The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-02-18
DEATHS
ZaIln.

Uncle" Frederick Zahn. the oldest
man in Carroll county, died Friday
afternoon at 3 o'clock, at the home
Of his nephew, John T. Zahn. East
Main street. where he had lived for
the past Is years. He was born In
Carlsbad, Austria, March 3, 1920.
His father was man OF some means,
and paid the sum of $3.50 that he
might enter large factory and
learn the trade OF turner. His
first work after leaving the factory at
Vienna, where as he expressed 1t he
made silver thimbles by the wheel
barrow load. When he went to
Vienna. he asked direction from the
police to the turner's guild" and at
once was received among the mem
bers of that craft. and next day vent
to work. His description Of his life
| In Vienna was most interesting.
In 1872. he came to America, where
his two brothers, John and Henry,
lived. He came through saxony and
reached Hamburg Just az the great
/ fire, which had burned for several
weeks, had been extinguished. There
he saw the ruins OF that beautiful
city, where he was detained BY the
confusion incident TO the fire. for
nineteen days before he could leave
| In a sailing vessel for this country.
From Hamburg to New York. he was
on the water for fifty-eight days. and
landed N the latter city In August.
He continued his journey to Phila-
delphia. where after being enter
tained IN the home of Henry gla-
baugh. whose acquaintance he had
made, he came to Baltimore. and
from Baltimore he walked to Vest
minister. The first person he met
was Michael Baughman. who vas
Just his age having been born IN 1920
He went up 10 him, and mentioned
the name OF his brother Henry. He
pointed To wheelwright shop. on
the corner where James T. Smith
nov lives. There he found his broth
er. At that time all the land to the
eastward OF Westminster along the
Manchester road vas covered With
white oak forest trees.
In 1872 there was an enormous
crop Of aeurns, and h gather
ed bushels of them for his brother
Henry To feed his hogs. Then he
went out to see his brother John. on
! y recently married to Elizabeth Ey-
erly With him he afterwards vent
out to Fountain Valley. There Mr.
zahn made his headquarters for
many years, though he worked al his
craft all over The county. - wheel
wright, millwrIght and turner. There
John Beard the mIllsrIght heard of
him and persuaded him to engage in
work for him. and many spinning
wheel he made for the good house
wives Of that day In Carroll. In 1916.
he married a Miss Bishop. Of fancy
town and SET mp for himself At
Fountain Valley waa a tiny water
power. Mr. Zahn built a water wheel
and harnessed the power u turning
lathe. ehopIdng mill. homlny grinder
and his .ife'z ehurn. and made ma
tufe help him With their work. The
water vas carried through wooden
pipes. bored By himself lie also
bored pipes for many Others In safi-
ona parts OF the county. horinE as
high as lai feet In : daY. lie not
ONLY bored them. but often laid them
n a modern plumber Lays the pipes
Of iron. When he first wenI 10 Eoun-
tain Valley 20 I've. h was aecuHIom-
ed 10 walk to Krider.a Church. where
only German vas used In the preach
Ing In those days. 70 hear him tell
how at first he stood aloof and watch
ed The groups Of young people. silh-
ont any acquaintance among them
was yerY interesting. But II did not
take long. and soon he va one OF
them. the gayeHt of The GA nj their
evening gatherings IN the homes TAR
and near. and though he had come
from across the sea. he Wa able TO
teach them n few things.
In 1872. Mr.. Lahn revisited the old
home In Austria.
Ills funeral services were held nj
kTlder's Lutheran church Sunday
morning at II o'clock. Ref. W f.
Hersh, officiating. InteTment In the
adjoining cemetery. Rallbearers Nere
Abraham Sheets. Amos Hamilton,
David Zimmerman and Charles Magln
Hark ey BankaTd a Son. funeral d.
re1 tors.