The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-01-01
sister Tells Story of Deciding
Career When He Was
Mere Boy.
DETERMINED YOUNGSTER
Of Quiet Temperament But Sc
riOus, He Assumed Share of
Family Responsibilities and
Was Leader.

Lincoln, Neb., Dec 31.-It was
newspaper story that diverted John
j. Pershing from his purpose to be-
come a school teacher and started
him upon the military career which
led to his appointment as general in
the United States Army and com
mander of the American expedition
ary force in France. The story is
told by General Pershings sisters.
Mrs. Butler and Miss May Pershing.
who are residents of Lincoln, and
who have given TO the Associated
Press intimate views of Pershing' s
character in his youthful days.
1t was while Pershing and his sis
ter, now Mrs. Butler, were attend
ing the Missouri State Normal
School at Kirksv!lle, Mo-, that his
attention was one day called to a
newspaper announcement that exam
nations were to be held for appoint
ment to the West Point Military
academy. Young Pershing asked
his sisters advice as to whether he
Should try for the appointment. and
she advised him to do so. Then
followed short season of intensive
study in preparation
In few days he was called be
fore the examining board, and, al
though improperly prepared. receiv-
ed the highest mark among the con
testants, and soon aftcrward was
notified of his appointment. Up to
crct between his sister and himself
and ii remained so until he was
ready TO start for West Point On
his way to the military academy ne
stopped off at the home of his pa
rents and, for the first time. told
them they were to have soldier in
the family.
He Managed Farm Owned b,
Father.
Ss
sisters say, was of a quiet, serious
temperament, assuming, as the old.
est OF six children, many OF the re-
sponsibilities of the family. He was
wont. during his early years. which
were spent in Laclede, Mo, his birth
place, to manage one of. the several
farms operated by his father. John
f. Pershing, merchant and farmer
OF Laclede
John" Mrs. Butler said. al.
though OF quiet disposition. liked
a good time and enjoyed fun as
much as any one. Yet when h,
started anything, he wanted to get
the result, and he generally attained
that object before he gave it up"
While at the normal school al
kirksvillc he was always in the cen
ter OF student activities and never
was content to be merely one of the
crowd, but wanted to be head OF
the movement His personal mag.
netism and generally likablc charac.
ter quickly won him friends and sup.
porters, and soon he became one OF
the student leaders.
After having been graduated from
West Point and having served with
General Miles in a campaign in New
Mexico against the Indian chief
Geronimo. Pershing was stationed
as military instructor at the Univer-
sity OF Nebraska His friends there
remember him as a fun-loving young
man, who enjoyed music and dane
ing. parties and other social activi-
ties and who appreciated a good
joke.
"Old Jack Best" the veteran
trainer at the university. remembers
Fershing intimately "He was the
finest man that ever worked with" ."
said Best. ITS true he was mighty
strict with his work, but the results
he got were so good that everybody
he worked with loved him for 1t
When he was here we had a regi.
ment the university could be proud
Of just worshiped that man. and
everybody around the university felt