USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Shelby County in the World War > Part 6
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The women of the county were not organized for this work until the Second Liberty Loan drive. Then Mrs. O. W. Walker of Shelbyville was appointed County Chairman, and because of her fine qualities of leadership was retained in that post until the close of the Victory Liberty Loan.
Immediately upon her induction into the work she appointed her township chairmen, a list of whom appears below, and who for the most part served through all the loans. Unless otherwise indicated, their service was given in the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth loans. Where figures appear after a name, they indicate the loans in which such person served as township chairman. The list follows:
Oconee-Mrs. Ben P. Allen.
Herrick-Mrs. C. W. Kesler.
Cold Spring-Mrs. Stevanna Corley.
Tower Hill-Mrs. E. G. Foster.
Rural-Mrs. E. C. Eberspacher.
Flat Branch-Mrs. M. A. Duncan.
Moweaqua-Mrs. Ralph W. Synder, 2, 3, 4; Mrs. Elsum Hedges, 5.
Dry Point-Mrs. A. Ward Moore.
Lakewood-Mrs. Fred Brandt.
Rose-Mrs. Clarence Tice. Ridge-Miss Dora Donnell.
Pickaway-Mrs. Homer Hunter, 2, 3; Miss Laura Sy- fert, 4, 5.
Penn-Mrs. Harvey G. Stewart.
Holland-Miss Ada May Robinson, 2, 3, 4; Mrs. R. P. Dearing, 5.
Clarksburg-Mrs. John Hickman.
Shelbyville-Mrs. C. E. Walker. First Ward, Mrs. Harry E. Cook; Second Ward, Mrs. Irvin Waggoner; Third Ward, Miss Estelle Gregory ; Fourth Ward, Mrs. John D. Miller.
Okaw-Mrs. John Cribbett.
Todd's Point-Mrs. E. S. Combs.
Prairie-Mrs. A. C. Mautz.
Richland-Mrs. Lizzie Norris.
Windsor-Mrs. C. C. Firebaugh.
Sigel-Mrs. John A. Berchtold, 2, 3, 4; Mrs. Eva Big- ler, 5. Big Spring-Mrs. John C. Quinn.
Ash Grove-Miss Edna Storm. .
The work of selling bonds was new to the women, and a great many were reluctant to enter upon that work. However, they cast their fears aside for the sake of the "boys" and their country, and their united effort resulted in the sale of $116,750.00 in bonds of the Second issue.
THE THIRD LOAN
In the Third drive the women had more confi- dence in themselves, and the people in general began to realize that women could really sell bonds. The organization was extended to school district com- mittees and by solicitation and house-to-house can- vass $329,850.00 worth of bonds were sold.
In this drive, in addition to the above organiza- tion, Miss Clare Shoaff and Mrs. W. C. Kelley were made treasurer and chairman of the Speakers' com- mittee, respectively, and Mrs. J. T. Knox of Mode,
Page Thirty-Seven
Mrs. Henry Clausen of Fancher, Mrs. Ed Warner of IIenton and Mrs. Herrick Huffer of Middlesworth were appointed vice chairmen.
Having to overcome a little natural prejudice against the participation of women in the selling of bonds, the feminine forces had a little harder work than otherwise would have been the case, but never- theless immediate results were forthcoming and early in the campaign Chairman Walker was notified from district headquarters that among the counties of the district Shelby was in second place, Champaign alone leading her. Determined not to be displaced, unless to move to the head of the column, the women permitted no other county to excel them and closed the campaign with the second high subscription and serving as an important factor in placing the district second only to Chicago and Cook County.
That the women were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of service was strikingly illustrated in this drive by the fact that with weather and roads so bad that neither horse-drawn nor motor-propelled ve- hicle could be used, the women toured their territory on foot in order that the work be not neglected. The results of such devotion show in the $329,850.00 total of sales.
