USA > Maryland > Annual report of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, 13th-14th, Vol. II > Part 5
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Several German-Virginians were contributors to these Ger- man Richmond newspapers, like : G. A. Peple, whose biograph- ical sketch follows in chapter 13, and who for some time, towards the close of the war, edited the " Richmond Anzeiger." Hugo Plaut furnished the " Virginische Zeitung" with pretty poems. He was a native of Hessia and kept a trimming store on Main street. At the beginning of the Civil War he joined the Wise Legion, was afterward a manufacturer in New York city, and died in 1895. Wilhelm II. Lotz, born at Marburg, in Hessia, contributed several articles on technical questions to the " Virginische Zeitung." He died in 1894 at Chicago.
The " Virginische Staatszeitung " was published at Wheel- ing, before the separation of West Virginia.
A modest German citizen of Richmond also deserves men- tion, having joined in the intellectual endeavors of that period and who may, by comparison, properly be called : "the Hans Sachs of Virginia."-Gottfried Lange, born March 20th, 1809, at Erfurt, Prussia, was like the " Meistersinger of Nuremberg," a shoemaker and a poet. IIe came to Richmond in 1837 and worked for some time as a common laborer on the James river canal. After saving some money, he established himself as shoemaker, also pruned vines and finally opened a wine and beer saloon. Lange took great interest in public affairs, and in 1841 he prompted the organization of the "Deutsche Kran- kengesellschaft zu Richmond," which, in his presence, cele- brated its fiftieth anniversary on Oct. 19th, 1891. A song that Lange had composed at the time of the founding of the society, was printed and distributed at the festival. He also participated in the organization of the St. Johannes church and was esteemed by all who knew him. He died in 1893.
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Among the physicians of Richmond Dr. M. Rust took a prominent place, and several of his medical publications were highly commended.
Karl Minnigerode, doctor of theology and rector of the St. Paul Episcopal church, was another Germar much esteemed in Anglo- and German-American circles189). IIe was born August 6th, 1814, at Arensberg, in Westphalia, and studied jurisprudence at the university of Giesen. IIe then became an active member of the German "Burschenschaft" and took part in politics and the distribution of revolutionary publications. After several years of imprisonment he determined to emigrate, and on Dec. 1st, 1839, he came to America. Ile first went to Philadelphia as teacher of ancient languages and soon at- tracted the attention of Anglo-American scientific men. At that time he took part with enthusiasm in the cultural endeavors of his countrymen and at the " Guttenberg Cele- bration" at Philadelphia he was the German orator. In 1842 he followed a call to the professorship of classical literature on "William and Mary College," at Williamsburg, Va., and from that time forward the former German revolutionist adopted the cause of the Virginian slave-holders. In 1844 he joined the Episcopal church, which from the beginning of the colony had aimed to rule and to suppress all other creeds, and in 1848 he exchanged the professorship with the pulpit. ITis estrangement from his countrymen became more and more apparent, although occasionally, when requested, he performed nuptial and other ceremonies in German. His countrymen regretted that a man of such antecedent, emi- nent talent and knowledge disregarded them, when by his influence he might have assisted the German element to develop its importance and merit. During the War of Seces- sion Rev. Minnigerode was the friend and confessor of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, and after the cap- ture and imprisonment of Mr. Davis at Fortress Monroe, Rev. Minnigerode obtained permission to visit the fallen statesman and to afford him his ecclesiastical consolation. Rev. Minni-
189.) Compare "Das deutsche Element in den Ver. Staaten," von G. Koerner. Cin- cinnati, Ohio, 1880.
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gerode has been severely blamed by northern writers on account of this action, but it honors him not to have deserted his friend in the hour of need. In the presence of an officer and the guard he repeatedly administered the sacrament to the ex- president in his prison. Some religious publications in Eng- lish originated from Dr. Minnigerode's pen. Dr. Minnigerode died in 1894.
