| Portions of Die frankischen Colonien des Saginaw Thales, im Staate Michigan (The Franconian Colonies of the Saginaw Valley, in the State of Michigan) written in 1890 by Rev. Johann Heinrich Philipp Graebner; translated in 1996 by Esther Meyer Stahlke, great granddaughter ofRev. J.H.P. Graebner; e dited and prepared for print by Magdalen Stahlke Veitengruber, great great granddaughter of Rev. J.H.P. Graebner |
| Epilogue: The next few page need not remain blank since there are still some things to report. Next I should mention that in Frankentrost two sons, August and Conrad, were born to us, of which the older was over four years and the other over two years when we had to leave Frankentrost. Both, together with their descendants, will want their birthplace to be held in high esteem although at the time of their birth it was somewhat unimportant. It should be remembered that the present well built up beautiful Frankentrost was to great extent still a most beautiful American forest primeval at the time of their birth where, in the evening, bears still roared and wolves still howled and where, during the day and at times at night, the red Indians stopped at the parsonage in Frankentrost. It happened not seldom that brown Indian maidens carried the little black eyed boys of the German Mekadikonjeh (to play with them) and sometimes gave them little gifts, small embroideries, small moccasins, small baskets or boxes made of birch bark --the last sometimes were filled with maple sugar. Especially the family of the old Indian doctor came to us quite often and sometimes brought some venison. Of course they gladly also received gifts. On one very stormy winter evening the old doctor came to our home with his two wives, the younger one with a baby of about a half year. They arranged themselves around the warm stove. The old doctor saw to it that the fire did not go out and after they had had breakfast of corn bread and coffee with us they left with a hearty “bushunikawnis” (good-bye dear friends). Several times it happened that we with our two boys wished to make a visit to Frankenmuth. Then our godfather Craemer would send the two oldest daughters of the old Indian doctor who carried the boys on their backs Indian fashion and so we went to Frankenmuth and back to Frankentrost. Yes! Those were times! |
| II. Frankentrost ....So about the beginning of March in the year 1845 I was on my way to Neuendettelsau to the Rev. Loehe to whom I had been warmly introduced by Bachmann earlier, and found a friendly reception. On my first trip to Neuendettelsau I met near Pforzheim a wagon on which a number of young men were riding. These were, as I found upon my arrival at Neuendettelsau, candidates Craemer, Lochner, Trautmann, etc. who were about to leave on their journey to America. Not long after my arrival at Neuendettelsau a second group of Loehe students were to take their examinations and until then I and several others should go to Rev. Brock at Auernheim to spend several months of study. In the spring of 1846 the seminary at Fort Wayne opened, to which several boarding pupils of Loehe were sent. In fact several months earlier Loehe took me into his room and said, “Now Graebner you are not free from military duty but the Countess Hahn Hahn in Mecklenburg has offered to buy a military substitute for you. I want to make a suggestion. Would you, until your military time is complete, remain with me and instruct my children and I will instruct you on the side?” Such an offer I could hardly refuse. So I remained behind alone with my fatherly friend Loehe as other students left for Fort Wayne across the sea. ...Near the fall of 1846 a number of fathers and single men determined to gain the advice of Rev. Loehe regarding emigrating. So he presented a plan with which he and several friends had busied themselves recently. In order to prevent these blessed Lutheran immigrants from running into trouble as they arrived in America, by getting into the nets of sects, losing their German culture, etc. he hoped, as with Frankenmuth earlier, to set up in Michigan a row of German Lutheran colonies of which one colony would always be able to depend on another. The plan appealed to those emigrants seeking advice and the decision to emigrate ripened. In the spring of 1847 the colony of Frankentrost near Frankenmuth was to be founded. Before leaving Germany, the emigrants should organize as a Lutheran congregation and call a pastor. ...I left Neuendettelsau about mid-March. In fact my farewell from that parsonage was very intimately friendly. Especially Loehe’s three children clung to me with a great deal of love, so much so that they did not want to be separated from me. They were allowed to go with me for about an hour accompanied by the pastor’s hired man. When the final farewell came they wept most pitifully. I shall never forget the love I experienced in that parsonage. After spending some weeks at home with my mother, sisters, and brothers I left early in April in the company of my colonists, leaving from Kulmbach. At that time the trip from Kulmbach to Bremen for the most part had to be made by wagon. About mid-April we were to locate our ship to board in Bremerhafen. We were to make our journey across the ocean on the new three-master Hermine under Captain Volkmann. This ship was to be in Bremen when we arrived but it had