History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 85

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362

USA > California > Fresno County > History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I > Part 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The patriotic record of war service participation by the faculty and student body of the Fresno State Normal School was a creditable one not only for practical and substantial achievements but for uplift of ideals. The contributed aids are too many to name in detail. The money contributions alone amounted to $32,645. The assurance was that from this institution would go out each term groups of teachers imbued with the American ideal of right and justice as factors to help make those ideals more a part of the national life.

There was active drilling of "Crowder's Men"-those between sixteen and forty-five years of age-to hasten the training and seasoning of those who were expected to be called into the service under the second registration and draft call but it was a measure that in the last months of the war did not yield direct results because that war was so abruptly ended. The speed- ing up on training was recommended in orders from the state adjutant gen- eral announced by District Chairman F. A. Homan of the Council of Defense September 20, at a mass meeting on the twenty-sixth 375 men volunteered in

571

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

one night, like meetings were held throughout the county and in about two weeks there was an enrollment of some 1,200. Officers of the Home Guards and of the former national guard were the drill masters, but the Germans met their match at Chateau Thierry and the end was soon in coming.

So it was also when the call came to organize twelve new state na- tional guard companies in the state in 1916. December 7 the Sixth Sepa- rate Company of one hundred forty men was a fact in Fresno. By February 26, 1917, a second company, the Tenth, was ready for muster. The recruiting for them was attended by many discouragements. No sooner was the maxi- mum reached than there was a wholesale departure in enlistments for army or navy war service. The national guard plan was abandoned long before the armistice. The Sixth Separate Company first designated as F Company was officered by Capt. S. L. Gallaher and Lieutenants B. U. Brandt and George Walling. Ray Carlisle later succeeding Walling : the Tenth by Bert A. Prim- rose as captain and by Fernand Detoy and Martin Nichols as lieutenants. The Home Guards continued as the military organization to fill the interim between the demobilization of the national army and a time when the gov- ernment decides how to fill the place of the state guards.

A live Home Guard was the one of Selma organized early in April, 1918, with fifty members and certificated June 4. It was mustered up to a membership of seventy-five that was maintained with a waiting list. Its officers were: A. M. Frost as captain and organizer ; Lieutenants J. J. Van- derburgh and G. M. Black.

The early and varied work of the County Council of Defense would of itself fill a volume. It was organized as all the others were in the state of designated county officials with civilian members. Its work was of an ad- visory and protection suggesting body. It had to do with uncovering sedi- tion and alien activities, it dealt with the growing and increase of crops, the supply of labor, to produce as well as to garner and generally to augment the food supply by every manner of means with a great army to be sent to another continent and its every want to be supplied from home. The first chairman of the council was Judge H. Z. Austin of the superior court. With the reorganization plan of the state council all county official mem- bers or candidates for reelection resigned as requested, September 1, 1917. F. A. Homan vice chairman and one of the three holdover members was made chairman and council became the Fresno Division of the State Council of Defense of California. The chairmen of war work committees were at the close the following named :

W. O. Miles of the General Liberty Loan,

E. E. Manheim of War Savings,

M. B. Harris of Four-Minute Men,

William Glass of Red Cross,

George S. Waterman of county food administration,

Charles H. Riege of city fuel administration,

A. J. Wishon of county fuel administration,

Mrs. E. A. Williams of Woman's Committee.

F. P. Roullard, county horticultural commissioner,

H. A. Pratt of Non War-Construction Board,

Harry C. Wilber of Community Councils,

Leroy B. Smith, Farm Adviser,

C. L. McLane of History Committee,

Mrs. Henry Hawson of Woman's Food Administration,

Dean G. R. E. MacDonald of Americanization work,

M. L. Neeley of War Donations,

L. R. Payne of Fire Protection Committee,

R. Schmidt of War Gardens.

Mrs. H. A. Goddard and Senator W. F. Chandler, unassigned, Louis Detoy, secretary.

572

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

Ahead of the council is the task yet of looking after reconstruction work upon return of the soldiers, the work of Americanization and the history record of the county's participation in the war. Much was done for the security of the community. Grain production was increased 100 per cent. During the period of I. W. W. incendiary fires when much foodstuff and feed material were burned, armed guards were placed at every plant and lights were multiplied as a further protection, this work in charge of L. R. Payne. Providentially that at this time the secret service jailed the incen- diarists, and remarkable incendiarism also ceased with their incarceration. It was the council that took charge of the first training of the eighteen to forty-five men, of the hunting down of slackers and draft deserters, hunted out the disloyal and the over-zealous pro-German and fostered the Home Guards. The evidence at the Sacramento trial in the federal court and also at Chicago of the I. W. W.'s was proof of the thoroughness with which one phase of this work was pursued in Fresno and in the San Joaquin Valley.

