He and Rhoda SMALL were married by verbal contract by W. C. Mullins. Witnesses were Pheriba Small and Diza Small
Death: He was alone while burning grass and his clothes caught on fire. He burned to death
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FBI CASE FILE, OLD GERMAN FILES 1909-21, JOHN MORTIMER, #317744
Report Made by Place Where Made Date When Made Period For Which Made
J. C. McFetridge, Madison, Wis. 10/17/1918 10/15/1918
In Re: JOHN MORTIMER, R. F. D., #1, Wonewoc, Wis.
Alleged violation of Espionage Act
Neutrality Matter
AT REEDSBURG AND WONEWOC, WISCONSIN
Information received at this office by Special Agent in Charge Parker from H. F. Percy, Reedsburg, Wis., that when he called upon subject to secure a subscription for the Fourth Liberty Loan, subject remarked, “This country has no business in this war. This is England’s war. England gets the money from these Bonds.”
Agent, acting upon instruction from Special Agent in Charge Parker, proceeded to Reedsburg, Wis., leaving Madison, Wis., at 1:00 P.M.
Arriving at Reedsburg, agent proceeded to the Reedsburg National Bank and interrogated Mr. Perry. The result of the interrogation in the receipt of the following affidavit:
“H. F. Perry being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says that he a resident of the city of Reedsburg in said County, which is his post office address, where he is engaged in the banking business; that he is assisting in securing the quota for said county allotted to it for the Fourth Liberty Loan, acting as vice-chairman of the county. That in pursuance of his duties on Thursday, October 10, 1918, he visited the township of Woodland in Sauk County and assisted the School District Officers in District No. 6 of said township in securing pledges for said loan; that Bert Mortimer of said township is chairman for said town and was a resident of District No. 6; that prior to the calling of the meeting to order, the residents of said school district having been notified by County Chairman Bentley to appear at the school house at two o’clock in the afternoon of said day, deponent was told by said Bert Mortimer that one John E. Mortimer, the father of said Bert, a resident of said district and a man worth, in money personal property and real estate from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars, had failed to either buy War Stamps, subscribe for any bonds or contribute to any of the projects for carrying on of the war, such as the Red Cross, Y. M> C. A., and other drives; that it was apparent that the said John E. Mortimer would not appear at said meeting and that his non-appearance meant that others able to subscribe would hang back and his absence and failure to buy bonds would result in great harm and perhaps cause said meeting to be a failure; it was therefore suggested by said Bert Mortimer that affiant take his machine go after said John E. Mortimer; affiant at once acquiesced to the suggestion and accompanied by one Oscar W. Shores, one of the workers in the district, proceeded to the farm house of the said delinquent, found him absent, drove some distance to a wood lot where he was found burning brush and immediately importuned him to go to the meeting and subscribe; the said John E. Mortimer refused point blank to go at first but after an argument of some twenty minutes finally reluctantly consented to accompany deponent to said meeting; in the course of the conversation in the presence of deponent and the said Shores, said Mortimer stated, among other things; This country has no business to be in this war; this is England’s war - England gets the money from these bonds’ I shall never get it back if I buy any bonds’; my money is better off in this land than in those bonds’ there is no one can make me take any of these bonds; I don’t care if the country does need the money, it is their war, it is nothing to me - let them get out of it; I shan’t help them out and they can’t make me.” Affiant says he stopped said Mortimer and told him he had said enough to make him liable criminally under the Espionage Act and said Mortimer replied, “I don’t care. I mean it.” More assertions of like tenor were at said time made by said John E. Mortimer in the presence of affiant and of said Shores. Affiant further says that while said Mortimer finally go into the automobile reluctantly and accompanied deponent to said meeting, which was called to order; addressed for some twenty minutes by affiant, yet he, after taking his allotment card, left the meeting and went out of the hall and downstairs; later affiant hunted him up and labored with him to take his quota, which is five hundred dollars as stated on said card; again and again said Mortimer refused to subscribe or sign said card for any amount, finally saying that he might go to the bank of Wonewoc and take fifty dollars but didn’t know as he would do that; affiant finally found patience to be of no avail and so informed him no more would be said to him, that others would take it up and he would be made to subscribe his allotment; whereupon he replied he never would subscribe any five hundred dollars, no one could make him do so and he would go to Leavenworth first, that he didn’t care what happened to him for the loan was nothing to him. Affiant further says that he was informed by the said Bert Mortimer that said allotment is just and fair according to the assessed valuation for the property of said John E. Mortimer and according to his worth and in line with the allotments made in said county and that the said John E. Mortimer should in all fairness subscribe the amount so allotted to him. Further deponent saith not.”
