Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-08-16
The Dunksrds, or German Baptists


L. HARPER, the talented editor Of the Mt.
Vernon Banner, in taking Trip through Knox
county, lately paid visit to the German Bap
lists, or as they are generally called. Dunkerds.
He pays them the following mented cOmpli-
ment:
We visited during our absence the LEEDY
settlement, which, as most Of our citizens are
aware, is German Baptist, or, as they are
generally called, 'Dunkerd' community
We made the acquaintance Ofseveral members
Of this denomination. and were greatly pleased
with their plain, honest, unsOPhisticated man
ners. They are an industrious, peaceable,
kind-hearted people, who mind their own bu-
siness, and meddle not with that Of other folks.
From one Of their number, AR. Daniel Hedrick,
an aged and intelligent man, we learned some
interesting facts relative to the history, habits
and religions belief Of this people. They claim
to be strict followers Of our Savior and Aposs
ties. They perform the ceremonies of baptism
by immerSing the body three times under wa
ter instead Of one, as practised by the Bap-
lists, repeating the words, In the name Of the
Father-and Of the Son--and Of the Holy
Ghost with long pause at each conjunction,
during which time the body is isimmersed. They
partake of the Lords Supper in the evening,
which is said 10 have been the custom Of the
primitive Christians; and they also wash each
others feet, as practised by the Apostles. They
diScounteDance suits. at law, and all kinds u
litigation and contention, preferring to suffer
wrong rather than engage in strife. No one
belonging TO this denomination is ever permit
ted to suffer want, or become charge upon
the public. Generally, they wear long boards,
} although this is not a matter Of church disci-
} pine, but SIMPLY long establishment custom.
In word, the rule of conduct of this quiet
and unOstentatious body of Christians may be
found in the 18Th chapter Of Matthew
: There are settlements of Dunkerds in the
township, Of Wayne, Sugar Creek and Auburn.
They are an honest and industrious people
|, Their large houses and well-fed barns show
concusively that they understand the science
of Farming. They never engage in lawsuits
among themselvss-they assist their members
when unfortunate, and endeavor to live up to
that golden rnle, DO unto others as you would
have them to do unto YOU Such men as the
Hochstetlers, the Winkleplecks, the Keims, the
Showacres, the Neffs, and many others of e.
: quail respectability, belong to the German
} Baptists or Dunkerds. No men more uprigh
+ can be found. In days gone by, they voted
? the clean Whig ticket, and in future, We sup
r pose they will rally under the Republican ban
t ner.
l To show the Blotherly feeling which exists
. among the German Baptsts or Dunkerds, it il
only necessary fol us to relate an incident One
! of their members, who was On old man. and in
moderate circumstances, went security for
t sHRocK, the Holmes county defaulter Upon
Investigation, it was found out that the amount
! he would have to pay would strip him of bis
farm--all his stock, and that his family would
be turned out upon the world beggarless. The
} members thereupon held consultation--each
man agreed to pay an amount in proportion tC
) his wealth, and the old man and his children
I will not be disturbed in their homestead. This
4 is what we call true Christianity.- Tuscaraw'
( as Advocate.