CHAPTER FOUR: THE GERMAN
SETTLEMENT OF ROSELLE TOWNSHIP
EARLY YEARS AND THE FIRST SETTLERS
Origins of Hillsdale. As noted above, prior to the late 1860s there were only a
few German settlers scattered around Carroll County. Following the German
settlement of Mt. Carmel in 1869, however, other Germans continued arriving and
settling around the county in quickly increasing numbers. One area that attracted
early German immigrants was a small settlement called “Hillsdale,” located about
six miles southwest of the town of Carroll in what would later (1870) become
Roselle Township (Township 83, Range 35).
According to some accounts, the town was originally named for a man who lived
nearby named Hill—probably Robert Hill, who held the office of county surveyor
from 1857 to 1867. In 1859 he married Jane McCurdy, who had been the county’s
first schoolteacher at Carrollton since 1856, and around 1866 they moved to a
remote farm on section 16 of the future township. Their nearest neighbor was five
miles away, and the closest town was Carroll City, which was still very primitive,
consisting only of the new railroad depot, a coal storage building, one store, two
hotels, and a few houses. Carrollton, still the county seat until 1868, was about 13
miles east of Hillsdale and contained a two-story courthouse, a hotel, a
schoolhouse, a dry goods store, a drug store, a blacksmith shop, and a Masonic
Hall. Its population of around 60 inhabitants included one lawyer, one doctor, and
two land agents. The nearest saw mill and flour mill were in Coon Rapids,
another six miles southeast of Carrollton.
The Hills raised livestock and grain crops such as corn, wheat, and oats. Like
most farmers at the time, they had no fences and allowed their stock to roam the
prairie. Hill was described as a “man of industry and enterprise,” and although at
the time the Hills had only one child, they constructed a school on their property
as an attraction for newcomers to settle nearby. Jane McCurdy Hill is remembered
as a strict disciplinarian in the classroom and no stranger to the “rod and rule.”
The Hill farm was also a stopping place for stagecoaches that travelled along an
old “post road” that ran between Carrollton and Denison, in Crawford County.
The Stagecoach Road. The frontier nature of the area can be seen in the
experiences of the passengers who traveled on the stagecoach route. One early
passenger, German immigrant W. F. Reiner, had himself been a stagecoach driver
in eastern Iowa during the late 1850s and early 1860s. In 1865 he accepted a job
with the American Express Company as the first express messenger between
Boone, the railroad terminus at that time, and Omaha. On his first trip he boarded
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a stage (probably a nine-passenger Concord coach operated by the Western Stage
Company) and left Boone on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 5. The road
was little more than a rough trail, but by traveling night and day and changing
horses regularly, the stage reached Council Bluffs on Thursday morning,
November 7. Since the scheduled stage for Omaha had already left, Reiner
obtained the loan of a carriage and completed the trip to Omaha the same day. He
immediately left again for Boone, returning there early Saturday morning,
November 9, thus completing the roundtrip in under five days.
Hillsdale and Roselle Township do not yet appear on this 1870 map; Hillsdale was
located along the road between Carrollton and Denison, approximately halfway
between Carrollton and the Crawford County border. This map also shows the
railroad that ran east-west through the county; the town noted as “Tipton” should
be “Tip Top.” (Johnson’s 1870 Map of Iowa and Nebraska)
In later years, Reiner recalled the primitive condition of the stagecoach road, as
well as the challenge of travelling through winter blizzards and summer heat.
Reiner related one incident where the stage sank up to its axles in the mud as it
was crossing a slough between Boone and Panora. The four horses also became
mired, and the passengers had to be evacuated from the stage. The men carried
the women to dry ground, and then the passengers walked three miles to the next
stop. Reiner stayed with the stage overnight wrapped in a buffalo blanket while the
driver rode off on one of the horses looking for help. He returned in the morning
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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with assistance and fresh horses, and they managed to free the stage and continue
on after picking up the passengers.
At times, a stagecoach ride along this road could be a journey through the Wild
West. One of the most dramatic events Reiner recalled was the stage being robbed
at gunpoint as it was approaching Denison on a trip to Omaha. Two men were
crouched by the roadside and started firing at the stage, killing one of the horses
and forcing the stage to stop. The stage was not carrying valuable cargo on the
trip, but the robbers took $40 from the driver’s pocketbook before departing.
Another traveler, stopping for the night in Carrollton in 1873, recalled the cramped
and primitive conditions of the sleeping quarters, which had to be shared with
some rather “rough” cowboys who were inclined to cause trouble.
Early Hillsdale Settlers. Following the Hill family, other farmers like the Joseph
James family, who arrived in 1867, began settling nearby. By early 1870 the area
was still sparsely populated, but a small number of German and American
families, a total of perhaps 50 or 60 people, were living around Hillsdale. There
was still no organized town or township, but due to the availability of cheap and
productive farmland, which could be purchased for as little as $1.25 an acre, the
population continued to grow.
In 1870 most farms were small and primitive. Most farmers had only from 10 to
50 acres of improved land, along with perhaps a few horses, a milk cow, a few
beef cows, some pigs, and a few sheep. The farm of German-immigrant Anton
Horn (possibly the first German settler in the Hillsdale area) was typical: the land
was valued at $1000 with 50 of 90 acres broken; his livestock consisted of four
horses, one milk cow, two beef cows, and two pigs, and was valued at $300. The
largest farm in the vicinity belonged to James Coppedge and totaled 160 acres
with 100 acres broken for planting. Coppedge’s farmland was valued at $2000
and his farm machinery at $200. His livestock included six horses, four milk
cows, four beef cows, one sheep, and four pigs, and was valued at $625. The
farm’s most recent harvest and production was valued at $200 and included 160
bushels of wheat, 50 bushels of Indian corn, 25 bushels of Irish potatoes, 20 tons
of hay, and 157 pounds of butter. As an indication of how quickly farm yields and
income could grow in those days, an article in the Carroll Herald noted that in the
fall of 1872 Coppedge had netted over $1086 for his wheat crop alone—40 acres
had produced 945 bushels.
In August 1870 the area residents presented a petition to the county supervisors
requesting the establishment of Roselle Township. The petition was granted and
the first election of township officials took place in October. In 1873 the village
of Hillsdale was granted permission to establish a United States Post Office. The
name was officially changed to Roselle around 1875, although the name Hillsdale
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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was used locally for many years. Over the next few decades, this area would
become one of the most heavily Germanized areas of Carroll County, and by 1900
the language and culture of Roselle Township were almost exclusively German.
As seen below, the first settlers had to overcome many hardships during the early
years of immigration and settlement around Hillsdale.
FRONTIER HARDSHIPS
The hardships and dangers of frontier life were shared by German and American
settlers alike. The earliest histories of Carroll County relate stories concerning the
dangers of crossing the open prairie, especially in wintertime. In one incident
from 1861, two men named Spruance and Wilson were lost out on the prairie for
two days and nights while traveling across from Crawford County. By the time
they were discovered near Carrollton, both men were nearly delirious and had
their feet frozen to the point where amputation was necessary. Spruance died soon
thereafter. And in the mid-1860s a boy was found frozen to death on the prairie
between Guthrie Center and Denison. He had apparently wandered out on the
prairie and become lost.
Blizzard of 1870. One of the most memorable events of early county history was
the blizzard of 1870. It was one of the worst storms ever recorded in northwestern
Iowa and was mentioned by newspapers around the state. The blizzard hit the
small German population around Hillsdale particularly hard. On the morning of
March 13, 1870, the men in the settlement were making preparations for an earlymorning trip to Carroll to sell wheat and pick up supplies. At that time, a total of
11 men, four of whom were Germans, lived in the area, and all but two elderly
men—Joseph James, Sr., and Jeremiah Todd—were making the trip. The day
reportedly began mild and spring-like, although a light snow had fallen the day
before. After finishing their morning chores, the Hillsdale men hitched teams to
their sleds and set off across the snow to Carroll.
The nine men traveled in three sleds, one carrying Christoper Hussey and James
Coppedge, a second carrying Joe James, Sam Todd, and Todd’s brother-law, Joe
Mathias, and the third carrying all of the four German men from the settlement:
28-year-old Anton Horn; Horn’s 23-year-old brother-in-law, Frank Eschelbacher;
and brothers 40-year-old Wendlin Bruner and 28-year-old Laurance Bruner. The
Germans’ sled was hitched to two teams of horses, and they were bringing a load
of wheat to sell in Carroll.
Horn, his wife Catherine, and their six children may have lived in Illinois for
several years before coming to Iowa and they may have lived in the Hillsdale area
for at least a year. Wendlin Bruner and his wife Theresia, along with their five
children, had also lived in Illinois for several years but were probably more recent
German Settlement of Roselle Township
5
arrivals to the Hillsdale area. Although one census lists the younger Bruner as
married, he was probably single because no information is known about a family.
Eschelbacher, probably Catherine Horn’s brother, was also probably unmarried.
According to newspaper accounts, all the Germans resided together in Horn’s
dwelling.
All of the Hillsdale men reached Carroll without incident, and they finished their
business there around noon. While in town a wet snow began to fall and the wind
picked up, accompanied by lightning and thunder. The men left for Hillsdale in
three groups about fifteen minutes apart, with the Germans departing last.
The first team, Hussey and Coppedge, arrived home in Hillsdale safely and
without incident. But the second team, consisting of James, Todd and Mathias,
ran into severe weather after they crossed to the south side of the Raccoon River.
