USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 22
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MEXICAN BORDER WARFARE
During 1916 trouble fomented, as is well recognized now, by the enemies abroad and at home of this country, the republic across the Rio Grande began to question the integrity of the good faith of the government of the United States. The various disturbances which had arisen from time to time along the border, had been handled with the same open-handed and generous policy which has always characterized this nation, but with the internal troubles the recognized government were having with Villa, decided this government to send into Mexico an expedition to assist the Mexican government in capturing the rebel. When the Mexican government signified that it was able to resume full control, our troops were withdrawn as they were at no time regarded, nor were they meant to be regarded, as an invading force sent into Mexico to interfere with that country's home government. The Na- tional Guards were mobilized from all over the country, and sent into Texas, where those who did not participate in the trip into the interior of Mexico had the benefit of some months of training on the border, which prepared them for the more strenuous life in the training camps after the United States had declared war upon Germany. Never be- fore in the history of any country was so large a force of men assembled, with so peaceful a purpose, under the name of war, and the President of the United States reiterated his assertions as to the good faith of this government to the Mexican representatives when they met with him in the spring of 1918. At that time the rebel Villa was still at large, the Mexican government having not been able as yet to that
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
date, to capture him in spite of declining the help of the United States to do so.
DEPARTING FOR MEXICAN BORDER
When the Mexican Border War commenced in the spring of 1916, the National Guards were at once called to the colors, and on the evening of June 22, Company G, of Woodstock, left for Springfield, Illinois, at the command of the Governor. This company saw service in the hot sands of a far southern clime-real soldier hardships they endured, and in a year from that time they were sworn in as soldiers to "go over seas." It is befitting in this chapter that a roster of these inen be given in this, a History of their home county :
THIRD REGIMENT STAFF
Colonel-Charles Greene, Aurora. Lieutenant Colonel-Frank Bacon, Aurora. Adjutant Captain-W. H. Brogunier, Rockford. Quartermaster Captain-Richard Boyer, Rockford. Commissary Captain-Wilbur Thornton, Pontiac. Chaplain-Captain A. R. Clinch, Rockford. Medical Department-Major Robert Bourland, Rock- ford; Captain J. A. MeCaughey, Hoopeston; Captain A. E. Lord, Plano; Major Sergeant Emil Rhutishauser, Aurora. Battalion Majors -- C. C. Miner, Woodstock; Edward Leonard, Rockford; L. F. Strawn, Pontiae. Battalion Adjutant-James Sanders, Aurora. Bat- talion Quartermaster-Second Lieutenant Paul Ritt, Woodstock. Com- panies-A, DeKalb, Captain H. Goodeson; B, Hoopeston, Captain Earl Thornton; C, Ottawa, Captain Ralph C. Woodard; D, Aurora, Captain Charles Harkison; E, Elgin, Captain William Peek; F, Pontiac, Cap- tain Fred Dewey; G, Woodstock, Captain O. H. Corr; H, Rockford, Captain A. R. Tetlow; I, Aurora, Captain John II. Newman; K, Rock- ford, Captain Charles Sowel; L, Kankakee. Being organized and new officers elected-M, Belvidere, Captain Harry Haskins.
COMPANY G
Officers: Captain-O. H. Corr. First Lieutenant-William Thomp- son. Second Lieutenant-Lester Edinger. First Sergeant-C. Halde- man. Sergeants-William Donnelly, Ralph Thayer, Earl Clement, Fred Brewer, Harry Francisco, Henry Schmitt. Corporals-George
Robert E. Harger.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
Brahy, John Long, Lonis Thayer, Charles Woodard, William Stewart, Alderson Dove. Cook-Martin Olson. Musicians-Leo Schryver, An- drew Grafmueller.
