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AN ACCOUNT
OF THIE
MANNERS
OF THE
GERMAN INHABITANTS
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
WRITTEN 1789,
BY
BENJAMIN RUSH, M. D.
TN ES AIVEDBY
PROF. I. DANIEL RUPP,
Author, Translator, Member of the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania; IIon. Mem. Minnesota His. Soc.; Hon.
Mem. His. Soc. of Wisconsin; Cor. Mem. of the N. Eng.
His. and Genealogical Soc.; Hon. Mem. Phrenakosmian Soc. Pa. Coll.; HIon. Mem. Moravian Iis. Soc.
of Nazareth; Deigmadedachian Soc. of the Theol.
Sem. Gettysburg; Hon. Mem. of the Diagnothian Lit. Soc. Marshall Coll; Cor. Mem.
York Co. Cabinet of Nat. Sciences and
Lyceum; Mem. of Swatara Lit. Inst.;
Ehren Mitglied Des Deutschen Pioniers Verein, Cincinnati, O.
PUBLISHED BY
SAMUEL P. TOWN,
614 CHESTNUT ST.
PHILADELPHIA.
1875.




Entercd according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875,
by L. AW. Robinson, in the office of the Librarian of Congress
in'Washington.




PREFACE.
BENJAMIN RUSH, M[. D., the Author of the
Account of the Manners of the German Inhabitants, of Pennsylvania, was a native of Pennsylvania, born December 24, 1745, at Bristol, Bucks
County. He was educated at Princeton College,
N. J. Studied Medicine in Philadelphia, London,
Edinburg and Paris. In 1769, was made Professor of Chemistry, in the Philadelphia. Medical
College, and became a contributor to Medical
Literature. IHe was elected a member of the
Continental Congress; he advocated and signed
the Declaration of Independence. In 1777, he
was appointed Surgeon-general and Physiciangeneral, of the Continental army. I-Is duties
did not prevent him from writing a series of
letters on the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which
was changed by his influence. He resigned his
post in the army, because he could not prevent
frauds upon soldiers in the hospital stores.
In 1785, he planned the Philadelphia Dispensary, the first in the United States; and was a
member of the convention, which ratified the
Federal Constitution. Retiring from politics, he




4                PREFACE.
became Professor of the Theory and Practice of
Medicine, in Philadelphia Medical College; and
was so successful in the treatment of yellow
fever, 1793, that he was believed to have saved
the lives of 6,000 persons. His practice, in consequence, became so large that he prescribed for
one hundred patients a day, whom he saw, even
at his meals. His Medical works produced honors from several European Sovereigns. In 1799,
he was appointed Treasurer of the United States
Mint, which post he held until his death, in
Philadelphia, April 19, 1813.
He was one of the greatest and best men that
have adorned his country. Few men have been
greater ornaments to their country than Dr Bush;
and, very few, indeed, had acquired a greater
reputation, both at home and abroad. He was
a beneficent philanthropist and an exemplary
christian.  Thatchcr's  fed. Biog., Chamber's
Zncy. Davenport.




AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
MANNERS OF THE GERMAN INHABITANTS
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE State of Pennsylvania is so much indebted
for her prosperity and reputation, to the German
part of her citizens,* that a short Account of
* Governor George Thomas, of the Province
of Pennsylvania, wrote to the Bishop of Exeter,
England, April 23, 1747. "The Germans of
Pennsylvania, are, I believe, three-fifths of the
whole population, (whole population, 200,000).
They have, by their industry, been the principal
instruments of raising the state to its present
flourishing condition, beyond any of his Majesty's
Colonies, in North America."
Papers relating to the History of the Episcopal Church, in Pennsylvania, by W. S. Perry,
D. D., p. 265.
Pennsylvania took the lead of all the colonial
states in agriculture, because of the many German settlers.  In 1751, there were exported
86,000 bushels of wheat, 129,960 barrels of flour,
90,743 bushels of Indian corn. The total exports of 1751, exceeded in value, one million of
dollars. I. D. R.




6         MANNERS OF THE GEzRMANS
their Manners may, perhaps, be useful and agreeable to their fellow citizens in every part of the
United States.
The aged Germans, and the ancestors of those
who are young, emigrated chiefly from the Palatinate, from Alsace, Swabia, Saxony and Switzerland: but natives of every principality and
dukedom of Germany, are to be found in different
parts of the state.* They brought but little
property with them.t  A few pieces of silver
* In the Ship Lists, the name Palatines, is
indiscriminately applied to all imported Germans
into Pennsylvania, prior to 1741; afterwards,
they are designated, Foreigners, inhabitants of
the Palatinate, and places adjacent; Wittembergers, from Erbach, foreigners from Wittemberg,
Alsace, and Zweibruecken: from Nassau, Hanau,
Darmstadt, Alsatians, Eisenberg, Basel, Swabia,
Mannheim, Durlach, Rittenheim: inhabitants of
Lorraine, Mentz, Franconia, Hesse, Hamburg,
Saxony. After 1754, principalities, the dukedoms, districts, places or towns, are not designated in the Ship.Lists.
t Many who at home, had owned property,
and converted it into money, were robbed in
transitu, by ship owners, importers, sea captains,
and Neulaender.   The emigrants chests, with
their clothes, and sometimes their money, were
put on other vessels or ships, and left behind.
These chests were rifled of their contents. The




OF PENNSYLVANIA.             7
coin or gold, a chest with clothes, a Bible and
Prayer or Hymn book, constituted the whole
stock of most of them.*  Many of them bound
themselves, or one or more of their children, to
masters after their arrival, for four, five or seven
German immigrants thus treated, on their arrival at Philadelphia, were obliged to submit being
sold as -Loskaeuflinge Redemptioners, they and
their children, to pay their passage money. In
not a few cases, persons, who still had means,
were held responsible to pay the passage for the
poorer. This was the practice for more than
fifty years. In this way, persons of substance
were necessitated, and did become, very frequently, common beggars.  Col. Co ec. IV. 586, Penna.
Arch IV. 472. Gordon's History of Pcnna.
p. 300.
* If they were German Reformed, they brought
with them, also, the Heidelberg Catechism; and
a few of them, the Palatinate Liturgy, of 1684.
In 1731, there were 15,000 German Reformed
members, in Penna., from  the Palatinate, and
from the districts of Nassau, Waldeck, Witgenstein and Wetterau. Iarbauch's Lifes of the
Ger. Ref, chureh Fathers, I. p. 226.
If the immigrants were Lutherans, they brought
with them, Luther's Catechism, Arndt's Vahre's
Christenthum. The Augsburg Confession of faith.
The Lutheran membership did not exceed 17,000
in 1731.




8         MANNERS OF THE CERMIAN;S
years,* to pay for their passages across the ocean.
A Clergyman always accompanied them, when
they came in large b-dies.t
* The usual terms of sale, depended somewhat,
on the age, strength and health of the persons
sold. Boys and girls, usually had to serve from
five to ten years, till they attained the age of
twenty-one. Many parents were necessitated, as
they had been wont at home, to do with their
cattle, sell their own children. The children had
to assume the passage money, of both their own,
and that of their parents, in order that the latter
might be released from tie ship. Children under
five years of age, could not be sold. They were
disposed of gratuitously, to such persons as agreed
to raise them, and let them go free when they
attained the age of twenty-one.
It was an humble position that Redemptioners
occupied. " Yet, says Gordon, from this class have
sprung some of the most reputable and wealthy
inhabitants of this province."  Gordon's His. Pa.
p. 556.
In the years 1728,'29,'37,'41,'50 and 1751,
large numbers of Redemptioners, or those who
bound themselves, came to Pennsylvania. Prior
to 1727, most of the Germans commigrated and
were persons of means. Loeher, p. 80.
See An original Fire-side His.
t The Rev. George ]Michael Weis, V. D. M., a
native of the Palatinate, on the Rhine, a German
Reformed minister, who graduated at Heidelberg,
came to Pennsylvania in a company with about
400 emigrants, natives and inhabitants, of the




OF PiENSYLVA-NIA.            9
The principal part of them, were farmers,* but
there were many machanics, who brought with
Palatinate. They arrived in Philadelphia, Sept.
21, 1727, in the ship William and Sarah, Revd.
Weis was a learned divine. Rev. Andrews, in a
letter, to the Rev. Prince, of Boston, Oct. 14,
1730, speaks of Weis " as a bright young man
and a fine scholar, he speaks Latin, as readily as
we do our vernacular tongue." Hlazard's Reg.
of Pa., XVl p. 198.
Rev. Weis, announced through the American
Weekly ieercury, Phila., Feb. 3, 1729-30, that he
would teach Logic, Natural Philosophy, Metaphysics, &c., to all, such as were willing to learn.
Veis died. 1763. He is buried in the church, at
New Goshenhoppen, Montgomery County, Pa.
Pupp's collection of 30,000 ANames, p. 6. Earbaugh's Fathers of the Ger. Ref. church, I. pp.
265-274.
The Rev. Johann Casper Stoever, Missionary,
and his son, Johann Casper Stoever, S. S. Theol.
stud. with ninety Palatines, arrived at Phila. in
the ship James Goodwill, in Sept. 1728. Mr.
Stoever was born in Strasburg, Germany-was
for many years, pastor of the Lutheran church, at
Lebanon —he died near that place, May 13, 1779,
aged, 71 years, 3 months and 2 days. Many of
his descendants still reside in Pennsylvania. Col.
30,000?Names, p. 13.
* "The Germans," says Proud, "seem more
adapted to agriculture and improvement of a wilderness; and the Irish, for trade. The Germans
soon get estates in this country, where industry
and economy are the chief requisites to procure
them."  Proud's His. of Pa. II. 274.




