Passed First Red Cross Examination (1917)

The Evening Post ~ Wednesday, September 19, 1917

An even dozen young ladies residing in this city successfully passed the first examination for those who are studying Red Cross work. The examination was recently conducted by Dr. D. S. Linvill and part of the quiz was oral and part of it was written. Some of the grades made were indeed very flattering. The test covered first aid dressing, determining the character of the trouble affecting the injured or ill person, and the proper relief to administer first aid.

The following named ladies passed the examination:

• Mrs. George Brand
• Mrs. Roy Clark
• Miss Elva Riddle
• Mrs. D. S. Linvill
• Miss Bonita Leininger
• Miss Lutha Williams
• Mrs. Lela G. Foust
• Miss Almeda Rockey
• Miss Hildreth Sharp
• Miss Emma Ricker
• Miss Mary Scantling
• Mrs. Mary E. Fries

Dr. F. G. Grisler is the instructor of the class and the students have been following a regular course of study. Several of the young ladies are planning to become Red Cross nurses and are pursuing their studies with the idea in view. They are given a certificate of proficiency for passing the examination given them by Dr. Linvill.

Yarn Is Here For The Knitters (1917)

The Evening Post ~ Wednesday, September 19, 1917

A small amount of yarn has arrived here for the Red Cross knitters and Mrs. Miller, chairman of the knitting department, has a sufficient quantity on hands to start those who are ready to go to work at once knitting outfits for the soldiers. As the supply is so limited each person will be required to make a deposit of a sum equal to the amount of the yarn they take, and upon their return of the knitted article, the money is refunded to them. This policy is followed all over the country. It is highly desirable that the knitting work should be started at once, as it will take some time to distribute the sets to the soldiers even after the pieces have been made.

Stores Will Be Closed Thursday Morning (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, September 19, 1917

The stores of this city will be closed Thursday morning from 8 o'clock until after the morning Panhandle train leaves at 9:30 bearing the Whitley county contingent of men for the new national army to Camp Taylor, Louisville, Ky. The band will be out and all of the stores and business houses will be decorated with flags and bunting, making the occasion one long to be remembered. It is probable that the schools will be closed so that the children may attend the memorable event.

H. B. Clugston, President of the Commercial Club, has appointed a committee composed of Cash Holderbaum, Phill Farren, Walter Binder, John Clapham and Dr. D. S. Linvill to arrange for the affair and they request that the merchants and townspeople decorate their places of business Wednesday afternoon, as they probably would not have time Thursday morning.

Old Soldiers Will Lead The Way To Depot (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, September 19, 1917

The old soldiers of this community will lead the procession to the Panhandle depot Thursday morning when the forty-seven men leave to go to Camp Taylor, Louisville, Ky. The schools will also be dismissed for the memorable event. The Moose Band has volunteered to go to the west school building at 8:15 and there the school children will fall in line and march down to the east side of the court house square.

The old soldiers will meet at their hall at about 8 o'clock and they will be at the east side of the court house square not later than 8:30. The fifteen minutes allowed the school children from 8:15 to 8:30 will be sufficient time for them to get to the court house, and after the soldier boys have answered roll call, the line of march will be formed, with the old veterans of former wars leading the way, and the band will play while the new army men and the entire crowd march to the station.

The soldier boys will each be given a remembrance, which will be the gift of the businessmen of Columbia City. It will be something which the fellows can use wherever they go and it will serve as a little token which they may take with them.

The boys must answer to their second roll call Thursday morning at the depot, fifteen minutes before the train leaves. They will get there in plenty of time, and a special car will be carried to accommodate them.

The men are advised not to wear the best clothes as it might be a matter of a few days before they can be fitted out with full equipment. They are also advised to wear high shoes - not oxfords - because it may be a few days before the men can all be fitted out with the regulation army shoe. Marches in low shoes would be tiresome and there would also be danger of getting sand and dust inside the low shoes. The men should also take towels, tooth brush, cake of soap in a celluloid or metal soap box, underclothes, and toilet articles.

Firmer Born Will Be The Commander (1917)

The Evening Post ~ Wednesday, September 19, 1917

Firmer R. Born, son of Mrs. Christian Born, of Thorncreek township, has been appointed by the local board as the man to be in charge of the forty-seven soldiers who leave here Thursday morning. The board has selected Sidney Ort, of Churubusco, as his assistant and five corporals were selected as follows:

Walter L. Blain, of Etna township.
Gale Raber, of South Whitley.
John A. Pence, who has retained his residence here, but has been living and working in Michigan for several years.
Edgar Lorber, Columbia City.
Walter J. Miller, of Churubusco.

