USA > Illinois > Franklin County > Franklin County, Illinois, war history, 1832-1919; containing a brief review of the world war--complete history of Franklin County's activities--photographs and service records of Franklin County's soldiers, sailors and marines--industrial and biographical review of business and professional firms who have made this history possible > Part 6
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The Civics Department gave special atten- tion to Civilian Relief, patriotic education and was active in various lines of service.
The patriotic spirit that actuated the members of the Woman's Club to participate in the many war activities was most com- mendable and there was no agency that so exemplified the spirit of unselfishness as did the Women's Club.
If space permitted, many inspiring reports of individuals who gave unselfish remarkable service could be given; however, the fore- going record indicates that each club woman responded on call to the great crisis and extended her sympathies and enlarged con- ception of the duty in such wise that the consciousness of her county's needs became tne actual impulse of her daily activity- she bore a valient part in the great world strife.
The days of war have passed-now in the days of reconstruction may we express our belief, as a body of women, one hundred and sixty strong, devoted to higher purposes and to humanity, in the ultimate outcome of truth and justice and righteousness in the God of mankind.
As it would be impossible and impractical to mention the names of all who did noble work when called upon, many volunteering at great expense in time and money, we give the complete membership as they were all enthusiastic workers:
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
Membership of the Benton Woman's Club HONORARY MEMBER Mrs. D. P. Cutler
Logan, Mrs. John A.
Rice, Mrs. Edward
Malone, Miss Agnes
Rotramel, Mrs. T. O.
Martin, Mrs. A.
Rushing, Mrs. R. J.
Martin, Mrs. A. E.
Reuth, Mrs. Pete
Martin, Mrs. L. A.
Seeber, Mrs. C. E.
ACTIVE MEMBERS
Adams, Mrs. R. L.
Dobry, Mrs. Edw.
Meads, Mrs. J. L.
Settlemoir, Mrs. Curtis
Aiken, Mrs. C. A. Sr.
Ferrell, Mrs. Harry
Alvis, Mrs. E. C.
Fitzgerald, Miss Inez
Alvis, Mrs. W. H.
Foulk, Mrs. W. H.
Moore, Mrs. J. B.
Skinner, Mrs. F. L.
Andrews, Mrs. W. E.
Frier, Mrs. H. L.
Moore, Miss Dora
Smith, Mrs. O. C.
Austin, Mrs. Edgar
Fuller, Mrs. Claude
Moore, Mrs. J. E.
Smith, Mrs. P. E.
Barrick, Mrs. S. W.
Gardner, Mrs. J. R.
Moore, Mrs. J. Smith
Bixby, Mrs. Chas.
Giffen, Mrs. W. E.
Moore, Mrs. Robert
Sparks, Mrs. Ben F.
Blough, Mrs. H. W.
Goodin, Mrs. F. E.
Moore, Mrs. W. E.
Stamper, Mrs. F. H.
Brown, Mrs. Don.
Goodin, Mrs. Frank
Meyer, Mrs. P. C.
Steinheimer, Mrs. Bertha W.
Brinley, Mrs. Wm.
Gordon, Miss Ione
Myers, Mrs. T. J.
Stone, Mrs. Wm. R.
Browning, Mrs. J. L.
Hake, Mrs. Louis
McKee, Mrs. W. A.
Stotlar, Mrs. Harry
Browning, Mrs. T. S.
Halligan, Mrs. J. W.
McReynolds, Mrs. Geo.
Sullivan, Mrs. Jessie
Browning, Mrs. W. R.
Hart, Mrs. W. H.
McGuire, Mrs. O. C.
Swofford, Mrs. H. E.
Browning, Mrs. Guy E.
Harris, Mrs. Nelson
Ohle, Mrs. J. L.
Towal, Mrs. James
Browning, Miss Nancy E.
Harrison, Mrs. Alice
Payne, Mrs. John L.
Turner, Mrs. C. J.
Burkhart, Mrs. Carl.
Hall, Mrs. Albert
Payne, Mrs. Lester
Vise, Mrs. H. A.
Burkitt, Miss Lucille
Heasley, Mrs. C. G.
Payne, Miss Minnie
Vise, Mrs. John
Burkett, Mrs. Ellen
Helm, Mrs. N. S.
Peyton, Mrs. Lacey
Voight, Mrs. A. L.
Burgess, Mrs. Q. E.
