The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-03
ALL FOR GERMAN DAY
LARGEST GATHERING OF GERMAN
AMERICANS EVER HELD WITH
IN THE STATE
MANY CITIES CONTRIBUTE

MANY CITIES CONTRIBUTE
Special Train From New Ulm VIII
Bring a Delegation of Seven Hun
dred-The idea New In This Local
ity, Although the Day Has Been
Observed in Other Cities for Many
Years.
German day will be celebrated at Fort
Smelling today by one of the largest
gatherings of Communications ever
held within the state Of minnesota. Del
egations will be present from all parts
of the state, the city of New Clm alone
sending a special train conveying zoo per-
sons Minneapolis, Saltwater and other
cities will add to the attendance, and 1T
is expected that 10000 persons will par
ticipate in the exercises and ceremonies.
Tho celebration will be under the auspices
of the German-American Central Society
of Minnesota. The idea is new to this To-
cality, although the celebration of the
day has been observed in Eastern and
Southern states for years. In Minnesota
ton in commemoration of the day has
been talked of for ysars, but until this
year it has been confined to local cele-
brations in several of the smaller cities
throughout the state.
To the efforts of President B. W. Boz
nisch and the other officers Of the organ
ization belongs the credit for the event Of
today. According to dates the celebra-
ton should be held Oct 4, as that is the
date of settlement of Germantown, Pa,
the first German settlement In this coun-
try. Owing to the fact that the state fair
Is to be held this week and the railroads
will have low rate of fare it was de-
Cided to have the celebration Sept 5, and
thus secure q much larger attendance
than could be had a month later.
FIRST GERMAN SETTLEMENT.
Germantown. the first settlement in
America to be formd by the Germans,
was formerly a little borough. Its origi-
nal location was six miles northwest Of
the old state house." but it now comprises
the Twenty-second ward Of the city Of
Philadelphia. 1t was settled by Germans
in 1854 under the leadership Of Francis
Daniel Pastorius.
Germantown grew slowly for there were
not many Germans coming across the
ocean in those days. Gradually, how
ever the little band was increased, as ad-
Citional families came to these shores.
Some of the newcomers settled in other
communities, but Germantown continued
to be the head center of the Teutons.
The city during the next century became
a very important strategic point in the
American Revolution. Here was fought,
on Oct 4, w. the battle Of Germantown,
which resulted disastrously for the patri-
ots.
So much for the early history of Ger
mantown Its foundations were we'll laid
by the early Germans, who had learned
thoroughly in the fatherland the duties of
government. Today Germantown, or,
rather, the Twenty-second ward, still has
a large percentage OF Germans many OF
whose ancestors settled there in the early
days They are German in ancestry
only, however, for two centuries has
made them thorough Americans. Many
of the original names have changed their
form until they are now American names,
without a trace of their Teutonic orogin.
CENTRAL BUND.
The German-Amerlcan Central Bund Of
Minnesota, under which the celebration
will be held, Is an incorporated society
of all the German-American societies Of
the state.
Its object is to promote fellowship
among the Communications to pro-
mote the cause of American patriotism,
education and enterprise.
The present membership is sixty-one
societies, comprising over 1O,Ooo indl-
Viduals.
The history of the association is inter
esttng. 1t will be remembered that In
1895 during the war with Spain, the lingo
press of the country tried to stir up a
sentiment against Germany, claiming
that country was in sympathy with Spain
This caused some feeling of hostility
against the Germans in America, as a
natural result. The idea occurred to
some of the members of the Deutscher
Kriegerverein to bind together all Ger
man societies of all kinds to better coun-
teract che efforts of the yellow press 20
discredit the loyalty of the Germans All
manner of societies were invited to join.
In October, 1898, the Kriegerverein APP
pointed q committee consisting of Presi-
dent F. Erling, Rev. A. Thiele, H. j..
Nienstedt, P. Diedenhofen, VIM Schom-
stein, A Asmussen, julius Moersch and
G. Kemper to take hold and form plan
Of union. AS a result Of this step a
proclamation was issued to all the Ger
man-American societies in Minnesota,
asking that delegates from each society
be appointed to attend q convention to
be held In st. Paul on Jan. %, 1899.
Thirty-five societies were represented,
and a temporary organization was
formed.
Prof. B. w. Boenisch was elected tenn
porary chairman, and H. ]. Nienstedt
secretary.
Another meeting was held a month
later, a constitution adopted and the So
ciety elected the following permanent
officers:
President-B. w. Boenisch.
Vice President-Chr. Figge.
Secretary-H. J. Nienstedt.
Financial Secretary-Hubert N. Bauer.
Tceasurer-William Dux.
LibFarian-Dr. 1--WE Schwennsen.
Standing Committees-Re Resolutions, Rev.
A. Thiele, P. Diedenhofen, John Kunz,
William Foelsen, F. Erling; finance, H.
J. Radbruch, August Witte, G. A: Thorn
as, Charles Schneemann, Henry Heinsch;
entertainment e. Boerner, Henry Schulz,
Frank Werner, William Sprenger, John
Stable.