Goodhue County, Minnesota - Chapter 22: The Germans, 1909

Chapter 22: The Germans

Origin of Race - Colonial Germans - Prominent Teutons - Germans in Goodhue County - Early Settlers in Various Townships - German Soldiers - German Officeholders - St. John's Hospital and Training School - German Industries - German Churches - Written by Prof. F. W. Kalfahs.

The earliest information we have of the Germans, the peoples and tribes who dwelt among the dense forests that stretched from the Rhine to the Vistula and from the Danube to the Baltic Sea, comes to us from the Romans, the principal authority being' Tacitus. The term German is of Celtic origin, though its meaning is not precisely known. It was in all probability borrowed by the Romans from the Gauls.

The Germans are a group of Indo-Germans or Indo-Aryans. They are the aborigines of central Europe, near the Baltic Sea, according to recent researches of Schrader, Hirt, and Hoops. Tacitus speaks of the Germans in contrast to the over-refined Romans, who were morally corrupt, as being tall and slender of stature, healthy, robust and of handsome appearance. Their virtues were purity of morals, hospitality, loyalty, honesty, openheartedness. "Women were held in high esteem, and they considered matrimony as sacred.

The cause of German emigration was religious and political suppression ; as war, revolution and persecution on account of their religion! Other causes were social evils ; as famine, pestilence, poor soil, and excess of population.

The first Germans came to the United States in 1683 from Frankfort-on-the-Main, and under the leadership of Pastorius settled in Philadelphia.

The German emigrants did not merely look for material and physical advantages as to where they could find the best land and where to get the most money for their labor; they also considered the religious and ethical phase. They looked for religious toleration, to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. They chose not the South under the curse of slavery, where free labor was despicable, but the North. German emigration has been invaluable to the United States. Most of the emigrants were but peasants, but they were not afraid of work. They were not gentlemen by birth like the Virginian eolony in search of advantage or gold. They were well suited for the hardships and privations of the early settlers. With indefatigable diligence and endurance they turned the impenetrable wilderness into blooming meadows and pleasant settlements.

German emigrants of 1848 were not common laborers, they emigrated on account of political reasons. President Fillmore in 1859 said aboul them: "Before 1848, we had numerous German emigrants, but they were of different material - good, honest laborers, who came here with pick and shovel to get their own homes. Those of ls4s arc different people, full of music^ ethics, politics, philosophy, and criticism," etc. The Germans of colonial tunes made settlements principally in New York and Pennsylvania, also in North Carolina. South Carolina, .Maryland. New Jersey, Manic, and Massachusetts.

The real beginning of German history in the United States dates from 1683. To commemorate the event the German Day has been established since 1883.

In 1709, 10.000 emigrated from the Palatinate (Pfalz) on the Rhine; most of them stayed in New York. They colonized Palatine Town or the Camp German Town or East Camp, German Flats, Tharbush, Ancram and Rheinbeck, Newburg and New Windsor.

In South Carolina, settlements were made at the junction of the Saluda and Broad river, at the Congaree and AVateree. They colonized Purysburg in Beauford county. In North Carolina they settled in Granville county. Lincoln county and -Mecklenburg county. They colonized Bethabara, Salem and Bethany. Stephensburg and Sheperdstown in Virginia; Frederickstown, Hagerstown and Middletown in Maryland. In New Jersey they settled in the counties of Morris, Hunderton, Sommerset, Sussex, Passaic, Bergen and Essex. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war four-fifths of the inhabitants of New York were German and Dutch, while two-thirds of Pennsylvania and one-third of NewT Jersey and Maryland and Virginia was German.

M. Muehlenberg, the founder of the Lutheran church in the United States. The first governor of New York was a German, Peter Minnewit or Minuit. lie purchased Manhatteri Island from the Indians for goods valued at $24.00. Another German governor was Jacob Leisler. The first German newspaper was printed in 1739 by C. Sauer. The first German Bible was printed in 1742.

In the Revolutionary war. Baron Von Steuben was the most prominent general among the Germans. He gave military skill and discipline to the citizen soldiers. He was major-general and inspector-general of the army. Next of prominence was Baron De Calb, the hero in the battle of Camden, South Carolina. Other German generals of prominence were Nickolas Herkimer, general of the Mohawk Germans ; Joseph. John and Daniel Hiester, Harman, Schreven, Peter Muehlenberg, and others.

