In Lies of Omission, Hanneke Bauer’s 1855 arrival coincides with the height of Know Nothing politics. Readers have mentioned that they’d never heard of the movement before. Prior to beginning research for the book, I hadn’t either.
The rise of Know Nothings was relatively short-lived, but the movement exerted a lot of power—and it happened to coincide with Hanneke’s arrival from Pomerania, a region in what became northern Germany and Poland.
The nativist tide began to rise in the 1840s. A wave of immigrants escaping famine and political instabilty began arriving in North America. Many of these immigrants came from Ireland and Germany, and relatively cheap fertile farmland and jobs in Midwest cities beckoned. From 1845 to 1853, nearly 3 million struggling immigrants entered the United States.
An advertisement announcing publication of the American Citizen, a short-lived nativist newspaper, from Harper’s Weekly in 1852, Library of Congress
This phenomenon frighted many white people who were American-born or of American descent. Many Know Nothings called themselves “natives” and named their lodges after local American Indian nations, most now greatly diminished by US policy.
Artist Unknown
One early settler explained, “The Know Nothing movement which in the early fifties swept over the country from the East to the West grew out of the fear that the foreign born would outnumber Americans sufficiently to control the country. The popular slogans of the day were ‘Damn the Dutch’ and ‘To Hell with the Irish.'” (“An Era of Intolerance, Old Milwaukee, William George Bruce, WMH, March 1944.)
The Know Nothings began as a secret society. Members denied their own participation, hid their identities, and claimed ignorance to any question. Originally referred to as “the I Don’t Knows,” they were more commonly referred to as “Know Nothings.”
In the 1850s, the group coalesced to become The American Party. By this time men were joining the party in droves. Members’ primary motivation was xenophobia, and the goal was “the purification” of the ballot box.”
Although many men still kept their political views a secret, they yielded a great deal of power behind the scenes.
Some Yankees were also terrified that ever-growing enclaves of the foreign-born might one day take over political office, schools, and other institutions. Most spoke against alcohol, which targeted German taverns and beer gardens.
Know Nothings particularly despised Catholics and feared that the pope would take control of the US government. Their venom took special aim at poor Irish newcomers. In Chicago, Know Nothings swept the municipal elections of 1855. Among the victorious candidates was a new mayor, who had campaigned against liquor and anti-Catholic nativist values.
1855 Ohio History Central/Wikimedia
In the Upper Midwest, it didn’t help that even prosperous German settlers did indeed prefer their own ways of doing things. Many especally-German locales such as Watertown became transported bits of the homeland. German immigrants sang the songs they knew, spoke the language they knew, and clung to traditional foodways at home and at public houses. A convention was even held to discuss the possibility of a “German state.”
The Know Nothings perpetuated acts of violence against immigrants. Torchlight parades were meant to intimidate, and occasionally the Know Nothings grew violent.
On August 6, 1855, a Protestant mob attacked German and Irish Catholic neighborhoods on voting day in Louisville, Kentucky. Twenty-two people died, and more were injured. In addition many business and property were burned down. Although five people were eventually indicted, none were convicted. Victims were not compensated.
Riot in Philadelphia, 1844, H. Bucholzer, Library of Congress
The zenith arrived in 1856, when a three-way presidential ticket set up the Nativist “American” party, and the Republican party, against the pro-immigrant Democratic party.
Fillmore-Donelson Campaign Material
The Know Nothings faded as quickly as they’d appeared. The group struggled with issues like Abolition, with some members preferring to focus only on Nativism and others wanting to take on more.
Several Know Nothing newspapers were briefly published in Wisconsin. Hanneke has more than one encounter with angry nativists in Lies of Omission, and they remain part of the political landscape in book 2, The Solace of Stars, and book 3, A Most Perilous Journey (coming in July). She is not easily intimidated!
Recently, I wanted to try something new in the kitchen. I decided that in honor of the season, I would bake cookies in tribute of Hanneke, protagonist of my soon-to-be-three Hanneke Bauer Mysteries.
Many classic “German” cookies exist, but in the 19th century, there was a lot of cultural diversity between regions. Hanneke came from Pomerania, and I was hoping to find something specific to her background.
