USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington's part in the World War > Part 19
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Jones, David Reese
Harshman, Joseph L.
McVehil, Vivian S.
Crocome, Jermais
Giles, Howard
Maze, Corporal G. D.
Walters, Lewis H.
Groginsky, Harry
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WORLD WAR
Conservation in The War
THE FOOD ADMINISTRATION ??
"F OOD Will Win the War" was one of the slogans im- pressed on the minds of all Americans during 1917 and 1918 and the work of the government Food Administration undoubtedly had an important bearing on the successful outcome of the world struggle. Shortly after the appointment of Howard Heinz as state food administrator, James L. Lockhart of Washington was named as Washington county administrator. Assisting Administrator Lockhart were John W. Warrick, chief deputy ; T. Jeff Duncan, counsel; Mrs. Owen Murphy, chief of the women's division; Lawrence R. Stewart, chief of publicity ; J. M. McKee, chief of production ; John B. Alli- son, and T. H. W. Fergus, chiefs of the sugar division ; W. R. Gaut, hotel chairman; J. W. Fleming, lieutenant of bakers; Lewis M. Paul, lieutenant of grocers ; Albert Zelt. lieutenant of millers, and R. D. Brady, lieutenant of meat dealers. County deputies were named for the various Wash- ington districts.
The multiform problems that came under the supervision of the Food Administration were cared for by an office force including John I. Carson, chief clerk; Miss Isabel Blair, clerk; Miss Pauline Gessford, executive secretary, and Miss Eleanor M. Miller, stenographer. Miss Elsie Noble of State college worked throughout the county in conjunction with the Washington office. In cooperation with the local food administration was the Washington County War Food Association. Its officers were Joseph B. Spriggs, president ; John W. Warrick, treasurer ; and Lewis M. Paul, secretary. But 32 penalties were imposed for
violations of the rulings of the administration and the fines, which amounted to $2.027.60, were turned into the Red Cross treasury.
THE FUEL ADMINISTRATION
On December 20, 1917, William Potter, state fuel admin- istrator, appointed H. B. Duncan of Washington as county administrator. Under Mr. Duncan's energetic initiative coal prices were regulated and hauling costs apportioned. In the winter and spring of 1918 one lightless night each week was ordered. So successful was this in conserving fuel that later all nights except Saturday were made "lightless." This continued in force till the armistice was signed. In January, 1918, it became necessary to order a three-day closing of all plants except those whose equipment would have been injured. All complied. Administrator Duncan was honorably released from service February 28, 1919. His work was as efficient as any war work in the county.
CONSERVATION OF MATERIALS
Along with food and fuel saving, the conservation of lumber and other raw building material as well as the maintenance of labor in true war work, was taken up actively in Washington. Necessary building was permitted, but only after satisfactory proof had been offered and accepted. This scrutiny enabled the man power of the entire county to be employed in ways most useful to winning the war. To the energy and painstaking care devoted to this work by George F. Drury, Director, its successful administration is chiefly due.
CANONSBURG SUPPLEMENT
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Canonsburg's Part In The World War
C ANONSBURG'S part in the World War was the part of a patriotic community which has sent its sons to every war in which the American people have engaged. With a popula- tion of about 10,000, a little more than 450 Canonsburg boys served in one branch or another between the date of the entrance of the nation into the world conflict and the signing of the armistice. These boys began enlisting immediately after the declaration of war in April, 1917, and they went into every branch of the service, from aviation to the Student Army Training Corps. The bulk of them, of course, were allied with the infantry, but many were in machine gun battalions, in the air service, or in some other branch. Some chose the Navy and still others the, Marine Corps.
The greater number going out from the community, however, went through the selective service board. Canonsburg was the headquarters of the Third Draft District of Washington County, and all men sent out by the board entrained at that place. The district included the boroughs of Canonsburg, Houston, and Finley- ville, and the townships of Canton, Chartiers, North Strabane, South Strabane, Peters, Nottingham, and Union.
