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NEWBERRY
IMMIGRATION SOCIETY
By Edith
Greisser Newberry County, South
Carolina | |||||
With all of this documented in the Newberry Herald I thought it would be easy to learn more of the inner workings of the Society by going to the SC Archives. I wanted to learn if there were more chapters of the same movement established in other South Carolina counties and how successful had they been in surviving in comparison to the Newberry Chapter. But I came to a roadblock. There is no record in the archives of the Society ever having existed. Was it not incorporated? Not according to the records I was told. I had interpreted the newspaper articles as there being a New York German Society as the home office of the Immigration Societies for other states, such as the South Carolina Immigration Society, which in turn was the director for the county societies. Had I misunderstood what I had read? So I dropped the matter for the time being. Next, on a trip to New York to visit my son I visited the NY Historical Society. They had no records of there having been a NY Immigration Society. Another block in the road. On my way home, on one of my infrequent trips to the Library of Congress I found a copy (Might be the only one in existence) of the brochure created to entice eligible immigrants to Newberry SC. The booklet was a wonderful description of the county, a land of rolling hills, wonderful soil, good clean air and water-a land of 'milk and honey'. So there it was - proof positive that an immigration society for Newberry SC was a reality. Then another lucky door opened when Chris Prince brought my attention to Duke University holdings found on the internet. The 'Boinest Papers' contained correspondence pertaining to the immigration society. The papers gave the proof that there definitely was a New York division of the German Society that was active with the South Carolina Chapter of the Society and not only our Newberry Society existed but also one called 'Richland Fork' Chapter. A letter among the papers mentioned the possibility of a convention of all the chapters. This was proof enough for me that there were many South Carolina counties active in the movement. Woefully, names of the immigrant families coming to Newberry were almost never given in the local newspaper and there were enough of them to have warranted some mention. In 1867 arriving in NY and accompanied by Rev. Boinest to Newberry was a group of 22 immigrants; arriving in Charleston was a group of 152; 1868 groups of 33, 46, 48 arrived at the beginning of the year and in 1869 groups of 20 and 15 were reported arriving in Newberry. One group sailed from Güttenberg Sweden to Charleston; others from Copenhagen and Bremen to Charleston. So what happened to all these immigrants? How many assimilated into the county? Very few it seems. The main reason for the most part being the treatment of the immigrants. These workers replaced the lost farm labor of former slaves but the over-seers of the farms had not adapted to post war labor demands and treated the immigrants as they had their slaves. Accommodations provided were the same cabins used by the slaves which had not received any repairs in many years. The diet was meager and of poor nutritional value, not easily digested by the workers. There was little or no health care. Word got around, immigrants wrote to family who had settled elsewhere and learned conditions were not like this everywhere and, having nothing to lose, pulled up stakes and disappeared into the night, not having worked enough to repay for their passage to America. In one of the 'Boinest papers' there was a correspondence asking for immediate assistance on the Plantation of Col. James Hagood at Saluda Old Town (On the Edgefield side) where there appears to have been a labor uprising. Only two families were named in the newspapers. The Marinus Family and the Johannes Cozynsen Family were advertised not to be hired unless the employer paid their debt. That debt would have been about $60/family for transportation to Newberry. Being paid $8/month/man and $5/month/woman, the families must have arrived in 1869 when the Society was breathing its last gasps of life. No more was mentioned of the Marinus family but the Cozynsen family stayed in Newberry for some time, living in less healthy conditions than the field animals. Jaffe Cozynsen, white, female, married, 26 years old, born Holland, new to Newberry County, died September 1869 of consumption in HELLERS TOWNSHIP. In the 1870 Federal Census there were 144 foreign born residents in the county-a few obviously were residing for a time enough to have established a family so they were not from the immigration society movement. There was the family of M. Johannes Cozynsen, 50 years old and wife Willimenta, 51 years old, with son John 29 years old (It must have been his wife, Jaffe, who died in 1869); son William 22 years old; daughter Maria 15 years old; daughter Myntze (Mollie) 10 years old; and Hendric 8 years old; grandchildren John M. 4 years old and Deintze 2 years old. They had all been born in Holland and were residing close to or on the farm of John B. Miller. They were living among a settlement of black families and were not included in the agricultural census of 1870 so the farm they worked must have been owned by someone else. Relatives of the Cozynsen Family came to Newberry in 1873 to visit before finding a place to settle. They were aghast at the conditions under which the Cozynsen family were living. After spending a few nights under the same roof with them the visitors pulled up stakes and left