The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-06-22

avowing himself a member OF the re-
publican party, and according to my
best recollection Conrad DIPPED, Chris
May and the writer, were the only
members of German birth of that
party. This same rule held good in
almost the entire state Of Wisconsin
at that early period. In Watertown, up
to 1860, republican was expected to
keep his mouth shut, and stranger
in the city failing to observe that rule
almost invariably got good licking
before he got out of town.
Upon the arrival of Carl Schurz in
the city, owing to his transcendent
ability and oratory, new light sprung
up for such Germans as were inclined
to shake off the democratic yoke, and
the Barstow state administration, la
boring under cloud of dishonest
methods, soon had the natural effect of
large section of German democrats
entering the ranks of the opposition.
And no wonder, when we consider
that the entire German vote of Water
town was led by "City Henry" Henry
Bergmann) and Frank Belrose, the
former controlling the German, the
latter the Irish vote; Rock River
House Fischer was also deemed a
leading factor in carrying elections
for a given candidate.
SPeters shanty," previously stated,
being tacitly admitted as republican
headquarters, began now Q860) to
prosper, and at about the same time a
young Irish boy, ragged and dirty,
named George Hawkins, applied one
evening for employment as clerk The
writer having had his eye on the boy
(being only a few feet away his
energy and business methods, for
some time, engaged him on the instant
and from that moment F. P Brook &
Co.'s business success was assured.
The presidential campaign being now
in swing, drawing large crowds of re-
publicans called wideawakes or torch
bearers, to the city, and Peters
shanty being the natural attraction for
such gatherings, the firm made money
so rapidly that in about year Fred
Brandt was able to get out out of the
business without loss, and the writer
was soon enabled to buy the shanty,
besides building himself small house.
The election resulted as is we'll known
in the choice of Mr.. Lincoln for presi-
dent, and, on the part of the repub-
licans of Jefferson county, the victory
nd OF ho
war being now deemed inevitable,
Governor Harvey, who was the prin-
cipal speaker on the occasion, put the
question, Boys, will you go?" mean
ing to the war. Well, kind reader, l
must confess that having been but re-
Gently married, and having no inclin-
alton whatever to make a target of my
precious body for Southern marksmen,
didn't shout worth a cent; in fact,
was about the sickest lamp carrier
you can imagine. 1 can remember well
the thought flashing through my mind,
For Gods sake have l been voting
for war;" The war began as is we'll
known, at first by volunteer soldiers,
and the first recruiting in Watertown
was done in Peters shanty, but it was
soon discovered that the place was not
large enough for the crowds that
gathered, and other quarters were
engaged. In year or two it was
found that soldering was not the pic
mic party that was expected, and
drafting had to be resorted to. Early
in 1864, such a draft was held at
GAINESVILLE, and large number of Wa
tertown people went down there to
watch the proceedings Returning late
in the evening, mob of democrats
bolted into the shanty, and sang at
the top of their voices:
Old rye coffee
Is good enough for me,
Without one grain of sugar
II the niger can be free.
Having kept this up for at least
half an hour, when at given signal
the entire crowd shouted, "Pete Brook
is drafted" the said democrats think
1t a joke, whereas I had voted the re-
publican ticket, it was highly proper
that l should go to war. The boys had
good deal of fun at my expense, but
| can assure the reader that 1 didn't
appreciate the joke worth a cent In
due time the mastering day arrived
and went to GAINESVILLE to be examin-
ed lat that time the drafted man hav-
ing been accepted could escape actual
service by the payment Of $1,000, was
told to strip, which l refused to do
was thoroughly examined by the doc
tors above the waist, who finally pro-
nounced me unfit for being a soldier
on account of something being the
mater with my heart (probably that
organ being in my mouth about that
tlme). In the evening of that day ]
treated the draft board, composed OF
N. 5. Greene, L. B. Caswell, Capt. Put
nam, DR.. Head and one or two others
to nice supper, with ample uuanti-
ties of wine, at the leading hotel
came home and Immediately set To
work to rebuild and enlarge the shan
ty, which brings us to 1864.
l went into John T. Sights woods
personally selected every tree to be
used for timbers, built timber found
alton and put new structure Joined
on to the old one, between it and the
bridge sidewalk, substantially as il