The most prominent of the German generals in the Civil War was Franz Sigel, who won the battle of Pea Ridge. Julius Stagel won honors at Shilo. Carl Shurtz reaped laurels at Gettysburg. General Ad. Engelmann fell at the battle of Shilo. General Aug. Willich won the battle of Bowling Green. General Carl E. Salomo distinguished himself in Missouri. Max Weber was mortally wounded at Antietam. Other generals of prominence were Ludwig Blenker, Frederick Hecker, Al. Schimmelplennig, John Frederick Ballier, Henry Bohlen, August Moor, Hugo Wangelin, Ad. von Steiwehr, Frederick Salomo, Joseph Osterhaus, August Kautz, Jacob Ammen, Gottfried Weizel, Julius Raeth. Among the German officers of Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Spanish- American War were : Captain Frank Franz. Captain Frederick Mueller, Lieutenant and Quartermaster Jacob Schweizer, Lieutenant Samuel Gruenwald. Major Ernst Decker, Sergeant Carl Holzschuhe, Eugene Ohlinger and A. Fullensreiber, Quartermaster Jacob S. Mueller, Saddler H. J. Haefner, Bugler John Stelzriede, Corporals John Boehnke and Theodore Schulz.

The Atlantic Squadron had the following German officers: On the Amphitrite, Albert Merz, lieutenant; Albert H. Hippner, physician. On the Annapolis, John S. Hunger, commanding officer; George W. Meuz, lieutenant; H. J. Siegemeyer, ensign. On the Bancroft. Carl J. Vogelsang. On the Gloucester, H. P. Hule, lieutenant. On the Massachusetts, Edelbert Althous, ensign; Kckhart, assistant engineer; J. L. Rosenblatt, assistant physician. On the Minneapolis, Luther S. von Wedekind, assistant physician. On the Puritan, Robert J. Habighurst, first machinist. On the Texas, Harold H. Haas, physician; L. C. Heilner and Francis J. Hessler, lieutenants. On the Oregon A. Aberle, lieutenant. On the Newark, Carl R. Roelker, first machinist. In the Pacific Squadron, Albert G. Winterhalter, flag officer.

The tirst gunner of the Olympia, who fired the first shot in the Battle of Manila, was Leonard G. J. Kuehlein. Rear Admiral Louis Kempff is German.

Some of the prominent Germans after the close of the Revolutionary and Civil War : Oswald Seidensticker and Gustav Koerner, historians ; Ferdinand Pettrich, the sculptor ; Isak Leeser. English author; Charles Sealsfield (Carl Postel), English and German author; John August Roebling one of the foremost engineers of modern times; John Jacob Astor, founder of the Astor Library; Albert Bierstadt. America's greatest landscape painter ; Emmanuel Leutze, historical painter ; Carl Schurz. statesman, orator and soldier ; Conrad Xies, foremost German American author; Thomas Nast, H. A. -Ratterman, Franz Hoffman (Hans Busehbauer), Christian Roselius, M. Hahn, Gustav Memminger and E. A. Zuendt. Theologians: Dr. Phillips Schaff, Win. Xast. Dr. C. F. W. Walther. Pedagogues: Hugo Muensterberg, Harvard; Kuno Franke, Harvard; Frederic Hirth, Columbia; Herman von Hilprecht. University of Pennsylvania; Paul Haupt, Johns Hopkins University; John Ilanno Deiler. University of Louisiana; Julius Goebel, Harvard; II. E. von Ilolst. University of Chicago.

The most of the early German settlers of Goodhue county who took claims or bought land and followed farming came from the rural districts of northern Germany principally from the provinces of Pomerania, Mecklenberg, Hanover, Westphalia and Saxony where, with the exception of Saxony. Low German, or Plattdentch. is spoken almost exclusively. They were not gentlemen by birth, who came here in search of adventure and gold and would in the course of time go back again. They were not taught how to swing the axe in the dense forest, or how to clear the land for cultivation, but they were experienced farmers, healthy and robust, and well suited for the hardships and privations which the early pioneers experienced. They did not own farms in Germany, but were tenants of lords who owned vast tracts of land, and paid them a mere pittance for a living. They therefore left their fatherland and came here, where they were better rewarded for their labor. In many cases they had not the means for the whole family to come over at once ; but one of the family would come, and after he saved enough, would send for the rest of them. It often required several years to accomplish this. But Low German thrift, energy and endurance finally conquered all obstacles.

The country at large, as well as our own country, needed just such men to clear timber lands and break prairies for cultivation. Most of the early settlers in the fifties had neither horses nor oxen. The tirst summer some spaded half an acre of land for their necessary wants. They carried a sack of flour and other provisions for ten or tifteen miles on their shoulders following Indian trails, fording creeks at times. There were but few highways. They had no houses when they first took claims and some lived in dugouts until they built log cabins.

