USA > Maryland > Annual report of the Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland, 1st-6th, Vol. 1-6 > Part 13
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"The German town, of which I spoke before, Which is at least in length one mile or more, Where lives High-German people and Low-Dutch, Whose trade in weaving linen cloth is much ; There grows the flax," &c.
But beside these household industries, Germantown had also the first paper-mill ever built in North America. Wilhelm Ryttinghuysen, who had a paper-mill at Arnheim, Holland, was a devout Mennonite, and being oppressed on account of his religion, emigrated with his two sons, Claus and Gerhard, in the year 1674 to New York. On the settlement of German- town by his co-religionists he left New York and with his sons settled at Germantown, where they soon after erected the
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first paper-mill in the country. The property is still in the pos- session of the family. I have some of the earliest paper manufactured by them, and you can by personal inspection verify its good quality.
Wilhelm Ryttinghnysen, or Ritten- honse as the family was called, was a man of generous benevo- lent disposition ; he became the first bishop of the Mennonites in America and was especially active in works of charity .- In 1705 the Mennonites purchased the ground for the erection of their first meeting house in Germantown, Wm. Rytting- huysen becoming their preacher ; he died 1708. His son Claus died in 1734. Many illustrious men have come of this family, the most renowned is David Rittenhouse, the great astronomer and director of the first U. S. Mint in Philadelphia.
The history of Germantown records no exciting events .- There was no rebellion, no factions fight of ambitions parties to obtain the political control over the community, no Indian massacre; there was no persecution on account of religious opinions, Quakers, Mennonites, Lutheran, Reformed, Seperatist or Mistics, such as Kelpius and his brethren in the Desert, and others lived together in peace; there were no witches burnt, no one was murdered or robbed, not even a theft is recorded in the Court Record or Annals of Germantown. The Court, which set every six weeks, often adjourned for having no busi- ness to attend to. The proceedings were usually the recording of deeds, &c., strayed cattle, broken fences. The first criminal case was when Casper Karsten and his wife had threatened the policeman and were fined two pounds; Pettinger was fined for hitting another man's hog, and later for assaulting Johannes Köster. The town prohibited the sale of more than 4 of a pint of rum or one quart of beer in a half a day to any individual, and Peter Kemlis, who had license to keep a tavern, was fined for violating this law and not providing sufficient accomodation for travellers. A few more such trivial offences are all that the records of Germantown show for the period of 17 years.
The Quakers of Krisheim soon followed our friends from Crefeld; among them were the Hendricks, the Cassells, the Shoemakers, who came in 1685. Mennonites then followed in large numbers and settled in Germantown, and in the country west of it. Among them were many whose names are very
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familiar to us, but their names were by an order of the Lord Proprietary anglicized, when they were naturalised as English citizens; it was then that the name of Langeneicher was changed into the well-known Longnecker, Ferne into Forney, Neukomm into Newcomer, König into King, Baumann into Bowman, Steinemann into Stoneman, Zimmermann into Car- penter, Ried into Reed, Weber into Weaver, Burghalter into Burkholder and afterwards Burke, Herr into Hare. This was done so extensively, that the names of many of our old families are no criterion as to their origin. This anglicising of German names became for a time very common. The Jager changed into Hunter, Knecht into Knight, Gottwalter into Cadwallader, Hinkel into Hinkley, Goebel into Gable, Huth into llood, Schott into Scott, Wehn into Wayne, Schürmann into Sherman, Mohl into Moale, Schurholz into Sherwood, &c.
The Germans at Germantown were a deeply religious people. In 1683 and '84 Wm. Penn preached to them in the German language in Tunes Kunders' House; they had their regular meetings and took part in the monthly, quarterly and yearly meeting of the province. The Mennonites worship in their meeting house up to the present time, the Lutheran and Reformed churches were built later. In 1701 the City Council of Germantown erected the first public school, and the site where the school was erected, is to this day used for school purposes. Pastorius was from 1698 to 1700 the teacher of the Friends' school in Philadelphia. He also conducted a night school. In 1688 on the 18th of April, in meeting assembled the Germans of Germantown issued their solemn protest in writing against slavery. They condemned slavery in the strongest terms and set forth its evils in the most eloquent language. It was composed in the English language and signed by Garrett Hendricks, Francis Daniel Pastorius, Dirk Op den Græff, and Abraham Op den Graff. It was the first protest against slavery ever issued in this country, and in force of language leaves nothing to be wished for.