10        MAKNNERS OF THE GERMANS
them, a knowledge of those arts which are necessary and useful in all countries.* These mechanics were chiefly weavers, tailors, tanners, shoemakers, comb-makers, smiths of all kinds, butchers, paper-makers, watch-makers, sugar-bakers.t
* At the close of the term of apprenticeship,
the young- mechanic, before he was allowed to set
up for himself, was obliged, according to the
custom  of Guilds and Trades, in Germany, to
make his Wanderschaft, Peregrination of one or
more years, in order to perfect himself in his
trade; and, he had to show some well finished
piece of workmanship, before he could be promoted
to the honor of master-workman, in any town,
except where he was raised.
The Wanderschaft custom, if properly improved, afforded opportunities to acquire, besides
a proficiency in their trade, much useful knowledge in general, which books alone, could not
supply. For the intention of this custom, was,
that the HFandwerks-Bursch Travelling Journey-.man should gain experience in his craft, and learn
methods practised in the countries, besides his own,
as well as some knowledge of the world. It is
nothing unusual to meet, in Germany, with common mechanics, who speak three or four different
languages, well informed as to the state of most
of the countries of Europe, and possessing a
general fund of knowledge, far superior to what
is found in persons of the same class, in Englaud.
lVfurray's Handbook, p. 218.
t From  the middle of April 1709, to the
middle of July 1709, there arrived at London,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            11
I shall begin this Account of the German Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, by describing the
2fanners of the German Farmers.
The Germans taken, as a body, especially as
farmers, are not only industrious and frugal, but
skilful cultivators of the earth. I shall enumerate a few particulars, in which they differ from
most of the other farmers of Pennsylvania. (The
German's farm was easily distinguished from
those of others, by good fences, the extent of
orchard, the fertility of soil, productiveness of
11,294 German Protestants-males and femalesmale occupations:-Husbandmen and Vine dressers, 1838; Bakers, 56; Masons, 87; Carpenters,
124; Shoemakers, 68; Tailors, 99; Butchers, 29;
Millers, 45;-TTanners, 14; Stocking weavers, 7;
Barbers, 6; Locksmiths, 4; Cloth and Linen
weavers, 95; Coopers, 82; Hunters, 7; Saddlers,
13; Glassblowers, 2; Hatters, 3; Lime-burners,
8; Schoolmasters, 18; Engravers, 2; Bakers, 22;
Brickmakers, 3; Silversmiths, 2; Smiths, 35;
Herds-men, 3; Blacksmiths, 48; Potters, 3; Turners, 6; Silversmiths, 2; Statuary, 1; Surgeons,
2; Masons, 39.
Of the 11,294 emigrants, 2,556 had families.
Kiapp, 89, 90 —-Frankfurter-Meess-.Kalender
von Ostern bis Herbst, 1709, pa. 90.
See Appendix A. An Original Fireside HTistory of German and Swiss Immigrants, in Penn.
sylvania, from 1682 to 1765, by I. D. Rupp.




12        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
the fields, the luxuriance of the meadows.  Colum-n-ag. for 1790, I. D. R.)
First. In settling a tract of land, they always
provide large and suitable accomodations for
their horses and cattle, before they lay out much
money in building a house for themselves. The
barn and the stables, are generally under one
roof, and contrived in such a manner, as to
enable them to feed their horses and cattle, and
to remove their dung, with as little trouble as
possible.
The first dwelling house upon this farm, is
small, and built of logs.* It generally lasts the
life time of the first settler, of a tract of land;
and hence, they have a saying, that "a son
* A house built by a German, could, even at a
distance, be readily distinguished from one erected
by a Scotch, Irish or Englishman. Had the
house but one chimney,and this in the middle, (in
der Mitte des Hauses,) then it was a German's.
They had stoves. To economise in the use of
stove pipes, the chimney occupied the central
portion. A house with a chimney at each gable
end, was erected by an Englishman. Schoepf's
Reise durch Pennsylvanien, 1783, p. 185.
If there was a spring on his farm, which supplied him with water, he built a milk house, and,
on the floor above, was a place to smoke meat, if
not, a loft to store winter apples. I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            13
should always begin his improvements, where his
father left off," that is, by building a large and
convenient stone house.
Second. They always prefer good land, or
that land on which there is a large quantity of
meadow ground.*    From  an attention to the
cultivation of grass, they often double the value
of an old farm in a few years, and grow rich on
* "The Germans, wisely chose some of the best
land in the state, where they soon made themselves comfortable, and next grew quietly rich.
*  *  *  The German population of Pennsylva-nia, naturally increasing, and augmented by
continual accessions from the Fatherland, has
since spread over a large portion of the State,
still inheriting the economy and prudent foresight of their ancestors, and generally establishing themselves on the most fertile soils."  Trego,
p. 84.
The Germans have supplanted, in many counties, the Scotch Irish. Cumberland, originally
settled by Scotch Irish, has now a prevailingly
German population. In Northampton county,,
though there was at first a moiety of Irish or
Scotch Irish settlers; now, nine-tenths of the
inhabitants are Germans. As early as 1790,
Germans to the number of 145,000 were scattered through the State. Five-sixths of East
Pennsylvania, are Germans. In the city of Philadelphia, Reading and Lancaster, and the towns
of Germantown, Allentown, Easton, &c., we find
many Germans. I. D. R.




i4'MANNERS OF THE GERMENS
farms, on which their predecessors of whom they
purchased them, had nearly starved. They prefer purchasing farms with improvements, to settling on a new tract of land. [ Gypsum, or
sulphate of lime, was used as a fertilizer, by
Germans. Jacob Berger, a German, was the first
that tried gypsum, several years before the Revolutionary war, on a city lot, on the commons of
Philadelphia. 3Memoirs of Agricul. Socty. Vol. I.
p. 156.]
Third. In clearing new land, they do not
girdle or belt* the trees simply, and leave them
* The process of girdling or belting, was, to
chop entirely around the tree, a curve of three or
four inches wide. A tree was not well deadened
unless it was cut to the red-cut completely
through the alburnum or sap. Seventy years
ago, when a piece of land was cleared in Curnberland county, in the first place, it was staked
off by the woodmen, provided with a Waldhacke,
grub-ax, he would take up by the roots die Baeumchen, the saplings, which he could shake in
the root, by laying hold of the young tree, bending it backwards and forwards. If the roots
yielded to this action, it was called a grub. After
the land had been grubbed, the larger standing
sapplings, and trees were cut down, and chopped
into rail lengths, of eleven feet or cordwood lengths,
of four feet. The rail lengths were split for fencing purposes, the four feet lengths were split for




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            15
to perish in the ground, as is the custom of their
English or Irish neighbors; but they generally
cut them down and burn them. In destroying
under-wood and bushes, they generally grub them
out of the ground, by which means, a field is as
fit for cultivation the second year after it is
cleared, as it is in twenty years afterwards. The
advantages of this mode of clearing, consist in
the. immediate product of the field, and in the
greater facility with which it is plowed, harrowed
and reaped. The expense of repairing a plow,
which is often broken, is greater than the extraordinary expense of grubbing the same field
completely, in clearing.*
fire wood. This done, the brush was picked into
heaps, and when dry, fire was set to them. The
clearing, das gelichtete Stueck, was then ready for
the plow.
* Those who practiced girdling or belting,
claimed, that thus deadning the timber, had its
advantages-labor was saved in chopping down
and burning the stuff on the ground. In some
parts of Pennsylvania, it was impossible to cut
down the timber, because farmers were too poor to
pay for so much labor. The dead timber afforded
fire wood for years, which obviated the necessity
of resorting to the woods. When the deadened
trees fell, the roots were taken out with the trees,
In eight or ten years, the trees began to fall




16        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
Fourth. They feed their horses and cows well,
of which they keep only a small number, in such
a manner, that the former perform twice the
labor of those horses, and the latter yield twice
the quantity of milk of those cows, that are less
plentifully fed.* There is great economy in this
practice, especially in a country where so much
of the labor of a farmer is necessary to support
his domestic animals. A German horse is known
rapidly. When the ground was pretty well covered with old logs, the farmer commenced "to
nigger-of," which was effected by laying the
broken limbs and smaller trees across the logs
and putting fire to it. The young members
of the family, boys and girls, followed to chunck
up the fires. In a few days, the logs were
niggered-of at the length of 12 or 15 feet.
Sometimes the entire tree was consumed. When
the logs were thus reduced to lengths, that they
could be handled by a few men, tho owner had a
log-rolling. He invited some of his neighbors,
who assembled to aid him in his rolling. Usually,
at such rollings, not a little hilarity prevailed, by
reason of the free use of the German's Branntwein, the Irishman's uisge-beatha, usquebaugh,
the Frenchman's, Eau de vie, water-of-life.
I. D..
* It is a maxim with Germans: Mlit Futterh
ist Keine Zeit verloren, i. e. To feed well, no
time is lost. TWer gut futtert-gut buttert, i. e.
He that feeds well, churns much butter. I. D. R.




or PENNSY.VANIA.             17
in every part of the state; indeed, the horse
seems to "feel with his lord, the pleasure and
the pride" of his extraordinary size or fat.
tFifth. The fences (die Zaeune) of a German
farm are generally high. and well built,* so that
his fields seldom suffer from the inroads of his
own, or his neighbors' horses, cattle, hogs or sheep.
Sixth. The German farmers are great economists of their wood. Hence, they burn it only
in stoves, in which they consume but a 4th or 5th
part of what is commonly burnt in ordinary open
fire places; besides, their horses are saved by
means of this economy, from that immense
labour, in hauling wood in the middle of winter,
which frequently  unfits the  horses of their
(Scotch) neighbors for the toils of the ensuing
spring. Their houses are, moreover, rendered so
comfortable, at all times, by large close stoves,t
* Wie einer den Zaun haelt, haelt er auch das
Gut, i. e. The condition of the fence, shows the
condition of the farm. I. D. R.
t In some of their houses, the Germans used
the six-plate stove, Christoph Saur, the printer,
in Germantown, suggested the ten-plate stove,
(S. died Sep. 25, 1758.) The ten-plate stove was
cast at, or near Lancaster, Pa. In 1752, first
came out the cannon stoves, made at Lancaster;




18        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS.
that twice the business is done by every branch of
the family, in knitting, spinning and mending
farming utensils, that is done in houses where
every member in the family crowds near a comand at Colebrookdale furnace, Berks Co. Pa.
They were used in churches and court rooms.
lVatson's Annals, I. 218.
In some parts of Germany, porcelain stoves are
in use. The curious objects, of variegated colors,
white, cream and blue. A Tourists, who traveled
through Germany some eighteen years ago, says:
When we first saw porcelain stoves in hotels, by
the way, we thought they were movable closets
for china and other table furniture. In the room
where they stand, there is no sign of fire or door
for wood or coal, but they are adjusted to the
wall, and open into the hall, so that the same
chimney serves for the necessary masonry of any
number of stoves. We have seen them in'places
twelve feet high, prettily ornamented, and furnished with shelves and niches for statues and
knicknacks. This one before, which we sit, is six
or eight feet high, and is raised a foot from the
floor, to allow space beneath for an aviary, which
contains some twenty or thirty canary birds,
who have a warm and equal temperature, and
hop about as merrily as if in their own sunny
clime  *  *  *  If we enter any twenty houses
at random, we shall see the same  *  *  *  The
stoves are made in different pieces, and baked
like other articles of potter's clay, and cemented
together. When whole, they are veneered with
a fine compound and painted  *  *  *  The ex



OF PENNSYLVANIA.            19
mon fire-place, or shivers at a distance from it,
with hands and finaures that move, by reason of
the cold, with only half their usual quickness.
They discover economy in the preservation and
increase of their wood, in several other ways.
They sometimes defend it, by high fences, from
their cattle; by which means, the young forest
trees are suffered to grow, to replace those that
are cut down for the necessary use of the farm.
But where this cannot be conveniently done, they
surround the stump of that tree which is most
useful for fences, viz: the chestnut, with a small
triangular fence. From this stump, a number of
suckers shoot out in a few years; two or three of
which in the course of five and twenty years,
grow into trees of the same size as the tree from
whose roots they derived their origin.
Seventh. They keep their horses and cattle as
warm as possible, in winter,* by which means,
pense of the cheapest, is about twenty dollars.
and of the finest, forty, fifty and sixty dollars.
When once thoroughly warmed, they remain so
half a day, and do not require such constant attention as those of iron, and give a more agreeable
atmosphere. Peasant Life in Germany, p. 288.
* The German Proverb runs: Eine gute Kuh
sucht man im Stalle i. e. One seeks for a good cow
in the stable. I. D. R.




