Lee County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 16 of those read), 1920

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 16 of those read)

It is my privilege and pleasure to write the account of the activities nf Aniboy during tlic war period. Before proceeding to outline the various branches (iF woik and making the list of our boys in the service. I would like to state briefly thai thcic has been a very loyal and enthusiastic response to the cdmiti-N's demands and tlia1 the ]ie(iple of .Amlmy have done themselves credit, in the uk st lol list manner they have shoiildei-ed the vaiious oliligations and th( y with nnlhens of others have willin.iily sacrificed in oiilei- td pronudgate the great principle of truth and democracy-.

.lohn AI. Egan, member of the county's auxiliary of the State Council of Defense; member of the finance committee. State ('(juncil of Defense, Lee County, nu'mber of the count>- executive committee, and inciiiber and secretary of the Lei^ County exemption boanb

Soldiers' Relief Work

This committee made a thorough house to house canvass in tin- cit\- ami country districts .securing signatures of housekeepers to the pledge cards issiieil by the I'nited States food administration. .-Vlthough many of the citizens hail previously signed and forwarded the cards to tb.e i)ro|icr a.utlioi'it ies, tlie committee mailed 'i.")! of the |)ledges to the federal food administ lator m Chicago on Xov, 2b 19bS.

Amboy Red Cross

The Amljoy Red Cross unit was organized by Miss Mary Burnham with the help of Mrs. J. McCleary of Dixon who came on April 30, 1917 upon invitation of Miss Burnham and presented the nature of the Red Cross work to tlic laches. Following are the first officers :

On May 8, 1917 the first meeting was held in G. A. R. hall which was donated for a meeting place. Mrs. Egan taught knitting and meetings were held each Tuesday and Friday afternoon. Mrs. Dornblaser was in charge of the work of making surgical dressings and hospital garments.

Activities of the Red Cross soon became noticeal>le. An exhibit of the work was shown in R. L. Jenkins' store window, and at the Lee County fail- in August. Messrs. Green and Vaughan gave a registered calf to the Amboy unit which was sold at the county fair for $132.

On Sept. 1 , 1017 Mrs. J. M. Egan gave the use of her home to the Red Cross and words cannot express the appreciation for this contribution to the success of the work of the auxiliai'y.

On Nov. 8, 1917 Christmas boxes containing kit, socks, wristk^ts, were sent to the boys in I'^ra-ncc. In November 1917, boxes of used clothing were sent to France and Belgium. 'I'liis work was in charge of Mrs. Maude Brierton.

Evening classes one evening a week were estabHshed in 191S. The average of employed woinrn at these meetings was twelve. At the dnv meetings the attendance was thirty.

The Amboy unit of the Woman's Committee, Council of National Defense was organized in August, 1917 with Mrs. G. M. Finch as chairman. The first meeting was held in September of that year. Between that time and the end of 1918, when the last shipment of clotliing was made, this committee collected and sent to Chicago for shipment to France 1000 ])ouiids of clothing.

All (if these jiaiinents were Idciked ovei', rei)aired and put in Rood wearalile eduditidii iiy this eduiniittee. and a lar-ic nuniher of .-iarnients for children were made, some fnini partly worn "larnients and others from new goods purchased liy the conmiittee or contriliuted hy others to its work.

Work For The Fatherless Children Of France

In the fall of 1918 when the coimeil of national defense organized the woi'k for the Fatherless Children of France, Mrs. G. M. Finch was again made chaiiinan. Three circles of ten persons each, contributing $3.65, were formed. In adiliiion through its influence the Lend A Hand Society was induced to form a circle. Four French children are lieing supported li>- Amhoy people.

Rev. Joseph Burrows Writes

One cannot refrain from expressing a strong note of gratitu<le foi- the results pioduced in our tow-n and the vicinity thereof, for the tine results protlueed during the war strain and its abnormal, antl at times, very tremendous obligations. Let us make mention of a few of the results.

It is worthy of note that Amboy has gone over the top in all the di-ives for the Lilierty Loan, the Red Cross and the United War Work fund. The very psychology of this has been productive of good locally. The vision of the people has been widened. The fraternal spirit has been cultivated and the interests in the more international things of life and of men have stimulated to a phenomenal degree.

2. We are justly proud of our young men, lioth tliose who weie able to go across and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and thosi^ who have done such Kne work in the L'nited States.

