USA > Illinois > Lee County > War history of Lee County, Illinois, 1917-1919 : a history of the part taken by the people of Lee County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1919 > Part 11
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The total money raised in the town for war loans was as follows:
First Liberty Loan $25,000 Third Liberty Loan . $45,900
Second Liberty Loan 50,000 Fourth Liberty Loan 58,450
Fifth Liberty Loan . $41,300
War Savings Stamps
Quota
$21,450.00 Amount Raised $22,145.00
The town was also a liberal subscriber to all funds such as Red Cross and the like. The first Y. M. C. A. campaign realized $600; for the Knights of Columbus $137 was raised. The first Red Cross subscription resulted in $2231.37 being collected, and the United War Work drive in the autumn of 1918, realized $2180, when the town's quota was but $1563.75.
The Red Cross local organization was very active and a vast amount of work was done by the women of the town. Mrs. Albert Daum was secretary of the organization, and attended to the greater part of the detail and management of the work, but was supported to the fullest extent by substantially all of the other women of the town.
As nearly as now can be ascertained forty-one men from the town of Alto entered the military service, and a considerable number of them became members of the Ameri-
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
can Expeditionary Forces, and were engaged in the great battles in France and Belgium. It has been impossible to ascertain the names and the military record of all of the men. This is to be regretted but a diligent attempt to secure all of this information has resulted in getting the names and records only as hereafter given.
The following is a list of men from the town with such other information as it has been possible to obtain at this time.
HARRY WATTS STRAWBRIDGE-Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Straw- bridge, was born Jan. 31, 1891. He enlisted in the Navy Dec. 5, 1917; was a member of Co. H 3d Bat., 4th Regt. at Great Lakes. He was taken sick with Spanish influenza and sent to Great Lakes Hospital and died the 27th of September, 1918.
PVT. L. E. SHERLOCK-Enlisted Oct. 1, 1918. Was in the student's Army Training corps and sent to De Paul University, Chieago, Oct. 3, 1918. While there he contracted influenza, and after a few days illness, died Oct. 11, 1918.
CHAPTER XXII Amboy's War Activities
BY P. M. JAMES
It is my privilege and pleasure to write the account of the activities of Amboy during the war period. Before proceeding to outline the various branches of work and making the list of our boys in the service, I would like to state briefly that there has been a very loyal and enthusiastic response to the country's demands and that the people of Amboy have done themselves credit, in the most robust manner they have shouklered the various obligations and they with millions of others have willingly sacrificed in order to promul- gate the great principle of truth and democracy.
These men were at the head of Amboy's war activities:
P. M. James member and secretary of the Lee County auxiliary of the State Council of Defense; member of the county executive committee; member of the Amboy township finance committee; county director of the Red Cross and of questionnaires.
F. N. Vaughan, chairman of the Aml oy finance committee; member of the Neighbor- hood committee; Red Cross, and chairman of the Amboy Liberty Loan committee, and member of State Council of Defense.
John M. Egan, member of the county's auxiliary of the State Council of Defense; member of the finance committee, State Council of Defense, Lee County; member of the county executive committee, and member and secretary of the Lee County exemption board.
Herbert Conner, chairman of the Food and Conservation Committee.
Dr. T. F. Dornblaser, on the examining board of the Lee County exemption board. Dr. W. L. Berryman, served in an excellent manner in caring for the teeth of our soldiers.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF WORK
Mrs. W. J. Keho was chairman of the committee on conservation and thrift of the Amboy township Women's Committee of the Council of National Defense. The other members of the committee were: Mrs. C. A. Zeigler, Miss M. J. Burnham, Mrs. B. L. Hewitt, Mrs. F. N. Vaughan, Mrs. J. P. Brierton and Mrs. B. Kiefer.
This committee made a thorough house to house canvass in the city and country districts securing signatures of housekeepers to the pledge cards issued by the United States food administration. Although many of the citizens had previously signed and forwarded the cards to the proper authorities, the committee mailed 257 of the pledges to the federal food administrator in Chicago on Nov. 21, 1918.
