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 5
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Armington, Treasurer. None of this money can be used for any purpose except by the unanimous approval of the following Committee duly appointed, viz., Mrs. John G. Ralston, Mrs. Douglas G. Harvey, Mrs. A. P. Armington, Mrs. W. E. Wuerth, and Mrs. W. C. MeWethy.
The above report is respectfully submitted by Gracia L. Armington, Treasurer. (Mrs. A. P. Armington).
Any Review of the accomplishments of the Woman's Committee Council of National Defense would be sadly incomplete without special mention of the service performed by Mrs. W. E. Wuerth, Mrs. A. P. Armington, Mrs. W. C. MeWethy, Mrs. W. F. Strong, Miss Ada Decker, Miss Mary Morrison, Miss Rosanna Dement, Miss Annetta Dimiek and Mrs. A. H. Nichols, the aforesaid ladies having been Chairman of the various Com- mittees. It is one thing to give up an occasional hour each week in some patriotic work, but when it comes to dedicating the larger part of one's time day after day-week after week, to the services of a great cause, that represents the true measure of noble woman- hood. Other Chairman of Committees that showed utmost zeal in their work were Miss Helen Brown, Mrs. Harry C. Warner, Miss Florence Noble, Mrs. E. A. Clevidence, Mrs. John M. Batchelder, Miss Mary Wynn, Mrs. W. G. Kent, Mrs. T. J. Gullion, and Mrs. F. D. Lindstrom.
As we glance in our mind's eye over the almost insurmountable obstacles and recall the many serious problems that had to be met and solved by our Executive Committee, and consider how loyally, persistently and courageously all of these women worked, our hearts are filled with admiration, love and gratitude.
It is far from our thought to exaggerate in the least the magnitude of the work aecom- plished or the efforts put forth by our women, singly or collectively, nor would we enter upon any eulogies, for none are sought or needed. The Reports of various Committees Farely outlines the work that was accomplished in the brief period of twelve months. It is not too much to say that it is a highly credible showing.
Respectfully submitted.
Lueile Reynolds Ralston (Mrs. John G.) Chairman Pauline Reynolds Harvey, (Mrs. Douglas G.) Associate Chairman
CHAPTER VIII Report of Lee County Fuel Administration COVERING PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 23rd, 1917, TO MARCH 1st, 1919
HORACE G. REYNOLDS, CHAIRMAN
Under date of Chicago, Illinois, October 23rd, 1917, I received the following letter from John E. Williams, United States Fuel Administrator for the State of Illinois. Mr. H. G. Reynolds,
Dixon, Illinois
Dear Sir:
Your name has been suggested to me as Chairman of the Committee on fuel adminis- tration for your community. I trust you will do me the favor, and the community the service of accepting.
You are authorized to appoint two additional citizens to constitute a committee, to assist you in the work. They should be persons of good standing, who possess the con- fidence of the community, and who are not engaged or directly interested in the coal business. Coal men, may, however, be consulted by you in case you need their assistance.
Your jurisdiction will include your city and all of Lee County known as District No. 19.
Representatives on local committees are expected to serve without compensation, the service being purely patriotic.
I hope to be speedily favored with a notice of your acceptance, together with the names of additional members of your committee.
Very truly yours, John E. Williams
FUEL ADMINISTRATOR FOR ILLINOIS
With our Country involved in the greatest war of all history, and with every man and woman with a spark of love for the American Flag anxious and determined to do their utmost towards the achievement of victory, there was but one thing for me to do and that was to instantly accept this appointment and with all possible haste organize for the greatest service that could be rendered in providing coal and other fuel to meet the needs of the people of Lee County.
It was at once apparent that the situation as regards the supply of coal (Anthracite and Bituminous) for the homes and factories of Lee County was extremely critical, and I was, at the very outset, deeply impressed with the grave responsibility that would rest upon myself and those associated with me. I summoned to my assistance as co-workers Mr. Edward H. Brewster, one of the prominent attorneys of our County and Mr. Thomas Young who formerly was for many years a leading retail coal dealer of Dixon. As time progressed and the coal problem became more and more acute and alarming the wisdom of these two appointments was proven in manifold ways. The practical experience and knowledge of Mr. Young was of great benefit as he was in a position to weigh the situa- tion from the dealer's viewpoint and necessities and to render valuable service in tiding over many critical situations which confronted our committee. It should be further stated that Mr. Young was never called upon from the day of his appointment to the
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
final discharge of this committee by the United States Fuel Administration, that he did not promptly respond with whole-hearted and efficient service.