THE FOURTH LOAN
When the Fourth Liberty Loan was launched, the plans for selling the bonds were changed. The first day of the drive was designated as Volunteer Day. Committees of men and women met in the polling places, but the men of the county were so busy in their fields and places of business that prac- tically three-fourths of the volunteer work was done by women. Volunteer Day bringing the sale of only half of the quota, a house-to-house canvass was made and resulted in the sale of $113,000.00 additional bonds, a total of $696,700.00 for the women's com- mittee. The men's committee completed the work and the county reached its quota and went over the top with its full quota, $1,373,600, and an additional $19,850.
An interesting incident of this drive is seen in the fact that in Holland township one woman canvassed the forty-nine families in her territory and procured forty-nine subscriptions-a 100 per cent. canvass.
SHELBY COUNTY WOMAN'S VICTORY LIB- ERTY LOAN ORGANIZATION
The woman's organization for the Victory Loan campaign was as thorough and effective as that of the men. It extended from the central office in Shel- byville into every township, school district and neighborhood of the county, with 500 women actively engaged in soliciting subscriptions, creating senti- ment, strengthening the hands of the men and in every way possible throwing their influence to the support of the campaign. The organization was as follows:
Mrs. O. W. Walker, County Chairman.
Mrs. Charles Igo, County Secretary.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Mrs. B. P. Dearing Mrs. Wm. S. Middlesworth
Mrs. W. C. Kelley Mrs. H. J. Hamlin
\1rs. T. B. Shoaff Mrs. Gus Klauser
Mrs. J. E. Kieffer Mrs. K. A. llite
Mrs. E. W. Hamer Miss Katherine Fitzgerald Mrs. T. B. Shoaff Miss Jennie Pollard
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Miss Clare B. Shoaff, Chairman
Miss Mary Seaman
Miss Lillian Gregory
Mrs. II. E. Monroe Mrs. Isaac Nutt
Miss Bessie Wilson Mrs. J. L. Iloover
Mrs. R. R. Parrish
Mrs. Adolph Reiss
Mrs. Geo. L. Richardson Mrs. C. T. DeMonbrun
Mrs. Frank Parker
SPEAKERS COMMITTEE
Miss Georgie 'T. Hopkins, Chairman
Mrs. Joe White Mrs. S. S. Crook
Mrs. Birney S. Hite
Mrs. Frank (). Bisdee
Mrs. James Shoaff
Mrs. S. B. Carr
Mrs. W. E. Lowe
Miss Allie Record
Mrs. Fanna Feitscher
Miss Olive Eiler
MIrs. W. C. Kelley FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMMITTEE
Miss Bertha Reiss, Chairman, Shelbyville.
Miss Lydia Faster, Strasburg.
Mrs. J. E. Kieffer, Shelbyville.
Miss Ada May Rohinson, Shumway.
Miss Rose Streng, Sewardson.
Mrs. John Kaufman, Sigel.
PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMITTEE Miss Effa Steward, Chairman
Miss Fannie Davis Miss Katherine Patterson
Miss Avis Vincent
Also the teachers in the 168 school districts of the county.
"FLYING SQUADRON" AUTO COMMITTEE Mrs. Ben Sturgis, Chairman Mrs. C. T. DeMonbrun Mrs. Elmer Weakley
Mrs. Will D. Lumpp MIrs. Fern Tallman
Mrs. II. Baird Whitaker Miss Bernardine Middlesworth
DECORATING COMMITTEE Mrs. Chas. R. Mertens, Chairman