The work of this committee was well received by every housekeeper who also expressed a willingness to comply with any request our government thought necessary to make for the welfare of the nation.
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FINANCE CAMPAIGNS IN AMBOY TOWNSHIP
Quota $27,000.00
Amt. Sub. $27,000.00
No. Subscribers 840
Second Red Cross, May 20, '18
First Y. M. C. A., Nov. 11-18, '17
1,838.97
United War Work
3,002.40
4,866.89
876
War Savings Stamps
39,600.00
42,125.00
678
First Liberty Loan taken by Bank
59,700.00
Second Liberty Loan
19,750.00
Third Liberty Loan
45,500.00
84,600.00
Fourth Liberty Loan
104,000.00
119,550.00
AMBOY RED CROSS
The Amboy Red Cross unit was organized by Miss Mary Burnham with the help of Mrs. J. MeCleary of Dixon who came on April 30, 1917 upon invitation of Miss Burnham and presented the nature of the Red Cross work to the ladies. Following are the first offieers:
President-Miss Mary Burnham.
Secretary-Miss Mae Egan.
Committee-Mrs. Dornblaser, Miss Mae Egan, Miss M. J. Egan, Mrs. F. N. Vaughan.
On May 1, 1917 the Amboy unit was formed, the petition for membership being signed by F. N. Vaughan, president; R. W. Ruckman, treasurer; W. E. Clark, secretary; C. Aschenbrenner, A. G. Kauffman, H. H. Badger, P. M. James, W. V. Jones, W. J. Edwards, J. W. Pankhurst, J. O. Edwards, J. M. Egan and Rev. T. J. Cullen.
On May 8, 1917 the first meeting was held in G. A. R. hall which was donated for a meeting place. Mrs. Egan taught knitting and meetings were held each Tuesday and Friday afternoon. Mrs. Dornblaser was in charge of the work of making surgical dressings and hospital garments.
Activities of the Red Cross soon became noticeable. An exhibit of the work was shown in R. L. Jenkins' store window, and at the Lee County fair in August. Messrs. Green and Vaughan gave a registered calf to the Amboy unit which was sold at the county fair for $132.
On Sept. 1, 1917 Mrs. J. M. Egan gave the use of her home to the Red Cross and words eannot express the appreciation for this contribution to the success of the work of the auxil- iary.
In September 1917, the comfort kit committee was formed with Mrs. Carmichael, president, and Mesdames Epperson and Braman as members.
On Nov. 8, 1917 Christmas boxes containing kit, soeks, wristlets, were sent to the boys in France. In November 1917, boxes of used elothing were sent to Franee and Belgium. This work was in charge of Mrs. Maude Brierton.
Evening classes one evening a week were established in 1918. The average of em- ployed women at these meetings was twelve. At the day meetings the attendance was thirty.
The total number of surgical dressings was 26,225 and of hospital garments, 90.
The Amboy unit of the Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense was organ- ized in August, 1917 with Mrs. G. M. Fineh as chairman. The first meeting was held in September of that year. Between that time and the end of 1918, when the last ship- ment of clothing was made, this committee collected and sent to Chicago for shipment to France 1000 pounds of clothing.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
All of these garments were looked over, repaired and put in good wearable condition by this committee, and a large number of garments for children were made, some from partly worn garments and others from new goods purchased by the committee or contributed by others to its work.
WORK FOR THE FATHERLESS CHILDREN OF FRANCE
In the fall of 1918 when the council of national defense organized the work for the Fatherless Children of France, Mrs. G. M. Finch was again made chairman. Three circles of ten persons each, contributing $3.65, were formed. In addition through its influence the Lend A Hand Society was induced to form a circle. Four French children are being supported by Amboy people.
