PROF. RALPH D. CONKLING, MUSICIAN

 

Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Conkling, Tekamah

 

PROF. CONKLING is a musical genius as well as a teacher. He originated the idea of arranging the big siren whistle on the electric light plant, so that he could play any tune on it by manipulating the lever to the escape valve.

  It was commented on by the daily press all over the world. Mr. Conkling was called to several outside cities to fix their siren whistles, but could not equal the Tekamah siren of special make. The Tekamah Herald in its write-up of the armistice celebration comments in part as follows:

  "When news reached there at 4 A. M., then bells and whistles started to spread the joyful tiding of peace. A more beautiful dawn of the morn of world peace could not have been wished, clear and calm, as the great red light of the rising sun began to appear. The strains of America, and the doxology were played by Prof. Ralph Conkling on the giant siren, which produced a wonderful effect; families 10 miles in the country heard the glad tiding and reported it back by phone, the whole city and surrounding country for miles were awakened by the musical dramatic event, coming as it were from a clear sky. At intervals through the day when thousands were on the streets celebrating and well into the night, Prof. Conkling would render patriotic tunes such as "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow," "The Star Spangled Banner," "My Country 'tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty," reminding the joyous public of their debt of gratitude."

  Nothing did more to stimulate patriotic sentiment in this community than Prof. Ralph D. Conkling's music on the siren whistle.

 

 

Page 127

 

 

THE CRAIG HOME GUARDS

THE Craig Home Guards were mustered into service April 6, 1918. The officers elected were B. H. Eby, Captain; H. H. Linn, 1st lieutenant; W. T. Minier, 2nd lieutenant; later Lieut. Linn entered the National Army, and W. T. Minier was promoted to first lieutenant, and A. A. Danielson was made 2nd lieutenant. For a time the company did some guard duty about elevators and railroad yards. They also erected a flag pole for the city on General Pershing's birthday. The company was mustered out January 6, 1919.

 

 

 

Following is the roster:

B. H. Eby, Captain.

Oscar Dahlquist

M. Jensen

H. H. Linn, 1st Lieut.

Ray Davis

C. J. Whitney

W. T. Minier, 2nd LieuL

Rex Davis

Roy McPherson

Sergeants

W. J. Drury

Harold Nelson

W. H. Drury

Dewey Hancock

Chas. M. Thompson, 1st Sergt.

Axel Ericksen

H. Jones

H. Cooper, Medical Sergeant.

Theo. Ericksen

L. G. Hamilton

J. D. Cordon, Supply Sergt.

Grant Freeman

S. R. King

L. H. Smith, Bugler.

Illes Frary

E. E. Lewton

W. F. Cramer.

Ira Goodsell

E. J. Martin

Fred O. Wheeler, Color Sergt.

Glen Isaacson

T. I. Minier

Corporals

Oliver Johnson

J. S. McDonald

Francis Lang

H. V. McPherson

F. O. Carlson

Arthur Lee

T. T. Plummer

W. M. Smith

W. W. Lester

R. F. Whitney

R. H. Thurber

A. Leander

S. C. Wolfe

Roy Carlson

L. Mallette

A. T. Wolfe

Harry Healea

S. Mallette

Duke Conklin

Geo. Raver

T. J. Matheny

J. J. Bennett

Privates

A. F. Matter

G. A. Blackstone

Rex Allen

H. B. McPherson

Geo. Lester

Irwin Allen

L. H. McMullin

John Friis

Oscar Bunderson

D. Patrick

M. E. Wilcox

R. A. Brokaw

Walter Pond

W. H. Eby

A. L. Burke

Chas. Riley

J. C. Kerns

Ira Baines

L. Patterson

L. C. Kerns

Vanor Cannady

H. B. Smith

R. Larson

Aug. Carlson

G. W. Smith

Glen Langford

Aaron O. Carlson

D. C. Snow

Lee Langford

Gene Chilstrom

E. A. Snow

C. H. Conklin

H. T. Constable

C. A. Stewart

Kenneth Clark

Jno. Corbin

H. Struthers

A. L. McPherson

F. O. Clark

A. Thompson

T. A. Minier

 

Page 128

 

 

THE DECATUR HOME GUARD

THE company was organized December 15, 1917, when the following officers were chosen: E. Dudley Beck, captain; J. G. Ashley, 1st lieutenant; M. Skalovsky, 2nd lieutenant; R. N. Ashley, 1st sergeant; D. C. Calnon, color sergeant; Bernard Penny, bugler; and Rev. A. M. Bracewell, chaplain. Its purpose was to protect property and to render assistance in the vicinity of Decatur where necessary. The community being 100 per cent American, it had little to do except to guard elevators on river front, and demand identification of strangers crossing the river by skifs or Ferry boat; probably the greatest benefit performed by the conpany (sic) was assistance in the harvest fields where the usual help had entered the army service. The guards were all willing to perform any duty assigned.

Following is the roster:

T. R. Ashley

Fred Rodman

O. L. Richards

Dr. E. A. Sears

Henry Abdosh

E. F. Elliott

B. L. Redding

Frank Stillman

Ira Austin

Sherman Elliott

Edward W. Kellogg

F. M. Stillman

Harry Ashley

S. H. Elliott

Harry Kellogg

Geo. Schmiedeskamp

G. H. Busse

Geo. B. Eagelton

Dr. W. J. Luxford

Harry A. Sears

Walter Ball

Wm. R. Eagelton

John Leslie

Theo. Stephenson

Lee Byers

Carl Funkhouser

Guy Lambert

Geo. H. Thoma

H. D. Byram

Eugene Fontenelle

L. D. Lambert

Dr. A. L. Van Gordon

Rev. A. M. Bracewell, chaplain.

Mike Farhat

Dudley Lockhart

James B. White

A. P. Fiscus

Chas. Mitchell

Stewart Walker

John M. Brown

Wm. Fredricks

Lee Murphy

Harry Willey

Geo. E. Brewer

Lee D. Farber

A. J. Miller

Hiriam Walters

Jno. T. Choyce

Mike Faber

H. S. Magee

R. E. Walters

Rev. Charles S. Calkins

Fred Faber

L. H. Murphy

Emil Y'Deen

Frank E. Chase

Newton Frarry

George Murphy

James Akins

E. D. Cox

Hugh Gallop

Bryan Murphy

Thos. Taylor

Carl Chapman

Ray L. Grosvenor

Glenn Majors

Oriville Brewer

Webster Caster

Chas. Guitar

T. Mayberry

Dr. L. M. Walker

Geo. Carruthers

A. R. Goddard

Chas J. McKee

James Miner

Guy Conneally

Lee Hanson

O. M. Miles

Rev. C. C. Goltry

Elmer F. Darling

E. A. Hanson

Martin C. Neary

Elby M. Neary

C. C. Dimmick

Lee B. Higgins

Jno. Neme

Roy Anson

Victor E. Dolpher

Sam Harris

L. C. Phipps

Fred Drier

E. L. Donohoe

Theo. Hennig

F. F. Parker

A. J. Brinley

Mitchell, Dick

E. L. Johnson

Walter S. Parson

E. G. Page

Leroy Dimmick

H. C. King

Fred Phellps

Carl Young

H. T. Kellog

Geo. F. Rasch

Page 129

   

 

Produced for NEGenWeb, 1998, by Ted & Carole Miller