USA > Illinois > Fayette County > Fayette County in the World War > Part 10
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The "Jackie Band" paid Vandalia a second visit during this drive and with their rousing music stirred the people to patrotic fervor. Speeches no less rous- ing were made on the occasion by C. F. Easterday, .. Arthur Roe and Rev. E. T. Carroll.
When all things were set for the big drive it was carried out without a hitch of any kind. The result was inspiring. When returns were totalled it was found the county had exceeded its quota by more than 60%, and' that while in the Second seven hundred subscribers had taken the county's quota, in this more than two thou- sand had subscribed, thus showing that the people gen- erally were loyally supporting the government.
The Fourth Liberty Loan"
While the previous loans had put to the test the loyalty of Fayette county people the real test was yet to come. On Saturday, September 28th, the big drive, which was to be the greatest undertaking of its kind ever attempted by any nation, was launched. The county's quota in this was more than double that of any previous loan. The people had already subscribed lib- erally for liberty bonds which fact in itself made it a great undertaking. And in addition to the enormity of. the sum asked for and the fact that people had al- ready subscribed, many of them to the limit of their ability, was the added handicap of unfavorable health conditions. The drive came in the midst of the epi- demic of Spanish Influenza. But although sickness was wide-spread and deaths were. becoming more and more frequent, the Fourth Liberty Loan must be subscribed if the high ideals for which America stands were to be upheld, and Fayette county must subscribe her pro- portionate share .. It was with this determination that the gigantic task was begun.
County Chairman C. F. Easterday instituted rath-
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er a novel proceeding at this time to get the desired re- sults. Farmers were short of help. The ripened crops must be taken care of and the fall seeding done. So, in order to not require the farmers, upon whom so much depended, to leave their pressing work Mr. Eas- terday asked that on Sunday afternoon, September 29, the people after having attended their respective pla- ces of worship in the morning, should gather in their district school house and all over twenty-one should register and place opposite their name the amount of bonds they would pledge themselves to take of this is- sue. The response was all and more than was hoped for. It was found when reports were in from the var- ious districts, that nearly half of the county's quota had been subscribed. This initial effort was followed up with intensive work by the banks of the county and the individuals constituting the county's loan organiza- tion, with the result that the county over-subscribed its quota by 5%. The over-subscription would have been much larger had not subscribers toward the end of the drive been advised to use moderation in antici- pation of future loans.
Summary of Five Liberty Loans
We are indebted to Jessie Palmer Weber, Librar- ian of the State Historical Library, for the figures in- corporated in the following summary of the five Liberty Loans :
Loan
Quota
Actual Subscription $109,900
Percentage Number of Per Ct.
of Quota
Subscribers
Pop'n
1st L. L ...
2nd L. L.
$211,500
236,850
111
713
3rd L. L.
253,850
371,850
146
2,357
8.4
4th L. L.
603,000
630,600
105
3,427
12.
5th L. L.
456,900
458,050
(Victory)
Total subscriptions
to five loans
$1,807,250
Certificates of Indebtedness
In anticipation of the Fifth or Victory Loan the United States Treasury issued Certificates of Indebted-
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IN THE WORLD WAR
ness and proportionate quotas were assigned the banks of the country. The statistics given below, taken from the printed record of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for the Eighth Federal Reserve District, shows the subscriptions of Fayette county banks to this short time paper.
City
Bank
Total Quota Asked For $28,000
scription $24,000
86 %
Farina
-
State B. of Farina
36,500
18,000
49 %
La Clede
Farmers & Merchants 4,000
500
13 %
Loogootee
-
Farmers & Merchants
9,500
1,500
16 %
Ramsey
Peoples State
37,500
12,000
32 %
St. Elmo
-
Fayette County Bank 22,500
15,000
67%
First National
33,500
20,500
61 %
St. Peter
- Farmers & Merchants 23,500
5,000
21 %
First National
42,000
11,000
26 %
Vandalia
-
F. & M. Bank*
117,500
125,000
106%
First National*
116,500
129,000
111%
Total subscriptions by
Fayette County banks-$406,500
Note -* On honor roll of Eighth Federal Reserve District, having subscribed one hundred per cent or more of quota.
