Another way of recognizing the contribution of the Germans to Madison County as it exists today is in the legacy of the proper names they have left behind. The Finks left a Hollow, in fact, some of them still live in the Hollow today. The House family left a Hollow also. The Broyles left a Gap as did the Fishers. The Tanners left a Ridge as did the Deals (Diehls), but the Garrs and Aylors left Mountains.
The waterways have been marked with several names, including Cook’s Run, Wilhoit Branch, Carpenter Run, Carpenter’s River, Blankenbaker Branch, Yeager Run, and Fleshman Run. Along streams you can cross at Wayland’s Ford, at Rucker’s Ford, or at Utz’s Ford.
To get around, you can take Weaver Road (more than one), Blankenbaker Road, Yeager Road, Tanner’s Road, and probably many more known to the citizens but not on a map.
You can go to school at the Yowell school or at Wayland’s.
You can do business at the Fishback Distillery, Carpenter’s Furniture Shop, the Clore Furniture Factory (still going strong), or Fleshman’s Shop. You can take your grain to Crigler’s Mill.
You can live in Criglersville or on the German Ridge.
You might have gone to the Hoffman Chapel or you may still go to the Dutch Church which is better known today as Hebron. Hebron has a history which is so rich that it desires its own special treatment. The German pastor, George Samuel Klug, who served more than twenty years starting in 1739, performed services for the English when they were without a minister. He did so much in this way that he received a payment from the Colony of Virginia for his services.
Some of the proper names that I have mentioned, especially the businesses, are no longer operating. Many families have left their names behind as they moved on to new regions. In the course of time some geographical names are changed and we lose sight of the original reasons. For example, in eastern Culpeper County, the Fleshman’s Run there was changed to Field’s Run.
If readers are familiar with other names that I should add to the list above, please send them along to me in the next day or so. I would appreciate it. In preparing this material, I have found Eugene Scheel's
Historical Map of Madison County
very helpful.
(18 Feb 06)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.