The second or third year they had a yoke of oxen. Horses in the early fifties were rare. Many of the oldest pioneers have passed away, but some are still among us in comfortable circumstances, and they, and principally their children, are now reaping the fruits of their labor. The old log houses are gone, and they now have comfortable homes, large stables for their stock, and granaries. One very distinctive characteristic of a German farmer are his premises; he will consider his own comfort last. You can almost observe at a glance if a German occupies a farm or one of another nationality. His barns, stables, granaries, etc., appear to be comparatively better than his own dwelling. It is his love for his stock his own peculiar thrift which is conspicuous to such an extent only in the German.

The pioneer farmer, in comparison with the modern farmer, was handicapped in many ways. There was no machinery, everything had to be done by hand ; his grain was sowed by hand, was cut with the scythe and threshed with a flail, and when harvest time came help was scarce and wages very high. When the farmer was to be out in the field he was obliged to go to town to look for harvest hands. If he should find any. it would happen that they would quit the same day. because they were but tramps. The modern farmer is well equipped with modern machinery, is in touch with the rest of the world, with his neighbors, far and near, with the city and the market by telephone and by daily delivery of mail, whereas the pioneer farmer was often without any communication for weeks, even months.

In the spring of 1855 the first boat up the river brought a number of German families from St. Louis. Among them were the two brothers William and Fred Tubbesing, the three brothers William, George F. and Henry Meyer, F. Wicke and Miss Katerjohn. There were but few houses when they landed and no hotels. They were obliged to camp out for some time, but finally secured a log house. The Meyers took claims in Hay Creek and followed farming. In 1855, George F. Meyer and John Hack built a flouring mill on Hay Creek. The Tubbesings, who were cabinet makers, stayed in Ked Wing and for some time worked for Andrew Koch, who operated a small furniture factory. Peter Tubbesing. who was then fourteen vears old. was employed in the factory of Charles Betcher for fortyeight years ; has been foreman of the factory for many years. He retired in 1909.

The township' of Hay Creek was organized in 1858. The first settler was a Mr. Eger, who took a claim on section two, near the line of Wacoota township in the spring of 1854. In the fall of that year, George Friedrich, father of C. E. Friedrich of the firm of Friedrich & Kempe, Red Wing, came to the township, but removed to Belle Creek immediately after. The first marriage was solemnized between Ernst Schubert, brotherin-law of Fred Saupe, and Miss Reinhart in 1859 by William Hayman, the first justice of the peace in the township. Early in the year 1856, Charles Aiders built a house near the place where Burkard's hotel now stands. Mr. Ahlers was one of the many in those days who suffered the annoyance of a former claimant. lb' had his first log cabin nearly completed, when another man appeared to dispute his right to the land, whose claim was based upon the fact thai he had been there and inscribed his name on a tree previous to Mr. Ahler's advent. The former claimant was backed by a mob of men armed with clubs, axes and other weapons. So there was no alternative for Mr. Ahlers but to leave his improvements or pay the recjuired amount of cash. He paid the money, remained and opened his house for the accommodation of travelers. The early settlers of this town were all subjected to trouble for a number of years on account of being within the limits of the "half breed tract." Church services were held at an early day by both Lutherans and Methodists (the history of which will follow under "Churches"). Each of these denominations has built very fine church edifices. In L854 the following located claims in Hay Creek: John Hack, Charles Darling. Ernst Schubert, G. F. Meyer. Wm. Meyer, H. Meyer. Charles Ahlers and Henry Isensee. In 1855, Rudolph Kruger and Fred Saupe. Mr. Kruger was a member of the first board of supervisors, ten years chairman of- it. the first tax collector of the town, county commissioner one term, was elected to the State Legislature in 1875 and 1876. In 1854, Anton Scherf, Ferdinand Scherf. In 1856, August Santelman. Fred Kohn, George Zeitler, also Messrs. Brenefeld and Lichte and Albert Burkharcl, who kept a store and hotel business besides the farm. In 1857, Henry Schlueter, Peter Stromberg, Henry Helmecke and George Hartman. In 1858, Christian Senkpiehl and Albert Staiger.

The following are early settlers, but the exact year is not known. They are also Civil War veterans : Fred Baumbeck, Henry Burgdorf, August Buchholz, C. J. Henning, August B.

In Wacoota - Charles Hahn in 1853, Anton and Ferdinand Seherf in 1854, Andrew Keye in 1854, William Miller in 1855, Julius Smith in 1855, Ludwig Thiergart.

