The Germans of Dubois County, Their
Newspapers, Their Politics, and
Their Part in the Civil War
ELFRIEDA
LANG
German newspapers were first published in the East,
and as the Germans migrated west, German newspapers began to appear in other sections. The type used for many of
them did not appeal to tke eye, and a number of them were
written in a corrupted German. Among the first t o appear
was the Philacldphische Zeitung published by Benjamin
Franklin on May 6, 1732. After fifty subscribers had been
procured, the regular publication of the paper began on June
24, 1732. It was issued every other week for five shillings per
year. Der Hoch Deutsche Pennsylvanische Geschicht Schreibcr
was established in America in 1739 by Christopher Sauer at
Germantown, Pennsylvania, and was among the first permanent German newspapers. The title of the paper was changed
in 1762 to Germantown Zeituny. It published the more important news about the kingdom of nature and the church.l
Thirty-seven newspapers were published in the United
States in 1776, of which three were German. They were the
Germantowner Zeitung, a, four-page weekly paper ; Der
Wochentliche Plzilaclelphische Staatsbote, also a four-page,
weekly paper ; and Der Amerikanische Staatsbote at Lancaster which was a bilingual paper, half of i t being printed in
German and the other half in English.2
The early movement G f Germans into Ohio is marked by
the publication a t Lancaster in 1807 of Der Westliche A d l e r
?ion Lancaster by Joseph Carpenter and John Greene who
also edited an English paper, the Ohio Eagle. The next year
the title of the former was changed t o Der Ohio Adler. One
may assume that there was an interruption in the publication
1 Daniel Miller, “Early German American Newspapers,” The Pennsylvania-German Society, Proceedings and Addresses (Lancaster, Penn), XIX, Part XXII (1910), 11, 14-15, 35, 39; “Die
sylvania, 1891Deutsche Presse in den Vereinigten Staaten,” Der Deutsche Pionier
(18 vols., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1869-1597) VIII (1876), 319; Karl Bernhard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Travels Through North America
during the Years 1825 and 1826 (2 volumes in one, Philadelphia, 1826),
11, 152.
2 “Die Deutsche Presse in den Vereinigten Staaten,” Der Deutsche
Pionier, VIII, 319.
)
230
Indiana Magazine of History
of Der Ohio Adler since an advertisement appeared in the
Indiana Republican from November 7, 1818, to February 13,
1819, urging German citizens of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana,
Tennessee, and elsewhere to subscribe to the paper which
was “shortly to recommence” publication. In the thirties
the name was changed to Lancaster Volksfreund. It was removed t o Columbus in 1841 and resumed the old name. Friedrich Fieser and Jacob Reinhard bought the paper in 1843,
and a new biweekly paper was published on Wednesdays and
Saturdays under the title of the Westbote. The latter had a
circulation of twelve hundred in 1876 and in politics supported
the Democratic party.3
The Catholics in 1837 established the first German Catholic periodical in the Middle West, Der Wahrheitsfreuncl, in
Cincinnati. The impetus €or this venture, no doubt, may be
attributed to the Catholics of that city. Since Father Kundek
advertised in this periodical in order to induce settlers t o
come to Ferdinand, it was also familiar t o the German Catholics in Dubois C ~ u n t y . ~
The first German newspapers that circulated in Indiana
came in from neighboring states. It was not until 1845 that
the first attempt was made by Georg W-alker to establish a
German newspaper, the Hochwuchter, in [ndianapolis. The
publication of the paper was suspended in 1849 upon the
death of Walker, The credit for the first regular weekly
paper in Indiana must be given to Julius Botticher, a Prus3Anton Eickhoff, I n der N e u e n Heimath (Ne’jl York, 1885), 309310 ; Miller, “Early German American Newspapers:, The PennsylvaniaGerman Society, Proceedings and Addresses, XIX, Part XXII,
100; “Die Deutsche Presse in den Vereinigten Staaten,” Der
Deutsche Pionier, VIII, 303; Madison, Indiana, The ZRdiana Republicari,
November 7, 1818; Bernhard, Travels Through N o r t h America during
the Y e a r s 1825 and 1826, 11, 152; Gustav Kornei-, Das D e ~ t s c h eElem e n t in den Vereinzgten Staaten von Nordamerika, 1818-1848 (Cincinnali, Ohio, 1880), 183-184; Arthur D. Mink, Union L i s t of Ohio
Newspapers Available in Ohio (Columbus, Ohio, 3946), 66. Osman C.
Hooper in his History of Ohio Joarnalism (Columbus, Ohio, 1933), 29,
states that “The Ohio Eagle, originally Der Ohio Adler appeared at
Lancaster in 1809 to serve the early German immigration into Ohio.
It was established by Jacob D. Dietrich, especially for the Lutheran
farmers who, coming most of them over Zane’s Trace from Wheeling
had settled in the vicinity. Ebenezer Zane had laid out the town and
named i t for Lancaster County, Pa., from which many of the farmers
had come. In 1813 the paper passed into the hands of Edward Schaeffer, who changed the name t o the Eagle and printed it in English.”
4KBrner, Das Deutsche Elcrnent, 181; Eickhoff, I n der N e u e n Heimath, 311; Albert Kleber, Ferdinand, Indiana, 1840-1940 (St. Meinrad,
Indiana, 1940), 28-29.
