History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 148

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 148

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The " Free-Thinking" element, although very numerous, has not succeeded in maintaining a per- manent organization. In February, 185-1, a Freie Maenner Verein was started, G. Fenneberg and Guido Marx signing the first call; but it was soon turned from the discussion of religious matters by the all-pervading spirit of politics, into the consider- ation of the Anti-Slavery issues, and became in this an active participant in the conventions of German Liberals, which formulated very progressive ideas. At the first meeting called to debate the Anti- Nebraska bill, A. B. Ernst was Secretary.

The first Independent Society, of which Francis E. Abbot was Speaker, in 1870, contained many German names on its list of members, but it existed only a few years. In the Lyceum of Spiritualists, about the same time, Jacob Engelhardt, acted as Treasurer.

THIE EDUCATIONAL FIELD.

Provision for instruction in the German language in the Public Schools, was first made when, in No- vember, 1854, Julius Vordtriede was called here from Louisville, Ky., to take charge of it. He was to

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

teach in the High School, and also in the Ward Schools. In the former he reports in June, 1855, a daily attendance of 70 scholars. The instruction in most of the Ward Schools was discontinued after the first year; but in the departments of the High School it was kept up. Mr. Vordtriede was succeeded as teacher by E. W. E. Koch, who had also charge of instruction in Gymnastics, which, for a while, flourished in the High School halls. Miss Margaretha Otten followed from 1873 to 1878, as a very successful teacher, and was replaced by Martin Friedberg, who now has not only charge of the German in the High School building, where he is assisted by Miss Elsie Krueger, but also the superintendency of it in the Ward Schools, into which it was re-introduced in 1858. In the higher grades we find in 1882, 108 studying German ; in 1883, 20; in 1884, 30 ; in which last year 13 scholars graduated in that language, and 12 in 1885, in a graduating class numbering 41. In the Ward Schools this language was taught in 1880 in 18 Classes to 1,300 pupils; in 1882 the number study- ing had increased to 1,649 ; and in 1883 was reported to have been 1,712. In 1885, there were 28 teachers employed, some of them teaching in both languages. and some German alone. The lady teachers were mostly born in this country. the daughters of Ger- man parents. The instruction gives general satisfac- tion to our German fellow-citizens, who are attached by it very much to our Publie School system ; and the only regret is, that it has not been found feasible so far to carry it on through the intermediate grades. Of the elder corps of male teachers, Casper Weber, J. Lippman, Ibershof, J. E. Ecker, and M. Loenshall, are no more in active service; but L. R. Konopak, Karl Hillencamp and Fred. C. Man, still are, while Ed. Lemberger, G. F. Lok, Albert I. Mayer, and A. C. Seiler were also on the rolls of 1885. Among the ladies, Mrs. Amalia Wandke was the first to teach German here. She was followed later by Miss Emma (the daughter of Emil Marx, now Mrs. Seubert), by Miss Emma Koch, Miss Helen Weber, and by Betty, Julia, Lizzie and Theresa, daughters of Joseph E. Marx. Miss Eliz. Augspurger died while employed. Following are the names of the ladies who taught in 1885: Rosa Lang, Angusta Schrader, Emma E. Koehler, Mary P. Hirth, Mary Wiedman, Della Dallet, Katie Tiedke, Mary Klotz, Mary Kauf- man, Olga Heyn, Teresa Marx, Emma Fenneberg, Unlda Buettner, Minnie Halbach, Clara Spielbusch, Annie Koehler, Annie Ilirth, Lizzie Schiller, Ottilie Herrman and Lonise Hoffman.

On the Board of Education we find from 1871 to 1873, Dr. V. Braun; from 1877 to 1881 Ileinrich Kahlo; from 1877 to the present time, Charles Zirwas; and from 1883, Rynehold Opitz, the son of German parents; also Frank H. Tanner from 1885.

In the Board of Trustees of the Toledo University, managing the Manual Training School, the Germans are represented by Henry Kahlo, Wm. G. Hagen- berg and Gnido Marx.

