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French Empire
Permanent Dispensation
The recruitment committee of
the District of Mont Connerre, by virtue of
article 43 of the Imperial Decree of the 8th
of Fructidor, the year 13, and of the Decree
of the 31st of January 1809.
Under permanent exemption
from Service to the Gentleman ABRAHAM BLOCH,
conscript of 1810, born in Niedersulz en,
District of Mont Connerre, height 1610 mm
(5' 3 1/2"), hair (?), brown eyebrows, red
eyes, covered forehead, straight nose (?)
mouth, pointed chin, oval face marked by
small pox.
WHO being of a weak
constitution and having an incurable disease
of the eyes,
The Gentleman BLOCH, not
being taxed for himself or on behalf of his
father or mother, has paid fifty francs and
shall pay no further indemnity.
DONE at Mainz, the 16th of
February 1809.
Signed by the Major of the
69th Regiment of ___
Captain of the Gendarmerie
NEROUNE |
Historical background which may
have prompted immigration of ancestors to America.
The Men of 1848
The first half of the nineteenth
century witnessed the arrival on American shores of a vast number of
German immigrants, who gained a most significant place in American
history: "the Men of 1848."
Their peculiar name needs
explanation. As is commonly known, all political conditions of
central Europe had at the beginning of the nineteenth century been
overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, that great adventurer, who aimed
at the erection of a Caesarean Empire, the like of which the world
had not seen before. This dream was defeated in the great battle at
Leipzig by the inhabitants of the kingdoms and principalities of
Germany and those of Austria. Having taken such a heroic part in
this gigantic struggle for liberation, the people had hoped for the
establishment of constitutional governments, in which they might
have part. But this justified expectation was sadly deceived. The
rulers, forgetful that the people had saved their thrones, denied it
such right, and opened instead a long period of reaction, which
manifested its triumph in dark acts of oppression and tyranny.
Dissatisfied by the ingratitude of the sovereigns, many patriots,
detesting violence, turned their backs on the land of their birth,
hoping to find in America new fields for their abilities. Others,
unwilling to submit to the petty tyranny of the rulers, -resolved to
resist and became leaders in a bitter struggle for liberty, which,
dragging along for many years, culminated in the revolutionary
outbreaks of the year 1848. The symbols of that sanguinary year were
chosen and denote all those Germans and Austrians, who took part in
the long struggle, though their participation dated back to earlier
years. Among those men were thousands who had reached the highest
pinnacle of intellectual development, men with ideal inspirations,
who became in America successful promoters of the ethical, moral and
material welfare of the people, and gained also widespread influence
in the direction of affairs in our federation of States.
Among the earlier arrivals, who came
between 1820 to 1848, were Karl Follen, Karl Beck, Franz Lieber,
Joseph Grund, Johann August Roebling, Georg Seidensticker and
Max Oertel , every one an apostle of science, art and home
culture.
Among the men, who came in 1848 and
the years following, were Karl Schurz, Franz Sigel, Peter
Osterhaus, Friedrich Hecker, Gustav Körner, Gustav von Struve, Karl
Heinzen, Hans Kudlich, August Willich, Konrad Krez, Max Weber, Karl
Eberhard Salomo, Julius Stahel, Max Weber, Hermann Raster, Johann
Bernhard Stallo, Friedrich Kapp, Lorenz Brentano, Friedrich
Hassaureck, Oswald Ottendorfer, Caspar Butz, Theodor Kirchhoff, Karl
Douai and many thousand others. In all, Germany lost during the
so-called "Reaktionszeit" more than one and a half million of her
best citizens.
Germany's loss meant for the United
States an invaluable gain, as so many hundred thousands of highly
cultured men and women came into this country. While the former
German immigration had consisted essentially of farmers, workmen and
traders, now scholars and students of every branch of science,
artists, writers, journalists, lawyers, ministers, teachers and
foresters came in numbers. The enormous amount of knowledge,
idealism and activity, embodied in these political exiles, made them
the most valuable immigrants America ever received. As they accepted
positions as teachers and professors at the schools and
universities, or filled public offices, or founded all sorts of
newspapers and periodicals, learned societies and social clubs,
these men inspired the hitherto dull social life of America, that it
gained a much freer and more progressive character.
By their able leadership the older
German element in the United States improved also greatly. Formerly
without close connection and compared with an army of able soldiers
but without officers, it now began to form under the leadership of
the men of 1848 a community, whose prime efforts were directed
toward the welfare of their adopted country and to keep unsullied
the fountains of liberty and the rights of men. That among the
exiles of 1848 were characters of the same calibre as Franklin and
Washington.