20        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
they save a great deal of their hay and grain;
for those animals when cold, eat much more than
when they are in a more comfortable situation.
Eight. The German farmers, live frugally in
their families, with respect to diet, furniture and
apparel.*  They sell their most profitable grain,
which is wheat, and eat that which is less profitable, that is rye, or Indian corn. The profit to a
farmer, from this single article of economy, is
equal, in the course of a life time, to the price of
a farm for one of his children.
They eat sparingly, of boiled animal food, with
large quantities of vegetables, particularly sallad,
turnips, onions and cabbage, the last of which,
they make into Sourcrout.t They likewise use
* In an inventory of the goods of Andrew
Ferree, a wealthy farmer, of Lancaster Co., appraised Nov., 24, 1735, the following articles are
enumerated, viz: A large Family Bible, ~2;
two feather beds, ~ 6; wearing clothes,~ 7;
sundry pewter, ~ 2, 8 shillings; a box of iron,
4 shillings; sundry ironware, ~2; a watering
pot, 6 shillings; wooden ware. ~ 1; two iron pot
racks, ~ 1; two chests, 15 shillings; spinning
wheel, 8 shillings; Total, ~ 23, 1 shilling. I. D. R
t Sauer-Kraut, is a wholesome food, if properly made, and not allowed to ferment beyond the
proper point. It had been, as some maintain,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           21
a large quantity of milk and cheese in their diet.
Perhaps the Germansdo not proportion the quantity of animal food, to the degrees of their labour;
hence, it has been thought, by some people, that
they decline in strength sooner than their English or Irish neighbors. Very few of them use
distilled spirits in their families; their common
drinks are cider,* beer, wine and simple water.
among the favorite dishes upon the table of
Charlemagne, (Karl der Grosse) king of France,
who died, A. D. 814, and very likely was made
by the Germans, of the days ot Attila, king of
the Huns, who died, A. D. 453. Throughout
Germany, it is served three or four times a week,
during the winter. I. D. R.
* Cider-making among the early Germans. in
Pennsylvania, was different from the present manner, which in days of yore, was quite unique.
The apples were first pounded by a stamper in a
trough or strong vessel used for that purpose, in a
tub or barrel. After being thus bruised, the
pumice was placed in a large split-basket, or a
sort of Kfober, (now written Coover), previously
suspended to a limb of a tree, beneath which was
placed a trough, by fastening together the edges
of planks or boards, sawed or split, which served
to catch and carry the juice, compressed by
weights, usually stones, in the basket, into some
vessel placed for its reception. Apple mills and
cider presses were introduced between 1740
and 1745. I. D. R.




22        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
The furniture of their houses is plain and useful.
They cover themselves in winter, with light feather beds,* instead of blankets; in this contrivance, there is both convenience and economy,
for the beds are warmer than blankets, and they
are made by themselves. The apparel of the
* Ellkanah Tlatson a New Englander, in a
tour from Providence, R. I. to South Carolina,
through Pennsylvania, in October 1777, says:' At Reamstown, (Lancaster Co., Pa.,) I was
placed between two beds, without sheets or pillows.
This, as I was told, was a prevailing custom, but,
which, as far as my experience goes, tends little
to promote either the sleep or comfort of a
stranger." Elclanah Watson's ilen and Times,
Pc.. p. 31.
A tourist writes from Toeplitz, a town and
watering place in Bohemia, 1831: —"At Berggrieshuebel, where we stopped for the night, we
were introduced for the first time, to the stewing
of a real German bed. It consists of two large
bags filled with downs, between which, without
any other covering, the luckless wight of a traveller is called to repose. How this buttering on
both sides may do in the winter, I shall not determine; but, heaven knows, that on the occasion
referred to, it was altogether insupportable. I
endeavored, but failed, to get a couch more in
unison with the atmosphere of summer, of course,
I was obliged, from sheer fatigue, to submit to
the dissolution and thaw of this fearful hot-bath."
Strang's Germany, p. 235




OF PENNSYLVANIA.             23
German farmers, is usually home spun.*  When
they use European articles of dress, they prefer
those of the best quality, and of the highest
prices. They are afraid of debt, and seldom purchase anything without paying cash for it.
NAinth. The German farmers have large or
profitable gardens near their houses. These contain little else but useful vegetables. Pennsylvania is indebted to the Germans, for the principal
part of her knowledge in horticulture.  There
was a time when turnips and cabbage were the
principal vegetables that were used in diet, by the
citizens of Philadelphia.t  This will not surprise
* The German farmer's motto is; Selbstgesponnen, selbst, gemacht: Rein datei is Bauerntracht-Poetized.
To spin, to weave, to ready make his clothes,
And keep them clean, the frugal farmer knows.
Carpets,- now deemed indispensaoie to comfort,
were not to be seen in a German farmer's house,
before 1800. There are still some Germans, especially among the Amish and German Bret2hren,
who dispense with this comfort. Carpets were
no where to be seen, in rooms or parlors, even in
Philadelphia, till about 1750. I. D. t.
t During the Revolutionary war, some of the
gardens in the vicinity of Philadelphia, were improved by German prisoners, who had bleen in the




24        MA-NNERS OF THE GERiMAKNS
those persons, who know that the first settlers in
Pennsylvania, left England, while horticulture was
in its infancy in that country. It was not till
the reign of William  III, (who reigned from
1689-1702, I. D. R.) that this useful and agreeable art was cultivated by the English nation.
Since the settlement of a number of German
gardners, in the neighborhood of Philadelphia,
the tables of all clases of citizens have been
covered with a variety of vegetables, in every
season of the year; and to the use of these vegetables, in diet, may be ascribed the general exemption of the citizens of Philadelphia, from
diseases of the skin.
Tenth. The Germans seldom hire men to work
upon their farms. The feebleness of that authority whlich masters possess over hired servants,*
service of the King of Great Britain-they introduced, and cultivated broccoli, turnip, cabbage, &c.
Schoepf, 136. I. D. R.
* Unlike their English and Irish neighors,
they never, as a general thing, had colored servants, or slaves. Berks, a German county, having a population of 30,179, in 1790, had only 65
slaves in the ratio of one to 464 whites. Cumberland county, originally settled by Scotch-Irish,
with a pupulation in 1790, of 15,655, had 360
slaves, in the ratio of one to 44 whites. I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            25
is such, that their wages are seldom procured
from their labor, except in harvest, when they
work in the presence of their masters. The
wives and daughters of the German farmers,
frequently forsake, for a while, their dairy and
spinning-wheel, and join their husbands and
brothers, in the labour of cutting down, collecting and bringing home, the fruits of the fields
and orchards. The work of the gardens is generally done by the women of the family.*
* Times and customs have changed since the
pristine settlements of Pennsylvania. Not more
than seventy years ago, the good house-wife aided
by her daughters, would cultivate the garden,
dress and keep it in order, decorate the cottage
with choice honeysuckles, direct the tendrils of
the native grape, that shaded the house. In the
winter, mothers and daughters spun flax; in the
spring, the wool, on the humming wheel: from
the warp and weft of the spun yarn, they wove
linnen, linsey and woolen webs. Then a loom
was found in every family. The linnen, she
spread in the proper season, upon the lawn, to
whiten or bleach. Exposed alike with the husband, the wife cheerfully bore with him, the
burden and toil of life. Even sixty years ago,
there could be seen the Baurbursch, the youthful
peasant, at the side of him, the Baurmaedcheen,
the peasant girl, the classic Puella rustica, wielding the sickle. Then, this season, tempus messis,
harvest time, was one replete with more than




26        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
Eleventh. A large strong wagon (the ship of
inland commerce) covered with linen cloth, is an
essential part of the furniture of a German
farm. In this wagon drawn by four or five
horses of a peculiar breed,* they convey to market, over the roughest roads 2,000 and 3,000
pounds weight of the produce of their farms.
In the months of September and October, it is no
uncommon thing, on the Lancaster and Reading
roads, to meet in one day fifty or one hundred
of these wagons, on their way to Philadelphia,
most of which belong to German farmers.tordinary interest to the youthful blood of both
sexes, "redolent of joy and youth."
In many parts of Germany, even at this day,
the farmer's wives perform field labor, as well as
the men. I. D. R.
* The peculiar breed, was the Conestoga horse,
of wide celebrity. The name Conestoga, is from
the name of a stream in Lancaster county, along
which Swiss Mennonites settled, as early as
1709,'17. They were principally farmers. When
the Mennonites first settled in Conestoga valley,
the counties of Philadelphia and Chester, had
been settled by English emigrants, who brought
some horses with them. From this stock, the
Conestoga horse was derived. His. Lan. Co Pa.
pp. 74, &c. Rep. Com. of Agri. 1863, pp. 175,
180. I. D. R.
t In 1789, there were no turnpike roads in




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            27
NOTE. Some of the first German farmers had
no waggons, no roads to travel upon for a long
time. Some of them occasionally made a waggon
for using it about the lot; the wheels of those
waggons were made of solid pieces of wood, sawed
round. The harness of the horses were either
ropes or strips of raw hide. I. D. R.
Schoepf, in speaking of the Market in Philadelphia. 1782, says: "Die entfernsten, besonders
deutschen Landleute, kommen mit grossen, mit
mancherlei Proviant beladenen bedeckten Waegen,
auf denen sie zugleich ihren eigenen Mundvorrath
und Futter fuer ihre Pferde mit bringen, und
darauf uebernachten. p. 165 i. e. The most disant, especially German country people come to
the city, with large covered wagons, laden with
all sorts of provisions; bringing with them, at
the same time, their own victuals, and feed for
their horses, while remaining here.
Pennsylvania. June 21, 1792, the Philadelphia
and Lancaster Turnpike Co. was chartered, which
made and established the first turnpike road laid
in Pennsylvania. It was commenced 1792. finished 1794. It was sixty-two miles in length,
and cost $ 7,500 per mile. The Germantown and
Perkiomen turnpike road was begun 1801, finished 1804, 25 miles in length, cost $11, 287
per mile. I. D. R.




