USA > Virginia > History of the German element in Virginia, Vol. II > Part 15
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William H. Zimmermann is another prominent and repre- sentative German-American of Richmond, born in the city of Marburg, Germany, in 1845. He came to this country in 1860, and after a short stoppage at Rochester, N. Y., Baltimore, and Louisville, Ky., he made his home in Richmond. At the begin- ning of the late war he enlisted in the Confederate ranks, but being then only a boy of fifteen years, he was not sent to the front, and did military duty in and about this city. At the close of the war he engaged in the fur business in this city, and in 1875 gave his undivided attention to the restaurant and ho- tel business.
For many years he has been closely identified, not only
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with the German-American interests in this city, but he has al- ways proven himself a public-spirited citizen, and in all under- takings that tended to be of benefit to this city, his name could be found among those on top of the list. He is a promi- nent and influential member of the German-American As- sociation, of the Gesangverein Virginia and many other or- ganizations. In the year 1893 it was chiefly by his efforts that the German-American voters of Richmond rallied at Saenger Hall and organized the German-American Democratic Club, which very soon made its power and influence felt among the rest of the residents. His countrymen appreciated the interest in public affairs manifested by Mr. Zimmermann, and elected him a member of the City Council and president of the Dem- ocratic club, which offices he has held in an efficient and digni- fied manner.
Charles T. Loehr was born August 8th, 1842, at Altona, Westphalia, and came to Richmond in 1853 when a boy. He is a highly esteemed, self-made man. During the war he was sergeant in Company D, First Virginia Infantry Regi- ment, and his name has become widely known by his excel- lent publication : "War History of the old First Virginia In- fantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia, Richmond 1884." Charles T. Loehr is at present notary public, local manager of the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Company and secretary and treasurer of the Virginia Building and Loan Association. Of the many honorary offices conferred on him, those of First Commander of Pickett's Camp Confederate Vet- erans, Grand Master of the Knights of Pythias of Virginia, treasurer of Hines Memorial Hall and finance secretary of the German-American Association of Virginia may be men- tioned.
Rev. P. Willibald Baumgartner, O.S.B., pastor of St Mary's Catholic Church, was born May 5th, 1853, at Wolfratshausen. He received a thorough education in school at his native place, the Latin school of the Holland Institute and the Royal Ludwig's College at Munich. He writes : "From childhood I entertained a predilection for study and the Church, and it was my cher-
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ished desire to go to America and to work there among my German countrymen." In the year 1871 he emigrated and went to St. Vincents to join the order of St. Benedictus. He studied philosophy for two years and theology for three years and on April 23rd, 1878, he received the consecration to priesthood. Soon after, on May 1st, Rev. Baumgartner was designated assistant of Rev. P. Renno Hegele at Saint Mary's Church, Richmond, Va., and since 1884 he is the highly esteemed pastor of the German Catholics of the dio- cese Richmond. He is a true sympathizer and ardent sup- porter of the charitable and civilizing endeavors of his coun- trymen.
Joseph Wallerstein, the second vice-president of the Ger- man-American Association, is a native of Blacksburg, Va. When six years old, he came to Richmond with his parents, and has been living here ever since. Early in his youth he started out in the produce business and has followed that vocation up to the present day. He has been for the last ten years a mem- ber of the Travellers' Protective Association, which was organized in 1882, and is now the vice-president of the national organiza- tion. He has also for some time been the chairman of the Rail- road Committee of the local organization.
Mr. Wallerstein is also a member of numerous other Ger- man-American organizations, and his activity and effective influ- ence in the Common Council for the past few years has been too well noticed by all who pay attention to the affairs of this city as to be especially mentioned in this connection.
Christian Droste was born in Bremen, Germany, on March 8th, 1862. He received a thorough education, served an ap- prenticeship in a mercantile house in his native city and soon distinguished himself by his diligence and ability. He exhibited also a marked love for literature. Intellectual la- bor is his delight. In the beginning of 1887 he emigrated to America, arrived at Richmond, Va., on February 1st and was employed by L. Borchers & Co., leaf tobacco merchants. Chr. Droste soon advanced to the position of bookkeeper, and Mr. Louis Borchers, Consul of Austria-Hungary, made
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him secretary of his consulate. In 1891 he participated in the organization and management of the German News Com- pany of Virginia and_ in the publication of the German weekly : "Der Sueden," contributing novels and poems under the nom-de-plume of " R. Helge." His oration at the "Theo- dor Koerner Anniversary " also merits credit.
