This week the United War Work Campaign is to be essentially completed so far as concerns the soliciting of subscriptions. In some communities the people are coming across gladly and liberally, in others much reluctance is being encountered. The aim has been to allot to each person what he can relatively afford to pay – but what’s a few dollars when you are giving to a patriotic cause that demands our united support. Come across with you whole allotment and then put on an extra $5.00 bill and see if you don’t feel better when you go to bed at night. The committee is working for nothing so don’t make them wear their jaws out.
We don’t know
how many of the towns and villages are coming but we happen to know that the
village of Hector had its allotment oversubscribed by $150.00 Monday night. The
farmers in Hector township came in with $1100.00 on Monday and by this time the
whole allotment will have been subscribed.
One farmer was
asked for $25.00 and replied that he didn’t think it was right. “Why?” he said
“I haven’t any boys in the army and anyhow it ought to be a little higher.” So
he compromised on $35.00. His neighbor came in and asked how much his allotment
was and also what George, the first man had paid. When told that his was the
same he said “I’m worth just as much as George is and maybe more and besides
I’ve got a boy in the army. Make it $35.00 and I’ll pay it.
It looks now as
if our boys would soon be coming home, many of them at least. We won’t have
many more chances to do something for them so let’s get into the game now and
then when the smoke of battle has blown away we can look back with pride in our
hearts knowing that we helped the Great Cause gladly and to the best of our
ability.
Charles Leroy Nelson June 30, 1895 – Oct. 21, 1918
Here are two letters addressed to Mr. Nelson regarding the death of his son, Charles Leroy Nelson.
U.S.S. Oklahoma, Marine Detachment October 22, 1918
My dear Mr. Nelson:
Please pardon the liberty we take in sending this letter in
the hour of your bereavement, but as your son was friend and comrade alike to
all members of the detachment, we wish to join in expressing to his family our
sincerest and heartfelt sympathies for an irreparable loss.
Although your son was with us only a few short weeks, he became
as one of us, sharing our food, our quarters, our hard ships and pleasures with
a true spirit of comradeship that, with his bright congenial spirit, soon
endeared him to al his companions and won for him many warm friends who mourn his
loss.
Enclosed we are sending two money orders to the amount of
one hundred fifty-one dollars and fifty cents which was sacredly contributed in
small amounts, each one of his comrades giving part, and it is their wish that
this money be used to purchase a headstone for him and that it bears on some part
of the stone the following inscription. “Dedicated to Charles Leroy Nelson, our
comrade and friend, by his comrades and friends, The Officers and Men of the
Marine Detachment U.S.S. Oklahoma, October 22, 1918.” Of course, Mr. Nelson the
above inscription is purely optional and if you see fit to leave it off for any
reason whatever, we shall not feel offended.
Expressing again our sincere regret at the loss of your son and our comrade and earnestly sympathizing with yourself, family and relatives, we are, sir, Your true friends, The Officers and Men of Marine Detachment, U.S.S. Oklahoma, W.H. Davis, commanding Capt. U.S.M.C.
U.S.S. Oklahoma, October 22, 1918
My dear Mr. Nelson,
While the Navy Department has informed you of your son’s death, I wish
to write you and offer my sympathy and that of the officers and crew.
We are one large family and the loss of one of our members is felt by
each.
Your son gave his life for our country while serving at the front, no
one can do more. His last hours were peaceful and I can assure you that every
possible attention was given him. All of us attended the funeral services conducted
aboard and two of his friends will accompany his body to Queenstown.
In other correspondence will be given details of his estate and it is
pleasing to me hat he was so thoughtful as to take out the full amount of insurance,
$10,000, in your behalf.
Again, offering you and yours my sympathy, I am Very respectfully
yours, Chas. B. McVay, Jr., Capt. U.S.N. Commanding
I
will write a few lines to you and put it in my pocket as I don’t expect to get
it mailed until after we go over the top again, but if I am bumped maybe someone
will mail it for me. If we get back soon again I will write a little more and
mail it then. I am well. I have not received any mail from you for two weeks
and wonder how you are getting on. I hope to be home next fall; I am just as
anxious to get back to you as you are to have me, but we are all here for a
vital purpose and must do our very best. Things look pretty good now and I
believe Germany will soon be whipped.
It
was cloudy this a.m. and rained last night but is a beautiful p.m., makes me
think of an autumn day at home as I look at the dahlias and other garden
flowers. Winter does not start over here for some weeks yet.
The
roads back of the front along here are as crowded with traffic as Hennepin Ave.
Horses, wagons, auto trucks, guns, autos, motorcycles all going like sixty, no
speed limit. The air is full of planes all the time, sometimes as yesterday
p.m. could see 50 planes at once.
We
will move toward the front tonight. I must close now. Write often do.
Your
loving son, Pvt. Carl O. Potter.
