Quote:

Do you think Pope would have let them run his rifling machine?   

our area (Midwest) seemed to have a lot of farmers as well as jewelers, doctors. Many belonged to turner associations (just good Germans).

What was the purpose / intent of the original post? 

JLouis

Also i believe many of the original groups started as milita groups, that is why you see so many officers they were still in the days of Indian wars.

my understanding is that American shooters had engaged in recreational competitive target shooting-at -the-mark in various formats as part of normal life in rural and frontier communities where shooting skill had significant advantage--and where semi-serious militia activity took place.  the "schuetzen sport" itself as such did not develop until it was imported by the second-wave of Germanic immigrants in the decade or two prior to the Civil War with a significant influx of middle class businessman and professionals who were seeking opportunity and fleeing the social upheavals of the era.  (as opposed to the earlier wave--mostly made up of religious refugees and agrarian folk with related crafts and trades).  One has to look at the folk tradition of shooting sports in the Germanic states with city/town militias and the guild structure to see the development of the formal sport we recognize as "schuetzen" as opposed to peasant farmers and hunters engaging in ad-hoc recreational competition. 

As I view it the immigrant Germanic community preserved their culture with the organization of the recreational structure that gave the exercise clubs ("Turners" for gymnastics) but there were also musical drama literary etc etc groups.  and of course the "german" enclaves, with their newspapers breweries and beer gardens.  The imported organized German shooting traditions were part and parcel of this.   This is pretty clearly demonstrated of one looks at the non-shooting parts of the recreational parks we collectively call "schuetzen-parks"---they were the country-clubs of the era with a complete menu of recreational opportunity.

over time there was a melding of the American and the Germanic shooting traditions. it was strongly influenced by a number of factors,  the German "marching" societies and bands,  the fad for community elite costumed Militia companies that swept the urban areas in the generation before the Civil War along with the growth of numerous fraternal clubs, volunteer firefighters,  and 'secret societies" who created "uniforms" and participated in parades and civic events (as well as politics in many cities).
The Civil War had a profound effect in may way, in part by democratizing the whole "shooting experience", and of course igniting the rapid advance in firearms technology.  communities frequently provided volunteer regiments raised among their ethnic enclaves, The most prevalent being the German and Irish regiments and brigades.    more to follow

As a comment on Military titles:  We have had a long history in this country of Honorific military titles being used as status-markers in civilian life.  Some may have been indeed bonafide military titles earlier in their lives whether in regular military or state, local, or social military groups. Some states (notoriously KY) award honorific military titles for civic or social achievement with little on no military context. There were also self awarded and self-proclaimed for status. 
The habit of awarding "brevet" (temporary or discharge) ranks seriously inflated the number of "generals" "colonels" "majors and "captains"   ( "General Custer" at Little Bighorn was actually officially a Lieutenant Colonel--he was brevetted to temporary "Major General of Volunteers" during the Civil War)

One of the things that originally attracted me to single shot shooting was the open friendliness and corresponding willingness to share knowledge and information. I experienced this a a rookie and continue to experience it now. I've never gone to a shoot and had to establish my pedigree. Nor have I been asked about my title or credentials. I've enjoyed the friendship of some accomplished shooters, collectors and gunsmiths who come from all walks of life. These are just some of the aspects of schuetzen shooting that I find extremely rewarding. They are what keep me involved.

Very Very Interesting thank you so much for sharing S.Bob.