USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 40
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About a month before the United States declared war on Germany, a group of our patriotic and indignant citizens gathered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Metcalf and then and there organized the Erie Chapter of the American Red Cross. This chapter became excellently organized, and developed a wonderful efficiency. Practically every Erie citizen became a member of it during the months ensuing. It opened a campaign for 5,000 members on April 9, 1917, and four days later the number had been secured. This organization cared for the families of the men who had left for the field, raised funds for its general work, provided assistance of doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, dentists, min- isters, and many other professions and avocations, for those under its care. Those cared for were families and dependents of those serving in all of the armies and navies of our allies. Branches were established in many of the surrounding county towns-North East, Corry, and other larger places.
As the country plunged into its preliminary work of getting ready for the war, the government called upon states and counties to absorb its war loans. Our Liberty Loan Committee was so well organized that a total of $28,583,400 was furnished to the government in the four Lib- erty Loans, and the Victory Loan which followed the armistice.
The Erie County Resident State Committee of the Pennsylvania Council of National Defense was organized on April 7, 1917, under in- structions from Governor Brumbaugh, with offices in the Baker Block on the northeast corner of Seventh and State Streets. The thoroughness of its field of operations may be discerned from the following depart- ments functioning in its general organization: Finance, Publicity, Legis- lation, Allied Bodies, Sanitation and Medicine, Civic Relief, Food Supply, Materials, Plants, Motors and Motor Trucks, Civilian Service and Labor, Military Service, Naval Service, Guards, Police and Inspection, Trans- portation. Under this organization functioned the Bureau of Four-Min- ute Men, directed by George Creel, who devoted themselves to spreading propaganda in public meetings. The Food Administration conserved the
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
supplies of food available for the county and strove to prevent food- hoarding. The Fuel Administration did the same for the fuel supplies, and saw to it that a proper distribution of coal was had for every need, without any person hoarding it. The U. S. Boys' Working Reserve was formed with the purpose of supplying the farmers with very much- needed help in raising food staples. The Employment Service was a channel for providing employers with help. The Legal Advisory Board consisted of practically all of the practicing lawyers in the county, who cheerfully furnished their help in giving advice, professional services and help in filling out the questionnaires to the drafted men, and all other service men, free of charge. The doctors and surgeons were affiliated with the Department of Sanitation and Medicine; established emergency hospitals, succeeded in stamping out, with the aid of the Red Cross, an epidemic of influenza in the late summer of 1918; organized and carried on an efficient line of Child Welfare Work; assisted the families of the soldiers ; made service examinations; and assisted as well upon many of the other committees. The Food Administration will be definitely re- membered for its activity in stimulating every one to attempt to raise food supplies for themselves, and to increase the production of the farms. Its War Gardens to have been found in practically every back lot, and in . some of the front lawns, of the county, was an especially unique feature of its work. The Committee on Publicity saw to it that the government propaganda and war news was properly disseminated through the press, and by bulletins, throughout the county; and that matters of a more official confidence were either wholly suppressed, or were so presented that harm would not accrue to the government or to our men in the service. The Department of Plants functioned by seeking out factories and plants suitable for the use of the government in turning out the many forms of war material, and in supervising persons who were sus- pected of having and employing pro-German tendencies and sympathies. The women of the county whole-heartedly worked in the various depart- ments and committees, affording most efficient service in the general organizations, as well as in their own separate ones.
Erie County's industries, one and all, co-operated with the public needs, and offered to be, and were, commandeered by the government for the production of munitions, food supplies, army supplies, and de- votedly did their best to "help win the war". In fact, it was but a short time after war was declared by this country, before "help to win the war" became the slogan to be heard on every hand.
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To no class of industries, or to no class of professional or individual life, can we ascribe any special distinction in the service and devotion rendered in the great time of the world's need. Every person, and every industry seemed to strive to do his or its best in "doing his bit" to "help win the war". Of course, it is but fair to state, that there were some few instances of mistaken devotion to Germany, as the mother country of those few offenders. The Council of National Defense was, however, prompt to learn of, and to supervise all such persons.
Too much praise cannot be given to those devoted men who formed the Draft Boards of the county. Theirs was a service which called for the utmost of devotion, patriotism, zeal, patience and persistence to the end that the county should be found to have furnished its proper quota of men from those who were properly liable to such service; and yet to afford to all a full, fair and lawful consideration of conditions which might warrant exemption from duty. These men were all busy men of affairs, and had ample private duties to occupy their entire time; but yet they found means to give their country sufficient time to pass upon the mass of data involved in the selection of men subject to the drafts. This called upon them to labor in this work at any and all times, and far into the nights, that their official action should be performed with intelli- gence, discrimination and good faith to all concerned.
