The Wendish Research Exchange - Eibau

Eibau

by M. Karl Adolph Goessel, Pastor

Translated by John Buerfeind

In early times the name Eibau was written as Ywa, which, in Slavic words describes a wide meadow and is a source for the names of numerous villages.

The parish of Eibau consists of the villages Old and New Eibau, with each having their own jurisdictions and rule making powers. Old Eibau is one of the most beautiful villages, not only in the Zittau region but in all of Lausitz and even Saxony. It is situated 3 hours northwest of Zittau, 1 hour west of Herrnhut and 2 hours east of the Bohemian city of Rumburg. The large Kottmar mountain, which reaches the height of 1710 feet, lies to the north of the village and on the west side is the Lehr mountain on which signs of a structure for education from the pagan times have been found. Two segments of the village, the Loebau Meadow and the Mundgut, lie on the grounds of former stately fields and forests and have been settled only since the 17th century. In 1658 one accounts for 36 farms and 6 Ruthen. The village currently has 43 farms, 43 homes with garden yards producing food, and 564 share cropping parcels of which, 71 are situated on the Loebau Meadow and 153 on the Mundgut. In addition, there exists in the Mundgut of Old Eibau, a brewery, established in a stately building erected in 1811, a water mill and 4 wind mills as well as a brick kiln. The Neustadt-Zittau Boulevard traverses through the 5/4 hour long village. The village accounted for 4210 souls at the end of 1837.

New Eibau, situated 25 minutes southwest of Old Eibau, was established toward the end of the 17th century on stately meadow and forest lands and has, presently, 102 houses and 632 souls.

The principle means of income for Old and New Eibau is the weaving mill whose linen and cotton products are mostly shipped directly to the trade centers of the coastal cities and even to foreign parts of the world.

The owners, in the middle ages, were titled gentlemen who were named, in accordance, von Ywa and whose names are also written in the records, since 1400, as Yben, Ybau and Eibe. Rich families from Zittau namely, Augustin v. Kohl and Joachim von Milde, became owners at the end of the 16th century.

The city of Zittau purchased a part of the village on St. Martins Day in 1602 for 4500 thaler and 32 kreuzer from the von Kohlo family. The letter of sale identifies the sellers in the following words: “The highborn creditable Friedrich von Kohlo of Reibersdorf and Eibau, on his own account; then Nickel von Kohl’s surviving heirs, brothers Balzer and Peter von Kohl, also on their accounts; Georg Wicke; Augustin Anders as custodians for the third brother Joachim, living abroad, as well as Mrs. Nic. Rodo, and Barth. Denike as guardians for the under-age heirs from the other marriage, and similarly Sigmund Lankisch the assigned guardian for the blessed surviving under-age son Melchior of Melchior von Kohl, together and separately, well considered and upright, sold one half of the fiefdom which they inherited from their blessed father and grandfather, the highborn creditable Sir Augustin von Kohlo of Eibau and Reibersdorf,” and so on.

The other part of the fiefdom was bought by Zittau from Hans Friedrich von Tzschirnhaus upon Kieslingswalde on Dec. 11, 1602. The cost was 6300 thaler of which, 3300 thaler were paid on the date of contract and 3000 thaler, one year later.

Old and New Eibau had a small church until 1707 which, as in all old villages, presumably grew out of a chapel, belonged to the diocese of Zittau into the 16th century and therewith to the archdiocese of Bunzlau under the archbishopric of Prague so that it was required to pay a yearly tithe of 3 groschen to the Archbishops von Jenstein or Genzenstein.

Until the middle 17th century, Leutersdorf, in whose church the pastor from Eibau preached every third Sunday while the people of Leutersdorf went to church in Eibau on the remaining Sundays, was filial to this church.