The board is required to place one man in charge of the contingent and the others are selected for their respective duties to assist him.

New Director for Whitley County Historical Museum

Talk of the Town has a nice article on Dani Tippmann, the new director of the Whitley County Historical Museum. As a descendant of Tecumwah, who was a sister of Chief Little Turtle, her roots run deep in Whitley County, Indiana.

An article was also recently posted about the retirement of Ruth Kirk from that position this past January.

Talk of the Town is a blog written by Jennifer Zartman Romano that emphasizes the "good news" about the Columbia City community.

Whenever I went to the Museum, Ruth always had a smile on her face and a funny joke to share. She was a joy to work with on the few projects I was able to help with in the last couple of years. It was fun to see her portrayal of various "characters" of the county in the programs she produced. Ruth will definitely be missed and we thank her for her 19 productive years with the Museum!

Young Men From Far Away Are Registered (1917)

The Evening Post ~ Tuesday, September 18, 1917

Several young men from this county, who are living in foreign lands, sent in their registration cards for the selective draft and two from Korea were not received until Tuesday morning. They were from Melvin R. Arick, of Cleveland township, who is working for the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company, of Korea. He does not claim exemption. His registration card shows that he has the index finger of his right hand cut off at the first joint.

The other card from Korea is from Fred S. Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Baker, north of town, who is foreman in a gold stamp mill of the Oriental Consolidated Gold Mining Company, of Unsan, Chosen, Empire of Japan, according to the registration certificate. Mr. Baker does not claim exemption.

There are two registration cards from Canada. One is from Homer Price Johnston, who left for Canada about the time the war broke out. He had his papers certified to by the proper authorities there. He has already been assigned a number, being given number 1243. The others, whose registration cards have just been received, will be given numbers and then the names will be drawn in some manner or other to be announced later.

Another young man from this city who is in Canada is Albert R. Walter, who is in Ontario, working in the munitions plant owned by the Canadian Bridge Company. He, like the others, did not claim exemption.

Whitley County Genealogist appointed

IGS Appoints Whitley County Genealogist

At its February board meeting, the Indiana Genealogical Society appointed Charlotte Blair of Columbia City as the Indiana County Genealogist (ICG) for Whitley County. Charlotte is a retired teacher and principal. A Whitley County native, her interest in the area never waned, even when she lived out-of-state. Her family's roots in the county go back 5 generations. She is currently Vice-President of the Genealogical Society of Whitley County and Historian of the Col. Augustin de la Balme Chapter of DAR. Her current projects include developing a resource guide for the county and compiling an obituary index.

ICG - Indiana County Genealogist - is a program of the Indiana Genealogical Society. Its goal is to appoint qualified individuals to represent each of the 92 counties in Indiana. The ICG is a liaison between the Indiana Genealogical Society and local organizations and individuals, acting as a conduit for genealogy-related news. For more details (including an application form), please visit http://www.indgensoc.org/ICG.html

Congratulations Charlotte!

The Sibert Boys Are Patriotic (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, September 12, 1917

William Sibert, the village blacksmith of Collamer, and his wife are feeling rather lonesome at the present time, but they find some consolation in the fact that their sons are filled with the patriotic spirit. When the government first called for volunteers Edward and Floyd Sibert answered the call and have been in the service for more than six months past.

Sunday, the third son, Gerald, who is but sixteen years of age, decided to also enlist. He is large and well built and would pass for an 18 year old at any time, and when Alex Goff, 19, son of Heber Goff, and Ray Ulery, 20, whose father is dead, decided they wanted to get into the army, Gerald Sibert felt the impulse so strong that he decided to join them. So Sunday afternoon, the trio were taken from Collamer to South Whitley by Walter Galbreath and there they boarded the Nickle Plate train for Fort Wayne. They went before the recruiting officers there and successfully passed the examination. They were not assigned but were told that they would be assigned in the morning.

All three of the boys are plucky and have many friends in Collamer and vicinity whose good wishes accompany them.

1882 Whitley County History Book Available Online!

The 1882 History of Whitley and Noble Counties is available online at the Family History Archives sponsored by the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University.

It is full-text searchable and is available to download in four pdf files. I couldn't get the fourth part to display but the first 3 parts came up okay. Each page can also be downloaded individually.

Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : Historical and Biographical.
Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor.
Charles Blanchard, Biographical Editor.
F.A. Battey & Co. Publishers,1882
Allen County Public Library Call Number: 977.201 W59G
Family History Archives Reference URL: http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/FH20,12461

The Harold B. Lee Library Digital Collections: http://www.lib.byu.edu/online.html