The wind was so strong that the snow stung their faces as they traveled, and they
soon found themselves headed straight into a blizzard. One of the men later
described the snow as feeling like “cinders shot out of a cannon.” As the snow
drifted into the low ground, the men were forced to travel along the hilltops. At
times they could not even see their own horses in front of them and had to get off
the sled to lead the reluctant team into the wind. In those days there were no
houses, fences, or other landmarks between Carroll and Hillsdale. After traveling
“by guess and by god” for a couple of hours, they finally recognized an area of
weeds that they knew bordered Todd’s property, and so were able to find their
way to his cabin.
When they arrived in Hillsdale, they found that Hussey and Coppedge had already
arrived, but there was no sign of the four Germans. Meanwhile, the storm
continued to rage for two more days, while the Germans’ families were frantic
with grief. At the height of the storm, the temperatures reportedly reached 35
degrees below zero for up to 36 hours. At times the wind was so strong that the
settlers in Hillsdale had to use poles to brace their cabins, which were almost
blown down in the storm. The weather finally let up at around four o’clock on the
afternoon of March 15.
The Hillsdale men again hitched their teams to sleds and set off in the direction of
Carroll looking for the Germans. In the low areas snow was drifted up to 20 feet
deep and the men had to shovel their way through numerous drifts. They reached
Carroll without finding the Germans. Carroll itself had received heavy snow, and
some buildings were drifted to the rooftops. At Hatton’s drug store, a team of men
had to shovel half a day just to clear the entrance. The people of Carroll had
determined that all of the Hillsdale men must have perished in the storm. The
editor of the Carroll Herald, J. F. H. Sugg, had already organized and sent out a
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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search party of 50 men to search for them, but the searchers had returned without
success.
All the searchers then set off again in the direction of Hillsdale and spread out on
foot looking for any sign of the Germans. A few miles east of Hillsdale they
found a faint sled track leading southeast. They followed the track a few miles to a
hill that overlooked a sheltered gully, where they found the upturned sled and the
frozen bodies of Horn and Eschelbacher. About a mile farther on, they located
two of the horses, still alive but on the verge of death. The other team was found
in a sheltered area near Brushy Creek. Finally, the searchers found the bodies of
the two Bruner brothers on the mail road between Carrollton and Hillsdale. The
brothers had apparently stayed with the sled until the second day of the storm,
when they struck out on their own. Their tracks indicated that they had left the
sled together and had been pushed eastward by the wind, and that one brother had
fallen and struggled to his feet several times while the other helped him along.
Near the end, the other brother had continued on alone for about a mile until he
too could go no further.
The four bodies were taken to the Germans’ cabin, where they were laid out on
planks before a hot stove to thaw. Sam Todd was delegated to watch over the
bodies and tend the stove through the night. In later years, he could still recall that
unpleasant evening, which he describes as the longest in his life, as the bodies
thawed out.
The four Germans who died in the snowstorm, like most of the Germans coming
to Carroll County, were members of the Catholic religion. The nearest Catholic
church at the time was located at Mt. Carmel, about seven miles north of Carroll,
so the bodies were transported there and interred in the Mt. Carmel cemetery.
Wendlin Bruner’s widow, Theresia, later married again to Ignatz Dangle, and the
family continued to reside in Roselle Township for several years before moving to
South Dakota. Horn’s widow, Catherine, married Henry Tegels in 1873, and they
also continued to live in the area for a time and later moved to Halbur.
Through the years, the blizzard became part of the folklore of Carroll County. For
decades afterward, whenever the area experienced a particularly rough snowstorm,
the local press would publish an article stating how the “old timers” were
reminded of “The Great Storm” of 1870.
Hailstorm of 1875. In addition to blizzards, other natural disasters like prairie
fires, tornadoes, and swarms of grasshoppers could also strike without warning.
One of these unforgettable events visited the Roselle area on Sunday, September
5, 1875 in the form of a hail storm. The storm caused thousands of dollars in
damage around the area and was described in the Carroll press as “the worst ever
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known in this part of the country.” The day had started hot, but by two o’clock in
the afternoon a massive black storm system with a “monster cloud,” lightning,
thunder, and strong wind was moving in from the northwest. The cloud front was
described as having a “peculiar green tinge” and it appeared to be “literally
boiling.” An incredible hailstorm then commenced with hailstones in Carroll
reportedly ranging from the size of a goose egg to the size of a fist, and near
Hillsdale from the size of a walnut to the size of a man’s head. The storm caused
substantial property damage in Carroll, flattening gardens, and breaking windows
and street lights. The front of the Carroll County Bank was battered in, and it was
said that there was not a streetlight left in town. On some buildings there was not
a single pane of glass remaining. Around Hillsdale, however, the damage was
enormous, and a strip of land approximately two miles wide and three to four
miles long was devastated. Some farmers suffered major property losses. Many
corn and wheat fields were totally flattened, and numerous head of livestock were
reportedly killed or crippled by hailstones. Many farmers lost entire crops and
many head of livestock. Joe James had 90 acres of corn and 50 acres of wheat
totally destroyed. Ignatz Dangle lost his entire crop and several hogs, and the roof
of his home was smashed in. Joseph Buchheit lost his entire corn crop and
approximately 40 hogs. Most of the trees in the area were either killed or badly
damaged. Hailstones still covered the ground the following day, in some places
giving the impression that the area was under water.
Recalling the hailstorm many years later, Hillsdale resident Sam Todd stated that
the event had persuaded him to give up farming altogether. He vowed that he
“would never stick another plow in the ground” and left in disgust, moving to
Carroll. Todd later became Carroll County sheriff for a time during the 1880s.
From today’s perspective, it seems easy to believe that the size of the hailstones
reported in the 1875 storm may have been somewhat exaggerated. However, as
recently as 2003 there was a report of a record-sized hailstone falling in Nebraska
that measured seven inches in diameter—about the same size as a man’s head.
Swindlers. Like settlers everywhere on the American frontier, new German and
American arrivals to the Hillsdale area had to be on their guard against swindlers
and cheats. Two reported cases of swindling occurred near Hillsdale in 1869 or
1870. In the first, Sam Todd arrived from Ohio ready to take possession of 40
acres near Hillsdale, having paid a Mr. Sleak of Carroll $40 to secure a contract
for the land. After waiting for some time, Todd mentioned the situation to Joe
James, who informed Todd that he had already purchased the very same piece of
property. Todd then rode to Carroll and confronted Sleak, who claimed he had no
money for a refund but offered to let Todd “take it out in trade” from Sleak’s store
in Carroll until the debt was satisfied. A few months later, when Todd figured he
should be about even, he came to settle accounts with Sleak, but Sleak now
claimed that Todd owed him additional money for the store goods. Todd realized
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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he had been “flim-flammed” and had to sell his team of horses to satisfy Sleak’s
claim. Eventually he paid another land agent, W. H. H. Bowers, $50 for another
land contract. A few days later, Todd discovered that Bowers had been thrown in
jail for another land swindle. The Carroll papers reported that Bowers was
arrested in the fall of 1871 for misappropriating several thousand dollars paid to
him as an agent of the Iowa Railroad Land Company. Later it was reported that he
had “jumped bail” and fled briefly to Kansas before he was recaptured and
returned to Carroll in the summer of 1872. Further details of the case have not yet
been found. Luckily, Sam Todd eventually came out all right because Bowers
had actually forwarded his money and obtained Todd’s contract for the real estate.
One German family, however, was not so fortunate. One day, probably in the
summer of 1870, Barney Lordemann and his family arrived near Hillsdale
traveling in two “prairie schooners.” They believed that they had purchased 160
acres near Hillsdale from a fellow-German named Kettler, whom they had paid
$400. When they arrived, however, they discovered Sam Todd working the land.
Todd explained that the land belonged to his brother-in-law Joe Matthias, who had
purchased it directly from the railroad. Mathias was summoned, and some angry
words were exchanged, both parties feeling that they were in the right. The
German family, who had also paid another man $80 to have some of the acreage
broken, was distraught and went away threatening to return the next day and have
Mathias removed. Eventually, however, the Lordemanns realized that Kettler had
swindled them and that Mathias had legal title to the property, and fortunately they
were soon able to purchase another property nearby.
Schwaller Murder Case. A sad and controversial event shook the German
community in Hillsdale on the night of November 30, 1876, when the Germans
were holding an evening dance at Bernard Hannasch’s saloon. Shortly after
midnight a young man named Victor Schwaller, 18 years old, got into an argument
with the manager about being allowed to dance. The quarrel soon became
disorderly and several men went outside, where the argument continued. At some
point while outside, Schwaller reportedly drew a revolver and fired two shots, one
of which severed the thumb of a bystander named Leubs or Laub. At this point, a
young man named Frank Hoelker, 21 years old, attempted to wrestle the pistol
away from Schwaller. The gun contacted Hoelker’s side and discharged, the
bullet passing within inches of his heart. Hoelker still managed to take away the
revolver, and he ran inside with it without anyone realizing he had been shot.
Schwaller then left the scene and reportedly hid under a haystack, but was later
located.
A messenger was sent to Carroll to bring back a doctor and notify Sheriff Bechler,
and a priest was summoned from Mt. Carmel. Schwaller was taken in custody to
Carroll, where he retained attorney O. H. Manning to represent him, and he was
German Settlement of Roselle Township
9
soon released on bail. Meanwhile, Hoelker was also taken to Carroll for medical
treatment by Dr. Gustine, and although he was seriously wounded, it appeared that
he might recover.
Unfortunately, Hoelker died from the gunshot several weeks later in January 1877.
