Boerne, the county seat of Kendall County, was platted in 1852. Gustav Theissen bought 1100 acres of land and his friend John James platted the townsite on the north side of Cibolo Creek. August Staffel opened the first Post Office and stagecoach stop at his home at the edge of the creek. He had stables for the horses to be changed or refreshed. On the creek east of the Staffel establishment William Dietert built a dam to power a sawmill and gristmill. William sent for his younger brother, Heinrich, to join him in his business enterprise. Heinrich built his home on the south side of the creek near the dam.