Neighborhood: West End
The Covington German Pioneer Society was established in 1877. The First meeting was held on May 6. The group decided to base their charter on that of the Cincinnati German Pioneer Society. There were 109 charter members. The group elected the following as the first officers: George Welling (president), Henry Deglow (vice president), B.H.F. Hellebusch (secretary) and Henry Adams (treasurer). The purpose of the group was to “hold fast to German customs and character and to make it an heirloom for their children and grand-children, so that American materialism would not destroy the German nature.”
The group held their meetings at Welling’s Hall, which was renamed Pioneer Hall. In 1886, the meeting place was changed to Geiser’s Hall at the corner of Pike and Washington Streets. In 1896, another move found the group at the Central Garden, a beer garden located on Riddle Street (later renamed 9th Street).
The silver jubilee of the German Pioneer Society was celebrated in 1902. A history of this group was published at that time. The anti-German hysteria of World War I and great decline in German immigration to the area brought the Covington German Pioneer Society to an end.
Founding Members of the German Pioneer Society of Covington
- Conrad Ackermann, born 16 October 1826 in Doerzbach an der Jaxt, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1848.
- Heinrich Adams, born 5 October 1823 in Schonstein, Reg. Bez. Koblentz, Prussia, emigrated in 1847.
- Georg Johann Albrinck, born 10 October 1821 in Loningen, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1845.
- Herman Arlinghaus, born 21 June 1822 in Dinklage, Amt Steinfeld, Oldenburg, emigrated 1849.
- Karl Asmann, born 29 September 1831 in Hanau, Kurhessen, emigrated in 1852.
- Nicolaus Bath, born 21 November 1836 in Schweyen, Lothringen, emigrated 1853.
- Georg Bernhard, born 7 March 1828 in Utterichshausen, Amt Schwarzenfels, Kurhessen, emigrated in 1830.
- Heinrich Berte, born 10 December 1820 in Holdorf, Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1837.
- Joseph Birkle, born 19 December 1808 in Benzinger, Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, emigrated in 1849.
- Johann Herman Blau, M.D., born 18 May 1832 in Vehringendorf, Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, emigrated in 1857.
- Moritz Bleyer, born October 1821 in Prichowitz, Bohemia, emigrated in 1848.
- Karl Bogenschutz, born 30 June 1820 in Sickingen, Hohenzollern Hechingen, emigrated in 1843.
- Johan Bosche, born 12 January 1824 in Lutten, Amt Vechta, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1847.
- Johann Gerhard Clemens Bramlage, born in 1823 in Lohne, Amt Steinfeld, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1848.
- Albert Britzwein, born 28 October 1830 in Braunschweig, emigrated in 1853.
- Johann Joseph Busse, born 1 May 1836 in Goldenstedt, Amt Vechta, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1846.
- Herman Rudolph Deglow, born 4 January 1828 in Lippehne, Kreis Solden, Reg. Bez. Frankfurt a.d. Oder, Prussia, emigrated in 1851.
- Conrad Deisler, born 6 January 1824 in Assamstadt, Oberamt Bocksberg, Baden, emigrated in 1849.
- Johann Christian Dorsel, born 29 December 1833 in Mauritz bei Munster, Westfalen, emigrated in 1854.
- Bernhard Dreesmann, born 29 November 1814 in Alfhausen, Amt Bersenbruck, Hannover, emigrated in 1839.
- Heinrich Dreesmann, born 18 December 1822 in Alfhausen, Hannover, emigrated in 1840.
- Ignatius Droege, born 30 January 1828 in Velmede, Reg. Bez. Arensberg, Westfalen, emigrated in 1849.
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Lorenz Droege, born 24 June 1825 in Velmede, emigrated in 1853.
Joseph Duveneck, born 24 May 1824 in Visbeck, Amt Vechtha, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1848; the stepfather of the well known artist, Frank Duveneck. - Wilhelm Eifert, born 18 February 1825 in Sickendorf, Hessen Darmstadt, emigrated in 1849.
- Wilhelm Eilers, born I July 1826 in Sogel, Amt Hiimeling, Hannover, emigrated in 1847.
- Johann Eisele, born 19 May 1831 in Oettingen, Oberamt Kirchheim, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1856.
- Victor Caspar Engert, born 31 March in Sommerach, Bavaria, emigrated in 1834.
- Franz Feldkamp, born 18 January 1837 in Alfhausen, Hannover, emigrated in 1854.
- Wilhelm David Feuss, born 26 May 1834 in Brinkum, Hannover, emigrated in 1 848.
