Ignatius [Ignatz] Burda  1845-1906
Educator, Bookkeeper, Purchasing Agent, and Salesman

·        Born on January 31, 1845, in Raduń, Silesia, Poland

·        Son of Andreas Burda and Catharina Kowolik

·        Baptized on February 2, 1845,in Wiśnicze, Silesia, Poland
[Św.Trójcy, Wiśnicze, Poland, Baptism Record]             

·         Served as a German Cuirassier officer in the Garde du Corps Regiment of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz of the Prussian army in the war against France [photo in uniform below]

·        Arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a 27-year-old merchant on October 14, 1872, on a ship named Saxonia from Hamburg, Germany, Le Havre, France, Santander, Spain, and Havana, Cuba

·        Upon arrival in Texas, visited his brother, Franz Burda, in Yorktown
[Franz Burda family in Silesian Profiles II, pages 38-39]

·        Taught school briefly in Yorktown, Texas, before moving to San Antonio

·        Declared his intention to become a US citizen on June 15, 1877, in Bexar County [District Court Naturalization Papers, Box E #833]

·        Married Mary Bryś in San Antonio, Texas, on November 19, 1878
[St. Michael Marriage Records, pages 18-19, 3^rd entry]

·        Granted US citizenship on August 2, 1887, in Bexar County
[County Court Probate Minutes, Volume M, page 226]

·        Father of five children: four sons and one daughter

·        Was an amateur horticulturalist

·        In 1891, lived at 313 South Street in San Antonio, Texas, and worked as a bookkeeper for Angelo Battaglia,  a commission merchant

·        In 1893-1894, lived at 413 South Street in San Antonio, Texas, and worked as a bookkeeper for  another merchant, G.B. Boero

·        Acted as a purchasing agent for several wholesale produce merchants   

·        In 1900 Bexar County Census, gave his occupation as a traveling salesman of produce

·         Member of St. Michael Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas

·        Died on April 14, 1906, at the age of 61, in San Antonio; buried in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
[St. Michael Burial Records, page 230, 6^th entry]

·         Described as “…a well known traveling salesman who has lived in this city for the last thirty years” in his obituary notice.
[San Antonio Light, April 15, 1906, gives date of death as April 13, 1906, at 11:30 PM]

·        Dedicated in 1923: A stained glass window of Saint Ignatius in St. Michael Catholic Church with the inscription, 
“In Memory of Ignatius and Mary Burda and their son Joseph”

 Additional Sources:

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902.  M259, RG036. Rolls #1-93. National Archives, Washington DC
Polish Footprints, Summer 2001, page 81
The Polish Texans, Institute of Texan Cultures, 1972, page 24
San Antonio City Directory, 1891. San Antonio: Johnson and Chapman
San Antonio City Directory, 1893-1894. San Antonio: Jules A. Appler
Photograph of Ignatius Burda in uniform provided by Ron Burda, Gilbert, Arizona

Eduard [Edward] Michael Kotula  1844-1907
Prominent Merchant and Rancher 

·        Born on September 29, 1844, in Zyrowa, Silesia, Poland

·        Son of Carl Kotulla and Elisabeth Englert

·        Baptized on October 1, 1844, in Jasiona, Silesia, Poland
[Św. Marii Magdaleny, Jasiona, Poland, Baptism Record, page 50, entry #126]  

·        Arrived in Texas on December 20, 1855, at the age of eleven years

·        Became a Naturalized US citizen on November 25, 1869, in Bexar County

·        Married Wilhelmina Seng in San Antonio, Texas, on June 4, 1872
[Bexar County Marriage License #4127]

·        Father of five children: three daughters and two sons

·        Owned a large wholesale grocery store and wool commission house on Military Plaza in San Antonio, Texas

·        Known as the “Wool King of Texas”

·        Charter member of St. Michael Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas

·        Member of Catholic Knights of America and St. Albert Benevolent Society

·        Retired to his 40,000 acre ranch in Dimmit and Webb counties

·        Died on May 11, 1907, at the age of 62
[Bexar County Death Certificate, stamped #5498]

·        Buried in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
[St. Michael Burial Records, page 228, 2^nd entry]

·        Described as “a public spirited man” in his obituary notice which continued, “…the orphan asylums and churches, regardless of denominations, will mourn his demise on account of the many charities he bestowed on those institutions.”

·        Dedicated in 1923: A stained glass window of Saint Edward in St. Michael Catholic Church with the inscription, “In Memory of Edward Kotula” 

Additional Sources:

St. Michael’s Catholic Church: 1866-1966 Centennial, 15^th page
San Antonio Gazette, May 11, 1907, page 1
San Antonio Light, May 11, 1907, page 1, with photo
Silesian Profiles II: Polish Immigration to Texas 1850s-1870s, 2004, pp. 116-117
Photograph of couple from:  The Polish Texans, Institute of Texan Cultures, 1972, page 22