Red Cross activities in the county lacked not money backing as the re- sult of three campaigns. The first drive was June 18-25 in 1917 and the result was $104,000. George C. Roeding was chairman of the committee with H. E. Patterson as manager and E. E. Manheim, Wylie M. Giffen. Milo F. Rowell and E. A. Berg. In May, 1918, was the second campaign to raise $100,000 quota ; drive May 21-27 and $204,000 was raised. W. F. Chandler was the chairman with Ward B. Minturn as the manager and assisting F. A. Homan, W. M. Giffen, William Glass, E. E. Manheim, M. B. Harris, H. E. Patterson and George C. Roeding. The Christmas Roll Call quota was $22,000 and on that day $12,090.20 was in hand, the drive much impeded by the influenza epidemic, wherefore the time for contributions was extended into January with not the slightest doubt of reaching the 22,000-dollar membership. Another membership campaign will not be made until Christ- mas, 1919. The last drive committee was: Chase S. Osborn Jr., chairman, H. E. Patterson assistant; Mrs. A. S. Baker cashier; David Anderson pub- licity man : Hugo F. Allerdt speakers' bureau, L. J. Allen supply manager and Miss Sarah McCardle in charge of woman's participation work.

The Fresno Chapter of the Red Cross made a stupendous growth during the war. It was organized with eighty-three signing members at a meeting on the morning of April 3, 1917, at the Kinema Theater. Three days later war was declared and out of this small beginning at the theater the member- ship has grown to 20,871 with the Christmas roll call addition, and there have developed twenty-two branches and sixty-two auxiliaries, covering the territory of the county with exception of Coalinga and Selma which have their own chapters. The original officers were: Chester H. Rowell honorary president : William Glass, chairman ; Mrs. W. A. Sutherland, vice chairman ; Berton Einstein, treasurer, succeeded by Bishop L. C. Sanford, and Mrs. Al Braverman, secretary. The activities of the Red Cross were varied. There was the Military Relief or Productions Department for the making of refugee and hospital garments and linen, surgical dressings and knitted garments and socks. The Salvage Department proved one of the most remunerative branches. The Civilian Relief accomplished its work in a confidential way. The Junior Red Cross brought together in closer relation the schools of the county and in this connection it should be stated that no class devoted to the war work more time, enthusiasm and effort with results than the teach- ers. The young ladies' canteen company of the Red Cross did much appre- ciated work in lunch services to departing men of the draft, military organi- zations passing through the city when notice was given of their coming, which was not always because of the secrecy maintained as regards the movement of troops, and later again in the welcome receptions to home com- ing organizations after the armistice for demobilization. A motor corps was another adjunct which was of service in connection with the salvage work and during the influenza epidemic assisted in conveying patients to the emer-

