GERMAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES
IN
MARYLAND.
GERMAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES
IN MARYLAND.
NE of the most magnificent scenes in our State is a bird's-
eye view from some lofty eminence on the Western Mary-
land R. R. over the vast expanse of forest, rock and mountain
gorge, over thickly clustering farms and villages below in the
valley which stretches to the Northeast and Southwest iuto
Pennsylvania and far away to the Southland. This is the
Cumberland valley with the Blue Mountain ridge, the Switzer-
land of Maryland, the scene of probably the earliest German-
American labor and enterprise in the province of Maryland.
From the Pennsylvania border and through this beautiful
region with its healthful and invigorating climate, the German-
American spread East and South, clearing and improving the
country, founding villages, which grew into flourishing town-
ships, and urging on and directing the settlers of his race who
followed in his wake till they find their way to the Patapsco
and the Chesapeake. A hundred interests to the German-
American of to-day, cluster round this region. It tells him
the story of those sturdy, honest men who would not submit
quietly to intolerance in the fatherland, but came to America to
worship according to their conscience, and that, wherever they
settled — in the lonely moorland valley or in the heart of un-
cleared forest — they went on year after year reclaiming the
wilderness, until their houses became enringed by bright mead-
ows and cornland, and by flourishing orchards. It tells how
their villages soon became schools for mechanics and trades for
all the country about them, and their cities manufacturing
centres of that time, and that they contributed much to the
prosperity of the Province and the progress of true civilisation.
It also tells of a time of political intolerance, gallantly over-
come by Jonathan Hager of Hagerstown, of devotion to the
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country and good service during the Revolutionary War, of
extensive commerce and great industries, and last but not least,
of superb loyalty to flag and country.
To this region we may trace perhaps the larger number of
those early German-American names that in time became so
prominently identified with Maryland's progress and prosperity,
and that bore no inconsiderable share in the material and moral
development of her cities. Among them we find the Alberts,
Bakers, Hoffmanns, Millers, Newcomers, Reeders, Schleys, Stein-
ers, Miltenbergers, Staufers, Uhlers, Slingluffs, Shrivers, Shry-
ocks, Diffenderfers, Yeizers, Leverings, Strickers, Keysers, Van
Bibbers, Kings, Schmukers, Baers, and a host of others.
The ancestor of the late Wm. Julian Albert of Baltimore
came to America in 1752 from Würzburg, Bavaria, and settled
in Monaghan township, York county, Pennsylvania, where by
thrift and honest industry he acquired a handsome property,
which, we are told, was considerably augmented by the diligence
and ability of his son Andrew, Andrew's son, Jacob, removed to
Baltimore in 1805 and founded the hardware firm which soon
ranked amongst the leading houses south of Mason and Dixon's
line. Associated with him and succeeding him were his sons
William J. and Augustus, who after marked success retired in
1855. From this time on to his death, William devoted his life
and great means to the welfare of his native city, state and
country at large, and many are the commercial enterprises,
charitable and educational institution that have his name on
the list of honor. He was prominent in the reorganisation of
the Baltimore and Cuba Smelting and Mining Company which
during the entire term of his directorship was eminently pros-
perous and gave employment to hundreds. In 1863 he helped
to call into life the First National Bank of Baltimore. He
assisted in establishing the "Soldiers' Home" and an Asylum
for orphans, and took a leading part in the foundation of
the society for the moral and educational improvement of
the blacks after the abolition of slavery. His charity and
influence among friends caused the establishing, at great ex-
pense, of a normal school for colored teachers in Baltimore.
During the war of the states, Mr. Albert was a strong Union
man and zealously supported the administration in connection
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with which the following incident is told by his biographer:
"In the latter part of the month of December, 1860, nothing
seemed to protend the destruction of the Union more than
the embarrassed condition of its finances. The treasury was
empty, and the public credit appeared gone. Upon apprehen-
sions being expressed at the depository in Baltimore as to the
ability of the United States to meet the interest on the pub-
lic debt due on the first of the following month, Mr. Albert
volunteered, in case the anticipated exigency should arise, to
advance what would be necessary to defray the demands upon
the Government in this city. Although it was not found
necessary to accept his offer, it was none the less patriotic."
Among the early German-American merchants of Balti-
more the house of Peter Hoffman & Sons occupies a very
prominent and honorable position. The founder Peter Hoff-
man sen., who was born in Frankfort-on-the-Main in 1742.
emigrated to this country when quite young, settling near
Frederick upon his own farm, which he sold again in 1776
for a large sum of money, to go to Baltimore, where he
established the dry-goods house that eventually became the
mercantile firm of Peter Hoffman & Sons. Upon its site now
stand the building of Hamilton Easter & Sons and the Adam's
express offices. In his position as one of the selectmen of
"Baltimore town" before the adoption of the city govern-
ment, Mr. Hoffman labored incessantly to improve and beau-
tify the town. The grounds round the once well-known
"City Springs" in Calvert street, then an ornament of the
city and the favorite resort of the best people, claimed his
particular attention.