T h e Germans o f Dubois County
23 1
sian, who established the Indiana Volksblatt in 1847. Later,
I t combined with the Telegraph, a daily, but continued to be
published as a weekly paper under the title of Indiana Volksblatt and Telegraph. The latter had a circulation of 3,517
in 1876, and in politics had a tendency t o endorse the views
of the Democratic party. Gradually more German papers
were established in various parts of Indiana, and in 1876
there were thirty German newspapers being printed in Indiana. Of the twenty-two who reported their circulation,
the average circulation was 1,589. Eighteen endorsed the
views of the Democratic party, seven supported the Republican party, one was neutral, two failed to indicate their tendency, one was a religious paper, and one devoted its columns
to humor and at ire.^
The first newspaper issued in Dubois County was the
American Eagle, published by Henry Comingore in 1846. He
arrived at Jasper on July 4, 1846, and began the publicatioil
of his paper in the county assessor’s office in the courthouse.
The A m w i c a n Eagle was a four-page six-column paper published a t Jasper until 1848 when it was removed to Paoli.
Unfortunately, the files of this paper were destroyed by
fire. In its columns it announced that wheat, corn, oats, corn
meal, and potatoes would be received in payment of subscriptions. In politics it suppcrted the Democratic party. Since
there was no paper published in Dubois County for a number
of years after the removal of the A m e k a n Eagle, legal notices had to be published in a near-by paper. After the
American Eagle had been removed from Jasper t o Paoli, it
published a legal notice f o r the treasurer. of Dubois County on
July 2, 1852.G
John Mehringer, Rudolphus Smith, and Clement Doane
commenced the publication of the Jasper Weekly Courier in
1858. The first number of the four-page five-column paper
SGeorg Walker in the field of his journalistic struggles had been
led from Germantown, Ohio, to Cincinnati, then to Louisville, and later
back t o Cincinnati. In 1838, he published Der Protestant, a newspaper
in opposition t o Der Walzrheitsfreund. Eickhoff, I n der Neuen Heimatk,
311-312; Korner, Dns Deutsche Element, 181, 237; “Die Deutsche Presse
in den Vereinigten Staaten,” Der Deutsche Pioneer, VIIT, 305-306,
Jacob P. Dunn, Greater Indianapolis ( 2 vols., Chicago, 1910), I, 395.
Dunn gives 1848 as the year of the establishment of the Volksblatt.
6 George R. Wilson, Histoi-y of Duhois County (Jasper, Indiana,
1910), 114; Goodspeed Brothers & Company, History of Pike and Dubois Counties (Chicago, 1885), 545. Paoli is approximately twentyfive miles northeast from Jasper.
232
Indiana Magazine of History
was issued on Friday, March 19, 1858. Several paragraphs
from the editorial section of the first issue follow:
The importance of a newspaper in Dubois County is too obvious
t o require a n elaborate argument. The rich and fertile lands of this
county, teeming with nature’s most valuable productions; the vast a r r a y
of laborious and successful agriculturalists spiread over its entire
surface; the immense beds of coal and other valuable mineral deposits
treasured up beneath its surface, entitle it t o a high place among the
best counties of our rich and prosperous State. The agricultural
interests of Dubois are annually assuming more importance; its population is rapidly increasing; its political influence is sensibly advancing, and consequently it is of the highest importance that those
interests, and the general wants of our citizens, should be kept prominently and constantly before the country. To accomplish this end
no means that can be devised will prove so effectual a s the permanent
establishment of a good weekly paper.
Politically, the Courier will steadily advocate the principles and
policy peculiar t o the Democratic party. But as in the present state
of political controversy, it requires optics as sharp a s those of Butler’s
hero t o distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit. . . .
The Courier is not intended exclusively for any class of readers,
o r for any kind of reading. . .
. . . And we intend to publish it at so low a rate, ($1 50 in
advance, $2 within six months,) and to give i t a value so much beyond
its price, as will make it a welcome visitor t o ifhe family circle, the
counting room and the shop.’
.
That the editors were conscious of the German element
in the county is obvious by the fact that the following notices
appeared in the first issue and those that followed, in German type: “Advertisements in German will always be handled in this office in the best and cheapest manner.”
At the end of the first year Smith closed his career
with the Jasper Weekly Courier, and the business was thereafter conducted in the name of Mehringeir & Doane. Mehringer severed his connection with the pa,per on November
1, 1859, because the income was not sufficient to justify the
division of the profits.*
From all records available it may be assumed that the
7 Jasper, Indiana, Weekly Courier, March 19, ‘1858. Mehringer was
auditor of Dubois County from 1856 to 1863 and Smith a lawyer.
Doane was born in Circleville, Ohio, on November 11, 1832. A t the
age of eighteen he left home and began working at the printer’s trade
in Portsmouth, Ohio, then in Louisville, Kentucky, and from there
went to Rockport, Indiana, and in 1858 came to Jasper. Wilson, Hist o i y of Dubois County, 273, 380; Goodspeed, History of Pike and Dubois Counties, 590.
Jasper, Indiana, Weekly Courier, March 19, 1858, April 6, and
November 2, 1859.
The Germans of Dubois County
233
Huntingburg Signal, a weekly German newspaper for Dubois County, was the third newspaper t o be established in the
county. The first issue appeared on Saturday, May 11, 1867.
I t was a four-page, five-column paper, and the price was
$1.50 per year. The first number contained several statements as to its policy. First, it was hoped that no German
would find the price beyond his means; second, that if the
Germans did not support the paper they would be degraded
in the eyes of the Americans in the county; and third, that
the paper would not affiliate with any political party.
