The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-07-03

SAUk
One cannot touch even most
briefly upon the days of 1913 with
out mentioning the great influenza
epidemic that swept our commun-
ity, as well as the rest of the world,
during the fall months, and filled
our papers with a list of dead not
equalled by the reports from the
battlefields.
Nor must I sum up this brief
account of the war activities of our
county without recalling that
Stearns did not leave to New York
and it's talented song-wrater Geo.
M. Conan, the task of supplying
the country with patriotic songs.
VIM. A. Boerger. then and now pop
ular superintendent of schools, pub
lished "Our Absent Boy, dedicated
to the Memory of the Boys Who
Are Sleeping Somewhere Over
There" Like his popular eastern
contemporary, he is the author of
both words and music.
The county record would not be
complete without the names of the
members of the exemption boards,
or draft boards, as they were famil-
iarly called, who decided the fate
of so many of our young men. Be
cause of it's size, Stearns was di-
vided into eastern and western Sec
tions, each with a local board, the
members of which were appointed
by the governor. Three members,
one a physician, served at one
time. For eastern Stearns the
members were G. F. Metzroth, J.
I. Donohue, DR.. J. c. Boehn, w. w.
Murphy, and DR.. J. B. Dunn, of St.
Cloud. For the western board,
which met at Melrose, the men,
bers were J. Weisser, and DR.. H.
w. Goehrs, of Melrose, and F. J.
Bergman, of Sank Centre.
F. J. Thielman was food admins
traitor for Stearns county, C. F. Lad
ner chairman of the State Pub
lie Salty Commission. Following
the close of the war Civilian Relief
department, American Red Cross,
to aid soldiers in regard to allot-
ments, allowances, back pay, etc.
Before concluding I wish to ex-
press my appreciation of the help
received from the War Department
at Washington, D. c., in connection
with the Stearns County list, espec-
tally in regard to the men who did
not give Minnesota address.
I do not know any more fitting
conclusion to this very inadequate
account of our. community's war
service, than two quotations from
the st. Cloud Times of May %, and
Sept. 6, 1918, which read:
"Sgt. Arthur Chandler, in men
tioning the recruiting service this
morning, stated that the class of
men in st. Cloud was far above
the average"
"Sgt. Chandler has had to refuse
but few men while here, and has
many times stated to the press
representatives that st. Cloud and
vicinity possessed the finest type of
manhood he had found in any of
his experiences while in the army
on recruiting duty" Sgt. Chandler
had been in service 20 years. On
another occasion he gave as an ex-
ample the three Held brothers of
East st. Cloud, aged 10, 20, 81 years,
who enlisted on the same day, and
whom he pronounced physically
perfect specimens of young man
hood. !.
The enthusiastic praise of the SER
geant for our men was also borne
out by a story told a short time ago
by a draft board member in re-
miniscent mood. One of the men
reporting was fine big fellow, and
one hundred percent healthy in
every respect, so that the board
sent him on with much satisfaction,
sure that here was a recruit after
the army's own heart. What was
its surprise to see the man back be-
fore long because the government
didn't have suit of clothes large
enough to fit him!
WIN tnlS the publication of the
Stearns county World War record
comes to a close. The project has
turned out to be much more ambi-
tious one than anticipated when I
began but I am more than repaid
by what I have learned concerning
one of the great events of history,
and by greater appreciation of the
part played there Indy our country
and our community. I might add
that the county commissioners were
wiser than I, in refusing to con-
tribute one hundred dollars which
l asked for to help defray the ex-
pense connected with verifying the
list at the office of the Adjutant
General in st. Paul. I got along
without it, as often happens in
spite of what we think beforehnd
and after all much prefer living
in a community where those in Of
flee are careful rather than care
less of the peoples money, and
trust that our commissioners will
continue in the same course for