The Draft Boards which had to do with drafting and selecting the men to be chosen for war duty, passing upon their physical fitness, de- ciding upon claims of draftees to be exempt from military service, and other duties were:
Erie Draft Board No. 1, for Erie 1st and 2d wards, sent the largest quota from any of the local boards. Its personnel was Turner W. Shack- lett, Harry W. Moomy and Dr. John H. Dasher by the first appointment. Mr. Shacklett declined to serve, and was replaced with Mr. Cordello Her- rick, who became the chairman, and Mr. Moomy the clerk of the Board. Mr. Herrick served until ill-health forced his resignation when he was succeeded by Mr. J. H. Wilson, and Mr. Moomy became the chairman and Mr. Wilson was made clerk. Its medical examiners were Dr. J. H. Dasher, Drs. P. T. Johnson, T. M. M. Flynn, F. B. Krimmel, G. M. Stude- baker, E. H. Drozeski and J. L. Ireland. Its first registration was held on June 5, 1918.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Erie Draft Board No. 2, for another district of the city, was com- posed of Sheriff Max B. Haibach, H. Bedford Duff and Dr. A. H. Roth. The first two men declined to serve, and James M. Dickey and Harry L. Moore, Esq., were named to succeed them on July 12, 1917. Later Mr. Dickey resigned, Mr. Moore becoming chairman, and Max G. Mayo being named to succeed Mr. Dickey.
Erie Draft Board No. 3 consisted of Dr. George A. Reed, John M. Lynch and Henry Himberger, with headquarters in Washington School. It registered a total of 8,455 men, of whom 3,159 formed the total classi- fication.
Erie District Board No. 1 functioned at Union City, registering a total of 5,655 men.
Erie District Board No. 2 served at Girard, registering 6,776 men.
District Exemption Board No. 2, for western Pennsylvania, received the appeals of men claiming exemption from the service, where the de- cisions of the draft boards were questioned. This board was named by the governor, Martin G. Brumbaugh, and had jurisdiction over the coun- ties of Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Mckean, Venango and Warren. It was composed of Messrs. C. A. Martin, of Ellwood City, chair- man; Joseph McCormick, of Erie; C. L. Gilbert, of Rochester, Pa .; Peter Gearhart, of Clearfield, Pa., and Dr. Frederick W. Brown, of Franklin, Pa. Mr. McCormick resigned soon after the appointment, and Hon. Mil- ton W. Shreve was named to succeed him, who was made the secretary. It commenced its labors at Oil City on Aug. 17, 1917, but moved to Erie on Sept. 15. It is said that this board considered questions relating to no less than 50,000 questionnaires. Miss Carrie M. Pratt was the efficient Chief Clerk.
American Red Cross, Erie Chapter, held its initial meeting for or- ganization on March 19, 1917. Its original organizers were: Mr. and Mrs. George R. Metcalf, Mr. and Mrs. James Burke, Admiral and Mrs. Corwin P. Reese, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schaffner, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Horst- man, Bishop Rogers Israel of the Episcopal Diocese, Rabbi Max C. Cur- rick, Mrs. T. M. Hemphill, Miss E. T. Lebling, Mrs. Davenport Galbraith, Mrs. J. W. Witherop, Mrs. William H. Forster, Miss Ella Frankie Law, Mrs. Hays Clemens, Miss Hemphill and Harry L. Moore. Practically
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
every citizen of the county, having any pretensions to Americanism, be- came associated with this organization before the war closed, and the little white button emblems were to be seen everywhere. Other persons besides the above became active in the work of this society, and if all were listed would require a more extensive space than we have at our command. However, its workers embraced those who have always been active in the city and county in public, charitable and patriotic move- ments, and the work of this society was not the least in the many organized efforts which finally helped to decide the great conflict.
American Red Cross, Corry Chapter, was equally efficient and tire- less. It received its charter on April 12, 1917, with J. J. Desmond, N. Troy Gillette, M. D., Clyde D. Wilcox, Robert Barlow, Arthur Colgrove, Isaac B. Brown, Mrs. E. L. Monroe, A. D. Colgrove, J. W. Clough, J. P. Drown, Mrs. George H. Bosworth, J. B. Patterson, F. A. Loveland, Frank L. Babbitt, C. W. Irwin, Lucille Love, C. L. Alexander, D. B. Titus, F. L. Monroe, Mrs. C. C. Loveland, Rev. Joseph B. Brock, F. E. Whittelsey and O. A. Stennett were the applicants for this charter.
