USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
live there yet for all I know. His victim, Lemon, minus one ear, died years ago in Sandusky.
Jacob Schmied, a son of Jacob A. and Catharine (Meyer) Schmied, settled here in 1838. He was born in Oberendingen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland, on June 8, 1820, and came with his parents to this country in 1829. They settled on a farm. Jacob came to Sandusky in 1838, where he worked as a cooper for many years in Post & Co.'s employ. He was married in 1857 to Margaretha Rivers, and ten children were born to them. He died in 1884. His widow now resides on Washington street.
Johann Caspar Ritter. The day-book of this unfortunate man is before me. It gives in twenty-four pages an accurate account of his trip across the ocean. It is dated April, 1837, and well preserved. I take the liberty to copy from it as follows :
(Translation.) " My name is John Caspar Ritter, merchant. I left Burg- sinn, Hessen, on April 3, 1837, with my wife, Wilhelmine Charlotte, a daughter of the game-keeper, Jungerman, of Mittelsinn, and our four children: Chris- tiane Elizabeth, age nine years; Emilie Frederike Margarete, seven years; Wilhelm Heinrich, five years; Ernst Christoph. three years. We reached Fulda the same night Rothenburg the next day, and Cassel on the fifth of April, 1837. Weather-bound; the oldest inhabitants cannot recollect a storm of such severity. Snow, reaching up to the middle of the win- dows, and no living soul to be seen on the streets. A damper, but we
are determined to move on and regret only the delay. Victuals cheap, espe- cially beer, and it is excellent. The officers are very polite ; everybody is ad- dressed by 'sie' (you.) In presenting my passport I was offered a chair, and repeatedly insisted upon to make use of it. ·
. Goettingen, April, 10th' snow five and six feet deep in the streets; regular tunnels are constructed at the crossings; it looks like a labyrinth. Nordheim, 11th, Einbeck, April 13th, and Bremen the 14th. Left Bremen May Ist on the sailboat " Isabella," Captain
F. Meyer. .
. May 16, my wife Emilie, Wilhelm and Ernst are seasick. Christiane and myself are in good health and eat double rations. Ours are the only children on shipboard. May 20, Emilie's birthday; I gave her a
crown dollar as a keepsake. Our board is excellent, and many wish the voyage to last a year. Arrived at New York June 12, where we boarded on John street, paying $12 per week for the family. My wife was confined on St John's day, (June 24, 1837) in this place. The mid-wife, Caroline Collman, was skillful, and was educated in an institute in Wuerzburg. I paid her fifteen gul- den for her services. We left New York July 6, and arrived at Buffalo July 14, reaching our destination, Huron, on the 16th, at 2 P. M.
This is only a meagre abstract, but the original written in a bold hand testi- fies in numerous instances of the great kindness and love Ritter had for his family. Well educated, and in possession of means, he would, undoubtedly.
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THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
have become a prosperous and prominent citizen, had not the hand of a villain terminated his life in a most cruel and unprovoked way. After a short stay in Huron the family moved to Sandusky, where Ritter opened a general provis- ion store on Columbus avenue. He was shot dead at his own door by a crip- pled tailor, called Evans, for which crime the latter was made the culprit of the last scene of execution witnessed in Erie county, in Huron Park in 1840.
Ritter died on May 5, 1840, in his forty-sixth year, leaving his widow and six children well provided for. His wife died in December, 1880, in her eighty-third year. One of the daughters, Wilhelmina, a faithful and trusted servant in the United States mail service for many years, is well known by every man, woman and child in this city. The writer does most heartily wish that she may survive all changes of the national administration for many a year to come.
Conrad Wiegand was born in Hessen, and came to Sandusky in 1835, where he worked for years at his trade as shoemaker. His wife having died, he moved to Put-in-bay Island to spend his last days with his children, who took good care of him. He had become very infirm and crippled up with rheumatism. He died a year ago, and was buried at the side of his wife in Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky. He was a highly respected citizen. His chil- dren are prospering.
Franz, Joseph Motri came here in 1834, An old marriage certificate, well preserved reads thus :
"Know all men by this presents that Joseph Motri, a taylor, and Elizabeth Ziegler, were lawfully joined together in holy matrimony on the 22d day of July, in the year of the Lord, 1834.
"F. W. GEISSENHAINER, SEN. "St. Mathaus Church, "N. Y. City."
