History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 67

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011

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HOME SERVICE COMMITTEE

The personnel of the home service com- mittee selected in November, 1918, and which committee is still serving is : Mrs. J. E. Hanna, chairman, Mrs. E. C. Burger, secretary, Mrs. by many women, yet did not show so pub-

The general chairmanship of this work rested upon the vice-chairman of the executive committee of the chapter, who as has been shown was first Mrs. Arthur, then Mrs. Car- son.

The work in the women's bureau was originally divided in March, 1918, when that department was generally reorganized into three divisions. In addition to these three divisions, co-operating with the vice-chairman was an executive committee of three members to handle the general matters of policy and administration of the women's work, which committee were: Mrs. J. H. Woolley, chair- man, Mrs. C. H. Tully and Mrs. A. F. Buech- ler, secretaries.

The committee on surgical dressings, in May, 1918 consolidated the two lines of work in that department theretofore handled separ- ately, which had been gauze dressings, in charge of Mrs. Carson, and muslin dressings, in charge of Mrs. Ed. L. Brown. The chairman of the surgical dressings department through the remainder of the work was Mrs. D. H. Carson, with Mrs. Geer as her assistant The cutting department of that division was in charge of Mrs. John Ferguson, with Mrs. Linn, as assistant.

The chairman of general supplies and com- forts was carried mainly by Mrs. Carson, but this work branched into different activities for which separate responsibilities were placed. One of several of the departments of work which consumed a vast amount of time given

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licly as some other phases of the work, was the knitting department handled by Mrs. Fred Clark.

The third original division of the work fell to the chairman of garments and hospital linen. This work at various times was under the supervision of Mrs. J. D. Whitmore, Mrs. E. L. Brown, Mrs. Arthur Glade, Mrs. Willis J. Redfield, Mrs. Scott, Mrs, Sharp and its last administration was that of Mrs. Earl Tuttle.

The progress of the work brought on many new problems which were met by divisions organized as the need for them arose, and not included in the charted schedule given forth by the state and national associations or depart- ments.

The cutting room of the hospital and gar- ments division was at various times under supervision of Mrs. Hanaford, Mrs. Ed Brown, Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Gilmore.

The general inspection of work done in the work rooms was first in charge of Mrs. Meyer and later supervised by Mrs. Augusta Veit ; the packing . was supervised by Mrs. Guy Harrison.

The division for furnishing comfort kits was in charge of Mrs. Barton most of the time. The campaigns for collecting clothing for the Belgians, was in the spring in charge of Mrs. A. C. Scott, and in the fall of 1918, in charge of Mrs. E. A. Brandes. Mrs. Brandes was also supervisor of the salvage department, which was conducted for a num- ber of weeks prior to the signing of the armis- tice.

The first division was first in charge of Mrs. E. L. Thelan.

The home service work was in charge of Mrs. J. E. Hanna, Mrs. E. C. Burger and Mrs. E. S. Fairbanks.

The canteen work was first placed in charge of Henry Schuff. Later the old passenger depot of the Union Pacific was secured and equipped in splendid shape for this depart- ment, and Mrs. August Meyer later became the superintendent of this work, taking the post of Commandant over ten companies. Later one of these consolidated with other

companies, and its captain, Mrs. A. W. Sterne; became First Assistant Commandant; Mrs. M. E. Hurst served as Second Assistant Com- mandant; the captains who took charge of the remaining nine companies were: Mrs. E. Bar- ton, Mrs. H. Carey, Mrs. E. Frank, Miss E. Geer, Mrs. W. R. King, Miss Jane L. Pinder, Mrs. W. R. Richards, Mrs. A. C. Scott, Miss Irma Woolstenholm.

The Junior Red Cross work was a division of some importance. This started during the short time Mrs. Merriam assisted as vice- chairman, who in co-operation with about twelve instructors in the city schools and Mrs. Wright, president of the mothers' club got this work started. The chairman for the dif- ferent schools were, Howard, Miss Norris; Dodge, Miss Gilbert; Platt, Miss Lederman ; Lincoln, Miss Engleman; Wasmer, Miss Richardson; Jefferson, Miss Wicker. Mrs. Fairbanks later took charge of this branch; succeeded by Prof. R. J. Barr, who in turn was succeeded by county superintendent of schools, Elizabeth Cunningham.

