USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Memoirs of the Miami valley > Part 70
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Troy City Organization : Raymond Harris, corporation and business houses ; F. M. Roberts, individuals and homes ; R. C. Sykes, publicity ; L. A. Wheeler, townships; Mrs. Edwin Scott, women's committee.
County Quota Committee : John Arnold, L. E. Elleman, A. W. Landis, G. M. Peffer, L. M. Flesh, W. E. Bowyer, C. F. Perkins and E. L. Crane.
The result of this loan was very gratifying indeed. The county being thoroughly canvassed, many delinquents were aroused to their full duty. The quota asked for this loan was $1,742,150, and the amount subscribed was $2,235,100, the number of subscribers being 8,513.
The Fifth loan, the "Victory" loan, was accomplished in record breaking time. All the forces of the county were merged into one compact organization under direction of J. L. Black. Each town- ship was divided into districts-with one or more chairmen for each township, who were assisted by a corps of well chosen lieutenants. Piqua and Troy were divided into their respective political wards and a committee was assigned to each ward. All factories and other places of employment had their own special committees, and thus every nook and corner of the county was covered. The quota asked for this loan was $1,286,350 and the amount subscribed was $1,900,- 000, the number of subscribers, 7,412.
Miami county was among the counties throughout the country which subscribed the Loans in "record breaking time," especially the "Victory Loan," which went over the top among the first, if not the very first in the country.
War Savings Stamps. When the Government inaugurated its campaign for the sale of War Savings Stamps throughout the coun- try, an organization for the sale of stamps in Miami county was perfected. It was decided to push the sale of these stamps with the utmost vigor. Many unique features were introduced and a county wide campaign was pushed.
The chairman selected to initiate this great campaign and to carry it through the year 1918 was W. K. Leonard, of Piqua. J. L. Black was selected to direct the campaign in the northern section of the county and Chas. H. Dale in the southern. Every known agency was selected for the distribution of these stamps; everyone who could possibly sell any amount of them was recruited for duty, the school children selling many thousands of dollars' worth. A county organization was perfected, including an active working organization in each township. The result of this campaign resulted in the sale of $1,200,000 worth of stamps.
F. O. Flowers was selected as chairman for 1919, serving until August of the same year; many thousands of dollars' worth of stamps being sold under his direction. He was succeeded by Ralph B. Sullivan, of Piqua, and the drive conducted under his direction in September, 1919, resulted in a sale of $70,000 worth of stamps.
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THE STORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
A consistent sale is steadily maintained through various agencies, mainly school children, amounting to more than $2,000 worth each week.
The War Chest. The war chest idea having been adopted and worked successfully at other places, a movement was started to establish a Miami County War Chest. At the urgent request of the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, and other organiza- tions engaged in war-relief work, Judge Walter D. Jones of the Common Pleas Court of this county, announced the formation of the Miami County War Chest Association. A citizens' committee of twenty-three members was appointed for the purpose of per- fecting a war chest organization. This committee became very enthusiastic over the project and rapidly completed the organiza- tion, adopting by-laws for its government which provided in sub- stance, that: An executive board of twenty-three members, rep- resentative of all elements of the community should be appointed, that the functions of this board would be to direct the affairs of the organization; that a board of trustees be appointed, consisting of seven members, the duty of this board being to appropriate such part of the fund and devote the same to any war need they might deem necessary, and to authorize all disbursements ; that a treasurer be appointed, and that all funds be deposited pro rata among the banks, all funds to be drawn on by order of the treasurer and war- rant of the Board of Trustees. It was further provided that a presi- dent, vice-president and secretary-treasurer be elected by the execu- tive board.
After due consideration and consultation, an organization was perfected for the active solicitation of funds and the county was divided into districts as follows :
The Piqua district: Allen G. Rundle, manager ; corporations and business houses, L. M. Flesh ; factory employees, H. D. Hart- ley, Frank M. Shipley ; individuals and homes, John P. Spiker, town- ships, James L. Black; local office organizations, Ralph Sullivan ; publicity and education, George A. Flesh.