Aside from its value as a family relic, this paper becomes more precious in having the signature of one of the most noted Germans of New York attached to it.1 Motri was born on March 31, 1811, in Untergrombach, Baden. His
' The name of the officiating clergyman calls for a more than passing notice. The First German Lutheran congregation was organized in New York in 1749, and the first substantial church edifice was erected in 1767, on the northwest corner of William and Frankfort streets. The building was standing as late as 1850, and was, in its dilapidated condition, finally used as a livery stable. Johann Christopher Kunz, son-in-law of old Muehlenberg, of Revolutionary fame, became the first pastor. F. W. Geissenhainer, sr., succeeded him. He preached exclu- sively in German. As in 1814 some of the members of old Mathaus Church made an effort to abolish the German language in song and speech in their devotional exercises, Geissenhainer rather gave up his pastorate, than enter into this bargain. F. C. Schaeffer, his successor agreed to preach mornings in the German, and evenings in the English language. Geissen- hainer, who in the meantime had moved to Pennsylvania, where his beloved mother tongue was held in better reveration, was recalled seven years later. He gained his point ; German was exclusively spoken from that day on in the old pioneer church. Geissenhainer, a typical German, died in 1838, in New York City, lamented by all who knew him. 33
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
wife, Elizabeth, was born in Weingarten, Baden, in 1808. They emigrated in 1834, and lived in Sandusky up to the time of their deaths. Of the six chil- dren of this marriage, three are living: Theodor, born June 30, IS38; Frede- rick of Port Clinton, born January 16, 1841, and Heinrich, born March 12, 1842. Elizabeth, Motri's first wife, died in April 26, 1843, in childbed. On November 15th, of the same year, he married the second time, taking Theresa Leonhard as wife. Five of the children of the second marriage are living: Eliz- abeth Molitor, born August 25, 1844; Joseph, born October 26, 1845 ; Alex- ander, born October 20, 1846; Carl Ludwig, born September 23, 1848 ; John Frank, born November 16, 1850. Motri was a tailor by trade, and had his first workshop where Robertson's store is located at present on Water street, mov- ing from there to a place now occupied by the Ruprecht family. He subse- quently built the National House on Market and Wayne streets, where he kept a hostlery in connection with his tailor shop. In 1854 he engaged in the nurs- ery business in Bigfield. He was a great hunter and known far and wide as an excellent marksman. He died May 4, 1867. His widow lives on Hancock street. He was, without question, the fashionable tailor in his time. His old ledger, dated January 1, 1840, is before me. In its index I find the following names of the aristocracy of our day, the Mooses, Folletts, Sloanes and many others. Most interesting though for our purpose, are the names of the old German settlers that opened an account with him nearly fifty years ago. In giving their names I am in hopes that those appearing in the foregoing pages may quasi supplement my carefully prepared list.
From this interesting book I copy the following German names : John Bauer, John Bach, 1843; Fred Booss, Jacob Benz, Clausius, 1841 ; Valentin Degen, 1843; Martin Eltis, Fred Epp, 1842; And. Earney, 1843 ; Anton Fink, 1842; Peter Gilcher, Guckenheimer, 1843; John Hornung, Wilhelm Heisser, 1845 ; Alph. Lucas, 1842; Hopfinger, Hocken, Iceman, Henry Laub- scher, John Meyer, 1843; I. Paul, 1840; Valentine Peter, 1842 ; Fr. Rein- heimer, and John Schnecker.
For the edification of our merchant tailors, I will say that according to Motri's figures, thirteen cents was charged for cutting a pair of pants, and that a good share of his earnings were liquidated by accepting almost anything from a load of wood, stone, or sand, down to farm produce and labor in ex- change. Fr. Reinheimer's account is balanced by thirty-nine days of work. $53.43 ; P. Gilcher's account thirty-seven days of work, $51.00; Henry Laub- scher's account for two days' work, $3. By this we see that skilled labor was well paid for, and that even forty years ago a boss carpenter received as much as twelve shillings wages per day.
1830-1850.
POLITICS, SOCIETIES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND PRESS.
Federal organization and the liquidation of the war debts became the prin- cipal work for our law makers after the declaration of independence.
255
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
One party, the Federalists, aimed principally to shape our government after the English fashion, the other party, "Republicans," more often called Democrats, were anxious to transplant the new patriotic ideas of France into the young republic. A king even would have been acceptable to the Feder- alistic party, had not Jefferson, under Gallatin's advice and guidance most vigorously resisted. Jefferson's election as president decided the issue and a political lethargy reigned for years.