Privates-Anderson, Theodore ; Bartlett, Porter ; Bennett, Bert ; Ben- nett, James; Bergthal, Joseph; Berners, John; Berry, William; Bill, Ransom; Boone, Lester; Botts, Charles; Bowman, Herbert; Brahy, Harry; Brown, Henry; Burbridge, Richard; Buxton, Bernard; Carl- son, Henry; Carvey, Harley; Churchill, Ralph; Clark, Leo; Clark, Everett ; Clark, LeRoy; Clyde, Teddy; Dunker, Herman; Emanuel, Fred; Fairmount, William ; Feffer, Albert; Fish, Isaac; Fish, Warren; Fitzek, Joseph; Floyd, Dale; Foss, Merle; Fredendall, Elmer .; Garri- son, George; Geske, Charles; Geske, Walter; Gruidl, Joseph; Haase, William ; Hansmann, Clarence; Hayward, Ed .; Hildebrandt, Ralph ; Hinderlider, Ernest ; Hoffmeyer, Walter; Hoke, William; Howell, John; Howell, Ogle; Jessen, Chris; Kilburne, William; Knapp, Grey ; Kohls, William; Kramer, Rudolph; Kretchmer, Lloyd; Larson, Eugene; Leighty, Wedge; Long, Ray; MeCarthy, Bruce; Mackey, Leo; McGee, Raymond; MeLaughlin, Lester; Miller, William; Nohr, William; O'Brien, Jesse ; Ogden, Glenn ; Paepke, Rudolph ; Rasmussen, Edmund ; Redman, Mark ; Reese, Roy ; Richards, Clifton; Risting, John ; Roderiek, Chester; Roderick, Ray; Sandford, Cyrus; Seleider, Harry ; Schmulle, William; Schutt, Albert; Sheehy, Frank; Sponholtz, William; Som- mers, Adolph; Stephenson, Frank; Stott, James; Strubbe, Roy; Ten- nyson, Joyce; Terwilliger, Everett ; Tuite, John C .; Umathum, Michael ; Umathum, Peter; Walker, Benjamin; Warner, Edward; Wendt, Fred; Williams, Burns; Winegar, Ralph ; Woods, Raymond; Wright, Armour.
TRUE SPIRIT OF AMERICANISM
On the same day that this company left for Mexico, the Sentinel, of Woodstock, had the following call which was freely responded to, and the same is entitled to a place in the history of the community which has always been "over the top" in such matters, even from away back in Civil war days.
Will you do your duty ?
Company G is called to the colors.
Eighteen years ago the call to arms rang out over this free land, and Company G responded, just as Company G is responding today. Dowu in Chickamauga Park and in Porto Rico our boys from home learned the meaning of need, of sickness, of suffering. There were many
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
things necessary-emergencies arose demanding immediate attention, quick action.
Somebody back in Woodstock, with the love of Christ and humanity in his heart, had foreseen all this and started a relief fund for Company G. That relief fund brought comforts and necessities for the Wood- stock boy who lay ill under the hot Porto Rican sun. Had it not been for that fund he might now be lying in a narrow green bed, which you and I would strew with flowers on every thirtieth of May. Or the wasted form might have found its last resting place under the tropic skies, or in the still waters to the far South.
* * * *
* *
Again Company G is called to the colors.
Perhaps our boys will go to the border or into Mexico. There is an arid region, a burning sun, water unfit to drink.
There may be battles, weary marches-there may be fever and pes- tilence. All of these things the boys of Company G bravely risk, and in most cases they are giving up remunerative employment to shoulder the responsibility of your community and my community, for the mag- nificent return of fifty cents per day.
Not all of us can go to war. But all of us can be patriotic. Each one of us can do his share in one way or another.
Who is there among us who cannot donate something toward a fund for Company G ? * * * ** *
*
The Sentinel is starting a movement to establish a relief fund to be used for the boys of Company G in case of need, of sickness, of suffering. Such a fuud may prove the saving of one life, or of many lives-if but one of our boys from home is resened out of the shadow of death because you and I had forethought for his comfort, will it not all have been worth while?
We devontly pray that none of the hardships cited may befall our lads, but all are possibilities for which it is our duty to be prepared. Will you do your share to alleviate suffering, should suffering come ?