The townships in the Piqua district were as follows :
Newberry township, Harry N. Conley; Washington township, A. A. Hall; Spring Creek township, J. B. Wilkinson; Brown town- ship, Logan Frazier. The townships in turn were subdivided, J. W. Routson handling the campaign in Bradford, C. B. Maier in Coving- ton, and J. E. Deetzer and H. C. McCrossing were appointed to handle the rural end of Newberry township.
The Troy district was organized as follows: Bond Houser, manager ; corporations and larger prospects, Jno. M. Spencer ; town- ships, J. L. Bennett, Chas. Dale; homes and individuals, Harry L. Landis, Perce H. Bridge; local office organizations, C. E. Hottle ; publicity and education, Ralph C. Sykes, J. C. Fullerton, jr.
Townships-Troy District: Newton township, Frank Long- nacker; Concord township, Harry Schaefer; Staunton township, north, Charles Cline; Staunton township, south, George Rehmert; Lost Creek township north, Frank Wilson; Lost Creek township, south, Ross Knoop; Union township, A. G. Eidemiller; Elizabeth township, Frank E. Thompson; Bethel township, Charles Karns.
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MEMOIRS OF THE MIAMI VALLEY
Tippecanoe district: Tippecanoe city, Edward L. Cooper ; rural Monroe township, H. W. Wilson. Edward L. Cooper was the manager of the Tippecanoe district.
All of the work connected with the fund-raising was in the hands of the campaign committee. This committee in turn ap- pointed a budget committee; the latter committee to investigae and determine the amount of funds needed from the county for the year beginning May 1, 1918. This investigation disclosed that Miami county had contributed approximately $175,000 to various relief work during the previous year. On this basis, it was deter- mined that $300,000 was needed for the ensuing year. A big drive was instituted throughout the county; the organizations as above detailed, handling the campaign in their respective spheres. This drive covered every nook and corner of Miami county and the thor- oughness of the work is best attested by the results.
The drive ended June 2, 1918, and by that time approximately 17,000 subscriptions were taken, which totaled $510,000. The last quarterly payment being suspended : all subscribers who paid more than three-fourths of their subscriptions were refunded all in excess of three-fourths.
The War Chest appropriated money to the following organiza- tions: Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Salvation Army, American Jewish Relief, The Knights of Columbus, The American Library Associa- tion, American Friends Service Committee, American Committee- for training maimed soldiers (French) in suitable trades, American Women's Hospitals, Armenian and Syrian Relief, American Com- mittee for Relief in Near East, American Fund for French Wound- ed, American Committee for Devastated France, American Jugo- Slav Relief, American Jewish Relief Committee, Belgian Soldiers' Tobacco Fund, Camp Sherman Community Hostess House, Women's Committee Miami County Branch, Council of National Defense, Duryea War Relief, Fatherless Children of France, Inc., French Heroes Lafayette Memorial Fund, Friends' Reconstruction Unit, Italian War Relief Fund, Miami Co. Liberty Loan Commit- tee, Miami Co. War Savings Stamp Committee, American Red Cross-Piqua Chapter and Miami Co. Chapter, Military Entertain- ment Council, Miami County Food Administration, Miami County Branch Council of National Defense, Permanent Blind Relief War Fund, Piqua Food Administration, Polish Victims' Relief Fund, Roumanian Relief Committee, Smith College War Service Board, Serbian Relief Committee of America, Serbian Aid Fund, Society for Protection Frontier Children, Salvation Army, and War Re- sources Committee.