In Pine Island - William C. Ackerman, William Krapp, John Mohr, Joseph Ahneman. Conrad Durst, J. A. Kuhn in 1855. Henry Ahneman and John Ahneman in 1856, Schaeffer.

In 1853, J. J. Knauer, a German, surveyed and platted Red Wing for the proprietors. William Freeborn, Benjamin F. Hoyt. Charles L. Willis and Alex Ramsey. An early storekeeper oi* Red Wing was a German, Mr. Enz, of the firm of Jackson & Enz.

The Germans in Company G. 13th Minn. Inf. Vols., in the Spanish- American War were : Colonel Harry Fricdrich ; Captain Oscar Seebach; Corporals Fred W. Reichert, George J. Haustein and Charles J. Ahlers; Musician Charles A. Wendler; Cook Christ C. Bracher; and Privates Gottlieb Amenda, Henry Baumert, Henry H. Bearbaum, Frank A. Brecht. John G. Gerdes, Robert L. C. Geil>. Charles J. Hartman. Michael Hempftling, Edward R. Kappel. Conrad J. Risch. Albert M. Schouweiler. Henry Seebach, George Tebbe and Benjamin J. Tubbesing.

Board of public works - J. H. Schacht. Board of trustees city cemeteries - Charles Beckman, C. A. Betcher. Board of water commissioners - \Y. C. Krise. T. B. Sheldon Auditorium Board - C. A. Betcher, B. Gerlach.

St. John'S Hospital And Training School

St. John's Hospital is an outgrowth of the private hospital of Drs. Cremer and Claydon, opened in the city of Red Wing, October 12th, 1902. Owing to the. rapid growth which marked the career of this institution from the very outset, four trained nurses and four student nurses were employed by the firm. During the winter months additional trained nurses were engaged as occasion demanded, and the student nurses regularly received both practical and theoretical instruction from the superintendent in charge of the hospital, Ida G. Beauford. Two hundred and thirty-six patients were admitted during the year. This number, in the opinion of Drs. Cremer and Claydon far transcended the space and facilities of their temporary hospital quarters; and as the number, especially of patients coming from a distance, was constantly on the increase, new accommodations and permanent quarters for the caring of their sick had become a necessity.

The plan of establishing upon a permanent basis, a hospital and training school for nurses had been informally discussed on various occasions during the years 1902-03 by members of the Lutheran clergy and laity of Red Wing. As matters had stood for many years, adequate treatment, especially of surgical cases and of cases requiring expert medical and dietetic nursing, was frequently sought in towns far distant, owing not so much to a lack of medical talent nearer home as to a want of trained help, proper equipment and adequate facilities for. the care and treatment of such cases. The success of the Crenier & Clayden hospital now emphasized the urgency of this need. Credit must be given especially to the untiring efforts of Kev. J. R. Baumann, of St. John's church, Red Wing, who brought his influence to bear upon a number of business and professional men in this city, ami mi several occasions revived the plan of establishing a Lutheran hospital, when others had abandoned it as unfeasible. With the assistance of J. H. Schacht. C. F. Hjermstad, E. H. Render and J. C. Seebach, a definite plan of procedure towards the realization of this idea was outlined. .V temporary organization was effected in the summer of 1903. and the corporation was organized October 7th, 1903, under the laws of the state of Minnesota, with J. II. Schachl ;is president, C. F. Hjermstad as vice-president, E. H. Render as secretary, J. Albrecht as treasurer and Rev. J. R. Baumann. Charles Reinhart, .lohn C. Seebach and John Gerdau as trustees. The corporation immediately acquired No. 14(>7 West Fourth street as a permanent home of the hospital and training school, [da <;. Beauford was engaged as superintendent of nurses find continues to serve the hospital in that capacity. Drs. M. 11. Cremer, L. E. Claydon aiul A. E. Johnson constitute the regular hospital staff.

A new addition of twenty rooms is now in progress of construction for the purpose of having more private wards and for lack of room in general. The cost of the addition will be $16,000.

The hospital is located in the best district of Red Wing, about one-half mile from the business center and well removed from the noise, dust and smoke of factories and railways. The building is surrounded by a spacious lawn and grove and affords a beautiful view of the Mississippi and of the charming scenery along its banks.

The main floor of the building contains a large reception room, a dining room for the nurses, a well-appointed kitchen, and Avards. On the second floor is the operating room, laboratory, wards and private rooms, and the nurses' quarters. The building is a beautiful brick structure, and the interior is elegantly and tastefully furnished throughout. It is heated by hot air and hot water.