I turned to Favorite Recipes of Pommern Cooks, published by the Pommerscher Verein Friestadt in 1992.
If you’d like more information about this cookbook, click HERE.
That cookbook contains a number of cookie recipes, but I chose Anise-Honey Cookies. The descendant who contributed the recipe added this note: ”I know this recipe came from the old country.”
The recipe calls for a rolled cookie. Lacking some of Karoline Ketlzer’s creations, I used an old family doughnut cutter.
The dough was quite sticky. In order to roll and cut the cookies I had to add so much flour that my first ones were heavy.
I decided to use the dough to make drop cookies. They were delicious!
Rolled cookies and drop cookies.
If you need a break from sugar-coated cookies, I recommend these. They would also be perfect for a book group gathering. The recipe is below, as printed in the cookbook.
Notes: I cut down on the sugar. Also, I started with whole star anise and buzzed a few pods in my spice grinder. The anise does impart a strong flavor, but I like it.
Anise-Honey Cookies
3 eggs, beaten 2 c. sugar 2. c. honey, heated 2 T. ground anise 1 T. baking soda 1 t. ground cloves 4 c. flour (approximately) pinch of salt
In a medium size mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and lemon color. Add honey and pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Sift flour, anise, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Stir into egg mixture. This is not enough flour. You need to add enough flour to form dough stiff enough to roll out and make into animal cookies. Bake at 350 degrees until you can touch lightly in the middle and it doesn’t make an indent.
Watertown, WI, is well known today for its farmers market. When I discovered that the institution’s roots stretch back to Hanneke Bauer’s time, I had to include it in a book! The opening chapter in the second Hanneke mystery, The Solace of Stars, takes place at the bustling public market in 1856.
Sources vary on the exact date that the first event took place, but most agree a man named Leopold Kadisch began the tradition around 1850. The gathering began as a small cattle market—or a Vieh Markt, as German-speaking immigrants like Hanneke called it. Over the years the market expanded, and was also referred to as Fair Day and, decades later, the Pig Market.
This nostalgic painting “Fair Market” was created by Eunice Gruner for the American Legion in 1963. (Watertown Historical Society, 011 567)
I based my description on this 1855 article from the Watertown Democrat:
Our streets have now a very brisk business appearance owing to the large quantities of wheat, pork, beef, poultry, produce, and other commodities, that are being brought here from the surrounding country. An almost continuous and unbroken line of teams on every fair day may be seen slowly winding their way into our city… Our farmers are beginning to find it not necessary to go to Milwaukee, or any where else, either to sell their surplus on the best terms or to supply their own wants on the cheapest rates.
This 1908 photo is the earliest known view of the market. East Main and 3rd Streets, looking north. (Watertown Historical Society, PC 385)
While commerce was a primary motivation for attending, other factors played a role. A 1934 Milwaukee Sentinel article about the fair, “Vieh Markt is Still Watertown Institution,” described the social importance of the gathering:
In years gone by it was the one day of the month farmers and their families had to look forward to on which to do their shopping, exchange goods, and renew friendships. Entire families bundled into wagons and buggies and came to town, the men to trade horses and cattle, the women to buy cloth and household provisions. It was the day on which the old time saloons here flourished…. When the day ended it meant that many of the families would not leave their farms again until the next cattle fair day.
Sending Hanneke to the fair in 1856 provided me the opportunity to introduce new characters, and to establish primary themes and issues, against the backdrop of an essential economic and social Watertown event. I wish I could have seen it in her time!
(With thanks to the Watertown Historical Society.)
The second Hanneke Bauer Mystery will be published next month!
Four months after her turbulent arrival, Pomeranian immigrant Hanneke Bauer is still struggling to feel at home on the Wisconsin farm she inherited from her husband. She does savor a growing friendship with tinsmith Karoline Ketzler, but that solace vanishes when Karoline’s daughter Jacobine finds her father dead from a vicious attack.