Hickman, Mrs. F. J.
Phegley, Mrs. Howard
Warren, Mrs. Thos.
Campbell, Mrs. W. E.
Hickman, Miss Martha
Phillips, Mrs. J. Clark
Walker, Mrs. R. Y.
Cantrell, Mrs. Chas. A.
Hickman, Mrs. G. A.
Philp, Mrs. Harry
Ward, Mrs. W. R.
Cantrell, Mrs. W. S.
Houk, Mrs. C. W.
Poindexter, Mrs. R. E.
Ward, Mrs. R. R.
Cantrell, Mrs. G. C.
Hubbard, Mrs. W. T.
Pope, Mrs. John
Webster, Mrs. J. E.
Carr, Mrs. J. E.
Hudelson, Mrs. C. B.
Potter, Mrs. Edw.
Wells, Mrs. W. P.
Carr, Mrs. O. V.
Hudelson, Mrs. R. E.
Powers, Mrs. G. A. Wilburn, Mrs. J. L.
Center, Mrs. Virgil H.
Jackson, Mrs. R. W.
Prigmore, Mrs. R. E.
Williams, Mrs. John W.
Clark, Mrs. Arlie
Jacobs, Mrs. W. E.
Crawford, Mrs. Clarence A.
Johnson, Mrs. Arch
Crisp. Mrs. Jack
Davis, Miss Eva
Jones, Mrs. Wiley
Davis, Mrs. H. G.
Kell, Mrs. E. T.
ASSOCIATE
MEMBERS
Davis, Mrs. Frank
Kerr, Mrs. Geo. A.
Dimond, Mrs. Jesse
Kirkpatrick, Mrs. R. D.
Gore, Mrs. G. W.
Johnson, Mrs. W. B.
Dimond, Mrs. Ray
Kirsch, Miss Hildred
Moore, Mrs. Harry Ward Nolen, Mrs. E. B.
Dillon, Mrs. W. F.
Kirsch, Mrs. Herman
Jackson, Mrs. C. A. Rea, Mrs. S. C. D.
Dudley, Mrs. S. E.
Kirsch, Mrs. Jake
Cosgrove, Mrs. Barney Pope, Miss Florence
Duppe, Mrs. Edw.
Layman, Mrs. T. J.
Steiner, Mrs. W. E.
Food Administration
The first food administrator appointed for Franklin county was Robt. R. Ward, president of the Benton State Bank. Mr. Ward could not accept the appointment permanently as he was actively engaged in the Liberty Loan activities, being vice-chairman of the state organization and county director of speakers. Mr. Ward soon appointed J. A. Dalby, sales manager for Stamper- Myer Grocery Co., as his assistant and recommended Mr. Dalby for county administrator.
Mr. Dalby's experience in the wholesale grocery business admirably fitted him for this responsible
position which not only demanded a real knowledge of supply and demand of those commodities on which restrictions were necessary, but also of the business interests of the county. The work was quite extensive and not practical for one man, and as Mr. Dalby upon agreeing to serve had promised to give everyone a square deal, he accepted the official appointment as administrator for Benton and Browning townships, but voluntarily did the work in an unofficial capacity for the entire county until the appointment of Rev. L. S. Mckown, of the Benton Methodist church.
Considerable tact but also firmness was necessary to conduct the administrator's work in Franklin county, and although there was no record of any extensive hoarding of sugar or the selling of flour without substitutes, there was considerable work in educating the merchants and citizens to the rules that must be obeyed.
There are records of several cases of hoarding and inattention to the different requirements that required diplomacy to adjust without publicity which would have created a spirit of combativeness, but all such cases were handled by the adminis- trator with credit to himself and the community.
Assistant administrators appointed in other cities were:
West Frankfort, D. C. Crawford.
Thompsonville, Dr. T. A. Lamont. Christopher, L. Pike, J. A. Konnett. Sesser, R. D. Webb.
Whittington, G. C. Payne.
Ewing, C. V. Clark.
Akin, Raymond Darnell.
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Woolard, Mrs. J. E.
Reed, Miss Emily
Warren, Mrs. M. M.
Johnson, Mrs. J. W.
Reed, Miss Jennie P.
Wykes, Mrs. Frederick H.
Martin, Mrs . W. B.
Seeber, Mrs. Wm. D.
Machiels, Mrs. O. H.
