The War Mothers' Organization in Elmore County

On September 29, 1917, an organization called American War Mothers, consisting of the mothers who had sons and daughters in the service of the nation in the army and navy fighting for us and world peace, was started by a band of patriotic women headed by Mrs. Alice M. French of Indianapolis.

The object of the association was to affiliate mothers of sons and daughters who served the country in any way in the world war against Germany to help those men win the war, to sympathize with and aid each other in time of distress and anxiety, and at the close of the war to become an honorary body of mothers who gave of their own blood and energy for the country's honor and the world's peace and for service as local needs demand. It is the only organization strictly of mothers in the country and its membership is numbered in the thousands. Most of the states are in the organization. It is incorporated with a national charter. The petition asking congress for a charter limited it to twenty years. Each state is a chapter, with county units, and officered to be in harmony with the national organization.

It is on a firm basis both from the standpoint of organization and service. It has sometimes been confused with an organization which started some time earlier, called the "War Mothers of America," which accepted all relations and which asked for a national charter, and was refused in February, 1919 on the grounds of inconsistency. On March 27, the executive committee met in Toledo, Ohio, and decided to relinquish that name and reorganize at a later date.

Idaho belongs to the American War Mothers and is well organized, having units in most of the counties, which are working as local needs demand. From letters written by Mrs. D. W. Standrod, of Pocatello.

The Elmore County Chapter of American War Mothers was organized at Mountain Home, March 4th, 1919, the national constitution was accepted as that of the local chapter and the following officers were elected: War Mother, Mrs. M. E. Longfellow, Mountain Home; First Vice War Mother, Mrs. Clara Minier, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Second Vice War Mother, Mrs. Jenny Casey, Mountain Home; Secretary Mrs. Mary Bumgarner, Mountain Home; Treasurer, Mrs. A. Lahtinen, Mountain Home; Historian, Mrs. C. E. Mason, Mountain Home.

The War Mothers early decided to honor the boys who served in this great war by some form of memorial. This magazine giving a very short sketch of each one from a report could be received is a part of the memorial and the funds derived from the sale of the magazine will be used in another form of memorial.

September 20 the War Mothers served dinner and supper at the Standard Opera House to all soldiers of the county and their wives or sweethearts. On this day the boys were presented with certificates of honor from the County Commissioners.

Mrs. M. E. Longfellow attended the first state convention held at Pocatello in June, 1919.

In October, 1919 the following officers were elected:

War Mother – Mrs. Frank Barrett
First Vice War Mother – Mrs. John Black
Second Vice War Mother – Mrs. Josephine Robertson, Glenns Ferry
Secretary – Mrs. Amanda Ashby
Treasurer – Mrs. A. Lahtinen
Historian – Mrs. C. E. Mason
Corresponding Secretary – Mrs. H. H. Eaton

On November 11th of the same year the War Mothers celebrated Armistice Day with program and refreshments and assisted with the Memorial Day service on May 30th, 1920.

In October the officers elected were as follows:

War Mother, Mrs. M. E. Longfellow; First Vice War Mother, Mrs. W. S. White; Second Vice War Mother, Mrs. J. Robertson; Secretary, Mrs. Amanda Ashby; Treasurer, Mrs. Anna Lahtinen; Historian, Mrs. C. E. Mason; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. H. H. Eaton.

November 11th the War Mothers assisted the American Legion in preparing a program for the afternoon and served supper in the evening giving the proceeds to the Legion.

Following is a list of the members of Elmore County War Mothers:

Mrs. Millie E. Longfellow, Mrs. Clara B. Minier, Mrs. J. H. Casey, Mrs. Edward Bumgarner, Mrs. A. Lahtinen, Mrs. Amanda Ashby, Mrs. Frank Englehart, Mrs. Watson Stafford, Mrs. R. Field, Mrs. C. Tyler, Mrs. M. Tobin, Mrs. C. E. Mason, Mrs. William Callaway, Mrs. Thos. Trathen, Mrs. Flora Simmons, Mrs. F. A. Collins, Mrs. G. A. Herder, Mrs. L. Schook, Mrs. Nora Isaacs, Mrs. H. H. Eaton, Mrs. Elizabeth Peake, Mrs. Emily Pence, Mrs. W. S. White. Mrs. J. W Rowett, Mrs. John Black, A. W. James, Mrs. J. Robertson, Mrs. Mary O'Neill, Mrs. A. M. Pierce, Mrs. R. Bennett, Mrs. Riddle, Mrs. Ethel Hering, Mrs. Nancy Price, Mrs. A. A. White, Mrs. B. P. Thompson, Mrs. Lena Hartman, Mrs. Mattie Latty, Mrs. J. H. Hughes, Mrs. G. H. Shrum, Mrs. Anna Hiler, Mrs. Lon Prince, Mrs. Pearl Shock, and Mrs. Maud Still.

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