The first editor and operator of the paper was E. Reininghaus, a native of Germany, who had learned the printer's
trade in that country. E. Pickhardt, a pioneer merchant,
financed the paper for his nephew in part by getting a number of businessmen to loan him ten dollars each. He gave
them notes for the loan and later redeemed the notes with
advertising and printing. A year after the paper began its
publication, it was suspended, apparently, because it had not
received sufficient support. In the fall of that year, Pickhardt made an attempt to revive the paper because a prominent Democrat promised to get six hundred subscribers for
the paper provided it would sponsor the principles of the
Democratic party. The paper was revived in September of
1868 under the title of the Huiitingburgh Demokrat. Since
the Democrat failed t o make his promise good, the paper was
again suspended after the sixth issue. Pickhardt again revived the paper in January, 1869, which bore the name of
Huntingburgh Signal and started with the first issue in January as volume 2, number 1, ignoring the six issues published
under the name of Dernokrat.9
From time to time, changes were made in the size of the
paper. The four-page paper had six columns on March 6,
1869; two columns were added on March 27, 1879; another
column was added on March 24, 1887, making i t a nine-column paper. The paper was enlarged to eight pages with six
columns on December 26, 1895. Both English and German
advertisements appeared in the paper, but all other reading
matter was printed in German. Some of the advertisements
which were unusual and very clever appeared in the columns
devoted to personal items.1°
Letter from Elmer Katter, Huntingburg, Indiana, July 10, 1944.
1oFrom the files of the Huntingburg, Indiana, Signal in the Indiana University Library.
9
Indiana Magazine of History
234
The paper began its publication in English on May 1,
1914. The change in languages apparently was purely a
business move. Pickhardt planned to in,stall a typesetting
machine, the first in the county, and he -was well aware of
the fact that eventually he would need to buy English mats,
and, therefore, he did not deem it adviaable t o invest in
German mats which would be discarded in the near future.
It was, no doubt, also difficult to get German printers. The
paper was leased to Elmer Katter on July 1, 1933, for six
months with the privilege of buying the business any time
during the life of the lease. Katter discovered that the business met his anticipations and concluded it would be more
economical to own the business and move it to his own building, and on October 16, 1933, he became the owner of the
paper.11
Before mentioning the part the Germans played in poitics, it may be well to state that there was considerable
friction in the United States between the “Grays” as those
Germans were called who came before 1848, and the “Greens”
those who came after 1848. There were times when it was
advisable for a member of either group not to appear alone
in a locality as his opponents might descend upon him. Occasionally, they went so far as to engage in a hand to fist
fight. There were a number of radical reformers and revolutionists among the “Forty-eighters” who were determined
t o make the world over. The native Americans were also
disgusted with them and referred to them as greenhorns,
revolutionists, and blasphemers.l2
Most of the “Grays” had affiliated w.ith the Democratic
party, but those “Greens” whose views were too radical and
who did not care t o unite with this party floundered around
for some time. The abolitionists expressed the views of this
group on the slavery question, but the religious zeal of the
former was frowned upon by the “Greens.” They saw no
€uture in the Free Soil party and, therefore, had no desire
t o be identified with it. So far as the Whig party of 1852
was concerned, it did not appeal t o them because it was no
more out spoken on the, antislavery question than the DemoLetter from Elmer Katter, Huntingburg, Indiana, July 10, 1944.
Carl F. Wittke, W e Who Built America (New York, 1940), 193;
Friedrich Munch, “Die drei Perioden der Neuereri Deutschen Auswanderung nnch Nordamerika,” Der Deutsche Pionier, I (1869), 246; Friedrich Lapp, Aus and u b c r Amerika ( 2 vols., Berlin, 1876), I, 311.
11
12
The Germans of Dubois County
235
cratic party. Then too, General Winfield Scott, the Whig
candidate for president, had a record which was distasteful
to the Germans.1’ A few, however, did unite with the Whip
party and consequently, the Whig newspapers made every
attempt t o secure the German vote. The Whigs made an effort t o attract the German vote through their paper Pe?*
Deutsche Republicaner published a t Cincinnati. Thousands
of these copies were distributed free among the Germans in
Indiana. A German Democratic Association was also organized in Indianapolis in the hope that this party might induce
the Germans to vote for the Democrats. Both parties were
discouraged because the Germans refused to become excited.l“
Because the Germans had been oppressed by their governments and the nobility, the very word Democracy appealed
to them. This may account for the fact that the “Grays”
identified themselves with the Democratic party. In Cincinnati when there was a movement on foot to teach German
in the public schools, the Whigs opposed it and the Democrats
favored it. The economic principles of the Whig party did
not appeal to the Germans because such principles were held
to be in favor of the land speculator, merchant, banker, and
manufacturer. The Democratic party, on the other hand,
claimed to be the party of the people. Their interests lay
more with the workingman, the farmer, and the settler in
the West. The Germans believed that no more true friend
for the immigrant could be found than the Democratic party.
It was said that the Democrats were able t o maintain control
of the government because so many immigrants identified
themselves with this party.15
13A letter under date of November 10, 1841, was discovered in
which he had said: “I now hesitate between extending the period of
residence before naturalization and a total repeal of all acts of Congress on the subject: my mind inclines to the latter.” A t Columbus,
Ohio, in a speech t o a delegation of Germans he denied the charge that
he had hung fifteen of their countrymen during the Mexican War.
James F. Rhodes, History of the United States (7 vols., New York,
1893-1910), I, 272-276.
1 4 Indianapolis, Indiana, W h i g R i f l e , April 4, 18, and August 29,
1844; Indianapolis, Indiana State Journal, April 1, 13, 20, July 18,
and August 24, 1844; Indianapolis, Indiana State Sentinel, August 15,
1844; Logan Esarey, History of Indiana ( 2 vols., Fort Wayne, Indiana,
1924), I, 536; Ernest Bruncken, “German Political Refugees in the
United States during the Period from 1815 to 1860,” Deutsch-Amerikan) , IV (January, 1904), 43-44.
ische Geschichtsblatter (Chicago, 191015Thomas J. McCormack (ed.), Mlemoirs of Gustave Koerner ( 2
vols., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1909), I, 350; Franz Loher, Geschichte und
Zustande der Deutschen in Amerika (Cincinnati, Ohio, 1847), 446; A!bert B. Faust, T h e German Element in the United States (2 vols.,
Boston, 1909), 11, 127; Bruncken, “German Political Refugees in the
United States during the Period from 1815 to 1860,” Deutsch-Amerikanische Geschichtsbliitter, I11 (October, 1903) 39, 42; Wittke, W e
W h o Built America, 243-244.
