The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-01-12
GROUP ORGANIZED
IL YEARS BEFORE
SENT SCORES OF MEN
TO BORDER AND WITH
AEF OVERSEAS

Tuesday will mark the twen-
tieth anniversary of federal re-
cognition of Company L.
1t was January II, 1919 that the
Redwood Falls unit of the ma
tional guard, part of the 205th
infantry, became subject to call
by the national government.
By that time, the company was
veteran as organizations go,
having been established for nearly
IL years and having sent scores
of its members to border duty in
Texas and across seas in the
World War.
Myron w. Hingeley, cashier of
the State Bank of Redwood Falls,
was the moving spirit of the or
ganization of the company. He
had served in the Philippines dur
ing the Spanish-America conflict
and was the son of an army chap
lain.
Found Good Support
Feeling the need for guard
here, he asked A. c. Dolliff to
help him organize the young men
of the community and they re-
ceived enthusiastic cooperation.
The first meeting was held
March 6, 1908.
Mr.. Dolliff says drills were held
in the basement of the library,
which he admits was pretty
crowded when the soldiers got to-
gether for maneuvers. Their drill
uniforms were khaki, but dark
blue with brass buttons on the
jackets was used in the dress uni
form.
Company L men wore soft hats
of the 10 gallon type, much like
those favored by Teddy Roosevelt,
their ideal soldier.
Records uncovered by Wilbur
H. #Lamberton, present captain of
Company L, show that Rev. c. S.
Nook, rector of the Episcopal
church, was first lieutenant and
Mr.. Dolliff was second lieutenant
those days.
In 1909 Hingeley went to Flood
wood and Sergeant j. w. Inglis
was elected captain.
The roster of 1910 shows Nook
and Dolliff as lieutenants; DR.. w.
A. Brand, first sergeant; c. F.
Gales, quarter-master sergeant;
w. B. Clement and G. T. March,
duty sergeants; Joe Lauterbach
and Ted Olson, corporals; N.
Dripps, j. w. Neiman, F. j. Mar
tin, John Lauterbach, Reinhart
Voelts, Ed Vihstad, George Ellis,
and E. j. Babcock, privates. c. H.
Baldwin was musician and Frank
Theiring, cook.
In 1916 Gales was captain;
Clement, first-lieutenant and
John Lauterbach, second ieuten-
ant.
Went To Border
The company was sent to the
Mexican border that year, leav-
ing here July Is. Hingeley return
ed and went to Texas as captain
of his old company.
Mustered out in January 1917,
the company returned to Redwood
Falls, only to be modified for
World War service and sent to
Camp Cody, New Mexico in Sep
TENDER, 1917.
Hingeley rose to major, Glenn
entS became captain and Lauter-
bach was made a first lieutenant
in April 1917. Harold Jordan, high
school principal, replaced him as
second lieutenant.
In March 1913, Lauterbach re-
ceived a captains rank and went
over to l company. Jordan step
ped up one rank and William
Peavey was made second lieuten-
ant.
PrivateS of 81" received the
call to service in France in June
1918 and were sent overseas as
requirements in combat divisions
The Thirty-Fourth division OF
which 81" was a part, embarked
in October 1918. When it reached
France the division was disband-
ed ard the men transferred to
various units.
Men, older and younger thar
military age, replaced then
in the home company which
Fred L. French served as cap
tain.