Daniel Pastorius was the first Mayor of Germantown; he also held the office of a Justice of the Peace, City Registrar, and was several times elected as a member of the General
·
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Assembly of Pennsylvania. He died in December 1719 or January 1720. His literary activity during his life was very great. He wrote in the German, English, French, Italian, Dutch and Latin languages, mostly however in English. We have poems from him in all these languages ; further, books on Arithmetic, Geometry; Latin, French and English gram- . mars; Treatises on Agriculture, Botany, Laws, Theology, Ethics, History, Natural History and Church History.
Not many of his books were published. The most im- portant and best known is his "Full Geographical Descrip- tion of the Province of Pennsylvania." (Frankfort and Leipsig 1700). Some of his books were published in Amsterdam, New York and Philadelphia. He left in manuscripts one large folio volume of 1000 pages, each page of about 100 lines closely and legibly written in English; also, 14 quarto, 22 octavo and six smaller volumes, written in such small and neat letters, that a magnifying glass renders good service.
LOUIS P. HENNIGHAUSEN.
-
AN INCIDENT
- IN THE -
History of the Germans in Maryland.
AN INCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE GERMANS IN MARYLAND.
Translated from "Der Deutsche Pioncer," vol. IX, (1877) p. 157. by Jno. G. Morris.
N the year 1775 an Englishman named J. F. D. Smyth, Esq., travelled through this country and in 1784 pub- lished his tour in London under the title: "A Tour through the United States of America." His experience in ou neighboring city of Fredericktown was somewhat singular and this topical fact renders it interesting to us as a society, be- cause it falls directly in the line of our researches. We owe to the unamiable humor of this Englishman a genre picture, though somewhat in the style of a caricature, of the political relation of the Germans in that place in those days.
This man Smyth, a surgeon, travelled through this coun- try when the colonists had lost their patience with the mother country and the uprising against England broke out. Smyth was also excited, but only at the unspeakable presumption and stupid unreasonableness of the subjects of his majesty, George III. Hence it was no wonder, that collisions and confliets ensued and that Smyth was by many regarded as a spy. His conduct made him a martyr to his loyal opinions, - he was in consequence rather roughly treated by the Ger- mans, on whom he vents his pardonable indignation.
In 1775 he came to Fredericktown where the armed col- onists were undergoing a review. It appears that he was known, and he was ordered to appear next morning before a revolutionary committee. "The English tourist did not feel himself seeure, - he did not comply with the order, but suddenly and secretly left the town. He went as far as Hagerstown, but everywhere he found Germans, whose appear- ance was by no means agreeable to him. While he was spend- ing the night, six miles from Hagerstown, he was overtaken
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and captured by a guard sent after him, - Nov. 19th, 1775. He calls them "unfeeling German scoundrels, upon whose brows are written assassination, murder and death." He was taken back to Hagerstown, where he was visited by many per- sons and then he was led back to Fredericktown with drum and fife, playing the rogues' march. Here he was treated barbarously, as he says: "They dragged me before a committee, which consisted of a tailor, a leather breeches maker, a shoe- maker, a gingerbread baker, a butcher and two tavernkeepers. The majority were Germans and I was subjected to a very re- markable hearing, as follows: -
One said, "You infernal rascal, how darsht you make an exshkape from this honorable committee?" "Fer fluchter Dyvel," cried another, "how can you shtand so shtyff for king Shorsh akainst dis koontry ?" "Sacrament," yelled another, "dis committee will make Shorsh know, how to behave him- self," and the butcher exclaimed, "I would kill all the English tieves as soon as ich would kill an ox or a cow."
