In 1851 Johann Christian Sternberg arrived at the Port of Galveston with his parents, a couple of aunts & uncles, some siblings and even one grandparent. Christian was 4 years old. His family first settled in Washington County, moved on to Fayette County and finally to Travis County where he died. He was a very successful farmer and land owner. Many church records in Mecklenburg, Germany were discovered through the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copies of these church records will eventually be made available through this website. The church records provide documentation of the family's births, deaths and marriages. These church records are now available online at Ancestry.com and other genealogy websites. Martin Edward Duesterhoeft landed at the Port of Galveston in 1852 also with several family members. Although he departed Hamburg, Germany, he was born and raised in an area of Prussia that is now Poland. Church records from Skoki, Pozan, Poland provide the information of his family and ancestors. Martin settled in Washington County and lived out his life there.