If to the total subscription the five Liberty Loans we add the total subscription of Fayette county banks for Certificates of Indebtedness we find that Fayette county loaned the government for the prosecution of the war the immense sum of $2,213,750.00 This takes no account of loans through other than Fayette County Banks nor of War Savings Stamps. This record reflects much credit upon the citizens of our county. But it was due to the untiring efforts of a comparative few distributed throughout the county that this record is so commendable. More will be told of the organiza- tion and effort that made possible the county's splendid war record under the chapter on the Council of De- fense.
War Savings Stamps
The first chairman appointed to take charge of the War Savings work in Fayette County was Mr. Carl
Total Sub- Per Cent
of Quota
Brownstown
- First National
Ramsey National*
43,000
45,000
107 %
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FAYETTE COUNTY
Janett, of Vandalia. After serving about three months at the beginning of the war Mr. Janett resigned and Prof. O. C. Bailey, Superintendent of the Vandalia schools, was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury as his successor. Professor Bailey served throughout the time of his residence in Vandalia and affected an efficient organization. His committee, to whom much of the credit is due, consisted of Rev. McCracken of Ramsey, and G. L. Hausmann and Mrs. F. C. Hum- phrey of Vandalia. Every school district in the county was organized with a chairman and secretary in each. Almost without exception these workers throughout the county gave their hearty support to the county chairman and assisted very materially in the work.
During his term of service Prof. Bailey sent out 2378 personal letters, over 5000 circular letters, and re- mailed more than 500 pounds of literature. Three hun- dred and seventy-five public meetings were held throughout the county. Five hundred and sixty-four speeches were made, of which the county chairman made two hundred and forty-five. Rev. McCracken made almost as many.
Several of the school districts in the county "went over the top" in every drive and many kept buying after the drives were over. For three months the county chairman did not miss a single day receiving or- ders for stamps. Ramsey township ranked highest in the amount purchased per capita, due to the untiring efforts of Rev. McCracken. Brownstown, under the efficient leadership of Otis Keeler and Mr. Peterson, ranked second. Many stamps were sold along the east side of the county by banks and post offices outside the county for which Fayette county never got credit although the Fayette county office was responsible for the sales. No accurate report can be made, therefore, as to the exact amount sold in the county.
The total expense of the work in the county and a large part of the cost of transportation of speakers, mailing, etc., was donated. The total expense of run- ning the office during Prof. Bailey's term of office was $185.95. Of this amount $60.00, was paid by the Coun- cil of Defense and $50.00 was donated by various in- dividuals. The Vandalia High School gave an enter-
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IN THE WORLD WAR
tainment donating the profits, $25.00 and the balance of $50.00 Prof. Bailey donated himself. Had it not been for the unselfish service so freely rendered by Prof. Bailey the work could not have progressed so magnificently throughout the county. On leaving the county the work was left in the hands of Mr. W. K. Urbani who served efficiently to the close of the war.
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FAYETTE COUNTY
CHAPTER X.
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND WAR AGENCIES.
Fayette County Doctors.
When America entered the war there were in the United States 81,000 physicians who were within the age limits available for service in the medical depart- ment of the army. Fayette County's quota, based on the number for the entire country, was four. When the call came for doctors to serve with the U. S. Army it found one Fayette County man, Dr. H. L. Freeland, already in the service. Dr. Freeland had already been some time in the regular army before the call for vol- unteers from the medical profession. The first to re- spond to the call was Dr. A. L. T. Williams of Vandalia. The call had scarcely been issued for volunteers when Dr. Williams offered himself and was accepted. He was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison Sept. 1, 1917 where he was placed in the Medical Officers' Reserve Corps and was commissioned captain. Unfortunately his term of service was cut short and he was discharged because of physical disability. Undaunted, however, he returned to his home and resumed his practice at Vandalia and was throughout the war one of Fayette county's most zealous workers in the various phases of war work, having charge throughout the war of the Y. M. C. A. activities within the county in which he rendered invaluable service.