And here as far as the Germans of Fredericktown are con- cerned, the curtain falls. But what we here see, is but a small part of the history of those times. Many of the Germans joined the party of the revolutionists and would not allow themselves to be tritled with. Smyth's book removes all doubt on that subjeet, and he takes occasion to ventilate his indig- nation against it. Let him have this satisfaction. These plain mechanics were an abomination to him and he took a sort of malicious delight in saying, "that he did not need neither coat nor breeches, that he hated gingerbread, and could not bear butchers and tavern keepers."
Ile was kept under arrest seven weeks and was to be transported to Philadelphia. He escaped at night and endured much suffering and privation, - he crossed the Alleghanies, but was re-captured in January 1226. The Committee of Safety in Philadelphia kept him in security for a year, finally he was released and restored to his friends.
In Memoriam.
Dr. Wilhelm Landsberg war einer der fünf Mitbe- gründer der Gesellschaft und war das erste Mitglied, welches starb. Er wurde am 19. September 1831 als Sohn eines schle- sischen Gross - Industriellen in Brieg geboren und erhielt eine vortreffliche akademische Bildung. Nachdem er das Studium der Rechte absolvirt, trat er in den preussischen Staatsdienst ein, da er aber nicht schnell genug Carriere machte, wanderte er nach seiner Verheirathung nach den Ver. Staaten aus und war hier in New York („,Staatszeitung“ und „Volkszeitung") und Baltimore („Deutscher Correspondent“) journalistisch thätig. Im Herbste 1871 fand er endlich den ihn zusagenden und seiner grossen Begabung am Besten entsprechenden Platz als Sekretar der „Mutual Lebens-Versicherungs- Gesellschaft;" in welcher Stelle er Bedentendes geleistet hat. Er starb nach langer, schwerer Krankheit am 29. April 1886.
Christian Ax ebenfalls einer der Mitbegründer. wurde am 12. November 1823 als der Sohn eines rheinischen Berg- werksbesitzers in Daaden geboren und kam 1852 als junger Kaufmann nach Baltimore, wohin er von Giessen aus geschickt worden war, um Hrn. G. W. GAIL bei der Etablirung seiner Tabaksfabrik zu unterstützen .. Er wurde sehr bald Geschafts- theilhaber der Fabrik und verheirathete sich mit einer Schwe- ster des Hrn. GAIL in Giessen ; einige Jahre nach deren Tode vermählte er sich mit ihrer jüngeren Schwester, welche ihn als Wittwe überlebt. Er gehörte zu den bekanntesten und ange- sehensten Deutschen unserer Stadt und sein Tod wurde all- gemein im Lande betranert; er starb am 20. März 188 ;.
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Dr Emil Bessels wurde am 2. Juni 1848 in Heidel- berg geboren, ursprünglich für den Handelsstand bestimmt, wählte sich aber bald einen akademischen Beruf, studirte Naturwissenschaften und Medizin und wurde 1870 HALLS wissenschaftlicher Begleiter auf der ,,Polaris" - Expedition. Nachdem er 1871 unter grosser Gefahr aus den hohen Brei- ten heimgekehrt war, lebte er als Privatgelehrter in Wash- ington ; 1886 ging er nach Europa, wo er am 1. April 1SSS in Stuttgart in dem Hause eines Freundes plötzlich starb.
BESSELS hat mehrere gelehrte Werke hinterlassen, sein Werk über die Polaris-Expedition gehört zu den besten Reise- schilderungen im Hochnorden.
Wilhelm Schnauffer, der Herausgeber des „,Baltimore Wecker," starb am 10. November 1889 sehr plötzlich in Folge eines Schlaganfalles. Er wurde am 20. Juli 1835 zu Heimsheim in Würtemberg geboren und kam in seinem 20. Jahre nach Amerika, wohin ihm sein älterer Bruder, KARL HEINRICH, der ,, Tyrtaus der badischen Revolution," voraus- gegangen war und in Baltimore den „Wecker“ gegründet hatte. Nach dem Tode seines Bruders übernahm er mit dessen Wittwe die Herausgabe des Blattes. Später verheirathete er sich mit der Wittwe seines Bruders und begründete eine Schiffsagentur und ein Wechselgeschäft. Den „Wecker“ gab er bis zu seinem Tode als Wochenblatt heraus.
