The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-06
Oldest German Soldier
Lives i'm Blue Earth County

the way is very unusual thing in time Of
peace The spirit of discomfort had been
smoldering for years, and suddenly on
the 18th Of March, 1S4S, it broke out in
Prussia in open revolution. The people
demanded free speech, free press, and
more liberal form of government. Soon
there were clashes and fierce fighting be-
tween the soldiers of the king and the
people fighting for liberty all over Ger
many In speaking of this period of his
life, Mr.. Leader said: I who had al
ways been a lover Of liberty was in the
thickest of the fray; shot and shell flew
thick and fast. yet was ready to defend
the principle I believed in with my life.
My early military training stood me in
good stead at this time, but after all our
fighting availed little. Kaiser Frederick
William was very foxy. He was ready
to grant all we asked if we would but lay
down our arms. Peace was finally re-
stored, but the privileges that were
promised us were of short duration.
Things were little better for awhile, but
gradually they drifted back to the old
condition. Not only this but slowly and
surely all those who had taken an active
part in the revolution were being perse-
cuted. Mr.. Leader knew that it was only
a question of time before they would get
thoughts, like many others, turned to
America, the land of freedom and liberty.
That which was denied me in my own
country / hoped to find here, and l was
not disappointed
So strangely enough on the 4th of July,
Mr.. Leader and his young wife embarked
upon an American sailing vessel, for the
American vessels were the only ones not
shut out from Prussian ports by the en-
q
journey covering many weeks they land
ed in the New Eldorado, and spent few
days sightseeing in New York city. They
soon concluded to move to Milwaukee,
however, as there were to be found many
of their countrymen. The day after ar
irving in that city," said Leader. Il took
steps to become citizen of the Republic.
In due time I received my naturalization
papers and swore allegiance to the grand
est country on Gods footstool.'
Mr.. Leader took up the occupation of
farming Immediately and began at the
same time to get mastery of the English
language. How well he conquered is
shown by the fact that he was very
soon elected county commissioner of Mil
waukee county, and later superintendent
of the poor
Soon after this the great Civil war broke
out and became the absorbing question of
the time. This event aroused the old war
spirit in Mr.. Leader and he again pre-
scented himself for active duty, but was
rejected on account of poor eyesight and
poor health in general. In 1868 he decided
to move further west and came as far as
Mankato, finally settling in Nicollet
county, where he followed farming for
nearly twenty years During this time
he was again elected to positions of trust
and honor by the people and always
proved a capable, honest and upright public
servant. In 1890 he retired from farming
and removed with his wife to Sioux City.
Mr.. Leader is now an old man 81 years
of age but in spite of his gray hairs there
is much of the old fire of the early days
in his eyes. He is exceedingly hearty
and hale and appears much younger than
he really is.
Perhaps the most striking point in his
personality is his intense patriotism and
love of his adopted country. The fact Of
his being deprived of the liberties which
every free man should have on the other
side of the water has made him value his
privileges here.