Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
GERMANS IN MARYLAND.
Debt of the Old Line State to Men
of the Fatherland.
From the Baltimore Sun

From the Baltimore SUM-
Few organizations are to be found in
this country with a record of more years
of usefulness than the German Society of
Baltimore. This venerable society was or
ganized I'D years ago. Since its organi-
cation, in 17S3. the German Society. which
Is a beneficial well as a patriotic and
social society has aided vast number Of
immigrants who in that time have landed
on the American coasts. 1t has accumu-
lated a considerable fund, the income
from which is devoted to the support of
needy people of German blood. In many
other ways does the German Society eX-
tend aid to those who have come from the
fatherland or whose parents are from
the old country.
Maryland owes a great debt to her citi-
Zens of German blood. In the days of the
petty German states there was from time
to time political oppression which forced
many citizens of prominence in learning
and social position from their old homes
Many of these settled In Baltimore and
became leading merchants. WHO contribut-
ed largely to the upbuilding Of this city
and the extension of her commerce. They
also formed an intelligent and refined
clety, which freely associated with and
intermarried in the best social circles of
the city. In the war of the revolution the
German people of Maryland were in
state was largely peopled by Germans.
The first to settle i'll Frederick county.
about 1I32 came from Pennsylvania. Then
many whose destination was that county
landed at Philadelphia and made their
way across the country to the new and
unsettled uplandS of Maryland. Among
these were Jonathan Hager the founder
of Hagerstown, and Thomas Schley, the
school teacher, who built the first house
in Frederick City. From him We're de-
scended. we believe the great lawyer,
William Schley; Admiral w. s. Schley
and the distinguished men of that name
IN Savannah. Thousands of Germans
landed at Annapolis and made their way
overland To Frederick county. Many
landed at Baltimore. some making this
their home, and others pushing westward
to the mountains. Among the latter
DIR. Christian Boerstler, who brought his
family and was accompanied by large
party from the Duchy Of DeuX Points.
Bavaria, from which they had been driven
by the oppression of the local govern
ment. DR. Boerstler was man of learn
ing and ability. possessing great influence
among the Maryland people of German
blood. This influence was eXerted to Sc
cure the adoption of the Constitution OF
the United States by Maryland and it
may be that without that influence Mary
land would not have accepted the Con-
stitution. He wrote many articles in the
German newspapers which circulated in
Maryland the signature 'Volks-
fieund" and offered such arguments as
won his people to the cause he sup
porting. Until the German tide set into
Maryland the settlement of the province
was very slow. 4 century after the first
settlement the population of Maryland
was probably less than 100000 souls. At
the end of the first century the German
settlers began to arrive. and in the next
forty years the population of the prov
ince had doubled.