WASHINGTON COUNTY, IOWA

IAGenWeb, part of USGenWeb

American Red Cross

This document was prepared by William M. Keeley in 1919 to record the history of the Washington County, Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross and was transcribed by Joanne Breen.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, IOWA CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS

MAY, 1919

1. INTRODUCTION.

The American Red Cross plans a permanent record of its Chapter activities during the war, and, for such purpose, has requested a concise history of each chapter. This is the response by the Washington County (Iowa) Chapter.

As the historian collects the material for this record he finds it not lacking in inspiration and interest. The scenes of 1917 are recalled, - the awakening of the nation. America going to war was a sublime spectacle. The passage of time has given perspective in which properly to view the phenomena which we experienced two years ago when we organized for Red Cross work in this Country. Conscious of it then, we now more clearly realize that the Red Cross furnished the media for expression and translation into action of the patriotism of our people. It was exactly appropriate to the needs, - it involved the service and sacrifice toward which the people turned, as the common universal form of participation in the war, - it provided the organization plan of the “citizen’s army” which all could join to aid in the fight for our Country’s cause. It called to all that was American, and humanitarian, - it furnished the opportunity to “go with our boys, over there” in spirit and in aid, - and the people of Washington did not fail.

Let it be confessed now, however, that those who were called to the work of organization of the Chapter misjudged the force of the tide of humanitarian and patriotic impulse that was to manifest itself here. They were confident of a generous response; - they were amazed as the weeks brought a flood of enthusiasm that was beyond all measure. Few, indeed, were those who, in some way or in some degree, did not contribute to the Red Cross achievement of the County. In this thought this records will not give names except to comply with the requirements made of us, as, otherwise, the results would be a census and directory of the County’s people.

The people of America really knew little of the Red Cross in the summer of 1917, when our Country went to war. Here and there, where great disasters or overwhelming calamity had brought suffering and need, its quick response to the calls for aid had been seen, but, to the people generally, and through our great fortune and freedom from such need, our folk in Washington County in general had a very slight and indefinite conception of this organization. But we learned quickly, -the question “how can we help?” was promptly raised, - the answer found us ready. Action followed knowledge as to the required procedure, and a dozen women and a few men in Washington sent application for a Charter. This was granted and authorized the formation of a Red Cross Chapter with jurisdiction in all of Washington County. On the 18th day of May 1917, a meeting was held at the Second United Presbyterian Church, in Washington, and the formation of Chapter organization begun. This was completed soon and thoroughly.

The County includes 15 townships. Washington is near the center of the County. The North tier of three townships have, each, a good town and community center, as is also true of the three of the townships on the south boundary, and a seventh township on the east boundary. A Branch was organized in each of these seven townships each having jurisdiction in its township and substantial autonomy, and the remaining district of the County, about half, was administered with Washington as its center, and here the headquarters of the Chapter were maintained.

II. PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION.

The following chapter officers were named at time of organization: Chairman, W. M. Keeley; Vice-Chairman, Mrs. John Bryson; Treasurer, C. M. Keck; Secretary, Miss Esther MacGugin and served until November, 1917, when Mrs. Eva Livingston was elected Vice-Chairman and Mrs. C. C. Wilson, Secretary, and these officers, with the Chairman and Treasurer first elected, served until this date.

In May, 1917, a Board of thirty six Directors, with members in each township, and with several ex-officio directors representing various organizations and institutions, was elected. An executive committee was appointed by the chairman, including the four officers and seven of the directors, the latter being Mrs. Eva Livingston, Mr. C. C. Cunningham, Mrs. Clara Wilson, Mr. Jay McNamara, Dr. C. A. Boyce {Boice}, Mrs. J. B. Crail and Mrs. L. S. Patterson. This executive committee served until November, 1917, at which time a new committee was appointed, including four officers then elected, and Mrs. Clara Wilson, Mrs. L. S. Patterson, Mrs. John Bryson, Mrs. J. B. Crail, Col. D. J. Palmer, Dr. C. A. Boice, and Dr. H. C. Hull.

In June, 1917, organization for production and work was completed, the “Section for Military Relief” being then composed of three committees, as follows:

Committee on Red Cross Supplies: Mrs. John Bryson, Mrs. Etha Steck, Mrs. Emma Anderson.