Guido Marx acted also on the Board of School Examiners from 1868 till 1870, and Julius Vordtriede occupies that position at this time.

The several religious communities interested them- selves from their first beginnings in instruction in the German language; lience, we find that the Cath- olies, starting a School in 1854, or sooner, taught 80 pupils in 1858. St. Mary's is credited with 636 scholars in 1882, and St. Peter's with 263.

Among the Protestants Rev. Charles Markschef- fel took from the first an active interest in matters of education. Ile founded, in 1858 a School, in connec- tion with St. Paulus Church, of which Jacob Klayle was the first Teacher. The number of scholars in- creased soon to 160, and counted 230 in 1866, when Johann Klag had charge of it. Pastor Markscheffel soon found that the enterprise was outgrowing the

means of this Church, and desirous of furnishing his pupils at the same time a good English education, it was arranged with the Board of Education, whose President, General Hill, showed also farseeing liber- ality in supporting the measure, that this School should be transferred to the Public School system. It was expected that the other Churches would follow the example. In 1887, however, Trinity, St. Johns, First German, St. Paul's and Salem Lutheran still maintain separate schools.

LITERARY PURSUITS.

THE PRESS .- Of great importance in procuring for the German element in Toledo that proportion of recognition to which it was entitled by its numbers, as well as by the moral, mental and industrial activity of its members, and of facilitating their combination into the proper Societies, was the founding of the first press and newspaper in their language. This was accomplished by Emil L., Guido and Joseph E. Marx and Heinrich M. Hauschild, under the firm of Marx Brothers and Hauschild. Emil, born in January, 1826, and Guido in June, 1827, left Baden, the country of their birth, in consequence of having taken part on the popular, but unfortunate, side of the political commotions which took place there in 1849, and landed in New York October 1st of that year. They wended their way to Ohio, and first entered Government land in Wood County, in company with some traveling companions, intending to devote themselves to farming. But both having been brought up to the book and print trade, followed by their father, gave up their novel agricultural pursuits after the experience of t8months, and came to Toledo in the Spring of 185t, where they found employment as clerks. In the Fall of the same year they estab- lished themselves as Grocers on their own account, but with very little capital, on the old Packet Dock at the foot of Perry street, moving from there in 1853 to the next corner, on Summit and Monroe Streets, where they had purchased previously the Eastern part of the Daniels & Goettel brick building. In the same year they prevailed upon their younger brother, Joseph E. (a practical printer), to come from Ger many, and assisted him in procuring the necessary material and press for a Job and German newspaper printing office, which was located in the third story of their building. Heinrich M. Hauschild, of Saxony, an experienced printer and old friend, associated with Marx Brothers, and on the 27th of December, 1853, they issued an advance sheet of the Ohio Staats- Zeitung, with the news of the battle of Sinopel, in which the Russians destroyed the whole Turkish fleet, at the beginning of the Crimean war. From January 7, 1854, the paper was published regularly as a weekly. Hauschild was Editor for the first year, and contributed also some very good original poetry. At the close of 1854, he returned to Germany, married there and established a printing house in Bremen, which yet flourishes. In August, 1855, the size of the paper was increased. From June 2, 1856, to May 30, 1857. Marx Brothers published a German Daily, under the name of Toledo Express, of which Julius Vordtriede was Editor. 'To this name, also, the weekly Ohio Staats Zeitung was changed in February, 1857, when the office passed into the hands of Joseph E. Marx, Guido Marx acting as Editor. In 1864, the former, being appointed Consul to Amsterdam by President Lincoln, sold the paper and material to the Toledo Commercial Company, from which Joseph Bender (his steady friend and assistant since 1855, a thorough printer) bought it in 1866, continuing the publication of the Weekly Express, without interrup- tion. On the 9th day of October, 1871, the date of the great Chicago fire, the issue of the Daily Express was resumed, Julius Vordtriede returning from Buffalo to take charge of it as Editor, which position he still re-

745

THE GERMAN ELEMENT.

tains. The paper has always been of outspoken, Anti- Slavery, and consequently, Republican, tendencies, and has wielded considerable influence in shaping the German public mind in this vicinity.

