The following is an article written by George
Rupprecht discussing the foundation and life of the German communist
community known as Teutonia:
The organization of the Society of Industry had its inception
December 28, 1841 in accordance with the following agreement--
“We, the undersigned William Gilbert, Henry Schweitzer,
Henry Ginal and William Wernwag,
have entered into a contract to purchase thirty-seven thousand
acres of land, situate in the Country of McKean, State of Pennsylvania,
of Charles C. Gaskel, Executor of Benjamin Cooper, deceased, which
lands are to be conveyed to us as trustees and joint tenants,
to hold in trust for the Society of Industry, we, the trustees,
aforesaid, do hereby agree that we will hold the aforesaid lands
according to the meaning and intent of the constitution, and that
neither of us have or will claim any further interest in said
lands than we shall be entitled to under the constitution, nor
any further or greater interest than---------------, a member
of the Society has under the constitution. Witness our hands and
seals this twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord,
one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.” Signed by Henry
Schweitzer, Henry Ginal, John Logo, William Gilbert and William
Wernwag.
The completion of the land purchase agreement of December 8th,
1841, for the legal transfer of title, took place on May 14, 1842
by a deed of mortgage of Charles C. Gaskill and Ralph U. M. Cooper,
acting executors of the Estate of Benjamin B. Cooper to Henry
Schweitzer, Henry Ginal, John Logo, William Wernwag and William
Gilbert, in trust for the Society of Industry. This document was
recorded in the office of Recorder of Deeds for McKean County
March 31st, 1843. The number of acres involved was thirty-two
thousand four hundred forty-sic and the consideration price was
thirty-eight thousand nine hundred fifty-one dollars and eighty-two
cents. This amount is the unpaid balance due to the Cooper Estate
and is represented by a series of notes, payable in installments
signed by the five Trustees and are secured by the Deed of Mortgage
above mentioned approximately twelve thousand acres involved in
the transaction were in the Instanter District and the balance
is in the Stanton District of Hamlin Township near the Marvin
Creek valley. |
The following is a transcript of the
membership certificate--
"This is to certify that-------------------- has been accepted
as a member of this Society and as such has a right to all the
privileges and rights contained in this constitution.”
“However, if he
should leave it of his own free will, or if he is unwilling
to conform to the laws of this Society and should be dismissed
from it, he shall not be able to claim any damages for work
done for the Society, nor for any article belonging to the Society,
nor for any part of the property belonging to it.”
“But, he can sell or give away his certificate to any
person of the same age and station, if it can be proven that
the said person is of good character and standing and worthy
of becoming a member. The owner of this certificate may not
sell it as long as a member of his family remains in the colony.”
Signed by John Logo, Treasurer, August 25, 1842, Philadelphia,
Pa.
The Society was started on the plan and by the enterprise of
Henry Ginall of Philadelphia. It was founded on the principal
of community of property, with the exception of money and furniture.
It was to be sustained by the cooperation of its members. An
equal distribution of profits was to be made semi-annually.
The stock was divided into six hundred and sixty shares, and
was sold for one hundred dollars each. An individual could become
a member by purchasing a share of stock, going on the ground
and doing his share of the work. Married women were not obliged
to work for the community, but were to devote their attention
to the care of their families. Children, when grown up, become
members by conforming to the rules of the Society.
Agriculture and the raising of cattle were the prominent objects
of the Society, but manufactories were established. The members
of each trade chose their own inspector and determined the amount
of work which should be done by each individual or company of
persons.
Marriage was encouraged and each family resided in its separate
house. Single persons were furnished a lodging and took their
meals in the community kitchen. Clothing of a plain and uniform
kind, provision, fuel, medicines and other necessities were
regularly distributed by rations from the common stores.
All religions were tolerated. Whenever three hundred share holders
voted to maintain a minister, they could do so. The minister
would have to buy a share and then would be entitled to a house
and support in return for his spiritual labors.
The large area of land purchased was to be divided into sections,
in the center of each a town was to be established.
