USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > The honor book, Sangamon County, Illinois, 1917-1919 : official service record > Part 1
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The HONOR BOOK
SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
1917 1919
NELLIE BROWNE DIIFF
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY 940.91319 D87h
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The HONOR BOOK
SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
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1917-1919
By NELLIE BROWNE DUFF ...
OFFICIAL SERVICE RECORD
A. P. BICKENBACH, ILLIOPOLIS, ILL. PUBLISHER.
1920 JEFFERSONS PRINTING COMPANY SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
Dedicated
In-unending praise to Sangamon County's splendid men and wonderful women who served; in deep appreciation to those who "kept the home fires burning" and made this service possible ; and in reverence to the magnificent sacrifice of those who gave their all in the cause of Justice and Liberty.
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940.91319 D87 h
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COMMEMORATING THE SERVICE
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM
SPRINGFIELD (CITY), AND AUBURN, BALL, BARCLAY, BUF- FALO, BUFFALO HART, CANTRALL (FANCY CREEK), CART- WRIGHT, CHATHAM, CLEAR LAKE, COOPER, COTTON HILL, CURRAN, DAWSON, DIVERNON, GARDNER, ILLI- OPOLIS, ISLAND GROVE, LANESVILLE, LOAMI, MAXWELL, MECHANICSBURG, NEW BERLIN, PAWNEE, ROCHESTER, SALISBURY, SHERMAN, SPRINGFIELD, TALKINGTON, THAYER, WILLIAMSVILLE, AND WOODSIDE TOWNSHIPS.
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Appreciation
I wish to offer an expression of appreciation to Miss Jennie May Barnes, Miss Evalyn G. Nelch and Miss Serena Edwards, who worked long and faithfully on the Honor Book; Mr. A. P. Bickenbach, who served as Chairman of the County Exemp. tion Board during the War and rendered valuable aid in the compilation of records; General Frank S. Dickson, who gave me access to draft records; Mr. Horace S. Rear- don, for the loan of draft data; the Springfield Commercial Association, patricularly Mr. William H. Conkling and Mr. J. E. Hemmick, whose cooperation and assistance was of inestimable value; to members of the Homecoming Celebration body ; to the officers of Sangamon Post No. 32, American Legion; and to all others who contributed in any way, even by encouragement when the way seemed long and hard, to the work of making the Sangamon County Honor Book complete and successful.
nellie Browne bluff
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NELLIE BROWNE DUFF The Author
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Author's Foreword
No effort has been spared in the compilation and production of the Sangamon County Honor Book to make it authentic, authoritative, and accurate. However, I . cannot vouch for all the facts contained therein, because I was, to a very great extent, compelled to take the information given me by the families of the men and women in service, by their friends, or whatever persons I could locate who knew anything about them. I secured the service record lists of churches, lodges, stores, industrial and other organizations, and was given access to the records of the draft boards and to newspaper files in a comprehensive effort to obtain some information about every person who went into service from Sangamon county. And in every case, however the information was received, an attempt at verification was made.
Mistakes have been found after the pages left the press. To the best of my ability I have noted these mistakes and given the true facts in a section of the Honor Book given over to corrections.
In the event of future editions all such errors will be corrected in the main body of The Honor Book. And if any one who finds a mistake unnoted at this time will notify either myself or the publisher, corrections will be made in future publications.
If the service record and photograph of any man or woman from Sangamon county . who served in the World War is omitted from the Honor Book, it is due to their failure to respond to repeated requests for the necessary pictures and information. It is be- lieved that those whose records and photographs are not now included will realize the scope and nature of the Honor Book when the first edition is seen, and will wish to appear in future editions. In such cases it is only necessary to forward photographs and facts to the author or publisher, and they will be cheerfully received for subsequent publications.
For any information concerning future editions of the Honor Book, any corrections desired, or any further addition of facts or photos, communicate with myself, or A. P. Bickenbach, Publisher, Illiopolis, Ill.
NELLIE BROWNE DUFF.