While all other branches of the work were running full blast, the influenza brought on a flood of problems. Mrs. Dr. Carson, the vice- chairman, took on a little more responsibility and superintended this work. The problem of securing nursing assistance for so many people became a serious one, here, as every other place. When it became necessary to establish a temporary influenza hospital, this depart- ment joined hands with the city council, who bore the expense, and assisted in securing equipment. While the Red Cross did not take direct charge of this hospital, it may be appropriate to digress and state that for a number of weeks, The Sisters of St. Francis Hospital devoted their time and energy to this work, and when they had to give it up, the city secured Mrs. Dale P. Stough, a trained nurse who responded to the call, to take charge until it was closed. In the meantime, the hos- pital could care for only those patients with- out homes in the city, and the strict quarantine regulations demanded some assistance be rend- ered in getting supplies and food to the quar- antined homes of the city, This led to the

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quick organization of two more divisions of this department ; the "soup kitchen" in charge of Mrs. Jas. E. Brown, and in which the canteen division assisted materially, and the "motor corps" under charge of Mrs. Ernest Frank. This division had about forty drivers enrolled and kept as many as ten cars working on many days. For about thirty or forty days, this volunteer service carried supplies and food to the homes of Grand Island. After the crises passed, Miss Dora Kolbeck under- took the task of placing nursing assistance and somewhat relieved the influenza bureau of that burden.

No doubt some divisions of the work have even now been omitted or overlooked. Mrs. Redfield assisted in the drive in June, 1918 to secure girls to enlist for nurse training ; the Y. W. C. A. devoted a large portion of its time during the war period to first-aid classes meeting at its room a couple times a week. Booths were maintained at county fairs of 1917 and 1918, a fair was held at the new Glass-Evans building, and the canteen service ladies have served the public on various occa- sions, when some organized service was re- quired for a public function on short notice.

DURING 1919

Now after the war is over, the work of Hall County chapter is still continuing. Various good uses are being constantly found for the splendid organization built up during the try- ing war days. The Home Service section finds plenty of tasks at its command; the Canteen service has for months been meet- ing trains with returning soldiers aboard, and serving them just as faithfully as when they were leaving home going toward the camps. At the recent homecoming picnic, the Canteen served every soldier with drinks, ice cream, sandwiches and other delicacies free of all charge, and the expense was defrayed by the committee and the other public, who gladly paid reasonable prices asked to bear the soldier's share. The work rooms at the Post Office building have not been entirely dis- mantled.

The last report of secretary Brininger, as

published in The Independent of August 8, 1919, shows the present status of the chapter. This report also shows the results of the last drive for membership conducted December 18, to December 26, 1918. David Kaufman was chairman of that drive, and was splendidly assisted by the various local chairmen.

Secretary Brininger of the Hall County chapter, American Red Cross recently sub- mitted his report covering the past year and the excellent showing made therein will cer- tainly be interesting to the public generally. Naturally it covers in the financial way the last annual Red Cross membership drive, showing 13,128 members in Hall County, about fifty per cent of the entire population. It is a record, it is believed surpassed by few if any counties. Of these 9,025 are adult members and 4.041 junior. The receipts from mem- bership amounted to $10,222.25.

There were donations from various sources and movements amounting to $1,764.57, these being exclusive, of course, of the United War Work drive (Red Cross portion ) and the largest single item of which was the contribu- tion from a Cairo firm as a penalty. This was $300.

The sale of merchandise brought in $1,- 000.80, this being of Red Cross goods, among other articles being sewing machines, some canteen uniforms, etc. Miscellaneous sources of receipts brought in $10,050.08. The larg- est single item of this was the local chapter's percentage of the United War Work drive, $5,617.97. The sale of buttons last fall, netted the big sum of $1,956.62, returned by Mrs. Hurst chairman of the committee and being the result of a drive by a large number of local women workers. The salvage depart- ment, despite the fact that it was seriously interfered with on account of the flu, brought in a neat sum of $979.47. : Mrs. E. A. Brandes and Mrs. Thomas Connor, in charge of this work were most unfortunate in being compelled to close down shortly after having become fairly started, owing to the contagion, and the danger of continuing the work of clothing exchanges, renovations, etc. In addi- tion to this sum this department was drawn

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

459 .

upon for Belgian relief quotas and aided materially in other respects.

The total receipts for the year were $23,- 044.70. At the beginning of the year there was a total on hand of $6,192.87.

THE EXPENDITURES

The report shows all expenditures set forth in detail. These amounted to $14,744. 60, for the different activities of the chapter. The largest single disbursement was of $4,654, to the Central Division, the share of the member- ships going into the national work. The next largest item was the canteen service-$3,- 429.97. It may be remembered that the ad- vocates of the canteen service had to overcome some quite firm, though no doubt conscienti- ous, opposition, it being urged that the ex- pense, at this station, where there was an un- usuual number of trains and train stops, would make it almost impossible. A most excellent service has been maintained - a service ex- celled by none in the state, and yet the expense, compared to the good done, is thus seen to be insignificant. Another large item, $2,586.40, was for goods for the work rooms to be worked into garments, etc.

