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American Legion
McLean County, Illinois

[McLean County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918; by Edward E. Pierson & Jacob Louis Hasbrouck c 1921]
(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

Within fifteen months after the armistice, 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. They called a meeting of representatives of all large units then represented in France, and these officers and enlisted men in equal numbers, held a three days' meeting in Paris in March, and created the American Legion. The permanent state organization in Illinois was formed at a convention held in Peoria October 17 and 18, 1919, and this convention appointed delegates to the first national convention held in Minneapolis on November 10, 1919. At this convention policies were outlined, officers elected and Indianapolis selected as national headquarters. The preamble to the constitution reads aa follows: "For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:" "To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness." Brief History of Louis E. Davis Post 56 of Bloomington Following the caucus of veterans in Paris, France, early in 1917, a similar caucus was held in St. Louis, Missouri. 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. Upon the return of Messrs. Harwood, Rhodes and O'Connell to this city, Mr. Harwood called a meeting of former service persons of this county for June 23, 1919, in the circuit court room of the McLean County court house. As Organizer for The American Legion Mr. Harwood formed a temporary organization. Those present were: Thomas F. Harwood, Lloyd E. Orendorff, Oscar G. Hoose, James D. Foster, Harold H. Livingston, Hilton D. Markham, Paul E. Greenleaf, Otto M. Salmon, Herman M. Gunn, Robert H. Moore, Roy A. Ramseyer, Henry H. Carrithers, Leslie E. Bristow, Ben S. Rhodes, Richard M. O'Connell, Clarence G. Anderson, L. Earl Bach, Bert L. Eiseling, James Bernard Murphy, Charles D. Havens, J. J. O'Connor, Benjamin E. Anderson, Charles P. Kane, Mark E. Ethell, Robert A. Noble, James J. Butler, C. Dale James, Edward A. Mott, Emmett V. Gunn, Harold V. Moore, Arthur W. Smith, Lome P. Murray, Oscar E. Bebout, James F. Thompson, Wayne W. Bircklebaw, Leon J. LaFond, William J. Keen, Heber S. Hudson, Howard R. Sutherland, Ansel F. Stubblefield, Harry R. Riddle, Thomas D. Cantrell. The above men were the first to sign the application for charter. Charles P. Kane was elected Temporary Chairman, with Ben S. Rhodes as temporary Secretary and Treasurer. 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." Louis E. Davis, Lieutenant in Aviation, was born November 24, 1893, in Bloomington. He died at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, as the result of injuries of an airplane accident sustained May 10, 1918. He was the son of H. O. Davis. Regular meetings on the first Thursday of every month were held in the county court house until January, 1920, when club rooms at 309 North Main street, third floor, were leased. The membership grew from the original handful of former service persons until early in 1920 when the organization boasted of over 700 members, including a one hundred percent membership among the nurses of the county. It was the first post of the American Legion to be formed in McLean County. The first officers of the organization elected January 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 Qwen, Leo L. Hogan and John J. O'Connor. In a later meeting Ralph Morath was elected finance