> HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 275 front line for sixty days. During this time the regiment made a raid on the Bois des Chiens, the first attempted by the division. After this initiation, the division was moved to the vicinity of Chalons, in the Province of Champaigne, where it became a part of the noted French Fourth Army, under General Gouraud. On July 15th the Germans launched their last great offensive against this army and failed, failed ingloriously, disastrously. The French-American success was so significant that the Allies were able to strike an offensive of their own—a series of brilliant operations that never stopped until the enemy sued for peace. Without a rest, the regiment was withdrawn and rushed to the Marne to take part in the sweeping offensive against the enemy's lines running northeast from Chateau Thierry. Occupying a position on the right of the First United States Army, it led the crossing of the Ourcq River under a perfect hail of fire, front and flank and made an advance of sixteen kilometers, and cleared its territory so thoroughly that it did not need to be fought over again. Then the regiment was moved by easy stages back to the Bourmont area for a rest, but only sufficient time was allowed to receive replacements for over a thousand casualties already suffered, when orders came to proceed by night marches to the Toul front to take part with the First American Army in the reduction of the St. Mihiel Salient. Again the regiment, as well as the whole division, operated with deadly accuracy and bore full share in a movement that straight- ened the allied lines at the expense of the enemy. The division made an advance of twenty kilometers and so organized its new front that it could be turned over to a smaller number of troops and permit its own release for participation in an even greater engagement. The regiment was next moved to the Argonne. Major General Flagler, in General Orders, officially describes the conduct of the regiment thus : "Here after hard marches in mud and rain, it was thrown in to attack in the vicinity of St. Georges and Landres et St. Georges, one of the strongest points in the line, upon which the Germans relied to stop the allied advance—the noted Kriemhilde Stellung. Held up in front of this line" (for lack of artillery) "it remained in position under severe enemy fire for a length of time 276 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY that required nerves of steel. It reconnoitered and prepared the way for the successful attack of November 1st. Passed through by elements of a fresh division, the regiment was regrouped, and as part of the 42nd Division was thrown in on the left flank of the American army to press the attack toward Sedan. The 166th Infantry was the left regiment of the entire American army and upon it developed the important mission of maintaining liaison with the French army on the left. This it did with skill worthy of the highest praise. When relieved in the front line on November 9th, the 166th Infantry was within rifle shot of the historic city of Sedan." The 42nd Division followed the retiring Germans across the Rhine and there settled down as a part of the Allied Army of Occupation for a period of four months. May 10th, 1919, the regiment arrived in Columbus on its way to be mustered out, after almost two years of service. It had participated in five major engagements. It had lost 483 officers and men, killed in action and died of wounds and disease, and 2317 had been wounded in battle. The people of Columbus waited all afternoon for delayed trains to bring the veterans home. When they arrived at 5 :30, they were met by an escort, under command of Gen. John C. Speaks, made up of Spanish War veterans, the Camp Sherman band, members of the police and fire departments, and a detachment composed of recently discharged soldiers of all branches, infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers and what-not, under command of Colonel Simeon Nash. Then came Colonel Hough leading his regiment back to peace—peace with honor. Many times in the history of this county crowds have lined High Street to hail soldiers returning from the country's wars. All have deserved the demonstrations they have received. But never before have they welcomed a unit containing so many of their own flesh and blood nor a regiment that had seen so much of war in its worst aspect,—ghastly, savage war stripped of all romance, stalking naked in desolate wastes where the very earth had been destroyed. After being mustered out of the Federal service, the regiment was reorganized as a unit of the Ohio National Guard, retaining its regimental designation—the 166th. Colonel Hough remained as com- HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 277 manding officer until April 28, 1920, when he was promoted to Brigadier General and Colonel George Florence succeeded him. When Colonel Florence became Adjutant General of Ohio January 21st, 1921, Major Robert Haubrich became Colonel of the regiment, which position he now holds. General Hough became major general, in command of the 27th (Ohio) Division in June, 1923. In mustering the state militia into the National Army, the Ohio National Guard, with the exception of the 4th (166th) regiment and the 9th battalion, was taken over as the 37th Division. In this division there were three regiments of artillery, the 134th, 135th and 136th, forming the 62nd Field Artillery Brigade. The division was assembled at Camp Sheridan, Montgomery, Alabama, during the autumn of 1917 and spent almost ten months in training under Major General Charles G. Treat. On May 8th, 1918, Major General Charles S. Farnsworth was placed in command of the division. On May 20th the headquarters troops of the 73rd Infantry brigade began its journey ; first a period of two weeks at Camp Lee, Virginia ; then to Hoboken, N. J., sailing June 15th on the S. S. Leviathan, arriving at Brest on June 22nd. The 74th-Brigade embarked at Newport News and arrived at Brest on July 5th. The Field Artillery Brigade moved first to Camp Upton, N. Y., arriving there on June 16th. The 134th and 135th sailed from Brooklyn on June 27th. The 126th (less Batteries E and F) was sent to Montreal, Canada, from which port it sailed on the S. S. Victoria. On" the way over the Victoria rammed a submarine and the destroyers of the convoy finished the job. The first engagement with the enemy was thus completely successful. Arriving in France, the Field Artillery Brigade was separated from the other units of the Division, sent to Camp De Souge for a course of training and never afterward participated in the operations of the 37th Division. The 134th Field Artillery was developed from the three batteries of the Ohio National Guard into the First Regiment Ohio Field Artillery. Harold M. Bush, of Columbus, major of the battalion, was