 |
|  |  |
| Names Mentioned in the Resolution & Forward |
| Abramson, Ed. Adam, George A. Adam, G. H. Adam, H. J. Ayers, George R. Ayres, Mrs. Francis Baseman, Theodore Becker, Domneck Becker, M. P. Becker, Mrs. M. P. Bell, Joseph S. Bell, Peter J. Berndt, Emil Berndt, Herman Betz, John P. Jr. Bichler, John Bichler, Wm. J. Blank, Martin Boerner, T. A. Bolens, Harry W. Borst, Emil C. Brabender, Mathew Busse, Fred J. Cady, Mrs. Mary B. Cassels, Mrs. G. S. Clausing, Edwin L. Coulson, R.C. Croatt, William J. Daly, Raymond Edward Damrow, Harold Decker, Peter John Dehmel, Richard W.A. Dennett, Mrs. John R. Depies, Henry Dietrich, Alfred C. Dix, Normand M. Dunne, Newman L. Endthoff, William H. Erler, Mrs. Walter Even, Alvin J. | Gilson, John E. Gonwa, Michael Grady, Wm. Grisar, Arthur F. Haan, John Hacker, H. C. Hill, Clarence Hiller, Mrs. Mabel Hinkel, Emil Jung, P. J. Kaiser, John Jr. Kane, Warren Joseph Kieker, Louis G. Kilps, Mathias J. Kirsch, Arthur N. Kloehn, Louis R. Kloehn, Walter R. Knop, Arthur John Koenig, Max W. Kraft, Joseph Frank, Jr. Krier, Oscar J. Krueger, Herman August Kunney, Charles J. Lauters, William C. Learned, Raymond Adelmar Liberatore, Franchescho Maas, C.A. Manjanis, John Mihor, Frank Mintzlaff, Alvin Mitchell, Mrs. William Mueller, Charles A. Notting, Joseph Bernard Pahle, Raymond D. Peal, Henry Port, Christ Ramsey, W. H. Rettman, William E. Rietz, Jacob C. Risch, Jacob | Rose, Fred John Rowe, Albert Henry Runkel, Wesley W. Rutherford, E. R. Sawickis, Frank Schanen, Nic. J. Schanen, Wm. F. Scheunemann, Ewald, G. Schinker, Nic Schlim, John Joe Schlim, William Joseph Schmeling, Edwin Schmidler, William Scholz, Phillipp Ernst Schroeder, Joseph Schuknecht, Elmer N. Schumacher, Jacob Schumacher, Martha Schumacher, Nic. J. Smelewater, John Smith, Lester H. Steiner, George C. Stone, E. B. Tague, La Verne Uselding, Harry Van Ells, Andrew Jr. Walker, F. W. Walker, Frederick W. Waters, Charles E. Jr. Watry, Joseph Wiepking, Martin Wilson, Mrs. N. E. Wirth, Urban Serena Witt, H. W. Wittlin, Clarence Wollner, Peter George Woodworth, Harold G. Wulff, Henry Zillier, Mrs. Julian |
Official War History of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
By R. B. Pixley
| This book is an effort to give in the briefest possibleform a complete account of what Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, did in the Great War.Since its organization, shortly after the beginning of the war, the Ozaukee CountyWar History Committee has been collecting material dealing with every phase of waractivities that in any way affected the people of the county. This material, whichis kept on file in the Court House in Port Washington, is made the basis of the presenthistory. Considering the vast amount of war work done in the county the various recordshave been made necessarily brief but concise, to keep the book from growing to anunwieldy size, but it has been the effort of the publishers to omit nothing of importanceand to give everyone credit for work done. Especial pains have been taken to makethe book a complete roster of all soldiers, sailors, marines, aviators, nurses andphysicians and dentists from this county who have been in the active service of theUnited States during the war, as well as of the workers behind the lines, givingnot only names and addresses, but a biographical sketch and service record. Editedby Col. R. B. PIXLEY, a man well qualified by past experience and training for awork of this kind, it is hoped that this history will prove to be of such permanentvalue that the book will hold an honored place in every household in the county forgenerations to come. T. A. BOERNER Chairman, Ozaukee County War History Committee President Wilson asked congress to declare war against Germany on April 2, 1917.Two months before, in February, 1917, Von Bernstorff, ambassador to the United Statesfrom Germany, had been sent home and this country had broken off diplomatic relationswith German. In the same month, because citizens realized that war clouds were gathering,a company of young men was being drilled daily upon the streets of Port Washington,the seat of government of Ozaukee County. A machine gun company had fought throughthe American campaign with the famous Thirty-second Division. The fact stands out in the war record of Ozaukee County as evidence of the loyaltyof its people. Before the armistice was signed, Ozaukee County had sent 705 youngmen and women into the service of the United States. Its soldiers had taken partin every campaign of the American Army. It had been represented in every Americandivision, and in every department of army activity. Its men had joined the air forces,and others had helped build the navy. It had men in the valiant United States Marines.Its trained nurses had served on every battle front. Its dentists and physicianshad been in service, in hospital at home and in the field hospitals abroad. Ozaukee had its Roll of Honor of those who had given their lives for their country,and when its soldiers and sailors and Marines came home, they came with all the honorsof war. Its people at home - the soldiers behind the lines - had made a gloriousrecord. Events had proved that when the Machine Gun Company was organized a month beforethe call to arms came, it had represented Ozaukee County truly, as one of the mostpatriotic communities in patriotic Wisconsin. Ozaukee County is the smallest county in Wisconsin, comprising but seven townships.Its total area is 226 square miles, or 149,120 acres of land. Its population in 1910was 