USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 23
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Herbert Quarnstrom, Wesleyan student, died of pneumonia at Camp Grant in April, 1918.
Lee J. Roebuck of Bloomington was killed when his airplane fell at Deseronto, Canada, where he was in training, Oct. 20, 1917.
Alfred Ross of Heyworth died of pneumonia at Great Lakes, Sept. 28. Maurice Musick Roberts, Wesleyan corps student, died of pneumonia on Oct. 17.
Howard Rodman of Bloomington died of pneumonia at Hoboken, Oct. 10.
Sergt. Wesley Ruyle of Bloomington was killed in the Argonne drive.
Harry Rusmisell of Stanford died of pneumonia at Havre, France.
John M. Redd of Bloomington, was killed in battle in October.
John E. Shreck of Gridley was a victim of pneumonia at Camp Sheri- dan, Ala.
Fred Skinner of Bloomington died in a hospital at Glasgow, Scotland.
Earl Spencer of Bloomington died of wounds in battle Sept. 25.
Sergt. Jesse G. Spence of Bloomington died of pneumonia at Quan- tico, Va.
Benedict J. Roth of Chenoa died of pneumonia in France.
Earl T. Smith of Cooksville died at Camp Taylor from pneumonia.
William and Melvin Savage, formerly of Dawns, lost their lives, William being drowned when he fell from a ship at Norfolk, and Melvin dying when he came home to attend his brother's funeral.
George R. Simons of Normal died in a hospital at Brest, France, Oct. 9.
Edmund W. Sutherland of Bloomington died of influenza at Camp Grant, Oct. 7.
Clayton Sholty of Bloomington died at Jefferson Barracks on Feb. 10, 1918.
Archie F. Stewart of Randolph died on board ship from pneumonia and was buried at sea on Sept. 26, 1918.
Walter C. Seeger of Bloomington was killed in battle Oct. 15.
Sergt. David B. Stevenson, was killed in action Nov. 4, 1918.
Charles F. Smith of Gridley died of wounds in action.
William Stroh of Anchor died at Camp Mills from influenza, Oct. 18.
Charis Streenz of Bloomington died at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Oct. 18.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Harley B. Salzman died in France on January 25, 1918, in a military hospital.
Elmer Steffen of Cropsey died at home just after he had been dis- charged.
Alva H. Smith of Carlock died in a Liverpool hospital Oct. 20.
Herbert Schroeder of Bloomington died in a hospital at Baltimore in October, 1918.
Frank M. Thoennes of Bloomington died of influenza in a hospital in Glasgow.
Leo Sherburn of Bloomington was killed in battle in October.
Van Todd of Danvers was killed in battle in Sept., 1918.
Alva Roy Ulmer of Anchor died at Camp Mills Oct. 21, from pneu- monia.
Remi Vereecke of Bloomington was a victim of pneumonia at Camp Servier, S. C.
George Gray Wheelock of McLean died at Camp Grant from pneu- monia.
Maurice Wakefield of Heyworth died in S. A. T. C. service at Iowa Ag. college.
Rudolph D. Watt of Leroy died of tuberculosis in France in Jan., 1919.
Clarence Weakley of Lexington died in a hospital at Hoboken, Jan. 19, 1919.
Louis Weiler died while serving in the merchant marine in Dec., 1918. Edwin Wendell of near Bloomington was killed in battle June 7, 1918. Bud Williams was killed in action in September.
John R. Wilson of Danvers died at Fort Wright in April, 1918.
John T. Wakefield of Heyworth died of pneumonia on the U. S. S. Maine on Oct. 2.
Howard Wiley of Danvers died from pneumonia at Great Lakes Oct. 8.
Warren K. Webber of Arrowsmith died in Washington Oct. 15.
Fred Wampler of Arrowsmith died at Fort Riley March 30, 1918.
Charles Theodore Witt of Arrowsmith died at Camp Mills, Oct., 10. Sergt. Edwin D. Waltmire of McLean was killed in action July 19.
