The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 74, July 1970 - April, 1971 Page: 450

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

the people against the grasped privileges of the favored few in the
Wyoming Stock Growers Association.
The book is organized so as to touch briefly on every topic of the
cattle industry, with additional emphasis on particular subjects. The
author shows a deep sympathy for the days when the Last Frontier
was disappearing, days long since gone but well remembered.
North Texas State University A. RAY STEPHENS
Texas Is the Place for Me: The Autobiography of a German Immi-
grant Youth. By Carl Urbantke. Translated by Ella Urbantke
Fischer. (Austin: The Pemberton Press, 1970. Introduction, il-
lustrations, index.)
This exciting autobiography is a fine addition to Texana. The life
story of this hard-working immigrant furnishes a commentary on a
number of aspects of life in the last half of the nineteenth century in
this fledgling state. Four of these will be of special interest to a
large number of readers.
First, the personal characteristics of honesty, thrift, and a willingness
to do hard physical labor, so pronounced in the life of Reverend Carl
Urbantke, are primary sources of this nation's greatness. Personified
in the life of this man, they cannot help but inspire the reader.
The second social aspect the author emphasizes should interest all
Methodists, especially those with a German-language background since
the Methodist Church served settlements of German-speaking peoples
in Texas through the establishment of the "Texas Mission Conference."
This later developed into the "Southern German Conference."
Throughout this difficult early period, the personal sacrifices of Rev-
erend Urbantke and his fellow pastors enabled the Church to minister
effectively to these people.
Another group of readers will be particularly interested in the po-
litical situation during the Civil War and in its effects on the religious
life of Texas. The friction within the Methodist Church during this
period resulted from the controversy over the question of slavery.
Reverend Urbantke made every effort to maintain the spirit of broth-
erhood during these trying times, to unite the factions within the
Church, and to rid it of the spirit of bitterness.
The fourth aspect, Reverend Urbantke's work as an educator, should
have a special appeal to those interested in early Texas education.

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