USA > New York > The world war book : being a record of the war activities of this community and a brief personal history of those who entered the service of their country > Part 2
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WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
Of the varied war activities of the town of Richfield, the campaign for the sale of War Savings Stamps was pushed the least, and yet the work accomplished during the week of June 22nd, 1918, set apart for the taking of pledges, was very creditable to the community and those who had the campaign in charge. Lewis A. Williams was the chairman in the town of Richfield and he was assisted by the members of Gano- wauges Chapter, D. A. R., who secured pledges amounting to $15,000. The stamps were sold at the Richfield Springs postoffice and the Rich- field postoffice and the total amount taken up of these "little bonds" at this writing is $18,768.13 in the Richfield Springs postoffice. F. B.
THE FOUR MINUTE MEN
The work of the local Four Minute Men has been very helpful in all of the drives for war measures or associated charitable enterprises. In all of the campaigns for the sale of Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, for Belgian or Armenian Relief, for the Red Cross and the United War Work Funds, systematic and active use has been made of this popular way of appealing to all the people, as an addition to rally meetings for education and arousing increased enthusiasm. Mr. Ray Shaul, manager of Shaul's Theater, has been uniformly courteous in greeting and announcing the different speakers, and practically placing the theater and its audience at their service for whatever time was asked. The active members of this body have been: J. D. Cary, chair- man; the Hon. A. J. Bloomfield, John A. Losee, Prof. C. A. Boutelle, Prof. H. E. Elden, the Rev. Claude Soares, Theo. F. Hinds, Richard Owen, Richard Owen, Jr., Frederick Bronner, Frederick Bronner, Jr., Scoutmaster George E. Tunnicliff, A. Ross Eckler, Lucius G. Cary, Wil- liam T. Welden, Horace G. Getman, Charles M. Wikoff, Herbert B. Leary, Mrs. Thomas B. Roberts, Mrs. Herbert R. Hadcock, Miss Mar- gery Cary and Mrs. J. D. Cary. J. D. C.
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TROOP NO. 2, RICHFIELD SPRINGS, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
TROOP NO, 2, RICHFIELD SPRINGS, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
The activities, during the four years of the World War, of Troop 2, Boy Scouts of America, recruited in Richfield Springs, N. Y., merit a prominent place in this volume. Their valuable work was largely promoted by Scoutmaster George E. Tunnicliff and Assistant Scout- master Charles A. Ross, and there was no phase of the patriotic labor through the momentous struggle with which the Troop of thirty-two members was not identified.
Perhaps the most important work with which they are to be credited is that performed in behalf of the five great Liberty Loans subscribed in this district. It is greatly to their honor to chronicle here that the United States government presented nineteen members of Troop 2 with medals, which were won by selling individually ten bonds to ten different subscribers. For additional sales made by the members, in the suc- ceeding campaigns, they were awarded sixteen bars. In each of the Loans they served as bill posters and distributors of literature, ushered at mass meetings many times, furnished vocal music on several pro- grams and also paraded on many occasions to promote public interest in the sales. The splendid total of their efforts as bond salesmen is approximately $100,000 and in addition to this they bought patriotically of the several issues.
They raised by public entertainment the sum of $105.00 and turned the proceeds over to the Y. M. C. A. In the United War Work Cam- paign they not only subscribed liberally to the fund, but posted bills and did other work which added materially to the great success of the campaign.
In the sale of War Savings Stamps their purchases aggregate a considerable amount and one of the Troop was awarded an ace medal for salesmanship. They collected a large quantity of garments for the Belgian Relief and packed and shipped them. The Troop with its officers was attached to the 3rd Naval District Secret Service Bureau and reported or investigated any suspicious circumstance coming to their attention. The members also gathered statistical information for the government.
At the funeral obsequies of Ward Shepard and Leo Purcell the Troop acted as an escort. In the observance of the French national holiday held during the summer of 1918, they paraded and presented a very creditable appearance, as on many other occasions.
It is indeed fitting that their part should be memorialized in this way. They will soon be the young men of our village and nation. As such they will read the notable record of their activities in the World War and will be justly proud of their contribution to the cause of humanity. F. B.
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PHILIP D. ALLEN
The son of Daniel Allen and Rose Daly Allen, was born in the town of Exeter, Otsego County, New York, on October 10th, 1899. He attended the public schools at Exeter and Schuyler Lake and later graduated from the West Winfield High School in the class of 1917.