Subscription blanks are being prepared and will be placed in all of the stores and business houses about town. These provide that all money donated in the cause shall be placed in any of the banks of Wood- stock to the credit of Company G, to be used for the company as its commanding officer may deem best.
Will you help ?
A number of the business men of Woodstock are holding a meeting
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
in the association rooms this afternoon for the purpose of raising a purse to send with the boys tonight. This is to be only a starter, and the ap- peal is to be general. Residents, not only of Woodstock, but of Me- HIenry County, and any others who may be interested in Company G, are invited to make contributions to the fund. A list of all contributions will be kept and acknowledgment made through the newspapers of Wood- stock. Donations can be sent to The Sentinel if desired.
The road of the soldier is not strewn with flowers. Veterans of the Civil and Spanish wars can tell you what the camp, the march, the bat- tle bring. If your boy, or that neighbor's boy whom you have known since childhood, goes out of Woodstock, tonight into unknown dangers, into the strife of battle, into the weary, painful monotony of the field hospital, wouldn't you like to feel that YOU are helping to ease his pain, comfort his loneliness and nourish his body ?
What will you give to Company G ?
THE WORLD WAR
At the beginning this was a war between numerous European coun- tries, the eause of which will not here be discussed. From August, 1914, to April 6, 1917, it was fought without the aid of America, but on that date the United States declared war against the German Empire. The war terminated in the signal defeat and overthrow of the Germans and their long boasted military power.
DECLARATION OF WAR
Although the people had foreseen that war was inevitable, the actual declaration of it on April 6, 1917, brought a realization home to the country that now would the mettle of the populace be tried as in a fiery furnace. Aside from chronic objectors, and uninformed pacifieists, no one not in active sympathy with Germany had any criticism to offer, and the majority were fired with wild enthusiasm. Many schemes were put forth, ideas were exchanged, and advice offered, but acting de- liberately and systematieally, studying the question from all angles, and in the light of the experience of our allies, the President and his advisors laid out a plan of condnet for war which placed practically a million trained men in France before July 4, 1918, and had American soldiers fighting long before that date.
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
VOLUNTEERS
This country has always called for volunteers when making war against another country, or a section of this one, and so following this old eustom, the Government first issued the call. And MeHenry County responded with about 530 enlisted men, in various departments, at va- rious recruiting stations, from Maine to California, hence no acenrate record of these men will be had until an adjutant-general's report is published some years hence. The same is true concerning the drafted men, no complete roster is now obtainable, as no true record was retained by the local board, but all records were sent to either the state or na- tional capital. It is known, however, from memoranda kept, that there was between 1,450 and 1,500 men served in all departments of the serv- ice, who went from, and in the end will be eredited to MeHenry County. Of this number 760 were accepted under the drafts; 153 in Company G National Guards from Woodstock, while the remainder were enlisted in the army and navy and in other branches of the service, making in round numbers about 1,475 men, of whom fifty-seven lost their lives.
SELECTIVE DRAFT
No better explanation for passing of the legislation and the levying of the selective draft can be given than by publishing the following letter written by President Wilson in reply to one written to him by Representative Guy T. Helvering of Kansas, a Democrat, which Mr. Wilson made publie April 19, 1917.
"I welcome the inquiry of your letter of April 19, because I have realized the truth of what you say from my own observations-namely, that what is meant to be understood by the selective draft is not gen- erally understood throughout the country.
"The process of the draft is, I think, very clearly set forth in the bill drafted by the war department and which I so earnestly hope the congress will adopt, but it is worth while to state the idea which under- lies the bill a little more fully.
"I took occasion the other day in an address to the people of the country to point out the many forms of patriotie service that were open to them and to emphasize the fact that the military part of the service was by no means the only part, and perhaps, all things eon- sidered, not the most vital part.
