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Previous Page 143 Next serving as temporary chairman, elected the following ladies as the first officers: Mrs. L. A. Klisart, president; Mrs. Robert Lusk, vice president; Mrs. F. A. Figge, treasurer; and Miss Mabel Johnson, secretary. The charter members, all present, were these ten ladies: Mrs. Klisart, Mrs. R. Lusk, Mrs. Louis Holder, Mrs. G. R. Nicholson, Miss Victoria Meyer, Mrs. J. A. Hav-irland, Mrs. E. J. Gilbert, Mrs. F. A. Figge, Miss Edith Dessel and Mabel Johnson. A recruiting drive resulted in increasing the membership to 59 by the end of the year. However, the initial enthusiasm soon waned, and the following year only 30 ladies remained in the auxiliary. The goals listed for this organization were: to cement the ties between Legionaires and their growing families; to remember our boys who are in hospitals; to place wreaths on the graves of all soldiers in the community's four cemeteries; and to instill, in the minds of our children, awareness of their responsibility to continue these duties. These objectives have been faithfully implemented over the years by making and placing wreaths; selling poppies, furnished by disabled veterans; sending cards and gifts to ill and handicapped former servicemen; holding social and fund-raising events; and many other worthy activities. The current (1981) membership of the Auxiliary is seventy three. ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR A chapter of the Order of Eastern Star was formed at Ossian on April 27, 1921. This affiliate of the Masonic Lodge was to remain active into the early 1960s. The following were the original officers;
Five hundred members of the Knights of Columbus gathered at Figge Hall on the occasion of the local chapter's third initiation. Forty three candidates were admitted to the order. A banquet was served at the opera house after completion of the degree work. A program of oratory and music followed the dinner with Dr. J. P. Schneberger serving as toastmaster. Memorial Day services were held in the opera house on May 30, 1921. Following the ceremony, a parade marched to St. Francis and Hillside cemeteries. The order of march was: marshal of the day; color guard; Ossian band; firing squad; buglers; legionaires; flower girls; women's auxiliary; clergymen; gold star wives and mothers; civil war veterans; women's relief corps; boy scouts; school children; mayor and council members; fire department; community club; and citizens. Editor Schmitz commended the legion post and auxiliary for the most extensive observance of Memorial Day ever held at Ossian. Automobile prices are on the decline this year. A. F. Dessel advertises his Studebakers from $1125 to $2950; Henry Dessel lists Fords in a range of $295 to S660; Bullard Bros, offer Buicks for $935 to $2635. Editor Schmitz reports that he and Mrs. Schmitz rode to Spillville in the Dr. Juen auto, with Mrs. Juen at the wheel. An evening thundershower made their return crip very precarious on slippery mud roads. He writes: "Mrs. Juen is a mighty good driver, and to say that a woman is a good driver is a point we have always refused co concede. But like all wise men, we've changed our mind..." The teachers at the public school this year were: B. Eyestone, superintendent; Lela Curran, principal; Lois Curran, domestic science; Isabel Brown, intermediate; Loretto McGary, grammar; and Minnie Christianson, primary. | ||||||||||||||||||
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