He entered Albany Medical College, Union University, in the fall of 1918, and joined the Students' Army Training Corps at that institution, training for service.
After the Students' Training Corps was disbanded by the Federal government, he remained at Union University studying medicine.
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JOHN ALMOND AMES
The son of Marion D. Ames and Mary L. Ames, was born at Richfield, Otsego County, New York, on July 22nd, 1895. He attended the district schools at Brighton and Richfield and later entered the High School at Richfield Springs. He had been engaged in farming, automobile repair- ing and truck driving prior to his induction into the service, August 30th, 1918.
He was first assigned to the 4th Co., 152nd Depot Brigade; trans- ferred to the 36th Co., same Brigade, at Camp Upton; transferred to the 3rd Co., Army Service Corps, and went overseas on October 20th, 1918, and in France assigned to 305th Motor Truck Co., 402nd Motor Supply Train.
He left France on his trip home on January 10th, 1919, and arrived in Hoboken on January 21st.
His service overseas consisted principally of driving supply trucks and for six weeks he was detailed to transport supplies to the front.
It was while engaged in this hazardous assignment that he was blown from a truck which he was driving on the afternoon of November 7th, 1918, by the explosion of a shell from the German lines, making him unconscious for several hours. He was carrying supplies at the time in the Argonne Forest region. He was afterward sent to Blois and was ready with another load for the front when the armistice was signed, November 11th, 1918.
While still weak and nervous from the shock he landed in the home country and was soon taken with an attack of influenza and sent to the military hospital.
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ANTONY BACHANS
Was born in Lithuania, Russia, in 1890, where he attended school and worked at farming. He came to the United States in 1911 and directly to Richfield Springs, where he was employed as a farm hand. He entered the service May 25th, 1918, and reported to Camp Gordon, Ga., with the Depot Brigade, for training. Later he was transferred to Camp Meredith, New Jersey, from which point he was shipped overseas with Company K, 47th Infantry, in August, 1918. He experienced a great deal of active fighting in France, was wounded in the elbow from shrapnel, from which he has recovered.
At the present writing he is with the Army of Occupation in Adenau, Germany.
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CHARLES (BACHANS) BONS
Was born in Lithuania, Russia, in 1894, where he attended school and worked at farming. In 1912 he reached the States, coming directly to Richfield Springs, where he began work in Chase's Mills. He entered the service May 27th, 1918, and reported to Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, for training. While here, he was appointed Corporal and attached to Company A, 60th Pioneer Infantry. He was dispatched for duty overseas and had been en route five days when the armistice was signed, November 11th, 1918. His ship was called back and he was returned to Camp Dix, New Jersey, with the 47th Company, 12th Bat- talion, 153rd Depot Brigade, where he was honorably discharged De- cember 29th, 1918. He immediately returned to Richfield Springs and is at work with the state road forces.
Through an error in the interpretation of his registration his name has been carried on the records as Bons, although his family name is Bachans, and he is a brother of Antony Bachans, also in the service.
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GEORGE BAISTER
The son of John Baister and Mary Baister, was born in the town of Richfield, Otsego County, N. Y., on April 22nd, 1892. He received his education in the district schools of the town of Richfield, N. Y., and was engaged in farming when he entered the service on May 27th, 1918, being later assigned to Co. M, 2nd Pioneer Infantry, training at Camp Wadsworth, at Spartanburg, S. C.
He was sent overseas with the A. E. F. and is at this writing, May 25th, with the Army of Occupation in Germany.
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HOWARD LOOMIS BEADLE
The son of Charles W. Beadle and Carrie Beadle, was born at Richfield, Otsego County, New York, on September 7th, 1894. He finished his 3rd year in the Richfield Springs High School, and later graduated from the Utica Business College, entering the employ of the National Cash Register Co. as road salesman .. He is the husband of Rita Ostrander Beadle.
At the time he entered the service, on April 12th, 1918, he was suc- cessfully conducting a general store, and sold out his business to take up his new duties.
He was first assigned to Supply Company, 304th Infantry, 76th Divi- sion. On November 15th, 1918, was transferred to 1st Replacement Depot, as a permanent personnel. He received his training at Camp Devens, Ayer, Mass., from April 12th to July 7th, 1918.
His overseas service extended from July 8th, 1918, to March 25th, 1919. While a member of the A. E. F. he was located at Chateauneuf- sur-Cher with the 304th Infantry, which was a Training Unit, where men from the States received their final training preliminary to their being sent up as replacements.
