USA > Virginia > History of the German element in Virginia, Vol. II > Part 5
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
In Volume I, Chapter I, it has been stated that the pro- duction of wine in Virginia was believed to be practicable and that the planting of vineyards had been already encour- aged by the London Company at the earliest time of the Colony. The expectations were not realized, but the London Society persevered in its endeavors and in 1758 proposed the following premium for the wine itself196): "As producing wines in our American colonies will be of great advantage to those colonies, and also to this kingdom, it is proposed to give to that planter in any of our said colonies who shall first produce within seven years of the date hereof from his own plantation five tons of white or red wine, made of grapes the produce of these colonies only, and such as in the opinion of competent judges, appointed by the society in London, shall be deemed deserving the reward - not less than one ton thereof to be imported at London - one hundred pounds." In 1762 the society announced: " A premium of two hun-
196.) "History of the Agriculture of the United States," by Ben Perley Poore, Agricultural Report for 1966, pp. 509-510. Washington, D. C.
52
dred pounds will be given for the greatest number, not less than five hundred, of the plants of the vines which produce these sorts of wines now consumed in Great Britain;" and this offer was raised in 1765 to two hundred and fifty pounds. Again the results did not correspond to the expectations. The memoirs of the society, published in 1769, say : "The first account of the success of the premiums for wines was in 1763, when Mr. Castor sent a dozen bottles of two kinds of wines from grapes which grew in vineyards of his own planting in Virginia. The one of these kinds was the pro- duct of vines brought from Europe, the other of the Ameri- can wild vines. They were both approved as good wines and the society gave its gold medal to Mr. Carter." Prob- ably Mr. Carter lived in Albemarle county and planted his vineyard on "Carter's Mountain " with the assistance of the grape-growers from the Palatinate, who were settled in the adjacent Madison county. These vineyards however never prospered and towards the close of the century197) Thomas Jefferson imported French vines - and Italian and Swiss vin- tagers-and planted quite extensively about Carter's Mountain, near his beloved Monticello. This too was a failure, for the European vines did not stand the climate. It was not until in the fifties of this century that the native Virginian vines - Catawba and Norton - were discovered and disseminated largely by Germans in Ohio and Missouri, that grape-culture at last succeeded in Virginia. In the environs of Richmond several Germans planted the Norton vine and manufactured red wine of excellent quality, but sufficient only to supply the home demand. Thus this new industry was finally started and has prospered ever since.
One of the brightest features of German life in Rich- mond that is less conspicuous, but exerted an exceedingly beneficial influence, was the social intercourse of the German inhabitants and the sensible and convivial spirit with which they enjoyed themselves. It has been already described how they celebrated historical events. There is a peculiar charm about their popular festivals, but above all the introduction
197.) "Albemarle," by Prof. W. H. Seamon, p. 52. Charlottesville, Va,, 1888.
53
of the German Christmas-tree into America is worthy of com- ment. The happy disposition of the Germans, that touches the heart, has worn off the sharp edges of American every- day life, and their sincere and beneficent influence has finally secured harmonious relations between the Anglo-Saxon and the German settlers of Virginia, that were endangered by the spiteful know-nothing movement. The Germans of Vir- ginia were peaceable, industrious citizens; they enjoyed con- siderable wealth and they contributed their share to the ad- ministration of the commonwealth. Their isolation in politi- cal affairs had at least one good effect : a most intimate con- sistence among themselves. There was, before 1860, no other city in the Union where the Germans lived in better har- mony.
A publication : " Virginien," by C. A. Geyer, Meissen and Leipzig, 1849, states: "Richmond has 24,000 inhabitants, whereof 5,100 are Germans," and in 1860 the city had 37,900 inhabitants, whereof 23,625 were whites, and 7,000 of these Germans. The balance of the population was made up by 2,576 free negroes and 11,699 slaves. The German element of the city therefore represented nineteen per cent. of the whole and nearly thirty per cent. of the white population.
The German social associations were mentioned before, but it is desirable to add a few words about the predomi- nant ones: the vocal musical association Virginia, the Theat- rical Society and the Social Turnverein.