Leo Vincent died from the result of war exposures, although his death did not take place until in April, 1920, after long suffering.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
The Draft Boards.
The war had been in theoretical progress only for a few months, when the Congress of the United States saw that some kind of a general military service law would become a necessity; to summon the man power of the country to the call of duty. Accordingly the so-called draft law was passed by the Congress in May, 1917, and the date of June 5, 1917, was set for the time when all the men of the nation between the ages of 21 and 31 should register in their respective homes as subject to military call. On the date mentioned, there were 5,800 young men registered in the various prcincts of McLean County. McLean County was divided into two districts, one including the city of Bloomington together with Allin and Dale Townships ; the other district to include all of the county court; chairman of city board No. 2, Judge Sain Welty, including most of the county precincts was known as No. 1 and the city district No. 2. The personnel of the two boards ap- pointed for these respective districts was as follows:
Exemption Board No. 1-Chairman, C. R. Ewins, of Danvers; clerk, Dr. B. F. Elfrink, of Chenoa; Isaac Murphy, of Leroy ; chief clerk, Reube B. Prothero; assistant clerk, Mrs. Edward A. Mott; soldier member, John Farley ; stenographer, Miss Dorothy Mason.
Exemption Board No. 2-Chairman, Judge Colostin D. Myers, Bloom- ington; secretary, H. M. Murray, Bloomington medical examiner, Dr. E. Mammen; chief clerk, Ralph Freese; assistant clerk, Miss Loretta Grady ; soldier member, Thomas J. Shanahan.
Local Advisory Board-Chairman of board No. 1, Judge J. C. Riley, of the country court; chairman of city board No. 2, Judge Sain Welty, of the circuit court.
Medical Advisory Board-Dr. B. F. Elfrink, of Chenoa; Dr. E. Mam- men, of Bloomington; clerk, Walter P. Prenzler.
Instruction Board-Capt. C. B. Hamilton, chairman.
McLean County Red Cross-At a meeting of the Civic League of Bloomington early in June, 1915, Mrs. N. D. Mckinney, president of the Woman's Club, presented the subject of organizing a Red Cross Chapter in Bloomington. The suggestion met with cordial approval, and action was taken authorizing the chairman, E. M. Evans, to appoint a committee to take preliminary steps toward that end. That evening Dr. E. Mammen, Mrs. G. S. McCurdy, Mrs. E. R. Morgan, Mrs. N. D. Mckinney, and E. M.
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Evans paid their membership fee, the necessary one-half of which was sent to the Red Cross director, in Chicago, with application for permission to organize a chapter. After a number of memberships had been enrolled which made the organization of a chapter appear feasible, the committee appointed by the Civic League called a meeting to be held at the public library on July 27. At this meeting a board of twelve directors was elected, Dr. Mammen appointed temporary chairman and Mrs. McKinney, tempo- rary secretary.
The officers were not elected until the meeting of Dec. 5, 1915, when the following were chosen: Chairman, Campbell Holton; first vice-chair- man, C. F. Agle; second vice-chairman, B. F. Harber; secretary, Alice O. Smith ; treasurer, Frank D. Marquis. Miss Smith served as secretary until May, 1916, when she resigned and was succeeded by Mrs. McKinney.
During May and June, 1916, a campaign for members was conducted under the leadership of Dr. C. M. Noble. In July, 1916, a charter mem- bership of 174 was sent to Washington and a charter granted.
The chairman and treasurer of the chapter, Mrs. N. D. Mckinney, served since 1915; the secretary since May, 1916; the two vice-chairmen since October, 1917.
Campbell Holton, chairman, president of Campbell Holton & Co., wholesale grocers. He has been prominent in Y. M. C. A., the Blooming- ton Association of Commerce, Rotary Club and other community activities.
Davis Ewing, vice-chairman, president of the Davis Ewing Concrete Co., has been president of the Rotary Club and active in civic affairs.
E. M. Evans, vice-chairman, president of the Association of Commerce in 1919 and 1920; served two years as president of the Civic League and connected with other community organizations.
