The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07
h Existence Only Two Years,
But Was Unusually Active
! IN That Time

Bismarck's Auxiliary to Company A
Vas unique among organizations OF
! patriotic type In the Capital City.
Tho Auxiliary was organized by
women relatives Of soldiers In Com
pany A called to the Mexican border
in 1915 and, after two years Of strenu-
Gus relief activities, disbanded, with
all members eligible to affiliate with
the War Mothers organization.
Bismarck knew little OF war relief
In the early days Of June 1916, when
Company A. In rendezvous at Fort
Lincoln, paraded the streets Of Bis
Y1arck in farewell formation before
entraining for the Mexican border.
Good will went to the soldiers at
Thanksgiving and Christmas time
that year when Bismarck women sent
boxes Of good things to Mercedes on
the border.
The auxiliary was not formally or
ganized until the call came for men
for the World War. not long after
Company A had returned from the
border.
On April 6, 1917. sixteen women met
to organize the first patriotic group
Of women in Bismarck for the World
war, the Auxiliary to Company A.
Mrs. Peter Reid was the first presi-
dent. Other officers were Mrs. Dan
McPhee, vice president; Mrs. G. O..
illness, secretary; and Miss Leila
Diesem, treasurer. The auxiliary did
Red Cross work as part Of its program
toward war relief.
Sold 1000 Buttons
Patriotic buttons were placed on
sale and the Camp Fire girls and Boy
Scouts assisted in distribution OF
1000 Of them.
On the following April 10. Lexington
Day, the auxiliary sponsored pat
riotic parade headed by Duncan Cor
don Of Grandin, playing his bag pipes,
in full Highland garb. The auxiliary
sold Glengarry caps. which they had
made, to participants in the parade.
and funds realized, together with the
funds from the button sale. formed
the nucleus Of the auxiliary's treasury.
The auxiliary used these funds to
supply soap, towels, writing material,
pencils. needles, thread and buttons
to soldiers at Camp Frazier here,
guarding the Missouri river bridge,
and Immediately began series Of
benefit affairs to supply the boys with
q good big meal" Benefits included
candy sales, musical programs and
teas. About rs men were served at
Camp Frazier. detachment OF "a
men arriving from jamestown just
in time to enjoy the banquet.
Later 800 men were served . ben
eft meal. Money was raised by bene-
fits, including dance at which Mick
O'Connor presented the music. and
donations came from Dickinson and
Mandan, with women from these
points assisting In serving. A truck
load Of food was sent to Fort Lincoln
to feed 50 men who had just been
YaccinAted.
The need for camp kits was urgent
By July and the auxiliary. under the
direction Of Mrs. Robert H. Tracy,
made lo6 such kits.
Prior to tho departure Of the sec
ond battalion. first regiment, on Sept.
-, 1917, the auxiliary served the men
Of Companies A and large dinner.
The men went from here to Camp
Greene, North Carolina. The second
regiment left October | for the same
destination.
Then began the work Of making
outing flannel bed sox for the boys,
but many OF them did not receive them
until after they reached France.
Donation to Band
The auxiliary also made a donation
to Harold Bachman for the benefit
Of the "Million-Dollar Band" and To-
cal business firms made donations OF
articles which went into boxes sent
to the soldiers.
Benefit affairs continued to replen-
ish the treasury as the relief work
continued and the auxiliary purchased
q Liberty bond, war savings stamps
and donated to the lieu oross. IN ao-
dition to adopting French war or
phan and purchasing an American
flag for the railroad station grounds
here.
On March Is, 1919. the auxiliar,
assisted In giving banquet for the
returned soldiers in the Masonic Tenn.
pie. A short time later the auxiliary
disbanded when Companies A and
were disbanded.
Mrs. John Flow, q member OF the
auxiliary. had five members Of hel
family in the service, her husband
three sons, Norman, Benton and Fe.
well, and her sister, DR.. Nellie Bari.
ness.
Members Of the auxiliary included
Mesdames Peter Reid, Oscar Ward
John p. Dunn, John Flow. Huge
Mello, E. G. Vaughn, Cora Dickerson
G. o. illness, Robert Orr, G. H. Olson
j. D. McKechnie. John Wilson. r
Youmans, Charles Nedgley, Myra
Nelson, Ed. Bannon, E. Allen, Molly
Eppinger, James Algeo and Henry
HG..~>l., ~ Uo~x&A Yaansa nlaain an6