"Our object is a mobilization of all the productive and active forees
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
of the nation, and their development to the highest point of co-opera- tion and efficiency, and the idea of the selective draft is that those should be chosen for service in the army who can be most readily spared from the prosecution of the other activities the country must engage in and to which it must devote a great deal of its best energy and capacity.
"The volunteer system does not do this. When men choose them- selves they sometimes choose without due regard to their other responsi- bilities. Men may come from the farms or the mines or from the fac- tories or eenters of business who ought not to come, but ought to stand baek of the armies in the field and see that they get everything that they need and that the people of the country are sustained in the mean- while."
There was great opposition to the passing of this selective draft bill, but the Emergeney War Bill, which had, among its provisions the selective draft measure, was passed April 18, 1917, and immediately signed by the President.
By this bill all male citizens between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one years were required to register, June 5 later being set aside for this purpose. MeHenry County men within these ages obeyed the eall, and to their credit, be it said, that they did so cheerfully and promptly, and those appointed to look after the slackers had little or nothing to do, for this eounty has never shirked its duty, or failed to respond to all the ealls the country has made upon its people.
REGISTRATIONS
At the first registration there were 3,016 men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one, who registered in MeHenry County in the first draft. The quota for this county was then easily filled. Com- pany G National Guard at Woodstock, belonging to the Third Illinois Regiment, was inereased on registration day by enlistment of twenty- three men, making a total in the company of 153, and the required number was only 150.
WORLD WAR REGISTRARS
The following is a list of those who were appointed and served as registrars during the late World war, in and for McHenry County, and it was under these persons that the several registers of the county
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
were made to determine the number of available able bodied men in the county. These registrars were appointed by the sheriff and were from the several townships :
Riley Township-R. W. Metcalf; Marengo, 1st, F. W. Benjamin, A. D. Allison ; 2nd, D. M. Wright, Charles Scofield ; Dunham-Homer E. Whipple; Chemung-1st, Charles J. Vierck, Eugene Saunders; 2nd, Frank E. Beck, Hugh Houston Megran; 3rd, Edwin J. Barr; Alden- E. L. Kingsley; Hartland-W. H. Forrest; Seneca-E. F. Kuecker; Coral-Charles II. Ackman, Jr., and Clarence Siems; Grafton-John Hawley, F. R. Ferris; Dorr-1st, Charles F. Renich, G. W. Lemmers; 2nd, Fred A. Walters, L. J. Young; 3rd, N. A. Sunderlin, A. E. Schroeder; 4th, Fred W. Hartman; Greenwood-M. Dassaw ; Hebron- Henry W. Turner, Clifton H. Merry; Richmond-J. T. Bower, G. W. Eldridge; MeHenry-1st, J. C. Ladd, R. B. Bradley; 2nd, Ed. L. Hayes, Albert H. Pause; Nunda-1st, James A. Nish ; 2nd, Harry II. MeCollum, L. W. Cobb; Algonquin-1st, Henry Keyes, John Peter ; 2nd, Thomas F. Leonard, John Buehler; 3rd, T. H. Wulff; Burton- V. S. Esh, W. F. Pierce.
ADMINISTERING THIE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP
Many years henee the following item will be read with much in- terest, no doubt, throwing light on what was considered by the courts of today "good citizenship." Judge Donnelly, before administering the oath to many foreign-born, seeking citizenship here, during the first part of the World war, spoke to the subjects as follows :
"You are about to become citizens of the United States. In taking this step you are assuming eertain duties and obligations in return for which you will receive certain rights and privileges from this gov- ermment with which you are affiliating yourself. Our country is now at war and it may be that you will be called upon to sacrifice your lives if need be. If you are so called upon, I trust that you will not hesitate to respond willingly.
"We have the best government on the face of the earth. That flag before you (pointing to the flag hanging in the courtroom), is the emblem of freedom. Ever respect it and be ready to defend it. If there is any reason why you cannot from now on fight for that flag, do not take the solemn oath of allegiance which you are about to take. There is nothing in your obligation to this government which requires you to forget the tender feelings you have for your Fatherland.