On June 19, 1703 a cornerstone was laid southwest of the old church, adorned with a copper plate inscribed with the words:
Cur nune Eiba sibi majorem postulate aedem? Why now Eibau greater demand for building?
Cur? Quoniam Christi gratia major adest. Why? For Christ's grace is greater.
Quia Christianorum copia major adest. For Christians, the supply is greater.
Since the parishioners provided free framing work and hand craft, the exterior of the church building cost only 6691 thaler, 16 groschen, 11 pfennig in cash which the congregation raised, alone and with the greatest willingness, which makes the following inscription on a plate attached to the church totally truthful:
“Impensis, rebus et operis incolarum hujus pagi promte collatis. Printed, from the reality of this part of the population, and also prepared to work together.
Igitur Tu, sera posteritas, lauda, gaude et perge!” Therefore, you, the descendants of late, praise, praise, and go!"

Not only Old and New Eibau but also, especially, individual parishioners provided for the upgrading and the decorating of the interior of the church. For instance,
the judge Hempel gave 302 thaler, 8 groschen, 4 pfennig for the construction of the pulpit;
Christian and Michael Priebs 284 thaler for the erection of the splendid, beautiful column altar;
Christian Gaebel for the creation of the crucifix on the altar 40 thaler; and then additionally 54 thaler, 17 groschen, 3 pfennig;
Friedrich Hempel 98 thaler for the purchase of 2 brass candelabras;
Friedrich Priebs and his wife Elisabeth, née Wehder, paid 196 thaler for the font and also the major cost of the richly carved confessional box. The church received offerings from single congregation members ongoing at later times.

The judge Gotfried Israel, in 1725, caused the doors to the lower gallery and the latticework in and the paintings above the confessional to be completed and later gifted the church the large silver and highly gilded chalice;
in 1726, the pulpit received cloth dressing in red and, for lent, in black from Christoph Rudolph;
in 1731, 22 members of the congregation provided for the gilding of the organ;
1765, the instruments needed for the church music were presented: the surgeon Reinhold Gottlieb Israel gave a new white alter table, decorated in gold, and Christian Friedrich Gaebel and Johann Gottfried Mueller a new altar cover made of red cloth;
in 1827, a number of young bachelors and virgins honored the installation of the current pastor with a blue silk altar dressing, and in 1830, at the jubilation festivities for Augsburg Confession, green silk altar and pulpit covers, as well as, 2 large bronze candelabras.
At expense to the congregation, the organ was constructed in 1710 and in 1725, a new large bell was added to those newly poured in 1714 and 1724 and a new crystal chandelier was purchased in 1817 which cost 124 thaler, 15 groschen, 1 pfennig.

This glorious church, in which the first service took place on September 27, 1707 and was not consecrated until the 3rd Christmas day due to pastor’s illness, is, on the inside, a 69 feet long, 32 feet wide and 26 feet high oblong that has 45 windows. Attached to the pillars, which carry the domed roof, are three rows of galleries, one above the other. On the inside of the church tower is a beautiful choir loft on which stands an organ, fitted with 26 operational stops and 2 keyboards and constructed in such a way that the organist faces the assembled congregation. The stately booth, aside of which hang two costly and tasteful epitaphs, is placed below the choir. Opposite the organ is the altar, fitted with a splendid oil painting of Christ at the Mount of Olives and around on the pulpit side a magnificent epitaph, cast in bronze, was installed by the Zittau resident son of the late M. Moser, Scabin Moser, at a cost of almost 300 thaler. Five large entries lead into the church whose floors and altar area are covered with stone plates and whose steps are also made of stone. The vestry is situated behind the altar. The church can accommodate thousands of visitors and the congregation attends diligently so that their places are filled, without gaps, on every Sunday and holiday. Services and communion are also held every Friday.

The steeple of the church was struck by lightning on a number of occasions, August 4, 1779, June 21, 1797, and July 29, 1829, without igniting. However, the upper part of the tower was destroyed and its 4 bells melted down due to a lighting strike on April 21, 1751. Still, by November 15, in the same year, the tower, whose center is made of square-hewn stone, was fitted with a double spire with new bells, the large one weighing 18 hundredweight 108 ¾ pounds, the middle one 18 ¾ hundredweight and the small one 5 ½ hundredweight, and the next year with a new cap and star. The height of the tower with lightning rod amounts to 97 feet. The tower clock not only indicates and strikes on the hour and quarter hours but repeats the hour strike.

