USA > Maryland > Annual report of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, 13th-14th, Vol. II > Part 12
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the period from 1870 to 1876 a large number of Englishmen came to Albemarle, Orange and Nelson counties and bought farms. Most of these newcomers were young gentlemen from London and other large cities in England and possessed little or no experience in farming. They generally paid one-third cash of the price of their lands and, anticipating large profits, they agreed to settle the balance in one, two or three years. They invested the balance in costly improvements on their farms and when the restitute payments became due, there was in many cases no money on hand, and the former owners were well pleased to foreclose the indebted property; for they received their farms back with costly improvements made upon them
255 ) "Der Sueden," Jahrgang I, p. 60, No. 6. Richmond, Va., Feb. 8th, 1891.
256.) "Virginia," a Synopsis published by the State Board of Agriculture, p, 111, Richmond, Va., 1889,
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and gained besides the money already paid. With few excep- tions the unfortunate Englishmen returned to England, while the German settlers, who came at the same time, still remain here and have paid for and improved their farms. The former had come with the idea to lead the life of English country gen- tlemen, but the latter were determined to work and persevere. The sales made to the English thus proved more profitable to the Virginians than those made to Germans, whom they envy on account of their success." - "The opinion expressed in this correspondence appears severe, but is correct. However a new era is at hand and it brings a change of people and conditions. The old Virginian planters, who would rather starve than sell an acre of their neglected and indebted lands to a hard-work- ing foreigner, are gradually dying out and their heirs are less determined not to part with some of their surplus lands. Be- sides, the example given by the foreigners already settled in the State, is now stimulating the native element to renewed efforts and revives their dormant energy.
There are other causes that impede German immigration and particularly that of German laborers. Since the first settlement of the colony tobacco has been considered one of the staples of Virginia, but the Germans have not become acquainted to any extent with its cultivation here. This is a surprising fact, as the German farmers in other countries - in southern Germany and in the German colonies in Africa - are very successful in its growth, and as the export of Virginian leaf principally rests in German hands. There is but one explanation for the small part they take in cultivating the plant and that is, that formerly the work in the to- bacco-fields was exclusively done by negro slaves, and that the Germans did not desire to concur with them; while at the present time farm labor is scarce and wages much too high compared with the prices of farm products, tobacco in- cluded. The competition of the former slaves is the main cause in keeping white laborers at a distance, combined with the methods of the planters to treat them as they do their colored hands. We are not disposed to be placed on the same level as negroes, to be fed like them on corn-bread and
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bacon and to work for low negro-wages. These are the reasons given by white laboring men for their antipathy towards the South. The negroes know very well that the farmers depend on their labor, and it pleases them to let the white folks feel that they are now independent, free citizens, who can work or be lazy, just as they like. Very frequently the farmers are left deserted when help is most needed; the crops cannot be gath- ered in time and consequently suffer a partial or complete loss. "The negro is gregarious,""37) says the standing com- mittee of the State Board of Agriculture, "and prefers gang work on a railroad, or as a stevedore, or in a tobacco fac- tory, rather than the quiet, monotonous labor of the farm." This unreliability of the colored farm-hands explains why at present the German farmers do not grow tobacco, and at the same time why the German immigration is not as numerous as desired.
Grape culture is most successfully carried on by Ger- mans. In the vicinity of Charlottesville and Cobham, Albe- marle and Louisa counties ; near Front Royal in Warren county; near Afton in Nelson county ; at Haymarket in Prince William county; around Richmond in Henrico county and also in the counties Fairfax, Madison, Goochland, Appomat- tox, Brunswick, Greenville, Hanover, Lunenburg, Middlesex, Spottsylvania and Surrey vineyards have been planted by Germans or with the aid of German vintagers who are ex- perienced in viticulture. The first large and prosperous vine- yard was planted at the suggestion of an old Swiss, Sol. Sei- ler, in 1866 at Pen Park near Charlottesville by Wilhelm Hotopp.238) Mr. Hotopp was born at Celle in Hannover and came to America when a boy of eighteen years. He was for years a successful manufacturer in New Jersey, settled in Virginia after the conclusion of the Civil War and purchased the farm "Pen Park " near Charlottesville, once owned by the well-known statesman B. William- Wirth. There he planted his vineyard, and after years of prosperity he died May 4th, 1898.