The Corporation - The general purpose of this corporation, according to its articles of incorporation, shall be the owning, erecting, improving', maintaining and conducting a public hospital for the medical and surgical care and treatment and the nursing of persons afflicted with disease admitted as patients therein and to do and perform all the business incident and necessary to the successful operation of a public hospital. The plan of operation of said corporation shall be the securing of funds fpr the establishment and maintenance of said hospital from gifts and voluntary donations, from issuing its capital stock and, if necessary, from loans and from reasonable charges for the care, treatment or nursing of patients who are financially able to pay therefor. The corporation is organized for benevolent purposes and not for profit and shall, whenever able to do so, care for and nurse worthy poor patients admitted into the hospital without charge. The location of said corporation and of said hospital shall be at the city of Red Wing, in the county of Goodhue, in the state of Minnesota.

Membership - Any male Lutheran above the age of twentyone years, who is a member in good standing of any Lutheran church in the United States which has become or shall become affiliated or connected with the Synodical Conference, upon becoming a stockholder of the corporation and making application therefor, may become a member of this corporation.

Capital Stock - The capital stock of said corporation shall be thirty-five thousand dollars, divided into seven thousand shares of five dollars each. Such stock shall be sold, issued and delivered only to persons eligible as members of this corporation. No owner or holder of any such stock shall dispose of the same to any person who is not eligible as a member of this corporation. No sale or transfer of any stock of this corporation shall be valid or effected unless such sale or transfer shall have been entered upon the books of the corporation.

The officers of Hospital Corporation in 1903 were : J. H. Schacht, president; C. F. Hjermstad. vice-president; E. H. Rehder, secretary and treasurer. Trustees - J. H. Schacht, E. H. Rehder, Charles Reinhart, Rev. J. R. Baumann, Rev. E. I. Strom, J. C. Seebach and Albert Keye. Business Manager - Charles Reinhart. Hospital Staff - M. H. Cremer, M. D. ; L. E. Claydon, M. D. ; A. E. Johnson. M. D. Superintendent of nurses and director of training school - Ida G. Beauford. Nurses' committee - Theo. Graebner (chairman), F. W. Kalfahs.

The officers of the Hospital Corporation in !!)(>!> are: J. H. Schacht, president: A. \V. Dicke, vice-president; E. H. Rehder. secretary, and R. YV. Rehder. treasurer. Trustees .1. 11. Schacht,

German Lodges

Turners' Opera Hall. - This building was erected by Germans, the Turners' Society, in 1873. It was a brick structure resting on a stone basement ; dimensions, 50x110 feet, and cost $23,000. The hall was conveniently arranged and properly furnished, including stage scenery and all the necessary paraphernalia. It had seating capacity for 900 people. The building was destroyed by fire in 1882.

The Turners' Society was organized December 3, 1867, with thirty members. The officers were : William Eisenbrand, president; J. Kuhn, vice-president; F. Bush, secretary; L. Hoffman, assistant secretary ; and H. Wolf, treasurer. Trustees, J. Winter,

F. Hartman and M. Kappel. The society now has a membership of fifty. The officers in 1878 were: John Frederick, president; R. Landauer. secretary ; A. Oswald, assistant secretary, and John Bombach. treasurer. Trustees, Wm. Eisenbrand, A. Remmler and L, Hoffman.

Teutonia Lodge No. 9, an order of the Sons of Herman, was organized October 30, 1878, with the following charter members : Frank Durig, Anton Brag, John Ha mm, H. Plaas, Carl Busch, L. Wunderlich, R. M. Fox, Fr. Hoffmann. Ernst Springer, Herman Oswald. Dr. Bruno Jaehning, Carl Goebel, Gottlieb Bracher.

Olga Lodge No. 7, an order of the Sons of Herman, was organized October 30, 1893, with the following charter members : Friederika Altmeyer, Katie Altmann, Anna Bellhammer, Lina Boatmann. Mary Grieve, Mary Klingrath, Sophia Hegmann, Bertha Hammer. Amalia Herberger, Mary Huneke, Carrie Landeck, Anna Miller, Bertha Metzler, Anna Neumann, Bertha Risse, Augusta Ratz, Barbara Schmidt, Lina Schellenberger, Margaretha Straub, Rosa Schilling, Carolina Vieths, Katie Vollmers, Minna Wiech, Mary Wiech.

German Industries

Their shops were opened in a frame building' on Third street, near Plum, with a capital of about $2,000. Their business increased so as to demand enlarged accommodations, aud in 1875 they tore down the old shops and erected their present ones, which are 40x60 feet, three stories high, and cost $5,000. They gave employment to fifteen men, and turned out about one hundred lumber wagons annually, besides sixty buggies, platform wagons, sleighs, etc. Their business averaged about $15,000 per annum. They had about $6,000 invested in the business, exclusive of buildings and ground.

