The Germans, Scots and French
At the same time come for freedom
Were the German and the Swiss folk.
They came close behind the Captain -
Came the Roenigks and the Lippes,
Came the Kirchners and the Deetjens,
And the Mertens, Kollings, Youngs,
The Mellieses and Taddikens,
Moellings, Klipaches, Hagens,
Petermeyers, Nemnichs, Germanns,
Duggers, Eilers, Ruffner, Seitz!
And because we like to say it,
We will name the Aemmesseggers.
Who has married with the Rueggs?
Fully half of Morganville
Calls a Ruegg girl aunt or grandma.
Never talk about a Ruegg girl!
Someone's sure to be around
Who is kin, in-law or cousin
Child or great-grand child or nephew,
Son-in-law or niece or great-niece.
Anna, Mary, Lena, Emma, Rosa M. and Lizzie Ruegg
Have raised other Swiss - and gardens,
Like the Weisses and the Steffins,
The Schaffners and the Schorrers,
The Affolters and Schwabs.
Hear their offspring play a folk song;
Hear the old-time German band.
Comment
Many Germans, as well as French and others, came to make Morganville and the surrounding farm lands home.
As before, it seems likely that the mentioning of so many names was partly so no one felt left out, but may have also
served to introduce related scenes.
The community is so interconnected that almost everyone is related to everyone else.
