A Major Force for Good

A Major Force For Good The Continuing History of Gleaner Life Insurance Society

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A Major Force for Good: The Continuing History of Gleaner Life Insurance Society

© Copyright 2021 by Gleaner Life Insurance Society All rights reserved

Acknowledgments Two women made it possible to write a history of Gleaner Life Insurance Society.

Mabel Clare Ladd was employed by the Society in 1903 and retired more than a half century later. After reviewing the early records, she compiled several accounts of Gleaner history including a loose-leaf notebook in 1963 called “Historic Highlights.” Her foresight preserved many historical records.

Lola Leonard was President R.G. Ransford’s administrative assistant. After Ladd’s retirement she became the keeper of the Society’s records. Without her loving care, much would have been lost.

Working from their preservation efforts, Society historian Victor C. Wood wrote “Thoughtful for the Future” (1993) and “A Major Force for Good” (2005). Wood died on Sept. 10, 2013, at his home in Wetzel County, West Virginia. His insights into the past continue to help educate future members of Gleaner Life Insurance Society.

Contents INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 One — The Ancient Order of Gleaners............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Grant Hiram Slocum.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The Panic of 1893......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Populist Revolt...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Second Effort......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The Rituals....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Two — The Early Years.............................................................................................................................................................................................................17 Years of Rapid Growth..............................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Three — The Gleaner Newspaper.......................................................................................................................................................................................29 Four — Benevolence, Protection, Fraternity.................................................................................................................................................................37 The Gleaner Cooperative Union...........................................................................................................................................................................................37 The Bureau of Information and Assistance.......................................................................................................................................................................38 The Gleaner Clearing House Association..........................................................................................................................................................................38 The Gleaner State Savings Bank...........................................................................................................................................................................................44 Rural Rest Rooms.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................45 The First World War....................................................................................................................................................................................................................47 The Gleaner Identification Medal.........................................................................................................................................................................................48 The Gleaner Cooperative Mutual Fire Insurance Company........................................................................................................................................49 The Gleaner Fresh Air Society................................................................................................................................................................................................51 The Gleaner Amusement Company....................................................................................................................................................................................51 Rural Free Delivery, Parcel Post and Better Roads..........................................................................................................................................................52 The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918-1919............................................................................................................................................................................54 The Gleaner Home for The Aged..........................................................................................................................................................................................55 Five — The Roaring Twenties...............................................................................................................................................................................................60 Six — Troubled Times.................................................................................................................................................................................................................69 The Great Depression...............................................................................................................................................................................................................69 The Calm Before the Storm: 1939-1941.............................................................................................................................................................................73 The Storm.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................74 The 1941 Biennial Convention..............................................................................................................................................................................................75 The Second World War.............................................................................................................................................................................................................75 Seven — Recovery........................................................................................................................................................................................................................81 Richard George Ransford........................................................................................................................................................................................................81 A New Home for The Society.................................................................................................................................................................................................81 A New Spirit of Fraternalism..................................................................................................................................................................................................83 Eight — Growth and Development.....................................................................................................................................................................................89 A New Home in Adrian, Michigan........................................................................................................................................................................................89 New Directions............................................................................................................................................................................................................................91 Nine — Into the 21st Century................................................................................................................................................................................................97 Ten — An Adaptive Society..................................................................................................................................................................................................103 Eleven — Honoring the Gold Star Gleaners.................................................................................................................................................................113 Twelve — Gleaner Photo Albums.....................................................................................................................................................................................135 Appendix........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................151

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Appendix Officers: 1894-2021............................................................................................................................................................................................151 Presidents............................................................................................................................................................................................................151 Vice Presidents...................................................................................................................................................................................................151 Assistant Vice Presidents................................................................................................................................................................................152 Secretaries...........................................................................................................................................................................................................152 Assistant Secretaries........................................................................................................................................................................................152 Treasurers............................................................................................................................................................................................................153 Board of Directors 1894-2021......................................................................................................................................................................153 Fraternal Officers 1894-2021.......................................................................................................................................................................154 Conventions..........................................................................................................................................................................................................160 Assets.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................162 Surplus.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................163 Insurance in Force.............................................................................................................................................................................................164 Arbors......................................................................................................................................................................................................................165 Scholarship Report............................................................................................................................................................................................167

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Introduction

People have always been drawn together by common interests. The cave men lived together in tribes in order to provide for defense against the sabre tooth tiger and the mastodon. As civilization developed, people gathered together in villages for protection, and eventually created nation-states based on a common language. It was and is a natural thing to do. Fraternal societies are simply a higher form of “gathering together” of people with common interests and ideals.

rapidly in the 1700s because of the industrial revolution, and soon became a major force in English social and political life. They were so important Parliament began to regulate their activities in 1793. The largest of these was the International Order of Odd Fellows (Manchester Unity) and the Ancient Order of Foresters. The first American Odd Fellows lodge was founded in 1819, followed by the Foresters in 1832. The Improved Order of the Redmen, an American fraternal society related to the pre-revolutionary Sons of Liberty, was founded in 1834.

The first fraternal societies similar to the ones we know today were the so-called “Friendly Societies” in England in the 1500s. They were craft guilds, designed to regulate the conditions of employment and to offer financial and medical help in time of need. The friendly societies grew

A remarkable increase in the number of fraternal societies providing life insurance took place following the Civil War (1861-1885). Privately-owned insurance companies, called “old line” companies, were not regulated by 1

First Supreme Council Members

Grant Hiram Slocum Founder and Gleaner’s first Supreme Secretary, developed Gleaner principles, rituals and motto and goals.

Dr. John M. Ealy Trained as a doctor but became a banker and served 24 years as the Supreme Treasurer for Gleaner.

Joseph J. England The first Chief Gleaner and a leading farm stock breeder, he and Slocum both had Oct. 12 birthdays.

Benjamin F. Eayrs The first Vice Chief Gleaner, a prominent farmer and enthusiastic supporter before his death in 1899.

Dr. Sherman F. Chase, M.D. The first Supreme Medical Examiner and is credited with choosing the word “arbor” to describe local Gleaner organizations.

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government and often failed to provide promised benefits. Some of the companies went bankrupt, leaving their policy holders without protection, and most of the time without their premiums. People came to believe fraternal societies were safer and less expensive places to buy insurance. They had the added advantage of providing a satisfactory social relationship with friends and neighbors.

horse-drawn carriage or, occasionally, by steamboat. No one had ever flown in a powered airplane. Experiments with the automobile were just beginning. Electricity was still a curiosity, so much so some refused to have it installed in their homes for fear it caused sickness.

Medical care was primitive by today’s standards and the death rate was high, particularly among children.

Rural America was semi-isolated. Roads were muddy tracks leading from the farms to small towns up around railroad sidings. Courthouses were located in the center of counties kept small enough to allow residents to travel there and back in one day.

The Elks lodge was started in 1868; the Maccabees in 1881; Modern Woodmen of America in 1883; the Loyal Order of Moose in 1888; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 1898. There were others, but many did not survive the first world war.

In 1894 the scientific miracles of the 20th century were not envisioned even by the most enlightened people.

Farming was carried out as it had been for centuries with the exception of some improvements in horsedrawn plows and harvesters. Telephones were few and far between, located almost exclusively in the cities.

Communication was by means of the mail and telegraph, and the latter was not available everywhere. Fortunately, newspapers were printed in every town of any size. The “weeklies” kept rural America in touch with the rest of the country.

The Grange was the first large fraternal society of farmers.

Organized in Washington, D.C., in 1868, the Grange grew rapidly until there were 858,000 members by 1876. The Grange became an effective voice for farmers, organizing cooperative enterprises and pressing farm issues in the Congress and state legislatures. Despite that, membership began to decline in the 1870s over issues concerning the rituals and charges that the organization had been used by politicians for their own purposes. By 1889 membership had dropped 87% to 107,000. Growth resumed in the 1900s but was concentrated primarily in New York state and Pennsylvania.

Despite that, rural America was a vibrant, constantly changing place. The Ancient Order of Gleaners was born during a period of economic, cultural, and political upheaval. The frontier period was coming to a close and forces were at work which would change the country forever.

In the latter part of the 1800s, the Grange increasingly spoke for more conservative farmers. The society tended to avoid involvement in the political process just as farmers became more politically active. The decline of the Grange helped make the Ancient Order of Gleaners a success.

For all the above reasons it is impossible to write about Gleaner history except in the context of American history.

Born during the Panic of 1893, the Society existed during two world wars and three lesser ones, several pandemics and depressions including the Great Depression of the 1930s, and adjusted to the incredible changes brought about during the 20th century. Through it all the Society stayed true to its motto, Prudens Futuri (“Thoughtful for the future”).

A total of 200,000 people may have held membership in the Gleaner society over the next 95 years. Perhaps as many as 10 million were members of all fraternal societies when the movement was at its high point late in the 1800s and early 1900s. It was not the number of members, however, that make the history of the fraternals important and interesting. It was the mark they made, and are still making, on society.

The history of Gleaner Life Insurance Society is by itself a partial record of life in the Midwest between 1894 and the present.

The Ancient Order of Gleaners was founded when Grover Cleveland was president of the United States. When people talked about “veterans” they meant soldiers who had served in the Civil War and the Mexican War. The usual form of transportation was by railroad, horseback, 3

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Chapter One

The Ancient Order of Gleaners paving material, pioneer families hated corduroy roads and longed for another way to keep out of the mud.

William and Sarah Slocum were born in New York state and married in 1850 but, like so many others, moved west to look for a better life. Their first two children were born in Niagara County, New York, before they settled in Michigan around 1857.

The Civil War was in its third year when William was drafted. He left his wife and five children on the farm (Sarah was probably pregnant with Grant) and presumably did not return until the war ended in 1865.

The Slocum family lived a life filled with backbreaking labor and near poverty. William needed to work as a carpenter to supplement his farm income. Grant never forgot the struggle to clear the land and harvest a crop.

In his own words, he “helped cut the brush and log the land and dig out the stone and gather the roots.” They planted corn, wheat, potatoes, vegetables, and raised chickens, pigs, and beef cattle. In spite of their hard labor and painful thrift, the family did not prosper and young Grant Slocum wondered why.

Family records are scarce, but Slocum reportedly attended the rural Jones School in Rose Township where his family lived before starting at the Holly high school. He learned the basics of English, history, mathematics, and what was called “natural philosophy.”

In 1870, when Slocum started school, only two percent of America’s teenagers graduated from high school, and not many of those lived on farms. In this enlightened age, learning is recognized as a lifelong enterprise, and that certainly was true for Slocum. He became an excellent writer, accountant, public speaker, banker, and business executive.

Grant Hiram Slocum Grant Slocum was born on the family farm near Holly, Michigan, on Oct. 12, 1864. He was one of eight children born to William and Sarah A. (Coffin) Slocum.

Holly was a small town located in the heavily wooded area between Detroit and Flint. Travel was difficult in the Lower Peninsula in the 1860s. To reach the Slocum homestead from Detroit it was necessary to take the Père Marquette Railroad to Flint and then a stagecoach for the next 30 miles. The road from Flint to Holly was paved with logs to keep the carriage wheels from sinking into the mud. Those “corduroy” roads were common in rural America, but travel over them was a painful, time-consuming experience. Although trees from the surrounding forest were the only available

Slocum described himself as “red headed,” a description that might have had as much to do with his temperament as it did his physical appearance. Certainly, he had a stubborn, aggressive nature coupled with unusual intelligence and great sensitivity to the feelings of others. Even after he accumulated wealth and social 5

position, he was always called “Grant” by everyone who knew him, even his grandchildren.

“thumb” is located on Michigan’s east side surrounded

by Saginaw Bay to the west and Lake Huron to the north and east. A few months after Grant and Ada were married, he bought a half-interest in The Jeffersonian, a weekly newspaper published in Caro. The price was $3,500, a heavy debt for the young printer. He paid $400 down with the balance in the form of a note held by his partner, E.H. Streeter, who oversaw the newspaper’s mechanical aspects. Slocum was a hard worker and despite the debt he was optimistic about the future.

Grant Slocum must have decided to leave the farm for another career while he was still quite young. People, then as now, faced the fact that a family farm could not support more than one generation, and that children had to locate on their own property or seek work elsewhere. Slocum chose to become a printer, following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. On his 16th birthday, he became an apprentice to his brother and started on a career that lasted all his life.

Five years later, he had finished his apprenticeship and was employed as a foreman on The Commercial, a newspaper located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. One of his friends described him as, “A plodding printer, but not of the ordinary sort. ” The word “plodding” was a common adjective for all printers since type was set by hand, a laborious, time-consuming job. His friend recognized him as not “ordinary” because of his consuming ambition to be more than a journeyman printer working for others. By age 20, he became editor and manager of the Holly Advertiser, and the youngest newspaper editor in the state.

“The Plowman,” a picture in the Gleaner newspaper, shows the difficult task of a farmer plowing behind two horses.

During the years he was preparing for his trade, Slocum thought often about the problems of his parents on the family farm. Work as a newspaperman helped him see that their situation was not unique, but in fact was common to all those who tilled the soil. Over a period of years, he developed firm ideas about how to help the rural population to a better life.

Subscribers to The Jeffersonian were either farmers or small businessmen who depended on the farm economy.

When crop prices were good everyone prospered and when they were bad everyone suffered. Slocum became a member of the Grange, the Oddfellows, the Maccabees, the Woodmen, and the local Masonic lodge. He was soon deeply involved in civic affairs.

He believed that something was wrong with a system when someone other than farmers decided the prices for the things they bought and, at the same time, set prices for which their crops were sold. That system, he said, “kept the farmers in slavery to the trusts and the ‘middlemen’ who acted as their agents.” He believed the system kept the farmer poor to enrich those who did not produce anything for society. In fact, he said, the business trusts and their agents caused prices for food to be higher than necessary.

Caro had the benefit of two weekly newspapers. The Advertiser was the voice for the predominately Republican population. The Jeffersonian represented the Democratic political viewpoint and, soon after Slocum bought it, he changed its name to The Caro Democrat. Although Slocum successfully ran for local offices and became the first Democrat elected as clerk of his township, he was not partisan in public life. Competing newspapers normally supported opposing political viewpoints for business reasons. Many farmers shared Slocum’s populist and progressive views. Later, he would throw his support to several Republicans including Michigan gubernatorial

Slocum moved north and in 1886 he and Ada Mertz were married at her parents’ home in Caro, Michigan, a small town in the “thumb” area. If you imagine the lower peninsula of Michigan as a glove or mitten, the 6

candidates Milo D. Campbell and Herb Baker because they were farmers and Society members.

in large bulk? What if they sold at different times of the year to avoid driving down prices? If they learned to cooperate, farmers might even convince government to improve the roads.

Above his type rack at The Jeffersonian was a picture of Ruth, the heroine from the Old Testament. She was a familiar figure to someone raised in a religious family, and she became a special symbol for Slocum. Ruth represented hard work, steadfast loyalty, and the special virtues of rural living. Her picture reminded Slocum again that those virtues were seldom rewarded on the family farm.

As early as 1888, Slocum began to discuss his ideas for a fraternal society with friends and neighbors. The key to it all, he said, “was the need for cooperation.” He talked with anyone who would listen, but soon came to realize not many people were interested. Out of necessity, farmers were self-reliant, and depended only on themselves and their families. It was hard to convince them of the advantages of cooperation in raising or marketing their crops. In their minds, other farmers were competitors, not partners.

As he worked, occasionally glancing upward, an idea and a plan began to form in his mind. What would happen, he thought, if farmers joined in a great fraternal society to celebrate the ideals of Ruth the Gleaner and at the same time acted together in their own best interest?

What if they cooperated at planting time to avoid flooding the market with beans one year and wheat the next? Could they market their produce directly to the consumer to avoid the middlemen and the commission agent? Could they save money by buying common items

Slocum’s plans for a great fraternal society were put away but not forgotten. It wasn’t the last time he found himself promoting an idea ahead of its time. Among his virtues were patience and timing. Events taking place far from Caro finally gave him a more receptive audience.

The Panic of 1893 The history of the 1880s and 1890s explains a good deal about why the Gleaner movement became a success.

Economic conditions changed rapidly in the country during the late-1880s after the Panic of 1873. “Panic” was the term used in those days for recessions, often marked by panicked selling or bank withdrawals. A reduction in farm prices began as early as 1881 after wheat reached its second-highest price in decades. The country enjoyed an expansion after the Panic of 1873 when the western and northern states filled up with settlers. By 1890, the western lands were settled except for the least desirable acreage and the economic stimulation created by western migration came to an end. The government was still on the gold standard and, as a result, the amount of money in circulation did not keep up with increasing population and booming business. A shortage of money, and other factors, led to a general depression.

An estimated 8,000 businesses failed in the first months of 1893. Four hundred banks failed, most of them in the western and southern states. In the absence of federal deposit insurance, the bank failures had a further depressing effect on the economy. Cash to pay bills and transact business became very scarce. Forty-six railroads

E.H. Streeter 7

went into receivership, including the Erie, the Northern Pacific, and the Southern Pacific. U.S. workers suffered as badly as businesses. Estimated state unemployment rates jumped as high as 35% in New York and 45% in Michigan. In Detroit, crowds gathered with cries at the city Board of Public Works building shouting, “Bread or blood!” Detroit Mayor Hazen Pingree turned city lots into community vegetable gardens.

A survey taken of 700 farms in one eastern state revealed that average net farm income was $167 per year. At the same time immigrant factory workers were paid one dollar per day or about $300 per year when they could find work. One history of the period said there was one mortgage for each two residents of the state of Kansas.

The Populist Revolt Farmers began to change their attitudes about political and economic independence. The combination of depressed crop prices, mortgage foreclosures, and the end of the American frontier led to what became known as the “Populist Revolt.” The most important of several new political groups was the Farmers Alliance.

There were two groups, the National Farmers Alliance representing northern and northwest areas, and the Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union in the South. They believed farmers suffered from economic discrimination that denied them prosperity. Their targets were the railroads, the bankers, and the manufacturers who, they said, were robbing them of the product of their labor.

The farmers and the unions were in favor of increasing the money supply while those who held mortgages were afraid “cheap money” would rob them through inflation.

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Creation of Parcel Post by the federal government.

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Adoption of the secret (Australian) ballot.

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A graduated income tax.

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Adoption of the procedure called “initiative and petition” by which citizens could initiate new laws or repeal old ones.

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Shorter hours for factory workers.

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The direct election of U.S. senators.

The Second Effort In 1890, Slocum bought out his partner in the Democrat and years later renamed it The Courier. During this period, he became interested in self-insurance programs for farmers.

He was acquainted with Joseph J. England, a prominent Tuscola County sheep farmer. Both men served as directors for countywide fire insurance mutual companies — Slocum with the Tuscola County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and England with the mutual in Lapeer County. The success of mutual fire insurance led Slocum to wonder if a mutual life insurance company might also be possible. Life insurance offered by the old-line companies was expensive and few farmers could afford the premiums. The breakup of families when a father or mother died was a common occurrence. Life insurance, Slocum thought, could prevent

The Farmers Alliance group met with the Knights of Labor, the leading labor union, in 1892 to form the Populist Party, the first large-scale third party in American history. Also known as the People’s Party, they adopted a platform that included: Unlimited coinage of silver to increase the money supply (the “free silver” issue).

Government ownership of the railroads and the telephone and telegraph systems.

The first presidential candidate of the Populist Party was James B. Weaver of Iowa in 1892. Although defeated, he collected 22 electoral votes and more than a million popular votes. The Populists made their greatest gains in local elections and forced the major parties to re-examine the free silver issue. In 1896 the Democrats adopted a free silver platform and nominated William Jennings Bryan for president. Bryan was a Populist in fact if not in name.

As a result, the Populist Party collapsed but many of its ideas were later written into law. The Farmers Alliance also disappeared but left its mark on American history and on Grant Slocum. Many of the positions he and the Gleaner organization supported during the early years of the 20th century were based on Populist ideas. It was not easy, however, as Michigan, including the “thumb” area where Caro is located, abandoned both the Populists and the Democrats by voting for William McKinley in the election of 1896.

Economic conditions did not begin to improve until 1896, and then only slowly.

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First Gleaner offices

Burnside and North State Street Offices

those tragedies, and might provide the glue to hold a fraternal society’s families together.

In September of 1893, he discussed his ideas with Joseph England. They agreed the idea had merit and discussed it in detail during the fall. That winter, England made a trip to Great Britain to buy breeding stock for his farm.

While there, he became interested in the self-help societies common in that country. He investigated the Friendly Societies and found in their success a possible model for Slocum’s ideas. He was most interested in the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers formed in 1844 by a small group of weavers. The Rochdale Society was an outstanding success by 1890, with more than one and a half million members.

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Dr. Sherman F. Chase, a family physician practicing in Caro who, one year later, would be elected village president. He was born in Mount Gilead, Ohio, in 1849, and graduated from the Detroit Homeopathic College in 1872. No doubt Slocum invited him not only for his standing in the community but because the society needed his medical advice. Dr. Chase served as the Supreme Medical Examiner for the next 23 years. He is credited with choosing the word “arbor” to designate local Gleaner organizations.

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John M. Ealy, a partner in the banking firm of Carson, Ealy and McNair (later known as Carson and Ealy). He was born in Belleville, Pennsylvania, in 1856 and graduated from medical school in Cleveland, Ohio, but gave up his medical practice for a banking career in Caro. Dr. Ealy died in Caro in 1918. He was the Supreme Treasurer for 24 years. Gleaner offices were in the Carson and Ealy bank building from Aug. 1, 1898, to Aug. 1, 1904.

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Benjamin F. Eayrs, a prominent farmer who had moved to Tuscola County from Lenawee County in 1882. Eayrs became one of a group of enthusiastic organizers and served as a member of the Supreme Council until his early death from pneumonia during an 1899 snow storm. His efforts during the first years contributed greatly to the success of the new order.

During the winter and spring of 1893-94, Slocum worked to perfect the rituals for what was to become The Ancient Order of Gleaners (AOOG). He studied everything he could find about life insurance and a new Michigan law regulating insurance societies. In the summer of 1894, he was ready to act. He invited four men to meet at The Democrat office to review his work and to decide if an effort should be made to organize.

The four men invited to that first meeting were described as “among the most respected in Tuscola County.” They were: •

Joseph J. England, who became one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the new society. He was elected the first Chief Gleaner at the annual meeting held in December 1894. Both he and Slocum were born on Oct. 12, the date eventually chosen as the society’s official birthday. England lived until May 12, 1935, the longest of any of the founders.

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Third location, the McNair Building

Eayrs recounted a few months later at the first convention how the five men met in a corner of the printing office “using a $1.50 kitchen table” as their desk, where they discussed Slocum’s plans carefully and agreed to proceed. Once that decision was made, events moved rapidly. On Aug. 5, the first meeting of farmers was held in the England schoolhouse five miles north of Caro. Almer Arbor Number 1 was formed from the nearly 50 people who attended the meeting. Almer Arbor was later combined with June Arbor Number 9 and became known as Caro Arbor Number 1.

openly attack all secret societies. They charged they were illegitimate religious bodies because of the use of prayer and religious symbols in the rituals. Some even issued edicts warning members not to join under penalty of excommunication.

Opposition to secret societies even led to the formation of a political party. The Anti-Mason party, the first “third party” movement in the United States, appeared as Andrew Jackson was running for his second term as president in 1832. Jackson was the target of the Anti-Masons since he was a member of that organization. The party started in western New York state and left its mark by holding the first political nominating convention. In the 1850s the American or “Know Nothing” party was created by a secret society called The Order of the Star-Spangled Banner. It opposed immigration and was anti-Catholic. Both parties disappeared in short order, but secret societies continued to flourish and their critics continued to oppose them.

The Rituals

In one important way the Ancient Order of Gleaners was different from other secret groups. The success of the Society depended on recruiting large numbers of new members. Although membership was restricted to farmers, all “agriculturists” were encouraged to join.

Success meant bringing people in, not keeping them out. Slocum liked to quote the poem “Outwitted” by Edwin Markham to illustrate his point: “They drew a circle to shut me out — Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But Love and I had the wit to win; We drew a circle that took him in.”

Early Gleaner regalia used in presenting the Dramatic Degree was modeled by officers in the 1990s. Standing, left to right: Vernon Howard, Richard Livesey, Joseph Burnett, Michael Wade, Ellsworth Stout and Bill Warner. Seated: Frank Dick.

As a member of the Masons, the International Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grange, Slocum was familiar with the rituals of those organizations. He drafted the Gleaner rituals along those lines, using ideas from several existing organizations. He was an idealist as well as a populist, and those qualities are clearly present in the Gleaner rituals. He believed farmers were too isolated from each other, and that they must be brought together in a common cause. He also believed people needed something to add dignity to their lives, and the Gleaner rituals were written with that thought in mind. Farmers would respond, he insisted, to a call for high ideals.

The Ancient Order of Gleaners was a secret society with passwords, a formal ritual, a secret handshake, a progression of degrees, and an oath binding the members to a common bond.

Secret societies have a long and interesting history in the United States. Occasionally they became controversial because they were seen as elitist and, therefore, outof-step in a democratic country. Stories about lodge secrets circulated among non-members, some of them quite sensational. As secrets were released to the public by dissident members a few church leaders began to

Slocum began writing the Gleaner rituals in 1888 at the time he first tried to organize the Ancient Order 10

The Sickle

The Sheaf

of Gleaners. They were not completed until the spring of 1894. He chose prudens futuri as the motto, a Latin phrase meaning “thoughtful for the future.” It was a good choice since it expresses the family values common to Midwestern farmers. The motto also provides a logical foundation for the Society’s insurance program. As principles for the new society he chose Benevolence, Protection and Fraternity.

The Hour Glass

The third principle, Fraternity: “… simply means love and true sympathy for our fellow man. Furthermore, ours is a great co-operative fraternity based upon equality, wherein all have equal rights, equal benefits and equal privileges.”

Three symbols were chosen to represent Society ideals: The Sickle: “It represents an honest occupation and is a constant reminder of the keen blade of ‘Father Time’ who eventually cuts us all down.”

The rituals (in part) explain Benevolence as: “… a sister of Charity, and the golden bow of promise that spans the heaven of infinite love. Benevolence, like the diamond set in circles of gold, sparkles with brilliancy amid the gloom of the night of sorrow and affliction.