not returned from its first voyage to New York although it was expected every day. A number of my colonists who left home before I did and some who had traveled with me had allowed someone to influence them to make the journey to New York on another ship of the same ship company because they feared their Hermine would be delayed too long. However our ship arrived on time and we could leave Bremerhafen on that same day on which the other ship carrying some of our colonists left the harbor. I want to mention here that on this trip in Leipzig I met Missionary Baierlein who was to become an assistant to Rev. Craemer at Frankenmuth and who wanted to make the journey with my colonists. ....Now to go back to our “Hermine”. Under the instructions which I received from Rev. Loehe I found also the orders that I would have to travel steerage with my colonists. Should -- and may God prevent that -- the ship have any great trouble, I shall not be concerned about my safety until the last of those dependent on me are saved and have left the ship. Gladly I should remain with the foundering ship and suffer a timely death, comforting myself with my last breath. However our faithful God in His mercy allowed me and my colonists to be safely led across the ocean after six weeks of sailing. On the first of June, 1847, we landed well preserved in New York. Not only during the sea journey did the blessed Captain Volkmann allow me to share some of his niceties, as every noon he allowed me to share a sumptuous meal from the stateroom sent to the steerage area, he also presented me with several bottles of port wine, etc. Since the “Hermine” would remain in port for a few days he suggested we all leave our personal goods on board ship. We would be leaving the ship after three days. I had nothing to do in New York besides delivering a letter from Rev. Loehe to Rev. Brohm and I had to have a tooth extracted, which in the past four days caused me some extreme pain. We remained in New York only two days and one night. On the second day, after the passage for my colonists and me was taken care of we returned to the “Hermine”. In the afternoon a steamer, which plied the Hudson between New York and Albany, arrived. We loaded our baggage and left on that same evening. After a pleasant ride on the lovely Hudson River we arrived the next day around noon in Albany. That afternoon we took a train to Buffalo. In Buffalo we stayed about five hours until all our goods were stowed on a steamer which would take us across Lake Erie to Detroit -- to which destination we were billeted in New York, this for all persons and all of our freight. On Sunday around noon we arrived in Toledo. Already as we entered the river several of my colonists came to me and said the captain had refused their billets and as I inquired for more explanation all had already given up their billets -- only I still had mine. That was really fortunate that I still had mine. It finally paid off that I had studied English in Nürnberg. I went to the Captain and told him that all my people had tickets the same as mine, not to Toledo but to Detroit and we would not leave the boat until we get to Detroit. He told me his boat was not going to Detroit but was leaving the next day to return to Buffalo. I then told him that he would have to see to it that we would reach Detroit. I then told my young men they should stay with the baggage and take nothing from the boat. I would go into town to get some advice. I knew that in Toledo a certain man named Hofmann lived and I was lucky when asking about him. When I presented my problem to him he went to the boat and spoke to the Captain. Then he told me we should just stay quietly on the boat; the Captain must see to it that we get to Detroit. And, sure enough, the next morning a different steamer arrived to take us to Detroit without having to pay additional fares. Missionary Baierlein remained in Buffalo to see the Niagara Falls, so I even had all his baggage to care for. From Detroit there was no established way to reach Frankenmuth except that we order sufficient wagons; and that caused much trouble to secure so many wagons and teams to carry us and all our freight farther. Some of our men would have to remain and watch over all our baggage while I with the help of our innkeeper worked to secure more wagons. After all was accomplished, on the third day after our arrival in Detroit, we were all on our way to Frankenmuth. Baierlein also appeared shortly before leaving Detroit. Fortunately the Frankenmuth Colony was familiar to some of the drivers of the wagons. After a three day journey across the land we came to Birch Run around noon, where we heard that we still had sixteen English miles to Frankenmuth. The drivers and horses had to spend the night in Bridgeport. Then we decided (Baierlein, two young men, and I) to continue on foot and after a strenuous, five hour march we were lucky to reach the parsonage in Frankenmuth toward evening. ....However, until news from St. Louis came, which at that time mail service took about four weeks, it was decided that a parcel of land be selected upon which the Colony Frankentrost could settle as their legal property. Through Rev. Craemer’s arrangements we allowed the aged surveyor Beach to come. With him and Rev. Craemer one morning, I and about a dozen of my male colonists from Frankenmuth moved