The " Gesangverein" was organized July 1st, 1852, by O. Cranz, Sr., H. C. G. Timmermann, E. Behrend, B. Krausse, A. Schad, M. Mielke, C. Rittershaus, G. Koenig, F. Lehmkuhl, J. Keppler, D. Weimer, H. von Groening, F. Dollinger and C. Emminger, its first president. The following were the presi- dents of the society: A. Gipperich, O. Cranz, Dr. W. Grebe, H. Boehmer and J. C. Fischer. The "Virginia " soon took part in the singing festivals at Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. It flourished especially from 1857 to 1860 under the leadership of Fred. Seibert. The meetings and festivals took place in the hall of the New Market Hotel and in that
54
very close locality harmless joy, pleasure and enthusiasm fre- quently reigned. Vocal and instrumental productions and the- atrical performances were generally followed by dancing. Even comedies of local character, especially written up by members of the society, (G. Peple and H. Schuricht), were performed on the stage.
The "Theaterverein" assembled in Schad's Hall, Broad street, between 6th and 7th, and the performances were much admired and well attended. The leading personages and actors of the association were Mr. and Mrs. Hassel, C. Boettcher, Hein- rich, Lehne, I. Hirsch, Mrs. Reith and Mrs. Doell.
The "Social Turnverein" had the largest membership; its meetings, concerts, balls, etc., were held in Steinlein's Monti- cello Hall, opposite Schad's Hall. The most ardent gymnasts and social managers were Ed. Kempe, H. Schott, O. Camman, H. Koppel, etc.
Thus Richmond had three German amateur theatres. The great majority of the members of the above spoken of societies were born Germans and at festive occasions German was almost exclusively spoken.
In the fall of 1860 the author of this book agitated the or- ganization of a Technical Society (Gewerbeverein), and pub- lished in his paper, the " Virginische Zeitung," an invitation to meet at Schad's Hall. The meeting was well attended ; H. L. Wiegand, a Saxon, presided, and the proposed society was formed. Only a few weeks later the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter, - the Civil War commenced, and the movement was swallowed up by the wild waves of general excitement.
Some other German associations like the " German Society for the Relief of the Sick" (Krankenunterstützungsverein), pres- ent president Valentine A. Halbleib, and the " Schiller Lodge" (Odd Fellows), aimed at charitable and social objects.
The news of the prosperity and the pleasant social life that the Germans in Virginia led, spread to their countrymen settled in the northern States and also to the old Fatherland,
and induced emigration to the old mother State of the Union. A large number of German Pennsylvanian farmers emigrated with their families about 1830 from western Pennsylvania to West Virginia, and they all prospered, raising principally cattle for the eastern markets. It is also reported that in the year 1845198) about one hundred and twenty families from northern States settled in Fairfax county and purchased 24,000 acres of land at a cost of about $180,000. Among these settlers were several Germans and by their industry and skill they made
money on the crops they raised. Within a few years the value of their land increased from twenty-five to one hundred per cent. There were about fifteen million acres of available land in the State - West Virginia not included - uncultivated or thrown out of any regular rotation of crops, and all could be bought very cheap. In Germany attention was called to the · low-priced Virginia farms. The well-known "Augsburger All- gemeine Zeitung" for instance said in 1848: " Virginia, which is about twice as large as the kingdom of Bavaria, is only in- habited by 1,300,000 people, of whom 400,000 are slaves. For several reasons she now desires to attract white settlers, - she recognizes the rapid growth of the western States, - that the comparatively rough Wisconsin is developing in a fabulous manner and that Ohio is outrivalling her mother State. Vir- ginia however possesses a better climate than either of these States and other most favorable conditions, as several millions saleable acres of good soil, the best harbors on the Atlantic coast, numerous navigable rivers and excellent railroads. On James river good land is sold for four dollars an acre, and some settlers have gained within a few months double the amount of the purchase price by clearing the woods and sell- ing the timber." The German Zeitung furthermore reports: "That some years ago it had been projected in Wuertemberg to settle Suavians in the mountain region of Virginia near the ' springs,' " and it expressed regret that this plan was not car- ried out.
Endeavors were made about 1850 to colonize artisans, min- ers and farmers from Saxony in western Virginia. A pamphlet
198,) "U. S, Agricultural Report for the year 1364," p. 20. Washington, D. C.
