Heinrich Stalter, Head of the Amish Mennonite Congregation of Munich
By Herbert HollyOriginally published in the July 2021 issue (Vol. 40, No.3) Copyright © 2021 Mennonite Family History (Used with permission of original publisher).
With added information not published in the original MFH article shown in the footnotes.
I found this document a few years ago in the Munich State Archives (Staatsarchiv München). As I was recently digitizing my family history documents from state and church archives—mainly for Amish Mennonites in southern Germany—the description of the Amish Mennonite community in Munich from 1835 by Heinrich Stalter returned to the fore.
Source: Staatsarchiv München, LRA 58773, “Files of the district office of Munich concerning Mennonites in the district court of Munich, and sectarianism in general” Created in 1835
Munich, 9 December 1835
District Judge Kuttner presiding
As a basis for the information about the Mennonites in this district requested by the Protestant deanery of Munich, the preacher or head of the Mennonite congregation, Heinrich Stalter, farmer in Gern, was summoned who in his appearance today gave the following information:
1) In the Munich court district there are the following Mennonite families:
a) At Gern in the community of Nymphenburg
I myself, Heinrich Stalter, widower, with 3 sons and 6 daughters, all unmarried. (My two farmhands are Catholics.) 1
Joseph Stalter, farmer with wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters 2
Jakob Stalter, son in law of the above without his own property, with wife and 5 boys 3
Jakob Stalter, old, widowed pensioner (Austrägler) 4
Valentin Birki, farmer with 8 boys and 3 girls, whose servants are Catholics. 5
My daughter Katharina with an illegitimate boy. 6
From the 2 unmarried daughters of Joseph Stalter, 2 boys and 1 girl. 7
Susanna Stalter, wife of Georg Kättner, day laborer in Gern, with 6 girls. The husband and the boy are Catholic. 8
b) At Nymphenburg
Georg Hundsicker, day laborer and widower with 1 son and 2 daughters 9
c) In Neuhausen
3 unmarried siblings, Joseph, Maria, and Käthe Zehrer 10
d) In Solln
David Springer, farmer with wife and 2 or 3 children. 11
e) In Unterhaching
Christian Roggi, farmer with wife, 1 child, and a brother as farmhand. 12
f) In Kirchstockach in the community of Brunnthal Christian Birki, farmer with wife, 4 boys and 6 girls. 13
g) In Ottendichl in the community of Feldkirchen
The widow of Georg Müller, farmer, with 2 boys and 3 girls and a maid. 14
h) In Dornach
Johann Schott, with wife, 1 son, and 3 daughters. (The wife and son are currently away, but included.) 15
i) In Straß-Trudering
Christian Bächler, with wife, but without children. 16
In the royal court district of Au at Johanneskirchen
Johann Bächler, with wife and 2 daughters 17
And in Giesing
Jakob Schrag and his daughter, and a daughter in Laufzorn. This Schrag also has 3 sons in the district who are distillers. 18
At Laim there are also Mennonites as tenants, but these are the so-called “buttoners” (Knöpfler). They are separate from the other “hook and eye“ (Häftler) Mennonites because they have departed from various strict rules. They hold their sermons and church services in Indersdorf and near Neuburg on the Danube.
2) The Mennonites constitute a main community called the Munich congregation to which belong all of the Mennonites in the court districts of Aichach, Dachau, Starnberg, Wolfratshausen, Ebersberg, Freising, and Munich. And in the direction of Chiemsee where Johann Habeck moved as tenant of Hessenloh in the court district of Trostberg.
The Mennonites in the court district of Landsberg belong to the Augsburg congregation. And there are also Ingolstadt and Regensburg congregations to which the Mennonites living nearby belong.
The Munich congregation does not have a set place for holding church services, but these are held alternately in the localities where Mennonites live.
The Munich congregation has the following leaders, or preachers (Diener am Buche):
a.) Johann Harbek, now in Chiemsee, as bishop (völliger Diener) 19
b.) I, Heinrich Stalter, preacher (Diener zum Buch)
c.) Nicolaus Augustin, in Pellheim, district court of Dachau, preacher (Diener zum Buch) 20
d.) Daniel Zehrer, of Erzbach, district court of Dachau, preacher (Diener zum Buch) 21
e.) Christian Esch, in Hahnenfeld [Hanfeld], district court of Starnberg, preacher (Diener zum Buch) 22
f.) Christian or Jakob Holli23, at Lindach, district court of Ebersberg, deacon (Diener zu den Armen)
All of the ministers are chosen by majority vote. Only married men are eligible [for election]. All baptized Mennonites, male and female, are eligible to vote. Those chosen remain in their capacity for life unless they become guilty of ecclesiastical or other transgressions. In the case of such accusations, the entire congregation passes judgment and the officiating minister carries out the decision by announcing it.