Benevolence dwells in the hearts of all who are true and noble. It knocks on the doors of the rich, but oftener crosses the threshold of the poorest hut and home to administer to the wants of the poor and needy. It goes to the widow and relieves her woe; to the orphan in time of need; to the sick and suffering to comfort and cheer.”

The Sheaf (of wheat). The Sheaf is described as: “Appropriate companion to the Sickle, is used by us to typify both our principal occupation and the fabric of our order.

Each single straw in the Sheaf is necessary to form a perfect whole which becomes a thing of beauty and strength.”

The Hour Glass: “Because of the certainty of that harvest season, when all must be cut down by that Grim Reaper, we are wont to use the Hour Glass as a symbol of the flight of time.”

The second principle, Protection, was: “… most beautifully exemplified in the pledge of Ruth to Naomi: “Entreat me not to leave thee or return from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.” Further, “By mutual ties and our plan of cooperation we have accomplished more good for the farmer and his cause than any other society.”

The three symbols of the order were prominently displayed at arbor meetings, and the three principles were also used in the ceremonies initiating new members. Members in good standing were called “Companions.”

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Each local Arbor and the State Arbor (renamed the Supreme Arbor after the Society expanded outside of Michigan) elected the following officers: Chief Gleaner Vice Chief Gleaner Chaplain Conductor (and Conductress) Lecturer Inner Guard Outer Guard Secretary-Treasurer

Women of Gleaner

The monthly meeting of the local arbor was held in a home or, if the group was prosperous, in a Gleaner hall.

Sometimes a Grange hall or a public building was used if the size of the membership warranted. Usually the meetings were held on a Tuesday or a Wednesday evening.

The rituals were revised somewhat in 1915. After that date an arbor meeting would look and sound something like this if held in a Gleaner hall:

Theobald was born in Caro, Michigan, July 29, 1864. “Miss Theobald accepted her first position with Grant Slocum when he founded the Gleaners, her position being recorded in her original application as ‘Assistant Secretary State Arbor’,” her obituary reported. (In 1894, and the first few years following, the “State Arbor” was the name given to the Home Office.)

The Chief Gleaner and Vice Chief Gleaner sat facing each other from opposite ends of the hall. They may or may not have been dressed in costumes appropriate to their office. In the center of the hall was an altar with a closed Bible with a Sickle placed on it. The Chaplain sat opposite the altar to the left of the Chief Gleaner.

Directly opposite the Chaplain sat the Lecturer.

The Conductor and the Conductress were stationed at the altar. The Secretary-Treasurer sat at the right of the Chief Gleaner and the choir on his left. Behind the Vice Chief Gleaner were two rooms through which everyone had to pass to enter the hall. The Outer Guard was stationed in the first room and the Inner Guard in the hall but near the door to the second room. Once the meeting began the doors were closed and not even members could enter the main hall.

Theobald moved from Caro to Detroit with her mother when the Home Office relocated Jan. 1, 1909, to the newly built Gleaner Temple on Woodward Avenue. She remained head bookkeeper until her retirement in the summer of 1934 after four decades of service. She died March 28, 1940, in Highland Park after a long illness, and is buried in Caro.

An opening ceremony was held including a prayer and the singing of a song prescribed in the ritual. The songs were written to familiar melodies, the first to “America the Beautiful” and the second to “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” a church hymn.

Ada F. Theobald Ada F. Theobald not only holds the distinction of being the Gleaner Society’s first employee, for a time she also was its only employee.

“Miss Ada Theobald, head bookkeeper, was at one time the only employee at Gleaner headquarters, and she handled all of the work successfully,” reported a 1918 profile, adding that “at the present time it requires a force of nearly forty employees to handle the business of the Order, and the transactions of a single hour exceed in volume the business of a month in the long ago.”

The Order of Business consisted of 15 items.

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After the roll call of officers and the reading of minutes, the question was asked, “Does anyone know of a Companion sick or in distress?” If the answer was yes, officers made a note to pursue the matter after the next meeting. Items 4, 5 and 6 concerned applications for membership and the balloting. Voting on new members was done by placing a white marble (for “yes”) or a black one (“no”) in a ballot box. Three negative votes meant rejection. Agenda item 7 was the initiation of new members.

There were four “degrees” in the Gleaner ritual. The first, called the Degree of Introduction and Obligation was required of all candidates. The Adoption Degree, Ruth’s Degree, and the Dramatic Degree followed in that order.

In addition to the first degree all Gleaner members had to experience at least one of the last three. All female members took Ruth’s degree or the Adoption degree, and the arbor chose between the Adoption degree and the Dramatic degree for the men. The degree ceremonies were colorful, very dramatic, and were designed to instruct the members in the Gleaner philosophy.

Items 8 through 11 in the Order of Business concerned committee reports and the payment of bills. Item 12 was the payment of dues and assessments. (Until Gleaner headquarters started collecting insurance premiums directly from members, all assessments were paid in this fashion.) Next came an item called “Good of the Order” (Item 13) followed by the Secretary-Treasurer’s report (Item 14) and the Closing Ceremony (Item 15).

Koylton Arbor Hall, located five miles south of Kingston, Michigan.

The hall was dedicated December 20, 1894, and is believed to be the first arbor hall.

The rituals also included special ceremonies for the installation of new members, a Burial Ceremony, a Memorial Ceremony, and certain Drill Forms.

A certain part of the ritual was never written or published but instead passed on by word-of-mouth. Called the “Unwritten Work,” it was transmitted through a code based on numbers.

The Closing Ceremony was begun with the Chief Gleaner saying, “Companions, once more we are about to mingle with the outside world. Let us so live and regulate our conduct that others, seeing our good works, may join with us in this great cooperative brotherhood.” The Conductor then assembled the members in the Gleaner Defending Circle around the altar. The Chief Gleaner faced the altar across from the Vice Chief Gleaner with the Lecturer on his left and the Conductor on his right. In answer to the question, “What is the aim and object of this order and the duty of every worthy Companion?,” the members responded “To assist worthy Companions in distress, to provide for the widows and orphans, and to cooperate for the advancement of the cause of the agriculturist and the up-building of his calling.” The members completed the closing ceremony by singing a song written to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.” The final spoken words were, “Blessed be He of the Lord Who hath not ceased His kindness both to the living and the dead.”

Several revisions of the rituals were made between 1915 and 1961. One of the revisions, in use after Jan. 1, 1927, made a significant cant change in the prayer One successful Michigan farm prior to 1900 was the Van Ness Schermerhorn farm near Pittsford, pictured in 1875. Helping other agricultural communities reach prosperity became the goal of the Ancient Order of Gleaners. (Photo Credit: Hudson Museum collection, Hudson, Michigan)

There were four “degrees” in the Gleaner ritual. The first, called the Degree of Introduction and Obligation was required of all candidates. The Adoption Degree, Ruth’s Degree, and the Dramatic Degree followed in that order.

In addition to the first degree all Gleaner members had to experience at least one of the last three. All female members took Ruth’s degree or the Adoption degree, and the arbor chose between the Adoption degree and the Dramatic degree for the men. The degree ceremonies were colorful, very dramatic, and were designed to instruct the members in the Gleaner philosophy.

The rituals also included special ceremonies for the 13

installation of new members, a Burial Ceremony, a Memorial Ceremony, and certain Drill Forms.

A certain part of the ritual was never written or published but instead passed on by word-of-mouth. Called the “Unwritten Work,” it was transmitted through a code based on numbers.

substituted for the Odes required of the old ritual.

Short form rituals were adopted in May 1949 “for those who, because of religious or other reasons do not wish to substitute ritualistic ceremonies.” A Junior Gleaner department was started in the 1920s while Ross Holloway was president (see Chapter 5). Separate rituals were developed for Junior members.

Several revisions of the rituals were made between 1915 and 1961. One of the revisions, in use after Jan. 1, 1927, made a significant change in the prayer used in the Opening Ceremony. The phrases “fatherhood of God” and “exemplify in our daily lives the teachings of Jesus, Thy dear Son” were deleted. The change was probably done to bolster the Society’s claim to be non-sectarian in religious matters. In the 1961 revision the Outer Guard and Inner Guard were combined. The Order of Business was changed to delete the practice of collecting insurance premiums at meetings. Some of the language was simplified and some of it deleted entirely.

In the Opening Ceremony, for example, the section called “Giving Password and Admitting Strangers” was completely eliminated. The singing of “America …” was

Gleaner rituals have changed more than any other part of the organization, largely because American society itself has changed. The Gleaner meeting was once a major part of family entertainment and served to bring people together who might otherwise not have seen much of each other. The meeting was a forum to discuss community issues. As 20th century technology radically expanded entertainment and information after World War I, the meetings and the rituals were seen as old-fashioned and out of tune in a changing world.

Not so strangely, many people search for the values held by their fathers. They can find them in the Gleaner rituals.

Early Gleaner rituals included “degrees” for each member, and were presented like a short play using costumes. The women of the Broomfield Arbor team in Isabella County, Michigan, in the 1920s were shown in costume for Ruth’s degree.

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Chapter Two

The Early Years

A Hoxeyville, Michigan, band in Gleaner uniform stands ready for a rally in Manton, Michigan.

The articles of incorporation for The Ancient Order of Gleaners were drafted by Caro attorney Walter J. Gamble on Sept. 2, 1894, and sent to the Commissioner of Insurance for approval.

In the fall of 1894, he published a four-page paper called The Gleaner, which eventually became a large and influential farm journal.

The Ancient Order of Gleaners was the first fraternal society to be organized under Act 119 of the 1893 Michigan Legislature. The law was designed to bring order to the chaotic fraternal insurance business in the state. Act 119 was not a stringent law but it was the beginning of a series of state regulations that eventually placed all companies on a sound financial footing.

Act 119 did require yearly reports to the insurance commissioner and a review of rates.

The application was signed by Slocum, England, Eayrs, Chase, Gamble, Ealy, L.W. Ostrander, C.D. Petershans, and D.A. Graham.

By the time state approval was sought 220 persons had been enrolled and their health certified by Dr. Chase. The applications were held until the charter was received on Sept. 25. The first certificates were issued Oct. 19.

Offices were rented in what was known as “The Herman Block” on North State Street in Caro. The headquarters remained at that location until Aug. 1, 1898. The Herman Block still stands in Caro, housing retail shops in 2021.

Life insurance companies were slow to develop in the United States. The oldest is the Presbyterian Ministers Fund chartered in Pennsylvania in 1759, but the field didn’t expand until the 1840s and 1850s when 18 new companies entered the trade. Business boomed during the Civil War but languished afterward as a series of

As a newspaper publisher, Slocum understood the need to communicate with the members of the new order.

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depressions racked the country. Few people of modest means could afford insurance and the old-line companies did not pursue mass marketing. That left the field wide open for fraternal societies. People like Slocum saw that the need was there, and soon millions of people had insurance policies, or “certificates” as they were called.

Emergency Fund might someday save the Society at a time of financial stress.

The Gleaner Society came under criticism from other fraternal orders because of the Emergency Fund, particularly from the Maccabees. Both sides used the issue when recruiting new members. Slocum was eventually vindicated when state governments required all fraternal societies to create a fund similar to the Gleaner Emergency Fund.

Gleaner insurance was a newcomer in a crowded field.

L.W. Ostrander, one of the first organizers, told the story of a man being hung in Shiawassee County for trying to start another insurance society. Although the story was told “tongue in cheek,” his remarks illustrate the problems faced by the early Gleaner members.

The decision to restrict membership to farmers was not only based on fraternal considerations but for hardheaded business reasons. Slocum studied the vital statistics published by the state of Michigan in 1892 and discovered something the old-line companies may have missed. The death and accident rate for farmers was significantly lower than that for city dwellers. The death rate was 13.1 per thousand residents for the cities and only 8.1 for rural areas. By only enrolling farmers in the Society, and by screening applicants carefully, Slocum hoped to make the Society financially sound.

Dr. Chase reviewed all applications for health problems and personally examined many applicants.

Slocum was critical of the older insurance societies and determined to set the Ancient Order of Gleaners on a different and better course: •

The yearly assessment for expenses would be the same as that charged by the others ($1.00) but 50 cents would be set aside in an Emergency Fund.

•

Only farmers or others in agriculture would be eligible for membership.

•

Certificates would also provide disability benefits.

•

The affairs of the Society would be governed by a representative assembly and elected officers.

•

Men and women would be admitted on an equal basis and both would be involved in the rituals.

•

New members would be solicited

by Gleaner members to avoid the employment of outside agents.

The creation of an Emergency Fund was a wise decision but, at the time, a controversial one. In a mutual insurance society, rates were presumably increased or decreased as needed to pay the benefits. Critics of the Emergency Fund said that members should be entitled to “keep the Emergency Fund money in their pockets until needed.” Slocum was not satisfied with that argument for two reasons. He saw that assessments might increase to the point people would leave the Society rather than pay them. He also thought the

Gleaner members showed fraternal charity, especially toward widows and orphans such as the Leitch family of Cass City, Michigan. The father had forfeited his membership when he took an especially risky job in 1901 as an engineer at a tile plant. A few days later he was killed in a boiler explosion. Although the Society was not legally obligated, members raised enough money to pay off the mortgage on the family’s farm home and to protect the three children.

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Disability coverage provided by the AOOG certificate was a popular feature which brought many into the Society. A $250 certificate holder could receive $5 per month, increasing to $10 for a $500 certificate and $20 for anyone insured for $1,000. The benefit was either repaid or deducted from the face amount of the policy. Those totally disabled could receive half the face amount of the policy. One-fifth of the face amount was paid for the loss of a hand or foot, and half the face value for loss of both hands or feet. Although the amounts do not seem large today, they offered a degree of family security.

The first convention of the AOOG was held in the Odd Fellows Hall in Caro on Dec. 31, 1894. Less than three months had passed since the first certificate was issued.

To the surprise of many, 70 delegates representing 60 arbors and 670 members were present. The treasury held only $167.50 after paying the first death claim to the family of Ada Hutchinson, a member of Ellington Arbor.

Only $250 certificates were sold in the first three months of operation but by December there were enough members to increase the maximum amount to $500.

In his report to the delegates Slocum explained how the Society was able to begin operation without a treasury. He credited John Ealy with arranging the necessary bonds to qualify for the charter. What he didn’t say was that he, Ealy, Chase and England had each contributed $250 to cover organizing costs.

The money was never repaid, and the debt was eventually canceled at their request. He also expressed appreciation to the banking firm of Carson, Ealy and McNair for agreeing to pay 4% interest on the Emergency Fund, a higher rate than normal.

Even during those first hectic months Slocum preached that the value of the AOOG was to be found in its fraternal ideals. One of the first articles in The Gleaner newspaper contained this: “Men have won fame by brave deeds performed on bloody battle fields, by the subjugation of opposing forces and peoples; but far nobler in the sight of a just God are those forces and associates which build up rather than destroy, which inculcate friendship, love and truth, rather than enmity, hate and wrong.”

Michigan law did not permit women to buy insurance with their husbands as beneficiary. The reason isn’t clear but evidently the death of a wife was not viewed as seriously as the death of a husband. The delegates supported a change in the law and in May 1895 were able to announce that House Bill 48 had removed the inequity. The Gleaner organization supported many other women’s issues over the following decades.

Slocum also saw life insurance in a fraternal as well as a business context. He quoted this comment by Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner George B. Luper: “While I regard life insurance purely as a business and not as a charity, yet in every thread of its warp and woof I can see the golden tints of the sweetest and rarest charity in the world.

It is one of the ladders reaching from heaven to earth, down which comes the answers to the prayers of the widows and orphans as they humbly lisp, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’”

The care with which the Society conducted its affairs is illustrated by the way emergency benefits were approved. Slocum suggested that until total disability could be certified, a three-month limit be placed on payments. Thirty days after the last payment, a review was made by Dr. Chase, and a final decision made. This limited the Society’s liability while maintaining the integrity of the disability guarantee. Slocum warned the delegates, “All through the charter there are little holes which should be covered before the Order gets stronger and becomes operative.”

During that first year the officers concentrated on organizing Tuscola County. In January 1895, The Gleaner reported that every township had at least one arbor, with a total of 43 arbors in 23 townships. Ellington Arbor, located just east of Caro, was the largest with 40 members while none had fewer than 10. The Ancient Order of Gleaners was obviously meeting a deeply felt need in the community.

Charter officers elected were: Chief Gleaner: Joseph J. England Vice Chief Gleaner: Benjamin F. Eayrs Secretary: Grant H. Slocum 19

Treasurer: John M. Ealy Medical Examiner: Dr. Sherman F. Chase Inner Guard: J.P. Jeffrey Outer Guard: L.W. Ostrander Two additional offices were created: Chaplain: Rev. Christopher England Conductor: George D. Moore

faced 12 assessments per year. The Society was accepting an ever-growing liability as the membership grew but not fast enough to guarantee financial stability.

The second yearly convention of the State Arbor was held in the Caro Music Hall on Dec. 19, 1895. After 14 months there were 1,808 members and $1,718.59 in the treasury. Net assets were $1,010. Some of the “little holes” predicted by Slocum the year before had to be filled.

A change was made in how the Society was governed.

An Executive Council composed of Chase, England and Eayrs was in charge of both business and fraternal activities, but these activities sometimes came into conflict. Applications for disability benefits were more numerous than expected and some were denied because “all kind of fraud” was being used to secure benefits. The Executive Council soon came to realize that those working with fraternal activities should not also be making unpopular business decisions. The 53 delegates approved the creation of the Supreme Council to supervise all insurance and other business affairs while the Executive Council continued to supervise fraternal activities. In order to separate the Council from member complaints it was agreed the members could not hold any other office in the Order. Chase, England and Eayrs were elected to the first Supreme Council. Ara Collins of Marlette was elected Chief Gleaner to replace England and W.H. Fritch of Imlay City replaced Eayrs as Vice Chief Gleaner. This action made the Society stronger and more fiscally responsible.

George D. Moore of Medina, Michigan, was among the first Gleaner officers. He served as Conductor and, later, was serving as Chaplain when he became one of the first officers to die in 1900.

In the next four years after the first convention a strong effort was made to recruit in southeastern Michigan. By 1899 there were 301 arbors, all of them still within 75 miles of Caro.

Other officers elected in 1895 were: George D. Moore of Medina, Conductor; James Fee of New Lothrop, Chaplain; and S.S. Wood of Ellington, Outer Guard.

Delegates also approved the sale of $500 and $1,000 certificates and the elimination of those for $250. The change was made to bring Gleaner policies in line with other fraternals. Rates for the new certificates were increased at the request of the Commissioner of Insurance, proof the 1893 law was working. Officers stated, “If the assessment rate is a little higher it will be paid less often.” The thin line on which the insurance program operated is revealed in the statement made at the meeting:

An issue that lay like a cloud over the first convention was the question of insurance rates. The initial rates were the same as those charged by other fraternals, but none of them had been adequately researched. Rather than having regular premiums at predetermined times, fraternal societies of the time levied assessments on each certificate whenever death claims reduced funding below certain levels. Members who failed to pay their assessment were suspended. As it grew, the Gleaner Society proudly levied only five assessments in 1896.

However, as growth slowed and members aged, the number of assessments grew. By 1914, certificate owners

“The epidemic of fever which fell so heavily on the other societies passed by the Ancient Order 20

1915 Supreme Council. Back row, left to right: Ross L. Holloway, Frank C. Goodyear, Joseph J. England, Grant H. Slocum, and John Livingston. Front row, left to right: Henry I. Zimmer, Mrs. Elfa Munn, and George I. Strachan.

During the next few years officers were forbidden to invest Emergency Fund money for fear a loss would occur.

of Gleaners, and showed our proud ship out of reach of epidemics.”

By 1900 the constitution was changed in order to get a larger return on investments than banks would pay.

United States bonds were first purchased in 1899 and school district bonds in 1905. Eventually a large share of the money was invested in farm mortgages. Always cautious where Gleaner funds were involved, officers would only loan 50% of the assessed value of real estate.

The year 1898 was a watershed for the Gleaners. Assets grew rapidly after that date, and the membership began to expand into other states, Ohio first and Indiana soon after: Year

Arbors

1894 (Dec.) ............................... 60 1895 (Dec.) ............................... 85 1896 (Dec.) .............................147 1898 (June) ............................301 1899 (Jan.) ..............................380

Members

By 1900 assets were still less than $50,000 while insurance in force exceeded $16 million. Despite the 1895 increase, premiums were still small compared to the rates charged by old-line companies. Fraternal insurance societies were caught in a dilemma. They existed because they charged low rates to people who could not afford to pay more.

Higher rates would mean a loss in membership.

670 1,808 3,101 8,601 11,115

Assets grew in proportion to the number of members:

In a sense, fraternal insurance societies were operating what became known as “pyramid schemes.” The payment of future benefits depended on the enrollment of more and more new members to carry the cost. Since the certificates could be assessed, it was assumed by many that future deficits would be covered by additional charges to individual members. Competing fraternals,

1894........................................................................................ $167.50 1895....................................................................................... 1,010.00 1896....................................................................................... 2,529.00 1897.....................................................................................12,594.77 1898.................................................................................. $21,775.61

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Gleaner picnics were popular from the Society’s beginning. This 1910 picnic at Deibert Station south of Kalkaska, Michigan, featured both a colt show and a baseball game.

however, determined their rates by keeping an eye on what each other charged and making sure their rates were competitive.

benefit for the widow and orphan. When a new member unites with the order we increase our liabilities, but through him fail to increase our accumulating assets in proportion.”

The failure rate of fraternal insurance societies was fairly high. Slocum, and a few others, understood the reasons very well. He wondered aloud and in print about what would happen when membership peaked, as it inevitably would. In an article published in The Monthly Gleaner, he stated that by 1926 the Maccabees would have to recruit one and a half million new members each year in order to stay solvent! By 1901, 12 Michigan fraternals had gone out of business, but still the total number increased from 39 to 71. The National Fraternal Congress was created to bring some stability to the movement. The Fraternal Congress, which published the magazine The Fraternal Monitor, merged in 1912 with the Associated Fraternities of America and in 2011 became the American Fraternal Alliance. By 1901, the AOOG was the third-largest Michigan member of the Fraternal Congress.

He began to look for something other than the Emergency Fund to protect the Society. At the 1901 convention held in Lansing he sought and received approval to issue a new type of insurance called “Class B.” The new class was not based on assessments but on the whole life principal requiring monthly premium payments. The original certificates, now called “Class A,” were paid through assessments averaging six per year.

From that time on Class A certificates were limited to $1,000. Those who wanted additional insurance bought Class B. That decision placed a limit on future liabilities, but at a level high enough to be worrisome.

Class B insurance was not popular with the members.

It was 1907, five years later, before there were enough applications to put the plan into effect. Only a period of farm prosperity starting in 1905 kept the waiting period from being even longer.

Slocum began to discuss the liability problem both publicly and privately. In an article published in The Fraternal Monitor he wrote:

The Emergency Fund and Class B kept the Gleaner Society well ahead of other fraternals, but it was still not enough. Eventually it took an act of the Michigan

“The word fraternal will not have the power to transform a few dollars into a thousand dollar 22

Legislature to solve the problem. An act called the Mobile Law was introduced in the Legislature in 1911 but failed to pass. It was finally approved in 1913 despite opposition from some insurance societies. Those who opposed the Mobile Law believed they could not survive if higher rates were charged. The new law required an evaluation of all outstanding certificates at the close of business in 1913 in order to compare assets and liabilities. It also required higher rates to ensure that promised benefits would be paid. With assets of $461,561, the Society still had to adopt a new rate structure. The issue was placed before the delegates at the convention held in Toledo in 1913.

The first Gleaner member who died in wartime service was Army Cpl. Hiram G. Ellis of Worth, Michigan, in 1898 during the SpanishAmerican War. The Society resolved to pay all service members’ war claims even when not legally obligated. This thank you letter from his parents appeared with a photo of Cpl. Ellis.

Slocum told the delegates: “The Class A can meet the requirements without being transferred to another class, or even paying a rate that is in any way excessive.”

Assessments had to be increased to 10 per year in 1913 and 12 thereafter. The delegates approved the change with only five of 400 voting against. Three of those later changed their vote to yes. You can feel the relief in Slocum’s voice when he said: ”If anyone ever had any doubt as to the future of this organization, those doubts have been expelled.”

The records do not say if Slocum or the AOOG opposed the Mobile Law but if they did the opposition must have been half-hearted. As so often happens in history, timing played a part in the success of the 1913 convention. The first World War started in Europe the following year, leading those nations to import more of their food, and creating farm prosperity in the United States. The new rates were easier to bear and soon became accepted.

Founding Gleaner bylaws gave women the same rights as men, and the Society pushed for women’s rights to vote for years. This Forum item lamented the defeat of Michigan’s 1913 equal suffrage ballot item, but vowed to continue the fight. Grant Slocum led a coalition that in 1917 helped Michigan pass a successful ballot measure.

At the 1895 meeting it was decided to hold biennial conventions starting in 1897. The practice continues today, interrupted mainly by a four-year period in the 1930s and during World War II. The first biennial meeting was held in Caro on Dec. 28-29, with 80 delegates present.

It was recorded that emergency loans had been made to 40 men and 15 women. Death claims totaling $22,750 had been paid since 1894, “all on the lowest rates of any order in Michigan.” Two-thirds of the members were men and

one-third women. Delegates heard an officer state that 30 new arbors had been created in one 60-day period. At that time there were 190 arbors in 11 counties.

The early Gleaner companions were devoted to the ideals expressed in the rituals. Arbor meetings were well-

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attended, and members often expressed their support for the Society through the Gleaner newspaper. One of the first projects undertaken by the State Arbor was a scholarship fund. A competition was announced for study at the Fenton Normal School in the spring of 1897. John Kelly was given the award at the biennial convention in 1897. The scholarship program was popular and two scholarships were announced for the next year, one for a male and one for a female.

during World War I and World War II. The first death in the Spanish-American War was that of Cpl. Hiram G. Ellis of Company L, 35th Michigan Infantry. The decision to pay all war claims is still a source of pride to members of the order.

The Gleaner organization began to develop a distinct personality under the leadership of Slocum. Although officially non-partisan, the Society was clearly in tune with the Populist Party and its program. Unlike other fraternals, the Society actively pursued economic as well as social goals. The financial health of the farmer was as important as his spiritual well-being. The Society supported a variety of social causes in the early years. The first article on temperance appeared in The Gleaner in 1898, long before the 18th Amendment to the Constitution temporarily limited liquor sales, manufacturing and transportation.