F. D. Marquis, treasurer, president of the People's Bank and a leading man in business circles.
The personnel of the county branches of the Red Cross were com- posed of many of the leading men and women of their several communities.
Shipments by McLean County Chapter to Bush Terminal and Central Division from May 21, 1917, to June, 1919:
Surgical dressings 331,732, value $ 11,262.68
Hospital garments 39,091, value 20,152.03
Hospital supplies
32,106, value 5,642.94
Refugee garments
7,971, value 7,081.11
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Comforts
5,408, value
1,744.05
Knitted articles
24,806, value
77,256.50
Totals
441,114, value
$123,139.31
The French, Belgian-Allied Relief Association carried on strenuous work in relief ways from the fall of 1917, to March 28, 1919, when it filed its final report. The officers of this association were as follows: Presi- dent, Mrs. G. B. Read; first vice-president, Mrs. H. S. Eckhart; second vice-president, Mrs. A. W. Anderson; secretary, Mrs. F. C. Cole; treas- urer, Mrs. W. L. Moore; directors, Mrs. Kate Brown, Mrs. R. C. Baldwin, Mrs. Charles Brokaw, Mrs. David Davis, Mrs. Alonzo Dolan, Mrs. C. B. Detrick, Mrs. Ralph D. Fox, Mrs. J. T. Johnson, Mrs. Anna B. Wade, Mrs. K. D. Welch, Mrs. Louise Robinson.
Liberty Loan Campaigns .- The people of McLean County loaned to the federal government during the war a total of about $11,000,000 of their money to help bring ultimate victory. This great sum was the pay- ment on liberty bonds bought by the people of the county during five dif- ferent drives which the government put on at different times, averaging in a rough way about six months apart during the period of American participation in the war. This huge total was nearly thirty times the cost of the court house of the county which was built just after the great fire.
By subscribing its portion to the Victory Loan in 1919, McLean County did two things worthy of its name and its august history. It oversubscribed the last of the great war drives, the campaign that brought the boys home. And it also raised a sufficient sum to make the total pledges of five loans greater than the combined quotas of those loans. Thus McLean County was more than 100 per cent in its financial aid to the war. It defies reproach. It has maintained his historical prestige of sound sense, integrity and patriotism. Here are the figures that show the financial war history of McLean County :
Loan
Quota
Subscription
First
$ 1,300,000
$ 800,000
Second
1,700,000
1,200,000
Third
1,762,000
3,000,000
Fourth
3,676,000
3,805,000
"Victory"
2,866,900
2,885,900
Grand total
$11,305,900
$11,690,900
(18)
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Food Conservation .- To any one who read the newspapers during the first few months of 1917, it was apparent that when the United States de- clared war on Germany, there would be some sort of organized campaign for food conservation in this country. The question of food had become critical.
The prompt action of Bloomington and McLean County women in organizing to meet this need will always be one of the greatest matters of pride to this county. During the latter part of April, just after our declaration of war, Mrs. Spencer Ewing went before the officers of the McLean County Chapter Red Cross, and offered her services for any work in food conservation that might be taken up. The offer was at once accepted, and thereafter during the whole period of the war and reconstruction months that followed, Mrs. Ewing was county leader in food conservation.
Throughout the emergency, the food conservation work of McLean County was done equally through the Red Cross committee and the Wom- an's Committee, C. N. D., and reports were made to both organizations.
In May, 1917, forty-five groups for the study of new problems that confronted housewives, were organized.
It was during the fall of 1917 that agitation for employment of a home adviser was first begun here, Mrs. Ewing, Mrs. Frank W. Benjamin, and other leaders in household science work, initiating the movement.
A permanent organization called the Home Improvement Associa- tion was formed in April. It had a membership of 1,500 women from all over the county, each paying $1 per year toward its support. The gov- ernment likewise paid $1,500 per year. There was a director in each town- ship, who stood for food conservation in his community. In June the home adviser began work. She was Miss Clara R. Brian, formerly of San Jose.
