On September 26, 1917, more than 8,000 meals were served on the grounds of the Nodaway County Courthouse, honoring county men who had been drafted in August for World War I training at Camp Funston (now Fort Riley) in Kansas. The crowd in town was estimated at 15,000. The men then went to the Burlington Station, where the Burlington had dispatched 2 cars to take them. 220 Nodaway men had been drafted and passed their physicals in the August draft and were not exempted from service. The draftees went in waves through October for training, and each wave had its festivities, but none were as grand as the Sept. 26 event.
My aunt, who would have been 5 at the time, talked about how she got caught up in the excitement and ran down the track, throwing flowers. She said she never realized what she was cheering for and contrasted it to a more somber visit when they drove to St. Joseph during World War II just to see my dad pass through on a train.
Most histories say that the Spanish Flu, which killed more people than the War (as many as 100 million in the flu vs. 23 million in the war) started its worldwide spread at Camp Funston.
The AI colorized/enhanced image is from the Nodaway Countians in History photos at the Maryville Daily Forum Aug 18, 1973. The caption refers to Nov. 1, 1917 but it was September.
Weekly Democrat-Forum and Maryville Tribune(Maryville, MO) Sepember 27, 1927
SET A NEW MARK OVER 8,000 WERE SERVED AT FAREWELL BARBECUE. SOME TEARFUL GOODBYES Bet the Men Who Went Were Cheerful and Jolly in Anticipation of Service for Uncle Sam. (From Thursday’s Daily)
Maryville set a new mark yesterday in entertaining crowds and established a precedent that is most gratifying to the citizens and business people who made the big farewell reception and barbecue possible. With a conservative estimate that 15,000 people came to tell the men of the new army goodbye, the largest crowd that has ever gathered here, there was not an arrest for any cause, not a drunken person was seen on the streets. No accident of any consequence was reported. There was no hitch in the program, and every event was on schedule.
The committee in charge of the barbecue says that over 8,000 people were served from the tables in the courthouse yard. 9,000 plates were purchased, and less than 1,000 remained after the barbecue. Many also had two helpings on a single plate. There was plenty of meat for all, but the pickles and potatoes were exhausted for the last five hundred who came. Hundreds ate at restaurants or brought their lunches.
It had been the intention of the parade committee to traverse several streets before going to the depot, but, owing to the men having to be checked over by the draft board members, they were prevented from joining the parade until just in time to be directed to the depot. There were some touching scenes at the station as mothers, sisters, and relatives said their final goodbyes, with tears in the eyes of many onlookers as they watched the partings. The men themselves, however, were cheerful and jolly and indulged in jokes and laughed at the tears that were being shed for them.’
Not a man appeared downcast over prospects of a trip to the trenches and the chances for his safe return.’ They were a fine-looking lot of young men and looked fit for service in the cause in which they had enlisted. As the train containing the two special cars in which they were sent to St. Joseph pulled out of the yards, arms and heads came out of windows in response to a hearty cheer and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs from the three thousand persons who were there.
The biggest part of the success of the farewell barbecue was due to the various towns in the county that sent the crowds. The people of Barnard are due special mention for the magnificent manner in which they turned out and cooperated with Maryville. A large share of credit is also due to the Women’s Relief Corps, Spanish and Civil War veterans, and the Boy Scouts. It was a day worthwhile for all concerned, and many of the men who went away were unanimous in agreeing that it had given them much pleasure and encouragement for the work that lies before them.