- Felix Fritz, born 18 May 1826 in Buchheim, Amt Stockach, Baden, emigrated in 1845.
- Bernard Gatenberg, born 30 June 1821 in Bochum, Prussia, emigrated in 1848.
- Carl Geisbauer, born in Lorenzen in Elsass, emigrated in 1830.
- Johann Adam Geiswein, born 6 April 1837 in Eschenstruh bei Kassel, Kurhessen, emigrated in 1847.
- Wilhelm Gobel, born 10 June 1831 in G6ttingen, Hannover, emigrated in 1854.
- Friedrich Goerdes, born 29 October 1815 in Arnsberg, Prussia, emigrataed in 1849.
- Anton Haake, born 12 September 1820 in Endorf, Kreis Arensberg, Prussia, emigrated in 1845.
- Johann Hasemeyer, born 10 February 1828 in Essingen, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, emigrated in 1852.
- Heinrich Henn, born 8 December 1831 in Rothenbach, Reinpfalz, Bavaria, emigrated in 1850.
- Joseph Hermes, born 1 November 1834 in Ostendorpp, Westfalen, emigrated in 1853.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Heckmann, born 6 September 1820 in Hamburg, emigrated in 1839.
- Bernard Hermann Hegge, born 19 April 1823 in Beester Amt Freren, Hannover, emigrated in 1850.
- Johann Heinrich Heile, born 3 March 1818 in Delinghausen, Merzen, Amt Furstenau, Hannover, emigrated in 1850.
- B. H. F. Hellebusch, born 28 April 1825 in Borringhauser, Damme, Oldenburg, and was the author of religious and devotional literature.
- Bernard Hewing, born 8 June 1830 in Ochtrup, Westfalia, emigrated in 1833.
- Franz Hone, born 11 August 1811 in Dinklage, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1845.
- Wilhelm Holtmann, born 1 November 1824 in Altenberge, Kreis Munster, Prussia, emigrated in 1852.
- Georg Kampe, born 3 December 1832 in Brenna, Kurhessen, emigrated in 1850.
- Johann Kappel, born 1 January 1831 in Oelbrunn, Oberamt, Maulbronn, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1854.
- Heinrich Kentrup, born 6 February 1820 in Amelsburen, Kreis Munster, Westfalen, emigrated in 1847.
- Fritz Kleist, born 28 March 1827 in Soest, Westfalen, emigrated in 1854.
- Johann Bernhard Klostermann, born 29 January 1837 in Hannover, emigrated in 1847.
- Franz Knoll, born 13 March 1829 in Herxheim bei Landau, Babaria, emigrated in 1846.
- Georg Knorr, born 9 December 1832 in Baldersheim, Bavaria, emigrated in 1853.
- Clemens Kobbe, born 22 August 1827 in Lenerich a.d. Wallage, Hannover, emigrated in 1840.
- Georg B. F. Kohler, born 8 February 1823 in Waldersprick, Kurhessen, emigrated in 1846.
- Karl Lang, born 20 March in Saar Union in Elsass, emigrated in 1854.
- B. Otto Lots, born 11 July 1830 in Altenburg, SachsenAltenburg, emigrated in 1846; served in the Mexican War.
- Bernhard Marschall, born 7 March 1816 in Sogel, Hannover, emigrated in 1847.
- Johann Bernard Meibers, born 21 August in Esterwege, Amt S6gel, Hannover, emigrated in 1852.
- Wilhelm Adam Menniger, born 24 January 1832 in Heldenberg, Hessen Darmstadt, emigrated in 1843.
- Johann Heinrich Meyer, born 15 September 1818 in Kappel, Amt Kloppenburg, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1837.
- Johann Hermann Middendorf, born 17 April 1837 in Amt Sogel, Hannover, emigrated in 1851.
- Wilhelm Middendorf, born 17 April 1837 in Amt Sogel, Hannover, emigrated in 1851.
- Heinrich Monkedick, born 15 February 1824 in Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1849.
- Heinrich Moselage, born 26 December 1828 in Westkirchen, Kreis Munster, Westfalen, emigrated in 1857.
- Ferdinand Nienaber, born 3 January 1829 in Haverbeck, Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1851.
- Bernard Heinrich Nipper, born 3 January 1820 in Lastrop, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1851.
- Conrad Paul, born 28 February 1826, in Nidda bei Worms, emigrated in 1853.
- Hermann Heinrich Joseph Puthoff, born 22 August 1833 in Kettenkamp, Ankum Hannover, emigrated in 1839.
