The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-17
German Pioneers in South Carolina

In a German periodical, Der Deutsche
Pionter, published in Cincinnati, we find in
the numbers for March and April of the
present year, o biographical sketch OF Cap
tain Michael Kalteisen, by General John A.
Wagner. This is one OF a series OF. hislori-
cal papers which General Wagner has been
contributing to the Pointer, about ''the Ger
ssmans in South Carolina" The sketch,
which may be said to comprise the life and
times of the venerable pioneer, is too long
for our columns; we will, therefore, content
ourselves with a few interesting extracts and
! character pictures.
General Wagner says: ave have always
had q great Partially for this genuine speci-
men Of a true German (Michael Kalteisen,)
not only because he preserved to the last
day OF his long life o true fatherlandish
heart and soul, but still more because he had
force OF character sufficient to infuse his
patriotic spirit into the hearts OF bis German
contemporaries, and to Undue them with q
noble humanity, and with a desire to pre-
serve and still further develop all that ID
good in the German character. 1t is too
much the practice of some OF our more tai
ented couutrymen to sing the praises OF
wealthy Germans, and the position which
they may have attained because OF their
possessions. We like not this custom; for
it is but seldom that he who has amassed
riches has preserved his soul pure and his
heart warm. Our experience has taught Us
that the German OF moderate means has
ever been most liberal and public spirited.
Kalteisen was not rich, although generously
endowed with honor. and Office. There is,
however, in the past history OF South Caro-
lima no lack OF noble Germans, just as our
own day can show many a fine specimen OF
the fatherland. Thus we have, in our minds
eve, besides Kalteisen, the brave Captain
Alexander Gillon, Lieutenants Gideon Du-
pont and Peter Bouquet, and the heroic
Colonel Mahem, the favorite of General
. Marion, and other sturdy sons OF Germany.
But the chronicles of the times that tried
mems souls were not written by Germans,
and their virtues aud services have not
always found merited recognition. Much,
therefore, that would now be very interest
ing to as has been lost, aud, as history fails
us, we can only tell what We have learned
from tradition and private records. We had
the good fortune to arrive and settle in South
Carolina at q time when it was still possible
to make the acquaintance and gain the
| friendship Of such of our countrymen as had
a personal knowledge of the persons and
| events OF the first period OF German life in
this State. There was old John Ssrohecker,
a splendid specimen of q German; the ven.
cradle Thomas Lehre, whose ancestors are
mentioned as early as"179O in the history-of
the State; old John Horlbeck, son OF the
progenitor. of this distinguished South Caro-
lima family; the good German carpenter,
John Schnierle, who, although he had lived
in Charleston more than sixty years, could.
scarcely speak English; and his son, the
talented and constant friend OF the German,
General John Schnierle, for many years
Mayor OF this city; and other noble Ger
mans and descendants of Germans have
told us much about the olden time, and
warmed our heart with the praises OF our
noble people"
General Wagner then proceeds to give
a brief historical sketch OF the early German
settlers in Carolina, down to the time Of
the subject Of the present memoir. Michael
Kalleisen was born in Wachtelsheim, Wur-
ssmberg, June ID, 1729, and appears 10 have
come to this country with his parents to-
ward the middle, of the last century, when q
number of Germans settled in the central
part of this State, near the Congaree. The
first mention we have of him in Charleston
is in 1852, when we find him established in
business. His house was the favorile resort
of Germans, and the asylum OF the poor
German immigrant. In l764 the.frst Ger
man society in the South, composed OF hi
teen members, was organized in his house.
In 1865 they took the name OF the German
Friendly Society OF Charleston"--Kalteisen
their first president. At the time OF the
American Revolution, this society already
counted one hundred members, and was able
to give the Slate a subsidy Of two thousand
pounds sterling for patriotic purposes. Kali
teisen was president of the society for eight
years. Soon after the Revolutionary War
they founded a school, educating annually,