officer. William B. Geneva was elected historian. Early in 1920 the Louis E. Davis Post 56 promoted an indoor circus in the Coliseum from which finances were derived enabling the then small membership to secure club rooms and support a membership campaign which was as great a success as the circus. In March, 1920, "The Mascot," a monthly publication of the Louis E. Davis Post made its first appearance. The publication was intended to stimulate interest in post affairs and indications of its development were rapidly entertained. Committees from the Louis E. Davis Post 56 organized the Stevenson-Lewis Post 555, of the American Legion, as the second post in McLean 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. "The Fathers of Veterans," first formed in McLean County also grew out of the American Legion. The Ladies Auxiliary to the Louis E. Davis Post 56 of the American Legion was in its rapid development early in 1920, and has a membership almost as large as the post to which its members were affiliated. As neither the constitution of the American Legion nor the Auxiliary constitution, provide for the fathers of men or women who were in the service the "Fathers of Veterans" organization developed. William F. Costigan was the first chairman of the organization, which was county wide in its development, and B. C. Moore, was named secretary and treasurer. First permanent officers of the Womens 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, LeRoy; 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. Other posts were in their formation when this work went to press. List of Members Louis E. Davis Post No. 56 George Elbert Abbey, Cecil Fiske Abrams, Forrest Lee Adams, Erwin Albee, Arrie Adelia Allen, James E. Allen, Benj. R. Anderson, Clarence G. Anderson, Russell R. Armstrong, Wavie Armstrong, Aaron R. Augustin, Corry C. Ayers. L. Earl Bach, Delmar D. Bachman, Harry E. Baker, John M. Barr, Wm. Wilson Barrett, Henry F. J. Barrow, Wm. Herman Barthel, William Bauer, Donald Joseph Bayler, Clarence Bean, Oscar Ray Bebout, John Haerms Becker, Fred Beckman, Jr., Claude Edwin Bedinger, Carl E. Behr, W. G. Behr, Sylvanus Ray Belt, M. Charlotte Bender, Wayne W. Birckelbaw, Walter Franklin Blackburn, Stone Paul Bloomquist, Homer B. Blumenshine, Carl Theodore Bock, Russell Alvin Bolze, Ernest Boog, John Allen Bourland, Carroll M. Bowen, Glenn Rhodes Bowman, George Joseph Boylan, Harry Francis Boylan, D. F. Bracken, Timothy Joseph Bradley, Ralph Allen Bramwell, Dr. Fred W. Brian, Thomas Brigham, William M. Bright, Jr., Russell W. Bringham, Leslie R. Bristow, John A. Brokaw, Roy Gale Brookshier, Bert Edward Brown, Clifford Allen Brown, Edward S. Brown, Ellis Eugene Brown, Maurice Gilbert Brumback, Campbell E. Brunton, Thomas P. Bryant, Meddie Buck, Ralph W. Bunnell, Henry Lyell Burch, Mary Agnes Burke, Willis A. Burkholder, Hudson Burr, Louis Blackburn Bush, Chas. S. Butler, James J. Butler. Elbert Wilson Callahan, Martin Leo Callahan, Williard B. Canopy, Thomas D. Cantrell, John Taylor Carlson, Ray Ellis Carnahan, Robert L. Carnahan, Floyd Wm. Carr, Richard A. Carr, Henry H. Carrithers, Andrew James Casner, Chester Burton Castle, Lester Blake Cavins, Arnett Sterling Chapin, Dean Wilcox Charmi, Edward W. Chrisman, H. S. Chrisman, Henson E. Clark, Edmund G. Cleveland, John R. Clickner, Herbert S. Cline, John Louis Cobb, J. Ivan Cole, Charles Clinton Compher, John J. Condon, George Orin Constant, David E. Cook, Edwin H. Cooke, Herbert Lee Cooke, Wilbur Rison Cooke, Albert Coomer, Edward John Corbitt, George M. Corson, Thomas Ivan