The appointment of Mr. Edward H. Brewster was promptly followed by his selection as Secretary of the Committee. It is impossible to adequately state the extent and im- portance of the service rendered by Mr. Brewster in connection with the serious problems that confronted this committee almost constantly during the entire period of its service of one year and four months. It was found that his extensive acquaintance over the County-which not only inchided practically all of the retail dealers, but the most prom- inent men as well-proved of great value, as it often became necessary to seek information entirely outside of dealers in order to ascertain the actual situation as to the coal supply and shortage. Thegravity of this shortage in Lee County many times during the winter of 1917-18 made it necessary to use every possible resource and influence to secure the quick shipment of coal to various points where it was urgently needed. In these critical emergencies Mr. Brewster was found extremely resourceful as well as untiring in his efforts to serve the entire community and to avert suffering.
Upon assuming its duties, the Committee found a great shortage of fuel in the bins of both the consumer and the retailer. This was due largely to the lateness of the date at which the price of coal had been fixed by the Government. Consumers and retailers alike were waiting for that to be done before contracting for a winter's supply. The railroads soon experienced a shortage of cars in which to transport the coal from the mines. Added to these handicaps the Winter of 1917-18 was very severe. Extremely low tempera- tures prevailed for long periods of time and heavy falls of snow blocked traffic. The task of the Fuel Committee was therefore a most difficult one.
In view of the conditions which were found to exist from a careful tabulation of the reports forwarded to this Committee by the dealers at about the beginning of their work, it was apparent that a definite plan of procedure should at once be adopted for the purpose of securing every carload of coal possible to be had from every available source of supply in order to meet the requirements of this County. To this end it was thought advisable to personally call upon State Fuel Administrator, John E. Williams, and the Chairman of this Committee, accompanied by Secy. Edward H. Brewster, made a trip to Chicago for this purpose. The Lee County Coal situation was placed before Mr. Williams and a number of his associates, including Mr. Spencer Ewing and Mr. J. W. Adams. It may be stated that this visit proved of great lenefit as it established a personal acquaintance with these officials and later resulted in a visit of Messrs. Ewing and Adams to Dixon at which time, by previous arrangements, all of the coal dealers of Lee County (with a possible exception of one or two), were present. There was a frank and exhaustive dis- cussion of the coal situation at this meeting and for the first time in the history of Lee County tle coal dealers had met as one body, face to face. At the close of this meeting every one present had a clearer realization of the enormity of the task of the mine owners to produce, the railroads to transport, and the dealers to equitably distribute the coal actually required to meet the needs of the community.
The first step taken was to get a complete list of all the coal dealers in Lee County and it was found that there was a total of forty-four, located as follows. Amboy Jones Berry Lbr. Co., L. A. Emery, La Salle County Carbon Coal Co .; Ashton- J. C. Griffith, Wm. Leslie, Oscar Schade, Henry Weishaar; Compton-John Banks, Moore Lumber Co .; Dixon-D. B. Raymond & Son, Philip Woolever, J. P. MeIntyre, Frank Rink, Public Supply Co., Wilbur Lumber Co., Dixon Lumber & Fuel Co., Hocfer Coal Co., Dixon Distilled Water Ice Co., R. A. Rodesch; Eldena-Eldena Co-Operative Co .; Franklin
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Grove-C. D. Hussey & Son, Farmers Elevator Co.,; Harmon-Armour Grain Co., Harmon Farmers Elevator Co .; Henkel-Henkel Grain Co .; Lee Center-A. F. Jeanblanc; Nachusa -E. L. Crawford; Nelson-H. C. Reed; Paw Paw-Pogue Lumber Co., Watner & Guffin; Roxbury Station-Armour Grain Co .; Scarboro-Scarboro Elevator Co., Snearer Bros .; Shaws Station-C. F. Guffin; Steward-Armour Grain Co., Farmers Elevator Co., Shearer Bros .; Sublette-Bieber Grain & Lumber Co., J. W. Bettendorf; Van Petten-Elmer Hess; Walton-Walton Equity Exchange; West Brooklyn-H. A. Bernardin, Farmers Elevator Co., C. F. Guffin.
