USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 75
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
A. Ronge ; surveyor, C. H. Beck; coroner, Dr. F. Lambach ; county physician : Dr. C. L. Barewald, Dr. E. O. Ficke; members of the board of supervisors: L. Rogge, Leonhard Litscher, H. J. Wulff, Peter Schwartz, Henry Schroeder, Theo- dore Gasseling, Julius Sander. This list is also necessarily incomplete.
IN THE MUSICAL WORLD.
The Germans of Scott county have been eminent in many fields, and es- pecially have the German women done great service in the elevation of the plane of social life. Large German festivities and social occasions have reached tri- umphant conclusion through the ennobling efforts of German women. In the musical world also, especially in the realm of vocal music, our German ladies have been especially prominent on innumerable occasions. To record all the names of those eminent in music would be utterly impossible and should the attempt be made, it would be easy to accuse incompleteness and even favoritism.
In instrumental music also Davenport has achieved brilliant results. More than nine-tenths of the professional musicians here have at all times been Ger- mans. This proportion holds when a tri-city musical organization is formed, as of the 170 members of the Tri-City Musical Society, 150 are Germans. Among the directors of recent times who have won especial prominence are Ernst Otto and Albert Petersen. These came to the front after the already mentioned pioneer leader of instrumental music, Jacob Strasser had retired on account of advanced age. Among the most noted instrumental soloists have been Hugo Toll, Henry Sonntag, William Paarmann, Oswald Stark, William Barthel and many others. In former years such musical artists as Charles Beiderbecke, Gustav Schlegel, Theodore Cramer and Hugo Braeunlich took first rank. In this connection we must also name Messrs. Bahns, Haas, Toenniges, Restorff, Wernentin, and Lep- per. Until very recently the most widely known Davenport director was Theo. Rud. Reese, who a short time ago removed to Omaha for residence, where he is working in the interest of the approaching great fest of the Saengerbund des Nordwestens. Besides this there must be mentioned the Davenport Zither club which under the direction of Albert K. Fahrner has given us many excellent concerts.
Two of the leading lady vocalists of present-day Davenport are Mrs. Hilda Matthey, and Mrs. Lilli Stibolt-Hanssen. Among the solo-pianists of note are Mrs. Bruning-Starbuck, Miss Olga Schmidt, Miss Meta Lerch, etc. Among the noted portrait artists are Karl Schmalhaus, Miss Carrie Decker and others.
* * * * *
Among the German chorus societies of the city the oldest is the Davenport Maennerchor. This organization was founded in 1851, and celebrated its golden anniversary May 26, 1901, at Schuetzen Park most successfully, the attendance being about 5,000 and a delightful program of vocal and instrumental music rendered. Other musical organizations in Davenport are the Gesang Section of the Davenport Turngemeinde, the Northwest Davenport Liedertafel, the Ger- mania Saengerchor, etc. From these societies a mass chorus of from 100 to 200 voices has been formed to take part in the great saengerfest in Omaha. Much good work has also been done by the Arbeiter Gesangverein, Vorwaerts, under
FREIE DEUTSCHE SCHUT 6
THE FREE GERMAN SCHOOL
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
whose auspices the Bundes Arbeiter Saengerfest was held in Davenport in June, 1907. Mention has also been made of the extraordinarily successful saen- gerfest of the "Bund des Nordwestens," that was held in Davenport the latter part of July, 1898. On this occasion it was an American, and more still, a Davenport girl, who achieved the highest triumph by her solo work-Miss Poddie Ross. Splendid success was also scored at that saengerfest by Miss Bertha Sonn- tag and Miss Pauline Woltmann, the former of Davenport, and the latter of our sister city, Rock Island. The united male choruses of this fest sang with magnificent effect. Davenport musicians also won great honor. * * * *
* *
The dedication of the music pavilion in the Schuetzen park brought together a larger number of people than had ever before assembled on a similar occa- sion in the history of Davenport. On that day, June 9, 1895, this naturally beautiful scenic park was visited by 10,000 people. The next largest assembly of the people that Davenport can boast was at the Bundes-Kriegerfest in the '80s. This was also held at Schuetzen park.
THE FREIE DEUTSCHE SCHULGEMEINDE.