The first village planned was named Teutonia and was located
in the District of Instanter. It was situated in the southern
part of Warrant No. 2669 and was adjacent to the eight hundred
acre plot of the Town of Instanter promoted by Benjamin B. Cooper
in 1817. All unsold lots within the Town of Instanter plan were
included in the sale of the large area to the Society of Industry.
In the center of the area selected for the location of the village,
a parcel of land was set aside for general public purposes.
It was a longitudinal plot, and a street, called Main Street
was run through lengthwise dividing it into two equal sections;
the upper part was reserved for a church and a school and in
its extreme southern end, the erection of a hotel was planned.
Along the fringe of the northern side of the community plot,
a street called Broadway was laid out, along which a row of
houses were built of logs, one and one-half stories high, of
uniform design and plan, one room on the first floor and a loft
under the roof; a short distance beyond the dwellings, was the
general repair shop, the pottery works and the brick plant.
This area was known as the North Hill.
The lower section of the public square, bordering on the lower
line of Main Street was the site of the warehouse, the general
store, the office, the cabinet maker’s shop, the boarding
house for single women, and the location of the community kitchen.
A lodging house for single men was established in the extreme
southern part of the plot. A short distance west of the warehouse,
outside of the community plot, was the location of the storage
cellar.
A street was also opened along the south border line of the
south half of the public ground, along which a row of dwellings
had been erected.
The residents of the village had the choice of two routes when
going to Clermont, one being by way of North Street from the
center of the Instanter Town plot designated on the survey map
of Benjamin B. Cooper in 1817. The major part of the land of
the Instanter Town District was included in the sale by the
Cooper Estate to the Society of Industry; the other route was
known as the Five Mile road which approached Clermont village
at the overhead bridge of the Shawmut Railroad. At the time
the railroad was built it followed the Five Mile road route
for a distance of several miles on its way to Clermont.
Immediately south of the village, was the area referred to as
the South Hill and on its slope was located the farm, including
the large barn reported to be the biggest one in the county;
here this vegetable garden, the gardener’s house and a
storage cellar were also situated, as well as the site of the
tannery.
Among those plying their trades in the community were a weaver,
a tailor, a dressmaker, a shoe maker, a baker, a watch maker
and cabinet maker; this list should include the farmers, the
workers in the pottery works, the brick manufacturing plant,
the tannery, the building construction crew and the wood choppers
who are continually engaged in clearing the land.
At first the prospects of the colony were so promising that
the shares rose in value from one hundred dollars to two hundred
and fifty dollars. Quick progress was made by the industry of
the workers, but markets were so distant and transportation
so difficult that profits were small. The soil was very productive
and large quantities of all kinds of vegetables were raised
in abundance. The potato crop of 1843 amounted to three thousand
bushels.
From available records of the village we learned that farmers
charged a dollar a day for the labor of a man and a horse; that
wheat was sold at a dollar and a half a bushel; that white flour
was bought at Four Dollars and fifty cents a barrel, and corn
meal at One Dollar and twenty-five cents a barrel. Forty-six
Dollars were paid for a pair of oxen; Ten Dollars for three
calves; Ninety Dollars for a flock of fifty sheep and two and
one-half cents a pound for beef cattle.
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The following data was also obtained
from the Society’s records:
August 9, 1843- Ginalsburg seeds four men to begin making a
road that should be finished before winter.
August 11, 1843- Messrs. Leidenstiker, Decker, Nuhs and Dr.
Miller left this morning for Buffalo where they will purchase
the
following order-
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6 bbl. Salt
2 bbl. Fine White Flour
2 bbl. Coffee
1 bbl. Whiskey
50 lbs. Soda
5 lbs. Epsom salts
10 lbs. Tea
4 lbs. Lamp Black
10 lbs. Logwood
10 gal. Courier (?) Oil |
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Received of O. Hamlin of Smethport
two fat steers for $35.00.
August 12, 1843- Bochler, Killmer and Hellman returned today
from Nunda (Potato Creek) and brought the following:
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23 bbl. Fine White Flour at 4 1/2-
$103.50
20 bbl. Corn Meal at $1.24- $25.00
14 lbs. Sole Leather at $0.28- $3.92. |
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August 18, 1843- Frederick Ribetker
today returned from Albany and brought a letter from Gallsted
in which he states that he will make us a visit
of several days for the purpose of studying the industries and
plan of our colony.
