees amused the children; and the older
children often walked beside the carts. They learned how to ford a stream, and that was a new
experience.
San Antonio was a small town with adobe, rock, and frame houses, and there were many
Mexicans living in the town. The Alamo had not been rebuilt as it is today after the Texas
Revolution in 1836, and San Fernando Cathedral was the largest church in the town.
Nevertheless many families from Alsace-Lorraine, France were living in San Antonio, and they
got acquainted with them immediately. These families spoke French and German too, and the

children were sent to private schools and grew to adulthood in San Antonio.
War Clouds
At the time the Jaggi family arrived in Texas, war clouds were hovering over the United States,
and slavery was being discussed in Congress and in all state legislatures in the Union. They
could not get mail from Europe regularly, and it took patience to live in a wild, undeveloped
country. Father was a friendly man and loved people and people loved him. He was a genial
fellow who gave laughter to his family and friends. San Antonio had a good band and Father was
made the drummer. He had a talent for music and there was music in his soul.
The War Between the States
The War Between the States began April 12, 1861; and Father enlisted in San Antonio, Texas, in
Captain John A. Wilcox's State Troops, Alamo Rifles, August 20, 1861. He was assigned to an
army wagon train which hauled supplies and passengers to and from San Antonio to
Bracketville, Texas. He drove a prairie schooner drawn by six big mules which was the
passenger wagon for the Confederate officers. The disposition of the mules often provoked
thought and tested his ingenuity. Father never fought any battles, but the job of driving a prairie
schooner loaded with officers and baggage was an interesting experience and sometimes
harassing. Father's saddest experience happened at Bracketville. His older brother, Philip, was a
baker during the war at Bracketville. One very cold morning he got up at 4:00 a.m., dressed and
wrapped a woolen scarf around his head and was walking to the bakery when the sentinel called,
"Halt." Philip did not hear him, and he kept walking. Then the sentry shot him, and his death was
a great shock to the family, Father, and the military personnel at Bracketville.
Father's company organized a band and he was the drummer. They gave band concerts
occasionally to relieve the anxiety and break the monotony of war. They also gave concerts to
raise funds for the soldiers on the fighting front and the hospitals. The men and boys used their
old band uniforms they had before the war, and there were many colors and styles. Some of the
caps and hats were comical, but the regalia and uniforms did not interfere with the music which
brought happiness to many and joy to the performers.
After the War
When Father was discharged from the army in 1865, he decided to go into the real estate
business in San Antonio, Texas. The Southern States were in chaos and there was complete
disorder in San Antonio. However, the people soon began to make an inventory of the situation;
and after a year or two business improved, and he became a successful realtor. He met and
courted beautiful Mary Ann Becker whose parents came to Texas with Count Castro's colony in
1844 and settled at Castroville, Texas. He was infatuated with Mary Ann, and after several
months of courtship they decided to get married. Father had a large farm on which he built a nice
big house, and they lived on the farm. Today all of the farm is within the city limits of San

Antonio. There were five children born to them, namely: Katherine, Albert, Lewis, Frederick,
and Elizabeth. Father was a good husband and father, and we had a happy and harmonious home.
He was convivial and kept Mother and the children in a jovial spirit. The children were sent to
the schools in San Antonio, and all were educated. The boys followed in the footsteps of Father
and deal in real estate and we majored in music and teach music.
We have made several trips to Europe on summer vacations and have studied music in Austria.
When we visited Strasbourg, France, we made tours through the beautiful city where Father's
family had formerly lived and the places that he had described to us. Many of the old buildings
are still being used that were there in 1848, and we tried to relive some of Father's childhood
days.
Fred Jaggi, our brother, is a graduate of Southern Methodist University at Dallas, Texas. During
World War I he served gallantly, and was permanently disabled. Later he went into the insurance
business, although totally blind.
Our nephew, Lewis Jaggi Jr., served as a major during World War II, and two years of the time
were spent in the office of General Douglas MacArthur.
Father died January 3, 1910, and is buried in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery San Antonio, Texas.
Mother died July 20, 1944, and is buried beside Father.

Notes from Robyn Jagge Masrouri, March 2014:

Im noting the following inconsistencies with my research:
Frederic was born in Keffenach,16 Apr 1834, not in Strasbourg in 1838. Current town of
Keffenach is about 30 miles north of Strasbourg.
Frederics father is written here as Godfred but Alsatian records show his name was Philippe.
His mothers name is not given in this account.
Immigration records (ship list) show an arrival in New Orleans of 7 May 1853, not 1848. Travel
may have then gone through Indianola. Although there were a total of seven children, not all of
them traveled together (the ship list shows five children). The oldest son, Philippe most likely
arrived earlier in 1846 (he is on different ship list) and the oldest daughter, Caroline, had already
married in 1851 (to Frederic Darstein) and stayed behind in Keffenach.
The death of older brother Philippe took place on 15 Nov 1857, but not in Bracketville. A
military record shows he was at 'Ringgold' barracks which was a fort on the Rio Grande, current
site of Rio Grande City. This fort may have been shut down during Civil War times so the other
brothers (Frederick, George, etc.) may have been transporting goods and personnel to

Bracketville which is what the sisters were familiar with. The story they relate about how
Philippes death occurred does match what has been handed down in the Philippe Jagge branch.