The organization named in the heading is the successor of the "Freie Deut- sche Schulverein" which was founded in Davenport as early as the year 1853. For the last named society, Messrs. J. H. True and J. S. Kahrmann worked for many years and with fine results. German teachers in private schools up to the '70s were William Riepe and Carl Gertzen and others. The old association transferred its property to the Freie Deutsche Schulgemeinde, which was founded in the year 1897. This transfer was made after a site had been acquired and a building erected through the efforts of these members: Dr. Carl Matthey, John F. Bredow, Henry Vollmer, Emil Geisler, Adolph Petersen, W. W. Wahle, Chris- tian Goettig, Albert J. Jansen, M. Goettsch, Theodor Falk, A. Richter, Theodor Hartz and others. The transfer was approved by the citizens in general, who gave willingly and generously to the enterprise. The "Freie Deutsche Schule" through its Sunday sessions, its vacation and evening schools in which instruc- tion is given in the German language and other branches has accomplished much good. At the present time lectures in the German language are given regularly for the children. As the German language is taught in the public schools it is difficult to maintain a regular German school in Davenport, nevertheless there are several parochial schools where instruction is given in German. Free thought is the basis of all instruction in the German Free school. At different times be- quests of considerable size have been received by this school organization. First in importance among these was the legacy of the old German citizen, Matthias Frahm; another considerable sum was that given by Mrs. Louise Krause in memory of her father Ezekiel Steinhilber, one of the oldest German settlers of this neighborhood. Other bequests have been received from Henry Koehler and H. Riessen.
Among those instructors who have given the children informing lectures are : Dr. P. Radenhausen, Prof. J. H. Paarmann, Albert J. Jansen, H. E. C. Ditzen, Mrs. Antonie Falk and Mrs. M. Speetzen. Mrs. M. Silberstein leads the children in Ger-
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man songs. The work of the Freie Deutsche Schulgemeinde has been of noticeable importance of late years and of great practical value. This is shown by the large number of German immigrants who have learned their first English in these classes, and have been through this instruction able to fill responsible positions in large business houses where a knowledge of both German and English is required.
GERMAN ORGANIZATIONS IN DAVENPORT.
Among the German organizations of our city the Davenport Turngemeinde takes front rank through its numerical strength. It was founded in the year 1852 by thirteen German men, among whom were Christ Mueller and Louis Hanssen. The membership is now between 600 and 700. The Davenport Turn- gemeinde belongs to the North American Turnerbund, founded in the year 1850. Two of the biennial meetings have been held in Davenport, one in 1884 and the other in 1902. The number and character of those in attendance at these meet- ings impressed all Davenport. August 24 and 25, 1902, the Davenport Turn- gemeinde celebrated its golden anniversary, the greater part of the festivities taking place in Schuetzen park, with an assembled attendance ranging from 6,000 to 8,000. On that occasion Turner C. A. Ficke gave the principal address. This fest left a great impress upon those who participated. Three festal days of equal importance were those whereon the new Turner hall was dedicated, May 17-19, 1888. Even a cursory description of this series of events would take too much space. The Davenport Turngemeinde hopes in time to come into possession of the large building which is its home, and to discharge all liabilities still resting thereon. The gymnasium over which the admirable turning teacher, Wil- helm Reuter has presided for more than thirty years is spoken of in terms of greatest praise all over the United States. From this school have gone forth many admirable turners who have won for themselves honors in the fair field of open contest furnished by the North American bund. The Davenport Turnge- meinde has done much to sustain liberal ideas. The German song has been cul- tivated in this association, formerly under the leadership of Reese and at the present time under Ernst Otto. The association has a good German library, and has fostered German sociability. The Northwest Davenport Turnverein which was founded August 5, 1871, and has about 200 members, owns its own hall, has its own organization and in every way holds fast to turner principles. A strong branch of the bund is the East Davenport Turnverein which also owns its own hall.
Besides the organization of the war veterans of 1848-1850, the Kampfgenos- sen, already mentioned, there exists in Davenport a strong Kampfgenossen- Verein of 1870-1871 who erected a memorial shaft in Washington park, Septem- ber 8, 1907, and dedicated it with appropriate festivities. Another organization of German soldiers is the Deutscher Kriegerverein which has a large member- ship and has done much to sustain the German language and German customs.
