New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-10-17

NEW ULM. 81
he carried out to the letter, reaching
New Ulm, which he found to be a scat
tered village with a population OF
scant five hundred, on May 18th, OF
that year; but his return to st. Paul
was never made, for. as his acquain-
tance within New Ulm and its people
he could not bring himself to
entirely sever the relation.
From the time of his arrival until
1867 he was the only physician in the
town and two years after he came he
passed through the horrors of the
Sioux Indian massacre. In August
1862, Little Crow and the savages
made their attack and the DOCTORS ex-
periences during the six days of battle
that followed were of character cal
culated to leave the most vivid impress
sions. In the parlors of the old Da-
kota house, which had been converted
into temporary hospital, he worked
increasingly succoring the wounded;
putting aside thoughts of his own fati-
que and exhaustion that he might allie
vlate their sufferings. When the ST.
Peter and LeSueur companies arrived
with other surgeons he was relieved
somewhat but during the entire siege
was always to be found at his post of
duty.
After the repulse of the Indians he
was appointed surgeon of the United
States army, and until late in 1863 he
cared for the sick among the soldiers
stationed here and at adjacent OUT
posts. In 1868 the doctor went to San
Francisco but returned to Minnesota
in October of that year. While alb
sent he contracted fever and this
compelled him to relinguish the splen-
did prospects in California. Upon his
return he purchased drug store con-
tinuing to conduct the same until 1885,
DR.. Weschcke has always figured
prominently in municipal politics.
When the 'burrough of New Ulm" was
created in 1871 he was elected as one
o. the. three members of the council
and was reelected four times, until
1874, also serving on the school board
during this period. New Ulm became
a city in 1876 when the following year
| i 2
DR.. Weschcke's admirers again placed
| him in the council. The first election
as mayor came in 1878 and he held the
Office until June q, 1881, when he re-
signed.
After this he was not again a candi-
date until June Is, 1886 when he was
chosen to fill the vacancy as mayor
caused by the resignation of Fl. B.
Constans, but upon taking the Office he
remained In it Until 1889, when he sold
his drug store and laid aside his Off
cial work that he might go to Califor-
MIA. His plan to take up his abode in
the western state was never carried
out and, in spite of the fact that he
was urged to do so repeatedly, he alb
solutely refused to go before the peo-
pie until 1896 when he was elected to
the office of mayor, which he held I'M
til the spring of 1904 when by his own
volition he retired from any participa-
ton in the government of the city con-
tending that he had reached the age
when it was better for him to retire.
The world offers fewer examples OF
lives we'll lived than may be found in
the history Of that of DR.. Weschcke,
and the best words that may be spoken
or written do but poor justice to him.
In the history of this place his deeds
and his life will ever be like the fra
GRANGE and beauty of some rich bios
som the memory Of which will never
be lost and will forever be an incen-
tive to better living and holier and
higher aspirations.
The funeral was held at the home on
German street and was one of impos-
ing solemnity. Capt.SsAlbert Stein.
hauser delivered a short address be-
fore the cortege started to the cemete-
ry and after him the New Ulm Maen-
nerchor sang a selection.
| Formed in procession to the cemete.
ry the police Of the city marched al
the head in uniform, they were fol
lowed by the Second Regiment band
and preceding the hearse was squad
of militia from Co. A under command
of Sergeant Juni. The entire city
| government was also presentina body.
i The pail bearers were Andrew j.
Eckstein, I. M. Olsen, Gen. Bobleter,
Geo. Marti, four men who were clerks
1 in the drug store at different times at
ter it was started by DR.. Weschcke,
and DR.. Fritsche and DIR. Stricken.
The procession passed along Mime
sofa street on its way TO the cemetery,
]! and the entire distance was thronged
with people, not one of whom had not
known and honored DR.. Weschcke