No town has ever posses.sed a cleaner, uun-v responsive, more intelligent grou|) of young men than Amboy. In making this remark, the writer is cognizant of the fact that other towns have produced fine specimens of manhood, but we remind you that Amboy was on the map when it came to the production of efficient manhood.

As a local pastor, I have been brought into touch with our i)eople, and I have watched the untiring devotion of the people, along every legitimate and worth-while avenue of activity, for supporting the nation, and preserving the democracy which is so ilear to us all. Business men, professional men, teachers, people of all religious beliefs and all social ranks have met on one common ground for the various kinds of activity and dut>- impo.sed upon them through the war.

This is not only gratifying, but it has produced a condition which will coiitiniie to serve the good of the town, and promote tlie best fellowship and strongest |)at riotisni.

Womans' Committee Council Of National Defense Amboy Unit

The various departments of work were orfiaiiizcd as follows: Registration of Women, Mrs. Ara Morgan who was later succeedcil li\- .Miss M. J. Egan; Allied Relief, Mrs. G. M. Finch; Publicity, Miss Mary Burnhani; Finance, Mrs. W. A. Green; Conservation and Thrift, Airs. W. .1. Keho; Red Cross, Miss M. J. Egan. Later three otlier lines of work were assumed: The Enrollment of Student Nurses was undertaken hy Mrs. .\. C. Kauffman; Child Welfare, Airs. W. B. Vaughan, Airs. T. J. Hodges and Airs. E. P. I'nderwood; the forming of circles of ten io support fatherless chikh-en of France was added to Airs. Finch's work in Allied Relief. Reports from these various departments will follow.

Detailed Personal Mention Of Amboys' Soldiers

F'arl F]wart Emery - Private hist class, Battery B .'^^ord Heavy Field Artillery, 86th Division, was a son of Air. and Airs. L. A. Emery and was born at Amboy, Illinois, January 25, 1895, and was married to Miss Clara Weaver of Amboy, June 15, 1918. He was inducted into niililaiy service at Dixon, 111., June 24, 1918, and sent to Camjj Grant. He went to France with the :«3('. F. A., SGth Div.

.Ml'. EiiK'iy ri'turneil to his home in Amlioy, and after a brief rest resumed his position with the First National Bank of that city. On Alarch 22, he was taken ill with tubercular peritonitis, wliich was coi)- L foreign service, and passed away May 14, 1919.

Harry Philip Poths - Pvt., Born Oct. 18, 1893, Co. G 354 Inft., .Amboy, 111., Camp Grant, France. In Argonne-A'Ieuse offensive; wounded by shrapnel, and died from infected wounds at Beau Desert Hospital, or Base IIos|iital No. 114, Nov. 3, 191S. Buried in Beau Desert Cemetery, or A. K. V. Cemetery No. 27, in grave No. 104, about six miles from Bordeaux, France, November 14, 1918.

F'redkrick DiLLow - Son of C. P. ami Laura Dillow. Was t Keiiiiey, Ilk, July 23d, 1895, and in 1913 moved to Amboy. ( pleiiibei' 2(1 1918, he was inducted into service and sent to Camp (1 lid on Oct. 3, 1918, died of pneumonia and influenza.

LdXXiK Alsmax -s,m of Wni. Tlu-iiias and Sarah Mann Alsi horn May 20. 1S92. ncai- Danville, Ky., and in early lite moved to Countj', residing neai- Anihox'. He was called May 27, 1918, and sent to (amp Conlon. Ca., 4th Reo-. : transferred to .iul> Auto lirt;!., o7 ( 'i 27. 191S, and then pla<v,l ui :-;2'.ltli Inft. C was in at the time of his deatli, Oct. 2d. IIUS. at Camri Lewa Paris, France. He was taken sick with pneumonia and sent t(] th tal and was buried at Camp Lewan. His Captain, in a leltei parents, praised him very hitihly. He says: "He pei formed his which should bring credit to his luiue. ii.iinii thr(iUi>h the stren a smile, and bearing hardship without a murmur."

Battery C, 124th Field Artillery. The report of your Commandinii (lfti(ers testify to yotir oaHaiitry and splendid performance of duty at Re magne. France, on Xov( mlx'r 1st. 191S.

Your conduct on that occasion has afforded megeuuine gratihcaticn. and I have accordingly directed that your name and action he inscribed on the ROLL ( »F HoXoR of the -PRAIRIE DIVISION".