The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-07


son, travelled 20 Germany and collected
money for the erection OF a school and
library. This deed OF the Lutheran parson
cannot be praised sufficient, for his school
was the first school Of white children in
Virginia.
The merits OF those German pioneers are
almost forgotten. The English language
has taken the place Of the German among
their descendants. Yet many German
names anglocised beyond recognition testi-
fy TO the German origin Of their parents.
The German emigration in the valley
commenced in 1892. Jost Hite, with his
family and his sons-in-law, Bowman and
Chrisman, came first and settled on the
Opequan and Cedar Creek rivers. The
news OF the beauty and fertility of the
country spread east, and even as far as old
Germany, and the counties Of Frederick,
Shenandoah and Rockingham were eXclu-
sively settled by Germans, while in Angus
Ia, Rockbridge, Botet0urt, Roanoke,
Montgomery, Craig, and Pulaski. the Ger
mans mixed with Scotch and Irish. The
German emigration also extended toward
the Ohio and populated the state OF West
Virginia.
STATUTE QUOTED.
ave see in the population of this portion
Of the country, the Valley" I'VE quote from
the Statutes OF Virginia Of 1870, "only a
small portion Of the Old Virginia elements,
because ii is composed principal OF Ger
man, Scot, and Irish emigrants. Natu-
rally this region is the most fertile OF the
state, and as it was only partly injured by
the damaging influence of slavery II has
remained the most hOurishing portion OF
Virginia"
COMMUNICATIONS, ladies and gentle
men, this quotation is "A splendid acknowl-
oil Olorinna rQppDnitIOn-Df
predecessors, for actually the German farm
ers held no slaves. They cultivated their
fields with their own hands, and were not
possessed by the ambition of owning large
tracts, but well cultivated farms.
WITH AGRICULTURE.
Where agriculture is flOurishing, the con-
ditioDs tor the DEVELOPMENT OF commerce, in
dustry, art and science are afforded, and for
that reason many German towns and VII
lagos were settled during the last century.
Many Of them bear English names like
Winchester, Parkersburg, Harrsonburg,
and Wheeling, but the number Of German
names is also great. In the tideWater dis
trict and middle Virginia, Fredericksburg.
shumonsville, Snickersylle, Berlin, Vienna
and Newmarket, Lunenburg, formerly
Lueneburg; in the Piedmont section and
the Valley, Germantown, Johannesburg.
ATlRltIsNlnt. NlOi - 'tNI~
hansburg), Kernstown, Strasburg CORNER
ly StauiierstadD, Woodstock formerly
Mullerstown) Maurert0wn, Formerly Maui
rerstadt) Saumsyille, .Morefeld 0oTmerly
Mohrfeld), KeystOwn formerly hiesel-
stadt), Christiansburg, Singersville, Fish
ersvlle, Singer. Blacksburg 0ormerly
Schwarzburg) and the Swiss colony, New
bern. in Pulaski formerly New Bern. and
finally in West Virginia, Shepherdstown
formerly Mecklenburg; Martnsburg.
Frankfurt, Bern, Johannesburg, Lubeck'
Hessvile, Hackersylle, llelyctia, sheriff
vile, German, Frankfort, and in Fayetic
county with the curious name Of Leb Long,
DAMAGING INFLUENCES.
But also in the Valley and along the Ohio
many damaging influences arose, especially
the outbreak of hostilities between the
French and English, and many a German
abandoned his home. They went West
ward, and cleared the virgin forest in Ohio
Kentucky, and even Missouri.
! have allotted 10 the period Of the first
settlement Of this State the principal part
Of my address, in order to demonstrate that
our countrymen deserve credit for the es-
Establishment of the State, which has not re-
ceived the historic appreciation It deserves.
and Of which they have a right 10 be proud.
Now let us investigate: our claims to
recognition and our right 10 preserve our
national pecuiariles are justified by the
historical facts, proved by what we have
accomplished since that first period.
SHAKING TYRANNY.
At the time the tyranny OF old England
became unbearable TO the colonies, and they
undertook TO shake it of, the German Nir-
ginians did not hesitate for one moment 10
venture blood and life for the cause of lib
erty. Rev. Peter Muehlenburg, at Wood
stock, descended from his pulpit after Il
spirited enthusiastic address 10 his cOngre-
CATION, threw OFF his priestly robes and
buckled his sword upon his side. The
pious man Of the gospel became the colonel
Of the Eighth Nirginia-the German reg
ment-and marched it TO the headquarters
of Nirgina's greatest son. George Wash
ington. He was appointed general. and
distinguished himself as such by bravery a.
by his military genius.
The battle OF Brandywine was decided by
the Germany irginians and sons of Mary
land, under the German General Won der
Wieden, not Weeden, as American histo-
rians call him. And when the last contest
was fought at Yorktown, on Virginia soil,
the military talent of our famous country
man, General Won Steuben, overthrow the
last stronghold of English tyranny.
GERMAN DEVOTION.
This devotion of the Germans is very
often met by the statement that the victims
of greedy German princes fought in the
English army, but Virginia has no cause to
accuse these unfortunates, for the llessians
who deserted and were taken prisoners be-
came colonsts, and cleaned the Ale
ghanies of the Indian redskins.
And during the last great struggle he
tween the North and South the German
citizens were faithful TO our Common
wealth. Again, several purely German
went into the field, and two
generals of German descent, kemper and
Armistead, commanded brigades in Pick
ett's famous division. In our State Library
the sword of Major Heros Won BOrke is pre-
served as memento OF German yalOr and
devotion.
SCIENCE AND ART.
Not only on blOod-stained battle-fields,
but also IN the legislative halls, the
temples Of science and art, the workshops
of industry, and the market-places of com
merce have the Germany irginians gained
merit.
General Kemper, in whose family the
German language is still cultivated, was
Governor Of the State. Albert Gallatin, n
German-Swiss, was one of the most emil
nant statesman Of the young Republic, and
like the late Senator Riddleberger, who also
descended from a German family, was
member of the United States Senate.
Gustav Memminger, from Wurtenburg,
filed the sorrowful state Of secretary OF
finance during the war, and repeatedly
German Nirginians have been members of
the Legislature of our State.
DIR. George Blaetterman, from Hanover,
Germany, was professor Of modern Ian,
guages at the University of Virginia, and
the first to introduce in America the COM
parison between the Anglo-saXon and Ger
man dialects.
MAMMALIAN Schele de We're, successor OF
the last named, has published numerous
scientific and literary works.
b. William Wirth, of German-Swiss de-
scent, was one OF the best known opponents
OF jurisprudence, and DIR. Leipert, OF Rich
mond, was acknowledged as medical au-
thority.
German newspapers have been published
aimee the middle Of this century in Rich
mond and Wheeling, w. Va,
Music and the instruction in music nave
been In German hands principally up to this
day.
0ESANG NERIEN.