REV. JOSEPH BURROWS WRITES
One cannot refrain from expressing a strong note of gratitude for the results produced in our town and the vicinity thereof, for the fine results produced during the war strain and its abnormal, and at times, very tremendous obligations. Let us make mention of a few of the results.
1. United Loyalty to the government.
It is worthy of note that Amboy has gone over the top in all the drives for the Liberty Loan, the Red Cross and the United War Work fund. The very psychology of this has been productive of good locally. The vision of the people has been widened. The frater- nal spirit has been cultivated and the interests in the more international things of life and of men have stimulated to a phenomenal degree.
2. We are justly proud of our young men, both those who were able to go across and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those who have done such fine work in the United States.
No town has ever possessed a cleaner, more responsive, more intelligent group of young men than Amboy. In making this remark, the writer is cognizant of the fact that other towns have produced fine specimens of manhood, but we remind you that Amboy was on the map when it came to the production of efficient manhood.
3. Splendid home service by eitizens.
As a local pastor, I have been brought into touch with our people, and I have watched the untiring devotion of the people, along every legitimate and worth-while avenue of activity, for supporting the nation, and preserving the democracy which is so dear to us all. Business men, professional men, teachers, people of all religious beliefs and all social ranks have met on one common ground for the various kinds of activity and duty imposed upon them through the war.
This is not only gratifying, but it has produced a condition which will continue to serve the good of the town, and promote the best fellowship and strongest patriotism.
Joseph Burrows
WOMANS' COMMITTEE COUNCIL OF NATIONAL DEFENSE : AMBOY UNIT
On Wednesday Sept. 19, 1917, representatives from all the women's organizations in Amboy met at the home of Mrs. C. A. Zeigler to organize the Amboy unit of the Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense. The officers elected were: President, Mrs.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
C. A. Zeigler; Vice-President, Mrs. Chas. Kiefer; Secretary, Mrs. A. C. Kauffman; Treas- urer, Mrs. W. A. Green.
The various departments of work were organized as follows: Registration of Women, Mrs. Ara Morgan who was later succeeded by Miss M. J. Egan; Allied Relief, Mrs. G. M. Finch; Publicity, Miss Mary Burnham; Finance, Mrs. W. A. Green; Conservation and Thrift, Mrs. W. J. Keho; Red Cross, Miss M. J. Egan. Later three other lines of work were assumed: The Enrollment of Student Nurses was undertaken by Mrs. A. C. Kauffman; Child Welfare, Mrs. W. B. Vaughan, Mrs. T. J. Hodges and Mrs. E. P. Under- wood; the forming of circles of ten to support fatherless children of France was added to Mrs. Finch's work in Allied Relief. Reports from these various departments will follow.
In addition to the city organization, there was a chairman in every school district in the township whose co-operation aided very greatly in the work throughout the township. These were: Mrs. Lee MeCracken, later succeeded by Miss Winnie MeCracken; Mrs. G. P. Finch; Miss Emeline Welch, later succeeded by Miss Sadie Welch; Mrs. Frank Keller; Mrs. Frank Meeks; Mrs. John Honeycutt; Mrs. Henry Walters; Mrs. Herbert Conners; Mrs. Rose Morrissey.
DETAILED PERSONAL MENTION OF AMBOYS' SOLDIERS
EARL EWART EMERY-Private first class, Battery B 333rd Heavy Field Artillery, 86th Division, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Emery and was born at Amboy, Illinois, January 25, 1895, and was married to Miss Clara Weaver of Amboy, June 15, 1918. He was inducted into military service at Dixon, Ill., June 24, 1918, and sent to Camp Grant. He went to France with the 333d F. A., 86th Div.
Mr. Emery returned to his home in Amboy, and after a brief rest resumed his position with the First National Bank of that eity. On March 22, he was taken ill with tubercular peritonitis, which was con- tracted while in foreign service, and passed away May 14, 1919.