28        MANNEIRS OF TIIE GERMANS
Twelfth. The favorable influence of agriculture, as conducted by the Germans, in extending
human happiness, is manifested by the joy, they
express upon the birth of a child.*  No dread of
poverty, nor distrust of Providence, from an increasing family, depresses the spirits of these
industrious and frugal people. Upon the birth
of a son, they exult in the gift of a ploughman
or a waggoner; and upon the birth of a daughter,
they rejoice in the addition of another spinster
or milk maid to the family. Happy state of
human society! what blessings can civilization
confer, that can atone for the extinction of the
ancient and patriarchal pleasure of raising up a
numerous and healthy family of children, to labour for their parents, for themselves and for
their country; and finally to partake of the
knowledge and happiness which are annexed to
existence! The joy of parents, upon the birth of
a child, is the greatful echo of creating goodness.
May the mountains of Pennsylvania be forever
* Dr. Franklin spake the truth, fully, in saying:
"Agriculture is the only honest way, wherein a
man receives a real increase of seed, thrown into
the ground, in a kind of continued miracle,
wrought by the hand of God, in his favor, for
his innocent life and virtuous industry."  I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.              29
vocal, with songs of joy, upon these occasions!
They will be the infalible signs of innocence,
industry, wealth and happiness in the State.
Thirteenth.  The Germans take great pains to
produce, in their children, not only habits of
labour, but a love of it. In this they submit to
the irreversible sentence inflicted upon man, in
such a manner as to convert the wrath of heaven
into a private and public happiness:  "To fear
God, and to love work," are the first lessons
they teach their children.* They prefer industrious habits to money itself; when a young man
asks the consent of his father to marry the girl
of his choice, he does not so much enquire
whether she be rich or poor? or whether she
possesses any personal or mental accomplishments —
* The Germans believed: " Muesiggang, ist
des Teufels Ruhebank:" "An idle brain is the
devil's workshop." To their children, they said:
Arbeite treu, und glaub es fest
I)ass Faulheit aerger ist als Pest,
Der Muesiggang viel Boeses lehrt,
Und alle Artvon Suenden mehrt.
Work faithfully: believe'tis true,
Idleness is worse than a pest;
It is sure, much harm to do,
The cause of gross sins,'tis confest.




30         MANNERS OF TEE GERMA NS
as whether she be industrious, and acquainted
with the duties of a good house-wife-*
Fourteenth.   The Germans set a great value
upon patrimonial property. This useful principle
in human nature, prevents much folly and vice in
young people. It moreover leads to lasting and
extensive advantages, in the improvement of a
farm; for what inducement can be stronger in a
parent to plant an orchardt to preserve forest* The Germans have maxims, which if observed, reduced to practices, will prove advantageous:
Eine fleissige Hausfrau ist die beste Sparbuechse'An   industrious  house-wife is the best
money-safe.
Erwerben, und sparen zugleich
Macht am gewissesten reichHe that earns and Saves will be,
Rich for certain, you shall see.
In some instances, where the father was not in
favor of the sot's or daughter's intended matrimonial alliance, he would cite this proverb al
stanza:
Der Ehe stand ist ein Huehner hals
Der eine will hinein, der andre will heraus,
The marriage state is like a coop, built stout,
The outs would fain be in, the ins be out.
t The German axiom reads:
Im kleinsten Raum pflanz einen Baum
Und pflege sein, er bringt dir's einIn smallest space, a fruit tree place,
Attend it well, have fruit to sell.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            31
trees or to build a commodious and durable house,
than the idea, that they will all be possessed by a
succession of generations, who shall inherit his
blood and name.
Fifteenth. The German farmers are very much
influenced in planting and pruning trees, also in
sowing and reaping, by the age and appearance
of the moon. This attention to the state of the
moon, has been ascribed to superstition,* but if
* Call this superstition, or anything else, the
German farmers of Pennsylvania, were no more
superstitious than others. The common people
of England, believe that the moon does exercise
great influence on human affairs. The times for
killing animals for food, cutting down wood for
fuel or other purposes, sowing seeds of various
kinds, are all regulated by the age of the moon.
Chamber's Ency. Article, f~oon.
A difference of opinion has ever been entertained by scientific men, as to the moon's influence
on the weather, crops, &c, Some maintain that
the moon effects the weather, crops, cutting of
timber, building of fences, shingling houses. The
forest laws of France, interdict the cutting of
timber, during the increase of the moon. In the
extensive forest of Germany, it is maintained,
that wood not felled at the full moon, is very soon
attacked by worms and soon rots. The ancient
Germans, says Tacitus. Coeunt nisi quid fortuitum et subitum incideret, certis diebus, cum aut
inchoatur luna, aut impletur nam agendis rebus
hoc  auspicatissimum   initium  credunt-Freely




32         MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
the facts related by Mr. Wilson, in his observations upon climates are true, part of their success
must be ascribed to their being so much influenced
by it.
Sixteenth. From the history that has been
given of the German agriculture, it will hardly
be necessary to add that a German farm may be
distinguished from the farms of the other citizens
of the State, by the superior size of their barns;
the plain but compact form of their houses, the
height of their inclosures; the extent of their
orchards; the fertility of their fields; the luxuriance of their meadows, and a general appearance of plenty and neatness in everything that
belonged to them.
The German mechanic possesses some of the
traits of the character that has been drawn of
the Germanfarmer.    His first object, is to become a freeholder; and hence we find few of
them live in rented houses. The highest compliment that can be paid to them, on entering their
houses, is to ask them: "Is this house your
translated: Unless on some sudden emergency,
they assemble on fixed days, either at the new or
full moon, which they account the most auspicious
season for beginning any enterprise. De llforibus Germa. ~11. I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           33
own?" They are industrious, frugal, punctual
and just. Since their settlement in Pennsylvania,
many of them have acquired the knowledge of
the mechanical arts, which are more immediately
necessary and useful in a new country; while
they continue at tile same time, to carry on the
arts they imported from Germany, with vigour
and success.
But the genius of the Germans of Pennsylvania, is not confined to agriculture and the mechanical arts.*  As merchants, they are candid
and punctual.
The Bank of North America, has witnessed,
from its first institution, their fidelity to all their
pecuniary engagements.
* David Rittenhouse, the Astronomer, was of
Swiss or German descent, born 1732, died 1796.
Of him, Thomas Jefferson has written: " tittenhouse is second to no Astronomer living; that in
genius he must be the first, because, he is self
taught. As an Artist, he has exhibited as great
a proof of mechanical genius as the world has
ever produced. He has not, indeed, made a
world, but has by imitation, approached nearer
its Maker, than any man who has ever lived from
the creation to this day."  Jefferson's Notes of
Va., p. 90.
Jefferson alludes in this notice, to the Orrery,
constructed by Rittenhouse. I. D. R.




34        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS.
Thus far, I have described the individual
character of several orders of the German citizens
of Pennsylvania. I shall now take notice of
some of their manners in a collective capacity.
All the different sects among them are particularly attentive to the religious education of their
children,* and to the establishment and support
of the Christian Religion. For this purpose they
settle as much as possible, together, and make the
erection of a school-house,t and a place of wor* This is true of the Lutherans, German Reformed, the Moravians, and in part of the German
Brethren, German Seventh Day Baptists, and
Mennonites; but not of some sects, who are now
defunct.  Pennsylvaiia, was once the arena,
where Labadists, the society of the Woman in
the Wilderness, Zions Brueder, New Born, Rondoerfer, Inspired, Separatists, Quietists, Gichtlians, Dipellians-made a display of " their subjective piety." I. D. R.
t Schools, they considered the most precious
jewels of the church. If no school-master was to
be had, the minister would attend to the instructions of the youth, in reading, writing, casting
accounts. In 1749, there came to Pennsylvania,
twelve school-masters with German immigrants.
With the Germans, it was a leading concern to
have among them, the minister and the schoolmaster; for they well knew  " a people may be
destroyed for lack of knowledge."  Hallt. Aach.
pp. 66 and 391. I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           35
ship, the first object of their care. They commit
the education and instructionr of their children, in
a peculiar manner, to the ministers and officers of
their churches; hence they grow up with biases in
favor of public worship, and of the obligations
of Christianity. Such has been the iufluence of
a pious education among the Germans, in Pennsylvania, that, in the course of nineteen years,
only one of them, has ever been brought to a
place of public shame or punishment-(Worthy
of note).
As members of civil government, the Germans are peaceable,* and exact in the payment
of their taxes.t Since they have participated in
* A late writer bears the Germans this testimony: "-Whether a denizen of a state be valuable
to it on account of what he annually adds to the
realized wealth of the community, or for his
faithful obedience to the laws or for the sacredness with which he preserves the family compact,
our Germanfarmers certainly merit as much as
any other class for the practice of either of these
virtues, or indeed for the harmonious exercise of
all."-Phila. Ledger, 1856. I. D. t.
t It has been well said: "One of our richest
men invariably spreads his papers before the
Assessor, and tells him to tax him, according to
his mind. A genuine Pennsylvania German buys




36        MANNERS OF THE GERMALNS
the power of the state, many of them have become sensible and enlightened in the science of
legislation. Pennsylvania has had the speaker's
chair of her assembly, and the Vice-president's
office of her council, filled with dignity, by gentlemen of German families. The same gentlemen have since been advanced to seats in the
House of Representatives, under the new constitution of the United States. In the great controversy about the national government, a large
majority of the Germans in Pennsylvania, decided
in favor of its adoption, notwithstanding the
most popular arts were used to prejudice them
against it.*
for cash; or never, unless he sees the avenue by
which the means are to flow into his hands. Our
wives don't own their husband's propertTy. Pedlers and venders lose less among us, than by other
folks. C. Z. W. ef. Church Messenger, 1868,
I. D. R.
* May 15, 1775, a Committee of Observation
for the borough and county of Lancaster, was
held at the house of Adam Reigart, on which
occasion measures were adopted to hold elections
in the several townships of Lancaster county, to
choose committees of vigilance.  Among the
number chosen of these committees. many were
Germans, viz. Bausman, Klatz, Voght, Dehuff,
Krug, Musser, Reigert Schaffner, Slauch, Graff,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            37
The Germans- are but littie addicted to convivial pleasures.  They seldom  meet for the
simple purpose of eating and drinking, in what
are justly called: "Feeding parties," but they
are no strangers to the virtue of hospitality.*
Brubacher, Huber, Bachman, Rathvon, Rupley,
Funk, Haberstick, Neucomer, Lefever, Gruber,
Brechbill, Wittman, Kendig, Greiner, Erb, Kratzer, Heil, Stehley, Royer, Grill, Flick, Rein,
Roland, Weber, Guth, Bobb, Eckert, Ley, DeHaas, Gruenewalt, Licht, Kohr, Beshore, Lang,
IIaldeman.
July 4, 1776, a meeting was held at Lancaster,
consisting of the officers and privates of fifty-three
battalions of the Associators of the Colony of
Pennsylvania, to choose two Brigadier Generals.
Several counties were represented by Germans,
viz: from Bucks, by Herr, Steinbach, Mittelsworth, Titus. From Lancaster co., Slauch, Ferrie, Reigert, Rathvon, Weiman, Marsthaler,
Scherer, Weber, Wirtz, Zearing, Derr, Schleiermacker, Buch, Schneider, Lein, Diffenbach,
Doebler. From York co, Diehl, Kraft, Schmeiser, Schlei. From  Berks co., Levan, Hiester,
Lindemuth, Loeffler, Kremer, Lutz, Mueller, Ebe,
Keim, May, Hartmann, Filbert, Spohn, Wenrich,
Moser, Seltzer, Wuester, Schmack. From Northampton co., Geiger, Leber, Siegfried, Orndt,
Schneider, Kern, Opp, Berghaus, Braun, Best,
Von Fleck. Bupp's His. Lan. co. pp. 396-406.
* Tacitus, a Latin Historian, born A. D., 56,
died 135, in his De Moribus Germaniae, bears




