USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Davidson County women in the world war, 1914-1919 > Part 54
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Out-of-town Chairmen were:
Mrs. Iloratio Berry, Hendersonville; Mrs. Mollie Johnson, Clifton; Mrs. A. A. Womack, Manchester: Mrs. H. B. Chadwell, Madison; Mrs. George Cowan, Franklin; Mrs. G. W. Ewing, Gallatin: Mrs. W. B. Myers, Goodlettsville: Mrs. Alma T. Hill, Antioch and Nolensville; and H. C. Moore, Jr., Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Lascasas and Ilalls IFill.
Mrs. John W. Black was also chosen as custodian of the cakes for the second dinner. which occurred a week after the first contingent was served. and by her own original method she kept the donated cakes as fresh as when they were received.
The largest number of cakes for the dinner was solicited by Mrs. R. D. Redford. Chairman of the Northeast Nashville Committee, and the second largest contribution was turned in by Mrs. James K. Rains, the Chairman for the Sixth District, and Mrs. West H. Morton assisted Mrs. Rains as Vice-Chairman, Miss Margaret Shute also did exceptional work on this committee.
Mrs. Hugh C. Moore, Jr .. of Murfreesboro. sent the largest contribution of cakes that was received from the out-of-town chairmen. Her donations were also unusual in design and beauty.
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Of the 10,000 cakes received by the Cake Committee, 7.000 were without the donors' names, but they were no less delectable because they were nameless, The women of Tennessee were determined that the boys should have cakes "like mother used to make" at their first formal meal. There never was seen in Davidson County such a superb display and lavish use of flour and sugar as at that time, as though Herbert Hoover and his Hooverizing had never existed.
Although the Cake Committee had requested that the cakes be devoid of decorations, the hearts of our cake makers were so full of thanksgiving over the fact of having the boys back home, that they just had to find some means of expressing their thanks- fulness, and as a result fifty of the cakes sent were veritable poems. These cakes were used only as table decorations.
Among the decorated cakes was a memorial cake sent in by a mother whose boy gave his life to help break the Hindenberg Line. The decoration of the cake pictured the American soldiers' victory over Muss EMMA WHEAT SULLIVAN the Huns, and was most ingenious and remarkable. W. O. Tirrill presented this cake to Col. Carey E. Spence on behalf of the gold star mother and the Cake Comittee. The boy in question was a member of Col. Spence's regiment.
Another decorated cake was presented by Mrs. J. K. Rains and the women of the Sixth District Committee. This cake was more than two feet square and was ornamented with a com- plete verse of Flanders Field in blue letters on a white background.
The women of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County sent an original and extraordinarily de- signed cake, baked in semblance of a pyramid. The three tiers of the cake were surmounted by a miniature castle representing the castle of the German Kaiser.
Six hundred cakes were packed and shipped to Fort Oglethorpe. Ga., for the Tennessee boys who were too disabled to return home with their comrades, and several hundred of the cakes were sent to the colored Y. M. C. A. for dis- tribution among the colored troops.
A large number were also sent to the Nash- ville Chapter, Red Cross Emergency Canteen Committee, to be served to the soldiers as they were leaving Nashville, and the remainder of MRS. JOHN W. BLACK (Tennessee Woodson Key) the hundreds of cakes were distributed among the Knights of Columbus. the Salvation Army, and all civic and charitable institutions of Nashville and Davidson County.
Additional honor was added to Mrs. Betty Lyle Wilson's national and inter- national fame as a cake maker in appreciation of her services in the work of the
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Cake Committee at the home-coming of the soldiers. She and each member of this organization, as well as each individual who contributed to the Cake Drive. will long be remembered by the thousands of "sweet" hungry soldiers, who were given a bountiful supply of a Food of which they had been deprived for many months.
Mrs. John W. Black. Emergency Chairman of the Cake Committee. also has an extensive reputation as an expert cake maker, cook and demonstrator of the prepara- tion of foods, Mrs. Black has the distinction of having demonstrated the first eggless cake and the first Hour substitutes in Davidson County during the war. She has long been identified with the county's most progressive women, and wa- a daily worker throughout the war period in every war relief drive conducted in the county. Mrs. Black has been an able supporter in the reconstruction work of the American Legion Auxiliary of Davidson County Post No. 6.