17,412. It is an agricultural community, except for the principal city. Prosperousvillages and towns and well kept farms make up the rest of a thriving, peaceful community.Yet from this county, so small when one considers the vast resources from which theUnited States was to draw its material support for the war, came 705 soldiers, sailors,marines, and army nurses. The American army comprised more than ninety divisionswhen its victorious campaign was at its height. Ozaukee County people might followits moves with interest for they would have known, had the records been public, thatin every American army camp there was at least one Ozaukee County soldier. When the stories of heroism came back from the trenches, when news came of the successfulattacks upon the German submarines, when the thrilling tales of combat in the airwere told, always there was some Ozaukee County man to share in the glory. In every army school, in every army factory, in every activity, which was to bringthe enemy to its knees, Ozaukee County was represented. The first military activity in the county was the organization of the Machine Guncompany, in February. Harry W. BOLENS of Port Washington, who had been in Washington,D.C., during the days when the Von Bernstorff incident gave the first hint of war,was chosen its first captain. Joseph WATRY of Port Washington was elected first lieutenant,and Emil HINKEL, of the same city, second lieutenant. Seventy-six men answered thecall and this organization was drilled daily during the last week of February andin March, 1917. The company finally entered the service as the Supply company attached to the 127thInfantry, Thirty-second Division, and when its members went to Camp Douglas whenthe Wisconsin National Guard was called into service, thirty-six men remained. Othershad failed to qualify because of physical disability or for other reasons. Many ofthese, however, saw service later, either as enlisted men or through the selectiveservice law. It was given to the members of the Supply company to see early service at the front,the Thirty-second being one of the principal combat divisions of the American ExpeditionaryForces. As months went by men enlisted, either for the army, navy or the marines,in every town in Ozaukee County, and the records show that more than 150 of thesevolunteers went out from Ozaukee. Through the selective service law 500 others left the county, going for the mostpart to Camp Custer, Mich., which accounts for the fact that the county was representedin every American division. That camp was drawn upon for material for replacementgroups, and the men were sent to every part of the war zone and to every camp athome. The list of casualties again shows the wonderful record of Ozaukee County soldiersand sailors. Twenty-seven lost their lives during the war, and more than fifty otherswere wounded or gassed. As far as the record has been obtained, the first Ozaukee County man to die for hiscountry was Joseph Bernard NOTTING of Port Washington, who was killed in action inJuly, 1918. NOTTING was a member of Company F of the 127th Infantry, Thirty-secondDivision, and went into action with his company on the afternoon of July 30, 1918,in the Aisne-Marne Sector. He had previously fought through the battles in the AlsaceSector from June 6th to July 23rd. On the afternoon of the second day of the Aisne-Marneoffensive he was killed, near Cierges. He is buried in the military cemetery at RoncheresAisne. The story of the death of Franchescho LIBERATORE of the town of Belgium is a lessonin patriotism, which the man of Mayflower stock might well emulate. Born in Italy,young Liberatore came to America with his parents, Pasquale and Nunziata LIEBERATORE,and lived, when war was declared, with the family. He was but twenty-two years oldwhen he entered the service. First a member of Company D, 341st Infantry, a partof the Eighty-sixth division, he was transferred to Company B, 354th Infantry, Eighty-ninthdivision, and with that organization went across. The following official report tellshow he died: "Pvt. LIBERATORE was killed in action near Remonville, France,on the morning of November 1, 1918. He was bravely leading his Automatic Rifle Groupagainst heavy enemy resistance, when a high explosive shell exploded in their midstand he was killed instantly." LIBERATORE is buried in the commune of Landres,at St. Georges, Ardennes, France. Little has been discovered of the personal record of John MANJANIS, who representsOzaukee in the list of heroic dead. Before the war he was employed in Port Washington,and perhaps was known to only the few persons with whom he associated. He enteredthe service at Port Washington on April 4, 1918, and went to Camp Custer, Mich.,where he was assigned to Company I, 106th Infantry, Eight-fifth division. The nextand only trace of him is the fact that he was killed in action on September 22, 1918. Frank SAWICKIS is another hero who gave his life for an adopted country. He was bornin Russia. Twenty-four years old, he entered the service at Port Washington earlyin the war, and was sent to Camp Custer, Mich., where he was assigned to CompanyI, 339th Infantry, Eighty-fifth division. He went over seas with the Eighty-fifthDivision Engineers, and after a short training period was sent to Archangel, Russia,with a replacement regiment. He was killed in action in northern Russia on March29, 1919, after having served through the war without injury. Elmer N. SCHUKNECHT of Port Washington died as a result of an accident while in