Carl Wippermann holds the important position of Treasurer of the German-American Association, and has for years ad- ministered the financial affairs of the organization in a wise and economical manner. He was born in April, 1855, in West- phalia, Prussia, where he received his first school education. Later on he entered the gymnasium at Herford, and served as a volunteer in the Fifteenth and Ninety-third Regiments, In- fantry of the German army. At the expiration of his term he was discharged with the rank and qualification of a com- missioned officer. .
Mr. Wippermann learned the mercantile business at Magde- burg, Prussia, in a most thorough manner under the direct supervision of an uncle, in whose establishment he remained until 1877, when he came to Richmond to accept the position of book-keeper with Mr. Hermann Schmidt, a brother of his former employer. He has been the book-keeper of the firm for a number of years, and is now its manager.
Nearly every German-American organization has the name of Mr. Wippermann on its roll of members, and he is also en- gaged in a number of business enterprises. He is one of the most prominent members of the Gesangverein Virginia, and is vice-president of the Virginia Building and Loan Asso- ciation.
When the German-American Association was formed about seven years ago, Mr. Wippermann was among its original mem- bers, and when Mr. William H. Zimmermann resigned the po- sition of treasurer of the organization, Mr. Wippermann was elected to succeed him, and has been in charge of the financial affairs of the association ever since.
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Ferdinand Charles Ebel was born January 4th, 1858, at Frederick, Md., and received a thorough school education in a private German-American school at Baltimore and after the re- moval of his parents to Richmond in 1869 at the German-Eng- lish school of the St. Johannes German Lutheran Church. At the age of fifteen years he entered his father's business to learn the tailor trade and in 1885 he became a partner in the paternal firm. Mr. F. C. Ebel took great interest in all affairs of public utility and rendered his hearty support to all endeavors for the preservation of German nature and culture to coming genera- tions. He is one of the most popular men among his German- American and Anglo-American fellow-citizens, and he held the honorary positions of secretary and vice-president in the Ge- sangverein Virginia and of vice-president of the German-Ameri- can Association of Virginia since its organization. In the year 1895 he was elected a member of the City Council and his ser- vices are highly appreciated. 1
Charles H. Phillips, the financial secretary of the German- American Association, was born in Richmond on March 29th, 1859. Mr. Phillips, though born in this country, has taken an active part in all the large entertainments given by the German- Americans in this city. Soon after completing his education, he began a course at the Old Dominion Business College.
While still a young man he began to take an active interest in the political affairs of the city. He served for some time on the Democratic City Committee, and in 1888 he was chosen to fill an unexpired term in the Board of Aldermen. There he soon worked to the front, and his abilities being recognized, he was made a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, un- der the regime of which board the police force of Richmond has been raised to the highest possible standard. In 1894 he became a candidate for the office of City Treasurer, and though there were in the field several other candidates, he was the suc- cessful applicant, leading the field by a good, clear majority.
In his youth Mr. Phillips began his business career in the store of his father, where he remained until the business was discontinued. Later he was associated with the firm of Phil-
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lips & Stein, and when that firm was burned out, he entered the employ of the Richmond China Company.
Mr. Phillips is a member of nearly every German-American organization in existence in this city. He was president of the Gesangverein Virginia and is one of those men who fully de- serve the thanks of all German-Americans for the great interest which he has at all times taken in affairs they were most con- cerned in. He has also recently come into prominence as a military man, having been appointed on the staff of the First Regiment as commissary, with the rank of captain.
Rev. Edward N. Calisch was born in the city of Toledo, Ohio, on June 23rd, 1865. When he was six years old his father moved to Chicago, just four weeks before the great fire of 1871 in that city. The family lost everything they had in that fierce conflagration, hardly even saving the clothes on their back. The mother with her two boys went back to Toledo for a year, while the father endeavored to found a home for them. In that effort he laid the foundation of disease which carried him off four years later. His death left the family destitute. Edward and his brother went to work, the former, at the age of ten years, securing a position with the firm of Mandel Bros. After a year of work, place was obtained for him in the Jewish Orphan Asylum at Cleveland, Ohio, at which institution he re- mained three years, and wizning a scholarship in the Hebrew Union College at Cincinnati, he entered the latter institution September 1879, whence eight years later he graduated as rabbi. He graduated the same year from the University of Cincinnati. His first official charge was in Peoria, Ills., where he remained four years. Then he was called in September 1891 to his pres- ent position as rabbi of the Beth Ahaba Synagogue at Rich- mond, Va. Rev. Calisch is a most eloquent orator and he has gained for himself the greatest respect of both Americans and Germans of all creeds.
