Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft
Encyclopedia
The Gießener Auswanderungs gesellschaft (Gießen emigration society) 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. The effort was considered a failure, but its leaders did much to contribute to the German influence of the state in the early 19th century.
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 and in 1829 published Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nordamerika's ("Report of a journey to the western states of North America") in 1829 which gave romantic and glowing descriptions of the Missouri River
valley between St. Louis and Hermann, Missouri
. The romantic description of the free life in the US motivated the Protestant minister Friedrich Münch
and the attorney Paul Follenius/Paul Follen
in 1833 to found the Gießen
emigration society. Muench and Follenius had participated in the outlawed student revolutions and political movements in Germany, prior to, and in the wake of the French July Revolution
of 1832. As there was no immediate hope for success, they established the Giessen Emigration Society, with their publication "A Call for a Large Emigration" with the intentions to establish a "new and free Germany in the great North American Republic" to serve as model for a future German Republic
.
The small publication was circulated privately throughout Germany, secretly passed and discussed. Muench and Follenius's followers grew and became so large, they could not take all that responded on this first call, and closed at 500 members. The Statutes of the Society were lengthy, and the costs were high. Members were required to post dues in advance, have enough funds for all of their travel, their land purchased and the first few years of living. Character references were also required. Members were made up from all areas of Germany, several different religious groups, and many professions, farmers included. Membership dues would cover the costs of travel and settlement for the physicians and teachers, who were granted free membership. The group was to travel in two contingents from Bremen, in the spring of 1834. In May of 1834, the Olbers, led by Paul Follenius, departed from Bremen, headed for New Orleans, where the group encountered Cholera. As they ascended the Mississippi River, now headed for St. Louis, many members grew ill, and some died. At the same time, unbeknown to the first group, the second contingent led by Friedrich Muench, was encountering their own difficulties in Bremen, and was delayed several weeks. They arrived in late July 1834 at Baltimore, and began to head quickly for St. Louis. At Cincinnati they met up with Baron von Bock of Dutzow who told them of the first groups arrival and misfortunes.
Both leaders, Friedrich Muench and Paul Follenius, settled on farms next to that of Gottfried Duden near the German-populated Dutzow, Missouri
. They soon realised that the plan for a separate German federal state would remain a Utopia
. Other families settled nearby in southeastern Warren County, and in nearby Franklin and St. Charles Counties. Many of these early families would soon begin to write their own letters home, encouraging further emigration. As many were professionals and politically motivated, they were active in their communities efforts and politics. These families were actively involved in efforts regarding the abolition of slavery during the Civil War, and many created and joined companies of the Union Army that were made up completely of Germans. The influence of these first five hundred can still be found in the area today, that follows the Missouri River from St. Louis to Hermann - often called Little Germany, Missouri. This area, called the Missouri Weinstrasse, still retains much of the early German influence in its culture, and historic architecture.
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Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of 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. The effort was considered a failure, but its leaders did much to contribute to the German influence of the state in the early 19th century.
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
Lake Creek
-Communities:* Lake Creek Township, Calhoun County, Iowa, one of seventeen townships* Lake Creek, Oregon, an unincorporated community located near Eagle Point* Lake Creek, Texas, an unincorporated community located near Cooper...
in 1824. He was investigating the possibilities of settlement in the area by his countrymen. In 1827 he returned to Germany and in 1829 published Bericht über eine Reise nach den westlichen Staaten Nordamerika's ("Report of a journey to the western states of North America") in 1829 which gave romantic and glowing descriptions 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...
valley between St. Louis and Hermann, Missouri
Hermann, Missouri
Hermann is a city designated in 1842 as the county seat of Gasconade County, Missouri, United States. It is near the center of the Missouri Rhineland and south of the Missouri River. The population was 2,674 at the 2000 census....
. The romantic description of the free life in the US motivated the Protestant minister Friedrich Münch
Friedrich Münch
Friedrich Münch was a German-American Rationalist, winemaker, Missouri State Senator, and prolific author for German emigrants, beginning in the 1830s....
and the attorney Paul Follenius/Paul Follen
Paul Follen
Paul Follen was a German-American attorney and farmer, who had founded the Gießener Auswanderungsgesellschaft ....
in 1833 to found the Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
emigration society. Muench and Follenius had participated in the outlawed student revolutions and political movements in Germany, prior to, and in the wake of the French July Revolution
July Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution or in French, saw the overthrow of King Charles X of France, the French Bourbon monarch, and the ascent of his cousin Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, who himself, after 18 precarious years on the throne, would in turn be overthrown...
of 1832. As there was no immediate hope for success, they established the Giessen Emigration Society, with their publication "A Call for a Large Emigration" with the intentions to establish a "new and free Germany in the great North American Republic" to serve as model for a future German Republic
German Republic
German Republic can refer to:*Weimar Republic*Federal Republic of Germany , also called Bonn Republic*Federal Republic of Germany , also called Berlin Republic*German Democratic Republic...
.
The small publication was circulated privately throughout Germany, secretly passed and discussed. Muench and Follenius's followers grew and became so large, they could not take all that responded on this first call, and closed at 500 members. The Statutes of the Society were lengthy, and the costs were high. Members were required to post dues in advance, have enough funds for all of their travel, their land purchased and the first few years of living. Character references were also required. Members were made up from all areas of Germany, several different religious groups, and many professions, farmers included. Membership dues would cover the costs of travel and settlement for the physicians and teachers, who were granted free membership. The group was to travel in two contingents from Bremen, in the spring of 1834. In May of 1834, the Olbers, led by Paul Follenius, departed from Bremen, headed for New Orleans, where the group encountered Cholera. As they ascended the Mississippi River, now headed for St. Louis, many members grew ill, and some died. At the same time, unbeknown to the first group, the second contingent led by Friedrich Muench, was encountering their own difficulties in Bremen, and was delayed several weeks. They arrived in late July 1834 at Baltimore, and began to head quickly for St. Louis. At Cincinnati they met up with Baron von Bock of Dutzow who told them of the first groups arrival and misfortunes.
Both leaders, Friedrich Muench and Paul Follenius, settled on farms next to that of Gottfried Duden near the German-populated Dutzow, Missouri
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...
. They soon realised that the plan for a separate German 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...
. Other families settled nearby in southeastern Warren County, and in nearby Franklin and St. Charles Counties. Many of these early families would soon begin to write their own letters home, encouraging further emigration. As many were professionals and politically motivated, they were active in their communities efforts and politics. These families were actively involved in efforts regarding the abolition of slavery during the Civil War, and many created and joined companies of the Union Army that were made up completely of Germans. The influence of these first five hundred can still be found in the area today, that follows the Missouri River from St. Louis to Hermann - often called Little Germany, Missouri. This area, called the Missouri Weinstrasse, still retains much of the early German influence in its culture, and historic architecture.
See also
[http://mo-germans.com http://mo-germans.com Missouri Germans Consortium- Missouri wineMissouri wineMissouri Wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Missouri. German immigrants in the early-to-mid-19th century, founded the wine industry in Missouri, resulting in its wine corridor being called the Missouri "Rhineland". Later Italian immigrants also entered wine production....
- Mount Pleasant WineryMount Pleasant WineryMount 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:...
- Missouri RhinelandMissouri RhinelandThe 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...