commissioned colonel on the 11th of July and upon him devolved the duty of making the regiment. The other officers and units hailing from Franklin County were : Major Lawrence S. Schlegel, Supply Company ; Captain John B. Morton, Battery C. ; Captain William D. 278 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY Kinsell ; 1st Lieutenants Raymond Givens and William L. Watt; Second Lieutenants Kenneth R. Cornetet and Frank A. Burgess ; Sanitary Detachment, Major Elijah J. Gordon ; 1st Lieutenants Edward M. Barton and Earl Z. Alsbach. Colonel Bush had his first military experience in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia as early as 1888. Coming to Columbus, he enlisted in Company H of the old 14th in 1894 and later the same year was transferred to Battery H, 1st Light Artillery. In 1897 he became a second lieutenant and in 1899 first lieutenant. In 1900 he became captain of the battery which, in 1910, had its designation changed to Battery C. He was commissioned major of the battalion in 1911. Nobody was surprised when this regiment of artillery gave a good account of itself over seas. Colonel Bush was a typical American fighting man, well weathered and hardened physically with those natural qualities of leadership that made him a sort of patron saint to his men—and he was never very far away from them. Although he was enough of a disciplinarian, even for military purposes and always got results when he bellowed orders, every man in the regiment could see through his bluff exterior and knew that the Colonel was one of them in every sense, merely having eagles on his shoulders for necessary organization purposes. The 136th Field Artillery was one of two regiments evolved from the First Ohio Cavalry, and built up around the famous Troop B of Columbus and Troop C, of Cincinnati. The style of combat along the Hindenburg line did not lend itself to cavalry operations. The Lord was on the side with the most artillery. Therefore the troopers abandoned their horses and learned to ride caissons. Paul L. Mitchell, of Cincinnati, was the colonel of the regiment and Simeon T. Nash, of Columbus, lieutenant colonel. The other officers and units from Franklin County were : Major Edward S. Thacher ; Captain Battalion Adjutant Paul V. Hamm; Battery A, Captain Thomas H. Leary ; 1st Lieutenants Charles C. Martindill and Chester W. Goble ; 2nd Lieutenant Glen R. Grant ; Battery B—Captain Joseph W. Jeffrey ; 1st Lieutenants Malcolm D. Jeffrey and Roy D. Prushing ; 2nd Lieutenants Claude W. Rhoads and Calvin Newell ; Battery C—Captain Wayne C. Gray ; 1st Lieutenants Richard H. HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 279 Royce and Milton S. Beal ; 2nd Lieutenants Flaval A. Black and Willard F. Greiner. These two regiments, with the 135th also from Ohio, forming the 62nd Field Artillery Brigade, devoted seven weeks to intensive training at Camp de Souge becoming acquainted with the famous 75 and 155 millimeter French guns. Equipped with these guns and French ammunition, the brigade was assigned to the First American Army September 26th, 1918, the day of the opening of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In rapid succession the brigade served with the 4th American Corps, the 2nd American Army, the 2nd Colonial Army Corps (French) and the 17th French Army Corps. At one time the three regiments were separated, serving with the 28th, the 33rd and the 92nd American divisions respectively. At another time the brigade held a position adjoining the other elements of the 37th division, in the vicinity of Saint Mihiel, but they were unable to effect a re.. union until February 21st, 1919, when they went into camp in the LeMans area to prepare for the return home. The headquarters of the Ninth Battalion of Ohio colored troops were in Columbus and Company B of that organization was composed of Franklin County soldiers. This organization became a part of the 372 Infantry, nominally attached to the 93rd Division, but was detached and served with the French armies. It arrived at St. Nazaire, France, in April, 1918, and received its intensive training in the vicinity of Givry-en-Argonne from June 6 to July 14, 1918. From July 26 to September 9 it was in the front line in the Argonne sector. It participated in the offensive operations of the 4th French army on the Champagne front September 26 to October 7. After this engagement the regiment proceeded to the Vosges where it occupied a sector until November 11th, 1918. It sailed from Brest February 3rd, 1919, and arrived in New York February 12. For conspicuous bravery in action the French command conferred on these troops a regimental decoration, which entitles every member of the organization to wear the evidence of exceptional honor. A rumor that the war had come to an end by agreement to an armistice reached Columbus on Thursday morning, November 7th and precipitated an outburst of premature rejoicing. About the only satisfaction left to those who joined in the demonstration was the 280 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY fact that newspapers elsewhere served by the United Press carried the same story and inspired similar impromptu spectacles in other cities. However, the following Monday, November 11, official news of the armistice reached the city early in the morning and the celebration was ushered in by the ringing of bells of every description and the blowing of whistles as they had never blown before. The streets were soon filled. Parades formed themselves. Marchers armed with every available type of noise-making apparatus joined in groups and these groups grew into processions. From the Union Station to the Court House two unorganized columns moved and countermarched for hours tirelessly. Flags appeared from everywhere and nowhere—flags of England and France and Italy. One exuberantly patriotic Italian attracted attention by displaying an American flag and shouting in Caruso tenor, "Dissa flag done it ; dissa flag done it." The music of brass bands gave something of order to the riot of noise and, as the day grew, extraordinary features in decoration and banners and floats added variety to the moving panorama already past description. A lull in the late afternoon proved to he merely a breathing spell in preparation for renewed efforts on a larger scale in the evening—a night season of unrestrained revel that ended only when a new day was born. A more decorous expression of thanksgiving in Memorial Hall filled the auditorium in the evening. Pastors of a score of churches, with as many members of their congregations as could be admitted, united in returning thanks to the "Giver of every good and perfect gift." America's participation in the war had lasted but one year, seven months and five days. The cost in lives, suffering and money was beyond computation. The benefits to this country, if any, can be listed only after a period of fifty years has given time to weigh the value of the changes forced upon those who bore the burden and upon their children's children. CHAPTER XVIII THE LAURELS OF VICTORY. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSSES AWARDED TO-WALTER L. AVERY- HOWARD A. BAIR-LELAND M. BARNET-ELVER J. BOWLES-JOHN G. BRENSTUHL-GEORGE R. CARPENTIER-HENRY H. GRAVES-FRED GRUMLEY- ROBERT HAUBRICH-WILLIAM H. HILL-OSCAR KOEPPELFRED W. NORTON- BYRON W. PEYTON-EDWARD V. RICKENBACKERHARRY C. RICKET-LOUIS C. SIMON, JR.-CLAYTON E. SNYDER-CARL F. TURKOPP-GLEN G. WEINMAN- RUFUS S. WISEMAN-JOHN WROBBEL -FRED JOSEPH ZINNER-DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED TO•BENSON W. HOUGH-PERRY L. MILES- EDWARD ORTON, JR.-WALTER CAMPBELL SHORT-JOHN YOUNGER-THE FRENCH AND BELGIAN CROIX. DE GUERRE-THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR. No better cross-section of Franklin County performances in France can be shown than a view of the individual acts that brought official recognition in the form of crosses and medals. Not every hero was decorated, but every decoration was earned. The following list of awards, taken from the War Department records tells a story of its own—a story that fiction strives to imitate but fails to equal. Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded as follows : WALTER L. AVERY, First Lieutenant, 95th Aero Squadron, Air Service. (North of Chateau Thierry, July 25, 1918.) While on his first patrol over the enemy's lines, he attacked an enemy two-seater bi-plane. While thus occupied, he was vigorously attacked by another enemy plane, but by a quick turn, skilfull maneuvering and accurate shooting, he drove the second plane to the American side of the lines, where it crashed into the woods. Lieu- - 281 - 282 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY tenant Avery's motor had been badly damaged by bullets, but he made a successful landing back of our lines, where he learned that the enemy pilot who had been made a prisoner was a German ace credited with sixteen victories. Lieutenant Avery's conduct was especially creditable because his plane had been seriously damaged at the beginning of the combat. HOWARD A. BAIR, Second Lieutenant, 354 Infantry, 89th Division. (Near Barricourt, France, November 2, 1918.) Calling on his platoon to follow, he pushed forward and attacked enemy machine gun nests. After killing two of the enemy, he himself was killed by a hand grenade while accepting the surrender of another of the enemy. (Medal presented to his mother, Mrs. Frances Bair.) LELAND M. BARNET (Recruited from Norwood, O.; born in Columbus) ; First Lieutenant 148th Infantry, 37th Division. (Near Ivoiry, France, September 27, 1918.) After becoming separated from his battalion headquarters, Lieutenant Barnet, on his own initiative, undertook under heavy artillery and machine gun fire, to locate machine gun nests which were hindering the advance. He ignored the warnings of his orderly as to the danger of his work and continued at it until he was killed. (Medal presented to the widow, Mrs. Leland M. Barnet.) ELVER J. BOWLES, Sergeant 308th Trench Mortar Battery, 158th Field Artillery Brigade, 83rd Division. (Near Brabant-sur-Meuse, October 23, 1918.) During the offensive action in the Bossois-Bois, he remained in the open, under direct fire of machine guns and artillery, assisting another soldier in operating a trench mortar for fifty-seven minutes, firing 230 bombs ; repeatedly knocked down by concussion from exploding shells and bombs, he remained at his post until exhausted. JOHN G. BRENSTUHL (Residence Lancaster ; born in Columbus) Private Co. L, 166th Infantry, 42nd Division. Near St. George, France, October 15, 1918.) Seeing the only other company runner killed while delivering a message of vital importance, Private Brenstuhl crawled from shell hole to shell hole, during a rain of machine gun bullets, took the message from the dead man and completed the mission. HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 283 GEORGE R. CARPENTIER, First Lieutenant, Chaplain, 166th Infantry. (Near Chevenges, France, November 7, 1918.) Volunteering for the service, he accompanied a patrol as interpreter and when our troops encountered a stubborn resistance and sustained heavy casualties, he established a dressing station and, under heavy shell fire, administered to the wounded and dying, continuing this service after he himself had been wounded twice. HENRY H. GRAVES, Captain 166th Infantry, 42nd Division. (Near St. Baussant, France, September 12, 1918.) During the St. Mihiel offensive, Captain Graves was leading an assault wave which was checked by a dense machine gun fire. In order to locate the exact position of the enemy strongholds, he mounted a parapet, thus drawing a burst of machine gun fire, which enabled his Stokes mortars to open fire. He then led a flanking group to the position, while his assault wave went forward and captured thirty-four prisoners and a machine gun, rifles and a store of ammunition,—the first prisoners to be taken during the drive. FRED GRUMLEY, Corporal Company I, 166th Infantry. (East of Rheims, France, July 15, 1918.) After his rifle had been put out of commission by a piece of shell, Corporal Grumley quickly procured a supply of hand grenades with which he aided materially in compelling the retreat of the German attackers. ROBERT HAUBRICH, Major 166th Infantry, 42nd Division. (Near Sedan, November 7, 1918.) Personally leading his battalion, which was the assault battalion in the advance upon Sedan, Major Haubrich exposed himself many times to intense machine gun and heavy artillery fire in order to keep contact with the enemy, greatly encouraging all of the members of his command by his gallantry. Later in the day he was wounded, but he continued on duty for two hours longer when he had his wounds dressed at a first-aid station, resuming command immediately afterward. WILLIAM H. HILL, Corporal Co. A, 166th Infantry. (Near Humont, France, September 27, 1918.) While establishing a liaison with a separate unit of his patrol, under heavy machine gun fire, he personally captured two prisoners and, 284 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY after delivering them to a guard, continued with his mission. He was severely wounded while performing this dangerous mission. OSCAR KOEPPEL, Captain 166th Infantry. Near Seringes, France, July 27, 1918.) After being severely wounded while leading his command through an intense barrage, Captain Koeppel refused to leave his company until they had been established on the front line and all orders and instructions turned over to the next in command. FRED W. NORTON, First Lieutenant 27th Aero Squadron, Air Service. (In the Toul Sector, July 2, 1918.) Lieutenant Norton, as a flight commander, led a patrol of eight machines, the first large American formation