A coroner’s jury consisting of Joseph Buchheit, John A. Hoffman, and Barney
Wichmer returned a verdict of premeditated murder. County grand juries,
however, twice refused to indict Schwaller, and he was finally released in late
1877.
CONTINUED GROWTH DURING THE 1870s
Despite the tragedies and challenges of frontier life, the population of Hillsdale
and Roselle Township continued to grow throughout the 1870s. In the spring of
1871 a writer for The Carroll Herald described his journey from Carroll through
Roselle Township. He noted that for several miles south of Carroll the settlement
was still sparse. Farther south, however, he noticed a number of new dwellings
and improvements, as well as a number of teams breaking the soil for planting.
From a highpoint on the prairie he observed “the picturesque little settlement of
Hillsdale,” situated with a “number of neat and comfortable residences” situated
on a “sunny southern slope of the hills.” He saw busy farmers working the fields
in every direction, and was particularly struck by the Coppedge farm with its
substantial residence, well kept garden, and grove of young trees. Overall, the
writer found himself “pleased” with the village of Hillsdale and predicted that it
would “always remain what it now is, one of the best and most thriving in the
county.”
As of April 1872 there was still only a single school in the township, at Hillsdale,
where Miss O. A. Coppedge presided over her 29 pupils. The school was
described unflatteringly as follows:
The house is well supplied with maps, tablets, and a
globe; is well seated, but is as gloomy and unpleasant
as a small prison. The windows are small and placed
so high that pupils can only guess at what is passing
outside. The paint used inside is of a very dark color,
and tends to shed a feeling of gloom upon the
occupants. Of course, pupils may become accustomed
to all this, and take no note of that, which first
impresses a visitor, but if they manage to remain
always cheerful in such a room, they are well prepared
to enter upon life’s darkest duties.
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An April 1873 letter published in the Herald related that there were over 2000
acres of wheat planted in the township and that a “Farmer’s Club” had been
established and was meeting regularly to discuss agricultural topics. There was
still only a single schoolhouse in the township, which was also used for church
services, lodging, and public meetings.
During the early years of the Hillsdale settlement, the Germans made up only part
of the community, living and working alongside their American neighbors. As the
population of the area increased, however, the German residents gradually became
the majority. In just two days during the spring of 1874, some 200 German
settlers arrived in Carroll County from Dubuque County and western Illinois, and
they settled mainly in Mt. Carmel and around Hillsdale. As new German
immigrants arrived, some Americans departed. James Coppedge sold his farm to a
German family in early 1874, and as described above, Sam Todd moved away
following the 1875 hailstorm.
The gradual increase German immigration can also be seen in the 1875 state
census. There were 62 dwellings containing 67 families in Roselle Township. Of
a total of 324 inhabitants, 112 were foreign born. Of the 64 registered voters in
the township, 27 were born in Germany. The 1875 census also indicates the
growing prosperity of the settlers and their increased cultivation of the land.
Although the vast majority of the township was still unbroken, there were 2888
acres in wheat, 888 acres in corn, 231 acres in oats, 43 acres in barley, 19 acres in
flaxseed, 12 acres of potatoes, and 56 acres of planted timber, as well as over 1500
fruit trees. The township counted 181 horses, 8 mules, 107 milk cows, 133 cattle,
and 379 hogs. The total value of all farm products produced in the previous year
was almost $24,000.
Origins of the German Catholic Church in Hillsdale. The vast majority of
early German immigrants in Roselle Township were devout Roman Catholics, but
during the early 1870s they had no church in Hillsdale. The nearest Catholic
church—the only one then in the county—was located at Mt. Carmel, several
miles north. During this time, Father Henry Heimbucher, the resident pastor from
Mt. Carmel, would occasionally travel to Hillsdale and hold religious services in a
schoolhouse or other available building. In 1873 he was replaced by Father
Kempker, who also traveled there and reportedly held the first official Mass in
Hillsdale in 1874, possibly in the Joseph Buchheit home.
By early 1874 perhaps three dozen German Catholic families lived in the vicinity
of Hillsdale, and they began to take steps to start their own church. According to
Der Carroll Demokrat, construction of the church at Hillsdale had started by
October 1874, with the cornerstone in place and the lumber delivered. It was one
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Roselle Township and southern Carroll Township as shown in the A. T. Andreas Iowa Atlas
in 1875. The map indicates prominent farms in the township and schools in sections 11, 16,
and 29. The new church in section 15, and a blacksmith shop (circle with cross) in section 16
are located at Hillsdale, about 6 miles southwest of Carroll.
of three Catholic churches, along with ones in Carroll and Arcadia, under
construction in the county that year. The new structure in Hillsdale measured
approximately 32 feet by 60 feet and was enlarged in 1880 by the addition of a
transept. It was called in German Heilige Schuetzengels Kirche, meaning Holy
Guardian Angels Church.
The new church still did not have a resident pastor, so Father Kempker continued
to travel there from Mt. Carmel and later Carroll. His duties were in turn assumed
by Father Pape, described as an “eager young priest,” who traveled from Carroll
every Sunday to say Mass. Church records record the first baptism as that of Mary
Margaret Willenborg in 1876, and the first marriage as that of Michael Stitz and
Margaret Hock, also in 1876.
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In 1877 Hillsdale finally received its first resident priest, Father Theodor
Wegmann, born in Muensterland, Germany. The subsequent growth of the parish
during his tenure is seen in the increasing numbers of baptisms over the years: 20
during 1876, 45 during 1877, 57 during 1878, and 59 during 1879. The number
averaged about 60 per year during the 1880s, and peaked at 94 during 1882. In
many ways, as discussed in more detail below, the Catholic church was the center
of the community during this time.
Early Hillsdale Businesses. In the early to mid-1870s only a few businesses
existed in the Hillsdale area. An early stagecoach station was located there, and a
post office was opened in May 1873, with James A. Coppedge appointed
postmaster. It closed a few months later, but reopened in January 1876, with John
W. Kennebeck as postmaster. Kennebeck, a first-generation German-American,
later went on to become county sheriff (1888-1891) and a prominent area
businessman. Kennebeck and Joseph Buchheit, another early settler, reportedly
platted the village of Hillsdale, and Kennebeck purchased the first residential lot
there. As the township’s German population grew, more German-owned
businesses opened in the area, at least a couple of which were in operation by the
mid-1870s. Louis Keckevoet, who later moved to Carroll, ran a general store in
Hillsdale beginning around 1875, which was purchased by Jans Frenking in 1883.
Bernard Hannasch had a saloon there around 1876 or earlier.
A June 1878 description of Hillsdale reported that the area, “which only a few
years ago contained only two houses, is fast becoming a little town.” Church
services were held every Sunday, and although there were no public schools in
operation, Frank Florencourt was operating a private school. In addition to the
post office, the town included two hotels where travelers could find lodging and
refreshment—The Farmer’s Home, operated by Mr. Bengfort, and the Roselle
House, run by Anton Hoelker. Bengfort and Hoelker also operated general stores.
The article also mentioned that two more businesses were in the process of
construction.
Some understanding of the nature of these businesses comes from their newspaper
advertisements during the late 1870s and early 1880s. Notices for Anton Hoelker’s
business highlighted groceries and dry goods such as sugar, fruit, coffee, boots,
shoes, hats, and “ready-made clothing,” all at “bottom prices.” Hoelker also
advertised a “good stable” in connection with his hotel, and for a time he was
running a blacksmith shop where horses could be shod with new horseshoes for 35
cents each, or used horseshoes for 15 cents each. Fred Franzwa and John Winter
(the only non-German in town) also worked as blacksmiths around this time. In
1879 B. H. Bengfort was also advertising his Wine and Beer Saloon in Hillsdale,
where the “best beer, excellent wine, and the finest cigars are always on hand.”
His general store advertised clothing, notions, porcelain, and stoneware.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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William Temme was the local shoemaker around this time, and an 1881
advertisement for his business offered the “finest shoes and boots” for men,
women, boys, and girls. The goods were guaranteed and the ad promised that any
later repairs that might be needed would be performed for free.
Also in 1879 Dina Terbruegge was offering her services as a German midwife in
Hillsdale and the surrounding area. Her advertisement in Der Carroll Demokrat
noted that she had “many years of practical experience and possessed the best
German references.” She hoped to “earn the trust of her respected patrons” and
could be contacted through Bernhard Rohlmann.
These advertisements for Hillsdale businesses were published in Der Carroll Demokrat
between 1879 and 1881. Top left is an ad for Wilhelm Temme’s shoe shop, and top right for
Dina Terbruegge’s midwife (Hebamme) business. The two at bottom are for B. H.
Bengfort’s “Wein und Bier Saloon” and his general store.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
14
These virtually identical ads were for Anton Hoelker’s general store in Hillsdale. The
English version at left was published in The Carroll Herald in August 1878, and the German
version is from Der Carroll Demokrat in February 1879. German immigrant Anton Hoelker
married Elizabeth Meis in New Vienna, Iowa in 1871. In 1873 they moved to Carroll
County, and Hoelker operated a blacksmith and wagon-making shop in Carroll. Around
1876 they moved to Hillsdale, where they operated their hotel and retail store until 1881,
when they moved to Halbur and started a similar business and a creamery.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
15
Another early business that existed for some time was a mutual insurance
company formed by local German farmers. This organization was established on
March 24, 1876 under the name “Hillsdale Mutual Protection Society Against
Fire.” The first officials were: P. J. Koenig, president; Bernhard Puettmann,
secretary; B. Wichmer, treasurer; and John Walterscheid, John Meyer, and Louis
Schenking, directors. As of December 1876, the society had 36 members and
provided $11,500 worth of insurance coverage. In its early years the company
experienced ups and downs, and by December 1883, over seven years after it was
established, it only insured a value of $31,495. The company gradually increased
its business, however, especially after it was reorganized in December 1896 as the
“Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company of Roselle, for Carroll County, Iowa.” By
1899 the company counted 290 members and held over $500,000 in insurance
coverage.