For home relief, also a most important de- partment of the Red Cross work the chapter, through its committee, Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Burger distributed aid to the extent of $1,- 181.66. Other items of disbursement are given in the more detailed statement following.

SMALL OPERATING COST

A most noteworthy feature, it is believed, of this part of the report is the showing it makes on "operating cost." The business man calls it the cost of doing business and over- head charges. Herein is embodied the dis- bursement of $14,744, with all of the work of the canteen service, investigation by the home relief committee, the time and attention of the board of directors and the work of Secretary Brininger, all for the total of $371.90. The largest item of this was for post- age, stationery and printing, $178.55 and the second for telegraph and telephone, $72.33. Not a dollar was expended for any of the

officers and committees. The service of the secretary, now extended for over two years, has certainly been most valuable to the chapter, and a contribution to the county's war work especially worthy of commendation and appre- ciation.

The report, in more detail than is here given though presented to the executive committee with even greater minuteness is as follows :

REPORT IN DETAIL

One life membership at $50.

One sustaining membership at $10.

One contributing membership at $5.

59 magazine memberships at $2 (2 for 2 years), $122.00.

9,025 annual memberships at $1, $9,025.00.

4,041 junior memberships at 25c $1,010.25.

Total membership, 13,128; total in cash, $10,222.25.

7 auuual membes additional for magazine at $1, $7.00.

Donations from various sources $1,764.57.

Sale of merchandise, $1,000.80.

Miscellaneous, $10,050.08.

Total receipts, $23,044.70.

Balance on hand at last report, $6,192.87. Grand Total $29,237.57. 1

Postage, stationery and printing. $178.55

Telephone and telegraph. 72.33

Express and freight. 49.47

War fund express 19.15

Miscellaneous 52.40

Total Chapter Expenses $371.90

Purchase of sewing machines. .$ 349.15 Purchase of merchandise for work rooms 2,586.40

Purchase of merchandise, Home Guards 170.00

Purchase of Canteen hats and suits 263.20

Home Service and Soldiers relief .. 1,181.66

Canteen Service 3,429.37

Nursing service (influenza) ...... 309.10

Treas. War Fund a c 2 U. P. checks

214.10

Frank W. Judson, acct. Nebraska Hospital . 250.00

Central Division A. R. C. for mem-

berships and magazines . ed by .. 4,654.00

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Central Division A. R. C. for Junior magazines for schools.

Central Division A. R. C. 60 percent Junior membership Fees. 535.35

Central Division A. R. C. 2 Auxil- iary balances 683.67

118.00

Total $14,744.60 Including Chapter Expenses $15,116.50

Balance with Treasurer, June 30,

1919

.$14,121.07 (Blance includes $1,000 Liberty Bond),

THE HALL COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE

The body of men who devoted considerable time and skill to their work and were required to act fearlessly and in disregard of public criticism in many cases, in each county, were the county council of defense. A brief re- view of the many tasks thrown upon this patriotic body will demonstrate that they were a sort of clearing house for all govern- mental war problems that came up and for which there was no other organized destina- tion.

The council organized on May 17, 1917, and took their oaths of office. J. D. Whitmore was the first chairman and F. J. Cleary the initial secretary. The committee named by the Red Cross to bring about the formation of the foundation of this council were C. G. Ryan, F. W. Ashton, J. L. Cleary, D. Kaur- man and J. L. Howland. On May 26 the personnel of the council was formed; J. D. Whitmore, chairman, appointed by the gover- nor, F. J. Cleary, secretary, R. Kingsbury, vice-chairman, Elmer Williams, treasurer, R. A. Odum, Grand Island No. 1; J. L. How- land, Grand Island No. 3; Gus E. Neumann, Grand Island No. 5; Fred Hagge, Washing- ton ; M. J. Hannon, Jackson; E. W. Niemoth, Lake; Wm. Fagan, Prairie Creek; Russell Haldeman, Harrison; H. S. Eaton, Wood River; Edw. Cox, Mayfield; G. C. Raven, South Loup; Chas. E. Taylor, Cameron; Jas. Mclellan, Center; Wm. Thomssen, Alda; A. E. Hauke, Jackson; Will Geddes, Martin ; Robt. McLaughlin, South Platte; Don Burger,

Doniphan. Of those named, R. A. Odum ,later became secretary when J. D. Whitmore left the city, O. A. Abbott, Jr. of Grand Is- land No. 2 became chairman, R. D. Kings- bury served as vice-chairman throughout the work, J. L Howland removed from the city, Wm. Fagan later resigned, John Knickrehm was appointed from Grand Island No. 5 and F. A. Glade, Emil Wolback, Grand Island No. 4 and Henry Schuff from Grand Island served. Thos. Hostler succeeded Wm. Fagan from Prairie Creek Township.

