USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard county in the World War > Part 39
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The chairman of the local corps was Dr. James W. Wright. In compiling the list of mem- bers, the records of Dr. Frank B. Wynn, Chairman State Executive Committee, were consulted. The following physicians were from Kokomo, Indiana :
21-48017
O. H. BUCK CHAIRMAN A. P. L.
W.H.ARNOLD EX-COM'T, LIBERTY LOAN
FRANK Mc CARTY EX-COM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
EARL B. BARNES LEGAL ADV SORY COM'T.
REV. D.H. SHIELDS FOUR MINUTE SPEAKER
W.C. OVERTON. JUDGE LEGAL ADVISORY COM'T.
ERNEST SEAWARD EX-COM'T. LIBERTY LUAN
C. H HAVENS CHAIRMAN PUBLICITY CUM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
G.DELTON GERHART COM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
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Dr. F. R. Bannon, Dr. Roscoe S. Chanceller. Dr. T. C. Cochran, Dr. Edgar Cox (deceased). Dr. J. G. Cox, Dr. A. B. Darling, Dr. Jesso S. Flora, Dr. G. W. Fredrick, Dr. II. G. Grable, Dr. N. C. Hamilton, Dr. Wm. H. Harrison, Dr. Wm. A. Hatfield, Dr. A. W. Holcombe, Dr. Oliver P. Kemp, Dr. LaMarr Knepple, Dr. Amos A. Martin, Dr. Wm. II. Martin, Dr. Will J. Martin, Dr. Marcellus Mayfield, Dr. Wm. II. MeCInrg, Dr. G. L. MeNeal, Dr. F. N. Murray, Dr. Sater J. Nixon, Dr. J. L. Puckett. Dr. J. W. Ramey, Dr. R P. Schuler, Dr. R. F. Scott, Dr. E. M. Shenk, Dr. Francis A. Shoaf. Dr. W. H. Willyard. Dr. James W. Wright; Greentown, Ind., Dr. Walter G. Gipe, Dr. Henry C. Miller, Dr. E. U. Powell. Dr. Josiah J. Schrock ; Russiaville, Ind., Dr. II. C. Hart, Dr. Geo. W. Kemp, Dr. A. II. Miller, Dr. M. L. Onlar: New London, Ind., Dr. Wm. II. Newlin, and from Hemlock, Ind., Dr. L. Deweese.
Y. M. C. A.
From the day Company E left Kokomo for the Mexican Border until the last soldier returned from overseas, Kokomo's Young Men's Christian Association stood ready with its entire organization and equipment to co-operate in any and all war work. In its rooms committees from the different war organizations met and outlined their campaigns. Lodgings and lunches were furnished the boys at reduced rates. Meals and a plunge in the pool were offered free to groups of soldiers in transit. And when the soldiers returned from overseas they were given a six months' free membership.
When the local association cast about for a leader during the war, it was unanimously agreed that George W. Landon, who had given so many years to the work, and had been its president since its organization, should be the county director. Associated with him were a number of the lead- ing citizens of the community, who under his able leadership put the "Y" work of Howard County second to none in the State.
The first campaign to raise funds for the Y. M. C. A. was conducted May 20-28, 1917. Howard County was in a district with Carroll and Clinton Counties. The allotments were: Howard, $3,500; Clinton, $1,050; Carroll, $650. For this small amount it was not deemed advisable to make a general canvass, but a committee composed of George W. Landon, chairman; H. P. Voorhies, secretary, and J. R. Morgan, treasurer, was delegated to raise the quota in this county. The amount was easily sub- scribed as follows: Howard, $3,732.50; Clinton, $1,599.55; Carroll, $683.07.
The district organization for the second campaign, Nov. 11-19, 1917, was as follows: District chairman, J. E. Fredrick; district campaign director, H. P. Voorhies; district treasurer, Richard Ruddell; district campaign director for boys, Will G. Power, all of Kokomo. The officers of the county organization were: Chairman, George W. Landon; cam- paign director, A. T. Snoke; treasurer, J. R. Morgan ; campaign director for boys, C. E. Hinshaw. The allotment for Howard County was $20,000 and the amount subscribed was $24,164.89. The other county allotments and subscriptions were: Cass, $13,000-$14,016.88; Clinton, $12,000- $18,577.54; Carroll, $7.000-$8,500.