northward into the Michigan forest primeval. Our settlement was to be not nearer than 6 miles from Frankenmuth. Our old surveyor next searched for the section line that ran in a northern direction. After about a two hour march through the gorgeous primeval forest our leader stood still and said, “Here we are 6 miles north of Frankenmuth.” From here on the quality of the land would have to be studied. Old Mr.Beach had been a leader in the state survey of this area and so he knew exactly what to look for. He taught us exactly the quality of the soil and the quality of the forestry. We should always watch where there are many sugar maples for there would be good soil. At noon we stopped at a creek with nice clear water and we made some tea. During our noon pause we decided that we would also prepare our sleeping area here tonight. We had supplies for two days and one night. In the afternoon this area was measured and for four hours we walked in all directions. Then we asked our leader to return us to the rest area we had at noon which we reached between 6 and 7 o^Òclock. A large fire was made, tea was brewed, and later, after we had sung several evening hymns, each one wrapped himself in his wool blanked and we slept under the protection of God and his holy angels -- our first night of quiet, soft sleep in the American forest primeval under the open sky. As we on the next day again covered the area we were all united and agreed that the nicest and best land which we had seen was in the surroundings of our yesterday’s rest area. So in the afternoon we again made our way back to Frankenmuth. In the evening a meeting was held. The old Mr. Beach showed us on a survey map where the land which we had selected for our settlement lay, and upon which selection all of my colonists were agreed that together we purchase 2 1/2 sections of land. The sections being considered were described by Mr. Beach in more detail and several days later two of our men together with Candidate Flessa as their interpreter traveled to Jackson where the land office was located at that time. Here they were to complete the purchase. An acre of government land cost one and one fourth dollars ($1.25). Since just at that time we could purchase Michigan promissory notes at a fairly reasonable price and since they were valid for land purchase, that land cost us only 82 cents per acre. ....The first settlers in Frankentrost were the following twenty two families: Maeder, Rohrhuber, Schnell, Huber, Reinbold, Rank, Buchinger, Kittsteiner, Munker, Frisch, G. Wiessmueller, Moll, Ruff, Kipfmueller, Herbst, Hetzner, Wittmann, Schlenk, A. Wiessmueller, Bluemlein, Billmeier, and Abraham which had called me to be their pastor and had signed the constitution which we had brought along from Rev. Loehe. After each member had decided how much land he wanted the surveyor was called in again to measure each parcel of land as the men wished to have. ....This work of surveying was continued throughout an entire week, with which all the men had to help, and which we again spent in the beautiful green forest. On the second day, just after our noonday meal, we saw a few clouds rising in the west beyond the tall timber, and our Mr. Beach said to me, “Mr. Graebner, I guess this afternoon we may get some heavy rain.” When I asked, “Well, Mr. Beach, what ought we to do?” he replied, “I think we ought to fix some shelter.” I apprised the men of Mr. Beach’s fears and of his suggestion, and we at once set to work building a shelter of branches according to Mr. Beach’s directions. Two hours sufficed for the completion of a hut 24 feet long and 14 feet wide, and scarcely was it completed when the downpour commenced. Under our tight leafy roof we smoked our pipes in comfort. This shelter stood exactly upon the spot where the parsonage was built later and served as a domicile until each had built his log cabin upon his own property. Just in front of our leafy shelter there stood a mighty oak tree. During one noon hour some of the young men remarked that this tree on the parsonage lot ought to be felled by united efforts. “Let's do it at once.” No sooner said than done. Four men seized their axes and commenced work, after a little while four others took a hand. After two hours of uninterrupted work the mighty giant of the forest fell. It measured more than six feet in diameter. As soon as the task of surveying was accomplished, the labor of building log houses commenced, and as each one roughly completed his cabin, he would go to Frankenmuth and bring his family to dwell with him in his new home. ....From 1847-48 we had a very mild winter so at times the unmanageable mud was hardly passible. One Sunday before the service in the forenoon good old Mr. Moll said to me: “Pastor the way here is rather far for me (he had 1 1/2 English miles to walk.) and very difficult but on Sunday none of us should remain at home. With the many things one must do without here in the bush it is just good that we have God’s Word. Otherwise it would be almost impossible to endure it all. But also among the others there was seldom anyone absent from the Sunday forenoon and afternoon services. In the course of the winter there was much clearing on the church property and the placing of the parsonage had been decided. From the beautiful tree trunks which had to be removed from church property, logs