Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-08-24
In 1sb3 tho Gorman Exanrolio.l In.

theran church of Walballa was incor-
porated, and the beautiful house of wor-
ship still standing, was thereafter erect
ed. Iikowiso in 1853 tho officers and
members of the Society, heretofore
known as the German Colonization So
ciety, wero incorporated under tho name
of tho German Settlement Society of
Charleston. (Seo Volume l2 Statutes,
page 20S.)
1t appears from the report of Prcsi-
dent Wagenor, madc October 1, 1854.
that within three years tho little town
of Walhalla had made wonderful pro-
gress. On the locality which three
years before was known rs tho homo of
the bear and Tho wild hog he could
then count G5 attractive houses, of which
4G wcre residences. There wcro 800 in
habitauts, exclusive of tho residents on
the farms adjoining. Among tho resi-
dcnts arc mentioned IL number of black
smiths, tailors, shoemakers, some twenty
carpenters, painters. ono cabinet work
man, ono coppersmith, ono apothccary,
ono physician, four merchants, two
hotels, four briclSmasons, one baker, one
butcher, ono barber, ono teacher and
ono minister of tho gospel.
Those who settled permanently and
wcro tho pioneers here on tho ground
encountered many obstacles and soon
found that their undertaking was not an
oasy one. In going back to farm life
under conditions of climate and land en-
tirely different from that in Germany,
they had many fruitloss experiences.
As rule they were weii received by
tho people among whom they camo to
1.-Two. Tho latter noted with special in
tercst tho Germans erecting, very soon
after arrival, large and commodious
barns, providing and caring for cattle
and horses in way entirely different
from tho universal custom. Habits of
economy and industry also made II bcno-
iicial impression upon them. Tho homo
of the Germans was thus readily rccog-
nizcd not alono by the barn, but as well
by tho little German brick bakc-ovcn,
some of which may still be found
1T is worthy Of note that, laboring un.
dor strange conditions, there were very
few accidents to lifo and limb. Probably
not more than three lives were lost 10y
accident during the first five wears, two
being Mr. Claus Bullwinkle and his child
who died from injuries received in a
runaway accident
These largo barnes were provided
with prepared carthcn floors on which
the grain was failed out by hand and
then cleaned by winnowing. What Il
contrast between this method and tho
approved thrcshing and separating
machines of to-day!
WHO WAS WAGNER?
"Comc, let's go see Wagcner.n Do YOU
ask who was this Wagcncr? The best
answer can give you is the cpitaph set
in tho monument over his remains in
Charleston: "llo was a true German
and loved his countrymcn. "Come.
let's 90 see Wagcncr,n was, we may foel
sure, the first thought which came to
those North German settlers of Charles,
ton when in doubt or trouble. Would
you SEQ the inner soul and purpose of
this man, then follow each issue of the
"Tcutono," paper to which reference
has been made, published by him in the
German language beginning in the year
lSll Sec there how ever and anon his
writings were directed for their uplifting
and their education, not for selfish ends.
but for the welfare of his people. not as
against but in COnSOnancC with the inSti-
tutions of the adopted home.
The character of his writing in this
paper reveals him rs Il truly Christian
philanthropist.
Gen. Wagcncr was born at Sicvcrn in
the former Kingdom of Germany on the
2lst Of July, 1916. lie came to the United
States Il mere lad, landing in New York,
where he remained a short time. He
came to Charleston in 1888
iic illSl looN III u lcttll
mcrchanlile house in the city, and it is
$ ated that he gave promise of IA success
full career in this line, but he abandoned
this position in the store and opened a
real estate Office and busying himself with
transatons and the preparation of legal
documents. He thus became well ac-
quaintcd with all the Germans, and bc.
came not only their leader but their
teacher. In 1910, mainly through his
of l,, I'm n,l.
ton was organized. In 1888 he organ
izcd the German Fire Engine Co; in
1913 the rcutonc Bund; in 1871 the Wal
halla Lodge a. +. NJ. in 1851 the Caro-.
lima Mutual Insurance Company; in 1880
the German Rifle Club; in 1886 the
Ductschcr Brudcrlichcr Bund, and in
1887 rcorganzcd I.aCandcnr Lodge a..
T. NJ. The organization of those
societies was with Gen. Wagcncr a work
ever derived any salary or profit was the
Carolina Mutual Insurance Company
which he served for nearly 23 years as
president and general manager This
company has been the means of saving
to the Germans Of Charleston thousands
of dollars in the payment of fire insur-
ancc. and it to-day is on Il firm financial
basis.
In military life General Wagencr
life. In 1873 he was Il Lieutenant Of the
German Fusilicrs of Charleston, and in
1917 he succeeded his brother Jurgcn as
Captain Of the German Artillery In
1860 Gen. Wagcncr was elected Major Of
tho same, and in the following year par
ticlpatcd ~ the bombardmcnt of Fort
Sumter. On the 2lth Of July, 1861, he
was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the
First Regiment of Artillery, and in No
ynr hnY of IN "a
tnguished for bravery at the battle of
Port Royal, where he commanded Fort
Walker. After the war Gen. Wagner
was called upon by his follow citizens to
serve the State in the disorder which
then prevailed. lie was a member Of
the Constitutional Convention of 1868
and of the first Legislature after the
adoption of the new Constitution. His
counsel on the negro problem may be
heard with profit to this day He wrote
i'm n public letter as follows:
"'rhc colorcd man is clearly entitled to pros
porous home in South Carolina, il hc shall prove
competent for the earning of one. To become
trustworthy he must hc trusted to become our
friend he must he met with u smile, not Irown.
lie must have encouragement. because he is the
child of the soil. Would you do the state real
service Improve our colorcd populations What
can we do otherwise cNpcl them? Could we
drive more han half our population away? How
long would it take. and where the power? And
il we could succeed in such monStrous measures,
what could we do without them: And while
We assist the colorcd people, give them land,
improve them, make them our grateful friends
ana supporters, let uS welcome and invite the
industrious ni every CLINE To come here and
make a happy home and lend us helping hand
in decorating our cycr-glOriOus palmetto with
garlands of peace, plenty and happiness.
In 1871, as a Democrat, he was elected
Mayor Of the City Of Charleston by Il
handsome majority. He left a clean re
cord and his administration was most
crcditabe In the campaign of 1876,
which resulted in the election of Wade