John Hermann Kampmann

Duane's take

The official marker in Bexar County tells this story, and here's how I tell it. John Hermann Kampmann. Remember that name, because before we're done, it's going to be carved into half the skyline of San Antonio.

Born to Peter and Elizabeth Kampmann, née Finniman, in Waltrop, Westphalia, young John Hermann completed three years of architectural training in Cologne. But here's the thing about this man: he wasn't content with blueprints alone. At age fourteen, he began a pragmatic study of interrelated vocational trades.

Carpentry. Masonry. Stonecutting.

He wanted to understand every layer of a building, from the foundation up. Then came three years in the Prussian Army. Then architectural projects sponsored by members of the German nobility.

By any measure, a man building a life with both hands. But Europe had other plans. Revolutionary unrest swept through central Europe in 1848, and that unrest motivated Kampmann to look west.

He stopped briefly in New Orleans, then sailed to Indianola, and arrived in San Antonio in May of 1848. Two years after that, he married Caroline Bonnet, also a German immigrant. Together they had five children.

He started as a stonemason. Worked those same hands he'd trained since he was fourteen. Before long, he became a contractor.

In 1859, he supervised the expansion of the Menger Hotel, working under architect John M. Fries. He invested in real estate.

He was building something larger than any single structure. Then the Civil War came calling. Kampmann was commissioned a captain, and he recruited and equipped Confederate Army volunteers himself.

He helped improve coastal defenses in Brownsville and Galveston. His infantry regiment fought in Arkansas and Louisiana. He was promoted to major before the Confederate surrender, and at La Grange he managed production of army materiel.

When the war was over, he came back to San Antonio. Of course he did. He resumed his enterprises and opened a door, window-blind and sash company, because a man like Kampmann does not sit still.

Now here is where the city really starts to take shape around him. His influence in construction can be seen in the old Lone Star Brewery, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the German-English School, the Casino Club, the Eager House, the Kampmann Building, and St.

Joseph's Catholic Church. That is not a portfolio. That is a city.

And then there's the Menger Hotel again. In 1877, Mary Menger hired Kampmann to renovate the original hotel and initiate a forty-room addition. He had supervised its expansion back in 1859, and now he was reshaping it again.

Then, upon retiring in 1881, Mrs. Menger sold the hotel to Kampmann himself. The man who had once worked its expansion as a contractor became its second owner.

He died in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And even then, the story wasn't quite finished. A special train transported his coffin back to San Antonio, the city he had spent a life building, for burial at Alamo Masonic Cemetery.

Some men leave a mark. John Hermann Kampmann left a skyline.

What the marker says

Born to Peter and Elizabeth (Finniman) Kampmann in Waltrop, Westphalia, John Hermann Kampmann completed three years" architectural training in Cologne. At age 14, he began a pragmatic study of interrelated vocational trades, including carpentry, masonry and stonecutting. Following three years in the Prussian Army, Kampmann focused on architectural projects sponsored by members of the German nobility. Revolutionary unrest in central Europe in 1848 motivated him to immigrate to North America. Stopping briefly in New Orleans he then sailed to Indianola. Kampmann arrived in San Antonio in May 1848. Two years later, he married Caroline Bonnet, also a German immigrant. Together they had five children. Kampmann worked as a stonemason for several years before becoming a contractor. He supervised the 1859 expansion of the Menger Hotel under architect John M. Fries, and invested in real estate. Commissioned a captain during the Civil War, he recruited and equipped Confederate Army volunteers. After improving coastal defenses in Brownsville and Galveston, his infantry regiment fought in Arkansas and Louisiana. Promoted to major before the Confederate surrender, Kampmann managed production of army materiel at La Grange. Returning to San Antonio, he resumed his enterprises and opened a door, window-blind and sash company. His influence in construction may be seen in the old lone star brewery, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, the German-English School, Casino Club, Eager House,Kampmann Building, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In 1877, Mary Menger hired him to renovate the original Menger Hotel and initiate a forty-room addition. Upon retiring in 1881, Mrs. Menger sold the hotel to Kampmann, who became its second owner. He died in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A special train transported his coffin to San Antonio for burial at Alamo Masonic Cemetery.