performanceof his duty. He was a member of the Supply company, twenty-two years old when heenlisted. After having seen active service in the battles in which this organizationtook part in the Alsace and Aisne-Marne Sectors, SCHUKNECHT was injured in a railroadaccident at Magneville, France, while the troops were being moved to the front, onSeptember 19, 1918. He died in Evacuation Hospital No. 9, two days later. Peter George WOLLNER, son of Michael WOLLNER of Cedarburg, gave his life for theAllied cause, but little information has been given to the family. WOLLNER enteredservice at Port Washington, on March 29, 1918. He was sent to Camp Custer, wherehe was assigned to Company B, 165th Infantry. He was sent to France as a member ofa replacement group and joined the famous Forty-second or Rainbow division, whichhad arrived in a foreign camp November 1, 1917. As far as is known, WOLLNER participatedin all the important battles of this division for no notice of his death was receivedfrom the Government, or from the Red Cross. Notice did come from General Pershingon March 31, 1919. He died as the result of an accident while in the performanceof his duty on October 15, 1918. WOLLNER is buried in the American Battle Area, atLandres et St. Georges, France. Clarence WITTLIN of Cedarburg enlisted in Appleton, Wis., in August, 1918, and asa member of Company K, Training Detachment No. 2, he was in training at the MotorTraining School, Indianapolis, Ind., when he died of influenza, on September 26,1918. Andrew VAN ELLS, Jr., was a member of the Supply company, 127th Infantry, Thirty-seconddivision, and went to France with this organization which made such a splendid record.He was a wagoner in rank, and after going through the battles in the Alsace Sector,was wounded in action, near Chateau Thierry, in the Fismes engagement, on August8, 1918. He died in Evacuation Hospital No. 5, near the front line, two days later.An incident connected with his death shows again how well Ozaukee County was representedin fighting contingents. When he was brought into the hospital the nurse who wasassigned to his case was Miss Martha SCHUMACHER of Port Washington, who had beenhis school-mate not many years before. VAN ELLS was but twenty-one years old whenhe enlisted and had lived all his life in Port Washington. Edwin SCHMELING of Thiensville died of pneumonia in an army camp at La Havre, France,on October 11, 1918, just a month before the end of the war, and after he had beenin the service since May 25. He entered the service at Port Washington, on that date,and went to England as a member of the Sanitary Squad of the Eighty-first division.From there he was sent to La Havre, where he contracted the illness which causedhis death. Albert Henry ROWE, Jr., entered the service at Port Washington on September 5, 1918.He was trained at Camp Grant, where he was a member of a Machine Gun company unassigned.He had gained the rank of Corporal and had been transferred to Camp Hancock, Ga.,when he contracted pneumonia, and died, on October 7, 1918. Fred John ROSE of Grafton lies buried at Magdalina Hill, Winchester, England, a victimof the same malady, which he contracted at an army camp at Winchester. He enteredthe service at Port Washington on May 25, 1918. He was sent to Camp Grant, and wentoverseas as a member of Company E, 343rd Infantry, Eighty-sixth division. He hadbeen made a Corporal before his death. Jacob RISCH of the Town of Belgium died as a soldier might wish, on the field ofbattle where he was wounded by the enemy. He entered the service at Port Washingtonon Nov. 19, 1917, and trained at Camp Custer as a member of Company D, Fifty-ninthInfantry, Fourth division. He was stationed at La Havre, France, before going intoaction with his command. He was wounded while fighting in the Argonne Forest, onOctober 1, 1918, and died of his wounds in the battle area six days later. Alvin MINTZLAFF of Thiensville, entered the service at Port Washington on May 25,1918. He was in training at Camp Grant as a member of Twenty-seventh Company, 161stDepot Brigade, and went from there to Camp Upton, before sailing for England. Onhis transfer to France he was taken ill with tuberculosis, and was sent to a hospitalat Tours, and then transferred to a Red Cross hospital. later he was transferredto the Red Cross Hospital Center, at Savenay, France, where he died on May 30, 1919. Raymond Adelmar LEARNED was an Ozaukee County soldier who served through many ofthe thrilling campaigns of the famous Canadian army which held the Germans duringthe first months of the war. His record will long be remembered. He enlisted at Saskatoon,Canada, on April 7, 1916, and late in July that year was on his way to the front.He fought in the battle of Vimy Ridge, and was wounded in that action, in May, 1917.He was one of the few survivors of the Canadian Battalion which was wiped out atVimy Ridge. Except for a few weeks in an army hospital, he was in the front linetrenches continuously from August, 1916, to September, 1917. He was awarded a medalfor distinguished service in capturing an enemy machine gun and taking five prisonerssingle-handed. On September 1, 1917, he received his second wound, a slight one,but remained in the battle line. He was killed in action, six days later, at Avion,France. He is buried at Viller-Au-Bois Station, Military Cemetery, France. Herman August KRUEGER of Cedarburg died of an illness contracted while at Grant,on November 2, 1918. He had been in the service since May 25, 1918, and was a memberof the