Mrs. R. T. Eddy Mrs. J. L. Hoover
TOWNSHIP AND SCHOOL DISTRICT CHAIRMEN Township and school district chairmen were named, as fol- lows:
OCONEE Mrs. Ben Allen, Chairman
Mrs. Sarah Hill
Mrs. Arthur McTaggart
Mrs. A. II. Hamilton Mrs. Fred Green
Mrs. Ben Price Mrs. Charles Price
Mrs. Harry Hinton AIrs. Bertha Vorhees
Mrs. Hugh Porter Mrs. R. O. Hawkins
Mrs. Sadie Hutchins
HERRICK
Mrs. Mary Kesler, Chairman
Mrs. Charles Moon
Mrs. Anna Grey
Mrs. Simon Syfert Mrs. Latimer
Mrs. William Oare Mrs. G. W. Sollis
Mrs. Jennie Adams
COLD SPRING Mrs. Stevanna Corley, Chairman
Miss Maggie Shaw Mrs. Grover Kelley
Mrs. George Fankboner
Miss Vivian Fletcher
Miss Mabel Kelley Miss Mabel Corley
Mrs. Chloe Simpson Mrs. Arthur Wagner
TOWER HILL
Mrs. E. G. Foster, Chairman
Mrs. Carrol Smith
Mrs. Jennie Montgomery
Mrs. C. R. Eiler
Miss Mary Peek
Mrs. A. L. Vincent
Mrs. A. B. Syfert
Miss Eva Rhodes
Mrs. Charles Wolf
Mrs. Wm. Gillespie
Mrs. Esther Lowe
Mrs. Bert Darst Mrs. Blanche Eddy
Mrs. Helen Eiler
Mrs. Olive Roberts
Mrs. Lucy Cannon Mrs. Hazel McKittrick
RURAL
Mrs. Edw. Eberspacher, Chairman
Mrs. Sid Potter
Miss Margaret Mueller
Mrs. Elmer Potter
Miss Freda Metzger
Mrs. Roy Wright
Mrs. Clarence Wagner
Mrs. Charles Clark
Mrs. Mack Harper
Mrs. George Brownback Mrs. Sam Tilley
FLAT BRANCH Mrs. Aubrey Duncan, Chairman Full list not available
MOWEAQUA Mrs. Elsum Hedges, Chairman
Mrs. Will Tolson Mrs. C. A. Davis
Mrs. John Myers Mrs. D. H. Palmer
Mrs. B. F. Hudson Mrs. Delmar Parks
Mrs. A. D. Kyner Mrs. Blanche Baker
MIrs. Richard Tolson LAKEWOOD Mrs. Fred Brandt, Chairman
Mrs. Ivy Hall Mrs. Emma B. Carnes
Mrs. Clyde Foor Mrs. Maurice Fluckey
Mrs. E. B. Doner Mrs. Bessie Kiefling
Miss Nellie Row
Mrs. Anna Austin
Page Thirty-Eight
4
THE TIME HAS COME TO CONQUER OR SUOMIT." TOR U'S THEME IS DUT ONE CHOICE. WE HAVE MADE IT-
BUY A BOND OF THE 2=LIBERTY LOAN HELP WIN THE WAR
My Daddy Bought Me a Government Bond THIRD LIBERTY LOAN Did Yours ?
YOUR DUTY Bgy
Our Daddy is fighting at the Front for You- Back him up- Buy a United States Can't Band of the 2ยช LIBERTY LOAN 9/ 1917
REMEMBER ! THE MAC OF LOCRITHAT SUPPORTIT!
OVER THE TOP OR YOU
ARE YOU 100% AMERICAN? PROVE IT! BUY U.S GOVERNMENT BONDS THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
ASGovernment Bonds LIBERTY LOAN
THIRD LIBERTY LOAN
DRY POINT Mrs. . A. Ward Moore, Chairman
Mrs. Milton Hunter Mrs. James Mitchell Mrs. 11. Funk Mrs. Otto Hall
Mrs. John Dowell
Mrs. Nellie Myers
Mrs. Mida Banning
Mrs. Electa Hennike
Mrs. Addie IIunter
ROSE Mrs. Clarence Tice, Chairman
Mrs. Geo. Augenstein
Miss Phoebe Ruff
Mrs. Theo Roessler
Miss Clara Ruch
Mrs. Cal Foor
Mrs. Frank Warner
Mrs. August Chapman Mrs. Peter Luck
Mrs. Frank Stillwell WIrs. Mansfield
RIDGE Miss Dora Donnel, Chairman
Miss Bessie Fritz Mrs. Ray Killam
Miss Ruth Ilenry
Mrs. Pearl Hinterly
Miss Myrtle Cole Mrs. C. S. Mattson
Mrs. E. D. Barnett Mrs. Claude Small "Trs. Ural Runkle
Mrs. Charles Ilawk
Mrs. Charles Wolf
PICKAWAY Aliss Laura Syfert, Chairman
Mrs. Walter Conley Mrs. Wm. C. Keilman Miss Edna Gordon Mrs. F. A. Atkinson