HARRY PHILIP POTHS -- Pvt., Born Oct. 18, 1893, Co. G 354 Inft., Amboy, Ill., Camp Grant, France. In Argonne-Meuse offensive; wounded by shrapnel, and died from infected wounds at Beau Desert Hospital, or Base Hospital No. 114, Nov. 3, 19IS. Buried in Beau Desert Cemetery, or A. E. F. Cemetery No. 27, in grave No. 104, about six miles from Bordeaux, France, November 14, 1918.
FREDERICK DILLOW-Son of C. P. and Laura Dillow. Was born at Kenney, Ill., July 23d, 1895, and in 1913 moved to Amboy. On September 2d 1918, he was inducted into service and sent to Camp Grant, and on Oct. 3, 1918, died of pneumonia and influenza.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
LONNIE ALSMAN- son of Wm. Thomas and Sarah Mann Alsman; born May 20, 1892, near Danville, Ky., and in early life moved to Lee County, residing near Amboy. He was called to military service May May 27. 1918. and sent to Camp Gordon, Ga., and placed in the 4) Co. 4th Reg .; transferred to July Auto Regt., 37 Co .; was sent overseas July 27, 1918, and then placed in 329th Inft. Co. M., in which company he was in at the time of his death, Oct. 2d, 1918, at Camp Lewan, near Paris, France. He was taken sick with pneumonia and sent to the hospi- tal and was buried at Camp Lewan. His Captain, in a letter to his parents, praised him very highly. He says: "He performed his military duty in a way which should bring eredit to his name, going through the strenuous daily routine with a smile, and bearing hardship without a murmur."
T. J. LAVELL-Pvt., Camp Grant Apr. 1, 1918. Camp Logan, Texas. Battery C 124 Field Artillery, Camp Merritt, N. J. Sailed from Hoboken May 27, 1918; England, June 8, 1918; France, June 12, 1918. In action St. Mibiel, Sept. 14, 1918: wounded by sheB Nov. 1, 1918, in battle at Romagne near Argonne Wood. Base Hospital. Orleans, France. Died as result of wounds Nov. 5, 1918; last resting place, Orleans, France. His sergeant writes-"You have every reason to be proud of your son for the stoic manner in which he bore his wound and wish to say that he proved himself every ineh a soldier."
The Thirty-Third Division American Expeditionary Forces.
Private Thomas J. Lavelle,
Battery C, 124th Field Artillery.
The report of your Commanding Officers testify to your gallantry and splendid per- formance of duty at Romagne, France, on November 1st, 1918.
Your conduct on that occasion has afforded me genuine gratification, and I have accord- ingly direeted that your name and action be inseribed on the ROLL OF HONOR of the "PRAIRIE DIVISION".
Geo. Bell, Jr.
Major General, Commanding 33rd Division.
CHAPTER XXIII
Account of Ashton's Activities During Period of World-War
By RALPH J. DEAN
The story of Lee County's part in the great World war would not be complete without recounting the work performed, sacrifices made, and funds loaned by the citizens of Ashton township, which geographieally is the smallest town in Lee County, yet in men sent to the service, and funds loaned, ranks among the top of the list of towns of the county.
With the declaration of war on Germany, in April 1917, a number of the young men of the community immediately volunteered their services in the defense of their country, little earing whether these services would be needed in this country or far across the sea.
At the outbreak of the war Henry Wallace was already serving in the United States Navy, the important organization which was responsible for carrying our boys so suceess- fully across the Atlantic.
When the eall came for volunteers the militia organizations of the country were also summoned, and it found a number of boys from this community ready to enlist, which was virtually the first opportunity. Henry Stephen, Raymond Allstedt, Sanford Hutchin- son, Paul Hurd and Forrest Paddock responded and went with the Illinois National Guard, which later became a part of the 33rd or Prairie division.