Waitresses for Banquets of the Returning Heroes 114th and 115th Field Artilleries and 117th In- fantry, at the Nashville Hippodrome, April, 1919 MRS. HARRY W. EVANS, Colonel
ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY CANTEEN COMMITTEE OF NASHVILLE CHAPTER. A. R. C .. Captains and Lieutenants
On the occasion of the three great banquets that were served the three Tennessee Regiments as they passed through Nashville to the demobilization camps. Mrs. Harry W. Evans. Colonel of the Serving Committee, and her Canteen forces as Captains and Lieutenants, handled the affairs with all the management and skill of real gen- perals. The feasts were spread at the large Hippodrome on West End Avenue. at Nashville, which was gaily decorated with flags and flower-, and four hundred women. led by the Canteen Captains. augmented by the Lientenants and volunteers from all the women's organizations in Davidson County, served as waitresses. Long tables. decorated with spring flowers and laden with every delicacy imaginable, fitted the entire floor space, and the menu consisted of every available home -cooked delicacy that could be procured in the state. The cheers from the returned soldiers as they attacked their first Davidson County meal nearly lifted the roof of the old wooden building: and never were waitresses so gallantly treated or so smiling in their service as those who were in attendance at the tables, Two thousand eighty men in khaki were seated at one time, the first banquet being on Monday for the 11 Ith Field Artillery, commanded by Col. Luke Lea: the second on Saturday, for the 115th Field Artillery. commanded by Col. Harry Berry: and the last one was on Sunday. for the 117th Infantry. comanded by General L. D. Tyson and Col. Carey E. Spence.
BLOCK DANCE
After the bounteous feed the soldiers were invited to a block dance near the Hippodrome, arranged in their honor by Mr-, C. A. Craig and Mrs. W. O. Tirrill, two of the Emergency Canteen Captains of the Nashville Chapter. Red Cross, who served as Chairmen for the block dance.
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WELCOME
100 %
:
EMERGENCY CANTEEN WORKERS TAKEN "IN ACTION" IN THE "WELCOME HOME ARCH," ERECTED BY THE EMPLOYES OF THE N. C. & ST. L. RAILROAD SHOPS FOR THE EMERGENCY CANTEEN SERVICE, A. R. C.
From this arch ice cream was served to the Tennessee soldiers of the A. E. F .. upon their arrival in Nashville. The Canteen members standing under the arch, left to right, are: Mrs. Paul De Witt (Jennie Peebles). Mrs. Avery Handly (Nell Fall), Mrs. W. O. Tirrill (Alfhra Eve), Mrs. Harry P. Murrey (Lale Lester), Miss Alice Gertrude Smith, Mrs. Brown Buford (Elizabeth Black ), Mrs. Harry W. Evans (Marie Horton), Commandant, Nashville Chapter Emergency Canteen Service, A. R. C .; Mrs. George Dibrell ( Bessie Mnrrey). Mrs. I. W. Miller (Minna Muth). Miss Lizinka Farrell, Miss Helen Buford, and Mrs. W. L. Nichol (Katie Dean Hutchinson ).
A platform was erected from one block to the other of one of the West End streets, and the floor covered with sawdust. The wives, mothers and sweethearts of the returned heroes were admitted to the block platform by badge, and the soldier's uniform served as a passport for the men. This was the first entertainment of its kind in the South, and was much appreciated by the soldiers, as well as families and especially "sweethearts," who had an occasion to have a word with the boys away from the throngs of people that filled the city.
Every citizen in Tennessee seemed anxious for the privilege of contributing good things for a feast for the boys. consequently the matter of securing large and ap- petizing amounts of food was no trouble, but it was a colossal task to properly as- semble and serve the food contributed. However, the women in charge proved themselves capable and worthy managers.
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The following is a list of capable waitresses at the Welcome-Home Banquets, who were appointed by Mrs. Harry W. Evans. Colonel and General Hostess:
Miss Annie Demoville, Captain. Miss Demoville appointed the following Lieu- tenants, who each appointed workers: Mis. Harry P. Mariey. Mrs. Paul De Witt. Mrs. T. Leigh Thompson. Mrs. Thomas Parkes, Mrs. W. L. Nichol. and Mrs. Joseph R. West.