P.S.
The writer was wounded in action by shell fire about Oct. 8th or 9th
to my knowledge not serious. W. H. Prather, 2nd Lieut. U.S.M.C.
P.S.S.
I am a friend of Carl and beside him at the front when he got wounded. He was
wounded in the stomach by a piece of high explosive. He will get all right
before long though I think.
Well
how are you stacking up these cold days? How is the old party making it? Say in
case it’s not too late send me a little dope on the candidates, etc. I wish I
could cast a ballot myself this fall, but a few thousand miles make it quite
hard.
Am
sending you a little cartoon of myself in the form of a snap shot. Might find a
place for it either in the attic, cellar or clothes closet. Kind of looking
forward to a little furlough Christmas so in case I do, I sure want to get back
to Minnesota and civilization again for a few days.
This
sure is some course I am taking. Pretty darn stiff. Am now taking the dope from
the High Seas and “over there” but of course our information to others is
pretty limited. Have also taken several cruises in a sub and also a sub chaser.
Quite a novel. Was up to Maine and down the Gulf. Was out about 300 miles in
mid-ocean.
Well
Emil greet what few friends I have there and slip me a line once in a while.
Your
friend, Albert Martinson, Box 884, Co. 7., U. S. Naval Radio School. Cambridge,
Mass.
Julius H.
Jenson was born Jan. 9, 1892, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jenson. He
was a graduate of the Franklin High School in 1910 and taught school a few
years, one term being in Eddsville. He then assumed management of his father’s
farm in the southwestern part of the town, where he resided until joining the
army. He had the respect and friendship of all his neighbors and acquaintances,
and took a very prominent part in all community affairs. He was a well-read man
and of a very pleasant and congenial disposition. Being in sole charge of a
farm Mr. Jensen was originally put in Class 3 but he felt that his country
demanded more from him. Instead of trying to enlist in some safe and soft branch
of the Service, he simply asked to be put in Class 1, A. He left Olivia with
the July contingent, and after a short stay at Camp Wadsworth, was sent
overseas. He became a victim of influenza, and death summoned him October 4th.
Memorial services were held last Sunday in the Concordia Lutheran Church at
Franklin.
Posted: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
War Work Drive Under Way, Buffalo Lake News, 11-15-1918
President Wilson’s United War Work Campaign
This week the United War Work Campaign is to be essentially completed so far as concerns the soliciting of subscriptions. In some communities the people are coming across gladly and liberally, in others much reluctance is being encountered. The aim has been to allot to each person what he can relatively afford to pay – but what’s a few dollars when you are giving to a patriotic cause that demands our united support. Come across with you whole allotment and then put on an extra $5.00 bill and see if you don’t feel better when you go to bed at night. The committee is working for nothing so don’t make them wear their jaws out.
We don’t know how many of the towns and villages are coming but we happen to know that the village of Hector had its allotment oversubscribed by $150.00 Monday night. The farmers in Hector township came in with $1100.00 on Monday and by this time the whole allotment will have been subscribed.
One farmer was asked for $25.00 and replied that he didn’t think it was right. “Why?” he said “I haven’t any boys in the army and anyhow it ought to be a little higher.” So he compromised on $35.00. His neighbor came in and asked how much his allotment was and also what George, the first man had paid. When told that his was the same he said “I’m worth just as much as George is and maybe more and besides I’ve got a boy in the army. Make it $35.00 and I’ll pay it.
It looks now as if our boys would soon be coming home, many of them at least. We won’t have many more chances to do something for them so let’s get into the game now and then when the smoke of battle has blown away we can look back with pride in our hearts knowing that we helped the Great Cause gladly and to the best of our ability.
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Last Updated: February 21, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Hector Mirror November 14, 1918, Charles Leroy Nelson
Charles Leroy Nelson
June 30, 1895 – Oct. 21, 1918
Here are two letters addressed to Mr. Nelson regarding the death of his son, Charles Leroy Nelson.
U.S.S. Oklahoma, Marine Detachment October 22, 1918
My dear Mr. Nelson:
Please pardon the liberty we take in sending this letter in the hour of your bereavement, but as your son was friend and comrade alike to all members of the detachment, we wish to join in expressing to his family our sincerest and heartfelt sympathies for an irreparable loss.
Although your son was with us only a few short weeks, he became as one of us, sharing our food, our quarters, our hard ships and pleasures with a true spirit of comradeship that, with his bright congenial spirit, soon endeared him to al his companions and won for him many warm friends who mourn his loss.
Enclosed we are sending two money orders to the amount of one hundred fifty-one dollars and fifty cents which was sacredly contributed in small amounts, each one of his comrades giving part, and it is their wish that this money be used to purchase a headstone for him and that it bears on some part of the stone the following inscription. “Dedicated to Charles Leroy Nelson, our comrade and friend, by his comrades and friends, The Officers and Men of the Marine Detachment U.S.S. Oklahoma, October 22, 1918.” Of course, Mr. Nelson the above inscription is purely optional and if you see fit to leave it off for any reason whatever, we shall not feel offended.
