Making St . Mary ’ s
by Katherine Hess
Back in 1900 , Margaret Koett of Ottumwa , Iowa became engaged to Louis Lambert Hess , originally from Burlington , Iowa . In 1873 at the age of 16 , Louis , fondly known as L . L . Hess , had followed his brothers John J . and Charles W . to Marathon , Texas . L . L . joined his brother J . J . in the mercantile business , for the Hess family had had a shop in Burlington . He and Margaret were both 33 years old at the time and both were devout Catholics .
14 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • May 2022