Costigan, James Vincent Cox, John Flavin Cox, W T illiam B. Craig, Marvin W. Crawford, Thomas Burr Crigler. Hubert Monroe Cropper, Lee Howard Crosland, Donald Cruikshank, Robert Hiram Crum, Charles Wm. Culbertson, Francis Michael Cullen. Glen A. Dale, Paul G. Dally, William Carl Dambold, Earl Waddington Daniel, Chas. Byron Day, Esek Earl Day, Ralph Jesse Deane, Homer Deaton, Ralph C. DeMange, Frank Edward DeMoss, Frank Deneen, Alvah H. Denning, Reynolds C. DeSilva, Harry Lincoln Deutsch, Oscar E. Deutsch, Willard Leonard DeVore, John Robert Dewenter, Harry Kimball Dick, Wm. Stanley Dickey, William Diebold, Roy H. Dillon, Chas. E. Dimmett, Lawrence Egbert Dodge, Edward A. Donnelly, Clay Guthrie Dooley, Adlai Stevenson Dorrell, Dwight Ireneus Douglass, Lloyd F. Dowell, Fred Downs, George Edgar Drake, Raymond H. Duehr, Bertha B. Duff, Wm. P. Dunbar, James Richard Dunn. Russell B. Easterbrook, Harold Crocker Eckart, Leo K. Eckart, Carl Harry Eckstam, Charles C. Eggleston, James Tennant Elliott, Joseph Ensenberger, Julius Nathan Epstein, Leslie M. Ernst, Mark R. Ethell, Harry Russell Evans. Forest M. C. Fearis, Fred Feldt, Claud Eugene Ferguson, Herbert Elaine Ferguson, John Cecil Ferguson, Frank Powell Fish, Otto William Fisher, Henry A. Fisherkeller, Thomas Joseph Flaherty, Birney Fifer Fleming, Frank Wilfred Flesher, James Flint, Clarence Forbes, Lester M. Foreman, James D. Foster, Thomas E. Freed, Arthur Peter Freedlund, A. R. Freeman, Archie Wayne Froelich, Perle Fry. William W. Gailey, Grace Gilkey Gaines, Gilbert H. Galford, Burke Gardner, Wilfred Henry Gardner, Melvin Nane Garlough, H. C. Garrett, William S. Gash, William B. Geneva, Stanley Gernsey, Walter Herbert Gerth, Paul Elmer Gibson, Laurence A. Giering, Carl Julius Giermann, Ruel Glen Gillis, Albert Franklin Gilman, Jr., Gerald Gill Ginnaven, Herman Goldstone, Lloyd F. Golliday, Guy Wm. Gooding, Harry John Gorman, Paul Arthur Gottschalk, Delmar R. Gottschalk, Guy Frank Gray, Forest E. Green, Gerald Ray Green, Tracey E. Green, Chester I. Greene, Paul E. Greenleaf, George E. Gregory, Wm. Earl Greiner, Clifford F. Grove, Emmet V. Gunn, Herman M. Gunn. Arthur A. Hall, Charles Dean Hall, Harry Lee Hall, J. W. Hallett, Cecil Edwin Hamilton, Edmund G. Hammond, Archie Milton Hanson, James Guthrie Harbord, Geo. Merton Hargitt, Elbert I. Harrison, Lester Earl Harrison, Harlan H. Hart, G. E. Hartenbower, Thomas F. Harwood, Chas. D. Havens, James B. Havens, Frank P. Hawk, H. C. Hawk, William C. Hawks, Joseph K. P. Hawks, Melvin S. Hayes, Ralph J. Heffernan, Marion Helmick, Paul Henderson, Harry W. Henley, Clyde Edward Hewitt, Harold P. Hileman, John Warner Hill, Noel James Hilts, Wilbur A. Hilts, Wm. Blake Hindman, Rolla Edelbert Hinshaw, Walter A. Hinshaw, Fredrick McKinley Hisle, Albert Joseph Hodler, Edward Hoeft, Frederick G. Hoffmann, Leo L. Hogan, William Raoul Hoit, Chesterfield R. Holmes, Campbell Blake Holton, Oscar G. Hoose, Ralph R. Hoover, Gordon K. Howard, Wm. Nelson Howard, Harry L. Howell, Heber S. Hudson, Paul Huffington, Paul Glenn Huffington, Rogers Humphreys, Charles E. Hunter. Earl G. Irons, Delmar Vern Irvin, Lawrence L. Irwin. Clarence Earl Jacobssen, Chas. Dale James, Wm. Grice Jameson, James Bruce Jarrett, Herman H. Jasper, Mevise Cornell Jennings, Frank Louis Jensen, Chester K. Johnson, Eugene Roy Johnson, Florence I. Johnson, Frank R. Johnson, George L. Johnson, Jr., George W. Johnson, Gustaf A. Johnson, G. Vasa Johnson, Harry Gustaf Johnson, L. Ross Johnson, Mark Lowell Johnson, Oscar Walter Johnson, Rolla Thos. Johnson, Warren Edward