Mrs. 1I. M. Pogue Mrs Logan Pogue Miss Nellie Moore
PENN Mrs. Ilarvey Stewart, Chairman
Mrs. John Jones Mrs. E. R. Harper Miss Blanche Lindley HOLLAND Mrs. R. P. Dearing, Chairman
Mrs. Retha Bullington Mrs. A. R. Riechel
Mrs. Cyrus Giles Mrs. Will Marsh
Mrs. Bert Slifer Mrs. L. A. Ball
Mrs. Nobel Slifer Mrs. R. A. Groves
Mrs. Edw. Beck Mrs Charles Hopkins
Mrs. Lloyd Musser
CLARKSBURG
Mrs. John Hickman, Chairman
Mrs. J. W. Prosser
Mrs. J. A. Hickman
Mrs. R. R. Smith Mrs. 11. II. Lantz
Mrs. J. N. Wortman Mrs. J. K. Hoagland
SHELBYVILLE
MIrs. O. W. Walker, Chairman
Mrs. John D. Miller
Mrs. Harry E. Cook Mrs. B. W. Hudson
Mrs. Irv Waggoner
Miss Estelle Gregory 'Irs A. E. Douthit Mrs. Cuba Martz
OKAW
Mrs. John Cribbet, Chairman
Mrs. Frank Brown Mrs. Fred Olmstead Mrs. Minnie Chisnhall
Mrs. Lindsey Mrs. Alice Roberts Mrs. Sam Francisco TODDS POINT
Mrs. E. S. Combs, Chairman
Miss Mabel Combs Mrs. Belle Dehruler Mrs Walter Hudson
Mrs. Sarah Yantis Miss Leta Parr
RICHLAND Mrs. Lizzie Norris, Chairman Mrs. Frank Shuck Miss Iva Robb
Miss Grace Turner Miss Lydia Faster
Mrs. Ilomer Turney Mrs. Ida Weber Miss Alma Schaffer
PRAIRIE Mrs. A. C. Mautz, Chairman
Mrs. Elmer Pappert Mrs. . 1. W. Kearney
Mrs. Emory Hobson Mrs. S. E. Roley
Mrs. J. II. Arnold Mrs. Frank Falk
Mrs. Ilerman Appelt Mrs. W. F. Rincker Mrs. Wm. Krumreich
Mrs. Orty Webner
Mrs. John Elbert
WINDSOR Mrs. Clint Firehaugh, Chairman
Mrs. Grant Olson Mrs. Tom Anderson Mrs. Luther Hennigh Miss IIester Gaddis Miss Edith Rogers BIG SPRING Mrs. John C. Quinn, Chairman
Miss Leota Storm
Aliss Landa McClory
Mrs. Fred Anderson Miss Amelia Mettendorf
Miss Gertrude McClory Mrs Claude Beck
Miss Mary Staab
ASH GROVE Miss Edna Storm, Chairman
Mrs. Charles Crockett Mrs. Oma Weakley Mrs. Rohert Burrell Mrs. Fred Chamberlain
Miss Freda Linville Mrs. Mabel Abercrombie
Mrs. Cleve Purkiser Miss Emma Bridges Mrs. Joe Curry
In the city of Shelbyville the solicitors were, namely :
WARD NO. 1
Mrs. Geo. L. Richardson
Mrs. William Baum
Mrs. R. T. Eddy
Mrs. Gertrude Clark
Mrs. W. I1. Wyckoff Mrs. Fred Klauser Miss Olive Eiler
WARD NO. 2
Mrs. E. N. Herron Mrs. C'has. W. Waggoner
Mrs. Adolph Reiss
MIrs. Ralph B. Lantz
Mrs. Homer Fleming Mrs. J. C. Willard
Mrs. K. A. Hite Mrs. Gus Klauser Mrs. Harry Gundelfinger
WARD NO. 3
Miss Delia Fitzgerald
Mrs. E. W. 1lamer
Miss Katherine Pauschert Mrs. Henry Pauschert
Mrs. Cecil DelIonbrun VIrs. Joe White
Miss Lois Fisher
WARD NO. 4
Mrs. John D. Miller Mrs. Chas. R. Mertens
Miss Mary Fox Mrs. R. R. Parrish
Mrs. Will D. Lumpp Miss Edna Mae Miller
Mrs. Walter Klauser Mrs. II. Russell Brown
Mrs. Emma B. McCormick Mrs. Ed R. Knecht
Mrs. 1 .. II. Runkel Mrs. Lillie Rile
Mrs. Edgar Leach Vrs V. Il. Robertson
Miss Estelle Igo
In other school districts of the township the solicitors, all of whom did splendid work, were, namely :
Dist. No. 83-Mrs Grant Forsythe. Dist. No. 85-Mrs. Bev Hudson, Miss Tisha Vest. Dist. No. 86-Mrs. A. E. Douthit, Mrs. D. E. Elliot. Dist. No. 87-Mrs. Cuba Martz. Dist. No. 89-Mrs. Paris Brown, Mrs. Ethel Durst.