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Introduction By Governor FRANK O. LOWDEN, Illinois
Illinois sent 351,153 soldiers into the Federal service during the Great War. From the summoning of the National Guard to Camp Lowden in Springfield, until the discharge of the Marines in August, 1919, it was my privilege as Governor of Illinois to see the flower of the State in training camp, marching with fearless eye to the transports, and returning from overseas. Among these were the men from Sanga- mon County, of which my own son was one.
There was never any doubt in my mind of the record these men would make. They had a proud heritage to inspire them in their European service. Going from the State that produced Lincoln and those matchless soldiers, Grant and Logan, we could not expect them to do other than bring back our banners unsullied. We followed our soldiers in all the arduous months in which they were away from us. We fol- lowed them with love and pride. We are familiar with the great battles in which they were engaged. We know something of Hamel; we know how Illinois men were among the first there to make all the world know what the American soldier was and what he could do. We know something of the Mort Homme sector; we remember the Bois de Forges. We recall the trying days in the Argonne and those of St. Mihiel. Those names will be treasured forever in the history of Illinois and the history of the United States.
We have not forgotten the comrades who will come back no more. The memories of those brave men who fell upon the greatest battlefields of history will be tenderly cherished in the heart of Illinois and in the heart of our common country. For the living, our gratitude, our love; for those silent comrades, our gratitude, our pride, our tears.
Those who spent months in camps in the United States and had none of the excitement and dangers of battle, but who nevertheless served their country to the best of their ability, also are entitled to our praise and gratitude. Home is Illinois,- America,-the best country in the world. It has always been worth fighting for. The men now sleeping on foreign battlefields have proven that it is worth dying for.
Now that war is over, a new task awaits. It is the preservation of the liberties for which the young men of America risked their lives. It is the resumption of peaceful relations. Great problems lie ahead and our soldiers must aid in their solution. I am sure that they will not fail in the future any more than they did in the past when they were called upon to risk all.
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STATUE OF LIBERTY. The "Beautiful Old Girl," last seen as our boys went across, and their first glad sight coming home.
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PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON
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GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING
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NEWTON D. BAKER, Secretary of War
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U.S.OFFICIAL
JOSEPHUS DANIELS, Secretary of the Navy
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"GREAT HEART" Col. Theodore Roosevelt, "America's Inspiration"
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MARSHAL JOFFRE, OF FRANCE
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"TWO MINUTES-AND VICTORY"
A street scene in Stenay showing Co. A, 353rd Infantry, passing the church at 10:58 A. M.,with two more minutes to fight. Stenay, Meuse Sector, France, Nov. 11, 1918.
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THE BIG GUNS ANSWER THE ENEMY'S FIRE
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From the ruins of the captured town of Varennes a battery of American Field Artillery fires a salvo at the.retreating German column.
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A. E. F. June 17, 1918.
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GENERAL FERDINAND FOCH AND GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING At the latter's quarters, Val des Eceliers, Chaumont, France. General Headquarters,
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American engineers at work replacing a bridge across the Aire which had been dyna- mited by the Germans after retreating before the Franco-American assault.
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"GAS HOLLOW"
"Cliff Dwellers," 3rd lines, 89th Division occupied by the 89th Division until Septem- ber 12, 1918. The lines were here for nearly four years. Fliry, Meurthe et Moselle, France. Sept. 15, 1918.
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MARSHALL HAIG AND GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING At General Headquarters, Chaumont, Haute Marne, France, April 4, 1919.
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"STEP BY STEP"
Up the steep slopes of Hill 240, near Exermont, these Yankee doughboys digging in, advancing a few yards and "holding in" again, fought their way to the top in the face of heavy fire from German rifles and machine guns.
CATHEDRAL RUINS USED AS DRESSING STATION
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"AMERICA POURS OUT HER TREASURE"
Streams of Americans in olive drab pouring into the St. Mihiel Salient, pressing the Hun retreat; the famous Mont Sect, the formidable fortified hill, which fell into the Americans' hands in the course of the first day's assault, is seen in the distance. The soldiers in the foreground are machine gunners; their column is crossing the route of a supply.