Expressing again our sincere regret at the loss of your son and our comrade and earnestly sympathizing with yourself, family and relatives, we are, sir, Your true friends, The Officers and Men of Marine Detachment, U.S.S. Oklahoma, W.H. Davis, commanding Capt. U.S.M.C.
U.S.S. Oklahoma, October 22, 1918
My dear Mr. Nelson,
While the Navy Department has informed you of your son’s death, I wish to write you and offer my sympathy and that of the officers and crew.
We are one large family and the loss of one of our members is felt by each.
Your son gave his life for our country while serving at the front, no one can do more. His last hours were peaceful and I can assure you that every possible attention was given him. All of us attended the funeral services conducted aboard and two of his friends will accompany his body to Queenstown.
In other correspondence will be given details of his estate and it is pleasing to me hat he was so thoughtful as to take out the full amount of insurance, $10,000, in your behalf.
Again, offering you and yours my sympathy, I am Very respectfully yours, Chas. B. McVay, Jr., Capt. U.S.N. Commanding
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Last Updated: February 19, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter From Carl Potter, Hector Mirror, 11-14-1918
Somewhere in France, Sunday, Sept. 19, 1918
My dear mother,
I will write a few lines to you and put it in my pocket as I don’t expect to get it mailed until after we go over the top again, but if I am bumped maybe someone will mail it for me. If we get back soon again I will write a little more and mail it then. I am well. I have not received any mail from you for two weeks and wonder how you are getting on. I hope to be home next fall; I am just as anxious to get back to you as you are to have me, but we are all here for a vital purpose and must do our very best. Things look pretty good now and I believe Germany will soon be whipped.
It was cloudy this a.m. and rained last night but is a beautiful p.m., makes me think of an autumn day at home as I look at the dahlias and other garden flowers. Winter does not start over here for some weeks yet.
The roads back of the front along here are as crowded with traffic as Hennepin Ave. Horses, wagons, auto trucks, guns, autos, motorcycles all going like sixty, no speed limit. The air is full of planes all the time, sometimes as yesterday p.m. could see 50 planes at once.
We will move toward the front tonight. I must close now. Write often do.
Your loving son, Pvt. Carl O. Potter.
P.S. The writer was wounded in action by shell fire about Oct. 8th or 9th to my knowledge not serious. W. H. Prather, 2nd Lieut. U.S.M.C.
P.S.S. I am a friend of Carl and beside him at the front when he got wounded. He was wounded in the stomach by a piece of high explosive. He will get all right before long though I think.
Hobart Blake
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Posted: February 19, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Albert Martinson, Renville County Journal, 11-15-1918
A Sailor’s Letter: Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 3, 1918
Dear Friend Emil:
Well how are you stacking up these cold days? How is the old party making it? Say in case it’s not too late send me a little dope on the candidates, etc. I wish I could cast a ballot myself this fall, but a few thousand miles make it quite hard.
Am sending you a little cartoon of myself in the form of a snap shot. Might find a place for it either in the attic, cellar or clothes closet. Kind of looking forward to a little furlough Christmas so in case I do, I sure want to get back to Minnesota and civilization again for a few days.
This sure is some course I am taking. Pretty darn stiff. Am now taking the dope from the High Seas and “over there” but of course our information to others is pretty limited. Have also taken several cruises in a sub and also a sub chaser. Quite a novel. Was up to Maine and down the Gulf. Was out about 300 miles in mid-ocean.
Well Emil greet what few friends I have there and slip me a line once in a while.
Your friend, Albert Martinson, Box 884, Co. 7., U. S. Naval Radio School. Cambridge, Mass.
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Last Updated: February 19, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Julius H. Jenson, Hector Mirror, 11-14-1918
Julius H. Jenson was born Jan. 9, 1892, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Jenson. He was a graduate of the Franklin High School in 1910 and taught school a few years, one term being in Eddsville. He then assumed management of his father’s farm in the southwestern part of the town, where he resided until joining the army. He had the respect and friendship of all his neighbors and acquaintances, and took a very prominent part in all community affairs. He was a well-read man and of a very pleasant and congenial disposition. Being in sole charge of a farm Mr. Jensen was originally put in Class 3 but he felt that his country demanded more from him. Instead of trying to enlist in some safe and soft branch of the Service, he simply asked to be put in Class 1, A. He left Olivia with the July contingent, and after a short stay at Camp Wadsworth, was sent overseas. He became a victim of influenza, and death summoned him October 4th. Memorial services were held last Sunday in the Concordia Lutheran Church at Franklin.
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