Various subjects which came before this board for their action or assistance were, assisting in the June 5, 1917 registration ; mak- ing June 14, flag day, an enlistment day; assisting Chairman Williams of First Liberty bond drive in perfecting his plans; assisting in methods to care for the demand for labor- ers for farm work; co-operating toward se- curing further enlistments for Co. M, 5th Nebr. Regiment; Secretary Mason of Com- mercial Club appointed head of labor bureau under auspices of the council; study of needs for seed wheat and its equitable distribution ; and later in the progress of the war, hearings were held by the Council whenever complaints were made or rumors were circulated with any persistency relating to any utterances, or con- duct of any citizen which was suspected to be in hindrance or detriment to the conduct of any agency or phase of war work. Consider- able assistance was lent to the liberty bond and other campaigns by the information com- piled by the council and investigations made by this body. Anyone investigating the mat- ter would be astonished at the number of com- munications received by the officers of this organization from innumerable boards, com- missions and departments of the government upon an enormous variety of subjects, requir- ing investigations and statistical reports to be made.

HALL COUNTY SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD AND COUNTY APPEAL AGENT

The registration system has already been explained. When the enormous task of class- ifying and selecting the required number of

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men came upon the authorities, a very elab- orate system was worked out. In each state, a Provost-Marshal was appointed. In Ne- braska, Capt. Walter L. Anderson served in this capacity. District boards in Nebraska being two in number, took general charge of appeals from classifications of local boards. For the northern district of Nebraska, Hall County furnished one of the members, Fred W. Ashton of Grand Island. The local selec- tive service board for Hall County were Sheriff Gustav Sievers, County Clerk J. E. Lyle and Dr. J. G. Woodin. The scope and volume of the work performed by this board, with the excellence of Hall County's record in these respects can be ascertained in the simplest manner by an examination of the principal statistical data on local boards' work, issued by the office of the Provost-Marshal of the United States, Gen Enoch Crowder.

The registration from Hall County for June 5, 1917, was 2,217, June and August, 1918, 178, September 12, 1918, 2,811, total 5,206.

For each registrant it was necessary for the board to receive the registration cards prepared at the precinct registration booth, copy them, index and file the new card. Then later questionaires were mailed out to all registrants of the first three registrations, and those under 36 in the September 12, regis- tration, making approximately 4,000 for Hall County. Cover sheets for future indexing, filing and enclosure of the returned question- aire were provided and prepared at the time of mailing out the questionaire and an entry made in the classification book for each man; then upon the return of the ques- tionaire, the date of its return was entered. This vast amount of clerical work fell mainly upon Miss Bessie Barbee, clerk for the local board. If the questionaire showed a claim for exemption upon agricultural, industrial or other vocational grounds, or certain other grounds, it was immediately mailed to the state district board which passed upon it, either granting or overruling the claim; if for de- pendency grounds, the claim for exemption had to be decided and passed upon by the members of the local board. The county

appeal agent received instructions to appeal all dependency exemptions allowed, such as fell within certain classes as, for instance, where the claimant had married after June 5, 1917, and certain other conditions designated, or where the circumstance known to local officers threw a doubt upon the sincerity or efficacy of the claim. When the decisions as to classification was arrived at, whether by local or state board, that fact had to be entered upon the records and a card mailed to the registrant showing the classification given to him. In addition innumerable reports, daily, monthly, or weekly were called for by the provost- marshal's offices and state board offices.

The number of inductions shown for Hall County was 561 and the splendid record made in the physical examinations conducted by the local examiner, when they ran the guant- let of examinations at camp is shown by the following figures: accepted in general ser- vice, 498, remediables, 7, placed in limited service, 71, and disqualified, 35. The defer- ments granted, a line of data which shows the proportion of classification work which fell upon the local board and the proportion which was handled by the state boards, shows as: dependency, 975, agricultural, 172, industrial, 40.

