The Klein Family History involves many German families who settled in Texas 
and California in the 1800s, including Dreyers, Neddenrieps, and Heimsoths.

Stephan Klein and his family were among the First Founders of New Braunfels, 
arriving  with Prince Solms and the first wave of German settlers in 1844 to 
the Republic of Texas.  The Kleins were from the village of Hattenheim, 
Germany on the Rhine River, famous for its wines.
 
Stephan was born in 1785 in Roxheim, Bad-Kreuznach, Germany, the son of Jacobi 
and Margaretha Klein. He married Margaretha Hoffmann,  and they had a large 
family of 12 children. 

Stephan's request to be considered for immigration is displayed  in the 
Sophienburg Museum:
"The request of the carpenter and vine-dresser, Stephan Klein, from 
Hattenheim, at the office of the Duchy at Eltville, for the release from the 
present trade for reasons of immigration to Texas, is granted for the asked 
for immigration for the petitioner and his wife and five children which shall 
emigrate with him and comprise his family. Request granted in' Wiesbaden on 
the 9th of September, 1844, by the Government of the Duchy of Nassau."
 
The five children who emigrated  were Joseph, Anna Maria, Jacob, Peter 
Valentin and Elisabethe. The family came to America on the brig Herschel in 
1844. They spent the winter on the Texas coast and then made the trek inland 
to the site that would become New Braunfels.  Daughter Katharina had already 
married Heinrich Schumann in Hattenheim, and they arrived later on the B. 
Bohlen brig in 1847.

Stephan received Town Lot # 41 and a 10 acre farm lot, # 107. The house is 
there today, next to the Naegelin Bakery on Seguin St.   Soon after Comal 
County was established as separate from Bexar County, Stephan Klein was 
elected one of the four County Commissioners.        

The settlers traded with the friendly Waco Indians, and one family story 
relates how young Elizabeth took one of her father's guns and aimed it at an 
Indian with whom her father was trading, nearly causing a riot and a 
stampede.  Stephan explained it was only a prank, all was fine, and she almost 
got a spanking.
 
The Klein daughters were mothers to pioneer families. Katharina was the 
grandmother of a large Schumann family. Anna Marie first married politician 
Carl Bellmer, and then married Johann Jahn, who became famous in the area for 
his furniture. Barbara married Andreas Eikel, a prominent citizen. Elizabethe 
married Dietrich Voges and also raised a large family. 

The Kleins moved to the banks of the Santa Clara Creek, with several other 
families, near the  present town of Marion.  Stephan's wife, Margareta, died 
in 1855, and Stephan died in 1857.  Both were buried on the Klein farm along 
with their son Peter Valentin. 

Joseph raised a large family, as did his son Rudolph. Rudolph's wife was 
Sophie Dreyer. Sophie's mother was Margaretha Heimsoth, and the Dreyers and 
Heimsoth families were from Hanover and settled in Texas and California.