American Red Cross, Waterford Branch of the Erie Chapter, worked under the presidency of Mrs. W. J. Golden, and Mrs. P. W. Mckay, Buyer; Mrs. Phelps Gillett, of the Executive Committee; Miss Helen Patten, Secretary ; Mrs. E. E. Kendall, Home Service Department, and Mrs. R. P. Barnes, of the Executive Committee.
Erie Liberty Loan Committee embraced at various times during its service, Charles Messenkopf, as General Chairman; J. A. Andrews, City Chairman; George Reichert, Vice-Chairman; H. E. Scott, County Chair- man; F. H. Houghton, Publicity Chairman; Paul D. Wright, Chairman Advisory Committee; Otto G. Hitchcock, Chairman Manufacturers' Com- mittee ; Miss Hattie M. Schabacker, Chairman Women's Committee; Ram- sey Burton, Chairman Fraternal Committee; Eugene McManus, Chair- man Labor Committee; William H. Riley, Chairman General Sales Com- mittee; S. S. Lehman, Chairman Agricultural Committee; George W. Hunter, ex-Secretary of Fourth Loan; W. E. Hirt, Chairman of Profes- sional Division; R. L. Rodgers, Director of County Sales; Robert Mc- Clenathan, Chairman Public Utilities Division; P. J. Grant, Chairman Lake Division; W. H. Forster, Chairman of Public Meetings; C. L. Spen- cer represented the Erie Clearing House Association; Rabbi Max Currick represented the Council of Defense and Bureau of Four-Minute Men;
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Giles C. Cook, Chairman of Boy Scouts Division; P. A. Goodnough, Chair- man of Fraternal Division; Frank D. Lacy, Chairman of Commercial Division; Guy H. Fowler, Executive Secretary.
Pennsylvania Council of National Defense and Committee of Public Safety, Erie County Division, served under the slogan:
"Erie Serves. Erie dedicates itself, heart and soul, and all its re- sources, to the untiring service and support of our Nation and its de- fenders. Our Government at Washington, in its stupendous work of preparation and our men "Over There", ready to go over the top, must have the assurance that every Erieite is standing squarely behind them unto victory."
This council was organized in Harrisburg March 28, 1917, and later the state-wide organization under this title was erected and countenanced by the Act of May 15. The Erie County Resident Committee met on April 7, the following being the organization resulting: Hon. A. E. Sisson, Chairman; C. Arthur Blass, Secretary; George R. Metcalf, Treas- urer; and Hon. Frank Gunnison, James Burke, Ely Griswold, P. J. Barber, and James M. Dickey, members of the Executive Committee.
Departmental Directors were named as follows: Finance, Alex. Ja- recki; Publicity, M. C. Currick; Legislation, Hon. M. W. Shreve; Allied Bodies, J. M. Dickey; Sanitation and Medicine, Dr. J. W. Wright; Civic Relief, Ray Himrod; Food Supply, Hon. Henry A. Clark; Materials, F. A. Brevillier; Plants, James Burke; Motors and Motor Trucks, F. C. Rich- ardson; Civilian Service and Labor, C. L. Thompson; Military Service, John R. Metcalf ; Naval Service, E. G. Germer; Guards, Police and Inspec- tion, Frank W. Payne; Transportation, James Thompson.
May 22, 1918, a reorganization occurred with M. C. Currick, Chair- man; Hon. Frank Gunnison, Vice-Chairman; Ely Griswold, Secretary ; George R. Metcalf, Treasurer; and with members C. Arthur Blass, James Burke, P. J. Barber, and Hon. A. E. Sisson having Guy W. Fowler as the Executive Secretary. James M. Dickey having resigned, Hon. W. J. Stern was named in his place; Ray Himrod was succeeded by W. A. Har- ris; C. L. Thompson was succeeded by Otto G. Hitchcock; William Hamil- ton succeeded James Thompson; W. A. Harris succeeded Robert Spittal; E. J. McManus and Albert Bayton were added to the committee.
