Page 5 - Bulletin #67 - November 2020

The most notable episode of conflict in Economy’s first decade came with the arrival in
1831 of the self-proclaimed “Lion of Judah” (actually one Bernard Mueller) from
Germany, who had become convinced that he would be the leader of all the faithful when
Christ returned, something that was due to happen almost immediately. Upon arrival
Mueller took the name of Count de Leon, and, amazingly, managed to win Rapp’s
endorsement. Rapp soon became disillusioned with the Count, but by then dissent was
growing among the Harmonists, and when Mueller left, he took some 175 unhappy
Harmonists with him, along with a large cash settlement. Mueller led his large group of
former Harmonists to a series of communal settlements that finally closed in 1871.
Shortly after Mueller’s departure some of his following became involved with yet another
splinter group, headed by Dr. William Keil, who led them to Missouri, where they
founded a new colony, Bethel. Two decades later Keil led some of his followers to Oregon,
where they founded yet another settlement, Aurora. Despite this fracturing of the
Rappites, Economy would endure until the early 20th century, even though its earlier
unity had been shown to be tenuous. The demise of the Harmony Society was averted.

In the second half of the 19th century, the Society’s businesses and investments were so
profitable that the Society’s fortunes mounted into the millions. The community’s
onetime agricultural economy became based in oil, railroads, and other
industries. Stories of Harmonist vaults of gold circulated for many years. George Rapp
died at age 89 in 1847, but hundreds of members persevered. Nevertheless, because the
Society’s members had, at Rapp’s insistence, taken a pledge of celibacy early on,
eventually a decline set in; moreover, the Society had, with few exceptions, quit accepting
new members. By the late 1880s members were few and aged. And then, in the face of 5
what appeared to be the inevitable death of the community, several new members were
admitted.

John Duss

Gertrude Rapp (the founder’s granddaughter) and Jonathan Lenz, stalwart Harmonists,
had kept the community faith alive until their deaths in the winter of 1889-90, but then
the floodgates opened, probably because of the widespread rumors of Harmonist wealth.
The membership of the seemingly moribund colony was reopened, and one of the first
new members was John Duss, who had been a student in the Harmonist schools when his
mother was a hired worker in the community.