Lieutenant Mrs. W. L. Nichol's assistants were:
Mes. Lou Frank. Mrs. H. J. MeSweeney. Mrs. 1. G. Durr. Mys. R. F. Jackson, Mrs, William shelton, Mrs. O. N. Bryan, Miss Lillian Rever, Miss Evelyn Douglas, Miss Margaret Buford. Miss Vance Talbot and Miss Elise Manning.
Lieutenant Mrs. Harry P. Murray's assistants were:
Mrs. Dave Lowenstein, Mrs, John Van Tein Mis. Knox Polk. Mis. R. IL. Lacey. Mrs. W. E. Norvell. Mrs. Miles Williams. Mrs. James Moore, Miss Mary Avent, Miss Evalina Kenner and Mi- Martha Debos.
Lieutenant Mrs. Paul De Witt's assistants were:
Mrs. Sul Gordon. Mrs. F. J. MeCarthy. Mrs. Lena Hillman, Mrs. Melbourne Clements, Mrs. J. M. Feeling. Mrs. Dea Fletcher Chers. Mrs. James II. Kirkland, Mrs. Carl Howe and Miss Frances Cornelius.
Lieutenant Mrs. Joseph R. West's assistants were:
Mrs. W. R. Manier, Mrs. M. Feldheimer. Mrs. Buist Richardson, Mis. Carey Folk. Mrs. W. A. Park-, Mrs. Hamilton Love. Mrs. John Dewitt. Miss Elizabeth Jungerman, Viss Elizabeth Marr. Miss Frances Hutchison. Miss Marie Kuhn, Miss Barbara Kuhn, Miss Delia Brew. Miss Clara Gilliland. Wiss Sadie Cauvin and Miss Pattie Ready West.
Lieutenant Mrs. T. Leigh Thompson's assistants were:
Mrs. Louise Bransford Kirkman, Miss Charlotte Stein, Miss Carrie Kuhn. Mis- Pearl Saunders, Miss Lucile Holman, Miss Martha Cornelius, Miss Lillian Watt, Miss Ruth Whitesides, Miss Julia Gannaway and Miss Madge Hall.
Lieutenant Mrs. Thomas Parkes' assistants were:
Mrs. John Bevington. Mrs. Jo B. Morgan, Mrs. Frank Carl Stahlman, Mrs. Charles Buntin, Mrs. C. A. Marshall Mrs. Charles Hunt. Mrs. Joseph Thompson, Jr .. Mrs. Bruce Douglas, Jr., Mrs. Thomas Newbill, Mrs. T. Graham Hall, Mrs. Leland Rankin, Mrs. Horace Frierson, Miss Josephine Bornsch. Wiss Louise Hester. Miss Catherine Seay and Miss Lorraine Hyronemus.
Mrs. C. 1. Craig. Captain. appointed the following Lieutenants:
Mrs. George Dibrell. Mrs. I. W. Miller, Mrs. Henderson Baker, Mrs. Verner Moore Lewis. Mrs. W. W. Crandall, Mrs. Kendrick Hardcastle, Mrs. Whiteford R. Cole, Miss Alice Gertrude Smith and Miss Courtney Hollins.
Lieutenant Mrs. 1. W. Miller's assistants were:
Mrs. Charles F. Anderson, Mas, Granhers Jackson, Mrs. P. D. Houston. Mrs. Frank Searcy Green, Mrs. 1 .. Samuels, Mrs. Bruce R. Payne, Mrs. Nathan Crockett. Miss Mary Nelson. Mrs. M. Sanders, Miss Lillian Bell, Miss Elsie Mae Bradley, Miss Mildred Gray and Miss Annie White Folk.
Lieutenant Wis. George Dibrell's assistants were;
Mrs. Walham Sumpter, Mr-, Edward O. Tate. Mrs. R. D. Blum, Mrs. Leo Schwartz. Miss I.hzabeth Gilliland, Mis- Linda Landis, Miss Willie Ruth Davidson and Miss Barbara Kuhn.
