This Texas Farm Homestead has remained in the Murski Family since being built of Long Leaf Pine and Cypress by patriarch, Jakub Murski, when he emigrated from Poland in the late 1800s.

Located just outside the city of Brenham on Old Independence Road, the home has been restored to retain its original flavor while offering the best in modern comfort.

The following is a brief history of the Murski Homestead, written by Pamela Murski, Innkeeper:

In the late 1800’s, this house was built by my husband, Thomas Franklin Murski’s great grandfather, Jakub Murski, Jr. What follows is an abbreviated version of the traditional account of the Murski family from Poland to America as told by Frank Murski (Thomas's great uncle), one of the sons of Jakub Murski, Jr.

As told by Frank Murski: “The first member of this family was my great-grandfather, whose original surname was Slowinski or Sowinski. He was a bodyguard to a Count Prince, a high government official and, as such, was considered a member of the nobility of those days.

”Slowinski met a young lady of the house of Murski. He fell in love, proposed to her, and was accepted. The young lady's father owned extensive real estate in the village of Murka (named after the Murski family). All of these holdings entitled the Murski family to nobility. Because the young lady's father had no sons, but desired that the Murski name continue to prevail over his property, he would consent to his daughter's marriage only if Slowinski changed his name to Murski. Slowinski accepted this condition and the couple married. Thus, the family tree of the new clan of Murski started.

”To this first marriage was born one son, Jakub Murski (1826-1903). There was a second marriage and other children were born. The Murski family lived on a farm in the community of Dziekanawice, District of Gniezno. After both mothers died, it became difficult to operate the family farm and the decision was made to sell the farm.

“At this point, Jakub Murski, son of the first marriage, married Josephine Kruslewski and 7 children were born, one of which was Jakub Murski, Jr., born 1864 in Dziekanowice, District of Gniezno. Jakub Murski, Jr. Landed in Galveston, Texas, about the year of 1884. He traveled to Brenham, Texas, in Washington County, where he managed some dairy farms the first four years. He married in 1888 and then purchased 150 acres. He then built the farm home in 1897 which is now called the Murski Homestead Bed & Breakfast. Jakub Jr. used this land for farming cotton. He planted the pecan trees in the bottom pasture when my father in law (Andrew Stanley Murski, now age 89) was just a boy. Jakub Jr. was Andrew’s grandfather.

“The patriarch of the Murski clan, Jakub Murski, Sr. (father of Jakub Jr., great-grandfather of Andrew Murski, and great-great grandfather of Thomas Murski), joined his descendents in America, in Brenham, Texas and lived at the farm until his death in April, 1903."

Murskis have lived in this home up until about 20 years ago, at which point it was used as rental property. In the spring of 2001, my husband Thomas Franklin Murski (great-great-grandson of Jakub Murski, Sr.) and I decided to preserve the family heritage and renovate the property to share with others in the form of a bed & breakfast. The home has been restored to the original structure, but modernized for comfort and convenience.