- Johann Rehfuss, born 15 November 1823 in Dorhen, Kreis Schwarzwald, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1848.
- Heinrich Reisloh, born 23 December 1822 in Munden, Hannover, emigrated in 1851.
- Georg Jacob Renner, born 11 February 1822 in Dannstadt, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, emigrated in 1849.
- Franz Heinrich Rotert, born 3 October 1818 in Rulle, Amt Osnabriick, Hannover, emigrated in 1839.
- Jacob Friedrich Rothenhofer, born 13 September 1832 in Horrheimk, Oberamt Vaichingen a.d. Enz., emigrated in 1854.
- Joseph Rusche, born 23 December 1825 in Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1847.
- Friedrich Heinrich Sandmann, born 1 February 1823 in Hemsloh, Amt Diepholz, Hannover, emigrated in 1844.
- Heinrich Wilhelm Schleutker, born 4 March in Lengerich, Kreis Tecklenburg, Westfalen, emigrated in 1845.
- Gerhard Heinrich Schleutker, born 5 November 1836 in Lengerich, Kreis Tecklenburg, Westfalen, emigrated in 1845.
- Anton Schnorr, born 13 August 1834 in Wildesgheim, Kreis Kreutznach, Prussia, emigrated in 1853.
- Johannes Schottle, born 5 February 1830 in Ebhausen, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1847.
- Heinrich Schlottler, born 13 December 1824 in Recklinghausen, Westfalen, emigrated in 1846.
- Georg Schorr, born 15 June 1819 in Bergostheim, Bavaria, emigrated in 1854.
- Augustin Schuler, born 15 October 1827 in Miis, Kurftirstentum Hessen, emigrated in 1847.
- Mathias Schwarz, born 26 February 1831 in Hausen, Hohenzollern Hechingen, emigrated in 1850.
- Michael Schweier, born 23 March 1828 in Mindesheim, Elsass, emigrated in 1846.
- Herman Heinrich Schwertmann, born 14 December 1819 in Althausen, Hannover, emigrated in 1856.
- Theodor Sehlhorst, born 8 December 1826 in Rheine, Westfalen, emigrated in 1851.
- Heinrich Spenneberg, born 24 June 1818 in Sierhausen, Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1846.
- Franz Joseph Stallo, born 9 January 1818 in Sierhausen, Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1846.
- Johannes Staut, born 27 May 1826 in Doerzbach, Oberamt Kunzelsau, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1848.
- Conrad Stein, born 8 February in Binder, Amt Wohldenberg, Hannover, emigrated in 1852.
- Fidel Stockle, born 11 July 1831 in Veringersdorf, Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, emigrated in 1854.
- Leonhard Stoll, born 10 September 1818 in Muhlhausen, Elsass, emigrated in 1844.
- Gottfried Supple, born 28 October 1836 in Weilersbach, Amt Fillingen, Baden, emigrated in 1854.
- Peter Teipel, born 6 March 1821 in Niederfeld, Reg. Bez. Arnsberg, Prussia, emigrated in 1847.
- Heinrich Terlau, born 4 October 1827 in Borghorst, Westfalen, emigrated in 1852.
- Heinrich August Theissen, born 11 August 1828 in Halverde bei Hopsten, Westfalen, emigrated in 1847.
- Franz Eduard Thoss, born 17 January 1807 in Langenweisendorf, Schleiz, emigrated in 1836.
- Karl Ulrich, born 5 May in Kleinbockenheim, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, emigrated in 1847.
- Gottfried Walt, born 29 December 1825 in Ebshausen, Oberamt Nagold, Wiirttemberg, emigrated in 1854.
- Heinrich Warnke, born 25 December 1819 in Wittstedt, Amt Iburg, Hannover, emigrated in 1845.
- Georg Welling, born in Widendorla bei Miihlhausen, Thdringen, and emigrated in 1847.
- Heinrich Wesemann, born 20 January in Blumberg, Lippe Detmold, emigrated in 1856.
- Anton Wiechmann, born 4 November 1817 in Bunnen, Amt L6ningen, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1835.
- Wilhelm Willen, born 29 October 1807 in Evankamp, L6ningen, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1835.
- Joseph Wordemann, born 13 March 1833 in Neuenkirchen, Amt Damme, Oldenburg, emigrated in 1856.
- Johann Wurth, born 24 October 1820 in Pflugfeld, Oberamt Ludwigsburg, Wurttemberg, emigrated in 1848.
- G. A. Zwick, born 14 March 1836 in Wurttemberg.
Minutes of the German Pioneer Society (On File at the Kenton County Public Library).