Julius Straus was born in the city of Richmond on the 4th day of May 1843. His parents came from Bavaria in 1837 and lie received his first instruction from the Rev. M. J. Michel- bacher. At the age of ten years young Straus was sent for two
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years to a boarding school in New York and then attended the higher schools in his native city. His talents turning into a commercial channel, he went into his father's business and con- tinued therein until the Civil War. After the conclusion of war he reembarked in business. He entered the insurance busi- ness in 1869 and is now engaged therein nearly thirty years. For four years he served in the City Council and in the year 1887 he was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the Central State Hospital at Petersburg, Va. Julius Straus always took a firm stand. He interested himself in the affairs of the German-American Association of Virginia and was also conspicuous in the celebration of " German Day " at Richmond. He has been for thirty years a member of the Grand Lodge of Masons and is on several important standing committees ; is Past President of the Independent Order B'nai B'rith, District No. 5; Past Chancellor of Knights of Pythias ; Past Exalted Ruler of the B. and P. O. Elks, and has served for twenty-five years on the Board of Managers of the congregation "Beth Ahaba " at Richmond, of which he is now the president.
There are many other zealous German-Virginians, but the limit of space forbids further personal mention.
Many of the German societies have been spoken of in the foregoing descriptions of the public festivals and it remains only to name a few more in order to complete the report about the German social and public life in Richmond during the last decades.
The " German Relief Society " (Deutscher Unterstuetzung's- Verein) was to some extent the forerunner of the German- American Association. H. Schmidt and Henry Miller were the founders and managers of the society, which offered good advice and assistance to German immigrants. Several German settlers have received pecuniary help by this benevolent association, who are now well-to-do farmers in the neighborhood of Rich- mond, and many mechanics have been temporarily assisted by it when out of employment. The society numbered in its time about three hundred members.
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Gymnastics (Turnen) has not prospered in Richmond since the ivar. The " Social Turnverein " had outlived the critical time of that event, but its existence had been seriously shaken by measures of the Confederate police, and it did not regain its former prosperity and popularity after the conclusion of peace. A humorous occurrence recalls those hateful times of persecu- tion. During the third year of the war the papers and minutes of the Turnverein were suddenly seized by order of the provost- marshall, and being written in German a translation was or- dered and undertaken by an unqualified man. In order to give to a very talkative member of the society a witty reprimand, the secretary had recorded : "H ... talked tin " (H ... schwatzte Blech), which means, he spoke nonsense; but the versed trans- lator worded it: " H ... talked about sheet-iron." The discus- sion of the Turnverein about " sheet-iron " was considered by the police decidedly suspicious, and poor H ... was arrested and locked up in "Castle Thunder." Such ill-treatment, ridic- ulous as it was, caused many members to resign, and after some years of lingering existence the society was dissolved. However the desire to practice the gymnastic art, physically and intel- lectually, did not die out, and on February 1st, 1885,285) the " Richmont unabhaengige (independent) Turnverein" was or- ganized. About seventy members joined the new association and the number of pupils (boys and girls) amounted to about fifty. A very handsome hall, Turnhalle, was equipped and the officers elected were: J. J. Spilling, first speaker; H. C. Bo- schen, second speaker; Theo. Moeker, first secretary ; Max Lindner, second secretary ; Oscar Pflamm, first Turnwart; Wm. Gehrmann, second Turnwart; J. A. Moll, treasurer, and C. Has-
sel, Zeugwart. But the young German-Virginians were not in- clined to submit to the rules of strict discipline and regular at- tendance of the exercises, and so the praiseworthy undertaking was discontinued after one year's effort. This laudable enter- prise had the good effect, that the Americans learned to appre- ciate gymnastic exercise, and the Young Mens' Christian Asso- ciation established a very beautiful gymnasium.
285.) Constitution d :s Richmond unabhaengigen Turnvereins.
Printed by Virginia Staats-Gazette, 1835.
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In 1893 the Germans of Richmond resolved to regain po- litical influence and to secure a proportionate representation in the administration of the city's affairs. They organized a " German Democratic Club " and elected an energetic man-Wm. Zimmermann-to the presidency. The result of this step was apparent in the next election. All the nominees made efforts to win the confidence and support of the German voters. They were invited to address the club, to explain their pro- gramme and to give assurance that the interests of all classes of the population would be regarded by them without par- tiality and preference. One of the resulting effects was the election of Charles Phillips for city treasurer.
