Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 35: The Germanic Element, 1912

Speaking of the early German immigration to Madison county and its results in our his¬ tory, we know that conditions regarding the characteristics and influence of this element in the upbuilding and life of this county are in all respects the same here as elsewhere in this country wherever the Germans are repre¬ sented. Consequently an all-embracing treat¬ ment of the subject may be permissible as best covering the purpose of this chapter for Madison county as well.

It is to be understood that the German ele¬ ment is considered to consist of all those com¬ ing from Europe where German is their language, since the characteristics of all are so similar in consequence of their educational systems and literature. They were either from the present German Empire, formerly divided into numerous independent kingdoms, and dukedoms, as well as from Austria, Rus¬ sia, and Switzerland. Their immigration to this country during a period of more than two hundred years was due to the horrors of war, religious troubles, despotic rule and political changes. They came to this country to escape the oppressive conditions of the old world. They did not want to start or create a new Germany, but to improve, above all, their material welfare and to throw into the scale all the good that was in them - their physical powers and abilities in human activi¬ ties, the riches of their mental world and ideals of life, together with the advantages and good they found here - thus gradually becoming, through the crucible of the Ameri¬ can nation in the assimilation of all elements, a part of the American nationality, soon be¬ coming accustomed to existing conditions, to the benefit of the country in fact, invariably and naturally stamping upon it, socially and politically, their high civilization and culture.

The Germans came here to stay, unlike some other elements which remain only tem¬ porarily, returning again to their native coun¬ try after having earned and accumulated a desired sum of money. There is the marked distinction that Germans are not in the class of undesirable immigrants who, mostly in late years, have been coming to this country, be¬ ing below the desired cultural and social standard, unable to understand and adapt themselves to our conditions and institutions, used to extremely low standards of living, without real moral sense, bare of human dig¬ nity, and dangerous to the progress of our people.

It can be truthfully claimed that the native born owe much to the characteristic spirit and ethics of the German element - its well-known integrity, economy, frugality, thoroughness, perseverance, high sense of honor, virtuous family life, love for law and order, liberty and tolerance, intense patriotism, high ideals for the beauties of life, for music, art and flowers, and that no element of the American people has devoted itself more earnestly and persistently to its mission for the benefit of all.

Considering that from the beginning, more than two hundred years ago, the German ele¬ ment constituted so valuable an ingredient of the American composite life, having taken a very prominent part in all respects, we may be permitted to refer here briefly to but a few of the more important historical facts : That Francis Daniel Pastorius, the founder of Ger¬ mantown, Pennsylvania, (now a part of Phil¬ adelphia), was one of the signers of the first protest in America against the buying and selling of slaves; that Frederick A. Muehlenberg was the first speaker of the first house of representatives in Washington's first administration ; that Germans were among the signers of the Declaration of Independence and aided in the framing of the constitution; that Baron Steuben, one of Frederick the Great's officers, was the organizer and dis¬ ciplinarian of the Revolutionary army, and General Herkimer one of the many successful German Revolutionary officers and soldiers.

The Germans still hold the second place among the racial elements of the American people, those from the British empire retain¬ ing the primacy in numbers. Socially as well as politically, the Teutonic blood in the Amer¬ ican strain has left its mark. In all great questions of this country the Germans were almost unanimously on the liberal and pro¬ gressive side. The first protest against slavery was made by Germans in Pennsylvania as far back as 1688, and when this institution threat¬ ened to break up the country by Civil war there were no more bitter enemies of slavery and no truer patriotic Union men than the Germans, evincing their intense patriotism for their adopted country by rallying in the spirit of "furor Teutonicus" into the Union army, readily making good soldiers and officers be¬ cause they had experienced military service in the old country. The older inhabitants will recollect this to have been the case, also, in Madison county and southern Illinois, where, especially during the early part of the Civil war, these men flocked to St. Louis to enlist in Missouri regiments because Illinois had filled its quota so promptly that there was no opportunity for all to get into regiments of their home state ; while Missouri was glad to receive them, being short in the quota for the Union, because a great part of that state was then under Confederate domination. And here also may be recorded the acknowledged fact that the Germans of St. Louis, southern Illinois and eastern Missouri saved Missouri to the Union.