The writer has found that it is physically impossible at this time to procure reliable data as to the numbers of men drafted, accepted, serv-
.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
ing, wounded, rejected and specially promoted during our participation in the world war. The records from this county have been transmitted to Washington for filing purposes, and are not available. Further, the mag- nitude of the work, the services, and the numbers of individuals, con- nected with Erie County's share in that great struggle, makes it im- practicable to attempt anything like a detailed narrative of men sent, our casualties, or of home activities incident to it. Suffice to say that every industry, every profession, every manufactory, and almost without ex- ception, every individual, in our county gave faithful, instant and de- voted service to the cause of National Defense.
Without being able to verify the figures from the official lists, the following table is given as the best available figures at this time, and which will serve as an approximation, at least, of the numbers furnished from this county:
June 5, June-Aug., Sept. 12,
Local Board
1917
1918
1918
Total
Camp Acceptances
Erie No. 1
4,417
391
5,987
10,795
1,268
Erie No. 2
3,511
414
5,921
9,846
827
Erie No. 3
3,161
424
4,867
8,455
728
Union City
2,116
223
3,316
5,655
430
Girard
2,223
237
4,316
6,776
440
Besides these Camp Acceptances, other men were sent to General Service, Remediables, Limited Service, others disqualified, deferred on account of dependents, and Agricultural and Industrial exemptions.
It is said that Erie County's youngest soldiers in this war were two brothers, Private Ross V. Douglas, who enlisted at Erie July 18, 1918, at the age of 16, and died aged 16 years, 7 months and 14 days when the ship Ticonderoga was sunk 1,700 miles out at sea by the U-Boat 153, accompanied by the fiendish and inhuman disregard of the crew of the attacking boat for the appeals from the drowning men. Gunner Oliver C. Douglas enlisted with the Canadian forces at age 15, going overseas in August, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. John Ryan furnished their six sons to the service. They all volunteered, and are: Corporal Peter B. Ryan, Patrick S. Ryan, Corporal Herbert Ryan, Ensign Gerald Ryan, Arthur Ryan and Private William J. Ryan.
PART II.
Biographical History
Turner Washington Shacklett, retired, has for many years been a representative business man and highly esteemed citizen of Erie. He was born in Fauquier County, Va., on Aug. 10, 1848, and is a son of George Washington and Lucy (Morris) Shacklett, representatives of fine old fam- ilies of the Old Dominion.
The Shacklett family is of French Huguenot extraction, the name being originally Jacquelet, meaning "Little John." George Washington Shacklett continued his residence in Virginia until his death in November, 1861, at the age of 52 years. His wife died in May, 1901, at the age of 87 years. Mr. Shacklett was a Henry Clay Whig in his political adherency, and in 1860 supported Bell and Everett, the nominees of that party for president and vice president of the United States, but when Virginia seceded from the Union and the Civil War was precipitated upon a divided nation, he, following the lead of their beloved countryman, Robert E. Lee, remained loyal to his native state and to the influences under which he had been reared. Thus he cast his lot with the Confederacy, in whose cause two of his sons sacrificed their lives, Sewall, having been killed at Williamsburg, Va., when but 19 years of age, and Edward, having lost his life in the sanguinary Battle of Gettysburg when 23 years old. His other two children were: Turner Washington, the subject of this sketch, and Mary Elizabeth, deceased.
Turner Washington Shacklett secured his early education in private schools and the Piedmont Academy of Virginia. In February, 1868, he
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Turner Mt. Stack latte.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he was employed in a wholesale dry goods and notion house which was established by his forebears, and remained with it until its dissolution and retirement in 1875, when he removed to Erie where he became actively interested in the Erie Pail Factory. To the interests of this concern he gave his time and attention for a quarter of a century as salesman and general manager. In addition to this busi- ness, Mr. Shacklett served as president of the Odin Stove Manufacturing Company, in which he was a large stockholder, for 20 years.
On Dec. 25, 1876, Mr. Shacklett was united in marriage with Miss Ida Adams, the fifth daughter of the late Dr. John A. and Mary Louisa (Bar- bee) Adams, natives of Virginia and life-long friends of the Shacklett family.
Doctor Adams was a distinguished physician of Fauquier County, Va. He died in 1882, and his wife in 1881. Mrs. Shacklett died in Decem- ber, 1914. There were no children in the Shacklett family, but Mr. and Mrs. Shacklett reared and educated two daughters of his sister: Eva Preston, who is a trained nurse in New York City, and Lucy Turner, who married Joseph J. White, Jr., who reside with Mr. Shacklett in the family residence at 130 East Sixth Street, Erie, Pa.