On August 1st, 1918, he was made a Corporal.
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RALPH GROVER BENDER
The son of Charles Bender and Ida Bender, was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York, on February 1st, 1889, and is the husband of Clara Isabel Peplinski. He was educated in the Utica High School.
At the time of his call to the service, on September 8th, 1917, he was a contracting painter.
He was assigned to the infantry, and sent to Camp Dix. Was later made a Cook in the 310th Supply Company.
Has seen overseas service, during which he was slightly gassed and at one time was thrown fifteen feet by the explosion of a shell.
Was engaged in the severest of the battles in the Argonne Forest.
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MARY VERONICA BOLTON
The daughter of John Bolton and Bridget Lannen Bolton, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on March 2nd, 1879, and educated preliminarily in the Richfield Springs High School, graduating in 1901. Later she entered Syracuse University and also took a course at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y., well qualifying her for the important duties she later assumed.
Before her enlistment in the Red Cross Service, she served as Librarian at Far Rockaway, N. Y .; Accountant at the Board of Educa- tion Building, New York City; Social Worker in Oneida County and New York City. Her success was immediate in each of these positions and her record of performance an enviable one.
She took up her duties as a professional Red Cross Worker on October 25th, 1917. She sailed during the latter part of that year for France. The Red Cross had singled her out to assist in its work of rehabilitating the civilian population of France and she accepted the call willingly and gladly. She was a trained social worker with much expe- rience gained as county chairman for dependent children and later Institutional Inspector for the Department of Public Charities in New York City.
The first task she assumed was to visit the French children's institu- tions and relieve their suffering. The tragic condition of these children, including the many hundreds of child refugees, demanded immediate attention. Under these conditions, Miss Bolton, whom the children called "The Red Cross Lady," found a warm welcome, carrying the gifts and the help for which the American Red Cross is blessed in every corner of France.
She has been long stationed in Marseilles as the Directrice de la Section d'Aide Sociale, where she has visited all the institutions that need help and has organized all the social work in that great haven of the refugee. This capable young American woman has written a splendid page in the history of the Great War.
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JAMES EDWARD BOTSFORD
The son of T. Edward Botsford and Mary Botsford, was born at Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York, on July 3rd, 1896. His education was obtained in the public schools of Cherry Valley and Springfield Center.
Following the example of his forebears, he enlisted in the service of his country on April 16th, 1917, being assigned to the 34th Machine Gun Co., U. S. Regulars. Later was transferred to the 64th Machine Gun Co., then to the 21st Machine Gun Battalion Regulars, with which he acted as Runner or Dispatch Carrier in France.
He was trained at Fort Slocum and sent to Galveston. He then went to Fort Bliss and was stationed along the Mexican border, assisting in quieting several raids made by Villa on the ranches in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande.
Went overseas in July of 1918, arriving in Liverpool on July 20th, and went directly to France. Spent one month in hard training and entered the lines in September with his regiment. Fought in several battles in Alsace-Lorraine; in the capture of Hill 210, November 1st, 1918, and also in the Argonne Forest.
He was on the firing line when the last gun was fired on November 11th, 1918, at 11:00 A. M., and was then forced to retire under orders to go to hospital. Received no wounds during the war, except suffering from a bursted ear drum, caused by the concussion of high explosives.
He left the service as a 1st Class Private on April 24th, 1919, being discharged from Camp Upton.
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THOMAS HERMAN BOYLSTON
The son of Herman S. Boylston and Anna A. McBride Lynch, was born in New York City on January 10th, 1896. He was educated in the Rich- field Springs High School and the High School of Commerce, New York City, also taking a course in the Utica School of Commerce, Utica, N. Y.
At the time of his enlistment, on March 16th, 1918, he was employed by the S. N. Y. R. R. Company.
He was assigned to Co. 138, Camp St. Helena, Norfolk, Va., U. S. Naval Training Station.
On April 22nd, 1918, reported aboard the U. S. S. C-192 for active duty, at Coast Patrol, defense, and Convoy Duty.
On January 19th, 1919, transferred to Hospital Corps Training School at Hampton Roads Naval Operative Base, Va., for training Pharmacy, and 1st Aid Independent Duty.
On February 20th, 1919, placed on inactive status of the 3rd Naval District.
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ALMOND CRANDALL BROCKWAY
The son of George T. Brockway and Maud Cutler Brockway, was born at Richfield, Otsego County, New York, on October 15th, 1896.