Johnson. Jesse J. Jones, John J. Jones, John R. Jones, Owsley Lillard Jones, Robert Lough Jones, Walter Jordan. Maurice Kalahar, Arthur P. Kane, Charles P. Kane, George Katsoulis, R. E. Kauffold, Donald Earl Kazar, William G. Keen, Dayton Keith, S. Reau Kemp, Kaywin Kennedy, Thos. Hart Kennedy, Wm. Lloyd Kenny, Jamie Hastings Kerr, Wm. Owen Kershner, Fred W. Kienzle, William E. Klatt, Julius Philip Klemm, Bryce Miller Knight, Lowell Gary Kraft, Philip Clifton Kurtz. Leon J. LaFond, Fred Albert Lamke. Leonard F. Lang, Florence V. Langley, Clarence H. Lawbaugh, Edward D. Lawyer, Charles Earl Leary, John Maurice Leary, Lloyd Jesse Ledderboge, Kenneth William Lee, Leonard Emmitt Lee, Wm. George Leitch, Ernest N. Lemons, Loren B. Lewis, Chas. C. Liggitt, Albert Paul Limber, Ralph Harlan Linkins, Chester C. Linton, Gordon Cole Littel, Harold H. Livingston, Herbert Milton Livingston, Sam Abe Livingston, Parke Longworth, Gus Conrad Lundquist, Noble Leonard Lundquist, ilorence Lyon. Eugene Wright MacMillan, Oliver MacWilliams, Wm. C. J. McCabe, Ealph N. McCord, Thomas Orville McCord, John Noble McCrary, Guy Erie McCubbin, James T. McDonald, Lawrence Wm. McDonald, Herbert James McGrath, Wm. E. McGraw, James Willis McMurry, Allen W. McVaigh, Cecil W. Macy, Robert Emmett Maloney, H. D. Markham, Raymond Henry Mayer, Harold M. Medberry, Charles F. Meinkey, Davis Merwin, Gail Woldron Metcalf, Walter H. Metzger, Arthur Lloyd Meyer, Moody Wesley Meyer, Beverly H. Miles, Ann Burnette Miller, Earle Henry Miller, Eugene Christ Miller, George Miller, George Dick Miller, Leonard Franklin Miller, Roland Brohn Miller, Will A. Miller, Joseph Million, Lewis Millman, Dr. Frank P. Minch, Joseph Moews, James J. Monahan, Dean C. Montgomery, Bessie Moon, Byron Russell Moore, Harold V. Moore, Robert H. Moore, Sanford Harry Moore, Ralph Charles Morath, E. A. Mott, Eugene 8. Moulie, Eleazer Ralston Munsell, Geo. E. Munsell, Jesse A. Munsell, Edwin Leo Murphy, Jas. Bernard Murphy, Mack Murphy, Fred E. Murray, Lome P. Murray, Arnold Carl Muxfeldt. Chester Nafziger, Lee C. Nafziger, Elmer Richard Nelson, Oscar Nelson, James Carlyle Nevins, Lloyd Lee Nevins, Will C. Niedermeyer, Porter C. Noble, Robert A. Noble, George Nowatski. Richard M. O'Connell, John J. O'Connor, William J. O'Hara, Donald Francis O'Neil, Catharine O'Neill, Lloyd E. Orendorff, Arthur Oswald, James Owen. Owen S. Parmele, Clarence F. Patterson, Leland Ray Pattison, George Glenn Patton, Stanley H. Paul, George Noble Paxton, John W. Paxton, Don Denison Pease, John Raymond Pemberton, Wm. Hubert Pemberton, Wm. Lloyd Penniman, Carl G. E. Peplow, Abram Brokaw Perry, Alfred S. Peterson, William G. Phelps, Frank L. Phillips, George D. Phillos, Nick A. Phillos, Bernard Abiff Pierce, Louis Hermann Pinkey, Joseph J. Pitsch, Lawrence Lloyd Ploense, William Clarence Poling, Charles Herbert Poll, L. Parke Powell, Robert E. Powell, Edward M. Powers, Leonard Odis Prather, Mark Price, Glenn Byron Pringey, Wallace Anthony Pringey, Harold Elton Protzman, Charles Walter Pullen. Matthew Wm. Quinn. Daniel D. Raber, Louis F. Radbourn, Harold Thos. Ramage, Roy A. Ramseyer, Ralph Otis Ray, Edward V. Raycraft, Howard J. Read, Roland Read, Wm. G. Read, Glenn Scott Reddick, Herbert Chas. Rediger, Lorine Z. Reeder, Sam J. Reeder, Louie Eugene Reid, Charles A. Reum, Walter M. Rexroat, William S. Rexroat, Howard D. Rhea, Ben S. Rhodes, Garth Tuthill Riddle, Harry E. Riddle, William Lester Riley, Bert L. Riseling, Julius Monroe Rodman, Dr. A. E. Rogers, Clarence John Rohwer, Paul De Loss Rollins, Sol Rosenberg, Bert