were prepared for the parsonage. And before Easter arrived my parsonage was staked out. With much energy then the most necessary construction was done so that a happy Easter could be celebrated in the parsonage. The parsonage was 32 ft. by 22 ft. By putting up a wooden divider, 10 ft. were taken from the length and separated as my living quarters. The remaining space was arranged for holding worship services. When I could finally live in the parsonage and the space for worship services was available for use all the time, the congregation wished that also here for us, like in Frankenmuth, there would be a daily brief Matin and Vesper service. Beginning with Easter during the summer half-year there shall be morning and evening services at 6 o’Òclock and from St Michael’s on during the winter half-year should be mornings at 7 and evenings at 5. In general our public worship services and also our daily Matins and Vespers followed the liturgical method as given in the Loehe agenda. According to the constitution which Rev. Loehe sent along with us, all Sundays as well as all special festival services, on the first day thereof, holy communion shall be observed and the exclusive use of private confession shall be practised. During the six years that I was in Frankentrost it was very rare that there were no Communicants on Sunday or high festivals. ...Even after my marriage I spent many Sunday evenings with my dear ( Pastor ) Craemer at which time not only the burning doctrinal issues were thoroughly discussed but also congregational practical parish matters were discussed and cleared up. Already the necessary discussion took place frequently since the relationship with Loehe and us was becoming more and more trying and uncertain. In fact, in late fall, 1847, we had received from Loehe his “Aphorisms” wherein it was evident that there was a difference between Loehe and the Missouri stand not only on the “Constitution Question” but also the false doctrine concerning ordination and the ministerial office was frequently brought to light. I could share an occasion with Craemer which had become the most likely evidence of his Aphorism. ...The external development went ahead with many impediments and especially with difficulty. In our church and congregation constitution which we brought along from Rev. Loehe it said in conclusion: We build a political congregation which consists of Lutherans only. Already during our original purchase of land we provided that no one was to find any land for anyone to squeeze between the first congregation members and settle there; but we could not forbid anyone to buy land surrounding our land and to settle there. Already in 1849, of the “48 German fugitives,” a God-forgotten kind of people, quite a number bought land close to the eastern border of Frankentrost. All seemed to bring along a good amount of money, and accordingly bought rather large parcels of land so that there was no room anymore for Frankentrost expansion in that direction. With the exception of only a few families, most of the 48’ers were young men from educated families who imagined that with all the money they brought along they would be able to live an unlimited idyllic life in the American primeval forests. A number of these young adventurers in a short time brought it so far by their idyllic fast living that to cover their lower extremities they had to unroll their wading boots and put the upper part of their bodies into the drained brandy barrels whenever it began to rain. To clear the land and bring some culture into the area for this, these young lords had neither strength in their bodies nor were they inclined to do anything. Really this benefited the Frankentrost men who were happy to work because they found enough employment and were paid quite well as long as the 48’er men still had money to pay them. In fact at first this gave me no little concern as I saw my men working for this God-deserted horde but I was soon to discover that my warnings and admonishing did not remain fruitless. God gave my poor Frankentrost workmen a joyful courage, to confess the truth and defend their faith with God’s word. The sensible ones among the 48’ers soon realized that they needed us Frankentrosters as we needed them and they, whether willingly or not, had an advantage in some things. For instance at that time it was a great drawback that there was no usable road to Saginaw, a distance of 9 miles, from where we had to get most of our necessary supplies. One time, for three weeks I had a tub of flour waiting for me at Bridgeport. However I could not call for it until several women decided to walk to Bridgeport, pack the flour in sacks and carry it home on their backs. This inconvenience the 48’ers felt even more objectionable than we did. One day Mr. Post (the brother-in-law of the famous Carl Schurtz) and Mr. Vanflut came to me most friendly and politely in order to discuss several matters with me, as they put it. They were concerned about the way to Saginaw and began to discuss a way to get a road to cover that distance. We would have to begin to ask the county for needed assistance. The only way to do that would be to send the legislature a petition. In order to do that we would have to organize a township. They had already organized a Sheboygan township so we should as soon as at all possible move toward