The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-08-14
National Commander mt Legion Con.
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John r. Quinn, National Commander
of the American Legion was born at
"Quinn's Well" between Porterville
and Bakersfield. Cal. July, 1889. His
father, Harry Quinn, had emigrated
from near Belfast, Ireland, to Aus
tralia in 1850, and lured by the prom
/ Used wealth of California, had again
! migrated and had settled in Kern
i County. Although Harry Quinn en-
tered America from the West, he was
of the same stock that crossed the
nation in 49-a giant, raw-boned and
muscular, man OF initiative and re-
source-a pioneer among pioneers.
Harry Quinn on trip East had mar
ried Katie Robertson of North Caro-
! lima, who also had shown the pioneer
spirit, had gone back to California
with her husband, and had helped
him make home around the 264-foot
hole which her husband had dug to
get water for his ranch, Mr. Quinn
will be at the Legion Convention in
Waterville.
Quinn's Well proved a thriving
ranch. Today it covers 10000 acres,
and Harry Quinn, still active despite
his eighty years, still has great
deal to do with its operation and con-
slant development. THE Home
Ranch" nearby has taken the place
of the Well as the domestic center of
the Quinn family. however; 1t is rela-
lively small comprising only 480
acres. 1t was at the home ranch
rather than the well that John Quinn
was brought up as a child. From the
"home," John Quinn and his sister as
children drove eight miles a day with
a horse and buggy to attend school.
Finally, another school was built
only five miles away, but the distance
heightened again to eight miles when
it became time for John to go to High
School.
Quinn was graduated from the Port
erville High School in 1905. A born
rancher, he decided he had had enough
schooling for the time and entered
with zest into the life of a cowboy
For two years he rode herd with a
zest that pleased his father and made
him the pride and envy of other cow
boys on the ranch.
But education lured, and finally
John went down to Berkeley, across
the bay from San Francisco, and en-
tered the University of California as
a freshman. His brother Arch. en-
tered Berkeley High School at the
same time. BY then John was
giant. More than hint of the six
feet-two of sinew and Drawn that Is
so evident today was visible then.
He looked like good football material,
and he tried hard to make good. For
year he played with the scrubs.
Then for two years he played varsity
sub. He was big, but as he says him
self, a little slow for the varsity,
and too green maybe" His senior
year the student body decided that
nobody of such imposing appearance
and general popularity as John r.
Quinn should languish on the sub
eleven.
] Back went Quinn to ride herd on
/ the family ranch. He remained
there until in the spring of 1917,
when one day he was carrying" a
herd of cattle up to spring pasture
in the dry meadow hills. and received
word that the United States had en-
tered the war. He sent his appli-
cation for the First Officers Train
INK IdUlD Ill JuSt do HObh 40 hC NONii'
but he was one day too late and did
not get into uniform until the second
camp opened at the Preside in San
! Francisco In August.
A ranchman, he naturally was put
in the artillery. He didn't know a
Very light from Lewis Machine Gun
or French rs from its caisson. but
he did know horses. and for that
knowledge and for his evident leader
ship, he drew a commission as cap
tain within three months. He com
manded Battery F of the 34S Field
Artillery overseas. He went through
the Meuse-Argonne. and was com
handing his outfit when the ARMS.
tice was signed and he was sent to
Treves with the Army of Occupation
] in Germany. Shortly after that, his
company went to Brest, where it put
several months building macadam
roads so other outfits could go home
Captain and battery did not get back
to the United States to be mustered
out until March, 1919. The men were
mostly Montana ranchers, and they
liked their comandeS, hut says
Quinn They got back too late for the
blowing and too early for the harvest
ing" Aside from that, they were
pretty much satisfied.
The new commander early became
identified with Frank S. Reynolds
Post of the Legion. which was organ
lied in Bakerfeld in July. 1919. A
little later he organized Merle Reed
Post of Delano. The California De
/ partment of the Legion looked on as
both posts grew. and in 1921 elected
him department commander. The
next year he was elected National
Executive Committeeman for the
Legion.
He first became prominent in
national Legion circles as department
commander. At gatherings of the
Legion he was invariably singled out
because of his size (he's six feet two
and built proportionately) And his
size was not belied by his methods
He calls a spade a spade-no more
no less. 81 never call man pole
cat" he says. unless | know he's a
polecat. Then I know he isn't going