3.) The church activities are provided and divided in the following way:
A.) The bishop (völliger Diener) performs:
a.) Baptism by pouring water on the head after the question “Do you believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” and the answer, “Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” by saying, “I baptize you in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
The candidate must be 13 or 14 years old and receives baptism kneeling and without a godparent. Before and after the baptism the bishop preaches a sermon explaining the baptismal covenant.
The baptisms are carried out where the worship service is held.
b.) Marriage
In particular a sermon is preached, excellently explaining the Bible text about young Tobit. Then the bishop asks the groom, “Do you believe that God has heard your prayer that your sister (the bride) become your wife?” and after the groom has confirmed this he directs the same to the bride. Then the bishop takes the bridal couple by the right hands, places these together, and pronounces, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob help you together and bless you, the Spirit speaks. In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit I marry you.”
The wedding takes place during the regular worship service before the congregation in the presence of the parents if they are still living.
c.) The Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
Christ’s whole way of life from his birth until his ascension is explained.
[In the left column of the document:]
This happens twice a year on Easter day and on Michaelmas24 Sunday, preceded 8 days earlier by a day of repentance and prayer in preparation
After reading John, Chapter 6, enough ministers bring in the ordinary bread, which is ready outside the meeting room or place of worship (Gebetshaus), in as many pieces as required for the congregation, then white wine. Then a table is covered with white cloth, and the bread is cut into equal parts. Then [the bishop] says, “I hope and believe that Christ Jesus shed his precious blood for us on the tree of the cross, and has therefore become a holy and perfect sacrifice for our sins, and I hope and believe that he will return on the great last day and will address us as his children, and whoever hopes with me should come and eat this bread after me as is right.” Then the bread is broken into smaller pieces, the bishop eats the first bite, and he distributes the rest by giving each person a piece in the hand, which they bring to the mouth themselves. The same thing is said about the wine, the bishop drinks first from the cup or chalice and the next minister carries the wine vessel around and hands it to each one to drink. The bread and wine are partaken standing.
d.) Footwashing according to John, Chapter 13, as he himself [Jesus] established it.
This happens at Easter and Michaelmas. He explains how Christ established footwashing, and that it is a part of holiness. The stockings are taken off, the water is in a bowl with several standing ready. The bishop washes the feet of the first preacher, and then one another in order, but the men and women separately.
e.) Burials
There is no special ceremony here. There is also no soil thrown over the coffin and in the grave by anyone but the gravediggers, and there is no marker on the grave. Before it, two Gospels and prayers are read in the house, and there is a funeral speech at the grave. The preachers are also authorized to officiate at burials if the bishop cannot come because of the distance.
[In the left column of the document:]
Separate burial places for the Mennonites are:
in Gern where his supreme majesty, the late King Max Joseph, donated land from his private property because the community of Neuhausen had refused to accept a deceased Mennonite child in the cemetery there. This burial place is enclosed with boards and is used to accommodate the Mennonites in the vicinity of Gern.
Then there is another burial place in Hanfeld, district court of Starnberg, where the local Mennonites are buried.The other Mennonites are buried in the regular cemeteries of the appropriate parishes, sometimes by the relevant pastor in question or in his presence, and sometimes without this in the presence of a preacher or more often the bishop.
B.) The preachers (Diener zum Buche)
deliver the sermons and teaching and, kneeling, read prayers aloud, which the rest follow silently. They can also conduct the funerals, as mentioned above.
C. The deacon (Diener der Armen)
Is responsible to pour out the water for baptism, to supply the bread and wine and manage the order at the distribution of the Lord’s Supper, and at all worship services to bear testimony for the congregation’s confirmation.
4.) The bishop can only be elected from among the preachers, and after the election he is ordained to the office.
To do this, two bishops must be invited from other congregations. The elected bishop kneels in front of them and the other two bishops put their hands on his bare head and the deacon does the same in the presence of the assembled community. One of the other bishops then directs him to perform baptisms, to administer the baptismal covenant, to break the bread, to hold footwashing and burials, all in such a way that nothing is changed, left out, or added in any point of the ordinances.
After the election of a preacher, this duty is given to him by the bishop, as Mathaeus was added to the 11 apostles since the lot fell on him, whereupon he shakes hands with the bishop, who says: “In the name of God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit and of the church I appoint you preacher.” The ministers have no special clothing or compensation for their duties.
