During the 19th Century, many German immigrants arrived in the United States. Most migrated from the German states to escape heavy taxation, repressive rule, avoid compulsory military training or find greater religious freedom. Some migrated as families, but frequently many families from a German community would leave as a group to establish a new settlement in the United States, often having a specific location already selected before they left Europe.

     West Virginia has several of these German communities, including St. Joseph settlement in Marshall County, and Pickens and Helvetia (German-Swiss) in Randolph County. Among the larger communities is the German settlement at St. Clara and Leopold in southeastern Doddridge County. To understand how this unique, prosperous community became established at that particular location, some interesting background of that area and persons is necessary.

     Immediately after the Revolutionary War, James Swan, a former Boston army officer, became obsessed with buying up vast tracts of western Virginia lands. At that time, unappropriated lands could be bought for as little as two cents per acre. During the next 40 years, it is estimated that he bought more than 1,079,724 acres in western Virginia or about one-sixth of the total area of the state today. Much of this land was in our western and southwestern counties. Working through European financiers, Swan's goal was to attract immigrants to these tracts and sell these lands at a great profit. However, his venture did not flourish, and in 1831 he died deeply in debt and litigation. These lands were acquired by trustee John Peter Dumas of Paris for disposal. He divided these holdings into large blocks and assigned them to various land agents to administer and handle the sale.

     One of these land agents was Joseph Diss Disbar, a well-educated native of Alsace, who had migrated to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1842. In early 1846, Diss Debar was hired by John Peter Duman. To be closer to these landholdings, he moved to West Union on April 15, 1846, staying at Ephriam Bee's Tavern. He spent much time in Clarksburg and Parkersburg, where his colorful personality and striking mustached appearance soon made him a social leader.

     He immediately started to organize the sale of Swan's lands in southern Doddridge County, particularly those in Cove District on Cove Creek. By 1852, he had built a house at the mouth of Carter Camp Run on Cove Creek. In 1856, he named the post office and settlement "St. Clara" after his deceased wife.

     Initially, he promised 40 acres of free land to settlers, but at the end of the first year found that most had moved on to more fertile lands in Ohio. Later, he decided to offer 150 acres of land to settlers at $1.50 per acre with easy terms of payment. By 1850, there were 10 German families at St. Clara. Over the next 20 years, he sold a total of 19,209 acres to 111 people. Fifty-five of these families settled in the St. Clara community on Cove Creek. Intermarriage was a major force in contributing to the strength of this community.

     The settlers soon learned that the steep slopes of this land made cultivation difficult. After the timber had been cleared, soil erosion became a problem. Thus, they turned to raising forage crops and grazing cattle, sheep and horses, taking advantage of the nutritious native grasses. This type of agriculture was carried on for more than a century with great success. Near the turn of the century, oil and gas were discovered at several points within the colony, and many families received substantial additional income from this source as well as free gas for heating and cooking.

     Some of the families were Roman Catholic and the others Lutheran. In 1849, Diss DeBar asked the Bishop of Richmond to send a priest to serve the Catholic community in that area. For years, services were held on an irregular schedule due to difficulty in reaching this remote area. St. Clara's Roman Catholic Church is still used today, at least for special services.

     St. Johannes Evangelical Lutheran Church dates from 1852 and is still an active congregation. For many years at least some of the services in this church were held in German. The Lutherans discontinued having German language services when it became impossible to find a pastor fluent in this language.

     When the state of West Virginia was formed in 1863, Joseph Diss DeBar became the representative from Doddridge County in the Legislature. Known for his artistic ability, he was asked to design an appropriate seal for the new state. The design he submitted was adopted with only minor change. This seal appears today on the state flag and on official state documents as well.

     In 1867, he accepted the job of West Virginia Commissioner of Immigration. He soon prepared "The West Virginia Handbook and Immigrant's Guide," which was distributed widely throughout Germany, Switzerland and in German settlements in the United States. During his 4-year period as commissioner, he claims to have persuaded 5,000 immigrants to settle in West Virginia. Diss Debar's efforts resulted in the German settlements at Helvetia and at St. Joseph's community as well as individual families settling throughout the state.

     An outstanding addition to the St. Clara community arrived in 1921. That was a set of crucifixation statues which was purchased in France and erected on the high ground in the cemetery behind St. Clara's church. This tableaux of statues had been discovered in France by their local priest, Father Camile Delaux, while he had been serving as chaplain during World War I. On his return to St. Clara's, he told the congregation of this tableaux. These devout farmers quickly raised the needed funds ($1,500) to purchase these and have them sent by ship to Hoboken and by train to West Union. There they were transferred to the Long Run Railroad for their journey south to Leopold where they were laboriously transported to St. Clara by a dozen energetic men and four teams of horses.

      The bronze finish of these statues glows softly in the light that falls on them. By 1975, however, their surface was badly deteriorated. The tableaux took on a very different appearance when they were painted in true-to-life colors. In 1988 these fading colors were replaced by a coat of bronze paint, restoring them to their original appearance. Today, most visitors to St. Clara come to see these statues in their impressive setting, and to marvel at the determination of former residents who sacrificed to acquire them and move these heavy, massive objects to such a remote setting.

     Many of the descendents of the original German families live in the St. Clara area today. Others have relocated to surrounding counties. Even today the farms of the industrious Germans in southern Doddridge County stand out due to their efficient, wise land-use patterns, their effective farming methods, and their owners' strong work ethic.

     Kenneth Carvell is a retired West Virginia University forestry professor living in Morgantown.