38       AMtANNERS OF THE GERMANS
[Germans of Pennsylvania, give heed to the precept in the moral code of their adoption: Gastfrey zuseyn vergesset nicht. Heb; 13; 2 1. D. R.]
The hungry or benighted traveller, is always sure
to find a hearty welcome under their roofs. A
gentleman of Irish extraction, who lost his way
in travelling through Lancaster county, called late
at night at the door of a German farmer. He
was kindly received and entertained with the best
of everything the house afforded.  The next
morning, he offered to pay his host for his lodgthe ancient Germans this testimony: Convictibus
et hospitiis non alia gens effusius indulget. Quemcumque mortalium arcere tecto, nefas habetur:
profortuna quisque adparatis epulis excipit. Comdefecere, qui modo hospes fuerat, monstrator hospitii et comes, proximam domum not invitati ad
euntnec interest: pari humanitate accipiuntur.
Notum ignotumpue, quantum adjus hospitii, nemo
discernit. Freely translated: Hospitality  and
convivial pleasures are no where so liberally enjoyed. To refuse admittance to any person were
an outrage against humanity. The master of
the house welcdmes every stranger, and regales
him to the best of his ability. When his provisions are exhausted, he goes to his neighbor,
conducts his new acquaintance to another hospitable board. They do not wait to be invited; are
received mast cordially. Between an intimate
friend and a stranger no distinction is made.
I. D. R,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           39
ing, and other accommodations: " N/o," said the
friendly German, in broken English —" I will take
nothing from you, I was once lost, and entertained, as you have been at the house of a
stranger, who would take no pay from me for his
trouble. I am, therefore, now only discharging
that debt.-do you pay your debt to me in the
same way, to somebody else."*
They are extremely kind and friendly as neighbors. They often assist each other by loans of
money for a short time, when the purchase of a
plantation makes a larger sum necessary, than is
commonly possessed by a single farmer. To secure their confidence, it is necessary to be punctual.t They never lend money a second time, to a
man who has once disappointed them in paying
what he borrowed agreeably to his promise or
obligation. It was remarked, during the late
war, that there were very few instances of any of
* The most liberal hospitality and disinterestedness, mark the character of the Germans in
Europe. Goldsmith's.anners and Customs of
Nations, pa. 64.
t Wer puenctlich bezahlt, mag wieder borgen.
He that pays punctually can borrow    again.
XKoerte's Sprichwoerter. I. D. R.




40        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
them discharging a bond, or a debt, with depreciated paper money..
It has been said, that the Germans are deficient
In learning,* and in consequence of their want of
more general and extensive education, they are
* This charge, against the Germans of Pennsylvania, is a stale one, though still reiterated.
The Germans says, C. Z. W. are not opposed to
education. They are proud of a cultivated ministry, treat all with proverbial respect. They of
all others, usually, took good care to build a
school-house near the church. They of all others,
speak of the "School-Jaster," as next to the
pastor. Of a training in Christ they stand
behind none, of a certain kind of education.
But " Free Schools," in the sense of divorcing
them from the church, they never yet have
learned heartly to love. And as long as a remnant of the former healthy echo remains, we
affirm, they never will. Hence, too, they are
slow in sending their sons and daughters abroad.
They believe that much of the " Stuff" that is
administered to their offspring in such quarters,
renders them proud, lazy and infidel. And now,
after you are done laughing and poohing at such
a silly notion of those foolish Pennsylvania Germans, just please, ask yourself soberly and
conscientiously, whether there is not something in
it after all"-(Ref, Mess. 1868.) The Germans are
not all Vetter Michels, Cousin Michaels in approving of what is useful. Cuibono? Is a
question with them. I. IR.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           41
much addicted to superstition, and are frequeutly
imposed upon in the management of their affairs.
Many of them have lost valuable estates, by
being unacquainted with the common forms of
law, in the most simple transactions; many
more of them have lost their lives, by applying
to quacks,* in sickness: but this objection to the
Germans, will soon cease to have any foundation
in Pennsylvania. Several young men, born of
German parents, have been educated in law,
physic and divinity, who have demonstrated by
their abilities and knowledge, that the German
genius, for literature has not depreciated in
America.
[NOTE. There lived at Hilspach, not far from
Neckar Gemuend, near Heidelberg, Johannes
Caspar Wuester-two of his sons emigrated to
Pennsylvania, Caspar, in 1717, and Johannes, in
1727. Of the grandson of Caspar, Davenport
* There is no doubt of the fact, that some lost
their lives by applying to Quacks. Are there
not diplomated quacks, created such by sheepskins, written in Latin, which few of the holders
can read and translate. The country swarms
with thrasonical. sciolist in the "healing art."
I. D. R.




42        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
says  "Caspar Wistar, a celebrated physician,
was born in Philadelphia, in 1761. He studied
medicine under Dr. John Redman, and completed his professional course at the schools in
London and Edinburg. Returning in 1787, to his
native city, he soon distinguished himself in his
profession, and in 1789, was elected professor of
chemistry, in the college of Philadelphia. In
1792, he became adjunct professor of anatomy,
midwifery, and surgery, with. Dr. Shippen; and,
on the decease of that gentleman, in 1808, sole
professor. His acquirements in professional knowledge were very extensive, and he obtained much
popularity as a lecturer  His chief work is a
valuable system of Anatomy, in two volumes.
He died 1819." I. D. R.]
A college has lately been founded by the state,
in Lancaster,t and committed chiefly to the care
t March 10th, 1787, the General Assembly of
Pennsylvania, passed an Act, entitled: "An Act
to incorporate and endow the German College,
Charity School, in the borough of Lancaster.
The Preamble explains the object, intended:
"Whereas, the citizens of this state, ot German
birth or extraction, have eminently contributed,
by their industry, economy and public virtues, to
raise the state to its present happiness and pros



OF PENNSYLVANIA.           43
of the Germans of all sects, for the purpose of
diffusing learning among their children. [The
College was called Franklin, after Dr. Benjamin
Franklin, who contributed largely to its funds.
I. D. R.]. In this college they are to be taught
the German and English languages, and all those
branches of literature which are usually taught
in the colleges of Europe and America, The
principal of this college is a native of Pennsylperity; and, whereas, a number of citizens of
the above description, in conjunction with others,
from a desire to increase and perpetuate the blessings derived to them from the possession of property and a free government, have applied to this
House for a charter of incorporation, &c. and
whereas, the preservation of the principles of the
Christian Religion, and of our Republican form
of Government in their purity, depend under
God, in a great measure on the establishment and
support of suitable places of education, for the
purpose of training a succession of youth, who,
by being enabled fully to understand the grounds
of both, may be led the more zealously to practice the one, and the more strenously to defend the
other." * * * * That the youth shall be
taught in German, English, Latin, Greek and
other learned Languages, in Theology, in the
useful arts, sciences and literature." It is now
known by the name of Franklin and Marshall,
and is under the tutelary care of the German
Reformed church. I. D. R.




44        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
vania, of German parentage.*   His extensive
knowledge and taste in the arts and sciences,
joined with his industry in the discharge of the
duties of his station, have afforded to the friends
of learning in Pennsylvania, the most flattering
prospects of the future importance and usefulness
of this institution.
Both sexes of the Germans discover a strong
propensity to vocal and instrumental music.
They excell, in Psalmody all the other religious
societies in the State.t  The freedom and tolera* Rev. Henry Ernest Muhlenberg, D. D., (son
of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, D. D.)-he was
born in Montgomery county, Pa., Nov. 17, 1753.
At the age of ten years, he was sent to Halle,
Germany, with his two elder brothers, to finish
his education. On his return to Pa., 1770, he
was ordained, at the early age of seventeen;-in
1^74, appointed assistant to his father, in the
Philadelphia congregation. In 1780, he accepted
a call from the Lutheran church, in Lancaster,
where he resided thirty-five years. He died,
May 23, 1815. I. D. R.
t In all the parochial schools of Lutheran
and German Reformed church, vocal music was
taught. At Ephrata, Lancaster Co., vocal music was much cultivated. Conrad Beissel, the
Founder of the Sieben Taeger Society, was a first
rate musician and composer. "The counter,
treble tenor and bass were all sung by women,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            45
tion of the government have produced a variety
of sects among the Germans in Pennsylvania.
The Lutherans compose a great portion of the
German citizens ot the State.  The German
Presbyterians, (Reformed) are the next in number.
Their churches are likewise large, and furnished
in many places, with organs. The clergy belonging to these churches, have moderate salaries;
but they are punctually and justly paid. In the
country they have glebes which are stocked, and
occasionally worked by their congregation. By
this means the discipline and the general interests
of their churches are preserved. The Lutherans
and Presbyterians,* (German Reformed), live in
great harmony with each other, insomuch that
they preach in each other's churches, and in
some instances, unite in building a church, in
with sweet, shrill and small voices, but with a
truthful, exactness in time, and intonation, that
was admirable. See History of Lancaster Co.,
pp. 226, &c.. I. D. R.
* Presbyterians-this is amisnomer-it should
be German Reformed-various misnomers have
been applied, by certain writers, to the German
Reformed church. Gordon, in his history of
New Jersey, calls them: "The German      Reformed Lutheran Church." I. D. R.