Blanks were promptly ordered and mailed to each dealer, which provided for reports giving the quantity of Anthracite and Bituminous coal on hand at that date; the quan- tity sold each dealer for the previous coal year ending April 1st, 1917; the amount of coal on order at the date of this report; the address of all of the different mine owners or operators from whom dealers had bought during previous years and with whom they had contracts for the current coal season. In addition to the above statistics every dealer was directed to mail a report at the end of each week to the Chairman of the Lee County Fuel Committee, stating the amount of coal received during the preceding week and the quantity sold. As the situation became more critical dealers were required in such weekly reports to give the name of each perosn to whom sales were made, stating the quantity and kind. Dealers were required to limit quantity of coal sold to any one person, or firm to meet their immediate current needs. At times the amount was limited to five hundred pounds to consumers whose houses were heated by stoves and one thousand pounds to those whose heat was supplied by furnace. A number of times during the Winter of 1917-18 most of the dealers were occasionally without a single wagon load of coal in their bins; and in numerous instances families used up the last scuttle of coal which they had in their homes before it was possible to secure the delivery of a few hundred pounds from their dealer. In other cases, especially during some of the snow blockades, no possible way was found to get cars of coal to their destination, and, as a result, dealers in many towns found it necessary to go to customers who had scarcely more than two or three days supply and ask them to divide with some neighbor who was entirely out of coal. In the City of Dixon the shortage of coal was fully as great as in other parts of the County.
On one Saturday in the month of January, with very low temperature and a blizzard raging, the situation was so critical that only consumers, who had not enough fuel to last. until Monday, were permitted to have coal and then only in limited quantities. During that day it became necessary to draw upon the private supplies of public spirited citizens and, when night arrived, the Fuel Administration, upon communicating with the Super- visors, Chief of Police and all Coal dealers in the City, were assured that every family in Dixon had enough fuel to last until Monday morning. Upon checking up the records it was found that only a total of four tons of fuel remained in the bins of the eight coal dealers in the City. This Committee had also made arrangements, in case of emergency, with certain hotels and with private residents of the City, to accommodate entire families with lodging where this might become necessary in order to avert suffering from lack of fuel. Happily this did not become necessary.
The constantly increasing demands for coal for overseas requirements and for factories engaged exclusively on government work, led to the issue of an order by United States Fuel Administrator Garfield early in 1918 restricting the use of coal on Mondays, except for war purposes and certain specified emergency needs, among the exemptions being churches, schools, hospitals, banks, newspapers and doctor's offices. While a drastic order of this nature was a serious hardship upon many mercantile and other business
WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
institutions, it was accepted by our community in a spirit of willing co-operation, no per- sonal sacrifice seeming too great for any individual to bear. The uppermost thought in every mind seemed to be that our national existence was threatened by a desperate and deadly foe, and with spontaneous unity every man and woman seemed prepared to do his and her full duty. Improved fuel conditions, after this order had been in force for only a few weeks, resulted in its withdrawal.
It is our further pleasure to state that this Committee had the hearty co-operation of practically every coal dealer in Lee County. The rivalry that is often seen between competitors in the same town or city seemed to be entirely forgotten during that period of coal famine and it is not too much to say that the spirit of fellowship and patriotism seemed to take possession of dealer and consumer alike and to such a degree that dealers throughout the County were ready to divide up a car shipment of coal with their competi- tors and in numerous instances one dealer was permitted by another to go to his bin and take from it a load of coal to deliver to his customer. On numberless occasions manufact- urers in Dixon, who themselves at that time had not to exceed three days supply of coal on band, allowed dealers to take coal from their plants to deliver to families that were entirely out of fuel. Indeed the situation on a number of occasions, and covering a period of several days during different snow blockades of the winter 1917-18, was so critical that there were scores of families that did not have a twenty-four hours supply of eoal on hand; and with the supply of dealers entirely exhausted, their only hope was that a car might be received during the day.
It was in such numerous emergencies that this Committee found its greatest oppor- tunity for effective work and it perhaps should be recorded that there were a number of weeks, which ran into months, that the Secretary and Chairman of this Committee daily spent from four to eight hours of almost incessant work at the telephone, receiving reports of dealers to the effect that they were entirely out of coal, telephoning these conditions to the Fuel Administrator at Chicago and often getting no encouragement there, appealing direct to mine owners and coal operators, almost without number.
No financial report is to be made by this Committee covering expenditures such as printing, telephone and telegraph, traveling expenses, ete., as the government did not see fit to make any appropriation for this purpose and these expenses were, therefore, quite properly assumed by the County Chairman.
It is with pride and satisfaction, mingled with a firmer belief in the brotherhood of man than ever before, that we recall numerous instances where we seemed to be successful in touching the heart of even a Coal Baron, after first being told that there was no possi- bility of helping us out-when, after listening to our appeal, we were finally assured that immediate shipments would be made to certain dealers where the need was most urgent.