The number of men registering in the entire district on the dif- ferent registration dates was 7,553, this number including 3,04I aliens. The number of men inducted into military service by the board of District No. 3 was 745. One hundred and fifty-two registrants enlisted without awaiting their call to service.
The draft board of District No. 3 was organized on July 4, 1917, at Houston, which place was, for a few months, the headquarters of the district, it later being removed to the Municipal Building in Canonsburg. Dr. S. N. Dague was elected president of the board and J. Elmer Johnston, secretary, the third member being William J. Reese. Mr. Reese soon tendered his resignation and was suc- ceeded by John L. Cockins. Owing to ill health Mr. Cockins ten- dered his resignation on September I, 1918, and Governor Brum- baugh appointed Thomas M. Reese as his successor.
Beginning in July, 1917, the board held examinations on two or three days each week in preparation for the time when contingents would be sent to the National Army training camps. The first con- tingent, representing five per cent of the district's quota, entrained for Camp Sherman on September 8, 1917. Those going at that time included Charles Campbell, Stanley Joseph Taylor, Arthur E. DeWalt, Hugh Brock, Frank G. Simpson, William C. Houston, Henry Louther, Jules Mathot, Stanford G. Gibson, Howard Taylor, James Jay VanEman, and Lon Blaine Wilson.
SELECTIVE SERVICE BOARD'S WORK
This contingent was followed on September 21, 1917, by eighty- one men, whose destination was Camp Sherman. Ninety-four men entrained for the same camp on October 6, and thereafter at fre- quent intervals other contingents quit their paths of peaceful pur- suit in order to defend their country. The largest number of men leaving Canonsburg on any one day was on May 25, 1918, when 143 entrained for Camp Greenleaf, Georgia. Throughout the summer of 1918 many other men from Canonsburg and various sections of the Third District entrained for the various camps.
On every occasion when the men were leaving the patriotic people of Canonsburg gathered at the railway station to bid them Godspeed. The scenes witnessed on those occasions were similar to scenes throughout the entire country. Bands played, children marched, and cheers were given as the train moved away.
The last contingent that gathered at the draft headquarters of District No. 3 was on the evening of November II, 1918. The armistice with Germany had been signed early on that day, bringing the war to an end; but the men had been notified to appear, and no order countermanding the call was received until the selectives, about thirty in number, were ready to take up their march to the train. Then the annulling order was received, and the men returned to their homes.
Of the almost 750 men called into service by the Canonsburg draft board, less than a dozen failed to heed their summons. In some of these cases their notices, sent through the mail, had failed to reach them, so that not more than eight or nine could be termed slackers. Several of these were later arrested and sent to camp.
The number of men sent to the various camps was, as stated, 745. The number of these accepted at camp was 681. Of this number 522 were placed in the general service ; 15 were classed as remedials ; 20 were limited service men; 20 were disqualified.
The board was confronted with a very large number of regis- trants who claimed exemption from military service. The greater
number of these claims, however, were refused by the appeal board which had its headquarters at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. There were 1,060 deferments on claims of dependency, 139 for agriculture, and 139 industrial claims were allowed. It is but just to say that a majority of the men summoned made no claim for exemption.
LIBERTY LOANS ALL OVERSUBSCRIBED
But it was not only the furnishing of men for the various branches of the national defense in which Canonsburg met the call that was made upon her. In every one of the five Liberty Loans the allotment for the community was oversubscribed.
In the First Loan no quota was given Canonsburg, but the sub- scriptions totaled $181,700, and the number of subscribers was 938. In the Second Loan, put on in the autumn of 1917, the total sub- scriptions made through the banks of Canonsburg were $544,850, or an over-subscription of the town's allotment of $171,550. The num- ber of subscribers to the Second Loan was 2,570.