In 1879 John Kappel retired from the business and M. Kappel became sole proprietor. M. Kappel was a shareholder in the Red Wing Wagon Company and manager of the same. The enterprise turned out to be a failure financially and Mr. Kappel lost considerable money.

William Remshardt, who has a wagon, paint and blacksmith shop on Plum street, started in business twenty-three years ago, in 1886, on the corner of Fourth and Bush, under the firm of Remshardt & Engfer ; later he bought the Newstrom property, with Anton Hendel as partner, on Plum street, the present location. Mr. Hendel died in 1901, and since then Mr. Remshardt has been sole proprietor.

Newspaper Publication. For twelve years, from 1891-1903, a weekly German newspaper was published in Red Wing, called the Teutonia. Herman Risch was the editor. Mr. Risen is now operating the printing press of the Training School.

Reichert Cooperage. George Reiehert had two large cooper shops, one on Third and one on Seventh street. The former was erected in 1867, was 20x60 feet, two stories in height, and furnished employment to nine men. The latter was built in 1877, two stories, 26x100, employed twenty men and turned out 60,- 000 barrels annually. On the same street Mr. Reichert also carried on a small one-story shop, employing four men. At the last named place tight work was manufactured. All the products of these three manufactories found a ready market in the city and country. Capital involved about $8,000. Number of men employed, from twenty-five to thirty. The shops on Seventh street are still in operation. Since the death of Mr. Reiehert in 1895, John Reichert became manager of the business. The Reicherts have also built up an extensive bottling trade.

Red Wing1 Boat Manufacturing Company. This prosperous business enterprise was started by Germans, John Trautner and brothers, who came from Winona in 1903, being induced to locate here on account of better business facilities. They first located on the Betcher property, near the Mississippi bridge, on the corner of Main and Bluff, but the rapid growth of the business soon demanded larger grounds ; they therefore removed to their present location in 1907. where they built a modern up-to-date boat factory. It is composed of the following departments : the machine shop, employing twenty-five men. who manufacture the motors for the launches ; the woodworking department, employing twenty men, who manufacture the launches ; the testing room and tinshop. woodworking machine shop, stock and draft room, engine and boiler room, warehouses A and B, where 200 launches can be stored. They employ fifty men and manufacture 1,000 boats yearly, which are sold all over the world. The plant cost about -toO.000. The business is incorporated under the firm of Red Wing Boat Manufacturing Company. The following are the officers : R. H. Boxrud, president ; J. R. Trautner, vice-president and manager; C. F. Hjermstadt, secretary and treasurer.

Remmler's Brewery. In 1861, William Heising came to Red Wing and purchased of John Friederich the Old Minnesota house, located on the corner of Bush and Fifth streets, and immediately turned it into a brewery, with the addition of cellars and the necessary appliances for the manufacture of beer. In 1869, Mr. Heising built a fine brick structure, 40x80 feet, three stories above the basement. The basement contained the malt machinery and other' apparatus. On the first floor were the beer kettle, mash tub, cooler works and the various appliances. Second and third floors were devoted to general purposes. The first beer kettle - 1861 - hail a capacity of twenty barrels, and tlie works now have a kettle of fifty barrels capacity. December, 1873, Mr. Heising died, and the business then devolved upon the widow. This enterprising woman soon after had an excavation made for a beer cellar, twenty feet deep, fifteen feet wide and 180 feet in length, and above that an ice house. 10x50 feet, two stories in height, built of brick. In 1S77. Mrs. Heising was married to A. Remmler. Under the direction of Mr. Remmler, 1878, a new dry kiln was put up, built of brick, 20x22. three stories ; an engine house, 22x34. same height, also of brick. On the first floor of the latter building is the engine, manufactured at Erie. Pa., and the boiler. The second floor is devoted to the water tanks, cold and hot, and on the third floor cooler apparatus. Since the death of Mr. Remmler in 1908, his son Otto is his successor.

Red Wing Brewing Company. The original building of this enterprise was put up by Lorenz and Phillip Hoffman in 1857, having a limited capacity, and when Jacob Christ took charge of it in 1871 the annual sales were only about 500 barrels. Later 1.400 barrels were produced yearly. The main building was rebuilt in 1878, of stone. 42x52 feet, with engine room 26x32, brew- ery room 24x50. The brewery was supplied with (me of M. W. Altus' coolers, 6x12 feet; an iron mash tub, twenty-seven feet in circumference by four feet six inches in height, and copper beer boilers of thirty-two barrels capacity; also one of Smith's patent malt mills; a cool shop, 20x22 feet, made of sheet iron and brick.