56
entitled : "Virginien, physiko-geographische und statistische Beschreibung," - by C. A. Geyer, president of the emigration society at Meissen, Saxony, - with a colored map, was pub- lished at Meissen and Leipzig to induce Saxons to settle in West Virginia. The descriptions of the land, people, institu- tions and advantages of Virginia are pretty reliable. The names of the German-Virginians who advocated this enterprise, are of interest : A. W. Nolting, Richmond; Dr. A. O. Strecker, Richmond ; II. Sheffey, Augusta county; Friedrich A. Mayo, Richmond ; Fleischmann, Monroe county; Dehar, Parkersburg, W. Va .; W. F. Deakins, Preston county ; H. Brown, Kanawha county ; John B. Shrerer, Buchanan, Lewis county; John Sharff, Leetown, Berkeley county, and L. Ruffner, Kanawha county ; - and also the statement that a German colony pros- pered in Dodridge county. A similar publication : "Forty years in Virginia, or emigrate to West Virginia," by Friedrich A. Mayo of Richmond, a native of Oederan, Saxony, was printed 1850 in Meissen, Saxony. Mr. Mayo, whose office was situated at the northern corner of the Exchange Hotel, Richmond, Va., relates in his little book his observations in Virginia during a stay of forty years without exaggeration, and he reports: that an Immigration Society was organized in Richmond to coop- erate with the Emigration Society in Meissen, Saxony. He also states that the engineer Ernst Kurth, born at Koelln near Meis- sen, and residing in Richmond, had been authorized to give his countrymen all information they might ask about Virginia ; that he had been employed upon the recommendation of Dr. Cabell by the Society for the Construction of Railways in Vir- ginia and that the plan of the Danville railroad bridge across the James river near Richmond and other architectural works were drawn by Mr. Kurth. No visible traces however are left of any noteworthy results of this Saxon-Virginian colonization enterprise.
Loudoun county received several newcomers from Germany and they all did well. Commodore Maury states as an exam- ple199) : Godfrey Schellhorn of Saxe-Coburg came to this county (Loudoun) in 1851 with his wife and a flour-barrel for
199.) "Physical Survey of Virginia," by M. F. Maury, p. 93, N. V. Randolph, Richmond, Va., 1878,
.
57
a trunk ; he had nothing. He and she were striving, indus- trious people and lived scantily. He now, in 1878, owns a house worth $1,200 and a farm of ninety-four acres that cost $2,812 ; on this he owes $1,000. He is a pretty good stone ma- Soll. Grape-vines planted by him are also bearing.
German farmers settled in Middle Virginia and the Tide- water belt during the period of 1840 to 1860. There were many gardeners among them and being saving, skilful and indus- trious they rarely failed to enrich themselves. The United States Agricultural Commission200) gives for example among the names of successful farmers in Southhampton county the following German: Alfred Ricks, J. D. Massenburg and Dr. C. Bowers. Col. S. B. French of Whitby, Chesterfield county, says in a report : "Gardening vegetables pays handsomely. Perhaps there is but one wealthier man in this county than a German, who, when I first came into the county twenty-eight years ago (about 1850), was a gardener on the Fall Plantation (man on wages). He made his fortune gardening."
Several other experiments were made about 1850 to estab- lish German settlements in Virginia, but unfortunately most of the enterprisers were selfish, unscrupulous or incapable men. One von Schulenburg attempted to settle a large number of Tyrolians in Lunenburg county, and a Saxon named Meisner aimed to induce Saxons to purchase land near Lewisburg in Greenbrier county; but both projects failed. Another grand plan to establish a German colony near Parkersburg, now in West Virginia, had the same unhappy fate; but prosperous German settlements were founded at "New Hessen" and "Hel- vetia," in what is now West Virginia, and German Hungarians and Poles bought land in Henrico county, Va., and built up the village "Hungary." In 1860 two German Israelites201) came to Richmond and secured land in Norfolk county, south of Portsmouth, on the Elizabeth river, for the foundation of a new town to be named " Virginia City." They advertised in the German and English newspapers and distributed a litho-
200.) U. S. Agricultural Report of 185I.
201.) "Virginische Zeitung," Richmond, Va., December 1860.
58
graphed plan of the projected town; but the speculation failed on account of the outbreak of the Civil War.
The total number of Germans and their descendants in Virginia at the end of the sixth decade is not absolutely ascer- tained. I. G. Rosengarten says202) in "Freiheit und Sklaverei unter dem Sternenbanner, oder Land und Leute in Amerika," by Theodore Griesinger, Stuttgart, 1862: " I find the statement that in Virginia were 250,000 of German birth and descent at the time of the Rebellion." - General G. Tochman, who in 1867 was appointed by the Virginian Governor "Agent for Eu- ropean Immigration," and who had the best opportunities for gathering information, stated in an article, “ Der Staat Virgi- nien "203): "The population of Virginia in 1860 consisted of 1,047,299 whites, 58,042 free colored, 490,865 slaves and 112 In- dians, or 1,596,318 in all. Among the white inhabitants there were 35,058 foreigners, (adopted citizens), or 5,490 English and Scotch, 10,512 Germans, 16,501 Irish, 517 French, etc." - The German immigration amounted therefore to one third of the foreign population204) and was second in rank. Adding to it the posterity of the large German immigration since 1714, the estimate of Griesinger of the numerical strength of the German element in Virginia : to represent the fourth part of the total white population of the State, appears creditable. The large number of German names of members of the Legislature dur- ing the period of 1830 to 1860205) is also proof of the strength of the German element and of its distribution over the entire State.