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY 257
"It is human for a man to have reverence and high regard for his Fatherland, and if you did not have that reverence in your breast, we could not expect that you would have a high regard for our country. But from now on you will be citizens of the United States and it will devolve upon you to place the interests of this country above all others. Your country's welfare means your own welfare, and if need be, you must sacrifice your property or your life in its defense.
"The oath of allegiance you are about to take is full of significance ; listen attentively to every word of it and let its meaning make upon you a deep impression."
EXEMPTION BOARDS
The Exemption Board for MeHenry County during this great con- fliet was as follows: Dr. E. V. Anderson, Woodstock ; William Desmond, Woodstock; and F. F. Axtell, of Harvard. These men faithfully per- formed their duty which was no small task. It took men of sound judgment, decision of character, knowledge of human nature and withal men of undoubted integrity and loyalty to from week to week and month to month pass on the hundreds of individual cases that came before them for adjustment.
WAR WORK
While men eligible for military service were preparing to do a man's part in the world, those who were left behind, of both sexes, were not idle. Active co-operation was immediately aceorded the Gov- erument in all of the suggestions relative to food conservation, and later fuel conservation, as well as the further extension of cultivated lands then vacant. When the first Liberty Loan was floated, MeHenry County people subscribed until "over the top," and kept on doing so with each of the successive loans till the last loan was asked for in the spring of 1919. This was true in each of all of the war measures, the Red Cross, the War Savings Stamps, the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation and Knights of Columbus calls, each and all "went over the top," signifying of course, that this county went beyond her allot- ment or quota in these war calls for funds and supplies. In round numbers the amount of War Bonds subscribed and paid for by the people of MeHenry County was $5,180,000.
By interviewing the various treasurers and secretaries who had to
-
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IHISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
do with the collection of funds for the various societies, the following statement has been compiled :
Amount raised by the Red Cross Chapters. $ 76,000
Amount raised for the Young Men's Christian Association. . . 17,431
Amount raised by the Knights of Columbus. 7,757
Amount raised for Salvation Army purposes 4,500
Amount raised in United Victory "Drive". 63,730
Grand total raised during war. $ 169,424
First Liberty Loan Bonds (About)
$ 200,000
Second Liberty Loan Bonds 938,760
Third Liberty Loan Bonds.
1,042,950
Fourth Liberty Loan Bonds
1,665,100
Fifth or "Victory" Bonds.
1,333,200
Total amount sold in county
$5,180,010
The county over-subscribed in this "drive" fifty per cent of her quota as first designated and this was accomplished without fuss or excitement. All seemed to realize the emergency was great and buckled on the full armor and went forth to supply the demands of the men at the fighting front.
The total amount subscribed in MeHenry County was $63,079.57, according to Treasurer Charles F. Renich, and Chairman IIon. E. D. Shurtleff. At first it seemed that such an amount could not be raised after all that had been subseribed in way of Government War Bonds, but taking the Illinois slogan : "Salute and go to it," all ended well.
Not all of the towns in this county did equally well, although only two out of the seventeen, Coral and Grafton, failed to subseribe the minimum quota assigned to them. Richmond Township led with more than 200 per cent, Hartland, Dorr and Dunham exceeded 150 per cent, while Seneca, Algonquin, Burton, Riley, Cary, Hebron, Chemung, Greenwood, Alden and Nunda exceeded their original quotas, some of these precinets approaching well toward the 150 per cent mark.
By townships the reports showed :
STANDING: DANIEL BURTON, FRANK E. HANAFORD, ANDREW LAS CELLA SITTING: MARVIN SHELDON. BEN GARDNER (See sketch of Frank E. Hanaford)
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HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
Quota
Subscribed
Hartland
$ 1,200
$ 1,820.75
Seneca
1,000
1,262.00
Algonquin
2,100
2,471.50
Burton
600
698.50
Dorr
8,500
13,555.85
Greenwood
1,000
1,044.25
Mc Henry
3,700
7,295.95
Coral
2,100
1,697.35
Riley
1,000
1,129.00
Grafton
2,100
1,936.00
Marengo
4,500
6,440.40
Cary
1,500
1,539.00
Chemung
6,200
7,848.50
Dunham
1,000
1,502.50
Hebron
2,100
2,423.75
Richmond
2,100
4,357.00
Alden
1,200
1,204.25
Nunda and Crystal Lake ...