Fifty-first Company, Depot Brigade. Oscar J. KRIER was another soldier from Ozaukee who died as the result of the dreadinfluenza epidemic, before he had an opportunity for service abroad. He entered theservice at Great Bend, Kansas, on July 21, 1918, having enlisted as an aviator. Hewas in training at Camp Harrison when he was taken ill, and died there on October17, 1918. Joseph Frank KRAFT, Jr., of Port Washington, also was a victim of this malady, butwas given the opportunity to see foreign service. He entered the service at PortWashington, on August 12, 1918, trained at the Sweeney Auto School, Kansas City,Mo., and went overseas as a member of an ambulance section. He was stationed at Ferrieres,and at Fontenoy, France, when he was taken with acute influenza, and died on April13, 1919. Warren Joseph KANE of Fredonia was an apprentice seaman who gave up his life whilein service at Great Lakes, Ill. He enlisted at Milwaukee, Wis., July 19, 1918, andwas in the postal service at Great Lakes when he contracted the illness from whichhe die don Sept. 24, 1918. Alvin J. EVEN of Port Washington died of bronchial pneumonia while serving in Franceas a member of the Motor Transport Corps. He entered the service at Port Washingtonon August 12, 1918, and was in training at the Sweeney Auto School, Kansas City,Mo., and at Ft. Bliss, Texas, before going overseas. He died at Camp Lusitania BaseHospital No. 101, at St. Nazaire, France, on February 22, 1919, and is buried inthe American Cemetery, Base Section No. 1. Alfred C. DIETRICH of Cedarburg fought through the Meuse campaign before making thesupreme sacrifice. He entered the service at Port Washington on April 27, 1918, andwas sent to Camp Custer, where he was assigned to company G, 340th Infantry, FourthDivision. He landed at Brest, France, and after serving in the trenches at the Meusewas killed in action at the Argonne Forest, on October 8, 1918. Henry DEPIES of Fredonia died a victim of influenza, which developed into acute pneumonia,two months after he arrived overseas. He entered the service at Port Washington onMay 25, 1918, and was sent to Camp Grant, where he became a member of Twenty-seventhCompany, 161st Depot Brigade. After training at Comp Johnston and at Camp Lee, hewas sent overseas, and was stationed at Field Remount Station No. 315. He was onhis way to the front and after five days of continuous marching was taken ill. Hedied at Base Hospital No. 21, and is buried in the French Military Cemetery at BourbonLes Baines, Haute Marne, France. William J. CROATT of Port Washington and Edwin L. CLAUSING of Grafton were two ofthe heroes who went down on the ill-fated Moldavia, which was sunk by an enemy submarinein the English Channel. These soldiers entered the service together at Port Washingtonon November 19, 1917. CROATT was a member of Company B, Fifty-eighth Infantry, FourthDivision, and CLAUSING was assigned to Company B, 340th Infantry, Eighty-fifth Division.They were on their way overseas when the Moldavia was attacked on March 11, 1919. Herman BERNDT of Cedarburg entered the service at Port Washington on May 25, 1918,and was sent to Camp Grant, and then to Camp Lee. He sailed from New York in August,1918, and landed at Brest, France. Little record of his service after landing hasbeen received, but it is safe to say that he took part in the battles of his command.The record shows that he died of bronchial pneumonia, at the American Red Cross Hospitalin Paris, France, on March 11, 1919. Peter J. BELL of Saukville, who entered the service at Fergus Falls, Minn., on August26, 1918, died at Camp Grant on October 6, 1918, of influenza. He entered the serviceas a private and had been promoted, first to Corporal and then to Sergeant, beforehis death. George R. AYERS of Cedarburg was killed in action at Chateau Thierry. He was a memberof the Forty-seventh Infantry, Fourth Division, and entered the service at Port Washingtonon September 22, 1917. He was sent to Camp Custer, Mich., and was assigned to CompanyC, 340th Infantry, Eighty-fifth division, and then transferred to the regiment withwhich he met his death in battle. The records show that he was one of the first todie from Ozaukee County, being killed in action on July 18, in the first day's fightingat Chateau Thierry. William C. LAUTERS, who resided in the Town of Port Washington, died in France asthe result of acute influenza. He entered the service at Port Washington, on May24, 1918, and was sent to Camp Grant, and then to Camp Lee, Va. Early in September,he was sent overseas, and died in an army camp in France on October 1, 1918. He wasa member of Twenty-seventh Company, 161st Depot Brigade. Among the Ozaukee County soldiers who were wounded in action were Theodore BASEMANof Port Washington, battle not give; Joseph S. BELL of Saukville at Fleury Sur Aire;Emil BERNDT of Cedarburg at the Vesle River; John P. BETZ, Jr., of Port Washington,in Argonne Forest; Emil C. BORST of Port Washington, at Expremont; Mathew BRABENDERof Port Washington, at Ivory; R.C. COULSON of Grafton, at Epinonville; Raymond EdwardDALY of Saukville, at Juvigny; Harold DAMROW of Port Washington, at Verdun; PeterJohn DECKER of Port Washington, in Argonne Forest; Normand M. DIX of Port Washington,at Aisne-Marne offensive, at Argonne-Meuse offensive, and at Cote de Malla; NewmanL. DUNNE of Cedarburg, at Pout a Mousson; William H. ENDTHOFF of Port Washington,at Pieny Ridge; Michael GONWA of Belgium, battle not given; Arthur F. GRISAR of Grafton,battle not given; John N. KIRSCH of Port