He graduated from the Richfield Springs High School in 1914, and received his degree of B. S. from Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in June of 1918.
He enlisted at Albany, N. Y., on May 31st, 1918, in the United States Marine Corps, being second man from his township who entered this branch of the service. He was inducted into the Marines soon after June 21st, 1918, at which time he received notice to appear at Training Camp.
He reported at Paris Island, S. C., the permanent Training Camp for the U. S. M. C., and was assigned to the 199th Co., with which he was identified for eight weeks; he then entered the Non-Commissioned Officers' School, assigned to Co. S, and remained there eleven weeks, until discharged from the 416th Co. on March 15th, 1919.
He was rated as a Corporal on September 26th, 1918.
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KATHERINE FRINK BROCKWAY
The daughter of Luman Brockway and Marian Frink Brockway, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on August 7th, 1896, and attended the Richfield Springs public school until 1914, when she entered the Training School for Nurses at Crouse Irving Hospital, Syracuse, N. Y., graduating therefrom in June of 1917. She did private nursing from the time of her graduation to October of 1918.
She enlisted in the American Red Cross on October 1st, 1918, but after entering camp was transferred to the Army Nurses' Corps, and was sent to Camp McPherson, Ga., General Hospital No. 6. This insti- tution accommodated 2000 patients, made up principally of overseas men who were sent there from debarkation hospitals.
In April, 1919, she was transferred to General Hospital No. 5, at Fort Ontario, N. Y., where she is at this writing.
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WALTER CHARLES BROOKS
The son of Benjamin Brooks and Elizabeth Brooks, was born at Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York, on November 22nd, 1889. He attended the Richfield Springs High School and later removed to White Plains, N. Y., where he was employed as a buyer for the Tri-State Garage when he enlisted in the service on July 1st, 1918.
He was sent to a training school in New York City, as an automobile mechanic, and later transferred to Camp Raritan, Metuchen, N. J., and promoted to Corporal, having charge of the gasoline and oil supply.
He was listed for overseas duty, but did not get away on account of the influenza epidemic.
At this writing, May 15th, 1919, he is still in the service and is rated as a 1st Class Automobile Mechanic, at Camp Raritan, N. J.
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WILLIAM ANDREW BROOKS
The son of Benjamin Brooks and Elizabeth Brooks, was born at Rich- field Springs, Otsego County, New York, on June 4th, 1896. He attended the Richfield Springs High School and later the White Plains High School, to which place his family had moved. He is the husband of Edith Friedel Brooks.
At the time he was called to the service, May 23, 1918, he was serving as an accountant for the New York Central R. R. Company.
He was sent to Camp Hancock, and was later an Instructor in the Machine Gun School, being made a Sergeant.
On March 23rd, 1919, he was sent to the Officers' Training Camp at Plattsburg, N. Y., and was discharged from there on April 14th, 1919, returning to his former position with the New York Central R. R. Company.
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ARTHUR ROSCOE BROWN
The son of Dewitt Brown and Ella Elliot Conway, was born at Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, on June 20th, 1889, and is the husband of Kittie Angermier Brown.
He entered the service in July, 1918, and was sent to the Buffalo Technical School, where he remained eight weeks and was later rejected on account of physical disability, returning to his position as foreman in a knitting company at Whitesboro, N. Y.
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GLENN A. BROWN
. The son of Wesley E. Brown and Mary L. Brown, was born on a farm north of the village of Jordanville, Herkimer County, New York, on March 12th, 1894. He attended the public school at Richfield Springs and finished three years in the High School there. He then took up the management of the home farm on R. D. No. 1, out of the Mohawk post- office, and after three years of successful work there, he was called to the service of his country, on September 21st, 1917. His first assignment was with Headquarters Co., 301st Machine Gun Battalion. In August of 1918 he was transferred to the Motor Transport Service. On September 20th he was attached to the 79th Division Headquarters as a Dispatch Rider, and was sent to Camp Devens, Mass., for training. He was located in this camp for seven months, where he was trained as a Bat- talion Agent and Signal Man.
In France he was with the Service of Supply, and in this capacity he was largely employed as a driver of a supply truck from the supply station to the lines. As a dispatch rider he carried messages from division headquarters to the front. This perilous work was on the Argonne front at the beginning of the big drive.
On October 9th, 1918, at about nine o'clock at night he was wounded in the right leg when a shell exploded in the road over which he was returning on a motorcycle after delivering a message to the front.