Shipe. Mrs. Geo. A. Simpson, Mrs. W. C.
Mooneyham, Mrs. H. C.
J. A. DALBY
Pulliam, Mrs. F. C.
Somers, Mrs. J. A.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
Franklin County Local Board
T THE Local Board of Franklin county was at first composed of Dr. R. E. Poindexter, Rev. J. L. Meads and Kent S. Stotlar. These men undertook the work with little idea of the vast amount of labor and responsibility involved. The entire Draft Law with its amendments was new and but little understood. The people were excited, and the war at first seemed un- popular. A law was passed, automatically removing all members of any Local Board who were registered in the Draft, or eligible to military service, and, therefore, Judge Thomas J. Myers was appointed to take the place of Kent S. Stotlar. His wide acquaint- ance with all classes of people in the county and his varied experience in public life made him a very valuable member.
By mutual consent of the Board members, Dr. R. E. Poindexter took the responsibility of conducting all physical examinations for fitness of the soldier boys, while Rev. J. L. Meads acted as chairman, and Thomas J. Myers was made secretary, or clerk, of the Local Board, and looked after the clerical work and correspondence. With the large number of registrants it was a very arduous task. The Board's location at first was in the office of Dr. R. E. Poindexter, but after the reorganization the office of the Board was moved to the private law office of Judge Myers, on the north side of the public square, which from that time on, until the signing of the armistice, was the scene of much activity day and night.
This Board was one of the largest in the State of Illinois, in registration and amount of work done and soldiers entrained. The Franklin County Local Board took fifth place in registration; the board ranking highest was Chicago Board No. 67, with 18,435 registrants; the second in size was Cook County Board No. 6, with 15,435 registrants; the third in size was Rock Island Board No. 2, with 14,203; the fourth in size was Chicago Board No. 36, with 13,985; the fifth in size was the Franklin County Local Board, with 13,936. The registration in Franklin County Local Board was more than the combined registration of
Marion and Herrin Local Boards, and was as large, lacking ten registrants, as the com- bined registration of the counties of Perry, Jefferson and Hamilton. The combined registration for these three sister counties was 13,946-that of Franklin alone was 13,936. Practically one-third or more of the registrants of the Local Board of Frank- lin county were alien or foreign-born people, making the clerical work a tremendous task.
The Board had on its clerical force at dif- ferent times many competent and trusty clerks, among which at the beginning were Marie Moore, Ailien Meads, Grace Clayton, Jewel Sechrest, Mayme Potter and Nina Meads, and later Ruth C. Meyer, Ruie Cardwell, Mrs. Grace Simpson, Mrs. Clyde Heasley, Mrs. Jessie Sullivan, Mrs. Ida B. Neal, Emily Reed and Kate Gunter. These were assisted by two limited service clerks furnished us by the Government, viz: James Mitler of Golconda and Harry C. Miers of Crystal Lake.
Mrs. Ethel Myers, wife of Judge Myers, was made chief clerk of the Board, and won the admiration of the members and the public in general by her courteous, untiring and faithful service and kind treatment to the registrants.
The chairman, Rev. Meads, had two sons in the service and Dr. R. E. Poindexter had one.
Nearly 1,200 men were sent to the training camps at the various cantonments, of this number 1,129 were accepted at the camps after a careful examination for physical fit- ness for overseas service and other military duties. The disqualified men were rejected for many reasons, and quite a large number were held for limited service. Many of the boys from Franklin county were killed in action or died of disease while in service. Besides the 1,200 above mentioned perhaps as many as 200 were released to join other branches of the service. When the influenza struck the training camps, we had standing ready for call to entrain 197 men, which were held in readiness until the armistice was signed.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY. ILL. WAR HISTORY.
It was very gratifying to see the abrupt change in sentiment and feeling when our men learned more about the war and the justice of the cause. In the beginning many clamored and pleaded for exemption on some trivial matter; later, as the war progressed and the cause was better known our office was thronged with men "rarin' to go", and could not be held back without many dis- appointments.
An order came to get 119 men ready for Camp Dix, N. J. When the roll was called for entrainment, 131 responded, and when we told them that some would have to stay for another time, we could take only 119, the answer we got was "not me to stay at home, I am going"- Feeling in sympathy with the boys in their anxiety for active service, the Board arose above Government orders and said, "All right boys, we will send you all". All went and the Local Board was not rebuked for over-filling orders- we had the boys "ready and willing."