The Women’s Rights Movement was supported in a variety of ways and female suffrage became a special issue for Gleaner members. Slocum personally chaired a federation of dozens of organizations that led Michigan voters to approve a state constitutional amendment in 1918. In

The first Gleaner picnic recorded in the newspaper was held at Spring Lake Arbor in September 1895. Picnics soon became a part of the Society’s tradition and fraternal activities.

The Spanish-American War of 1898 caused a problem for insurance companies. Some did not have a “war exclusion clause” in their policies to avoid war-related death claims. Eventually the federal government provided special insurance for those in the military, but that was still far in the future. The Society responded by declaring its intention to honor all war-related death claims. The practice was continued

Gleaner leaders at the time of greatest membership recruitment in 1917. Shown from back row to front, left to right: Row 1: Ross L. Holloway, National Secretary; George I. Strachan, Councilman; Dr. M.M. Wickware, Medical Director; William Brown, General Counsel; William Harris, Field; George Carr, Fire Insurance; Harry H. Hough, Ohio State Manager; and “Uncle Tom” Elliot, Field. Row 2: Nathan F. Simpson, Councilman; Frank C. Goodyear, Councilman; John Livingston, Councilman; Henry I. Zimmer, Councilman; Will Wright, Indiana State Manager; Joseph J. England, Chairman of the Council; and J. Floyd McKinstry, Supreme Chief Gleaner. Row 3: Grant H. Slocum, Secretary; Mrs. Elliott; Mrs. Minnie Wright; Mrs. Margaret Goodyear; Mrs. Ada Slocum; Mrs. Elfa Munn; and Mrs. Jennie Zimmer. Row 4: Dr. John M. Ealy, Treasurer; Mrs. J. Floyd McKinstry; Mrs. Minerva Livingston; Mrs. Mary England; Mrs. Leona Strachan; and Miss Mary Holderman, Supreme Chaplain. Row 5: Mrs. Elsie Hough; Mrs. Marvin Harris; Miss Lucia Bellamy, Secretary of Lecture Bureau; and Mrs. William Harris.

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Women of Gleaner

The Wainwright home. Mrs. Wainwright and her three children were supported by Gleaner arbors after Fred Wainwright’s death.

1919 and 1920, Gleaner members pushed for passage of the 19th Amendment in Midwest state legislatures.

Gleaner members also worked together to help families in need. One example of compassion is found in the story of the “Wainwright Fund.” In 1898 Fred Wainwright applied for membership in the Protection Arbor and a $1,000 certificate. His application was sent to Caro but held pending his initiation. A “fearful storm” prevented him from attending the initiation and before the next meeting could be held, he died, leaving a wife and three children. Although the order had no legal obligation, 350 arbors and individuals donated more than $1,000 to pay the certificate.

Similar examples of Gleaner generosity are found in old copies of The Gleaner publication.

Elfa L. Munn For more than 40 years, Elfa Munn served the Society as a reliable leader in an era when few women — let alone farm wives — were executives. She was elected to the Executive Committee as Supreme Chaplain in 1914, then ascended to the Supreme Council where she served from 1916 until finally resigning in 1955. During that span she helped oversee the Gleaner Memorial Home from its creation, even serving as its matron from 1937 until its sale in 1942, and continued to take interest in members of “the Home Family.” She also was one of three members of a budget committee created in 1936 to help the Society cut costs to cope with the Great Depression.

Years of Rapid Growth

Elfa Leila Meyers was born Dec. 8, 1875, in Barry County, Michigan. She married Arthur H. Munn on March 22, 1905, began farming outside Grand Ledge, Michigan, and joined the Society’s Oneida Center Arbor in 1911. In addition to their work, she and Arthur enjoyed fishing at a summer cabin located at Fife Lake until his death in 1933. She remained on the Supreme Council until the year before her brother’s death.

At the end of 1898 there were 301 arbors in the Society, all in Michigan, and none farther than 75 miles from Caro.

On March 27, 1899, Ohio issued an insurance charter, the first outside of Michigan. Organizers had been busy in the state for some time, and Brooklyn Arbor near Toledo became the first out-of-state unit in May of 1899. Within a year there were 10 other Ohio arbors in Lucas and Wood counties. The Indiana charter was issued by the state in March of 1900 and soon there were 13 arbors in Steuben and LaGrange counties. Berkey, Rochester and

Elfa Munn died Oct. 25, 1964, in Lansing, Michigan, and is buried next to her husband in Charlotte’s Maple Hill Cemetery. “She has built herself a special niche,” President R.G. Ransford wrote, “not only in the annals of Gleanerism, but in the hearts of all who were privileged to know her.”

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Sugar Ridge were among the earliest Ohio arbors, while Mapleton, Scott, Hudson and Gleaner arbors were the pioneers in Indiana. John Livingston was the organizer in Indiana and W.H. Cook in Ohio.

Kansas issued a license in September 1917, followed by Arkansas, Montana and South Dakota. By 1917 there were members in Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Pennsylvania became a Gleaner state in 1918. Not all states required a special license to operate a fraternal insurance program including several of those listed above.

In 1902 Iowa became the fourth state to issue a charter.

E.H. Magnant of Stanton, Michigan, was appointed state organizer and left a memorable record of his horse and buggy trip from his home in Stanton to Colesburg, Iowa. He left Stanton on Oct. 11, crossed Lake Michigan to Chicago by boat, through Rockford and Dubuque to Colesburg, arriving on Oct. 23. It was a graphic description of travel in the early days of the 20th century.

There were special benefits for those fraternals in existence 20 years or more with at least 100,000 members. They could, under the Mobile Law, set their own rate structure. The Gleaner rate would be at least 20% under that being charged if 100,000 members could be enrolled. It was a powerful incentive to move into other states. Just as the Society began to plan further expansion, the United States entered the first World War and the effort ground to a halt. It was impossible to recruit new agents because of the military draft. As a result, membership reached a 20th century peak at 75,000 in the 1912-1918 period. A majority of members lived in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

Illinois issued a charter in October of 1906, making five states in all. The expansion led to the first convention outside Michigan. Ohio was chosen, and the Sixth Biennial Convention took place in Toledo’s Memorial Hall in 1907.

Headquarters for the Society at the convention were at the St. Clair Hotel. Special train rates were negotiated and nearly all the delegates arrived by rail. The Toledo meeting set the pattern for future out-of-state gatherings even though, as one member observed, “There are more Gleaners in one Michigan county than in some of those states.”

The 10th Biennial Convention at Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1916 drew more than 1,600 people.

Members of Oakwood Arbor (MI) helped with this patriotic display in 1917, the year America entered World War I. 26

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Chapter Three

The Gleaner Newspaper The first issue of The Gleaner was printed on the presses of the Courier in the fall of 1894. It described the new order and answered questions about the insurance program.

Early copies were not dated but seem to have been mailed every four or five weeks. The first complete copy in the files is Number 3, Volume 1, printed in December 1894.

Another issue, either Number 1 or Number 2, is in the files but cannot be identified because the masthead is missing. If there were 12 papers printed the first year, as seems likely, the copies for January and March 1895 also are missing. Nearly all others have been saved, creating a valuable historical record. Slocum printed and mailed the first issues of The Gleaner free of charge.

The paper was essential to the success of the Society and played a central role in bringing in new members. There were few ways to communicate with people in those days, and Slocum had at his disposal the most effective one available. Every member received a copy of the paper and it was distributed widely to those interested in the Gleaner organization.

The Gleaner was published under several different names during the 25 years Slocum was the publisher.

The name was changed to The Monthly Gleaner from January 1895 to October 1903. On that date, the name was changed back to The Gleaner because of a twicemonthly format. The masthead carried the motto, “Devoted Exclusively to the Interest of the Farmer and the Upholding of His Calling.” After a major expansion in 1910 the title was changed to “The Gleaner - A Farm Magazine.” It is difficult to separate Slocum the editor and publisher from Slocum the Secretary and chief administrative officer of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.

He was generous with both time and money where the Society was concerned.

Volume 1, number 1, Page 1 of The Gleaner, 1894. This was Grant Slocum’s first monthly publication for the new Ancient Order of Gleaners (A.O.O.G.).

At the same meeting another resolution was passed to pay Slocum $150 per year to edit the paper. The Society also paid for the printing of minutes and other official business. At some point the Society began to apply a portion of the members’ dues as a subscription to the paper. It is doubtful if The Gleaner made a profit in the early years, and may instead have cost Slocum money.

At the second annual meeting of the Society in 1895 a resolution was passed: “A monthly official paper shall be published to be known as The Monthly Gleaner which shall contain the official notices of assessment, the minutes of every meeting of the State arbor, all official notices to the members, and general information and news of interest to the members.”

The question of who owned The Gleaner caused trouble at a later date. Slocum and his company owned the presses and the means of distribution. After the first few years the Society paid most or all of the cost through subscriptions (25 cents per year in 1905) and official printing. Slocum edited the paper as an employee of the Society. As long as 29

the paper was not profitable, the question of ownership was not raised. As the years went by, costs increased and in 1902 Slocum turned to advertising as a source of revenue.

The move was successful and before long The Gleaner became a major advertiser of products sold to farmers.

He asked for pledges of interest in the project and in July reported the response to be overwhelming. But six months later, in January 1905, he was forced to admit defeat. Although nearly a thousand members expressed an interest, it was not enough to form the stock company.

In discussing the matter Slocum said, “the fear of someone receiving personal benefit was responsible.” The proposed sale of The Gleaner was the problem.

Slocum never doubted he was sole owner of the newspaper and saw himself as a businessman selling services to the Society. He also thought of the paper as a fraternal enterprise and began to think of ways to make it more effective.

The stock company plan was temporarily abandoned, and The Gleaner was never again offered for sale. In March 1904, Slocum was listed as the publisher along with a statement that “The Gleaner has been officially recognized as the official organ of The Ancient Order of Gleaners.” That kind of recognition was evidently not necessary before,

In the fall of 1903 he formed the Gleaner Information Bureau to help farmers buy items at bulk rates. The cost of operating the Bureau came from the profits being generated by The Gleaner. In 1903-1904 the Bureau saved farmers nearly $8,000 on the purchase of binder twine. The price of twine, used to bale hay and straw, was controlled by a few companies with access to sisal from Mexico. The Bureau undercut the going rate by guaranteeing a larger sale.

The Bureau of Information was the beginning of Slocum’s great design for farmer cooperation. In June 1904 he took the next step and proposed the formation of The Gleaner Cooperative Union. The Union was organized as a stock company under Michigan laws. The plan was to sell stock to members at $1 per share with a limit of five shares. Income from the sale would be used for cooperative purchasing. Shareholders would receive interest on their investment.

Slocum proposed to sell The Gleaner to the Gleaner Cooperative Union. The idea had merit since the paper was an effective advertiser by 1904 and had access to tens of thousands of Michigan farmers. In explaining the proposition, Slocum wrote: “Nearly two years ago The Gleaner was enlarged to its present size. The writer took the responsibility on himself to furnish a better paper for our readers, and in doing so we assumed large financial obligations. Our determination was to give our membership a first class agricultural publication. We promised at that time that just as soon as possible we would reduce the subscription price and, further, that we would make our readers partners in the enterprise, and use every dollar of profit to make the paper better.”

The October 1900 cover of The Monthly Gleaner celebrated the Society’s sixth anniversary.

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but the rejection of his offer to sell the paper must have moved Slocum to clear up the question of ownership. In 1905 he formed the Rural Publishing Company and moved the printing offices to the Majestic Building in Detroit. He continued to publish The Courier in Caro, employing former Caro school superintendent Ross Holloway as editor.

department was formed, and before long The Gleaner became a major advertiser of farm products. By December 1905, the paper doubled in size again to 32 pages and was copyrighted in 1907.

In 1908 the masthead was changed once more to read “Published for Farm Folks.” In 1909 it became a magazine offering fiction, health advice, a column called “Ask Aunt Jane,” a joke column called “Knocks and Boasts,” a women’s page, and a special section for Gleaner members. At one point it was claimed the magazine had 125,000 readers and used 20 tons of newsprint for each issue. In 1913, Slocum also began publishing a farm market newsletter called Michigan Business Farmer. Prices were quoted, giving farmers a check on local prices for the first time.

After moving to Detroit, The Gleaner became one of the most successful and politically influential farm papers in the Midwest. In December 1904, the Country Visitor was purchased and in 1905 The Farmers Friend, both rival publications. Their subscription lists expanded coverage outside the Society’s membership for the first time. Although still the official voice of the Ancient Order of Gleaners, the paper was designed to appeal to the general farm population. An aggressive advertising

The newspaper also carried a few national and international items. Slocum commented on some, and his observations reflect his awareness of rural families’ hardships and sacrifice. Slocum noted both regarding an April 1913 story of members of a South Dakota family who died traveling without roads in a blizzard: “How often do we overlook the simple things of life even when they bear all the evidence of the simplicity of greatness. In an obscure corner of a daily paper we found the following: ‘Huddled in the rear end of a wagon box and enshrouded in a mantle of snow, A.T. Perry, his wife and three little children were found frozen to death near Rapid City, South Dakota. They had lost their way on the open prairie in a blizzard. The bodies of the father and mother formed a shelter for the protection of the little ones. The parents had utilized all available blankets including clothing from their own bodies, in a vain attempt to keep their children alive.’ A far too simple tale, this story of these farm folks’ sacrifice, to meet with more than passing mention, amid the lengthy descriptions of divorce proceedings and tales of crime with which our press is filled. And yet it is a tale replete with heroism and pathos, to those who count their days by heart throbs, and who see in life something deeper and more significant than a calendar of sins and crimes.”

The August 1915 cover showed “the first published actual photograph of Henry Ford’s tractor at work.” It also showed how The Gleaner had merged and expanded to include a large quantity of farm news.

Even after Slocum turned The Gleaner into a successful commercial enterprise its relationship to The Ancient Order of Gleaners remained a close one. It continued 31

Women of Gleaner

Anne Campbell Stark From the 1920s until her death in 1984, Anne Campbell Stark was one of Michigan’s best-known poets. She became so much a part of Detroit’s cultural life that in 1947 more than 1,500 people — including Detroit’s mayor — attended a celebration of her 25th employment anniversary with The Detroit News.

Before she became famous, though, she was part of the Gleaner Home Office, a key part of the Gleaner publication, a mother and a mentor.

The February 1918 issue of The Gleaner showed “just a few” of the 1,200 delegates who attended the 1917 National Convention in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Anne Campbell was born on a farm in Michigan’s Lynn Township a few miles from Yale on June 19, 1888. She began writing while young. At age 10, she won a statewide writing contest. She eventually moved to Detroit, where the Gleaner headquarters had relocated in 1908, and became editor for the Gleaner publication’s women’s and home pages.

to be a recruiting device for the order, published Gleaner news, printed financial reports, and announced when assessments were due. Members paid for their subscription through their membership and the Society paid for the publication of official notices.

Her poems, which often reflected rural life, became well known. In addition to her work, Anne also was soon raising three children. In April of 1918, Anne left the Gleaner publication and by 1922 had started writing poetry for The Detroit News, writing a poem a day for six days per week.

In promotional material, she was called “The Poet of the Home.”

The last issue of The Gleaner — A National Journal of Organized Farming is dated January 1919. Slocum’s decision to halt publication was prompted by a desire to spend less time on business affairs. In addition to the printing and publishing business, he was president of one bank and a member of the board of directors of a second.

After World War I, he served on President Woodrow Wilson’s Peace Commission to Europe, a recognition of his role as spokesman for farmers. He also began to spend more time at his winter home in Lake Worth, Florida. He was ready for a change after 25 years of nearly full-time service to the Society.

During her 25 years at the News, Anne produced more than 7,500 poems. The sale of those around the world reportedly earned her $10,000 per year (almost $200,000 today adjusted for inflation).

Campbell died Jan. 16, 1984, at age 95. Her memorial service was at Detroit’s Mariner’s Church.

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The Gleaner published advertisements for many of the new products available in the first decades of the 20th century. These included gasoline farm engines, record players, automobiles and radios. This is from a 1910 ad for the Hupmobile manufactured by the Hupp Motor Car Co. of Detroit.

The August 1918 issue pictured the Gleaner Building erected for the Michigan State Fair that year.

After one month the Ancient Order of Gleaners began to publish a renamed Gleaner as its own periodical. The first issue of The National Gleaner Forum, Issue Number 1, Volume 25, is dated March 1919. The Rural Publishing Company continued as printer and Slocum as editor, but the Society was clearly the owner and publisher. Slocum wrote for The Forum until his death in 1924.

George Slocum, Grant’s son, became the business manager for the Rural Publishing Company and publisher of The Michigan Farmer, the successor to Michigan Business Farming. He moved the business to Mount Clemens in about 1920.

Grant Slocum’s ownership of The Gleaner came under criticism occasionally, but the Society could not have succeeded without it. Anyone reading the early issues will admire the skill with which it was written and edited. His offer to sell the paper was an act of fraternal commitment,

This 1910 Forum cover illustrates how technology was overtaking horses on American farms and rural roads.

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but those who “feared someone receiving personal benefit” did Slocum a favor. It is ironic that ownership of the paper made him a nationally recognized voice for America’s farmers.

The Summer 2019 edition of Forum Magazine included this montage of covers from the Society’s first 125 years.

one of the important transformations in American life.

Advertisements in The Gleaner are of special interest to anyone studying the change from horses to horsepower in the early 1900s. There were many automobile ads, most from companies who have either been absorbed by today’s “Big Three” or who have disappeared for other reasons.

The National Gleaner Forum is still published today. Mabel Clare Ladd, employed by the Society in 1903, handled most of the editor’s duties after Slocum’s death and continued in that capacity until 1955. After Ladd’s retirement, an advertising agency edited the publication for a few years.

Margaret McGinty also served as editor for a short time.

In September 1961, Noel Loveland became the freelance editor and continued in that capacity until January 1991.

Mary Ward-Eaton became the fifth editor in 1991. In 1997, production of the magazine returned to the Home Office, and Jennifer Allman became the editor. She was followed

by Kelly Jo Gilmore until 2008 and then Janette Lawhorn until 2012, when the title of editor was retired and writing, production and editing became part of the Home Office’s Marketing and Communications Department.

Farmers resented the first automobiles, and their voices are clearly heard in the pages of The Gleaner. They claimed noise and exhaust fumes were responsible for hens not laying and cows refusing to give milk. They were especially upset by the dangerous contraptions scaring their horses as they passed on narrow dirt roads of the day. One article in The Gleaner suggested farmers protect themselves by placing nail-filled boards across their lanes.

The paper printed hundreds of ads for the first farm tractors, small engines for sawing wood or pumping water, cream separators, indoor plumbing, pre-cut houses, telephones, and many other inventions that helped change rural lifestyles. As you read The Gleaner, you catch a glimpse of

Better known now as Forum Magazine, the Society’s quarterly publication remains one of the oldest continuously published periodicals in the United States.

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Chapter Four

Benevolence, Protection, Fraternity

The Gleaner Memorial Home in Alma was pictured with lights on its live, outdoor Christmas tree in December of 1930, three months after it had opened.

The Gleaner Cooperative Union

Slocum’s design of the Ancient Order of Gleaners included three “legs.” The first was a great fraternal society based on the Book of Ruth. The second was a financially secure life insurance program. The third, based on the principle of cooperation, was a plan to improve the economic side of farming. By the turn of the century, the first two were in place. The fraternal movement had more than 20,000 members in 438 arbors. The insurance program had assets of nearly $50,000 and was still expanding, although it was not financially secure by any means. With those two legs in place, Slocum moved to install the third.

The first effort to form a stock company under this name was discussed earlier. When that effort failed, cooperative purchasing was started under the Gleaner Bureau of Information. The idea of a stock company was not abandoned but put aside for another day. The Gleaner Cooperative Union was revived to become the parent organization for a variety of cooperative ventures including some of those discussed in this chapter.

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The Bureau of Information and Assistance The Bureau of Information was renamed The Bureau of Information and Assistance and began reporting crop prices from across the state. An office was established at Gleaner headquarters and soon farmers were buying Gleaner brand fertilizer, fence posts and seed through the Bureau, in addition to binder twine.

In 1914, delegates at the biennial convention voted to create “a most complete and extensive information bureau. ” The resolution was prompted by a charge that the Agricultural College (later Michigan State University) issued incomplete reports on crop conditions and ignored marketing conditions altogether. The delegates voted to expand the Bureau to four divisions: the Information Division to answer questions; the Crop Division to report acreage planted and general crop conditions; the Marketing Division to keep in touch with major farm markets; and an Exchange Division to record the quantity, grade and price of commodities ready for shipment. Before long the Bureau knew as much about farm conditions in the Midwest as any organization, and sometimes more than the private companies themselves. Not all members of the Society used the services of the Bureau, but those who did saved ever larger sums of money.

The Gleaner Clearing House Association Farmers did not have direct access to either retail or wholesale markets. They sold their produce to an elevator, usually owned by a corporation, or to “commission men.” The latter acted as agents for large companies engaged in the transportation and retail sale of local farm produce. The result was low prices to farmers and high prices to consumers. The Gleaner published a series of articles claiming that the difference between what the farmer was paid and the consumer paid for the same article often exceeded 300%. Potatoes, for example, brought 30 cents per bushel on the farm but sold for 75 to 90 cents at retail. Remembering his parents’ experience, Slocum wrote, “Where is the justice when the farmer’s labor is worth less than the transportation and selling cost of a product?”

The dedication plaque remained at the Memorial Home in Alma, Michigan, even after the home was sold in 1942.

Gleaner members purchased a share of stock in the company at a nominal price. This gave them the right to market through the Clearing House. A small fee was charged for handling the produce and to pay stockholders a return on their investment. In return the farmer received a higher price than the local elevator or commission man offered. Arbors were encouraged to form local clearing houses to combine and arrange bulk shipments. Originally the operation was confined to Detroit since that city was the major market available to Michigan farmers.

The Clearing House was designed to make the farmer his own “middleman.” The plan was not complicated, but making it work turned out to be difficult. Individual 38

This cartoon celebrates the success — for the Society and its farmer-members — of the Gleaner grain elevators and the Gleaner Clearing House.

Slocum was elected president of the Clearing House Association, Joseph J. England as treasurer and M.G. Ewer as secretary and business manager. Ewer was in charge of the daily operation of the venture. He was well qualified for the job, having been secretary-treasurer of the Michigan Farm Products Shippers Association.

Offices were rented in the Tolsma Building in Detroit and an 80- by 40-foot storage building was purchased for $1,400 at Junction Yards on the west side of the city.

Plans were made to build an elevator to hold grain and a cold storage vault to store eggs and butter. The first shipment, a carload of hay, was made in June, 1907, by W.E. Lehner of North Star Arbor. He reported an increase of $24.50 over the local dealer’s price.

farmers were skeptical about the enterprise and would often get a quote from the Clearing House only to use it as a bargaining lever with elevator operators. Slocum urged them to keep the Gleaner price a secret, but to sell at the best price. One of the purposes of the Clearing House, he said, was to create competition.

In December, 1907, John Hudson, a Gleaner, replaced W.G. Ewer as manager. Edmund McLain, also a Gleaner, was named bookkeeper, and Christian Schmidt was put in charge of outside work. It is not clear why the change was made, but a statement was issued saying, “every man connected with the old management is dispensed with.” The year 1908 started off poorly. The country was cursed by up and down business cycles of much shorter duration than is common today. 1907 was a good year, but by January a downturn was underway. Newspapers reported money in short supply and mills and factories closed with thousands idle. To make matters worse, retail food stores were staying with the commission men, effectively denying the Clearing House a share of the market. Still not intimidated, the Clearing House started a department to render lard, make sausage and smoke hams. Reports written at the time admit that mistakes had been made and that some people were dissatisfied with the operation. Calls for shipments continued, however, especially for eggs and butter.

The Clearing House stirred up a hornet’s nest of opposition. Before long, wholesale dealers were being pressured not to deal with the Gleaner organization and Slocum was being called a “socialist-anarchist” in print.

His answer was to open a retail store for direct sales to consumers.

Three cold storage vaults, large enough to hold two carloads of perishables, were constructed in 1907 by the firm of Chrisler and Kappan. The project was not referred to stockholders for their approval because “immediate action was required.” Slocum promised to return the stock purchase price of anyone who objected, but it is doubtful anyone did.

In an interesting sidelight, it was reported by the Bureau of Information and Assistance that Russia was the only country still exporting wheat in 1908.

The Clearing House was not an immediate success.

Competition was heavy, and nearly all the other retailers and wholesalers were united in opposition. Some 39

A meeting of shareholders was held in March of 1908.

They approved the formation of a stock company capitalized at $40,000. Four thousand shares of stock were issued at $10 each. Members of the old association were given the first chance to buy stock with the remainder offered to other Gleaner members. Sale of the stock was slow and it is doubtful if all 4,000 shares were ever sold. Slocum and a few others bought sizable block of the stock to keep the enterprise going.

two years. Stockholders would be guaranteed a return on their investment, but the enterprise would operate strictly on a commission basis. Expenses would be paid by a 10-cent per member fee paid in October of 1910 and 1911. This action was taken to encourage wider participation by growers. The plan was approved in July of 1910, and Slocum donated 69 of his 70 shares to help pay the 6% guaranteed return to stockholders.

Petitions to support the plan were circulated with the hope that 1,000 arbors would join. Nearly 700 of the 1,200 arbors in existence eventually did so. Success of the effort was shown by a three-fold increase in carload shipments during the following year.

There was no thought given to retreating or turning back. In May, construction in Detroit of the Society’s new headquarters, called the Gleaner Temple, was announced. Located on the northern edge of downtown at Woodward and Palmer avenues, the Greek Revivalstyle building was designed by Michigan architect George L. Harvey of Port Huron. It resembled his newly finished Maccabees Temple in Port Huron, also made of white Bedford stone with four large columns in front.

It was the first building especially constructed to meet the growing needs of the Society, featuring built-in electrical wiring, 6,500 square feet of space and 10 large windows on its south side to let in sunshine. Its opening Jan. 1, 1909, signaled that a group raised in rural Caro had expanded its roost to the metropolis of Detroit, and would remain perched there for half a century.