257.) "Report of the State Board of Agriculture of Va.," p. 135. Rich., Va., 1838,
258.) "Albemarle," by W. H. Scamon, p. 55. Charlottesville, Va., 1898.
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Several Germans, who had settled in Albemarle, eagerly grasping for something more remunerative than corn, oats or tobacco, planted vineyards, and Englishmen and Americans followed soon after. In 1888 about three thousand acres had already been planted in Albemarle county. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Hotopp began to make his grapes into wine - red and white, - and finding a ready sale, some other grow- ers in the vicinity of Charlottesville in 1873 resolved on co- operation and formed the " Monticello Wine Company " un- der the successful management of Mr. Adolph Russow, a native of Holstein. Other German establishments are: F. Peters' Mill Parks Wine Company at Haymarket, Prince Wil- liam county ; Idlewild Vineyards of IT. Schuricht & Son, near Cobham in Louisa county, and Fritz Baier, Nelson county. Their wines are of the very best.
In fact the Germans are known to be successful in every branch of farming. They are excellent stock raisers ; the German dairies are remarkable for their neatness, and their gardens and orchards are kept clean of weeds and in model order.
At a mass-meeting of prominent farmers and truckers at Norfolk, Va., on February 21st, 1889, for the purpose of se- curing a sub-experimental station for Eastern Virginia259), a committee of eighteen was elected and among them we meet with the following German names: J. A. Whetsel (Wet- zel ?) James Wagner, C. Miller, Walter Jordan, A. C. Her- bert, etc. And only lately the present Governor, J. H. Tyler, has paid a flattering compliment to the German-Virginian farmers of the Valley by the appointment of Mr. George W. Koiner of Augusta county to be Commissioner of Agriculture. To a "Dispatch " reporter260) the Governor remarked :
"I do not think I could have gone to a more appro- priate section of the State for a Commissioner of Agriculture than the Great Valley of Virginia and the county of Au-
259.) Report of the State Board of Agriculture of Va., p. 39. Richmond, Va., 1888 260.) "Weekly Dispatch," Richmond, Va., Dec. 6th, 1898.
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gusta. I have been on the splendidly-tilled farm of Mr. Koiner. I was farmer enough to see he knew his business. He will get all the practical good possible out of the de- partment."
George W. Koiner, a member of the well-known Koiner family, is a little upwards of forty years of age - a live, energetic, up-to-date farmer. He represented Augusta county in the House of Delegates for two terms.
Absalom Koiner of Fisherville, Augusta county, is an- other member of the distinguished Koiner family. He was for several years a member of the State Board of Agricul- ture and in 1888 president of this body.261)
Dr. W. H. Ruffner, the first State Superintendent of Pub- lic Education in Virginia, wrote to the author of this his- tory, referring especially to the Germans in the Valley : "There are and have been a great many interesting and some · important characters among the Germans of Shenandoah and Rockingham, and much worthy of notice in their way. They are certainly the thriftiest people now in .Virginia and they are the leaders in popular education. . They have in fact a great future before them."
In the neighborhood of Richmond the farms of the late Major Lewis Ginter and C. L. Miller are known as model stock farms.
In conclusion it may be said, that the frugal and in- dustrious German farmer may today prosper here as well as did the German pioneer who settled in Virginia a century and a half ago.
261.) "Report of the State Board of Agriculture," pp. 1 and 5, Richmond, Va., 1888,
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CHAPTER XVI.
THE GERMAN CITIZENS OF RICHMOND AFTER THE WAR.
HE German population of Richmond was already pre- vious to the war the nucleus of the entire German element of the State, and it has ever since retained the leadership. After the fall of the Confederacy the German merchants and mechanics were in a state of numb- ness, the first effect of forlorn hopes and destructive blows. Many had lost all and momentarily despaired of future pros- perity, but very soon they roused themselves and by dili- gence, enterprise and perseverance they gained new wealth. They lost no time in repining, but addressed themselves im- mediately to the work of rebuilding upon the ruins, and in their success made a record that is unparalleled. The task before them was a herculean one, but they accomplished it in an incredibly short time. Several of those who left Vir- ginia at the outbreak of hostilities returned. After the great victories of the German armies in Austria and France in 1866, 1870 and 1871; upon the establishment of the North German Confederation, and most of all by the foundation of the powerful German Empire, the Germans and German-Vir- ginians were inspired with feelings of self-consciousness and pride and with an admiration of their people and Father- land heretofore unknown. This feeling of national self-re- spect soon found expression in a more active participation in political affairs. However this newly aroused enthusiastic ad- miration of the dear old Fatherland possessed nothing anti- American, but on the contrary instigated only to advance the condition of Virginia with truly German loyalty and piety.