to encounter a German patrol. His command gave battle to nine enemy battle planes driven by some of the leading aces of the German army. Although both of his guns jammed at the beginning of the fight and were useless, he stayed with the formation, skilfully manuevering his machine to the best advantage. He was attacked by enemy planes four different times, but skilfully avoided them or dived at them. His continued presence was a great help to his comrades, who destroyed two of the enemy planes. On July 23, 1918, this officer died of wounds received in action July 20, 1918. (Medal presented to his father, Frank Norton.) BYRON W. PEYTON, Sergeant Supply Company, 166th Infantry. (Northeast of Chateau Thierry, July 29, 1918.) In response to a call from the attacking battalion for ammunition, he drove a combat wagon in broad daylight into the front line position near Fere-en-Tardenois and delivered the ammunition required by his comrades on the front. EDWARD V. RICKENBACKER, First Lieutenant 94th Aero Squadron, Air Service ; afterward Captain and Major. (See biographical sketch in chapter "Hall of Fame.") HARRY C. RICKET, Cook Headquarters Company, 166th Infantry. (At Chateau-de-la-Foret, near Villiers-sur-fere, July 28-29, 1918.) During a bombardment so intense as to drive all other kitchens out of the village, when his stove had to be taken to the rear, he improvised a fire in the ground and continued his work until order to leave. He carried water from a spring, which was repeatedly shelled, HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 285 when others would not approach it, unaided. Of his own volition, he continued a first-aid station for wounded and exhausted men at his kitchen, constantly in extreme personal danger from machine gun fire from low-flying airplanes and bombardment by explosive shells, he devoted himself entirely to the needs of others and made possible the care of several hundred wounded, exhausted and hungry men. LOUIS C. SIMON, JR., First Lieutenant 147th Squadron, Air Service. In the region of Hadonville-les-Lachaussee, September 16, 1918.) While on a protection patrol for American observation planes from the 99th Aero Squadron, Lieutenant Simon was fired upon by three Halberstadt biplane fighters. Regardless of his personal danger, he immediately engaged the enemy, although alone, drawing them down and away from the observation planes, which continued their immediate work unmolested. He continued fighting the three Halberstadts fiercely in spite of the odds against him. He finally succeeded in getting on the tail of one and, after firing a short burst at close range, the enemy plane fell out of control. The remaining two planes quickly broke off the combat and headed east with motors full on. Lieutenant Simon is awarded an oak leaf cluster, to be worn with the Distinguished Service Cross awarded him on October 23, 1918. Lieutenant Simon and two other pilots encountered nine (Fokker type) enemy planes, which were protecting an observation plane. He attacked the lower formation of four planes alone and drove them off ; he next dived at the observation plane and sent it crashing to the ground in flames. CLAYTON E. SNYDER, (Malta, Montana ; born in Columbus, O.) Second Lieutenant 9th Machine Gun Battalion, 3rd Division. (Near Cunel, France, October 13, 1918.) Although wounded by machine gun fire, he refused to be evacuated and, going out into no-man's land located several enemy machine gun nests which were endangering his platoon, and directed the fire of his men with such accuracy that the guns were silenced. CARL F. TURKOPP, Corporal 308th Trench Mortar Battery, 158th Field Artillery Brigade, 83rd Division. (Near Brabantsur-Meuse, October 23, 1918.) 286 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY During the offensive operations in the Bossois-Bois, Corporal Turkopp, although wounded by shell fire and knocked down by concussion, returned to his gun and continued to fire. So great was his exhaustion that it was necessary for him to be supported while doing his work. GLEN G. WEINMAN, Corporal Co. M, 16th Infantry, First Division. (South of Soissons, July 20, 1918.) Corporal Weinman carried important messages through heavy artillery and machine gun fire calling for reinforcements and ammunition. Notwithstanding the fact that two previous runners had been killed, he carried out his mission. His individual gallantry contributed materially to the success of the operation. RUFUS E. WISEMAN, Corporal Co. H, 166th Infantry. (Northeast of Chateau Thierry, July 29-August 2, 1918.) He was in charge of a detail for carrying ammunition to a machine gun section. He had performed his duties and had been given permission to withdraw to the rear, but remained with his detail four days on the firing line under a heavy bombardment and machine gun fire, assisting the machine gun crew. During these four days he was Suffering from the effects of gas but refused to be evacuated. JOHN WROBBEL, Cook Supply Co., 166th Infantry, 42nd Division. (In the Champagne Section, July 15-18, 1918.) During the heaviest bombardment he regularly supplied hot meals to his command. On July 16 his kitchen was almost demolished by shell bursts and a large part of the rations destroyed, but he remained at his post after all his assistants had sought places of safety. FRED JOSEPH ZINNER, 2nd Lieutenant, 5th Regiment U. S. Marine Corps, 2nd Division. (Near St. Etienne, October 4, 1918.) While attacking a strongly held enemy position under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, he rallied the men of another company who had become separated from their organizations, to his support. With these reinforcements his platoon TA as able to relieve a very critical situation. The following were awarded Distinguished Service Medals : BENSON W. HOUGH, Colonel 166th Infantry. As regimental commander in the military operations of the 42nd Division in the Baccarat sector, March 24 to June 21, 1918 ; the second HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 287 battle of the Marne, in which the 42nd Division participated in the defense of the line east of Chalons June 28 to July 21, 1918 ; and in the offensive against Reims, Chateau Thierry, Soissons salient, July 24 to August 3, 1918. PERRY L. MILES, Colonel 371st Infantry, U. S. Army. As commander of the 371st Infantry, 93rd Division, which during its active operations was attached to the French forces, he conducted his regiment with conspicuous success, by his admirable tact and sound judgment he maintained at all times harmonious relationship with the allied forces to which his unit was attached, rendering valuable service to the American Expeditionary Forces. EDWARD ORTON, JR., Lieutenant Colonel Motor Transport Corps., U. S. Army. His untiring energy and splendid judgment were displayed in the efficient organization of the engineering