The work of the Y. M. C. A. was carried to every camp and battle- front. Huts were erected wherever it seemed expedient, and oftentimes
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they were located within the range of the enemy's guns. In the huts all soldiers were made welcome. They furnished a lounging place for those off duty, where they could write letters or read the newspapers and mag- azines which were supplied. All sorts of games and amusements were planned for the boys in order to help divert the minds of the soldiers for even a short time from the stern realities of war. Without these places of rest and amusement, the life of the soldier would have been almost intolerable.
The national war work council of the Y. M. C. A. immediately took steps to care for the service men upon their return to their homes. A three months' membership was furnished free to all local associations, and secretaries assisted in replacing the men in their old jobs or in more lucrative positions, and in obtaining places for them to live.
The work in Howard County was under the direction of Robert E. Clee, a returned soldier, and in many respects it was better than in other counties. Instead of only a three months' free membership, the local board of directors extended the membership to six months, and within five months' time 526 men of the county had taken advantage of this offer and were using the privileges granted to them.
More than a hundred men applied for help in getting work, and in all cases they were placed. The local business men co-operated in this work. Several hundred soldiers were accommodated with comfortable rooms, and those who could not get rooms in the Y. M. C. A. building were placed in good homes in the city. Beds were added to the dormitory until seventy-eight men were furnished with comfortable, "homey" rooms. Between twenty-five and fifty men were always on the waiting list.
A number of entertainments were given for the benefit of the service men. Perhaps the most pretentious one was a lobby stunt April 11, 1919, at which time there were over three hundred present. The gymnasium entertainment given three weeks later by fifty service men was witnessed by more than four hundred persons. A camp-fire meeting with a "hot dog" roast and "smoker" was held for the service men the latter part of June in Learner's woods.
Soldiers, sailors and marines visiting in Kokomo, or home on fur- lough, found a genuine welcome in the "Y," and they were given all privileges free during their stay in the city.
The Y. M. C. A. will continue to serve these men as the years go by. Good fellowship, Christian environment and fair dealing will go far in helping them get back into the community life. The Y. M. C. A. is the community center and general meeting place for the men who live in this county, and a home for the men away from home.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
It was in 1916, when the National Guard was sent to the Mexican Border, that the Knights of Columbus began their war activities. Huts
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Howard County in the World War
were erected where a large number of troops were stationed, and every- thing possible was done to make it pleasant and comfortable for the sol- diers. The expense of this undertaking was borne by the members of the organization, to which the Kokomo council contributed most liber- ally. On May 20, 1917, a great patriotic meeting was held in the high school auditorium in the city of Kokomo, where a number of speakers were present, among whom were Charles M. Niezer, Patrick O'Donnell, Rev. Robert J. Pratt, J. W. Johnson and John B. Joyce. The large audi- ence was profoundly impressed by the intense patriotic and loyal spirit which permeated the meeting.
In the first national drive for a million dollars, the allotment for Kokomo was $1,700. This amount was easily raised during the week of July 23-29 by a committee composed of J. W. Johnson, chairman ; J. B. Joyce, chairman publicity, and J. P. Grace, treasurer. The amount sub- scribed was $2,575.
Following the Second Liberty Loan drive the latter part of May, 1918, the Knights of Columbus started a campaign to raise $30,000,000 for war work purposes. The quota for Howard County was $12,000, and the amount subscribed was $15,319.75. The personnel of the com- mittee which raised the fund was made up of some of the leading busi- ness men of Kokomo. J. W. Johnson was made chairman, and no better selection could have been made. J. P. Grace, treasurer; D. E. Murphy, secretary ; J. B. Joyce, publicity director. Other members of the com- mittee were A. G. Seiberling, George W. Landon, J. E. Fredrick, H. C. Davis, Richard Ruddell, Fred Macke, A. L. Thalman, James C. Patten, W. H. Turner, W. H. McCarty, Elwood Haynes, Henry Bergman, Rev. R. J. Pratt, Gus Vandenbosch, Frank McCarty, W. S. Toomey, George W. Stidger, S. S. Shambaugh, J. E. Williams, J. F. Dwyer, Sidney Stern, Martin Coady, George F. Stahl, A. H. Stewart, O. M. Booher, Tom Wil- liams and Karl Krebser.