The Third Liberty Loan had 5,771 subscribers in Canonsburg; the allotment was $419,750; amount subscribed, $724,300; oversub- scription, $305,350. The Fourth Loan was -oversubscribed by $197,300, the total subscriptions being $1,094.500, against a quota of $897,300. The number of subscribers to the Fourth Loan was a little more than 7,000.
In the Victory, or Fifth Liberty Loan, Canonsburg was given a quota of $643,900. This amount was oversubscribed by $129,800, the total subscriptions to this loan being $773,700.
The total subscriptions at Canonsburg for the five Liberty Loans were $3,318,350, made through the First National Bank and the Citizens' Trust Company, the two financial institutions of Canons- burg.
Success in Canonsburg's going over the top in all the Liberty Loans was largely due to thorough organization. The town and surrounding country were carefully districted, and a systematic canvass was made in all these districts under the general direction of a committee headed by Mr. C. C. Johnson, president of the Citizens' Trust Company of Canonsburg, who also was the district chairman and one of the vice-presidents of the Council of National Defense for Washington county. He was ably assisted by business and pro- fessional men who worked faithfully before and during each of the loans.
The house-to-house canvass was made by a committee composed of women. The general work of the women in Canonsburg and immediate vicinity was under the direction of Mrs. C. C. Johnson and Mrs. Charles W. Campbell.
In the various industries, where large subscriptions were made, the soliciting was done by committees selected from the employees. Both in industrial plants and in the mines 100 per cent subscriptions were made during all but the first loan.
LABOR SHOWS LOYALTY TO NATION
Canonsburg is a manufacturing town, and thousands of men are employed in the various industries and other thousands in the coal mines in the immediate vicinity. There workmen displayed a most loyal spirit throughout the months this country was engaged in war, thereby backing up the men who were at the front or at camps in this country preparing to go overseas. There were no strikes or walkouts, but all united in doing their utmost to help the country win at the earliest possible date.
War material was produced by a number of the manufacturing concerns, including the Standard Tin Plate Company, which em- ployed more than 2,000 men. The Fort Pitt Bridge Works manu- factured sections of ships for the merchant marine, under the general direction of the United States Shipping Board. One of these vessels, launched in December, 1918, was named the "Fort Pitt Bridge," and the launching at Hoboken, New Jersey, was attended by officials of the Fort Pitt Company.
The Canonsburg Steel and Iron Company manufactured portions of airplanes, making shipments almost every week during the last year of the war. The Standard Chemical Company had contracts for the making of acids used in the national defense and also for parts of airplanes.
CASUALTIES AMONG CANONSBURG BOYS
Five Canonsburg boys were killed in action during the war: Andrew Kerr Cunningham, July 15, 1918; Morgan Carter, July 23, 1918; John Rudy, September 29, 1918; James Perry, October 13, 1918, and Anthony De Vitti, October 22, 1918.
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WASHINGTON'S PART
One died of injuries received in a train accident at Philadelphia, April 24, 1918. He was Joscph Secori.
One, Francis Marion Carter, died of pneumonia in France, October 19,' 1918. He was a brother of Morgan Carter, who was killed in action three months previously.
Four boys from Canonsburg or immediate vicinity died of disease at camps in this country. They were: Guy Welsh, at Camp Greene, North Carolina, February 2, 1918; Gordon Vincent Little, at Camp John A. Wise, Texas, October 19, 1918; David O'Brien, at Camp Sherman, Ohio, October 25, 1918; Thomas Wilkinson, at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, October 26, 1918.
Thirty of the young men who went out from Canonsburg and who reached the firing line were wounded. The first of these, and the one most seriously wounded, was Hobart Donaldson, a member of Company 76, Sixthi U. S. Marines, who was hit by a piece of bursting shell at Chateau Thierry, June 6, 1918. Some of those wounded were later sent home and discharged at camps in this country ; still others rccovered and rejoined their regiments.