Mr. Shacklett is a Democrat in politics and has served as a member of the select city council, as water commissioner, by appointment of the court, for nine years, as school director for 12 years, as acting postmaster for 14 months, as president of the Board of Trade for one year, and is a director of the First National Bank.
He is member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in which he has been a Vestryman continuously since his first election in 1883, was the superin- tendent of its Sunday School for 25 years, and is a licensed lay reader. He has been treasurer of the Episcopal diocese of Erie (and Pittsburgh before the division) for 25 years, and has been deputy to all the triennial general conventions of the church since 1907.
At one time Mr. Shacklett declined his party's selection as a candidate for the State Legislature, but entered the field for congressional honors in the first Wilson campaign, in 1912, when he was defeated, although carry- ing Erie City by 1,200 majority.
He is affiliated with Lake Shore lodge, No. 718, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has served the allotted term as district deputy for one of the districts of Erie County.
He is a member of Perry Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M., of which he
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
is a Past Master, Erie Consistory of the Scottish Rite, taking active and leading parts in a number of its degrees, a Knight Templar in Mt. Olivet Commandery, and is a 33rd degree Mason. Soon after the death of the late David A. Sawdey, Mr. Shacklett was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of Masons for Erie County in his place.
Mr. Shacklett was gifted not only with a fine bass singing voice which has been used in many ways, concerts, church, light operas, etc., during all of his 50 years residence in the city of his adoption, but also with an inimitable faculty for recitations and effective telling of stories that has made him a popular feature at banquets and gatherings.
His love of nature and the great outdoors has led him to indulge his study of birds and flowers, and upon these subjects he has frequently spoken and written delightfully.
William Pitt Gifford, who ranks among the eminent attorneys of Erie County, was born at Greeley, Colo., Oct. 5, 1874, and is the son of Martin Van Buren and Mary Amelia (Allison) Gifford.
After the war between the States, 1861 to 1865, in which Martin Van Buren Gifford served as a captain of a company of the 83rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, he returned to his native Erie County, remaining there until 1870, when he moved to the state of Colorado, where he became a member of the colony which founded Greeley, a prosperous farming community. In 1880 he returned to Erie County and from 1886 until 1889 was sheriff of that county. He was married to Miss Mary Amelia Allison and during their Colorado residence their son, William Pitt, the subject of this sketch, was born. Six years later the family made their home in Erie.
William Pitt Gifford was graduated from the public and high schools of Erie, after which he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts at Leland Stanford University in California. He studied law under the preceptor- ship of S. A. Davenport, of Erie, and in December, 1889, was admitted to the Erie County bar. He began practice in Erie in 1890 and has been admitted to all courts of the district, state and federal, to the superior and supreme courts of Pennsylvania, and to the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1910 he formed a partnership with Frank Gunnison, Henry E. Fish, and A. O. Chapin. They practiced as Gunnison, Fish, Gifford & Chapin.
Mr. Gifford is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar and the Erie
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Bar Association, and a man generally liked and highly esteemed. A Republican in politics he was nominee of his party for district attorney of Erie County in 1906 and through a re-election in 1909 served continu- ously for six years, 1906-1912. He has been chairman of the Republican County Committee at different times and a delegate to the State Con- vention. He is a member of the Central Presbyterian Church of Erie and a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliated with Lodge, Chapter, Com- mandery, Shrine and Consistory, holding the 32nd degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks lodge, and his college fraternities are Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Upsilon and Phi Delta Phi (law). His clubs are the Erie, University, Shriners and Kahkwa, all of Erie.
Mr. Gifford was married at Erie, Feb. 15, 1900, to Miss Harriet Mae Stanton, a daughter of John W. and Jennie (Hoagland) Stanton. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gifford: Gladys Grace, born Jan. 25, 1901; Jean Winifred, born Nov. 1, 1906; and John Stanton, born Dec. 12, 1912.
The years have brought to Mr. Gifford professional honors and public position and he is considered one of the strong men of the Erie bar.
Charles H. English, who is a member of the Erie County bar, was born in the city of Erie, Oct. 30, 1883, the son of Michael M. and Maria (Sheridan) English. Mr. English acquired his preliminary education at St. Patrick's School in the city of Erie and Central High School, from which he graduated in 1902. He entered Georgetown University and was graduated from the Law Department in 1906. He also pursued his pro- fessional studies in the office of C. L. Baker of Erie.
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