Friedrich Münch
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Münch was a German-American Rationalist, winemaker, Missouri State Senator, and prolific author for German emigrants, beginning in the 1830s.
He studied theology
at the University of Gießen
, Germany, from 1816 to 1819. There he met the brothers Follen (August, Karl
and Paul
, who founded a democratic and republican students movement, soon to be outlawed. He befriended the youngest brother, Paul Follen
, who in 1825 married his sister Maria.
Author Gottfried Duden
, a German attorney, settled on the north side of the Missouri River
along Lake Creek in 1824. He was investigating the possibilities of settlement in the area by his countrymen. In 1827 he returned to Germany, which he believed was overpopulated. There he first published a glowing Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nordamerikas ("A Journey to the Western States of North America") in 1829.
The romantic description of the free life in the United States
motivated the Lutheran minister Friedrich Münch and the attorney Paul Follen
to found in 1833 the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft
("Gießen Emigration Society"). Both had participated in student movements in Germany. As they felt there was no immediate hope for success, they intended to establish a "new and free German State in the great North American Republic" to serve as a model for a future German republic.
In the spring and summer of 1834 they led 500 German settlers into Missouri. They soon realized that the plan for a separate federal state would remain a utopia
. They settled in the German-populated town Dutzow
in Warren County, Missouri
, on the north side of the Missouri River
, not far from the former farm of Gottfried Duden. This helped attract German immigrants to the area, which along both sides of the river became known as the Missouri Rhineland
.
The German settlers were known as "Dreißiger", or "Thirtiers", as opposed to the later "Forty Eighters" who migrated after the failed European revolutions of 1848
.
Münch played a notable role in Missouri politics, where he was a fierce opponent of slavery
. He campaigned together with Friedrich Hecker, a former German revolutionist who had immigrated to the US after the failure of the 1848/9 democratic movement in Germany. Münch was elected to Missouri’s legislature, where he served during the American Civil War
.
Friedrich's brother Georg Münch moved from Lake Creek to Augusta, Missouri
, where he founded Mount Pleasant Winery
in 1859. Münch was influential in the creation of the Missouri wine industry, which became the second largest in the nation before Prohibition
.
Friedrich Münch wrote books on viticulture
, theology, and the State of Missouri. He also wrote articles on winemaking, agriculture and emigration to Missouri for the United States and German press, under his pen name Far West.
On December 14, 1881 Friedrich Münch died on the same farm he first purchased upon arrival in 1834, the only farm he ever lived on and owned in the United States. His children had called him for supper, and discovered him with pruning shears in hand in his vineyard. He is buried with his family, on the same farm, overlooking the Lake Creek valley he loved.
His many descendants were held in high esteem in the St. Louis region. One of his sons was among the first volunteers in the Civil War and died in the Battle of Wilson's Creek
under the command of Franz Sigel
, a former officer of the German 1848 revolution. One of his daughters, Emilie, married Dr. William Follenius, the son of his old friend Paul Follen.
He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Gießen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
, Germany, from 1816 to 1819. There he met the brothers Follen (August, Karl
Charles Follen
Charles Follen was a German poet and patriot, who later moved to the United States and became the first professor of German at Harvard University, a Unitarian minister, and a radical abolitionist.-Life in Europe:...
and Paul
Paul Follen
Paul Follen was a German-American attorney and farmer, who had founded the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft ....
, who founded a democratic and republican students movement, soon to be outlawed. He befriended the youngest brother, Paul Follen
Paul Follen
Paul Follen was a German-American attorney and farmer, who had founded the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft ....
, who in 1825 married his sister Maria.
Author Gottfried Duden
Gottfried Duden
Gottfried Duden was a German emigration writer of the early 19th century. His famous book Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nordamerika's gave romantic and glowing descriptions of the Missouri River valley between St. Louis and Hermann, Missouri...
