German immigrants who fought in the Civil
War and the Franco-Prussian War established the Deutscher Kriegerverein,
or the German Veterans Society, on December 1, 1889. Members paid dues amounting to $.10 per
month. Gustav Zinserling, the proprietor
of the Hotel Columbia, was the leader of the veterans’ group for many
years. They met monthly at the Hotel
Columbia until 1901, when they met at the Grand Army Hall, located at 31 Green
Street. In 1908 the society moved to its
final meeting place- the German Hall.
The Veterans’ Society celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary at
Shafer’s Grove. The group had 150 members
in its heyday; by 1897 membership included seventy-two members and two honorary
members, but by March 1918, membership had dwindled to twenty-nine individuals,
and the society dissolved itself after twenty-nine years.[1]
[1] n. a., Geschichte der Deutschen in Albany und Troy,
p. 179. Schenectady Herold-Journal,
March 29, 1918, 1:2.
Below is a photo of a DKV veteran's grave marker. I used to see quite a few of these in local German cemeteries. However very few are still around today. Either they were tossed out by the caretakers or perhaps stolen. Either way we do not see these much anymore.
Below are photos of two men in their DKV uniform.
 |
| Anton Hafner |
 |
| Gustav Zinserling |
my great great grandfather Ludwig Schultz I and great grandfather Ludwig Schultz II were both members of the DKV in late 1890's, I have group picture dated 1905 of about 100 members. Would like to contact someone, My grandfather was german general in Franco Prussian war and or Boer war, would like more info. Rick Schultz rickschultz03@gmail.com
ReplyDelete