USA > Maryland > Annual report of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, 13th-14th, Vol. II > Part 15
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" Virginia; " speeches by invited guests, including Mayor Tay- lor's address ; song, "What is the German Fatherland ?" by the German-American Association's chorus; and the reading of a letter from Prof. Schele de Vere, at this time the only hon- orary member of the Association, acknowledging the compli- ment of his election. Then followed a comedy performance, and a ball and banquet concluded the entertainment.
On April 1st, 1895, the SOth anniversary of Prince Bis- marck's birthday was celebrated in Saenger Hall under the au- spices of the German-American Society of Virginia. Almost every German of Richmond city participated in the " Commers." Enthusiastic speeches were delivered by President von Rose- negk and A. Osterloh, Consul of Germany, and the entire large assemblage, arising from their seats, sang a "Festival Song " composed by Herrmann Schuricht.
The elaborate celebration of the sixth German Day, Septem- ber 12th, 1895, consisted in parade, oratory and song. The "Times " gave the following description :
According to instructions, those who desired to participate in the parade on horseback or in carriages, assembled soon after 9 o'clock on Broad street or thereabouts and half an hour later the aides of the President A. von N. Rosenegk reported at head- quarters. Everything worked smoothly and promptly at the minute fixed for the starting of the parade, for the bell at the Second Police station house had hardly struck 10, when Mr. A. von N. Rosenegk, the president, asked his aides to fall in line on Marshall street between Seventh and Eighth streets. This was done at once, and the parade started a few minutes later from the corner of Seventh and Broad streets.
The following is the order in which the participants in the big parade marched :
Marshal J. H. Blumelinck, Charles Gasser, W. Schmidt. President A. von N. Rosenegk.
Aides of the president and color-bearers on horseback, in dark clothes, white neckties, white gloves and silk hats. Aides : H. G. Miller, W. H. Zimmermann, E. Kersten, Louis Euker, C. C.
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Thon, J. II. Middendorf, Jos. W. Bliley, B. Wittkamp, II. !.. Hutzler, R. B. Felthaus, M. R. Fritosche, O. L. Brauer, Mar; Gunst, H. Graser, T. Schwanne, Aug. Boehling, Aug. Stille, ( . Werner, William Rueger. Color-bearers : II. Kramer, HI. Jan- ning, Charles Battige.
Blues' Band.
Marshals, Charles E. Loeffler and Joseph Stumpf.
Members on horseback.
St. Mary's Home Band.
Captain Chas. Hara and members of the Germania Pleasure Club, dressed in the old German costume, on horseback, acting as escort to the float.
A magnificently decorated float, arranged by Mr. M. Lind- ner. Upon a throne in the centre, and under a large canopy were seated Columbia, represented by Mrs. Charles Gasser, and Ger- mania, represented by Miss R. Weinbrunn, both appropriately and handsomely dressed. Behind each was stationed a page. and in front a herald, with trumpet. The float was drawn by six magnificently caparisoned horses, each led by a gentleman in continental uniform, and on each side of the float marched six gentlemen in old German costumes and halberds.
. The float was ten by sixteen feet, with a large canopy six by nine feet, and was by far the handsomest masterpiece in the line of decoration ever exhibited in this city. Heavy drapery was placed around the bottom of the float, intermingled with shields of satin and silk flags, bearing the American and German colors. while a variety of satin banners ornamented the top. The can- opy was curtained in red, heavily draped with a tinsel finish.
Festoons of evergreen were stretched from the bronze corner- posts of the float to the canopy, and besides there were other floral decorations in large number. The canopy was tipped off by a large brass eagle.
Then followed a large number of carriages, with ladies and gentlemen of various organizations.
The procession moved down Broad to Nineteenth, down Nine- teenth to Main, up Main to Sixth, up Sixth to Broad, and up Broad street to the Exposition Grounds.
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As soon as the grounds of Richmond College were passed President A. von N. Rosenegk lined up his aides on the south side of Broad street to have the parade pass them in review. Subsequently they brought up the rear, and about fifteen min- utes later everybody found accommodation within the gates of the Exposition Grounds.
Shortly before 2 o'clock the Music Hall began to fill with people, who were anxious to listen to the singing and the speeches that had been announced. The ladies were nearly all dressed in light summer costumes, and the sight was certainly a beau- tiful one to behold. Notwithstanding the excessive heat the hall was completely filled during the progress of the proceed- ings, and a good many others remained on the outside. Take it all in all, there must have been fully 4000 people present during the celebration.
