A Texas Pioneer

by August Santleben

August Santleben was born in 1845 in Hanover. Just three and a half months later his parents decided to leave Germany to emigrate to America. The family settled in Medina County, Texas, and Santleben grew up experiencing life on the wild American frontier. His book, A Texas Pioneer, is often revered as one of the greatest frontier memoirs of the Old West. Through the course of the text Santleben recounts tales of staging and freighting through Texas and Mexico and clashing with Indian, Mexico, and American thieves. It is a book that transports the reader to the world of the nineteenth century frontier when life was tough and frequently short. No student of western literature or the history of Texas and Mexico should miss this thrilling truthful account. August Santleben was a German born frontiersman who spent the vast majority of his life on the Texan-Mexican border. His book that recounts this period, A Texas Pioneer, was first published in 1910. Santleben passed away the following year in 1911.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1910

Reviews

[Avis Black]

The author operated a regular stagecoach line transporting freight, passengers, mail, and even livestock between San Antonio, Texas, and Monterrey, Mexico right after the Civil War. Santleben had the concession all to himself, mainly because no one else wanted to take the risk. He has a lot of harrowing stories about having to fend off, shoot it out with, or escape from Mexican bandits and Indians. He frequently carried large sums of gold between banks or merchants, and he was a continual target for those looking to make some quick cash. Recommended if you want to get a feel for how crazy and lawless the southwest could be.

[Wesley Frizzell]

An good read for those who enjoy early Texas history. A bit repetitive, but Mr. Santleben's contribution to the development of Texas was interesting nevertheless.

[RONALD GOVER]

Good reading

Told a story of old Texas that I had no idea about. Good reading and I will be sure to pass it on..

[C.]

Found this e-book on Barnes & Noble instead:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-te...
(The Amazon link went to a blank page with a picture of a dog.)