Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-01-22
GERMANS IN THE
AMERICAN LIFE
NAMES ARE FOREMOST AMONG
THOSE WHO WROUGHT THE
MIGHTY REPUBLIC.
GENERAL CUSTER A GREAT
GRANDSON OF A HESsIAN
OFFICER CT 177s.

Charleston, S. c., Jan. 16.-''I1 the
wol IFS history two hundred years are
only minute space OF time, but In
the character of the interdependence
Of two nations it is mighty progress
from the emigrant farm laborer to the
exchange professor. Between two ma
tons with so much In common in the
past and so many ties in the present.
a firm, mutual friendship is but the
command of nature and common
sense. Between America am Ger
many there ought to exist, and. in fact
there does exist, no rivalry, but an al.
lance in the Industrial development
of the worlds commerce, such as
unites them in the work of civilization,
education and training"
The words are those of Herman
Ridder in aspeech last night at din
ner by the German Friendly society at
the one-hundred and fortieth celebra-
ton of the anniversary of its exist
ence. Mr.. Ridder proclaimed the 10y
atty Of the Germans to every for.
ward movement In the march of civil
lization and of the COMMUNICATIONS
to the institutions Of their adopted
country.
The famous Indian fighter. Gen.
George A. Custer, was a great grand
sou Of an officer OF the Hessian sol.
diers. His ancestor was paroled after
Burgoyne's surrender. 177S. and settl.
ed in Pennsylvania, changing his
name to Kuester." said Mr.. Ridder.
The speaker said that while the av-
erage American readily comedies t.
the German immigrants and their des,
cendants their very large oon.ribu-
tons to he material and intellectual
growth Ol this country. retaining II
from its primeval condition, develop
ing its resources, promoting indus
tries and arts, and while he also ac-
knowledges their loyal allegiance to
their adopted country and their valor-
Gus deeds in the defense Of its free
dom and independence. there are. out.
side the limited circle of students OF
history and political science, not many
people cognizant of, and stilI 6s~er
willing to admit, the important part
the German element 3 HAD in shap-
ing the character OF the American ma
ton.
THE example as set by the found
ers Of your society In organizing for
armed resistance was soon followed
by the Germans in other parts of the
American colonies" said Mr.. Ridder.
at was the bravery OF the Pennsyl'
vania Rifemen, a German regiment
under Colonel Tohn Peter Kchlein
(Kaechlein or Kochlinl, that has
earned for the battle OF Long ISLAND
the name Of rhe Thermopylae of the
American Revolution. AS an Ameri-
can historian las written: These
stood their ground urtil as many as
seventy-nlne men in one company had
been killed in the rest of the army had
completed It's retreat" In his pulpit
at woodstock. Virginia, the Rev. Peter
@. Muhlenberg pulled OF his ec'esias.
teal gown and stood in the uniform OF
and American colonel before his as
tonished congregation, whose able
bodied members followed his regiment
into the war. AT oriskany. Nj -hoias
Herkheimer. although fatally wound
ed, and his sturdy German farmers OF
the Mohawk valley withstood the ter.
rible onslaught of the Tories and their
Indian allies and drove them into
fight. Lutherloh and Weissenfels re-
cruited German regiments In New
York and brought valuable support to
the cause of liberty. In the winter Of