for the lands they had heard of in Minnesota. They must not have left before expressing themselves because William Cozynsen requested the newspaper to clear up the fact that he had not misled the people from Holland into coming to the State. The old saying, "No good deed goes unpunished" is once again proven. Not a week after the visitors left than the entire Cozynsen family came down with scarlet fever. Apparently the immigrants had brought it with them from the ship. Little Miss Mollie Cozynsen died of the disease and the family, being in deep poverty, had no means for burial, save digging a hole and burying the child. No relief was given to the family because of a quarantine placed around the living quarters. The town was just plain scared that the disease would spread. William and John M. Cozynsen of Township No. 4 appeared on the Auditor's list of properties with outstanding unpaid taxes in 1874. In 1877 Francis E. Cozynsen bought from E. S. Coppock ½ acre of land for $62.50. Actually he bought an acre of land from E. S. Coppock and built a small frame dwelling on it. Scots Creek flowed through the middle of it. Afterwards Francis decided he only wanted ½ acre and E. S. Coppock took back ½ acre, the ½ which had the dwelling on it, creating confusion with the deed. However in May, during a storm, the wind came and raised the house setting it on the other ½ acre and the land deed was thus corrected without a lawyer's fee. No more was learned of the Cozynsen family. The surname is not in the Newberry Federal Census of 1880. Had the family died out? Or had they too pulled up stakes and joined relatives in another state? Or perhaps, was the surname corrupted to 'Cousins'? And so it was-the proof found in the following news article: John Cousins had a party at his place for the young
people, in honor of his nephew John Kling of Florida who was 6 feet 8
inches tall. Newberry Observer 9/12/1901; John Cousins, came to Newberry
from Holland in 1869 at the age of 29 years. His entire possessions at the
time valued at less than $5. He went to work at once for Andrew Kilgore of
near Ebenezer Church. He now owns between 500-600 acres halfway between
Colony Church and the home of S. S. Paysinger. He had a cannery, sawmill,
shingle mill, cattle and mules. He married twice: His first wife came from
Germany and by her he had two living children.
By his second wife he had five living children. He was 65 years old. A photograph of him and much detail on Page 8, Newberry Observer 4/18/1905 John Cousins Sr. was elected an elder of Colony Church. Page 5, Newberry Observer 10/27/1905; Mrs. John Cousins (nee Buzhardt) died at her home near Colony Church on 11/12/1905. Burial was at Colony Church. Page 8, Newberry Observer 11/14/1905; A card of thanks, Page 8, Newberry Observer 11/21/1905 John Cousins (5/30/1841-12/24/1929) is buried in Colony Church Cemetery. What became of the other members of the Cozynsen family? F. W. Brüggemann was an agent for the Newberry Immigration Society, located over the Law Office of James M. Baxter in the town of Newberry. According to the newspaper Major Baxter was one of the Directors of the Society. Mr. Brüggemann frequently wrote for the newspaper explaining the rules for obtaining immigrant labor and the code of conduct he expected from the employer. Sorry to say, he became frustrated to the point that in late 1869 he left the State, not to return. Rev. T. S. Boinest, President of the Society, met opposition from both sides but endured until his death. The Black population resented the white immigrants being chosen over them for work and the white population resented the immigrants, feeling they acted as if they were on an equal plane with their employer and others in the community. Rev. Boinest's home in Pomaria was set on fire in 1869. He lost his gin house, stables, cotton gin, threshing machine, 4 bales of cotton in seed, 40 bushels of seed oats, wagon and all winter provender to arson. The loss was estimated at $2000. In 1871 he died from 'disease'. The following are a few of the letters
belonging to the Boinest Collection at the Duke University Library.Oak
Grove, SC 14th Dec. 1867 Rev. T. S. Boinest, Dear Sir,
I received a letter a few days ago from the Agent of the Immigration Society of Newberry, a Mr. F. W. Brüggemann containing my bill for the German Family I have and I take the liberty of answering it by remitting it to you. The expenses of the family from NY to Littleton is $48 Contingent expenses of the Society $5 Total $53 Perhaps Mr. B. does not know that I am a member of your Society, for if I understood you correctly, the $25 paid to become a member was deducted from the total cost of expenses at the time of the reception of laborers but refunded at the expiration of the year. And then, as I am a member I do not understand the charges for contingent expenses as I inferred becoming a member saved on the fee thus charged. However do not understand me to hesitate one moment to pay whatever is customary with your members but simply that I ask in the kindest feeling for the cause; an explanation and when I fully understand will forward the amount required. In great haste Very truly yours , E. B. Turnipseed P. S. Our families have given satisfaction. Send a correct bill to Mr. A. F. Dubard also and direct to Columbia SC
June 2, 1868
Rev. T. S. Boinest, Dear Sir, Seeing a notice in the papers in regard to the Immigration
Society with which you are connected - I wish a little information on the
subject. I want a good cook, washer and ironer and desire to know what it
would cost me to get one - and what I would have to pay her per month etc.