Lee Ross, Charlotte R. Ross, Orville H. Ross, Laurence A. Rust. Otto M. Salmon, Dclmas Hiram Sample, Paul Hayden Sanderson, Carl A. Sandstrom, George Wald Sargeant, Albert Emil Schalla, Albert Scharf, Carolyn Mable Schertz, August Daniel Schewe, August Carl Schroeder, Joseph Aloysious Schultz, Charles A. Schureman, Jr., Carl W. Seeger, Mary Sheridan, Henry T. Shields, Ray John Shotwell, Carl H. Simpson, Ivan Theron Siscoe, George A. Skidmore, James A. Skillman, A. W. Skinner, Gersham J. Skinner, Harley A. Small, Bee Smiley, Edna Mae Smiley, Robert Clarence Smiley, Alice Smith, Arthur W. Smith, Charles Dickson Smith, Charley J. Smith, Claude Melvin Smith, Dudley C. Smith, Oran C. Smith, Floyd M. Smythe, Lyle K. Snavely, Charles H. Snow, Chas. F. Snyder, Kenneth Snyder, Horace A. Soper, Ross H. Spencer, Albert Monton Spier, John Henry Sprau, W. M. Springer, George Gail Sprouse, Henry Edward Stappenbeck, Verne G. Staten, H. Claude Steininger, Frank H. Sterling, Howard Harvey Stevenson, Walter Henry Stiegelmeier, Win. Walter Strain, Elmer Charles Straub, Robert M. Strickle, Boss Andrus Strickle, Ansel F. Stubblefield, Jacob Julius Suter, Howard E. Sutherland, Frederick Odins Sutter, Wm. James Sweeney. Dean Tanner, Ralph A. Tanner, Glenn Sirledan Tatman, Samuel Myron Tee, George B. Tenney, Harry Houser Tenney, Otto Anthony Thoennes, Lewis Joseph Thomas, Daniel F. Thompson, James E. Thompson, Kenneth Alexander Thompson, Ealph R. Thompson, Otto P. Tiemann, Thomas Orville Tiffin, Floyd Chester Tobin, Harold John Toohey, Wayne Carlyle Townley, Daniel Edward Twomey. Harry Umphress, Henry Elton Underbrink. Asa Hamilton Vallandingham, Park Vance, Perley Bernice Vandeveer, Fred Randolph Vollborn (deceased). Fred Charles Wahls, Sherman D. Wakefield, George Henry Wall, John Ray Wallace, Don E, Walley, Glenn Dan Walley, Thos. M. Walsh, Paul Walter, Wm. Verne Ward, Robert MacDonald Washburn, Frank Herman Watchinski, Earl Harrison Waters, Ferre C. Watkins, Harold R. Watkins, Paul R. Watkins, Warren C. Watkins, Lorin J. Welch, Thomas S. Weldon, Chas. Augustus Whalen, Glenn J. Wheeler, Ralph Owen White, Ned V. Whitesell, Robert Peter Whitmer, Albert R. Wilcox, Gayland Elbert Wilhoit, F. C. Willey, Mailess Clyde Williams, Walter Wood Williams, Jesse Ray Willis, Mart Willis, Jesse Lee Wise, William Glair Wise, Artee Witt, Ferdinand G. Wollenschlager, Louis E. Wollrab, Louis Arthur Wood, Fannie E. Woodbury, M. F. Woodruff, Asa P. Woods, Evelyn Wooley, Myles Spencer Wooster, Robert Burr Wren, Orion Leo Wright, W. W. Wyckoff. Clarence Edward Yaeger, Homer S. Yetman, Chester Young, Fred H. Young, Laurance Henry Young. John J. Ziemers, Wm. Asberry Zook. American Legion County Roll Leroy 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. O. M. Thompson; vice com mander, Herman L. Thomas; adjutant, R. E. Kimler; finance officer, Miles C. Grizzelle; chaplain, Rev. H. R. Browne; sergeant-at-arms, Charles Bane. The list of members: Dean D. Buckles, Ray McFadden, Dwight L. Cooksley, Harold R. Browne, Hugh C. Keys, Roy E. Lawson, Earl Gulley, Clarence H. Flegel, Russell C. Brown, David D. McKay, Fred J. Phillip, Arthur H. Morgan, Eugene Dennison, Harry J. Flegel, Dr. O. M. Thompson, Dean Amstadt, Frank K. Beckham, Lorin Pray, Adley O. Whitaker, Park S. Simmons, Roy E. Kimler, Forrest D. Patterson, Donald T. Jones, Pete N. Olsen, Homer Phillips, Shelby Hendren, Alex Riggs, Clarence L. Hoit, Earl Rigney, Lester H. Wahls, Guy Wahlstrom, Benjamin Walden, Oliver C. Walden, Herschel C. Underbill, Edward R. Van Atta, Byron D. Kline, Clifford