The church is surrounded by a cemetery, enclosed by a wall and containing a number of burial vaults and decorated with many stone grave monuments. Since 1807 there is a second, fenced in, cemetery not far from the church to the southwest.

Next to the church, in addition to the necessary service buildings, is a very nice parsonage, erected in 1777 and fitted with a tile roof in 1837. At the end of December 1837, the church had a treasury worth 10,856 thaler, 6 groschen and 5 pfennig which included the following under management:
1.) a bequest from Friedrich Priebs, @ 500 thaler, established December 15, 1707 for the purpose of conducting afternoon home prayers on Quasimodo Sunday, Holy Trinity and prayers on Christmas eve;
2.) a bequest from Mrs. Elisabeth née Gaebel, the widowed Pries, @ 100 thaler, established on December 15, 1708 to conduct a prayer hour on the day of her death;
3.) a bequest from Friedrich Gartner, @ 50 thaler, established on April 5, 1735 for conducting afternoon prayers on Good Friday;
4.) a bequest by M. Herzog, @ 25 thaler, to provide for proclamation between the hours of 3 and 4 on Good Friday;
5.) a bequest from the surgeon Reinhold Gottlieb Israel, @ 1000 thaler, established on July 27, 1825 for the upkeep of 3 epitaphs and for conducting the Reformation prayer;
6.) a bequest, @ 50 thaler, established on April 6, 1750 for the maintenance of the Wallmann burial vault;
7.) a bequest from Friedrich Rudolph, @ 60 thaler, established on June 24, 1754 for the maintenance of the Rudolph burial vault;
8.) a bequest from Friedrich Priebs, @ 1000 thaler, established on October 9, 1707, the interest of which shall be distributed to 15 people, each to receive 4 Groschen monthly, and to the notoriously poor every year on founders day;
9.) a bequest from Elisabeth Gaebel, the widow Priebs, @ 50 thaler, establish on December 15, 1708 whose interest shall be distributed to 4 old women;
10.) a bequest from Christoph Halangk, established on November 10, 1726, @ 50 thaler, whose interest shall be distributed to village poor;
11.) a bequest from judge Gottfried Israel, @ 700 thaler, established on May 18, 1731, whose interest of 10 thaler shall move, annually, to the school account and the balance, on May 18, to the village poor.

The collaborate ruler of the church, parsonage and school of the parish of Eibau is the city council of Zittau.