GERMAN TRADITIONS AND CULTURE IN ROSELLE TOWNSHIP
The early German settlers came from many parts of Germany, although it is
estimated that the majority came from the state of Westphalia, in northwestern
Germany. Others are known to have come from the Rhineland, Bavaria,
Oldendurg, and Saxony. One thing the German immigrants had in common was
that they retained a strong attachment to their native language and the customs of
their homeland. As seen below, these German traditions remained quite strong
throughout the late 1800s and some lasted well into the 20th century.
Roselle Township in the 1876 County Centennial Celebration. During the
early and mid-1870s, the German population was growing rapidly in several areas
of Carroll County. In 1876 the German residents in Carroll City decided to
organize and take an active role in the town’s planned American centennial
celebration. German delegations from around the county were invited to Carroll
to participate in the festivities, and the Germans from each township competed to
see which would be best represented at the celebration. The Roselle delegation
was led and organized by Joseph Buchheit, Bernard Puetmann, and Georg
Broemling. By all accounts, this gathering was quite successful in bringing
Germans together from around the area, and it encouraged the establishment of
many German clubs and organizations throughout the county. At the close of the
event, the Germans of Roselle Township were presented with a banner bearing an
oil painting of the Goddess of Liberty and an American eagle for having the best
participation. (The celebration is discussed in more detail in another chapter.)
Further examples of how Roselle Township’s German settlers incorporated their
traditions into American holidays can be seen in later newspaper accounts of their
German Settlement of Roselle Township
16
own local Fourth of July celebrations. For Independence Day in 1878, the
Hillsdale celebration grounds were decorated with both German and American
flags, and early in the morning 38 cannon shots were fired—one in honor of each
state in the Union. A large church service was held, which was followed by a
picnic. Refreshment stands were plentiful and a number of competitions were
held, including a shooting match won by Claus Wittrock. At sunset, the
celebration was concluded by 13 cannon shots fired in honor of the 13 original
states.
Das Ringreiten. The 1880 celebration was also interesting in its incorporation of
German traditions. The event had been planned for some time, and much work
had gone into the preparations. Unfortunately, the day stated off heavily overcast
and a thunderstorm threatened to spoil the event. But by late morning the sun
appeared and the celebration grounds soon filled with festively dressed people
who had gathered from near and far to enjoy the amusements, food, and games
such as skeet shooting and a raffle of prizes. The dampened spirits rose further
when Frank Krause and his Mt. Carmel Music Band arrived and commenced
playing their fine German music.
One featured activity in the celebration was a traditional German sport called “das
Ringreiten,” or “ring riding” in English. In this competitive event, horsemen
would take turns galloping toward a target while carrying a wooden lance about
the size of a short pool cue. The target was a small metal ring suspended on a
string hanging from a line stretched between two poles. As they galloped between
the poles and approached the target, the riders attempted to spear the ring with
their lances, the winner being the one who first retrieved the ring. The event
required good horsemanship skills, steady nerves, and good concentration. The
sport is said to go back many centuries in Europe and may have developed from
the jousting tournaments of medieval knights. Das Ringreiten is still practiced in
parts of Germany today and is most popular in the northern parts of the country.
Ring riding was a popular event in German celebrations around Carroll County
throughout the late 1800s. As late as the 1930s it was occasionally featured as a
children’s event at county fairs, where the children would compete while riding
ponies.
Der Hochzeitseinlader. Another German tradition imported to the Roselle area
was that of the Hochzeitseinlader, or “wedding inviter” in English. In some parts
of Germany there was a tradition of sending around an official inviter to summon
people to important family events, such as weddings. The inviter would
personally travel to the home of each invited guest and present them with a
colored satin ribbon as an invitation. It is known that this tradition was followed
in the Roselle area from the 1879 newspaper report of the wedding of Wilhelm
Lordemann and Mary Broich. The announcement in the Carroll Demokrat notes
that in the tradition of “old Muensterland” the wedding guests were summoned by
German Settlement of Roselle Township
17
a Hochzeitseinlader decorated with brightly colored ribbons. Interestingly, the
centennial book for St. Mary’s Church in the nearby town of Willey also contains
an old photograph of Mike Balk dressed in his formal Hochzeitseinlader suit and
carrying his collection of satin invitation ribbons.
Mike Balk, dressed in formal attire as a Hochzeitseinlader and
carrying his satin invitation ribbons. (Source: Roselle Centennial Book)
The St. Joseph Leseverein. The early German immigrants were also literate in
their native language. According to the 1880 census, only one adult resident of
Roselle Township could not read or write. Because the early settlers lived miles
from a town of any size, and often quite a distance from neighbors, they had to
create their own leisure activities—especially in the winter when travel was
difficult. Around 1880 a number of Germans in the township organized a book
club called the “St. Joseph Leseverein” (Reading Club) The club originally
consisted of about 30 members and collected German-language books that the
members could check out on loan. They quickly accumulated over 120 volumes
and had plans to acquire more. For a monthly fee of 10 cents, the members could
read as many books as they wanted. The collection included scholarly works,
travel books, novels, and short fiction. It was the only German reading club in the
county at that time.
Politics. The traditions and values that the German immigrants brought to their
new home also influenced their political choices. In local, state, and national
German Settlement of Roselle Township
18
elections the German voters of Carroll County voted overwhelmingly for
candidates of the Democratic Party, which the Germans preferred for a variety of
reasons. For one, the Republican Party was generally in favor of prohibition,
which was not at all desired by the Germans. The Republican Party also was seen
as anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic, partly due to its earlier association with the
Nativist movement and the so-called Know Nothing Party. There was also a
“parental rights” issue in that the Republican Party favored stricter requirements
for compulsory education than many Germans felt necessary.
After about 1880, Roselle Township was known as a “firm stronghold” for the
Democratic Party, and was occasionally referred to in the press as the “Democratic
State of Roselle.” Generally only a handful of votes in the entire township were
cast for the Republican Party. During the caucusing prior to the 1884 election, for
example, only two men, Peter Thein and L. Meyer, attended the Republican
meeting for Roselle Township. The Carroll Sentinel humorously reported that
after “the two lonely delegates” had failed to find a place for their meeting, Mr.
Steffes agreed to rent them a room at his creamery in Hillsdale, “provided they
paid the rent in advance, but finally took pity on the two lonely wanderers and let
them in.” During their caucus, Thein and Meyer “unanimously” elected each
other as township officers and delegates to the county convention. The
Republicans in the township were so few that they occasionally did not even send
a delegation to the county convention. Around 1900 it was estimate that in
elections where between 200 and 250 votes were cast, only between 5 and 15 were
for the Republican Party.
Early Saloons in Roselle Township. Throughout the late 1800s, most German
areas in Carroll County, like Roselle Township, included at least one saloon or
liquor dealer, whether operating legally or illegally. At one time, it was noted that
four saloons were operating in Roselle Township, and generally at least two
saloons were operating in Hillsdale and one in Halbur. Occasionally, the
operation of these establishments would cause friction among the county residents.
Complaints were frequently made regarding saloons not paying the required taxes,
operating past closing time and on Sundays, or causing a nuisance. Following the
Schwaller shooting case in 1876, the Carroll Herald was particularly critical that
the saloon where the shooting had occurred was still operating and warned that
similar problems would occur unless it and other saloons were shut down.
In the summer of 1879 the Carroll Herald noted complaints concerning trouble in
Hillsdale saloons, particularly on Sundays, when intoxicated persons were
“disturbing religious worship, and in other respects deporting themselves in a
boisterous manner.” The paper urged closing the saloons on Sundays, as required
by law, or at least requiring the offenders to “reform their manners.” This was in
response to an incident that occurred after church one Sunday in July. As reported
German Settlement of Roselle Township
19
in Der Carroll Demokrat, Franz Eich, a church usher, had disciplined a young
man named Louis Schermer during church services. Schermer apparently carried
a grudge and after church he saw Eich in the local saloon and hit him across the
head with a beer glass, breaking his jaw. Schermer was arrested and later
sentenced to serve 20 days in jail.
In the summer of 1880 the Hillsdale saloons were again the source of complaints
in the Herald due to disorderly patrons from around the county drinking there on
Sundays. The article noted that the Hillsdale residents were also fed up with the
troublemakers and that the local saloonkeepers generally refused them admittance
or threw them out. The report ended with a warning to potential troublemakers:
“Boys, go to the brewery or whither you will, but keep away from Hillsdale,
especially on Sundays. It won’t be an agreeable place for you as you will find
out.”
Occasionally the long arm of the law would intervene to disrupt the saloon
business. In Halbur, for example, Charles Walterscheid also advertised as a
druggist dealing in liniments and other “remedies.” In 1885 he was arrested and
taken to Council Bluffs by federal authorities on a charge of dispensing liquor
without a license. In 1887 there was a particularly thorough crackdown in the
county, and federal officials obtained injunctions ordering every establishment
dealing in liquor to be closed. This included saloons operated by Anton Hoelker
in Halbur, as well as two run by Theodor Vogt and Jans Frenking in Hillsdale.
