Teachers of Mercydorf

by Peter Schiff
(Mercydorf 1734-1934 )
Translated by Brad Schwebler

          During the establishment of our community until the present day, the pastor’s register was very well kept and preserved, but the first school register is no longer at our disposal today and also the first community books were lost partially during the world war, and partially on the occasion of the last move of the notary’s office, so we must depend completely on the memorandum from the deacon Gustav Bobik which we can report in the following manner: “Our community was established by Italians who were instructed in the beginning by the pastors because it was difficult to find someone who was proficient in this language.

          This went on until 1761 when the first employed teacher here was Peter Due from Lorraine, who probably came here from the homeland together with the first immigrants from Lorraine. His successor was Johan Jakob Mager from Lorraine until 1771.  In 1778 Christof Taub worked here and he was followed by Franz Kornibe who was sheriff/mayor in the beginning, then teacher, and finally he was teacher and notary.  He was followed by Nikolaus Walter (1790), then Jakob Bayer (1803).  In 1811 Andreas Kurz was teacher in the beginning, then Mathias Erßner.  From 1816 on it was Ferdinand Rödl.  From 1828 on it was Karl Ehrwerth. From 1847 on it was Josef Schäffer.  Up to then we only had one grade on the average in our community.  But from about 1842 on we had two and finally three grades with teachers for each grade by 1873.  The following teachers worked with the lower grades: Johann Groß, Joh. Regenhold, Franz Lukaß, Heinrich Titl, Karl Rothschadl, Anton Leitich, Johann Schwarz, Karl Schäffer, Paul Eberstein, and Joh. Karl Gschwadudauer.

          The present day older generation of the community were taught by these teachers: Director Paul Eberstein, Josef Tuskan, Laurenz Tritz, and Paul Horvath and today the following teachers are active in our schools: Director Martin Willkomm, Laurenz Zirenner, and Anton Lamert.  The kindergarten was led by Therese Göpfrich.