The evangelical preachers for the parish of Eibau were:
1.) Martin Fisher, around the year 1552;
2.) Johann Popitz until 1572;
3.) Caspar Seidenschwanz, initially pastor at Ober-Oderwitz then installed at Eibau 1573, moved to Seifhennersdorf in 1575 and died there on October 31, 1586;
4.) M. Johann Kundius installed in 1577, became pastor in Dittersbach near Stolpen in 1579 and died 1591 while superintendent in Borna;
5.) Johann Zokel, from 1548 deacon in Rumburg, pastor here since 1579 and died December 3, 1632;
6.) Johann Praetorius, born on February 19, 1600, 1622 pastor in Strawalde, 1632 substitute-pastor and in the same year pastor at this place, 1680 pastor emeritus and died November 25, 1582;
7.) M. Christoph Kratzer, born 1645 in Neundorf in Bohemia, studied in Zittau and Leipzig, became teacher at the Thomas School in Leipzig in 1673, 1677 cantor in Zittau, 1680 substitute-pastor here, then pastor in 1682, and died after a seven-year illness on June 14, 1694;
8.) M. Christian Junge, born 1664 in Zittau, called to Eibau in 1694, died December 25, 1720;
9.) M. Joh. Gottlieb Herzog, born on April 7, 1683 in Freiberg, studied at Zittau and Leipzig, became assistant preacher in 1715 at Lueckendorf, 1719 pastor in Wittgendorf, 1721 pastor in Eibau, 1737 primary pastor in Loebau and died August 7, 1746;
10.) M. Christian Gottlied Gruenewald, born May 19, 1700, studied in Zittau and Leipzig, 1725 became pastor in Kupper and 1737 in Eibau, 1742 catechet, 1746 social deacon II and 1751 deacon I in Zittau, and died 1755;
11.) M. Joh. Christoph Tritschler, from Zittau became deacon in Hirschfelde in 1731, pastor in Gersdorf in 1733 and pastor in Eibau in 1742, died in 1750;
12.) M. Christian Friedrich Pescheck, son of the famous mathematician, born January 20, 1724, in Zittau, studied in Zittau and Wittenberg, was called to Eibau in 1751 on February 8, 1763 noon preacher in Zittau, 1763 deacon IV, 1771 deacon I, 1782 arch deacon and 1780 primar., in Zittau, died April 8, 1789;
13.) M. Christian Ernst Moser, born November 1, 1723 in Zittau, studied in Zittau and Leipzig, became pastor June 11, 1754 in Jonsdorf, 1762 pastor in Eibau, pastor emeritus in 1788 and died May 16, 1791; and,
14.) M. Karl Traugott Goessel, born December 1, 1756 in Zittau, studied in Zittau and Leipzig, became substitute pastor on December 1, 1788 and pastor on November 21, 1791 in Eibau, died May 9, at 5:30 in the afternoon 1826 due to a lung collapse at his study desk. (This can be viewed in “New Obituary of Germans,” 4th year, 1826. 2nd part, page 885 ff ).
15.) Also, in Eibau a pastor worth mentioning is the oldest son of the aforementioned, M. Karl Adolph Goessel, born September 9, 1790, studied in Zittau and Leipzig, became teacher at the public city school of Zittau in 1813, pastor in Jonsdorf in 1818, moved to Eibau in the month of November in 1826 where he took charge of his office on February 14, 1828.

George Friedrich Schaefer is the current sexton, and Christian Friedrich Priebs and Johann Gottfried Gaebel are the church fathers.

The organists have been:
from 1710 Andreas Gruenewald;
1712 Friedrich Bundesmann;
1716 Johann George Berthold;
1724 Christian Friedr. Berthold;
1735 Gottlob Kiesling;
1764 Joh. Christoph Schniebs;
1788 Gottlob Kiesling.
Today, the organ services are managed by Christian Friedrich Kessler.

Old Eibau has had 2 school teachers and 2 school houses since 1709; shortly there will be either 3 fulltime teachers and 1 school assistants in 3 school houses with 4 class rooms or, 2 fulltime teachers and 2 school assistants in 2 school houses and 4 class rooms to conduct lessons. The church school, which is currently attended by 314 children, was inaugurated October 31, 1799 and complies completely with requirements which the public school laws place upon schools.

The following have been masters of the church school:
1.) Hieronymus Kempf, hired about 1577;
2.) Martin Grosser, 1614, died 1623;
3.) Christoph Hentschke, 1624;
4.) Christoph Schreiber, April 29, 1672, died October 13, 1686 as he was passing through the cemetery gate with a burial entourage and sounded off on the verse: Now I travel off to Jesus Christ: c;
5.) Zacharias Groh, hired October 16, 1687;
6.) Johann George Richter, 1688, died March 28, 1689;
7.) Christian Krusche, 1689, moved in March 1690 to Olbersdorf;
8.) Andreas Gruenewald, 1690;
9.) Friedr. Rudolph, born February 19, 1678 in Eibau, died 1756 as teacher emeritus;
10.) Johann Philipp Netsch, born August 31, 1725 in Ober Oderwitz, became substitute school master in 1749 and school master here in 1756, and died October 4, 1792;
11.) George Friedrich Schaefer, born February 7, 1763 in Goldbach in Silesia, July 23, 1793 became school master here, and teacher emeritus in 1827.
12.) The current school master is Karl Ernst Opitz, hired at a firm salary of 428 Thaler, born August 28, 1801 in Nieder-Leuba, attended seminary in Zittau from 1817 to 1821, assistant teacher at Reibersdorf in 1822, school master at Lueckendorf in 1822, school master at Eibau in 1827.