such an organization. I promised to discuss this with my congregation and to bring this about.14 days later a meeting was held to which all residents were invited by letter. Mr. Post, whom I had invited especially to advise us so that all would be done properly, was very willing to carry out my wishes and we organized as Bloomfield Township. Mr. Post had advised in order to avoid some unpleasant changing that we not name the area Town Frankentrost but rather Bloomfield. This name is not only poetic but also meaningful since Frankentrost is really a field of blooms. Mr. Post already had a petition to the legislature in his pocket. This was signed by all those present and six weeks later $1500.00 for the building of a road to Saginaw was made available to us. By this my poor Frankentrosters could also benefit in getting easily to the city. ....Shortages of every kind at that time were evident among my dear Frankentrosters but only among a few the shortages were so evident that one had to manage for a few days with whatever was most necessary. My dear old Mr. Moll (who usually was in good spirits) told me one time: “Pastor, in my house at times it was this way, we had potatoes and no bread or also no bread and no coffee.” Moll belonged to those few members in my congregation who had brought considerable assets along from Germany. However, after he arrived in America he was ill in Monroe, Michigan. He and his large family had to remain there for three months because of his illness. His old house maid whom he brought along from Germany at his own expense and his 18 year old son plus several laborers went to Frankentrost to build a log cabin for him and his family. In the fall, he and the others left in Monroe, went to Frankentrost, but because of all the friends he brought from Germany (as he told me) he was reduced by nearly one thousand dollars. I, personally, and my family have enjoyed much friendship and help from him. Even long after I had left Frankentrost he showed his heartfelt love to me. To set a memorial to honor him in my story of Frankentrost is in order. Until he emigrated from Germany in 1847 he was a highly respected citizen in the city of Windsbach in Franconia, a man of good education, and a faithful member of his church under the then Dean (Rev.) Brandt. He noticed, at that time already, that factory made hats would cause his business of making hand crafted hats as master hat maker to decline, and he felt that as a good housefather he could more easily care for his large family in America. The conditions in the church in Germany also gave him concern for his family, so he decided to emigrate in God’s name as a member of the new-to-be-established colony Frankentrost. He himself personally had tasted much sadness here in America but he was also allowed to live with much joy. His special joy was that even in difficult times he could allow two of his boys to prepare for the ministry and in his own lifetime see them enter the service of the Missouri Synod. At a high old age he ended his earthly pilgrimage in Frankentrost. After the barren years had passed, it became evident to some that he had a fairly prosperous life in Frankentrost. Then I met my dear old Mr. Moll as a delegate at a synodical convention. On that occasion he handed me a $10.00 gold piece which at first I did not want to accept. With tears in his eyes he said, “Pastor please take it, it is only a small part of my debt. I can spare it now; the time of want is now past “O praise the Lord!” ....Since everything we had to purchase at a store had to come from Saginaw and with almost impassable roads all trading was nearly impossible so it often happened in most families that there was a sore lack of many little necessities. When a person heard that someone was going to Saginaw requests and orders came from everywhere. Self evidently when the Pastor was going to Saginaw he also had all kinds of orders and requests. Like a pack mule loaded, he often returned from Saginaw and stopped at every home to make a delivery. One was so sure that the Pastor would forget nothing because he always wrote down all the orders. When women went to Saginaw or Frankenmuth they didn’t dare to go alone; there were always two, three, or four together. At that time there still were many bears and wolves prowling around Frankentrost. Now and then it happened that it became a bit late and they became lost in the forest in the dark. The trouble cry of the lost ones usually brought the entire colony into action. Shots were fired, tin horns were blown and heard throughout the settlement until finally the news went from house to house. “All is in order.” The lost ones luckily returned home safely. ...Without a doubt it surely has been God’s gracious protection that only a single accident occurred through all the clearing that was done. One Saturday evening, just as the church service was over we heard coming from behind the church a heart rending pitiful screaming. All ran in the direction from which the wailing came, with me in the lead. There we found my poor neighbor Buchinger struck down by a falling tree and lying dead on the ground with his comfortless wife next to him. Buchinger usually carried his noon meal with him into the forest where he was clearing; then when he didn’t return home at the usual time in the evening, Mrs. Buchinger went into