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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: !! Ruthven Free Press; Palo Alto Co, IA; Oct 2, 1918
Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 09:28:10 -0500


Ruthven Free Press
Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, October 2, 1918

ANOTHER SOLDIER GONE
Lee Washington Succumbs at Great Lakes
Another gold star has been added to the service flag of Ruthven. A message
to the effect that Lee Washington was attacked with Spanish influenza and was in
a very critical condition was received here Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 24, by his
father, M.T. Washington, who left for the Great Lakes the same evening and
arrived at Camp Dewey the next morning. He was permitted to see his son that
evening for a few minutes but was compelled to content himself next day with
waiting outside for news and at 9:30 a.m. the message was brought to him that
Lee was dead. The remains arrived here Sunday evening and were taken to the
Washington home east of town. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning from
the Catholic church, Father Connolly officiating. Father Farrelly of Emmetsburg
preached a very impressive and instructive sermon. The pallbearers were: Wm.
Brennan, Carl Miller, Andy Grace, Joe Grady, Claude Nolan, Floyd Eaton, John
Hughes and Louis Grady.
Thomas Lee Washington was born on the Washington home place east of this
city on August 4, 1896. He grew to young manhood here and attended the Ruthven
High School. He remained at home until last January 1917, when he went to Omaha
and entered the employ of the Combination Tire Co., as a traveling salesman. He
remained with this company until June 1st when he went to Detroit and entered a
mechanical training school, which he attended until July 24, when he enlisted in
the navy at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He made rapid progress in
the navy and had very bright prospects for a brilliant future in the service of
Uncle Sam. He contracted a cold which showed symptoms of Spanish influenza which
is sweeping the country and was taken to the base hospital where after a time he
seemed to recover. He wrote his mother on Monday, September 23, stating that he
was almost entirely recovered and requesting that she send some apples. This was
followed on Tuesday by the message announcing his serious condition and on
Thursday, September 26 at 9:30 a.m. he passed away. Lee was a light-hearted
happy fellow and was a friend to everyone. He greatly enjoyed his life in the
navy and was decidedly earnest in preparing himself to fight for his country. He
was one of thirty-six cousins of the Washington family who are serving in some
branch of the American army. The great General Marsch, who is helping to make
history in France is also one of these cousins, as if First Lieut. Wm.
Washington of Cleveland, who was recently killed in action in France. He is the
second Ruthven boy to pass away in training camp, while preparing to do their
share in the big struggle in France and while fate decreed that they should
never see the battle fields, they are entitled to every honor that is shown the
soldier killed in action. At the time of his death Lee was a member of Co. A.,
1st Regiment, Camp Dewey. He visited at home for a few days just about two weeks
before his death and was hale, hearty and full of the joy of living and doing
his bit for his country.
He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his parents, six brothers: George F.,
who was training in Camp Dodge for over three months and was discharged because
of physical disability, Edward T., William C, John J, and Vincent M, who live at
home, and Pvt. James E. Washington of Camp Kearney, Cal. Also two sisters,
Marjorie of Ruthven and Mrs. Ray L. Beselen of Omaha. The Free Press joins his
many friends of these bereaved relatives in extending sincere sympathy.


Mrs. Anderson Hears from Her Husband.
Ft. Logan, Colo.
U.S. Army Hosp, Ward 11
Sept. 27, 1918
Dear Wife:
Belle Mable, how are you feeling by this time? I am feeling quite a bit
better than I have been. Now as I have been laying around the Hospital for a
month on account of my health I have got rested up and feel some better and
expect to go back to my company in a few days. It sure is an awfully easy life
when one is in the hospital and in other words it is sure an awfully lonesome
life for one that is not used to it, but nevertheless we try and make the best
of it. Each and every one of us should bear in mind that our nation is now at
war and that we should all realize and do the best we can. We are all fighting
for liberty and liberty we shall have. Germany can't take our country away from
us. The Huns are commencing to realize what Uncle Sam's boys can do. I never
thought that the Arkansans had such poor soil. The soil here is nothing but
clay, sand and rocks. It sure is an awful country for rocks, nothing but rocks
all over the country. Around camp here there are a number of fences built of
rocks, but in other words this is one of the greatest mineral states there is.
About a week before I came to the hospital I and Cousin Carl got a pass and we
went to Little Rock and went to the State Capitol and we also made a visit in
the agricultural room and saw lots of interesting things that have been found in
the State of Arkansas. We have been having considerable rain here lately but
they say in the fall of the year it does nothing but rain here all the time. I
have talked with lots of fellows from their home state here and they tell me
there is no place like Arkansas, but it's the good old Iowa for me. As it is
getting near supper time I must close, so goodbye. Tell all the folks hello.
Your husband,
CLARENCE.
Clarence H. Anderson.


MISSING IN ACTION
Otto Gaard Reported Missing Since August 29.
Mr. O.C. Gaard of this city received the following telegram Monday evening:
Washington, D.C.
5:30 P.M., 9-30-18
Mr. Olie C. Gaard,
Ruthven, Iowa.
Deeply regret to inform you that Private Otto A. Gaard, infantry, has been
officially reported as missing in action since August 29. Will report the first
information received.
HARRIS, Acting the Adjutant General.
Otto Gaard was a member of Company G 126 Infantry. A very interesting letter
written by him was printed in the Free Press of September 18, evidently written
but a short time before the date that he was reported missing. The many friends
of the Gaard family will wait anxiously for a favorable report.