The school house of the upper district, established in 1700, burned down in 1712. The current school house does not lend itself, in any satisfactory way, to the demands made on a school, in spite of the many, and in recent times, costly repairs that have been undertaken. It is attended by 313 children daily, this year.

The teachers have been:
1.) Hans George Arnd, from 1709, who gave up his position in 1712 to move to Frankfurt on the Oder;
2.) from 1712, Friedrich Bundesmann, born April 26th 1681 in Eibau, studied in Zittau and Wittenberg, made his mark through his philological and theological learning and as a good preacher, as well as a virtuoso in music but, due to frantic circumstances had to forsake the pulpit and lectern in favor of school teacher service in Oberdorfe which he, due to illness, again gave up in 1716; he died April 21, 1742;
3.) from 1716, Christoph Gaebel who was dismissed in 1724 because of his interfering in the office for homilies and his insubordination to the pastor;
4.) from 1724, Johann Christian Kramer, born on November 11, 1694 in Zittau and died on November 16, 1745; 5.) from 1745, Johann Gottfried Kiesling, born on April 26, 1719, became school teacher-emeritus on August 25, 1764, died November 26, 1764;
6.) from 1765, Gottlob Kiesling, son of the previous, made emeritus in 1811 and died in Hainewalde.
7.) The current teacher of the upper districts, who receives an annual teacher’s salary of 456 thaler plus 60 thaler organist pay and one half of the income from burials and weddings in Old Eibau and the total amount received for organ playing on weddings, is Christian Friedrich Kessler, born May 23, 1792 in Friedersdorf near Zittau who was a school employee at Edersbach in 1810 and became school teacher at Eibau in 1811.

The school in New Eibau, in which 116 children currently receive instruction, was probably established in 1717. The school house received a similarly expensive and functional modification in 1836.

The following were teachers:
1.) Samuel Nessel, later became school master in Leutersdorf;
2.) M. Heinrich Schroeder, established preacher from Rochlitz in Silesia, hired at New Eibau on Candlemas 1723 and died May 23, 1725 at the age of 65;
3.) Johann Gorge Braeuer, born September 14, 1683 in Spitzkunnersdorf, became school teacher in New Eibau on Michaelmas in 1725, died December 13, 1740;
4.) Christian Ziesche, born July 29, 1713 in Berthelsdorf, December 28, 1740 school teacher at New Eibau, died January 9, 1809;
6.) Christian Preibsch, born 1779 in Walddorf, 1809 school teacher at New Eibau, 1816 to Alt Hoerniss;
7.) Ernst Leberecht Tiebe, born 1794 in Nieder Kunnersdorf, 1816 school teacher at New Eibau, 1830 school master in Wittgendorf;
8.) Gottlieb Weinig, born 1808 in Old Eibau, 1830 school teacher at New Eibau, 1835 in Hainewalde.
9.) The current school teacher Heinrich Aug. Guenzel, born May 15, 1810 in Zittau, became school teacher at New Eibau on November 30, 1835. He has a firm annual salary of 171 thaler, fields capable of bearing several bushel, concessionary wood and some other dealings.

The total parish of Eibau accounted for
Born Died Communed Proclaimed Married
1614 34 18
1714 92 46
1721 93 100 5536
1814 121 121 6632 52 pair 44 pair
1821 156 129 7629 60 pair 42 pair
1837 151 138 8872 75 pair 56 pair

Old and New Eibau have been forming an association for the poor since July 16, 1737 and have, jointly, two houses for the poor. Not only are the poor of the parish cared for, as explained above and by the aforementioned bequeaths under management through the church treasury, but also because:
1.) under the control of the pastor, 20 thaler are distributed monthly to the village poor through the village leaders, and
2.) through the association for the poor, called into being at the end of March 1836, 12 groschen are distributed monthly to each of 22 village poor, 10 groschen to 16 poor, 8 groschen to 15 poor, 6 groschen to 3 poor and 4 groschen to 10 poor. This association, which has made it its task to eliminate begging in the village, also distributes, through its agents, to each trade worker who can deliver a document to attest that he is traveling as prescribed.