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French tanks moving to the support of French troops, operating on the left of the 32nd Division on the morning of August 29, 1918. Valpjries Farm, near Juvigny, France. August 29, 1918.
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ILLINOIS' CITADEL State House, Springfield, Il1.
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FRANK O LOWDEN Governor of Illinois
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JOHN G. OGLESBY Lieutenant-Governor of Illinois
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LOUIS L. EMMERSON Secretary of State, Illinois
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ADJ .- GENERAL FRANK S. DICKSON
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COL. RICHINGS J. SHAND Assistant Adjutant General of Illinois
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302-3PXE- CAPITOL ENG.CO.SPILD. ILL.
COL. STEPHEN O. TRIPP Assistant Quartermaster General, Illinois
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Scene of many big patriotic meetings during the War. STATE ARSENAL, SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
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THE THIRTY-THIRD DIVISION
The Thirty-third Division, Major General George E. Bell, Jr., commanding, had as its nucleus the former National Guard of the State of Illinois. For this reason it was known as the Illinois or "Prairie" Division.
The organization of the Thirty-third Division took place at Camp Logan, Houston. Texas, in September, 1917, and the Division trained there until May, 1918, when it sailed overseas.
The Thirty-third Division participated in the great battles which will be known throughout history as the final battles of the World War, culminating in Victory for the Allies. The first was Amiens, then Hamel, the Toul Sector, Verdun, St. Mihiel Offensive, and last of all, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Men from Sangamon county were in various regiments, machine gun battalions, artillery units and trains of the Thirty-third Division. In addition to Company C, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, and Battery A, 124th Field Artillery, members of which were largely Sangamon county men, the county was represented on the Thirty- third Divisional Staff and in Headquarters Troop, in Headquarters Detachments of the above named units, in the 108th Sanitary Train, 108th Engineers, 130th and 131st In- fantry Regiments, 122nd and 123rd Machine Gun Battalions, and other units of the Division. They made distinguished records.
Following the Armistice, the Thirty-third Division served with the Army of Occupation. They reached the United States in May, 1919, and were reviewed in Chicago by Governor Frank O. Lowden, State Officials and Division Commanders, and were discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois, the latter part of May and first week in June, 1919.
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Photograph taken in Luxemburg, after the Armistice.
COMPANY C, 124TH MACHINE GUN BATTALION, THIRTY-THIRD DIVISION
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COMPANY C
Company C, 124th Machine Gun Battalion, Thirty-third Division, was originally Company C of the Fifth Illinois Infantry. The majority of the Sangamon county men in this organization joined it during the months of March and April, 1917, after the Illinois National Guard company was federalized.
Company C, as it was always and proudly known, trained first at Camp Lowden, at Springfield, so named in honor of Governor Frank O. Lowden. Later they were placed on guard duty at the Powder Works.
In September, 1917, Company C was sent to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex., and assigned to the 124th Machine Gun Battalion, 33rd Division. Later many of the men who originally left Springfield as members of Company C were assigned to other companies in the 124th Machine Gun Battalion, and to other battalions of the 33rd Division. However, to the "Home Folks" they were always known as "Company C Boys."
They remained at Camp Logan until May, 1918, when they began the long and to them eager journey to France. They sailed May 16, 1918, on the U. S. S. Mt. Vernon.
Landing in France May 26, Company C men were subsequently in various camps, constantly moving forward, and getting under preparation for their part in the big closing battles of the War, which were for the most part the hardest fought.
On September 6, 1918, the Battalion was transferred by motor truck to Boise- des-Sartelles, near Ballycourt, and from that time on took part in the operations which lasted through the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which started September 26, and the operations in the Troyon Sector, which ended with the Armistice on November 11, 1918.
The "Big Days" in Company C's history can be set forth beginning with June 20-21, 1918, when the Thirty-third Division, of which Company C was part, moved into the Amiens Sector where a great German rush was expected.