The number of actual slackers were few compared to the large registration.
We had connected with us an Advisory Board, W. F. Spiller, Judge W. F. Dillon and Judge T. J. Layman. This Board was assisted by the entire Bar Association of Franklin county, and the attorneys deserve much credit for their untiring efforts in helping to fill out the questionaires for the registrants free of charge, which was a great help.
The physicians, also of our county, deserve mention in their labors for the Government in assisting in the physical examinations of the registrants, among whom were Dr. Edgar Austin, Dr. J. B. Moore, Dr. G. C. Buntin, Dr. H. A. Vise, Drs. Alvis, Dr. Phillip, Dr. Dudley, Dr. Ezra Phillips, Dr. Sidney Moore, Dr. D. L. Carter and Dr. R. E. Poindexter being the chief examiner, and by strange coincidence Dr. R. E. Poindexter died on the very day and hour that we were closing the work of the Local Board and shipping all records to Washington, D. C.
The Elks deserve the gratitude of the whole people for giving the use of the commodious Elk's Hall for the physical examination, with great inconvenience and expense to themselves. On the whole, no county in the State of Illinois responded more nobly and liberally than did Franklin county in everything pertaining to the welfare of our Country-she offered her sons
for sacrifice, poured out her gifts lavishly in money for "Bonds" and "Stamps" in such a manner as to prove her "Simon pure Americanism."
CLASSIFICATION
The classification of the registrants of the Franklin County Local Board for June, 1917, and June, 1918, including August 4, 1918, reached a total of 5,561, of which 1,761 were in Class One; 76 were in Class Two; 91 were in Class Three; 2,232 were in Class Four and 1,401 were in Class Five. Of this num- ber our records show 3,208 were married men, and 2,353 single men.
As to citizenship, 3,781 were native born citizens; 172 were naturalized citizens, 1,208 were aliens; 396 were declarant aliens with first naturalization papers.
In the second registration of September, 1918, the total registered was 8,353. Those of the ages from nineteen to thirty-six inclusive and eighteen year old registrants were classified by the Local Board as follows: 1,782 were in Class One, 215 in Class Two, 36 in Class Three, 1,532 in Class Four and 707 in Class Five. The registrants ages 37 to 45 years inclusive were not classified and numbered 4,090.
Many appeals were taken from the Local Board by the registrants to the District Board at East St. Louis. In almost every case where the appeal was taken the Local Board was sustained in its action. As to the industrial claims provided for by the Draft Law a large number of such claims were taken by the registrant after they had been classified by the Local Board, and in almost every case the claims were denied by the District Board. Those filing industrial claims were men mostly engaged in the mining industry, filling places of trust in and around the mines. A very few industrial claims came from the agricultural industry.
COLORED REGISTRANTS
Perhaps no county in Southern Illinois had as few colored registrants as did Franklin county. The reason for this is that until a very few years ago Franklin county could boast of having only one colored man, and that was William Bird of Benton, who was reared here in Benton by a family of our best white citizens, the St. Clair family.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
FRANKLIN COUNTY LOCAL BOARD.
Rev. J. L. Meads. Dr. RE Poindexter. Judge T.J. Myers. Mrs 7. J. Mvers.
William Bird was a model citizen, very religious and honest, and it was said of him time after time that "Bill Bird" was colored only skin deep. But as the mines began to develope in Franklin county, colored people began to come in, and of the large number of registrants our record shows only nineteen colored men. These were mostly from West Frankfort and Freeman.
ENTRAINMENT OF DELINQUENTS
Of the number of delinquents on our record we managed from time to time to get several of them into the service, viz: Aruc Laskso, inducted at Carlton, Minn .; Geo. Bennett, at Little Rock, Ark .; Joe Brindzo, at Plymouth, Pa .; Matous Stepmartis, at Pinckneyville; Alonzo Landaski, at Madi- son; Charlie Andenskauk, at Madison; Louis Gogiat, at Staunton; John Baroselli, at Taylorville; Nick Bozovich, Edgar Helms, Fred Davis, Joe McKegg and Sam Boich were inducted by order of the Franklin County Local Board. Several of these registrants were rejected at different camps on account of being aliens or non-declarants.