236
Indiana .Magazine of History
The slavery problem which raised new issues in all
parties in the fifties made some Germans question their political allegiance. Because the Democratic party was so
closely allied with the slave interests many Germans began
to waver, and upon the arrival of the “Forty-eighters,” the
first thread was broken in the allegiance of the Germans to
the Democratic party.16
When the Republicans began their organization in 1854,
a large number of “Forty-eightem’’ identified themselves with
this party. Now the struggle between the “Grays” and the
“Greens” was again renewed since the former supported the
Democratic party. Although a large number of Germans
had become Democrats, they were opposed to the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise. The hostility of the German newspapers was aroused by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska
Bill and out of eighty-eight German newspapers, eighty opposed the bill and eight favored it. Some Germans hesitated
to join the ranks of the Republicans becausle the Puritans and
Know-Nothings had united with the party. Because the
“Forty-eighters” identified themselves with the Republican
party and were bitter enemies of the Czkholics, the latter
usually remained true t o the Democratic party. The Republican party was denounced by the Catholic Seebote as a party
composed of “Temperance men, abolitionists, haters of foreigners, sacrilegious despoilers of churches, Catholic-killers.””
Concessions had to be made in order to win the German
vote for the Republican party. Iowa well aware of its large
German element in 1858 amended its prohibition law so as
to permit “the manufacture and sale of beer, cider from apples or wine from grapes, currants or other fruits grown in
this state.”ls Lincoln also did his part by going t o German
16New York Daily Tribune, July 13, 1852; Wittlie, W e W h o Built
ilrnerica, 244; Bruncken, “German Political Refugees in the United
States during the Period from 1315 to 1860,” D eutsch-Amerikanische
Geschichtsblutter, I11 (October, 1903), 42.
17 Bruncken, “German Political Refugees in the United States during the Period from 1815 to 1860,” Deutsche-Amwikanische Geschichtblatter, IV (January, 1904), 45-46; Herman E. von Holst, The Constitutional and Political History of the United State9 ( 8 vols., 1881-1892),
IV (1885), 429n; Faust, The German Element in the United States,
11, 131; Wittke, W e W h o Buili America, 245.
18AuthorizetE Repl.int of the A c t s land Resolutions passed a t the
Regular Session of the Seventh General Assembly, Regular Session
of the Eighth General Assembly and the E x t r a Session of the Eight},
General rlssembly of the State of Iowa (Des Moines, Iowa, 1914), ch.
CXLIII.
The Germam of Dubois County
237
communities. At Belleville, Illinois, in a speech which he
delivered he said, “God bless the Dutch.’’ The Republicans
in a number of states nominated Germans for state offices.19
At the Republican convention which was held in Chicago
in 1860, efforts were made to convince the German delegates
that the Puritans and nativists were not in control of the
party. A sufficient supply of beer seems to have been on hand
to help ralIy the Germans to the Republican standard. Carl
Schurz, a delegate from Wisconsin to the convention, was
regarded as the representative and spokesman for those of
German parentage. Honors were bestowed upon him in the
hope that he might influence the German vote. As a member
of the resolutions committee, he wrote w-hat became known
as the Dutch plank and it was subsequently included in the
Republican platform for 1860.20 The Dutch plank read as
follows :
“The Republican party is opposed to any change in our naturalization laws, or any State legislation, by which the rights of citizenship heretofore accordcd t o immigrants from foreign lands shall be
abridged o r impaired, and is in favor of giving a full and sufficient
protection to all classes of citizens, whether native or naturalized, both
a t home and abroad.”zl
The Germans not only opposed slavery, but also the
greenback and silver craze. A large number of them advocated civil service reform and wanted to see an end put t o
the radical program of reconstruction in the South. Some
Germans shifted their politics from time to time, which
would seem t o indicate that they were not tied permanently
to any party. Charles G. Reemelin, a prominent GermanAmerican politician of Ohio, who had attended the Republican convention at Pittsburgh in 1856 for the purpose of
organizing a permanent party, identified himself in 1860
with the Breckinridge Democrats of Ohio. Gustav Korner
was elected lieutenant-governor of Illinois on the Democratic
ticket, but in 1854 at the time of the Mansas-Nebraska Bill
and the trouble among the border ruffians in Missouri and
Kansas, he became an ardent supporter of the Republican
party. Carl Schurz was the first German to become a mem19 McCormack (ed.), Memoirs of Gustave Koerner, 11, 173; Wittkc,
W e Who Built America, 247.
20 The Reminiscences o f Carl Schurz ( 3 vols., New York, 1907-1908),
11, 179-180; Wittke, W e Who Built America, 247.
21 McCormack (ed.) , Memoirs o f Gustave Koerner, 11, 87.
238
Indiana Magazine of H,ktory
ber of the president’s cabinet, as Secretary of the Interior,
in the Hayes administration.22 It is apparent that the Germans were independent in politics and that some achieved
high positions.