Dr. Ferdinand Mathieu wurde am 25. Oktober 1846 in Solingen geboren, studirte in Bonn und Würzburg Medizin und liess sich 1870 nach wenigen Fahrten auf einem Lloyd- dampfer in Baltimore als Arzt nieder, wo er in kurzer Zeit eine grosse Praxis erwarb. Er gründete hier eine Familie, erkrankte aber im Frühjahr 1888 und hat sich nie wieder recht erholt; er starb am S. Januar 1890.
Pfarrer Ludwig Vogtmann von der Hl. Kreuzkirche wurde am 4. Juni in Recklinghausen, Preussen, geboren, studirte in Bonn Theologie und wurde im Jahre 1855 zum Priester geweiht. Er kam im Jahre 1869 nach Baltimore und hat in den langen Jahren seiner Wirksamkeit hier viel Gutes gethan. Er starb am 18. Februar 1890.
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Wilhelm Knabe, Miteigenthümer der Pianofabrik von WM. KNABE & Co. starb am 5. Februar 1889 nach längerer Krankheit zu Aiken, S. C. Er wurde am 9. Juli 1842 in Baltimore geboren, erhielt eine tüchtige Fachbildung und vor- treffliche Erziehung und war viele Jahre lang technischer Leiter der von seinem Vater gegründeten Fabrik.
Karl Blumhardt wurde am 25. Mai 1840 in Schweig- heim, in Würtemberg, geboren, kam 1865 nach den Ver. Staaten und arbeitete ein Jahr lang in New York als Metzger- bursche; im Jahre 1866 etablirte er sich in Baltimore als Wurstfabrikant und hatte in diesem Geschäfte bedeutenden Erfolg. Er starb plötzlich am Morgen des Danktags (28. No- vember) 1889.
--
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Society for the History of the Germans IN
MARYLAND.
1890-1891.
C. W. SCHNEIDEREITH & SONS, PRINTERS, BALTIMORE.
$
.
*
-
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SECRETARY
OF THE
Society for the History of the Germans in Maryland.
...
- N briefly reviewing the history of the fifth year of our exis- tence, the Society has reason to look with satisfaction upon its result.
It is true, the attendance upon the monthly meetings on the part of the members was not as large as may have been desired, but what these meetings may have lacked in num- bers, they made up in interest and in activity. The average attendance was twelve.
The number of active members reported at the close of last year, was seventy six. Seven new members were added during the present year. The names of four members were dropped for non- payment of dues, two resigned, and one, Rev. L. Vogtmann, whose obituary was published with those of last year, died during the same period, thus leaving at the close of the present year again the number of seventy six active members. Nor has the number of our corresponding members been changed.
THE DOCUMENT
published by the Society during the present year contained besides an extract of the Secretary's Annual Report, the Treas- urer's Report, list of active members and obituary notices of eight departed members, four articles prepared by members of this Society, viz :
A 5555
" Auszüge ans den Archiven des Staates Maryland" and
" The First German Settlement in North America." Both by L. P. HENNIGHAUSEN, Esq.
"Sketch of Dr. Seyffarth" and
"An Incident in the History of the Germans in Mary- land." Both by Rev. J. G. MORRIS, D. D.
During the year just closing, the following gentlemen prepared and read in the monthly meetings the
ARTICLES RESPECTIVELY DESIGNATED:
Rev. J. G. MORRIS, D. D.
1. " The humane treatment of the black slaves by their German Masters."
2. " The famous Muhlenberg Family."
3. " Biographical sketch of Rev. Ulhorn, formerly Assis- tant Pastor of Zions German Church in Baltimore City."
Prof. M. D. LEARNED, D. Ph. :
"Gottlieb Mittelberger's Reise nach Pennsylvanien und ihre Bedeutung als ein Culturbild."