The great and lasting influence of the Ger¬ man element upon the industrial, commercial, agricultural and social life, and development of the country in general is not conjectural, but apparent and acknowledged. It is historically verified that the opening of the great west, be¬ gun more than two hundred years ago, was started by the Germans of Pennsylvania and continued by the masses of Germans who im¬ migrated later. Of course there were also other nationalities, but the Germans did the greater part of colonizing and developing the new western country, clearing the primeval forests and breaking the virgin prairies, con¬ verting them into blooming and productive fields and gardens, without trying to assert po¬ litical power in organizing states. They were content to enjoy the peace and prosperity they sought in leaving their old country. They brought the blessings of the German home - sound living, economy, moral conduct, sense of duty, emotional warmth and high ideals. They came as sturdy, steadygoing farmers, tradesmen, mechanics, business men, educa¬ tors, artists, scientists and professional men, all trained in their respective callings, who, with their strong muscles and learning, brought the sciences of peace, of an old civil¬ ization, working broadly, deeply and patriotic- ally for the development of the American nationality, sacrificing blood and property for the independence and union of the Republic. In the great political questions of the country they stood and stand yet for liberal ideas, re¬ form and good government, inspired and in¬ fluenced greatly in this respect by the many noble highly cultured and intelligent among them. They have accomplished great things, and the influence of their characteristic ideals, customs and habits, thoroughness, honesty, economy and perseverance, will be lasting in our country.

German newspapers and periodicals pub¬ lished throughout the country in all large cities, as well as many local country papers, were the source of information and inspira¬ tion for making intelligent American citizens of the German settlers, acquainting them with the conditions of their new country, its sys¬ tem of government and political questions and issues. These papers also gave them the de¬ sired interesting news of the old country, literature for entertainment and instruction, besides keeping bright the ideals of their na¬ tionality. The literary and publishing activity of Germans in this country have been marked from the beginning, greatly developed and in¬ fluential in every respect, and though compre¬ hensibly not as extensive now as several decades ago - owing to the decreasing immi¬ gration of Germans and the more exclusive English education of descendants of the old settlers - is still great and influential.

The education of their children was one of the first cares of the German settlers. Schools were founded and teachers engaged who taught German and English, thus enabling their children, and especially those who had already attended school in the old country, to learn the English language by translation from one to the other so much faster and more perfectly, while at the same time their beloved mother language was maintained and its ad¬

The religious life also was by no means neglected. The many fine churches of the various denominations erected by Germans everywhere, in cities, towns and even rural districts, demonstrate this fact. They wanted this for themselves as well as for their chil¬ dren, just as they had it in the old country. Able men, graduates of theological institu¬ tions, were generally at the head of their con¬ gregations. Though they held liberal views otherwise in regard to the enjoyment of life, yet their religious feeling was intense.

Looking back into the earlier times of these settlers, we find that the first thing they would do for social life, cementing friendship, good neighborly feeling and harmony, was to organ¬ ize singing clubs or societies, if there were even only a quartet to start on. They had brought with them the song books (Volksliederbuch) containing all the hundreds of popular folk-songs and ballads of the fatherland, expressing so naturally and with deepest feeling the emotional life from the humblest to the highest, and as soon as their member¬ ship increased and they could afford it they engaged capable instructors, then also taking up the more classical songs. In that manner the organization of the many larger and na¬ tional vocal societies was started and devel¬ oped, with great and beneficial influence.

Equally important and even more penetrat¬ ing and all-affecting were their ability, activ¬ ity and success in instrumental music. They started bands and orchestras. Manufactur¬ ers of and dealers in musical instruments, and music teachers were and are up to this day nearly all Germans, or of German descent, so that it can be stated as a matter of fact that it is due to the intelligent Germans that the Lmited States today is counted with the musicfostering countries.

Another equally important step was to or¬ ganize a turnverein as soon as enough young men could be found for members, with older men as "passives" for support. The growth and spread of these societies was such that turnvereins and turner halls are now found in every city of the United States where the German element is strong enough, resulting in a grand national organization (National Turnerbund) organized more than fifty years ago. A national German- American Normal Institute of instruction for gymnastic and physical culture develops teachers who direct and superintend these exercises in the various societies, public schools and gymnasiums of the country in systematic, scientific manner, an achievement of which the Germans have further reason to be proud. And here we might add that the Turners, due to their train¬ ing, readily made good soldiers, as evidenced during the Civil war, when in their patriotic enthusiasm they were among the first to enlist for the defense of the Union, imbued with the spirit of courage and heroism, forming the socalled Turner regiments, which were noted for their efficiency and valor.