Without the blare of trumpets, the woman's or- ganization went to work early, perfected plans and put them into such splendid execution that the wom- en were an important factor in the success that attended the campaign. The influence of the organ- ization was felt in the remotest corners of the county, where letters and literature were sent in abundance and every assistance desired was given. The wom-
Page Thirty-Nine
Remember Your First Thrill . AMERICAN LIBERTY
2 Liberty Loand11977
Mrs. Lillie Wagner
Mrs. Anna Askins
Miss Edna IIendricks
Mrs. Walter Roney
Mrs. Guy Cox
en's committee was charged with the distribution of all literature in this campaign, and virtually a sub- station of the local post office was established in the home of the county chairman, who with her assist- ants worked indefatigably and with wonderful ef- fectiveness. At one time alone, eleven mail sacks of Victory Loan publicity matter was dispatched to the outlying points of the county.
A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING
Only at the urgent request of Mrs. Walker, who declares it to have been a potent factor in the suc- cess of the Victory Liberty Loan campaign, is men- tion made here of "A Psalm of Thanksgiving," writ- ten by the chairman of the publicity committee and used extensively not only in Shelby County but by the district, state and national organizations, as well. Mrs. Walker used three editions of the poster, and sent copies of it to state and national headquarters. which upon its receipt asked permission to use it. This was granted. Mrs. Walker states that hun- dreds of these posters, each accompanied by a sub- scription blank, were sent to Shelby County people who were known to have bought no bonds, and that in nearly cvery instance the application came back with a generous subscription. The "Psalm of Thanksgiving" is reproduced on another page, also at Mrs. Walker's request.
In the official report of the Illinois Woman's Lib- erty Loan Committee, favorable mention was made of the splendid work of Mrs. Walker and her organ- ization, of Miss Bertha Reiss, director of the For- eign Language committee, of Miss Lydia Faster of Strasburg, who sold $11,000 worth of bonds among people of a foreign tongue, and of the "Psalm of Thanksgiving," which was mentioned as "a very appealing piece of propaganda."
The women of the county worked with such devo- tion that at the end of the campaign $566,440 of the county's quota of $1,066,950, all of which was sub- scribed, was directly attributable to their solicita- .tion.
One incident illustrative of the sacrifice and ear- nest service of the women, was in the action of two young girls in the northern part of the county, who walked a distance of ten miles in distributing bills, urging people to come to their school house on allotment day and buy bonds.
The highest individual bond purchase recorded was by one certain woman, who evaded the treasury department's rule of only $10,000 to a person, and bought four blocks of $10,000 each.
Also, the highest individual bond sale recorded in the county was made by a Moweaqua woman, who interviewed a farmer before he got to the bank with the money he had just received in the sale of a farm, and sold him $50,000 worth of bonds.
The total sales by the women in the four loans amounted to the magnificent sum of $1,709,740.00.