Mr. I. LOEWENTHAL:
"The Origin of the so-called better classes of Society in different Countries."
Rev. II. SCHEIB delivered in the April meeting an eloquent address on "Luther's deutsche Bibel und ihr Einfluss auf seines Volkes Sprache und Geist Daheim und in der Fremde."
Prof. C. F. RADDATZ compiled and offered:
1. " A record of the Diffenderfer-Family," and
2. "A biographical sketch of Ph. R. J. Friese."
Mr. Ed. F. LEYH entertained the Society at different meetings with improptu and instructive addresses, giving special valuable statistical information of the representation of the German element in the Armies of the United States during the wars of 1812-'13 and 1861-'65.
5
The most happy result of the Society's activity during the past year was, beyond doubt, the great success in a proper celebration of the 6th October,
THE ADOPTED GERMAN DAY.
The Committee appointed for this purpose consisting of Messrs. Ed. F. Leyh and I. Loewenthal (Mr. L. P. Hennig- hausen, though also originally appointed, was unable to serve on account of absence abroad), addressed themselves with a desire of co-operation in this movement to the different German Societies and Organizations of the city. They were met not only with great readiness on the part of the Societies thus addressed, but with an enthusiasm so general and so generous as to give the strongest proof of the sympathy and interest on the part of our German- American population with the very object, which this Society is pursuing, viz: to keep in grateful remembrance the merits of our German forefathers in the development of this our adopted country, proving at the same time that it needs but a proper stimulus to develop this slumbering feeling into an overwhelming demonstration.
The result of the arduous labours of our Committee, which was now supplemented by large and influential additions from other bodies, was indeed marvellous. For weeks before the day set apart arrived, not only the German press of the city. but also our American dailies felt themselves induced, to pay special attention to the coming event, and gave expression of their interest and their sympathy with its object by publishing historical extracts and editorial leaders bearing on the subject.
THE 6TH OF OCTOBER 1890
found the entire city in a flutter of excitement on account of the event of the day. Many of the public buildings and private houses in all parts of the city were gaily decorated with ban- ners, garlands and inscriptions ; the public schools were by order of the School Board closed during the afternoon, the Governor of the State came to the city to manifest by his presence, together with that of other dignitaries of the State and the city their interest in and sympathy with the event.
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The celebration proper consisted in a monster meeting in the afternoon of the day in the Academy of Music. Though the weather was anything but favorable, the large building was crowded from dome to floor with a select and enthusiastic audience, fully 4000 people being estimated as present. One of our most popular German citizens and a member of this Society, Mr. E. G. Schmeisser, presided. The musical part was ably rendered by one of the best orchestras and the United Singers of the city, whilst a specially trained choir of 400 pupils from our German-American Public Schools sang a number of patriotic hymns in both tongues. Eloquent and stirring addresses were delivered in the English and the German language by Rev. H. Seheib, Col. F. . Raine and Dr. L. HI. Steiner, all honored members of our historical Society.
But whilst the afternoon meeting might well have satisfied our most ardent expectations, the toreh-light parade in the evening with its tens of thousands of participants, its numerous bands performing stirring musie, its almost endless string of carriages, beautifully decorated wagons, floating banners and transparencies with thoughtful and ingenious inscriptions sur- passed, though in a different character, even the spectacle of the afternoon.
The excitement preceding the event, had become con- tagious, and thus, at the same time that the above celebrations took place in the city, similar meetings were held in the surrounding towns and villages.
Thus, thanks to the inaugurating steps on the part of this Society, "the German Day" was not only properly cele- brated in our midst, but the character and the extent of its observance may well be ranked as among the grandest of its kind throughout the United States.
The Society owes
.
THANKS TO THE BALTIMORE PRESS
not only for its assistance in this, but for its friendly interest in all the movements of this Society, as far as they were of a public character. "The Baltimore American," ,, The Balti- more Sun," " The Morning Herald," "Der Deutsche Correspon-
7
dent" and " Das Baltimore Journal" were regularly represented at our monthly meetings, and our proceedings were faithfully reported by their respective reporters.