When the deputy sheriff’s suspicions fall on Karoline, Hanneke employs her own talents to investigate the crime. The search reveals dangerous cultural rifts and astonishing family secrets. Hanneke’s tenacity and intellect help edge her closer to the truth…but will her efforts provoke the killer to strike again?
One of the coolest things about researching and writing my adult mysteries is that I meet so many fascinating people. One of them is traditional tinsmith Kitty Latané.
Kitty lives in Pepin, WI, and I became aware of her work while working on Death on the Prairie, the 6th Chloe Ellefson mystery. Her work is gorgeous, and she specializes in studying and reproducing old tinware.
Most of my books feature some sort of folk art or historical trade. In The Solace of Stars, Hanneke’s friend Karoline Ketzler is a tinsmith struggling to survive in an era when inexpensive, commercially manufactured wares were more and more commonly found on store shelves.
To celebrate the new book, Kitty and I will collaborate to present a virtual launch party July 12 for readers! The event is free, but preregistration is required. For more information, click HERE.
For information about all the events on the calendar, sign up for my free newsletter HERE.
Please join me and two former Pendarvis Historic Site curators at noon on July 29, 2023, for a scrumptious pasty luncheon at Mineral Point’s famed Walker House!
Pendarvis, operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society, served as setting for the 8th Chloe Ellefson Mystery, Mining For Justice. The property tells stories of Cornish immigrants, local lead mines, and the two men who preserved the special buildings now restored there.
Historic sites evolve over time, and Pendarvis has a fascinating history. Our special guests will share stories from different eras, and provide a rare peek behind the scenes of museum life. Their generous assistance made it possible for me to write Mining For Justice.
Curator Kori Oberle will share stories from Chloe’s era—many of which influenced the book.
Kori Oberle (Bob Granflaten photo)
Tamara Funk, who more recently served the site, will reveal her experience as partner-in-crime while I plotted the mystery. The conversation will be informal, and open to guest questions.
Tamara Funk & me (Scott Meeker photo)
The Walker House, a magnificent 19th-century stone structure, is the perfect place for our event. Luncheon will include bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, cranberry feta cheese pinwheels, salad, beef pasties, saffron buns, and figgyhobbin for dessert. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and other dietary needs will be accommodated.
PHILP`S PHOTO SERIES, TRURO pre 1914
The luncheon and program are scheduled for 12:00-3:00 pm. We invite you to arrive early in Mineral Point so you can visit Pendarvis or sample more of this charming town’s offerings.
To learn more, and to register for the luncheon, please click HERE.
Interested in writing about your ancestors? Next month I will teach a new, two-day class at Vesterheim in Decorah, Iowa. WritingFamily Stories: Digging Deeper is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16. Writers of all levels are welcome.
Memories make a wonderful starting point for writers wanting to capture family lore. Inevitably, however, we are stymied by gaps in the records or genealogical brick walls. How do we write about people we never knew? How do we find stories if an ancestor left behind only a single photograph or heirloom . . . or nothing at all?
In this workshop, students will explore several techniques to help address those challenges, including inquiry-based, speculative, and imaginative writing.
For more information, and to register, click HERE.
I love teaching at Vesterheim! For this class we’ll have special opportunities to find inspiration in artifacts that are not on display. I hope you can join me!
Usually Chloe and I are all about tradition in the kitchen, but sometimes it’s nice to mix things up a bit. Most recently, Chloe did so at the beginning of The Weaver’s Revenge.
As Roelke helps Chloe prepare for a road trip, her sister Kari arrives unexpectedly, prompting the following exchange:
“I didn’t expect to see you today, Kari,” Chloe said.
“Since you’re traveling, I brought Roelke dinner. Chicken pot pie.”
“That’s kind, but hardly necessary.” Chloe sounded mildly aggrieved. “I left plenty of food in the fridge, including a lingonberry-curry stir-fry.”
Kari looked aghast. “Lingonberry…what?”
“It’s actually quite good,” Roelke admitted, almost embarrassed by the admission.
I developed this recipe several years ago, and Mr. Ernst and I enjoy it as much as Roelke does! In addition to tasting good, it’s a quick and healthy meal. Scroll for the recipe.