Original of this affidavit is on file at the Madison office. Perry also furnished Agent with a communication which he had received from the Bank of Wonewoc, stating that subject had subscribed for $100 worth of Liberty Bonds, also a copy of a letter from the Bank of Wonewoc to subject saying that the Sauk County Liberty Loan Campaign authorities had asked said bank to report immediately the amount subscribed by subject to the Fourth Liberty Loan. These two letters are also on file at this office.
Mr. Perry, being extremely busy in assisting in securing the quota for Sauk County allotted to it for the Fourth Liberty Loan, was unable to give Agent any further assistance, but requested Agent to return the next day.
Owing to the absence of Special Agent in Charge Parker from the Madison office, Agent returned to Madison, leaving Reedsburg, Wis., at 3:45, and arriving at Madison at 5:35.
Further report to follow.
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FBI CASE FILE, OLD GERMAN FILES 1909-21, JOHN MORTIMER, #317744
Report Made by Place Where Made Date When Made Period For Which Made
J. C. McFetridge, Madison, Wis. 10/17/18 10/16/18
In Re: JOHN MORTIMER, R. F. D., #1, Wonewoc, Wis.
Alleged violation of Espionage Act
Neutrality Matter
AT REEDSBURG AND WONEWOC, WISCONSIN
(Referring to Agent’s report of Oct. 15, 1918)
Agent proceeded to Reedsburg, Wis., leaving Madison, Wis., at 1:00 P.M., and arriving at Reedsburg at 2:40 P.M. Agent upon arrival proceeded to the Reedsburg National Bank, and there got in touch with Mr. Perry, who had previously arranged with C. H. Denamore to take Agent to the village of Valton, a distance of 16 miles from Reedsburg, in automobile furnished gratis by Mr. Denamore. Shortly before reaching the village of Valton, Agent stopped at the Bert Mortimer farm, town of Woodland, who is a son of subject.
Agent interrogated Bert Mortimer, who stated substantially as follows: That he is married, 41 years of age; that he was chairman for the Fourth Liberty Loan Drive for the town of Woodland; that his address is R.F.D., #1, Wonewoc, Wis. He stated further that his father was stubborn and “close”. When he called on his father to secure his subscription for the Fourth Liberty Loan he said, No, he guessed he would not subscribe, and seeing that there was no use of arguing with him, witness said no more. That he had not discussed the war with his father, and that they seldom visit back and forth. His father is old and stubborn, and thinks too much of his money. Mortimer stated that he thought his father was worth from $12,000 to $15,000.
Agent being unable to secure further information from Bert Mortimer, proceeded to the village of Valton, and called at the general store of Alfred Gage, who stated substantially as follows: That he was the proprietor of a general store, 43 years of age, married, that his post office address was R.F.D., #1, Wonewoc; and that on or about August 12, 1918, subject while in his store talking about the war, said “I don’t think it is right that our soldiers should go over to France. This is a rich man’s war.” Gage stated that subject has talked on these lines on different occasions, possibly two or three times. Gage further stated that on or about October 14, 1918, subject rode to Wonewoc with him in his Ford car, and while talking about the Bonds, said, “I thought I would take out some bonds today, but I don’t know whether I will or not.” Gage said that when subject made this remark, he made it in a sneering way. Gage stated that he does not consider subject loyal.
Agent then proceeded to the store of E. M. Hanzlik, of Valton, Wis., and interrogated Max Thompson, who is single, age 21, post office address, R.F.D. #1, Wonewoc, Wis., who stated substantially as follows: That he was a clerk in said store, that he knew subject but had never heard him discuss the war. Thomson further stated that subject had a reputation of not contributing to any of the war activities, and that he did not consider subject loyal.
Agent then interrogated Beatrice Mortimer, granddaughter of subject, who is also a clerk in the general store of E. M. Hanzlik, and who stated substantially as follows: That she is 16 years of age, post office address R.F.D. #1, Wonewoc, Wis., that while at the house of subject on or about August 15, 1918, subject was talking to her and said he would not live to get this money back, and that if Germany wins this war our money will be gone.
Both Bert Mortimer and Beatrice Mortimer were reluctant about giving Agent information.
Both Bert Mortimer and Beatrice Mortimer were reluctant about giving Agent information.
Beatrice MORTIMER & Charles KREDL Wedding photo
John E. MORTIMER with his gun & dog.
John E. MORTIMER with Wife Rhoda SMALL
Agent also interrogated A. H. Frazier, blacksmith, in the village of Valton, who stated substantially as follows: That he was 51 years of age, his post office address was R.F.D. #1, Wonewoc, and that on or about the latter part of June, 1918, subject while talking with him regarding food stuffs, said that he had let his boys have some flour (he having on hand more flour that he should), but wished he had not done it. Subject had also 100 pounds of sugar, but was going to take it back. Frazier further stated that he did not consider subject loyal.
