Friedrich Muench (1799– 1881) Was One of the Most Influential German
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Tolzmann Muench_Layout 1 12/23/2011 11:15 AM Page 79 Recollections of fRiedRich “f aR West ” M uench , GeRMan -a MeRican nestoR of MissouRi riedrich Muench (1799– the Giessen Immigration Society 1881) was one of the most for a wide readership. 3 The autobi - Finfluential German pioneers ography and numerous obituaries in the history of Missouri and which appeared in the German- might rightly be viewed as one of American press describe his life the fathers of the German immi - and work in detail, covering the gration to the state. Widely known basic dates, facts and events. for his writings in German and Adding to our understanding of English, which often appeared this influential Missouri German under the pseudonym “Far West,” pioneer is an account of him writ - Muench was one of the more pro - ten by Gert Goebel, editor of the lific German-American authors of German-language newspaper pub - his time, writing on a whole range lished in Hermann, Missouri, the of social, political, cultural, histor - Hermanner Volksblatt .4 1 ical and philosophical topics. Goebel’s series of articles Muench is particularly well was entitled “Aus dem Privatleben known in the Missouri River des alten Veteranen Friedrich Valley region called the Missouri Műnch aus frűher Zeit,” or: “From Rhineland. 2 However, his writings the Private Life of an old Veteran played an important role in the from Early On.” This series history of German immigration appeared the Hermanner Volks - both to Missouri and to America. blatt in five installments from His many publications on Ger - December 23, 1881, to February man-American history illuminate 17, 1882. 5 Rather than writing a the time period in which he lived. standard obituary, Goebel chose to Additionally, there are his signifi - write a lengthier biographical cant works dealing with vinicul - essay consisting of his recollec - ture and his work as one of the tions of Muench. pioneers of winemaking in Mis - What follows is my transla - souri. tion of Goebel’s series of articles Ralph Gregory has translated together with explanatory notes. Muench’s autobiography, provid - Before this series appeared, ing a fascinating survey of the life Goebel published an announce - of this influential co-founder of ment that serves as an introduction Tolzmann Muench_Layout 1 12/23/2011 11:15 AM Page 80 FRIEDRIcH “F AR WEST ” M uEncH to his series. As his series supple - same ship together in the summer ments and complements but does of 1834 to Baltimore and several not replace the obituaries that months later to Missouri. We lived appeared in the press, one of them no more than twelve miles from is included here, following the one another and it was only the translation of his articles, as it fact that the Missouri River offers a concise biographical flowed between our farms, which sketch of Muench’s life and work kept us from getting together more on both sides of the Atlantic. often than was the case. 7 Taken together, they provide a pic - not many mortals have the ture of Far West as viewed and good fortune as did our old friend understood by his contemporaries of passing away so easily and in the German-American press of beautifully, with the proof of his Missouri. unending work, the grapevine 8 Friedrich Muench , by Gert shears in his cold hand. Goebel , Hermanner Volks- We were already about to go blatt , 16 d eceMber 1881 to press and have not collected our Yesterday evening, we received thoughts enough so as be able to the following postcard: calmly and freely write an obitu - ary of this worthy pioneer, but will Dutzow, 12 December 1881 try to make up for this in time for Friedrich Muench was found dead the next issue this coming week. this evening with the grapevine FroM the Private liFe oF an shears in his hand in his vineyard. 6 old veteran FroM early on, Burial, Friday, 2 P.M. Part i, by Gert Goebel , Her - Sincerely, Dr. Klueber manner WocHenblatt , 23 Even though it is not particu - deceMber 1881 larly noteworthy when someone Since we were informed of the dies at the age of 83, we neverthe - unexpected death of our old friend less were speechless for several Friedrich Muench by means of a minutes after receiving this post - postcard, it was already to late for card last night. us to report in detail of the loss We are probably the oldest of suffered by the entire German ele - the friends still living of our old ment of the u.S. as a result of the “Far West,” as we came on the demise of this outstanding pio - —80 — Tolzmann Muench_Layout 1 12/23/2011 11:15 AM Page 81 TOLZMAnn neer, as we were about to go to At that time, there were no press. trains in the East and we had to Due to the articles, which make the journey from Baltimore have appeared since last week in with freight wagons. The trip was the Westliche Post and the An - slow, as only 15 to 18 miles could zeiger des Westens regarding the be covered daily. The women and life and death of our old Far West, children rode on the packed wag - we have been beaten to the punch ons and the man and young boys in this regard and can only con - walked mainly on ahead or along - side them. 11 firm that which already been said. However, in these articles the The driver of one wagon had focus has been primarily on his the bad habit of drinking too much public life, as not much was and was once so intoxicated that known of his private affairs, espe - he could not steer the four-horse cially early on. 9 team and laid down in the wagon, unconcerned with his cargo. In Therefore, it might be of such cases, Muench mounted a interest for who knew him person - saddled horse and steered the ally to learn something of his early horses along, something he had life in Missouri before he had never done as a student or pastor. made a name for himself. Outside This was not really a great work of of his family we probably know art, as the horses knew their way more about his early history than and calmly walked behind the anyone else alive. other wagons. However, in all When Friedrich Muench emi - cases he never mistreated the hors - grated, he was in his 36 th year and es forcefully. was a large, slender and very One time when he was driv - robust man. My father and his ing the team, my father got tired family were Muench’s traveling and wanted to get down from the companions from Bremen to wagon and asked Muench to stop. Baltimore and from there to the He did everything possible to ful - distant West. 10 It was then that I fill my father’s request, but noth - got to know him as a man who ing worked. All commands, shout - took action when it was necessary ing, and reining-in did not have to do so and who knew how to the desired effect and the horses fend for himself. kept calmly moving on. Later on, —81 — Tolzmann Muench_Layout 1 12/23/2011 11:15 AM Page 82 FRIEDRIcH “F AR WEST ” M uEncH my father sarcastically remarked our traveling companion, Fried - that his friend Muench “did not rich Muench. yet know the magic word to bring My father did not dare take American horses to a halt.” such journeys alone in the woods, Our highly learned friend was but I did. A friend, Ferdinand, who certainly not able at this time to had come with us to Missouri, deliver an English-language ad - decided to visit Muench several dress in the senate. months later. We found the way On the journey on the Ohio without difficulty to the then still River Muench was the lead singer quite insignificant settlement of almost every evening with his Washington. There we crossed the fine-sounding tenor voice, as we river, but then we stood like “oxen immigrants sang our German at the mountain” as the expression songs to the best of our abilities goes, since we had no idea which for the captain and his crew. 12 way to go and so took the first path In St. Louis we then split up. that we found. Soon we came to a Several weeks earlier, Paul rather large old farm in the bot - Follenius, Muench’s brother-in- toms. We stopped there, inquiring law, had already purchased what as to the direction to Muench’s was then called “classic land” in farm. the vicinity of the old Duden farm We were immediately recog - in Warren county and our friend nized as Germans due to our attire, 13 Muench followed him there. My our German hunting gear, but father moved to the area near the especially because of our gibber - old newport, on the other hand. ish, which was supposed to be Even though we lived only English. They were very friendly twelve miles from each other, it and endeavored to tell us the way. was not easy at the time to find Our friend Muench had already German settlers in the area. aroused the interest of his However, Muench searched American neighbors, since as and found his good friend, my much was we could understand, father, and I recall the joy we all people spoke with high regard of had one evening when we saw a the noteworthy German by the stranger walking down a forest name of “Minsch,” was the way path and then recognized him as Americans pronounced his name.