Mr. Hoffman, sen., died in 1809 after a life of honorable
effort, leaving to his loved and loving children a memory as
precious as it is honored by the city of his adoption, in the
building up of which he took so conspicuous a part. He
was buried in the cemetery attached to the old Otterbein
German church. With the exception of his youngest boy
David, who adopted the profession of law, and was widely
known as an author, all his sons became active and prosper-
ous merchants. Jacob, the oldest son, established a sugar
refinery in Alexandria, Virginia, but subsequently retired to
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his farm in Loudoun county. John Hoffman. carried on a
successful business in Hanover street, between German and
Lombard streets, a locality which then contained some of the
best residences in Baltimore. The warehouses erected by him
on Charles and Lombard streets, ranked among the largest in
the city. Those on Lombard street, between Charles and
Hanover streets, were eventually sold to John Eager Howard
who converted them into the "New Assembly Rooms."
Mr. George Hoffman, another son, was looked up to dur-
ing his lifetime as among the foremost in promoting every
enterprise that redounded to the fame of his native city,
and like his brother, Peter, jun., took a prominent part in
all that affected the progress and commerce of Baltimore.
His name is associated with what was once one of the finest
residences in Baltimore, the beautiful mansion with its exten-
sive grounds on the corner of Franklin and Cathedral streets,
formerly occupied by the Maryland club. Peter Hoffman, jun.,
whose many deeds of public and private charity have made
his memory honored, was one of the incorporators and trus-
tees of the "Baltimore Orphan Asylum" and the builder of
the "Law Buildings" on the site of the first Athenaeum,
corner of St. Paul and Lexington streets.
In 1825 two sons of Peter Hoffman, sen., Jeremiah and
William, returned from London, England, with a handsome
fortune acquired by successful trading, and settled in their
native city. William died unmarried in 1828. Jeremiah pur-
chased a home and extensive grounds near the present inter-
section of Franklin and Chats-worth streets, later owned by
Mr. Daniel B. Banks and now occupied by a fine row of
dwelling houses. Samuel, the last of the merchant sons of
the founder of the family in America, equally successful with
his brothers and as highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens,
passed away in 1852.
"Among the early settlers of Roxborough township in
the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, now
forming part of the twenty-first ward of the city of Phila-
delphia, were two brothers, named Wigard and Gerhard Lever-
ing, They were from Germany, and their father's name was
Rosier Levering." Thus begins the account of the pioneer
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settlers of Roxborough. The precise date of their arrival in
Pennsylvania is not known, but it was no doubt before the
month of August 1685, for, in a deed (written in German)
Francis Pastorius, attorney for the Frankfort company, con-
veys to Wigard Levering "on the sixth month of Christ 1685,
in the sixteenth year of the reign of King James &c.," a lot
in Germantown, containing 50 acres. On the 19th of June,
1692, Wigard conveyed this land to one Jacobus de la Plaine
after purchasing from Thomas Hill of the city of Philadelphia,
merchant, for the sum of sixty-eight pounds, a tract of two
hundred acres situated in Roxborough. This was no doubt
the period of "Weekhart Libering's" (as he is designated in
this deed) settlement in Roxborough, as his name does not
appear among the records of Germantown, after this date.
Prior to acquiring this land, Wigard was duly naturalized,
"having solemnly promised faith and allegiance to William
and Mary, and fidelity and lawful obedience to William Penn
&c.," and the emigrant had now become a landed proprietor
and added to his occupation of weaver and joiner that of
farmer. Wigard, the pioneer ancestor of the Leverings, died
February 2nd 1744. His death was announced in the "Penn-
sylvania Gazette," No. 844, February 12th, as follows: "Last
week died, not far from this city, Mr. Wigard Levering,
aged 109 years. His great-grand-children Aaron and Enoch
through the influence of their brother-in-law John Brown, a
native of Belfast, Ireland, removed to Maryland and became
the founders of the Levering family in Baltimore. Aaron
was a revolutionary soldier. He was appointed in the early
part of July, 1776, one of the captains of the Flying Camp,
and was commissioned as Major, 31st of July, 1776. He was
in the battle of Brandywine and at the defence of Mud Fort
and Fort Mifflin. He was honorably discharged with the rank
of colonel at Perth Amboy. Both Aaron and Enoch became
successful merchants in Baltimore.
Gen. John Stricker, the son of Col. George Stricker of
revolutionary fame, was born in Frederick in 1759. His
mother was a Miss Springer. He served as a cadet in Capt,
Geo. P. Keeport's company in the German battalion, of which
his father was lieutenant-colonel, until commissioned as officer
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in Boctar's artillery, in which he rose to the rank of captain.
He was at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine
Germantown, Monmouth, and others, and accompanied Gen.
Sullivan on his expedition against the Indians. In 1783 Capt.
Stricker came to Baltimore and associated himself in business
with Commodore Barney. He took a keen interest in the or-
ganization of the militia, and formed and trained one of the
earliest commands in Baltimore and soon was made brigadier-
general and commander of the State troops. During the at-
tack on Baltimore in 1814 by the English under General Ross,
Gen. Stricker commanded the brigade, which was send for-
ward to check the enemy's advance, and performed this diffi-
cult task with rare discretion, conspicuous gallantry and suc-
cess. He died on the 23rd of Jane 1825, leaving to all who
knew him a profound and tender memory.