In the centre of the back part of the big platform a dais had been erected on which were seated Germania and Columbia, the former represented by Miss Weinbrunn and the latter by Mrs. Charles Gasser. Miss Weinbrunn wore a heavy white satin dress with red tunique and black trimmings and the German eagle embroidered in gold on the front of the corsage. In her hair she wore a wreath of laurel and oak leaves. Mrs. Gasser also wore a white satin dress with blue tunique, in which the stars, representing the various States of the Union, were inter- woven. The bodice of the dress was trimmed with red silk, and on her head Mrs. Gasser wore a silk cap in the national colors. In front of Germania and Columbia sat the two pages, Johnny Krause, dressed in a pink suit and blue mantel, and Bernard Schott, dressed in pale blue. Between the pages little Anthony Schwane, Jr., found his seat, who was dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant of infantry of the German army. The orators of the day were Messrs. von Rosenegk, Ch. H. Phillips and William II. Zimmermann.
In September 1896 and 1807 the seventh and eighth celebra- tions of German Day were arranged in a similar manner in the new large Auditorium on Exhibition Grounds. Herrmann Schuricht, A. von N. Rosenegk, Rev. Dr. Paul L. Menzel and
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Rev. Dr. Eduard B. Calish. delivered the principal festive ora- tions. The assemblages again attained considerable proportions. The main part of the gatherings was composed of sons and daughters of the Fatherland, but many native-born Americans participated and all mingled together in a brotherly unity, which in itself proved the fraternal feeling existing between them.
In the beginning of 1898 the . meritorious president of the German-American Association of Virginia, A. von N. Rosenegk, resigned and Carl Ruehrmund was elected in his place. Under the supervision of the last-named the ninth celebration of Ger- man Day took place on October 6th, 1898, in Saenger Hall. During the afternoon a Juvenile Festival (Kinderfest) was hap- pily carried out and at night the official part of the celebration consisted in a concert, an address by President C. Ruehrmund, a theatrical performance and dancing.
No doubt the celebrations of " German Day " have success- fully served to keep alive in Virginia the individuality, feeling and thought, - the entire soul of the German element - com- bined with the true spirit of American institutions.
On August 9th, 1898, memorial services in honor of Prince Bismarck, " the artificer of the German Empire," were held at Saenger Hall under the auspices of the Gesangverein Virginia. The hall was full when the meeting was called to order, a few minutes after 9 o'clock, by Mr. Henry G. Miller, chairman of the committee which had arranged it. On the stage were a number of well-known Germans of the city, including Mr. Mil- ler, Mr. A. von N. Rosenegk, Rev. Dr. Paul L. Menzel, the ora- tor of the evening, and others. The decorations of the hall and stage were simple and tasteful, consisting of potted plants and combinations of German and American colors.
After prayer by Rev. Dr. Menzel, Mr. Miller presented Mr. A. von N. Rosenegk, the president of the society, who came for- ward and delivered a short address. In his speech he called at- tention to the following occurrence :
"Several years ago, as you know, the German-American
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Ladies' Aid Society was organized. They opened two wards in the Virginia Hospital. The ladies wrote to Prince Bismarck, requesting the permission to use his name for the male ward, and received the following highly honored reply over his auto- graph :
An
Frau ANNA VON NICKISCH ROSENEGK
Richmond, Va.,
Virginia Hospital, Corner Clay and Eleventh Streets, U. S.
Friedrichsruh, den 18. Mai 1895.
Die Benennung der in dem Virginia-Hospital neu erbauten Abtheilung nach meinem Namen ist für mich eine ehrenvolle Auszeichnung.
v. BISMARCK.
Mr. von Rosenegk continued: " The letter is framed and placed in the Virginia Hospital, and we here present will show the love and esteem we cherish, and express the sorrow we feel, by drafting resolutions of sympathy and transmitting them to his family."
These resolutions were presented by Mr. Miller and adop- ted, and after the singing of "Spielmann's Testament " by the Gesangverein chorus, the brilliant memorial address by Dr. Paul L. Menzel followed, which was the chief feature of the evening. Hereupon the meeting adjourned.