Others who were prompt to enlist were Earl Pieree who went with the Marines and was the first Ashton boy to arrive in France, and who fought on that memorable occasion at Chateau Thierry and Bellau Wood, when eight thousands of America's finest marines helped turn defeat into victory and started the Hun on his retreat towards Berlin. Others who enlisted early were Bremmer Hanson, who was also in the Second division with Earl Pierce, Dwight Hartzell, who enlisted in the Navy, and saw much service on the battleships Delaware and Wyoming, and many others. Dr. C. R. Root offered his services to the government a few days after the outbreak of hostilities and was commissioned a first Lieu- tenant, but owing to so many dentists having volunteered, Dr. Root was not called into active service for one year.
THE RED CROSS
What was accomplished by the men in battle was partly done by the efficient work of the Red Cross, and in this work there were many noble women of Ashton township who sacrificed most of their time for a period of a year and a half, that the work might be carried on in this township, and that we would do our part in furnishing supplies of various kinds for the comfort of the soldier boys.
The Ashton Chapter of the Lee County Red Cross was one of the first to be organized, being formed a few weeks after the outbreak of the war. The following officers were chosen :
Ralph J. Dean, President
Mortimer N. Glenn, Seeretary
Paul W. Charters, Treasurer
The first membership committee consisted of Mrs. O. W. Griffith, Mrs. E. H. Chadwick, Mrs. L. J. Sindlinger, Mrs. Clifford Knapp, Mrs. Martin Henert, and Mrs. George F. Schafer. Ashton township was eanvassed house to house for members, and in the space of a few days 307 members were secured.
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Work rooms for the Red Cross were secured in the High School building, which made very convenient and comfortable quarters. The working committee consisted of Mrs. Fred A. Richardson, Chairman, Mrs. George R. Charters, Mrs. J. C. Griffith, Mrs. M. L. English, Miss Bessie Andrus and Miss Mary Leslie.
Two meetings were held regularly each week, and special meetings were often held in order to get off some rush shipment of supplies which were badly needed.
In the line of hospital supplies and garments 332 were sent, relief clothing 25 large cases, Gun swipes 9,000. There were also many knitted garments given to the Ashton soldiers and a comfort kit was provided for each one.
When the sollier boys first went to Camp Grant in the fall of 1917 there was little or no bedding, and Ashton responded to the emergeney eall and sent two great automo- Lile loads of comforters to the boys, many housewives taking the comforts off of their own heds that the soldier boys would not suffer in their roughly built barracks which had not yet been supplied with heat.
The Ashton Red Cross was very active in the campaign in the interests of the Lee County Tulereulosis Sanitorium which proposition carried in this township by a very substantial vote.
At the re-election of officers in 1918 the following were elected: Ralph J. Dean, Presi- dent; G. A. Hamel, Vice-President ; Mrs. Lucy Bates, Secretary; and Miss Mary Charters, Treasurer, the latter serving in the place of her brother who was called to the service. These officers served throughout the remainder of the war and in the campaign for members in 1918, a total membership of 804 was seeured for that year. In 1919 after the armis- tice had been signed interest was not quite so strong, yet 450 of our citizens renewed their membership.
The work of the Red Cross only ceased in Ashton when orders came to make no more supplies as they would not be needed. While this was most welcome news, there was a little band of forty or fifty women of Ashton who were ready at a moment's call to res- pond to work, and who had no time for a thing that did not contribute to the winning of the war.
A great deal of eash was raised for the work of the Red Cross. Hundreds of dollars of donations were made by individuals and societies to the local chapter to purchase material There was a donation of $100 forwarded to headquarters, and in the one drive for Red Cross funds, the subscriptions amounted to $1,776.75.
The Liberty Loans
While the sons of the township were willing to go and fight, and the women were willing to work and save, the moneyed people of the township were just as willing to put their funds at the disposal of the government.
The First Liberty Loan came early in the war and the holding of government securities was something new to the people of this community. However no organization was perfeeted, and only $15,000 was subscribed, the bulk of which was taken by the Ashton Bank.
