Skrobarczyk Family Wooden Trunk

This rough-hewn trunk contained the belongings of the Joseph and Johanna Skrobarczyk family when they immigrated to Texas. Skrobarczyk made the trunk from mulberry wood before leaving Silesia, Poland in 1855. The Skrobarczyk family sailed on the Hamburg with 31 other families to settle in Panna Maria.

Families began immigrating to Texas from Poland in 1854 at the suggestion of Father Leopold Moczygemba. Father Leopold had come to Texas in 1852 to minister to German-speaking Catholics living in Texas and encouraged his four brothers and their families to join him. The Moczygemba families moved to Texas in 1854, bringing along 96 additional families and encouraging subsequent waves of immigration. After an arduous sea voyage and overland trek, the first group of families arrived at their new home 60 miles southeast of San Antonio on Christmas Eve. To mark the occasion, they celebrated Mass under a grand oak tree. The tree still stands outside the church in Panna Maria today.