The first officials in Dubois County were Whigs, but
since 1840 the Democratic party has been continually in control. As has already been stated in a previous article, Dubois
County was settled mostly by Southerners and Germans, especially German Catholics, and one can thus yeadily account for
the Democratic control of the
Ferdinand has always been Demoeratic. This may be
explained by the hostile attitude of the old Whigs as well as
the new Republicans towards immigrants and Catholics. The
Whig party was influenced by the Know-Nathings and similar
groups which opposed immigration and Catholics. For the
European immigrants the principles of government which
the Democratic party favored had more of an attraction.
Father Kundek was a loyal Democrat and his colonists followed in his footsteps in their choice of a political party. He
also impressed upon them the need of their remaining together
whenever their interests were concerned and not permit
scheming politicians t o win their votes. He wrote the following letter to John N. Gerhard:
Let the people know that according to my counsel the German
Catholics never do well at an election except they hold togetherJasper, Ferdinand, Celestine, One; and it’ll go-else
the German
Catholic vote will not be regarded and I can not effect any good for
you with the Americans once they find out that they can divide us
and set us against one another; we the disunited lose by that, and the
other party laughs over our simplicity because u e help to hand over
t o him the power wherewith to harm us.
Ponder over this f o r all future time, even when I am no longer
here. That should be your principle.24
22 Ibid., I, 598-602, 617-618; Frederick Bancroft (ed.), Speeches:
Correspondence and Political Papers o f C a d Schur.a ( 6 vols., New Yorlr,
1913), 111, 403; The Reminiscences of Carl Sehurz, I11 (1908), 374-375;
Wittke, W e W h o Built America, 257; Faust, The German Element in
the United States, 11, 126; Bruncken, “German Political Refugees in
the United States during the Period from 1815 to 1860,” DeutschAmevikanische Geschichtsblatter, IV (January, 1904), 55-56; Oscar
Rraun, “Distinguished Germans in American Affairs,” Magazine o f
American History (46 vols., New York, Mt. Vernon, New York, 18771917), XXV (1891), 475.
23 Wilson, Hisdory of Duhois County, 265, 284-285; Goodspeed, History of Pike and Dubois Counties, 499.
24Father Kundek t o John N. Gerhard, Ferdinand, Indiana, July
27, 1846, as quoted in Kleber, Ferdinand, 77-78.
The Germans of Dubois Countzj
239
The day following the presidential election of 1888, the
returns were brought from St. Meinrad, also a Democratic
center in Spencer County, to the county seat. When the
inspector arrived he was informed that since the Democratic
party had lost by a large majority, it would not be necessary
to take care of his ballots. No doubt, somewhat surprised
he replied: “Has the vote from Ferdinand Township been
heard from?’’ He seemed t o be confident of the fact that the
combined vote of Ferdinand and St. Meinrad could bring a
victory in the national election t o the Democratic party. So
far as Father Kundek was concerned politics meant the management of public affairs, and even though politicians might
claim religion did not belong there, he felt it did. He was
further of the opinion that the principles of the Democratic
party served the interests of the public in the most satisfactory manner.25
When the old log courthouse was destroyed by fire in
1839, a new building had to be constructed. The money was
appropriated and a contractor engaged. After the foundation
had been completed the work ceased, and for some time the
partially constructed building stood, no credit either to Jasper or Dubois County. Since Father Kundek could no longer
endure the view, he consulted with men of experience who
were willing to do the work for a reasonable sum under his
management. He then filed a petition with the board of
county commissioners t o permit him to complete the building
which he agreed to do by December. 1, 1845. The contract
was accordingly awarded to Father Kundek on December 3,
1844. Father Kundek was also appointed to the board of
school examiners of Dubois County in 1853.2F From these
acts it must be obvious that the people had confidence in him
and thus he was enabled t o demonstrate his belief that politics
was the management of public affairs.
Many Germans of Dubois County were interested in the
management of local affairs as can be seen by the names of
the county officials. Some Germans became prominent as
state officials. Matthais Keinpf of Ferdinand represented
Dubois County in the lower house of the state legislature in
25Zbid., 205; Albert Kleber, SC. Joseph Parisla (St. Meinrad, Indiana, 1937), 39.
26 Laws of the S t a t e .of I n d i a n a , 1853, ch. C V I ; Kleber, St. Joseph
Parish, 37-40; Wilson, Hzsto’w of Dubots County, 201-204.
240
Indiana Mngnzine o f History
the General Assembly of 1859. No douht, credit must be
given to him for the addition of German books to county
libraries in areas where a sufficient number of Germans
would warrant the expense. He also advocated that a longer
period of residence should be required of foreigners before
permitting them the privilege of voting, doubtless with the
view that the new citizens should be better acquainted with
American ideals before casting their ballots. It is possible
that Kempf was influential in the act which was approved on
March 5, 1859, to provide for the printing and binding of
two thousand copies of the Indiana Laws passed a t the special session of the General Assembly in 1858, and a t the
regular session in 1859, in the German language, and for the
distribution and sale of the same.27
The fact cannot be overlooked that t'ie Germans made
a real contribution in the Civil War. From the statistical
study made by B. A. Gould, it appears that 176,817 men born
in Germany volunteered in the great war. This study also
indicated that there were 75,000 foreigners whose nativity
was not known, and it may be assumed that a large proportion of this number was born in Germany. Gould compiled
another table in which he indicated the contribution each
nationality should have made in proportion to its population
in the United States. The Germans were expected to contribute 118,052 but the actual enlistment,s totaled 176,817.