Gleaner leaders supported the movement for farmerowned elevators in Michigan. They favored cooperative ownership rather than stock ownership, claiming the latter might also be tempted to exploit the farmer. The Clearing House offered help in planning financing “coop” elevators. In the decade between 1910 and 1920 many Michigan elevators were started with the help and advice of the Society.

The Clearing House was prospering by the time the association met in March of 1912. Many of the problems connected with handling shipments had been solved to the satisfaction of members. It was possible to ship a crate of chickens, a container of butter, or a carload of hay to Detroit and receive prompt payment at a good price. Navy beans were selling for $2.40 per bushel that year and number one hay for $21 per ton.

Also in May, new retail food stores were opened at 413-415 Gratiot Avenue, and plans were announced to purchase a slaughterhouse. The stores sold a lot of merchandise but were never very profitable. Slocum eventually had to admit he had overestimated the profits from retail selling. After two years the stores were closed and attention was turning exclusively to wholesale marketing. A Clearing House Commission Department was formed with a Cooperative agreement reached with McDonnell Brothers, a firm of commission merchants located in Detroit. It was a curious partnership since Slocum and Gleaner farmers had fought the “middlemen” and the “commission men” for years. The Clearing House had to sell its products, and the officers chose to be practical even if it meant abandoning old populist principles.

Success had a price, however. Those opposed to cooperative buying and selling included enemies of the Clearing House. Plans were being made to destroy not only the business but those who conceived and operated it. The trouble began when Manager Thompson received a letter from E.T. Prescott of the Ionia Bean Company recommending J.E. McGraw as an expert in the marketing of beans. Navy beans were an important cash crop and the Clearing House had to find a good market. McGraw was employed and worked for the association for three months. He turned out to be a detective working for the Burns Detective Agency. His job was to investigate the Clearing House, hoping to find enough information to discredit it in the eyes of the members. No one admitted hiring the Burns agency, but Slocum insisted it was a combination of farm elevator companies.

Despite all that could be done, markets remained restricted and support from Gleaner farmers was lukewarm. Some other solution had to be found. In May of 1910, the officers proposed turning the Clearing House into a Cooperative enterprise for a period of 40

The June 1917 Gleaner Forum promoted the Clearing House with this photo of Theo Kline of Fowlerville, Michigan, whose 100 bushels of beans sold for $1,000. Such examples showed how the Clearing House gave farmers an alternative to the existing system of middlemen.

McGraw’s report was received by his employers and promptly released to newspapers in areas of large Gleaner membership. The Patriot, a newspaper printed in Jackson, Michigan, published a list of charges against the Clearing House and its management in July of 1913.

The article claimed the Clearing House was insolvent, that it did not save money for farmers, and that Slocum and Manager Thompson were deceiving the membership.

McGraw claimed to have made a Dictaphone recording of Thompson admitting to “kickbacks” from contractors building cooperative elevators. The article claimed Slocum was enriching himself through The Gleaner even though the paper was owned by the Ancient Order of Gleaners.

The Society, The Patriot claimed, assessed the members for support of The Gleaner while Slocum pocketed the profits.

As evidence it cited Slocum’s new car, 40-acre farm, and his new home on fashionable Lake St. Clair. It was claimed that advertising revenues for February of 1913 were $6,000, some of it from people forced to advertise in The Gleaner in order to get business from the Society.

of The Gleaner and the Rural Publishing Company without giving details of the paper’s relationship to the Society. He supported Thompson since the Dictaphone recording evidently didn’t exist. He promised a thorough investigation of all charges anyone chose to make. The Gleaner later published a report saying the charges of kickbacks were false.

The Gleaner published the charges in June and July, along with an answer to each one. Many of them were easy to refute since the detective agency simply got the facts wrong. Slocum declared personal ownership

The Clearing House continued to prosper during World War I because of an increased demand for American food products. There was a market for everything produced

In an editorial The Patriot declared the next meeting of the Ancient Order of Gleaners would be a “hot one.”

Slocum suggested his enemies wait and see. The Society held its biennial convention in Toledo the following January where the Burns report and the charges made in The Patriot were discussed in detail. The result was a full vindication of Slocum and the officers of the Clearing House. One of the delegates said: “We’ll show the combinations that we can stand together, and that all their insinuations and Burns detective reports cannot shake our faith in our leaders.”

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on the farm and private businesses no longer felt the competition from cooperatives. Crop prices increased throughout the war years, bringing real economic gains to rural America for the first time since the 1880s. The new crop reporting service operated by the Bureau of Information and Assistance proved its worth with 703 carload shipments in 1914. All but nine cars sold for higher than local prices.

Although bulk purchases of binder twine continued to save money for members, the Society still believed prices were kept artificially high. Petitions were presented to the Legislature asking that a twine plant be constructed at Jackson State Prison. A bill was passed in July of 1907 and, after a court challenge, production began the following year. Nathan F. Simpson, warden at the prison, gave the Clearing House the right to distribute the twine since no other organization was equipped to do the job.

The Society sold out the entire output from the prison for several years, providing incidental income for operating the institution. Five hundred tons were sold in 1908, increasing to 3,000 tons in 1916. The motto on Gleaner twine was, “Remember The Price You Used To Pay.” Private suppliers who had controlled the market found themselves pushed to lower their prices.

Efforts to close the Jackson plant continued at least until 1918. When that failed an organization called The Pan American Commission Corporation tried to control the shipments of sisal the Yucatan. Labor unions opposed the plant saying it denied them jobs. Charges were made that the Gleaner organization was making a large profit from handling twine, but an investigation proved them to be false. The plant was eventually closed but not until after Warden Simpson replaced Edmund McLean as manager of the Clearing House in 1917. McLean stayed with the Society, serving as Assistant Secretary and later as Secretary for many years.

The March 1921 Gleaner Forum reprinted a story from a Grand Rapids newspaper that heralded the bean elevator acquired there by the Clearing House as one of the largest elevators in the U.S.

would sell above par in a year. Present stockholders were allocated 1,400 shares with the remaining 1,100 offered for immediate sale. It is doubtful if all shares were sold, but by 1919 enough money was raised to open several branch clearing houses and seven cooperative elevators.

However, barely a year after the war ended, the Clearing House made a fatal decision. Confident of the future after the profitable war years, the directors began to look for ways to expand. An opportunity presented itself when the federal government filed an antitrust lawsuit against the nation’s largest meat packers, known as the “Big Five.” The five companies allegedly had conspired to manipulate prices and block competition. An agreement eventually was reached under which the meat packers agreed to sell off some of their interests. The Armour Company, headquartered in Chicago, put up for sale just what the Clearing House was looking for:

Dividends averaging 7% were paid to stockholders from 1910 to 1917. With great pride they called it “the largest, oldest and most successful cooperative organization in the middle west.” In March of 1917, just as the United States was entering World War I, a $125,000 stock offering was made to buy additional storage space and to finance cooperative elevators. The minimum purchase was five shares at $10 each with $10 down and the balance by November. It was predicted the shares 42

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A terminal bean and grain processing plant and elevator at Grand Rapids, including offices and equipment.

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A terminal plant at Big Rapids similar to the facilities at Grand Rapids, except for the offices.

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All allied elevator interests.

Street in Detroit to the Michigan Trust Building in Grand Rapids early in 1920. Despite low farm prices and a generally depressed economy, plans for the expansion moved ahead rapidly. Talks were held about the possibility of building sugar beet processing plants. Two were proposed, one each in northern and southern Michigan.

It was predicted that a good share of the creameries would soon be in the Gleaner fold. An elevator was purchased at Lockwood, Ohio, and other cooperative elevators were signed up to be part of the new system.

In April of 1920 the Clearing House bought a part of the Union Stockyard in Chicago, an action also made possible by the break-up of the “Big Five” monopoly. A chain of 100 cooperative elevators was expected, most of them owned locally. The Clearing House stockholders agreed to issue $1 million in stock during their meeting in May of 1920.

The Lewellen Bean Company was a partner in Armour’s Michigan investments and Fred Lewellen, president of the company, stayed on to handle the new acquisition. He became the manager of the Clearing House, replacing Simpson, who left to become Michigan tax commissioner.

The purchase of the Armour property was a giant step for the Society. A new company, The Gleaner Corporation, was planned with capital to come from a $500,000 stock offering. Both preferred and common stock would be issued, with all profits above 7% to go to holders of common stock. The state would be divided into two districts, one for each of the terminal elevators at Grand Rapids and Big Rapids. Sub-districts would be formed to make shipments and handle produce. Slocum and the officers believed this plan would be far superior to the creation of independent cooperative elevators whose success depended strictly on local conditions. It was a move to centralize the handling and shipping of farm produce on a large scale.

In the midst of the huge expansion, the AOOG announced the formation of a new life insurance company. The Gleaner Life Insurance Corporation offered shares at $100 each in order to raise $250,000. Half the amount would be in reserve and half in capital. When asked the reason why a new company was necessary, Slocum replied, “We find that farmers are now ready to pay for old-line insurance as an investment, while many others not only want all the fraternal protection they can get, but investment insurance as well.”

The Michigan Securities and Exchange Commission authorized the sale of stock in November of 1920.

The Gleaner described the plan:

They were grand plans indeed, and showed how far the Society had come since 50 farmers met at the England schoolhouse in 1894. At last, Slocum’s vision of a great cooperative union of farmers had a chance to come true.

Everything that came before was preparation for the day the Clearing House would take over the Armour interests.

On that day it would become large enough to buy and sell farm produce all over the United States. And that wasn’t all, by any means. Also envisioned was a Gleaner coal mine, a factory to make drain tile, a canning plant, and a mill to grind Gleaner flour. Slocum was determined to prove that farmers could control their own destiny through cooperation and enlightened self-interest.

“When the organization reaches the third step in its building operations these plants will take grain and farm products from the northern part of the state as gathered by local clearing houses, fit same for markets and handle the entire sales and financial end of the business, thus doing away with many elevators which are now operated at a big expense.”

It was planned to continue the Clearing House Association along with the Gleaner Corporation, but the new company was not able to raise the $500,000 in new capital. Eventually the entire operation became a part of the Clearing House.

There was a cloud on the horizon, however, and it grew into a storm that washed away the Gleaner Clearing House

Headquarters for the Clearing House moved from Russell 43

The Gleaner State Savings Bank

Association and the investment insurance plan. During the war the demand for farm produce increased and prices kept pace. When the war ended in 1918, Europe was in a desperate economic condition, and much of the market for farm goods disappeared. The situation was made worse when the United States increased tariffs. A depression began in 1920 and continued until a modest recovery began in 1922. The first indication of what was to come occurred in news articles about consumer boycotts of potatoes and meat. A general buyers strike followed, reducing imports and exports even more. Farmers were producing twice as much wheat as the country could consume, and commodity prices were in decline by 1920. It was the worst possible time for Gleaner leaders to expand.

A long list of creative ideas came from the early Gleaner organization. Not all of them led anywhere, or even gained widespread support, but all of them were interesting. Some, including the Gleaner State Savings Bank, might have had a major impact on the Society.

Farmers have always had to deal with the problem of cash flow. Expenses continue year-round, but income usually comes in only when crops or produce are sold. Farmers were, and still are, rural bankers’ major customers.

The banking business operated in a different climate early in the 20th century. Nearly every small town had a privately owned bank. States generally thought of banks as just another business, not needing special regulation by government. People who patronized the banks had no deposit security except for the integrity and resources of the banker. An example is found in an article published in The Gleaner about the 1904 bankruptcy of the Montague Exchange Bank of Caro. The bank was considered to be safe because the owner, Charles Montague, was a large landowner. After the bankruptcy it was discovered his property was heavily mortgaged through speculation.

Depositors received between 25% and 60% of their money.

The Board of Directors of the Clearing House met in Lansing in June of 1921. Although a “splendid record” was reported for 1920, it was clear that trouble was coming. Potatoes fell from $1.40 to 30 cents and wheat from $2.90 to $1.05.

“The farmer is selling potatoes at fifty percent less than it cost to produce them,” Slocum wrote in May 1921. In addition, there were losses from merchandise purchased for resale by the Clearing House. Because the stock sale had not gone well, capital was scarce, and bank loans cost the Association $17,000 in interest in 1921. The directors closed those elevators operating at a loss and put the money behind stronger ones. Slocum and others worked without salary or expenses. There was considerable anguish in April 1922 when Slocum quoted another editor saying, “If we let the farmer’s elevators go now, never again in this or the next generation will we get anything of the kind again.

Competition will pass out with the passing of the farmers’ elevators and the old order will again be rooted and in control of the situation.” To that, Slocum added: “Someone must pick up the torch of co-operation and carry it on.

Whom shall it be?”

In addition to the private banks, Michigan had a system of state-chartered savings banks. They were closely regulated, did not engage in commercial loans, and held the stockholders responsible for losses.

Slocum was familiar with the “people’s banks” started in Germany in the 1850s. Their success, he said, proved that Gleaner members should think about starting a bank to avoid the high cost of short-term loans. Always the populist, Slocum objected editorially to farmers paying 10% to 25% interest on loans while receiving only 3% on deposits. Merchants, he pointed out, were usually charged only 7%.

Everything was done that could be done, but the Gleaner Clearing House Association failed to survive. It filed for bankruptcy on May 10, 1922. Some of the locally owned elevators continued as cooperatives.

In April of 1906, an effort was made to organize the Gleaner Bank. It was to be legally separate from the Ancient Order of Gleaners but would be owned and operated by Gleaner members. The bank would be chartered by the state and owned by shareholders.

Loans would be made only after approval by a local arbor finance committee. Commercial loans and deposits would be forbidden. The object of the bank was not to

Despite the recession, and perhaps because of it, the Ancient Order of Gleaners and the fraternal insurance program continued to prosper. People are not inclined to give up a form of security during hard times.

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This drawing of a proposed public restroom appeared on the cover of The Gleaner & Business Farmer in February 1916 along with a story by Grant Slocum.

Modern travelers can appreciate the result of the Society’s pioneering efforts in establishing public restrooms. This one in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, was opened in 1917.

After more than a century, it is difficult to know why the Gleaner Bank idea failed to gain support, but we can speculate. The idea of banking by mail was a novel one at a time when parcel post and mail order purchasing were viewed with suspicion by many. Banks projected an image of stability through imposing brick and concrete structures with huge metal vaults. That must have contrasted sharply with the idea of depositing and borrowing money through frail paper envelopes! Then there was the fact that most banks did not fail, and the banker was a local person who was dealt with face to face. For whatever reason, Michigan farmers continued to pay high interest rates and sometimes could not borrow at all.

increase the rates paid by others for deposits, but to reduce the costs of borrowing.

It was hoped that at least 1,000 Gleaner members would express an interest in the idea. The Gleaner carried articles favoring the enterprise and printed a coupon that farmers could fill out to indicate their interest. A booklet was printed explaining how deposits and loans could be made by mail.

Slocum was highly respected by a large majority of Gleaner members, but he sometimes found it necessary to quiet the critics in advance. In May of 1906 he promised never to borrow a dollar from the proposed bank and to “take all the stock I possibly can.” He also predicted the stockholders would double their money in five years, a move not likely to silence those jealous of his success.

Rural Rest Rooms The effort to encourage towns to build and maintain rest rooms for farm families seems strange today. The reason for the movement is best expressed in an editorial published in The Gleaner in April of 1913:

In February of 1907, an appeal was made to find 200 to 300 Gleaner members willing to invest from $100 to $500 in the Gleaner State Savings Bank. The effort was not successful, and the bank seems to have died before it was born.

“The stinging cold March winds swept across fields and over hills. Here and there romping Boreas caught up handfuls of snow and sleet, which cut like steel as it was thrown in the faces of travelers journeying down the highway toward the Saturday marketplace.

The bank idea was a good one and would have been a great addition to the Gleaner movement. Its customers would have been the same carefully selected people who made the insurance business a success. It might have provided a degree of safety uncommon to private banks and would surely have saved money for the farmers.

Within the little hotel, the only public place in the county seat village, all was cozy and warm.

“Drummers,” gazing out of the windows into 45

the storm-swept streets, hesitated, talked of the storms they had encountered, and passed a few remarks about the village “hangers-on” who had gathered to “discuss and cuss” things generally.

rest room where they could use the conveniences, get warm, and prepare to shop? After all, the merchants delivered their goods to townspeople, supported ball teams and the local band. Why not spend a little to help some of their best customers? The Gleaner proposed that such a facility include more than just toilets. They wanted a waiting room, a reading table, rocking chairs, baby cribs, baby carriages, and an employee to oversee the facility.

The merchant had cleaned the snow from in front of his place of business and, the store, still uncomfortable because of the cold, was ready for the day’s business. The village housewife, busy with her Saturday’s work, called the grocer and gave her order with the admonition that it “must be sent up to the house no later than 11 o’clock.”

The Gleaner offered to give $50 for the purchase of furniture to the first town to build a rural rest room. There were no takers in 1913 but that was not the end of the idea. In 1916 the paper published an architectural drawing of “The Gleaner Rural Rest Room.” In addition to the items listed above, the plan added a system of lockers much like the ones in today’s airports. Merchants would build their own lockers and furnish keys to their customers.

Sleigh bells announced the coming of the men and women of the farms. What of cold March winds and drifted roads — ’tis Saturday market day — and no 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock delivery travels between the village store and the farm home. The family larder must be replenished.

In 1915 the Society supported a Michigan state law requiring each city and village in the state to provide “not less than one public closet, commonly known and designated as a public convenience station, in such place or places as directed by the local board of health.” The law passed but was not widely enforced. Gleaner members continued their campaign, however, using the new law whenever possible.

Where will the ladies find a place so they may brush-up a little and get thoroughly warm before starting out on the shopping tour?

To the little hotel? Haven’t you read the sign: “This parlor and the conveniences of this hotel are for the use of GUESTS ONLY”? True, the men can get warm and loaf in the hotel office, provided the door leads to the bar — and he patronizes this department occasionally.

The farmers in Seymour, Indiana, solved the problem in a different way. They formed a Farmer’s Club and constructed their own building. The building, dedicated on Oct. 8, 1914, included nearly all the facilities recommended by the Society.

But the wife and the little girls — where will they go to find the conveniences they desire?

The churches are located on the back streets, and these are cold and cheerless, save for the first day of the week. The town hall is barren and cold save on election days.

In May of 1917, The Gleaner reported that Mount Pleasant was one of the few cities to build a rural rest room along Gleaner lines: “It is unnecessary to say that the Rest Room is appreciated. Almost any hour of the day ladies (for the ladies use it more than the men) may be seen there, anywhere from two to half a dozen, visiting and even doing their fancy work. When tired of shopping or when waiting for “the man” the Rest Room is available, and one of the most sightly places in town.”

The wife and little girls have just one place to go — “the village store.” And here we find them close to the big round stove, still cold with wraps laid upon chairs. The clerks as they pass and re-pass the stove suggest by their glances that the mother and little girl “really ought to know when to get out of the way.”

The problem was a real one in the early days of the century.

Not many people had cars and a trip to town and back could take all day. Slocum proposed a solution. If the merchants wanted the farmer’s business, why not build a community

The rest room issue may seem strange today, but not in 1913. The issue illustrates how much our lives have changed since the early 20th century. It also says a great

46

deal about the human values held by the Society. Rural rest rooms were not built in large numbers despite the law and the effort of Gleaner members. Far fewer would have been built if the effort had not been made. The law sponsored by the Society still exists and benefits the millions who travel Michigan’s state and federal highways.

“Less than three months ago, a preparedness parade of 140,000 passed through the streets of New York City; less than 600 in that city have enlisted for service in the Army. Many are the manufacturers who have offered to turn over their factories to the government in case of war.

None as yet have offered to turn their lives over to the government for cannon fodder on the fields of battle.”

The First World War A tenant of the Populist political philosophy was that war benefited munitions makers and certain other wealthy industrialists at the expense of the common man. Farmers tended to be isolationist in foreign policy, and generally looked at the federal government with suspicion. The Gleaner exhibited these attitudes in a long series of articles opposing war preparedness in the years before World War I. Only three months before the United States declared war on Germany and its allies, the paper editorialized:

Feelings ran so strong against the United States becoming involved in the European conflict that Woodrow Wilson ran for re-election in 1916 on the motto “He kept us out of war.” On April 6, 1917, less than three months after his second inauguration, the United States declared war on Germany and issued the first draft call for 600,000 men.

Once war was declared, the Ancient Order of Gleaners pledged cooperation, their opposition forgotten in a common effort to win the war. At first it was assumed the draft would exempt farmers because of the urgent need for food to feed both the United States and Europe.

As the draft began, farming was not listed as one of the exempt occupations, and hundreds of young Gleaner members between the ages of 21 and 30 were soon called for service. Hundreds more became eligible for the draft when the age was lowered to 18.

“Two and a half years have passed since the awful conflict was kindled across the seas.

Billions of money have been squandered, millions of men have given up their lives; wives, mothers and children have suffered as only human beings can suffer. Fertile fields have been laid waste, a million homes have been destroyed; cities and villages wiped from the earth and a vast army of blind, deaf and maimed soldiers are helpless wanderers upon the face of the earth. And all for what purpose?”

The war in France caused a series of problems for insurance companies and the government. Some of the draftees had insurance policies, but most did not. The government wanted all of them covered and called a meeting of the companies to develop a new military policy. The old-line companies eventually complied

In March 1917, The Gleaner continued:

These Gleaner medallions were issued to members in military service for identification in World War I. 47

but the suggested rates were so high the government rejected the proposal. Instead the Bureau of War Risk Insurance was created under which the government issued four and a half million policies worth $38 billion.

often pinned notes to their clothing before a battle as a means of identification. Although some regiments’ soldiers had identification medallions, the U.S. military was slow to adopt universal tags for all servicemen.

Some insurance companies were deeply concerned about potential losses created by the war. Not all of them had included a “war exclusion” clause in their policies, and as the casualties mounted in France, their concern grew.

In the fall of 1917 the Gleaner organization devised a way to identify members who died in the service. A medal, about the size of a quarter, was cast in copper. It was worn around the neck on a silk cord. On the front was the image of the Gleaner Temple with the words “Member, Ancient Order of Gleaners.” On the reverse was the statement “In the event of Injury, Capture or Death Please Send This Coin to the Ancient Order of Gleaners, Woodward-Palmer Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.” The medals were numbered in sequence with the number and name of the holder recorded in a separate register.

A few fraternal insurance societies, including some who had a “war exclusion” clause in their certificates, decided to honor their obligations. Gleaner leaders went one step further. A special assessment of 50 cents per member was levied in September 1917 to create a special fund for war death claims and to assist families with sons in the service. A second levy was called for in September of 1918 and a final one in March of 1919. All claims resulting from the war were paid in full, regardless of the legal obligations of the Society.

By November 1917, 402 Gleaner members had been drafted. The number increased to 683 by March of 1918, and eventually reached 2,106. The first casualty was William A. Droogs of Calfin Arbor, a soldier in Company F, 6th Battalion of the 20th Engineers. He was aboard the Tuscania, a troopship sunk by a U-boat Feb. 5, 1918, off the north coast of Ireland.

The Gleaner Identification Medal The August 1917 edition of The Gleaner newspaper included an article written by Grant Slocum:

The Gleaner medal was one of the first U.S. efforts made to systematically identify soldiers killed or wounded on the battlefield. The U.S. Army had eventually recognized the problem and began issuing disc-shaped identification tags in 1906. The Army tags were issued free to enlisted men but officers had to purchase theirs.

About the size of a half dollar, they were not very popular and many did not wear them since it was not required.

Soldiers shipped overseas in World War I called the Army tags “mermaid calling cards.”

“Every war that was ever fought has had its nameless dead. After the roar of cannon has died away and the smoke of battle lifted from bloody fields men are seen, dead men and dying men, youths whose bodies have been shattered with the shells. In many, many cases these bodies have been left upon the field for days. In others they are hastily tumbled into unmarked graves and none but the Creator may know the spot where they lie. The fallen ones are hastily examined for signs of identification; sometimes a card, a letter, a picture leaves a clue, but often there is nothing. The hero is put away, while back home the old folks sit in their terrible suspense, which mingled hope and fear always brings, waiting, waiting, until the war is closed and they may know the worst.”

In all, 2,079,880 young Americans were transported overseas in 1917 and 1918. More than 125,000 died in combat, while many others were wounded or died of disease. One report from the Gleaner medical director listed 33 members who died from a variety of diseases including appendicitis, pneumonia and typhoid fever.

Influenza was widespread among troops in France and many died from what later became known as Spanish Flu.

The picture drawn by Slocum was not exaggerated.

There were thousands of unidentified casualties in each of America’s wars, so many that the memorial, The Tomb of the Unknowns, was constructed in Arlington Cemetery to bear witness to their sacrifice. In the Civil War, soldiers

The little Gleaner medals began to come back to the Temple soon after the first soldier left for France. Among them were number 544, Walter J. Taylor, found dead on the battlefield at Ciegnes, France; and number 1075, Lewis Opper, who 48

died in a hospital in England. A total of 104 Gleaner servicemen were known to have died during World War I. Forty years after the war the last Gleaner medal was returned to the Society. In April 1958, medal number 206 was picked up at half tide on the beach at Etretat, a small French village on the English Channel. It was given to Michel Leleu, a correspondent for the French Press News Agency. He in turn sent it to the American Battlefield Monument Commission.

The Monument Commission wrote to George Ransford, then president of Gleaner Life, asking for information. In a letter dated Aug. 15, 1958, Ransford replied: “The Society was one of the first to issue such identification medals, but so far as is known, all Gleaner members were accounted for at the end of World War I. Consequently, the register containing identification of the numbers on medals was destroyed many years ago.”

The Gleaner Fire Insurance Company was one of the most successful of the Society’s early ventures. The idea lives on today through the company’s evolution in 1924 into an independent insurance company that is separate from the Society.

Because the register was destroyed we will never know who soldier number 206 was, but the little medal remains a part of Gleaner history.

new one. Joseph England was a director of the Lapeer (County) Farm Mutual, and Grant Slocum was a director of the Tuscola County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. As a matter of fact, their lifelong friendship began because of an interest in low-cost fire insurance.