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The devotion of the Germans to the State was manifest dur- ing the struggle for readmission to the Union. The Repub- lican party desired to control the vote of Virginia with the militia, the apparatus of the State government, and the vote of the freed men, and for this purpose they tried to impede the right of election of the white democratic citizens. In other words, the question was put: " If the intelligence and wealth. or the organized carpet-bagger and African ignor- ance should control the State?" and the German voters held the decisive vote.
No doubt this was cause for anxiety ; the unequal dis- tribution of illiterates throughout the Union might be a source of national peril. The following table, compiled from the census of 1870, will sufficiently disclose this fact :
Voting population of the United States 7,623,000
Illiterate male adults in United States 66 former slave States 2,775,000
1,580,000
former slave States 1,123,000
Per cent. illiterate voters in U. S. to entire vote, 20
slave States 45
.€ States not slave 9
66
South Carolina .
59
Illiterate voters in Southern States (white) 304,000
(colored) 819,000
This table will make apparent that forty-five per cent. of the voters of the Southern States were unable to read their ballots and that the illiterate vote involved great dan- ger. It threatened the white population of the South with an unbearable terrorism of ignorance.
The majority of the German citizens of Richmond counted to the moderate Democrats. They had accepted the final re- sult of the war and faithfully submitted to the laws of the Union. Their leader was Prof. G. A. Peple. A compara- tively small number of Germans was connected with the Re- publicans and their leader was Hermann L. Wiegand.
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On June 5th, 1868, a German mass-meeting was held at Dueringer's Park to discuss the new Constitution of the State and the elections on hand. Prof. Peple addressed the assemblage and several resolutions were adopted, condemning the military rule since 1864 and the unlimited favors bestowed on the negro element. Although not one in the large assembly was an advocate of slavery, it was resolved :
" We are proud to be of German descent and we reject with indignation as an insult to be placed on equal political and social footing with the negroes just extracted from the mire of slavery. We consider it as sacrificing the nation, to force the white population of the South under the rule of a half-civilized and inferior race."
This resolution was unanimously adopted; even the Ger- man Republicans voted for it. All of them adhered to the opinion of the "Declaration of Independence," which is the Magna Charta of American liberty, stating: "That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." But they considered as a crime against civilization to expose them to the danger of negro rule and they predicted that negro suffrage would break down American reverence for the ballot-box and lead to bri- bery and fraud in conducting elections. This peril was also recognized by . Anglo-Americans and even by leaders of the Republican party. It was clearly apparent to the mind of General Grant, when he recommended: "to exclude all il- literates from the right of suffrage by constitutional amend- ment." President Hayes also revealed his conviction of the danger in several of his messages to Congress.
The result of the elections in 1868 was, in consequence of the German vote, a decided victory for the democratic candidates. Mr. Lovenstein was elected member of the Legis- lature, -after Prof. Peple had declined to be a candidate, - and until his death he represented the district either in the House of Delegates or in the Senate. The Germans also voted against the Clause 4, Sect. 1, Art. 3, and against Sect.
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6, Art. 3, " test oath " or "" iron oath," as it was called, by which those should be deprived of the right to vote, who had served in the Confederate army, or who had in any way, even only by business transactions, been connected with the Confederate government.
The German citizens of Richmond again took a very active part in the elections of 1870. Two Germans were candidates for the office of Commissioner of Revenue: Isaac Hutzler and Julius Fischer, and the latter was elected by a. majority of twenty-five votes. A. Bodecker represented the city in the Legislature and within the last twenty-five years the following German-Virginians were members of the Board of Aldermen and City Council: Laube, Lohman, Louis Wag- ner, A. Bodecker, Eduard Euker, II. Metzger, F. Brauer, C. E. Brauer, G. Klein, Christian Zimmer, Chris. Thon, O. Gras- ser, H. Bodecker, Spangenberg, Lauer, Strauss, Charles H. Philips, S. L. Bloomberg, Jos. Wallerstein, Wm. Zimmermann and F. C. Ebel. In 1894 Ch. Philips was chosen city treas- urer and he was reelected. without opposition in 1897.