division of the Motor Transport Corps in bringing about the standardization of equipment and supplies and in efficiently directing the affairs of the motor industry to the mutual advantage of the army and the industry itself. WALTER CAMPBELL SHORT, Colonel (Infantry) General Staff Corps, U. S. Army. Attached to the Fifth Section, General Staff, General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, he rendered conspicuous service in inspecting and reporting upon front line conditions pertaining to the work of his section. During the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne operations of the First Army Corps, he efficiently directed the instruction and training of machine gun units at every available opportunity during rest periods. Later, as Assistant Chief of Staff G-5, Third Army, he manifested the same assiduous devotion to duty in organizing schools, conducting necessary inspections and carrying out the intensive training program. JOHN YOUNGER. For services as Advisory Engineer in designing and perfection of standard motor vehicles adopted by the United States of America. The French Croix de Guerre was awarded as follows : FRANK O'CONNOR, Sergeant Co. I, 166th Infantry. 288 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY JERRY BROWN, Private Company I. HENRY H. GRAVE, Captain, 166th Infantry. Belgian Croix de Guerre : FRED GRUMLEY, Sergeant Co., I., 166th Infantry. French Legion of Honor : COL. BENSON W. HOUGH. CAPT. HENRY H. GRAVE. CHAPTER XIX THE POST WAR PERIOD. PROHIBITION-THE METHODIST CENTENARY-PRESIDENT' WILSON'S VISIT -NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT OF THE GRAND ARMY-GENERAL PERSHING A GUEST OF THE CITY-THE OHIO STATE STADIUM-THE BUILDING OF THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD-THE O'SHAUGNESSY DAM AND WATERWORKS EXPANSION-THE A. I. U. CITADEL-THE PENITENTIARY FIRE-A PERIOD OF DEPRESSION-NEW CITY HALL AND CIVIC CENTER -THE THOMAS ADMINISTRATION-POPULATION OF CITY AND COUNTY. The amendment of the constitution of Ohio, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, became effective in May, 1919. National prohibition was already on the way, but the people of Ohio did not choose to wait for the possible seven years period allowed for the ratification by three-fourths of the states, and so hurried things up a bit by state action. It was "in the cards" that prohibition would become a fact in this country some time. The brewers and saloon keepers never took kindly to regulations that sought to clean up the liquor business, pare off its most objectionable features and make temperance easy. The proposal to go the limit and make virtue a necessity came while the country was at war with Germany. The brewers were Germans, or of German extraction. Then they were using grain. It was believed we might want grain to feed the soldiers in France. We were already eating corn pone at home to save the wheat for the army. The electors of Ohio cast more votes against Germany than they did for prohibition, but they all counted the same way. Possibly some voters were influenced by the extravagant advertising matter liberally circulated in favor of the panacea, promising that prohibition would depopulate the jails, poor houses and asylums and bring the millenium to town even before the common people were duly prepared for that blissful experience. - 289 - 290 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY Osman C. Hooper, in his History of Columbus, Ohio, written shortly after prohibition went into effect, reflects something of this thought. He says : "The result was at once seen in the decrease of public drunkenness ; in police court in July there were thirty-two such cases, whereas in July, 1919, there were 155. The workhouse population correspondingly decreased. Breweries turned to the manufacture of soft drinks and were, some of them busier than ever, employing more persons, instead of none at all, as some had expected." The statement about public drunkenness continues to be true. Beyond that all sweeping assertions are unsafe. All surface indications are that the volume of intoxicating liquor consumed is much less than formerly—and the quality much worse. At this time, after twelve years of trial, prohibition is the most talked-of subject in the land and the one about which the least is really known. There are too few admitted facts and there are so few disinterested folks that it is almost hopeless to expect to find the facts. Calm discussion with either wets or drys is out of the question. Passion and prejudice and abuse obscure the way of every honest inquiry. The nation-wide poll of the Literary Digest, taken with a view to determine public sentiment, apparently free from any ulterior motive, was the butt of vicious attack from those not pleased with the tabulations or who had been refused facilities for corrupting the returns. The present state of the prohibition boil is perhaps best expressed in the laconic characterization of the President of the United States, .who calls it "a noble experiment." The crusade against alcohol has suffered, at least temporarily, from the excess of zeal displayed by those charged with the enforcement of the laws and their voluntary coadjutors. There has been too much of the inquisition and too little of "peace on earth and good will to men." However, out of all this unpleasant murk of search and seizure by official raiders and gun-men, these inventions of new crimes and misdemeanors, there is some light. Both sides seem to agree that the old-fashioned saloon, with its atmosphere of potential sin, and the American treating system, devised by Satan in his most diabolical mood, are things of the past. The price has been heavy but the blessing is abundant. HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 291 The Methodist Church celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of its foreign missionary endeavors by an exposition held on the State Fair Grounds from June 20th to July 13th, 1919. The portrayal of missionary work in many fields, made realistic by the presence and aid of natives from every field, held the attention of thousands of visitors every day. The giant drama, "The Wayfarer" was presented in the coilseum each evening. The seating capacity was 6,500 and there was rarely a vacant seat. This truly magnificent depiction of the upward struggle of a troubled world was rendered most impressive by the singing of a great chorus and the accompaniment of a pipe organ of unequaled power and beauty of tone assembled for this exposition. No other occasion in Columbus ever drew such multitudes of people from so many different parts of the world and Columbus never played the host with greater credit. President Woodrow Wilson visited Columbus Thursday, September 4, 1919. He was the first distinguished visitor to be received by airplanes. His train was due to arrive at 11 