The German element without hardly any exceptions made front against the Federal party, and played as such an important factor in shaping the form of our national administration in those days. In 1824 the political pot com- menced to boil again. A diversity of opinion in the domineering party ended in their defeat. Instead of entering the battle in an unbroken phalanx, did the leaders of the Republican party quarrel among themselves, and headed their national ticket by three candidates, viz : Crawford, as legitimate suc- cessor, Clay, the choice of the national Republicans, and Jackson, as banner carrier of the convention, posing as " Democrat." Jackson, although receiv- ing the majority of the popular and electoral votes, was, nevertheless, lacking the required plurality, and the election for president came up before the House of Representatives for final action. By their decision Adams, the Federalist, was elected, and the deal was brought about by a compact between Clay's fol- lowers and the leaders of the Federal party. The wrong was righted four years later, when Jackson was elected by an overwhelming majority. In 1828 we find the German element again supporting Jackson, and Ohio gave him the electoral votes in 1828 and 1832. A great change though in public opinion took place after his second election. New and vital questions had come to the front, and the champion of the party had made himself disliked by his uncalled for action against the United States Bank, his numerous vetoes, and by practically carrying out the nefarious doctrine : " The spoils belong to the victor." A reconstruction of the party as planned by Jackson, was never reached. The older German settlers had in the meantime in close pursuit of daily work learned better to understand the true inwardness of pol- itical promises and pledges, had cooled down and become more conservative in their views, a large portion of them united in 1834 with the Whig party.
To follow up the strides and efforts of the German element in the political arena in the years following would call for more space than could justly be claimed for this chapter.
The more liberal German element had always a strong leaning towards the Democratic party and deservedly so, as they owed to this party all conces- sions made to foreigners. It is an indisputable fact, that by the unceasing efforts of this party the price of government land was fixed at a nominal figure, was put in the market in parcels to suit the means of the individual purchaser, and that a non-citizen became legally qualified to particpate in this great
256
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
boom. After many a fierce battle laws were passed by a Democratic body to enable a settler to pay for his land almost with the yield of the first year's harvest. These liberal concessions were opposed by Clay, as leader of the Whig party.
If we furthermore consider, that at that time the amalgamation of the National Republican and the Whig party took effect, and that in the new-born party the first nativistic doctrines came to the surface, it is not surprising at all that the German element en masse cast their lot with the Democratic party. To bring about a more effective and uniform action, German societies of various natures were organized in every town in Ohio, wherever they had any representation to speak of. The German element became a potent factor in political life, but it would have been impossible to perpetuate and preserve for any length of time harmonious action, had not circumstances of a specific nature come to its relief. The Germans were at all times considered unruly by the leaders of political parties as a nation not easily harnessed or controlled by an autocratic wish or will. Even the far-seeing Franklin laments that the Germans will out- number the inborn element in a little while, and that the political power will pass into their hands. In this respect though Franklin's fears were un- grounded, the inborn jealousy of the different German nationalities, not to speak of the difference of opinion in religious matters, excluded such presump- tions plainly. It cannot be denied that the Germans tipped the scales more than once in national elections. At the least provocation, if ever they mis- trusted that customs and ways of their own were endangered, they made a solid front ; in all other respects they were reliable, consistent and loyal. They never were wax in the hands of party rulers, and the most eloquent appeals of politicians would never have persuaded them to follow blindly their dictations had personal or principal interest combined not made a stronger appeal. The nativistic movement of 1836 and 1838 strengthened the knees of those that had become stragglers and drove them into the flock for mutual safety and protection. The power and strength of the German element was well known even in those days to the inborn American. An editorial extract from the American, published in New Orleans in 1838, may find a place here :
" Ohio is ruled by ignorant Germans who have inundated sections of this glorious State. The votes are cast and the results are known as endangering our government and the welfare of all concerned ; This trouble will not end unless the privilege of voting is restricted."
As far as the ignorance of the Germans -God bless them - and the en- dangering of the government and general welfare are concerned, the editor was a poor prophet, but he came nearer to the mark in predicting laws aimed against the Germans to make use of the royal privilege as voters. The ghost of nativism was banished for another decade, the liberal party gained a vic- tory in 1844 and the German element was instrumental in bringing it about.
257
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
By this time the Germans had outgrown their baby shoes ; no political party :. Ohio would take their chances without previously consulting their wishes. They demanded in 1838 that public documents should be published in their mother tongue, and their wish was granted. The representation of this ele- ment in the State House of Columbus was about twenty-five per cent. since the adoption of the new State laws in 1851. Erie county is, at this writing, represented in the Legislature by Fred. Ohlemacher, of Sandusky; in the Senate by Joseph Zimmerman, of Fremont, and in the congressional district by Jacob Romeiss, of Toledo. All three were rocked to sleep in the old country, and came to America's shores as poor and impecunious lads.
