The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-09
BY EN- MA L. FETTA.

BY EMMA l.. FETTA.
Neither flashy nor meager was the
part played by women of Wayne
county in the late war At times an
outstanding work was brought di-
rectly before the public, but on the
whole their efforts were an untiring
undercurrent which joined on the
broadcast scale every activity opened.
Several hundred War Mothers in
the county were probably the most
concentrated body of women workers
outside the Red Cross constituency.
Early in the summer of 1917, after
the declaration of war in April, Rich
mond women, who had sons in the
service, were first banded together
in a food conservation campaign spOn-
sored by the Wayne county council of
defense of which Miss M. E. B. Cul-
bertsOn was woman's chairman. Miss
Culbertson appointed NJ. A. w. Roach
chairman of a group OF service mems
mothers which gradually was organ
lied into the Wayne County War
Mother organization of the War
Mothers of America, and in turn was
amalgamated by the National Service
fall OF 1919.
Organized in 1918
On Jan. 25, 1918. the Wayne County
War Mothers chapter was officially
organized Mrs. A. w Roach was the
first president Mrs. Roach was also
president of the Indiana state Service
Star Legion, and was acting national
president of the War Mothers for a
time during the war. She was chair
man of &the wOman's committee OF
the Victory Loan in Wayne county
and a Fourteen Minute Woman.
Other officers in the first year OF
the organization were: Mrs. r. P
Whistler, secretary; Mrs. John NJ
Coate, treasurer; and Mrs. Jennie
Mather. historian.
Officers in 1919 were: Mrs. Roach
president; Mrs. Charles Teeter, OF
Hagerstown, vice president; Mrs. Mil
lard Warfel recording secretary
Mrs r. P Whistler, corresponding
secretary; Mrs. Coate, treasurer, ano
Mrs. Mather. historian. Officers II
| 1920, when the name of the organiza
ton had been officially changed to the
| Service Star Legion, included: Mrs
Roach, PRESIDENT: Mrs. Teeter, first
vice president; Mrs. E. S. Curtis, sec
ond vice president; Mrs. Whistler, re
cording secretary; Mrs Levi T. Myers
| Arlington pike, corresponding secre
tary; Mrs. George Davis, treasurer
and Mrs. E. E. Christopher, historian
Other Units Organized.
| Centerville, HagerStoWn. Economy
and Fountain City were the active
county units, although at least one
mother represented every township
| ho1nno01 n n
mond unit.
The Center township mothers were
! organized in March 1918 with ten char
ter members. Mrs. Walter Mathews
was elected president, and 80 mem
bers were added. Other officers have
been Mrs Albert Kincaid, president
Mrs. Walter Mathews, vice president
| Mrs. John Bowman, secretary, and
Mrs. Charles Dinwiddle, treasurer
| Members of this organization repre-
| scented 90 service men. Christmas
boxes were sent the men in camp in
this country and those overseas were
mailed checks. A banquet was giver
/ in Centerville in honor of the service
men upon their return.
Mrs. Charles Teeter was president
| of the jefferson township Wal
Mothers Other officers were also re
elected as follows: Mrs. T. L. Nc
/ Connaughley, secretary; Mrs. Alex
! Kirby, treasurer. Activities similar tc
! those of Center township mothers
were taken up by the Jefferson town
| ship members.
Had Official Charge.
No formal election of officers was
! held in Perry township but Mrs. Ma
than Parker, of Economy, was given
official charge Of War Mother activ
tiles there. A white elephant" sale
proceeds from which went to buy
yarn, was one of the principal fea
lures of their program.
Ward chairwomen in Richmond and
township chairwomen in the county
included the following who were in
office throughout the war:
Richmond. first ward, Mrs. L. M
Hays; second ward. Mrs. Edgar Mil
Ter; third ward. Mrs. William Urban;
fourth ward, Mrs. Roy J. Minor: sixth
ward. Mrs. Walter Dalbey; seventh
ward, Mrs. William M. Reed Town
ships, Boston, Mrs. J. c. Pyle and Mrs.
Charles Williams; Arlington, Mrs.
Anna Doddridge; Wayne, southwest
section. Mrs. Levi T. Myers; south
west section, Mrs. Wilson D. Scott,