CHAPTER XVIII.
GERMAN LIFE IN VARIOUS OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS OF VIRGINIA.
HE German inhabitants of the Virginian country towns had to compete against many adversities after the Con- federacy was conquered. They were reduced in number and wealth and immigration had almost ceased.
Alexandria had prospered during the time the Union army was concentrated around it, but when the troops were with- drawn commerce and industrial life came to a standstill. The former inhabitants returned poor and disheartened286), the country all around was devastated and the northern business men left for other cities. Of the Germans who had settled in the city during war time, finally only a handful remained, and the German societies were discontinued for want of means and members. All had to struggle for daily existence and years passed by before confidence in a prosperous future was restored. It was in 1868 when Friedrich Pfaff, Adolph Diedel, W. Bauer, Brill, West, Mumm, Wenzel and others united to build a Ger- man-Lutheran church and school and invited Rev. J. R. Bischof to become the pastor; but the permanent organization of a community was not accomplished until 1884, although a church had been built. It was a wooden structure about sixty feet deep and forty feet wide, with a steeple and bell donated by the well known brewer Robert Portner. One day, when the church was in course of erection, Mr. Portner happened to pass by and he asked the architect to show him the plan. He was surprised
286.) Correspondence of Dr. Julius Dienelt, Alexandria, Va.
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that no steeple had been projected and inquired for the reason. " The community is small and poor," explained the architect, " and they have not got the means." " Well," argued Mr. Portner, " without a steeple it will be no church. Draw a plan for one, bell included, and I will pay the costs." Nearby a dwelling-house for the pastor was built, which contains also the necessary school rooms, and between the two buildings is a shady playground for the pupils. The present pastor, Rev. Jo- hann Schroy, was installed in office in 1884. The church and school registers show eighty-seven church members and thirty- five pupils. The Germans of Alexandria are known to be loyal citizens and several of them have held public offices. Geo. A. Mushbach was a member of the House of Delegates from 1878 to 1879 and at present is a member of the Senate of Virginia. Mr. Ch. Bendheim is the present representative in the House of Delegates. Robert Portner, Isaac Eichberg and Louis Kraft were members of the City Council, and the present Mayor of the city is Hon. Henry Strauss.
In 1854 Dr. Julius Dienell, to whom the author is indebted for these items, settled in Alexandria as dentist. He also gave lessons for some years in the Military Academy and his hobby are literary labors. Dr. Dienelt translated : " Wieland's Obe- ron " and wrote several novels and poems in German. His fes- tive poem, composed for the occasion of the unveiling of the Confederate monument May 24th, 1889, will always touch a pa- triot's heart. In 1891 Dr. Dienelt was a contributor to " Der Sueden."
The German element in the old German settlement, the city of Fredericksburg, is less prominent. The city suffered very much during the War of Secession and it is now the only place in Virginia which has gone backward in population and wealth. In 1860 Fredericksburg had 5,023 inhabitants, but the census of 1890 gives only 4,528. Among the German inhabi- tants Mr. John D. Elder, the distinguished artist, deserves es- pecial mention. He died in February 1895. Mr. Elder was educated at Duesseldorf, Germany, under Leitz, and some of his most celebrated paintings - "The Battle of the Crater," the "Bust of Shylock," "After Appomattox," and portraits of
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Lee, Jackson, Davis, Johnson, etc., were owned by General Ma- hone and Mr. Joseph Bryan. He was an exhibitor at art exhi- bitions in Germany and in this country, and won many prizes, and in his peculiar line was considered the peer of any artist in America.
Petersburg, which also suffered heavily in the various cam- paigns around Richmond, has quickly regained its ante-bellum prosperity. In 1860 it had 18,266 inhabitants and in 1890 it figured 22,680. Every visitor to the city will be astonished by the large number of German firms, as for instance, H. Noltinius and F. Schwenck & Co., tobacconists; M. Levy, pianist ; W. Tappey, machine works ; J. Liebert, wines and liquors ; A. Ro- senstock, M. Cohen, M. Sual and J. Eigenbrunn, dress goods ; W. Grossmann, real estate; M. Mendel, toys, etc. The wealth of the German citizens is shown by the fact that they pay about one-fifth of the city and other taxes. In 1876 a "German Club " was organized, of which Mr. Tappey, A. S. Reinach and J. Rosenfield were the officers. Efforts were made to establish a German church and school; the city generously donated the grounds and a church and school house were actually built. But disharmony caused the abandonment of the laudable un- dertaking. In 1895 a German-Evangelic community was or- ganized at Walthall's near Petersburg and is administered by Rev. Dr. Menzel of the St. Johannis church at Richmond. More unity prevailed among the German Israelites of Peters- burg, who erected the synagogue " Rodof Sholem," at the head of which the rabbi Rev. J. Kaiser officiates. Mr. H. Nultinius deserves especial credit as the promoter of German music. On the first day of May 1890 the " German Society of Petersburg" was organized to promote immigration. E. Gieland was elected president and F. W. Leimburger was his next successor. Sev- eral members of the society formed a "Gesang-Section " and practiced vocal music, particularly German "Volkslieder."287)
Norfolk, celebrated as one of the finest harbors on the At- lantic coast, and for the excellence and quantity of oysters and fish brought to its market, is rapidly growing in population and
237.) The author is obliged to Mr. W. Grossmann for this information.