The Gleaner Cooperative Mutual Fire Insurance Company

The mutuals were usually formed within a county since travel and communication problems made it difficult to organize a larger area. In addition, the success of a mutual company depended on neighborly trust, and insuring strangers was not viewed with favor. Those who joined were protected against fire and all members were assessed for the losses at the end of the year. The plan worked well when everyone paid their assessment, but problems arose when losses were high and some of the members did not pay.

Of all the calamities that happened on farms, fire was the one most feared. Barns housed cows and horses and were filled with hay and straw. It was a volatile mixture that often led to disaster. Barn fires were common, often caused by lightning or just plain carelessness. After tractors, cars and small engines became common, the presence of gasoline made the situation even worse.

Not many could afford fire insurance. The problem is illustrated by a Gleaner report listing 60 buildings destroyed by fire.

Grant Slocum was elected president of the new company, Richard Pearson of Sandusky, Michigan, vice president, and George Carr of Detroit, secretary. John Livingston was named treasurer, and L.A. Siple, John O’Dell, Charles Barber and Edwin Stewart the first directors.

The Society’s standing Committee on Cooperation met in January 1916. The problem of adequate fire insurance was discussed and the committee recommended a company be formed to offer protection at reasonable rates. The idea was approved at a second meeting in September. In January 1917, the state issued a charter to The Gleaner Cooperative Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited, with offices in the Gleaner Temple.

The company struggled for survival from the very beginning. Not enough income was generated to pay the losses on time, and funds had to be borrowed to balance the books. Less than two years after the charter was

The idea of mutual or shared risk insurance was not a 49

were Gleaner members and a close relationship was maintained with the Society.

After the reorganization, Pioneer Reserve Mutual took a radical step, at least radical for that day. It required that premiums be paid in advance. James Slocum explained the reasons: “The farmers of Michigan have become wise to the fact that any company operated on the mutual basis, insuring farm risks, and collecting assessments at the end of the year, must suffer heavily from the failure of the unprincipled members to pay their just share of the losses and expenses, which in such event, that which the “Sneaker” fails to pay must be cared for by the other members. There is no other way out of it.

The losses and expenses must be paid and if part of their members fail to pay for the benefits that they have received it naturally falls upon the rest of the membership to make up the shortage.”

For 18 months following July 1923, the members could pay quarterly if necessary, but pay in advance they must.

After that date assessments were billed for the entire year although six-month and three-month payments were accepted in hardship cases. Charging premiums in advance was considered a dangerous step because of a fear that members would move to other companies.

Gleaner leaders expected a loss of $6 million in insurance but only lost a third of that amount. Financial stability soon followed even though the rates were less than half those charged by old-line companies. Encouraged by the Gleaner example, the Michigan Department of Insurance soon required all mutuals to collect premiums in advance.

James Slocum, one of Grant Slocum’s older brothers, guided the fire insurance company to become a successful and separate entity.

granted, James Slocum was engaged to investigate the possibility of liquidation. He reported that closing down the business would cause large assessments against the members, and for that reason he recommended trying to save the company. He was named secretary (the chief administrator), a post he held until his death in 1936. Under James Slocum’s leadership the company became financially sound and by 1923 there were more than 7,000 members.

Gleaner members in other states saw the success of the fire insurance company and asked to have coverage extended to them. An investigation revealed the laws in each state were different enough to make it impossible.

At the same time, the company could only sell to Michigan Gleaner members, a fact that limited growth.

The issue was resolved in 1924 when the company was divorced from the Ancient Order of Gleaners and renamed The Pioneer Reserve Mutual Fire Insurance Company. The Detroit offices were moved about one mile from the Gleaner Temple to the Lexington Building, 2970 W. Grand Boulevard. Most of the officers

In January 1933, company offices were moved from Detroit to 226 East Grand River Ave. in Lansing. In July 1952, the company was reorganized as a non-assessable general mutual insurance company. The name was changed once more to The Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company and began to insure city and suburban property as well as farm buildings.

More than one mutual fire company was founded in Caro and Tuscola County. In 1908, eight years before the Gleaner Society entered the business, George Whiteacre, Travis Leach, John C. Robinson and Floyd Turner formed a 50

from a unique charity organized by the Society. Gleaner members met the children at the local train station, gave them a room in the farmhouse, fed them healthy meals, and two or three weeks later sent them home healthier in mind and body.

The Fresh Air Society was the brainchild of Grant Slocum’s son, George. He was touched by the conditions under which poor children lived in Detroit, and determined to help at least some of them. On a night when the temperature was 90 degrees at 9 o’clock at night, he wrote an appeal to Gleaner farmers: “God pity the children of the cities’ poor on a night like this.”

He convinced the officials of the Associated Charities of Detroit to furnish money for train tickets and soon had a list of Gleaner farm families willing to help. The children, selected by the charities and Gleaner members, were between 6 and 14 years of age.

The Gleaner Fresh Air Society continued until World War I when travel restrictions made it impossible to continue.

But hundreds of children spent summer vacations on the farm, some of them returning to the same place for several years. It was a shining example of benevolence.

The Gleaner Fresh Air Society appealed in 1911 to farmers to host city children during the hot summer months.

fire company with a tongue-twisting name. The Farmers Mutual Lightning Protected Fire Insurance Company of Michigan Limited was destined to play a large role in the future of the Gleaner enterprise.

The Gleaner Amusement Company

In the meantime, The Farmers Mutual Lightning Protected Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Michigan, with offices in Flint, also prospered. The name was changed in 1934 to The State Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Michigan. The company was in direct competition with Pioneer, and perhaps it was inevitable the two would merge. The two became The Pioneer State Mutual Fire Insurance Company with offices in both Flint and Lansing.

Since members of the Society lived in fairly isolated rural areas, a plan was adopted to bring entertainment to

Gleaner members who started a fire insurance company in 1917 were idealists. They wanted to provide low-cost insurance, but they also hoped to create something permanent. Although there have been name changes, mergers, stresses, strains and brand-new business challenges, their wish was realized.

The Gleaner Fresh Air Society

A Gleaner Entertainment Co. wagon carrying Frank Eugene “Gene” Manley, an assistant and lighting equipment leaves Caro to perform. Manley, a member of Ellington Arbor, was a popular and accomplished entertainer. He also was an early field representative who often visited arbors with Grant Slocum.

In 1909 a group of city children arrived on Gleaner farms from Detroit to enjoy vacation in the country.

They were the first of a stream of youngsters to benefit 51

them. The result was the Gleaner Amusement Company, started in 1906. Its first director, Frank E. “Gene” Manley, often assisted Slocum at arbor organizing meetings.

Members of the Company were employed by the Society and sent to arbor meetings, usually in a horse and buggy.

“Professor” Harry Burton and his assistant, “Professor” Casselman, visited hundreds of arbors. An article in The Gleaner described an early program, probably typical of those that followed: “The entertainment will consist of features of magic, ventriloquism, exhibitions of spiritualistic mystery, the wonderful Edison kinetoscope showing moving pictures of exceeding beauty and interest including views, illustrated songs, the latest Parisian sensation poses, plastic, mysterious, fascinating and pleasing to the eye, and numerous other high class numbers...”

Not all the programs featured “the latest Parisian sensation poses.” Some were instructive as well as entertaining. Many were thought-provoking and helped bring the farmer into the mainstream of American life.

They also served to bind the Society together through shared experiences.

The Amusement Company was a success, but it passed from the scene in the 1920s. Moving pictures, the radio

Dirt roads that turned into muddy swamps were common when The Gleaner printed this in 1913. The Society pushed for state and federal funding to build paved roads.

and the automobile all replaced the traveling road show as a form of entertainment.

Rural Free Delivery, Parcel Post, and Better Roads The Gleaner Society had a lot of political influence in the early part of the century. Because of their numbers, farmers were a large political block and as the Society grew it began to speak for more and more of them.

Nothing irritated the farmer more than the need to go to town to pick up his mail. House to house mail service was common in the cities, but not in the country. Why, he grumbled, should a person living two blocks from the post office have his mail delivered while a farmer had to travel miles over bad roads for his? Didn’t stamps cost the same for everyone?

The Gleaner newspaper printed this 1912 cartoon showing wealthy express companies blocking the public’s path to have Congress create Parcel Post.

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The campaign for rural free delivery was successful only after years of politics, pressure and hard work. The Gleaner organization was prominent in the effort, and in fact was the leader in Michigan.

The practice of purchasing goods by mail order is enjoying a revival in the United States today. Not many people know that buying through the Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward catalogues was a thriving business even before World War I. The rise of Sears and Montgomery Ward was made possible by the parcel post laws finally approved in 1912 and put in use in 1913.

In 1908, the Gleaner members began to campaign throughout the Midwest in support of parcel post. The United States mail confined itself to letters and parcels under four pounds in weight, a limitation making it impossible to purchase many items through the mail.

The alternative was to use expensive commercial freight service such as Wells Fargo.

A wagon bogged in a muddy road along railroad tracks was among photos printed in June 1909’s Forum to launch a campaign for better roads.

Finally, after five years of effort, a farmer could mail a package up to 50 miles away for as little as three cents per pound. He could now shop by mail from a catalogue company such as Sears or Montgomery Ward and receive the goods at a reduced rate.

Nearly all farm organizations were involved in the campaign. They were opposed by merchants, wholesale salesmen, freight companies and even bankers.

Local merchants were afraid of the competition from mail order houses and the salesmen had an obvious interest. The freight companies stood to lose a lot of very profitable business if the U.S. Mail delivered larger packages. The interest of those in the banking business was not as obvious, but they must have been supporting other businessmen on principle.

The Gleaner organization invested a lot of time and money in the parcel post fight. Petitions were signed and letter writing campaigns were encouraged. A picture in the June 1912 issue of The Monthly Gleaner shows Slocum and his assistant editor with more than 3,000 letters being forwarded to Michigan’s congressional delegation. Delivery options and rates for U.S. parcel post have evolved over more than a century since, but the availability of a public delivery service exists today thanks to the Society and other groups who demanded its approval in 1912. The contribution of Gleaner members was a large one.

A congressional commission was formed to study the parcel post question. It met during the summer of 1911 and recommended a law be introduced. The suggested rates were so high, and the delivery range so limited, that most groups including the Gleaner membership opposed the bill. The Society, through its newspaper, claimed the rates were determined by the freight companies in an effort to make the law ineffective.

In addition to rural free delivery and parcel post, the Society advocated for better roads. It is difficult to imagine how poor roads were in the early 1900s. Rural roads were more like swamps in the spring and fall and only barely passable in the summer and during a freeze in the winter. Farmers often had trouble getting crops to market after the fall harvest.

The battle was still not quite over when the Senate voted the parcel bill out in August of 1912 with the higher rates. Because only 21 of the 96 senators were on hand, farm lobbyists succeeded in having the vote reconsidered. The final version of the law represented a victory for the Gleaner Society and other farm organizations. The new parcel post system began on Jan. 1, 1913.

Part of the problem with the roads was that they were usually constructed and maintained by adjacent property owners. Except for a few national or state highways, local governing bodies had the entire responsibility for rural roads. In Michigan, a local person was elected “pathmaster” for a section of the 53

roadway. His job was to organize the local residents into maintenance crews, usually in the early spring before planting. The result was poor maintenance on bad roads.

In July 1909, The Gleaner announced: “In behalf of its 100,000 subscribers — the power behind this publication — The Gleaner is, with this issue, announcing a campaign for Better Roads.”

The Society supported, and may have initiated, the effort announced by Slocum. In a series of editorials, The Gleaner stated its case:

This 1919 story reported the Society’s successful payment of all claims from both World War I and the 1918 influenza epidemic, two events that potentially threatened the Society’s security.

“Though capital, in all its power, has connected ocean with ocean, and though the map of the United States presents today a very spider’s web of shining rails, yet the small veins which feed these mighty arteries are choked with mud. Give us Better Roads, give our products an easy access to market and Uncle Sam can defy the world’s competition; panics and money stringency will be unknown, and we will blossom into an era of prosperity hitherto unheard of or undreamed of.

The rural highways of America are probably the poorest that prevail in any country which has reached so high a state of civilization.”

War I. The paper even went so far as to design an ideal road and published the specifications! The “Gleaner Highway” had two concrete paths, each 28 inches wide with a gravel strip, also 28 inches wide, in the center.

The concrete was to be six inches thick placed over a crowned roadway. It is not known if any roads using the design were ever built.

The Gleaner campaign for better roads did succeed in improving highways in the Midwest, but only after a strong ally came along. The hated automobiles, once vilified by the farmer, multiplied quickly after 1910 until there were 250,000 of them. Auto clubs, including the American Automobile Association (AAA), were formed and they also began to campaign for state and federal funding. As more and more farmers bought automobiles the ties between the two groups became stronger. The combination proved effective, and the result of their efforts can be seen all across the country.

Not all the members of the Society agreed on the need for better roads. In a note signed “A Lapeer County Pioneer,” one of them stated: “The pioneers of the county have worked many years to make roads that we might have some pleasure in traveling on in our old age. Now what have we got? We find that we have brought on our destruction. If our roads were not already too good we would not be destroyed, both life and property, by hordes of idlers from the cities, racing through the earth (at 25 miles per hour!) with their autos for no purpose only to gratify their own madness.”

The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918-1919 The tragedy of World War I did not end with the Armistice in November 1918. A new form of influenza virus, spread through the trenches in France, was carried home to the European countries and the United States by soldiers. It became known as the “Spanish Flu,” although there is no evidence it came from Spain. More than a billion people eventually were infected with the disease and more than 2.2 million died. It was the worst health crisis since the Black Plague of the Middle Ages.

Only 10% of Michigan roads were classified as improved, and those in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois were not much better. “Improved” meant graded, drained, and paved with stone.

Gleaner advocates pressed the Better Roads Campaign for the next five years. Politicians favoring state funding were invited to appear at the biennial conventions and lobbyists worked hard both in Lansing and Washington. The Gleaner newspaper continued to publicize the issue until World

Newspapers reported widespread panic and told of undertakers refusing to enter homes of the deceased 54

and of coffins being stolen from front porches where they awaited the bodies of the dead.

with a hospital, dining room, meeting, and recreation rooms. Around the central building were dozens of small cottages containing a living room, kitchen, and bedroom. He thought the location should be in west central Florida and should be surrounded by citrus groves. When it was built, Slocum said, “it would be the happiest colony of old people to be found anywhere in the United States.”

Gleaner officers had long feared an epidemic would destroy the Society, and the Spanish Flu epidemic must have seemed like a nightmare come true. No one knew how long it would last or what the eventual cost to the Society would be. The financial condition of the Society was sound by 1918 so everyone simply hoped for the best while preparing for the worst.

In May, The Gleaner published a second article, this time with the architect’s sketch titled “Gleaner Shadyside Florida Home,” along with a request that members write suggesting other ideas for its location. An editorial stated:

By March 1919, 169 members had died from influenza, an average of 42 per month starting in October 1918.

By June, when the epidemic subsided, 301 had been buried. Financial reports from the period stated that $261,825 was paid out in claims, or two and a half times the amount paid to the families of servicemen who died during the war. None of the Society’s investments had to be sold to pay the claims, although it was a close thing.

“Probably no other project which the Gleaners have ever voted to start under the head of ‘Good of The Order’ has caused such widespread interest as the Home For Aged Members which the delegates at the last Biennial Convention held in Toledo, Ohio, last December, voted to establish.”

The Gleaner Home for the Aged The idea of a home for elderly members did not originate with the Gleaner order. Before state or federal assistance, elderly or disabled people who outlived their savings or lacked helpful relatives faced a bleak future at a countyrun “poor house” or “poor farm.” Homes operated by societies for members were a superior alternative. By 1927 at least 15 societies had homes in operation, one of them with an endowment of about $1.5 million. The Gleaner Forum reported on one society, The Daughters of America, who in 1926 were building a new home in Tiffin, Ohio. Although Gleaner members were not first, they started their own project with thoroughness matched by few societies.

Arbors discussed the question at length and suggested Michigan, Ohio and San Diego as alternate sites.

Slocum started thinking about a Gleaner home as early as 1915. He wanted it built in Florida, which he called “the old folks home state of the future.” The question was placed before the delegates at the biennial convention held in Toledo in December of 1921. A motion was made authorizing the Society president (Slocum’s title had recently been changed) to appoint a committee to investigate and to report at the next convention to be held in Detroit in 1923.

During 1921 and 1922 the problems of the Clearing House probably used up much of Slocum’s physical and mental energy and may have caused him to postpone the Home idea. The question was referred to the 1925 convention but Slocum’s death in August 1924 caused further delay.

When the delegates met in the Hotel Statler in Detroit two years later the question of the home was left in the air.

“The President, in making his report to the National Convention, stated that the interest taken by the membership in the plan to establish a home for aged Gleaners was not sufficient to warrant the appointment of a committee and the expenditure necessary for an investigation, but suggested that the matter again be taken up, and later finally disposed of.”

When delegates gathered for the 16th Biennial Convention in Kankakee, Illinois, in December 1925 they were determined to honor Grant Slocum. What better way than to approve his idea for a national Gleaner home?

A fund of $10,000 was created, using $6,000 from the Gleaner Service Bureau (the latest name for the Bureau of Information and Assistance), $3,000 from Temple Arbor,

In January 1922, The Gleaner published an article titled “A Gleaner Home in Sunny Lands.” Slocum had an architect draft a sketch showing a large central building 55

and $1,000 from the Supreme Officers. President Ross Holloway also proposed that a fixed appropriation be made from an annual contribution of 10% of any surplus set aside for the payment of annual dividends under the American Experience certificates. This was expected to equal 1.25% of annual premium payments. He also proposed that members contribute 10 cents per year and that both arbor and individual contributors be sought.

Women of Gleaner

At the Ohio meeting held in Bowling Green in November 1926, delegates proposed the Thomas Elliott farm, two miles east of Defiance, as the home site. Elliott, recently deceased, had been a popular Chief Gleaner.

The 165-acre farm was located on the Maumee River and heavily traveled U.S. Route 24. It had the additional advantage of being near the geographic point where Indiana, Michigan and Ohio came together. Ohio Gleaner members lobbied vigorously for the Elliott farm, and at one point offered to raise $15,000 to buy the property and an additional $10,000 for operation. Considerable sentiment existed for having the home in Michigan, and since most of the money would come from that state the issue was probably predetermined. Slocum’s proposal of a Florida home was not seriously considered, possibly because of the real estate scandals in the news in 1926.

His promotion of Florida as “the old folks home state” was one generation ahead of its time.

Mabel Clare Ladd In the annals of Gleaner Life Insurance Society, perhaps no member witnessed quite as much growth first-hand as Mabel Clare Ladd.

Ladd began working for Gleaner on Aug. 1, 1903, after high school at age 17. Her duties included processing new insurance applications and assisting Medical Director Sherman Chase. She moved with the Society to its third location in Caro in 1904, then to Detroit in 1908. She began writing for Gleaner’s publication before women won the right to vote in 1920. Helped several times by the Society to attend summer classes at the University of Michigan, she soon was the magazine’s business manager and handled most editing. She was careful in the Gleaner Forum to include women’s achievements, especially by members. Ladd passionately supported the Junior Gleaner program as well as the Detroit Audubon Society. She was a Detroit women’s business leader, and president in 1942 of the Michigan Fraternal Congress. Most important, over her 52 years as a Gleaner employee she compiled notebooks and stories detailing the Society’s first seven decades. Her career saw nine U.S. presidents, two world wars, several pandemics and financial crises — bridging an era before “horseless carriages” and women’s suffrage all the way to the jet age.

Efforts to raise funds continued. November of 1927 was named “Memorial Home Month” with the drive to end on Thanksgiving. A Memorial Home Leader was named in each arbor and a permanent tablet designed to list contributors. Goal for the drive was set at $250,000, or about $5 per member. The goal was not met, and efforts continued in 1928 with November again designated “Memorial Home Month.” Proposed sites were visited, with preference given to those where a model farm could be developed. The committee insisted the home be a dignified place for older people to spend their last years and that it have “nothing savoring of ordinary charity.” The home would be a memorial to Grant Slocum and at the same time an example of Gleaner benevolence.

After the 1929 stock market crash, fundraising for the Defiance location failed to meet a Jan. 28, 1930, deadline. As that deadline passed, the Society was able to purchase a mansion belonging to Charles Rhodes located on 2.7 acres in Alma, Michigan, for 56

Gleaner co-founder Joseph J. England was among speakers Sept. 13, 1930, at the dedication of the Memorial Home in Alma, Michigan.

$17,500. The mansion at 633 N. State St. had been built in 1894 by Dr. J.H. Lancashire for his wife, Sara, the daughter of Alma lumber baron Ammi Wright. There were 23 rooms including a ballroom and a billiard room. The idea of a model farm was abandoned because of the need to have older people near community facilities.

about the Gleaner idea of benevolence and the care with which the home was planned: “The Gleaner Memorial Home is established for the purpose of providing a place available for the general care of aged and disabled members of the Ancient Order Of Gleaners who have not command of financial means sufficient to provide for their own needs; the nature of the home is not to be that of a charitable institution, but rather such as to furnish an atmosphere and environment that shall be homelike in all respects. Members admitted for residence at the Home shall be known as the Memorial Home Family.”

A crowd of about 1,500 came to the Memorial Home’s dedication Sept. 13, 1930. Gleaner President Holloway spoke about how the Society’s strengthened life insurance business — sometimes criticized as cold and impersonal — had made possible the Memorial Home, “the greatest evidence of practical benevolence that has marked the history of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.”

The first occupant was John Francis of St. Louis, Michigan, a member of Fox Grove Arbor. Twelve others followed between September and December of 1930. A waiting list quickly developed. A pamphlet, “The Gleaner Memorial Home,” was published to answer questions and to explain the rules for admission. It reveals a good deal

The home would not accept applicants unable to “care for their personal necessary wants” since it was not a hospital, but care was guaranteed for those who became ill or disabled after admission. Only benefit members of the Society were admitted, but wives who were not members could be admitted by special approval of the 57

committee. Five couples were among those who lived in the home during the years it was in operation. Of the 35 people who made up the Memorial Home Family, 29 were from Michigan, two from Ohio, two from Indiana and two from Illinois.

The Lancashire mansion was an ideal place for older people to live out their years. The Society spent $29,000 to upgrade the facility and grounds, then hired a full staff to cook meals and keep the home neat and sanitary.

Medical help was available for those who needed it, and a gardener kept the grounds in showplace condition.

The Memorial Home Committee supervised the staff and almost every Arbor contributed money and materials to make it a congenial place.

This postcard from the 1930s depicts the Gleaner Memorial Home in Alma, Michigan.

sugar, gasoline, and tires made it harder for arbors to send fresh food and canned goods to feed residents.

Amid these issues and lingering effects from the Depression, the Society decided to sell the home. The May 18, 1942, Alma Record was headlined “Two Ohio Women Acquire Former Gleaner Home.” Mary L. Kennelly of Cleveland and Karen Dorothy Bowman of Cincinnati purchased the property to establish a convalescent home. Six former members of the Gleaner Memorial Home were their first customers. The Social Security laws evidently permitted a commercial relationship between pensioners and a convalescent home, or the law had been changed between 1942 and 1944.

The issue of caring for the elderly commands national attention and seems nearly impossible to solve. Under those circumstances, why is the Gleaner Memorial Home no longer in existence? In 1935 the federal government passed the Social Security Act to provide a partial retirement income for those over 65 years of age, and in the process doomed the Gleaner home and many others like it. In August of 1942, as the home was being closed, The Gleaner Forum observed: “Applicants for membership learned that, if they accepted the [Society’s] benevolence, they could not draw the government pension, nor could the Society benefit by this provision.

As death took members of the family, places were not filled because our members have been able to find among their relatives someone who would care for them if they could pay with their pensions.”

There were 13 residents in the Home when it closed in May of 1942. The Society did not abandon its old members, but chose to house them in the Park Hotel located in nearby St. Louis, Michigan. In September, The Gleaner Forum reported there were nine left. The last member of the Gleaner Home Family, John Edward Bislosky, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died in a nursing home in Beaverville, Illinois, in December of 1951.

While costs to maintain the home remained fairly high, the number of residents dwindled. In 1940, longtime Supreme Council member Elfa L. Munn reported as chairman of the home committee that: “During the past two years we have lost seven members by death and have had only one new member. We have noticed that the Old Age Assistance and the amount of Welfare Aid administered everywhere has made a difference in the applications received by us.”

The Memorial Home included a formal garden with at least 25,000 tulips and 85 rose bushes.

When World War II began, rationing of meat, butter,

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60

Chapter Five

The Roaring Twenties

The last Gleaner convention at which Grant Slocum, the Society’s founder, presided took place Dec. 5-7, 1923, at the Hotel Statler in Detroit.

The decade of the 1920s was a time of great change in American life and in the Gleaner organization. The Clearing House Association, that great experiment in farmer cooperation, came to an end in the recession of 1920. The Society safely passed through the financial demands caused by the First World War and the influenza epidemic. The title of the Society’s chief executive officer was changed from secretary to president in 1920, and in 1924 the Society’s founder and president, Grant Slocum, died. Assets continued to grow but when the decade ended so did prosperity. The Great Depression of the 1930s began with the stock market crash in October 1929.

to Portland, Michigan, as a child. He graduated from Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti in 1892 and served as superintendent of schools in Caro until 1900.

From 1900 to 1908 he was the editor of the Tuscola County Courier, Slocum’s newspaper. In 1908 he was appointed assistant secretary of the Ancient Order of Gleaners and moved with the organization to Detroit. He became secretary in 1920 and was named president by the Supreme Council on Aug. 22, 1924.

The term “social revolution” has been used to describe the 1920s. It was the age of Prohibition, jazz, the flapper, the automobile, the radio, the airplane, and the moving picture. It was also the era of declining church membership, declining fraternal societies, and rapid population growth.

Secretary Ross L. Holloway was chosen to succeed Grant Slocum. Holloway was born on Jan. 19, 1866, on a farm near Norwalk, Ohio, but moved with his parents 61

Dorothy Tanner of Kankakee Arbor, Illinois, welcomes delegates to the 1925 Biennial Convention in South Bend, Indiana.

(radio and the automobile) have modified our viewpoints and our style of living. The moving picture has largely succeeded other forms of public entertainment.”

The changes in society had a profound effect on Gleaner arbors. Rural people became less dependent on arbors for social activities and support in time of crisis.