Source: Rudolf Cronau's German Achievements in
Amerika
Recollections from Edward Bloch
about his parents,
Joseph and Hannah (Goldstucker) Bloch
| Joseph Bloch was born in a little village called Wachenheim near
Bingen on the Rhine. He was apprenticed early in life to a wine
dealer. Joseph Bloch came to America in 1848. At the age of 22, he became
involved in the revolutionary movement of 1848. One of his friends
was put in jail at the age of 18. The burgomeister said to his
father, "Get your son out of the country or I'll have to arrest
him." So they got him a forged passport and shipped him to America
to be apprenticed to a wine merchant friend in New Orleans. He was
accompanied by his eldest sister Jeannette.
But he never got to New Orleans... The ship stopped for three
days in Mobile. My father was wandering in the town square when a
girl caught his eye. "I will stay here and marry that girl!" he
said. He took his belongings, including a flute and guitar, off the
boat, found lodgings and set himself up as a music teacher... He
married the girl - my mother!
The marriage of Joseph and Hannah was followed shortly by the
marriage of Hannah's brother, Abraham to Joseph's sister Jeannette.
In 1850 Joseph and Jeannette's parents, Abraham and Babette Levy
Bloch and their younger sister Caroline came to America.
During the Civil War Joseph was a bugler with the Alabama State
Artillery.
Joseph was Professor of Music at St. Joseph's Institute at
Springhill College near Mobile, Alabama 1870 or 1860 -1897
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Hannah Goldstucker Bloch (1831-1911) married
an amazingly talented, but highly impractical musician.
Of her nine children, three died in one week during an
epidemic of meningitis. One of these, known in
Mobile musical circles as "The Young Mozart" was
apparently an astonishing child prodigy. He knew
by heart at the age of 8, all 48 Preludes and Fugues of
Bach's Well Tempered Clavichord.
A ten dollar greenback, sent home as a souvenir from
the Battle of Shiloh, and hidden away (unpatriotically)
by Hannah, stood the family in good stead when the Union
Forces marched into Mobile and Confederate currency
became worthless.
Hannah's two older sons, Edward 13 and Godfrey 11,
went to the Union encampment to see whether the Yankees
actually had horses. There Edward's red hair
attracted the attention of a young soldier who had a
red-headed kid brother at home, and the two boys were
invited to lunch -- "The first square meal we'd had in I
don't know when," said Edward sixty years later.
The soldier complained that there was no writing
paper to be had anywhere. Edward went home, asked
his Mother for the hidden ten dollar bill, brought
writing paper, which he promptly sold, brought more with
the proceeds, and within a few days had stocked the
family larder.
Hannah's children adored her, but to her
grandchildren she always seemed a rather forbidding
figure. |
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Joseph Bloch (1826-1903) came to
America in 1848. He was imbued with the spirit of
Freedom, an ardent believer in the Rights of Man, and
unalterably opposed to slavery. He admired Lincoln
and on the evening of the day when the population was
celebrating the secession of Alabama from the Union, sat
alone in his darkened back parlor, refusing to take part
in the festivities. He was supposed to be part of
the underground organization that helped fugitive
slaves.
An astonishing musical prodigy, he
played every instrument except the harp. he
organized Mobile's first band, choruses and orchestra,
and was for half a century, Professor of Music at Spring
Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.
On one occasion, hearing that a negro
family was to be sold at auction and separated, he went
to the slave market and bought them, though he could not
afford to pay for them, much less keep them. His
friends came to his rescue, and divided the family up
among themselves and the poor creatures continued, at
least, to live in the same town and the small children
stayed with their mother.
Joseph Bloch was called "The Father of
Music" in Mobile. |
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Eulogy Over Professor Bloch
Delivered Tuesday, July 14, 1903
Ended is the music of Joseph Bloch's
life. Stilled are the strings of a heart that ever
played in tones never to be forgotten, a perfect hymn of
love and peace. As quietly as he moved through
this world, so calmly he died - this righteous
God-fearing man, whose career was a symphony of music
and religions. A musician he was by instinct and
calling - a musician whose mind glorified in the harmony
of sound, and whose soul reveled in the the moral and
spiritual harmony - the peace of man with his fellow
creatures and his God.
When religion is blended with music,
there is a rare fusing of ideal elements, for religion
is the harmony of life with the moral ideal, and music
the harmony of man's sensuous nature.
