HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY


THE NORDWESTEN
Roeser and his Demokrat were very radical in their political views, and the
democrats found it necessary to also have a representative of their party
in
the German language. And they were fortunate in finding the right man for
the place, one Carl H. Schmidt. He was then a young man of twenty years,
a printer by trade and a born journalist, for his father had published a
news-
paper in Germany and had felt compelled to emigrate on account of his liberal
tendencies. In September, i855, the first issue of this democratic champion
ap-
peared, under the name of the Nordwesten and, with the exception of the
years of the war while its owner was at the front, continued for fifty-five
years.
The young printer developed into a powerful editor for he was gifted with
a most retentive memory and an incisive logic which gave to his writing clear-
ness and strength. He was a union man and promptly enlisted for the war,
going out as first sergeant of Company "B" of the qth Wisconsine
Infantry,
which was exclusively a German regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant
of Company "G" and later to Captain of Company "F" of
the same regiment.
During his service, while encamped at Fort Scott, Kansas, he happened upon
an abandoned rebel printing office and with the assistance of some printers
in
the regiment, and also managing to appropriate some wrapping paper, pub-
lished several numbers of the Deutscher Krieger, copies of which were sent
to
the folks at home. There are only two copies of this publication known to
be
in existence, one of these being on exhibition at the Public Library in the
city
of Manitowoc.
Upon his return from the war he renewed the publication of the Nord-
westen and, being in the prime of life, entered actively and energetically
into
politics and became a power therein. He was elected to the assembly in I870,
and after the expiration of his term was elected to the Senate, of which
he
remained a member during four sessions, enjoying the same influence in the
legislative halls that he did at home. In I88;5 he was elected county judge
and
died three years later, before the expiration of his term. Under his manage-
ment the Nordwesten attained high rank in the state.
After his death his widow became the owner of the plant and his brother,
Carl G. Schmidt, became the editor, afterwards becoming the owner and re-
maining as such until i9IO when the Nordwesten joined the ranks of the
departed.
MANITOWOC POST
The paramount proportion of German blood in the population of Manito-
woc county was shown by the increase in the number of German newspapers.
In i88i Mr. Adolph Wittmann, an old settler of the county and a veteran of
the war, a man of fine education and celebrated as an actor and an orator,
established another German newspaper, calling it the Manitowoc Post, and
being independent in politics. Mr. Wittmann proved that to his other talents
he added that of being a newspaper writer, and found in his Post a successful
venture in which he remained until old age demanded his retirement. He was


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