In 1844 another German scholar Maximilian Schele de Vere was appointed Professor of modern languages and literature at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. After the death of Professor George Blaettermann, before mentioned, Dr. Med. Karl Kreutzer, a native of Saxony, had occupied the professorship, and he was succeeded by Dr. Max. Schele de Vere. The "Richmond Times" of June 14th, 1894, says in an editorial: "Ilis career has been one of singular honor to himself and the institution with which his name is linked, and his services of learning, especially in the science of com- parative philology, have been of very high order." He was born in 1820 in Pommerania. Maximilian Schele de Vere received an excellent college education ; subsequently he visited the universities of Bonn and Berlin, and thanks to his commanding talents and favorable social position, he was very early a "Regierungs-Referendar" in the Prussian civil service and an attaché to the embassy at St. Petersburg. The sudden death of his.father deprived the family of his large official income, and as the above two offices were "unpaid," he was compelled to abandon the career so hopefully begun. In 1842, at the age of twenty-two, he emigrated to the United States, and at once engaged in literary pursuits. He edited for some time "Die alte und neue Welt," published in Phila- delphia. In 1843 he took an active part in the foundation of the "Deutsche Einwanderungs-Gesellschaft zu Philadel- phia," and following an invitation of Dr. R. Wesselhoeft, he removed to Boston, where he established himself a teacher of modern languages and literature. His labors were noticed with approval and he soon secured the friendship of several learned men of influence. In the summer of 1844 Schele de Vere travelled through the States of the Union to extend his knowledge of the country and its people, and upon his return
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to Boston was handed a call to be professor of modern lan- guages at the University of Virginia, which he accepted. During the War of Secession Prof. Schele de Vere served for some time as an officer in the Confederate Army, and was afterwards appointed Commissioner to the various German States by the Confederate Government. Peace re-established, Profes- sor Schele de Vere re-occupied his place at the University, and in 1894 he celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his affiliation to the University of Virginia. At this occasion the German- American Society of Virginia, at Richmond, conferred on him, as a mark of esteem, the honorary membership of the society. The professor was known as a productive author. 'The " Deutsche Pionier " and " Rattermann's Deutsch-Amerik. Ma- gazin" of 1886 contain many valuable contributions written by him, and in 1891 Prof. Schele de Vere was one of the con- tributors of "Der Sueden," published in Richmond. Of his numerous English writings must be mentioned : Comparative Philology, Studies in English, Americanism, Leaves from the Book of Nature, The Myths of the Rhine, illustrated by Doré (edition de luxe, Scribner's Sons), Leaves from the Book of Nature, republished by Blackwood, London, The Romance of American IIistory, Modern Magic, Problematic Characters, From Night to Light, The Hohensteins, (the last three pub- lications are translations from Spielhagen), Wonders of the Deep, The Great Empress, Glimpses of Europe in 1848, etc. He also published several articles in the "Southern Literary Messen- ger," "Scribner's Magazine " and "Harper's Monthly."
Professor Schele de Vere was the recipient of acknowledg- ments by German and American scientific corporations. The University of Greifswald bestowed on him the degree of doctor of philosophy, and that of Berlin that of doctor of jurisprudence. He was also tendered several honorable positions by highly renowned academies, but he declined all for reason of his attachment to Virginia. He died in 1897 at Washington.
During the middle of this century the German language was more and more supplanted by the English, particularly in all the country towns and villages. This is especially true
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of the German parishes. Besides at Richmond, only in the Lutheran churches at Charlottesville, Va., Wheeling and Mar- tinsburg, W. Va., and in a few communities of Dunkards in Botetourt and Rappahannock counties, preaching in German was continued.
Rev. Socrates Henkel, since 1850 in charge of the Evan- gelical Lutheran church at New-Market, Va., in his "History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Tennessee,"19") names the following Virginian Lutheran churches of German origin, omitting however some we have mentioned in Volume I, chapters 5 and 6, that did not belong to the Tennessee Synod :
Shenandoah county .- Emmanuel, New-Market; Mt. Zion, Solomon's ; St. Mary's, (Pine) Powder Springs ; St. Paul's, St. Jacob's; Zion, St. Matthew's, St. Stephen's, St. David's, Mt. Cal- vary, Morning Star, Orkney Springs.
Rockingham county .- Bithany, (St. Jacob's), McGaheys- ville ; Trinity, St. Peter's, Rader ; St. John's, Bethel ; Phanuels, Philipps.
Augusta county .- Bethlehem, St. Paul's ; Keinadt's or Koi- ner's, 12 miles from Staunton ; St. John's, Waynesboro.
Madison county .- Mt. Nebo.
Prince William county .- Bethel.
Page county .- St. Paul's, St. William's, (Fairview) ; Grace, Mt. Calvary, Morning Star, St. Mark's, Cedar Point, Hawksbill, Luray, Alma, Stony Man.
Wythe county .- Valley church.
Washington county .- Church in the Fork.
Roanoke county .- Salem.
He states that Lutheran churches also exist or existed in the counties of Mason, Smyth, Frederick, Botetourt, Cul-
190.) "History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod," by Socrates Hen- kel, D.D., page 270 and elsewhere. New-Market, Va., 1890.