Lieutenant Mrs. W. W. Crandall's assistants were:
Wre. Rufus E. Fort. Mrs. Henderson Baker, Mrs. W. B. Hill. Mrs. John Stumb, Mrs. Verner Moore Lewis, Mrs. Donna Baird Brasles. Mrs. Il. Blum. Mrs. Frank Heibrick. Mrs. Robert Turner. Mrs. Mary Bright Thomas, Miss Reba Osborne. Miss Aberta Donglas. Wiss Louise Bell. Mr -. Kendrick 0. Hardcastle, Miss Corrinne Moss and Miss Amanda Gant.
Lieutenant Miss Alice Gertrude Smith's assistants were:
Mrs. J. B. O Bryan. Mrs. James E. Caldwell, Jr., Mrs. Morris Ellis, Mes. William C. Cherry. VGS Annie Mas Manes. Mrs. Fount Williams, Mis Harriet Dillon, Mis- Helen Dass, Miss Marion Watt. Wiss Alma Oliver and Miss Sarah Cornelius.
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Lieutenant Miss Courtney Hoffins' assistants were:
Mrs. W. E. Beard, Mrs. Spencer McHenry. Mrs. James Gwathmey, Miss Jane Culbert, Miss Beulah Dyer, Miss Elizabeth Hollins, Miss Mary Wilson, Miss Helen Buford. Miss Elizabeth Fite, Mrs. A. A. Dickerson, Miss Frances Ilarris, Miss Maria Ferriss, Miss Jessamine Stein and Miss Jennette Sloan.
Lieutenant Mrs. Whitefoord R. Cole's assistants were:
Mrs. Lucius Burch, Mrs. John O. White, Mrs. Daniel C. Buntin, Mrs. Charles Trabuc, Mrs. Frank A. Berry, Mrs. Joseph T. Howell, Mrs. Foster Hume, Mrs. Enoch Brown, Mrs. Wheeless Gamble, Mrs. Idabelle Wilson, Mrs. William C. Iloffman. Mrs. Georgia Knox Berry, Miss Annie Marie Nenon, Mrs. Dempsey Weaver, Miss Percie Warner, Miss Elsie Winnia, Miss Estelle Abrams and Miss Lucinda Trabue.
Captain Mrs. W. O. Tirrill appointed the following Lieutenants :
Mrs. Avery Handly, Mrs. W. H. Schuerman, Mrs. Dempsey Weaver, Mrs. John De Witt, Mrs. Joseph T. Howell, Jr., Mrs. Ellis C. Huggins. Mrs. Henry Maney, Mrs. Robert Brannan, Mrs. Thomas I. Webb and Miss Katherine Berry.
Lieutenant Mrs. Avery Handly's assistants were:
Mrs. John B. Ransom. Jr., Mrs. Dudley Gale, Mrs. Alex Hunter. Mrs. Edward A. Lindsey. Mrs. Walker Edwards, Mrs. Mike T. Halloran, Mrs. Alex McClain, Mrs. George W. Fall, Mrs. M. Lusky, Mrs. Lou Lusky. Mrs. Esmond Ewing, Miss Elizabeth Hollins, Miss Olivia Trabne and Miss Cornelia Witherspoon.
Lieutenant Mrs. John H. DeWitt's assistants were:
Mrs. Percy D. Maddin. Mrs. John McClure, Mrs. Duncan Kenner, Mrs. A. B. Benedict, Mrs. Marshall Hotchkiss, Miss Elizabeth Price, Miss Mamie E. Burke, Miss Mary Stahlman, Miss Margaret Loventhal, Miss Annie May Crockett, Miss Elizabeth Hill and Miss Margaret Cain.
Lieutenant Mrs. Joseph T. Howell, Jr.'s, assistants were:
Mrs. Richard T. Wilson, Mrs. John A. Hawkinson, Mrs. Vance Alexander. Mrs. Joseph A. Gray, Mrs. John Bell Keeble, Mrs. Morton B. Howell, III. Mrs. Georgia A. Washington, Mrs. Hesse Corbitt, Miss Annie Gerraty. Miss Juanita Long, Miss Pattie Ready West. Miss Amelia Johns, Miss Alice Adamson, Miss Annie Mai Underwood, Miss Alice Ilall Lindsey and Miss Corinne Craig.
