Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 33, 1920

The initial attitmlc of Marion township towards the -' winninti' ol' the war" was noraial; that is to say, it was an attitmlr tyiiical of the normal American farming community that suffers neither fioni hot noi- from cold extremities. The townsmen, neither distinguished themselves for patiiotic endeavor nor made themselves notorious for entire lack of it. Without cxi'eijtion, they were reasonably certain of America's entry into the great struggle within ten days after Dixon newspapers had first attempted to spread the rather important information. But lielligerent headlines were not new and the fresh relations they l3ore to home interests produced no sudden, neurotic awakening. There followed, indeed, a jiretty general stir of passive patriotism and here and there some evidence of the presence of a human tinghng under the stress of a dangerous irritant. But Marion awoke to action slowly for Marion is 100 per cent agricultural. Perhaps when the pivsent cycle of ivcnnst I'uction" has passed the farmer will make "panting time toil aftci- him m vain" in his readiness to seize a mental concept and to transmit it into practice: hut he has not yet outlived a reputation for tempermental tardiness. So just natuially Mai'ion seemed to lie lagging, at the start, and the fault was so characteristic of fai-ming communities that no journalist, with a trained instinct for the imusual, paid any attention to it.

The first Red Cross drive ])ronipted eight(>en men and women to make an emhryonix sacrifice. The First Lilicrty loan came as a "feeler" ami four felt it. Some, crude floating machinery was installed to handle the Second loan but still fifty percent of the "potentials" were out of step. IIowe\er, in jiroportion as the nelnilous plans of the Lee County Finance committee took on definite shape, the township evolved an eflficient organization that finally reached out to the individual. Its successful working was first demonstrated in the Third loan. When the drive opened each school district committeeman had his list of names and ciuotas and a fair knowledge of the "goods" for which he was to be the authorized agent, twenty four hours Marion was "over the top", with second place to her civdil. In the various drives that followed, some neighboring township would in\arial)ly ni:d<c a, sensational spurt and capture first honors but a succeeding national call for financial aid usually found the honored township panting somewhere towards the rear. Marion, on' the contrary, held her rank consistently among the first and never, thereafter, fell below the eighth place in subscribing her quota.

The chief credit for this excellent record is due to the fine spirit of patriotism and cooperation that existed among the members of the Neighborhood Council of Defense. Special mention is deserved by the following men:

Service Flag is Great Pride It is to another side, however, of lier war activities that the township greatest pride. It is to the sacrifice symtiolized by the nineteen stars i flag - one of them silver now and two of them gold, and gold in hcinnr Lee county boys to sacrifice iheir lives at tlii^ fr<int. Surely it is a fine, linctidii td have furnished the lirst t wci lieides tliat were "killed in a( Claude Heldman and Private Cleorge C. Grohens head the list and they sons of Marion. The silver star was in honor of Private Herbert McDerinott who was severely wounded in action and later died at his home. These distinguished lads had I'esponded to the first call for ti-dcips and were among the eight wlid represcMited the townsliiii - the largest contingent furnished b>' any township outsi<le of Dixdii. A list df llie men who entered their coruitry's service iluring the great world war is as follows:

Claude Edwaed Heldma.n- Son df .Vdani and Olga Heldman. w.-is born near Eldena, Lee Co., 111., Decemlier 13, 1892, where he continiKMJ to reside until September 3, 1917, where he was called into service at Camp Grant. Here he became a Sergeant of Co. M, 342d Inft., and on April 20, 1918, was transferred to Camp Merritt, N. J. He remained at this camp one month, when he sailed for France. The last letter received by his parents was dated June 20, 1918, giving news of his safe arrival in France, that he enjoyed the voyage very much, expected to lie at the front verj^ soon, and had been transferred to Co. K, 131st Inft. On Se])t. 6, 1918, the father was officially notified by telegram from Washington, 1). C, that his son had been killed in action July 20th, 1918. Inquiry as to what battles he had fought in, and place of death and burial, have been unavailing. Claude Ivlward Heldman was the first soldier from Lee County to give his life for the great cause of lnnnanity.