O. A. Abbott, Jr., served as government appeal agent for Hall County.

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY COUNCIL TO COUNCIL OF DEFENSE

In August, 1917, a women's committee was formed to assist the county council of de- fense in an auxiliary manner. A great many tasks were assigned to this body and credit- ably performed. Mrs. Chas. G. Ryan served as chairman. The members were: Grand Is- land, Mesdames G. E. Neumann, E. F. Youn- kin, J. Shuman, O. D. Wright, J. C. Troyer, F. L. Evans, J. L. Cleary, O. A. Abbott, Jr., the Misses Ada Garmire, Daisy Houck ; Doniphan, Mrs. A. D. Burger, Mrs. D. B. Skiles and Mrs. J. W. Mahaffey; Cairo, Mrs. A. H. Shattuck, and Mrs. Dell Thompson ; South Loup township, Mrs. Robert Thompson and Mrs. C. Hugo Hehnke; Mayfield town-

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HISTORY OF HALL COUNTY NEBRASKA

ship, Mrs. W. C. Robinson and Mrs G. C. Cleary, F. E. Glade, Chas T. McElroy, P. Raven; Wood River, Mrs. W. R. Abbott; Cameron, Mrs. Chas. E. Taylor; Alda, Miss Pearl Balmat; Center, Mrs Henry House and Mrs. Ira Gibson; Harrison, Mrs. C. Halde- man.

WAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

The First Liberty Loan was handled under the supervision of Elmer Williams, of Grand Island, who was district chairman for a dis- trict of fourteen counties on the Nebraska Liberty Loan committee throughout the war period. The first loan in Hall County as in other places was practically underwritten by the banks and by them distributed among their customers. There were only something like a dozen or so subscribers in the county to that loan and the quota of the county was safely met.

The Second Liberty Loan was handled un- der the supervision of Frank E. Slusser as chairman. The quota for the county on this loan was $680,000. The banks assisted very materially and a committee formed by the United Commercial Travelers conducted a canvass in town. The Grand Island Clearing House Association subscribed $100,000; the individual banks took another $142,000, and another $340,200 was raised in Grand Island. Wood River took about $70,000; Doniphan $25,000; Cairo $15,000, and Alda $10,000, and a total of $702,200 was sold, placing the county safely past its quota. This and the other campaigns brought forth willing work- ers here and there leading to the organization of the war activities committee.

A meeting of public citizens was held at the city hall to consider the formation of a general war activities committee. This step was taken in January, 1918, and soon there- after the following committee resulted from that action: Chairman, Ralph R. Horth, Secretary, A. F. Buechler, Executive Com- mittee: Messrs. Horth and Buechler ; O. A. Abbott, Jr., chairman County Council of De- fense; David Kaufman, president of Commer- cial Club, Grand Island; and Chester Peder- son, as president of Home Guards. Repre- senting Grand Island: B. E. Bowersox, J. L. Cameron

Ralph Neumeyer and Wm. F. Krehmke. Lake township, J. J. Lorentzen; Prairie Creek, Wm. Fagan; Mayfield, G. C. Raven; South Loup, J. E. Cox; Cameron, Chas. E. Taylor; Wood River, W. L. Sprague; Doni- phan, Don Burger; South Platte, R. Mc- Laughlin; Harrison township, Russell Hald- erman; Center, Jas. McClellan; Jackson, M. P. Hannan; Washington, J. M. Hanssen, H. O. Woodward; Alda, W. W. Gallup; Martin, E. E. Binfield.

OTHER LIBERTY LOAN CAMPAIGNS

The above committee handled the Third, Fourth and Fifth Liberty loan, the Red Cross Membership and other campaigns. In a few instances the precinct chairman could not act and secured a substitute who handled a par- ticular loan campaign for him. The Third Liberty loan quota was $580,500. Grand Is- land went over the top on April 13, with its quota of $268,000; and a few hours later Cameron came under the wire, the first out- side precinct to meet its quota. There was a good over-subscription when the campaign closed. In the Fourth Loan campaign, South Loup and Mayfield were consolidated as one district, owing to the location of Cairo mak- ing it difficult to proportion individual and township quotas. The campaign opened Sep- tember 28, with a first shot of $102,000 on first day. It closed October 26 with $1,302,- 212 subscribed. As the county's quota was $1,196,250 this made a very creditable over- subscription.

The Fifth Liberty loan was handled by the same committee with a few changes in per- sonnel made necessary under existing condi- tions. Chairman Horth could not act, and S. D. Ross, of Grand Island successfully un- dertook the responsibilities of chairman. The story of the success of this loan can best be told by the following summary of responses:

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History of Hall County, Nebraska, Part 67

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 1011

Author: Buechler, A. F. (August F.), 1869- editor
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western Pub. and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 1011