573

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

gency hospitals. The Red Cross is an institution that is enshrined in the grateful hearts of the people for the devoted work of the women who at home were one of the factors in this war, and abroad close to the battlefields and in the hospitals conspicuous. The Fresno chapter sent several representatives from home to Red Cross work, notably Miss Florence Phillis in response to the appeal for clerical assistance and in service at Paris; David L. Newman who went to fill a demand in Italy; Mrs. Eve S. Bangs called by Pacific division headquarters in San Francisco to fill a niche in the publicity depart- ment and Robert J. West to enter the chapter organization department in San Francisco. It provided soap, emergency cots, pads, and jellies for Cali- fornia convalescent camps, assisted the Belgian Relief Commission on two occasions in campaigns for clothing, helped to send remembrances at Christ- mas to the boys in home camps and overseas and took over the emergency hospital at the high school during the second city influenza visitation. The Red Cross like the Salvation Army was an organization that by its unselfish work commanded the fullest confidence and support of the masses. A chapter alone might be written on the work of the Coalinga chapter organized June 8. 1917, with twelve general and ten school auxiliaries and A. E. Webb as chairman, Max Shaffroth as vice, Mrs. A. S. Taylor as secretary, and J. A. Fluetsch as treasurer and R. W. Dallas, S. A. Buchanan, Miss Anna M. Steele, Mrs. H. G. Anderson, A. T. Borst, Dr. C. W. Hutchinson and Miss Pearl Watkins as the board of managers. The Fresno military relief department committee was headed by E. B. Walthall as chairman with Mrs. W. J. Mc- Nulty as vice. As one of the twenty-five canteen stations in the state that of Fresno was organized in June, 1918, and Carl E. Lindsay was the chairman with the personnel mostly women. Its train service was established in Octo- ber. The salvage department as before stated proved a lucrative source of income. Mrs. George H. Taylor was the guiding spirit of this work with Ivan McAdoo as her lieutenant, E. C. Madden as the manager and H. A. Goerz as the accountant with the work later brought under a system by F. M. Frazer and assistants. When he retired from active participation he was succeeded by Mrs. W. B. Isaacs. The first salvage sale shop was opened after hasty preparations June I, 1918, in a store room placed at service by the late Hans Graff, collection of salvaged goods started in the Chaddock & Company raisin warehouse March 29 with paper and junk as the first merchantable collections. A branch of this department was originated by Miss Jane Whitney in June to serve tea at the Liberty Theater, ice cream at the district fair and at the Sunday night public concerts at the courthouse park. For the months of May to October, 1918, the shop receipts were $9,137.16 and the tea room $2,892.33, a total of $12,029.49, a net profit of $9,030.46. Where so much wonderful work was done, it is impossible to give individual credit to all entitled to it. It would be gross ingratitude, how- ever, to overlook the 100 per cent. Americanism of the Musicians' Union in its unselfishness in furnishing the music for all the public occasions that the war work projects demanded. Nor should the members of the city fire de- partment be overlooked. In addition to their duties, they devoted their resting time to the work of the Red Cross, the fire houses being made sub- stations for the receipt of salvageable goods and the firemen giving their time to the collection and segregation of the material in their districts. Fresno is a remote corner on this continent but the whole souled patriotism evinced in that corner is an evidence of what was many thousand times multiplied in the nation in a wonderful and glorious spirit. Little wonder that the fighters at the front accomplished what they did, once permitted to take active part and confident of the spirit backing them at home. With that spirit and that undivided patriotism behind them, the end could not have been other than what it was. It was one of the many things in America that the pig-headed Hun overlooked in his calculations.

574

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

The Selma Red Cross chapter was in the county work. It was organized May 5, 1916, and has substantial accomplishments to its credit. It had an adult membership of 1,497 and 1,027 juniors with St. Ansgar auxiliary of November 8, 1917, of seventy-two members. The chapter handled finances amounting to $8,740.69 with balance in treasury of $2,146.65. It responded to every call upon it. A detailed account of its activities could not make this assertion any the stronger.

In November, 1917, a campaign was made for funds for the War Camp Community Service. In this county the campaign was under the care of the Chamber of Commerce with A. Mattei Jr. as the vice chairman in charge. The national quota was $3,750,000 and the county's $4,000. The women called into the work under the leadership of Mrs. W. F. Chandler organized a Harvest Home Festival at the city auditorium resulting in a contribution of $1,600. The quota was raised. The service was one factor that proved to be a potent agency in keeping up the morale and spirit of the soldiery in training camps at home and abroad-the morale and spirit that as Marshal Foch conceded made the American such a superb soldier.

