Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-05
THE ENDING UF ZOAR.
The Famous Ohio Community is Soon
to Be Dissolved.
A Lapse Into Worldly Ways.
Lack Of Young Blood and Ac-
cumulating Debts Cause the FIX
pertinent to Fail-Rise and Decline
Of the Separatists.

Another communistic experiment
has failed. zoar is to go the way
Brook Farm went. After existing for
nearly so years this settlement, the
most unique and picturesque of all
such enterprises, is soon to be disband-
ed. Zoar will be swallowed up by the
commonplace world and in a few years
will be but tradition.
For almost fourscore years the Sep
aratist Society of Aoar has existed in
Tuscarawas county, Ohio The i'm
pending dissolution is due to a lack
of young blood, the introduction Of
modern ideas and the accumulation of
debts.
The history Of this peculiar sect, its
origin, its long continued loyalty to
the doctrines and customs of the
founders and it's gradual lapse into
worldly ways, is strangely interesting.
Like the pilgrim fathers, this little
band Of Separatists left their home in
Wurttemburg, Germany, for con-
sciences sake. They sought the re-
ligious liberty denied to them in the
fatherand. They did not find it easy
to reach the asylum in America. When
almost in sight Of the new land, their
vessel was driven back by a furious
storm, and the second voyage, which
was anything but smooth, lasted 90
DAVIS 'Tbpir L Ell dc -,
Jersey and Pennsylvania received
them Hospitality
In the northern part of Tuscarawas
county they found an ideal spot on the
banks OF the Tuscarawas river The
land was fertile and we'll watered with
springs and streams, and the forests
were composed Of trees splendid for
building purposes. A tract of $500
acres, a revolutionary claim, was
bought from an English Quaker, and
hut was put up, in which the thirty
pioneers dwelt until spring, when
more huts were built, and they were
Joined by the other members of the
party, who had remained in the East
with their Quaker friends. Altogether
they numbered about 225.
They adopted a constitution on April
IS, 1919, choosing Joseph NJ. BaumeIer
as their leader, position which he
occupied until his death, in 1853 He
was an autocrat, but a wise one, and
his firmness and good judgment pre-
vented the dissolution which threaten
ed the society on account of the rebel
lion OF some Of its members against
the oppressively strict form of govern
ment which had been established.
Concessions We're finally made to
them, the management being placed
in the hands Of three trustees and an
executive committee Of FIVE members,
constituting court of appeal. One
member of each of these boards was
chosen annually. men and women of
the second class having the right to
vote.
The children were under the direct
control of the society. At first they
were taken from their parents at an
early age and placed in the community
nursery until they had passed the
school age, IA years. when they could
return to their parents. When they
attained their majority, they might, if
they desired, become members of the
society by signing the constitution and
covenant, giving up all that they had
or expected to have. but they remained
one year on probation. They then be
came first degree members, but after
a trial OF several years might attain
second degree membership, with the
right to vote and hold office All dis
putes were settled by arbitration, and
no one was permitted to bring an &C
ton against a fellow member in
ai,r 10 i-cr
hibited, but has been allowed since
1880
There was no form of municipal
government until the incursion Of pic
mic parties and rowdies within recent
years made it necessary for the peace
ful Zoarites to take measures for their
own protection. The village is now
incorporated and has a mayor to guard
its interests.
Although the Zoarites came almost
empty handed to America, they were
frugal and thrifty and in a short time
were able to pay off the debt they had
incurred in buying their land. Then
they began to accumulate wealth and
at one time had over 100000 in bank.
besides owning almost 5000 acres OF
land.
Most OF this was made in farming,
but the building Of the Ohio canal
through their territory brought a
boom to the settlement, furnishing
profitable occupation for many OF the
young men.
There was a time when one could
always tell a ZOarite by his dress. the
men and boys wearing blue Of a uni
form and peculiar cut and the w2men
and girls gray or checkered cloth also
uniform in fashion. with Shaker bon
nets But the railroad and other in
novations have changed all this and
both men and women now follow the
fashions of the rest Of the world in
dress.
Their customs, morals and manner
of life have undergone somewhat
similar change with a more frequent
contact with other people. No ono.
according to the constitution, is en-
titled to have any money Of his own.
all that he earns being turned into the
common treasury, to be paid out only
on the order Of the trustees, This was
actually done for many years, but now
those who disregard the rule are more