On August 23, 1918, the Division was transferred from the British Front to the First American Army in the Toul Sector.
September 6, 1918, they started for Verdun. Here they relieved the French on the 7th, 8th and 9th, the first American division to hold positions on the historic battle- field.
On September 26, 1918, Company C furnished a barrage for the infantry during the attack on the Forges Sector. They remained in that territory until October 9.
On October 15, Company C relieved Company B, 123rd Machine Gun Battalion, in Donneveaux Woods, remaining there until relieved by the French, October 20, 1918.
November 10-11, Company C participated in the attack on Butgneville, going over the top at 5 o'clock in the morning and continuing in action until the hour of 11 o'clock, when the Armistice went into effect.
It was in this engagement, on the last day of war, and in the last hour, that Company C lost six men. One loss of life had previously been suffered.
The history of Company C is one of pride to Sangamon county. And in saying the history of Company C, that means the men who were in the company originally and were transferred to other organizations, in the same Division.
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BATTERY A, 124TH FIELD ARTILLERY, Photograph taken at Camp Logan, Houston,
BATTERY A
Battery A, 124th Field Artillery, Thirty-third Division, was formerly "Troop D" of the First Illinois Cavalry. Federalized in March, 1917, the organization was assigned to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex., in September of that year, and became part of the Thirty-third, or Illinois, Division.
They remained at Camp Logan until May, 1918, sailing overseas at that time.
The story of Battery A is one of heroism. They first went into action September 13, 1918, at Mon Sec, and were in action constantly until the signing of the Armistice on November 11 terminated operations. Once they were withdrawn for four days, but went in again at the same point.
They supported with their artillery fire seven American divisions, the First, Second, Thirty-second, Thirty-fifth, Forty-second, Eighty-ninth, and Ninety-first.
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THIRTY-THIRD DIVISION Tex., before sailing overseas.
They made a total advance of sixty kilometers, and fired 16,470 rounds of ammunition. They laid down one-third of all the wire laid in the signal detail work of the First Battalion during the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. The towns captured from the enemy under their artillery fire were Very, Epionville, Clerge, Eclairfontane, Gesnes, Romagne, Bantheville, Nouart, Tailly, Beauclair, Beaufort, Laneuville, Stenay, Pouilly, Inor, Cervisy, Cesse, and Martincourt.
They were in the closing battle of Verdun and the entire engagement of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, from October 26 until November 11. After the Armistice they served with the Army of Occupation. Battery A was commanded by Major Charles E. Wheeler of Springfield during its service.
Battery A was composed largely of Springfield and Sangamon county men. Nineteen of the local officers and men received citations for gallantry and bravery in action, and several others received Distinguished Service Crosses. Some of their num- ber paid the Supreme Penalty, and others will carry the scars of wounds received in action to the last.
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OFFICERS OF UNIT "W"
Top Row, left to right :- Captain Frank D. Fletcher, Capt. George F. Sorgatz, Capt. Robert Emmett Smith, Capt. Oliver P. Brittin, Capt. C. F. Harmon, Capt. Franklin Maurer, and Major Robert I. Bullard.
Bottom Row, left to right :- Capt. Emil Bernard, Lt. Col. Fred S. O'Hara, Lt. Col. Daniel Mortimer Ottis, Commander of Unit W ; Capt. Dwight Morton, and Capt. F. N. Evans.
OTTIS' UNIT
Unit W, in command of Lt. Col. Daniel Mortimer Ottis, was organized by Dr. Ottis in Springfield in April, 1917. The Unit consisted of twelve doctors, twenty-one registered nurses, and fifty orderlies. The Unit was first organized under the Ameri- can Red Cross, but was federalized when complete.
The doctors were Sangamon county physicians. The nurses were local nurses and others nursing in the county. The orderlies were from Sangamon and neighboring counties.
