Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 23, 1920

Chapter 23

The story of Lee County's I'art in the jiicat \\(n'U\ war would not he complete without recounting the work performed, saerifiees made, and funds loaned liy the citizens of Asliton township, which geographically is the smallest town in Lee ( 'ounty, yet in men sent to the service, and funds loaned, ranks among the top (if the list of towns of the county.

With the declaration of war on Germany, in April 1917, a number of the young men of the community immediately volunteered their services in the defense of their country, little caring whether these services would be needed in this country or far across the sea.

At the outbreak of the wai' Heni-y Wallace was already serving in the L^nited States Navy, the important organization which was responsible for carrying our Ijoys so successfully across the Atlantic.

When the call came for volunteers the militia organizations of the country were also summoned, and it found a number of boys fi'om this comnuuiity ready to enlist, which was virtually the first opportunity. Henry Stephen, Raymond Allstedt, Sanford Hutchinson, Paul Hind and Forrest Paddock responded and went with the Illinois National Guard, which later became a part of the 33rd or Prairie division.

Others who were prompt to enlist were Earl Pierce who went with the Marines and was the first Ashton boy to arrive in France, and who fought on that memorable occasion at Chateau Thierrj' and Bellau Wood, when eight thousands of America's finest marines helped turn defeat into victory and starteil the Hun on his retreat towards Berlin. Others who enlisted eai-ly were Bremmer Hanson, who was also in the Second division with Earl Pierce, Dwight Hartzell,who enlisted in the Navy, and saw much service on the battleships Delaware and Wyoming, and many others. Dr. C. R. Root offered his services to the government a few days after the outbreak of hostilities and was commissioned a first Lieutenant, but owing to so many dentists having volunteered. Dr. Rfjot was not called into active service for one year.

The Red Cross

\\hat was accomplished by the men in battle was partly done by the efficient work of the Red Cross, and in this work there were many noble women of Ashton township who sacrificed most of their time for a period of a year and a half,that the work might be carried on in this township, and that we would do our part in furnishing supplies of various kinds for the comfort of the soldier boys.

The Ashton Chapter of the Lee County Red Cross was one of the first to be organized, being formed a few weeks after the outbreak of the war. Tlie f( lUowing officers were chosen :

Two meetings were held regularly each week, and special meetings were often held in order to get off some rush shipment of supplies which were badly needed.

In the line of hospital supplies and garments 332 were sent, relief clothing 2.5 large cases. Gun swipes 9,000. There were also many knitted gaiinents given to the Ashton soldiers and a comfort kit was provided for each one.

When the soldier lioys first went to Camp Grant in the or no bedding, and Ashton responded to the ( niergenc>- call bile loads of comforters to the boys, maii>- housewives taki own beds that the soldier 1 oys would not suffer in their rougl not yet been supplied with heat.

The Ashton Eed < 'ross was very active in the campaign in the interests of the Lee County Tuberctilosis Sanitorium which proposition carried in this townshi]) by a very sulistantial vote.

At the re-election of officers in 1918 the following were elected; Pvalph .L Uean, President; G. A. Hamel, Vice-President; Mrs. Lucy Bates, Secretary; and Miss :\Iary Charters, Treasurer, the latter serving in the jilace of her brother who was called to the service. These officers served throughout the remainder of tlie war and in the campaign for members in 1918, a total membershiji of sot was secured for that year. In 1910 after the armistice had been signed interest was not (|iiite so strong, yet 4."() of our citi/ens renewed their membership.

The work of the Red Cross only ceased in .Vshton when orders came t.i make no more supplies as they would not be needed. While this was most welc<,me news, there was a little iiand of forty or fifty woiiHii of .Ashton who were ready at a moment's call to respond to work, and who had no time for a thing that did not contribute to the winning of the war.

A great deal of cash was raised for the work of the Red Cross. Htmdreds of dollars of donations were made by individuals and societies to the local chapter to purchase material Thert' was a donation of -SlOO forwai'ded to headquarters, and in the one diive for Red Cross fun(.ls, the subscriptions amounted to 81,776.75.

While the sons of the township were willing to go and fight, and the women were willing to work and save, the moneyed people of the township were just as willing to put their funds at the disposal of the government.

The First Liberty Loan came early in the war and the holding of government securities was something new to the ])eo|ile of this community. However no organization was perfected, and only $15,000 was subscribed, the bulk of which was taken by the .Vshton Bank.

In the organization of tlie eouiit>- which followed to raise funds, Nathan A. Petrie, the veteran President of The Ashton Bank was placed on the executive committee of Lee County and also made chairman of the finance committee of Ashton township. Although at 77 years of age, when men are usually shelved, he led the organization which made every drive for funds in Ashton township successful, and which gave Ashton township an honored name among the towns of the county.

War History Of Lee Counts, Illinois

Mr. Petrie associated with himself a number of men of the town, and organized each school district, and in the succeeding loans Ashton township made their subscriptions all in one day, and in the War Savings Stamp drive were the first over the top in the county and showed the citizens of Lee County a new nK'tlidd \n use in the raising of large sums of money.

The amount of the subscriptions of the Second Liberty Loan was $55,000; the Third Loan $47,250, the Fourth Loan $57,300 and the Victory Loan $59,350, making a total of Liberty Bond subscriptions of $233,900.00. In the War - Stamp sales Ashton township always made their quota, and numbers among its people several maximum subscribers. The total War Stamp sales made to people of Ashton township as reported by Postmaster Joseph A. Roesler is $30,125.00.

Ashton was personally represented in the work of the Y. j\L C. A. Fred A. Richardson volunteered for overseas service with the Y. M. C. A. and sailed from New York on June 19th, 1918, arriving in London, England, Julv 2nd, where he was assigned to duty connected with the Y. M. ('. A. warehouses of that city and establishing area warehouses throughout the kingdom, later having management and being general travelling representative of the same.

the Y. M. ('. A. over $1,800 was raised in this township 1(1 drive was known as the United W^ar Drive, including kindi-ed oi-gaiiizatiims, and the amount of subscriptifins

Bknjamin G. Schafeh - age 22, and son V. Scliafer volunteered for service in the navy and after being given training at the Great Lak was sent to sea as a sailor on the U. S. S. Pitts duly along th(> South American coast. When 1 idkc oiil ill' with hundreds of his conirades ab Id the disease which later developed into br. caused iiis dentil October 20, I91S. He was bin

('iiHVSTAL WrrzEL - age 27, a farm laijorer. and son of Mr. and Mrs. ( "ail Witzel was selected for service in the infantry and was sent to Camp (liant where he was assigned to Co. M, 341st Regiment, 86 Division where lie was given his training. He was promoted to the ratd^ of corlioial and went overseas with tiie division in tlie sunnner of HIIS. He aii'ixcd first in Knglantl and was later transferred to France. He was transferred out of his division and assigned to Co. B, 310 Regiment, 78th di\isi(in and saw active service in France. He was killed in action October 20, I91S, and was imried upon the field of iioiior.

Earl H. Palsgrii\e - a lanii Ashtou township was si'lrctinl for sc and in September 1917 was sent t( to Co. M, 342nd Regiment. He w of that year to Miss Aureola Roe < was taken ill Saturday evening, V soon after midnight, the cause of hi.'- of a blood vessel. The funeral s Wednesday morning February 20, conducted by Rev. Fred A. G pastor of the Methodist Church, An honor squad from his compa; and he was buried with full military hd.K.rs. Private. Palsiinivc vania and attained the age of 27 years. 15esides his wife he is si