Sixty Years of California Song | Page 4

in the house of the
Duke of Chamburg. He had gone with other lords and nobles of the
land to Graven Hage to swear allegiance to William III., King of Great
Britain, who had just come over from London as the regent of the
Netherlands. Even the physician in ordinary, who was sent by the King,
was unable to save him. By order of the King his body was placed in a
vault in the church on High Street in Brada, March 19, 1691, with
extraordinary honor and ceremonies. He had acquired large possessions
and wealth, therefore the King ordered that the large estate of the
deceased should be taken care of, and placed it under the care of
William von Schuylenburg, council of the King. At the same time
notice was sent to all princes and potentates in whose countries there
was property of the deceased to support His Majesty in this undertaking.

Three weeks before his death he had made his will and had given the
name of his parents and his five brothers and two sisters.
His sister Barbara was my great-grandmother. After the death of my
granduncle some of the family came to America. They were not aware
of the death of their distinguished brother and the heirs did not claim
the vast fortune, which amounted to 20,000,000 guilders at that time
and now with compound interest should be to 200,000,000 to
300,000,000 guilders, and is still in the possession of the King and in
the treasuries of the Netherlands. The heirs have been deprived of it all
these years, although they have from one generation to another fought
the case. At the same time the authorities of Holland are not a little in
doubt and are embarrassed for reasons to justify keeping the Metzger
von Weibnom estate for Holland.
But the reason of all their decisions, answers and refusals is the
unmistakable intention to keep the estate for themselves, even at the
cost of truth, justice and honor. The will has been suppressed. We have
proof that General Rapp in 1794 at the occupation of Brada had taken
the will, dated February 2, 1691, from the city magistrate to carry it to
Strassburg for safety. The will has never been executed.
I purposely made this break in my narrative of my childhood in justice
to my distinguished father who should have occupied the place that
belonged to him by right and title, as he was one of the original heirs
mentioned in my uncle's will--the grandson of his favorite sister,
Barbara Metzger von Weibnom. My father was a minister. He was
Christ-like with his people, and it was beautiful to behold with what
reverence the people approached him. He had the mild blue eye the
poets write about, his voice was soft in its tenderness when addressing
any member of his flock. His bearing was dignified and reverent, and
he was a delightful person to know. He was always hopeful, no matter
what difficulties arose in regard to the finances of the church. In the
true sense of the word he was a father to his people and his family. His
elders were all devotion and with them his word was law. In all the
years of his ministry I cannot recall any unhappy situation with his
congregation. Sadness came only when parting, to be sent to work in

another church. He was a great pioneer founder of churches, and the
Synod sent him first in one direction, then another.
In consequence of these changes I traveled a great deal in childhood.
No sooner had father succeeded in getting a church started and in good
running order than he would be sent to some other section of the
country. In Virginia, where he was born and bred, he was ordained at
the age of twenty-five and soon had a promising charge in Berks
county, Pa. From there he was sent to Evansville, Ind. It was while he
was filling the pulpit at Womensdorf, Pa., that he met Miss Mary
Stouch, to whom he was married in the year 1819. Six children were
born to them while at this pastorate. The church in Evansville had been
without a pastor for over two years and father was called to fill the
position. The parting between the pastor and his people was
particularly sad. My mother had to leave her girlhood home for the first
time in her life.
Oh, what a sad journey it was for them. It was made by stage and boat
and my parents had six young children. Many a time in my childhood I
heard the sad tale repeated. And the reception at Evansville was still
sadder as the church had been closed and the building almost destroyed
by the vicious element and unconverted people