Committee on warehousing and shipping: Mrs. Jay McNamara, Mrs. A. E. Putman, Mr. E. W. Corbin.

Committee on Red Cross Instruction: Dr. C. A. Boice, Miss Elizabeth Findlay, Miss Mary Hunter.

and these committees, with sub-committee on instruction in making supplies, and purchasing of materials, appointed by the committee on Supplies, organized and supervised the active production work until November, 1917.

Following the election in November, 1917, and until the activities of the Chapter in production work were closed, the “Section for Military Relief” was organized as follows:

Committee on Red Cross Instruction: two members, Dr. C. A. Boice and Miss Elizabeth Findlay.

Committee on Warehousing and Shipping: one member, Mr. S. D. Stewart.

Committee on Red Cross Supplies: six members, Mrs. J. D. McLaughlin (Chmn Div on Surgical Supplies); Mrs. R. H. Walker (Chmn Div on Hospital Garments); Mrs. Sadie Babcock (Chmn Div on Knitted Articles); Mrs. C. J. Wilson (Chmn Div on Comfort Kits and Christmas Packages); no appointment (Chmn Div on Refugee Supplies); Mrs. C. C. Wilson (Chmn Div on Purchasing).

Division on Surgical Supplies: Mrs. J. D. McLaughlin (Chairman); Miss Elizabeth Dawson; Mrs. May McCulley.

Division on Hospital Garments: Mrs. R. H. Walker (Chairman); Mrs. St. Clair Lewis; Mrs. Chal Ford.

Division on Knitted Articles: Mrs. Sadie Babcock (Chairman); Mrs. Julia Cavender; Mrs. W. A. Gibson.

Division on Comfort Kits and Christmas Packets: Mrs. C. J. Wilson (Chairman) and such assistants as she selects.

Division on Refugee Supplies: not organized.

Division on Purchasing: Mrs. C. C. Wilson (Chairman); Mrs. J. D. McLaughlin; Mrs. R. H. Walker.

Each Branch and Auxiliary had its committees on the several lines of production work and Red Cross activity. These Branches and Auxiliary committees and those of the Chapters listed above, formed the central organizations on which were based the complete grouping of all the Red Cross workers in the County.

As a part of the Section for Military Relief, a Canteen Committee was appointed, composed of: Mr. Jay McNamara (Chairman); Mr. J. R. Maxwell; Mr. Henry Steck; Mr. Wilber Miller; Mr. Sidney Smith; with such assistants as the committee may select.

The “Junior Red Cross” was organized in the fall of 1918, through the efforts and in charge of Miss Katherine Stichter, Superintendent of Schools, who directed its activities until her death in December, 1918, following which Miss Katherine Montgomery, elected Superintendent of Schools, was appointed as head of the Junior Red Cross.

The “Home Service Section” or “Home Service Committee” was organized in 1918, as soon as activities in its field became necessary, and Mr. J. B. Glasgow, of Washington, was appointed Chairman. He organized the entire Committee, appointing Directors in each township, and sub-committee, and has handled personally, much of the work in this very important field of activity. Since production work in the Chapter has ceased, the “Home Service” section has been the only department in active operation, and its activities will be necessary until all Washington County men are out of the service.

The “Section for Civilian Relief” is the part of the Red Cross organization which deals with great disasters or general calamities affecting the civil population in peace times, and this section was not organized in this Chapter.

The Seven Branch organizations were formed in Lime Creek, English River, Iowa, Oregon, Crawford, Brighton, and Clay townships, each bearing the name of the township in which it had jurisdiction.

The Oregon Township Branch was organized at a meeting held at Ainsworth, on June 4th, 1917, with sixty five charter members and with officers as follows: Chairman – Mrs. Maud Bronson; Vice Chairman – Miss Effie McCreedy; Treasurer – Mr. S. A. Stephens; Secretary – Mrs. Etta Marsh.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mrs. C. R. Stearns; Vice Chairman – Mrs. W. L. Alcorn; Treasurer – Mr. S. A. Stephens; Secretary – Mrs. Malinda VanHorn.

In English River Township Branch was organized at a meeting held at Kalona, on June 5th, 1917, with forty five enrolled members, and with officers as follows: Chairman – Mr. I. N. Arnold; Vice Chairman – Mrs. John A. Yoder; Treasurer – Mr. George A. Eglin; Secretary – Mr. F. E. Skola.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Miss Alice Kemp; Vice Chairman – Mrs. John A. Yoder; Treasurer – Mr. George A. Eglin; Secretary – Mr. F. E. Skola.