L. Crumbaugh, Lawrence E. Hammond, Clarence E. Warton, Julian K. Kincaid, Fordyce Sargent, Clifton Buckles, Lyle B. Moss, Roy M. Wirt, Otha S. Dailey, Frank Head, jr., E. R. Kirby, Elmer Farris, Millard Brame, Frank W. Hansford, Frank Hale, Elmer G. Staley, Bernard Quanstrom, Marvin C. Neal, Dewey Healea, Carl M. McComb, Edward H. Grady, Ottie Wallace, Glenn E. Craig, Eugene E. Taylor, Chalmer C. Taylor, Wilbur Evans, Albert Warford, Lawrence Peak, Grover C. Tudor, Harry Edward Dunakey, Lee Silvers, Frank D. Moots, Claire F. Story, Glenn F. Zellhoefer, Benn L. Riggs, Frederick Peak, Lindley Oliver, Lawrence R. Wynn, Valbert B. Oneal, Clifford E. Dooley, Harry L. Roy, John W. Hawkins, Will Fred Landis, Wesley Wagers, Merle Arbogast, Herman L. Reynolds, Hal W. Conefry, David Rutledge, Lawrence A. Pray, Dr. D. E. Sisk, William Ball, Talmadge E. Ross, Alvadore Dennis, Albert M. Carlson, E. L. Deatrick. Carl Edward Mikel, Harry Van Atta, John D. Lemmel, Carl H. Backlund, John D. Carpenter, Guy E. Neal, Lester W. Scott, Robert B. Lament, Walter H. Bradley, Pearl T. Reynolds, Robert D. Ross, Percy A. Phillips, Herschel P. Holt, Russell Owen, Harley H. Scott, Edwain Barnum, Charles E. Bane, Clarence E. Mardis, Harry E. Clevenger, Perry F. Crutcher, Grandville J. Boss, David B. Dolley, Josh W. Alshman, Frank Marcum, Owen R. Shrigley, Ebert Underbill, Earl Williams, Roy Thompson, George P. Hoffman, Alvin H. Bane, Asa B. Saunders, Fred W. John, .Clarence E. Simpson, Reuben John, William F. R. Rayburn, Miles C. Grizzelle, George Dewey Dolly, Jack W. Barton, Arthur C. Brining, Edgar L. Hendryx, Fred Wey, Chauncey Doggett, Fred W. Bishop, Claude T. Brown, John F. McFee, Edgar Moon, Herman L. Thomas, Loyal C. Skillman, Lyle Michaels, Lester W. Jones, Frank L. Ferguson, William F. Masters, Gerald M. Cline. Saybrook 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. Gary; treasurer, Roy Return Cheney; adjutant, Ora Francis LaTeer. The list of members included Cyrus Weldon Reddick, Lee H. Evans, James K. Brock, Edward Zimmerman, Elsy Walden, Clarence E. Gilmore, Rex R. Roach. Charles E. Butler, William T. Roach, Joseph E. Tipsord, Benjamin H. Wills, Hugh C. Froehlich, Alvin O'Neal, Henry E. Swanson, Clyde Perry, John L. Scotton, William Ward, William E. Crotinger, Virgil Martin, John L. Easterbrook, Otto H. Struebing, Charles G. Wills, Clement O. Williams, Thomas J. Martin, James H. Campher, Harry E. Campbell, Jesse Tongate, Harry R. Fryer, Lyle F. Proffitt, Arthur A. Johnson, Clay L. Mohr, Mascal H. Gary. Colfax 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 Homey; vice commander, Fred Scholl; finance officer and adjutant, C. R. Stevenson; sergeant-at-arms, Edsell B. Downey. Committees were appointed as follows: Building Committee, Fred Scholl, C. A. Eagan, W. B. Dorsett; Amusement Committee, Wm. W. Hite, Smith McHatton, Walter Parmele. The charter membership included: David L. Gillan, James Getty, William McClellan, O. E. Phillips, John Wonderlin, Smith McHatton, Edsell Downey, Pete Lorig, Clifton Parmele, Fred Scholl, Sidney McClure, Walter Parmele, W. B. Dorsett, Lee Garner, Clyde Eagan, Charles Keller, C. B. Stevens, Geo. Stretch, Reid Homey, Dave Murphy, Fred Kauth, James Austin and Chas. Downey. Gridley 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 roll of members during the first few months of the post's existence included: L. C. Sieberns, Everett F. Kent, Frank Benedict, William Helbling, Elmer Benedict, Myron C., William J. Gibbs, Frank Klein, John Rediger, Oscar Sieberns, Eli Stoller, Loren Freed, Theodore