Women in the Service .- Of the women of McLean County who were in the army service, either as attaches, of the Red Cross or nurses other- wise, the following are well worthy of especial credit:
(Serving overseas) :
Miss Alice O. Smith, Normal; Miss Florence Schreiner, Bloomington; Miss Carolyn Schertz, Bloomington; Miss Ethel Irwin, Bloomington; Miss Catherine Smith, Bloomington; Miss Fannie E. Woodbury, Bloomington;
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Miss Virginia Langley, Bloomington; Miss Charlotte Bender, Blooming- ton; Miss Mary Agnes Burke, Bloomington; Miss Mable Brust, Bloom- ington ; Miss Bessie Moon, Bloomington ; Miss Mary Sheridan, Bloomington.
List of Army nurses and others who served in camps in the States: Miss Alice Markland, Ft. Sam Houston. Bloomington.
Miss Emily Ransom. Bloomington.
Miss Ruth Maxwell, Walter Reid Hosp., D. C. Bloomington.
Miss Charlotte Ross, Camp Shelby, Miss. McLean, Ill.
Miss Eva Ely, Camp Shelby, Miss. Bloomington.
Miss Florence Johnson, Camp Shelby, Miss. Normal, Ill.
Miss Mary Mortimore, Camp Shelby and Ft. McHenry, Bloomington.
Miss Grace Gaines, Ft. Oglethorpe. Bloomington.
Miss Evelyn Worley, Ft. Oglethorpe. Bloomington.
Miss Sarah Wells, Camp Grant, Ill. Bloomington.
Miss Bertha Duff, Camp Grant. Bloomington.
Miss Anna Miller, Camp Grant. Bloomington.
Miss Edna Smiley, Camp Grant. Bloomington.
Miss Bertha Dunn, Camp Grant and Fort Snelling. Lexington. Miss Arne A. Allen, Camp Dix. Bloomington.
Miss Margaret O'Reilly, Camp Dix. Bloomington.
Miss Amy L. Clark, Camp Wadsworth, S. C. Bloomington.
Miss Myrtle Crum, Camp Gordon, Ga. Bloomington.
Miss Clara Mann, Walter Reid Hosp., Tacoma Park, D. C. Bloom- ington.
Miss Beulah Leuberman, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. and Walter Reid Hospi- tal, D. C. Bloomington.
Miss Amelia Hughes, Ft. Thomas, Ky. Bloomington.
Miss Opha Wren, Bloomington. A. E. F.
Miss Margaret Merwin, Bloomington. A. E. F.
McLean County Council of Defense .- One of the most important chapters in the history of the World War, is the part taken by the McLean County Council of Defense. It is but common justice to pay tribute to the patriotic body which performed its mission so unobtrusively and without ostentation and yet which was one of the most efficient and essen- tial organizations of the nation. In the vast work of unification, in the carrying from Washington to the people, the messages and measures of
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
the national government and in the transmission back to Washington of the moods and aspirations of a people at war, the council of defense sys- tem with its more than 180,000 units set down in every county of the country, played a definite, stirring, and highly fruitful part. Launched May 2, 1917, the Council of National Defense forged into action immedi- ately. The McLean County organization was as follows:
Mayor E. E. Jones, chairman; B. F. Hiltabrand, secretary; R. C. Baldwin, John Normile, W. T. Wolcott, D. G. Fitzgerald, J. J. Condon, and Elmo Franklin, directors. This board appointed the numerous com- mittees divided by chairmen.
County Food Administration-Only a few weeks after America's en- try into the war, the Bloomington Association of Commerce was asked by Harry A. Wheeler, Federal Food Administrator for Illinois, to appoint an Administrator who should select a committee of four to co-operate with him in representing our Government in handling all questions that might arise on this subject.