Executive organization of Miami county war chest was as fol- lows: Executive Board-H. D. Hartley, president ; Rev. J. E. Etter, vice-president ; Stanhope Boal, A. D. Hance, W. K. Leonard, Joe Welsh, Wm. C. Rogers, J. Harry Clark, Dr. R. M. Shannon, James R. Duncan, S. G. Frazier, H. B. Chaffin, D. G. Wenrick, Chas. E. Perkins, George Rehmert, Ross Knoop, A. G. Eidemiller, Frank E. Thompson, Sumner Senseman, H. J. Ritter, A. L. Harshberger, Rev. J. E. Etter, Cort M. Smith, T. F. Rataiczak, A. G. Stouder; Board of trustees: H. M. Allen, Chairman; L. M. Flesh, Vice-
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THE STORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
chairman ; Geo. M. Peffer, Frank P. Irvin, Edward L. Crane, H. K. Wood, Walter E. Bowyer; Office organization: Walter Bowyer, treasurer ; Clyde E. Hottle, secretary ; Campaign committee : Bond Houser, Chairman ; Allen G. Rundle, H. D. Hartley, John P. Spiker, John M. Spencer, A. C. McClung, Edward L. Cooper. Publicity and Education : Ralph C. Sykes, Chairman ; J. C. Fullerton, jr., Harry N. Conley, A. C. McClung, Geo. A. Flesh; Budget commit- tee: H. D. Hartley, Chairman ; John M. Spencer, Allen G. Rundle.
Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense. Of all the organizations created as helpful adjuncts to the Government in the prosecution of its part in the World War, probably no single or- ganization contributed a service of such varied and far-reaching character as the Woman's Branch of the Council of National De- fense. The far-reaching scope of this organization was certainly not anticipated at the outset. From a vague organization whose full mission had not been well defined, this National body of women in all the various activities which later developed, contributed a signal service, one that had not a little to do with the final achieve- ment of victory. In the countless avenues which claimed their at- tention, these loyal, patriotic and self sacrificing women rendered a service that has not as yet received its full recognition by the public at large.
No less efficacious was the work of the Miami County Division of the Ohio Branch of this organization. At its initial organization Mrs. Addison F. Broomhall, of Troy, was elected chairman. Mrs. Broomhall was a woman of broad experience in club and organiza- tion work and was especially well fitted for so important a task. The other executive officers selected at that time were Mrs. Sterret Faulkner and Mrs. John Spencer, both of Troy and both of whom were recognized throughout the entire community as splendid and capable executive associates of Mrs. Broomhall in this great work.
The work was divided into two general classes, Local Chair- men and Department Chairmen, the latter division being subdivided into a number of special committees. The Local Chairmen were as follows: Mrs. Edgar Todd, Piqua ; Mrs. C. W. Cookson, Troy; Mrs. Eugena Wenzlau, Tipp City ; Mrs. J. H. Eichelbarger, Fletch- er; Mrs. F. M. Longnacker, Pleasant Hill; Mrs. J. L. Cramer, Cov- ington ; Miss Mary Knoop, Casstown ; Mrs. George Brecount, Con- over; Mrs. John Arnold, Bradford; Mrs. Will Eby, West Milton; Mrs. Sumner Senseman, Phoneton.
The Department Chairmen were divided into the following divisions : Child Welfare, Mrs. A. Acton Hall, Mrs. Meyer Louis, of Piqua, and Mrs. J. B. Kendall, of Tipp City; Nursing : Mrs. Wil- liam Leonard, of Piqua, and Mrs. R. A. Kerr, of Tipp City. Home and Foreign Relief: Mrs. Mary Sawyer, of Piqua, and Mrs. E. E. Edgar, of Troy. Food: Miss Eusebia James, of Piqua ; Mrs. C. C. Hobart, of Troy ; Mrs. A. L. Marshall, of Piqua. Red Cross: Mrs. W. H. Allison, of Piqua; Mrs. H. T. Gabriel, of Piqua, assistant. Liberty Loans: Mrs. H. E. Scott, of Troy, Chairman ; Mrs. Wm. Cook Rogers, Piqua; Mrs. Alvilda C. Ziegenfelder, Piqua; Mrs. Stella Boal, Piqua. Educational Propaganda: Mrs. L. M. Linden- berger, of Troy, and Mrs. George Dietrich, of Piqua. The "Four-
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teen Minute Women" were a feature of the Educational Propaganda in Piqua, Mrs. F. P. Brotherton, being chairman of the speakers' bureau. The speakers were: Mrs. Allen L. Marshall, Mrs. J. D. Miller, Miss Dessa Shaw, Mrs. Wm. Cook Rogers and Mrs. Brother- ton. These helped materially by their talks on Red Cross Work, Food Conservation, Nursing, Women and the War, Relief Work, Americanization and Patriotic Education. Mrs. Meyer Louis ar- ranged the dates and places for the speakers.