August 19, 1843- Joel Bishop who owns a farm on the North Hill
this day entered a complaint against our colony because of the
injury done his cattle by our dogs. Received today from Jonathon
Colegrove of Potato Creek-
4 Fat Oxen- $87.00
2 Fat Calves- $10.00 |
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August 30, 1843- Received from Hinsdale
(New York)-
3 bbl. Salt at $3.00- $9.00
5 lbs. Tea at $0.55- $2.75
September 2, 1843- Mr. Gindel asked for cloth for a pair of
trousers. The one pair he has is badly worn. At present there
is no cloth in stock. Mr. Gindel must wait until next week.
September 4, 1843- Attorney Henry Schweitzer (one of the Society’s
trustees) today delivered an agreement dated October 10, 1841,
signed by John Logan, Henry Ginal, Henry Schweitzer and A. Diller.
(The first three named are trustees.)
Another agreement dated November 29, 1841, signed by C. C. Gaskell,
Executor of the estate of B. B. Cooper, and also signed by William
Wernwag, Dr. Ginal, John Logan, W. Gilbert and Attorney Henry
Schweitzer, Trustees of the German Industrial Society, was delivered
to us today.
September 5, 1843- Mr. White has a threshing machine which we
may have in fourteen days at the rate of one dollar for man
and horse and one bushel for each one hundred bushels of grain
threshed for the use of the machine. Gideon Irons has a machine
which threshes 150 to 200 bushels per day. His rates are two
dollars a day for one man and two horses and a charge of five
bushels of grain per one hundred for use of machine.
A meeting of the officers of the German Industrial Society will
be held at Ginalsburg tonight. Purchased from Roland Burdick
of Potato Creek road, one pair of oxen for $46.00.
September 12, 1843- In payment of his bill, Mr. Hall wants 3
bushels of wheat at $1.50 and balance in cash.
September 13, 1843- Mr. Buehl wants a stove and wood as soon
as possible. Mr. Wolfe moved here today from Ginalsburg. He
needs a stove.
September 14, 1843- Walters reported that Taylor of Smethport
has 50 sheep which he will sell for $90.00
The milliner, Madam Schmidt, handed in at the office for collection
a bill of $0.75 for a ladies’ hat, purchased by Sylvester
Young of Potato Creek Road.
September 17, 1843- General Diller of Philadelphia, the agent
for our Society came today with Mr. William P. Wilcox. He was
greatly pleased with the progress we are making and encouraged
us to continue.
Messrs. Sartwell, Bennet and Richmond and their wives came from
Smethport today to visit our colony.
September 18, 1843- Sold to Mr. Witte $42.75 worth of leather.
September 27, 1843- Ransom Burdick of Potato Creek Road has
cattle for sale.
Mr. Brewer wrote this poem about our barn, the largest in McKean
Country:
I think no harm
To call this barn
The best that’s in our land.
A better shade
Cannot be made,
Nor on a better plan.
The bride of McKean
Shall be her name
I am sure she’ll take the county.
This mammoth use,
To speak the truth,
Is the bride of all the county.
September 29, 1843- Hellman brought a load of apples from Bunker
Hill.
October 3, 1843- Received a wagon land of applies from Bunker
Hill.
Mill day has the following for sale:
50 bu. Lentils at $0.69 1/2 a Bushel.
Fresh Rutabagas at $0.20 a Bushel.
October 5, 1843- P.B. Richmond demands $25.00 on his $60.00
which is three weeks over dur.
October 8, 1843- Drafts have been sent to Baltimore and Philadelphia.
October 11, 1843- Today occurred the death of Emeline, the youngest
child of Mr. Meyer.
October 13, 1843- Mr. White came today to thresh our grain.
He demands two bushel per 100 instead of one bushel.
October 14, 1843- John King requests five month’s credit
on his bill. Bread was delivered to Ginalsburg this morning.