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LLOYD WESLEY BROWN
The son of Wesley E. Brown and Mary L. Brown, was born at Mohawk, Herkimer County, New York, on January 25th, 1892, and obtained his later education at the Richfield Springs High School.
At the time of his entering the service he was employed as an automobile machinist. He enlisted in the Naval Aviation and was assigned to Co. 38, at Pensacola, Florida; transferred to Hampton Roads, Co. 7, and later to the Great Lakes Naval Station, Co. X.
He went through the training for Machinist's Mate at Hampton Roads and passed the examination, and has been rated as a 1st Class Machinist.
After training he was placed at the Great Lakes Station as an Instructor in the Motor School there.
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RAYMOND GEORGE BROWN
The son of Wesley E. and Mary Brown, was born at Mohawk, N. Y., March 5th, 1900. He received his early school training at Richfield Springs, after which he took up the duties of farm foreman. He en- listed in the Navy April 16, 1917, and was sent to the U. S. Naval Train- ing Station at Newport, R. I., where he was under training for five weeks. He was then transferred to the U. S. S. Wyoming, the Ports- mouth Hospital, then back to the U. S. S. Wyoming, and then to the U. S. S. Pennsylvania. He was on a convoy to the U. S. S. George Washington on President Wilson's first trip to France, leaving New York December 5th, 1918, and returning December 26, 1918.
During his service he suffered from empyema, which made an oper- ation necessary, and was four months in the hospital.
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WILLIAM M'DONALD CARNEY
The son of William J. Carney and Sarah McDonald Carney, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on December 29th, 1903, and was a pupil at the Richfield Springs High School.
He enlisted on January 2nd, 1917, and without question is the youngest volunteer from his native village. He entered the Naval Training Station at Newport, R. I., as an apprentice seaman, and later was sent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. At the time of his discharge he ranked as a petty officer.
During the war he made two trips to France on the U. S. S. Sierra. He has left the service and is now employed with the Durston Gear Company at Syracuse, N. Y.
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ALBERT HORTON CARY
The son of Ezra Cary and Stella Horton Cary, was born at Richfield Springs, Otsego County, New York, on May 18th, 1892. He attended the Richfield Springs school and later took a business course in Utica, N. Y. Was employed as a scenery painter.
He was called to the service from Utica and left on May 30th, 1918, for training at Camp Wadsworth. He was sent overseas in July of 1918 and landed in France on August 1st.
He has been made a Corporal, assigned to the 301st Engineers, A. E. F., and at this writing, May 20th, 1919, is in a vocational school, Army of Occupation, Germany.
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RICHARD EDGAR CARY
The son of John D. Cary and Martha G. White Cary, was born at Warren, Herkimer County, New York, on August 20th, 1892, and ob- tained his preliminary education in the Richfield Springs High School. He attended the Stone School, Cornwall-on-Hudson, 1912-13; Cornell University, Agricultural College, 1914-17, enlisting in the U. S. Naval Reserve Force on April 21st, 1917, while a student at Cornell.
While attached to the U. S. N. R. F., he was officer of the guard, Cloyne Field Barracks, S. C. 320, S. C. 87, U. S. R. Training Regiment, U. S. M. F. (Newport, R. I.), and afterwards ordered to the U. S. S. Canonicus, then lying at 56th St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
His ship, the Canonicus, was of the U. S. Mine Force, Squadron One, Atlantic Fleet, and based at Inverness and Invergordon, Scotland, from May, 1918, to December, 1918. It mined the North Sea, Orkneys to Norway. This famous craft has the record of carrying more mines on one excursion than any other planter in the world's service, and that in fifteen excursions theirs was the glory to lay more than any other in the hazardous service, this being accomplished without accident in handling or planting the mines.
He was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. N. R. F. on January 19th, 1918. It is his intention to finish his course at Cornell, entering in the fall of 1919.
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JAMES CLAIRE COLWELL
The son of Clarence Colwell and Angie Colwell, was born at Richfield, Otsego County, New York, on May 4th, 1895. He is a graduate of the Albany College of Pharmacy, and received his preliminary education at the Richfield Springs High School.
He was engaged as a pharmacist at the time of his call to the service, on May 1st, 1918.
He entered a machine gun company and was sent to Camp Hancock, Georgia. Here he was promoted to 1st Sergeant, on June 18th, 1918, and later sent to Camp Gordon, Georgia, where he was discharged from the service, after a period of ten months from the time of his entrance.
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ALFRED VAN RENSSELAER CRAIN
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