the forest to see him, where she found him, a corpse under a tree. For the entire congregation this was a very sensitive blow, although otherwise in the dangerous work no one else suffered serious harm. Concerning the Colony Frankentrost it can be said that for four years we held the regular worship services in the parsonage; so also all congregational meetings had to be conducted there and there were very many of these. As I recall according to our constitution regular services were conducted not only on Sundays and holidays but also on week days, every morning and every evening. Besides these every Saturday there was private confession. Our order of worship in all regular services was exactly like that in the Loehe Agenda. We also had to have a very regular and busy choir practice in order to practice all liturgical matters. Chorales were also practiced regularly so that our congregational singing deserved to be called a pattern for others. As our church hymn book we used the “Little Raumer” and we found that it contained no hymns that our congregation could not sing. Since at that time there were no church bells to summon the people at a certain time for the worship service it became necessary to find some means of announcing the service. To announce the time of the service was made necessary since most of the homes had no clock in running condition. In order to give the signal for the time of worship to begin we used a tin horn, similar to the one used by the housewives to call the men from the field at mealtime. One half hour before the beginning of the church service I blew the horn, so every house heard the signal. Whoever had a watch or clock that still ran would set it because “surely the Pastor has a watch that runs correctly.” Now with happy hearts we went at the matter of the first church building in Frankentrost. During the winter under the direction of our carpenter, Mr. Rohrhuber, logs were squared. On the south end of the church property there was a so-called sand ridge which was over grown with beautiful fir trees from which the best were felled and made into shingles. Because of a good winter the needed boards could be made by a saw mill in Saginaw which gave us a lower price -- a number of our younger men were employed there and they arranged that they would work off the cost. The only cash outlay for supplies was for nails and windows. All work was done by congregation members under the direction of Mr. Rohrhuber. Later in the spring when the ground was settled the real building was begun. The church interior was to be 40 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, and 18 ft. from floor to ceiling. In the middle of the east wall was the altar and on the south wall at the step to the altar was the pulpit. Altar and pulpit our builder had nailed together with raw boards, but one didn’t see any of this because our ladies from their poverty got together at least enough cotton material to cover both altar and pulpit and for the altar they also made a special pretty white cover. Also the two rows of pews were made of raw lumber but Mr. Rohrhuber did not let the effort weary him as he planed at least the top of the seats smoothly. Pewter altar and baptism vessels we had brought from Germany. These were gifts from various friends in Nuernberg. Now that was the first Lutheran Immanuel Church UAC in Frankentrost, county of Saginaw, state of Michigan. After conducting services in the parsonage for nearly four years, on the Sunday after Sim. and Jud., XX after Trinity, 1852, the church was dedicated with much celebration and the festivities continued for two days. Since because of field work in spring and summer the work of the church building had to be at rest, the building could not be completed until late fall. ....The regular church services in the new church continued in the same manner as before in the parsonage except that in the winter months the daily morning and evening services were reduced, and instead we held those morning services on Wednesday and Friday. ......So I received from my dear Frankentrosters my peaceful release and on XVIII after Trinity I preached my farewell sermon on the Epistle assigned for that Sunday under much hard weeping and sobbing. An auction to cover the cost of my furniture wasn’t necessary since we had really nothing of our own besides our bedstead which we had received from our dear brother-in-law Geuter as a gift and a rocking chair which my neighbor Schlenk made of hickory staves and brought to us one time as a Christmas gift. The little cook stove which we had used for six years Mr. Moll had given to the parsonage. The bedstead we took along but the rocking chair we left in the parsonage as a memorial which, however in a surprising manner later on, fell to our son Konrad as an inheritance. And now comes the leaving from Frankentrost, which even now fills my eyes with tears. Men and women, young and old, had gathered in the parsonage as my brother Konrad came with his own wagon in order to take me and my family to Saginaw. If at that time this Frankentroster congregation had been taking their beloved Pastor family to their graves the sorrow could not have been deeper. As our vehicle began to move the entire congregation followed more than one mile into the forest where they then upon my urging allowed themselves to be turned back. |