46        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
which they both worship at different times.
This harmony between the two sects, one so much
opposed to each other, is owing to the relaxation
of the Presbyterians, (Ger. Ref.) in some of the
peculiar doctrines of Calvinism.*
The Mennonites, the Moravians, the Schwenkfelders, Catholics, [and Omish, or Amish, a German sect. I. D. R.] compose the other sects of
the German inhabitants of Pennsylvania. The
Mennonites hold war and oaths to be unlawful.
They administer the sacrements of baptism by
sprinkling,t and observe the supper.   From
them a sect has arisen, who hold with the above
principAls and ceremonies, the necessity of immersion baptism, hence they are called Du/nkers,
* The Heeidelberg Catechism, the symbolical
book adopted by the German Reformed church,
is, in its general character, Calvinistic. This
formulary observes a singular moderation on some
points, upon which the several parties in the
Protestant churches differed, or respecting which
good men might entertain different opinions.
The Heidelberg Catechism is more irenical than
otherwise. I. D. R.
t The Mennonites baptize the subject while
kneeling, by pouring water upon the head of the
person being baptized. I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            47
or Baptists.* Previously to their partaking, of
the sacrement of the supper, they wash each
other's feet, and sit down to a love-feast. They
practice these ceremonies of their religion, with
great humility and solemnity. They, moreover
hold the doctrine of universal salvation. [This
last clause must be received cum grano salis.
I. D. R.]   From  this sect, there have been
several seceders, one of whom devoted themselves to perpetual celibacy.t They have exhibited
* Dr. Rtush's statement lacks historical proof.
The Dunkers (German Brethren), as a sect, have
not arisen from  the Mennonites.  Alexander
Mack, of Vitchengestein, of Prussia, founded,
1708, this sect, Rev. Peter Becker, onef of the
German Brethren ministers came to Pennsylvania, 1719. Alexander Mack followed Becker to
Pennsylvania, 1729, settled near Germantowndied 1735, aged 65-buried in Brethren buryingground, at Germantown. I. D. R.
t Conrad Peysel, or Beissel, born 1691, at
Oberbach in the Palatinate. He was educated for
the gospel ministry, at Halle, once the principal
seat of Pietistic divines of Germany. Beissel,
by reason of his peculiar opinions on some points
of Theology was coolly treated by the confraternity. He left Halle, went to Friesland, Holland,
resided for sometime at Seru.stervin, formed the
acquaintance of disciples of Alexander Mack.
Ency. Rel. Knowledge, 479.




48        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
for many years, a curious spectacle of pious mortification, at a village called Ephrata, Lancaster
County: They are at present, 1787, reduced to
fourteen or fifteen members.
The Separatists who likewise dissented from
the Dunkers, reject the ordinance of baptism
and the sacrament of the supper; and hold the
doctrine of the Friends, concerning the internal
revelation of the gospel. They hold with the
Dunkers, the doctrine of universal salvation.
The singular piety, and exemplary morality of
these sects, has been urged by the advocates for
the salvation of all mankind, as a proof that the
In 1719, Beissel came to Pennsylvania, with
Peter Beeker, a leader of the German Brethrenresided for some time at Muelback, Lancaster Co.
now Lebanon.    He published a Tract, 1725,
showing that the German Brethren were in error,
in observing the first day of the week, instead of
Saturday. This Tract produced quite an excitement at Muelbach. Beissel seceded, 1728, located
at Ephrata, founded the Sieben Taegar Taeufer
Denomination. He was a man of peculiar idiosyncracy. In personal appearance, when sixtyfour years of age, it is said: " He was a small
lean man, had gray bushy hair, quick in his
utterance, as well as in his movements." Acrelius, p. 373. Beissel died July 6, 1768, buried
at Ephrata.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            49
belief of that doctrine is not unfriendly to morals,
and the order of society, as has been supposed.
The Dunkers and Separatists agree in taking no
interest upon money, and in not applying to law
to recover their debts.
The German Moravians are a numerous and
respectable body of christians in Pennsylvania.
In their village of Bethlehem,* there are two'
large stone buildings, in wvhich the different sexes
are educated in the habits of industry, in useful
manufactures. The sisters, (for by that epithet
the women are called,) all sleep in two large and
neat apartments. Two of them watch over the
rest, in turns, every night, to afford relief from
those sudden indispositions which sometimes
occur, in the most healthy persons, in the hours
of sleep. It is impossible to record this fact,
without pausing a moment to do homage to that
religion, which produced so much union and
kindness in human souls. The number of women,
who belong to this sequestured female society,
amounts sometimes to one hundred and twenty,
and seldom to less than one hundred. It is re* Bethlehem: a Moravian settlement commenced here, 1742. I. D. R,




50        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
markable that notwithstanding, they lead a
sedentary life, and sit constantly in close storerooms in winter, that not more than one of them,
upon an average, dies in a year. The diseases
which generally produces their annual death, is
the consumption. The conditions and ages of
the women of the village, as well as of the
society that has been mentioned, are distinguished
by ribbons of a peculiar kind which they wear
on their caps-the widows, by blue, the single
Women, above eighteen years of age, by pink;
and those under that age, by a ribbon of a cinnamon colour.
Formerly this body of Moravians held all their
property in common in imitation of the primitive
christians; but, in 1760, a division of the whole
took place, except a tavern and a tanyard, 2,000
acres of land near Bethlehem, and 5,000 acres
near Nazareth, a village in the neighborhood of
Bethlehem. The profits of these estates are appropriated to the support and propagation of the
gospel. There are many valuable manufactures
carried on at Bethlehem. The inhabitants possess
a gentleness in their manners, which is peculiarly
agreeable to strangers. They inure their children, of five and six years old, to habits of




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            61
early industry. By this means they are not only
taught those kinds of labor which are suited to
their strength and capacities, but are preserved
from many of the hurtful vices and accidents to
which children are exposed.
The Schwenkfelders are a small society. They
hold the same principles as the Friends, but they
differ from them in using psalmody in their worship.* The German Catholics are numerous in
Philadelphia, and have small chapels in other
parts of the state.t
There is an incorporated charitable society of
*This denomination of christians, is so called
after Casper Schwenkfeld von Ossing, a Silesian
knight. He was born 1490. In 1734, some of
the Schwenkfelders came to Pennsylvania, settled
principally in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks and
Lehigh Counties, Pa. Dr. Rush does not specify
when he says: " they hold the same principles as
the Friends." The Schwenkfelders do not reject
the sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper.
They maintain that Christ commanded his disciples to baptize with water, and to observe the
Lord's Supper. See. Rev. Christopher Schultz'
Catechism, ppa. 80-92, translated, by me, and
published at Skippackville, Pa., 1863.  I. D. R.
t Because the Germans would not dance when
Political demagogues piped when they numbered
above 200.000, in 1754, it was alleged by way
of a stigma upon their character, that one fourth
of the Germans were Roman Catholics! One




52        MANNERS OF THE sGERMANS.
Germans, in Philadelphia, whose objects are their.poor and distressed countrymen. *
fourth of 200.000, would be 50.000. All the
Roman Catholics, including English, Irish and
German, men, women and children, did not num2.000, in 1757. List of German Catholics, 1757,
of all such as received the sacraments from 12
years of age and upwards, viz:-Under the care
of Theodore Schneider, in and about Philadelphia,
107 males, 121 females; in Philadelphia co., up
the country, 75 males, 10 females; in Berks Co.,
62 males, 55 females; in Northampton Co., 68
males, 62 females; Bucks Co., 14 males, 12 females; Chester Co., 13 males, 9 females, Under
the care of Ferdinand Farmer, in Lancaster Co.,
108 males, 94 females; in Berks Co., 41 males, 39
females; in Chester Co., 3 males. Under the
care of Mathias Jlanners, in York Co., (including Adams,) 54 males and 62 females, total 949.
The Irish Catholics in Pennsylvania, numbered
only 418. Under the care of -Robert Harding, in
and about Philadelphia, 72 males, 78 females,; in
Chester Co., 18 males, 22 females. Under thecare of Theodore Schneider, in Northampton Co.
17 males, 12 females; in Chester Co., 9 males,
6 females. Under the care of Ferdinand Far-'
mner; in Lancaster Co., 22 males, 27 females;
Berks Co., 5 males, 3 females; in Chester Co., 23
males, 17 females; in Cumberland Co., 9 males,
9 females. Under the care of.Mathias Mifanners;
in York Co., (including Adams,) 35 males, 38 females.  Col. See. VII, 447. Penna, Archives,
III. 144, 145. See Fireside History of German
and Swiss Immigrants.
*' The German Society of Philadelphia, in the




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           53
There is likewise, a German Society of labourers and journeymen mechanics, who contributed
2s. Gd. eight times a year towards a fund, out
Province of Pennsylvania, was incorporated,
1764. This Society supplied the poor, the sick
and otherwise distressed Germans  *  *  *  to
teach and improve their poor children, both in
English and German Languages, reading and
writing thereof, and to procure for them such
learning and education, as would best suit their
genius and capacities, and enable the proper
objects to receive the finishing of their studies in
the University of Philadelphia; likewise to erect
a Library, &c. The Library 1875, contains some
twenty thousand volumes.
The officers of the Society, named in the act of
incorporation were-Henry Keppele, Pres. Lewis
Weiss. V. P.; Lewis Farmer and Henry Leuthaeuser, Sect'y; Christoph Ludwig, Peter Ozeas,
Andrew Burkhard, John Fritz. Peter Kraft and
Melchior Steiner, Overseers; Michael Schubart.
Treas.; Henry Kaemmerer, Solicitor; William
Lehman, Deacon. I. D. R.
Soon after the organization of the German
Society, in Philadelphia, a similar one was
formed in Baltimore. The German Friendly
Society of Charleston, S. C., was organized
1766, by Michael Kalteisen, Melchior Warley,
Johann Schwint, Abraham Speidel, Johann Lehre,
Christian Dus, Carl Gruber, Philip Mintzing,
Martin Miller, Jacob Breigel, Daniel Strobel,
Conrad Burkmeyer, Friedrich Hoff, Eberhard
Ehney, Johann Kelle and Frederick Mattutz.
Der Deutsche Pionier, III, 7. I. D. R.




