Andreas and Anna Billimek, together with their six children sailed from Bremen, Germany on September 15, 1860 on the ship, Jeverlin, and arrived in Galveston, Texas on November 19, 1860. Ferdinand Billimek, told the story of the family being so overjoyed at the first sighting of land off the shore of Galveston, however, a sudden calm developed and then a gulf storm suddenly materialized, blowing them back out to sea. By the time the storm was over, it had caused them a three-week delay in reaching port. They traveled by ox-cart to the settlement known as Dubina where they greeted other families from Austria who had arrived several years earlier. Among there were Valentin Haidusek, Valentine Holub and Joseph Kahlich. After resting a few days, they proceeded on to the community of High Hill. These early pioneers were the first settlers in High Hill of the Catholic faith, and the story is told that they were so saddened by the fact that this first Christmas in their new land they were unable to celebrate Christmas church services in their accustomed manner. They heard of a Catholic settlement with a resident priest about 30 miles way called Frelsburg, so some of the men, Anton Bednarz, Franz Wick, John Schilhab and Andreas Billimek walked there, arriving in time to assist with the celebration the Christmas service. They succeeded in getting the priest, Father Gury, to come to High Hill for occasional Masses. Since there was no chapel available, he said Mass in people's homes. The first Mass was supposed to have been said in the log cabin of Andreas Billimek. In 1861 Andreas Billimek bought two tracts of land in Fayette County on the waters of the Navidad River, 13 or 14 miles south of La Grange; one of which contained 190 acres, the other tract contained 63 1/3 acres. He purchased this land from Jonathan C Farley for $1320.00, plus a promissory note for $200 at the interest rate of 2% per annum. A copy of this deed, #6718, is on file in the County Clerk's office.
Joseph and Ludmilla farmed in the High Hill, Fayette County area and were both very active in church and community work. They donated a memorial window in St Mary's Catholic Church in High Hill in 1899.
Anna Ripper|b. 22 JUN 1821\nd. 23 DEC 1893|p566.htm#i5655|Joseph Ripper|b. 1875\nd. 1959|p566.htm#i5660|Rosina Kleiber|b. 1878\nd. 1966|p566.htm#i5659|||||||||||||