The Y. M. C. A. was perhaps the one large organization that the gov- ernment found ready at the declaration of war to undertake the task that was to be shouldered upon it at home and abroad because of the important bearing that it was to have on the war through the individual soldier. That work is familiar. The Fresno organization did its part and demonstrated its usefulness as a contributory war work activity organization. Its general local secretary W. D. Eastman entered the service early in August, 1917, at San Diego. The assistant, L. T. Lewis, next entered that service at Camp Fremont. Following the national Y. M. C. A. war work drive, George A. Forbes, general secretary at Spokane, was assigned to the general secretary- ship here and entered upon his duties December 10, 1917, contributed notably in the activities of the times, especially in the recruiting of war work secre- taries to send out men of character beyond the military age and yet bursting with patriotism to serve in some capacity whether in camp, on the front line or at home in keeping the home fires burning. The Fresno Y. M. C. A. established 'an enviable record. It sent out as war workers the following named as recalled: R. C. Avery who gave up business pursuits to become secretary of the naval training station camp at San Diego. L. T. Lewis, assistant secretary, who was sent to Camp Fremont as a volunteer. He was early in the work and had charge of supplying books and magazines for the soldiers passing through Fresno en route to various training camps. Charles H. Tooze, who was physical director of the Y. M. C. A. and at the time of assignment, city sanitary inspector. He was sent to the work in France. Another one sent to France was Leslie M. Drew, who had been secretary of the consolidated irrigation canal companies and resigned his position to be with the soldiers. A younger brother is a lieutenant in the Eighth U. S. Infantry sent with the American Expeditionary Force to Siberia. Hayden Jones who had been in the real estate agency business and prominent in the affairs of the Fresno .Commercial Club was another that was sent to France and was with the boys at the front in the last days and at the signing of the armistice. In this war work the Y. M. C. A. departed notably from its too narrow and restricted lines in peace times. It is agreed that in countenancing of entertainments, notably in dancing, in the distribution of tobacco, in cigarettes, and cigars and pipes to the soldiers it actually "became human" . and the spirit had its effect on the soldiers. Hayden related that his record was the distribution of 3,500 cigarettes in a day to the boys behind the line awaiting the word to go over. He had three assistants to distribute the cigarettes, he following briquet in hand for the boys to light their smokes with. The First Congregational Church gave its pastor, Rev. T. T. Giffen, leave of absence for the duration of the war rather than accept his resigna- tion for the war work secretaryship of the naval camps about San Diego

575

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

with headquarters at Los Angeles. He was a man active in many lines of civic welfare. John H. Lyons, teacher of vocal music in the public schools and for several years director of music of St. James' Pro-cathedral, was sent to Camp Lewis and there made a reputation as a leader of mass singing. He became known as "Everybody Sing" Lyons from a favorite expression of his. As a leader in mass singing he achieved a reputation in all the training camps. At the Tacoma Stadium he led, it is said, a chorus of 50,000 voices. While on furlough, he organized street concerts at home to aid the United War work. His song, "Here at Home We're Backing You," was chosen as the campaign song of Washington state for the Fourth Liberty Loan drive and locally for the United War Work drive. The smiles and the singing of the American soldiers were two things that all the war correspondents com- mented upon as evincing the remarkable spirit of the Yanks. A. E. McGuf- fin, D. R. Aimsley and J. J. Gofnett, who was with the Fresno Rescue Mis- sion, also were sent to France. Harry A. James, a newspaper reporter with a talent for musical and monologue entertainments was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, and later took up Red Cross work. Rev. Sidney Pope was another accepted worker sent on to Rockford, Ill., also L. R. Elliott and C. F. Cowan to Camp Kearney ; and Charles Kerney, who was a real estate agent and deputy tax collector, sent to San Diego as a co-worker with Secretaries R. C. Avery and Rev. Giffen. Former Secretary Eastman volunteered for foreign service and from San Diego went on to France. Others that went on to camps were Elbert L. Evans of Selma, Tracey Cox who was physical in- structor at the Fresno high school, Rev. S. Mogensen of Oleander and Wil- liam Virgo. Rev. H. N. McKee of the Christian Church of Fowler was as- signed overseas in April, 1918, and wounded by shrapnel on the front line receiving six wounds but recovered and took up the work again. Rev. Jerome G. Van Zandt of the Baptist Church of Fowler who entered the work in March and for two months did relief work at San Pedro was sent to France and in August was also wounded. He was a Southern California settlement worker and had come from San Bernardino to Fresno, where he was con- nected with the Fresno Junior College. The Y. M. C. A. participated locally in many activities, not to be forgotten the recruiting of young men to go out into the vineyards and the orchards to save the crops by reason of the short- age of labor depleted in the county by the draft calls. Never in its history had the Y. M. C. A. done more practical work.

The Knights of Columbus was one of the seven war service organiza- tions included in the United War Work drive in November, 1918, for pro- viding recreational and physical comforts for the soldiers in camp and to give the religious comforts to soldiers of the Catholic faith. The national drive quota opened November 29, 1917, was for $12,000,000, California's quota $300,000 and Fresno County's $5,000. The subscriptions though open to the public were for the most part obtained from members of the local council of the knights and the quota was made up in three weeks. The executive committee in charge consisted of: John Birmingham, chairman; B. J. Mal- try, treasurer, and H. A. Formaneck, Engene Rahill, James Gallagher, Thomas Collins, Rev. Daniel O'Connell, E. A. Thoman, S. L. Riddell, Oliver Kehrlein and H. G. Nolan.