Belford R. Lawrence was taken prisoner by the Germans in October, 1918, and released about two months after the signing of the armistice.
Morgan Carter and Francis Marion Carter, both of whom died in France, one from an exploding shell and the other from disease, were brothers, being the only children of George W. Carter.
When it is considered that 450 men entered the service from Canonsburg and that only five were killed in action, five died from disease or other causes, and that but thirty were wounded, it will be found that the casualty list was small. The Marines were en- gaged at Chateau Thierry and many of those attached to the in- fantry regiments participated in the hard fighting in the Meuse- Argonne drives during the closing weeks of the war.
MUCH WORK DONE BY THE RED CROSS WOMEN
The Canonsburg Auxiliary of the Red Cross was busy through- out the period of the war, and during the eighteen months that this country was at war the women of Canonsburg made and shipped 60,000 surgical dressings, 2,628 hospital garments, 1,023 knitted ' jackets, 902 pairs of socks, 350 pairs of wristlets, and 450 comfort bags.
These figures will convey somc idea of the work done by the Red Cross Auxiliary while the country was at war. Three hun- dred and fifty men who left Canonsburg for the army camps were outfitted with jackets, socks, wristlets, and comfort kits. In addi- tion to this work, the auxiliary in October, 1918, sent to the Belgian relief 8,800 pounds of clothing.
Mrs. Park Snodgrass was chairman of the auxiliary during almost the entire period of its activities, and Miss Mary H. Barnett was cashier and campaign manager for the three drives for Red Cross funds. Ralph Martin was treasurer. For the Christmas campaign in 1917, $2,476 was raised and 2,300 members obtained. For the first war fund in May, 1918, Canonsburg was allotted $1,200 and responded with $2,400. In the Christmas roll call of 1918 $3,50I was given and 3,786 members enrolled. The school children
became interested in the campaign, and enrolled 1,000 junior mem- bers of the Red Cross.
Many letters received from the men in service expresscd thanks to the Canonsburg branch of the Red Cross for articles sent them.
During the first year of the war the Canonsburg branch of the Navy League did a large amount of work for soldiers and sailors and presented the men leaving for camp with knitted articles. Mrs. Charles W. Campbell was president of the organization until it was amalgamated with the Red Cross.
MOTHERS OF DEMOCRACY ACTIVE BODY
The Canonsburg group of the Mothers of Democracy was organized June 6, 1918, at a meeting in the high school building. A largc membership was soon enrolled and various activities carried on. Remembrance meetings were held on the second Friday eve- ning of each month, at which time the boys in camps held a similar service. The idea originated with the men of the Three Hundred and Nineteenth Infantry at Camp Lee, Virginia. The Mothers took a military census of Canonsburg in September, 1918, and on the twenty-first of that month dedicated a large service flag, contain- ing 450 stars, representing the number of men from Canonsburg who entered the various branches of the service.
The officers of the Canonsburg group, Mothers of Democracy, for the first year of the organization were: President, Mrs. William H. Fee; first vice-president, Mrs. David G. Jones, second vice-presi- dent, Mrs. John Perry; secretary, Mrs. D. M. Bell; treasurer, Mrs. A. T. Turncr. The organization is to be maintained per- manently.
HOME DEFENSE POLICE ORGANIZED
Company B of the Home Defense Police was formed in Canons- burg early in 1918, under authority of an act passed by the Pennsyl- vania Legislature in 1917. John N. Pew was chosen captain and T. M. Recse and W. A. Leroy, lieutenants. The object was to maintain order in case of uprisings by the disloyal element, and to assist the civil authorities. The company disbanded after the signing of the armistice.
The Four-Minute Men, acting under the Council of National Defense, did good work during the various drives for Liberty Loans and Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. campaigns. Among the more active of these were William C. Dougherty, Thomas J. Jones, D. H. Fee, and F. W. McVay.