An association which owns its own hall is the Claus Groth-Gilde. The es- pecial mission of this society is the aiding of its members in need of help through sickness. There are a number of German mutual aid societies all of which have
MEMORIAL OF KAMPFGENOSSEN-VEREIN OF 1848- 1851 IN WASHINGTON SQUARE
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
a large membership roll. Their names are : Germania, Teutonia, Columbia, North- west Davenport, West Davenport, Black Hawk, St. Joseph's, etc.
German lodges are also not a few. There is for instance the German Order of the Harugari, which is represented locally by a strong lodge, the Hermann lodge. To this order also belongs Hertha lodge, for ladies. The order of Hermann's Sons has two lodges in this city, Davenport Lodge, No. I, and the Eintracht Lodge, No. 3. Many other lodges and numerous social organizations exist, whose names cannot be given for lack of space.
A German society of more than ordinary importance is the Davenport Schuet- zen-Gesellschaft, which has more than 200 members. This society is the owner of the beautiful Schuetzen park, previously mentioned, where is held its regular shooting tournaments, for prizes. In this park concerts have been regularly given in the summers for thirty years or more. The social life which formerly obtained each Sunday in the park has been greatly injured by the working of the state compulsory laws, hated by all good Germans, these laws having especi- ally strict provisions for the first day of the week. But the park will always remain a much loved place through its providing opportunities for social en- joyment in most beautiful surroundings.
There still remains to note that all German societies, lodges, etc., formed some three years ago a closer alliance through the organization of the German-Ameri- can Central association of Davenport and Scott county. This has regular quar- terly meetings at which the membership of from 3,000 to 4,000 are represented by delegates. This local central organization is a member of a state association and this in turn is a member of the strong national association, at whose head as president is the excellent organizer, Dr. Charles John Hexamer. The state association was organized the past year. For the organization of the local cen- tral association whose president is now Henry Vollmer, especial credit is due to the well known turner and eloquent orator, Gustav Donald and Dr. A. Richter, editor-in-chief of the local daily German paper, Der Demokrat; also, John Ber- wald, J. F. Grant, P. N. Jacobsen, Sr., E. Hugo Schmidt, and several others.
From this newly organized state association, for whose founding Peter Kuehl of Manning labored indefatigably, much that would be a blessing to the country may be hoped. The especial problem to be solved is mollifying the severity of the Iowa compulsory laws which scoff at common sense. As the writer of this article said in his anniversary edition of the Iowa Reform, "The whole population of this state should remember that the freedom which made this land of America great must be wholly won back and held in high esteem, that liberty, right and the dignity of mankind may be preserved."
A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION.
In the foregoing article, which was somewhat hurriedly arranged, I have endeavored to write a little memorial for the German immigrant and his direct descendant which is well deserved. It has already been said that this writing has been kept as free from fault-finding as possible though at times it might not have been out of place. For the object set before me was to picture the services rendered by the German-American. During the last years blame, and at times
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
very unjust blame, has not been wanting for the German population of Scott county, Iowa.
As in numerous publications designed to advertise Davenport, little or no reference is made to the part taken by the Germans in building Davenport and bringing the surrounding country to a flourishing condition-because of this- the foregoing portrayal, made with the utmost possible exactitude, may not seem irrelevant or wholly out of place even if it might be regarded as a hymn of praise.
One thing more should be especially emphasized, that the German popula- tion is held, or rather the German-American citizens are held in high esteem by the cultured American and by the cultured foreign citizen of other than Ger- man extraction. On the whole great harmony exists, which we hope may con- tinue and help Davenport to attain in the greatest measure possible the end for which she is now striving-to take rank with the other great cities of the Mis- sissippi valley, St. Paul, Minneapolis and St. Louis.
And even if the Germans of this locality have not always accomplished the ends for which they have striven, yet have they reason to be proud of the many successes, such as the introduction of the German physical training in the public schools and the teaching of the German language in these schools. It is true that the teaching of the German language is but small in comparison with that of English, the language of the country, but, as has already been said, the American frequently recognizes the value, yes, even the necessity, of learning the German language, and the Germans all learn to speak the English language fluently, so that one danger only remains-that the direct descendants of the Germans shall neglect and forget their mother tongue with its rich heritage of German thought. To offset this regretted neglect may it come about that the good qualities of the German people be taken up by the American nation and built into American char- acter and in this way be perpetuated for all time.
