Hermann Jaeger
Encyclopedia
Hermann Jaeger who was a native of Switzerland
, was a celebrated enologist and recipient of the French
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor for his part in saving the French wine
industry from the deadly phylloxera
louse
.
Jaeger came from a well-known and highly-educated family, and was the grandson of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
, founder of the Swiss public school system. As a young man Jaeger took a job in a wine warehouse on Lake Geneva
in Switzerland and then emigrated
to the United States
. In 1865, he settled east of Neosho
, Missouri
in the Monark Springs
, Missouri
area of Newton County. The following year he and his brother, John, planted a vineyard
and became grape
growers and wine makers.
Intelligent and proficient in several languages, Hermann Jaeger worked to breed new varieties of grapes, many of which came from wild Ozarks grapes - grapes commonly called "possum grapes". He also communicated with other grape experts around the world, sharing information about his work and learning from the works of others. He also wrote articles for scientific and grape journals, explaining the mysteries of grapes and his work on his farm.
In the 1870s, when the vineyards of France
, Spain
, and Portugal
were struck by the deadly phylloxera louse
, a call went out around the world to find grapes that were resistant to the disease. Encouraged by Missouri’s state entomologist, Charles Riley and after some testing, it was determined that grapes bred by Jaeger were resistant to the louse. His work proved to be a savior for the great vineyards of Europe
. Working with other scholars and grape growers, Jaeger supplied cuttings from his Monark Springs vineyards to help replant those lost in Europe. In 1893, for his contribution to the grape and wine industries of France, Jaeger was made Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
, the highest award that that nation can bestow on a civilian. He also made a lasting contribution to viticulture through his selection Jaeger 70
, which is an ancestor of many of today's hybrid grapes.
In May 1895, Hermann Jaeger left his rural home, leaving a note instructing his family not to look for him. He disappeared and was never heard from again. His death was likely suicide. The home which John Jaeger built still stands. Several members of the Jaeger family are buried on the old farm or on land which once was home to Hermann Jaeger, a world famous grape grower and nurseryman
.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, was a celebrated enologist and recipient of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor for his part in saving the French wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
industry from the deadly phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
louse
Louse
Lice is the common name for over 3,000 species of wingless insects of the order Phthiraptera; three of which are classified as human disease agents...
.
Jaeger came from a well-known and highly-educated family, and was the grandson of Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who exemplified Romanticism in his approach....
, founder of the Swiss public school system. As a young man Jaeger took a job in a wine warehouse on Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
in Switzerland and then emigrated
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1865, he settled east of Neosho
Neosho, Missouri
Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in the Monark Springs
Monark Springs, Missouri
Monark Springs is a ghost town in Newton County, Missouri, United States. It is located twelve miles east of Neosho and is now the site of a state conservation area.-History:...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
area of Newton County. The following year he and his brother, John, planted a vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
and became grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
growers and wine makers.
Intelligent and proficient in several languages, Hermann Jaeger worked to breed new varieties of grapes, many of which came from wild Ozarks grapes - grapes commonly called "possum grapes". He also communicated with other grape experts around the world, sharing information about his work and learning from the works of others. He also wrote articles for scientific and grape journals, explaining the mysteries of grapes and his work on his farm.
In the 1870s, when the vineyards of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
were struck by the deadly phylloxera louse
Great French Wine Blight
The Great French Wine Blight was a severe blight of the mid-19th century that destroyed many of the vineyards in France and laid to waste the wine industry...
, a call went out around the world to find grapes that were resistant to the disease. Encouraged by Missouri’s state entomologist, Charles Riley and after some testing, it was determined that grapes bred by Jaeger were resistant to the louse. His work proved to be a savior for the great vineyards of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Working with other scholars and grape growers, Jaeger supplied cuttings from his Monark Springs vineyards to help replant those lost in Europe. In 1893, for his contribution to the grape and wine industries of France, Jaeger was made Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, the highest award that that nation can bestow on a civilian. He also made a lasting contribution to viticulture through his selection Jaeger 70
Jaeger 70
Jaeger 70 is a hybrid of two American species of grape, Vitis lincecumii and Vitis rupestris. It was developed by Hermann Jaeger, of Missouri, who named it Munson after his friend and fellow grape breeder, T.V. Munson, however it is the selection number that has made it into common usage...
, which is an ancestor of many of today's hybrid grapes.
In May 1895, Hermann Jaeger left his rural home, leaving a note instructing his family not to look for him. He disappeared and was never heard from again. His death was likely suicide. The home which John Jaeger built still stands. Several members of the Jaeger family are buried on the old farm or on land which once was home to Hermann Jaeger, a world famous grape grower and nurseryman
Nursery (horticulture)
A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size. They include retail nurseries which sell to the general public, wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial gardeners, and private nurseries which supply the needs of...
.