Herberlt D. ^IcDermott - Corporal, son of Martin and yiaiy McDerniott, was born in Marion township, Jan. 2, 1897 and resided in that \icinity until called to the colors - September, 1917, leaving Dixon for Camp ( Irant with the first contingent from Lee county for service in the \\(>il<l war. He was in training at Camp Grant a member of Co. M, o42n(l Infantry luitil [March C, lOlS when he was transferred to Camp (ireene, Charlotte, S. C. where he joineil Co. C cSth Infantry and was piomoted to corporal and leavinti Camp Creenc with liis regiment for over there, the boat sailing I\Iay 24 and lainHng in England the regiment iiilon and proceechng to Fi'ancc.

was senseless for a few minutes and arousing seeing his comrades pressing forward and noting his vacant place in the line grabbed his rifle and went forward to join them. The enemy was routed and reti-eated under the American Ijovs' fire. Corii. McDermott havmg fin'd his rifle b")0 times after being wounde.l only pausing to wipe the blood out of his I've when his captain came up and seeing his wouikI lold him to have his head bandaged and to tlig in. While he was digging in a piece of shell came along and took a piece of his arm causing a light wound. When evening came he went back to the first aid station where a piece of steel helmet was removed. He stayed there two days and was sent to Angers, France l?a.-<e Hos].ital No. 27 and remained tliei-e two weeks, was transferred to the cemetery and after being there \o ihiys was marked class A fidl duty and was to leave to join his regiment as sergeant having been acting sergeant at the time he was wounded. On the morning he was to leave the wound in his head broke and he was sent to iDase hospital No. 72 for an operation where the liullet was removed and after staying there a short time he was notified he was to ivturn to the states and in November arrived in Ib,b(,ken.

to Ceneral Hospital No. 11 at Ca received treatment. On Feb. 17, rnied (,n the wound in his head. I from the hospital and sent to Ca is discharge, balllefield was such that it moved

Front". Churches and Cathedrals of Franc(<" 'T-l.oats and Au|)lin(s ind "The Capture of Palestine" hel|)e(l to visualize war activhies and deep( n mipn-Kius Major Hendershott and son, reputed among the world's greatest drummeis and hliis, contributed an evening's patriotic performance that will long be remembered Thiityfive of the young people presented the "Bright Side of Camp Life", with mihtaiv diilk and semaphore signal work, on tliree occasions to a crowded house. And i woiki i s banquet" brought the active leaders into closer harmony and furnished m oppoitumtx for some effective patriotic speeches. All these feaiiucs were of inestimalile service in creating and sustaining a high public morale. A\itliout them, e\cn tlie most etiicient organization could scarcely have attained its puijxises.

The Walton Red Cross unit included 40 ardent women w(jrkers among its mendiers. The directing officials were, Nellie Cahill, president; C. F. Welty, vice-president; Veolanta Demp.sey, secretarj- and Rev. C. F. Conley, treasurer. The secretary reports work as follows: 130 sweaters, helmets, etc., 53 convalescing robes, hospital bed shirts and pajama suits, 1172 bandages, slings, etc., 500 lbs. refugee garments collected. The foregoing report does not include 64 sweaters and other garments made for the .^^llied Relief, prior to the establishment of the local Red Cross unit. A noteworthy donation to the Red Cross was made by William AlcCarly. It was a. registered pig which sold for Sl!)'2..-i().

The office of local food administrator was W' It was an im]ioi'tant task and he was const anil conditions would i)ei-mit, the m.aiidates and reci

I-'cii- all the sacritici's, which the iivral war has entailed and which have been so cheerfully iiiadc, tlir i)c(iiik> of Maiidu feel amply compensated in the victorious peace that has dawned. But they have, moreover, purchased for themselves an experience that may prove a valuable asset in days to come. They have seen exemplified the power of organization and the methods by which it may be accomplished. And, conscious of its value, tlicy may imw uuilevfake to apply it to the .solution of problems concerned with brttci- idads, niiiiv cffii-icul schools, and general farming and marketing. They have lieen encouraged to make a detailed study of their income and expenses and tliereby trained to thrift and forethought, to more efficient management. Working together for a great common interest, they have become more neiglilioi 1>-. May the result be a "League of Families" in woi-k and in jilay, in haiijiiness and in sorrow.