It certainly is pleasant and of interest to the German-
American to contemplate the record of a family that for ability,
pluck and uprightness, almost from their first appearance in the
colony of Maryland to this our day, have stood as high as the
Schleys of Frederick. Thomas Schley, the pioneer, who built
"the first house" in Frederick in 1746, came with a colony,
comprising about one hundred families, from the Palatinate
in Germany, in 1735, and settled in the lovely valley of the
Catoctin, in which Frederick city is situated. One of his sons,
Jacob Schley, was a captain in the revolution. One of Thomas
Schley's grandsons was William Schley, member of Congress
and Governor of Georgia. Schley county was named for
him. John, his brother, occupied the Supreme Bench in
Georgia, while another brother rose likewise to eminent judicial
honor. Henry Schley, father of Dr. Fairfax Schley, was born
in Frederick city in 1793, and died there in 1871,; he partici-
pated in the battles of Bladensburg and North Point in 1814,
and after the campaign returned to Frederick where he filled
during many years various places of important public trust,
William Schley, who for many years was one of the leaders of
the Baltimore bar, and one of the most distinguished and
successful advocates whom the State of Maryland has ever
produced, was born in Frederickstown, October 31st, 1799.
He commenced the practice of his profession in 1824 in his
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native city, but removed to Baltimore in 1837 where he rapidly
rose to distinction at the bar. In the same year in which he be-
gan to practice law, he married Miss Ringgold of Conococheague
Manor, in Washington county, a sister of the gallant Major
Samuel Ringgold, of the U. S. army, who was killed at Palo
Alto in Mexico. Mr. Schley's life and energies were almost
entirely devoted to his profession, and after his retirement from
the State Senate, of which body he had been a member, he'
rarely took an active part in politics. Mr. Schley's profes-
sional reputation extended far beyond the limits of his city
and State, and no man was more frequently consulted by
clients from abroad or in other States. The gallant Winfield
S. Schley, the rescuer of Greely and commander of the cruiser
Baltimore, belongs to the family. Dr. Fairfax Schley, one
of the most popular citizens of Frederick, married into the
Steiner family, one of the oldest in Western Maryland, and
of whom the late Dr. Lewis H. Steiner, librarian of the Enoch
Pratt library was a member.
Among our older German-American families are many
whose ancestors came to Maryland from Germany direct by
the Chesapeake and settled from the beginning in Baltimore
and Annapolis. They were young merchants and traders,
who, trained in the Fatherland in habits of industry, and
familiar with all the details of the counting-house, rose to
wealth and influence, leaving to their descendants an untar-
nished name and to the city of their adoption lasting monu-
ments of their liberal spirit and enterprise. Such were the
Mayers, the Brantz family, the Appolds, Fricks, Bollmans and
many more. Christian Mayer and his partner and household
friend, Lewis Brantz, both of whom were so intimately con-
nected with the early commerce of Baltimore, emigrated from
Germany in 1784.
Mr. Mayer entered the mercantile house of Valk, Burger &
Schonten of Baltimore, and upon a change of the firm to
Valk & Co., was admitted a partner in the house. Mercantile
disasters in 1800 caused its downfall which swept away the
small fortune of Mr. Mayer, but they did not leave him des-
pondent or idle. His energy, pride, and sense of duty to his
family urged him to immediate industry and enterprise. On
his return from Europe in 1802 he formed a partnership with
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Mr. Lewis Brantz, a man of similar stamp and acquirements
„in the transaction of business on commission", continuing at
the same time their tobacco trade from Maryland with the
Netherlands. Mr. Christian Mayer also assumed the duties
of president of the Patapsco Marine Insurance Company, and
later, of the Neptune Marine Insurance Company. As Con-
sul-General of the kingdom of Würtemherg, he received the
most flattering testimonials from the sovereign and ministry
of that country for his distinguished devotion to the interests
of the German emigrants, many of whom were shiftless, inex-
perienced, ignorant of the language and sometimes ill-treated.
A desire of just protection for them induced Mr. Mayer to ask
the co-operation of leading German - Americans in forming a
"German Society of Maryland." It was founded and incor-
porated in 1817, Mr. Mayer becoming its first president, hold-
ing the office till 1821, when other duties made him decline a
re-election.
As an oracle on insurance he was referred to for opinions,
not only by eminent lawyers and law writers, but by the courts
also. He was a thoroughly educated gentleman and merchant.
His education, both classical, and commercial had been of the
best in Germany and Switzerland, and valuable books were his
constant and dear companions until within a few weeks of his
death, at an advanced age in 1843. To his fellow-citizens he
left the memory of a conspicuous example of the highly
cultivated merchant and gentleman ''of the old school." Well
may the German-American of Maryland be proud of such
pioneers and rejoice in the high qualities of the settlers of his
blood, who won influence and renown in a state that at all
times was rich in distinguished citizens.
C. F. RADDATZ.
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