"The Franks were earliest mentioned AD241 but their reign of power began at the end of the fourth century. Some of their place names became tainted Germanic; Latin was full of cuss words; Christianity still dimmed, for the early Franks were pagan. The encumbered from out Paris town, meeting up with the Almanni of Swabians in Alsace, where our ancestry had contacted kindred tribes in gang warfare. Here King Clovis stopped the first emigration of note from our Suebic forefather land, 496."

"In 493 this Clivis had married princess Clotilda, a Christian. In the thick of the greatest and final battle against the Suebi, Clovis swore to be converted to Clotilda’s God, if He would grant him victory. Clovis won his war and the Christianity of that day, a follower. What would you do, kind folks, if after you had fought a good fight against Roman and Hun, the start on a pagan Frank, who gave you a trouncing, then to find your conqueror a Christian Catholic overnight?"

"For about 400 years Suebia was a minor part of the Frankish Empire, being administered by an over production of Counts, Dukes, etc. These subordinate ruler had family troubles. Many willed their fake held territories by division among sons, brothers and what not, resulting in frightful wars. Women entered into fuedal combat, long hair being both an asset and a liability."

"Christianity of the Pope variety was spreading in 742. Pope Paul the 1^st sent a clock to Pipic, King of the Franks, 760. This was a sample of the foundation blocks laid for the Papal staes; even many Gernmans, gullible in aiding, acquired some possessions by exchange of gifts, a half step better than by war; about the gleam in that dark age."

"About 752, Pippin and sons, having been anointed in the King row by Pope Stephen 3^rd, returned the favor of repulsing Aistulf, King of the Logobard tribe neighbors of Subia. History doesn’t say, but lets you have several guesses why Aistulf had a grudge against Steve."

"Charlemagne, son of Pippin, ruled, fought, won, or lost, but encouraged learning of a sort, tho the 8^th century saw little expansion of the arts of invention."

"In 778AD, our Subians tangled with the Saxons, sending them back to their own roost."

"Ludwig, son of Charlemagne, had two sons, Ludwig and Karl. In a lottery Karl drew most of Subia, his brother the province just west, then they thought up a war with a third brother. In 836 Ludwig beat Pippin 3^rd to the draw, which settled things for a few days. Meanwhile the clergy became prominent in the affairs of state, gaining ownership of much land, titles of which would hardly bear abstracting."

"842, we see sharper boundries of lands and languages. Two brothers took oath in alliance; Charles the Bald in the Roman and Louis in the German dialect."

"884-887, Charles the Fat ruled all Germany, even to our Subians, who must have murmured, what next!!"

"During the 9^th century the rule of Dukes became virtual kings of their Duchies, seldom agreeing as to who should be the Kingfish of all."

"Swabia, objecting to the overall rule of Conrad, the French King, kicked up such a fuss that the Saxon King, Henry the Fowler, German Emperor was elected or chosen. Now Henry was first of all a statesman, a good German business ruler if there ever was one. His reign of doing something better than fighting bore fine fruit. While setting an example largely in his home precinct, Saxony, other Duchies followed suit. While military discipline was stepped up, Henry did his bit to slow down militarism as a profession. When this great ruler died, July 936, nearly all German population formed a part of the German Kingdom and not one of the many Duchies were in civil war."

"So the Swabians came to exercise their heads. From every nine men, one was occupied with military preparedness, with the eight in the fields. One third of all produce was stored for national emergency; or we should say the emergency of all Swabia. Organizations of towns began. Leading prelates were worried for the control over a rising independence of the people, was being jeopardized. They might have to work for a living."

"In 938, Henry’s son, Otto, tried to halter his dukes. Rebellion broke out, but the Duke of Swabia helped put out the fire before it spread. How did he do it? This Swopian Duke Hermann, figured to marry his daughter to King Otto’s son, Ludolf, and so peace was had while the honeymoon lasted."

"953AD. Otto brought trouble upon his own head when he visited Italy, met Queen Adelaide and married her. War broke out and even Swabia sided against their King. Their disapproval of any such alliance was stronger than their loyalty to Otto. The past Roman treatment of their ancestors could not be forgotten."

