From The Dubois County Daily Herald
Wednesday, January 12, 1955
HARK THE HERALD
Facts, Dates And Names
by A. T. Rumbach
The “ Chronik” traces the history of Pfaffenweiler through successive centuries. The name “ Pfaffenweiler” to designate the village first occurs in a document dated 1094. It is mentioned in a papal bull issued in 1173 by Pope Alexander III, in which he enumerates the possessions of the Abbey of St. Ulrich. The first reference to a pastor being assigned to “ Phaphenwiler” is made in a document dated 1267. The feudal land- herren (overlords) who owned most of the property are traced through 1321, 1379 and 1449. References to the grape culture, which is still the main crop, go back to the year 1372; and court records through the 15 th and 16 th centuries give evidence of the struggle for ownership of the rich vineyards, forest and meadows of the neighborhood.
An interesting account is given of the ravages of the Peasants’ War, the Thirty Years War and other military activities which surged up and down the country during the 16 th and 17 th centuries.
Witness to the antiquity of the village is the rectory which bears the inscription 1572, one of the oldest buildings. It is followed closely by the Gasthaus (tavern) Zur Stube, erected 1575; both buildings survived the Thirty Years War.
Speaking of this tavern, that is the place where we found the rest of our party, who, thinking we were lost in the maze and tangle of the centuries, had left us to find a place to rest and to refresh themselves.
The Gasthaus Zur Stube, which boasts of serving its own brand of wine, is conducted by one Alfonse Eckerle, the present host, successor to a long line of other Eckerles since 1575. Darkness had descended upon Pfaffenweiler (Saturday, October 16, 1954), making further exploration of the town impossible, so we joined the rest at a large oaken table and ordered bratwurst and forelle (pork sausage and trout) where were very palatable with the “ Eckerle” brand of beverage made of home-grown fruit of the vines.
While waiting to be served by Herr Eckerle, we had the first opportunity to look over the booklet given us by the pastor. It contained a “ Willkommengrusz” from Burgermeister Friedrich Dischinger and a foreword by Karl Spaeth ( Spayd?). Under the title “ Festausschuss” were the names: Hans Dick, Gustav Gutzsell; Marzeil Kiefer; under “Honorary Members” we found Emil Gutzsell, Karl Eckert, Karl Scherle, Herman Kiefer, Karl A. Eckert, Franz Eckerle, Franz Werner, and Fredrich Wehrle.
Among the active members are: Franz Baumann, Paul Eckert, Hyancinth Kiefer, Karl Kiefer, Franz Eckerle, Henry Werner, Hermann Dischinger, Werner Schuble, Heinrich Eckert, Karl Gutgsell, Hermann Haury, Josef Gutgsell, Emil Schlegel, Josef Weibel, Karl and Franz Eckert and Adalbert Schlegel. Listed as former directors are Karl Friedmann, Hermann Stork and Franz Meier.
From the memorial at the church I copied the following familiar names: Daeschle, Litschgi, Beck and more of those listed above.
Most of these names are among those listed by George R. Wilson in his “history of Dubois County” as members of the group of immigrants who came to Jasper in 1847 and erected the Votive Cross in the churchyard of St. Joseph’s. He tells how the group, making the trip across the Atlantic ocean in a sailing vessel, were threatened with death in a severe storm. They made a solemn vow that they would erect a cross on the premises of the parish church in their new home if there were spared. They finally landed safely and having settled in Jasper, they fulfilled their promise. The stone cross and corpus was executed by George Baumann, one of the immigrants who was a sculptor.