The signing of the armistice on November II, 1918, brought to an end the activities of the various war organizations. The coming of peace was celebrated informally on the night of November II. This was followed the next night by a formal parade, in which hundreds of persons participated.
Canonsburg's formal welcome to her returned soldiers, sailors, and marines took place on July 4, 1919, when a parade in which several thousand persons, including the service men, was held. The parade was followed by a program of speechmaking and music, and closed with an elaborate display of fireworks. Taken all in all, Canonsburg's part in the world war was honorable, patriotic, and creditable.
WILLIAM H. FEE.
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BELL, DAVID MAJOR, M.D., 128 W. Pike St .- Born December 7, 1875. Enlisted, August 25, 1917, in the Medical Corps, and was sent to Camp Greenleaf. He was transferred to Fort Oglethorpe. Commis- sioned Captain. Sent to Em- barkation Hospital No. 2.
COWAN, R. GUY-Son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Cowan, Houston, Pa. Born August I, 1884. Enlisted in the Chemical Warfare Service, and was as- signed to special work at Wil- loughby. He was honorably discharged from service, in February, 1919, with the rank of Captain.
SIMONIN, ARTHUR-Son of Edward Simonin, 123 Spring St. Born July 24, 1890. Enlisted July 15, 1916, in the Aviation Service. He was stationed at Mineola. Commissioned Cap- tain, and sailed overseas, in Sep- tember, 1918. He returned to the United States, in January, 1919.
BLACK, OTIS-Son of W. C. Black, 219 Belmont Ave. Born May 7, 1887. Enlisted August 27, 1917. Was assigned to the R. O. T. C. at Fort Oglethorpe, and was given the rank of Ist Lieutenant. He was then trans- ferred to Camp Gordon, later Camp McClelland. Commis- sioned Captain, September 24, 1918, and was honorably dis- charged April 26, 1919.
KELSO, JOHN September 1, 1876.
C .- Born Enlisted, October 10, 1918, in the R. O. T. C. at Fort Oglethorpe. He was commissioned Ist Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States, December 21, 1918.
SHANER, FLOYD LAW- RENCE-Son of Mrs. Maude Shaner, 26 Elm St. Born Octo- ber 17, 1897. Enlisted May 5, 1917, in the Medical Corps. He was commissioned Ist Lieuten- ant. Sailed overseas May 8, 1917. Was attached to the Brit- ish Expeditionary Forces. Re- turned to the United States, June 6, 1919, and was honorably dis- charged from service, June 12, 1919.
TREAT, FRANK BUR- NETT-Son of Mrs. E. C. Treat, Haft St. Born Septem- ber 1, 1893. Enlisted in 1915. He was assigned to Fort Oglethorpe, then Meade. Was placed with I5Ist Depot Brigade. Was com- missioned Ist Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from service, in February, 1919.
ZYDANOWICZ, PETE-Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zydano- wicz, 112 Giffon St. Born in December, 1894. Enlisted, in April, 1917, with the Polish Army. He was attached to Bat- talion I, Ist Division. Trained in Canada. Was commissioned Ist Lieutenant. Sailed for France, in April, 1918. Was wounded twice.
ISHERWOOD, JAMES E .- Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Isherwood, 501 W. College St. Enlisted May 5, 1917. Was com- missioned Ist Lieutenant. Sailed for France, May 8, 1917, with the Lake Side Hospital Unit. He transferred to the Chemical Warfare service. Was cited for bravery.
DE WALT, ARTHUR EU- GENE-Son of Alice and Charles De Walt, 221 Glenn Ave. Born October 13, 1895. Was in- ducted into service, September 6, 1917. Sent to Camp Sherman, and placed with Company L, 330th Infantry, 83rd Division. He was appointed 2nd Lieuten- ant. Sailed for France June II, 1918.