Attendance fell at arbor meetings as it did for other similar institutions. The Forum reported:

Gleaner members celebrated the growth of commercial radio with a youth announcer at their 1927 Biennial Convention in Kankakee, Illinois.

“All these changes have combined to create a serious condition for the small lodges of all fraternal organizations and for that matter some of the larger lodges. Interest has steadily been declining. Attendance, especially in isolated rural points, has fallen off.”

Prosperity followed the 1920 recession, allowing farmers to buy automobiles and other labor-saving devices. Rural isolation became a thing of the past.

The Gleaner Forum editorialized: “Time and distance have been largely eliminated as obstacles to our activities. They 62

established under Professor James Glover at the University of Michigan, helped guide the Society.

At the 1921 biennial convention held in Toledo, a committee recommended new rates as proposed by the National Fraternal Congress. Michigan law required a referendum be held on the question. The membership approved the higher rates in August 1922. The increase was necessary, but the adoption probably contributed to the decline in membership that followed. At the time assets were approximately $2 million and insurance in force more than $50 million. By 1926 nearly 38,000 members holding the old Class A certificates had converted to what became known as the American Experience class at much higher rates.

Jewell Arbor, Ohio, Basketball Team, 1921. Left to right: Emmit Dunbar, Lee Hammer, Laverne Patton, Kenneth Hammer, Charles Mohr.

Total Gleaner membership began a steady decline.

Membership reached a peak in 1912 when 75,215 were enrolled. By 1920 the number had fallen to 63,427 and by 1930 to 49,949 including 4,100 in the juvenile department.

At the 1923 biennial convention held in Detroit, a “Great Leap Forward” movement was announced, to start in 1924. The new Standard Certificate was described as, “Absolute and complete protection under plans which have the approval of the most competent actuaries and which are fully sanctioned by state and national laws.”

The ratio of assets to liabilities continued to be a problem for the Society throughout the decade. From 1895 to 1906 only four to six assessments per year were called for while insurance in force expanded rapidly. From 1907 to 1913 assessments averaged only seven per year. After Class B was established to slow the widening gap between assets and liabilities, 10 and then 12 assessments were called for in Class A (the original insurance program). When Class B was finally adopted, rates recommended by the National Fraternal Congress were adopted for new members, making that part of the business actuarially sound. An actuarial department,

Members who still held the original certificates were urged to convert to the Standard Certificate and to use their assets in the Emergency Fund to pay future premiums.

After two decades of effort the rate question was finally solved, but at a cost. A new kind of Society emerged, smaller but financially sound. It was better suited to make its way in a changing world.

Another significant change took place at the 1923 meeting. The Law Committee recommended, and the delegates approved, a resolution to abandon the

Special lifeguard Rae Shannon demonstrates the Schaeffer Method of Resuscitation for Junior Gleaner summer campers in 1929 at Camp Gray, Michigan.

Girls learned exercises at 1929’s Junior Gleaner summer camp.

They were pictured at Camp Gray near Saugatuck, Michigan.

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newspaper publisher. Chase was a physician, and treasurer Ealy a banker. Slocum later claimed to be a farmer when he purchased a small farm near Lake St. Clair.

Even after the changes adopted in 1923, membership was still restricted. Applicants had to be “of good moral character, sound mentally, in good health, not addicted to liquor or narcotics, reside in a territory in which normal death rates have been experienced, and be between 16 and 60 years of age.” In addition, the Supreme Council was required to approve any new territory open to membership.

Starting in 1928 it became necessary to eliminate some arbors and consolidate others. Many of the arbors organized between 1894 and 1910 disappeared. The Gleaner Forum explained:

The Society’s Junior Gleaner program was officially started in 1926, although many arbors had Junior Gleaner clubs prior to that. This Illinois Junior Gleaner group was shown in pageant costumes.

requirement that only farmers and those connected with agriculture could be benefit members. The action was probably inevitable. The number of those engaged in agriculture decreased as farms became more mechanized and their size increased. More young people raised on the farm migrated to the cities out of necessity, and simple arithmetic explains why. A couple with four children will, if their children marry and each have four children, soon find the family farm of 80 to 120 acres trying to support 50 people. Since the days of plentiful public lands and the Homestead Act were long over, young people left the farm for new careers elsewhere.

Gleaner members recognized the change and set out to recruit new members in the cities and small towns.

“The Gleaner organization in this, as in other matters of progress, is now among the first to appreciate this call for adaptation and to make a rational, practical solution of it. We are forming centralized Gleaner units not with the idea that the local lodge is of less importance, but that is of more importance than ever, that it must be fostered as never before; that its light must shine stronger than in the past years, shedding its rays over larger communities. A few more miles of travel these days means nothing.”

Arbors were consolidated only with the approval of the local membership and the Supreme Council, but there was little choice in most cases. County Associations, common in Ohio for several years, were encouraged.

Twenty-five Michigan counties formed associations in 1928 and 1929. Five were formed in Illinois in 1929. The consolidation effort resulted in larger arbors, greater financial support, and injected greater efficiency into the Society’s insurance business.

Despite the loss of membership the Society prospered during the 1920s. Assets increased from $1,342,104 in 1920 to $5,295,437 at the end of the decade. The net worth of the Society doubled in the four-year period ending in 1929. The gain came from a greater return on investments and higher insurance premiums. Insurance in force expanded to more than $41 million, all of it on a legal reserve basis. The Society invested heavily in farm mortgages returning 6.5% interest and bonds paying

Bohemian Folk Dancers, Sulphur Springs Arbor, Illinois, 1927.

Exceptions to the membership rules had been made over the years. Slocum, the founder, was a printer and 64

Women of Gleaner

Monitor Arbor, Indiana, Patriotic Drill Team was pictured outside the arbor’s hall Nov. 19, 1926.

Ada “Peggy” Maxwell When Gleaner co-workers needed answers, Ada C. “Peggy” Maxwell was often the person they asked for more than 44 years — even though she couldn’t hear them.

The 1970 winter edition of Forum, just over 50 years ago, covered Peggy’s retirement after 44 ½ years of service in the Society’s Home Office. “Farewell to Peggy” noted that Peggy was “handicapped by isolating deafness,” so she pursued lip reading and “was recognized as Michigan’s champion lip reader.”

Liberty Center Arbor, Ohio, men’s precision drill team.

Peggy graduated from Port Huron High School in 1920.

After her first job with the Ladies of the Maccabees, and then a break to care for her grandmother around 1926, she spent her entire career onward working with Gleaner statistics. She became a member in 1937 and was an actuary for the Society when the plastics industry was in its infancy. Because no one had satisfactory answers about its various occupational risks, Peggy spent her vacation visiting different plastics facilities and studying the issue.

6%. Nearly 200 of the farm mortgages were investigated

by Society officers because of the inflated values brought on by World War I. Some were foreclosed and others were negotiated.

During the ’20s the Society began to invest in city real estate, and state, municipal, and school district bonds.

Despite a drop in land values, $6 was invested in farm mortgages for every $1 in city property. The percent of solvency ranged from 113% to 118.9% with an average of 115%. Investments seemed to be conservative and well-secured.

Peggy became the second person in Society history to be listed as an underwriter in 1948. In 1958, she was put in charge of Policy Service, giving her an extensive background.

Peggy died in 1984 at age 81 in Livonia and was buried in Port Huron, where four of her nieces and nephews lived.

A Juvenile Department, first proposed by Slocum in 1914, was finally established in 1926. The effort was 65

1920s were necessary and may be said to have saved the Society from extinction. President Holloway was sensitive to what was happening when he wrote: “The establishment of the Society upon a thoroughly sound and modern business basis might sometime be suggestive of a departure from the old fraternal spirit and practice. Far from it! Rather these transformations have been to render the work more efficient ...”

At the same time, it is easy to recognize the passion and dedication of Grant Slocum as he railed against the “commission men” and all those who tried to take advantage of the farmer. One must admire the zeal with which the early Gleaner members supported female suffrage and fought for Prohibition. Older members must have been nostalgic about the days when the local arbor formed its own elevator, petitioned the Legislature for better roads, and opposed the war fever sweeping the country in 1915. Who but the Gleaner Society would have thought to campaign for rural restrooms or take a stand against vivisection (still being debated today), or threaten early automobile owners with mayhem only to become advocates of the internal combustion engine? The one great failure, the Clearing House Association, might have succeeded except for the depression of 1920, but even in failure it was a magnificent effort.

West Lockport Arbor, Illinois, Gleaner hall, constructed in 1923.

an immediate success with more than 4,000 members at the end of the decade. In addition to insurance, the department offered “such activities and useful training as will appeal directly to these young minds and hearts, tying them to our Society by cords of personal interest.”

The Juvenile Department had its own rituals and local Arbor activities.

It was also during the ’20s that updating the name of the Society began to be considered. Although the records do not include the debate that must have occurred, the reason for the change seems obvious. “The Ancient Order of Gleaners” must have seemed an old-fashioned name not in tune with a more sophisticated world. Delegates at the 1931 biennial convention in Toledo approved the new name Gleaner Life Insurance Society.

In the early days it was accepted that the order would

The change was reflected in a statement made by the new president: “The function of a fraternal society are dual in nature and purpose. First there must be financial soundness. This condition can be kept secure only through proper plans of protection, adequate premium schedules and efficient field organization. Then there must be continually developed and carried forward such social and benevolent activities as are consistent and practical.”

The emphasis was on “financial soundness” and not on the great, and sometimes impractical dreams, of the early Gleaner movement. Out of necessity the Society turned away from populist reforms and toward saving what had been achieved. The insurance reforms of the

The Ottokee Arbor, Ohio, Junior Gleaner Council No. 9 was pictured in the late 1920s.

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among those who adapt to change.

Gleaner Life Insurance Society learned to adapt in ways not dreamed of by The Ancient Order of Gleaners. By 1932, the Society was significantly transformed. Despite the changes, dedication to Benevolence, Protection and Fraternity still existed and the motto “Thoughtful for the Future” was still on the masthead.

Ottokee Arbor, Ohio, members dressed in costumes for a mock wedding party at a July 4, 1928, Fulton County parade.

“The Spirit of ’76” at the 1925 Biennial Convention in South Bend, Indiana, featured from left John Rathman, Wilber Rathman and Warren Asher.

Ross L. Holloway President, August 22, 1924 - November 5, 1936 National officers in 1926 were (back row, from left) Herbert Baker and Dr. Malcom M. Wickware; (middle row) Joseph J. England, Henry I. Zimmer and Mrs. Elfa Munn; (front row) George I. Strachan, John R. Hudson, Treasurer; Ross L. Holloway, President; Raymond Reitter, Secretary; and Frank C. Goodyear.

soon cover all 46 (later 48) states and efforts were made to expand in all directions. Everything seemed possible, and ambition for the Society knew no bounds. But, as always happens in history, the survivors are numbered 67

68

Chapter Six

Troubled Times The Great Depression When the stock market crashed in October 1929 some knowledgeable people were prepared. They stopped speculating before the crash because of the fear another depression was coming. After all, a business downturn occurred about every 10 years and the last one had started in 1920. Some of the family fortunes still existing in the 1940s were in the hands of people who left the market at the right time.

Officers of the Gleaner Society were among the vast majority who failed to see the depression coming, or the effect the October crash would have on the Society.

Gleaner assets were concentrated in farm and home mortgages and in the U.S. and local government bonds.

Of the $5 million in assets, nearly $4 million were in mortgages.

As a matter of policy, loans were only made at 50% of the appraised value. Despite that conservative approach the real estate portfolio was soon in serious trouble. During the ’20s the appraised value of farm land and other real estate had increased out of all proportion to real value.

Loans had been made on the inflated appraisals.

In reports to the delegates at the December 1929 biennial convention, officers painted a rosy picture of the Society’s finances. On the surface their optimism was justified. There were a few farm mortgages in trouble because of a drought followed by heavy rains, but the vast majority of loans were sound and paying 6.5% interest. All investments averaged 6%, and on paper total assets were increasing.

Herbert Pritchard Orr President, November 9, 1936-August 14, 1939

called the Smoot-Hawley Bill which drastically restricted both imports and exports. The Smoot-Hawley bill caused other countries to retaliate against American exports just when an increase in sales abroad might have reversed the direction of the business downturn.

The tight money supply policy of the Federal Reserve designed to restrict inflation caused deflation instead.

Business activity almost came to a halt. It was not a good time to hold real estate mortgages or securities.

Why the Great Depression was different from the panics and recessions of earlier years has been the subject of study and debate ever since. Most economists today believe that two decisions of the federal government turned an expected business downturn into an economic calamity. The first was a decision by the Federal Reserve Board to stop expanding the money supply. The second was passage of a protective tariff

1931’s 18th Biennial Convention was held in December in Toledo. By that time the depression was two years old 69

and its effects were being felt by everyone. In his report to the delegates President Holloway said:

Gleaner members could not get access to their money in the banks, they either borrowed on their certificates or permitted them to lapse.

“The biennial period has been one presenting most unusual conditions. All classes of business have been subject to a general depression. There have been marked depression of values and widespread unemployment. Naturally these influences have been felt in the Gleaner field; but we are glad to report that our work has been least affected among all classes of business.”

Unemployment reached its peak in the winter of 1932-33 and did not recover until the approach of World War II. Factory wages of 40 to 60 cents per hour were common.

Farm hands could be employed for a dollar a day plus meals.

Six “old-line” stockholder-owned insurance companies failed in 1933 alone. The failures revived the debate over the value of “closed” versus “open” insurance contracts.

Closed contracts were not subject to assessments while open contracts, such as those offered by fraternal societies, could be assessed during hard times. For years the old-line companies used their closed contracts as a sales incentive. Gleaner officers defended open contracts, pointing out that an assessment had never been made during the 39-year history of the Society.

There was some reason for his optimism. The amount of insurance in force had only dropped by about 2%.

Since 1920 assets had increased to more than $6 million, a gain of more than $1.5 million. Investments were still earning 5.72% and total membership had increased by a thousand.

But serious problems were beginning to surface. The amount of new business was declining and certificate lapses were increasing. Cash surrenders increased dramatically and applications for loans on certificates soon exceeded $500,000. Mortgages on city property began to show weakness soon after the convention.

Banks began to fail in 1931 and the Society suffered some losses on uninsured deposits.

The “closed” versus “open” contract argument was muted by the depression. When an old-line company failed, the courts placed liens on the cash value of policies in an effort to preserve company assets. Policyholders kept their insurance as long as the company continued to operate, but lost access to the cash value. Fraternal societies, on the other hand, were able to recover and protect their members through assessments. Eventually Gleaner members were forced to resort to an assessment in order to survive.

Gleaner officers thought the worst of the depression was over by 1931, as did others who were in a better position to know. Treasurer John R. Hudson reported to the delegates, “We have passed through one of the most distressing periods in the history of the world.” He reported seeing many people in the country driving horses to avoid buying gasoline for their cars. It was just as well he couldn’t see the future.

To save money, delegates in 1933 approved a decision to hold the convention every four years instead of the customary two years. The next convention would be held at Kankakee, Illinois, in December of 1937.

President Holloway gradually had come to realize that the Society was losing money despite optimistic reports from the Secretary and actuary, Raymond F. Reitter.

At the 1933 convention, Reitter reported a surplus of $400,000 but in his report to the Michigan Department of Insurance he gave the figure as $211,974. The Society actually suffered a loss of $175,699 in 1933 followed by smaller losses in 1934 and 1935. An examination by the Department of Insurance revealed the method of determining the Society’s policy reserves had been changed, and a considerable amount of reserve liability had been “thrown into surplus.”

Weaker banks had been failing for some time, but the real banking crisis did not occur until the winter of 193233. It started when the governor of Michigan declared an eight-day bank holiday. Other states soon followed until nearly all had closed their banks for a period of time.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected in November 1932 and inaugurated on March 4, 1933, closed all banks again on March 5. Congress passed The Emergency Banking Act on March 9 and four days later some banks reopened. The Bank Holiday had a severe effect on business. Many of the banks closed forever, causing financial hardship for businesses and individuals. When 70

Kankakee, Illinois, December, 1937 (front row, seated from left) Helen Westerberg; Nellie Goodknecht, Linna Hackett, Helen Orr, President Herbert Orr, Henry Hackett and Guy Everton; (middle row, standing) Charles Westerberg, George Docefler, Mrs. Leist, John Clark, Mrs. Dionne, Sue Dubois, Ida Russell, Mrs. Lucina Fortin, Eddie Fortin, Hazel Everton, Mrs. McGill and Lee McGill; (back row, standing from left) Ellsworth Russell, Leota Dionne, Remie Dionne, Hazel Beland, Jacob Leist, Elvira Rathman, Roy Rathman and J. Dionne.

After consulting with the Supreme Council, President Holloway took several important steps in rapid order.

He changed the method of handling mortgages since some of the losses came from pre-construction loans.

A contract with the Harold Blake Mortgage Service of Detroit was canceled, and a committee of officers was formed to manage real estate loans. Woodward and Fondiller, a firm of actuaries and accountants located in New York, was employed to audit the books. A new budget was adopted to slow operating losses. During this time, Holloway became ill and was confined to his home, although he continued to direct Society affairs for several weeks. He was reported to be suffering from “a severe heart and nerve strain.” He died on Nov. 5, 1936, at Harper Hospital in Detroit.

committee whose aim was to reduce expenditures by $240,000 in 1937.

A large part of the losses came from real estate foreclosures, the same situation that led to the closing of hundreds of savings and loans 50 years later. It was discovered that property had been overvalued and some outstanding loans were larger than current selling prices. The Society eventually foreclosed on more than $3 million worth of real estate, only $1 million of which was farmland. It was charged that the appraisals were made by Secretary Reitter and that some mortgages were approved before construction was completed. It was also charged that some Society officers, including Secretary Reitter, had invested through the Harold Blake Mortgage Service, thus profiting from their own loan decisions.

Herbert P. Orr, the Society’s general attorney, was appointed to complete Holloway’s term of office. A native of Caro, Orr had been a special counsel for the Gleaner Society from 1921 to 1926 and was appointed General Counsel in 1926. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan law school and had served as deputy insurance commissioner for the state of Michigan.

On the recommendation of President Orr, the Supreme Council removed Secretary Reitter from office in July 1937. Assistant Secretary Edmund J. McLean was appointed to replace him after the biennial convention held in December.

Reitter fought his removal and sought the presidency at the 1937 convention. He said his decisions as Secretary had the approval of the Supreme Council and

President Orr, Harry H. Hough of Ohio, and Elfa L. Munn of Michigan were appointed to a new budget 71

maintained that Orr was not qualified to hold the office of president. Nevertheless, the delegates elected Orr to a full term of six years and, on his recommendation, adopted constitutional changes making the offices of Secretary and Treasurer appointive rather than elected.

He believed the election of assistants encouraged them to act independently of the president or the Supreme Council. The delegates also voted to return to biennial meetings and to elect members of the Supreme Council to 6-year- rather than 8-year-terms.

this point in the history of the Gleaner Life Insurance Society. They reflect the great social and financial strain placed on the country by the depression. Probably no organization of its kind operated on a higher moral or ethical plane than Gleaner, nor was held in higher esteem by the members. There were few challenges to the claim that being a Gleaner was an obligation to believe in a higher code of conduct.

And then tragedy struck once again. President Orr and his wife were killed in an automobile accident Aug. 14, 1939, near Vassar, Michigan. Double funeral services were held Aug. 16 in Caro with burial in the Almer cemetery.

At the same time Reitter was removed from office, the Chief Gleaner was also removed for failing to turn in money collected but not forwarded to the Society.

Orr was succeeded in office by Henry H. Hackett, a member of the Supreme Council from Illinois. Hackett was

The incidents related above were truly unique up to

September 1939 news and tribute to Herbert and Helen Orr. 72

The Calm Before the Storm — 1939-1941

the first “field man” elected to the presidency, and the first without roots in Caro. J. Lee Strachan of Ionia, Michigan, replaced Hackett on the Supreme Council. After having one president for the first 36 years of its existence, the Society then had three in the next 15 years.

The 1939 convention was held at the Hotel Hayes in Jackson, Michigan. A membership of 53,490 was reported in nearly 700 arbors. The number of arbors was still declining, however, continuing the trend started in the 1920s. Inactive arbors were consolidated with others or transferred to the state arbors in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, or to Temple Arbor in Michigan.

The financial hemorrhage was stopped, at least temporarily, by 1938 thanks to the efforts of Presidents Holloway and Orr. In 1939 there were 53,490 certificates in existence representing nearly $40 million of insurance.

The figures were close to those of 1931, and indicated the decade was one of retrenchment and just “holding on.” Nearly 13,000 new members were enrolled in 1938 and 1939 but nearly as many left the Society. Fraternal societies reported a loss in membership of 4% to 6% each year during the 1930s. Measured against that, Gleaner Life did very well.

R.M. Norrington, then superintendent of the Field Department, gave an optimistic report to the delegates.

He described what was known as The Servicing Program, an effort to retain membership. It had, he said, “saved thousands of older members of our Society. Quite true, the amount of protection was reduced, but premiums were placed within the members’ capacities to pay, and the membership was saved.”

Norrington also claimed an increase both in membership and insurance in force since 1939: Year

Certificates

Insurance in Force

1934................................ plus 185

minus $6,000

1935 ............................plus 1,326

plus $122,000

1936.............................plus 1,831

plus $736,000

1937.............................plus 1,906

plus $1,065,000

1938 ........................... minus 590

minus $565,000

1939 ............................... plus 805

plus $486,000

Despite Lorrington’s comments, the Society had about as many members and as much insurance in force in 1939 as it had after 1937. It was a period without growth. In fact, the Society was considerably worse off in 1939 if the comparison was made with 1929. Large numbers of mortgage holders were still defaulting on loans. Real estate values declined every year between 1931 and 1940, steadily reducing Society assets. An effort was made to invest in bonds when money became available, but bonds were also risky. Eventually $154,000 was lost from bond purchases.

Henry H. Hackett President, August 23, 1939 - September 10, 1946

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Officers and members of Faith Arbor, Michigan, circa 1938-39: (seated from left) Jennie Renwick, Lecturer; Florence Adatte, Secretary; Clifford Wiltse, Chief Gleaner; Fred Renwick, Vice Chief Gleaner; Elsie Fisher, Chaplain. Standing in the center rear row is Mrs. Donella Beard, Supervisor.

It is hard to know what the delegates thought about the 1939 meeting, but knowledgeable people must have been worried. After 10 years the depression continued to drag on despite the efforts of the federal government.

The New Deal of the Franklin Roosevelt administration alleviated some of the misery, but money remained in short supply and production everywhere was at a low level. Property owned by the Society could not be sold even at a loss. After 45 years of existence, the Gleaner movement was in deep trouble.

in force figures. In defending his firing of Norrington, President Hackett stated that between 1932 and 1938, $1,892,952 was spent to acquire new business while the amount of insurance fell by $177,898.

In other action the president fired those in charge of property maintenance and turned the responsibility over to L.E. McKittrick at the Home Office. He reduced staff, discontinued the Lecture Bureau, and in general instituted a program of austerity.

On Jan. 6, 1941, the Michigan Department of Insurance began an official examination of Gleaner records.

On April 17 they declared the Society insolvent, and recommended an assessment be levied against the members. The difference between the book value and resale value of Society-owned real estate was just too large. The Supreme Council ordered a new appraisal of all holdings including The Temple at Detroit and the Gleaner Memorial Home in Alma. It was amid those conditions that the Supreme Council voted to close the Grant H. Slocum Memorial Home at Alma and sell the property.

The Storm President Hackett took firm steps to improve operations and to solve the financial problems. He recommended the dismissal of Field Superintendent Norrington, saying the Society suffered a greater loss in that department than in real estate. He charged partiality, extravagance, excessive salaries, and a shockingly high acquisition cost. Reports of gains in insurance in force were not true, he said. The Field Department evidently counted “reinstatement by redating” as new business. That procedure added to cost and inflated the insurance 74

The 1941 Biennial Convention

President Hackett also reviewed the steps taken to reduce expenses. The Gleaner Forum was changed to a quarterly instead of a monthly publication, and further staff reductions were made, all on the recommendation of the Department of Insurance.

The insolvent condition of the Society called for drastic action. To his credit President Hackett did not hesitate, although he knew his action would be unpopular. He recommended an assessment be levied as called for in Michigan law and the Gleaner constitution. The decision would be made by the delegates at the upcoming convention in Akron, Ohio.

Although the assessment was very unpopular, the delegates voted in favor and elected Hackett to a six-year term as president. Barely three months after the painful convention at Akron, America entered World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The Supreme Council met on Sept. 2, 1941, and voted to assess each member 16% of their net equity in the Society. The amount to be raised was $601,861.31 to cover the deficit and an additional $200,000 for contingencies. The assessment also provided money to purchase 10-year, single-premium term insurance for all adult members subject to the assessment. Payment was called for by Oct. 1, 1941, either by cash or as a levy on the member’s equity. Repayment was guaranteed by Oct. 1, 1951.

The Second World War The war ended the depression but not the financial problems of the Gleaner Society. The assessment caused an immediate drop in insurance in force to the lowest level since 1905. In 1942 membership fell to 49,676, the largest decrease since the 1920s. Assets remained nearly the same during the war years although they did creep up to $9 million by 1945. The period from 1941 to 1945 was a stagnant one for Gleaner Life as it was for most fraternal societies. It was nearly impossible to recruit new members with more than 10 million young men serving in the armed forces.

A closed meeting of the delegates was held to discuss the assessment and the financial condition of the Society. President Hackett told them the losses in real estate came from mortgages purchased between 1927 and 1935. By 1939, 205 city properties and 55 farms had been repossessed, many of them not worth the amount of the mortgage. He gave some examples: Loan

Last Appraisal

$15,500 ....................................................................................$8,200 $25,000 ................................................................................. $27,000 $25,000 ................................................................................. $21,000 $25,000 ................................................................................. $15,000 $20,400 ................................................................................. $13,000 $22,800 ................................................................................. $17,500 $48,524 ................................................................................. $37,500 The latest appraisal was done by Donald James of Detroit on the recommendation of the Michigan Insurance Commissioner. It determined the extent of the insolvency and provided the basis for the assessment. By December 1941 assets were $8,436,539 including $3 million in real estate formerly valued at nearly $4 million.

Manpower shortages led to arbor secretaries serving as agents.