Washington, disabled during march into Germany;Arthur John KNOP of Thiensville, at Soissons, and in Argonne Forest; Louis R. KLOEHNof Grafton, at Meuse-Argonne; Frank MIHOR of Port Washington, at Verdun; RaymondD. PAHLE of Port Washington, at Soissons; Jacob C. RIETZ of Fredonia, at Meuse-Argonne;Wesley W. RUNKEL of Port Washington, at Argonne; Ewald G. SCHEUNEMANN of Cedarburg,at Argonne; John Joe SCHLIM of Port Washington, at Moselle; William Joseph SCHLIMof Port Washington, at Vesle Sector; Phillipp Ernst SCHOLZ of Fredonia, at Montfacon;Joseph SCHROEDER of Fredonia, battle not given; Nic. J. SCHUMACHER of Saukville,at Chateau-Thierry; Lester H. SMITH of Port Washington, while on sea duty; GeorgeC. STEINER of Port Washington, at Blanc Mont; Raymond La Verne TAGUE of Cedarburg,battle not given; Harry USELDING of Belgium, at Meuse-Argonne; Urban Serena WIRTHof Cedarburg, at Death Valley, Verdun Sector; Charles E. WATERS, Jr., of Port Washingtonat Chery-Chatreuve; Harold G. WOODWORTH of Mequon, battle not given; Henry WULFFof Grafton, at Chateau-Thierry; Richard W.A. DEHMEL of Germantown, at St. Mihieland at Meuse-Argonne; Mathias J. KILPS of Port Washington at St. Mihiel; Walter R.KLOEHN of Grafton, at Chateau Thierry; William E. RETTMAN of Cedarburg, at Meuse-Argonneoffensive. Of these several were wounded twice, going from the field to hospitals and back intothe ranks after they recovered. KNOP was one of these. He was wounded at Soissonson July 19, 1918, in the left fore-arm, and in October was back at the front. OnOctober 6, in the Argonne campaign, he was wounded in the left foot by a machinegun bullet. He was invalided home to Fort Sheridan. His record shows that he wasthe first man to enlist from Thiensville, offering his services to the country onApril 6, 1917, the day war was declared. William Joseph SCHLIM had a thrilling experience. He was hit by shrapnel during thefighting in the Vesle Sector, receiving no less than ten wounds. He was given upfor dead and four days later was picked up by the Red Cross and rushed to a fieldhospital where by marvelous care his life was saved. Normand M. DIX was one of Ozaukee's representatives in the famous Forty-second, orRainbow Division. He was wounded during the Aisne-Marne offensive, on July 27, 1918,and was in a field hospital eight weeks. October found him back with his companyand again, in the Argonne-Meuse offensive, he was wounded, on October 17, 1918. Afteranother stay in the hospital of seven weeks, he was released on November 20, andmarched with the Army of Occupation into Germany. The distinction of being the first Ozaukee County man to be wounded goes to MichaelGONWA, as far as the record has been obtained. Perhaps the most distinguished service record of any Ozaukee County man belongs toGeorge C. STEINER of Port Washington, listed among the casualties. STEINER was woundedby a machine gun bullet so seriously that he was rendered unconscious, but afterrecovering, instead of going to the rear, he hastened to his platoon and continuedto lead it, in his place as sergeant, until it had gained its objective, and remainedwith it until all enemy resistance was over and the position was secured from counterattack. For this action he was decorated by General Pershing with the DistinguishedService Cross, the official copy of the citation being printed elsewhere in thisvolume. it might appear that a special attention had been paid to those whose names appearin this chapter. This is not true. The author has examined all the records obtainableduring many months for this purpose, and it may be that some mention of distinguishedservice has been omitted. This is not intentional, and, as a matter of fact, thesituation will be appreciated by the soldiers themselves. Thousands of unsung heroesserved, not only from Ozaukee County, but from every county in the United States.it has been found that many soldiers are extremely modest when their brave serviceis mentioned, and much of this information has been secured against their wishes. It must be remembered that every one of the soldiers, sailors and nurses who wentout from Ozaukee County was prepared to obey orders. Whether they were sent to ahome camp or to a foreign station, whether they were given the opportunity of actualfighting, or were assigned to less strenuous but none the less important work behindthe front lines, they deserve the plaudits of a grateful people. While Ozaukee County was being represented on the field of battle and in army camps,on the high seas by sailors, in victorious drives by marines, in the air by men whogave the last test of bravery in their enlistment as aviators, the people of thecounty, no less patriotic, were doing their share. As has been said many times, thesoldier behind the lines had not the opportunity for individual glory. It was workto be done, quickly, quietly, with the attendant self sacrifice which such servicerequires, a work that made the morale of the American troups the wonder of the war. In Ozaukee County the first hint of what the people might have to do to support avictorious army was the sale of bonds in the first Liberty Loan. H.J. ADAM of PortWashington was appointed by W. L. ROSS of Chicago, Federal Reserve agent, as chairmanof the Ozaukee County campaign. There was no personal appeal to the citizens, theloan being known as a bankers; loan, because at that time comparatively few peoplewere accustomed to the purchase of bonds. The Government was asking but a small sumcompared with the later Liberty Loans, and the appeal