Mrs. Catherine paid $250 for a share of our stock. Bought of
K. Compton, 2 pr. Oxen for $90.00 each.
October 19, 1843- We are notified by Constable Beckwith to appear
before Squire Easterbrook at one o’ clock on Saturday
for a hearing on a charge made by Ransom Beckwith.
November 3, 1843- H. Burlingame of Smethport will sell his fatted
cattle at $0.2 1/2 a lb.
November 6, 1843- Our draft for $200 sent to Baltimore was not
accepted. Medburg will finish carding the wool next week.
November 10, 1843- Miller and Hass went to Smethport today to
inspect the cattle offered by Corwin and Smith at $0.2 1/2 a
pound.
November 20, 1843- Community assembly tonight.
The second village to be established
in accordance with the general plan was Ginalsburg, two miles
west of Clermont, on Instanter Creek. The location was at Woodvale,
a former railroad station of the abandoned Johnsonburg and Clermont
Railroad. A number of log houses, a barn and a large steam powered
saw mill had been erected. The community did not exist beyond
the early stages of development.
A partial list of surnames of the residents of Teutonia and
Ginalsburg is as follows: Herzog; Steinbauer; bayer; H eitman;
J. Martin; A. Martin; Roeder; Heinman; Leidenstiker; Decker;
Nuhs; Miller; Boehler; Kilmer; Heilman; Ribecker; Gindel; Buehl;
Wolfe; Walters; Schmidt; Meyer; Haas; and Hafner.
In the early months of 1844, there were indications that the
future of the Teutonia project was becoming a matter of serious
doubt in the minds of many Society members.
The organization was controlled by a group of five trustees,
at least four of whom were classed in the category of absentee
landlords. The trustees apparently did not inform the membership
of the details of the land purchase agreement, especially of
that portion pertaining to the amount of the unpaid balance
of the purchase price of thirty-eight thousand nine hundred
fifty-one dollars, secured by a mortgage payable in principle
installments plus interest. The membership was not likewise
informed of the amount of compensation for the trustees in their
capacity as such.
The residents of Teutonia were immigrants from Germany, where
living conditions were difficult by reason of the economic,
political and religious turmoil existing generally at that time
throughout Europe. When they came to this country, they did
not know what the living conditions and customs were over here,
but they concluded that any change they would face would be
a betterment.
The management and operational procedures lacked leadership
authority resulting in miscalculation of income and expenditures
frequently resulting in scarcity of cash funds. In view of the
nature of the operation of the organization it was probably
impossible to remedy this condition.
Another source of rising discontent was the equal distribution
of supplies and provisions to all the members, including those
who failed to do their share of the work in the categories in
which the Society was involved.
It may also be assumed that at least some of the members of
the colony became disconcerted over the realization that they
have surrendered their opportunity of being the architect of
their lives and of becoming self sustaining, free and independent
citizens. They compared their status as members of the Society
of Teutonia requiring the wearing of clothes of a uniform kind
and style and the living in houses of similar design and construction,
with a single large room on the first floor and a limited area
loft under the roof. A comparison of their habitation with the
homes they observed throughout the surrounding district did
not tend to develop any satisfaction or contentment.
The general atmosphere in the community seemed to be corroding
and the members being aware of this situation, requested of
Henry Ginal the opportunity of examining the deal and other
documents pertaining to the establishment of the colony. Ginal
then feigned an important business trip to Olean, from which
he failed to return. The next year he turned up in Milwaukee
with the Freethinker Society.
The town of Teutonia thereupon completely collapsed and was
abandoned, its people scattered to other areas and reestablished
their homes and became self sustaining, free and independent
citizens.
The Benjamin B. Cooper Estate then adopted legal procedures
to reacquire title and possession of the lands of the defunct
German Society of Industry according to the mortgage terms.