Also, what you think of the immigrants - as laborers, cooks etc.
I should like to hear from you soon and if I conclude to take one I will write you further on the subject. Yours respectfully, John M. Mathis Chappells Depot
Georgetown, SC
Oct 9, 1868 Rev. T. S. Boinest, My Dear Sir, Understanding that you are the President of the
Immigration Society of your District and that your efforts in that
direction have been successful, I beg to trouble you for a little
information.
The proper course to be adopted to obtain reliable farming laborers. The amount of wages that they require per month or year; whether they provide for themselves out of their wages or are fed by the employer; if maintained by the employer, the kind etc. of provisions they require. Are they satisfied with such houses as were usually provided for the slaves and are they willing to live in houses as closely clustered together as were the slave villages or quarters. Any other information will be most gratefully received by, Very respectfully yours, R. Dozier Office of the Immigration Society of Richland Forks October 20, 1868 Rev. T. S. Boinest Pres. Immigration Society of Newberry District Dear Sir, At a late meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Immigration Society of Richland Forks I was instructed to inform the
Newberry Society, through you, that our delay in acting in conformity with
your resolutions in reference to the call of a convention of the
Immigration Societies of the State has been owing partly to the long
continuous illness of our worthy and energetic President, Dr. D. W. Ray
(since deceased), but chiefly to our failure, heretofore, to procure a
quorum of members present for business.
At our next meeting (By appointment Oct. 24th) we hope to take the matter into consideration. Craving, in the name of our Society, your forbearance with what may seem palpable negligence, I am Very respectfully Your Obedient Servant, Henry M. Clarkson Domestic Corresponding Secretary Oak Grove (Near) Columbia SC
Rev. T. S. Boinest, Pomaria SC Dear Sir, I received your esteemed letters bearing the dates of
December 16th and 17th. I had a very bad voyage from Charleston to New
York. I was five days by the way.
Mr. F. Kappo and Mr. L. Cantador, the successor of Mr. A. Erbe, have taken me up very friendly and support me in every line. Our Society will have in the annual report of the Immigration Commission the first place and will have been called as a good example for all the other southern states. I have now 33 good immigrants for our district and can have more than 200 but I am very cautious then we expected in the next days 3 steamers more and I will see this people before I take more here. I have for the immigrants $600 from Mr. McCaughrin and I bring people for all this money, also nearly 50. I start the Saturday next (December 26th) and I hope that I come Wednesday (Dec. 30) in the morning to Columbia and will be very pleased to see you there. I have now a family for your place. The man is 37, the wife 46, a girl from 20, a son from 18 and a child from 3 years. When I find a better family, then give I this family on another place and I give you the better family. I was 3 days sick but I feel now very well again. More by word, I am in a hurry. My compliments to your family, Dr. Wright and his wife. Yours very respectfully, F. W. Brüggemann, Agent To Rev. T. S. Boinest, My Dear Sir, I was delighted to learn by the note you addressed to Miss
Lizzie Souten that you would accept an invitation from our club to advise
them on the subject of immigration. Our club held on yesterday a special
meeting to take into consideration on this matter. They unanimously agree
to give you a cordial invitation to address them on the above subject on
the last day you indicated in your first suggestion, that is, on the 2nd
(second) of Dec. (Wednesday) at 11 o'clock a. m. and appointed me a
committee of one to inform you of the fact. I hereby discharge this duty
with great pleasure and assure you that we will do everything to
contribute to your pleasure, welfare and happiness while in our midst. I
was delighted to see with what anxiety many looked forward to the
information and experience you will be able to give us on this question of
such vital interest to So. Ca. just at this time. We passed resolutions in
writing all the neighboring clubs to be present and hear your address. I
hope you will either write out in full all you may say or at least take
notes of the most important points, as we wish them published so that the
public generally in the south may thus be benefited. Far better now would
it be for the democracy of South Carolina to select orations to promulgate
the welcome tindings (sic) of our redemption politically, through this
source than to langage (sic) with radical bickering.
You will leave your home on the 1st Dec. (Tuesday) on the Greenville & Columbia down train and arrive at Littleton Station where I will meet you and convey you home with me in my buggy. Please write me immediately on the reception of this and let me know if you have rec'd this and concur in the arrangements. I will be at the above named station on the day indicated. With best wishes, I am in harte (sic), Very Respectfully, E. B. Turnipseed P. S. Address me at Columbia as my mail is made up there E. B. T.
