Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1915-10-28
GERMANS PLAY
PART IN EARLY
AMERICAN HISTORY

- 0bW - ~
At the annual meeting of the Sank
County Historical society at the court
house on Friday evening, Hon. Emil
Baensch of Manitowoc. president of the
State Historical society, gave an able
address on 1.-THE Germans in Colonial
Tines. What the speaker had to say
was news to most of those present.
American school histories say but little
concerning the coming of these people
at the time the United States was col
onized.
The speaker showed first how in the
melting-pot two most effective pestels
are constantly at work, commerce and
education. The one keeps the people in
constant movement and touch while the
other builds up and trains the rising
generation. Commerce and emigration
brought many Germans to America and
the large part they played in the early
history of this country was fully exem-
plified. While Germany had no part
in the discovery of America, one of her
professors, Waldsee Mueller, gave the
new world it's name. When Captain
John Smith came to Jamestown he
brought number of German carpenters
with him. Peter Minuit was the first
governor of the New Netherlands and
he purchased the island where New
York is situated for about $24, In 1869
the governor of Virginia appointed John
Lederer to take charge of the first ex-
petition to explore the west and south
and during the English revolution of
1888 the citizens of New York rebelled
and chose Jacob Leisler, wealthy
German merchant. as their governor.
AS to emigration, Germany sent
more people to America than any coun-
try of continental Europe, the first
coming from the valleys of the Rhine,
between the Swiss republic on the south
and the Dutch republic on the north.
They came for the same reason the
Pilgrim fathers came, because there
was no room for sects except those
which had become established
In his Investigations the speaker had
found abundant evidence of the Ger
mans locating in New England, men,
tioning many names which have become
household words.
The character of these immigrants
was discussed, their deep religious sen-
timent was touched upon, the various
sects were dwelt upon, their education
al work was mentioned, and the char
acter of some of the strong PERSONAL
ties was analysed.
The press of that time. the efficiency
of the early settlers, the part they
played in the wars, and the influence
these people have stamped upon Amer
lean life, were fully discussed.
Mr.. Baensch is an earnest and enter
tanning speaker. The address manifest
ed clearly that he had given it much
thought and that his research had been
wide There was often applause as he
reached climax in his discussion of
the subject.
At the close vote of thanks was
given Mr.. Baensch for the scholarly eff
fort and all spoke in the highest terms
of the way in which he had developed the
! subject.
The secretary, n. K. Page, and the
treasurer, Mrs. Edward V. Alexander,
made their reports. The amount of
cash on hand is $50 %. Nearly all of the
members have paid their dues.
The officers were reelected as fol-
lows: President, II. e. Cole; vice
presidents, Mrs. J. G. Train, George j.
Seamans, Reedsburg, and E. D. Och sner,
Prairie du Sac; secretary. H. K. Page;
| and treasurer, Mrs. Edward V. Alex
ander.
Mrs. John McGann of Baraboo and
John Fabry of North Freedom were
elected members.
E. L. Lucknow, auditor of the navy
department at Washington. sent word
of greeting to the members.
Attorney E. Aug. Runge introduced
the speaker.
xx~ ~~w~ mkx