Rich, L. Silas Rich, Byron Phillis, McKinley Benedict, Henry Diggle, George F. Kent, E. Glen Kent, Vivian Wilfong, Edward Klein, Dave Lintner, Clifford Manshardt, Harvey Meeker, Edward Helbling, William Burnham, Orie W. Coyle, H. B. Coyle, Earl Benedict, Paul F. Kent, John Ferguson, Ward Andrews, Joseph Huber, Park Gardner, W. H. Hill, William Wilson, John Aupperle, Russell P. Young, John V. Beeves, Perl Fleming. Bellflower Grant Post, No. 202, at Bellflower, was named in honor of Earl and Erwin Grant, sons of Eichard 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 officers of the post are: Commander S. W. Haigler; senior vice commander, J. Warner Carlyle; finance, A. G. Gooch; adjutant, B. F. Hinshaw; service officer, DeWitt E. Gooch, III; sergeant-at-arms, John Jensen. The members of the post are as follows: William L. Barnhart, F. Glenn O. Ellis, Todd E. Coit, Levi Barnhart, Jessie Ward, O. D. Richard, Fred A. Ward, Floyd A. Zoll, Marley G. Hampleman, Archie C. Miller, George A. Jordan, Charles Monical, Wesley G. Wagner, Willard Gordon, Harold W. Brandon, Jesse P. Provines, Samuel W. Ashworth, Oliver P. Ely, Forrest T. Jones, Elmer L. Day, Eoy Schofield, Charles Bliss, Alva Monical, E. L. Masters, John K. Price, Oliver J. Troster, Oral M. Summers, Arthur Curtis, Oscar A. House, Orda Shelton, Eichard J. Nichols, Charles B. Lawrence, Tony M. Jones, Wesley Williams, Frank M. Mangold, Harry B. Stuart, Elmer M. Gose, Herman Rexroat, Robert Otto, Ralph Hillis, Clarence Rohlfing, Everet Schmale, Grover M. Fox, Omar Ashworth, Clyde E. Noe, Frank Petrashek, Thomas C. Burke. Chenoa 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 are: Commander, Pierre Turck; vice commander, Frank Hogan; adjutant, Calvin E. Gentes. The post has had a steady growth since its organization. Anchor 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 officer, Joe Garrett; adjutant, Albert Brandt. In addition to the above officers, the membership includes Arthur F. Lupp, John F. Reinhart, George Hensen, Harry J. Schleeter, Clarence M. Smith, John H. Brokate, Harry E. Patnaude, Alfred L. Freiberg, Clarence McLean, Herbert Bowan, Irving L. Kent, Ora Walter Crum, B. W. Meldner, Charles J. Lohoff, William E. Schmidt, Momen Pyle, John Bathon, Howard Gantz, Tobey Bane, August E. Brandt, William F. West. McLean Burger-Benedict Post, No. 973, of the American Legion, was formed at McLean at a meeting hold on Feb. 26, 1920. It was named from Dewey Burger and Ernest Benedict, two McLean boys who wore killed in battle in France. The officers elected were: Commander, C. B. Van Ness; vice commander, Bay A. Bowers; past commander, Ansel Stubblefield; adjutant, Grant V. Wilcox; finance officer, Martin W. Hildebrandt; sergeant-at-arms, Otto Humble; service officer, George N. Snyder; historian, George Benedict; chaplain, Dan McFarland; athletic officer, Harry Matthews. The list of members includes Harold D. Woodmancy, Clarence C. Crutchley, Lyle E. Wilcox, Jesse W. Crutchley, Homer Warner, Charles Adams, Andrus A. Dunbar, Anton Hildebrandt, John Leslie Cowan, Jesse Stubblefield, Eoy M. Craig, Thomas Swearingen, Albert Tyson, Elbert Rousey, Tee Farmer, Clifford M. Wilcox, Charles Alford Benedict, Gilbert Leman Reynolds, Clarence Ernest Dennison, Lou Butler Robinson, Arlie Swearingen, Fred Snow, Dan S. Buck, David Snow, Paul. W. McFarland, Allen S. Davis, John H. Swearingen, Herbert W. Hildebrandt, Earl Dishong, Lloyd Burger, Claude O. Burger, Frank Hildebrand, Boyd Adkins, Charles Adkins, Herbert Ewing.

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