Newberry, So. Ca.
June 16, 1869 Rev. T. S. Boinest My Dear Friend, As you are the President of the Immigration Society of
this district, I wish to bring to your notice a few facts for your
consideration.
I suppose you are aware that my first three immigrants left me early in January. It cost me $53.10 to pay their traveling expenses. They only stayed two months. Their work didn't pay me back for the money expended for them. The Swede family Bonnan, wife and two children that came to me the 30th December cost me in advance for traveling expenses etc. $54 and provisions. Their consumption to April cost me $56.55 making $105.55 paid to Bonnan and only received three months and one week work from Bonnan. (His wife and children would not work). They all refused to work and left me April 3. I have heard that Bonnan was working on the railroad. I do think I ought to have his traveling expenses and the six dollars continued expenses to the Society paid back to me. I have tried the agent. He will do nothing. I hope that you will see to it and have some of my money returned to me. I also advanced money for Germans the 29th January ($50). When they came, one of them was crazy. I spent $16.50 traveling expenses and then $3 continued expenses on him. I think I ought to have that money back also. I did not receive anything back in the way of work from him, the last gone. Two single men left me last week. Today I have not a single one on my farm. Have had seven men, one woman and two children since I commenced preparing for the coming crop. I am $400.65 out on the immigrants. They have nearly broke me. I have never in all my life lost as much money on one enterprise as on the immigration business. I have treated them all well. Took the last Germans in my own house, ate at my table with my family. But they would not work in the sun. I hope you will be kind enough to make an effort in my favor to recover part of my losses. Yours most respectfully, H. D. Boozer Newark, NJ Jan. 7, 1869 Rev. T. S. Boinest, Dear Brother, Herewith you find your two gold pens and I think it will be all right. In relation of our moving to the south we have not made up our mind. Our friends give us the advice to stay in the north and we do not know the will of the Lord on this occasion. I would be willing to preach the gospel to our poor German laborers there but I would not be satisfied with such a small part of hearers for I am accustomed to have a large congregation before me. I will do all in my power to advocate the south and it may be possible in the future that I will move thereto. The Lord be with you and grant to you and your dear family a happy New Year. Give my best respects to your family, Truly yours, John M. Steiner The expense of your pens is one dollar.
Oak Grove, S. C.
24th Jan, 1869 Rev. T. S. Boinest, My dear Sir, Yours of the 20th inst. was rec'd yesterday and the
explanation was satisfactory. I will forward the money due the Society for
expenses for my Germans in a few days. I do not know yet whether or not I
can spare the twenty five dollars that we have the privilege of receiving
until the end of the year but will be glad to do so if possible. I now
will write you something that troubles me greatly. You will doubtless
remember I remarked that we were pleased with our family. Mine I am well
pleased with and have no doubt will make them more profitable than
Negroes. Since writing you however, Mr. A. F. Dubard has begged me to
relieve him of his family saying that he made no progress in learning
their language and they none in English. Thinking if this was all I would
take them. However, my Germans warned me that they would not be profitable
as-said he-the woman will not work and as there are three little children
they would consume more than the man's work would be worth. I find it
literally so. [I] have them now on my plantation and they have actually
consumed themselves and two little children-the other being at the
breast-more provisions than my own German family with three hands. The
man, Mr. Hay, works well, but his wife does not work and my Germans say
told his wife she would not work. Now, for the good of the cause of
immigration, I do earnestly and sincerely beg you to replace them with a
family of fewer consumers in proportion to workers or say single men or
boys if they can be had. You have no idea how much curiosity and talk the
arrival of these families have caused in this neighborhood. Some are
anxious for them to prove a success, but I fear many will be more than
delighted to know of our failure. I have no fears of my man and his family
but the family of Germans sent to Mr. A. F. Dubard was a miserable
selection-too many children-a lazy wife and only the husband to work. The
husband tells me his wife was dissatisfied at Dubard's and dissatisfied on
my place. I then asked him where she wished to go and he said, "Back to
Germany". This of course is impossible as they have no means. If your
agent would take them to Newberry near him where he could talk to them
fluently in their own tongue he could perhaps manage them as they are
really an expense. I have written to Mr. Brüggemann and beg you to see him
or with him to act immediately.