A Democratic Weekly, the Volksfreund, has been published since 1880, first by C. G. Bush, lately by E. V. E. Ransch. Rev. Martin Koehler published in 1880, Der Evangelische Zeuge, a religious monthly.

A Circulating Library of several thousand vol- umes, a donation by D. R. Marx, of Baden, to his son, Joseph E., and brought here by him in 1853, furnished reading matter to the lovers of light literature for considerable time. During the last few years the German Teachers, assisted by the Frauen Verein, col- lected a fund with which they purchased a number of juvenile books. The Public Library once also made a small purchase in this direction, which could profitably be repeated and increased.

PROFESSIONS, SCIENCE AND ART.

In the profession of Law, the Germans have but few representatives. Louis H. Pike, who occupies, with great credit, the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas of this County, and Lorenz Werr. We also claim Avery S. Hill as an adopted son of the Father- Jand, he having married a German girl, the daughter of Dr. F. J. Klauser, and obtained knowledge of the German language.

In the profession of Medicine, we find more en- gaged. The oldest practicing Physician now is Dr. Gustav Fenneberg, who came in March, 1852, and is yet active. Dr. F. J. Klauser, who began practice a short time before, died in 1882; but a son, F. E. Klauser, succeeded him. Frederick Hohly, who set- tled here after the War of the Rebellion (in which he acted as Surgeon of the 37th O. V. I.), is also dead. Others of the earlier Physicians-Dr. Ehrman, 1847 ; Dr. Saal, 1848; Drs. Rosenk, Solomon, Edeskuty, 1854; and Dr. Plessner, have left. Dr. Valentine Braun, coming in 1853, has given up his practice; Drs. Max Jungbluth, H. M. Schnetzler (since 1855), Fred. Jaeger, A. T. Hipp, E. Melchers, Christ. Zbinden, Reinhardt, and others, are still practicing.

In the science of engineering, the second genera- tion has outdone the first. Chas. D. Marx (son of Joseph M.), after having graduated in Cornell and in Carlsruhe, was employed in Railroad construction and on the Missouri and Mississippi Improvement, and is at present Assistant Professor of Civil En- gineering in Cornell University. Henry Marx (son of Guido) graduated in 1879, as Mechanical En- gineer. at Cornell, and is now engaged in St. Louis, Missouri, in charge of the Western Machinery Depot of Ilill, Clark & Co., of Boston. Philipp Welker, Jr., is engaged in the United States Coast Survey, and located in California, and George Meissner, Jr., after serving in the City Engineer's office, was elected County Surveyor. H. W. Wilhelm, another gradu- ate of Cornell, is also occupied as Civil Engineer. One of the most experienced Mechanical Engineers in the City is Valentin F. Stetzer, Foreman for Shaw, Kendall & Co .; and in the construction of Optical apparatus and Surveying instruments, Louis Beck- man takes high rank. Many other skillful mechanics, employed in shops in the City, lack of space prevents from naming.

ART. - The conditions of primitive society are not favorable to a demand for and devotion to the pro- ductions of decorative art ; but such as there were, Thiem helped to supply ; and of the present genera- tion, Machen and Miss Louisa Obermiller have se- cured recognition for real artistical talent.

Music .- The field in which from the beginning Germans took a leading position, and the cultivation of which played a large part in their social life, was that of music. The execution of instrumental, as

well as vocal music, was for some time carried on with considerable energy. Louis Matthias, in both, was the leading spirit, and to bis talent, devotion and perseverance, most of what has been accomplished in the City in this direction must be credited. During the early period-1851 to '58-C. S. Crossmann and D. F. Waltz were well fitted teachers; and later Job. Henzel. Next in point of enthusiasm and ability, was Christ. Milverstedt-at least for orchestral music -and his death, in 1883, was deplored by all classes.