A model kitchen was established at Piqua under direction of Mrs. Stanley Connell, giving practical ways and means of conserv- ing food.
Women's Auxiliary to Camp Sherman: Mrs. L. M. Flesh of Piqua. Committee on Draft Board Assistants: Mrs. Frank T. Harmon, chairman. It will be seen by the titles of the various committees that the work outlined was very comprehensive indeed, and the results proved to be as comprehensive as the outlined work indicated.
It will not be possible to enumerate the many things accom- plished by these women in their subsequent campaign. To enum- erate the many little sacrifices-the painstaking effort-the ramifi- cations of all the departments of their work would require a vol- ume of itself.
One of the great problems which confronted the Nation at this time was that of Food Conservation. This claimed the atten- tion of our best publicists-lecturers and organizations. The Edu- cational Committee of the local branch immediately took steps to spread the gospel of conservation. Posters were placed through- out the community and food cards were distributed to every home in the county. These pledge cards were a moral obligation to the signer to do everything within reason to help in the conservation of food.
Not only were these cards distributed, but helpful suggestions and scientific information were given to the housewives, to aid them in this campaign. A fair division of coal was another step under- taken by these women. Going from house to house in Troy they determined the proper quota of coal per home, and also provided for the distribution of coal. This canvass in Troy was to determine the approximate amount of coal needed in the county. Early sum- mer buying of coal was advocated to relieve railroad congestion. The Child Welfare Division was another field of distinctive pro- portions. It is an old adage that war-time is the time for emaciated babies. It was the professed intention, and this intention was car- ried out, that there should be no emaciated babies in Miami county during the war: All children under six years of age were weighed and carefully examined as to their general physical condition. The work accomplished by this division was simply wonderful. If liv- ing conditions were inimical to the child's welfare-the living con- ditions were immediately improved. If a change of food was neces- sary-the food was changed. If a nursing baby was liable to suffer from an underfed mother-additional food was provided. In short, nothing was left undone in this great work of Baby-Saving and the results, familiar to everyone, speak for themselves.
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THE STORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
As Ohio was called on to fill a certain quota of student nurses, it became the duty of the Nursing division to supply Miami county's quota for this item. These nurses were to be especially equipped with the requisites that go to make good nurses. They were to be sent to training school, or if their previous experience justified, to be inducted into service. Despite the demand for nurses, which had existed for more than a year previously, and the comparative scarcity of available recruits for this service at that time, the Miami County Division supplied its full quota of twenty-five. The Divi- sion was called upon by the Governor of Ohio to furnish assistants to the Draft Board. A very efficient committee was formed with Mrs. Frank T. Harmon as chairman, and rendered notable services in this connection. These were only a few of the many contributions to the winning of the war, by the Miami County Division of this great organization. In the Red Cross, Liberty Loan and all other activities they were effective co-workers. When the final history of the great conflict is written, the Woman's Committee of The Council of National Defense will rank among the great forces that strengthened our Nation mightily, strengthened her in those little things which are collectively mighty.