Very truly yours, E. B. Turnipseed
Newberry SC, May 10th 1869
Rev. T. S. Boinest, I beg leave to introduce to your acquaintance Col. James
Hagood who came down here to see Mr. Brüggemann for the purpose of
carrying him to his Plantation Saluda O. T. to reconcile difficulties of
his laborers which he will explain. I think it important that Mr.
Brüggemann should accompany him without delay.
Yours very respectfully, R. L. McCaughrin, Treasurer
Rev. T. S. Boinest Pomaria S. C. My Dear Sir, Safely arrived at the City of Newberry.
I looked for all different kinds of 'run-downs' and riser. I did all, what I could and with only, that I satisfy the esteemed receiver. You will find enclosed for $1.00 five cents revenue and 15 2-cents post stamps bought for you and besider (sic) 16 three cents post stamps which I owe you. In the packet you find two 'run-down' $1 each. If they are not large enough please manure them with 'Wando' and they grow certainly some inches. Mrs. Wright furnished me with $2. You will oblige me if you hand back to her the balance of 50¢ which I enclose here. I feel one very alone here. We had yesterday a nice rain and I hope it was the same there. The money matter is all right. Who is now the bad fellow? My regard and compliments to all. Yours, very truly and respectfully, F. W. Brüggemann The German Society of the City of New York
13 Broadway Post Box No. 4330 New York, NY January 12, 1871
Rev. T. S. Boinest, President of the Immigration Society of Newberry Pomaria SC Dear Sir, We have the pleasure to inform you that Susan Horran and four children arrived here yesterday by the Bremen Steamer 'Donan', all well and in good spirits. She took passage today on board the Steamer Georgia to Charleston, thence to Columbia, passage paid to latter place. We received a letter of our correspondent in Bremen notifying us that the departure of Mrs. Horran, a few hours after her arrival here. Below you will please find a statement of our expenses leaving a balance of $13.45 which we delivered to Mrs. Horran. We thought to be justified in sending a telegram to you as this letter may not reach you in time to look out for her in Columbia, which considering the small expenses from Pomaria to Columbia for her husband may be of great advantage to his family, who will arrive in Columbia, as we are informed, by Monday next. We hope that our arrangements and instructions are so complete that Mrs. Horran will reach her destination without delay or trouble and would like to here of her safe arrival by a few lines from you. Very Respectfully The German Society of the City of New York Julius Hoffmann, manager The German Society in g/c with Rev. T. S. Boinest 1870 Novbr 14, in balance $ 1.25 Decbr. 19 Cash $50.00 $51.25 1871 Janri 12 By 2½ tickets to Columbia @$13 $32.50 Telegram dispatch $2.00 Bill of $3.00 Passage to Steamer .50 $38.00 Balance of $13.25 Delivered to Susanne Horran The German Society of City of New York Julius Hoffman, manager Labor Contract STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
___________ District Articles of agreement between Mr. ____________ and the following laborers and servants: 1. The employers bind themselves to advance the passage money of said laborers, to be returned by them (the laborers) out of their first year's wages. 2. Able bodied field hands to receive $150/year, their wages to commence from the day they arrive at the plantation and continue to December 31st the next following year. Half the wages to be paid the laborers at the expiration of each month, the other half to be retained until the end of the year. 3. The field hands to receive weekly as
follows: 2 lbs. of pork or bacon; 3 pounds of corned beef; 1
qt. molasses; 1 lb. of rice; 10 lbs. of cornmeal or flour
4. A field hand receives for his own use half
an acre of land; each married man in addition a ½ acre for his wife
and ¼ acre for each child and the privilege of keeping a cow, a pig and
poultry. Said land to be worked by the laborer
himself.
5. All laborers to be provided with comfortable house room and fuel free of charge. 6. Female house servants to receive $100/year
and board.
7. The field hand to perform the different kinds of
work common on a farm or in connection therewith, to be faithful and
diligent and obey the orders given him by his employer or his agent and
not to leave the farm during the hours of work without permission of
his employer or his agent. If voluntarily absent from the work to pay a
fine double the amount of his day's wages .
The servant binds himself to work the plantation of
________ from the time of his arrival unto the 31st of December next
following year and gives the employer three months notice if he wishes to
leave at the end of the year.
I hereby authorize Mr. W. J. Ferlov, Agent for South Carolina, to sign a facsimile contract in my name. I hereby bind myself to pay the passage from Europe to Charleston for _______ grown persons and __________ children at the rate of $30 in gold for grown persons and $15 in gold for children. The passage money to be paid to the ship's owner, his agent or assignee at the arrival of the immigrants at Charleston. This contract was found in the Newberry Herald, June 5,
1867, page 2 |
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