5.) The worship services are held in the ordinary rooms of the house. There is no special performance, no images, and no special ceremony.
In the worship services and sermons the Protestant editions of the Old and New Testaments are used as well as a prayer book, which is specially printed and distributed. The Mennonites hold more with the Protestants than with the Catholics. The founder of our religion is Jesus Christ himself according to the Gospel, that is, according to the Old and New Testaments. After several persecutions of the community, Mina Himonis [sic] from Lyon gave us instruction for our religion again, of which a printed work is available under the title, The Departure of Mina Himonis [sic] from the Papacy.
6.) Up to now, no records or books of baptisms, marriages, and deaths have been kept; it was all left to the recollections and record keeping of each family head.
Signed for confirmation
Heinrich Stalter
Royal District Court of Munich
With this information from Heinrich Stalter from Gern near Munich, who reports very comprehensively about the Amish Mennonite congregation in Munich, we have precise insight into how people practiced their faith at that time, and at the same time we know how many families belonged to the congregation.
Heinrich Stalter sold his property in Gern, which he had acquired from the Queen of Bavaria in 1830, and applied to the court on 28 August 1841 to emigrate to America with his family. His petition says: “He himself (Heinrich Stalter), the owner of an important agricultural estate in Gern in the Nymphenburg community, has long been interested in the idea of emigrating to America, but his wife was not amenable to the idea and prevented the emigration from being carried out.”
The two older daughters Katharina and Elisabeth Stalter wanted to visit relatives in France in 1839, namely Katharina with Christian Jordy and Elisabeth with Georg Kellner of Gern. Since there was an intention to emigrate, their passport was refused. However, the daughters were able to travel to France after a government decision of 30 May 1839. From there they traveled on to New Orleans, and from there they sent a power of attorney to their father, who was to auction all the possessions of the two daughters and to bring the money with him when he emigrated. In return, Heinrich Stalter would receive room and board from his daughters for life. Heinrich was 65 years old at this time. On 31 August 1841 the district court approved emigration to America.
Panorama of Nymphenburg Palace, home of King Maximillian I Joseph (1984)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/
(https://en.wikipedia.org/
All photos by Donna Schrock Birkey
Entry to the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace. (1984)
Bridge over the Canal from the Palace to Gern, and the land that Heinrich Stalter owned. (1984)
Gravestone of Heinrich Stalter in Birki Cemetery, Groveland Township, Tazewell Co., IL.
(https://www.findagrave.com/
Footnotes
2 Joseph Stalter, brother of Heinrich, born 10 August 1770 near Sarralbe, Moselle, died 1842 in Munich: married on 3 June 1800 to Magdalena Egli (1778- 1852).
3 Jakob Stalter, born 1801, married in 1832 to Anna (1798-1838), daughter of Joseph (note 2).
4 Jakob Stalter was the widower of Magdalena Nafziger Hunzicker who in her first marriage was the mother of Elisabeth Hunzicker Birki (note 5). In 1832 Elisabeth and Valentin Bürki got the farm House #3 in Gern from the two of them.
5 Valentin Birki, born ca. 1794 in Lutterbach, Alsace, died 12 September 1860, in Tazewell Co., Illinois; married to Elisabeth Hunzicker (1796-12 August 1848).
6 Katharina Stalter, born ca. 1809, died Woodford Co., Illinois, 4 October 1894; married to Christian Yordy (ca. 1811-7 November 1870).
7 Anna Stalter (see note 3) had two sons before her marriage to Joseph Stalter: Jakob (born 1824) and Christian (born 1825); the name of the other daughter and her child not known.
8 This may represent a confusion of name. In 1851 Georg Kettner of Gern, widower of Maria Birki (sister of Valentin, note 5), emigrated to Tazewell Co., Illinois, with their 6 daughters and 1 son. On the same voyage were Maria and Valentin’s brother Christian, wife Elisabeth Stalter, and children (note 13). Sources: www.birkey.org and Joseph Peter Staker, Amish Mennonites in Tazewell County, Illinois.
9 Georg Hunzicker, a widower aged 77 years, died 12 February 1842, and was buried at Gern. He may have been an uncle of Elisabeth Hunzicker (note 5).
10 This Zehr family has not been identified.
11 David Springer, born 14 October 1806 in Struth, Alsace, married Elisabeth Guth, emigrated from Solln in 1849, died 16 April 1884 in Minier, Tazewell Co., Illinois.