The American Legion was formed for the purpose of perpetuat- ing the interests of the American soldiers who served in the World war. Its functions are not political and it is not designed to wield arbitrary influence in American politics. It is the purpose of this order to perpetuate the great lessons learned in the world wide con- flict, particularly the great American ideals which prompted our entry into the conflict. What the G. A. R. was, and is, to the Union soldiers of the Civil war, the American Legion is intended to be to the American soldiers of the great world conflict.
Miami county has three posts in the American Legion: The Clifford Thompson Post, No. 43, of Troy ; The Paul Schnell Post, No. 184, of Piqua, and The A. B. Cole Post, No. 80, of Covington. The Clifford Thompson Post of Troy was named after one of the heroes who heroically sacrificed himself to save his comrades. The officers of the post are: Post Commander, Ira C. Helmick; Post Adjutant, Walter C. Miller; Post Finance Officer, Frank Rinehart ; Executive Committee, Kenneth Little, Joseph Scott, John L. Babb.
The Paul Schnell Post, No. 184, of Piqua, was named in honor of Supply Sergeant Paul Schnell of Company C, who was killed in Flanders. The first officers to be elected in this post are: Post Commander, Kenneth Miller; Vice Commander, C. Worley Orr ; Adjutant, Alfred P. Reck; Finance Officer, Gray Sigler ; Historian, George A. Flesh; Chaplain, Dr. Francis W. Thomas; War Risk Officer, Will J. Prince ; Employment Officer, J. E. Jones ; Executive Committee, Victor Washburn, Chairman; Sharon Mote, William Hirt, Emmett Murray, Dr. M. R. Haley. Will J. Prince, of this Post, was elected as one of the first delegates from this district to attend a National convention-attending the National Convention of the Legion held at Minneapolis-1919.
The A. B. Cole Post, No. 80, of Covington, was also named after a fallen hero, a member of Company A of Covington. The officers of this post are: Commander, L. J. Langston ; Vice-Com-
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mander, W. C. Graber; Adjutant, Galen Neer ; Finance Officer, Otto Fulker; Chaplain, H. D. Orr; Sergeant-at-Arms, Robert Langston ; Executive Committee, William L. Marlin, W. O. Boggs and Hobart Fulker.
Red Cross, Troy Division. When the United States entered the Great War in 1917, the Miami County Chapter of the American Red Cross immediately began to adjust its program to meet the great and pressing need. Red Cross branches were reorganized under two main heads, the Miami county chapter including all of Miami county excepting Newberry, Washington, Spring Creek and Brown townships, which were embraced in the Piqua division. Headquarters for the Miami county or Troy division were estab- lished in Troy where work was immediately started. In October, at the election of officers, Bond Houser was made chairman ; Walter H. Coles, vice-chairman ; Miss Edith Gruelich, secretary, and John K. DeFrees, treasurer.
Membership during the subsequent campaigns resulted in an enrollment of 8,052 adults, exclusive of a very active junior depart- ment. In 1918 L. H. Shipman was made chairman; H. A. Pauley, vice-chairman ; John K. DeFrees, treasurer, and Mrs. J. D. Miller, secretary. The women of the county rallied to the call for workers and under the following committeemen did an extraordinary amount of good work: Promotion and magazines, Mrs. A. F. Broomhall ; county rural campaign, J. F. Fullerton, Jr .; publicity, Perce Bridge ; county organizer, Rev. D. L. Ferguson. By September, 1917, the flying fingers of the untiring women who knitted morning, noon and night had completed 12,121 knitted articles, including sweaters, scarfs, mittens, helmets and socks, and excluding the vast quantities of hospital supplies, garments for Belgian, French and Armenian relief. The women who did splendid work in the supervision of many of the activities of this work in the manufacturing, packing and knitting departments, were Mrs. Harry Gabriel, Mrs. M. S. Wagner, Miss May Nixon, and Mrs. E. E. Edgar.