This solid German representation may count for nothing than a mere coin- cidence, and yet it demonstrates clearly that the Germans had learned, in years of bondage and humiliation, to use their irresistible strength for something better than quarrels. Not more than thirty years ago the Germans had very little if any standing, politically and socially, in Erie county. An editorial in the Baystadt Democrat, June 26, 1857, reads as follows :
"The true Americans, and better to call them by their right names, the · Knownothings, are becoming rather arrogant in their deportment. To them the foreigners are simply tools, to be used at will, and as long as they can be utilized. After that their thanks are a 'pereat.' In our city, laws have been passed of late, directly aimed against the Germans. They cannot acquaint themselves with the provisions of law as very few understand the English lan- guage. Thousands of dollars are annually expended for school purposes, where not a cent is granted for the preservation of their mother tongue. A general meeting of the German element of this county has been called to con- sider our duties and rights as citizens of a free country."
The meeting was held in the Volks Theater Hall on June 20, 1857, and was largely attended. Conrad Ernst was the presiding officer, and W. F. Meyers acted as secretary. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted (abridged):
I. All ordinances to be published in the German language.
2. Wholesome drinking water to be supplied liberally, free of cost, in all the wards of the city.
3. To introduce German tuition in the public schools, and to cut down the salary of the superintendent of instruction, to confront the every day cry for want of means.
4 To pay all city employees in cash.
5. To denounce immorality and drunkenness, but protect respectable citi- zens engaged in the liquor traffic.
6. To abolish license laws.
7. To repeal the market ordinance.
8. To invest any surplus in our treasury in factories and institutions em- ploying skilled labor, instead of donating it to railroads and wildcat schemes.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
9. To reorganize the fire department.
IO. To elect for local offices only men of unquestionable character, with- out considering political creed or religion.
II. To denounce the rulings of Judge Taylor as being biased and nativistic in the extreme.
The following members were elected as a standing committee to guard the interest of the German element, viz .: C. Parson, Jacob Hertel, Ph. Dauch, Adam Bauer, W. F. Meyers, and H. Ruess.
Between 1840 and 1850 German societies were organized in nearly every town in Ohio, and Sandusky had its share. The following societies flourished in those days: Jaeger Company, organized by Captain Louis Traub; Artil- lerie Company, organized by Dr. Silva, and F. Bollinger; Harmonie Band; Hacken & Leiter Company; Cossuth Garde, J. Bauer, commander ; Freie deutsche Harmonie, Sandusky Gesangverein, Freimaenner Verein, Turn Verein, Druids, Odd Fellows, Workingmen's Society, and others.
Sandusky could also boast of two German theaters, the Volks Theater and the Concordia Theater. Some of our most prominent citizens of to-day took an active part. A well preserved programme reads :
CONCORDIA THEATER IN VON HAUSEN'S BLOCK December 26, 1853. REPERTOIRE-Menschenhass und Reue, by KOTZEBUE. ADMISSION, 25 CENTS.
Another one :
VOLKS THEATER HUBBARD'S BLOCK, JACKSON STREET March 3, 1857. REPERTOIRE-The White Slave.
In an editorial in the Baystadt Democrat of May 1, 1857, Hertel argues that any allusion to religion and politics " should be excluded." Undoubtedly these societies had their ups and downs. The resolutions passed at a meeting that was called for the purpose of expelling four of the unruly members of the Volks Theater, April 20, 1853, is in my possession. The signatures of the following members of this society are attached : Jacob Engels, president : Dr. Silva, secretary; Jacob Bentz, F. G. Willi, Carl Gaa, Gregory Haegy, Georg Von Hausen, Ernst Boeth, Carl Bretz, A. Miller, Georg Bergmoser, Joseph Keller, G. Nusly, Cornel. Schnaitter, Andr. Riesterer, Philip Kunz, Georg Baer, Jacob Steitz, Carl Wagner, M. Malzky, Jacob Alder, L. Baumann, Ph. Lanz, Jacob Baubach, Joh. Walter, Georg Graul, Jacob Schaub, John Bricht, Dr. Lange, N. Auer, Georg Geiss.
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THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
We take pleasure to put also on record the names of the leaders and stars of the two societies :
Volks Theater .- Natan Baer's Hall, on Water street. J. M. Geyerstanger, J. Jandorf, Christ. Wiedel, Jacob Neuert, A. Sorg, Conrad Ernst, L. Kind, August Seeger, Fr. Wentz, Chas. Baetz, Georg Graul ; Mrs Graul, Peters, Lehr and Hauser, and Miss Steitz and Ruemmele.