From time to time many were released from our Local Board to join different branches of the service, going into the Canadian Army, the Navy Reserves, the Marines and some joining the Navy. Per- haps at least two hundred of our registrants were released to join these branches of the service.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Franklin county being in the heart of the coal fields and in the center of an industrial area, a large number of our registrants were rejected by the Local Board physician on physical disqualifications, viz: loss of leg, loss of arm, loss of eye or some injury
received in the coal mines or other industry. A large number were rejected at camp after having passed the physical examination of our local physicians, among this number are as follows: Andrew J. Connor, Harrison Ewing, Perry L. Newman, John Tulo, Denny Lyons, James M. Border, Kasimer
MRS. GRACE SIMPSON
MRS. CLYDE HEASLEY
Yugo, Lemist Pack, John Zickus, Clarence Seiler, John Johnson, Lorenzo Phillips, Pete Capelini, Gus Pantlauis, Guy Darnell, Frances Hodge, Geo. Beattie, Martin Raglin, Jas. T. True, Thomas Kirk, Solomon W. Hayes, W. R. Arthurs, Ed. Vineyard, Joe Markarabisz, Clyde Hobbs, Arthur Potter, John McNeill, Oakley McReynolds, Roy Shaw, John Vitkon, Eddie Bird, Floyd Dethrow, Ed. Paynter, Charles Earlie, Lem Burkitt, Charles R. Schneiderwein, Frank Waite, Ira Fitzgerald, Geo. Southerland, Geo. Popovisch, Thos. Grimmet, Ray Simp- son, Jack Carso, Geo. H. Moore. Besides this number who were rejected definitely, a large number were placed in limited service, and were used by the Government to do various kinds of work. Most all Local Boards needing assistance in their clerical work were furnished with limited service men.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
NATIONALITIES
Perhaps no county in the state of Illinois outside the large cities, had a greater number of different nationalities than had the Franklin County Local Board. The records show Belgians, English, Irish, Scotch, Welch, Canadians, French, Italians, Portugese, Russians, Servians, Chinese, Austrians, Hun- garians, Bulgarians, Turks and lastly Ger- mans.
OUR INDUCTIONS
The induction into the military service from Franklin County Local Board were as follows: September 5, 1917, to Camp Taylor, 27; September 19, 1917, to Camp Taylor, 213; February 23, 1918, to Camp Taylor, 236; April 8, 1918, to Bradley Institute, 6; April 26, 1918 to Camp Dix, 117; May 10, 1918, to Fort Thomas, 17;
May 25, 1918, to Camp Gordon, 351; May 20, 1918, to Camp Mead, 1; May 20, 1918, to Fort Benj. Harrison, 2; May 25, 1918, to Jefferson Barracks, 25; May 29, 1918, to Fort Thomas, 30; June 15, 1918, to Valparaiso University, 2; June 15, 1918, to Rahe Auto School, 134; June 16, 1918, to Bradley Institute, 3; June 24, 1918, to Camp Taylor, 50; August 15, 1918, to Lewis Institute, 1; July 29, 1918, to Syra- cust, N. Y., 5; August 15, 1918, to North- western University, 2; September 3, 1918, to Camp Grant, 10; September 3, 1918, to Camp Custer, 26; Sept. 19, 1918, to Moose- hart, 1; Sept. 25, 1918, to Camp Grant, 2; Oct. 15, 1918, to Chicago University, 6; Oct. 21, 1918, to Camp Greenleaf, Ga., 190- not sent, ready when armistice was signed; Nov. 19, 1918, to Camp Grant, 2-not sent.
The Council of National Defense
THIS organization of The Council of National Defense was perfected early in the activities of the war, the members being Judge W. H. Hart; Wm. P. Seeber, attor- ney; Harry L. Frier, editor, Walter W. Williams, attorney, and Mrs. Harry Stotlar. The Council was further perfected in select- ing Judge Hart as chairman; Mrs. Stotlar as secretary; and Editor Frier as treasurer. On account of the regular secretary being burdened with other war work much of the clerical duties were performed by Miss Mabel Smith.
The work of the local Council was perhaps no different from that performed in all other counties, but, thanks to the general patriotic spirit of our citizens much of the work sup- posed to be looked after was practically eliminated.
The Council at various times was called upon to grant building permits, see that the fuel and food orders were being enforced, assist in the various Loan Drives, etc.
Several young men were recommended to different recruiting stations, and reports were made upon a few deserting soldiers and slackers.