, a German attorney, settled on the north side of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
along Lake Creek in 1824. He was investigating the possibilities of settlement in the area by his countrymen. In 1827 he returned to Germany, which he believed was overpopulated. There he first published a glowing Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nordamerikas ("A Journey to the Western States of North America") in 1829.
The romantic description of the free life in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motivated the Lutheran minister Friedrich Münch and the attorney Paul Follen
Paul Follen
Paul Follen was a German-American attorney and farmer, who had founded the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft ....
to found in 1833 the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft
Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft
The Gießener Auswanderungs gesellschaft was founded in 1833 in Gießen with the aim of establishing a German-populated federal state within the United States. A majority of the five hundred politically motivated members, from the middle and upper class, settled in Missouri in 1834...
("Gießen Emigration Society"). Both had participated in student movements in Germany. As they felt there was no immediate hope for success, they intended to establish a "new and free German State in the great North American Republic" to serve as a model for a future German republic.
In the spring and summer of 1834 they led 500 German settlers into Missouri. They soon realized that the plan for a separate federal state would remain a utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
. They settled in the German-populated town Dutzow
Dutzow, Missouri
Dutzow is an unincorporated community in southeastern Warren County, Missouri, United States. It is located on Route 94 about three miles north of Washington in what was referred to as Lake Creek by author Gottfried Duden, whose farm adjoins the early village...
in Warren County, Missouri
Warren County, Missouri
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Warren County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and is located west of the city on the north side of the Missouri River. As of 2008, the population was estimated to be 31,214. Its county seat is Warrenton...
, on the north side of the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, not far from the former farm of Gottfried Duden. This helped attract German immigrants to the area, which along both sides of the river became known as the Missouri Rhineland
Missouri Rhineland
The Missouri Rhineland is a geographical area of Missouri that extends from west of St. Louis to slightly east of Jefferson City, located mostly in the Missouri River Valley on both sides of the river...
.
The German settlers were known as "Dreißiger", or "Thirtiers", as opposed to the later "Forty Eighters" who migrated after the failed European revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
.
Münch played a notable role in Missouri politics, where he was a fierce opponent of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. He campaigned together with Friedrich Hecker, a former German revolutionist who had immigrated to the US after the failure of the 1848/9 democratic movement in Germany. Münch was elected to Missouri’s legislature, where he served during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Friedrich's brother Georg Münch moved from Lake Creek to Augusta, Missouri
Augusta, Missouri
Augusta is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. The population was 218 at the 2000 census. The town boasts wineries, antique shops, retaurants, B&B's, a wood shop, a glass studio, massage therapy, and The Augusta Brewery....
, where he founded Mount Pleasant Winery
Mount Pleasant Winery
Mount Pleasant Winery is a winery in Augusta, Missouri, USA, on the north side of the Missouri River in what is called the Missouri Rhineland. It is the third-largest winery in the state.-History:...
in 1859. Münch was influential in the creation of the Missouri wine industry, which became the second largest in the nation before Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
.
Friedrich Münch wrote books on viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
, theology, and the State of Missouri. He also wrote articles on winemaking, agriculture and emigration to Missouri for the United States and German press, under his pen name Far West.
On December 14, 1881 Friedrich Münch died on the same farm he first purchased upon arrival in 1834, the only farm he ever lived on and owned in the United States. His children had called him for supper, and discovered him with pruning shears in hand in his vineyard. He is buried with his family, on the same farm, overlooking the Lake Creek valley he loved.
His many descendants were held in high esteem in the St. Louis region. One of his sons was among the first volunteers in the Civil War and died in the Battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
under the command of Franz Sigel
Franz Sigel
Franz Sigel was a German military officer, revolutionist and immigrant to the United States who was a teacher, newspaperman, politician, and served as a Union major general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, a former officer of the German 1848 revolution. One of his daughters, Emilie, married Dr. William Follenius, the son of his old friend Paul Follen.
Additional reading
- Don Heinrich Tolzmann, ed., Missouri's German Heritage. Second Edition. Milford, Ohio: Little Miami Publishing Co., 2006. ISBN 1-932250-22-0