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The 1943 and 1945 biennial conventions were canceled because of wartime restrictions on travel and the use of hotel space. The Supreme Council voted to hold the next convention in 1947 to coincide with the end of President Hackett’s term of office.

Women of Gleaner

A concentrated effort was made to sell off real estate either through direct sale or land contract. By 1945, first mortgages totaled only $476,989.54 but the Society held land contracts worth $1.2 million. In four years, all the property acquired through foreclosure had been sold. Income from the sale of real estate was invested in government bonds.

The 1955 annual report listed $14,340.88 still owed on land contracts. The final account was paid the following year. Ironically, the success of the desperate effort to sell property cost the Society a windfall. Returning veterans needed homes and real estate began a recovery that lasted for years. Had the officers not been so successful, real estate holdings accumulated in the 1920s and 1930s would have returned their cost many times over. By selling, however, the liquidity of assets increased from 56% in 1940 to 98% in 1947. The Society began investing in real estate mortgages again in 1947 as the post-war boom began.

The first repayment of 20% of the 1941 assessment was made in April 1944, and the final one in April 1947. It was repaid but not forgotten. For many decades there were still some Gleaner members who remembered the assessment as a blot on the history of the organization.

It is interesting to note that the open contract offered better protection from hard times than the policies of some stockholder-owned companies. A comparison of Gleaner history with that of the failed “old line” companies proves the point.

Audrey Call Marcelli A well-known violin prodigy and one of few women composing jazz violin music, Audrey Call Marcelli joined the Society in 1943. She had gained national fame when featured with the 1930s radio shows “Fibber McGee and Molly,” “Imogene Coca,” and others, and later married famed conductor and composer Ulderico “Rico” Marcelli.

She joined the Society after Indiana agent Joe Bolen wrote a Twenty Pay Juvenile policy for the couple’s son, Victor. She liked the policy’s provisions so much that she applied for a policy of her own.

By 1946 there were about the same number of Gleaner members as there had been in 1942. The number of active arbors continued to fall, but some fraternal activities continued throughout the war. The amount of insurance in force climbed slowly, partly because of inflation, until it reached $40,787,647 in 1946. Assets increased only marginally during the same period.

Audrey Call was born in Alton, Indiana, in 1905. She began playing violin at age 3, won several prestigious competitions, and studied violin in Chicago and Paris in the 1920s. She worked with the NBC and CBS orchestras in New York, Chicago and Hollywood. Her studio work included playing with the orchestra for the 1957 Oscarwinning soundtrack to “Around the World in 80 Days.” She continued to teach violin and piano into her 80s. She died June 3, 2001, at age 96 in Santa Rosa, California. Most of her compositions were unfortunately lost in flooding, but several of her published tunes are still played.

The years following the 1941 assessment were difficult

76

ones for the Society, but there were those who still had faith in the future. Fraternal activities continued on a reduced scale and agents continued to seek out new members. Among the most faithful and influential agents were: Harley Hall

Joseph Bolen

Harry Nixon

Donald Garner

Frank Miller

William Kleinhans

Arthur L. Buck

Roy Rathman

Harry H. Hough

Truman Barnes

Rollie Hough

Eddie C. Fortin, the Illinois state manager for Gleaner Life, borrowed a mule to attend a 1942 arbor picnic because of wartime tire rationing.

Gleaner Life continued to pay war-related death claims during and after World War II. Although most policies had a “war exclusion clause,” officers and members felt duty-bound to continue the tradition begun in 1898.

A total of 130 “Gold Star Gleaner” claims were paid by the end of 1946 when the last cases were resolved. Of the last four claims paid, three were for members of different missing airplane crews and the final payment was for Marine Corps Pfc. Frederick C. Lutz. He had been taken prisoner in May of 1942 when U.S. forces in the Philippines surrendered. Lutz survived two and a half years as a prisoner. He died when the Japanese prison ship he was aboard was sunk Oct. 24, 1944, although it took more than a year for the U.S. military to learn of his death. A tribute to the 130 Gold Star Gleaners is included in this book’s appendix.

Just as it seemed the Society had safely weathered the worst emergency in its history, a fresh crisis developed.

An investigation into President Hackett’s financial affairs began in early 1946 after rumors circulated about his gambling activities. His relationship with a Detroit gambling figure led to the discovery that three people listed on the payroll did not exist. According to a handwriting expert, checks issued to the phantom employees had been signed by Hackett and his new wife.

Gleaner announced it would pay all war claims in full.

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The Supreme Council, 1941: (standing, from left) Will Wright, Mrs. Elfa Munn, Harry H. Hough and Albert Goodknecht; (seated, front row) Henry I. Zimmer, Henry H. Hackett and J. Lee Strachan.

The Supreme Council decided to permit Hackett to resign and issued this statement:

bonding company, Aetna Casualty, paid the Society $25,000, the full amount of the bond.

“Due to continued ill health, and on the advice of his physician, H.H. Hackett tendered his resignation as President of the Society at a formal meeting of the Supreme Council, held in the council chambers of the Society, Tuesday, September 10, 1946.”

Hackett was permitted to resign on the pretext of “ill health” in order to avoid scandal that might hurt the Society. While he did suffer from a heart condition that would eventually cause his death in 1951, the real reason for Hackett’s departure soon became known outside the Supreme Council. The circumstances must have caused pain to those who knew the facts and to the membership at large. What might have been an unpleasant incident in a private business was more than that to the Gleaner Society. Presidents of the Society had been held in high esteem since the days of Grant Slocum. They were charged not only with conducting a large business but with maintaining the ideals on which the Society was founded.

The Supreme Council, in official session, appointed R.G. “George” Ransford president and general attorney to fill the unexpired term. J. Lee Strachan was appointed chairman of the Supreme Council. “Mr. Strachan will devote part time to administrative duties at the Home Office.”

The investigation, conducted by Ransford, revealed a loss of $27,865.33 in salaries paid to the phantom employees and in unjustified expense account payments. Hackett’s 78

79

80

Chapter Seven

Recovery Richard George Ransford President Ransford, the fifth person to hold the office of president, was born in 1909 in Caro, Michigan.

His father, Frank, was Caro’s postmaster and wellacquainted with Grant Slocum, in part due to Gleaner membership mailings and because the city’s post office was located on the McNair Building’s ground floor, just below the Society’s offices. In addition, Frank Ransford was manager of the Tuscola County Fair for 36 years and worked closely with Gleaner co-founder Joseph J. England, a member of the fair’s board.

George Ransford began his career with the Society in 1934 while working toward a law degree at the Detroit College of Law. His employment with the Society lasted for 45 years and included service as Assistant Secretary, General Counsel and eventually President and CEO. Ransford, also known as “Mr. R” to many, lived through the problems and the tragedies of the 1930s and 1940s.

He had an intimate knowledge of the Society’s financial and operational difficulties, and he had his own ideas about how to solve them. His first goal was to pay off the 1941 assessment. He believed that act would improve the morale of the membership and remove a blot on the Society’s history. The final payment was made in April 1947, four years ahead of time. More than 30 years later he was asked what his greatest challenge and accomplishment had been. He replied:

Richard George Ransford President, September 10, 1946 - April 2, 1979

“Without question it’s the successful culmination of correcting the financial problems originating in the depression of the ’30s.”

number of arbors also went down from 513 in 1946 to 196 in 1979.

In 1946 the Society began a long period of slow but steady growth. Assets increased by more than $2 million between 1946 and 1951 while insurance in force increased every year thereafter. At last the troubles and tragedies that began in 1929 were coming to an end.

The decline in membership was also experienced by other fraternal societies. Several went out of existence in the first decade after World War II. Others continued but were much smaller than in former years.

A New Home For The Society

There still were problems, however. Membership increased from 52,765 in 1946 to 55,995 in 1955 but then started a decline that continued for years. There were 50,776 certificate holders in 1970 and 46,010 in 1979. The

The Gleaner Temple, on Woodward and Palmer Avenues in downtown Detroit, was on the outskirts of the business district when it was built and opened in 1909.

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Ohio. Arguments in favor of Hillsdale were many. It was in a rural county with easy access to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The small-town setting was more in tune with the traditions of the Society.

A site for the new building was selected on Hillsdale Street near Hillsdale College. The architectural firm of Roger Allen and Associates was employed and preliminary plans for a $300,000 building were approved in March 1951.

Problems soon developed, however. The Hillsdale zoning commission refused to permit an office building on the site, and the plans to move from Detroit were put on hold for more than three years.

The 1949 Supreme Council, elected at the 24th Biennial Convention in Rockford, Illinois: (front row, from left) Alton G. Lusk, Chief Gleaner; Mary K. Campbell, Chaplain; Roy Rathman, Vice Chief Gleaner; (back row) Herbert Bilharz, substituting for John Champion, Outer Guard; Benjamin Perkins, Conductor; and Floyd Goodyear, Inner Guard.

Finally, in September 1954, the Supreme Council approved the purchase of a new home office location in Birmingham, a suburb northwest of Detroit. The site, purchased for $93,000, faced Woodward Avenue at the intersection of Big Beaver Road. A building committee composed of J. Lee Strachan, R.G. Ransford, Richard Henne, and William Hayward was appointed in January 1955. The plans for the Hillsdale building were scrapped and the architectural firm of Hewlett and Luckenbach of Birmingham was employed to design the building.

By the end of World War II the city had expanded, leaving the headquarters in a deteriorating neighborhood, hard to reach even by automobile. Delegates at the 1949 convention began to think about a new Home Office.

The constitution was amended to “...provide for a place of business in the state of Michigan to be designated by the Supreme Council.” Members of the Council soon settled on the city of Hillsdale, a small county seat less than 20 miles from where Michigan connects to both Indiana and

The Gleaner Temple was put up for sale. The building and real estate were appraised at $180,000 and $225,000. An offer of $185,000 was received, but not immediately accepted for reasons that are not clear.

The Gleaner Home Office at 1600 Woodward Ave. in Birmingham, Michigan. The Society moved there in February 1957.

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This 1957 photo includes six key Gleaner officers and directors: (from left) Roy Rathman, Director from 1957-1973; J. Lee Strachan, Director from 1939-1969, Treasurer from 1955-1961 and 1961-1971; Joseph Kulick, Vice President 1966-1972, Treasurer from 1974-1977, Director, 1957-1977; R. George Ransford, President from 1946-1979, General Counsel from 1940-1985; Harry Hough, Director from 1930-1962, Supreme Chief Gleaner in 1922 and 1930; and Wayne Hudson, Director from 1955-1969.

Plans were completed and bids received for the new building in January 1956. The low bid of $782,397 was submitted by J.A. Friedman Inc. and a completion date of January 1957 established.

amendments including having all premium payments mailed by members to the new address in Birmingham. It was a major change in how premiums were handled. For more than 60 years, local arbor secretaries had collected premiums and forwarded them. Having notices sent by the Home Office and returned there streamlined the process. Despite starting on April 1, 1958 — April Fools’ Day — the change succeeded in modernizing operations of the Society.

The new, 39,000-square-foot building was larger than Gleaner Life’s immediate needs. President Ransford proposed to rent nearly half the space and estimated rental income would exceed $66,000 per year. It proved to be an excellent decision since operating costs for the building were only $34,860 the first year. The advertising firm of McManus, John & Adams was the first tenant, paying $68,280 per year for 14,975 square feet of space.

A New Spirit of Fraternalism During the period following World War II, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the fraternal tradition so much a part of Gleaner history. In his 1957 convention report President Ransford said:

The original bid for the Temple was evidently withdrawn and a committee composed of President Ransford, J. Lee Strachan and William Woodward was formed to dispose of the property. A land contract for $170,000 was considered and rejected. The building eventually was sold to the Newman Foundation at Wayne State University for $125,000. The deed was transferred to Cardinal Edward Mooney, Archbishop of Detroit, on Dec. 26, 1957. The Temple building was still in use 81 years after it was completed in 1909. In 1997, the building was demolished for parking space. The sheaf of wheat and sickle decoration atop the building was saved, however, and now rests at the Home Office in Adrian, Michigan.

“The Society has another function in addition to just that of providing a complete and modern program of life insurance for the family. It is the function of providing a complete and modern program of fraternity. It is apparent that this segment of our Society has not kept pace with the life insurance program.

There are many reasons for this, and it is not a problem peculiar to our Society alone.

“Time Magazine carried an article in its Aug. 26, 1957, issue concerning apathy on lodge night as it affects all fraternal organizations, yet there is a general growth factor. This could only

The new building at 1600 N. Woodward Ave. was occupied by Gleaner Life in February 1957. At October’s 28th Biennial Convention, delegates approved several 83

indicate that many people are willing joiners but unwilling helpers.

Women of Gleaner

“In spite of these adverse factors, they are not valid reasons for acceptance of the existing situation. Rather they are the reasons why various changes in our constitution are proposed for adoption at this meeting to permit the beginning of a fund for the promotion and improvement in our fraternal program, and at the same time improve the efficiency of our life insurance service.”

The president’s statement signaled the beginning of an effort to re-emphasize fraternalism. As he stated at another time, interest in fraternalism never died among Gleaner membership but it had certainly waned.

Television was added to the many alternate forms of entertainment available to people, and by 1957 it overshadowed all others. He also reported: “It has become practically impossible to secure help in the promotion of fraternal activity on a reasonable cost basis. A budget adequate to secure paid workers would, under present standards, be out of proportion and also subject to criticism by state insurance departments.”

Mary K. Campbell Mary K. Campbell was for six decades the most well-known member of Wheatfield Arbor in Mason, Michigan. She was its Chief Gleaner for nearly 30 years, helped lead the Ingham County Association, and served as the Society’s Supreme Chaplain from 1947 to 1951. She also was recognized for instructing many of the ritual teams that were featured at Gleaner events.

The president appointed a commission to “determine and recommend a program of revitalizing arbors and their activities.” Wayne Hudson, a member of the Supreme Council from Michigan, was named chairman of the committee. He was succeeded a short time later

by Joseph G. Kulick of Indiana, also a member of the Supreme Council.

“Mrs. Campbell was a good leader, and as with all good leaders there were toes treaded on, but mostly after reasoning it out one could see reasons for her commands,” Alice Brown, a longtime Wheatfield Arbor member recalled in a 1984 letter.

Mary Campbell was born Nov. 2, 1876, in Belding, Michigan, to Henry and Cassie Saxton Hinkley. Her family moved to Mason when Mary was 6. She married Alva B. Campbell of Wheatfield Township in 1893 — one year before the Society was founded — and became a member in 1916. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary at the arbor hall they helped build.

Under the leadership of chairmen Hudson and Kulick, the Fraternal Committee began to make progress. Their efforts were slowed by lacking money and paid staff, but progress was made. One of the first tasks undertaken was the rewriting of the rituals.

The rituals as written by Grant Slocum from 1888 to 1894 had undergone several revisions. Minor changes were made in 1915 and much more extensive ones in 1926 and 1927. A new “short form” was adopted in 1949. In April of 1958, President Ransford, Roy Rathman and A.P. Decker were appointed to make further revisions. The rituals reflected the cultural and religious values of the founders

Mary Campbell died Nov. 9, 1968, at age 92. She was survived by three daughters, one son, six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

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Gleaner President R. G. Ransford, right, helped present a Bloodmobile truck to the American Red Cross on behalf of the National Fraternal Congress in 1954.

Gleaner arbors provided assistance after tornadoes struck Ohio and Michigan on June 8, 1953. These Forum photos show damage in Wood County, Ohio, where two members were killed.

seek a merger with another fraternal society. Although financially sound, the UFCC was not growing and could not maintain a full insurance program under Michigan laws. In 1953 the UFCC had insurance in force amounting to $565,000 and $319,000 in assets. A merger was approved by Gleaner voters in November 1953 and became final in the fall of 1954. As a result, revision of the rituals became even more necessary. President Ransford made the issue clear when he stated: “The purpose [of the revision] is to eliminate reference to secret work and other matters which might prove objectionable to certain religious denominations.”

The project was completed in April 1961.

Under the guidance of chairmen Hudson and Kulick, several fraternal activities were started. Members responded when June 8, 1953, tornados struck Michigan’s Flint region as well as northwestern Ohio, killing two Ohio members and devastating a large section of Wood County. Gleaner arbors promptly provided relief for stricken members and their families.

The National Fraternal Congress Bloodmobile Project was adopted in 1951 and proved to be a success. In 1958, as interest in Junior Gleaner programs waned, the Society began to assist 4-H, which had originated on Ohio farms. One project, sponsored by Leonard Davis and the Portage Central Arbor, helped a group of youngsters buy and fatten farm animals for sale.

but were out of touch with life in the postwar years. They included church hymns and other religious exercises readily accepted in earlier days, but not by a religiously varied membership. They were both occasionally the subject of criticism by both members and non-members.

A few clergymen refused to participate in Gleaner funeral services because of the secret nature of the Society.

Some churches forbade their members to join such organizations under threat of excommunication.

As the Society sought to expand membership and renew the fraternalism on which it was based, a nondenominational stand toward religion had to be taken.

In July 1953, the Union of French-Canadian Catholics, a small fraternal society based in Michigan, was forced to

In 1964, the Society’s Board of Directors announced the funding of the Gleaner Orphan Fraternal Benefit, a program to help support and educate the children of deceased members. Children who lost both parents 85

were guaranteed a monthly income. In addition, a total of $6,000 would be paid toward the college costs of qualified applicants. The program was the brainchild of Ransford and its success was a source of pride for him and many others.

Although the effort to expand fraternal activities was successful, it became obvious that volunteers could not do it all. In January 1972, Bill B. Warner was appointed to the position of fraternal supervisor, a full-time position.

The appointment was important since it committed the Society to a strong fraternal program. Warner had been the associate manager of the Gleaner agency in Bowling Green, Ohio, and was deeply involved in fraternal activities. He replaced the retiring fraternal vice president, Joseph G. Kulick.

As the Gleaner Society grew, President Ransford became a well-known and influential figure, especially among the more than 100 fraternal societies in the United States. In 1949 he was elected president of the Michigan Fraternal Congress and, in 1959, president of the National Fraternal Congress. He also served as president of the Detroit Mortgage Bankers Association and as a director of First Federal of Michigan, a Detroit bank. He was active in the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and served on the insurance committee for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Vice President Frank Dick and wife Shirley in 1978.

In 1978 the Gleaner movement was 84 years old and in much better health than it had been a generation earlier. Assets were nearly $39 million, and insurance had increased to more than $170 million. Growth had occurred

in spite of recession and inflation, and promised to continue. Membership was smaller, and still going down, but those remaining represented a hard core of support for the Society. Fraternalism showed signs of revival.

At age 69, and after 32 years as president, George Ransford began to think about retirement. The Board of Directors started the search for a successor, and in July of 1978 employed Frank Dick as senior vice president and secretary. He was clearly in line to become the next president. Ransford formally announced his retirement in April of 1979, and the Board of Directors announced Dick’s appointment the same day.

After retiring from the presidency, Ransford continued to serve the Society as general counsel until his death on June 3, 1985.

As interest in the Junior Gleaner program waned, the Society in 1958 began assisting 4-H clubs. Bowling Green, Ohio, teen Dick Lemmerbrock was pictured in 1964 at the Wood County Fair.

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Chapter Eight

Growth and Development Frank Dick came to Gleaner Life Insurance Society after a distinguished career as an educator, most recently as superintendent of schools for the Toledo, Ohio, school district. In that position he had been responsible for the education of 60,000 students and the supervision of more than 4,000 employees. He was accustomed to large responsibilities. In addition to his work in education, the new president had wide experience in community affairs. He was elected mayor of his hometown, Jerry City, Ohio, at age 21. He was a member of the board of directors of Sylvania Bank, a director of the YMCA, a member of the committee for the National Council on Exceptional Children, a member of the Ohio Committee for Educational TV, the advisory board for the Salvation Army, and was a member of the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. He had been president of the American Association of School Administrators, a national organization of school superintendents. He had been named “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” by the Sylvania (Ohio) Chamber of Commerce.

Because of his work as an educator, President Dick received honorary doctoral degrees from Bowling Green State University and Findlay College.

Frank Dick

The new president was not a stranger to Gleaner Life. He had joined Portage Center Arbor in 1949.

President and CEO April 2, 1979, to June 16, 2000

A New Home in Adrian, Michigan

metropolitan Detroit. The Gleaner Society has always been an organization of farmers and small-town people.

The effort to move to Hillsdale in the early 1950s showed a desire to return to that heritage. Officers reasoned that operating expenses would be less in a smaller community, and they believed the lifestyle of employees would improve.

One of President Ransford’s last official acts was to negotiate the sale of the Gleaner office building in Birmingham to the National Bank of Detroit. The price of $2 million gave the Society a profit of more than $1 million. The decision to sell the building grew from a belief the office should be located away from Detroit. The conditions that caused the Gleaner move to Detroit after 1900 had changed. In 1908 the city offered a chance to grow and had certain advantages in communication and transportation. By 1978, the automobile, telephone and computer had changed all that.

In addition, a larger building with extensive grounds would make it easier to organize fraternal activities.

The Board of Directors assigned President Dick the task of locating sites for a new Home Office in Michigan, where the Society was chartered and more than half of its members lived. The search was

Many factors figured in the decision to leave 89

The Arthur Snyder Farm was pictured in 1980 on the edge of Adrian, Michigan. The site became the location of Gleaner Life Insurance Society’s new Home Office.

narrowed to two or three communities. Adrian’s eventual selection was helped by having two colleges, two highways, a strong business community, good public schools, and city utilities.

from Monroe to the Addison area. The area had long been reserved for hunting by the various Indian tribes.

Maynard brought his family from New York state and built a log cabin on the north side of Wolf Creek. He set out an orchard and soon had 50 acres of planting.

In January 1980, the Board of Directors signed an option to purchase a farm owned by Arthur Snyder, consisting of more than 100 acres in Sections 29/32 of Adrian Township in Lenawee County, Michigan.

The adjacent “Jackson property,” a former one-room schoolhouse and an acre and a half of ground, was purchased separately, making 106 acres in all.

Hooks Mill, less than a mile downstream, was the center of the frontier community. The old mill was located at what is now 4301 Hooks Mill Drive in Adrian. There were a few neighbors including the Marshall family whose 80 acres were on the north side of the road across from the Maynards.

The Snyder farm was located on U.S. Route 223, just west of the city of Adrian. Forrister Road marks the property’s northern boundary. Wolf Creek cuts across the middle of the property on its way to the city reservoir. The land rises from Wolf Creek north to Forrister Road and south to U.S. 223 and the new office building.

John Maynard’s descendants continued to live on the farm until well into the 1900s. Sometime after 1916, Forrister Road was built through the Marshall farm, leaving 26 acres south of the new road. That 26 acres was added to the Maynard farm, making up the property bought by Gleaner Life 64 years later.

The Snyder farm had ties to Adrian Township pioneers.

When John Maynard bought 80 acres in 1832 it was heavily wooded wilderness. Two Native American trails crossed the southeastern part of the farm, one leading from present-day Tecumseh to Hudson and the other

In 1870, the Maynard family donated a small plot of land on Hamilton Road, by then the western boundary of the farm, as a school site. A brick building named Maynard School No. 8 was completed in 1876. The school property 90

Shirley and Frank Dick stood behind the plow before Arthur Snyder and his horse team broke ground Aug. 4, 1980. The ceremony was at the site of the Society’s new Home Office.

was increased to about an acre and a half in 1953, one year before the district was consolidated with the Adrian schools. This was the “Jackson property” purchased by the Society and added to the Snyder farm.

The new headquarters was completed in the summer of 1981 and occupied by the office force on Aug. 14. The transfer of 87 years’ worth of records and sophisticated computer equipment was difficult, but it was done with a minimum of disruption.

The Maynard cabin was abandoned when U.S. 223 was improved as a “plank” road. A new homestead was located on the new road. The buildings, then known as the Snyder Farm, were still standing when the Gleaner Board of Directors bought the property.

The Gleaner building is a symbol of the Society’s progress. The colonial design connects the Society to the country’s history while housing a modern, up-to-date business enterprise. The building has become a landmark in Adrian, sitting on a hill behind a pond adjacent to U.S. Route 223.

In the 150 years between the raising of the Maynard log cabin and the Gleaner building, the land changed very little. A 10-minute walk down the hill and along Wolf Creek revealed a scene John Maynard would recognize at once.

New Directions The Society experienced strong growth after Frank Dick became president. In 1980, the first full year of his presidency, assets grew by a record $5 million. That was only the beginning. In 1983 assets increased by more than $10 million, followed by $22 million in 1985, $48 million in 1989, and $75 million in 1992. Every year through 1992 was a new record. It was the kind of growth never before seen by the Society.

Plans for the new home office proceeded rapidly.

Buehrer and Stough, Toledo architects, were employed to design the building. Plans were completed and bids opened in July 1980. The Krieghoff-Lenawee Company of Adrian was awarded the contract and work started immediately. Financing was arranged through the issuance of $3 million in Lenawee County Economic Development bonds.

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In 1982, the Society held a “Big Event” picnic to celebrate its relocation to Adrian. Janet Goulart, Coordinator Personnel Services, welcomed members and friends as “Huggie the Clown.”

Board Vice Chairman Leonard Davis, left, and Board Member David Sutton, right, discuss the plans for the new Home Office with architect Robert Stough, center, in April 1980. The Society moved into its new offices Aug. 14, 1981.

growth. They maintain the building aided the return to fraternalism and brought the Society together in a way impossible in the old headquarters in Birmingham.

A beautiful Founder’s Room was included in the new building to house the Society’s historical records and to display the memorabilia collected over the decades.

In the first 86 years (1894 to 1980) the Society had accumulated a little more than $46 million in assets. That amount was exceeded in a single year (1989).

The amount of insurance in force kept pace. The Society had $180 million of insurance on the books in 1979. By 1983 the amount had increased to nearly $204 million, followed by $652 million in 1989. The half-billion dollar mark was reached in 1988. The figures would have amazed the founders.

In 1982, one year after the building was opened, a picnic for all Gleaner members was held on the site. The picnic tradition among Society members began as early as 1896 but this was the first one to include members from all nine states served by the Society. A large crowd assembled for the two-day affair July 31 and Aug. 1.

Why did the Society grow so fast in the 1980s? The decade was one of growth and expansion, far different from the 1930s and 1940s. Low inflation was coupled with the longest peacetime expansion in history. Tax laws were changed to create the Individual Retirement Account (IRA). That alone does not provide an explanation for the Society’s success.