The rural organization in the townships embraced in the Troy division, in addition to the active workers in Troy were as follows: Monroe Township-E. L. Crane, R. R. Tippecanoe City ; Mrs. L. E. Coppock, R. R. Tippecanoe City. Newton Township-W. Deeter, R. R. Bradford; Mrs. Frank Longenecker, Pleasant Hill. Staun- ton Township-Geo. Rehmerth, R. R. Troy; Mrs. M. E. Thomas, R. R. Troy. Union Township-Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ammon, Pots- dam, Ohio. Bethel Township-Sumner Senseman, Tippecanoe City ; R. H. Deam, Phonetown. Concord Township-Harry Shaefer, R. R. Troy ; Mrs. Harry Duncan, R. R. Troy. Elizabeth Township- Frank E. Thomas, R. R. New Carlisle; Mrs. Martin Rehmerth, R. R. Troy. Lost Creek Township-Chas. Rogers, Casstown; Mrs. Virgil Hale, R. R. Troy.
Under the leadership of Miss Ellen Wheeler, the Junior Red Cross organized in the schools of the county made a remarkable record. As the result of a vigorous county-wide campaign, a mem- bership of 3,658 school children was attained and general interest in this branch became very pronounced. Red Cross plays were given, sales of various kinds were held and money was raised in
PUBLIC SQUARE, TROY, OHIO
Adams St. Bridge, Troy, Ohio "Flood of 1913"
COURT HOUSE, TROY O.
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THE STORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
many ways to swell the treasury of the organization. The chil- dren also knitted and sewed, knitting 735 articles, the expenditures of the Junior Chapter amounting to $565.37. Many, if not all the school teachers worked long and faithfully after school hours in bringing this branch to a success.
No sooner had the armistice been signed and the pressing need for such great quantities of supplies been lessened than a call, equally imperative but right at our doors, came to the Red Cross.
The epidemic of influenza which swept over the country with such fatal results exhausted the supply of medical and nursing aid and only the heroic efforts of volunteer workers prevented a still greater number of deaths. With the nursing staff of every hospital in the country greatly reduced by the call from overseas, and the number of physicians lessened by the same cause, it was impossible to provide adequate care for the thousands of suffering civilians. It became the mission of the Civilian Relief to provide as well as possible for the many sick people in this community and excellent work was accomplished.
Great quantities of soup were made and delivered daily to the homes of the sick. Volunteer nurses did good work in caring for them, until, as often occurred, they themselves succumbed to the disease. From October, 1918, to April, 1919, there were 2,698 cases reported, and the cost to the Red Cross chapter in caring for the sick and providing sick room supplies was $825.75. The following hos- pital supplies were made and distributed under the direction of the Red Cross : 6,909 hospital shirts, 529 pillows, 56 bed sox, 70 napkins, 190 handkerchiefs, 120 washcloths, 140 layettes, 144 comfort kits. 264 pinafores, 102 underdrawers, 100 shirts, 300 chemises and 100 convalescent robes.
The question of the returned soldier soon became the great problem confronting the Civilian Relief. It is the Government's agent for keeping in touch with and ministering to the families of soldiers and sailors who are in the army or navy or who have been discharged and are in need of temporary relief.
Troy.
The County of Miami, being organized in 1807, the task con- fronting the fathers at that time was the selection of a county seat. After a protracted struggle between Piqua, Staunton and Troy, the latter place was selected. At that time Troy was indeed a primitive community, but with the advent of the county seat, the growth be- came steady and it began to attract many new forces. As set forth elsewhere in the general county history, Jesse Newport, Daniel Wil- son and Joseph Lamb were appointed by the court as commissioners to select a location. They decided on what is now Troy, and Robert Crawford was appointed director to purchase and survey the site selected. It was bought from Aaron Tullis, William Barbee, Alexander McCullough and W. H. Gahagan. Andrew Wallace was appointed to survey the land, and he filed his first plat December 2, 1807.
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