was made, not entirely froma patriotic standpoint, but also from the commercial value of the investment. Later,with America was using billions, it became necessary for the patriotic citizen toforget profits for patriotism. Bonds were purchased then which meant sacrifice onthe part of the buyer. The first Liberty Loan bonds were offered by Mr. ADAM to citizenswho would be interested, and without a campaign and with little organized effort,$67,500 worth of bonds were sold. Quotas had not been definitely decided upon in this loan, and Ozaukee County wascredited with its sales in the Federal Reserve headquarters as having complied withthe request promptly and fully. The Second Liberty Loan campaign was organized, with a time limit of four weeks.The subscriptions were $248,000, as against a quota of $588,000. This quota, as laterfigures proved, was larger than should have been given the county. It representeda huge sum from a county with not more than $28,000,000 assessed valuation. the people,however, gave united support to the third Loan, and with a quota of $306,000, thesum of $475,600 was subscribed. In the Fourth Loan the quota was $670,500 and thesubscriptions totaled $697,350, another surplus to be placed against the former deficit.In the Fifth or Victory Loan, the county, thoroughly aroused, subscribed $569,850,as against a quota of $465,250, or a net gain for the total surplus of $104,600. The county, therefore, subscribed for Liberty bonds to an amount greater than thetotal quota of the four popular loans. The total subscriptions for the five loanswere $2,058,200, as against a total quota for the four popular loans of $2,029,750. In the Second, Third and Fourth loans, Frederick W. WALKER of Cedarburg was chairmanand he was ably assisted by a committee whose names are to found elsewhere in thisvolume. In the Fifth or Victory loan John KAISER, Jr. of Port Washington, was chairman,and his committee included much of the same personnel. Let it be said here that thischapter is not devoted to the personal records of citizens, and it was deemed wiseto confine it to the accomplishments of the county as a whole. There is enough gloryfor the citizens in reading the wonderful story of his county's war accomplishments,and in realizing that no community in the state had a better record. In no department of war activity was there a better spirit of co-operation and sacrificethan in the work of the women of the county. The Red Cross was the channel throughwhich most of this work was done, although the women were capable aids in many othercampaigns. Regular meetings were held in the Court House at Port Washington, which was donatedby the county superintendent of schools, and in halls and other meeting places inother cities and villages in the county. In Port Washington the sewing and knittingclasses met every afternoon for months. A worker who was active in leadership saidof this work: "The work in the chapter was not only patriotic but it brought the women ofPort Washington together in a way which will long be remembered because of the pleasanthours spent in doing our part to help win the world war." From September, 1917, until the war was ended, the following articles were shippedas the contribution of Ozaukee county women to the work of the Red Cross: 222 pairs of pajamas; 212 hospital bed shirts; 83 convalescent gowns; 68 pair bedsocks; 84 pair made socks; 564 pair knitted socks; 23 mules; 10 blanket bath robes;16 hospital leggings; 28 comfort pillows; 13 wash cloths; 11 pair wristlets; 2 scarfs;268 sweaters; 9 helmets; 1 knitted blanket; 3 hot water bags; 36 chemise; 60 wrappers;80 petticoats; 224 gowns; 27 jackets; 260 pair drawers. After the armistice, and until August 19, 1919, the following articles were shipped: Eighty pajamas for boys in hospitals; 22 sweaters and 50 petticoats for refugees;23 pairs socks; 16 sweaters; 90 boys’ waists; 4 pairs socks; 1 sweater; 69 knittedsweaters for refugees. One of the departments of the work by women in Ozaukee County which was of the most importance was the Home Service Section of the Red Cross. Headquarters weremaintained in the Court House in Port Washington with a regular staff, the secretaryhaving been fitted for her duties by attending a Home Service Institution in Chicagofor six weeks, conducted by the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. The HomeService field work was done by a woman who had received training through the ChapterInstitute conducted by the University Extension. While these persons who were indirect charge gave all of their time to the work with but little or no compensation,the other women of the county devoted practically all of their spare time to it also.During the period from July, 1918 to July, 1919, a total of 555 families were assistedby the Home Service Section. Of this number, 94 were actual service cases, and therewere 299 cases where valuable information was secured after painstaking efforts.The Section also gave assistance to returning soldiers and sailors and during thewar was a clearing house for all troubles of men or women in the service, and thefamilies which they had left behind. The adjusting and securing of family allowancesand allotments, the obtaining of bonuses, compensation for disability, travel pay,and the converting of insurance and many other problems came before the Section. During the influenza epidemic the Red Cross organized a committee for civilian reliefto direct and work with a visiting nurse. During two epidemics more than 1000 patientsin 400 families