This is the general era in the city of Ishpeming that Clem Gothe lived - the late 1800s or the early 1900s. (Photo courtesy of Jack Deo, Superior View Studio, 149 W. Washington St., Marquette, www.viewsofthepast.com)

ISHPEMING — Clem Gothe, who was born and brought up in Ishpeming, leaving here last February for Chicago, to take a position in a drug store, has enlisted in the First Illinois National Guard. Clem was employed in L.N. Toutloff’s drug store before he left the city.

The fact that he is still holding a position in a drug store in order to make both ends meet until the government pay wagon comes around, has caused considerable comment. The Chicago Evening Post said:

“We used to think that the time was past for Paul Reveres, George Washingtons, Abraham Lincolns and such patriots. But this notion got an awful jolt last night.

We had the honor of meeting Patriot ‘Clem,’ aged 19, formerly general handyman in a drug store at Thirty-fifth street and Cottage Grove avenue. Now, if you please, of the First I.N.G. Or rather, after today of the ‘National Army’ stationed on the Municipal Pier.

‘Clem’ is just a boy of Swedish descent, but all American.

The first that his associates and employers knew of ‘Clem’s’ patriotism was when he was notified at the drug store that he had been accepted and to report in the morning.

Since then he has been reporting for duty, daily at 7:30 am and drilling and working for his country till 7 to 8 pm. then holding down his job at the soda fountain and doing odds and ends around the store until after midnight, with nothing more to do till morning. What he does with his spare time we could not figure out.

‘Clem’ has no mother or father, only an older sister, who is a nurse; therefore he has no dependents, but ‘Clem’ has to live. Even Uncle Sam’s promises for pay don’t buy lodging, clothes or little odds and ends a boy needs, so ‘Clem’ makes both ends meet by making both ends of his day almost meet. He has no uniform or equipment as yet, but he will get one soon.

Still, is ‘Clem’ downhearted? No. When asked how he liked it he said ‘Fine.” The ‘chuck’ is great and if I don’t get the kaiser himself I’m going to get one of his sons anyhow.

‘Clem’ has lots of friends around his corner, and they will see that he doesn’t want for anything, but there are literally thousands of Clems here and already in France who have the ‘stuff’ in them that patriots are made of, and the biggest of us must take our hats off to them.”

Mining Journal, August 13, 1917

Clement Goethe would survive the war although his brother Helmer would not, dying after an operation while enlisted. He married and had at least one child and died of natural causes in 1990.