Lieutenant Mrs. Heury Maney's assistants were:
Mrs. K. T. McConnico, Mrs. George F. Blackie, Mrs. Joe Morse, Mrs. Vernon Tupper, Mrs. David R. Wade, Mrs. Will Allen, Mrs. C. F. Stevens. Mrs. John A. Hawkinson. Miss Ellen Stokes, Miss Mary Tarpley, Miss Sadie Mai Sutherland, Miss Kathryn Craig, Miss Helen Hutchi- son and Mrs. Henderson Baker.
Lieutenant Miss Katherine Berry's assistants were:
Mrs. Henry Cain, Mrs. A. B. Benedict, Mrs. E. F. Nenon, Miss Libbie Morrow, Mrs. William Nelson, Mrs. Dave Rosenfeld, Mrs. Brown Buford, Miss Lillian Joy. Miss Marion Joy, Miss Martha Rawls, Miss Lillian Reyer. Miss Willie Ruth Davidson, Miss Emily Schwab and Miss Louise Thompkins.
Lieutenant Mrs. Thomas I. Webb's assistants were:
Miss Mary Webb, Mrs. T. Graham Hall, Mrs. Randall Currell, Mrs. Charles Morrow, Mrs. E. M. Sanders, Mrs. 11. J. Grimes, Mrs. Martin Loventhal, Mrs. Ellsworth P. Scales, Miss Marie Kuhn, Miss Eleanore Tyne, Miss Anne Warner Tenison and Miss Louise Rich.
Captain Mrs. John M. Moore appointed the following as her Lieutenants :
Mrs. Lonis H. Sperry, Mrs. Runcie Clements, Mrs. Ridley Wills, Mrs. Garnett Morgan, Mrs. T. Leigh Thompson, Miss Mary De Moville Ifill and Miss Mary Ramage.
Lieutenant Mrs. Louis Sperry's assistants were:
Mrs. R. E. Donnell. Mrs. Thomas Scoggins, Mrs. Albert Britt, Mrs. Lanier Peebles, Mrs. Vivian Tupper, Mrs. John Early. Mrs. John T. Henderson, Mrs. Thomas L. Herbert, Jr., Mrs. Bernard Fensterwald, Mrs. Joe B. Deeds, Miss Frances Hillman, Miss Georgia Sawrie, Miss Sara Chambers, Mrs. Sheffield Clark, Mrs. Hamilton Love. Mrs. A. B. Anderson, Miss Pauline Fisher, Miss Delia Martin, Miss Mamie Stretch, Miss Marie Loventhal and Miss Ellen Cockrill Foster.
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Lieutenant Mrs. Gannett Morgan's assistants were:
Mrs. 11. 11. Corson, Mrs. B. Kirk Rankin. Mrs. ( .. V. Marshall, Mis. Julius Weiley, Mrs. Walter Morgan, Miss Mary Linda Manier, Mrs. J. O. Hendles. Mrs. Bruce Douglas, Mrs. John Miller. Mrs. Hill Me Alister. Miss Roberta Kirkpatrick. Miss Martha Lindsey. Miss Ellen Trabue. Miss Beatrice Zander. Miss Effe Morgan and Miss Bertha Sanders.
Lieutenant Mrs. Runcie Clements' assistants were:
Mrs. Adolph Hill. Jr., Mis. B. Kirk Rankin, Mrs. William Phillips, Mrs. Thomas Parker. Mrs. Jesse 11. Thomas, Mrs. Carter Reeves, Mrs. John Coude. Mrs. S. Marks. Mrs. Porter Phillips. Mr -. Charles MeCabe. Mrs. I.von Childress, Mrs. William Litterer, Mrs. W. W. Crandall, Mrs Ben Childers, Mrs. James Trimble. Mrs. John S. Lewis. Miss Cornelia Coode. Miss Ruth Cowden and Miss Jean Bradford.