Saloons were also closed in Pleasant Valley Township and Arcadia. The Carroll
Sentinel reported that this was the first time in living memory that there was not a
single liquor merchant anywhere in the county, not even a hidden one.
CONTINUED GROWTH OF HILLSDALE
Hillsdale in the 1880s. In March 1880 a Carroll paper reported, “There are a
great many Germans moving into the township this spring.” The town of Hillsdale
was now officially called Roselle, and the surrounding township were quickly
becoming predominantly German.
According to census figures, the township
population had grown to a total of 822. Of the 147 families listed in the 1880
census, 99 had German-born heads of household, while 11 other families were
headed by persons born in Luxembourg, Holland, Switzerland, and Austria. And
of the 29 heads of household born in America, 21 had German parents and one had
Swiss parents. Only 15 families had no noted connection to Germany or northern
continental Europe. Two notable entries in the census were 7-year-old John
“Wauer” (the exact spelling is unclear) and 11-year-old Helena Broich, both of
whom had their birthplace listed as “Atlantic Ocean”—they were born during the
voyage from Europe.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
20
In 1880 Hillsdale itself had a population of 37, with only one household not
headed by Germans or German descendants. Father Wegmann was the resident
pastor, and Theodor Warning the schoolteacher. A newspaper article from May
1880 reported that the town was “enlarging slowly but steadily” and also related
that there had been a slight increase in the local population, several residential
building lots had recently been purchased in the village, the local church was
being enlarged, and there were plans to commence construction of a two-story
schoolhouse the following year. In addition to the above businesses, the article
also mentioned that a wagon-maker and “two and a half” saloons were in
operation. It also noted some that there was optimism that a railroad connection
might soon arrive in Hillsdale.
Relocation of Many Citizens to Halbur. The growth of Hillsdale suffered
something of a setback later in 1880, however, when the railroad decided to
bypass Hillsdale, and the new settlement of Halbur was established as a station a
few miles to the west. A number of Hillsdale residents, along with others from
around the county, soon relocated to Halbur to establish businesses, and some
people thought that Hillsdale would simply disappear. Despite the loss of the
railroad, it was reported in late 1880 that the Hillsdale merchants had not yet given
up, that Bengfort, Kohorst, and Hoelker were all constructing additions onto their
businesses, and that people could still purchase everything they might need in the
town. And an 1881 article in Der Carroll Demokrat reported that despite the
competition from Halbur, the population and business in Hillsdale were still both
increasing. It noted in particular the “large and spacious” new store recently
constructed by Louis Keckevoet and managed by Mr. Frenking, as well as
Bengfort’s store, where business was also brisk.
Due in part to competition from Halbur and the lack of a railroad connection, the
small German town of Hillsdale did not thrive, but it did manage to maintain a
stable business community and its German identity. By 1885 Hillsdale maintained
a population of only about 50, whereas Halbur’s had reached 200. At that time a
stagecoach that also carried the mail ran between Hillsdale and Carroll three times
a week at a fare of 25 cents, and a telephone connection was also established
between Carroll and Hillsdale in the mid-1880s.
Later Hillsdale Businesses. During the mid-1880s, Germans held the local
offices and operated the businesses. John A. Hoffman and A. Steffes were justices
of the peace. Steffes and M. L. Meyer also operated creameries for a time.
Clemens Kohorst, probably the most significant businessman in Hillsdale, was the
postmaster and also ran a general store and the Rose Valley Creamery, which
operated well into the 20th century. Around 1900 the business was processing
between 12,000 and 18,000 pounds of milk into butter each week. B. H. Bengfort
and Louis Keckevoet were still operating general stores, Striege and Klaeser
German Settlement of Roselle Township
21
jointly ran a blacksmith shop, Wilhelm Temme still had his shoe-making business,
and Theodor Vogt was the saloon keeper. Jans Frenking also operated a saloon
for a time around 1887.
Some of these businesses remained in operation for many years. Theodor Vogt
was born in Westphalia in 1828, immigrated to America in 1869, and after
residing near Dubuque, moved to Roselle in 1872, living there until his death in
1918. Vogt opened his saloon in the early 1880s, and an 1884 advertisement told
travelers: “When you come to town weary and thirsty, stop at Theo Vogt’s. He
doubtless keeps the best refreshments.” Even though the saloon burned down in
1893 it was rebuilt and continued in operation for a number of years.
Henry Loxterkamp operated a blacksmith shop in Hillsdale by around 1890, and
by the early 1900s his business included sales of farm implements, fencing
material, planters, wagons, buggies, hardware, and plows. He went out of
business around 1909 and moved to Petersburg, Nebraska. Stephan Arnold also
ran a general store in Hillsdale in the early 1900s.
Some early Hillsdale settlers: Sam Todd (left) one of the earliest settlers near Hillsdale, was
born in Ohio and moved to Hillsdale around 1869, then moved to Carroll around 1875 and
later became county sheriff; John W. Kennebeck (center) was born in Illinois to Germanimmigrant parents, moved with the family to Roselle Township around 1872, and also later
became county sheriff; and Theodor Vogt (right) was born in Germany and moved to
Roselle Township around 1872 where he operated a saloon for many years. (Sources: The
Carroll Herald, and Der Carroll Demokrat)
Another notable Hillsdale resident at this time was Dutch immigrant John
Mossmann, who was known around the area as a skilled artist. He was born in
Holland in 1822 and later attended the Antwerp Painting Academy where he
studied art and painting. He immigrated to America in the early 1870s and settled
German Settlement of Roselle Township
22
in Carroll County. From the 1870s through the early 1900s he decorated many
business and church buildings around Carroll County. In 1900, at the age of 78,
he still operated a paint supply store in Halbur and listed his occupation as “fresco
painter.”
GROWTH OF CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HILLSDALE
Hillsdale’s First Resident Pastor. The early German settlers in Carroll County
were overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, and they were strongly attached to their
religion. As noted above, however, the early settlers around Hillsdale did not have
a local church, and so they had to travel as far as Mt. Carmel to attend services
until completing their own church in 1874. Even then they did not have a resident
pastor and had to rely on priests traveling from Mt. Carmel or Carroll.
But the parish underwent a period of improvement and expansion following the
arrival of the church’s first resident priest, Father Theodor Wegmann, in 1877.
Father Wegmann was one of a large number of well-educated German-born
Catholic clergymen who had come to the United States along with the great wave
of immigration during the 19th century. Born Johann Theodor Heinrich Wegmann
on November 27, 1844 in Hilltrup, Muensterland, Westphalia, he attended
advanced high schools in Germany and then went to Löwen in Belgium, where he
attended the Theological University, studied Philosophy, and prepared himself for
missionary work in America. He was ordained a priest in 1869 and left for
America the same year. He obtained his first position in Centralia, Illinois, moved
to Quincy in 1872, and then to Carroll County, Iowa in 1875. At that time
(following the departure of Father Heimbucher) Mt. Carmel happened to be
without a resident priest, and the Bishop of Dubuque appointed Father Wegmann
to a temporary position there for 10 months until he was relieved by Father
Fendrich, whereupon he moved to Algona, in Kossuth County.
In October 1877 Father Wegmann was finally assigned as pastor to the Hillsdale
parish. Under his leadership, the parish grew quickly, quadrupling in size within a
few years. When he first arrived, the parish consisted of about 40 or 50 families,
and Father Wegmann had to reside in the sacristy of the church because there was
no residence available. After the parish constructed a rectory the following year,
Father Wegmann supervised an extensive landscaping project, and the parish
grounds eventually included an extensive garden with an orchard and a vineyard.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
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Father Theodor Wegmann (1844-1887)
(Roselle Centennial Book)
Death of Father Wegmann in 1887. One of the saddest events in the history of
the parish occurred on April 1, 1887 when Father Wegmann, who had been the
pastor there for 10 years, died as the result of an accidental gunshot. As reported
in the Carroll papers, Father Wegmann had recently been in a conversation about
the danger of being attacked or robbed and indicated that he had purchased a
revolver. Reportedly it was not in good condition and had not been fired in years.
Since the pistol appeared rusted and inoperable, he had planned to take it to a local
blacksmith for repairs.
Father Wegmann had been suffering from a variety of physical ailments for some
time, and on the morning of April 1, he became ill during morning Mass. He later
complained to the teacher, William Langenfeld, that he felt dizzy and had a
headache and then went upstairs to his room to rest. A short time later, the
housekeeper, Mary Warning, heard a gunshot from his room. She ran to
investigate and found Father Wegmann dead on the floor. The revolver was lying
nearby, and it was surmised that he had been examining the old, rusted pistol when
it accidentally discharged.
When news of the shooting began to spread, many at first believed that it was
some morbid April Fool’s joke. The truth was soon realized, however, and the
authorities in Carroll were notified. A coroner’s jury determined that his death
was either due to accident or to temporary mental instability due to his illness.
Der Carroll Demokrat noted that the county had lost not only a devoted pastor,
but also a patron of the German language and social life. Eight area priests
participated in his funeral at Hillsdale, and he was buried in the church cemetery.
At the time of Father Wegmann’s death, the parish had grown to approximately
German Settlement of Roselle Township
24
130 families, the church itself could hold an estimated 500 people, and the parish
school had between 50 and 60 students.
Arrival of Father Frey in 1887. Father Wegmann was succeeded by another
German-born pastor, Father Ulrich Frey, who was born in 1847 in the diocese of
Rottenburg, Wuerttemberg, Germany, and spent his youth there. After he
completed primary school in Biberach, and seminary school in Ellwangen, he
came to America and completed his studies at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee.