The members of this committee each received from the United States Fuel Adminis- tration an Honorable Release dated Mareh 1, 1919, signed by H. A. Garfield, United States Fuel Administrator and countersigned by Raymond E. Durham, Federal Fuel Administrator for Illinois.
Respectfully submitted,
Horace G. Reynolds, Chairman.
CHAPTER IX Liberty Loans By ALFRED P. ARMINGTON
A history of the five Liberty Loan campaigns in Lee County will be a record of four complete successes and one failure. The first Loan was not well understood and as a consequence the results were not satisfactory. This was attributable partly to a want of understanding and to a lack of organization. At that time comparatively few people knew what a bond was, and quite likely not a hundred persons in the county had ever even seen a government bond.
However, when the time for the second loan came we were deep in the war, our people understood that the government was in urgent need of funds, a good organization was created and then and thereafter the county as a whole responded with a surplus over every call.
The first loan was made principally through much newspaper publieity, some solicitation and with a few publie meetings. It was handled through the banks of the County. Mr. George B. Robinson, of Chicago, was present through a large part of the campaign as the representative of the Federal Reserve Bank. He did a great work, and even though the results were not satisfactory, he is deserving of great praise for the work done by him.
His efficient labors bore abundant fruit in the last four campaigns, first and second of which he was on hand to aid in carrying through the work.
On the first loan all subscriptions were taken through the banks. The county quota was $. and bonds aggregating $325,850 were sold, the items as to the several banks being as follows:
First National Bank, Amboy . $59,700.00
First National Bank, Compton. 6,000.00
City National Bank, Dixon . 93,000.00
Dixon National Bank, Dixon . 119,800.00
Union State Bank, Dixon
9,000.00
Harmon Bank, Harmon
7,000.00
First National Bank, Steward 20,000.00
H. F. Gehant Banking Co., West Brooklyn . 11,350.00
Total
$325,850.00
After the first loan an allotment was made to each town in the county, based upon each town's population and assessed valuation.
Each town then subdivided its allotment so that in the rural towns each school district and in the eities and villages each voting precinct had its quota. In turn each of these subdivisions made our allotments or quotas to the individual so that every adult in the county who was able to buy a bond was listed for the amount his neighbors thought he should be able to take. The plan was a success. Every loan, but the first, was oversub seribed by the county. The county record is as follows:
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
QUOTA
AMOUNT SUBSCRIBED
NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS
1st loan
$ 325,850.
2nd loan
$ 990,000.
1,136,900.
4033
3rd loan
660,000.
1,053,200.
7833
4th loan
1,440.300.
1,718,600.
7762
5th loan
1,032,300.
1,381,200.
4164
$5,615,750.
The record of the county, by townships, for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th loans follows:
Second Loan
Town
Quota
Subscription
Alto
S 42,215
50,000
Amboy
119,825
119,750
Ashton
19,266
55,000
Bradford
31,754
27,600
Brooklyn
62,908
50,650
China
54,106
50,450
Dixon
395,928
427,350
East Grove
27,560
13,550
Hamilton
21,615
3,250
Harmon
35,210
39,550
Lee Center
40,141
6,250
Marion
30,141
13,350
May
28,251
15,300
Nachusa
32,214
26,300
Nelson
24,841
15,400
Palmyra
40,556
25,850
Reynolds
29,634
3.700
South Dixon
36,731
23,750
Sublette
44,381
48,200
Viola
27.836
10,000
Willow Creek
40,833
31.700
Wyoming
62,954
73,550
$1,130,500
$1,136,900
Larger figures are the amounts actually sent to the F. R. Banks, by banks of the County. Excess is caused by subscribers of other counties paying here.
Third Loan
Town
Quota
Subscription
Alto
S 25,750
S 45,900
Amboy
45,500
84,600
Ashton
28,050
17.250
Bradford
22,150
22,800
Brooklyn
32,700
41,300
China
31,350
56,550
Dixon
168,300
284.350
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
East Grove
12,900
13,050
Hamilton
13,200
19,900
Harmon
20,500
20,400
Lee Center
21,100
21,550
Marion
16,500
20,950
May
13,550
18,500
Nachusa
19,500
28,400
Nelson
17,850
21,200
Palmyra
24,600
46,800
Reynolds
18,800
20,750
South Dixon
25,000
27,850
Sublette
25,100
28,350
Viola
17,850
21,950
Willow Creek
24,750
56,950
Wyoming
35,000
70,550
Total
$660,000
$1,023.900
$1,053,200
Larger figures are the amount actually sent to the F. R. Bank by banks of the County. Excess is caused by subscribers of other counties paying here.