The Brighton Township Branch was organized at a meeting held at Brighton, on the 6th day of June, 1917, with sixty five enrolled members, and with officers as follows: Chairman – Mr. E. L. Edmonson; Vice Chairman – Mrs. A. J. Morgan; Treasurer – Rev. T. R. Meiley; Secretary – Mrs. C. C. Heacock.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mr. E. L. Edmondson; Vice Chairman – Rev Pike; Treasurer – Rev. T. R. Meiley; Secretary – Mrs. W. H. Horras. Rev. Meiley moved from Brighton, and was succeeded by Mr. C. S. Woodford.

The Crawford Township Branch was organized on the 8th day of June, 1917, at a meeting at Crawfordsville, with one hundred ten enrolled members, with the following officers: Chairman – Mrs. P. L. Huber; Vice Chairman – Mrs. William Jones; Treasurer – Mrs. Nellie Manners; Secretary –Mrs. C. A. Sprague.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mrs. R. C. McCleary; Vice Chairman – Mrs. E. J. Davidson; Treasurer – Mr. Dwight Nicholson; Secretary – Mrs. J. F. Buxbaum. Mr. Nicholson entered the service and was succeeded by Mr. R. S. Dix.

The Lime Creek Township Branch was organized on the 11th day of June, 1917, at a meeting held at Wellman with three hundred eighteen enrolled members, and with the following officers: Chairman –Mr. J. A. Dodds; Vice Chairman – Mrs. C. D. Cochran; Treasurer – Mrs. C. D. Adams; Secretary – R. B. Hull.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mr. J. A. Dodds; Vice Chairman – Mrs. H. L. Foster; Treasurer – T. D. Adams; Secretary – Mrs. W. D. Nesmith.

The Clay Township Branch was organized on the 18th Day of June, 1917, at a meeting at Clay Congregational Church, in Clay Township, with one hundred twenty five enrolled members, and with the following members: Chairman – Mr. A. Laird Woodford; Vice Chairman – Mrs. Sadie Savage; Treasurer – Mr. L. B. Luithly; Secretary - Miss Frances Meacham.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mr. Charles Horning; Vice Chairman – Mrs. Sadie Savage; Treasurer – Mr. L. B. Luithly; Secretary – Miss Frances Meacham. In 1918, an election was held, at which Mr. L. B. Reed was elected Chairman and the other officers were re-elected.

The Iowa Township Branch was organized on the 26th day of June, 1917, at a meeting at Riverside, with three hundred fifty enrolled members and with the following officers: Chairman – Mr. J. H. Wilson; Vice Chairman – Miss Alma G. Ott; Treasurer – Mr. Al Boschnagel; Secretary – Miss Blanch Truxaw.

In November, 1917, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Mr. J. H. Wilson; Vice Chairman – Miss Alma G. Ott; Treasurer – Mr. Al Boschangel; Secretary –Mrs. R. C. Dautremont.

Two Auxiliaries were organized as follows:

The West Chester Auxiliary, with officers as follows: Chairman – Mrs. E. I. Coffey; Vice Chairman- Mrs. George Simerman; Treasurer – Mrs. Frank Sherbeck; Secretary – Mrs. J. D. Dayton.

The Seventy Six Auxiliary, with officers as follows: Chairman – Miss J. Alice Wilson; Vice Chairman – None; Treasurer – Mrs. Nelson Teets; Secretary – Mrs. Floyd Green.

III. WORK OF THE CHAPTER, METHODS AND RECORDS.

The first activity of the Chapter was a campaign for membership. This involved the spreading of information regarding the Red Cross, and its purposes. The newspapers of the County, all of them, gave generous space to all Red Cross copy. Every Bank in the County was a membership enrolling office. Committees were organized, and the enrollment began. At the beginning it was hoped that we could enroll several hundred members, and equal some nearby Counties in that respect. The “urge” of the Red Cross call was under estimated. An enthusiast with vision proposed a thousand. More than that many walked into the Banks and joined in a few days. Decoration Day, Registration Day, every day, was a Red Cross Day in organization period. The solicitors enrolled still more. Two thousand, three thousand. Buttons, buttons, all clamoring for buttons. Publicity, understanding and patriotic spirit brought success. There was inspiration in that opening drive of the war, - it gave spirit and purpose and the benefits of experience to those that followed, and, just as the Red Cross campaign in 1917, with its patriotic fervor, and its teaching of loyalty, its awakening of the war spirit, and its bringing home to our people the fact that this was OUR war, aided the final enrollment of a whole people in the forces that finally were aligned for combat. By June 30th we had over five thousand members. The figures showed that we were among the leaders of Iowa Counties in membership. In November and December another campaign brought our total up to 11,249, or 56% of all our people.

