Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 159 of 894

144

INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.

to his banking interests, which were founded in 1874
upon the organization of the Galveston Bank
The Gulf, Colorado
the Galveston Wharf Company,
of which he
was a director for a long term of years, and for
three years vice-president, and the Galveston City
Railway Company, of which he was president in
1871. He was tendered re-election to the last
named position but declined to accept that honor
as other important business interests demanded his
attention. He was an active and influential member
of the board of aldermen of the city of Galveston
in 1871-72 and again in 1885-87. As a
result of his industry, strict application to business
and superior practical sagacity, aided by circumstances,
he succeeded in amassing a fortune of
about $1,200,000.00. He contributed to and
took stock in nearly every worthy enterprise. He
was keenly alive to the interests and especially
proud of the city of his adoption, manifesting
a deep concern in everything relating to its welfare.
Mr. Rosenberg was long known among his more
intimate acquaintances as a man of generosity
and great kindness of,heart, though he often times
appeared otherwise to strangers. "Henry Rosenberg,"
says an old and prominent citizen of Galveston,
"was one of the best men I ever knew.
He was pure, truthful, upright and just. He was
strict in business and demanded honesty in others.
He despised frauds and shams.
" In fact, he was cordial and companionable and
full of good nature in his social life. In the ordinary
business relations, he was exact and just,
but, impatient and aggressive when subjected to
unfair, unjust or unreasonable treatment, or demands,
from others. His superb gift to the children
of Galveston, the Rosenberg Free School
Building, erected in 1888, seating 1,000 pupils,
his donation to Eaton Memorial Chapel of Trinity
Church in that city and his erection of a church in
his native village in Switzerland attested his interest
in the cause of education and Christianity and are
the best remembered of his more important acts of
benevolence in which the public shared a knowledge
before his death. It was not, however, until after
his death and the provisions of his will became
generally known, that his character was fully appreciated."
After bequeathing to his surviving
widow, relatives and friends $450,000.00, he left
the remainder, about two-thirds, of his entire fortune,
to educational and charitable purposes, the
bulk of it going to the people of Galveston. After
remembering his native place with two bequests,
one of $30,000.00 and the other of $50,000.00, he
made provision for the city of Galveston as follows:
The Island City Protestant Orphans' Home,
$30,000; Grace Church parish (Protestant Episcopal),
$30,000; Ladies' Aid Society of the German
Lutheran Church, $10,000; for a Women's Home,
$30,000; the Young MIen's Christian Association,
$65,000; for a monument to the memory of the
heroes of the Texas Revolution of 1835-6, $50,000;
for drinking fountains for man and beast,
$30,000; and the residue of his estate to the
erection and equipment of a great free public
library.
The following extract from the residuary clause
in his will providing a large sum for a public library,
is pertinent in the latter connection: " In making
this bequest I desire to express in practical form
my affection for the city of my adoption and for the
people among whom I have lived for many years,
trusting that it will aid their intellectual and moral
development and be a source of pleasure and profit
to them and their children and their children's
children." The wisdom exercised by him in his
bequests is no less worthy of admiration than their
munificence.
Mr. Rosenberg's death occurred May 12th, 1893.
Every appropriate mark of respect was shown to
his memory in Galveston and his death was taken
notice of generally by the press throughout the
State. Now that he has laid aside his earthly burdens
he has left behind him on earth the imperishable
memory of worthy deeds.
No marble monument, stately monolith or princely
sarcophagus can add to the merits of such a man.