He was ordained a priest in 1871 and celebrated his first Mass in St. Lucas. He
remained there as a priest for 11 years and was later sent to Alton, Iowa and then
to St. Donatus. He came to Holy Angels Parish in Roselle in 1887, where he
remained until his death. In 1888 the parish erected a new, brick parochial school
and that same years three Catholic Sisters from the order of St. Francis of the Holy
Family, located in Dubuque, arrived to conduct classes. In 1889 the parish
completed substantial remodeling of the rectory. On December 26, 1896 Father
Frey celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest.
Significance of the Catholic Church. During these years, the Catholic church
played a major role in social the life of the township. In addition to its religious
function, the Catholic church in Hillsdale was also important as a gathering place
for the German community and, along with its parochial school, was also a
significant force in preserving and fostering the German language and customs. It
provided a place for families to celebrate the good times, such as weddings and
baptisms, and provided support in hard times, such as funerals.
Often, these family and religious events attracted participation from the residents
all around the township. For example, the Hoffmann family’s double anniversary
celebration in 1894 was celebrated by the entire community. On September 25,
1894 Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Hoffmann celebrated their golden anniversary in
Hillsdale, and their son John A. Hoffmann and his wife of Mt. Carmel celebrated
their silver anniversary. The day was a both a community event and a religious
occasion. It was also a good example of a German-style family celebration,
complete with abundant food and drink.
As reported in Der Carroll Demokrat, the anniversary festivities began early in the
morning with the firing of several cannon shots. Guests from around the county
arrived in town quite early to attend the High Mass in the local Catholic church,
and a procession to the church formed about 9:00 a.m. The first part of the
procession was led by two girls dressed in white, after which followed all the
grandchildren of the golden-anniversary couple, followed by the elder Hoffmanns
with their witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Theo Vogt. The second part of the procession
followed with the younger couple and their witnesses, Mr. and Mrs. Matt
Banscher, followed by the other children of the elder Hoffmanns, and at the end
German Settlement of Roselle Township
25
their many friends and relatives. The whole parade was led by Mr. Christ
Hausmann.
After the procession had entered the church and those present had taken their
seats, Father Frey appeared at the altar and gave an emotional speech in which he
especially noted that this quite rare occasion was only granted to few people. He
pointed out that the elderly and respected couple had now been together for 50
years in joy and sorrow and stressed the importance of God and the Church in
living their lives. He urged both couples to live in peace and harmony, to bear
their fate and sorrows together, and pointed out the elderly couple as an example
for others. In conclusion Father Frey admonished the children present to always
be obedient to their parents. The sermon made a deep impression on the listeners
and many an eye was filled with tears. Then the Father Frey blessed the two
couples and celebrated Mass.
After the church service, the procession departed in the same order as it had
arrived, and everyone proceeded to the Hoffmann residence, where a magnificent
holiday feast was served. Old “Papa Hoffmann” and the others insisted on
celebrating the occasion in grand style. Invitations had earlier been issued to
friends, relatives and acquaintances, and the house resembled a “beehive.” Every
room was occupied, and the men sat outdoors and passed the time with “all sorts
of refreshments.” In addition to the people from Hillsdale, there were visitors
from Carroll and all around the county. Father Frey, who generally did not attend
such functions, also appeared as an honored guest. The last guests did not depart
until 11:00 in the evening. The number of gifts in gold and silver was too large for
the paper to list, but one original gift, hand-made in Kniest Township, received
special mention—a pair of beautifully gilded wooden shoes for each of the elder
Hoffmanns.
The Catholic church also provided spiritual support to families and a place for the
community to come together in hard times. The role of the church in these cases
can be seen in the funeral of Peter Bellinghausen, who died in March 1894. He
had come to America, following other family members, in 1882 and settled in
Halbur. He started out as a farmer and worked on his own before marrying
Gertrude Koenig.
His funeral, reportedly one of the largest ever in the area, took place in Halbur on
a Sunday morning, and then continued with a procession setting out for Hillsdale
at about 9:00 a.m. The newspaper reported that “an immeasurable number of
mourners were following the casket, and the nearer the procession came to
Hillsdale, the longer it grew, so that upon arrival in Hillsdale, about 70 to 80
coaches and wagons were following.” There were also many friends of the
deceased present in Hillsdale to pay their last respects. Father Frey of Hillsdale, a
special well-wisher and friend of the deceased, received and blessed the body,
whereupon the funeral procession again set in motion towards the cemetery, where
German Settlement of Roselle Township
26
the burial occurred. Another funeral service was celebrated by Father Frey in
Hillsdale on Monday morning.
Construction of New Church in 1903. The significance of the Catholic religion
to the people of Roselle Township can also be seen in the collective effort to
construct a new church in Hillsdale in 1903. As the parish continued to grow
under Father Frey’s direction, the need for a new church became apparent, and the
cornerstone for the new church was laid in 1903. Father Frey personally pledged
$1000 for the construction and also donated the tower clock, two windows in the
sanctuary, and various other things.
The parishioners not only donated thousands of dollars for the construction costs,
but they also donated their time and hard work, with several contributing hundreds
of dollars or several days of manual labor. Some families made donations of
individual fixtures, such as an altar or stained glass window. Most remarkable,
was the transportation of construction materials to the work site. At that time, the
nearest railroad station was located at Halbur, three miles to the west, so all of the
bricks and other building materials were initially shipped there by rail. Many
parishioners then volunteered to use their teams and wagons to transport the
material to Hillsdale. It was estimated that over 2000 trips were made between
Hillsdale and Halbur with horse-drawn wagons. One member alone, Peter
Friedmann, made over 90 trips.
Death of Father Frey. Father Frey died unexpectedly of a heart attack on April
26, 1911. He had suffered from asthma for several years, and a few days earlier
he had experienced a severe attack. His body was carried to the church by fellow
members of the Roman Catholic Mutual Assistance Society of Iowa, of which he
was a member. His funeral in the church he built was officiated over by two
dozen priests from around the area, and Bishop Carrigan was also in attendance.
Afterwards, the priests carried his remains to the parish cemetery with the Carroll
Schuetzenverein (Rifle Club) served as honor guard for the procession.
THE GERMAN SETTLEMENT OF HALBUR
The New Town of Halbur. As noted above, Hillsdale’s population suffered
something of a setback in 1880 when the Southwestern Railway announced plans
to construct a line to the southwest of Carroll that would bypass Hillsdale
approximately three miles to the west. The company had purchased 30 acres from
Anton Halbur and 20 acres from a Mrs. Schmitz, about eight miles southwest of
Carroll where it planned to build the new station. At first referred to as
“Roselletown” or “Halburtown,” it was soon named “Halbur” after Anton Halbur,
and it quickly grew to become a significant German settlement.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
27
By December 1880 lumber was being shipped there for the station, and a number
of residents from around the county were also making plans to establish businesses
there and purchasing the necessary lumber and materials. Fred “Fritz” Franzwa
sold his blacksmith shop and tools in Hillsdale and was planning to relocate to
Halbur and open a boarding house. Plans were also in the making for a grain
elevator, a tavern, blacksmith shops, and a boarding house. The first general store
was started by W. A. McLagen and E. N. Merchant, who also purchased local
farm produce and sold a line of farm equipment. The store became the official
post office in 1882 when Mr. Merchant was appointed local postmaster.
An early description of Halbur was reported in Der Carroll Demokrat in
September 1882. The author noted the still unpainted buildings of the town were
clustered on the south side of a steep hill “like a swallow’s nest on the side of a
wall,” with Merchant & McLagen’s general store and produce business standing
“like a sentinel” at the top. General stores were also operated by Anton Hoelker
and Charles Walterscheid, whose business included a pharmacy. Business in the
town was said to be “quite lively,” with Merchant & McLagen and a Mr. Allspach
dealing in grain and livestock, and D. Joyce dealing in building materials and coal.
Mr. Gstohl was the shoemaker, Fred Franzwa the blacksmith, and Alois Spiegel
the harness maker. The article mentioned a competitive saloon trade in town and
that at least one beer hall was “waiting for an inn keeper” to run the place. It
speculated, however, that the people of Halbur did not drink enough to keep them
all in business for long and that some would have to close down. The town’s
medical needs were provided by a Dr. Bair.
One of Halbur’s most important early merchants was Charles Walterscheid, who
was born in Germany in 1859 and immigrated to Carroll County at age 14. He
started work as a store clerk in Carroll and also worked for a time as the first
printer’s “devil” at Der Carroll Demokrat. He opened a general store in Halbur
around 1881 which continued in operation for many years. He was also appointed
local postmaster in 1883 and engaged in a variety of other business interests in
Halbur and Carroll throughout the following decades. His general store was
eventually housed in a two-story building, 20 x 50 feet in size. Upon entering,
customers found groceries located on the right side, and dry goods including
clothing, cloth, and footwear on the left. In the rear was a drug counter where Mr.
Walterscheid, a registered pharmacist, mixed prescription compounds.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
28
German-immigrant Charles Walterscheid was a longtime Halbur merchant;
around 1891 his store in Halbur advertised dry goods, groceries and drugs.
(Sources: Der Carroll Demokrat; The Carroll Sentinel)
Another early Halbur businessman, Anton Hoelker, having immigrated from
Germany to New Vienna, Iowa in 1869, came to Roselle Township in 1873 and
started a general store in Hillsdale. He then moved to Halbur around 1881 and
started a similar business where he employed his brother, Caspar Hoelker, as store
clerk. The store was housed in a building 22 by 56 feet, carried a wide variety of
dry goods and groceries, and would also barter for farm produce in exchange.