54         MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
of which they allow 30s. a week to each other's
families, when the head of it is unable to work;
and ~ 7, 10s. to his widow, as soon as he is taken
from his family by death.
The Germans of Pennsylvania, including all
the sects that have been mentioned, compose nearly one third part of the whole inhabitants of the
State.*
The intercourse of the Germans with each
other, is kept up chiefly in their own language;
but most of their men who visit the capital, and
trading or country towns of the state, speak the
* The total population, in round numbers, was
then 435.000, one third Germans, which is
145.000. Ebeling says: that in 1790 the German population of Pennsylvania, was 144.660,.Ebeling, p. 202. According to the Census of
1870. the aggregate population was 3.521.795,
of this number, who were born in Germany, was
160.146. The German born and the descendants
of Germans, are not less than 1.200.000. Within
the last forty years upwards of 2.000.000, of
Germans immigrated to the United States. The
German element is not as insignificant as some
would suppose it to be. A learned Professor, has
called the collective, Germans of Pennsylvania:
"A   giant asleep."  Fitting  appliances may
arouse the "giant." The total Germanpopulation,
on the inhabitable globe is about 65.000.000.
I. D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           55
English language.  A certain number of the
laws are now printed in German, for the benefit
of those of them, who cannot read English. A
large number of German news-papers are likewise circulated through the State, through which
knowledge and intelligence have been conveyed,
much to the advantage of the government.
There is scarcely an instance of a German, of
either sex, in Pennsylvania, that cannot read;
but many of the wives and daughters of the
German farmers cannot write. The present state
of society among them renders this accomplishment of little consequence to their improvement
or happiness.
If it were possible, to determine the amount of
all the property brought into Pennsylvania, by the
present German inhabitants of the state, and
their ancestors, and then compare it with the
present amount of their property, the contrast
would form such a monument of human industry
and economy, as has seldom been contemplated in
any age or country.
I have been informed that there was an ancient
prophecy which foretold, that'" God would bless
the Germans in foreign countries."  This prediction has been faithfully verified in Pennsylva



56        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
nia. They enjoy here every blessing that liberty,
toleration, independence, affluence, virtue and
reputation, can confer upon them.
How different is their situation here, from
what it was in Germany. Could the subjects of
the prince of Germany, who now groan away
their lives in slavery and unprofitable labour,
view from an eminence, in the month of June,
the German settlements of Strasburg or Manheim,
in Lancaster county, or of Lebanon, in Dauphin
county, or Bethlehem in Northampton countycould they be accompanied on this eminence, by
a venerable German farmer, and be told by himthat many of those extensive fields of grain, full
fed herds, luxuriant meadows, orchards, promising
loads of fruit, together with the spacious barnsand commodious stone-dwelling houses, which
compose prospects that have been mentioned,
were all the product of the labour of a single
family, and of one generation; and they were
all secured to the owners of them by certainlaws;
I am persuaded, that no chains would be able to
detain them from sharing in the freedom of their
Pennsylvania friends and former fellow subjects.
" We will assert our dignity (would be their language)- Will be men-we will befree —we will




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            57
enjoy the fruits of our onn labour-we will no
longer be bought and sold to fight battles*-in which
we have neither interest nor resentment-we will
inherit a portion of that blessing which God has.
promised to the Germans in foreign countrieswe will be Pennsylvanians."
I shall conclude this Account of the Manners of
the German inhabitants of Pennsylvania, by
remarking that if I have failed in doing them
* Germans had been sold by their Lorcs, to England, to fight battles in which they had no interest,
at several periods-1702, 1726, 1743, 1745. In
the prosopopaeia: "we will no longer be bought
andsold," are personated collectively Germans,
called Huelfs truppen, subsidiary-troops, sold by
several German Dukes, Landgraves, Margraves
to the king of England, 1776-1783, to wage an
exterminating war against the American Colonies.
The Duke of Brunswick sold 5,733; the Prince
of Hanau, 2,422; the Margrave of Anspach,
1,644; the Prince of Waldck, 1,225; the Prince
of Anhalt Zerbst, 1,160; the Landgrave of Hesse
Cassel, 1,200; the Hereditary Prince of Hesse
Cassel 796; the   Margrave of Brandenberg,
1,200-Besides others. The aggregate number
of these Germans thatperished in battle, exceeded
upwards of eleven thousand.
The sale of these subjects was a profitable business to their humane lords. The sum total paid
by His Britanic Majesty to the several Princes,
Dukes, was $8,100,000. I. D. R.




58        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
justice, it has not been the fault of my subject.
The German character once employed the pen
of one of the first Historians of antiquity. I
mean the elegant and enlightened Tacitus. It
is very remarkable that the Germans in Pennsylvania, retain in a great degree, all the virtues
which Tacitus ascribes to their ancestors in his,treaties D)e 2foribus Germanorun. They inherit
their integrity-fidelity and chastity,* but chrisitanity has banished from them, their drunkeness,
idleness and love of military glory. There is a singular trait in the features of the German character in Pennsylvania, which shows how long the
most trifling custom may exist among a people who
have not been mixed with other nations.
* Severa illic matrimonia: nec ullam morem
partem magis laudaveris: The matrimonial bond
is strict and severe tmong them; nor is there
anything in their manners more commendable
than this. I. D. R.
Some refined ladies, mothers of infants, might
safely follow German mothers in Pennsylvania, or
the ancient German mothers: Sua quemque mater uberibus alit, nec ancillls ac nutricibus delegantur: i. e. Every mother suckles her own children, and does not deliver them into the hands of
servants and nurses. Dac. De. Mor. Ger. ~ 18
and 20.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           59
Tacitus describes in the following words, in
which the ancient Germans built their villages:
" Suam quisque domum circumdat sive adversus
casus ignis remedium, sive inscitia aedificandi."
(each man leaves a space between his house, and
those of his neighbors, either to avoid the
danger from fire, or from unskillfulness in
architecture).
Many of the German villages in Pennsylvania,
are constructed in the same manner. The small
houses are composed of a mixture, of wood, brick
and clay, neatly united. The large houses are
built of stone, and many of them after the English fashion. Very few of the houses in Germantown, are connected together. Where the Germans
connect their houses in their villages, they appear
to have deviated from one of the customs they
imported from Germany.
Citizens of the United States learn from the
account given of the German Inhabitants of
Pennsylvania, to prize knowledge and industry in
agriculture and manufactures, as the basis of domestic happiness and national prosperity.*
* It has been well said by Sully, (born 1559,
died 1641), " agriculture may be regarded as the
breasts from which the State derives its support
and nourishment." I. D. IR.




60        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
Legislatures of the United States, learn from
the wealth, and independence of the German
inhabitants of Pennsylvania, to encourage hy
your example, and laws, the republican virtues
of industry and economy. They are the only
pillars which can support the present constitution
of the United States.*
Legislators of Pennsylvania, learn from the
history of your German fellow citizens, that you
possess an inexhaustible treasure in the bosom
of the State, in their manners and arts. Continue to patronize their newly established Seminary, (Franklin College), of learning, and spare
no expense in supporting their free-schools. The
vices which follow the want of religious instructions, among the children of poor people, lay the
foundations of most of the jails and places of
public punishment in the State. Do not contend
witl their prejudices in favor of their language.t
* It was to the German Bauern, Farmers,
America owed her independence. They were
among the first to shoulder the gun, they were
the bravest and most enduring of Washington's
soldiers.  Peasant Life in   Germany, 389.
I.D. R.
t In 1729, ambitious, disappointed politicians
were opposed to Germans. It was an objectionto




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            61
It will be the channel through which the knowledge and discoveries of the wisest nations in
Europe, may be conveyed into our country. In
proportion as they are instructed and enlightened
in their own language, they will become acquainted with the language of the United States.
Invite them to share in the power and offices of
government: it will be the means of producing
an union in principle and conduct, between them,
and those of their enlightened fellow-citizens,
who are descended from other nations, Above
all, cherish with peculiar tenderness, those sects
among them who hold war to be unlawful.* Relieve them from the oppression of absurd and
the wise-acres of the times, because "the Germans adhered to each other, and that they used
exclusively the German language." (Gordon's
Pa., 107). The same sort of politicians, because
they had failed to succeed in getting the Germans to vote for them, seriously proposed, 1754:
" that the government should suspend the right
of the Germans to vote for the members of the
Assembly, until they had acquired a competent
knowledge of the E'nglish Language."  Watson's
Annals, II. 275. I. D. R.
* Rush alludes to the Mennonites, German
Brethren, Moravians, German Seventh Day Baptists and Schwenkfelders, who hold war to be
unchristian and unreasonable. I D. R.




62       IMANNERS OF THE GERMANS
unnecessary militia laws. Protect them as the
repositories of the truth of the gospel, which has
existed in every age of the church, and which
must spread over every part of the world.
The opinions respecting the commerce and
slavery of the Africans, which have nearly
produced a revolution in their favour, in some of
the European governments, were transplanted from
a sect of Christians in Pennsylvania.* Perhaps
those German sects of christians among us, who
refuse to bear arms for the purpose of shedding
human blood, may be preserved by divine providence as the centre of a circle, which shall
gradually embrace all nations of the earth in a
perpetual treaty of friendship and peace. Finis.
* " It is to the honor of German Friends of
Germantown, that as early as 1688, they addressed
the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, at Burlington,"
protesting against buying, selling and holding
men in slavery, and declaring it, in their opinion,
an act irreconcilable with the precepts of the
christian religion.  Watson's Annals, II, 23.
I.D. R.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            63
NOTE TO PAGE 60.
BenjaminmFranklin, otherwise an astute Statesman and a Philosopher, with his Yankee prejudices, coincided with the wise-acres of the times.
In a letter to Peter Collinson, May 9, 1753, he
writes: " I am perfectly of your mind, that measures of great temper are necessary touching the
Germans, and am not without apprehensions, that,
through their indiscretion, or ours, or both, great
disorders may one day arise among us. Those
who come hither are generally the most stupid of
their own nation, and as ignorance is often attended with great credulity, when knavery would
mislead it, and with suspicion when honesty would
set it right; and, few of the English understand
the German language, and so cannot address them
either from the press or pulpit, it is almost impossible to remove any prejudices they may
entertain. Their clergy have very little influence
on the people, who seem to take pleasure in
abusing and discharging the minister on every
trivial occasion, Not being used to liberty, they
know not how to make modest use of it, * * *
They are under no restraint from ecclesiastical
government; they behave, however, submissively
enough at present to the civil government, which
I wish they may continue to do, for I remember
when they modestly declined intermeddling with




64        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
our elections; but now they come in droves and
carry all before them, except in one or two
counties.
Few of their children in the country know
English. They import many books from Germany, and, of the six printing-houses in the
province, two are entirely German, two half
German, half English, and but two are entirely
English. They have one German newspaper, and
one half German. Advertisements intended to
be general, are now printed in Dutch, (German)
and English. The signs in our streets, (Philada.)
have inscriptions in both languages, and some
places only in German. They begin, of late, to
make all their bonds and other legal instruments
in their own language, which (though I think it
ought not to be), are allowed good in our courts,
where the German business so increases, that
there is continued need of interpreters, and I
suppose in a few years, they will also be necessary in the Assembly, to tell one half of our
legislators, what the other half says. In short,
unless the stream of importation could be turned
from this to other colonies, as you very judiciously
propose, they will soon so outnumber us, that all
the advantages we have, will, in my opinion, be
not able to preserve our language, and even our
government will become precarious."  Sparcks'
Works of Frankdlin TVII, pp. 71,-73.