"New troubles with the Magyars helped patch up the dissension for a time. But Otto was a stubborn cuss and went to Rome again in 961. This time the Pope crowned him with an imperial headdress. From 966 to 972 he again was in Italy and really jobbed up with the Papacy. Otto was the fall guy they were looking for. Back stage much was maneuvering into position; the connection of Germany with the empire as dreamed up by the Papacy, who planned the Hold Roman Empire thru the most powerful rulers they could lay hands on. Once Otto opened the door for a peek, the Papal door was there for a purpose."

"Why so much German Romanization at the turn of the 10^th century? Our Swabian ancestry were the foremost Germans attempting to stem the sellout tide which was swirling their way. Thinking on their own began to be the regular regime, Papy pomp and vain-glory have always been poor vitamins for honest toiling people."

"From tribes, to counts, to dukes was the march of time. History began name-placing dukes, who were a degree or two above a count, tho counts were sometimes in more personal contact there with their king."

"In 917, Burkhard, a count of the family Raetha, became a duke, and there followed Dukes Hermann, 926; Luidolf, 948; Burkhard 2^nd, 954; Otto, 973; Conrad, 982; Hermann 2^nd, 997; Hermann 3^rd, 1003; then Ernest, 1015. (Enough dukes for one paragraph). In many provinces, the duke business was divided up but Swabia, like Bavaria, retained greater independence and self rule by having one duke relegated with larger provincial power."

"Various families produced duke timber. One, the Hoenstauffens for upward of a century, brought forth Duke Phillip, who became King of Germany in 1198. Now don’t let anybody tell you it isn’t possible that we have a trickle of Royal sap in our Schope tree!"

"In 1268, at the death of Conradin, the Count of Wurtemburg, Ulrich, took oath of office. History first mentions this family name in 1080, when Count Bentesbach took the bull by the horns and titled himself after an early Wurtemburg castle. This Ulrich fellow was Marshall of Swabia and Advocate of the town of Ulm, which as you know is the present city of Ulm, 40 odd miles from here and not 650 years old. Ulrich had a fat money pouch and some hid under his feather tick. Then came Ulrich 2^nd and after him, Eberhardt 1^st, who moved to Stuttgart in 1300."

Uncle Frederick now paused in his story to sip a measure of wine, drawn from the keg where it had been aged; a product from the best pressed grapes of 1845. For was not his father a wine grower; champion of prize grapes, the sort that French wine merchants came a hundred miles or more to buy?

Yes, it was honoring Great Grandfather for all present to taste of the special vintage.

Uncle feared to tire his hearers with a too wordy discourse but the elders and older young folk begged him to resume.

"1096 - First Crusaders, under Peter the Hermit, cross Germany.

1100 - Painting on glass. (See a Lederer doing this in Bavaria, 1785)

1174 - Leaning Towers of Pisa built in record time - 176 years.

1150 - Sugar from Asia.

1234 - Gunpowder in China.

1250 - Mariners compass known to the Swedes.

1280 - Spectacles invented.

1275 - Cathedral of Strassburg built, about 65 miles west of our Geradstetten, just across the Rhine."

"1331 AD. Twenty-two Swabian cities leagued with Bavaria. Charles 4^th, opposed this with civil war in 1367, but not until 1372 was this movement defeated, under Eberhard 2^nd.

In 1377 a working league was formed by the people and thus you see the coming about of tghe slow process of more participation by the people in their government.

Leagues and associations were in order when twelve Swabian cities leagued for their liberties in 1392. In 1441, leagues for the suppression of hiway robberies, etc., were formed.

In 1488, the greater Swabian League was organized to check anarchy, the cancer that was spotting Germany. A constitution, a federal court was begun. Partners in this movement were Seigesmund of Austria, Eberhard of Wurtemburg, 22 large cities, Provinces of Bavaria and Baden. In 1490, even the King of the Romans, Maxilimian, joined up as a social member.

An armed police force of 12,000 foot and 1200 horses were the first sensible efforts for international peace, which no one can say has not grown into an ideal, that many have dreamed of and millions have fought and died for."

"1450 - Gutenburgs first printings were produced about 75 miles over the border of Wurtemburg, that art spreading throughout Swabia earlier than in most provinces of that time.

