McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 26: American Legion, 1924

ORGANIZED HERE - NAMED IN HONOR OF LOUIS E. DAVIS - FIRST OFFICERS - INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP - STATE HEADQUARTERS IN BLOOMINGTON - OFFICERS - WOMEN'S AUXILIARY - POSTS IN McLEAN COUNTY - WORLD WAR VETERANS.

Within fifteen months after the armistice in 1918, when the service men and women had returned from their war service, there were many posts of the American Legion organized in McLean County. The idea of this organization had its inception with a group of U. S. army officers in Paris in February, 1919, when they met to study the problems of the return of the soldiers to civil life.

Following the caucus of veterans in Paris, France, early in 1917, a similar caucus was held in St. Louis, Mo. Thomas Fitch Harwood, of Bloomington, was selected as delegate to the first caucus in this country. Immediately after his appointment he called for service men of this county to accompany him to St. Louis. Ben S. Rhodes and R. M. O'Connell attended the meeting. The aim and purpose of the American Legion was outlined and drawn into a temporary constitution, which was adopted.

The name "Louis E. Davis" was selected by a committee composed of T. F. Harwood, James D. Foster and Oscar G. Hoose. Their report included the following: "He was the first man of his class in camp to qualify as a reserve military aviator, and on the day of his death was then completing his bombing course, at that time the most advanced in aviation. At the time of his death he was preparing for overseas service. The remains of Louis E. Davis were buried with military honors in the

Evergreen cemetery, Bloomington. It is fitting and proper that this organization gathering within its ranks those who gave and sacrificed for the freedom of country and mankind should honor itself by the choice of such a name."

The first officers of the organization elected Jan. 15, 1920, were: Past Commander, Charles P. Kane; Commander, Harry L. Howell; Vice-Commander, Thomas Ivan Costigan; second Vice-Commander, Miss Grace Gaines; Chaplain, Rev. William B. Hindman; Adjutant, James D. Foster; Sergeant-at-Arms, Albert S. Coomer; Executive Committee: Charles P. Kane, F. Carlyle Willey, Oscar G. Hoose, James Owen, Len L. Hogan and John J. O'Connor. In a later meeting Ralph Morath was elected finance officer. William B. Geneva was elected historian.

The Louis E. Davis Post, American Legion of Bloomington which occupies spacious quarters in the McBarnes' Memorial building, is the largest post in Illinois, having a roster of about 1,000.

The increase in membership of the Louis E. Davis Post is the result of the steadily growing current of sentiment in favor of the Legion in this locality, which began in 1919 when Charles P. Kane was appointed temporary commander, and continued to increase throughout the administration of Dr. Harry L. Howell who served for two years. His leadership was supplemented by that of Fitch Harwood in 1922. It has been through the ceaseless and united effort of the entire membership that the membership campaign has been brought to such a sussessful culmination.

During the past three years, a great amount of effort, particularly through the service department, has been made in taking care of the claims against the government for compensation insurance, bonuses, vocational training and hospitalization for unfortunate members and also for ex-service men generally who happened to be in need.

During this period of time, although no record has been kept, from requests and claims have been recorded and thousands of dollars and innumerable cases of relief have been brought to the unfortunates through the efforts of the post.

Along similar lines the Post has expended thousands of dollars which it has been able to amass through the good will of the people, in rendering service of various kinds, such as medicine, food, clothing, rent, etc., for ex-service men generally who have been found to be in need. The Post

The McLean County Board of Supervisors have generously co-operated, setting aside a fund annually for the assistance necessary in such cases. Hundreds of transients who I ecame stranded here have been helped from time to time.

One of the outstanding achievements of the Post during the past year has been the acquisition of a burial ground at the Park Hill Cemetery which has been contracted by the Fost for the sum of approximately $2,300. The site is located at the southeast corner of the cemetery and will be set apart exclusively for the bursal of ex-service men, who at the time of their death, are eligible to membership in the Legion. The burial space will accommodate 303 graves and a site for a monument. It is located in full view of the Illinois boulevard and is a most beautiful spot. Five bodies are already buried there.

The Kiwanis Club of Bloomington voted to turn over the proceeds of their summer chautauqua toward the purchase of this burial ground. The site is set apart from the rest of the cemetery by means of parkways and shrubbery.

The local Post of the American Legion was, in a large measure, responsible for the culmination of the wishes of John McBarnes in the erection of the McBarnes Memorial. It was through the activities of the Post that the plan was presented to Mr. ^ iarnes which resulted in the present structure. The lease for the site /as secured for the supervisors by the Post on condition that a building t ,'itable to the desires of Mr. Mc- Barnes be erected thereon.

During the regime of Mr. Harwood, the state department of the American Legion of Illinois was persuaded to change its headquarters from Springfield to Bloomington and this arrangement was subsequently made permanent by constitutional amendment. The state department and the local post have co-operated in every way possible for the benefit of the organization. The local post by its fair dealing secured the good will and hearty co-operation of all the civic bodies and the public generally and has always maintained a high standard of ideals in all their dealings. The Post always endeavored to be fair with the masses as well as the classes and in this way has merited the good will of all.

The local Post was also active in getting the $50,000 appropriation for the hospital at the Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The Post also adopted and are sponsoring two troops of Boy Scouts at the Home.

The officers of the Post are: Commander, Oscar J. Hoose; First Vice-Commander, Edward A. Donnelly; Second Vice-Commander, Catherine S. Brooks; Finance Officer, C. E. Dimmett; Adjutant, Paul Gottschalk; Service Officers, Harry Riddle, Wayne Townley, H. A. Rhodee; Executive Committee: Charles P. Kane, H. L. Howell, T. F. Harwood, C. E. Yeager, Dudley Smith, Wayne Townley, W. C. Murphy, E. A. Donnelly, Ben S. Rhodes and T. D. Carroll.

First permanent officers of the Women's Auxiliary to the Louis E. Davis Post 56 were: President, Mrs. Irma Greiner; Vice-President, Mrs. Thomas B. Foster; Secretary, Miss Ina Rhodes; Treasurer, Mrs. Louis Wollrab ; Executive Committee, Mrs. J. A. Goodwin, chairman ; Mrs. Harry Howell, Miss Winifred Elliott, Mrs. W. W. Gailey.

Numerous other posts of the American Legion later came into being after the first post formation in Bloomington, including Ruel Neal, Le- Roy; Erwin Martensen Post, Anchor; Ben Roth Post, Chenoa; Elmo F. Hill Post, Lexington ; Benedict-Crutchley Post, McLean ; David Humphrey Daniel Post, Saybrook; Grant Post, Bellflower, and Saybrook Post 427, Saybrook.

Committees from the Louis E. Davis Post 56, organized the Stevenson-Lewis Post 556, of the American Legion, as the second post in Mc- Lean County, which was solely for former service persons of the colored race. Lincoln Page was named as temporary chairman, and started the organization safely on its course.

Ruel Neal Post was named in honor of Ruel Neal, the first LeRoy boy to lose his life in the war, he being killed in action, in a front line trench on the Meuse river on October 2, 1918. The officers of the Post first elected were: Commander, Dr. 0. M. Thompson; Vice-Commander, Herman L. Thomas; Adjutant, R. E. Kimler; Finance Officer, Miles C. Grizzelle; Chaplain, Rev. H. R. Browne; Sergeant-at-Arms, Charles Bane. The present officers of Ruel Neal Post are : Commander, Dr. Owen Thompson; Adjutant, J. K. Kincaid.

David Humphrey Daniels Post, named in honor of the first soldier from Saybrook to give up his life in the war, had the following officers: Commander, Cecil Rhodes Hudson ; Vice-Commander, Fred G. Cary ; Treasurer, Roy Return Cheney; Adjutant, Ora Francis LaTeer. The present Commander is Fred G. Gary; Adjutant, Earl Crotinger.

The organization of Ben Roth Post No. 234, took place at Chenoa in May, 1919. It was named in honor of Ben Roth, a Chenoa soldier who died in France. There are about sixty-five members of this Post, and they have been active in promoting the interests of the soldiers, giving several entertainments, maintaining teams in athletic sports and other activities: The officers were: Commander, Pierre Turck; Vice-Commander, Frank Hogan; Adjutant, Calvin R. Gentes. The present Commander is Dr. L. V. Daniels; Adjutant, Joseph Watchinski.