In June production of Red Cross supplies was taken up. Workrooms were opened in Washington and in each of the Branches. And the women worked. From the trenches and battle fields of France, from the struken lines in Italy, from the first aid stations, from the hospitals, and from all the lurking places of pain and illness and discomfort into which our boys went to rendezvous with suffering and death, came the reward of thankfulness for the toil of women done for sweet mercy’s sake, and came the knowledge that their surgical supplies, and hospital garments, and knitted articles brought aid and relief to the khaki hosts and navy boys who fought for the folks at home. Mere figures, showing the number of articles, and the dollars raised, cannot tell the story, and this historian recognizes the inadequacy of any record he might write of this sublime spirit, the unflagging devotion, the consecration, the hours of patient, careful, work of the women. The figures are a source of pride, of course, - the surgical dressigns {dressings} prepared and shipped by the Chapter during the war period number 166, 693, - the hospital garments number _______, and the knitted articles number 8968. Then the comfort kits and Christmas packets, - enough for our County boys, - there was so much of the personal and individual gift nature in these kits and parcels that it seems out of place to record the mere number.

The division of Refugee Supplies was not organized because this work was being carried on in the County by other organizations, but shipments of clothing and supplies were made by the Red Cross Organization whenever asked.

The Junior Red Cross was active in its field. The Canteen Committee functioned when men in the service were to be fed or entertained. Special committees were appointed for many special activities, -clothing collections, nut and fruit pit collections, and a number of others.

The Home Services Committee was very active in its special field. It forms the recognized official connecting medium between the men in service and their families at home. Its member here visited the soldiers families, secured information as to the whereabouts of the men, established communication with the men through the army and navy bureaus, and handled allotment, allowance, and insurance matters for and with the enlisted men and their families, and administered relief funds where needed. This committee will continue to function until the men of the County are no longer in service.

The Chapter did its part in the War Fund Campaign of May, 1918. It was just organizing at time of the first War Fund Campaign in 1917, and did not enter it. The campaign in 1918, was the means of raising in the County $22,429, when our quota was $17,000, and it was done in practically one day, and paid in cash. Every district raised or exceeded its quota.

IV. GENERAL.

The Chapter accepted its full share of production work and of all other Red Cross activities during the war period.

The most splendid spirit of co-operation existed between the Chapter and Branch and Auxiliary organizations, and all worked together for the best total results. There was an infinity of detail involved, - the work was new, but was efficiently done. The policy was adopted of having each Branch administer the funds raised in its Township, and accounting was made by the Washington headquarters with the Branches for membership and War Fund collections from residents of the township. The general chapter expenses were paid from the Washington treasury and the Branch Treasury’s will refund their shares of same.

Throughout, the plan was followed of having every cent of a Red Cross Dollar go into the Red Cross production, save only the essential expenses for postage, etc. Not a cent was paid to anyone in Washington County for wages, salaries, offices work, or any services or work save minor expenses for cleaning and janitor work in workrooms.

In many chapters with no greater membership or volume or work, office help was employed at considerable expense to handle the administration work, but in this County all such work was contributed.

A complete financial statement, showing the receipts and disbursements of each Branch Treasury and of the Central Treasury is submitted herewith.

In conclusion, - We’re glad it’s over. But, for their work and money, given to the Red Cross, during the war period, comes to the people of Washington County a knowledge that , in the National crisis, while civilization was at its utmost need, and while our boys were going and were impatient to go, and were urging their claims for a right to die, the home folk helped a little.

It was worthwhile, - the County and its people did not fail.

W. M. K. {William M. Keeley}
May, 1919

Washington Co. Home
Or hit back arrow to return to previous page

Copyright Disclaimer