The Germans and German descendants have also greatly assisted in the establishment and administration of the pub- lic schools. The good results of these efforts are shown by the fact, that in 1860, before the outbreak of the war, the total number of pupils in all the schools of the State was only 67,024,262) but in 1895-1896 the pupils enrolled in the public schools alone had increased to 360,133.263) Dr. Wm. H. Ruffner was elected the first State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1870 and he continued in this im- portant office for twelve years. In reply to an inquiry of the author in regard to his descent, he answered: "I take pleas- ure in saying that my father was of pure German stock, though American born.264) And his son, A. H. Ruffner, wrote: "The first Ruffner ancestor who came to America, is
262.) International Exhibition 1876, by Francis A. Walker, p. 90. J. B. Lippincott &·Co., Phila., 1878.
263.) Report of the Commissioner of Education, 1895-1896, Vol. I, p. Ixi. Wash- ington, 1897.
264.) Correspondence of Dr. W. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Va., October 2, 1890.
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said by our family history to have been the son of a Ger- man baron, who lived in Hanover, Germany. He came to Virginia about one hundred and fifty years ago and owned a large tract of land on the Hawksbill creek near Luray. Father is the author of the Virginia School Law. Geology is now his profession. He is the son of Dr. Henry Ruffner, for many years President of Washington and Lee University in Lexington. Father has always taken great interest in Germans and Germany, so much so that his family often laughs and tells him, that he shows himself a true son of the Fatherland."265) Dr. W. H. Ruffner was born at Lexington and received his excellent scientific education at Washington and Lee University. He afterwards studied theology at the Union and Princeton Seminary and for some years officiated as preacher in Philadelphia. Dr. Ruffner wrote several essays on social and political questions and after 1870 devoted himself to education. By numerous lectures and articles published in the newspapers he materially aided to arouse the interest of the public for public instruction. Dr. Ruffner was editor of the " Educational Journal of Virginia " and associate editor of the "New England Journal of Education." The Kuffner family certainly numbers among the most prominent of the State. We copy from the U. S. Educational Report of 1895-1896, Vol. I, page 270, the following right creditable, well deserved and highly interesting statements :
" While this college (the Washington and Lee University) never contributed to the cause of popular education, yet through its president, Dr. Henry Ruffner, it made a most re- markable protest against the institution of slavery, that defied the unanimity of sentiment that prevailed before the Civil War. His son, Dr. William H. Ruffner, was the first State Superin- tendent of Education of Virginia; still the most notable southern educator of late enlisted in the cause of the people's school, the Horace Mann of the South."
The introduction of German instruction into the public schools of Richmond has repeatedly been agitated, but not suc-
265.) Correspondence of A. H. Ruffner, Lexington, Va., October 3, 1890.
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cessfully. German is only taught in the High School, but not in the Grammar or lower grades. The German press of Rich- mond has repeatedly urged its introduction in the lower grades, where it would benefit the mass of the pupils. An excellent article published in " Der Richmond Patriot," July 23d, 1869, entitled " The Public Schools and the Germans," (Die offent- lichen Schulen und die Deutschen), and signed Dr. A. S. B., deserves special comment. In the fall of 1886 the author of this history lectured in "Saengerhall " under the auspices of the Gesangverein " Virginia," and advocated the support of the National German-American Teachers' Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recommending also the organization of an Educa- tional Association, the aim of which should be the introduction of German instruction into the public schools ; the support of German private and parochial schools and the establishment of German Kindergartens. "The more you do to keep alive the German spirit, the more inviting our State will be to German immigrants; they will feel at home where their native tongue is spoken," he argued.266) A committee composed of Hermann Schmidt, Henry Wenzel, G. A. Peple, H. C. Boschen, H. L. Wie- gand, R. Wendenburg and B. Heinrich was appointed and au- thorized to take action, but nothing was achieved.