For the first Y. M. C. A. War Work campaign the national quota was placed at $35,000,000, California's at $750,000, Fresno City's at $25,000 and the county's at $18,000. Originally it was intended to appeal for an additional $30,000 to meet local needs of the association, making the city's quota $55,- 000. There being opposition against combining the two funds compromise was arrived at by which the local association should receive $18,500 and all else of the $55,000 and whatever over to go to the war fund. The city sub- scribed $26,409.85 and the county $22,000, the city went $1,409.85 to the good and the county $4,000. The drive lasted November 11-20, 1917, and had been preceded by the first two Liberty loans. The war work campaign 35

576

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

was something new directed to the moral and physical well being of the young soldiers and sailors. The one appealed to patriotism; the other to sentimental and other considerations of a personal character, essential though the government regarded them. A campaign of education was necessary. The drive was to be unsectarian. John Fechter, a former Fresno and later Oakland general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. but at the time of the cam- paign war work secretary in army and navy camps about San Diego, was appointed manager in charge by the state committee for the valley district. The executive committee for this county was named of Max Cahen as chair- man, M. B. Harris, Hans Graff, F. D. Prescott, Berton Einstein, Peter Droge and Frank H. Homan and as a general committee of team captains the fol- lowing named: Dr. L. R. Packwood, H. H. Holland, W. H. Peterson, Ed- ward Hughson. Chester Stewart, C. H. Cobb, Frank G. Hood, George S. Waterman, R. B. Covington, Edward Hertweck, R. W. Potter, Horace Thor- waldsen, Dr. J. M. Crawford, Ben Epstein, F. L. Swartz, W. H. Henderson, S. S. Hockett. G. E. Kennedy, J. E. Dickinson, N. E. Carnine and Arthur Bernhauer. The canvass was organized on an elaborate system for the $25,- 000 war fund, $18,500 for the association budget for that year and all in ex- cess of the $43,500 apportioned to the general. The county canvass was carried on by local committees under the charge of Neil Locke as manager. The success of the drive was a source of much gratification. It was the first in the county on a broadly organized basis. The Liberty bonds were an investment : this a gift with no selfish returns. The people were educated in the idea of giving. Whether investment or gift both were essentials in the prosecution of the war.

Not behind the work of the Y. M. C. A. was that of the Y. W. C. A. which latter in camp and field made the Blue Triangle as its association insignia familiar and beloved. The part of the American woman in this war is one of the chapters that the future historian will write about. All the home activities that the Y. W. C. A. encouraged and sponsored, a publica- tion having the limitations of this work cannot deal with. The best women were associated with them locally. The list of names is such a large one that it cannot be reproduced. Their work contributed to the national spirit which was such a magnificent thing during the war. Where woman will lead the way, man will follow. Woman blazed a wide path of patriotism in the war, the effect of which was felt to the farthermost listening post looking out on No Man's Land beyond the farthest front trench line. Woman made as great sacrifices as the men in the field. The war work campaign of the Y. W. C. A. December 3-10, 1917, came after the Y. M. C. A. and the two first Liberty loans and there never was doubt of its success. Another surprise was in store locally. The national fund to be raised was $4,000,000, the state's quota $350,000, Fresno County's $10,000. The purpose of this fund as well as of the others every one knows. The local campaign was opened at a meeting of women at the Hotel Fresno November 25, 1917, ad- dressed by Mrs. Gaillard. M. Stoney of San Francisco. The executive com- mittee and officers appointed were the following: Chairman, Mrs. Berton Einstein : vice, Mrs. E. A. Williams and \V. A. Fitzgerald ; executive secre- tary, Mrs. Thomas F. Lopez; recording secretary, Miss Belle Ritchie ; treasurer, Mrs. Anna Newman; directors, Mrs. W. F. Chandler and Mrs. Chester Rowell besides a large membership in the war work council com- posed of the best known women of the county. All the minutiae of organiza- tion were undertaken by these enthusiastic women, the interest was kept up at fever heat and on last day of the campaign the quota was exceeded with $10,978, the county had again been placed in the class of exceeding its quota and this whirlwind campaign was carried through at an expense at $110.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 85

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1362

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362