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Germantown/Germanville, Illinois History
This township is very appropriately named. It is strictly a German town. Three-fourths of its population, perhaps, are from the "Faderland," and have sought the prairies of the New World, and homes where all are free and all are equal. No more honest and enterprising farmers, or quiet and peaceable citizens exist in Livingston County, than these hard-working Germans of the township heading this chapter. They move on in the " even tenor of their way" without ostentation or display, quietly enjoying their pipes and their lager beer, and very rarely interfering, to their credit be it said, in the affairs of others. Germantown occupies the extreme southeast corner of the county, and is described as Township 25 north, Range 8 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is a fractional town, and is almost entirely prairie, with but very little native timber, and a small quantity of what was in the earlier days of settlement, termed "swamp lands." Until 1867, Germantown was included in Chatsworth Township, as noticed in that part of this work. At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors that year, Germantown petitioned to be set off, and thus became an independent town. Thomas Y. Brown made the first actual settlement in Germantown Township in 1855. He came from Jefferson County, N. Y., and located as noticed above, in Germantown, where he lived until a few years ago when he retired from active business and removed to the village of Chatsworth. He still owns his farm in Germantown, which is cultivated by tenants, while he resides in the village enjoying the competence his life of industry and perseverance in business has won for him. A son of Mr. Brown's is engaged in the banking business at Chatsworth. and is one of the honorable business men of the place. The next year after the settlement of Mr. Brown in Germantown witnessed the arrival of Nicholas Fraoeb and P. Goembel, from the "Black Forests of the Rhine." They settled here in the Fall of 1856, and were soon followed by others from " Deutschland," until to-day, as stated a little space ago, nearly the entire town is settled up with Germans, many of whom cannot speak a word of English, and among whom the mellow accents of Germany alone are heard. Dr. R. B. Wilson, who came from Ireland, but lived in Washington, Tazewell County, owned a section or two of land in this township. He sold the most of it to Germans, who, through his instrumentality came here and made their settlement within a few years from the time of the first opening made by Brown. Hon. Samuel T Fosdick is from New York City, and was induced to come West by his physician, with a hope of restoring his feeble health. He settled in Germantown in 1858. At that time, he informed us, there were living in the town Thomas Y. Brown and a few German families; the remainder of the lands were unoccupied. A few years ago Mr. Fosdick removed into Chats- worth village, where he at present resides. He is a lawyer of merit, and a member of the State Senate, from the district composed of the Counties of Livingston and Ford. But a more complete history of him is given in the chapter devoted to Chatsworth. This includes the first settlements made in this township, and brings its history up to a period when immigrants came in? mostly from the " old country," with too much rapidity for the historian to keep trace of them. Germantown has no church edifices, nor a store or pdst oifice, within its territorial limits. There are, however, several church societies of the German Lutheran, Ormish and Evangelical Association, who hold their religious meetings in the school houses, and at the people's residences but of them, we were unable to obtain much definite information. Their mail is received from Chats- worth, Strawn and other offices around its borders, and their trading is likewise done at these places. The schools of Germantown are in a very flourishing condition, and well up to the standard of public schools in any other section of the county. The first school was taught in 1859, but the name of the teacher is forgotten. We find from the records that in 1866 there were three school districts in the county, and thirty-five scholars in attendance. White persons under 21 years of age were forty-five, and the school fund was $146. In 1873 there were five schools ; 161 children between the ages of 6 and 21 years, and the number at school 101. Two male and six female teachers were employed, and the district tax levy for support of schools was $947. The following figures are taken from the last annual report of A. B. Minnerly, School Treasurer of the township, to the county superintendent of schools : Number of males in township under 21 years 168 Number of females in township under 21 years 158 Total 326 Number of males between 6 and 21 years 101 Number of females between 6 and 21 years 118 Total 219 Number of males attending school 76 Number of females attending school 60 Total 136 Number of male teaohers employed 6 Number of female teachers employed 4 Total 10 Estimated value of school property $4.600.00 School fund for support of schools 8,790.60 Highest monthly wages paid any teacher 46.00 Lowest monthly wages paid any teacher » 26.00 Whole amount paid teachers 1,237.75 There are at present in the township, which is fractional, five school Districts, in all of which there are good, comfortable school houses, and schools maintained for the usual term each year. We have stated that Germantown 'was without churches, stores and post offices, and we may add, without mills, railroads, mighty water courses or great forests. In fact it has little history beyond the settlement of its quiet citizens. It is well supplied with good roads; but these are of too modern construction to be an interesting matter of history. Its political faith is pretty evenly divided between thi two great parties of the day, and indeed, it is stated that the Presidential contest in 1876 between Hayes and Tilden was a tie vote. The present township officers of Germantown are A. B. Minnerly, Supervisor; John Leggate and A. B. Minnerly, Justices of the Peace ; F. C. Dassan, Town Clerk; Charles Roedel, Collector, and John Leggate, Assessor.
Source:The History of Liviningston County, Illinois W.E. LeBaron & Co. , 1878
Germanville Lutheran Church The Lutheran Book - 1872-1972 The Germanville Church later became the Community Hall. 
Read the Biography of Charles Froebe
Germanville Cemetery Photo from "American Aerial History Series" 1955
 This cemetery has been photographed and many posted at this link: 
Germanville Cemetery today
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