Members of this organization worked faithfully in all other war activities, giving of their time and means. The local council had fifty- eight of its members in the war, representing all branches of the service. Four volunteered and were accepted for war work secretaries, but only two were permitted to go. They were, Rudolph Henger to Camp Shelby, Miss., and Frank McClanahan to Fort Benjamin Harrison, who remained on duty until the army was demobilized.
The work of the Knights of Columbus was not confined to the States, but huts were erected along the western front in France, and all soldiers were made welcome. Tobacco and chocolate were given freely to the boys as they went to the front-line trenches. Boxing and wrestling matches were staged, as well as many other forms of amusement, to help keep up the morale of the army. Free stationery was furnished the boys, and the secretaries often helped them with their correspondence, and made sure that their letters were directed to the proper destination.
CONRAD WOLF FOUR MINUTE SPEAKER
REV. ROBERT J. PRATT FOUR MINUTE SPEAKER
A.G. SEIBERLING MFG. COM"T, LIBERTY LOAN
CHARLES JINKERSON EX-COM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
W. H. TURNER FUEL ADMINISTRATOR
WILLIS B.DYG CHAIRMAN 5TH WARD LIBERTY LOAN
A.G.MANNING FOUR MINUTE SPEAKER
G. J. HUMPE EX COM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
DR.E.M.LANDON FOUR MINUTE SPEAKER
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This organization, with others of like character and purposes, did a great amount of good, and without their services the men in the camps and at the front would have been deprived of many of the luxuries that made life more agreeable.
JEWISH WELFARE WORK
In the first fund raised by the Jewish Welfare Relief Committee, A. L. Thalman was president, and Sig Leon secretary and treasurer. Three hundred and eighty-six dollars were raised for Jewish sufferers in the allied countries. In the second campaign, the amount subscribed was $2,475. In these campaigns the money had been raised by private sub- scription. However, in the third campaign, which was launched after peace was declared, the people of Howard County were asked to contribute $15,000. A short, vigorous campaign was made under the able leadership of J. W. Johnson, county chairman. One public meeting was held at which Alvah J. Rucker, prosecuting attorney at Indianapolis, made the principal address. Local speakers included: George W. Landon, John B. Joyce and Elwood Haynes.
SALVATION ARMY
At a meeting held at the Y. M. C. A., March 28, 1918, the business men of Kokomo decided to raise $1,000, the allotment for Howard County in the drive for the Salvation Army. Elwood Haynes presided, and a committee was appointed which raised in a short time $1,081. In the spring of 1919 a drive for $5,000 was started. The slogan "He may be down, but is never out," met with favor, and everyone seemed eager to help. The Elks Lodge took over the management of the campaign and raised within a single day more than $7,000. Little was known of the real work of the Salvation Army until the soldiers began to return from overseas with glowing stories of the sacrifice and heroism displayed by the army workers. There seemed to be no hardship so severe and no danger so great that they hesitated to endure if it would give aid and comfort to soldiers. Their deeds of mercy and their devotion to duty will long remain as a pleasant memory in the minds of those who were the recipients of their kindness.
LIBRARY DRIVE
On Oct. 3, 1917, an organization was formed to raise $850 which was to be used to purchase books and magazines for the soldiers. J. E. Fredrick, president of the library board, was temporary chairman. The officers who served were: Chairman, Mrs. L. M. Knepple; secretary, Miss Ruth M. Miller; treasurer, Rev. David H. Shields. A committee to solicit funds was selected, composed of Mrs. A. B. Armstrong, Mrs.