Musicians there are who are technically
talented, who have the keenest intellectual perceptions
of music, who compose oratorios and operas, whose works
live as classics, who become even the world's masters.
But of what value is the knowledge of
music and the technique of the artist, unless there be
music in the character and conduct, unless the delicate
shadings of sound perceived by the musician arouse in
the heart and soul, the finest moral and spiritual
emotions? Only a musician whose life is refined and
spiritualized by the power of music, such as our dear
friend Professor Bloch, is to be loved, admired and
mourned after death.
With him music was a religion and
religion a music. Although when he left active
life, he laid aside the instruments of music, he struck
the major-chord of religion by ending his last days in
peace and meeting his Maker calmly and resignedly.
He was a type of the real and earnest Israelite, who had
a deep and abiding faith in the ways of God.
Although he did not remain narrowly orthodox, for he was
the first to introduce the organ and choral music into
our synagogue, he had the essential and distinguished
traits of the true Israelite, Emunah, Zedakah, Anavah,
faith, charity, humility, and also chivalry, kindness,
patience, forbearance and strict felicity to the highest
moral standards. With him, Judaism was a deep
concern of life.
I shall never forget his familiar figure
as he would come to the house of God on Shabbas morning
and enter into divine services with a sincere and
genuine enthusiasm that this strenuous age flippancy
often tends to deprecate. When he and his good
wife, both of whose lives are striking examples of
religious and moral strength, came to the Temple on the
occasion of their fifty-third wedding anniversary, a
sublime joy was written upon his face, and as a
minister, I could not but feel that in his beautiful and
unmarred wedded life, religion had been a potent and
holy influence.
The true Israelite need not fear the
ridicule of the world for his is a lover of peace, Ohav
Shalom, and his Christian fellow men respect him the
more for his consistency of religion and practice.
In these days when so many so called
modern persons imagine religion and Judaism to be a
useless burden, it is refreshing to note how a true and
consistent Israelite like this good man in respected by
his Christian fellow men in his life and honored in his
death far more than many an Israelite who has died with
wealth or culture, but without strong religious faith
and practice. Let his good friends, the Catholic
Priests, among whom he lived and worked, let the boys
whom he instructed in music, testify to the nobility and
purity of this true and staunch Israelite.
Whenever I visited Spring Hill College,
where he taught thirty seven years, I invariably heard
the name of Professor Bloch pronounced upon the lips of
his former friends with a feeling of reverence. As
one of them said to me a few days ago, "We loved the
Professor, we could not help doing so." Oh, my
friends. What a volume of tribute and esteem in
that sentence.
Yes, all of us loved this lover of
peace. As we sat about his death bed and watched
the flickering away of his life, all of us, his family
and his friends, felt a profound feeling of love and
veneration for him. Not only you, his children, mourn
him today, but many more, the children of his spirit.
I need not tell you what your father was
to you, nor need I state that you have already shown the
true appreciation of his life of self-sacrifice.
When I see about me his sons and daughters and
grand-children, respected and honored in this community
by Christians and Israelites, and know that they
themselves are the founders of such religious homes as
he built here, I praise God that through the children,
His ways are made manifest, and that the true comfort of
the religious mind is found in the higher moral results
that come from the life of one who was himself genuinely
religious.
One word to you, my dear friend Mrs.
Bloch. Do not grieve over the death of your good
husband. You ought to say with our pious fathers,
"Baruch dayyan emes, Blessed be the Judge of Truth."
You have had more than the average share of happiness.
You have seen the golden link forged in your chain of
wedded life, you did your full duty as a wife and
mother, you have seen your children grown up to be like
you and your husband, upright men and women, and zealous
Jews and Jewesses. You should thank God that He
has vouchsafed to you such a large portion of life's
real blessings.
Take this death, my friends, in a true
religious sense, realize that we can not live forever in
this world. We are cribbed and cabined by the
flesh and the blood. But no matter what the
mystery before the cradle or after the grave, in this
life we have an opportunity to achieve higher ends, to
do the will of God, and by our eternal thoughts and
deeds to live in men's hearts and in the world to come.
This existence is but a delicate instrument. We
are sent by the Supreme Musician of the world out of
infinity to play upon it, either chords of happiness or
discords of evil. When we die, may it be said of
us, that upon the strings of life we have sounded as
this musician of the soul, melodies of divine religion
and righteousness that will vibrate through eternity and
blend with the hymns of goodness and piety played by all
the servants of God. |
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