MARIA AUGUSTA IMME VON BLUCHER
Maria Augusta Imme came to this state so soon after Texas passed from the stage of a Republic to that of Statehood she was truly a pioneer of the City of Corpus Christi, of Nueces County, and of Texas, for she made this place her home from 1849 until her death in 1893.
She was the daughter of the owner of a large brass manufactory in Berlin, Prussia, in Germany, and was reared in an atmosphere of culture. She studied music under Franz Liszt, the great composer; she was an accomplished linguist; and as a young lady was known as "The Belle of Berlin."
She numbered among her friends the young man, Gustav Richter, whose paintings later brought him fame. He painted and presented to her a picture of her pet dog, "Stint," which painting is at present in the possession of her son, C. F. H. von Blucher.
In 1849 Maria Augusta Imme married Anton Felix Hans Hellmuth von Blucher, recently returned to his native country of Germany after several years in the young Republic of Texas. While in Texas he had modified his name to Felix A. Blucher. Forsaking her comfortable home and congenial surroundings, the young bride set out with her husband for the distant land across the sea. She took with her on this trip her beloved piano, as well as many beautiful pieces of chinaware and other personal possessions. The emigrants landed at New Orleans, and soon after sailed for Corpus Christi, arriving on July 4, 1849. On the same vessel there came to Corpus Christi another pioneer woman, Mrs. Conrad Meuly, who was returning with her infant daughter to her home in Corpus Christi. The friendship formed on this voyage was destined to bring the two families into very close relationship in later years.
By way of contrast with the life of comfort and ease so lately left behind, the young bride encountered conditions that were at first very trying. The pioneer home was so small that it would not accommodate all of the furniture, much of which, including the piano, was kept in the outdoors under a tree. The kitchen was established under two trees, a mesquite and large hackberry. Under these primitive surroundings Mrs. Blucher began the making of "a home in the wilderness." Little by little the home was enlarged. It was situated at the location still occupied by her descendants at what is now 123 North Carrizo Street, the entire tract composing the original Blucher home place being an eight-acre plot bought from Colonel Kinney. Six children were born to bless this early home; one died while yet a baby, and the other five grew to adulthood and lived their entire lives in this city, two of these children, Miss Julia A. v. Blucher and Charles F. H. v. Blucher, being at the present time still living in Corpus Christi.
Mrs. Blucher had little leisure, but in spite of the demand of household cares she managed to keep up her music. She was much sought after for concerts and musical festivities, to which she graciously donated her services. At different times she served as organist for the Catholic church and for the Presbyterian church. She taught piano for many years, and at one time she was connected with the McCumber School in the capacity of teacher of music and Spanish, which language she had mastered in her adopted homeland. She also had a private studio for music just north of the present Methodist Church, in the old Patchin home.
Many of the present older Corpus Christians were her pupils in either music or language. Mrs. R. R. Savage, now living at 524 North Carancahua St., studied Spanish and mathematics under Mrs. Blucher, and Mrs. Savage’s daughter, Mrs. Lottie Savage Hackler, was her music pupil. Mrs. Selma Lichtenstein Levy, Miss Amelia Meuly, Miss Katie Ricklefsen and her sister, Mrs. Rayburn Savage, and Mrs. Charles v. Blucher, all living in Corpus Christi, were also her music pupils. She also had a few pupils in French and German. Emil Lichtenstein, well-known to many Corpus Christians, was one of her pupils of German.
In her home she was a devoted mother and a thorough housekeeper. She became a most excellent cook, converting the meager supply of viands at hand into the most tasteful dishes. Such easily obtained products of the soil and the field as Spanish dagger flowers, lamb’s quarter, parsley, dandelion leaves, prickly-pear leaves (nopalitos), and the occasional spindly unheaded cabbage, also cottontail rabbits, land turtles, wild ducks, etc., became appetizing dishes under her skillful cookery. During the Civil War at Christmas time one year, as there was no flour to make cakes, she made some out of starch — little cakes that were cooked in pans set in the coals. They were fairly good, though of a light blue tinge; however, the children did not object to the color but ate them hungrily, taking cornmeal coffee as a beverage.
Leisure moments were filled with embroidery, beadwork, etc.; when such work was done at night it was accomplished by the light of a crude homemade candle. She also made beautiful quilts and hand-hooked rugs of fine workmanship. She had a large collection of beautiful potted plants, which she cultivated with great care and attention. As school facilities were scarce, Mrs. Blucher devoted some of her time to teaching her children the principal elements of primary education, music and language. The textbooks, sent over from Germany, were all in the German language — except the blue Webster speller. This home education was later dropped and the children were sent to such private schools as the town afforded.
Mrs. Blucher was a true helpmeet to her husband, Felix A. Blucher, whose career as pioneer, patriot and public-spirited citizen will be recounted at a later date. She met with courage the dangers of the wild, new land. She withstood the struggle of war, the plague of disease, and the varied hardships that always accompany the creation of civilization as we know it. She contributed high ideals of character, devotion to home and to duty, high standards of education and social life, and a strong and lovable personality. — Ref. Times, Nov. 14, 1935.
Source:
DeGarmo, Mrs. Frank. Pathfinders of Texas, 1836-1846. Austin: Press of Von Boeckmann-Jones., Co., 1951.
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales