Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 30, 1920

By (lirccfioii (if tlio State Ciiuiieil of Uffense Xeighborhood Committee, through the Lee County ( liairman, John P. Devine, Joseph Bauer, John Foss and H. G. Keigwin were aijpoiiited as a eommittee to represent Hamihon in its various activities of war work.

This committee met at the town hall and selected the followino; jiersons to aid them as school district committeemen from the following districts:

The Woman's Committee Council of Defense also needs favorable mention. Mrs. H. G. Keigwin as township chairman was ably seconded in relief and other agencies by Mi's. Rachel Johnson who is second to none as a Liberty loan salesman and securing membership for Hed ('loss. Mis. .loseph Bauer's and Mrs. Frank Keigwin's work made Child's Welfare day a success and Mrs. SnadiT, who volunteereil her services for the occasion, should not be passed liy uniuitired.

The town of Hamilton is a rin-al community exclusively. Sixty-five per cent of the land is owned by non-residents who are usually real estate speculators, renting their farms for one year only. As a result the tenants are often new and their first attempt to farm foi' th( inselves, and tlu'y are not in a position to be very extensive purchasers of bonds.

Li the aulunin of 1917 the Second loan was |)ul on the market. With notes, mortgages and interest coining due Hamilton's peojjle, in some localities, felt that the banks should take this as they did the First loan and leave those whose personal obligations were heavy alone. The result was that though Chairman Bauer, H. G. Keigwin, A. W. Butterfield and W. E. Hopkins, assisted by a loan meeting in connection with the Keigwin husking bee, made a house to house canvass selling far short of the (luota.

ICC coininitte(> was in operation. ^Liiiy had been called to the iglit nearer home as a result. Each daily and weekly paper nal campaign assisted by great posters which demonstrated could furnish the war was blood. The cheapest was money.

ami Warner and a Dixnn (Hiartd fniin tlir Klks clul. ni ponse from the best attended meeting in Lee ('(ninl>- \vl As a result the $14,000 quota for Hamilton was raisi'd wit district's committee working their i-espective triritor}-.

In September 1918 the finance was notified that the town's .|U(.ta of 828,200 must be met and all district comniittrcs tiathcrcd at the hall to fdinmlatc plans ai-cordingly. It was decided that Supervisor leaner make ai'rangements f(ii- a patiiotie meeting to lie held in the hall whirh was .k.nr in early Octiil.er. \V. H. Winn, .h.lin 1'.. Cralitivi- and \V. E. Wingert pressed home the tact that all wnuld be knnwii by what lliry gave t.i back up the boys over there. The slacker was the une wlm stiMve tn ser Imw iiiui'h lie cnuld get out of the war and how little he could givi'.

At a meeting of the committee a finota was allntted tn each and diivctions made to make it of a viihintcer nature by each guing tn thiar varinus scIhkiIs and subscribe the quota assigned whii'h was largely dune in a single day.

At the opening of llie war a lied ('i-oss auxiliary was (irgaiuzed in Walnut, Bureau County, 111. This is the community center uf the s.iuth half .if Ilaniill.iii. This iv.sult.Ml ing contributions of horses, colts, calves, pigs, grain and cash to help carry on. In r.'turn every soldier in this zone when called received a sweater, helmet and other comforts ma.le by loving hands at home. These associations were hard to break when the drive for meinl lership was ma.l.' in the winter .if 1017 an.l lOlS un.l.a- .if W. W. K.ls.ni. Notice that our quota was l.'O members met th.' ivspons.' ..f KiO a.lults. One hun.liv.l i)cr.'ent banners were conspicuous everyw 1:. re. lliiwc\-.'r,many still remaine.l with Walnut on account of facts above mentione.l.

In October 191S the various relief .irgaiiizati.ms' iuhmIs weiv iiiiit.'.l int.i one drive and the ciuota of each state, county and township made known. Hamilton's ciuota of $853 was distributed by the finance committee and the school buildings named as a place where payments would be made and Xovemljer 12 saw §904 paid for this noble work.

On .January 1, 1918 war stamps were |)ut on the market and later a r|uota for each state, county antl town mail.' as in l.ians and .Irives. A meeting was liel.l at the Pope

School in June to explain the nature and necessitj' for this feature of work where Rev. A. B. Whitcombe, and Judge Ci'abtree made vigorous appeals to all to back up the boys to the limit. The solicitors made a visit to each home and in a few days reported a good sum.

In May, 1917, Supcrvisdr 15aucr, John Toss, and H. (". Keigwin were notified they were to act as officials to register those fruni 21 to 30 tor the draft on June .5, 1917. Including those registered on Sept. 12, 191S, there were in all 11.5 registered. From this

XiCHOL.\s A. KxAPP - Called in Ajiril to Camp Grant, was soon ti'aiisferred to Camp Funston when he was assigned to Co. C, 353d Inf. lie was sent to France in June where the organization was soon sent to the front battling continually in the St. Mihiel and Argonne contest and in the latter place "Nick" was killed Oct. 25, 1918 being the only casualty that is repoited to H;imilt(in. Nick was town clei'k and most efficient ill the capacity-, being a tine pemnan. Thus the community lost a splendid I'itizeii and (iHicial, the neighl)orhood a friend, his family a noble son and Urolher. his coiuitv a bi'ave soldier, but tiicir loss is Heaven's o-ain.