HANSON, HOWARD C .- Son of Mr. and Mrs. Melville Hanson, 145 N. Central Ave. Born October 30, 1886. Was in- ducted into service, July 26, 1918. Sent to Camp Holabird, and placed with the 6th Motor Transportation Corps. He was given the rank of 2nd Lieuten- ant, and was honorably dis- charged from service March IO, 1919.
JONES, FRANCIS DAVID -- Son of Mrs. David G. Jones, 194 E. College St. Born Febru- ary 25, 1896. Enlisted in the Air Service November 15, 1917. He was assigned to Princeton Ground School, Scott Field, Camp Dick. Sailed for France. Was injured in an accident at St. Mihiel, and returned to the United States, in December, 1918. He was honor- ably discharged on the 3Ist of December, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
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LAMBERT, GEORGE F .- Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lambert, N. Jefferson Ave. Born December 3, 1896. Enlist- ed May 29, 1917. Was attached to the Depot Brigade, and sent to Eagle Park, Del Reo, and Camp Travis. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, and was honor- ably discharged from service, March 17, 1919.
SHAW, JAMES ALEXAN- DER-Son of William B. and Mary H. Shaw. Born Septem- ber 30, 1896. Enlisted with Company H, 110th Infantry, 28th Division, in 1916, and was sent to Camp Hancock. He sailed over- seas May 3, 1918. Was in all the battles with his company until October 16, when he was sent to . a Training School. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.
WEAVER, McDONALD- Son of S. D. Weaver, 147 Vine St. Born February 13, 1895. En- listed in the R. O. T. C. at Fort Oglethorpe. Was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, and went over- seas July 3, 1918. He was en- gaged in the Verdun and Ar- gonne Offensive.
WEINER, DAVID-Son of Lena Weiner, 172 Smith St. Born November 29, 1896. En- listed November 7, 1918. He was sent to Camp Taylor. Com- missioned 2nd Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States, February 1, 1919.
WHITELY, WALDO A .- Son of Mrs. Clarinda Whitely. Born October 17, 1887. Was in- ducted into service, February 26, 1918. He was sent to Camp Sherman. Placed with the 158th Depot Brigade. Was Commis- sioned 2nd Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from ser- vice November 25, 1918.
ADAMS, ELMER R .- Son of Andrew Adams, 13 Iron St. Born Janaury 20, 1893. Was in- ducted into service, October 26, 1917. Sent to Camp Sherman, and placed with Company A. 317th Engineers. He was trans- ferred to Camp Upton. Sailed overseas June 1, 1918. Returned to the United States, March 6, 1919, and was honorably dis- charged March 20, 1919, with the rank of Corporal.
ALBERDA, CHARLES-Son of John and Anna Alberda, Mc- Coy Lane. Born July 18, 1892. Was inducted into service April 26, 1918. Sent to Camp Sherman and placed with Battery A, Field Artillery 323. He was transfer- red to Camp Dix, then Camp Merritt. Sailed for France, June 10, 1918. Wounded in the leg and returned to the United States May 18, 1919. Honorably discharged May 29, 1919.
ALDERSON, ANTHONY- Son of Mrs. Lillian Alderson, Pike St., Houston. Born August 25, 1892. Enlisted May 25, 1917. Was sent to Camp Greenleaf, and attached to Base Hospital No. 75. He was transferred to Detroit, and was honorably dis- charged from service, April 5, I919.
ALORA, GIOVANNI, Shupp St .- Born April 24,
1890. Inducted into service, May 25, 1918. Was sent to Camp George. Placed with Base Hospital No. 77, and was later transferred to 153 Depot Bri- gade. He was sent to Camp Sheridan, Camp Crane, Camp Merritt, and Camp Dix. Sailed for France, Nov. 13, '18, and re- turned to the U. S., March 19, '19. Honorably discharged April 8, 1919.
ANDERSON, JOSEPH H .- Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anderson, Grant St., Houston. Born October 7, 1889. Was in- ducted into service, May 24, 1918. Assigned to Chattanooga, and placed with General Hospital No. 36.
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