The Kossuth Band is the first of which we find mention. It gave a concert on February 2, 1854, in which Lohman, Busse, Matthias, Sickingen, Steil and Wornhuber took part. From this on, many organi- zations followed each other until, in 1887, when Mil- verstedt's Orchestra and Brass Band, under the lead- ership of Max Frick ; Charles Wolfl's Orchestra, and Ang. Lang's Brass Band yet survive.

For the cultivation of orchestral music proper, in August, 1854, the Musikverein was started, whose first members were L. Matthias, Emil L. Marx, A. Steil, J. Matthias, H. Busse, V. Schulz, J. Zander, S. Zahn, F. Speas and S. Kolin. In 1858, John Werner, Nicolas Auth, Robert Just and Gustav Wittstein were active participants ; and some of the same names are men- tioned as officers of the Orchestral Union, which flour- ished in 1870.

Of late years the taste for music has become so general throughout the community, that some newer organizations, started without regard to nationality, were successful in attaching the German performers. Miss Clouse has achieved distinction as Pianist and on the Organ.

To cultivate the art of singing, was one of the first aims of combined effort. It originated in 1854 the Saengerbund, of which Frentz was first President, and many of the older citizens members, Rudolph Brand, Peter Lenk, Guido Marx, John G. Ilolzwarth, Dietrich Schmidt, Christian Dittmar, Jac. Mery, L. Sebastian, and many others, studied their quartettes under the direction of Louis Matthias. In 1858 the " Glee Club" met in Union IIall, under the leader- ship of H. Neufeld, but during the War most of these exercises gave way to others. After 1866 gnite a number of Singing Societies reorganized, until at present writing the "Teutonia Maennerchor," Pres- ident, Fred. Ritter, and the " Helvetia" can be said to exist, while the Petersburger, the "Gruetli " and the "Liederkranz " (mixed chorus), give occasional signs of life, or did as late as 1880. Messrs. Fred. Seubert and F. C. Hahn, Misses Schrader, Wnerfel and Julia Marx assist in many vocal enterprises.

GYMNASTIC, THEATRICAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.

The Gymnastic Societies, or Turn Vereine, had been in Germany very instrumental in strengthening the minds as well as the bodies of the rising genera- tion, and it became, therefore, one of the earliest purposes of the immigration of 1850 and 1851, to transplant them to this soil. The first Turn Verein was constituted in 1854. G. Fenneberg was the Speaker, and J. Schaefer the Secretary. The year following Theodor Wegener waselected Speaker, and in 1856, E. Morgenroth. In 1858, V. Braun held this otlice; C. Klives was second ; B. Schnetzler, Leader, and F. Diebel, Treasurer. The Society met then on Oak Street. With the outbreak of the War most of the able bodied and younger members enlisted in the Union Army, and those who remained after peace was restored, united in 1866 with the "'Saengerbund," in forming the " Deutsche Gesellschaft," and in ereet- ing for its uses the German Hall on St. Clair Street, between Adams and Oak, where for a while the exer- cises were kept up. It became apparent, however, that only a separate organization could carry out the purposes properly, and so in February, 1872, the

746

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Turnverein " Vorwaerts " was founded, of which Jo- seph E. Marx was the first President. After his death (April 3, 1872), H. Heyermann, 2d Speaker before, was elected first. Steinboehmer was then First Instruc- tor ; Fritz Will, 2d ; George Schuck, Secretary ; E. L. Valois, Cashier, and J. T. Frey, Treasurer. The So- eiety grew rapidly in numbers. Anton Holzmann was one of the Trustees, and Fred. Seubert, August Wolpert, Charles A. Vordtriede, F. Hillenkamp, F. Bausewein. Anton Rensch, Julius Keip, William and Christ. Enteman, Henry Hoerlein and many others, assisted as officers. A School for the instruction of juveniles in Gymnastics was instituted by the same in 1876, the first teacher being L. Ibershof. He was succeeded by C. A. Zapp. The School was discon- tinued in September, 1878. With the close of 1881, the interest in the Society began to flag, and it ceased to be ; but a new organization has been started since, and is flourishing.