The most extensive service of Fayette county medi- cal volunteers was that of Dr. Mark Greer of Vandalia. A detailed account of his service will be found under the heading "Officers" elsewhere in this book. The next was Dr. Lavern C. Basset of Farina who volunteered May 30, 1918. He was commissioned Lieutenant on his entry into the service and after being stationed at Camp Grant for sometime was sent overseas, sailing October
131
IN THE WORLD WAR
27, 1918 as a casual medical officer unattached. He was assigned at different times to various hospitals in France. Among them were Camp Hospital No. 1, Chalons, Mobile Hospital No. 1 at Vitrey-Venois, Camp Hospital No. 41 at Camp Williams and as medical offi- cer with school detachment of Beaconsan, France. He returned to the States July, 1919 and was released from service August 2, 1919.
Dr. F. M. Phillips, Farina, First Lieutenant M. O. R. C., reported for duty to the Medical Officers' Train- ing Camp as a member of the staff. After six weeks of service here he was transferred to Camp Dodge, Iowa, where he remained until August, 1918 when he was sent overseas. Arriving in France he was assigned to the 6th Division Medical Staff and served with this organization until the spring of 1919 when he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged from the service.
Dr. Frederick H. Yates of St. Peter volunteered for service in November, 1917. He was accepted and commissioned lieutenant in the Medical Corps but was not called into active service until eight months later. He was assigned to Base Hospital, Camp Gordon, At- lanta, Ga., where he remained during the duration of the war. .
Dr. William J. Whitefort of St. Elmo volunteered for service July 10, 1917, was commissioned Lieutenant of Medical Officers' Training Corps and assigned to Co. 5, 2nd Battalion M. O. T. C. at Camp Greenleaf. Prophalactic inoculations resulted in violent reactions and he was confined to General Hospital No. 14, Chica- maugua Park, Ga. from June until August, 1918. He was honorably discharged from the service September 9th, 1918.
The splendid spirit shown by Fayette County doc- tors is evidenced by the action taken at a meeting of the Fayette County Medical Association held in Van- dalia on May 8th, 1918. The object of this meeting was to take some action relative to the call for doctors for army service.' Of the thirteen doctors of the county who were within the age limit twelve were present. A resolution was presented and unanimously adopted in- structing Dr. Williams to send a list of the names of
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FAYETTE COUNTY
eligible Fayette county doctors to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Army through the State Council of defense, notifying him that any one or more selected from the list would go. Dr. E. B. Pribble of St. Elmo who was not present was communicated with and joined in the resolution. The doctors thus signifying their willing- ness to accept a call to the service were:
A. R. Whitefort, St. Elmo
J. B. Holson, Farina
L. C. Bassett, Farina
C. H. Moore, Vera
L. E. Turney, Brownstown
G. R. Van Vranken, Ramsey
E. P. Staff, Ramsey
A. M. Fromm, Ramsey
E. W. Farthing, Ramsey
A. R. Stanbery, Vandalia
G. W. Pridmore, LaClede
A. L. T. Williams, Vandalia
E. B. Pribble, St. Elmo
To the service rendered by Fayette county doc- tors in the service must be added the splendid and un- selfish service rendered by those who remained at home. During the dark days when the Spanish Influ- enza was raging it was the doctors who were called upon to take the greatest risks and who had to labor almost day and night to give medical aid to the many sufferers. Their's was a service whose worth cannot be estimated but whose unselfish spirit can never be forgotten by those who were the recipients of their care.
To the service of the M. D.s of Fayette county must also be added that of Fayette county dentists in the army.
Dr. C. D. Washburn of Vandalia left his practice in Vandalia and enlisted in the Dental Corps of the United States Army September 1, 1917. He was com- missioned 1st Lieut. and after spending some time in camp was sent overseas, spending a year, June 1918- 1919 in France. He was promoted to the rank of cap- tain in recognition of efficient service. After being
133
IN THE WORLD WAR
honorably discharged June 25, 1919, he resumed his practice in Vandalia.
W. L. White registered in Vandalia, for the draft in June 1917. On September 5, 1917, he was commis- sioned 1st Lieutenant in the United States Dental Corps and in July 1918 was ordered to Camp Funston, Kan- sas, and assigned as dental officer to the 210 Field Sig- nal Battalion of the 10th Division. He was honorably discharged in December 1918, and was immediately re-commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in the Officers' Re- serve Corps, United States Dental Section, which com- mission he still holds. Dr. White is located at Shelby- ville, Illinois, where he is Post Commander of the Roy Vanderpool Post, No. 81 of the American Legion.