Lieutenant Mrs. Ridley Wills' assistants were:
Mrs. (. Goldberg. Mrs. Frank Searcy Green. Mrs. Thomas J. Tyne, Mrs. G. A. Adams. Mrs. James S. Parkes, Mrs. William S. Bransford. Mrs. George W. Fall. Miss Mary Lee Crockett. Mrs. Robert 1. Abernathy. Miss Elizabeth Binford. Miss Frances Dudley. Miss Margaret Creighton. Miss Esther Nichol and Miss Mamye Craig Wills.
Lientenant Miss Mary Ramage's assistants were:
Mrs. Julius Martin, Mrs. J. J. Sullivan. Mr-, Frank W. Ring. Mrs. J. W. Thomas, Miss Jean Ramage, Mr -. Percy Williams. Miss Katherine Morris, Miss Lillian Joy, Miss Jessie Spark-, Miss Mildred Woolwine. Miss Nellie O'Brien and Miss Salli Richardson.
Lieutenant Miss Mary Demoville Hill's assistants were:
Mrs. Edwin Craig. Jr., Mrs. Tillman A. Jones, Mrs. 11. Cauvin, Mrs. A. B. Hill. Mrs. Andrew Price Mrs. W. L. Granbery. Mis- Elizabeth Tarpley. Miss Virginia Benton. Miss Sur Holmes, Mrs. Walter Stokes, Jr .. Miss Mary Porter Kirkman. Miss Mary Harding Buckner, Miss Elise Mae Bradley, Miss Amelia Johns. Miss Elizabeth Buckner, Miss Ruth Vance. Miss Sarah Shannon, Mrs. Rogers Caldwell. Miss Evelyn Douglas, Mrs. Charles Nelson, Miss Frances Pilcher and Miss Catherine Dury.
Numerous telegrams, letters and every other form of appreciation were received by the Colonel. Captains and Lieutenants in charge of the three large banquet -. Several bands were secured to furnish music at the Hippodrome during the meal. and welcome-home and patriotic addresses were made by officials of the commit- tees in charge of the home-coming features. Tennessee state and county officials and officers in charge of the three Regiments.
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Davidson County American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 6
MRS. HENRY DICKINSON. Organizer
The American Legion Auxiliary is an organization which had its origin in the World War. and is composed of mothers, wives and sisters of men who were in some branch of service of the World War and who later became members of the Ameri- can Legion. Davidson County has the distinction of being the home of the first body in the South to perfect an American Legion Auxiliary and third in the entire country.
The Davidson County Organization was formed at the Chamber of Commerce, at Nashville. on April 6, 1920, in response to a call to all women eligible to mem- bership, sent out by Mrs. Henry Dickinson (Ida Thompson), who served as Or- ganizer and Temporary Chairman. The meeting was attended by a large number of Davidson County women, and was presided over by Mrs. Dickinson, who was in charge of the election of officers for a permanent organization.
The following were chosen as officers: Mrs. Jesse M. Overton, President; Mrs. M. S. Lebeck and Mrs. Humphrey Timothy, Vice-Presidents: Miss Jennette Sloan, Secretary: and Mrs. Walter Stokes, Jr., Treasurer.
The Executive Board was composed of: Mrs. Henry Dickinson, Mrs. Georgia Knox-Berry, Mrs. Percy D. Maddin. Mrs. Bruce Douglas, Mrs. Jo B. Morgan. Mrs. Robert F. Jackson, Mrs. Mary Bright Thomas, Mrs. Arthur Evans and Mrs. Robert Webster. Mrs. John G. Gilmore was chosen as Publicity Chairman; Mrs. Bruce Douglas. Chairman-General of the Membership Committee, which consisted of: Mrs. James S. Frazer, Chairman for Nashville; Mrs. R. A. Henry, Chairman for County Districts, and Mrs. Mary Bright Thomas, Chairman of Eligibility.
The Educational Committee had Mrs. Alex. S. Caldwell as Chairman.