Another early arrival in Halbur, Gerhard Berks, was born in Germany, came to
America as a youth in 1868, and grew up on a farm in Clayton County before
coming to Carroll County in 1876. After working as a laborer and carpenter
around the county, he settled in Halbur in 1881, eventually went into the hardware
business, and also managed the local lumber yard.
By the mid-1880s Halbur was a village of about 200 people with a telephone
connection and daily mail service. With a few exceptions, the early businesses
were all German owned and operated. Lewis Friedman was a saloonkeeper;
Anton Hoelker still had his dry goods and grocery store; D. Joyce of Carroll still
owned the lumber yard; Merchant and McLagen were still dealing in grain,
livestock, and coal; E.F. Pierce was the railroad agent; Albert Schmitz had a
blacksmith shop; Henry Tegels ran a hotel; Peter Sondgeroth sold farm
implements; and Peter Klein was a harness-maker.
The area around Halbur was heavily agricultural, and Halbur was an important
market and shipping point for the nearby farmers. During the mid-1880s the
economy was doing well. One newspaper reported that 11 freight cars of hogs had
been shipped from Halbur during a single week in 1886. That same year, a 320acre farm was advertised for sale in the area at $26 an acre. The local economy
German Settlement of Roselle Township
29
suffered a setback in early 1889 when a grain elevator owned by Hoelker and
Koening went up in flames and destroyed 8000 bushels of grain. But the business
bounced back and by 1891 was purchasing over $6000 worth of grain from area
farmers every month.
Anton Hoelker, who had moved his business from Hillsdale, advertised his new grocery
store in Halbur in late 1881. The advertisement for Walterscheid Brothers is from 1895.
(Source: The Carroll Herald)
Shooting of William Eike. The most serious legal case in Halbur’s early history
was the shooting of William Eike by M. S. Ish, the station agent, in September
1889. As related in the Carroll papers, the case arose out of a quarrel between Ish
and a Mr. Meisel, who believed that Ish had insulted his wife. Meisel went to the
station and attempted to attack Ish with an iron rod, but he was stopped by a
German Settlement of Roselle Township
30
bystander. Meisel later threatened to go home and get a shotgun, which seriously
frightened Ish, causing him to obtain a revolver for protection. Later, after dark,
Ish saw someone in the dim light standing on the station platform, yelled at the
man to identify himself, and quickly fired a shot at him, apparently out of fear.
Tragically, the man turned out to be a close friend of Ish’s, 35-year-old William
Eike, who had just come to the station with his young son to run an errand. Eike
was shot between the eyes and died instantly, leaving a wife and three children.
When the truth of the tragedy became apparent, Ish and some friends arranged for
Eike’s body to be cared for and then rode to Carroll where Ish turned himself over
to Sheriff John W. Kennebeck. Approximately 40 or 50 excited residents
followed from Halbur and caused some minor commotion in Carroll. An inquest
was held in Halbur, conducted by Isidor W. Hoffmann, justice of the peace, and
rendered a finding that Eike had been killed by a gunshot fired by Ish. Pending a
grand jury, Ish hired attorney M.W. Beach to defend him but remained in jail,
where he was described as almost completely distraught. The county attorney
presented the case to a grand jury in Carroll, which returned a charge of
manslaughter. Ish was released after posting bail, and the case was moved to Sac
City for trial. In late November a jury there convicted Ish of manslaughter, and he
was sentenced to 18 months in the penitentiary. The papers reported that he then
appealed his case, but no record of an appeal has been found. In December 1890 it
was reported that Ish had been released from the penitentiary at Fort Madison after
serving his sentence, which had been reduced from 18 months to six months by
Governor Boies.
Growth of Halbur. In the early 1890s Halbur’s population reportedly was only
around 100, but its business community was doing well. An 1891 article in The
Carroll Sentinel noted the variety of businesses, but observed that the town could
use a blacksmith shop and a hotel, as well as a place where a man could get a “fine
made suit of clothes.” In addition to Charles Walterscheid’s substantial general
store, his brother William Walterscheid was now operating a farm implement
business dealing in binders, mowers, shellers, cultivators, plows and planters, as
well as buggies, wagons, and carts. Charles and William also owned a business
called Walterscheid Brothers, which operated a grain elevator with an 8000 bushel
capacity that was buying up $5000 worth of grain from local farmers every month.
J. W. Schmitz, said to be the youngest businessman in Carroll County, was a
talented and well respected harness-maker, and made and sold all sorts of animal
harnesses, halters, and collars as well as animal blankets, lap robes, and whips.
His brother, W. B. Schmitz, ran the local meat market, where he also made
bologna and sausage; he butchered five or six cattle each week and also sold all
types of poultry. Anton Hoelker still ran a general store where he sold a large
variety of items including dry goods, hats, footwear, clothing, and groceries. His
German Settlement of Roselle Township
31
brother Caspar Hoelker also worked in the store as a clerk. Hoelker and Koenig
also ran a grain business that included a mill for grinding feed and corn meal; their
elevator had a 24,000 bushel capacity and they purchased $6000 worth of grain
every month. Peter Wacker, a longtime resident, ran a liquor business selling
wholesale and retail wine, liquor, and cigars. He was also a partner in a real estate
business with John Wahl. Wagner and Willenbourg ran another livestock
business, and they shipped out one to three freight cars of livestock each week. D.
Joyce still owned the local lumberyard and also a hardware store. Pete Allponts
raised horses and was planning on expanding his herd to 200 head.
The saloon and liquor trades also did well in Halbur through the years. Early
saloons were operated by Charles Walterscheid and Anton Hoelker from their
general stores, and Lewis Friedmann ran a saloon during the mid-1880s. By the
late 1880s Theodor Eischeid was in the restaurant and beverage business, and it
was said that his “place is known by everyone for miles as the place to go for a
good time.” George Rolfes, who immigrated from Germany in 1884, came to
Halbur in 1891 and opened a saloon that specialized in Pabst beer and was known
as “the leading place to get fine mixed drinks, and the best grade of cigars and a
free lunch.” Saloons were also operated by a Mr. Neumeier and John Tegles, Jr.
in the late 1800s. A later article in a Carroll newspaper mentioned saloons
operated by Peter Schmitz and George Rolfes and recommended them as places
where a customer would be treated well and could get a good drink, noting that
their supply of “liquid refreshments” was sufficient “to supply the wants of both
the inhabitants and the stranger sojourning within their gates.” In 1893 it was
reported that Halbur had three saloons, and they all seemed “to have a good trade.”
The population of Halbur fluctuated up and down over the years, but the town
never grew dramatically. In the early 1890s it had around 100 residents, and by
1900 its population was approximately 150, rising to 186 in 1920, and to 192 in
1930. With its railroad connection, the town managed to maintain a lively
business community by serving the surrounding farm country, and business
interests were bought and sold over the years. Around 1900 a fairly large number
of businesses were still in operation. Charles Walterscheid, the only original
business owner still in operation, continued to run a general where he sold produce
and merchandise, including farm machinery, and employed Joseph Koenig and
Peter Sondgeroth. The lumber yard was owned by W.T. Joyce (son of D. Joyce)
and managed locally by Gerhard Berks. Walter & Nutter had become the primary
grain and livestock buyers, paying out between $7000 and $10,000 a month to
local farmers and shipping out 250 to 300 carloads of grain and 100 carloads of
hogs each year. Peter Eischeid had taken over Anton Hoelker’s general store,
where he employed Caspar Hoelker. Michael Reck now worked as the local
blacksmith and operated from a 20 by 40 foot building where he housed two
forges and employed two assistants. J. W. Schmitz still worked as the local
German Settlement of Roselle Township
32
harness-maker. Katharine Tegels (formerly Mrs. Anton Horn of Hillsdale, whose
first husband perished in the March 1870 blizzard) operated a boarding house, and
her son Anton Horn, Jr. (born in Hillsdale in October 1870), was a railroad
worker. The Hoelker brothers were operating a creamery that was said to be a
benefit to local livestock producers as well as to the “thrifty housewife” who
otherwise would have to spend “many an anxious hour … going through the
trouble and worry in this hot weather of taking care of milk and making butter.”
Wilhelm Langenfeld (former Hillsdale schoolteacher and future editor of the
Carroll Demokrat) was the “popular station agent” for the railroad and was
mentioned as a candidate for future elective office. (He was later elected county
treasurer.)
For many years, Halbur’s medical needs were provided by Dr. Frederick. J. From,
a Danish immigrant who had first gone to Nebraska before moving to Iowa in
1880, where he received his medical degree at the University of Iowa. Dr. From
came to Carroll County in 1895 and worked first in Templeton before moving to
Halbur around 1899. He died in 1944 at age 83.
In the early 20th century, Halbur supported two banks: The Farmers Savings
Bank, which went out of business during the depression, and the German Savings
Bank, incorporated in 1906. Following World War One, the German Savings
Bank changed its name to Farmers Savings Bank.
Catholic Church and School in Halbur. Like the vast majority of other German
settlers in the area, the Germans around Halbur were members of the Catholic
religion, and their strong devotion can be seen in their efforts over the years to
establish and support a local church. During the 1880s Halbur had no local church
and residents traveled on horseback or by wagon and buggy to Hillsdale for
services. A public school was operated during the 1890s, and around the turn of
the century it had an enrollment of about 35 to 40 students. Early teachers were H.