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pepper, Montgomery, and in West Virginia in Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, Zion ; Mill Creek church, in Hardy county, and Probst church, in Pendleton county.
From Rev. A. Phillippi's interesting paper to the Lutheran Pastors' Association of Wythe county, published in " Wythe- ville Dispatch " of April 9th, 1897, we gather the following historical facts : " After the death of Rev. George Flohr, before mentioned, the Rev. Jacob Sherer took charge of St. John's church, near Wytheville, Va., until 1836. IIis succes- sor was Rev. John T. Tabler. The four years during which Rev. Tabler was pastor was a very critical time in the life and history of the congregation. It was the time of the intro- duction and use of the English language in place of the German. In 1841 to 1854 Revs. J. J. Greever and J. A. Brown jointly took charge of the congregation, and from 1854 to 1862 Rev. J. A. Brown continued on in the pastorate. He was followed by Revs. Wm. D. Roedel and E. HI. McDonald, and in 1866 by Rev. Alex. Phillippi. The old constitution, adopted in 1804, but lost sight of in the transition of the con- gregation in the use of the English in place of the German language in its public services, was hunted up, translated into English, revised in a few points and re-adopted amidst general and great rejoicing. Thus the congregation has preserved its German character to this day. Rev. Phillippi was succeeded by Rev. S. S. Rahn and Rev. Paul Sieg. The beautiful, stately Trinity church in Wytheville, and also St. Mark's and St. Luke's, are now holding honorable places among the working and growing churches of the Lutheran Synod of Southwest Virginia."
The oldest German Christian community in Richmond, which has never ceased to use the German language, is the Luth- eran St. Johannis church. On Christmas day, 1844, the first di- vine service was celebrated by Rev. Hoyer in the old church, corner Jackson and Fifth streets. The old church was a plain brick building, and the basement was used as school-room. Unfortunately the pastor was not the right guardian of so sacred an office. He was a highly educated man and an excellent orator, but too fond of strong drink, and consequently he gave serious cause for disappointment.
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In 1852 another Lutheran Evangelical community, the " Betlehemgemeinde," was organized in the Capital. Reverends Schmogrow and Gross were the first pastors, and a good school was connected with the church, situated corner of Clay and Sixth. streets.
Until 1849 only one Catholic church existed in Richmond, but at that time many German Catholics settled in the city and they rented a dwelling house on Marshall street, where they were organized in community by Rev. Father Braun. The following year Rev. Braun was superseded by Father Palhauber, and soon after the German parishioners bought the property on corner of Marshall and Fourth streets, where they built the St. Mary's (St. Marien) German Catholic church. The successor of Father Palhauber was Father Polk, under whose administration the community enlarged and prospered. He was followed by Rev. Mayer, a man of science and a member of the St. Benedict's Order. A flourishing parochial school and a classical high-school for boys and girls were organized by the last-named reverend and conducted by breth- ren and sisters of St. Benedict's Order.
Ahead of all in forming a German community in Rich- mond, as already mentioned, were the German IIebrews. As early as 1840 they founded the synagogue Beth Ahaba and elected M. G. Michelbacher rabbi. Moses Millhiser deserves the greatest credit for his devotion as president of this com- munity, - exclusively composed of Germans and German- Virginians.
The Statutes of Virginia say191): "The Lutherans are numerous in portions of the Valley where the original popu- lation was of German origin. The German Reformed Church is found in the same localities, as is also the United Breth- ren, which, from resemblances, may be called the German Methodist Church."
The same official document gives the census returns in
191.) "Virginia," by the Board of Immigration and by Authority of Law, page 198. Richmond, Va., 1876.
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Virginia of the following religious denominations in 1860: Lutherans, 69 churches, 24,675 members; German Reformed . Church, 12 churches, 4,000 members ; and in the year 1870 the United Brethren 38 churches and 7,450 members. These figures embraced some English congregations, but the great majority was originally undoubtedly German. The German element is also largely represented in the Methodist-Episcopal, the Baptist, Protestant-Episcopal, Roman-Catholic and Mora- vian orders. The Lutherans have two institutions of learning of advanced and higher grades: the Roanoke College, located at Salem, Roanoke county, and the Staunton Female Semi- nary at Staunton, Augusta county. The foundation of Ger- man parochial schools of elementary and higher grades, as for instance at Harper's Ferry, New-Market and Richmond, deserves acknowledgment, as the public education in the State was very deficient. The census of 1840 revealed the startling fact that there were in the commonwealth 58,747 white persons above the age of twenty years who could not read or write, being one-twelfth of the entire white popula- tion ; and in 1850 the illiterate white adults numbered 77,005, besides 490,865 slaves living in ignorance. Governor Mc- Dowell (1843), always a friend of eduation, sought to advance its more general diffusion under the patronage of the State; "that every child in Virginia should be able to read for himself the confession of his faith and the constitution of his country." But he failed to carry out his wishes.