WOMAN'S GLEE CLUB
Notable in the Victory Loan campaign, as it had been in other war work drives, was the work of the Woman's Glee Club. It was composed for the most part of working women and girls and a few students, who responded cheerfully to calls from all parts of the county, and sang the spirit of giving into the hearts of the public. Though many of them had to be up and at work or study early in the morning, they faltered not in their whole-hearted service. Three nights in succession they drove a distance of more
than thirty miles after supper to sing at public rallies and loan meetings, not reaching their homes until 2 o'clock A. M.
Mrs. Walker has the distinction of being one of only seven women chairmen in the entire state of Illinois who "carried on" through the four loans to the finish, and great credit is due her for the fear- lessness, enthusiasm, inspiration and effectiveness of her work and methods. In signal recognition of her splendid service, she .received the following com- munication from Carter Glass, Secretary of the Treasury:
"Washington, July 31, 1919.
"My Dear Mrs. Walker:
"The service given by the women of the United States to the work of the Liberty Loans has consti- tuted one of the great factors in the winning of the war. To this service, made possible by the earnest, continuous and self-sacrificing labor of the local chairmen, the Treasury Department owes inestimable gratitude: and, although no words of mine will ade- quately compensate for tasks so well and unselfishly performed, it is my pleasure and privilege, in behalf of the Department, to offer you appreciation of your service as well as congratulations upon the success of your efforts in the crisis of our national life.
"Sincerely yours, "CARTER GLASS."
The five hundred women of the organization did their work cheerfully and gladly, and with no desire for credit or honor. It was done as a Thank Offer- ing to the Shelby County boys who went "over there" and by their courage and bravery and self- sacrifice helped to bring the war to a speedy close. thus saving the lives of our children and protecting our homes.
They Did Their Most
The mettle of American women and the fine spirit of co-operation with which they assumed the burdens of their men are strikingly and concretely illustrated by the activities of a Shelbyville girl, Miss Ethel Headley, of whom brief mention is made that she may be taken as an example of myriads of other women in Shelby County and throughout the nation. During the summer of 1918 Miss Headley, in addition to household duties, mowcd 25 acres of hay. When it was properly cured she raked it into windrows and put it in cocks. When it was ready to store, she loaded the entire crop on the wagon, and operated the hayfork which carried it to the mow. Later she helped cut and shock a large field of oats. Furthermore, Miss Headley gave consider- able time to direct war work in various depart- ments of service, and had several thousand dollars of War Savings Stamp sales to her credit.
Helped the Canteen
The patriotic women of Windsor and Ash Grove drew favorable attention to themselves by their splendid co-operation in the beneficent work of the Canteen, established at Mattoon and conducted there for many months in the interest of the "boys" who passed through that city. Regular donations of articles of food for distribution to the soldiers went forward from the Windsor and Ash Grove women, and their service was deeply appreciated by every person concerned.
Page Forty
C. E. BOLINGER Chairman United War Work
L. F. AKENHEAD Chairman Y. M. C. A.
J. J. WARD Treasurer of Both
The Y. M. C. A.
Among the first of the many "drives" for the raising of war funds was that of the Y. M. C. A. Initial steps for the first campaign of this depart- ment of the war work were taken Sunday, Nov. 4, 1917, in a conference of Decatur, Moweaqua and Shelbyville men. Judge A. J. Steidley and D. Leslie Davis were temporary chairman and temporary sec- retary, respectively.
Permanent organization was effected at a con- ference and banquet on Friday evening. Nov. 9, when 65 representative men of Shelbyville and the county at large participated in the preliminary work and threw themselves definitely into the campaign. Rev. Ira Allen of LaGrange unfolded the purpose of the nation-wide "Y" drive, declaring it to be to give the American soldier boys a chance to be clean and to be happy-to do for them in the field what we would like to do for them at home-furnish them clean, healthful amusement and recreation. Mr. G. H. Cokendolpher of Mattoon and Mr. R. C. Augus- tine of Decatur also delivered brief addresses.
Mr. H. S. Hotton of Chicago, business manager of the campaign in Illinois, gave valuable counsel in the organization work, in which Mr. L. F. Akenhead was elected county chairman and Mr. C. T. DeMon- brun county secretary.