12 Christian Roggy, born 1789, Diefenbacherhof, Wissembourg, Alsace; died 12 September 1862, Gerharting, Bavaria, lived in Unterhaching, 1835-41; married 1834 to Katharina Nafziger, born 1792, died 1866 in Otttenhofen, Bavaria.
13 Christian Birki, born 1788 in Rimsdorf, Alsace, died 14 February 1866 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., Illinois; married 1815 to Anna Maria Gascho (1798 in Nancy, France – 1840/41 in Bavaria) and 4 August 1841 to Elisabeth Stalter (18 April 1813 in Gern – 24 September 1872 in Groveland, Tazewell Co., Illinois). Emigrated to Tazewell Co. in 1851.
14 Katharina Heiser, born 6 January 1814 in Hanfeld, Bavaria, emigrated to Ohio in 1838 with daughter Maria, died 31 October 1891 in Butler Co., Ohio; married 1834 to Georg Müller, born 1787 in Hornbach, Palatinate, died 8 March 1835 in Ottendichl. Müller’s first marriage was to Katharina Birki who died in 1833.
15 Johann Schott, born 16 November 1784 in Aspach, Palatinate; married Magdalena Eichelberger who died 25 May 1826 in Perlach, Bavaria. Thereafter he married Katharina Stalter. According to Hermann Hage, in 1835/36 she left him and returned to relatives in Hemerten.
16Christian Bechler, born 1811 at Schwaigwall near Wolfratshausen, Bavaria, died after 1880 in Tazewell Co., Illinois; married 29 August 1835 to Jacobina Holly, born 29 May 1807 in Horterhof, Ottersberg, Palatinate, died 21 June 1875 in Tazewell Co., Illinois. They emigrated in 1846.
17 Johann Pechler/Bechler, married to Magdalena Bürcky (1785-1844); parents of Christian (note 16).
18 Jakob Schrag, born 1753 on the Gersbergerhof in the Palatinate, died 25 April 1838 in Wilmot, Ontario, Canada; married Magdalena Holly, widow of — Müller, born 1762 in Alsace, died Oct 1828, Johanneskirchen; Jacob and children emigrated to Canada in 1837. Magdalena’s son from her first marriage was Georg Müller (note 14).
19 Johannes Habecker, originally from Lembach, Alsace, born 1763/64, married to Catharina Schantz.
20 Nicolaus Augustin, born ca. 1800 in France, died 1850; married ca. 1822 to Barbara Gascho, born 19 November 1800 at Desseling, Moselle, France, died 26 December 1880 at Tiskilwa, Illinois. In the United States most family members changed the name’s spelling to Eigsti.
21 Daniel Zehr, born 8 June 1803 in Struth, Alsace, died near Congerville, Woodford Co., Illinois, 11 August 1855; married on 12 May 1827 to Barbara Ingold, born 1803 at Lindelbrunnerhof, Palatinate, died 5 August 1831 at Arzbach. Daniel remarried on 6 November 1832 to Magdalena Müller of Wellenburg, born 1806. Died 27 February 1899 in Illinois. Daniel and Magdalena and family emigrated to Illinois in 1853.
22 Christian Oesch, born ca. 1755 in Alsace, died 29 March 1834 at Hanfeld; married 1783 to Katharina Bürki, born 1764 Waderhof at Lorentzen, Alsace, died 6 March 1829 at Hanfeld.
23 Stalter was uncertain whether the deacon’s name was Christian or Jakob. He was Jakob Holly, who was born 3 April 1780 in Nehweiler, Alsace, died 23 April 1856 in Lindach, married Magdalena Unzicker, born 28 March 1786 in Wörth, Alsace, died 16 January 1854 in Lindach. No Christian Holly is known in the Bavarian Amish Mennonite community at this date.
24 Michaelmas, the feast of St. Michael, falls on 29 September on the liturgical calendar.
25 Intended here is Menno Simons, who also wrote the book mentioned. The reference to Lyon is completely absurd. The explanation is as follows: Peter Waldo of Lyon was the founder of the Waldensians. There was a tendency among the Mennonites of both movements to believe the historians who constructed a spiritual-historical connection between Anabaptism back to early Christianity via the Waldensians and other dissident church groups. This corresponds with Stalter having said that the “founder of our religion is Jesus Christ himself,” and expresses the theory of this line of continuity. That is, Stalter mixed up something and placed Menno Simons in Lyon because of the tradition that the Waldensians were forerunners of the Anabaptists / Mennonites.