H. R. CLAUSSEN
CHAPTER XXX.
A FORCEFUL INFLUENCE.
THE GERMANS OF DAVENPORT AND THE CHICAGO CONVENTION OF 1860-THE PART THOSE WHO OPPOSED KNOWNOTHINGISM PLAYED IN THE PARTY PRELIMINARIES LEADING UP TO THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN-THE DAVENPORT RESOLUTIONS OF MARCH, 1860-GERMAN STRENGTH RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT THE LAND-WITH BATES OUT OF THE RACE ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE STRONGEST COMPROMISE CANDIDATE.
By F. I. Herriott, Professor of Economics, Political and Social Science, Drake University.
Among the decisive events in the history of the United States none excel in dramatic effect and few equal in vital consequences the action of the national republican convention at Chicago May 18, 1860, in selecting Abraham Lincoln as the candidate of the republican party for the presidency. In the party prelim- inaries in various states antecedent to the assembly of the delegates at Chicago and in the actual deliberations and decisions of that epoch-making convention, the Germans played a not inconsiderable part-a part that so far as the writer knows has never been particularly referred to or realized by either German or American historians or by biographers of the leading candidates. The national fame acquired by Mr. Carl Schurz in the preliminaries of 1859-1860 and the distin- guished role played by him at Chicago have been frequently commented upon ; but specific reference to, or appreciation of the definite, if not decisive influence of the Germans in determining the final action of the majority of the delegates in choosing the nominee, has been conspicuous by absence.
The reason for such nonappreciation among Germans as well as among Americans lies in the fact that the part played by the Germans at Chicago and before was indirect and negative rather than direct and positive. In the main they favored a candidate who was not successful and they actively opposed an-
[The writer desires to express his obligations to Dr. August P. Richter, editor of Der Demokrat, for innumerable courtesies and invaluable assistance in furthering his searches for data.]
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
other candidate who was likewise unsuccessful. In the actual work of securing Mr. Lincoln's nomination they apparently had but little part. In the writer's judgment, however, it was their decided, outspoken and irrepressible opposition to Horace Greeley's favorite candidate that forced the anti-Seward forces to entertain the nomination of Abraham Lincoln as a compromise. In the move- ments leading up to that conclusion at Chicago the Germans of Iowa had a con- siderable influence in which the Germans of Davenport were first and foremost.
On the evening of March 7, 1860, the German Republican Club of Davenport held a special meeting in the German theatre. It seems to have been somewhat of a mass meeting to which all Germans who affiliated with the republicans, or who concurred in opposition to the extension of slavery, were invited. The one chiefly moving in bringing about the meeting appears to have been a "forty- eighter," a one-time member of the Prussian parliament, Mr. Hans Reimer Claussen, one of the most forceful and influential citizens of Davenport, both before and after the Civil war. In general association with him, if not backing and immediately following him, were Messrs. Theodore Guelich, Henry Lischer, Theo. Olshausen and Henry Ramming-all closely connected with the publica- tion of Der Demokrat. The presiding officer of the meeting was Mr. Ramming ; the secretary was Mr. Christian Kauffman. A detailed account of the discus- sion or of the proceedings is not extant but the results thereof are indicated in an extended series of solemn "Whereases" constituting the Preamble to a short, pointed, unequivocal resolution, which was "unanimously" adopted. The sub- stance of the action taken at the meeting is briefly indicated in the following sum- mary :
"Whereas, the New York Tribune, a widely circulate newspaper of great in- fluence, has recommended Edward Bates of Missouri as the most available re- publican candidate for the presidency ;"
"But," the resolution proceeds to say, the career of Edward Bates has dem- onstrated that he was not and could not be regarded as a true and safe republi- can. He had in 1856 supported for president, Millard Fillmore-a candidate who had approved the 'American' platform which would have confined the honors and emoluments of government in this country entirely among the native born ; a platform which would have extended the period of probation for foreigners antecedent to naturalization and American citizenship to twenty-one years. He had supported Fillmore when he knew or should have known that his candidacy was designed to defeat the election of John C. Frémont, the former's election being 'evidently impossible.' Moreover, but recently before, Mr. Bates had op- posed, according to current report, the election to congress of Francis P. Blair, Jr., of St. Louis, and had cast his vote for a pro-slavery Know-Nothing.