It was decided to prosecute the work in Shelby County through community auxiliaries, rather than through township organizations, and in line with this plan the following chairmen were named:
E. N. Herron, Shelbyville.
W. K. Andrews, Moweaqua. Ralph Schwartz, Findlay. Clyde Howe, Cowden. Robert Brownback, Tower Hill. Edwin H. Faster, Strasburg. J. H. Eddy, Lakewood. John C. Quinn, Trowbridge. E. D. Kerr, Westervelt. Wm. G. Furr, Rose.
Each chairman selected a committee of several members for his community, to cover the immediate and contiguous territory, and the work was carried
on by personal solicitation and through public meet- ings, in which "flying squadrons" of speakers who were drafted for the work delivered addresses nightly during the week of the intensive drive-Nov. 11-18. The first speaking campaign was on Sunday, Nov. 11, when speakers from the organization spoke from practically every pulpit in Shelby County.
During the week churches, school houses and other public buildings were thrown open, and men from the county seat and elsewhere used their best endeavors to inspire the people with the spirit of giving, to the end that the county's quota of $7,500 of the Nation's $35,000,000 be raised. Some men spoke as often as three times in one evening, hurry- ing from one point to another while local chairmen remained behind to reap where the speakers had sown.
The Woman's Glee Club of Shelbyville, which did heroic work throughout the war period, threw itself into the "Y" campaign with singular devotion, and sang at many points in the county. The Stras- burg band did good service in helping Chairman Faster put Richland township "over the top," playing nightly during the week at the school houses, and even serving at two different points on some of the evenings.
Chairman Akenhead brought the campaign to a successful finish in a big jubilee at the First Meth- odist church in Shelbyville on Monday evening, Nov. 19, when the happy consummation of putting Shelby County "over the top" with an exceess subscription of several thousand dollars was celebrated in a Jubi- lee service. The Shelbyville orchestra, the Big Four Quartet and the Woman's Glee Club furnished inspir- ing music, R. C. Augustine and two or three other business men of Decatur delivered addresses, the au- dience was given another opportunity to contribute to the fund, and everyone was in a happy mood.
It was announced by Chairman Akenhead that the county's quota had been oversubscribed, the total donations at that time being $9,700.68. Later sub- scriptions brought the grand total to about $11,000, an oversubscription of about 331/3 per cent. Notable
Page Forty-One
excess subscriptions were in Moweaqua, where with a quota of $426, the sum of $2,004 was given, and in Shelbyville, where with a quota of $1,000, a total of $2,223 was subscribed.
The tabulated report from the county at large was as follows:
Township
Quota
Ash Grove
$
276
Subscribed $ 643.00
Dry Point
315
116.50
Flat Branch
201
372.25
Holland
446
384.50
Lakewood
252
210.00
Moweaqua
426
2,004.00
Okaw and Todd's Point
584
771.00
Penn
126
478.00
Pickaway
184
433.65
Richland
326
404.35
Ridge
259
350.00
Rose
316
227.00
Shelbyville
1,000
2,223.00
Tower Hill
434
588.30
Prairie
496
495.13
Total (as reported) $9,700.68
Just after the campaign closed, Windsor sent in nearly $1,000, and $126 came from St. Mary's church, north of Shelbyville, where a group of Moweaqua men held a meeting on the night of the jubilee meet- ing in Shelbyville, thus bringing the grand total well up toward $11,000.
United War Work Campaign
Shelby County's greatest beneficent project, from a monetary standpoint, was the raising of more than $40,000 for the United War Work.
In the fall of 1918 a movement was started to raise a fund of $112,000,000 as a Second Y. M. C. A. War Fund, and a district of five counties, of which Shelby was one, was assigned $135,000 of this amount. However, before the date of the drive, which was designed to follow the Fourth Liberty Loan, was determined and its machinery perfected, the leaders of the several organizations that were giving support to war work conceived the idea of uniting the funds and going before the people of the country with a request for a huge sum, amounting to $170,500,000, to be distributed among the various or- ganizations, as follows:
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