R. C. Baldwin, president of the Association of Commerce, went to Howard Humphreys along in September of 1917, stating that as he was looked upon as the dean of the grocery business in this section, he felt that Mr. Humphreys should accept this appointment, which he immedi- ately did, wiring Mr. Wheeler that he would give it the best attention possible and be very careful in the selection of the Conference Committee. Accordingly he made the following appointments of men who, though very busy in their affairs, accepted them and pledged their support and co-operation :
President David Felmley, of Normal University.
John J. Morrissey, Attorney.
D. O. Thompson, County Farm Advisor.
Mrs. J. M. Patterson, President of the Woman's Union Label League.
A few weeks later, Mr. Humphreys was asked to become a member of the State District Board. J. J. Thomassen was appointed county food administrator for McLean County. A county food administration was completed in February, 1918. After a few weeks of very active service, Mr. Thomassen was obliged to resign the position, and Mr. Hal M. Stone accepted the appointment of County Food Administrator. Charles O'Mal- ley gave him very valuable assistance in handling one of the most im-
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
portant features at that time, the question of sugar distribution, and regulations of the quantity to be sold. In this respect, Mr. O'Malley was acing as County Food Administrator and was sworn in as such.
These arrangements continued until December, 1918, when practi- cally all restrictions were withdrawn and the activities of the Food Ad- ministration ceased.
Fuel Administration-Restrictions on the use of fuel became more drastic from time to time during the late fall and early winter of 1917-18. The climax was reached when the order was issued for the closing of all manufacturing plants except those making food supplies for a period of five days, from Jan. 18 to 22, inclusive, of 1918. At the same time the order was issued that all retail stores except food stores should be closed one day each week for a period of five weeks. Monday was chosen as closing day.
With the work of the strenuous winter of 1917-18 past, Mayor Jones resigned from the chairmanship of the local fuel committee, and Spencer Ewing, who had served as secretary, was named in his place. His work in charge of the local situation continued through the spring of 1918, and plans were outlined for a campaign among the people for the next season which would prevent the fuel shortage of the previous winter. On May 1, 1918, Mr. Ewing was called to Chicago as director of state requirements in the Illinois office of the U. S. fuel administration. He served in that capacity until August 1 of that year, being in charge of fuel distribution for the State of Illinois outside of Chicago.
Bertram A. Franklin was named as head of the McLean County fuel administration when Mr. Ewing was called to Chicago. He continued the work until and after the close of the war, for the signing of the armis- tice did not end the existence of the fuel administration. Mr. Franklin finally received his instructions in January, 1919, to close his office on Feb. 1, which was accordingly done, and the fuel administration passed out of existence.
Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord-It was an honor to McLean County in connection with the World War that one of the men highest in the coun- cils of the military expedition in Europe was a man who had his birth and youth in this county, and who retained his friendship and acquaintances here, returning for a visit in person after he returned victorious from the
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
world struggle. He was Gen. James G. Harbord, who went to Europe in 1917 as chief of staff to Gen. John J. Pershing, the commander in chief of the A. E. F. and who later became the chief of the American Service of Supply, which kept the lines of fighting men fed with munitions and rations in the great campaigns which they carried on in the summer and fall of 1918.
General Harbord was born in Blooming Grove Township in 1866. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. George Harbord, well known McLean County residents a half century ago. The family later moved to Saybrook, thence to Missouri and then to Kansas, where General Harbord graduated from the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1886.
During his life in McLean County, General Harbord attended the Irv- ing school in Bloomington.
The Four-Minute Men-The committee of public information at Wash- ington on Oct. 15, 1918, appointed C. B. Hughes, a well-known attorney, as chairman of the Four-Minute Men of McLean County.
Medals for making more than 10 speeches during Liberty Loan Campaigns were given to James C. Riley, Edmund O'Connell and C. B. Hughes. C. B. Hughes spoke 142 different times in county during war on war subjects.
CHAPTER XXVI.
AMERICAN LEGION.
ORGANIZED HERE-NAMED IN HONOR OF LOUIS E. DAVIS-FIRST OFFICERS- INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP-STATE HEADQUARTERS IN BLOOMINGTON- OFFICERS-WOMEN'S AUXILIARY-POSTS IN MCLEAN COUNTY-WORLD WAR VETERANS.