In the organization of the county which followed to raise funds, Nathan A. Petrie, the veteran President of The Ashton Bank was placed on the executive committee of Lee County and also made chairman of the finance committee of Ashton township. Although at 77 years of age, when men are usually shelved, he led the organization which made every drive for funds in Ashton township suecessful, and which gave Ashton township an honored name among the towns of the county.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Mr. Petrie associated with himself a number of men of the town, and organized each school district, and in the succeeding loans Ashton township made their subscriptions all in one day, and in the War Savings Stamp drive were the first over the top in the county and showed the citizens of Lee County a new method to use in the raising of large sums of money.
The amount of the subscriptions of the Second Liberty Loan was $55,000; the Third Loan $47,250, the Fourth Loan $57,300 and the Victory Loan $59,350, making a total of Liberty Bond subscriptions of $233,900.00. In the War Stamp sales Ashton township always made their quota, and numbers among its people several maximum subscribers. The total War Stamp sales made to people of Ashton township as reported by Postmaster Joseph A. Roesler is $30,125.00.
The Y. M. C. A.
Ashton was personally represented in the work of the Y. M. C. A. Fred A. Richardson volunteered for overseas service with the Y. M. C. A. and sailed from New York on June 19th, 1918, arriving in London, England, July 2nd, where he was assigned to duty connected with the Y. M. C. A. warehouses of that city and establishing area warehouses throughout the kingdom, later having management and being general travelling representative of the same.
In the first drive for funds for the Y. M. C. A. over $1,800 was raised in this township to carry on the work. The second drive was known as the United War Drive, including with the Y. M. C. A. six other kindred organizations, and the amount of subscriptions in this drive was $1864.27.
Financial Report.
First Liberty Loan $15,000.00
First Y. M. C. A. drive 1,800.00
Second Liberty Loan 55,000.00 United War Drives 1,864.27
Third Liberty Loan
47,250.00
Fourth Liberty Loan 57,300.00
$3,664.27
Victory Loan
59,350.00
War Saving Stamps
30,125.00
$264,025.00
BENJAMIN G. SCHAFER-age 22, and son of Mr. and Mrs. George F. Schafer volunteered for service in the navy at Chicago June 7, 1918 and after being given training at the Great Lakes Naval training station was sent to sea as a sailor on the U. S. S. Pittsburgh and was assigned to duty along the South American coast. When the epidemic of influenza broke out he with hundreds of bis comrades aboard the ship fell a victim to the disease which later developed into bronchial pneumonia which caused his death October 20, 1918. He was buried at Rio Janerio, Brazil.
('HRYSTAL WITZEL-age 27, a farm laborer, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Witzel was selected for service in the infantry and was sent to Camp Grant where he was assigned to Co. M, 341st Regiment, 86 Division where he was given his training. He was promoted to the rank of cor- poral and went overseas with the division in the summer of 1918. He arrived first in England and was later transferred to France. He was transferred out of his division and assigned to Co. B, 310 Regiment, 78th division and saw active service in France. He was killed in action Octo- ber 20, 1918, and was buried upon the field of honor.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
EARL H. PALSGROVE-a farm laborer, residing in the west part of Ashton township was selected for service among the first from Lee County, and in September 1917 was sent to Camp Grant where he was assigned to Co. M, 342nd Regiment. He was united in marriage November 24th of that year to Miss Aureola Roe of Franklin Grove. Private Palsgrove was taken ill Saturday evening, February 16th, 1918, and passed away soon after midnight, the cause of his death being attributed to the bursting of a blood vessel. The funeral services were held at Franklin Grove Wednesday morning February 20, conducted by Rev. Fred A. Graham, pastor of the Methodist Church, An honor squad from his company attended the funeral and he was buried with full military honors. Private Palsgrove was born in Pennsyl- vania and attained the age of 27 years. Besides his wife he is survived by his parents.
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