In Theatrical performances, the zeal of amateur artists has been more lasting. The first steps to form a Philo-Dramatic Association, were taken in April, 1855, and at the election for officers held in Septem- ber, 1855, Carl Bauch was chosen Director; Friedr. Schoening, Stage Manager ; Carl Lenk, Secretary ; and Emil L. Marx, Cashier. Many were the pleasant evenings on which Mesdames Schlipf, Schlachter, Morgenroth and Heupel, with a number of gentle- men, delighted the audiences. In September, 1856, Gustav Fenneberg was elected Director. While the original organization long ceased to be, the active spirit of the members remains, and the Society Con- cordia as well as the Frauenverein, in its benevolent purposes, has been often assisted in the later years by the theatrical talent of Mesdames Trost, Jung- bluth, Holzwarth, Lenk and Rosenthal; Misses Schrader, Schweigert, Fenneberg and Olga Heyn : and of Messrs. Burger, Frame, Krueger, Hahn, Seu- bert, Hillenkamp and Carl Schon.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft, for a number of years (from 1866 to 1882), was the center of all social occur- renees; and the balls, masquerades and concerts it gave its members, were participated in with general delight. In 1870, Dietrich Schmidt was President, and in 1880, Christ. Woehler. Continuing the pur- poses, but not the name, the Hall came into the pos- session of the new Society (Concordia), which in 1882 elected its first officers : Charles Zirwas, President ; Dr. M. Jungbluth, Vice President ; Isaac Landman, Treasurer ; C. R. Fischer, Secretary ; and Wm. Mark- scheffel, A. Rosenthal and V. Braun, Trustees. The Society still exists, with a membership of 95.

The Deutsche Frauen Verein is an organization which the ladies have supported for several years, with the object of assisting worthy German enter- prises, such as they found in the German -American Teachers' Seminary, the Teachers' Library. and other cases calling for support. The President is Mrs. Johanna Marx, widow of Joseph E .; and the Secre- tary, Mrs. Dr. Jungbluth.

The Pionier Verein has been founded to afford the old settlers a center of social intercourse and mutual recognition. It consists at present of 115 members. John (. Holzwarth was the first, and Jac. Landman the second President. Henry Bruck- sieker held the office in 1850. In 1885, H. Kahlo was elected, with George Tanner as Vice President, and Jacob Bailleux, as Secretary.

The Schuetzen Verein has existed since 1878. It affords its members much enjoyment in the practice of Sharp-shooting In 1880 John Ehni presided, and in 1885, Herman Baumbach. A Liberal Shooting Club, of which G. A. Spross is Leader, we also find mentioned in 1885.

Yachting is carried on by Louis Matthias and others in their own bottoms.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES -- St. John's German Lu-

theran Orphan Asylum, situated in East Toledo, a short distance South of the River, was founded in 1860. The Trustees in 1870 were Revs. John Dein- doerfer, C. E. Bode and Charles Beckel ; and H. H. Sampson, Jac. Nesper and John Bittel. It is sup- ported by the Lutheran Church and voluntary con- tributions, and in 1887 was under the charge of Rev. Beckel.

The Societies for the care of the sick, the burial of the dead, and relief of members in adversity, have augmented since 1854, when the first Firemen's Benevolent Society was inaugurated, to gnite a form- idable array ; so that we can name but those which now afford proof that the inclination to afford mutual relief and assistance has not declined by the increase of population. One of the oldest of these organiza- tions is the Dentseher Arbeiter (Laborers) Unter- stuetzungs Verein, founded in 1868, numbering at present 141 members, and estimating their assets at $4.300. Their first President was George Gerber, with Franz Tillman and Jos. Meyer as Vice Presi- dents. Officers at present -John Henry, Aug. Schwarz, H. Neumeyer. The Toledo Kranken (Sick) Unterstuetzungs Verein, constituted in 1870 (when George Meissner and C. Hipp were the first and second Presidents), counted in 1885, 137 members, with resources valued at $1.700. Otheers - Hy. Stock, President ; C. Weil and Herm. Rausch, Vice Presidents; Jos. Livers, Treasurer. Beside these, we have the Badische Unterstuetzungs Verein-Presi- dent, Jac. Hoffman ; the German Laborers' Benefi- eial, President, F. Wagenknecht; the German Pro- tective Association, President, Jac. Hermann ; the Gruetli Verein, President, F. Zumbrun ; the Hildise Bund, President, N. Mertes ; the Keduscha Society, of which N. D. Oesterman is President; the Fritz Reuter, F. C. C. Mau, President ; the Schwaebische (Suabian) Unterstuetzungs Verein. President, John Schrag; the Hessen Darmstaedter Verein, John Henry, President ; the Alsatian Verein, and the Bayrische or Bavarian Verein. J. Von Ficht, Presi- dent.