OF PENNSYLVANIA.           65
APPENDIX.
The German Farmers of Pennsylvania, have
once and again been maliciously aspersed by partisan Editors of "pliant sheets."  The Germans
of Pennsylvania, have been too long left at the
mercy of misrepresentation and detraction of
base calumniators, Verleumders.
The Editor of the Public Ledger, who is familiar with his German fellow citizens, justly
vindicates them, in his strictures on an article,
which appeared in a newspaper, published 1856:
"A Buffalo newspaper, in a late article on the
German Farmers of Pennsylvania informns the
world that they are hardly more intelligent or
independent than the serfs of the Fatherland a
century and a half ago, " The immigrants came
over here with their Priests" it says: "a fragment of the middle ages, uneducated and uncultivated. What is the consequence? We see
before us the petrification of a social and mental
condition which has long since disappeared from
Germany. We behold a picture of the dark and
gloomy middle ages."




;66       MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
Remarks by the Editor of the Public Ledger.
" No one familiar with the German farmers of
Pennsylvania, need be told that this is a stupid
and ignorant libel. Its author has either never
travelled through our State, or has maliciously
misrepresented what he saw. So far from our
German farmers being on a level with the serfs
of a hundred and fifty years ago, they are vastly
in advance of contemporary German or French
farmers, or even of English farmers of similar
means. On this point we need go no further for
authority than to Mr. Munch, the fellow laborer
with Herder in the late campaign, who though
hostile in politics to our German farmers in
general, was forced, during his tour through
Pennsylvania, to admit their sterling worth. Mr.
Munch is an experienced and practical agriculturalist, and not merely a speculative man of
letters, so that his judgment on such a question
is worth that of a score of visionary, ill-informed,
prejudiced, disappointed demagogues or partisan
editors. After eulogizing the picturesque natural
features of the landscape of our German counties,
praising the excellent taste which has preserved
the woods on the hill-sides, and extolling the
appearance of the farms, this gentleman adds
significantly that he found the population of "a
genial, solid and respectable stamp, enviably circumstanced in comparison with the European
farmer, and very far his superior in intelligence
and morals."




OF PENNSYLVANIA.             67
"It is time that truth should be spoken, and
justice done to our German population. WVe are
willing to go as far as any one in testifying to
the value of books, newspapers and schools; we
are willing to admit that our German farmers,
as a class, have cared less for these things than
they ought; but we are not yet silly enough to
say that a man is necessarily a bad farmer, a
disorderly citizen, or a profligate husband because he does not speak lEnglish, is not crammed
with book-learning, or does not take in half a
dozen journals. Our German farmers prove the
reverse. Whether a denizen of a State be valuable to it on account of what he annually adds
to the realized wealth of the community, or for
his faithful obedience to the laws, or for the
sacredness with which he preserves the family
compact, our German farmers certainly merit as
much as any other class for. the practice of
either of these virtues, or indeed for the harmonious exercise of all. Even their intelligence is
popularly underrated. As Mr. Munch, of Misso,
has said, they are of a " genial, solid and respectable stamp:" there is no false mental glitter
about them: in a word, they are rather men of
sound judgment, than brilliant rhetoricians or
one sided ideologists. All persons who have had
transactions with our German farmers, learn to
respect the excellent sense they display in the
ordinary concerns of life. It is only when po



68        MANNERS OF THE GERMANS
litical difference arise, that our Germans are
stigmatized as dolts. Would it not be more consistent, not to say liberal, to give the Germans
credit for equal honesty and shrewdness, in public affairs, as in private? Are those who denounce
the Germans, because of their votes, possessed
of a monopoly of the intelligence and patriotism
of the republic?
But we are willing to waive this part of the
question. There are other things, besides political soundness, valuable in a citizen. In many
particulars, German farmers surpass even the
people of New England, who, of late, have put
in a claim, it would seem to be the ne plus. ultra
in all things. The German farmers understand,
or if they do not understand, they observe the
laws of health, better than even the rural population of Massachusetts; and the result is that
they are really the finest race of men, physically,
to be found within the borders of the United
States. In certain favorable localities of Kentucky, or on the frontier, where, from being a
dominant caste, or from the immediate vicinity of
unpeopled wildernesses, the inhabitants live a
half nomad life, there are as fine, perhaps finer
specimens of men to be seen; but there is nowhere in all America, an agricultural population,
the members of which personally till the soil,
that has such thews and sinews, such a healthy
development, or such generally prolonged life,




OF PENNSYLVANIA.            69
as our much-abused " Pennsylvania Dutchmen."
To be plain, if some of our crotchetty, one-ideaed
dyspeptic, thin, cadaverous, New England brethren would emigrate to our German counties;
follow, for a generation or two, the open air life
of our German farmers; and, last of all, intermarry into our vigorous, anti-hypochondrical
German families, they would soon cease to die by
such scores of consumption, to complain that
there were no longer any healthy women left, and
to amuse sensible people with such silly vagaries
of Pantheism, or a thousand and one intellectual
vagaries which are born of their abnormal physical condition."








71
GENERAL INDEX.
Agriculture  5, 28, 56, 59, 68 Farmers, German aspersed 65
American independence  60 Farm, value of doubled  \13
Apparel and furniture 20, 23 Favorable influence of
Applemills introduced  21    agriculture          28
Assessors, how treated  35 Featherbeds            22
Bauern Germans         60 Feeding parties         37
Becker, Revd. Peter    48 Fences               11, 17
Beissel, Revd. Conrad  44 Franklin College  42, 43, 60
Belting trees          14 Free schools            40
Bethlehem           49, 50 German language     54, 61
Biases, to public worship  35 Germans, members of
Bibles brought in by Ger-    civil government     35
mans                  7 Germans in E. PennsylBonds &c. written in Ger-    vania             13, 69
man                  64 German Reformed          7
Books imported         63 Germans vindicated      67
Brethren, German  23, 47, 61 Germans select good lands 12
Buffalo newspaper, stric-  Glebes of churches     45
tures on             65 Government, precarious  64
Buttering on both sides  22 Gypsum introduced     14
Carpets, when introduced  23 Habits of industry  42, 50
Catechism, Schwenkfel-     Harmony between Luder                  51    therans and Reformed  45
Charitable Societies 51, 52, 53 Heidelberg Catechism  7, 46
Cider making           21 Hilarity at log-rolling  16'Clergy, accompany emi-    Horses, a peculiar breed 17 26
grants                8 Hospitality of Germans 37, 39
Commigration of Germans 8 Houses built by Germans 12 59
Convivial pleasures    37 Idle brain, the devil's
Customs changed        25   workshop              29
Debts, Germans afraid of 23 Immersion, baptism    46
Defunct sects          39 Impositions upon GerDemagogues, disappoint-     mans                6, 41
ed                60, 66 Infidels, how made     40
Depreciated paper money 40 Influence of education  35
Distilled spirits, little used 21 Inscriptions on signs  64
Dunkards, German Bre-     Irishman, how treated   38
them                 23 Jails, foundation of    60
Economy in using wood 17 19 Jefferson speaks of RitEmigrants, where from   6   tenhouse              33
Enlightened Germans    36 Joy of parents at the
Ephrata                44   birth of a child      28
Estates, how lost      30 Karl der Grosse         21
Excellent sense of Ger-    Knowledge, lack of desman farmers          67    tructive             34
Exports, 1751           5 Lancaster turnpike      27




.72               GENERAL INDEX.
Land clearing           14 Punishment seldom    of
Laws printed in German  55   Germans               35
Ledger, Public       35, 65 Quacks, diplomated ones 41
Literature, genius for  41 Bedemptioners            8
Looms in common use     25 Reformed, German in 1731 7
Loskaeufling             7 Religious education  34, 60
Lutherans in Pa., 1731   7 Roman Catholics      51, 52
Manners of Germans col-    Saur's tenplate stove   17
lectively             34 Schools precious jewels  34
Maxims, German ones     30 Schwenkfelder society 51, 61
Mechanics, German     9, 32 Scotch Irish supplanted  13
Mennonites in Conestoga 26 Sieben Taeger        48, 61
Mercenaries             57 Sour crout, wholesome diet 20
Ministers punctually paid 47 Stale charge against GerMisnomer of Ger. Re-         mans               40, 69
formed                45 Stoever, Revd. Casper Joh. 9
Money lent without in-     Superstition          31,41
te est                39 Tacitus speaks of GerMoon's influence        31   mans            31, 37, 58
MBoravians           49, 61'Taxes punctually paid  25
Muhlenberg, Revd. H. E. 44 Trait in the German
Munch's tour thro' Penna. 66  character            58
Music, Germans excel in 44 Usual diet of Germans   20
Nazareth                55 Verleumders of the GerNeighbors, friendly & kind39  mans                  65
Ne plus ultra claimed   68 Vetter Michels, not all
Neulaender               6 Germans                 40
New Englander cadaverous 69 Villages, German ones  59
Newspapers circulated 55, 64 Vocal music, Germans
Niggering-off           16   excel in              44
Oaths, how considered by   Voting, right of to be susMennonites            46    pended               61
Orchards, extensive     11 Wagons, large and strong 26
Orrery by Rittenhouse   33 War, considered by MenParents sold their children 8  nonites          46, 61
Parochial schools       30 Wealth of German inPatrimonial, property         habitants            60
valued                30 Weis Revd. Michael G.    8
Pious education         35 Weiser, C. Z. Revd. quoted 40
Planting & pruning trees 31 Wuester, Casper M. D.  91
Politicians  disappoint-   Yellow fever in 1793     4
ed              51, 60, 66 Young forrest trees proPopulation of Germans        tected                19
increasing            13 Young Germans educaPorcelain stoves        18   ted in law            41
Printing houses in Penna. 63 Zaeume, fences well built 17
Prophecy  concerning       Zions Brueder, defunct
Germans               55   sect                  34




JTTST ISSTESD D!
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
OF THE
VERE~t^N IN A-BTANTS
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
WRITTEN 1789,
BY
BENJAMIN RUSH, M, D.
NOTES ADDED BY
Prof.. DANIEL RUPP.
To place this graphic Account of the Manners of the German Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, within the reach of all their numerous descendants, on the receipt of Fifty cents, a copy of it will be sent by mail
postage prepaid.
A Liberal discount allowed to the trade.
SAMUEL P. TOWN, PUBLISHER,
614 CHESTNUT STREET,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Will be published by subscription, in 1876:
An Original Historical Narrative of Events, Incidents and Casualties in the
early French, German and Swiss Settlements, in North America, prior to 1776.
With an Appendix.
BY
Prof. I. DANIEL RUPP,
Author of several Historical Works.