August tubbe
August tubbeAugust Tubbe paid his taxes every year until he was exempted by his age to pay the poll tax. He also cheerfully performed every duty to the best of his ability of a citizen of the United States. He served on juries, voted in the various elections held in his county, and held several positions of honor and trust. August Tubbe's name was placed by a large part of the people of Nacogdoches County on the ticket for County Judge. Not wanting to serve the county in that capacity, August Tubbe encouraged voters to select his opponent for the position. However, two years later, in 1892, the people of the district placed August Tubbe name on the ticket for Representative in the Legislature of Texas. He was defeated by only a very small plurality.
During the many years of residency in the United States, August Tubbe citizenship and loyalty to the country of the United States was never questioned until 1917 after 62 years of his residency in the United States. He considered himself a citizen and had evidence of a good record as a loyal citizen of the United States as well as any natural born citizen would have. August Tubbe professed to have done at all times everything in his power to uplift the country and her people morally and religiously as God gave him light to see it.
The German Emperor nor the German Empire was not in existence until seven years after August Tubbe left his birth place, Prussia. August corresponded with his sister who remained in Europe for only his first twelve years in the United States because his sister died the twelth year that August lived in the United States. August never participated in any correspondence with any German, German agent or German sympathizer at any time.
August Tubbe had children, grand children and great grand children, all of whom married native born citizens of the United States. Non of the spouses were of German decent. The German culture was never practiced or cultivated in August Tubbe's immediate or extended family. The German language was never spoken by the August Tubbe family in the United States and his children had no understanding of German.
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Ironically, August Tubbe was charged with being an Alien-enemy as the conflicts of World War I emerged. He denied these accusations emphatically and believed the charges to be
absolutely unreasonable. August tried to explain that all he had in the world was right there in Nacogdoches County, Texas. He questioned the authorities asking how could he be an enemy to that which he loved and upon which the very existence of his life depended. August stated that the idea was unnatural and in fact contradictory. He insisted that he had never been charged before with the violation of any law.
Helplessly August Tubbe submitted a request to the authorities stating his desire and prayer from his heart that he be granted the privilege...
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