Munster, Augustus Meltzerf Franz Schmidt (Frank Smith), Adolphus
Riemann, George Koch, Herman Muller, Franz Schweiker, Philip
Metzf Herman Klages, John Ebisch, Paul Breitkranz. Only two are
in the Shaker Cemetery: Peter Smith (always listed by Elder
Augustus as Peter Schmidt), born in Germany in 1825, became a
Shaker in 1874, died there in 1907 at the age of 82; and Fred-
erick Frank who was taken in on July 21, 1881, aged 24, "with
dropsy." He died on August 25th the same year and Elder Augustus
helped dig his grave and spoke and sung in Terman and English at
his funeral.
Elder Augustus was also interested in all facets of agriculture,
but his main efforts were centered in the sawmill and in the
making of cider. In April 1863 he had 1 1/2 fingers cut off by
someone's carelessness in the sawmill and he complained in his
journal of not being able to do much until July 6th when he was
finally able to hoe potatoes "both hands." In 1871 he was also
acting as a shoemaker and in 1872 is the instructor at the Soci-
ety singing meeting. Also in 1872 the town's steam-powered cider
mill burned downf so many turned to the Shakers to have their
cider pressed. Elder Augustus commented that in September and
October he was making "two cheeses most every day." (A cheese
was the pulp remaining from making cider.)
Elder Augustus's entry for August 15, 1879 tells us it was his
66th birthday. "The young sisters prepared a supper for me
without my knowledge and at night I found from eight a present on
a stand in the room. They seemed to delight to notice me, saying
I had never had much notice." (VB-326)
In 1879 he made between 400-500 presses of cider, keeping himself
and two others busy. However in January 1880, while drawing man-
ure he had his hand stabbed by a manure fork and his hand became
infected. He had the doctor to treat his hand a week later, but
does not seem to have done any heavy work after this. In Febru-
ary he complained he was bottoming chairs because his hand was
not well, in March he was making scoops, long handled shovels
and neck yokes. In 1883 and 1884, besides trips to town for va-
rious things such as getting an organ for the sisters, he tells
only of bottoming chairs and making baskets, until March 10th,
when it is noted that he has pneumonia. He died April 6th and
Elder David Buckingham of the CF wrote "he came among the Belie-
vers when a young man and has always been true and faithful to
the cause of truth--a very hard-working man and a trusty burden-
bearer ." His death was "a great blow to the family," he was
honest and straight-forward and a true 'Shaker. ' He leaves many
to mourn his loss."
In October 1858, their miller's wife, Mary Radell, had her
clothes caught in the mill and all torn off and both legs bro-
ken. The next March her husband, Henry, turned the Waterbury
mill (located on Mill Road and formerly a wool factory) into
a grist mill. (VB-343)
In 1866 they sold their mills at the river for $7000--$2000 down
and the rest in mortgage. In January 1867 they set up aa broom