Columbus from Portugal was boat riding about the Americas and discovered the red man and his squaw."

"The German King Ulrich 1^st made a record of ruling long and snappy, 1498 - 1550. Gifted, ambitious but unscrupulous, he quarreled with the Swabian leaguers, got expelled, got sold out to Charles the 5^th. Good Emperor Charley gave Wurtemburg to the German King Ferdinand 1^st. During the commotion caused by the Reformation, Ulrich got back into the harness. He sobered down a bit and introduced the reform doctrines and endowed churches and school."

"1517 - And Luther nailed up his Thesis and three years later was exited out by the Pope. In 1518 a movement similar to Luther’s sprang up in Switzerland. The reformer Swingli, headed the revolt against the Roman Church of that day, however he went the whole way and whitewashed all signs of saint-idolatry."

"Now Christmas had come to be faithfully observed in Wurtemburg territory ans was an eagerly awaited annual event by the Geradstetteners. Thirty years of war had impoverished many in Wurtemburg and other parts of Germany, especially amount the commoners. Even though they had little heart for wartime economy, the early Lederers were compelled to spend their good time and tax at the behalf of the war-lords. Tough-sledding as it was, they were happy in the religious life as was afforded them."

"Ulrich’s son Christopher, the next ruler, was strong on church government and Lutherism was having its sway upon the people during his reign and that of his son Louis. Prince Louis died childless and a kinsman, Prince Frederick 1^st ruled to 1608.

Duke John Frederick was ruler of Wurtemburg when Simon Lederer was born in 1609 at Geradstetten. This Lederer was reared during the period when forks were first being used in place of fingers.

Simon Lederer married in 1644 and had one son, Johannas, who grew to manhood and married Anna Lemburger. They had three children."

(Note by Authors)

Louis Henry Lederer -

- From the historical archives at the State capitol at Richmond, Virginia, we obtain the following:

One John Lederer, came from Germany to America in 1668. Having had educational advantages and being familiar with several languages, he received a "Commission of Discovery" from Maryland Governor Berkeley to find a passage through the mountains. He commanded three expeditions, March 1669 to September 1670. At the falls of Rappahannock, he crossed the route taken by Captain John Smith. However, John Lederer had no Indian girls lap to pillow his head upon. It is very probable that he set food for the first time by white man on considerable territory. His man "Friday" was an Indian guide. He was the first Lederer to hobnob with the Indians. He was naturalized in Maryland in 1671. A book "The Discovery’s of John Lederer" was written and revised from Latin to English in 1672. Goodspeeds Book Shop in Boston advises they have two copies for sale. One, the best copy priced at $1450, and another worn copy at $1000. (Just send your check for the one you want!).

Jack Lederer -

While browsing through a back-street book store in Fredricksburg, Virginia in 1995, I came across a book titled "Westward from Virginia - The Exploration of the Virginia - Carolina Frontier 1650-1710" by Alan Vance Briceland, and published by the University Press of Virginia. This book contains excellent accounts of John Lederer’s three expeditions, including maps. I purchased the sole copy available at that store, although I would imagine it is readily available at better bookstores across the country. Library of Congress ISBN is 0-8139-1117-6 for those seeking a copy.

Louis Murray Lederer -

- While browsing amazon.com I discovered they have copies available for $25.00 Simply copy the ISBN number above , go to Amazon.com and tell them that number

Great Uncle continued, "About this time, from 1620 to 1680, the Eberhard family ruled in Wurtemburg. First Gerean grandaddy, then grandaddy to daddy to son. As each took over the drivers seat, it was known as "E" day again."

"Duke William Louis snuck in for a short rule about 1700, the year Johann Lederer was born. Then Leopold 1^st, Nablb (sp??) of all Germany got into a scrap with Lewy 14^th of France. In the years if 1688 to 1703 and 1707, the French filtered into Wurtemburg and did a lot of damage. Johann’s father and one brother were in the army of defense."

"In 1732, Duke Charles Alex, a Catholic, ruled the Wurtemburgers. His mistress Christiana Wilhelmins Von-something, was an expensive luxury, resulting in heavier tax for the commoners. With taxes, war and more taxes, some Lederers and others began to get the pull-out fever."