were given attention. the Home Service also visited all boys rejectedbecause of a tendency toward tuberculosis, advised them to consult physicians andassisted in placing them in sanitariums for treatment. In meeting and solving theproblems of the people the Home Service did many acts which will be appreciated asyears go by. In several cases families were assisted in the buying of homes, moneybeing advanced for this purpose. An example of the thorough work of this organizationwas the finding of many soldiers who for some reason or other had ceased to communicatewith their families. Through the assistance of the American Red Cross these men weretraced all over Europe, and in most cases the boy had been killed or was woundedand in an army hospital and in no condition to write. In all cases, however, thesuspense was ended. Mrs. William MITCHELL of Port Washington was one of the leaders in this work. Mrs.Francis AYRES of Port Washington, Mrs. John R. DENNETT of Port Washington and Mrs.Julian ZILLIER of Port Washington and Mrs. Mary B. CADY of Port Washington were chairmenof the important committees. The women of Ozaukee County rendered important service to the nation in every emergency.They helped to feed and clothe the armies and helped to supply food to those beyondthe seas by practicing effective thrift in their own households. They were the firstto follow the advice of the Food Administration. They began knitting early in thewar and through their influence this war service was carried on into the schools.They assisted the County council of Defense; they attended food conservation meetings,and their services were valuable to the Draft Board, to the Liberty Loan organizationsand to all of the patriotic campaigns. Early in the year 1918 it was realized by the authorities of the state that, withall of the regular military organizations out of the state, it was necessary to provideother means of protecting the industries and the citizenship against internal troubles. The Wisconsin State Guard, which is fully described in volume one of this history,was the answer to that problem, and Ozaukee County once more did its share towardsthe solution. On July 15, 1918, Twenty-second Separate Company of the Wisconsin State Guard Reservewas ready to be approved by the military authorities. Seventy-nine citizens of OzaukeeCounty had signed the muster-in and descriptive roll, the majority of whom servedthroughout the war. The exceptions were among the younger members who later joinedthe active service of the United States. An interesting feature of this militaryorganization was the fact that the ages ran from eighteen to fifty-two. It was acase generally of a father who was too old to enlist in the regular service, or ason who was too young. One of the leading business men and manufacturers of the Countyconfessed to the age of fifty-four when he signed the roll, and although he couldeasily have been a captain, he was content to be a private. In fact, the companyboasted of privates who collectively represented the great majority of the wealthof Ozaukee County. Running over the names, we find that number one is a County official;number two a well known banker; number eleven the manufacturer referred to; numberten a leading merchant; number eighteen a manufacturer; number nineteen a Countyofficial; number twenty-five then head of a bank; number thirty-three a lawyer; numberthirty-four a County official; number fifty-one a banker; number fifty-five a wellknown physician; number fifty-seven an active attorney; number seventy a judge; numberseventy-nine a manufacturer. In every one of these cases the word private is writtenafter their name, their one incentive being to fill the ranks, leaving the honorsand commissions to others. The first encampment of this group of citizen soldiers was held in Camp Douglas inJuly, 1918, and its maneuvers and general standard of excellence was the wonder ofmilitary men. Ozaukee County was deserving of more than the usual praise for itseffort, because, while in the case of the State Guard companies the state paid foruniform and equipment and the running expenses, in the case of the State Guard Reservecompanies, of which Ozaukee County had one, the members paid their own expenses ofadministration and purchased their own uniforms. When the State Council of Defense was organized, Wisconsin took the lead in the organizationof County Councils of Defense, a move which was followed quickly by all the otherstates. In Ozaukee County Harry W. BOLENS of Port Washington was appointed chairmanof this organization, and the first secretary was George H. ADAM of Port Washington.Later Mrs. Walter ERLER of Port Washington acted as secretary, and the members ofthe executive committee were Charles J. KUNNEY, F. W. WALKER and Charles A. MUELLER.The members of the County Board were made members of the County Council of Defenseand their influence was drawn upon the chairman for results all during the war. In Ozaukee County as much, at least, as in any other County in the state, the workof the County Council of Defense was done without unnecessary and futile bluster.Results were sought and practical methods were used to obtain them. Ozaukee Countydid its share in every patriotic campaign and this was due in a large measure tothe quiet but effective work of the members of this organization. The military needsof the country were realized and the work of recruiting was made one of the importantdepartments of County Council of Defense activity. The members of the County