In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War echoed to Boise and Idaho, where Germans celebrated
A united German nation was about to be created under the leadership of Prussia when the 1870 census for Idaho Territory’s Boise County revealed that Germany was made up of many small states. When asked by the census taker their nationality, 66 of these Germans replied “Prussia.” Next in order of numbers were Bavaria, 63; Wurttemberg 20; Hesse, 16; Hanover, 13; Schleswig-Holstein, 12; Baden, 9; Hamburg, 8; Saxony, 3; Mannheim, 2; Mecklenburg, 1; and Strasburg, 1.
Prussia defeated and thoroughly humiliated Napoleon III’s France in 1870, and Idaho Territory’s Germans exulted at the news of each victory. Idaho City’s Idaho World newspaper ran this ad on Aug. 18, 1870: “German Relief Fund. Subscriptions will be received in aid of the wounded soldiers, widows, and orphans in Germany at the miners’ Brewery and the St. Charles Restaurant, or by either one of the undersigned Committee. All those who feel disposed to contribute to this charitable fund are respectfully requested to do so before the 26th of this month.” It was signed by a “relief committee” made up of S.G. Rosenbaum, C.J. Bernstiel and C. Lautenschager.
Bernstiel had first made the news in December 1869, when he returned from a yearlong tour of the Eastern states and Europe. “From the account he gives us he has had a grand ‘collarup,’ drank ‘alf and ‘alf with John Bull, Champagne and Burgundy with the Frog-eaters, Lager with the Dutch, speculated in stocks at Frankfurt-on the Main, doffed his hat to the pope in Rome, huzzahed for Napoleon during the elections in Paris, was arrested during the Rochefort riot on suspicion, and was finally landed safe and sound among his old friends in Idaho.”
On Aug. 4, 1870: “Off for the war. Our Teutonic friend, Louis Reid, of the Miners’ Brewery, caught the war fever and started a few days ago for Fatherland to join the Prussian army. He takes with him the best wishes of his friends who hope to see him return here safe and sound when the war closes.”
On Sept. 8, 1870, the World wrote: “Come Again. Our young friend Charlie Bernstiel, that ‘true blue’ Prussian, who has been quite enthusiastic of late over the news of Prussian triumphs, dumped a little champagne into our sanctum a few days ago, which, with the assistance of a few friends, we managed to get away with.”
In that same issue, the World noted: “Betting. On Tuesday evening, after the news arrived that the European war was virtually ended by the defeat and surrender, not only of McMahan and his entire army, but also by the surrender of the French Emperor, the enthusiasm of our citizens of Prussian birth and German sympathizers was demonstrated in a lively manner. Considerable champagne was indulged in, but the reliability of the news being doubted by some of our French residents and others whose sympathies were with the French, numerous bets were made that Napoleon III had not surrendered. Quite an amount of money and a quantity of jewelry was staked on the correctness of the news.
“The Germans in Boise City had a grand blow-out on the reception of the news of Napoleon’s surrender. Speeches were made by Judge McBride, John C. Henley, Julius Ostheim, John Lemp, Charley Bernstiel, and Judge Reynolds.”