C. Ahrens and Tillie Zerwa.
Around 1900 the Catholics in and around Halbur decided to establish a local
parish, and Archbishop Keane of Dubuque appointed Father John Baeumler as the
first resident pastor. Father Baeumler was born in Bavaria in 1867 and came to
America in 1882. He studied for the priesthood in Milwaukee and was ordained in
1897. After working a few years in Le Mars, he was sent to establish the new
parish at Halbur.
When he arrived by train in Halbur, Father Baeumler was greeted by a procession
of local residents on foot, horseback, and in carriages, who escorted him
immediately to the public schoolhouse where he said Mass. The early parish,
called St. Augustine, counted 52 families, and church services continued to be
German Settlement of Roselle Township
33
held in the school pending completion of a local church. After land was donated
to the parish, a new school and rectory were constructed in 1902. A new brick
church in the Gothic style was completed in 1904. A parochial school was also
constructed soon thereafter. After serving other parishes in the area and around
the state, Father Baeumler died in 1932 and was buried in Halbur.
ROSELLE TOWNSHIP IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY
Progress and Prices. As the population grew and Roselle Township became
settled, it lost more and more of its frontier character. Houses and towns became
more substantial, and the standard of living increased. New and better roads were
built with the arrival of the automobile. And, at least prior to the Great
Depression, many residents achieved greater prosperity and financial security. As
noted above, during the early years of township settlement farmland was readily
available and very affordable. Over the years, it proved to be a good investment.
Around 1870 it was possible to buy farmland for a few dollars an acre. By 1900
the price had increased to $40 or $50 an acre. In 1917 an 80-acre farm belonging
to the John Reineke estate in Roselle Township was sold at auction to Henry
Terlisner for $200 an acre.
In contrast to the unfenced farms, primitive crops, and flimsy shacks of the early
settlers, conditions had improved greatly within a few decades. An 1899
newspaper description describes Roselle Township as follows:
[T]he farms display comfort and prosperity. Fine
homes in the loveliest designs, prettily painted, adorn
the farms, and when one enters such a home, one is
amazed at the fine furnishings. But also the barns, the
large stables, and the grain silos indicate that the
residents are prosperous and looked after with special
care by the One who reigns over us. The cornfields
shine in their rich foliage, the stalks bend their head
from the weight of their loads, and the pastures offer
rich feed for the grazing cows, which in return
gratefully fill the milk pails with tasty milk. It is
indeed one of the richest and most prosperous
townships in Carroll County.
Population Statistics, Decline of German Language and Customs. The federal
census statistics for Roselle Township indicate that the population rose only
slightly following 1880 and then leveled off through the early 1900s. These
statistics also indicate a steady decrease in the German language and culture in the
township.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
34
As noted above, in 1880 Roselle Township had a population of 822 of whom 37
lived in the village of Hillsdale, and of the total of 147 households, 99 were
headed by German-born parents. And by the turn of the century, the culture and
language of Roselle Township were almost exclusively German. The same 1899
newspaper article quoted above also mentioned the prevalence of the German
language and culture in Roselle Township at that time:
If one were to travel through the township from one
end to the other and become acquainted with all the
residents, or were to visit the centrally located little
town of Roselle on a Sunday when residents from the
entire township attend church and do their shopping in
the busy summertime, then one would not think
himself to be in the Hawkeye State, but rather in some
friendly little village in Germany, because very seldom
does one hear an English word. Only German is
spoken here, and the children, who mainly attend the
school taught by the Franciscan Sisters and receive a
good solid instruction in English, nevertheless follow
the example of their parents and converse in the
German dialect. Hardly anywhere in Carroll County
can there be found a township, or even a town or small
village, where the dear German mother tongue is as
cherished and nurtured as in the Township of Roselle
or the small town of the same name.
Following 1900, however, the federal census figures indicate the gradual decline
of the German language and culture due mainly to decreased immigration during
the 20th century, as well as the inevitable aging and death of the Germans who had
arrived during the 1800s. Fewer and fewer immigrants arrived following 1890,
and by the early 1900s immigration had slowed to a trickle. Not surprisingly, it
came to a virtual halt following World War One.
The 1900 federal census lists the population of Roselle Township as 1019. Of the
176 households listed, 102 were headed by German immigrants. Of the remaining
74 households, 71 were headed by persons having at least one parent born in
Germany, with the majority having both parents born in Germany. Only three
households had no connection to Germany. Interestingly, 94 residents were listed
as not able to speak any English, only speaking German.
By 1910 the total township population had declined slightly to 947, of whom 147
lived in Halbur. Of the 173 total households, 70 were headed by German-born
residents. And 38 people were listed as speaking only German.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
35
And by 1920 the township’s population still totaled only 1017, of whom 186
resided in Halbur and 70 in Hillsdale. Of the 168 households listed, only 48 were
now headed by German-born residents.
The 1930 census shows clearly that German language and culture were being lost
in Roselle Township. In that year the total population of the township was still
only 1058, of whom 192 lived in the town of Halbur and 79 in the village of
Hillsdale. In 1930 only 63 persons in the entire township had actually been born
in Germany, and of those 50 had immigrated to America by 1890 or earlier. Only
10 persons had immigrated from Germany since 1900, and of those only one
person had immigrated since the end of World War One, that person arriving in
1927. Only approximately nine of the 63 German-born residents now spoke
exclusively German. And of the total of 229 households listed, only 33 were now
headed by German immigrants. This downward trend in German-headed
households is clearly seen over the years: in 1880 the German-headed households
had accounted for 67 percent of the total, but this number gradually decreased to
58 percent in 1900, 41 percent in 1910, 28 percent in 1920, and to only 14 percent
in 1930.
Another interesting observation from the above statistics is the number of
township residents who only spoke German. In the early years it was not unusual
for the new immigrants to speak no English. Fluency in English was not a
requirement for citizenship in those days, and when it was necessary to conduct
business in English, a translator could no doubt be easily found. As late as 1900
over nine percent of the township population still spoke only German. By 1910 the
number had declined to only four percent, and by 1930 to less than one percent.
Even though the numbers declined drastically, it is still noteworthy that as late as
1930 there were several people living in Roselle Township who spoke only
German. It is a good indication of the strong German character of the area that
some of these persons had resided in the United States for decades without finding
it necessary to learn English. Undoubtedly, many other people in the township
were bilingual and spoke German in addition to English, so that it was possible for
a person to live in Roselle Township well into the 20th century with no knowledge
of English.
But the number of native speakers was quickly declining as the German
immigrants grew older. In 1880 the average age of all German immigrants in the
township was 33, but by 1930 the average age was 61. As the above newspaper
articles indicates, up to the early 20th century German was commonly spoken
throughout the township, but by 1930 it was becoming more and more the
language associated with the older immigrants. Many people born during the
early 1900s recall learning German in part so that they could converse with their
grandparents.
German Settlement of Roselle Township
36
Even after 1930 German was still spoken on important public occasions, such as
church functions. For example, when Bishop Rohlmann visited Roselle as late as
1931, he gave sermons at the church in both English and German. By that time,
however, the use of the German language was a rarity.
Roselle Dramatic Club. Earlier in the century, the Germans in Roselle Township
were also able to enjoy theatrical productions in their native language thanks to the
Roselle Dramatic Club. Around 1914 Hillsdale’s school principal, Sylvester J,
Barth, formed this community theater consisting of local students and adults.
The Roselle Dramatic Club’s 1915 and 1916 productions (left)
featured German-language plays such as the Bavarian comedy, Der
Protzenbauer (The Snobby Farmer). Following America’s entry into
World War One in 1917, the group shifted to English plays (right)
such as the romantic and patriotic drama, Under the Flag. (Source:
The Carroll Sentinel)
During its first few years this club presented plays, mainly light comedies, in
German as well as English. Barth, was the theater’s director, Nic Goetzinger was
the president, and Stephan Arnold the secretary and treasurer; all three men also
acted in the productions. In 1916 Barth left Roselle to accept a teaching position
at a large Catholic school in Milwaukee, and he later taught in Minnesota. One
newspaper article described Barth as a “a young man of broad scholarship and true
German Settlement of Roselle Township
37
culture,” noting that his departure would be a loss to the local school and that he
had been the first teacher in Roselle to successfully prepare the local students to
pass the rural eighth grade examinations. Barth, who was born in Wisconsin, was
also an early volunteer when America’s entered World War One, enlisting in the
Army medical corps in August 1917.
The Roselle Dramatic Club continued in operation following Barth’s departure.
Notably, following America’s entry into World War One in April 1917, it appears
that the group abandoned German-language productions and shifted to English
plays. Their first such production, “Under the Flag,” was a romantic drama with a
patriotic American theme. In 1918 the group was performing plays for the benefit
of the Knights of Columbus War Fund to support the troops.
The Roselle Dramatic Club continued to present English-language plays in Carroll
County through the 1920s, and there are a few mentions in the local press
advertising productions as late as the 1950s.
CONCLUSION
The Germans who immigrated to Roselle Township in the late 1800s brought with
them many aspects of their culture. In addition to their language, they brought
their German literature, customs like ring riding, and traditions such as their
religion and the Gothic style of church building.
As of the year 2000, the population of Roselle was reported as 670, of whom 200
resided in Halbur. Although German is no longer a living language in Roselle
Township, it can still be encountered in the local church buildings and on old
tombstones at the cemeteries. The residents also still recall their German heritage,
as can be seen in recent census statistics indicating that nearly 90 percent of the
residents report German ancestry.