Agent then proceeded to the farm of subject and interrogated him, who stated substantially as follows: That his post office address is R.F.D. #1, Wonewoc, Wis.; that he was married, age 66; occupation, farm; that he was born in Waukesha County, Wis.; that his father and mother were both English, born on the other side. When asked by Agent if he thought this country justified in going to war with Germany, subject replied, No. When asked if he thought Germany justified in sinking the Lusitania, subject replied, “I hardly think they were.”
When asked if he wanted this country to win the war, subject replied, “Sure, I want to see this country come out ahead, now that we are in it.” Subject further stated that he not think Germany would ever have bothered this county; by that he meant that he did not think Germany would have gone to war with the U.S. Agent asked subject if he had ever made the remark that this is a rich man’s war, to which subject replied that he had not. Subject said he did not know what this war is for. Agent then asked subject if he thought it was right to send our troops across the water, to which subject replied that he thought they could use them just as well at home. When asked by Agent if he did not think President Wilson had taken the right course in this war, subject replied that President Wilson had not taken the course that he would have taken. When asked if he had subscribed to any of the first, second or third issues of Liberty Bonds, subject replied, No, but that he had bought of the Fourth Liberty Loan.
Upon further questioning, subject stated that he was not a member of the Red Cross but had contributed to same, and that he had also contributed to the Army Y.M.C.A., but could not say how much. When asked if he did not think the American Red Cross was a good thing, subject replied, if he believed what the papers said, he does not believe it. When asked what papers he read, he replied the Baraboo Republic and a Methodist paper which his wife took. When questioned further, subject said that he objected to the Red Cross spending money for tobacco for soldiers.
When asked by Agent if he did not consider the Liberty Bonds good, and that the government would them when due, he replied, “I don’t know whether or not they will be good at the end of twenty years.” Subject stated that he had rather have the money in land than in Liberty Bonds. Subject said that he thought he had backed the government more than he ought to in buying $100 Liberty Bonds, and that he had done his share in this war. Subject had not bought War Savings Stamps.
Subject was then questioned further regarding the matter of food stuffs, and stated that he thought a man at this time should have privilege of buying as much sugar as he wanted.
Subject further stated that he did not think we should have gone into this war. “Why could we not have kept out of it like Switzerland and Norway?”
This interview with subject took place outside of the house and after the interview with subject, Agent called at the house and had an interview with subject’s wife, who he found to be a most agreeable woman and a loyal American. Agent could see from his conversation with her that she considered her husband disloyal, but naturally did not give Agent any information. Agent, upon inquiry, found that subject is a man of more or less prominence in his neighborhood, and from his interview with subject considers him most disloyal, and would recommend that a commissioner’s warrant be issued for his arrest.
Further report to follow.
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Liberty Bond History http://www.libertyloanbonds.com/
Jul 28, 1914 World War I begins with Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia.
Jul 31, 1914 New York Stock Exchange closes because of European Crisis. (Reopens Dec. 12).
Aug 1914 Emergency currency is issued under Aldrich Vreeland Act.
Aug 1, 1914 German declares war on Russia (France on Aug. 3, Britain on Aug. 4). Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia and Japan declares war on Germany in August.
Nov 16, 1914 Federal Reserve Banks open for business.
Jan 25, 1915 Telephone service begins between New York and San Francisco.
Oct 15, 1915 U.S. bankers float $500 million loan to Britain and France at 5 percent.
Sep 8, 1916 Emergency Revenue Act doubles income tax rates, adds estate tax and munitions profits tax, and establishes Tariff Commission.
Nov 7, 1916 Wilson is reelected as President.
Feb 3, 1917 USS "Housatonic" is sunk by German submarine, and U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Germany.
Mar 3, 1917 Special Preparedness Fund Act provides for excess profit taxes and higher inheritance taxes.
Apr 2, 1917 Wilson calls special session of Congress for declaration of war against Germany. (On April 4, Senate votes for war and house concurs on April 6.)
Apr 24, 1917 Emergency Loan Act authorizes issue of $5 billion in bonds at 3.5 percent.
Jun 21, 1917 Federal Reserve Act is amended to encourage membership, mobilize gold reserves, and facilitate issue of notes.
Oct 1, 1917 Second Liberty Loan offers $3 billion in bonds at 4 percent.
Oct 3, 1917 War Revenue Act doubles income taxes, provides for excess profits tax, and imposes many excises. Nov 6, 1917 Russian Bolshevist overthrow Kerensky's Provisional Government, placing Lenin in power.
Dec 7, 1917 U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary. Dec 26, 1917 The U.S. Railroad Administration takes charge of the nation's railroads.
Apr 5, 1918 Third Liberty Loan offers $3 billion in bonds at 4.5 percent.
Sep 28, 1918 Fourth Liberty Loan offers $6 billion in bonds at 4.25 percent.
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