In this process, public advertisement were required, describing
the lands and improvements made thereon, a list of the latter
items being as follows:
Warrant No. 2666- Ginalsburg- improved 50 acres, chopped 40
acres, seven log houses, blacksmith shop, barn and one steam
saw mill; Warrant No. 2602- seventy-one acres cleared; Warrant
No. 2669- improved 100 acres, 20 acres chopped, 42 log houses,
one log school house, one blacksmith shop, one shoe shop, one
slaughter house, one bake house, two log stables, one large
frame barn, one tannery, one brick yard, one pottery, one ashery,
368 young fruit trees and two coal beds. This Warrant was the
nucleus of the town of Teutonia.
Warrant No. 2573- forty-eight acres cleared, two log houses
and one school house; Warrant No. 2677- fourteen acres cleared
and one frame barn; Warrant No. 2556- forty-two acres cleared,
three log houses; Warrant No. 2664- seven acres cleared, one
log house; Warrant No. 2365- fourteen acres cleared, two log
houses and twelve young fruit trees. The last five numbered
warrants were located in Hamlin Township.
After the Cooper Estate had regained title to the properties
purchased, they offered sixty acres to each individual who wished
to stay and clear the land. Those who took advantage of the
offer, and became permanent settlers were Michael Bayer, Francis
Heitman, John Martin, Adam Martin, Philip Roeder and John Steinbauer.
The only other member who remained nearby was William Heineman,
the shoe maker, who bought a farm at Hamlin.
Written by George S. Rupprecht and
Margaret M. Rupprecht,
Glen Hazel, Wilcox, Pa. with
valuable assistance by Edward
Carlson of Clermont and Mrs.
V. A. Kraft of Ridgeway, Pa.
1980
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Excerpts of Teutonia References
Excerpted from "History of American
Socialism", by John Humphrey Noyes, Hillary House Publishing,
NY 1961, p. 252
"The 'Phalanx', in its first number {October 1, 1843},
announced this experiment among many others in the following
terms: 'There is a large association of Germans in McKean County,
Pennsylvania, commenced by the Rev. George Ginal of Philadelphia.
They own a very extensive tract of land, over 30,000 acres we
are informed, and are progressing prosperously. The shares,
which were originally $100, have been sold and are now held
at $200 or more.' This is the first and the last we hear of
Rev. George Ginal and his 30,000 acres." (ed. note: Should
read Rev. Adam Heinrich Ginal; also, the 'Phalanx' was the in-house
organ of the American Fourierist movement)
J.E. Henretta, in his "Kane and the
Upper Allegheny", notes:
"In 1841(sic) covered wagons carried a colony of Germans
from Philadelphia over the New York to Olean Road. Their destination
was SE McKean County. The road, particularly after leaving Olean,
was rough and the journey was long, but the company was enthusiastic
for they held high hopes for a prosperous settlement. True to
their German training, they had their work carefully planned.
Each family had contributed $50 (sic--$100) to furnish the capital
needed for the new enterprise".
Beers, in his 1890 history of McKean, Potter,
Elk and Cameron Counties, writes:
"Teutonia dates back to March 1843, when the Society of
Industry (Henry Ginal,agent) established the town four miles
west of Ginalsburg (sic--one mile SE of Ginalsburg). The principles
of this society varied a little from the older Fourier system.
The capital was $40,000, the acreage 40,000,including the coal
hills. In the year named there were 450 inhabitants, a school-building
and 70 or 80 log dwellings. This community divided their purchase
into several districts, in each of which a town was projected.
Clothing and food were distributed from the commercial store,
married women were not compelled to work for the community,
and all religious forms were tolerated. At Ginalsburg there
were then 100 inhabitants. A stone school-house, a steam saw
mill, a pottery and a furnace were projected. The dwellings
were frame buildings. In 1875, when Mr. John Forrest went to
Clermont as paymaster for the Buffalo Coal Company, there were
remains of the houses. It was a communal affair, which, like
most of that class, fell to pieces. Ginalsburg is also a town
of the past."
The December 10, 1886 issue of the McKean County Miner, printed
the following:
"On December 10, 1845(sic---1843) a large band of German
immigrants from Philadelphia began building a town in Sertgeant
Township near what is today's village of Clermont. The plan
was 'communistic' in type, 'owning all things together'., and
the active governing body worked on that idea, share and share
alike. Some 400 German families made the trek, from 1837 on
through the years. They cleared a large amount of land and built
their town which they named "Teutonia". The site had
substantially-built log houses and regularly laid-out streets.
