Looking back: They used to call it ‘Armistice Day’

From Journal Standard.com: Looking back: They used to call it ‘Armistice Day’
The identity of this man is being sought. Is this really William Hobart Lebkicker?

Freeport, Ill. — We have a mystery here. Does anyone know who William Hobart Lebkicker was?

Dianne Jacobs of Shannon would like to know — and if he has any descendants in the area — so she can solve the mystery and present them with a book and some photographs.

Dianne’s late mother, Clara Rockey, had purchased at an auction, the book, “Honor Roll of the Great War, Stephenson County 1917-1919.” She found among the pages a group of photos, all unmarked, but apparently, of the same man.

The book is a listing of men from Stephenson County who served in World War I. An introduction explains, however, that it is not a complete listing as some people did not respond to requests for information. But the name of William Lebkicker is notated in ink, the only one so marked.

The book was compiled by Emil A. Hoefer and his office assistant, Vera (Mrs. Edwin) Scott from a questionnaire which had been distributed.

According to the book more than 1300 men, plus 10 women, from Stephenson County served in the various branches of the United States military service or organizations such as the Red Cross and YMCA. “The History of Stephenson County 1970” gives all the statistics on how many served in each branch of the service. We’re told that four of the 10 women who served were with the Red Cross, two as Army nurses, and one each as librarian, yeowoman, the Hospital Corps, and the YMCA.

Fifty-one men from the county gave their lives in that war, listed in the book as “Gold Star Men of Stephenson County.” A few died of the influenza which was rampant during that time. Wilbur Thomas Rawleigh, son of Freeport’s famed and legendary industrialist, W.T. Rawleigh, is said to be one of those flu victims. The band shell in Freeport’s Krape Park was given by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Koenig in his memory. Mrs. Koenig was the soldier’s sister. Also, Wilbur Park in Freeport, provided by W.T. himself, was named for the son.

The U.S. Enters the Fray

United States involvement in that war began when Congress declared war against Germany on April 6, 1917. Germany had declared War on Russia and France in the summer of 1914 and had invaded Belgium on Aug. 4 , 1914, the same day England declared war on Germany. Thus the Great War began, states the World War documentary.

After the U.S. Declaration of War, the book states, President Woodrow Wilson called for volunteers “and immediately, in Stephenson County, as in all parts of America, great numbers of young men volunteered. Because of the need for several million men, and because it was a more democratic method of raising vast armies, the Selective Service Act was passed May 18, 1917. June 26 the first American troops reached France, and clashed first with German soldiers Nov. 8.”

The 1970 county history gives a lengthy account of Stephenson County’s involvement in that war with names named and personal accounts from various soldiers who fought in it. It tells of the great response by people here in the war effort. The county joined in every national war effort, it says. Women entered the various programs to that end, some taking jobs at Stover Manufacturing . The Henney Motor Co. made an ambulance for the Western front paid for by local high school students with money they had earned. All kinds of supportive things were being done.

But there was a negative side on the local scene. Dissension arose here “at home” due to the strong feelings against the German nation at the time. German residents were labeled as “aliens” and the history states if they were not “naturalized,” they were required to register in Freeport, be finger-printed and provide four photographs of themselves. “It was an emotional time.”

The German Bank changed its name to the Stephenson County Bank and the Board of Education of Freeport District 145 voted to abolish the teaching of German. The newspapers reported almost daily acts of vandalism and harassment against the citizens of German origin.

The resentment must have ended though and sanity restored when the Armistice was signed and the guns silenced, as “Freeport and the county went mad. Bands played and people paraded.” Lena citizens loaded some 55 cars and “toured neighboring towns in sheer jubilation.” For a year returning veterans were greeted with celebrations. It was over and they didn’t come back until it was over over there, to quote a popular song of that era.

From that war, which became known as “The Great War,” the one “to end all wars,” was derived “Armistice Day,” to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. But as we know, the national holiday was appropriately re-named “Veterans Day” in 1954 to include all the nation’s military veterans. And soon we’ll be observing that holiday.

Now Who Was Pvt. Lebkicker?

Now, back to the mystery we referred to in the beginning. We’d like to know if anyone knew William Lebkicker. His name is marked in ink in the book, the only one so noted. A number of photographs, unmarked in any way but obviously of the same man, were found in the book by Diann Jacobs. She has to assume since that name was the only one marked among the long listing of veterans that the pictures are of him.

The notation with his name states that the soldier was “a 1st class Private, 28th Co., R.T.C. , Enlisted, Feb. 27, 1919, at Freeport, discharged July 17, 1919, at Camp Grant” (in Rockford). The listing states he served overseas for 13 months.

If anyone does have any information regarding Private William Lebkicker, we’d like to hear from them. Also, if you have a chance, and are interested, we’d recommend your getting hold of the 1970 county history and reading through that account of World War I. It’s really quite revealing of a war that seems to be fading into oblivion and deserves more.