The Life and Legacy of Henry Rosenberg

, was born in Switzerland in 1824. He began working at age 17 in a textile factory and quickly befriended John Hessly (his employer’s son). He soon joined Hessly on his journey to Galveston in 1843 to pursue a partnership in a dry-goods store and wound up buying out Hessly’s shares in less than three years and becoming sole owner. Rosenberg thrived in Galveston and quickly became an active investor in banking, real estate and transportation.

In 1869, Rosenberg was appointed Swiss consul to Texas, a position that he held until his death. He served as director of First National Bank of Galveston in 1868 and expanded his influence in 1871 when he became president of the Galveston City Railroad Company. He served as chairman of the licenses and assessments committee, then a second term as the chair of the finance and revenue committee.

Rosenberg served on the city library committee and helped organize the Galveston Bank and Trust Company in 1874, serving as both its president and manager. He served as president of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company and as vice president of the Galveston Wharf Company from 1889 until his death in 1893. He was a supporter of Trinity Episcopal Church and contributed to the construction of Eaton Memorial Chapel in 1882. Later, he became an active member of Grace Episcopal Church and built the Rosenberg Free School, which he donated to the city of Galveston in 1886.

The depth of his devotion to civic contributions, however, would not be fully realized until his passing. His will stipulated that funds were to be provided for the construction of the Galveston Orphans’ Home (which now houses The Bryan Museum), a sizable endowment for Grace Episcopal Church, and funds to construct 17 drinking fountains “for man and beast” throughout Galveston. More than half of the original 17 fountains remain on the Island, perhaps the most impressive of which is on the corner of 21st and Strand, which features separate receptacles for people, horses and dogs. Many visitors to the Island make it their quest to find all nine.

Rosenberg’s will further provided money for the construction of a building to house the Galveston Men’s YMCA (unfortunately, torn down in 1954) and a heroes’ monument commemorating those who fought in the Texas Revolution (at the intersection of 25th and Broadway). Finally, Rosenberg bequeathed more than $600,000 for a free public library, the Rosenberg Library, which still serves Galveston today (the first public library in Texas).

He was married to Letitia Cooper from 1851 until her death in 1888. He then married Mollie Ragan Macgill in 1889. Both marriages were childless. He died in Galveston on May 12, 1893, and was laid to rest in Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, beside his first wife. His residence still stands at 1306 Market Street.