Within fifteen months after the armistice in 1918, when the service men and women had returned from their war service, there were many posts of the American Legion organized in McLean County. The idea of this organization had its inception with a group of U. S. army officers in Paris in February, 1919, when they met to study the problems of the return of the soldiers to civil life.
Following the caucus of veterans in Paris, France, early in 1917, a similar caucus was held in St. Louis, Mo. Thomas Fitch Harwood, of Bloomington, was selected as delegate to the first caucus in this country. Immediately after his appointment he called for service men of this county to accompany him to St. Louis. Ben S. Rhodes and R. M. O'Con- nell attended the meeting. The aim and purpose of the American Legion was outlined and drawn into a temporary constitution, which was adopted.
The name "Louis E. Davis" was selected by a committee composed of T. F. Harwood, James D. Foster and Oscar G. Hoose. Their report included the following: "He was the first man of his class in camp to qualify as a reserve military aviator, and on the day of his death was then completing his bombing course, at that time the most advanced in aviation. At the time of his death he was preparing for overseas service. The remains of Louis E. Davis were buried with military honors in the
311
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Evergreen cemetery, Bloomington. It is fitting and proper that this organ- ization gathering within its ranks those who gave and sacrificed for the freedom of country and mankind should honor itself by the choice of such a name."
The first officers of the organization elected Jan. 15, 1920, were: Past Commander, Charles P. Kane; Commander, Harry L. Howell; Vice-Com- mander, Thomas Ivan Costigan; second Vice-Commander, Miss Grace Gaines ; Chaplain, Rev. William B. Hindman; Adjutant, James D. Foster; Sergeant-at-Arms, Albert S. Coomer; Executive Committee: Charles P. Kane, F. Carlyle Willey, Oscar G. Hoose, James Owen, Len L. Hogan and John J. O'Connor. In a later meeting Ralph Morath was elected finance officer. William B. Geneva was elected historian.
The Louis E. Davis Post, American Legion of Bloomington which occupies spacious quarters in the McBarnes' Memorial building, is the largest post in Illinois, having a roster of about 1,000.
The increase in membership of the Louis E. Davis Post is the result of the steadily growing current of sentiment in favor of the Legion in this locality, which began in 1919 when Charles P. Kane was appointed temporary commander, and continued to increase throughout the admin- istration of Dr. Harry L. Howell who served for two years. His leader- ship was supplemented by that of Fitch Harwood in 1922. It has been through the ceaseless and united effort of the entire membership that the membership campaign has been brought to such a sussessful cul- mination.
During the past three years, a great amount of effort, particularly through the service department, has been made in taking care of the claims against the government for compensation insurance, bonuses, voca- tional training and hospitalization for unfortunate members and also for ex-service men generally who happened to be in need.
During this period of time, although no record has been kept, from requests and claims have been recorded and thousands of dollars and innumerable cases of relief have been brought to the unfortunates through the efforts of the post.
Along similar lines the Post has expended thousands of dollars which it has been able to amass through the good will of the people, in render- ing service of various kinds, such as medicine, food, clothing, rent, etc., for ex-service men generally who have been found to be in need. The Post
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
has endeavored to exercise care and caution in the distribution of this fund and have assisted only those who were really deserving.
The McLean County Board of Supervisors have generously co-oper- ated, setting aside a fund annually for the assistance necessary in such cases. Hundreds of transients who became stranded here have been helped from time to time.
One of the outstanding achievements of the Post during the past year has been the acquisition of a burial ground at the Park Hill Ceme- tery which has been contracted by the Fost for the sum of approximately $2,300. The site is located at the southeast corner of the cemetery and will be set apart exclusively for the burial of ex-service men, who at the time of their death, are eligible to membership in the Legion. The burial space will accommodate 303 graves and a site for a monument. It is lo- cated in full view of the Illinois boulevard and is a most beautiful spot. Five bodies are already buried there.
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