In 1840 the number of children in the State in attend- ance on the State schools was only 27,598, one-fifth of all the white children between eight and fifteen years of age.192) The other four-fifths were being educated by the more popu- lar neighborhood, field, private and denominational methods, or - not schooled at all.
In the years 1859 to 1860 a German Israelite, whom the author knew personally, but whose name he cannot remem-
192.) Educational Report, 1805-96, page 274.
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ber, established a "Commercial College" (Handelsschule) in Richmond.
The Medical Profession was at that time well represented by Germans, and particularly in the capital city by Doctors M. A. Rust, Wilhelm Grebe, Garwenzel, Th. Boldemann and Deutsch, and by the druggists O. A. Strecker, Julius Fischer, H. Bodecker, L. Wagner, J. Kindervater and Zaeckrissen, who, although a Swede by birth, associated with the Germans.
The development of the "Fine Arts" in Virginia had not yet passed the childhood state, but the little there was, was principally cultivated by the Germans. Music and the instruction in music rested in German hands. In Richmond Frederick and Karl Seibert from Ziegenhain in Hessia and .. Woller from Johann-Georgenstadt in Saxony were known as organists and piano-teachers. The first claim of artist among the musicians of Richmond is due to Charles W. Thilow of Leipzig, Saxony; he is a master of the cello. Other musicians of good repute were John Kussnich, Otto Mueller, John Baier and others. The landscape painter Baier, probably a Saxon, was the first to paint the most beautiful scenery and places in Virginia. These were lithographed and published as the " Album of Virginia" in Berlin and Dres- den. Baier died an inmate of the lunatic asylum "Sonnen- stein," Pirna, Kingdom of Saxony .- The largest lithographic establishment in the State was conducted by Hoyer & Lud- wig.193)
The Germans were no less distinguished in architecture, engineering and mining. Oswald Heinrich was already spo- ken of as mining engineer. By him was drawn the first Geological Map of Virginia. Captain von Buchholz, a native of Wuertemberg, designed the first accurate topographical map of the State by order of Governor Henry A. Wise. Among the architects of Virginia Captain Albert Leibrock ranks very high. He was born January 11th, 1827, at St. Johann,
193.) During the period of the "Southern Confederacy" Hoyer & Ludwig printed the Confederate notes, bonds, etc.
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Rhein-Provinz, and studied at the Polytechnic School at Karlsruhe. In 1850 he came to Richmond. The most impor- tant of his works are the Miller Labor School of Albemarle and the Custom House and Mozart Academy at Richmond. At the beginning of the Civil War he organized a German infantry company. IIe died at Richmond on his 59th birth- day in 1886.191) Karl Seibert, previously mentioned as pia- nist, was also a talented architect.
Horticulture was at that time hardly known in Virginia and the city of Richmond possessed only one small Public Park: the "Capitol Square ;" but this park was in charge of the German horticulturist E. G. Eggeling, afterwards assis- tant park-commissioner in St. Louis, Mo., and during the Confederate period steward at the Jefferson Davis mansion.
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In the development of industry and commerce the Ger- mans have also taken a prominent part. In the manufacture, sale and export of Virginia's great staple: tobacco, the Gier- mans have been leaders almost from the time of the settle- ment of the Colony. Several wholesale houses of Bremen sent their representatives to Richmond and the export of tobacco increased considerably the first half of the present century. Sailing vessels from Bremen and Hamburg anchored at Rock- ets and thousands of hogsheads were shipped to Europe. Sometimes six or eight German vessels were seen at a time in Richmond harbor. The Austro-Hungarian government en- trusted German tobacco houses in Richmond (E. W. de Voss & Co. and F. W. Hanewinkel & Co.) with the purchase of its supplies, and the French, Italian and Portuguese governments also transacted most of their tobacco purchases through Ger- man-Virginian firms. At Lynchburg the German houses : Holt, Schaefer & Co., Guhling & Co., John Katz, etc., and at Petersburg: HI. Noltenius and Ferd. Schwenk & Co. controlled the trade. E. P. Whitlock in Richmond, of German descent, became well known as manufacturer of "Old Virginia Che- roots," etc.195)
194.) Correspondence of Oscar Cranz, Jr., son-in law of Capt. Leibrock. Richmond, Va. 195.) Correspondence of Christ, Droste, with L, Borchers & Co., Austrian Consulate, Richmond, Va,
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The wholesale and retail trade in dress-goods was and is almost entirely in the hands of German Israelites. Many watchmakers, jewelers, milliners, dealers in musical instru- ments, artists' materials, frames and pictures, stationers and book-binders, tailors, shoemakers, hat and cap makers, fur- riers, dealers in coal and wood, building materials, paints, china and glassware, furniture manufacturers, tin and sheet- iron workers, grocers, bakers, butchers, wine and liquor deal- ers, coopers, etc., were Germans, and in any mechanical trade or workshop intelligent German artisans were to be found. Two breweries existed in Richmond before 1860: Eduard Euker's and the Chimberazo Hill Brewery of Morris & Rich- ter, brewing lager-beer, and also one brewery making weiss- beer. A peculiar and unsuccessful undertaking was the con- struction of a floating mill, at the foot of James river falls, by Siege Brothers in the beginning of the sixth decade. Much money was sacrificed in the enterprise. The mill was twice destroyed before completed, first by high water and the second time by an incendiary.