This may in part be accounted for by the fact that among
the German immigrants a large percentage were young men
of military age. Then too, bounties were made so attractive
that i t was financially. worth while to enlist. Recruiting officers met immigrants as they arrived and persuaded them
to volunteer for military service. Some, however, were approached to volunteer while on the journey over. Senator
Henry Wilson of Massachusetts took pride in relating that his
state had imported 907 Germans for four
Germans also served in the Confederate a r m y ; the number has been estimated to be 70,000 of whom 15,000 lived
27Laws of the State of Indiana, 1859, ch. LXXIT; J o u m l of the
House of Representatives of Indiana, 1859, pp. 42-43, 69, 84, 176-177;
Kleber, Ferdinand, 205 ; Wilson, History of Dubois County, 266-282.
28 Congressional Globe, 38 Cong., 2 Sess., 607; Faust, The German
Element in the United States, I, 622-524; Wittke, W e W h o Built America, 250; Fred A. Shannon, The Organization and Administration of the
Union Army, 1861-1865 ( 2 vols., Cleveland, Ohio, 1928), 11, 78.
The Germans of Dubois County
241
in New Orleans. One Louisiana regiment had six German
companies and was commanded by Colonel August Reichard.
Georgia had a German artillery commanded by Captain Steigen. Several companies were recruited in Richmond, Virginia,
and a German battalion in Galveston.2n
Europeans, however, were accused of desertions. It was
said that the large bounties attracted them and after desertion they would enlist again for another bounty. Cognizance,
however, must be taken of the fact that the immigrants were
not familiar with the regulations governing enlistment and
discharge in the army. No doubt, the Germans had an even
greater handicap because of their language. The localities
where the most desertions occurred were in the Eastern manufacturing states. Since the states that had the largest number of German volunteers were in the Middle West, i t would
be unfair to place too much blame for the desertions on this
group.3o
The interest of the foreigners can readily be seen by the
number who responded to the call of the government. As
national unity was imporlant to them, they were willing to
defend the government o i their choice. The Germans were
also a martial race. Entire regiments were made up of Germans, and as late as 1864, a German regiment in the Chicago
area could be recruited. An act which is indicative of their
interest was displayed by the fact that the ships, the “Bavaria” and the “Bremen” brought arms. German societies
gave concerts and entertainments in order to raise funds for
the
Because a large number of Germans had received their
training abroad the United States was referred t o as an
“ovemeas orphanage for cracked up German officers.” The
fact, however, remains that the trained Germans made a
real contribution in the artillery and engineering corps, as
well as in making military maps. Efficient officers were
very valuable to the North in view of the fact that the Confederates had the advantage of having most of the West Point
29 Wilhelm Kaufmann, Die Deutschen im Amerikanischen Biirgerbriege (Munich and Berlin, 1911), 140; Wittke, We Who Built America,
251-252; “Galveston im Kriegsjahre 1861,” Der Deutscha Pionier, XVII
(1885), 45-46.
30 Faust, The Gcrmaa Element in the Unded States, I, 526-527.
31New York Times, June 29, 1861; New York Tribune, August 13,
1861; Wittke, W e Who Built America, 251.
242
Indiana Magazine of History
graduates. A number of West Point graduates of German
ancestry, however, won laurels in fighting for the North,
but the names of Samuel P. Heintzelman and William S.
Rosecrans are the most prominen:.
No doubt, the challenge
was greater for the German soldier in the border states, especially when the state had not indicated whether i t would
support the Union or the Confederacy. In Missouri, the Germans were confronted with such a situation, but loyalty to
the national government superseded their allegiance t o the
Indiana Germans were also alert and ready to defend
the Union. Several years before the war began a military
organization had been formed at Evansville known as the
Steuben Artillery. This company of fifty was composed entirely of Germans with Martin Klauss as the captain. After
they had been sworn in as a state militia, they were equipped
with two cannons and twenty-four Mississippi rifles. Since
they were stationed at Evansville, their first job was to search
all boats on the Ohio River for contraband of war. After
having been sent to Indianapolis, they enlisted in the United
States army as the First Battery of Indiana. There they
received additional equipment and were sent t o Missouri. The
most outstanding engagement that the First Indiana Battery participated in was the siege of Vicksburg. They were
mustered out of service on August 22, 18B5.33
The Sixth Battery was also recruited in Evansville, and
consisted of German volunteers with Frederick Rehr as captain. Michael Mueller succeeded Behr when the latter was
killed on the first day of the battle of Shiloh. This company
was mustered out of service cn July 22, 3865.34
The Thirty-second Indiana Infantry was composed of
32New York Times, February 21, 1863; Wittke, W e W h o Built
America, 250, 253 ; Rudolf Cronau, German Achievements in America
(New York, 1916), 98; Faust, The German Element in the United
States, I, 529, 563; Rhodes, Histotqi of the United States, 111, 393-394;
Friedrich Schnake, “Der Ausbruch des Biirgerk rieges in Missouri,”
Der Deutsche Pionier, X I (1879), 104-112.
33 Report of the Adjutant General of ths State of Indiana ( 8 vols.,
Indianapolis, Indiana, 1869), I, Appendix, Document No. 2, p. 40;
W. A. Fritsch, Zur Geschichte des Deutschthunts in Indiana (New
k-ork, 1896), 42-44; William A. Fritsch, German Settlers and German
Settlements in Indiuna (Evansville, Indiana, 1915:1, 30-31.
34Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, I, Appendix, Document No. 2 and 6, pp. 40, 57; Fritsch, Z u r Geschichte des
Deutschthums in Indiana, 45-47 ; Fritsch, German Settlers and G e r m %
Settlements in I n d i m a , 31.