The Unit was drilled at the State Arsenal in Springfield for two months by Col. W. Campbell. The orderlies received some training as doctors' helpers at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. January 22, 1918, the Unit was called to Ft. Mc- Pherson, Ga., where it went into training in military service.
As a body, Unit W sailed overseas May 11, 1918, on the Ascania, landing in England. They were stationed for short intervals in Liverpool, London, Southampton, and Plymouth. At Plymouth they opened a Camp Hospital. They were then trans- ferred to Liverpool and assigned to Camp Hospital No. 40, at Camp Knotty Ash, near Liverpool, where they were stationed from June 4, 1918, to May 1, 1919.
While at Camp Knotty Ash they were engaged in the hardest of work caused by the flu epidemic. At this place they lost three of their members, Dr. Frank D. Fletcher, James Rollman, and Miss Geneva Casstevens.
In May, 1919, the Unit left for the United States, and were mustered out at Camp Grant, Ill., May 26, 1919.
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MEN OF "OTTIS' UNIT," UNIT W, MEDICAL CORPS
First Row, sitting, left to right :- John W. Herndon; Teaney, Taylorville; Edward Donelly, Bloomington; John Clark; Fred Euteneuer, Havana; and Ray Carmean.
Second Row, left to right :- Lester Schafner, Frank Pilcher; Roscoe Prater, Taylorville ; Luther Taylor; Buviel Wooll, Taylorville; Clarence Hall, Frank Bonansinga, Arthur Kerst, Ronald McClaren, Al J. Triebel, E. T. Budberg, and Joseph Doerfler.
Third Row, left to right :- Raymond Denz, Decatur; Riddle, Edinburg; Roy Goode, Girard ; Roy Hobson, Taylorville; Marcus Bump, Morrisonville ; Fred Eichelberger, Taylorville; James Anderson, Carlinville; Lewis Bush, Normal; George Hippard; Robert Edwards; Francis Barnaville, Chicago; Charles Power; Clarence Abrams, Taylorville; George Aldridge, Virginia.
Fourth Row, standing, left to right :- Oscar Maurer, Carl Kloppenburg, Harry E. Reisch, Carl V. Wilson; Jun Hoffman, Mt. Vernon; Dagget, Tay- lorville; Harry Gates; John Harding; Bernard Welsh; Edgar Dreier, Havana; Burnette Waters; George Pelham; Norman Brinkerhoff; James Rollman; and Latham Broadwell.
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NURSES OF OTTIS' UNIT
Back Row, standing, left to right :- Carolyn M. Schertz, Mary Karlowski, Miss Woods (Mrs. Budberg), Emma Metzger, Miss Harrod, Geneva Castevens, deceased ; Ethel Foster, and Anna Lee Ferguson.
Second Row, left to right :- Sarah Wray, Etta Claire Martin, Mary Talbott, Leafie Williamson, Joella Long, Bertha Weinert, and Miss Johnson. Front Row, left to right :- Miss A. Jacobsen, Nella Alvey, Miss Shriner, Amanda Metzger, Alta Wignall, and Miss Irwin.
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TUTTLE'S UNIT MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 130TH INFANTRY, 33RD DIVISION Taken in Springfield before departure of Unit (See list of names on opposite page. )
TUTTLE'S UNIT
MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 130TH INFANTRY, 33RD DIVISION.
Top row, left to right :- James Olson, Russel Burleigh, First Sergeant LaFore Lock, killed in action ; Thomas Neal, Sergeant Harry Locke, Officers' Candidate School, France; August Hofferkamp, Hershel Warick, Louis Thomas, Sergeant Arthur Stoeckle, Thomas Miller, Albert Jackson, later Regimental Sergeant Major; Albert Nuckolls, Sergeant.
Middle row, left to right :- Paul Athey, later attached Div. Vet. Corps; Henry Dawson, Sgt. Div. Surgeon's Office; Robert Curran, Dental Asst .; Powell Shoef, Chicago, later First Lt. 5th Div .; John B. Price, Shelbyville, First Sgt. Med. Dept. 132nd Infantry ; Dr. Morris, later attached 108th Field Signal Batt .; Dr. Frank P. Auld, later attached S. O. S .; Dr. George W. Mills, Paul Moyer, Sgt .; James Dibelka, Chicago, Sgt., later Second Lt. 129th Inf .; John Lorch, Earl Corbett, Edward Noe, Sgt.