In Volume I, Chapter I, it has been stated that the pro- duction of wine in Virginia was believed to be practicable and that the planting of vineyards had been already encour- aged by the London Company at the earliest time of the Colony. The expectations were not realized, but the London Society persevered in its endeavors and in 1758 proposed the following premium for the wine itself196): "As producing wines in our American colonies will be of great advantage to those colonies, and also to this kingdom, it is proposed to give to that planter in any of our said colonies who shall first produce within seven years of the date hereof from his own plantation five tons of white or red wine, made of grapes the produce of these colonies only, and such as in the opinion of competent judges, appointed by the society in London, shall be deemed deserving the reward - not less than one ton thereof to be imported at London - one hundred pounds." In 1762 the society announced : " A premium of two hun-
196.) "History of the Agriculture. of the United States," by Ben Perley Poore, Agricultural Report for 1966, pp. 509-510. Washington, D. C.
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dred pounds will be given for the greatest number, not less than five hundred, of the plants of the vines which produce these sorts of wines now consumed in Great Britain;" and this offer was raised in 1765 to two hundred and fifty pounds. Again the results did not correspond to the expectations. The memoirs of the society, published in 1769, say: "The first account of the success of the premiums for wines was in 1763, when Mr. Castor sent a dozen bottles of two kinds of wines from grapes which grew in vineyards of his own planting in Virginia. The one of these kinds was the pro- duct of vines brought from Europe, the other of the Ameri- can wild vines. They were both approved as good wines and the society gave its gold medal to Mr. Carter." Prob- ably Mr. Carter lived in Albemarle county and planted his vineyard on "Carter's Mountain" with the assistance of the grape-growers from the Palatinate, who were settled in the adjacent Madison county. These vineyards however never prospered and towards the close of the century 197) Thomas Jefferson imported French vines - and Italian and Swiss vin- tagers -and planted quite extensively about Carter's Mountain, near his beloved. Monticello. This too was a failure, for the European vines did not stand the climate. It was not until in the fifties of this century that the native Virginian vines - Catawba and Norton - were discovered and disseminated largely by Germans in Ohio and Missouri, that grape-culture at last succeeded in Virginia. In the environs of Richmond several Germans planted the Norton vine and manufactured red wine of excellent quality, but sufficient only to supply the home demand. Thus this new industry was finally started and has prospered 'ever since.
One of the brightest features of German life in Rich- mond that is less conspicuous, but exerted an exceedingly beneficial influence, was the social intercourse of the German inhabitants and the sensible and convivial spirit with which they enjoyed themselves. It has been already described how they celebrated historical events. There is a peculiar charm about their popular festivals, but above all the introduction
197.) "Albemarle," by Prof. W. H. Seamon, p. 52. Charlottesville, Va., 1888.
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of the German Christmas-tree into America is worthy of com- ment. The happy disposition of the Germans, that touches the heart, has worn off the sharp edges of American every- day life, and their sincere and beneficent influence has finally secured harmonious relations between the Anglo-Saxon and the German settlers of Virginia, that were endangered by the spiteful know-nothing movement. The Germans of Vir- ginia were peaccable, industrious citizens; they enjoyed con- siderable wealth and they contributed their share to the ad- ministration of the commonwealth. Their isolation in politi- cal affairs had at least one good effect: a most intimate con- sistence among themselves. There was, before 1860, no other city in the Union where the Germans lived in better har- mony.
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