Equally serious, Edward Bates was reported to have declared that he would "execute the fugitive slave law," a report that he had allowed to go uncontra- dicted, for the reason no doubt that as he had formerly owned slaves and lived in a slave state, the report fully accorded with his views. The "horrible crimes committed in Kansas" had outraged "the consciences of the people of the north" but Mr. Bates' course, his votes and his influence, had put to naught the "strenuous efforts" of the republicans to defeat the fruition of the schemes of the pro-slavery leaders respecting that territory.
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Finally, because the convention in Missouri that proclaimed him a candidate for the nomination of the Chicago convention for the presidency had "an over- whelming majority" of the pro-slavery known-nothings therein who naturally would not have urged his nomination if his views were contrary to their wishes and as his advanced age (67) precluded the probability of any material modifica- tion of his views or conduct, should he attain the office of president, thus render- ing him incapable of "faithfully and vigorously" executing "republican princi- ples in the impending crisis, Therefore, be it"
"Resolved, that the nomination of Edward Bates as the republican candidate for the presidency would imply a desertion from republican principles, and that we, therefore, under no circumstances will vote for the Hon. Edward Bates."
Another section directed the officers of the meeting to commuincate the reso- lutions to the republican papers of Davenport and to the Scott County Republi- can Club.
The significance of the action of the German republicans of Davenport at that meeting, March 7, 1860, and of the reception accorded it in Iowa and in other states will become apparent when the numbers and ratios of the native and foreign born in Iowa in 1860 are appreciated. Then, as now, the foreign born consti- tuted a very important part of Iowa's population. The total number of the in- habitants amounted to only 674,913. The foreign born numbered 106,081, or 15 per cent. The Germans constituted 38,555, or 36.3 per cent of the foreign born or 5.7 per cent of the entire population; while the Irish numbered 28,072, or 26.4 per cent of the foreign born or 4.1 per cent of the whole population. The ma- jority of the foreign born lived in the eastern portion of the state, chiefly in the river counties and for the most part in the cities. Thus they constituted 32 per- cent of the population of Allamakee county, 42 per cent of Dubuque county, 28 per cent in Clinton county, 36 per cent in Scott county, 21 per cent in Des Moines county and 22 per cent in Lee county. It is obvious that if the political party in power in Iowa at that time had its lease of office by a close margin that the Ger- mans and Irish easily held the balance of power and it behooved party managers to court their favor assiduously.
The republicans were in complete control of all departments of the state gov- ernment, legislative, executive and judicial; and their champions represented the state in both houses of congress. But they maintained their supremacy by no secure grip. They had elected R. P. Lowe, governor in 1857, by a majority of only 2,949 votes. The next year the party majority increased to 3,349, but in 1859 after a most strenuous campaign Samuel J. Kirkwood was elected governor by a lessened majority of only 2,964, a decrease of 11.5 per cent. With such a narrow margin the support of the Germans was of vital consequence to the republican leaders of Iowa; and just then the sons of Germania were restless, suspicious and not disinclined to be contentious.
Prior to 1856 the Germans, like the Irish, on coming to this country generally joined the democratic party because its attitude toward the foreigner generally was liberal and ingratiating-the Martin Koszta affair in 1853 especially winning their admiration and adherence. The tide of virulent antiforeign prejudice and bigotry in the form of know-nothingism that swept over the northern states be-
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tween 1853 and 1856 naturally confirmed them in their inclinations toward the party in power at Washington. The aggressions and arrogance of the slavocrats however, the enforcement of the fugitive slave law, the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1854 whereby the Missouri Compromise was repealed, the atrocities in Kansas and the Lecompton frauds and the persistent oposition of the democratic party to the passage of the Homestead bill with liberal provisions for unnaturalized foreigners caused the Germans great distress. They had left the fatherland largely because of governmental oppression. Slavery was abhorrent to their prejudices and they began to desert the democratic colors and ally themselves with the new and waxing antislavery party that gathered under the republican standards.
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