The proprietors of the last two journals again, as in former years, so during the present generously furnished their daily issues gratuitously.
THE ARCHIVES OF THE SOCIETY
were during the year enriched by donations of books, pamph- lets, medals etc. from the following gentlemen:
Prof. B. Sollers. - Rev. J. G. Morris, D. D. - Rev. B. Sadtler, D. D. - Mr. II. G. Hilken. - Mr. E. Heydenreich. - Mr. F. B. Mayer. - Prof. M. D. Learned, D. Ph. - Mr. John W. M. Lee. - Rev. F. Ph. Hennighausen, D. D. - Mr. Friese. - Mr. Heiskell. - Bureau of Edneation of Washington, D. C. - "New England Historie-Genealogical Society. " - Dr. Mill. H. Egle, State Librarian of Pennsylvania. - Rev. F. W. E. Peschau. - Rev. P. F. Frischbier. - "Committee on Celebra- tion of German Day." - " Historische Gesellschaft des Kunst- ler-Vereins" in Bremen. - J. B. Lippincott & Co. of Philadel- phia, Pa." - Mr. R. M. Rother. - " New York Historical So- ciety."
LIST OF BOOKS
added to the Library during the year both by donation and by purchase:
Geschichte der Mission der evangelischen Brüder unter den Indianern in Nord-America, von G. H. Loskiel.
Löhr's Geschichte der Deutschen in America.
Sammlung vorzüglicher Poesien, etc. Gesammelt von W. Meyerle.
A Collection of German Poems, printed by G. Keating in 1796 and dedicated to Gen'l. G. Washington.
Todtenkränze, von C. H. Schnauffer.
Memoir and Genealogy of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Family of Mayer.
The Pennsylvania-German Dialect by Prof. M. D. Learned. Ph. D.
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Das kleine Davidische Psalterspiel der Kinder Zions. Ephrasa 1795.
Der Amerikanische Dollmetscher. 1831.
Gedichte von Rev. F. C. H. Lampe.
Baltimore City Directory of 1847-48.
Industrial Education in the South by Rev. A. D. Mayo. 1888.
The History of Education in North Carolina by Ch. L. Smith. 1888.
History of Higher Education in South Carolina, with a sketch of the Free School System. By Colyer Meriwether 1889.
Education in Georgia, by Ch. Edgeworth Jones. 1889.
History of Education in Florida, by Dr. G. Bush. 1889.
Higher Education in Wisconsin, by Mill. F. Allen and David E. Spencer.
History of Education in Alabama, 1702-1889, by Millis G. Clark.
Proceedings of the Department of Superintendence of the National Educational Association at its meeting in Washing- ton, D. C., in March 1889.
History of the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Constitution of the United States. 2 vols.
Poems and a sketch of IIon. Wm. James Polk, by Rev. F. E. W. Peschau.
The first 20 years of the history of St. Paul's Ev. Luth. Church in Wilmington, N. C.
The Life of Rev. Michael Schlatter, by Rev. H. Harbaugh.
The German Soldier in the Wars of the United States of America, by A. G. Rosengarten. 2nd Ed.
Lüneburger Bibel of 1629.
Geschichte der Mennoniten, by Dr. R. Cassel.
Berühmte deutsche Vorkämpfer für Freiheit, Fortschritt und Friede in Nord-America, by Rev. Rutenick, D. D.
Frontiersmen of New York, by J. R. Simms. 2 vols.
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Luther-Denkmal, Sammlung von Predigten etc. bei der 400-jährigen Entherfeier in America in 1883.
Connecticut Federalism or Aristocratic Politics in a Local Democracy by James C. Welling.
The Story of an old Farm, or Life in New Jersey in the 18th Century, by Andrew D. Mellick, jr.
" Bremische Werkmeister."
Bremisches Jahrbuch, XV. Bd. 1889.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
F. PH. HENNIGHAUSEN, Secy.
Baltimore, Md., February 17th 1891.
.
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REPORT OF THE TREASURER.
Baltimore, February 17th 1891.
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