Fayette County Banks
A very important part in the Nation's war work was its financial progress. Had it not been for the financial institutions of the country and for the splendid organizations back of the financial part of the war work it would have been impossible to successfully prosecute the war. Too much credit cannot be given therefore to the Banks of the country for the splendid services rendered the nation in this critical time.
The banks of Fayette County as a whole have a splendid record in war work. Upon the banks of the county rested the responsibility of furnishing for the county its quota in every one of the Liberty Loan drives. The banks of Fayette County in every one of the Lib- erty Loan drives underwrote Fayette County quota. So that before any work had been done Fayette County's full quota was guaranteed by reason of the Banks' guarantee. Not alone did the Banks guarantee the amount to be raised but in almost every instance sub- scribed liberally towards the various loans and in addi- tion to this when certificates of indebtedness were is- sued, the banks of Fayette County, with but few exceptions, responded nobly and subscribed for this short term paper to the extent of their quotas and more. Three banks of the county have the honor of being on the Eighth Federal Reserve District honor roll, having subscribed 100% or more of their quotas. They are
134
FAYETTE COUNTY
the First National Bank of Vandalia, Ramsey National of Ramsey and the Farmers and Merchants of Van- dalia.
The record of every bank in the county may be had by turning to the chapter on the Liberty Loans un- der the heading "Certificate of Indebtedness."
Fayette County Newspapers
In any public work one of the chief contributors to success is the press. We doubt whether any one single agency contributed more to the success of the various war programs than did the press of Fayette County.
It was the newspapers of Fayette County that kept the public informed on the progress of the various cam- paigns in the war work. To the newspapers the people of the County went to learn the latest authentic news of the activities of Fayette County men at camps and overseas. The commodity which the newspaper sells to the public is newspaper space yet this was freely giv- en every issue for notices of Red Cross, Liberty Loan, War Savings Stamp meetings and the like.
Some of the more enterprising of our County pa- pers introduced and maintained some special features and departments which made them almost invaluable to the community.
Special mention should be made of the Vandalia Union "Bugle Calls," a special department run each issue which gave to the public the latest news from the boys in camps and overseas, and various news items of interest concerning our boys. Another department "The Fayette County Honor Roll" contained a brief sketch of the life of each soldier who lost his life. An- other important feature of the paper, a household de- partment also was maintained giving valuable and. timely information on war foods, cooking, etc.
And in the early part of the war a list of Fayette County soldiers called, up to date, was a most valuable feature. In fact had it not been for the files of this paper the writing of this war history and the compiling of the data printed herein would be almost impossible. Other papers of the county had similar features and all were invaluable to the County and their various com- munities in the great work of carrying on war activities.
1
135
IN THE WORLD WAR
The Churches
Though playing a part that was not so glaring in . its evidences of activity no greater service was rend- ered within the county than that of the churches. With- out exception, we think, they became the centers of patriotic activity and zeal. Not only were they thrown open for all kinds of patriotic services but the pastors and people gave themselves to the great task of fur- thering the cause of the nation in a most whole-hearted manner. We wish we might have the record of each individual church in the county but since that is im- possible we can tell of their service only in a general way.
The service flags that hung in every church told of the sacrifice that had been made. At first they were covered with stars of blue but as the war went on from month to month one by one the stars of gold replaced the stars of blue, until on many of them there were a number of these silent witnesses to the patriotism and the sorrow of the homes there represented.
. The message of patriotism was preached earnestly from the pulpits by the faithful pastors and in addition to this they were in most communities looked to as the leaders in the many works of mercy that must be car- ried on. So the ministers of the county were among the most ardent workers for the cause of right and de- mocracy.
In addition to these services the churches and Sun- day Schools in most instances purchased Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps to the limit of their ability. In order to do this and make possible caring for the needy in other lands at Christmas time the churches gladly dispensed with the giving of gifts and swelled the funds that had as their object the alleviating of the suffering of others. Their's was a service that was whole-hearted, unselfish, and generous, a service ded- icated to God and country and a service that bore abundant fruit.