The main building was two stories above the basement, and instead of the sample room an office and bottling department was added. In addition there was an ice house built on the refrigerator plan, 21x53 feet. The brewery has since been enlarged and completely remodeled at an aggregate expense of $50,000, having now a capacity of from fifty to sixty thousand barrels annually. It is now a modern, up-to-date plant in every respect.

In 1905, Zimmerman & Featherstone became co-partners of the business. July 1, 1909, Mr. Zimmerman bought out Mr. Featherstone and incorporated under the name of Red Wing Brewing Company. The following are the officers: W. F. Zimmerman, president; Fred G. Haas, vice-president; C. P. Zimmerman, secretary and treasurer.

L. Hoffmann's Brewery. In 1865, Lorenz Hoffmann bought the Norquist building, corner Bush and Third streets, and started a brewery there. The main structure, or brewery proper, was 23x70 feet; dry kiln, 12x26; ice house, 22x28; engine, 26x32, containing one of the Densmore engines ; beer cellar, malt mill, etc., together with all the then modern appliances for making a prime article of beer.

German Methodist Episcopal Church, of Red Wing. This church society was organized in October, 1855, with Rev. Gustav Zollman as pastor, and Gottlieb Ziebrasse as local preacher, and the following named persons as members of the congregation : A. Koch, Friederich and Alary Koch;, William and Katherina Koch, Margareta Koch, Lena Hoffmann. Otto Kaschube and Katherina his wife, Henry Banze, Friederich and AVilliam Siebrasse, Margareta Siebrasse, Anna Af. Siebrasse, Herman Kalterjohn, Gottlieb Post, Anna Post, Conrad Singenstrue, Charles Aiders, Sr., Louisa Alders, and Charles Aiders, Jr. After the organization of the society, and until the erection of a house of worship, their meetings were held at the residence of A. Koch. In the summer of 1856, the Red Wing town proprietors donated the society a lot for a church building at the corner of Westavenue and Seventh street. The first church in Red Wing was built on it, a small frame structure 24x36 feet, costing $400. The church was dedicated in November, 1856, by the presiding elder, Rev. H. Roth. For many years this building served as a place of worship. It was finally sold to M. B. Lewis, who moved it up the hill to Sturtevant street, where it still stands as one of the old landmarks of Red Wing. The congregation built a new church costing $2,500, which was dedicated in 1892; improvements have been made on the building since. A parsonage was built in 1902 at a cost of $1,000. Besides the Red Wing church there are two others in the county, one at Hay creek and the other at Belvidere. These two churches form a part of the Red Wing circuit and have promising congregations. The list of pastors is found elsewhere. German Lutheran St. John's Church, of Red Wing. The German Lutherans were first gathered in 1856 by Rev. Sievers. who came up by the intercession of the Lutheran pastors, of St. Louis, preaching twice and celebrating the Holy Communion with them. In 1857 Rev. Heyer passed tl rough Red Wing and called them together for services. In 1858 a Conference was held at the Swedish Lutheran Church, at which gathering three German pastors were present - Rev. Wier, Key. Heyer and Rev. Bauer or Brauer. When the Germans heard of this they came and pleaded with the pastors in behalf of their distress, being without the Word of Life. Rev. Wier promised to serve them occasionally and administered the Sacrament of Holy Baptism among them. Services were held in private homes, and finally in the Swedish Lutheran Church. The members who first started the congregation wrere : William Retschlag, Andrew Lehrbach, Lorenz Hoffman. George Zeitler, Ferdinand Hempftling and a few7 others whose names could not be ascertained. One of the first elders of the congregation was Ferdinand Hempftling. In 1861 the little fold of German Lutherans mustered up courage to build a church, which was dedicated to the service of the Lord in December of that year. Rev. Heyer, the founder of the Minnesota Synod, conducted the services of dedication, according to the Lutheran Ritual. Rev. Gruscndorf took up the work in 1861 and taught school, but left soon. In 1862 Rev. C. F. Heyer took charge of the congregation, but owing to his advanced age retired in 1863. Rev. C. II. Blecken succeeded him and served the congregation until 1866. At this time Rev. A. Schmidt was called. He was quickly succeeded by Rev. Christian Bender, who took charge of the congregation December 7, 1867. LTnder his pastoral direction the congregation quickly flourished. After ten years of labor, it became necessary that the congregation erect a more commodious church structure and the present edifice was erected and dedicated in 1878. In 1881 it became necessary to call a teacher, R. Bertling. He was succeeded in 1884 by F. W. Kalfahs, under whose management the school flourished to an enrollment of sixty-five children. In 1889 hardships were encountered. The teacher, having been called to Wauwatosa, Wis., the congregation hesitated to call a successor amid these trying circumstances. Soon, however, brighter days came along and the congregation was enabled to purchase a $1,200 Kimball organ. This bright spark was soon darkened when the successful career of the true and faithful pastor. Rev. Christian Bender, came to a sudden close. Over thirty-three years he faithfully served the congregation with much sacrifice. God crowned his labors with success. He died February 17th, 1901. After many vain efforts to secure a successor, the present pastor, Rev. J. R, Baumann, was finally called September 1, 1901. and was installed by Rev. Wm. Franzmann. of Lake City, Minn., in that year. In 1902 the congregation erected a parsonage for the pastor. Feeling the necessity of English mission work, the pastor was obliged to conduct English services. November 16, 1901, the first English services were held. From this time on there have been regular evening services, every Sunday in the English language, except during the months of June, July and August. In 1906 the congregation deemed it expedient to call a teacher, and Alexander Jaeger was chosen. He was succeeded by A. C. F. Meinken, the present teacher, in 1908. Mr. Yaeger having accepted a similar position in Tomah, Wis. The school readily prospered and it became evident that the class-room had to be remodelled. The young people of the congregation collected funds and renovated the class-room in the summer of 1907 at an expense of $2,100.