1831-1834: Samuel Coffman, (Shenandoah) ; Wnı. Armi- stead, Wm. D. Simms, (Halifax) ; Harman Hiner (Pendleton) ; Vincent Witcher, (Pittsylvania) ; Wm. P. Zinn, (Preston); John Keller, (Washington) ; J. Helms, (Floyd) ; J. J. Moorman, A. Waterman, (Rockingham.)
202.) "The German Soldier in the Wars of the U. S.," p. 191. Phila., Pa., 1890.
203.) "Virginische Staatszeitung," No. 17. Richmond, Va., January 25, 1868.
204.) "Virginia," by the Board of Immigration and by authority of Law, page 178. Richmond, Va., 1876.
205.) "Journals of the House of Delegates and of the Senate of Va. State Libray , Richmond, Va.
59
1836: F. G. Buhring, (Cabell) ; T. H. Stegar, (Floyd) ; Ma- jor S. Wagener, (Mason) ; J. Conrad, (Rockingham) ; Abr. Rin- ker, (Shenandoah) ; Col. Edw. Lucas, (Berkeley.)
1838: Th. Shanks, (Botetourt); W. Castleman, (Clark) ; Edw. Lucas, jr., (Jefferson) ; H. E. Fisher, (Mason) ; Alexander Newman, (Marshall.)
1839: Edm. Broadus, (Culpeper) ; W. Hoffman, (Lewis); Alfred Leyburn, Ch. P. Dorman, (Rockbridge.)
1840: Wm. Lucas, (Morgan and Berkeley) ; Rob. Y. Con- rad, (Frederick) ; Jos. Hannah, (Botetourt) ; C. G. Coleman, (Charles city.)
1846: Henry Bedinger, (Frederick); John D. Stringer, (Harrison) ; K. Martz, (Rockingham.)
1850-1851: W. A. Buckner, (Caroline) ; R. R. Flemming, (Halifax) ; W. Stump, (Hampshire) ; J. R. Heuser, (King and Queen); F. Warman, (Monongalia) ; H. Sturm, (Randolph) ; J. Horner, (Fauquier.)
1852-53: H. W. Sheffey, (Augusta); Albert G. Reger, (Upo- hur) ; W. Heveler, (Highland) ; M. D. Newman, (Madison) ; Andr. Keyser, (Page) ; J. Wellman (Wayne); S. Carpenter, (Alleghany) ; J. M. Newkirk, (Berkeley.)
1856: Wm. Bush, (Charles city); P. J. Eggborn, (Cul- peper) ; J. M. Holman, (Fluvanna) ; J. L. Kemper, (Madison) ; J. Lantz, (Monongalia); J. Paul, (Ohio) ; M. Spitler, (Page) ; A. J. Bowman, (Wood) ; F. H. Mayo, (Botetourt.)
1860: Ferd. Wm. Coleman, (Caroline) ; F. G. L. Bouhring, (Cabell) ; M. R. Kaufman, (Frederick); J. S. Hoffman, (Harri- son); W. W. Flemming, (Highland) ; Gust. A. Myers, (Rich- mond); W. M. Seibert, (Shenandoah) ; Arthur J. Boreman, (Wood), and many more doubtful names.
Among the members of the U. S. Congress we meet with the following names of German sound :
60
1841 : . Joseph Holleman (Isle of Wight), and 1860 Alex. R. Boteler (Loudoun). In 1863 Mr. Boteler was a member of the Congress of the Confederate States.
The number of German delegates was probably much lar- ger, for the author had not the opportunity to examine all lists. The fact deserves notice that since 1777 the great majority of the counties of eastern and western Virginia were represented by German-Virginians in the Legislature.
The political horizon clouded at the end of the sixth de- cade ; the slavery question had become more complicated by the conflicting opinions concerning the Territories. The North claimed all the Territories "as free States" and the South asked the right of ingress and protection of its slave-property in half of them. Furthermore "the free-trade interests of the Southern States " were seriously threatened by " the protective policy of the North," and in this question the German-Vir- ginians agreed fully with their Anglo-American fellow-citizens. The merchants of the North reaped advantage from the South; they shared in the profits of every pound of cotton, tobacco or sugar which the southern planter raised. The northern manu- facturer had the advantage of this great market, and the Ger- mans recognized that the industrial and commercial interests of the North, protected from foreign competition by a high tariff, made every inhabitant of the South pay tribute to him on almost every article he purchased. The ills thus inflicted upon the southern people the Germans desired should be cor- rected.