The German ladies of the city, ever alive to the interests of human sufferers, have organized in 1895, as previously men- tioned, a "German- American Ladies' Aid Association of the Vir- ginia Hospital," of which Mrs. W. Rehling is President ; Mrs. A. von Rosenegk, First Vice-President; Mrs. C. Oehlschlager, Second Vice-President ; Mrs. Bertha Haase, Third Vice-Presi- dent; Mrs. Adam Feitig, Fourth Vice-President; Mrs. C. Kin-
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dervater, Fifth Vice-President; Miss Emma Grimmel, Financial Secretary ; Miss Catharine Phillips, Recording Secretary, and Mrs. Chas. H. Phillips, Treasurer.
On the 30th of May, 1895, the "Times " published for the benefit of the Hospital a large "Woman's Edition," to which Herrmann Schuricht, of Louisa county, and Mr. Wermuth, of Berlin, Commissioner of the German Empire to the World's Fair at Chicago, were the contributors of German articles.
In the early part of 1897 a "Gemischter Chor" of fifty ladies and gentlemen was organized under the leadership of the gifted professor Carl F. Mutter, cantor of St. Mary's Church and musical director of the Gesangverein Virginia. On Decem- ber 2nd, 1897, this newly started chorus for the first time ar- ranged a public concert, which was a decided success.
On May 9th, 189., the German ladies of Richmond demon- strated again their appreciation of the cultivation of vocal mu- sic by the gift of a magnificent flag to the Gesangverein Virginia. Miss Helene Brauer delivered the gift in representation of the following ladies: Mrs. Wm. H. Zimmermann, C. W. Thilow, John Steinbrecher, F. C. Ebel, C. E. Loeffler, E. A. Stumpf and Misses Helene Brauer, A. Wenzel, Bertha Haase, Gussie Bromm and Rosa Schumacher.
To complete these reports of the German Festivals the bi- ographies of some of the leading men may be added.
Alfred von N. Rosenegk:28+) is a son of a colonel of the German army, whose full name he bears. His mother was also of noble blood, a Miss Sophie von Kleist. The father still lives in Eberswald, near Berlin, Germany. Mr. von Rosenegk was born in Stettin in Germany November 21st, 1852, and went in 1862, when only ten years of age, to the Military Academy in Potsdam and Berlin, where he remained until 1870, when he was promoted as subordinate officer to the army, to serve in the Franco-Prussian war, which ended in 1871. During the pro- gress of the war he gained the rank of officer, which distinction
294.) From the ' Richmond Dispatch," October 5th, 18€0.
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he retained until 1875, when he severed his connection with the German army and immigrated to this country, previously how- ever having been joined with Miss Anna Weisser in the holy bonds of matrimony. During the first five years of their life in this country the two had to struggle hard for existence, as nei- ther could master the English language. In 1880 he engaged in the hardware business, beginning with a very subordinate position, from which he was gradually promoted, and in 1885 he accepted a call from the Bergner & Engel Brewing Company of Philadelphia as manager for the Richmond depot. In 1891 von Rosenegk associated with Mr. Emil Kersten. They estab- lished the well-known Richmond Brewery, which was changed in 1892 into a stock company under the new firm "Rosenegk's Brewing Company." It has also been Mr. von Rosenegk's for- tune, through his courteous manners, to gain the love, esteem and respect to the highest degree not only of his German friends and countrymen, but of a vast number of our worthy American citizens.
Mr. von Rosenegk is a member of Schiller Lodge of Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Germania Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Gesangverein Virginia, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Iron Hall and Fraternal Legion, and among their mem- bers he is very popular and highly respected. The German Day movement was greatly due to his effort and gained reality through his untiring labors. He was the president of the Ger- man-American Association for eight years and is at present the president of the Gesangverein Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Paul L. Menzel, the scholarly pastor of St. John's German Evangelical Church, was born March 5th, 1839, at Lausanne, Switzerland. £ He is the oldest son of Rev. C. W. Menzel. Until 1850 he remained with his parents in St. Hippolyte, in the south of France. Then a boy he went to Germany, studied the German language and spent ten and one-half years in different institutions, colleges and univer- sities, where he prepared for the ministry. After passing his examinations, he accepted a professorship in the College of Niesky, Silesia. On August 29th, 1868, he was ordained a min-
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ister of the Gospel by Bishop E. Reichel of Saxony, and subse- quently served at different places. In '74 he came over to America and held for six years the position of German pastor in the two churches in Dansville and Reikinsville, in Western New York. In 1879 he joined the German Evangelical Synod of N. America. Since 1883 he has been the secretary of the Atlantic District of this organization and in 1894 he was elected president. In 1880 he accepted the pastorate of the German Protestant Church of Albany, N. Y., and by his effort helped to erect the new building which was dedicated in May 1882. Since February 1886 Mr. Menzel has been pastor of St. John's Evangelical Church in Richmond. In 1894 the Washington and Lee Uni- versity of Lexington, Va., conferred on him the honorary de- gree of Doctor of Divinity.