Fayette County Schools
The war program of the schools of Fayette Coun-
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FAYETTE COUNTY
ty may be said to have begun with the observation of Star Spangled Banner Day, Friday September 14, 1917. Appropriate programs intended to inspire patriotism and devotion to Old Glory were held at many schools throughout the county. Perhaps the most impressive was that held jontly by Company I, and the Central school of Vandalia. A simple ceremony, participated in both by the soldiers and the pupils of the High School and the grades of the Central school, was rend- ered, in which Old Glory was raised and saluted and the pledge of allegiance given.
It is not saying too much to say that every school in the county was a real center of patriotism. The teachers recognizing the opportunity which was theirs to stimulate patriotism lost no opportunity to inspire in the boys and girls the true American spirit. The gov- ernment also recognizing the value of the schools as centers for disseminating knowledge on war conditions and war needs distributed through the school pamph- lets, tracts and the like dealing with the various phases of the work of carrying on the war.
War Work of Teachers and Pupils
The teachers of Fayette county, constituting as they always have one of the most progressive and earn- est classes of the county's citizenship, rendered invalu- able service aside from what has been mentioned. When the Exemption Board found themselves swamped with work and unable to keep up with the demands which were being made upon them, it was the teachers of the Vandalia city schools who volunteered to help in the task of copying and indexing questionnaires. The task was not left until finished, every teacher in the city who could possibly do so helping in the work.
Pupils, like their teachers were eager for the op- portunity to do something to help with the war. They were given the opportunity when the War Savings Stamp campaign was opened. Prof. O. C. Bailey, Su- perintendent of the city schools of Vandalia, was ap- pointed County Chairman of the W. S. S. organization. The newspapers gladly gave space for publicity in the matter which was used to good advantage by Prof.
.
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IN THE WORLD WAR
Bailey in awakening in the minds of all the necessity and the advisability of buying the stamps.
The task of selling the stamps was given into the hands of the pupils themselves and a more enthusiastic campaign was never put on in the county. The differ- ent schools vied with each other in making the best records. In a very short time reports began to come in from districts which had already sold their quotas, viz. an average of $20 in W. S. S. to every adult in the district. The best record of sales of W. S. S. by an individual school, both for a week and for the total amount sold was made by the Lutheran Parochial School of St. Peter. In one week the teacher and pu- pils of this school sold W. S. S. and Thrift Stamps to the amount of $1465.90, and in the campaign sold a total amount of $4270.00.
Boys' Working Reserve
The Boys' Working Reserve was an organization of boys throughout the nation, of high school age, whose object was to supply the necessary labor for caring for crops and the various industries of the coun- try in times when a great amount of labor was neces- sary. W. P. Welker, President of the School Board of the city of Vandalia, was elected as county chairman of this organization. The boys registered with him and were assigned to work on the farms or elsewhere as the call came.
The Junior Red Cross
A chapter of the Junior Red Cross was organized in practically every city school in the county and also in many of the country schools. In almost every case the schools had a 100% enrollment in the organization and by the united efforts of the children throughout the county a great deal was done to assist the Red Cross organization. Wash cloths, gun wipes and other small articles were knitted by the children and turned over to the Red Cross. But even a greater service was rendered in the amount of money raised by the children for Red Cross work.
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FAYETTE COUNTY
American Library Association
The task of furnishing the boys in the camps read- ing material was assigned to the American Library As- sociation by the Government. In the drive to secure books for the training camps and for the boys in France the lead in Fayette County was taken by the Woman's Club of Vandalia. The ladies of this club energetical- ly set about gathering books to be sent to the various camps as well as overseas. The books, chiefly on scien- tific subjects, to the number of 600 volumes, were col- lected and taken to the Post Office from which place they were shipped to their destinations. In addition to the books collected a sufficient sum of money was gathered to pay the freight on the books. The work of this club in Vandalia illustrates what was done in other towns and in the country by other organizations and individuals in this work.
Lodges and Clubs
To the fraternal organizations of the county must go much credit for patriotic service in war work. The various orders not only threw open their halls for meet- ings, etc. but bought liberally of Liberty Bonds and oth- erwise furthered the war activities. Several of the or- ders in the county fittingly remembered their members with the colors and kept in touch with them in their shifting about, thus assuring them that they were re- membered by their brethren at home.
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