HAWKEYE STATE NEWS
Interesting Items of News Gathered from All Parts of Iowa
In order that unnecessary enterprises be discontinued the state advisory
board of the United States employment service has adopted the following
resolutions: Whereas, not less than an additional 19,000 men are needed for war
industrial work in the state of Iowa, therefore be it resolved that the state
advisory board of the United States employment service earnestly suggests to all
in an official authority the wisdom of withdrawing from less essential
enterprises of either public or private character men whose services might or
should be better employed in military or war industrial endeavor, and be it
resolved, That no further unnecessary enterprise of public or private character
be hereafter undertaken in Iowa during the duration of the war."
Two persons were killed and four seriously injured as the result of an
automobile accident on the Muchakinock road, five miles south of Oskaloosa
recently. The dead: Warner White, C. Elmer McKey. The injured: Dayton Smalley,
Walter Johnson, Harold Burke, Samuel Marks. All are residents of Oskaloosa
except Marks, whose home is in Farmington. The car was traveling at a high rate
of speed, when White, who was driving, attempted to negotiate a sharp turn in
the highway the car skidded and went over the road bank into a field, White and
McKey were almost instantly killed.
Herman Buelman, 43 years old, watchman at the Kelly canning plant, Waverly,
was brought to Waterloo recently, by a federal officer to await investigation by
the United States Commissioner J.E. Dempster. Buelman is alleged to have said he
wished some German would blow up the factory. He is also accused of inciting
employes to strike. Buelman is believed to have harbored a grievance because he
received no additional pay while other employes received advances.
The Red Cross was enriched by $305 recently through the United States food
administration headquarters at Burlington, following voluntary contributions
made by bakers who pleaded guilty to baking bread without the legal amount of
substitutes. George Papantonoplous of Mason City gave $50, Tony Coloff of Mason
City $70, J.F. Saur of Clinton, $100, John Andon of Clinton $45 and G.E.
Doolittle of Carson $40.
The following Iowans have been killed in action or died of wounds in the
last week: Henry C. Campbell, Osage; John H. Johannsen, Davenport; Leo Dominico,
Des Moines; Donald D. Sparr, Cromwell; William G. Schupp, Council Bluffs; George
Stack, Aredale; Irwin E. Larson, Detroit; Geo. W. Young, Oelwein.
Second Lieut. William Aitkin, of Storm Lake, with the first division in
France, was promoted to a first lieutenancy for valiant service in the recent
threat against the crack Prussian guard.

WM. HANDKE WRITES
A short letter from Wm. Handke from Camp Dewey, Great Lakes states that he
is getting along nicely and has so far evaded the influenza. He thinks that the
epidemic is on the decline now and will soon be under control.

SCHOOL NEWS
Miss Ina Rhineharts room takes first place this week in the campaign for
thrift stamps having saved $76.91. The high school saved $27.54 of which $16.74
was saved by one boy from May until October. Five war stamps were saved by
teachers making $25.14. The balance represents the savings of the high school
this past week.
Miss Stanton's room with only one-half the attendance of the high school
saved $26.95. In addition they collected a grape basket of pits and shells for
the making of gas masks.
Eugene Jefferies entered in the 3rd grade Monday.
Miss Duff's room saved $12.94 and Miss Gowan's room $11.74.
Mr. Kresensky was a referee for a foot ball game at Milford on Friday
afternoon.
Miss Graham spent the week end at her home in Clarksville, Iowa.
Pearle Sandvig was absent last week on account of illness.
-----
We have received an urgent call from the Central Division for every Chapter
and every Branch to establish collection stations for the following:
Peach pits, prune pits, apricot pits, plum pits, cherry pits, date seeds,
olive pits, brazil nut shells, butter nut shells, and hickory nut shells for use
in American gas masks. It is urgent that full publicity be given to this matter
and collection begun at once as the season for obtaining most of these is fast
advancing.
All wet shells should be dried, either in the oven or in the sun before
packing. All may be packed together. Further details will be given as to the
method of shipment.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL
- John Torpey of Spencer came Monday for a short visit at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Strobel.
- Martin Brennan of Emmetsburg visited Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
Tom Currans.
- Use compressed yeast, makes better bread, fresh every week at Berg and
Brennan's.
- Mrs. Joseph Robinson and niece Mildred Dewey visited several days last week at
the Myron Dewey home in Spencer.
- Jim Hughes, Wm. Washington, Elmer Slagle, Cecil Rutzel and Bernard Carregan
autoed to Ames the first of the week the boys being admitted to S.A.T.C.
- Mrs. G.W. McDonald returned home Sunday from a visit with her brother, F.B.
Steece who is associated with the Y.M.C.A. work in Camp Grant, Rockford,
Illinois.
- Try our new fresh salted Whitefish. They are very fine and reasonable in
price. When in doubt what to get for breakfast try one of our Whitefish. Berg
& Brennan.
- Mrs. Joseph Robinson of Lowell, Mass., who has been visiting at the Dewey and
Tripp homes in this city went to Spencer Monday evening to see Myron Dewey who
had his arm severely injured in an auto accident. From there Mrs. Robinson will
return to her home.


Cathy Joynt Labath
Iowa Old Press
http://www.IowaOldPress.com/
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm


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