It had a markethouse, a community store, and all such buildings
as necessary for industrial establishments as carried out under
their community government system. In 1846, some mebbers became
disgruntled with the system, and began to leave the area; and
a great many families moved westward. Remaining settlers mad
eregular claims for the land, and began making individual farms
in the valley, later working in the coal mining industry nearby.The
name ":Teutonia" gradually fell intodisuse, and ":Bunker
Hill was predominate for a long tome until it too was changed
in 1875 to the name still used today, Clermont"ed note:
Bunker Hill preceded Teutonia by app 20 years, and was two miles
east northeast of Teutonia.
The late Clermont historian Wendell Anderson
wrote:
"Your note mentions German colonies in the area. Dad told
me that the early name of Clermont was Teutonia and he once
pointed out to me some old stone foundations of the early settlers'
houses about a half mile out the old Shawmut railroad grade
toward St Marys --on the left hand side. I was always under
the impression that this was the site of Teutonia."
Socialism and American Life, Egbert and Perosns, p. 180
"Several dozen colonies were planted
between 1842 and 1845, and nearly all were killed in the sprout.
Other experiments in Western New York and in the mountains of
Northern Pennsylvania had the same land mania, debt and title
problems, and quarrels, and broke up usually after the first
summer."
Communist and Cooperative Colonies, Gide,
p. 129
"Fourierist colonies sprang up in other
parts of the US; 33 of them have been counted, but there were
certainly many more than that. It must be owned that of these
33, a large number did not last even a year; they were fires
of straw, extinguished almost as soon as ther were lighted."
Utopias and Utopian Thought, Manuel, p.
186
"With notable exceptions, like Brook
Farm, most earlier communities had chosen sites west of Central
New York and Pennsylvania, and East of the Mississippi. These
newly-opened regions provided inexpensive, readily available
land."
Where Angels Dared to Tread, Calverton,
p. 172
"When they dissolved, it was become
some individual or individuals among them grew avaricious and
disrupted the oganization, or because the young people resented
the discipline and restriction necessary to that way of life.
They did not fail because they were communistic. The reverse
was the case. They succeeded in building up more prosperous
groups than those founded by the individualistic, 'devil-take-the-hindmost'
settlers, and many of their communities were shining examples
of efficiency, thrift, and sound economic planning."
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Teutonia Was
To Be An Ideal Town
McKean County Democrat, February 12, 1942
A little known episode in
the history of McKean County is related in the Warren County
Almanac for 1942. It is the story of Teutonia—May 13,
1817, Benjamin B. Cooper and Joseph McIlvaine, of New Jersey,
laid out on paper the town of Instanter to be the center of
a large development on their McKean county lands.
Their model was the city of Washington. On May 14, 1842, their
representatives sold 32,446 acres, 100 perches in sergeant
Township, including part of the town site, to the trustees
for “Gewerbe Verein” a German “Society for
Industry” led by Henry Ginal of Philadelphia, for $38,951.82
part of which was represented by a mortgage for 425,416.25.
In the next two years 450 families moved in…houses,
school houses, a church, blacksmith shop, tannery, sawmills,
pottery, shoe shop, slaughter house, ashery—all were
built and hundreds of fruit trees were set out…property,
except furniture and clothing, was held in common; and the
whole community worked like beavers making such progress as
was most uncommon in settlements of this sort…but they
had over-reached themselves.
When the mortgage balance of only $2,083.25 fell due, they
could not meet it on the day.
The mortgage promptly foreclosed and on May 27, 1845, got
the sheriff’s deed for everything…many of their
descendants still live in that vicinity.
Teutonia was about five miles below Smethport, between the
present towns of Clermont and Instanter---which is not on
the side of the site of the Instanter laid out in 1817—Emporium
Press-Independent.
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Communists
in Mckean County
McKean County Democrat, October 27, 1949
"Sand Pumpings"
column in the Bradford Era on Wednesday, said: "Rose Herzog
of Smethport takes exception to our labeling as Communists the
people who settled Teutonia (near Smethport) back in the 1840's.
