S

HELBY County's part in the World's War has been played so recently and that part is so well known in our own community, that the records of that service need no present introduction. It is the future generations that will find the greatest interest in this book. With the passing of the years the splendid efforts of the editors of Shelby County in the World War will find a true appreciation, for in peace as well as war, distance lends enchantment.

The task undertaken by Mr. Davis, Mr. Rominger, Mr. Akenhead, Mr. Root and others, while covering but a fraction of the whole stupendous efforts of our Government and people in this mighty conflict just ended, is and was

an enormous one.

When we remember that America contributed an armed force in army, navy, marine corps and other branches of the service, numbering four million eight hundred thousand

men;

That of this number Illinois, ranking as the third state in the Union, furnished six and sixty-eight hundreds per cent, and Shelby County her fair proportionate part;

That America sent two million eighty-six thousand men overseas, and that among that number were included approximately eight hundred of the best boys our county afforded;

When we keep in mind the further fact that one million three hundred ninety thousand American boys fought in France, and that Shelby's contingent answered roll call preliminary to going over the top there;

When we recall that American troops fought in thirteen battles, participating for nineteen months in this mighty world's conflict, in three hundred days of actual fighting;

And when we are told that there are over fifty thousand American battle deaths, two hundred thirty-six thousand wounded, fifty-six thousand nine hundred ninety-one deaths from disease, and that over sixty of Shelby's sons made the big sacrifice, in addition to those who were wounded and maimed;

And that in every phase of every activity our own home boys took part, we can appre

ciate the labors that have made this book possible.

While this portion of the part that Shelby County took in the World War is the most important and embraces the real and the heroic sacrifice and service, still that is not all. Mingled with the over twenty-three billions of money that this war cost our country was a portion of the wealth of this county.

Not alone was money contributed, but work and service in numberless other activities were also freely and fully given. So the home service, in all its varied branches, also finds place in this book.

To ferret out this entire record, to ascertain, collate and record the cold facts has been a tax on the ingenuity, the capacity and the patriotism of the editors of this book. Then to illustrate and make charming its pages has brought into splendid use the artistic capacity, taste and training of our home artists, Mr. Akenhead and Mr. Root.

In its pages you will find the pulsations of thousands of loyal hearts who left home and fireside and loved ones at their country's call. An accurate record of the activities of these boys is given. Back of the boys and their homes is the record of the supporting loyalty of the citizenship of the county. I am reminded, however, that these lines are written only for the purpose of introducing and not reviewing the contents of these pages.

To you, my dear reader, without apology and in the firm belief that these pages merit your careful reading for your own as well as for your community's good, and with the expectation that in future years this book may become in a manner a text-book of a great crisis in our home affairs and the history of the way in which our country met and answered it, I present Shelby County in the World War.

Yours truly,

Matthe

Shelbyville, Ill., Dec. 1, 1919.