The "Fugitive Slave Law " intensified the hostile feeling between the two sections of the Country and led to the passage of the " Personal Liberty Bills" in several of the free States. Finally in 1859 John Brown invaded Virginia with twenty-one followers to revolutionize and liberate the negro slaves, thereby endangering the life and property of the whites. All inhabi- tants of the State - those of German origin included - felt alarmed and asked: "Where will it lead to, if the hatred and the wild passions of the uncultivated negroes become unfet- tered ? Shall we be exposed to similar horrors like the French
61
in St. Domingo in 1791 ?" The dangers may have been over- estimated, but the safety of the white population was certainly threatened. John Brown seized upon the United States Ar- senal at Harper's Ferry, but was soon overpowered and hanged as a traitor. The wild design of John Brown aroused the southern feeling and the fanatics among the pro-slavery party represented his act as significant of the sentiments of the whole North. No doubt well meaning people in the North looked upon John Brown's deed as meritorious and humane, while many southern men, no less noble-minded and feeling for the op- pressed negroes, condemned it as madness. Different surround- ings and circumstances influence the opinions of men and pro- duce different views of events and their consequences. The worst of it was that the hope to abolish Slavery by legis- lative action, vanished. Not only the German-Virginians, but also many Anglo-Americans were opposed to Slavery and anticipated that it would be the rock upon which the Union would split.
Thomas Jefferson, Virginia's noble son, proposed as early as 1776 a scheme of gradual emancipation, which was approved by the Convention framing the Constitution of Virginia.
The prevailing ideas entertained by hin (Jefferson) and most of the leading statesmen at the time of the formation of the U. S. Constitution have been acknowledged in a speech at Savannah, Georgia, March 21st, 1861, by Alexander H. Stevens, at that time the Vice-President of the Confederacy.206) He said : "They were of the opinion that the enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally and politically. This idea, though not incorporated in the Constitution, was the pre- vailing idea at the time."
From 1820 to 1830 there were movements in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Maryland for the gradual emancipa- tion of their slaves. In Virginia the movement had nearly succeeded, when it was the aggression of the northern abolition-
206.) McPherson's "Political History of the Rebellion," 1860-1864, p. 103.
62
ists which arrested it in all these States. The German-Lutheran reverends in convention at St. James, Green county, Tennessee, unanimously resolved as early as 1822: " That Slavery is to be regarded as a great evil in our land, and we desire the Govern- ment, if it be possible, to devise some way by which this evil can be removed." The Synod also advised every minister to admon- ish every master to treat his slaves properly.207) Rev. Paul Henkel was one of the Virginian delegates, and this resolution was probably the first move in that direction in the South on part of the Germans.
Dr. Henry Ruffner, a German-Virginian and president of the Washington and Lee University situated in Lexington, Va., also made a most remarkable protest against the institution of Slavery that defied the unanimity of sentiment that prevailed among the Anglo-Virginians before the Civil War. What was known as " The Ruffner Pamphlet," advocating the gradual abolition of Slavery, was published in 1847 and excited much controversy.
Dr. Henry Ruffner was born in what is now Page county in the year 1790 on the old homestead of the Ruffner family and reared in Kanawha county. He was a pupil at the Lewisburg Academy, a graduate of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and a student of theology. Ordained as minister in 1818, he organized the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, Kanawha, in 1819; accepted a professorship in Washington College in 1819, was made president in 1836 and resigned in 1848.
Henry Ruffner was a profound scholar and a writer of abil- ity. His most elaborate book entitled: "The Father of the Desert," and his novel: "Judith Bensadeli " first appeared in the " Southern Literary Messenger." He spent the last years of his life in Kanawha county and is there buried. He died in 1861.
In fact all representative Virginians and thoughtful south- ern men generally since Washington and Jefferson entertained
207.) "History of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod," by Socrates Henkel, D.D., p. 52. New-Market, Va., 1890.
63
similar views upon Slavery. Even Robert E. Lee, afterwards Commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, ex- pressed these views very clearly in a letter addressed to Mrs. Lee, written December 1856. He said : "In this enlightened age there are few, I believe, but will acknowledge that Slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil in any country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it however a greater evil to the white than to the black race, and while my feelings are strongly interested in behalf of the latter, my sym- pathies are stronger for the former. The blacks are immeasur- ably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially and physi-
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.