The Germans o f Dubois County
243
Germans recruited from the larger cities of Indiana. Evansville, Terre Haute, Lafayette, and other cities of the state
were represented by a company. August Willich,3s the first
colonel, and Lieutenant Colonel H. von Trebra, drill master
a t Indianapolis, had been officers in the Russian army. The
Thirty-second Indiana Infantry was commanded in the German language, and each company had a book in which the
orders of the colonel or superior officer were written in German. When the regiment had completed its training, it was
sent by train to Madison and then by boat to Louisville. It
joined General Buell’s army and on December 17, 1861, encountered its first engagement a t Rowlett’s Station near Munfordsville, Kentucky.dG
A number of years tliter the war General John M. Claiborne, a Southern aristocrat, wrote a series of articles for
the Galveston News in which he related a somewhat exaggerated account of the part taken by Terry’s Texas Rangers
at Rowlett’s Station. William Friedersdorf, an old soldier
of the Thirty-second Indiana Regiment, became so disturbed
that he sent the following article to a Missouri paper:
Instead of 3,000 “federal Dutch” engaged that day, our force did
not number over 700, all belonging t o the 32nd Indiana infantry.
We were called Germans (Dutch by the enemy) but the majority of
us were born or raised under the flag which we served-the stars and
stripes and understood for what we were fighting. We were all
American citizens. I think fifty-five of our regiment had seen service
in the old country. We received the same pay a s other soldiers, and
like most of the others, the majority of us could have made much more
outside than in the service. We were doing picket duty, not having
started on the march, when the rangers attacked us. There were just
four, not fifteen cabins, “nigger quarters” at the place.
35At the age of twelve he was sent t o a military school at Potsdam. After he was graduated from this school, he enlisted in the
Prussian military service as lieutenant of artillery. In the revolutionary period of 1848, he became acquainted with Franz Siege1 and at
the close of this period emigrated to America. Since he was an able
civil engineer, he found employment in the Coast Survey of North
and South Carolina. Later, he came to Cincinnati and edited a German
paper. When the Civil War broke out, he organized the Ninth Ohio
Regiment and later the Thirty-second Indiana. Fritsch, Zur Geschichtc
des Deutschthums in Indiana, 49-52; Fritsch, German, Settlers and GerwLaw Settlements in Indiana, 38.
3GReport of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, I, Appendix, Document No. 2 and 6, pp. 38-41, 65;ibid., 11, 320-321; Fritsch,
Zur Geschichte des Deutschthums in Indiana, 47-48 ; Fritsch, G e m a n
Settlers and German Settlements in Indiana, 31-32; Esarey, H i s t o w of
Indiana, 11, 747.
Indiana Magazine of History
244
We had only thirteen killed in that engagement, including brave
Lieutenant Sacks, a Jew who died revolver in hiand, rather than surrender.
On a little mound in Munfordville are twelve graves holding
the remains of all our men killed in action, except those of Lieutenant
Sacks, which were sent t o a brother in Philadelphia. A farmer showed
us two graves six or seven miles south of our little battle and told
us they contained the bodies of two of our men murdered by Col. Terry’s
son while prisoners. We never heard of that youthful “aristocrat”
avenging his father’s death in open battle. Not over twenty-five of our
men were wounded; they all recovered.
We admired the bravery and dash of Col. Terry and his command,
but facts are facts, and facts are said to be stubborn things. If
the battle was over “in a period of four minutls,” that was all the
time required by the “Dutch” to clean up the rangers, aristocracy and
all. They left their dead commander on the field and asked for his
remains the next day.37
The nativity of one-fourth of the soldiers who served in
the Civil War from the state of Indiana is not known, but of
the total known which was 155,578, the Germans were represented by 6,456.38
Before the news of Fort Sumter, the inhabitants of Dubois County were interested in the preservation of the Unioi,,
but by compromise. When the news reached this county that
Fort Sumter had been fired on, the people were not only determined t o defend the constitution and the Union in principle but also in action. Immediately steps were taken to
organize the Jasper Home Guard, and under the leadership of
Captain John Mehringer the organization had its first drill
session on May 4. Other towns in the county soon followed
the example which had been set by Jasper. A pole raising
took place on &lay 18, 1861, at which were voiced the sentiments of Jasper.3D
The wood of the pole is hickory, indicative, we suppose, of the
belief of those who raised it that if the example and counsels of the
patriot hero, Old Hickory, had been followed, the present unhappy
difficulties in our country would have been avoided; the stars on the
flag are thirteen, showing their love for the Constitution of the old
thirteen States who originally composed the Republic, and their be37
Fritsch, German Settlers and German Settlements in Indiana,
34-35.
38 Report of t h e A d j u t a n t General o f the State of Indiana, I , A p pendix, Document No. 15, p. 111.
39 Jasper, Indiana, W e e k l y Coum’er, February 27, May 8, and 22,
1861.
The Germans of Dubois County
245
lief that if the old spirit of patriotism could be aroused now, sectionalism and its handmaid, civil war, would soon vanish.40
Around Ferdinand the feeling of loyalty to the Union
was not so apparent. Although the German Americans 01
this township were slow to defend their country, they, however, seldom sought exemption. Even though the people of
Ferdinand Township may have been somewhat reluctant t o
enlist, the sentiment in Dubois County as a whole was strongly
in favor of the Union.41
While Herman Beckrnann and Frank Kometscher, volunteers of the Ninety-first Indiana Regiment, were home on
iurlough, they made an attempt to induce others t o volunteer.
This step angered the members of the Knights of the Golden
Circle who lived in Ferdinand Township. One day when
Herman Beckmann was in his father’s store, Victor Drach,
an exceptionally strong young man twenty-one years of age,
and some of his comrades, entered the Beckmann store,
dragged Herman into the street and threatened t o cut his
throat. Herman’s friend, Frank Kometscher, was approximately a block down the street when he received the news.
He immediately ran to t!ic scene and upon his arrival drew
his service pistol and fired on the man who was struggling
with his friend. Victor Drach was seriously wounded but
continued to fight with Kometscher and finally collapsed.