Bottom row, left to right :- Lloyd Johnson, Truman Isley, Marcus Johnson, Dental Asst .; Walter Bickhaus, Sgt .; Philetus Sawyer, Sgt. Division Surgeon's Office ; Monarch Davis, Ben Gnaegy, Chester; Nelson Jones, Harry Ulrich, Paris, Dental Asst .; Edwin Gillis, Paris; Lester Billington.
The Medical Detachment of the 130th Infantry, Thirty-third Division, generally known as "Tuttle's Unit," was organized and trained by Col. H. H. Tuttle of Springfield, Illinois, who also organized and trained the Medical Detachments of the 123rd and 124th Machine Gun Battalions.
Tuttle's Unit was recruited in Springfield in April, 1917, comprising men from Springfield and vicinity, and became the Medical Detachment of the old Fourth Illinois Infantry. They received training in anatomy, first aid, hospital nursing, litter bear- ing, dispensary work, and X-Ray work at St. John's Hospital. Their military train- ing was given in drills at the State Arsenal and hikes.
Col. Tuttle was summoned to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex., for duties with the Thirty-third Division, and Major Frank P. Auld, M. C. U. S. A., assumed command of the Unit, being succeeded overseas by Major Humphrey, of Union, N. Y.
In September, 1917, the Unit was transferred to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex., and attached to the 130th Infantry, Thirty-third Division. They remained at Camp Logan until May, 1918, when they sailed overseas with the Division.
The Medical Detachment served with their regiment all the time it was in action, working up to the front lines. The Unit was divided, with some members in each battalion, and cared for the wounded of their regiment. Several of the members of the Unit were cited for bravery in action.
After the Armistice they served with the Army of Occupation.
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REVIEWING THE PARADE HOMECOMING DAY
General H. D. Todd, General George Bell, Jr., and Governor Frank O. Lowden stand in foreground, left to right. Back of General Todd is Captain E. A. Woodward, aide to General Bell. Back of Governor Lowden is Captain Carl U. I.uers, Chairman of the Day. To left of Governor Lowden, Col. Richngs J. Shand, Marshal of the day, and General Frank S. Dickson, Chairman Military Committee. Others on reviewing stand, left to right, are: Hon. Francis G. Blair, State Supt. of Instruction ; Commissioner Frank H. Hamilton, Commissioner Willis J. Spaulding, and Judge J. B. Weaver.
The beautiful City of Springfield Flag seen in background made its "debut" to decorate the reviewing stand.
THE HOMECOMING CELEBRATION
On June 24, 1919, Sangamon County welcomed home her men and women who served their country during the great World War.
On that day, glorious with sunshine and unclouded skies, and thrilling with joy and thankfulness reflected from the hearts of the people, a celebration so great and spontaneous, so happy and heartfelt that it outrivaled every other demonstration which took place during the War, even the sobbing joy of Armistice Day, was held in Springfield. No one who participated in the celebration will ever forget it.
While all the county's men had not yet returned, the Homecoming Celebration was held at a time when most of them were back, and when the greatest majority could be present to enjoy it. The celebration was for both men and women, for white and for colored, for those in every branch of the service. There were more than three thousand Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the great triumphal parade, and most of the colored service men, though only a few of the brave nurses and women in other lines of War Service had at that time returned.
Governor Frank O. Lowden, whose only son served with Sangamon county men overseas, headed the body of Sangamon county citizens who planned and carried to a successful consummation the proud event. And Governor Lowden, with General George E. Bell, Jr., commander of the Thirty-third Division, "Pride of the Prairie State," of which Company C and Battery A were a part, and Brigadier General H. D. Todd, were the speakers of the day.
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