Concordia Theater .- Rudolph Holverscheid, A. Textor, Bretz, Georg Von Hausen, H. Brohl, Conrad Mooss, Schaub and Willi; Mrs. Kranz, Von Hau- sen and Birkmeyer.
Dances and entertainments for the pecuniary benefit of the numerous societies were then, as now, the order of the day. The admission fee was unusually high, considering times. A few advertisements, taken from the German press, may find a place here :
FIRST ANNUAL HOP OF THE FREIMAENNER- VEREIN, in Euterpean Hall, December 26, 1853. Tickets, $1.00. Z. Engels, Steitz, Stark, Dauch. G' REAT BALL, IN WEST HALL. Harmonie Band. I July 4, 1857. Admission. $1.00. M ILITARY BAND BALL - EUTERPEAN HALL, July 4, 1857. Tickets, $1.00.
In classical music Sandusky has always excelled and taken the lead of cities of similar size in Ohio for many a year. Even the automatic orchestrion music of more than thirty years ago could not help but develop this culture to a high degree. As a relic we give the programme of Fr. Butz first orchestrion concert :
GRAND ORCHESTRION CONCERT
IN EUTERPEAN HALL, APRIL 29, 1857.
ADMISSION, 25 CENTS.
PROGRAMME :
I. Die Stummen of Portici .- Auber.
II. German songs.
III. Was gleichet wohl auf Erden.
IV. O, Susanna.
V. Introduction.
VI. Yankee Doodle.
VII. Duett.
VIII. Selections from "Freischuetz."
IX. Patric, willst du nun.
X. Jaegerchor aus " Freischuetz,"
XI. Overture, " Wilhelm Tell."
XII. Overture, " Postillion de Lorjumean."
XIII. Overture, " Romeo and Juliet."
XIV. Najades Walzes .- Labitzky.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The Mozart Quartette Club was organized by Ph. Ruppert. The Gre .: Western Band, organized by Charles Baetz many years ago, has, under !: leadership, gained an almost national reputation. Bauman, Hauser, Ber . moser, Bock and others are experts on their separate instruments.
The last one, in a long list of musical societies in Sandusdy, is the Philhar- monic Orchestra, under the leadership of Professor F. Puehringer, a note musician and composer. The members of this society are, with the exception of six, of German parentage. The first meeting was held at Fischer's Hall
March 12, 1888. The names of the members are given : J. C. Hauser, Geo E. Anderson, F. A. Hubbard, C. Schnaitter, John Traub, John I. Esch, A: J. Peters, George C. West, J. C. Leser, L. J. Taubert, A. Haecker, Willie Peters, Joseph Lebensburger, C. F. Schrenck, J. H. Dempsey, Lane Lock- wood, Walter Scott, Louis Scherz, jr., John Bauer, Fred. Bauer, Al. Bauer. John Schaub, Ed. Rossfelder, George Knopf, John Trieschman, Eugene Baetz.
The first German Protestant church in Sandusky was organized in 1845 it was situated on the public grounds between Grace Church and the old court- house, and became the mother of six prosperous offsprings. The names cf the charter members of the Emanuels Church are given : John Schuck, Paul Klauer, John Hauer, Jacob Hertel, Peter Gilcher, Fred. Reinheimer, John Klauss, John Platz, Georg Magle, Fred. Booss, and John Bauer. John Schuck is the only survivor.
The German Reformed Church was formed by seceders of the Emanuel's Church and organized into a body August 12, 1853, by the late Rev. Peter Briecker. The house of worship is situated on the corner of Hancock and Jei- ferson streets.
The Salems Church, "evangelical association," was built of stone in 18:4. Size forty by sixty. The society was organized in 1840 by John Hull and M. Stroh, Charles Zollinger, Henry Kreiner, Jacob Brost and Leonhard Scheuer- man were the first trustees.
The Lutheran Zion's Church on the southeast corner of the public grounds was organized in June, 1852. The names of the first officers are John H. Buck, Wilhelm Schade, August Klotz, George Hartman, Henry Wenck and George Klein.
German Methodist Protestant Church, organized about 1845.
German Protestant. St. Stephen's Church, on the corner of Jefferson and Poplar streets, organized by old members of the Emanuel Church in January. 1882. The first officers were Heinrich Rudolph, president; Jacob Stein, sec- retary, Adam Oehm, treasurer ; trustees, Charles Krueger, Jacob Dick, jr., Adam Nagel ; elders, Jacob Dick, sr. ; John Quehl, Jacob Hartman. Dr. von Schulenburg, pastor.
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