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W. E. Sollenberger, O. M. Booher, H. M. Lynch and C. V. Haworth. The Psi Iota Xi, as an organization, took the downtown district. The amount raised was $821, and in addition to this 2,200 books were sent to war camps.
Instead of having set drives later, there were four or five successful calls for books. In this way 1,200 more books were sent away. Two hundred and fifty were collected by the W. C. T. U., and they were permitted to send them to the hospital for disabled soldiers at West Baden, Ind. The Ladies' Aid Society of Grace M. E. Church gave fifty volumes of new fiction. The Daughters of the American Revolution contributed more than one hundred books. Whenever the library announced that there was a need of books for the soldiers, immediately a supply would be furnished by the book-lovers of the county. Within two weeks after each call in the newspapers, the boxes would be filled. The librarian, Mrs. W. E. Sollenberger, wishes to make special mention of the following workers who gathered books to be sent away: Mrs. J. E. Fredrick, Mrs. Henry C. Davis, Mrs. M. F. Brand, Mrs. M. R. Doyan, Mrs. J. C. Patten and Mrs. Almedia B. Waltz. In the lobby of the library was a table where magazines were left to be sent to camps. In this way thousands of copies were forwarded to proper destinations.
UNITED WAR WORK
During the summer of 1918 the different war organizations of the country decided to combine their forces in one drive, and raise a suffi- ciently large sum of money to meet the needs of each one for one year. On Oct. 24, 1918, at a called meeting, the representatives of the various groups met at the Y. M. C. A. It was decided to raise $65,000. The organizations and their representatives included: Y. M. C. A., George W. Landon; Y. W. C. A., Mrs. W. C. Purdum; K. of C., John B. Joyce; Sal- vation Army, Peter Parsons; American Library Association, David H. Shields; Jewish Welfare Board, A. L. Thalman; War Camp Community Service, C. C. Shirley.
C. H. Wills was elected chairman for Howard County; C. C. Shirley, vice-chairman; Orville St. John, secretary; Fred L. Trees, treasurer; Harry M. Lynch, director of publicity.
At the close of the campaign Nov. 21, 1918, the total amount raised was $28,763.79. The committee recommended that the remainder of the amount called for be taken from the provisional tax levy.
UNITED STATES BOYS' WORKING RESERVE
The labor situation in this country became acute when thousands of the young men were withdrawn from active industrial and agricultural pursuits and placed in military and naval forces. To meet such a con- dition, a supply of new labor of non-military age had to be found. The
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Howard County in the World War
only source from which it could be drawn was from among the boys between the ages of sixteen and twenty. Such a plan was thought to be feasible, so an organization was formed, known as the United States Boys' Working Reserve, with a director for each county, appointed by the County Council of Defense. Howard County was fortunate in having Will Power selected as its director, who with unbounded enthusiasm and efficient management placed Howard among the first counties of the State in actual work accomplished. The following report was prepared by Mr. Power:
Due to the heavy demand for men by the government, the farms were deserted to such an extent that those left at home were unable to handle the many responsibilities of the farm. Many factories, some of them handling large war orders, were struggling along with depleted forces. It was the object of the Reserve to recruit boys and train them to fill the places left vacant by the men who were called into the service of their country.
The Boys' Working Reserve was conducted by the Department of Labor of the United States. The county directors reached every family within their territory. About two hundred boys in Howard County signed for work either on the farms or in the factories. Most of these boys were placed in or near Howard County. Large groups were sent to Windfall and Austin, Ind., to help save the tomato crops. Accord- ing to the statements of the owners of these crops, they would have lost the entire crop had it not been for the Boys of the Reserve. Thirty-five boys were assigned to the Kokomo Steel and Wire Company to help get out a large war order.
