Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-06-03


ty; Pennybacker's furnaces and forges
in Page and Shenandoah, Miller'S iron
works in Augusta, and Foner's IRON
making establishments in East Rocking
ham.
The four most extensive and beautiful
caves in Virginia are, or were originally,
the property OF German families: Luray
Cave (Ruffner's cave), Weyer's Cave
| (Mohler's cave the New Market End
less Caverns (Zirkle's cave and MasSa-
nutta Cave (Armentout's cave. AT least
two OF these caves are known over the
world.
In 1905, Jacob D. Dietrich printed an
almanac at WincheSter-in all probability
the first German almanac printed in Viz
ginia. In 1907 Ambrose Henkle began
publishing at New Market the first Ger
man newspaper printed in Virginia. He
established his little printing house in
1906, and it has been continuously in
operation ever since, one OF his grand
sons, Elon o. Henkel, now being sole
owner. From this Henkel press at New
Market have been issued great numbers
OF books and periodicals, most OF them
under the auspices ofthe Lutheran church.
1t is one OF the best known-it is the old
est-of all the Lutheran presses in Amer
ica. In 1907 or 1908 Jacob D. Dietrich
began publishing German newspaper at
Staunton. Dietrich sagents wentthrough-
out the counties OF Northern Virginia and
into the States Of Pennsylvania, Mary
land, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Geor-
gia, and South Carolina.
In 1922 Laurentz Wartmann, who had
been printing in Harrisonburg since 1916
or thereabouts, began TO publish the
Rockingham Register, a newspaper which
is still running; and about lS47, at Sing
er's Glen, also in Rockingham county,
Joseph Funk, now known as the father
OF song in Northern Virginia, opened the
first Mennonite printing office in America.
Joseph Funk & Sons printed books OF all
kinds, but they became famous by The
publication OF music book called the
"Harmonia Sacra," which ran through
about seventeen editions until about 1876.
This very year Of 1915 there is move
on foot, among the old-time singers OF
Virginia, TO get out another edition OF
this much-loved book.
Isaac K. Funk, of New York, the we'll
known publisher, belongs 10 the same
Funk family of which Joseph was MEM
Der. The Ruebush- -Kieffer Company OF
Dayton, Virginia, one OF the best-known
music publishing houses in the South, is
the continuation OF the Funk company OF
Singers Glen. The Musical Million,
founded at Singers Glen by one OF Joseph
Funk'S grandsons (Aldine Kieffer), is
still published monthly at Dayton and is
perhaps the oldest music journal in the
United States.
In closing this hurried outline may be
allowed to name few representatives OF
the Germans OF Northern Virginia who
are today holding positions OF distinction
and honor in various fields OF service.
L. J. Heatwole, OF Dale Enterprise, is an
author OF no little merit and practical
astronomer OF eminence. He makes an
nually the calculations for thirty or more
almanacs in the United States and Can
ada, has been a weather observer for
thirty or forty years, and has lately per-
fected revised calendar which has re-
ceived the hearty approval of competent
authorities.
From the same neighborhood came
William J. Showalter, the well-known
journalist and author, OF Washington City,
whose articles in the National Geographic
Magazine and other periodicals have Civ
en- the reading public OF this country the
best accounts extant OF the Panama Canal
Zone and adjacent sections OF the South
sea countries.
President J. c. Branner, OF Stanford
University, the late DR.. Cooper d. Schmitt,
of the University OF Tennessee, DR.. Heber
M. Hays, of the University OF Missouri,
Prot. JuStus H. Cline and Prof. Charles
g. Maphis, both OF the University of
Virginia, DR.. Weldon T. Myers, Of Con-
verse College, S. C., and Prof. |. S.
Wampler, ofthe George Peabody College
for Teachers, Nashville, Tenn. stand for
comprehensive and vital scholarship.
Anthony J. Showalter, OF Georgia, ].
Henry Showalter, OF Ohio, John D. Brunk,
OF Indiana, E. T. Hidebrand, of Virginia,
not TO mention others living and dead,
keep alive the voice of song that the
father, Joseph Funk, attuned with such
far-sounding melody years ago.
As one Of those Valley Of Virginia Ger
mans who have gone out into the world
OF big business enterprise and made good
beg leave TO name L. J. Brick, OF St.
Paul, who for many years has been max
ing his mark in railroad circles. II am
not mistaken he comes from Rockingham
county, Virginia, OF German stock.
The greatest antiquarian in the valley
one Of the greatest in the country-is Gen.
John E. Roller, OF Harrisonburg, who
was recently president of the Pennsyl-
vania- German Society.
Hon. Charles E. Kemper, supervising
architect in the United States Treasury
Department, Washington, under whose
direction postoffices federal court-houses,
custom houses and marine hospitals cost
ing altogether more than Sl60, 900, COO
have been erected, is German from the
Shenandoah Valley. Senator John W.
Kern, OF Indiana. Democratic leader in
the United States Senate, former Con-
gressman E. D. Crumpacker, of the same
State, and Charles L. Kagey, president Of
1Lo Ct,No D.. - H.