On the evening of June 5, 1918, under the direction of the Council, a meeting was held at the Court House in the interest of the Salvation Army, at which time speakers sent out by the parent body addressed a very large and enthusiastic audience, with the result that a fund of $578.77 was raised and later turned over to Lieut. V. D. Sharp and Capt. F. A. Smith, of the St. Louis branch of the Salvation Army.
The systematic, almost perfect and enthusiastic work of the different war-work- ing organizations of the county, over which the Council was suposed to ever keep at watchful eye, were conducted in such a systematic and patriotic manner that many times the Local Council of National Defense was not required to function.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL WAR HISTORY.
Women's Committe Council of National Defense
T THE first work done by the Woman's Committee of the Council of National Defense, in Franklin county, was preparing the women for registration for the different kinds of war work. This was done under the leadership of Mrs. Harry Stotlar. Seventeen hundred women in the county registered the first registration week. The cards were filed away in the different town- ships. They were of great value later, in securing clerical help for the draft regis- tration, and also for help in filling out questionnaires. These cards also proved to be of great value during the influenza epidemic.
Seven food conservation and canning schools were held under the direction of Miss Ferna Harris, district advisory chair- man. One food demonstration was held at the Catholic church in Benton, for the women of foreign birth. Mrs. Hazel West Adams, at that time Domestic Science teacher of the Benton Township High School, assisted by Miss Martha Kirkpatrick and Mrs. W. F. Spiller, had this in charge.
Hoover pledge eards were distributed throughout the county. Also a food show
was held in Benton, showing the different kinds of war bread, and other war foods.
Mrs. H. A. Vise, finance chairman, raised funds to the amount of $360.57. The request for this money came from the State Chair- man. While the request was for $1,000.00, the quota was not reached. But they sent the amount raised to headquarters, and then had the privilege of making requisitions for the money, for use in the county. This has been done and it is now in the bank to be used to furnish a room in a hospital when built in Benton. Fifteen dollars donated to the American Hospital in France, was to help maintain a bed in honor of Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, State Chairman of the C. N. D.
The Centennial pageant was of great interest, and a long to be remembered event. This was given under the very efficient direction of Mrs. C. A. Cantrell, chairman of the Centennial committee. Two great- great-grandsons and two great-great-grand- daughters of Isham Harrison, who helped frame the Constitution of the State of Illin- ois, had part in this pageant.
One hundred and twenty-seven French orphans were adopted in Franklin county.
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YOUR VICTORY BUTTON IS HERE
American Legion did
HERE
Frankin County WarHolory
Society Registration
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SOLDIERS DAY AT FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR, OCTOBER 1st, 1919 Government Display with Volunteer Workers who Registered Soldiers for the War History
FRANKLIN COUNTY. ILL. WAR HISTORY. _
FRANKLIN COUNTY, ILL. WAR HISTORY.
Service Record Work
THE work of securing the service records and photographs of the soldiers of Franklin County was indeed an arduous task, and without the volunteer work of the patriotic people of the county and especially of the pupils of the different schools the work could never have been accomplished in the period necessary for the completion of the work.
The first effort made to secure the records and photographs was on "soldier's day" of the Franklin county fair held on Oct. 1,1919. Through the efforts of Lieut. Col. O. C. Smith, this soldier's day was arranged, and as the U. S. army had a display at the fair grounds, arrangements were made for the distribution of the regular service buttons issued by the government to the discharged soldiers. Pupils of the Benton high school volunteered on this day to take the service records of the soldiers applying for the buttons, and others who called at the Government display for the purpose of giving their records for publication in this history. The work at the fair grounds was
directed by Lieut. Col. O. C. Smith and S. S. Baird. The following pupils of the Benton school are those who volunteered their service on that day: Rebecca McKemie, Mary Hickman, Irene Smith, Eloise Barrick, Mabel Hart, Thelma Fish, Dora Moore, Eva Davis, Martha Kirkpatrick, Nina Meads, Helen Machiels, Virginia Moore and Nellie Jones. Sometime later, when the work of compiling the history had been actively started, arrangements were made for pupils of the schools to make a canvass in Benton, and it is to be said with credit to the pupils who volunteered, that the work was very worthy and a great credit to their efforts. After the canvass had been made in Benton, similar arrangements were made in Christopher and West Frankfort.
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