The dictionary defines communists as "the doctrine of having
property in common," as history records the Teutonians
as definitely owning property in common. Although many of us
today think of Communism only as appiled to Russians, we had
no intention of suggesting that this old time McKean County
settlement was a slave state, complete with secret police, purges,
and revolutionists. As Mrs. Herzog points out, many early societies
(such aas the Puritians, the Shakers, and the Oneida Community)
held property in common and were therefore communists in the
exact sense of the term.
"Mrs. Herzog sent us much information about Teutonia, and
names of some of its settlers--Steinhauers, Heitmans, Martins,
Bayers, Walters, Roeders, and Heinnemans--names that today are
associated with the building of McKean County. Mrs. Herzog located
the settlement as being of Clermont and says that many pieces
of furniture made in Teutonia are still in existence in this
area."
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Merle Dickinson Speaks on History
of Teutonia
McKean County Democrat, February 22,
1968
The history of Teutonia,
a communal settlement near Clermont, McKean County, was presented
by Merle E. Dickinson, register of wills and clerk of the
orphans court of McKean County, during a meeting of the Smethport
Travelers Club in the Harris class Room of the Smethport Methodist
Church last Saturday.
The form of organization of Teutonia was actually communism
long before the Russian type was placed in operation. All
sources of production were owned by the community and each
adult male was contributed his share of work. In return, he
was received his share of the profits.
Mr. Dickinson stated that McKean County was organized in 1804
during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, and that there
were only 142 persons McKean County in 1810.
He mentioned that in 1821 some new families from New England
and southwestern Pennsylvania took up residence in the county.
“In 1840,” he said, “a group of people of
German descent from the Philadelphia region organized calling
themselves “The Society of Industry” and named
their settlement Teutonia.” Mr. Dickinson stated that
it is not certain how long Teutonia survived, but it could
not have been more than seven or eight years. He mentioned
that some of the families remained, and their descendants
still live in McKean County. He listed descendants with family
names such as Bayer, Roeder, Silfies, Martin, Amend, Heinemann,
Herzog, Swarts and Hoffman.
Mr. Dickinson said there is a deed on record in the McKean
County Court House for 29 warrants of land containing 26,000
acres of land at a purchase price of $26,000. About $40,000
was realized from the sale of stock to purchase the land.
Settlers of this ear, the speaker pointed out, seemed to prefer
the higher ground. They did a tremendous job clearing the
land and erecting buildings, including sawmills, a grist mil
and a school. Their visions were of utopia in al their efforts.
The settlers were Catholics and Lutherans, but strangely no
church was ever built at Teutonia.
It is estimated than 70 or more log houses were erected and
40 or 50 men were kept busy cutting trees for timber.
There were several settlements, Mr. Dickinson recalled. He
said the Bunker Hill settlement is worth of special mention.
In the early days there was little market for timber because
of lack of transportation facilities. The age of huge lumber
rafts on the rivers was to come later.
In order to clear land for planting crops, several hundreds
acres of timber at Bunker Hill near Clermont, were cleared.
The felled trees were left on the ground for a year or more
and then set on fire.
It was a terrible conflagration. The roar of the fire could
be heard for miles and much of the embers were carried high
into the air by the man-created furnace.
It is possible that settlers thought the ashes would fertilize
the soil. But such was not the case. The topsoil was burned
to the extent that Bunker Hill remained barren until about
35 years ago, when nature started its own reforestation.
A gristmill was built on Red Mill Brook, which originated
at Clermont and flows into Potato Creek. The remains of the
earth dam still visible.
Last summer the three millstones were brought to Smethport
for preservation by the McKean County historical Society.
The millstones are 54 inches in diameter and 10 1⁄2
inch round hole in the center o each stone.
“We do know,” Mr. Dickinson said, “that
these good people came to McKean County with high ideals and
a dream of success. They decided on the community venture
as a means of owning land, raising the families and securing
their future.
“What happened to Teutonia?” We will probably
never have the answer. The sun had set and the settlement
reverted to the wilderness.”
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