All boys serving with the Reserve for sixty days were presented with a bronze service pin by the Department of Labor. Fifty Howard County boys received this badge of honor. Following is the list of those for 1917-1918 on the Howard County Roll of Honor: Kokomo boys: Harold Ault, Russell Butcher, Leonard Browers, Claude Butcher, George Ehrman, Horace Edwards, Frank Fenn, Everett Kidder, Harry Locke, William Marvin Peters, Everett Pettay, James Rice, Arthur B. Swinney, Charles Weger, Samuel William Smelter, William Marion Peters, Charles Richmond Harlan, Owen Meridith Stevens, Clarence M. Kenworthy, Marvin H. Bennett, Walter Smith, and William A. Batey. Russiaville: Ora Cooper, Dewey Foreman, Clarence Kenworthy, Peter Donald Townsend, Clarence Mckinley Cunningham. Greentown: James' Carr, James David, Roy Green, Wayne Johnson, George Kirken- dall, Fred Morgan, Raymond Pickett, Samuel Smeltzer, Edmund Seagrave, George Wesley Kirkendall, James Harold Summers, Ray Walter Green, Ford Albert Morgan, James Whilney Carr, Owen Rust. Oakford: Dallas Croddy. New London: Alvin Osborne, Elbert Tucker. Hemlock : Anderson Fenn, Fred Earl Shuck. Cassville: Clarence Morgan.
VICTORY BOYS AND GIRLS
Every boy and girl in the United States was asked to earn and give $5 for the benefit of the army camp fund, and Nov. 11, 1918, was desig- nated as the day to enroll in victory classes. A special victory button and banner was to be given when the amount was paid. Every boy and girl who succeeded in signing five others was to receive the title of "ace," and a banquet was to be given at the close of the drive for the "aces." Will G. Power was selected as district director, C. E. Hinshaw was county director of boys, and Miss Julia Russell was county director for girls. At
O.M.BOOHER CHAIRMAN KOKOMO 41M LIBERTY LOAN
CHARLES LYONS EX-COM'T. 4IN LIBERTY LOAN
W. E. WILLIAMS EX-COM'T. 41H LIBERTY LOAN
BARNABAS C.MOON LEGAL ADVISER
L J. KIRKPATRICK EX-COM'T 3RE LIBERTY LOAN
J. P. GRACE MFG. COM'T. LIBERTY LOAN
F.M. HAWORTH CHAIRMAN MONROE TP. W. S. S.
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Howard County in the World War
the close of the campaign it was found that the pupils in Room 300 of the Kokomo high school had won, the girls leading with forty subscriptions. The total amount raised was almost $2,000. The "aces" who partook of the banquet at the Y. M. C. A., Dec. 4, 1918, were: Wilfred Bryant, Rus- sell Burrows, Esther Carter, William Graham, Miriam Hamilton, Starley Hunter, Wendell Newsom, John William Puckett, Wayne Seaver, Walter Smith, Gertrude Ton. Talks were made by Rev. Otis A. Smith, Will Power, Charles Walk, C. E. Hinshaw and Miss Russell. The boys raised $930, while the girls contributed $1,028.50. Total, $1,958.50.
FOUR-MINUTE SPEAKERS JOHN B. JOYCE, Chairman
Four-minute speakers were called upon to give talks at the various theatres and many public meetings. Men and women were asked to present, in not more than four minutes, the many patriotic movements launched by the government and the various relief organizations.
Those who spoke at the theatres were: Rev. Otis A. Smith, Rev. David H. Shields, Rev. Robert J. Pratt, J. C. Herron, B. F. Harness, A. G. Manning, Lloyd McClure, C. W. Roll, Fred J. Byers, Conrad Wolf, Earl B. Barnes, C. C. Shirley, C. V. Haworth, Lex J. Kirkpatrick, Warren R. Voorhis, Fred H. Jessup, H. G. Gwartney, Dr. Elbert M. Landon, Mrs. Laura Bennett Stokes, Mrs. Almeda Waltz, Mrs. L. M. Knepple, Mrs. A. T. Snoke, Miss Martha Kumler, Mrs. Dana Sollenberger, Mrs. Frank A. Rossiter, Mrs. John E. Moore, Mrs. Nora Russell, Mrs. Florence Mc- Elwaine, Mrs. George E. Bruner, Mrs. Samuel Bartlett, Mrs. C. M. Ran- dolph, Miss Mazie Ingells, Mrs. Howard Cottey, Mrs. C. M. Randolph and Mrs. W. E. Jack.