4,200
4,948.02
Total
$46,000
$63,079.57
The Woodstock Sentinel in speaking of this great "drive" said : "Of interest is the fact that of the $63,000 subscribed, over $42,000 was paid in spot cash. In some towns almost the entire subscription was made in cash, notably Cary, turning in $1,514 in cash, leaving only $25 unpaid, while Burton Township had only $8.00 remaining unpaid. At Algonquin only $225 remained outstanding, and in Coral the chair- man turned in all in cash except $133. Huntley turned in all cash but $150. In Dorr, including Woodstock, the amount of cash turned in at first was about one-half of the large sum of $13,555.85, but daily there- after the outstanding amounts kept coming into the various banks of the city."
Treasurer Renich's report shows that the "Victory Boys and Girls" in MeHenry County subscribed $8,305.95-a remarkable contribution from such a source as that.
CASUALTIES
If the heartfelt wish of all the loyal people of the county conld ma- terialize, there would be no names written beneath this caption by the
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HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
most relentless of all historians, Time, but as no really great reform was over effected withont heavy sacrifice, so do the people of MeHenry County have to pay their quota for patriotism, and in recording the names of the heroes who lived up to the highest conception of Ameri- can manhood, in the midst of their tears, they must also rejoice that when the need arose, there was no laek of brave young soldiers to carry the American flag and principles to victory. The GOLD STARS in Me- Henry County's "service flag" are set in the subjoined Roll of Honor:
ROLL OF HONOR
The subjoined is a list of the honored dead from MeHenry County. who made the "supreme sacrifiee" in the late World War, while mareh- ing and fighting in the trenches, midst shot, shell and deadly gas:
Alexander P. C. Rassmussen, Arthur Dollman, Ernst Kalbow, Walter Lind, Arthur Dunker, Fred Boyle, W. J. Henshaw, Arthur J. Shultz, Horaee Bratzman, Herman Steinke, William J. Metzen, Claude Me- Comb, Geo. F. Raltzlaff, August Klaman, Ray A. Howard, John Janow- ski, Manriee Blake, Ed Killeen, Paul Gehrke, Carl J. Dittman, Clark Hall, Henry F. Miller, Frank Helwig, A. C. Graupner, Eugene P. Griebel, Ralph P. Wells, Peter Umathum, Carl H. Bartelt, William Ward, William C. Peterson, Vietor E. Peterson, Harold Beebe, John Farrell, Richard Japp, Eugene Drill, Frank Wien, Paul C. Hoffman, Henry Stevenson, Edward Tonyan, George Schreiner, Jack Mitchell, . Charles Geske, Joseph Meyers, Robert Martin, Ernest W. Blank, Harry G. Fulton, Albert Moritz, Bert Randau, Walter W. Pederson, Harry L. Carlson, David Brown, Chas. Bartumis, Gus Swanson, Burdett A. Briggs, Roy H. Randel, Phil J. Anderson, Charles Knutson.
SOLDIER'S HOME-COMING WEEK
While the Armistice was signed in November, 1918, the MeHlenry County soldiers did not return to their homes until the first week in June, 1919, and a public "Welcome" or reception was tendered them in Woodstock for the whole eounty, at first, and later Harvard, Ma- rengo and Algonquin received the men who went from their preeinets. The big celebration, however, was naturally the first one, as it was held at the county seat from which the men had enlisted or been called to service. The day, June 10, 1919, will long be a red-letter day in the minds of those residing in MeHenry County at that time, whether sol-
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