State Senator William Lovenstein, of Richmond, was born October 8th, 1840, at Laurel, formerly known as Hungary Sta- tion, Henrico county, about eight miles from Richmond city. In addition to a good common school education, he spent two years at an academy in New York city. Returning from school he entered mercantile business, in which he engaged until the beginning of the war. Upon outbreak of hostilities he imme- diately left for the front with the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, of which he was a member, and saw active service before he attained majority. Mr. Lovenstein remained uninterruptedly . with his company until captured by some of Burnside's troops at Roanoke Island. At the conclusion of the war he reengaged in business. When the State was readmitted into the Union in 1869, he was elected, though only twenty-nine years of age, to represent Richmond in the House of Delegates. He was re- elected four successive times, serving in that branch ten years in all, during which time he was upon the most important com- mittees.
In 1881 Mr. Lovenstein was elected to the State Senate and in 1897, the time of his death, he was serving his fourth con- secutive term of four years. Governor Lee appointed Mr. Lo- venstein a member of the board of the Female Normal School, (an institution which to a great degree owes its existence to his efforts.) For years he has been a member of the City School
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Board; past-master of Fraternal (formerly Française) Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M. ; grand secretary and supreme repre- sentative of the Royal Arcanum ; past-regent and secretary of Virginia Council No. 26; past-president of District Grand Lodge No. 3 and Rimmon Lodge No. 68, I. O. B. B .; a member of the Board of Trustees and secretary of the congregation of Beth Ahaba. He was chosen president of the Grand Conven- tion of the B'nai B'rith at the session of that body in Richmond in June 1890. Senator Lovenstein's chief business occupation was that of cashier of the Richmond Perpetual Building, Loan and Trust Company.
Carl Ruehrmund, the son of Rev. F. W. Ruehrmund, was torn September 22nd, 1855, at Berlin, the Capital city of the Kingdom of Prussia. He visited the " Louisenstädtische Real- Schule," where he graduated in 1874. After four years' study at the "Architectural Academy " at Berlin, and having served his term in the Prussian army, he was employed as assistant architect by the government surveyor of buildings (Baurath) Orth, and later on in the architectural department of the Royal Railroad System. The prospects of promotion in the govern- ment service being gloomy, Ruehrmund resolved to try his luck abroad, and after spending some time in Scotland and England, he came to America in 1881. Having worked in various archi- tectural offices, he was engaged in 1884 by the Government to superintend the rebuilding of the custom-house and post-office at Richmond, Va., and after finishing this work he entered in 1887 into private practice. Among numerous public and pri- vate edifices which he erected may be mentioned : the St. Mark's Lutheran and the Calvary Baptist churches at Roanoke, Va .; the Hoge Memorial Church; the storehouse of Cohen Brothers ; Third Police Station ; the Henrico Court House; the cattle-yard at Richmond, and the hospital of the State Lunatic Asylum.
Carl Ruehrmund enjoys among his German fellow-citizens the reputation of being a warm and zealous advocate of all Ger- man cultural and social efforts, and they bestowed on him many honorary offices. He was elected president of the "Teutonic Club," secretary and vice-president of the "German-American
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Association of Virginia," and now he holds the presidency of this the most important German society in the State.
Heinrich Georg Miller is one of the most active and perse- vering leaders of the German element in Richmond. He was born September 26th, 1834, at Lauterbach in Hesse-Darmstadt, and after completing his school-education selected horticulture for his vocation. In 1857 Mr. Miller emigrated to America and was first employed as gardener in Baltimore, Md., and finally came to Richmond in 1861. In the year 1866 Gen. Tochmann was appointed agent of European immigration and Mr. Miller was made his assistant. Ile has continued since that time in the public service and occupied for the last twenty-five years the position of assistant gas-inspector at Richmond, and at present he holds the position of bill-clerk in the department. He has for years been president of the church wardens of the St. John's German Evangelical Church, was president of the Gesangverein Virginia and is president of the German-Ameri- can Association of Virginia. During the war Mr. Miller served in a cavalry troop, commanded by Captain Wm. English. The troop was assigned to local defence, but it took part in the en- gagements at Drewery's Bluff and around Petersburg.