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importance. In 1820 its population numbered 8,478 ; before the war it had 14,620 inhabitants and according to the last cen- sus its population is now over 35,000. The German element is not as conspicuous as in Richmond, but in commerce and manufacture it takes a prominent part. In the summer of 1891 a correspondent of the "Richmond Times" named the following leading German firms : R. P. Voigt, Loewenburg & Hecht, Hecht & Herschler, Hamburger & Bro., Obendorfer & Co., Frey Bros., A. Myers & Co., Mayer & Co., Pinner & Derring, A. J. Kerns, Norfolk-Portsmouth German Building Associa- tion, etc. The "Norfolk Journal of Commerce " published in October 1888 a history and statistic of Norfolk and Portsmouth, naming the following German-Virginians as members of the " Common Council " and city officials: J. Adelsdorf, R. I. Bor- man, A. P. Thom, W. M. Hannah, S. Marx, Th. B. Rowland, Jos. A. Rolland, E. M. Baum, Dr. W. A. Thom, J. A. Brimmer, Jos. W, P. Veith, J. W. Blick, J. J. Kuling, etc. This list is evidence that the German-Virginian element in Norfolk is re- spected and influential. Gen. W. D. Groner, of German descent, previously mentioned, was appointed Commissary of Virginia at the World's Fair held at Chicago, Ills.
Portsmouth, the sister-town of Norfolk, on the west bank of Elizabeth river, opposite Norfolk, numbered in 1870 10,492 inhabitants and now it has a population of about 14,000, of which many are Germans or of German lineage. Especially among the mechanics and the truck-farmers about the city, as well as in Norfolk, Princess Ann and Nansemond counties, Ger- man-Virginians are numerous.
Newport News, a creation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, promises to become one of the most impor- tant harbors on the Atlantic coast, being accessible at all sea- sons of the year to vessels of the heaviest tonnage. Within a few years it has grown to a flourishing city of about 7,000 in- habitants, of whom about one hundred families are Germans, mostly German Jews, and several of the leading business houses are conducted by them. However the German language is spo- ken very little by these people, being Germans only in name. 288)
288.) Correspondence of Walther Hoffmann, Clerk of Chesapeake and Ohio Rallroad Office at Newport News, Va.
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İn Farmville and the entire Prince Edward county the number of Germans is small, but they enjoy the reputation of good, industrious people. There are about twelve German farmers289) in the county and some German Hebrews have stores in Farmville and in the country. A Lutheran reverend lives near the Danville railroad and has built on his farm a small church and schoolhouse. From time to time the German farmers assemble there for divine service and the worthy pastor gives instruction to their children. Dr. W. W. H. Thackton has kindly furnished the author the following characteristic in- formation.290) "About 1815 Captain John Stephan came to Prince Edward county and built his home at the small village " Kingsville," about one mile from Prince Edward courthouse, now Farmville. Captain Stephan was a pleasant and intelligent man, full of wit and well known in Virginia and other southern States, being the owner of a very popular " Wayside house of entertainment for travellers," situated on the great stage-road from Washington to Middle Georgia. Many distinguished southern statesmen made it a rule to stop on their trips to and from the Capital of the United States at Captain Stephan's or Stevens, as they called him. John C. Calhoun and Wm. C. Preston from South Carolina, Crawford and Barrian from Geor- gia, and many others frequently enjoyed his gay conversation. Captain Stephan attained the age of eighty-five years and being childless, he invited a nephew from Germany to come over to him, and he inherited the property. The old gentleman died loved and esteemed by his neighbors and numerous friends, and his remains rest in the churchyard of Sidney College Church."
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