o'clock in the morning. A few minutes before that time, planes from Norton Field took to the air, soon met the presidential train, and accompanied it to the Union Station. Here the President was met by Doctor Thompson, of the Ohio State University, and former Governor James E. Campbell. The party, preceded by the United States Barracks Band and a battalion of federal troops, proceeded to Memorial Hall where the President addressed a large audience, explaining the terms of the treaty of peace and defending the provisions for the League of Nations, for which he bore the major responsibility. The reception given Mr. Wilson was distinctly respectful, a welcome to the President of the United States who had led the nation through a great war to an honorable peace, but possibly somewhat lacking in extravagant enthusiasm because the people held doubts as to the showers of blessings promised from an entangling foreign alliance. The physical strain of the tour proved to be too much for the President, and he returned to Washington, leaving a number of his appointments unfilled. The Fifty-third National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the second to be held in Columbus, occupied the city during the week of September 7th. Great preparations were made 292 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY for the reception of the old soldiers and for their care and comfort during what was felt to be their last visit to Ohio's capital. Thirty-one years had passed since their previous visit and the boys in blue had become older men—men who had passed their three score and ten. In the grand parade on Wednesday, the 10th, the members of the G. A. R., with few and notable exceptions, rode in automobiles. The marchers were veterans of the World War, of the Spanish-American War, the Sons of Veterans, and the bands from about Ohio. But there were enough to present a mighty spectacle. These survivors of the three wars required three hours in passing the reviewing stand on the north side of the State House Square. It was estimated that there were 30,000 men in the parade, one-third of whom were Civil War soldiers—a striking contrast with the parade of 1888, when 50,000 of them passed the reviewing stand and passed on foot. Coincident with the encampment there were national reunions of the Sons of Veterans, the Women's Relief Corps, the Ladies of the G. A. R., the Daughters of Veterans, Army Nurses of the Civil War and other allied patriotic associations. The local committee in charge of preparations and entertainment estimated that ninety thousand visitors attended the various reunions and meetings during the week. Columbus was honored December 17, 1919, by a visit from General James J. Pershing, the commander of the American forces in France during the World War. The General would have been accorded an enthusiastic reception as the latest of the five Americans to bear the highest military title within the gift of the nation, but he was esteemed for something more than being the commander of a great army in a foreign land : he had successfully opposed the French plan of using the American army for mere replacement purposes and had insisted on the employment of American divisions in major operations thus gaining something of honor to satisfy national pride. Since his visit to Columbus he has added to his reputation by consistently refusing to dabble in politics and refraining from commenting on affairs outside his profession. The General was met at the Union Station at three o'clock in the afternoon by a committee headed by Mayor Karb, ex-Governor James E. Campbell and Frank L. Packard, of the Chamber of Commerce. HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 293 In addition to the civilian committee, the escort included the United States Barracks Band and four companies of federal troops. The distinguished guest was royally welcomed by the throngs along the line of march to the state capitol, where he was greeted by an artillery salute. After a public reception in the rotunda of the State House, the General briefly addressed members of the General Assembly and state officials. In the evening he was given a dinner at the Deshler Hotel, where Governor Cox tendered the felicitations of the state of Ohio. After the dinner, the General attended a negro mass meeting in Memorial Hall and paid his compliments to the members of that race who had won so much credit in France. In 1890 a good football game at Ohio State or Otterbein might attract five hundred spectators, mostly students, all of them thoroughly acquainted with the rules and posted on the plays. By 1920 interest had become almost universal. People of all classes became enthusiasts. Society graciously deigned to sanction the modern Roman holiday. Newspapers employed specialists to report the game play by play, skilled word colorists to paint the box occupants and detailed members of the staff to interview the coaches before and after the battles. This major activity of present-day physical education outgrew "Ohio Field" occupying the northeast corner of the University Campus and a revival of the spirits of vespatian and Titus converted the design of the Coliseum into the stadium of today without much change as to its uses or purposes. The movement had its inception in Columbus September 23, 1920 when a committee of sixteen, with J. J. Munsell as chairman, was formed with the object of raising a million dollars for a football theatre. By September, 1921, the financing of the project had been assured, plans were completed, contracts let and the work begun. It was completed within thirteen months and the great structure dedicated October 21, 1922. The Stadium is situated in a ten-acre athletic field located on the low ground lying between the Administration building and the Olen-tangy River, being the north end of the field used for aviation purposes during the war. The structure is of concrete and steel, resembling a horse-shoe in ground plan, opening to the south. The normal seating capacity is 62,110, which may be expanded to 72,000 by the 294 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY installation of temporary circus seats across the southern opening. The seats are arranged in two decks, or tiers, the lower deck containing 41,110 seats, of which 3,100 are in boxes, and the upper deck 21,000. The circumference of the walls is one-third of a mile ; the height of the walls 98 feet and 3 inches ; length 754 feet, and width 597 feet. The foot-ball field within is thoroughly under-drained and the equal of any in America. It is surrounded by a cinder track for field events. The final cost was $1,341,000. The Stadium has been filled to utmost capacity on many occasions. The great games with Michigan and Illinois bring tens of thousands of visitors from all Ohio and the central West. While its purpose is to accomodate the masses