Victor’s associates were stunned for a few moments. Beclrmann and Kometscher, however, lost no time in entering the
Beckman store and immediately locked the
Friends of the dead man were determined t o take revenge. The two soldiers, however, escaped and hurried to
Troy. Their enemies followed them, but fortunately for the
soldiers, they arrived at the boat first. Since there were
quite a few soldiers on board, further attempts a t violence
were averted. Kometscher, upon the advice of Father Chrysostom requested that he be placed before a court martial. The
court justified his action, and the military authorities informed Ferdinand that if any more disturbances occurred
there, the town would be placed under martial law. Tho,
40Ibid., May 22, 1861.
4 1 Ibid., August 23, 1862 ; Kleber, Fel-dinand, 207-208.
4 2 Jasper, Indiana, W e e k l y Courier, June 6, 1863; Kleber, Ferdinand, 213; Report of the A d j u t a n t General of the S t a t e of Indiana, VI,
487-488.
246
Indiana Magazine of
History
people of the locality claimed that whisky had been responsible
for the tragedy. Father Chrysostom denied Victor Dracl:
ecclesiastical burial because he had not attended church on
the day of the tragedy, had started the brawl, and though
fatally wounded, he did not give evidence of repentance at
any time before his death.43
A number of Germans from Dubois County achieved
prominence in the Civil War. John Mehringer was promoted
to be major of the Twenty-seventh Regiment before he had
been commissioned as a captain. Blume also of Dubois County and born in Germany in 1831 was one of the first Union
men on the field at C h a t t a n ~ o g a . ~ ~
The militia in Dubois County consisted of 1,481 at the
time of the Civil War. Seven hundred and eighteen volunteered for service, but one hundred and sixty-two were exempt from military service because of physical defects. Six
hundred and ninety volunteers in service were credited to
Dubois County. Sentiment was so strong in the early days
that many young men rushed to the nearest railroad station
or town to enlist. Because they were so excited, they failed
to check to see if Dubois County had received due credit,
and thus other counties, received credit in:;tead of their own
county. One thousand two hundred and fifty-seven men in
the county were subject to be drafted, if rnore recruits were
needed. Bainbridge Township was the only township in Dubois County that escaped the draft which occurred on February 1, March 14, and July 18, 1864, because it was accused
of offering large bounties ranging from two hundred to three
hundred d011ay.s.~~
One company apparently made a deeper impression on
the history of' Dubois County than any other group. Company K was the first company recruited in Dubois County
for the war. It had been organized as it militia or Home
Guard and frequently met for drill. It a,lso included some
men from Father Kundek's Guards. Most of the members
of this company were young men of German parentage.
Kleber, Ferdinand, 213-214.
44R)eport of the A d j u t m t General ,of the State o f Indiana, 11, 261;
Wilson, History of Dubois County, 301, 311.
45Report of the Adjutant Gen.era1 of the State of Indiana, I, Appendix, Document No. 28 and 31, pp. 187, 194; Wilson, History of
Dubois County, 295-296; Goodspeed, History of Pike and Dubois Counties, 533# 536.
43
The Germans of Dubois County
247
About ninety of the men and three commissioned officers
spoke German. During the course of the day, it was not
unusual to find this group conversing in German. The company voted to enter the service of the United States in August,
1861. A farewell dinner was served on August 6, by the
ladies of Jasper on the courthouse grounds. At this dinner
a flag was presented to the company, which had been made
by the ladies who served the dinner. The company left Jasper
on August 9 in wagons for Loogootee and from there went
by rail to Indianapolis where they arrived on August 10.
They became a member of the Twenty-seventh Regiment
which was organized on June 24, 1861, and mustered into
service on September 12, 1861, for a period of three years.
Company K with other companies of the Twenty-seventh
Regiment was actively engaged in the battle of Antietam on
the seventeenth of September, 1862. While this company was
somewhat different from the other companies in the regiment, there was never any question a s to its bravery, and
it commanded the respect of all. It was mustered out of
service on November 4, 1864. The veterans of this company
who were citizens of Jasper assisted in the erection of the
Soldiers’ Monument upon the spot where the kind ladies of
Jasper had presented the flag on August 6, 1861.46
The first German newspapers were published in the East,
but as the Germans migrated west, newspapers in this language appeared in other sections. The first attempt to publish a German newspaper in Indiana was not made until 1845.
Twenty-two years later the first German newspaper in Dubois County was published. It continued to be published in
that language until 1914. The Germans participated in politics and until the arrival of the “Forty-eighters” allied
themselves with the Democratic party. Many of the “Fortyeighters” identified themselves with the Republicans when
they began their organization in 1854. Southerners and German Catholics made up the largest percentage of the population of Dubois County and that may account for the control
of the Democratic party in that county. The Germans also
made a real contribution in the Civil War. National unity
was foremost to them, and they were willing to defend the
4eReport of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, I, Appendix, Document No. 3, pp. 38, 43; ibid., 11, 268-269; Wilson, History
of Dubois Countu, 306-311.
248
Indi'ana Magazine of History
government of their choke. A number of them had received their training abroad. The Germans in Indiana and
Dubois County were alert and ready to defend the Union
and several achieved prominence. Company K, which was
a part of the Twenty-seventh Indiana Regiment, was the first
company recruited in Dubois County and most of the members
were of German extraction. Those who returned after the
war assisted in the erection of the Soldiers' Monument which
stands out as a memorial to the Germans of Dubois County
who fought to preserve the Union.4T
47 This is the concluding article of a series of six published continuously since June, 1945. It is the revision of a master's thesis in
the department of history at Indiana University, 1944, under the
direction of John D. Barnhart.