Again, in his oration at the German-Day celebration, 1896, the same orator advocated267) : "Not to cultivate unfair Ger- man notions, but to enable German parents to educate their children with the assistance of the mother tongue, which they naturally command better than any other idiom ; that they may become intelligent and faithful Americans! For this noble aim we must not cease to demand : that the German language be taught in our public schools wherever the German element is sufficiently numerous to justify this measure, as for instance in our Richmond. Our Anglo-American fellow-citizens must take into consideration how helpless their wives would be in their educational task, if left to influence the mind and heart of their children only through the medium of a foreign language."
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266.) "Virginische Staats Gazette," Richmond, Va., Dec. 22, 1886
267.) "The Times," Richmond, Va., September 16, 1896.
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German church life has prospered in the city of Richmond during the last three decades, and the statement of the New York historian, Anton Eickhoff268): "In the German church in Richmond the English language is used," is unfounded. There are also, instead of one German church, two Protestant and one Catholic church, and also a synagogue of German Is- raelites in the city ; and the statutes of the German Evangelical St. Johannis Community expressly state :
"§ 5. In all the regular divine services on Sundays and holidays, in the meetings of the community and the presbitery, in all records and the parish register, the German language shall be exclusively used."269)
Reverend Hoyer, previously mentioned in Chapter XII, was succeeded in office as pastor of this congregation by Reverends Schwarz, Blenner, W. Ide, Dr. Carl Scholz, Eduard Huber, R. A. John and, since 1886, Dr. Paul L. Menzel. During the pas- torate of Rev. Huber the new church building corner Eighth and Marshall streets was erected and the community joined the German Evangelical Synod of North America. About three
A school hundred families are embraced in this community.
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was established and children of all creeds admitted. During the pastorate of Rev. John a pretty schoolhouse was built on Eighth street, between Broad and Marshall. The number of pupils ex- ceeded one hundred, and a German teacher, assisted by two lady associates, was employed; but in 1888, on account of ill- luck with the teachers and discord among the members of the community, the school was discontinued. In place of it a Saturday school, principally for tuition in German and singing, was instituted, which is attended by about sixty pupils, in- structed by the pastor. A Sunday School is also connected with the church and is frequented by about three hundred pu- pils. An association of the ladies of the church, the "Frauen- Verein," has contributed large sums of money for charitable purposes and about twelve thousand dollars for expenses of the parish and the payment of building debts. Another association
268.) "In der Neuen Heimath," von A. Eickhoff, p. 203. New York, 1884.
269.) Statuten der Deutschen St. Johannis Gemeinde zu Richmond, 1889.
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of young ladies, " Der Tabea Verein," has like purposes for its object and its contributions have amounted to about four thou- sand dollars. The reestablishment of the day school is not al- together abandoned. § 69 of the statutes of 1889 says: "to maintain and to cultivate the German language and German customs, to educate the youths to become respectable members of the community and to make secure thereby its continued existence, a day school shall be kept if possible." A great honor was conferred upon this community and its pastor in 1898. The Emperor of Germany invited the Evangelical Sy- nod of North America to designate one of its members to parti- cipate in the consecration of the Protestant church (Erlöser- Kirche) at Jerusalem, as his Majesty's guest. The Synod elected Dr. Paul L. Menzel delegate.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Community has also prospered. The Reverends L. Lochmer and F. Dreyer officiated within the last decades and at present Rev. C. I. Oelschlager is pastor. The new church building, Sixth street near Clay, was finished in 1868 and the old church adjoining the new building was converted into a schoolhouse. Previous to the opening of the public schools the enrollment was from eighty to one hundred pupils, but since then it has decreased to thirty or forty. The instruction is given by the pastor and a lady teacher. In 1889 a Sunday school was organized, which is visited by eighty or ninety pupils. A ladies' association (Frauen- Verein) has contributed large sums for charitable works and the support of the parish, and in conjunction with the commu- nity at large it furnishes the means for the theological and pedagogical education of one of the members' sons of the com- munity. Two pastors and two teachers educated at the expense of the association and church are already in office. Rev. Chris- tian Jonathan Celschlager, the present pastor, is a German- American. His parents came from Wuertemberg and he was born 1849 in Pennsylvania; he graduated at Columbus, Ohio, and holds his present office since 1883.
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