The Davidson County American Legion Auxiliary had been in existence two years before the National Organization was perfected, and had proven to be one of the most powerful agencies in the county in reconstruction work. In accordance with the by-laws the Auxiliary's officers were elected to serve only one term, and Mrs. Georgia Knox-Berry was chosen as the Auxiliary's President for 1921, to suc- ceed Mrs. Overton. Mrs. Jesse M. Overton, the first President. and Mrs. Georgia Knox-Berry, the second President of the Davidson County Organization, each made their reports to the State Committee of the American Legion, as there was no State Department of the Auxiliary the first two years of its existence.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT, AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
In the fall of 1921 a national organization of the American Legion was formed at Kansas City, Mo., each of the charters issued up to that time having been only temporary. In November. 1921, immediately after the reunion of the 30th (Old Hickory) Division at Nashville, where the American Legion Auxiliary of Davidson County had successfully Ied some of the most important committees on arrange- ments for the members of the Division, Jere Cooper, of Dyersburg, Tennessee. State Commander of the American Legion of Tennessee, at that time. appointed Mrs. Jesse M. Overton as Tennessee temporary Chairman, and Mrs. John G. Gilmore as Tennessee temporary Secretary, to organize a State Department of the American Legion Auxiliary. These appointments were ratified by Mrs. Lowell F. Hobart, National President. and Miss Pauline Curnick. National Secretary of the American
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Legion Auxiliarv. with headquarters at Indianapolis. Ind. During a conference of State Adjutants at Nashville, in December. 1921. presided over by State Commander Jere Cooper, National Commander of the American Legion. Hanford Me Neider and National Secretary of the Auxiliary. Miss Pauline Curnick, were guests of the Day- idson Counts Post No. 6. American Legion, and the State Department. The pur- pose of the conference was to authorize the Adjutants of the American Legion from the various counties over the state to appoint temporary chairmen in each county, who in turn would perfect an organization of Legion Auxiliaries in the various posts of the state. The appointment of Mrs. Overton and Mrs. Gilmore by State Com- mander Cooper was approved at the conference by the delegates present while in Nashville.
1 luncheon was given the visiting delegates and the national officers at the Chamber of Commerce, at which inspiring addresses were made by the National American Legion Commander. Hanford Me Neider. National Legion Auxiliary Sec- rotary. Miss Pauline Curnick. and Tennessee's American Legion Commander. Jere Cooper.
In the evening of the same day the members of the Davidson County Legion Auxiliary were hostesses of a brilliant banquet at the Belle Meade Country Club in honor of the National and State officers of the American Legion and the Adjutant delegates who were in attendance at the conference.
Mrs. Overton and Mrs. Gilmore undertook the organization of the state imme- diately after this conference. On April 6. 1922. Wrs. Overton. temporary Presi- dent. called a conference of the various county organizations of Tennessee at the Hermitage Hotel, at Nashville, when the State Department was perfected. Mrs. Lowell F. Hobart, National Chairman of the American Legion Auxiliary, was pres- ent at this conference and presided over the election of officers, when all of the tem- porary officers appointed by Mrs. Overton for the temporary organization were unanimously elected.
Two other Davidson County women who were chosen as officers of the State De- partment were Mrs. William P. Cooper, Treasurer and Mrs. Robert F. Jackson. Chair- man of Legislation.
After the organization of the State Department the temporary charters, which had been issued to the several county auxiliaries of Tennessee, were exchanged for permanent ones, which were signed by both the National and State Department Presidents and Secretaries. By this means all members of county organizations were automatically made members of the state and national organizations and a record of their enrollment was kept by the headquarters of each department.
Mrs. Luke Lea Percie Warner) was elected President of the Davidson County Auxiliary of the American Legion. Post No. 6. for 1922, and during her adminis- tration a permanent charter was granted the Davidson County body. signed by the National and the Tennessee Presidents and Secretaries, which gave Mrs. Lea the distinction of being the first President under the permanent charter of the National Auxiliary. Mrs. W. H. Schuerman was elected President of the Davidson County Legion Auxiliary. Post No. 6. of 1923. and was serving in that capacity when this volume went to press. More than four hundred women, who were relatives of ex- service men of the World War, gave their names as charter members of the Davidson County Legion Auxiliary at the organization meeting called by Mrs. Henry Dickinson, the pioneer organizer. and to whom credit is due for the formation of the Davidson County American Legion Auxiliary. Post No. 6.
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