Chapter xviii.
German Life in Various Other Cities and Towns of Virginia.
HE German inhabitants of the Virginian country towns had to compete against many adversities after the Confederacy was conquered. They were reduced in number and wealth and immigration had almost ceased.
' Alexandria had prospered during the time the Union army was concentrated around it, but when the troops were withdrawn commerce and industrial life came to a standstill. The former inhabitants returned poor and disheartened 2 3 0 ), the country all around was devastated and the northern business men left for other cities. Of the Germans who had settled in the city during war time, finally only a handful remained, and the German societies were discontinued for want of means and members. All had to struggle for daily existence and years passed by before confidence in a prosperous future was restored. It was in 1868 when Friedrich. Pfaff, Adolph Diedel, ~W. Bauer, Brill, West, Mumm, Wenzel and others united to build a Ger- man-Lutheran church and school and invited Bev. J. R. Bischof to become the pastor; but the permanent organization of a community was not accomplished until 1881, although a church had been built. It was a wooden structure about sixty feet deep and forty feet wide, with a steeple and bell donated by the well known brewer Robert Portlier. One day, when the church was in course of erection, Mr. Portlier happened to pass by and he asked the architect to show him the plan. He was surprised
£86.) Correspondence of Dr. Julius Dienelt, Alexandria, Va,