Fourth Loan
Town
Quota
Subscription
Alto
S 54,150
$ 58,750
Amboy
104,000
119,550
Ashton
57,800
61,200
Bradford
51,300
51,350
Brooklyn
70,750
83,450
China
69,300
75,050
Dixon
376,900
538,800
East Grove
29,600
28,350
Hamilton
29,600
33,000
Harmon
41,150
43,300
Lee Center
44,800
47,450
Marion
34,650
35,250
May
31,050
31,350
Nachusa
41,900
44,550
Nelson
31,800
35,900
Palmyra
56,300
57,800
Reynolds
42,600
44,850
South Dixon
47,650
50,200
Sublette
58,500
59,600
Viola
41,150
41,250
Willow Creek
54,900
60,950
Wyoming
74,400
79,900
Total
$1,424,250
$1,681,850
$1,718,600
Larger figures are the amounts actually sent to the F. R. Bank by banks of the County. Excess is caused by subscribers of other counties paying here.
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WAR HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Victory Liberty Loan
Town
Quota
Subscription
Alto
38,500
43,500
Amboy
73,900
95,250
Ashton
41,100
60,300
Bradford
36,500
38,700
Brooklyn
50,300
50,450
China
49,300
103,750
Dixon
273,800
412,250
East Grove
21,000
18,550
Hamilton
21.000
17,850
Harmon
29.200
30,950
Lee C'enter
31.800
39,050
Marion
24,600
29,900
May
22,000
26,150
Nachusa
29.700
31,050
Nelson
22.600
25,200
Palmyra
40,000
41,550
Reynolds
30,000
34,850
South Dixon
33,900
35.800
Sublette
41,600
32,200
Viola
29,300
12,650
Willow Creek
39,000
50,400
Wyoming
52.900
61,650
Total
$1,032,300
$1,291.000
Alfred P. Armington, cashier of the Dixon National Bank was appointed County Chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee by the Federal Reserve Bank. He had charge as executive of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Loans.
The campaign for the sale of the bonds was made under the direction of the Lee County Finance Committee, an auxiliary of the State Council of Defense. Edward Vaile of Dixon was Chairman of this Committee and did great work as an organizer and executive.
CHAPTER X War Savings Stamps and Red Cross
WM. F. HOGAN, County Chairman
The War Savings Committee of Lee County, of which I had the honor to be chairman, was organized in December 1917, and the quota for the county was $550,000.
We did not make much headway in the months of January, February or March on account of the severe weather and road conditions, it being impossible to hold meetings or get out through the county. Up to May 30th we had sold $100,000.
At this time the Finance Committee of the State Council of Defense of Lee County, pledged their assistance to the War Savings Committee and on June 28th the polling places in the county were opened, for a voluntary pledge to buy War Savings Stamps before the close of the year.
Each township was given a quota and nearly everyone overpledged in one day. The entire county over pledge being $26,000.
The total sales for the year were $602,000, or $52,000 over the quota.
The splendid showing in Lee County in War Savings is due to the wonderful organiza- tion of the Finance Committee.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Wu. F. HOGAN
Chairman of Dixon Couneil 690, Recreation Fund.
Knights of Columbus War Activities in 1917 for $3,000,000 Recreation Fund.
The Local Knights of Columbus were asked by the State Council to raise the sum of $2500 for this fund.
The local Council selected a committee of Catholies and Non-Catholics with your humble servant as chairman and through the kindness of the citizens of Dixon of all de- nominations, the sum of $2866.58 was raised in this city alone, which with a subscription of $143.50 from Walton, made a total of $3010.08.
The Knights of Columbus had made arrangements to have the Paulist Choir give a concert in the afternoon and evening on June 28th, 1917. The Red Cross were without funds to carry on their work and the Knights of Columbus turned this concert into a Red Cross Benefit and cleared over $800., which was turned over to them and which helped start the Red Cross work in Lee County.
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CHAPTER XI The American Protective League and The 4-Minute Men
BY ALBERT B. WHITCOMBE
The general work of the American Protective League, its methods and procedure need not be explained here further than to say that it was auxiliary to the Department of Justice of the United States of America, that it was organized for the purpose of assist- ing the Government in counteraeting the insidious German propaganda that for years had been working throughout the country.
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