who wish to witness college foot-ball at its best, the Stadium affords conveniences for mass meetings of students on a variety of occasions and proved to be of scholastic utility when the classes of 1930 held their graduating exercises within its walls. The building of The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad into Columbus was the event of most permanent importance during the decade following the war. In 1916 this great system built a branch from its main line at Edgington, Kentucky, across the Ohio River at Sciotoville to Gregg-Valley Crossing, a short distance below Waverly. Further work was stopped at the time by the impossibility of financing during the war. However, trains hauling West Virginia coal were operated by lease over the Norfolk & Western tracks to Columbus and on to the Lake region over the Hocking Valley Lines, which had been acquired by the C. & O. in 1910. The work of extension was resumed November 25, 1926, from Gregg to Valley Crossing, below Columbus, a distance of sixty-three miles, and this was completed September 16, 1927, a construction period of 294 days. The road is double track ; the grade is the lowest attainable and the curves are easy. In order to obtain the maximum facility of operation it was necessary to move 5,900,000 cubic yards of earth. There was included in the work the placing of 120,000 yards of concrete and the setting of ten thousand tons of structural steel. On the entire sixty-three miles there is but one grade crossing. On account of the low grade and perfect ballasting it is possible to haul a single train of freight cars of ten thousand tons capacity. The cost HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 295 of this great improvement was $14,800,000. The construction work was done under the direction of William Michael, Chief Engineer of the Hocking Valley Railroad, assisted by C. A. Whipple. The C. & O. now has a through line from the seaboard, at Hampton Roads, Virginia, to the Great Lakes, at Toledo, Ohio. Reference has been made heretofore to the development of the water supply system of the city of Columbus in its chronological order. In 1908 the city completed a five-year program of improvements which included the construction of the water purification and softening works at the pumping station located on the Scioto River about two miles northwest from the center of the city. An important part of this program was the Julian Griggs Dam in the Scioto River located four and a half miles farther north. In 1920 a second five-year extension program was begun. This was made imperative by the growth of the city and the suburbs dependent upon Columbus for a safe and constant water supply. The enlargement of the purification plant and the pumping station presented no new problems beyond financing, but the procuring of an additional supply of water required engineering ability of a high order, backed by a crystalized public sentiment. These forces operating together produced the O'Shaugnessy Dam. This dam is located in the Scioto River, in Delaware County, about four miles above the upper end of the Griggs reservoir and sixteen miles from the center of Columbus. It is a concrete masonry structure 1750 feet in length, including the approaches. The masonry portion of the dam is 879 feet long. Crossing the dam, above the overflow section, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge of twelve spans. This dam provides storage for over five billion gallons of water, which, added to the capacity of the Griggs Dam, is estimated to meet the needs of a population of 500,000 inhabitants. At the present rate of growth of the area served by the city water-works this population figure will be reached by 1955. The reservoir created by this dam is eight miles long with an average width of 855 feet. It was necessary to acquire over eleven acres of land at an average price of $134 ; roads had to be relocated and rebuilt ; bridges reconstructed or extended ; a church and cemetery moved, and extensive changes were made necessary at the Girls' In- 296 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY dustrial Home, costing almost $300,000. The total cost of the project, exclusive of engineering, was $2,220,000. The architectural effects of the dam are dignified and appropriate. The surroundings have been beautified and made exceedingly attractive to visitors. A zoological garden has been established on city property adjacent to the reservoir. The roads on both sides of the river have been improved and access to the dam and surroundings made easy. The O'Shaugnessy Dam was given its name by the city council February 7, 1921, as a compliment and honor to Jerry O'Shaugnessy who had been connected with the City Waterworks Department for nearly fifty years, serving for the greater portion of that time as its superintendent. A bronze tablet mounted on the dam gives expression to the city's admiration for a faithful servant. During all of the preliminary work relating to the location and designing of the dam and concerning all major problems of construction, John H. Gregory, of Baltimore, acted as consulting engineer. His employment was a natural sequence of former satisfactory services in Columbus. Direct charge of the work was in the hands of C. B. Hoover, superintendent of the waterworks and C. B. Cornell as construction engineer. The American Insurance Union, like many other successful organizations, had a small beginning. It was organized in the law offices of Nash & Lentz, in the Chamber of Commerce building, in 1894. The articles of incorporation, bearing the signatures of fifty-five Columbus citizens, were filed with the Secretary of State on the 21st of September of that year by John J. Lentz, who became the first, and has been the only, president of the corporation. Mr. Lentz is a man of great physical vigor, strong personality and unusual mental endowment. Before the inception of the American Insurance Union he had distinguished himself in local and state politics and had represented the Twelfth District in the Congress of the United States. He was recognized as one of the leaders of the Franklin County bar. He had exhibited rare ability as a writer. In either of these lines he could have achieved lasting success, but he deliberately chose to concentrate his talents in the building of an institution that has been an asset to the city of Columbus and has distributed its benefits throughout the HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 297 nation. While Mr. Lentz has been the moving spirit of this enterprise, he has been ably assisted by a staff of faithful co-workers, among whom have been C. C. Hollenbeck, Dr. J. W. Hoagland, Dr. J. W. Means, Paul Bernard and Miss Mary E. Colburn. When the A. I. U. moved into its citadel in 1927 it had a membership of 175,000 and had insurance in force amounting to approximately $200,000,000. But during all of its earlier years the American Insurance Union was better known in a thousand distant places than it was at home and might have so continued had it not given to Ohio's capital its first, and so far only, modern sky scraper. On February 22, 1906, the society dedicated what was known as the "A. I. U. Temple" occupying a portion of the site of the Citadel. The building was commodius, attractive in exterior and, at the time, was believed to afford ample accommodations for an indefinite future. It stood but eighteen years. On the morning of October 15, 1924, workmen began to tear down the outgrown "Temple" to make room for the new tower designed to occupy, as it does, an entire block—one quarter of a city square, designated as the northeast corner of Broad and Front Streets. The work of excavation was formally begun September 23, 1924, when Mr. Lentz, in his capacity as national president, lifted the first earth with a silver spade. The occasion was made additionally notable by the presence and participation of many prominent men and women and an address by Hon. James J. Davis, Secretary of Labor in the cabinet of the President of the United States. The construction period covered three years. An average force of six hundred and fifty men was daily employed during all of that time. The foundations rest 112 feet below the street level. The building rises 555.5 feet above, and the tower contains fifty-five stories—one for each of the incorporators. Ten thousand tons of steel were used in constructing the skeleton of the building, all protected and reinforced with concrete. The outside walls are "white oak bark" terra cotta. To the east and north of the tower the citadel wings are eighteen stories above ground and in this portion of the building the Deshler-Wallick Hotel has six hundred rooms. The east wing also houses the Keith-Albee theatre with a seating capacity of four thousand. 298 - HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY The building was designed by C. Howard Crane, of Detroit and John Gill and Sons, of Cleveland, were the builders. When the Citadel was completed it was pronounced by Dudley Crafts Watson, of the Chicago Art Institute, to be "the most beautiful sky scraper yet built." By day it is visible at many points twenty miles distant ; at night its illuminated crest forms a harbor light for mariners of the air. To them it means "there's Columbus." This structure is as nearly permanent as modern methods can attain. It has set the pattern for the Columbus to come. Whatever changes time may bring to the institution responsible for its creation, the building is there to remain an asset and ornament to the city and the county into the future beyond the ken of man. And during all of that time to come it must be considered as a monument to the genius and persistence of a man with a vision and the will to materialize it—John J. Lentz. The Ohio Penitentiary is not a source of pride to Franklin County and its grim, gray presence gives pleasure to none of its people except, perhaps, a few of the "unco gude" who may enjoy the spectacle of sinners in travail. The Penitentiary is a state institution and has but slight relation to this county other than one of location. It is equipped to care for about twenty-five hundred inmates and is housing nearer four thousand. The increase in population has been very great during the past fifteen years. This is due first, to increase in the population of the state at large, maintaining the percentage of moral defectives ; second, to the creation by statute of new crimes, and, third, to the practice by judges of imposing so-called indeterminate sentences instead of fixing a definite term on conviction. In many cases where a trial judge might impose a sentence of one, two or three years, he makes the penalty read "from one to twenty years" and leaves it to the discretion of the State Board of Clemency to determine when the prisoner shall be released. The result is that many prisoners are serving much longer sentences than formerly for the same offense. Furthermore, the laws of the state prevent the employment of prisoners except in the manufacture of such products as can be used by the state government and its political subdivisions. The result is idleness and unrest. In recent years there has been an epidemic of prison revolts, uprisings, mutinies and escapes in many HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY - 299 states. The situation in the Ohio Penitentiary in the spring of 1930 was similar to that of a periodical volcano threatening to erupt. At six o'clock in the evening of April 21, 1930 there was an alarm of fire within the walls. The roof of cell blocks G and H, in the southwest corner of the prison, was ablaze. Warden Preston E. Thomas, with the burden of long weeks of rumored outbreak, thought first of preventing the escape of his charges. The fire department was called, the United States military post was asked for help and the National Guard called on for militia. After directing the release of prisoners in the cell house, the warden went outside to direct the stationing of guards to prevent escapes and protect the community. In the meantime there was delay in opening the cells. The fire quickly burned the dry wood under the slate roof and the heavy smoke, unable to escape upward, came down and suffocated the prisoners caged and helpless in the cells. Three hundred and twenty of them lost their lives. The survivors were temporarily cowed but soon became unruly. To restore order and preserve discipline it was necessary to invoke the military forces of the state and the Penitentiary was under the command of Colonel Robert Haubrick, with the 166th Regiment of Infantry, for a month afterward. Even with this strong display of force, a company of prisoners camped in the prison yard, burned their tents before the eyes of the soldiers. The State Fire Marshal has determined that this fire was not caused by defective electric wiring nor by spontaneous combustion. The inference left is that it was of incendiary origin and contrived by the prisoners themselves. If so, it was a plot that foiled itself. Under the stress of great public excitement there was much criticism of the conduct of the warden. The prisoners demanded his removal. It was claimed that he should have rushed to the rescue of the inmates in danger without regard to any other consideration. Cooler reflection has satisfied most of the critics that the warden, by so doing, would have played into the hands of the conspirators and sacrificed himself uselessly. The action of Governor Cooper, in firmly refusing to relieve the warden from duty, even temporarily, is the best official answer to all complaints. The period since the close of the World War has been one of financial and industrial depression throughout the nation, in which Frank-