St. John's Evangelical German Lutheran Church of Frontenac is the outgrowth of the labors of the Rev. C. F. Heyer, 1860, who founded the church with the following membership : J. C. Bennewitz, John Thompson, William Miller, Jacob Schneider, John Raeper, John Luth, John Hennings and Fred Koehn. J. C. Bennewitz was the first president of the church, and superintendent of Sabbath School, which positions he held until 1875. In 1872 they built their present church edifice at a cost of $2,000. It is of wood, 36x50, and a very pretty house of worship. J. C. Bennewitz, Jacob Schneider and Win. Miller were the building committee. In 1898 a steeple was built to the church ; in 1900 a furnace was added; in 1903 the Ladies' Aid Society was organized by Mrs. J. R. Baumann. The Ladies' Aid has contributed up to date $1,050 for the church and for benevolent purposes. The Ladies' Aid is now contemplating the purchase of a small pipe organ. The pastors of the congregation were Rev. C. F. Heyer, Rev. C. II. Blecken, Rev. Christian Bender, Rev. J. R. Baumann, the present pastor.

The German Lutheran St. Peter's Church of Belvidere was built in 1873. The first pastor was Rev. Horst of Hay Creek. The present pastor is G. Ferber.

Grace Church, German Lutheran, of Goodhue. This church was organized in the spring of 1870 by Rev. Christian Bender. It had but eight members at that time. They were : A. Seeback, Gottlieb Seeback, R. Haas, Charles Zemke, Wm. Beteher, Herman Kempe and Peter Tipke. The church was built in 1878, but was destroyed by fire the following year. It was rebuilt at once at a cost of $2,500, a structure 36x50 ft. Rev. Christian Bender delivered the dedicatory service the last Sunday in August. It now has a membership of about sixty-five. A parochial school is connected with the church having an enrollment of forty pupils. The present teacher is Walter Schroeder. The present trustees are : A\T. Borgschatz, J. Behrens, D. Reese.

St. John's Church, German Lutheran, of Goodhue. This church was organized several years later than Grace Church by Rev. Horst of Hay ( !reek. It has a membership of seventyfive. A parochial school is connected with it having an enrollment of sixty pupils. Rev. Herman E. Meyer is pastor of both congregations. The present trustees are: H. Matthes, Peter Jonas, John Liehman, John August in.

Immanuel's Church, German Lutheran, Hay Creek. This congregation was organized in 1858. Its first members were Fr. W. Dicke, Henry Helmecke, Fred Saupe, George F. Meyer, William Meyer and Henry Meyer. Its first resident pastor was J. Horst of Minneapolis. The pastors of the congregation have been Rev. J. Horst, Rev. Klinkenberg, Rev. F. W. Lange and Rev. J. C. Meyer, the present pastor. In 1897 the congregation built a church for $3,700. In 1008 a parsonage was built for $4,000. The congregation has a parochial school with an enrollment of from sixty to seventy pupils. The first teacher was Henry Augnstin, the present teacher is C. F. Arndt, since 1881. The congregation has seventy-three voting members. Its present trustees are Hans Augnstin, Ludwig Ehlen and Dietrich Deden. Its present school board is Joachim Deden, Johann Gerken and He in rich Dicke.