In addition to the foregoing, there were calls for speakers at many meetings of clubs, lodges and various organizations, where there was a need for a brief presentation of many patriotic subjects. The librarian and committee chairmen have furnished the following list of speakers for such meetings, although these were not called "four-minute" speakers: Mrs. C. H. Brown, Mrs. Fred L. Trees, Miss Mary Winfield, Miss Jessa- mine Armstrong, Mrs. Edwin Greeson, Mrs. L. N. Parker, Mrs. J. M. Todhunter, Mrs. O. O. Butcher, Mrs. E. L. Danner, Mrs. Frank Graves, Mrs. Julia J. Davis, Miss Elsie Schnewind, Mrs. G. D. Jay, Miss Kathleen Cooper, Mrs. Julia Griffin, Miss Helen Ross, Mrs. Ruth Ross Herrman, Mrs. Minnie Burrows, Mrs. F. S. Willer, Mrs. George B. Lindsay, Mrs. W. O. Finch, Mrs. J. B. Reagan, Mrs. T. A. Delo, Miss Sara Strayer, Mrs. Abbie Hollopeter, Mrs. Minnie Burrows, Miss Effie Lee, Mrs. Casper Butler and Mrs. John Toomey.
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Howard County in the World War
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Perhaps there was no organization in the county that did not con- tribute something toward the success of the war. There was one, however, which by the very nature and scope of its work took part in nearly all war work. There was no undertaking for war purposes but what either the Chamber of Commerce or some of its members had a prominent part. Its presidents, O. C. Smith and J. E. Fredrick, were public-spirited men, and together with W. H. Arnett, its efficient secretary, were active in all war activities. The chamber conducted civilian relief work among the fami- lies of dependent soldiers, and served as a clearing house for all the war organizations in the county. When the boys returned home, an employ- ment bureau was operated, and no soldier who applied for work was turned away without a job. It helped maintain a manufacturing bureau in Washington, D. C., which aided in securing contracts for local concerns. Mr. Charles Muckenhern was the representative of the local industries. The members of the employment bureau were A. V. Conradt, John B. Joyce and Patrick Maloney. These men were broad-minded, sympathetic and patriotic; they had a clear vision of the workingmen's problem and materially aided in stabilizing labor problems.
AMERICAN PROTECTIVE LEAGUE
There was an organization that played an important part in the history of Howard County about which people knew very little. The members worked quietly, but they knew every alien enemy, every move made by those under suspicion, and they investigated every person re- ported to be pro-German in his sympathies. So carefully were these in- vestigations made that two suspects were traced from their home along the Rhine to Sweden, across to England, then to New York, Akron, O., and finally to Kokomo, Ind .; but when their records were fully investi- gated it proved to be a case for charity rather than the stern arm of the law. Two suspects were quietly sent out of town and one transient was made to prove his identity. At one time there were two persons em- ployed in local manufacturing concerns where war materials were made, whose actions brought them under suspicion. Although they were never taken into custody, they were so closely guarded that they never had an opportunity to damage the plants or hinder production.
The name of this organization was the American Protective League. It received its authority directly from the Department of Justice. Its membership was composed of sixty men, chosen from every walk of life, for their courage and patriotism. They served without pay and their actions were prompted wholly by patriotic motives.
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HOWARD COUNTY VIGILANCE SOCIETY
The organization known as the Howard County Vigilance Society had for its slogan, "One hundred per cent American." Its activities were largely confined to the investigation of reported disloyal acts and utter- ances. Beginning with the first Sunday in September, 1918, and for a number of Sundays thereafter, members of this organization patrolled street intersections in the down-town districts and the main highway crossings in the county on gasless Sundays. All persons driving cars were stopped and admonished to obey the government restrictions in the use of gasoline, unless their mission was one of necessity or for religious purposes.
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