Erwin Martensen Post No. 164, at Anchor was named in honor of a soldier from that community who was killed in action. The post is one of the newer ones, being organized in 1920. The officers are: Commander, Henry L. Simpson ; Service Officer, John A. Schmidt ; Finance Office, Joe Garrett; Adjutant, Albert Brandt. The present Commander is Arthur Gantz; Adjutant, August Brandt.

Burger-Benedict Post No. 973, of the American Legion, was formed at McLean at a meeting held on Feb. 26, 1920. It was named from Dewey Burger and Ernest Benedict, two McLean boys who were killed in battle in France. The officers elected were: Commander, C. R. Van Ness; Vice-Commander, Ray A. Bowers; Past Commander, Ansel Stubblefield; Adjutant, Grant V. Wilcox; Finance Officer, Martin W. Hildebrandt; Sergeant-at-Arms, Otto Humble ; Service Office, George N. Snyder ; Historian, George Benedict; Chaplain, Dan McFarland; Athletic Officer, Harry Matthews. At present the Commander is Lyle E. Wilcox; Adjutant, Martin W. Hildabrant.

A post was organized at Colfax in June, 1920, and was named the Davis-Kerber Post in honor of Bernard Davis of Martin Township who was killed in action, and Albert Kerber, who died of pneumonia in France. The officers elected were as follows: Commander, Reid Horney; Vice- Commander, Fred Scholl; Finance Officer and Adjutant, C. R. Stevenson; Sergeant-at-Arms, Edsell B. Downey. The Commander in 1923 was Smith McHatton; Adjutant, Roy Stevens.

Gridley Post No. 218 was organized in 1919 with the following officers: Post Commander, Lynn C. Sieberns; Adjutant, Everett F. Kent; Sergeant-at-Arms, John D. Rediger. The present Commander is Everett F. Kent, the Adjutant, McKinley Benedict.

Elmo Hill Post at Lexington is among the larger and more active posts in McLean County, with a big membership and enterprising officers. This post has engineered several affairs for the good of the service men of Lexington and the general public. The present Commander is Elmer J. Roy; the Adjutant, A. E. Pritt.

Danvers Post is well represented with the service men of that community. The Commander is George A. Kraus, and the Adjutant, Morris Rockwell.

Grant Post No. 202, at Bellflower, was named in honor of Earl and Erwin Grant, sons of Richard Grant, both of whom gave up their lives in the war. Earl died in Jefferson Barracks, and Erwin died in France after the close of the war, when he was returning with his regiment from Germany. The first officers of the post were: Commander, S. W. Haigler; Senior Vice-Commander, J. Warner Carlyle; Finance, A. G. Gooch; Adjutant, B. F. Hinshaw; Service Officer, DeWitt R. Gooch, III; Sergeant-at-Arms, John Jensen. The present Commander is Levi Barnhart; the Adjutant, Harry Shornick, Jr.

The Witt-Webber-Carroll Post at Arrowsmith was named after James Carroll, Warren K. Webber, and Charles T. Witt, all Arrowsmith boys who lost their lives in the war. The present principal officers are: Commander, Elmer Paxton; Adjutant, Glenn Raney.

Corporal Carl Miller Post at Heyworth was organized in 1920 and flourished for a few years, but at this writing it was not active. The officers at its last election were: Commander, Elmer L. Bell; Adjutant, Donald Cruikshank.

Cropsey Post was named for William F. Barnes, who died in the war. The present officers are: Commander, Meedie Buck; Adjutant, Harvey L. Meeker.

Redd-Williams Post in Bloomington was made up of colored ex-service men, and the officers are: Paul Turlington, Commander; Taylor Cisco, Ad j utant.

of service men as its name indicates. It was named the Hauptman, Morgan, Conley Post, from the name of three Bloomington men who had been slain in battle. These men were Joseph A. Hauptman, David Thomas Morgan, and Eugene Conley. The first list of officers for the post were these: Commander, W. F. Witty; Senior Vice-Commander, Robert Switzer; Junior Vice-Commander, E. P. Downey; Chaplain, Lee Crosland; Adjutant, William A. Sammon; Quartermaster, Arthur Garbe. The board of trustees were: William J. Hull, J. P. Murray and Wade H. Fielder. The post holds monthly meetings.