That the Germans are unsurpassed as suc¬ cessful farmers, due to proper knowledge and training, persistent hard work and economy, is well known. They strive to have farms of their own. There are old German farmers everywhere who began as hired hands, then became renters, and finally acquired farms of their own, gradually buying more land until, in their old days, they could give each of their children a farm.

The spirit of thrift is also in evidence with those in other walks or activities of life. They all work to secure their own home, and it is well known that in the so-called German towns nearly every family lives in its own home.

their great love for flowers. Even those in humblest circumstances, if they have a garden or only a little ground space, will cultivate these beauties of nature for their enjoyment, and in winter their windows will be filled with them. This trait accounts for the fact that florists are mostly German.

And another thing that touches the hearts of all should not here remain unmentioned: They gave this country the beautiful symbolic Christmas tree of ancient Teutonic origin.

It is known that Germans are steadfast in their love for the old country - loving it as children love, respect and revere a mother ; remembering it as the home of their happy childhood, for the soil on which they were born, the legends of their mountains, hills and dales, the flowers and their fragrance, the lan¬ guage, its literature, science, art, intellectual and other achievements ; taking pride in the thought of the old country's cultural height, and that Germans are the leaven of deep science in the world. The old country is re¬ membered as a mother by birth, America as the wife of their choice ; and they know that the wife does not blame the son who kindly remembers and honors the mother. But in all their love and pride for the fatherland they never forget that they are now Americans, bound for their own sake to devote their life, their power and work to promote the progress and welfare of their adopted country. They aim to preserve for this new nation the best of their nationality, their lofty ideals, the in¬ corruptible German sense of truth, its moral power, and love for the beautiful. That they have proven their true allegiance and highest patriotism to their new country is a matter of history.

The question of personal liberty, of which we hear so much, is strongly in the mind of Germans. By it they simply mean mutual tol¬ erance in the customs and habits of living, in politics, religion, and otherwise, without im¬ posing upon or disturbing others. They be^ lieve in lawful regulation and protection on this principle. They claim this as their right in a so-called free country, in which they have accomplished so much for its development and welfare. Their prominence in the liquor in¬ dustry and consumption is well known, and, though criticised by opponents, the fact should not remain unnoticed that Germans generally do not use much whiskey but indulge mainly in light wines and in beer than now con¬ tains very little alcohol. It is also known that in German localities, or where that ele¬ ment predominates, there is less cause for complaint on account of saloons as compared with localities where Germans are not so strongly represented because they are more accustomed to moderation and less quarrel¬ some. It may be explained here that the American saloon is not conducted as in Ger¬ many, where it is more on the order of a res¬ taurant and patrons sit at tables when being served. Treating is not practiced there and is considered obnoxious. Strict regulative laws are enforced and obeyed to make the busi¬ ness as decent and respectable as any other. Were this the case in America, it is believed that we would not have any prohibition agi¬ tation.

Though German immigration to Madison county dates back to the earliest history of the state, with only a small percentage at first, the larger steady and increasing influx really be¬ gan in the thirties, lasting throughout the for¬ ties and fifties of the last century, with per¬ haps the greatest number in the later forties and early fifties. From there on the stream of these newcomers to our country began to de¬ crease because they found other less inhabited parts of this or other new states, and because in later years conditions in most parts of the old country had become more favorable, giv¬ ing less cause for leaving it.

The Germans are about as strongly repre¬ sented in this county as anywhere in this country. They were in the front ranks as pioneers in the development of the farms and upbuilding of the towns of the county - as farmers and tradesmen, blacksmiths, lock¬ smiths, gunsmiths, tinners, wagonmakers, shoemakers, tailors, cabinet makers, carpen¬ ters, builders, mechanics, business men, manu¬ facturers, doctors, druggists, music teachers, artists, etc. In many factories and business houses the sons of Germans now continue the business started by their fathers, as evidenced by the many German names, not to speak of those who Americanized (or rather Angli¬ cised) their names.

Though the descendants of the immigrated Germans, on account of the teaching of the English language and literature in our schools, are naturally turned away more and more from the German, and have adapted them¬ selves more and more to the general customs, habits and language of our composite people, yet many of the good traits of their ancestors are perpetuated with them, not only for their own benefit, but also for all our people.

A tabulation from the census reports, show¬ ing German immigration to this county dur¬ ing every decade and an estimate of multipli¬ cation of descendants, would be interesting and show the surprising strength of the Ger¬ man element of Madison county. It has be¬ come, in truth, the dominating element in the population, as well as in its mercantile and agricultural interests.