The Sauce Note: This recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce, which is enough for two stir-fries. I freeze half to have ready the next time I cook the dish.
1 10-oz. jar of Lingonberry preserves 4 T. white wine vinegar 1 T. Dijon mustard 1 T. minced garlic 3-4 T. curry powder
Stir all ingredients together until blended.
Beautiful, yes?
The Stir-Fry For the version pictured below I used 14 oz. of vegetarian protein and 6 cups of mixed chopped vegetables (carrots, snap peas, broccoli, and bok choi.) You can use whatever your family favors.
To prepare, heat a large skillet and add enough cooking oil to lightly coat the bottom. Cook the veggie protein or meat as directed on the package, in a large skillet. Add the vegetables and cook for about three minutes, stirring frequently. Add half of the lingonberry-curry sauce (about 1/2 cup), mix in well, and bring to a simmer.
Serve over rice. These proportions make four servings.
I have a couple of online presentations on the calendar – and you’re invited!
This richly-illustrated program will take you behind the scenes of the Chloe Ellefson mysteries that feature aspects of Norwegian culture and history. I’ll share why I decided to create Chloe as a Norwegian-American, and the themes that have shaped her evolving cultural identity. You’ll also see the special historic places, artifacts, and folk art—from Old World and New—that inspired Chloe’s stories.
As a special treat, we’ll be joined by Destinee K. Udelhoven, Executive Director of the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society. Destinee will explain the society’s Norwegian Connection, and share some special artifacts with us.
Courtesy Mount Horeb Area Historical Society
As many of you know, I’ve partnered with the MHAHS to offer a unique trip to Norway in May. After the program, Destinee and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about Folk Art, Fjords, & Fiddles: Exploring Southern Norway.
This free program will take place on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM Central. Click HERE for registration information.
And if you like to plan ahead, here’s a sneak peak at a program coming in January.
While driving back roads in northeast Wisconsin as I researched the 9th Chloe Ellefson Mystery, The Lacemaker’s Secret, I encountered a handful of old Belgian structures featuring stars. Most of them were white, on the gable ends of barns.
Near Union, WI.
No one seemed to be sure of the custom’s origin, although some historians have speculated that they represented the settlers’ strong religious faith.
There are a handful of Catholic Churches in the region named Stella Maris (Our Lady, Star of the Sea), an ancient title for the Virgin Mary. It signifies protection and guidance.
Near Algoma, WI.
I chose to incorporate that idea into one of the book’s pivotal scenes. Last July, when participants on a tour of Belgian sites in the vicinity asked about star barns, I promised to share some photos.
Near Rosiere, WI.
I hope these shots will help you imagine the scene!
One of my favorites! Near West Kewaunee, WI.And a star house! The brickwork on this beautiful home is astonishing. Near Rosiere, WI.
By the way…I’ve neglected my blog of late in order to focus on manuscripts in progress. I’ll try to do better. Happy autumn!
In partnership with the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society, I invite you to join me in May, 2023, on a trip to the land of Chloe’s ancestors!
Click the image below to see what we have planned.
We’ve partnered with Borton Overseas for our 2023 adventure. The company began in 1894 as Sunden, Vanstrum, and Co., specializing in steamship travel for Scandinavian immigrants coming to the U.S. We’ll have over a century of experience supporting our trip!
Click HERE for itinerary, pricing, and registration information.
If you have specific trip and travel questions, you may also reach out directly to Amy, Borton’s Scandinavian Specialist. amy@bortonoverseas.com 1-612-661-4634 800-843-0602
Discounts are available for members of Sons of Norway, Swedish Institute, Danish American Center, and Norway House.
For the safety and peace of mind of all, the Mount Horeb Area Historical Society kindly requests that travelers be vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate in this tour. Please keep this in mind when registering.
You’ll find more information on our dedicated trip website, including more insight into some of the places we’ll be visiting.
I’m dreaming of Norway. You too? I hope you can join us!
I've worn many bonnets over the years: writer, reader, historical interpreter, curator, reenactor, naturalist, educator. I've never had a job I didn't love. How lucky is that?
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