Boardwere active members of the County Council of Defense. To write of the work of the County Food Administration is to write of the responseof the citizens of the county to the appeals of the United States Food Administrationwhich came to the county through the State Food Administration in Madison. W. H.RAMSEY of Port Washington was County Food Administrator and was able without greatdifficulty to secure a voluntary enforcement of the food administration laws andrulings. for instance, the meatless and wheatless days, which originated in Wisconsin,were observed by practically every citizen of the country, and voluntarily. The hotelsand public eating places followed the lead of the National Hotel Association in thisregard. When Wisconsin was asked to eat potatoes so that the men at the front couldhave meat, Ozaukee County ate potatoes. Mr. RAMSEY found co-operation in the schools.The ministers preached conservation sermons and the housewives did their share inthe homes. The credit of the sales of War Savings Stamps in the county was due in a great degreeto the school children and teachers. The campaigns directed by M. P. BECKER of Cedarburg,who was County chairman, were carried on through the schools and, as was the casein every county in the country, most of the War Savings Stamps were purchased withthe pennies of these school children. On November 1, 1918, the official records show, Ozaukee County had purchased $129,646.48worth of these stamps, or a per capita purchase of $7.34. In other words, every man,woman and child in the county would have had War Savings Stamps worth $7.34 if theyhad been divided. The Ozaukee County farmer did his share toward the program of increased productionduring the war. Volume one of this history shows that in every one of the departmentsof farm production there was an increase, and in many cases a large increase, inWisconsin. Ozaukee County as an agricultural community, contributed largely to thisresult. Especially is this true in the case of dairy products. Ozaukee gave its share to the Y.M.C.A. in the early campaigns, and in the campaignwhich was conducted in connection with other patriotic organizations and known asthe United War Work Campaign, it more than exceeded its quota. Although it had nocouncil of the Knights of Columbus, its contributions to this organization were madethrough the Sheboygan council, and helped to place Sheboygan near the top for percapita contribution. That council was credited with a total contribution of $3,744.44,with a membership of 191, or a per capita contribution of $19.60. The last campaign in the county for the collection of war funds was the United WarWork campaign, of which Wm. F. SCHANEN of Port Washington was the head. Mrs. JulianZILLIER of Port Washington was the Chairman of the Women's Committees. The campaignwas upon a voluntary basis. Speakers volunteered their services and meetings wereheld all over the county, and the newspapers gave all the necessary space to bringthe drive home to the people. Ozaukee County had a quota of $18,500 and the amountsubscribed was $23,985.43. These subscriptions were reported by District Chairmenas follows: City of Port Washington, John E. GILSON, Chairman - Allotment, $2,300.00; subscription,$4,785.25. City of Cedarburg, E. R. RUTHERFORD, Chairman - Allotment, $1,700.00; subscription,$2,844.50. Village of Grafton, Ed. ABRAMSON, Chairman - Allotment, $750.00; subscription, $850.75. Village of Thiensville, C. A. MAAS, Chairman - Allotment $400.00; subscription, $465.15. Village of Saukville, Wm. GRADY, Chairman - Allotment, $250.00; subscription, $314.00. Town of Fredonia, H. W. WITT, Chairman - Allotment, $1,950.00; subscription, $2,756.00. Town of Belgium, Wm. J. BICHLER, Chairman - Allotment, $2,200.00; subscription, $2,999.00 Town of Port Washington, Nic SCHINKER, Chairman - Allotment, $1,300.00; subscription,$1,817.00. Town of Saukville, John HAAN, Chairman - Allotment, $1,300.00; subscription, $1,344.25. Town of Cedarburg, Martin WIEPKING, Chairman - Allotment, $1,750.00; subscription,$1,496.00 Town of Grafton, Martin BLANK, Chairman - Allotment, $1,250.00; subscription, $1,333.25 Town of Mequon, Fred J. BUSSE, Chairman - Allotment, $3,350.00; subscription, $2,979.78. In its support of the Red Cross in every one of the drives, which were conductedunder the leadership of Clarence HILL of Port Washington, Ozaukee did its share,and more. Nearly every one of the citizens of the county, as the records elsewherewill show, were members of this organization. Port Washington, Grafton, Mequon, Thiensville,Fredonia, Cedarburg, Belgium, and, in fact, every community, had active workers. A study of Ozaukee County's war activities proves that practical results were wanted,and obtained. The county had little time for non-productive endeavor. It had sentits young men and young women to war, and its people realized the probable cost.They were determined to back up their soldiers with earnest work at home, and theysucceeded. The busiest business men and manufacturers, the professional men and thefarmers, joined in groups to work out the war problems. No call went unanswered. Ozaukee's soldiers are home - except those who gave up their lives. They have goneback to the plow, to the counter and to their work of the days before the war. Whatthey did will live after them, and, should their record ever be questioned, theyneed only to point to this volume. That will be answer enough for themselves andfor their country |
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