G. L. Siegel was born April 12th, 1838, at Kirchheim, Bo- landen, Bavaria, and died at Richmond January 4th, 1893. When a boy thirteen years of age he came with his parents to New York and studied music, for which he showed great talent. . Desirous to see the world, he accepted different engagements with circus and minstrel troups and travelled with them over the entire United States and in Canada. In 1856 he partici- pated in the Walker campaign in Nicaragua and then took ser- vice on a U. S. man-of-war and visited other parts of the globe. At the beginning of the Civil War he lived at Charleston, S. C., and enlisted in the 14th South Carolina Infantry Regiment of General Maxey Greggs' Brigade. He remained with this com- mand throughout the war, from the bombardment of Fort Sum- ter to the surrender at Appomattox, and he fought in many battles. After the war Mr. Siegel remained in Richmond, married a daughter of John II. Boschen and established a shoe-store. He was very successful in his business, but his love
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for music did not allow his mind to rest quietly. What he has done to advance musical art in Richmond from 1870 to 1885 and as leader of the Gesangverein Virginia, is gratefully re- membered and appreciated by his German fellow-citizens. G. L. Siegel was an artist born, but an adverse fate prevented him from making full use of his great talent.
Hermann Schmidt, the brother-in-law of Siegel, was born on March 11th, 1838, at Vlotho on the river Weser and came to America in 1860. Ile was the first German to select Richmond as a place of residence after the close of the war. In 1865 he established a grocery business. Being indefatigable in his ef- forts, a thoroughly educated German merchant and of great en- terprise, the business rapidly prospered. With the same energy he displayed in his business, he supported every effort to im- prove the welfare of ill-fated Richmond. The Germans of Richmond soon recognized the nobleness of his intentions and organizing talents, and in all their undertakings he was a cer- tain leader. He was a member of the church and school board of the St. Johannis Church ; president of the German Relief Society ; president of the Virginia Building and Loan Com- pany, and director of the Gesangverein Virginia, of the German- American Society of Virginia and of the German News Com- pany of Virginia, etc. The Transparent Ice Company was founded by him. He died in 1894 and his death was deeply mourned by his German and American fellow-citizens.
William H. Zimmermann is another prominent and repre- sentative German-American of Richmond, born in the city of Marburg, Germany, in 1845. He came to this country in 1860, and after a short stoppage at Rochester, N. Y., Baltimore, and Louisville, Ky., he made his home in Richmond. At the begin- ning of the late war he enlisted in the Confederate ranks, but being then only a boy of fifteen years, he was not sent to the front, and did military duty in and about this city. At the close of the war he engaged in the fur business in this city, and in 1875 gave his undivided attention to the restaurant and ho- tel business.
For many years he has been closely identified, not only
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with the German-American interests in this city, but he has al- ways proven himself a public-spirited citizen, and in all under- takings that tended to be of benefit to this city, his name could be found among those on top of the list. He is a promi- nent and influential member of the German-American As- sociation, of the Gesangverein Virginia and many other or- ganizations. In the year 1893 it was chiefly by his efforts that the German-American voters of Richmond rallied at Saenger Hall and organized the German-American Democratic Club, which very soon made its power and influence felt among the rest of the residents. His countrymen appreciated the interest in public affairs manifested by Mr. Zimmermann, and elected him a member of the City Council and president of the Dem- ocratic club, which offices he has held in an efficient and digni- fied manner.
Charles' T. Lochr was born August 8th, 1842, at Altona, Westphalia, and came to Richmond in 1853 when a boy. He is a highly esteemed, self-made man. During the war he was sergeant in Company D, First Virginia Infantry Regi- ment, and his name has become widely known by his excel- lent publication : " War History of the old First Virginia In- fantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia, Richmond 1884." Charles T. Loehr is at present notary public, local manager of the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Company and secretary and treasurer of the Virginia Building and Loan Association. Of the many honorary offices conferred on him, those of First Commander of Pickett's Camp Confederate Vet- erans, Grand Master of the Knights of Pythias of Virginia, treasurer of Hines Memorial Hall and finance secretary of the German-American Association of Virginia may be men- tioned.
Rev. P. Willibald Baumgartner, O.S.B., pastor of St Mary's Catholic Church, was born May 5th, 1853, at Wolfratshausen. He received a thorough education in school at his. native place, the Latin school of the Holland Institute and the Royal Ludwig's College at Munich. He writes : "From childhood I entertained a · predilection for study and the Church, and it was my cher-
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