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w*r» . & <J> 1> t U *7* y"J, 7^ ^ ,/~ J i- ^ « *^ ^V ^VB *bVB * ^ <>••••<** CARL SCML'RZ. HISTORY OF V& GERMAN IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND Successful German-Americans and Their Descendants BY GEO. VON SKAL 1908 I of CuI\mRESS* I wo tAKiiei o SEP 17 laua UUtt LX_ AAC. > ) | a. S « 3 J f a. To the memory of the late (Earl ^rlutrz who, a steadfast and loyal American, remained true to German ideals, and devoted his life to the betterment of his adopted country, never forget- ting or belittling the gifts he had received from the land of his birth, this utnrk is iirMratrii COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY F. T. & J. C. SMILEY NEW YORK CITY — INTRODUCTION THIS work is intended to be a record of all that Germans have accomplished in the United States a record of honest endeavor, energy, perseverance, strength and achievement. It shall, in addition, show the part that the American citizen of German blood has taken in the making of these United States, in peace and war, on the battlefield as well as in the counting house, the workshop and laboratory, in the realm of science and education or in the long fight that was neces- sary to extend civilization and culture over a continent. It contains a history of German immigration in the United States from the first settlements to the present day, showing what the Germans were who left the fatherland, why they came, and what they did in their new country. Every incident throwing light upon the work done by the German element has been made use of to give a complete, though concise, and impartial re- cital of its activity, and a description of the influence it has exerted upon the development of the Union. In the second part the biographies of many Americans of German nativity or descent are given. History is not complete if it chronicles only the deeds of the few who in times of strife and combat rise above the surface; it must tell us of the many who have fought and suc- ceeded. The value of so large and important a part of the American people as the German immigrants and their descendants can be fully understood only if it is shown how many of them have been successful, and how they have, by long and earnest travail, risen to unusual heights. THE EDITOR. CONTENTS PAGE Introduction . History of German Immigration in the United States - - - 7.42 A Martyr to Liberty -----.... - - n The Pennsylvania Germans - --.-._.. 13 The Germans During the Revolution -----.. 18 From the Revolution to the Year 184S ------- 2 5 The Forty-Eighters -----------28 The Civil War and the Years Following It 32 From the Franco-German War to the Present Day ----- -, 4 Conclusion ------------ -in The Percentage of German Blood in the American People - - - 41 Successful German-Americans and Their Descendants 43 —; HISTORY OF GERMAN IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES According to the last Census there were living ing for three and even four generations. Where, in the United States in 1900 not less than for instance, the knowledge of the German lan- 2,669,164 persons born in the German Empire. guage is cultivated, and the children are made Within the few years passed since then, no great acquainted with German literature, the German change can have taken place, for the number of influence upon the mind becomes strong enough German immigrants has probably not been much to be traced and in turn exerted even after all larger than the decrease of the German-Amer- connection with the Fatherland has long ceased. ican population by death or the return of Ger- Taking all these factors into account, and con- mans to the Fatherland. There is, however, no sidering all manifestations of German origin doubt but that the number of Germans living as, for instance, the numbers of societies which in the United States is considerably larger than are either composed of Germans and their de- the figures given above, for the Census, in de- scendants in the first generation, or which, al- termining nationality, does not take into account though outwardly American, pursue objects and race but political divisions, and calls only those ideals essentially German—and viewing the persons Germans who have been born within strength of movements based upon German ideas, the borders of the German Empire. Several the conclusion does not appear extravagant that hundred thousand immigrants who have come the so-called German-American element comprises from Switzerland, Austria and the Baltic prov- nearly ten per cent of the population of the Uni- inces of Russia, and who are thorough Germans ted States. The percentage of German blood in in race, tradition and customs, are not classed as the American people is undoubtedly much larger such by the Census. It is, therefore a very con- careful and conservative investigators have placed servative estimate if we assume that the num- it as high as twenty-five per cent. ber of Germans living in the United States ex- It goes without saying that so large a part of ceeds three millions. But even then we cannot the total population of the country must neces- estimate the strength of the German element and sarily have exerted considerable influence upon the influence it exerts, correctly, because we must the formation of the character of the American take into consideration the descendants of the people. Whether this influence has always been immigrants, in whom, although moderated by used in the right way and with the full strength American influences, German ideas and ways of it possessed is an open question and has been thinking are more or less preserved. Here sta- doubted by many, especially by Germans with tistics cannot help us, for while the Census Bu- scant knowledge of American conditions. The reau has given us a number of tables showing United States would long have been a German how many native-born Americans had German country and the English language would have fathers, mothers, or both, this information, val- disappeared if pen and printing ink could have uable as it is, does not tell us how many of accomplished it. Extravagant love of race or these descendants may be called German-Amer- country and unreasoning enthusiasm based upon icans in the sense that they have retained some impractical hopes and dreams are, however, not of the valuable traits of their ancestors. How sufficient to bring about tangible results and do quickly complete Americanization destroys even not qualify their possessors to sit in judgment the last vestige of the German origin depends upon the work accomplished by Germans in upon innumerable circumstances, and it happens America. To do this a thorough knowledge of frequently that children who were born in the history of the country, of its institutions and Germany and brought to America in early youth evolution, as well as of the German immigra- lose all distinguishing traits before they grow up, tion since its beginning is required. In another and retain nothing that betrays their origin, chapter the attempt will be made to show what while on the other hand, many families remain Germans could accomplish here, and what they German in disposition and certain ways of think- have done, but before this is undertaken a short 8 HISTORY OF GERMAN IMMIGRATION JX THE I'XITED STATES but exhaustive sketch of the history of German crania and Western Prussia, German provinces immigration will be given- rarily occupied by the Swedes. The leader There is, unfortunately, n<> complete history of the first expedition was the same Peter Minne- of German immigration in existence. A number wit who had bought New Netherlands from the of works have been written dealing with single Indians and had later left the Dutch service. or treating short periods. But sufficient The treaty through which he acquired the neces- material is at hand to show how widely the qual- sary land for his new enterprise was written in ity of the immigrants differed in the several Low German or Plattdeutsch. Minnewit arrived periods during which Germans arrived here in in the spring of 1638 and succeeded in taking the large numbers, and how far apart these periods fur trade on the Delaware away from the Dutch. were. A careful examination of all known facts Three years later he disappeared, but whether will not only show what the Germans brought to he died or returned to Europe remains a mystery. America hut also whether they made full use of His successor was the Swedish officer, Johann the opportunities extended to them. And it may Print/, Edler von Buchau, another German and be stated right here that the result cannot fail a scion <>f a well known German family which to raise the popular estimate of the value of the still exists. While he ruled New Sweden the German immigrant. quarrels between this colony and the Dutch of The first traces of the German immigration New Netherland began, because the thrifty extend back to the settlement of Manhattan Hollanders wanted a monopoly of the fur trade I>l.md by the Dutch. Peter Minuit or Minnewit, and did not intend to divide it with others. Print/, who was appointed director-general of New Neth- returned soon to Europe and was followed by erlands by the Amsterdam Chamber of Com- another German, Johann Resingh of Elbing. In merce and purchased Manhattan Island from the the meantime the Thirty Years' War had ended, Indian- foi tulders, came from Wesel and Sweden was too weak to assist the distant colony herefore a German.

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