Then there are a number of Relief Societies con- nected with various Churches, of which we can name-the Catholic Knights of America, President, Melch. Sehaal, and connected with St. Mary's; the St. Elizabeth, President, Mrs. Am. Vollmeyer ; the St. Joseph's, President, C. J. Kirschner; the St. Michael's, President, P. J. Mettler ; and St. Vincent de Paul's, President. B. Meilink : also, the Young Men's Sodality.

Of the ( Protestant) Christian Benevolent Associa- tion, F. J. Bickel is President. There were 20 Ger- man Societies of this character in activity in 1886.

Then there are about 70 Lodges of Secret Societies in the City, having similar purposes, of which at least eight are composed of Germans solely ; while we find in the published lists of officers of the others many more German names. So among the Masonie bodies-J. C. Romeis, H. Rosenbaum, H. M. Schnetz- ler, 1I. C. Hahn and L. H. Pike. Of Odd Fellows, there are two German Lodges-Robert Blum and Wm. Tell. The Druids count two Lodges and one Chapter: Herman Hain, Toledo and Washington. The Improved Order of Red Men has two German Lodges, the Maumee and the Omaha Tribes; the Ancient Order of United Workmen, two; the Knights of l'ythias, one ; and of two Jewish Aid Societies, one at least, is composed of Germans.

It may give an idea of the movement of German Society, that Rev. Charles Markscheffel, during his pastorate (from 1850 to 1885), and while connected with St. Paul's Lutheran Evangelical Church, which counted, in 1873, about 300 members, has baptized 4,108 children ; confirmed 738 juveniles; married 907 couples ; and performed the funeral service for 1,263 persons.

747

THE GERMAN ELEMENT.

PUBLIC GARDENS, HALLS AND HOTELS.

Public Gardens have always played a large part in German social life. F. C. Ilansen, in IS52, was the first to supply this want, by a well arranged Flower Garden and Hall, connected with conserva- tories on what is now Locust Street, near Bancroft. In 1856, the friends of Fred. Schoening erected for him the llall in the finely shaded lot on the corner of Thirteenth and Madison Streets, which still sur- vives as a residence. The brothers Wm. and Christ. Enteman, next fitted up a place on Baneroft Street, near Cherry. The River Park, on lower Summit Street; Union Garden, on upper St. Clair ; and Mohr's, out on Lagrange, had a run for quite a while; but they were all eclipsed by Lenk's Park, on Neb- raska Avenne, which became so popular that the City Conncil was prevailed upon to buy the ground and convert it into a public Park. It is to this time the handsomest spot of the kind which the City owns. The Schnetzen Park, on the River bank out Broadway, beyond the Water Works, owned by Jos. Grasser, in 1886 was the only publie resort of the kind.

The oldest headquarters for entertainments were, in 1840, at Michael Schoenacker's, on Water Street, where the first German Ball was given. In 1854, Union Hall, on corner of Summit and Oak Streets; and after the destruction of that by fire, German Hall, on St. Clair Street, was built. For the accon- modation of people living in Petersburg (near Lenk's Brewery), the Academy of Music, on Hamilton Street, was erected by Conrad Huberich. Teutonia Hall, on Cherry Street, is also often patronized ; but Druid Hall, on Washington Street, near St. Clair. is now the favorite place for German parties.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 148

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408