The event helped invigorate the Society and contributed to the feeling that Gleaner members were a part of a unique organization. It would not have been possible to hold such a large gathering at any of the previous office buildings.

Those examining the Society from the outside have concluded that growth came from strong leadership, imagination, and hard work by a dedicated staff. On being interviewed, one employee said:

There were several reasons, according to the officers.

One was the attention to interest-sensitive products such as Universal Life insurance and tax-deferred annuities.

Another was the expansion of the sales force. The Society has never employed its own (so-called “captive”) agents, instead contracting with independent agents and agencies. As new, attractive insurance and annuity products were developed, the independent sales force grew until it reached more than 400.

“The president is behind the growth and vigor of the Society. He is constantly on the prowl to find new ways to serve the membership.

He is what I call a progressive-conservative, a person who values the past but who finds ways to make the past serve the future. He is conservative in that once money is received it is not frittered away, and once a course of action is clear, he takes action immediately.”

There are those who believe the construction of the new home office building in Adrian contributed to the 92

1984 totaled $24.8 million, while applications in the first two months for Universal Life Certificates were $33.8 million. That sort of new growth helped the Society’s assets jump from $77 million in 1984 to almost $523 million in 1994 — its centennial year.

The Society also grew in other ways during the decade.

Not only were new insurance products being devised, but an expansion of fraternal programs was undertaken.

One of the first acts of the early Gleaner arbors was to establish a student scholarship fund. The first Society scholarship program prior to 1900 was in place only for a few years and was dropped due to financial strain. It was revived in 1979 with the enthusiastic support of the Board of Directors. The first students were selected and awards presented in 1980. The winners were: Yvonne Navarro, Jeffrey Williams, Denise Froriep, Kelly Chard, and Melvin Hess Jr. The five scholarships awarded the first year had increased to 12 in 1990 and at one point rose to 126 in 2009. A guaranteed student loan program also was started in 1980. Frank Dick explained the reasons for the scholarship and student loan programs: “These Gleaner fraternal benefits for students will allow all Society members to share in alleviating one of the greatest fears of civilized people. It is the fear that talented and industrious minds will go unrecognized, unchallenged, and unrewarded for want of financial assistance.”

Gleaner Universal Life Insurance was a significant new product when introduced in 1984. Vice President Vernon Howard, pictured, described it as combining “the low-premium advantage of term insurance with the high-interest accumulations of an annuity while qualifying for the tax advantages of whole life.” It generated $33.8 million in applications in its first two months.

Literally thousands of young Gleaner members have been helped in their search for higher education by the Gleaner Life Insurance Scholarship Foundation.

In 1984, Gleaner Life introduced a significant new product, Gleaner Universal Life Insurance. The new offering was designed for both life insurance and retirement income. It took advantage of computers to track fluctuating interest rates and to make automatic premium payments. Then-Vice President Vernon Howard described it as “an adjustable premium, whole life certificate. It combines the low-premium advantage of term insurance with the high interest accumulations of an annuity while qualifying for the tax advantages of whole life.” Universal Life proved to be very successful.

For context, traditional Gleaner life insurance sales in

As President, Frank Dick also expanded or developed several other activities that fit the era, including the Gleaner picnic tradition. Two annual picnics were held in Michigan each year, one for the Northern Michigan Regional Association and one for the Southern Michigan Regional Association. Others were held in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska. In 1989 a picnic was held at Bradenton, Florida, for members who live in the south during the winter. A spring training baseball event also was started in Arizona annually. Members enjoyed a Major League Baseball game, all-American lunch and visiting with one another.

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Pitching horseshoes was extremely popular at the “Big Event” picnic.

Square dancing also was a well-attended activity.

A member helps feed the swans and ducks on the Gleaner pond.

Bill King gave youngsters rides on an antique tractor at the 1982 Big Picnic.

Annie Vascik caught the biggest fish at the “Big Event” picnic July 31, 1982, at the new Home Office.

Orville “Pony” Bennett of Harrison Arbor in Napoleon, Ohio, cooks hobo stew for the hungry.

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Chapter Nine

Into the 21st Century having previously been employed as vice president and treasurer at Mid-American Life Assurance Company in Saginaw, Michigan. He was hired Aug. 30, 1982, to help fill a vacancy created after Society Treasurer Carl Moore resigned. The Board of Directors appointed Wade as Treasurer and, three years later, added the office of Secretary to his responsibilities. In 1990, they promoted him to Senior Vice President. In 1996, he relinquished his duties as Secretary and Treasurer when he was named Chief Operating Officer. At that time, the Board promoted Jeffrey S. Patterson, who had worked alongside Wade as the head of the Finance Department since 1985, to the offices of Secretary and Treasurer.

Wade was already a member of the Board of Directors when he became the Society’s seventh president. His election to the Board occurred at the 49th Biennial Convention in Springfield, Illinois. These changes were carefully orchestrated to accomplish an uninterrupted flow of leadership before the 50th Biennial Convention in the fall of 2001. One of the items on Wade’s agenda as the new president was to ensure the Society’s 50th convention did nothing short of celebrating Frank Dick’s 22 years of leadership, and the successes that resulted.

Working with Fraternal Vice President Bill Warner, who was also set to retire at the conclusion of the 50th convention, they made sure the event was a grand gala.

Michael J. Wade President and CEO July 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2007

On June 18, 2000, Gleaner supported the first national day of service for fraternal benefit societies, Join Hands Day. Created by the National Fraternal Congress of America, in conjunction with the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network, Join Hands Day is designed to bridge the generation gap between youth and adults. The Society performed a project with participation from numerous arbors, Home Office staff, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 4-H groups, and the Young Marines. Held at the Gleaner Home Office, the groups worked together to assemble Fraternal Care Kits with various personal hygiene products for domestic violence shelters, nursing homes and other agencies in need; made placemats for a local nursing home; and held a softball game for the youth. Gleaner was recognized

Gleaner reached another milestone in the 2000s when a third century dawned upon the Society. Founded in the 19th century before members had automobiles or telephones, it had entered the personal computing age of the 21st century. Not many organizations lasted that long or served as well.

One of the first changes involved a transition in leadership. President and CEO Frank Dick had presided over more than 20 years of unprecedented Society growth. He was scheduled for his retirement in July of 2000. The Board of Directors appointed Michael J. Wade as the new President and CEO. Wade had already served Gleaner as an executive officer for 18 years, 97

Youth in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program joined Adrian Arbor for a 2005 Join Hands Day project. It included replacing mulch in the Mickey Phelps Memorial flower garden at Adrian College.

President Wade and Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer Jeffrey Patterson prepare to announce $1 billion in assets at the 51st Biennial Convention.

with a National Join Hands Day Award. The $1,000 prize was donated to the Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship Foundation.

delinquencies and foreclosures began, especially among what were known as subprime mortgages.

The Society had long observed conservative business practices, avoiding investments in common stocks and similar volatile investments. This practice protected the investment portfolio from the instability of the stock market. Likewise, the Society purchased only investment grade “A” bonds or better as rated by the two major rating bureaus, Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. This policy had served the Society well when less than investment grade bonds, so-called “junk bonds,” came on the market in the 1980s. Some insurance companies purchased large numbers of junk bonds only to see their market value drop.

The Society’s growth continued following its 100th anniversary. Bill Warner was elected in 2001 to the Board. On the financial side, the Society’s assets grew from $469 million as of Dec. 31, 1993, to $814 million at the end of 2001 — nearing the $1 billion milestone.

President Wade was especially proud to announce during the business session of the Society’s 51st Biennial Convention in Huron, Ohio, in October 2003: “We did it.

Our assets have surpassed $1 billion.” The benchmark was reached in September 2003, just weeks before the convention. At the end of 2004, the figure had grown to nearly $1.2 billion. Life insurance in force is another category of impressive growth. After having $180 million of face amount in force at the end of 1979, the Society surpassed the half-billion dollar mark in 1987, the billion dollar mark in 1995, and at the end of 2004 reached $1.75 billion.

Yet the Society did hold high-rated bonds from well-respected investment firms that also were deeply invested in subprime mortgage derivatives. These were bundles of loans that had been repackaged and sold by banks, and it turned out that many bundles had enough bad loans embedded to cause the package to default. As warning signs of the Great Recession of 2008 appeared, Society investment income declined from 2006 to 2007, and assets and reserves fell in 2007 for the second year in a row. At the 53rd Biennial Convention, Terry Garner was elected to the Board of Directors.

Yet again, however, challenges would soon confront the nation and the Society. Housing prices across America began falling in 2006 after reaching a “bubble” of high prices. The following year, a crisis of growing mortgage 98

The Board of Directors celebrates attaining $1 billion in assets with a cake cutting ceremony. Pictured from left are Frank Dick, David E. Sutton, Mark A. Wills, Richard J. Bennett, Michael J. Wade, Bill B. Warner and Suann D. Hammersmith.

Following this period, the Society selected a new leader from within its ranks. Senior Vice President Ellsworth L. “Ells” Stout became the Society’s eighth president and CEO on April 21, 2008. Stout already had more than 20 years’ service with the Society. He joined in mid-1987 as Director of Agency Development, and became a Vice President in 2000.

He came to Gleaner with 21 years’ experience in insurance sales, including 17 with the John Hancock Insurance Co. His experience outside the Society began as an agent and continued as an agency manager, company sales manager, and field assistant to his regional vice president.

“As Gleaner has maintained an excellent image and a solid record of growth, my appointment should not be seen as a change in the way Gleaner does business,” Stout wrote to members in the Spring 2008 Forum, highlighting a renewed emphasis on service. “While some believe sweeping changes may be necessary, I believe we should look to our past to be successful in our future.”

Further investment losses occurred in 2008 as total assets fell $45 million to $1.1 billion. Senior Vice President Jeffrey Patterson stated in the spring of 2009 it was “primarily due to bond investments in Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual.” Although both were respected firms, Patterson noted “the credit and mortgage-related disaster in the financial markets threw many well respected and highly rated brokerages, banks, and other financial institutions into chaos, bankruptcy, or failure.”

As a native of Lenawee County, Michigan, and a graduate of Adrian High School and Michigan State University, Stout fit in well with Gleaner from the beginning at its new Home Office. He was serving in the position of Vice President of Corporate Relations when chosen to lead the Society, and he sought to calm members’ and agents’ worries as the recession deepened.

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Gleaner cookbook, “Home Grown Recipes,” in 1980. Shirley dedicated it to Nellie Goodknecht, a well-known Gleaner official for decades from Kankakee, Illinois, who passed away in 1980 at age 92. The cookbook, originally named “Cooks’ Collaboration,” was created using recipes that members had contributed at picnic registration tables throughout the summers of 1979 and 1980. “Shirley’s caring spirit of helping others showed us how one person’s life can touch many people through the relationships they build,” Stout wrote in the Summer 2010 issue of Forum.

Stout marked 25 years with Gleaner Life in 2012, a tenure punctuated by growth in agents, surplus, new premiums, and other developments that helped the Society continue to grow following the turmoil of the Great Recession. His retirement came on June 8, 2012. “It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve the Society,” Stout stated in a farewell printed in Forum. “I will always cherish my time with Gleaner, its members and sales representatives.”

With more than 500 members and guests in attendance, the Oak Ridge Boys performed at the Society’s 50th Biennial Convention. Pictured are band members Duane Allen, left, and William Lee Golden.

A key measure of how well an insurance company is operated is provided by independent rating agencies.

The best known of these is the A.M. Best Company Inc. of Oldwick, New Jersey. Its reports, known as “The Best Ratings,” have been issued since 1899. The ratings are assigned after an extensive analysis that includes underwriting, expenses, reserves, investments, and capital sufficiency. A.M. Best, which had rated the Society “A” (Excellent), the second-highest rating, for 14 consecutive years as of spring 2007, lowered the rating to “A-” (Excellent) in 2008. Society premium and net income began to rebound in 2009, adding more than $40 million in assets despite continued fallout among bond investment groups including CIT Group and Ambac Financial, in which the Society had small stakes. The Society still managed to increase its surplus by $542,000 to $81.1 million. The Society had weathered the recession thanks to its diversified portfolio, strong surplus position, conservative investment policies, and zero debt.

During this time, the Society saw continued growth in some areas. In 2009, the Society awarded 126 scholarships, a new record. Flag Day remained a large event at the Home Office in Michigan where President Stout was himself a retired officer who had served with the Michigan National Guard from 1964-72. Under Stout, Gleaner assets reached $1.4 billion by the end of 2011.

In 2010, the Society was saddened by the passing of Shirley Dick, the wife of former President Frank Dick and the Society’s beloved former First Lady. Shirley was well known for her philanthropic and volunteer work, but perhaps best remembered for compiling the 224-page

Ellsworth L. Stout President and CEO April 21, 2008, to June 8, 2012 100

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Chapter 10

The Adaptive Society the Midwest, most recently he had built a new life insurance company Patriot Life Insurance Company (a member of Frankenmuth Insurance) from the ground up in 15 months before joining the Society.

The immediate challenge of rebuilding members’ surplus lost in the Great Recession was not easy. The Society ended 2012 with negative net income of $832,428 after freezing its employee defined-benefit pension plan, and its surplus fell by more than half a million dollars to $80.8 million. The picture improved in 2013 as surplus increased more than $2.25 million on positive net income of $2.1 million.

At the 56th Biennial Convention in 2013, delegates elected Margaret Noe and Todd Warner as Board Directors, replacing Dudley “Dud” Dauterman and Chairman Bill Warner as they retired from the Board, and reelecting Richard Bennett and Suann Hammersmith.

The trend of surplus growth slowly moved forward throughout the rest of the decade despite the growing challenge of historically low interest rates. Rates declined from 3% for 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds at the end of 2013 to a record low of 0.5% in July of 2020.

The decline put pressure on life insurance companies and others having outstanding annuities that, in many cases, had long-term guarantees of 3% or higher.

Society leaders mitigated the interest rate risk in 2019 and 2020 by entering into reinsurance agreements that covered these higher-interest rate guarantee annuities.

Kevin A. Marti President and CEO June 11, 2012, to present On June 11, 2012, Kevin A. Marti became the ninth President and CEO in Gleaner Life history. His selection by the Board of Directors, after a nationwide search with more than 200 applicants, marked the first time a Society leader had been chosen from outside its existing leadership. While a newcomer with a chance to view the Society with fresh perspective, Marti also was a home-grown Midwesterner. His background in actuarial science included a degree from Ball State University in Indiana, and industry experience in Frankenmuth in Michigan’s Thumb area — the cradle of the Society. After actuarial and executive roles at several successful life insurance companies across

The decade preceding the 2020s produced changes in virtually every aspect as the Society sought to meet members’ needs while remaining focused on the founding principles of benevolence, protection and fraternity. All three of those ideals were represented symbolically in 2013 when Gleaner Life first introduced its mascot, Benevolence (shortened to “Benny”), a cartoon lion. The story of how Benny was adopted as a cub and showered with love was an illustration to young and old alike. Helping others by protecting them helps create a sense of family and also leads to more members practicing acts of kindness.

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Bill B. Warner, former Director and Chair

Richard Bennett, former Director and Chair

Another 2013 initiative shows how different groups share the Gleaner name. Gleaner Day became a way to draw attention to the problem of hunger and to raise donations for the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. Although the name is shared by several food banks — including the Michigan group founded in 1977 and an Indiana group founded in 1980 — the food banks have different origins and are completely independent of Gleaner Life Insurance Society. By 2020, in place of an annual drive, the Society

David Sutton, former Director and Chair

Daniel Sutton, current Director

Terry L. Garner, current Director and Chair

encouraged arbors to regularly support their local community food banks and pantries.

The decade also saw significant leadership changes. The Society had gained its first female board chair in history when the Director Suann Hammersmith was elected chair in 2014. Hammersmith had first been elected to the Gleaner Board of Directors in 1997, and later became vice-chair. At the time, she was president and CEO of the Lenawee Community Foundation and a longtime

Elvin Wills, former Director

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Mark A. Wills, current Director and Vice Chair

member of South Fairfield Arbor (Ohio). She served on the Board until 2017, a span of 20 years. A year before Hammersmith’s tenure ended, the Board lost another longtime member in 2015 with the death of Richard Bennett of Napoleon, Ohio, a Board member for 22 years.

Director Dan Sutton was elected in 2015 at the 57th Biennial Convention as his father — the Society’s longestever serving Board Director, Dave Sutton — retired after 42 years. Director Donna Baker was appointed in 2016 to fill the remainder of Director Bennett’s term. In 2017 at the Biennial Convention, Director Russell Cunningham was elected by the delegates, and Todd Warner, Donna Baker and Margaret Noe were re-elected. Terry Garner was elected chair, and Mark Wills vice chair in November, 2017, by their fellow Directors.

Two longtime Gleaner Life employees who were familiar to many members both retired in the spring of 2016. Vice President of Human Resources and Administration Jan Goulart retired after 38 years dating to when the Home Office was in Birmingham, Michigan. She became a key figure for the Society in its new home in Adrian. Her replacement is current Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Secretary Deborah Elliott. A couple of months later, Vice President of Fraternal Operations Sherry Nino retired after 35 years. She oversaw arbor development and other fraternal activities for her final eight years. The now-renamed Community Engagement Department is under the leadership of Vice President, Member and Community Engagement Jaime Linden.

Almost 20 arbors started since her arrival at Gleaner in 2015, with a goal of adding more as the Society expands in other states.

Chairman and Director Emeritus Bill Warner, left, receives his 50th anniversary pin from President and CEO Kevin Marti.

On a sadder note, the Society lost longtime Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Patterson in July of 2020 after an 18-month battle with cancer. He had provided Gleaner Life with outstanding finance and insurance operations service for 32 years. Todd Warner was hired as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment Officer to replace Patterson. In addition, Kaylene Armstrong was promoted to Vice President – Finance, Controller and Treasurer. Replacing Todd Warner as Board Director in April of 2020 was Stephanie Andresen, a longtime member and a former agent who previously had served on the Supreme Arbor.

Creating effective ways for members to protect their families’ financial security continues to be a priority as

Three presidents — Kevin Marti, Frank Dick and Ellsworth Stout — joined Jan Goulart at her retirement celebration.

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investment conditions and cultural trends change. A consequential move came in 2017-18 when Gleaner introduced its first indexed financial solutions. These helped members expand their financial footing despite the unpredictable nature of stock market returns, with guaranteed minimums when the market falls. The new offerings included the Strategic Choice Indexed Universal Life (IUL)® and the Strategic Choice Indexed Annuity®.

Gleaner was believed at the time to be only the second fraternal society to offer these financial solutions.

Women of Gleaner

Agent growth and new business production strengthened with the hiring of Anthony “Tony” Golden in 2017, who was promoted in 2020 to Senior Vice President of Sales, along with the expansion of our team of regional sales directors. The combination of moves helped Gleaner Life grow 100% in new business life premiums in 2019 and 54% in 2020. In addition, growth of 60% in annuity premiums was achieved in 2019, and another 20% in 2020.

“Our emphasis the past several years has been on recruiting seasoned financial advisors who truly value the Gleaner fraternal proposition,” Golden reported in 2021. “A number of these advisors have been instrumental in helping charter new arbors, as they recognize the impact our members can have in making their own communities better places to live and work.”

Suann Hammersmith Suann Hammersmith became the first woman to serve as board chair in Gleaner Life history, yet her 20 years of service with the Board of Directors was just a part of her contributions to the Society and her community.

Her involvement with non-profits such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northwest Ohio and other groups dates to 1984. She actively helped on both sides of the Michigan-Ohio border, the same fertile ground where her South Fairfield Arbor is among the Society’s oldest arbors. Hammersmith was elected in 1997 to the Society’s Board of Directors. She was chosen as vice chair in 2002 — one year before Society assets surpassed $1 billion — and also served throughout the trials of the 2008 recession. She served her tenure as chair of the Board of Directors from 2013-17.

Changes also occurred on the fraternal side, and Gleaner continued to share its expertise with other U.S. fraternal groups through the American Fraternal Alliance.

Many wanted to know about the Society’s leadingedge technology, products, sales force, Samaritan program, Home Office procedures and operations. It has always been Gleaner’s practice to share our ideas and knowledge with fraternal brothers and sisters to help them and the industry prosper. President Marti served on the Alliance’s board of directors from 2015 to 2020 and, in 2017, he was elected chairman of the Alliance’s board.

While continuing to serve Gleaner faithfully afterward through South Fairfield Arbor community activities, Hammersmith added another first in 2020. She was selected as Michigan’s first executive director of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, bringing the same vital integrity to state voter redistricting that she did to Gleaner leadership.

Within the Society, the Samaritan program, named after the biblical story about the “good Samaritan,” continued strong. It was introduced to Gleaner arbors in 1995. Serving as both recognition and encouragement, the program gives compensation to arbors based on their service within their communities. The program was designed to recognize arbors for the benevolent acts and the community outreach they perform. Arbors complete activities that 106

overall number of scholarships being changed based on evaluations of interest in the foundation’s holding account, but it also emphasized the benefit of becoming a Society member. The Foundation marked its 40th class of recipients in 2019, having awarded thousands of scholarships during its first four decades.

Home Office employees, striving to be good neighbors, gained a new tool in 2016 with the Gleaner Life Gives Campaign. The program matched employees’ contributions, and each employee was able to designate which local nonprofit organizations their gift would assist through the Lenawee Community Foundation.

Employee contributions and matches totaled $64,876 in the campaign’s first year, and in subsequent years quickly reached $100,000 per year.

Attendees posed at the 2013 convention at French Lick Resort, Indiana.

make an impact in their community each month. Based on the number of activities completed, arbors receive compensation to donate and complete other projects.

In 2017, a new program called Give and Grow was begun to provide individual members ages 12 and older funding to buy supplies, create a team and carry out their own community projects. Examples of projects included assistance for quilters whose work benefits the elderly and others; beautification at a natural park; building a community playground with local Girl Scouts; and a Veterans Day project to assist military families who have someone being treated at a VA hospital. Also in 2017, Gleaner began offering members a chance to make family memories through regional activities called Family Days. In addition to discounts and special programs, the events retain a key feature from the old picnics — a free, family meal. The growth of Family Days was shown at the July 20, 2019, Family Day at Cedar Point where 750 members and guests enjoyed the amusement park, its adjacent water park, and a meal.

Throughout the early 21st century, the way in which people communicate evolved rapidly, providing Gleaner with opportunities to modernize how the Society communicates with agents, existing members and prospective members. The Marketing Department and Communications, led by lifelong Lenawee County resident and Marketing officer Chuck Monahan, changed the formatting of Forum Magazine to focus not only on Gleaner news and events, but also lifestyle content, like family-friendly travel ideas and tips for home gardening.

Gleaner First Lady Korinne Marti followed in the footsteps of her predecessors by contributing a recipe and letter to members in each issue of Forum Magazine, highlighting her trademark wisdom and charisma.

Digital marketing and social media continue to be a focus for the Marketing Department, while also improving the quality of print marketing materials. In 2018, the Marketing Department coordinated with the Information Technology and Insurance Operations Departments to introduce Gleaner’s first online distribution model — an electronic application for Gleaner’s classic Just For Kids® convertible term life insurance plan.

These and virtually every type of activity was affected in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. Events were canceled, and agents and Home Office employees made efforts to work from home. Many members learned how to navigate virtual arbor meetings on the internet and assisted their communities as lockdowns and layoffs created hardships. To comply with social distancing, Give and Grow rules were temporarily eased to remove the requirement for team projects, and funding was allowed to be given directly to charities.

The Gleaner Scholarship Foundation also continues strong. Eligibility was tightened a few years after the Great Recession to require applicants to be benefit members. That resulted in fewer applications and the

One reason that the Society was able to adapt during the period from 2013-2020 was its ongoing upgrades to technology. The efforts were led by now Senior Vice 107

President, Chief Operations and Technology Officer D. Arell Chapman, hired in 2013. New virtual technology and “hyperconverged” infrastructure was installed to replace the IBM-based data center that by 2015 was nearing the end of its lifespan. The change also enabled Gleaner Life to migrate its 40-year-old, COBOL-based software used for its Vector system to modern, object-based computing language. The Vector migration was successfully accomplished in November 2020 at the height of the pandemic, extending the life of the Vector system by 10 years or more and saving the Society millions of dollars compared with purchasing and installing a completely new system. New product introductions became much more organized and timely. The Society’s member and agent webpage/portals were significantly upgraded, as were the agent’s now web-based new business illustration systems. An all-electronic application for new business submissions was put in the works for 2021.

Give and Grow funding helped Julie Tison and a Girl Scout Troop beautify a park in Addison, Michigan.

These efforts earned the Society an additional strong rating when a second rating agency, Kroll Bond Rating Agency, was added in 2018. It awarded “A-/stable” ratings four straight years. The pandemic’s death toll and economic effects created concern for everyone including those in the life insurance field. Some ratings agencies gave the entire life industry a negative outlook for 2020. Yet, when the year concluded, Gleaner Life had grown new life business premiums by 54%, annuity new business premiums by 20%, and its member surplus to $124.9 million. These achievements reflected dedicated work by agents and employees, as well as faith in our member-owned organization. We continue with zero debt, and are focused on growing our life insurance and annuity businesses to secure a sound future for Gleaner’s next 125 years of community engagement and member service. The challenge of the pandemic and its economic effects was not finished as of this writing, and there certainly will be more to write about the future of Gleaner Life Insurance Society. Gleaner today serves customers in a record 19 states, with arbors in five of those, and looks toward further growth following expansion into Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina in 2021.

John Bulmer’s Give and Grow project enhanced a nature park in Saline, Michigan.

The Society celebrated another milestone on Oct. 2224, 2021, when delegates and many other members attended the 60th Biennial Convention at the Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana. Just as the Society

Sharon Kennedy assisted the Dorcas Quilters group in Evert, Michigan, with a Give and Grow project.

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Mid Michigan Arbor (MI) donated 30 classroom flags and were given a tour of classrooms and cleaning supplies used to keep children safe. Shown at center with a flag is Tom Matuszewski, the Society’s 2021 Fraternalist of the Year.

had weathered prior pandemics, the convention showed membership’s resiliency intact. A full weekend of activities as well as business was enjoyed with appropriate safety measures. All four members of the Board of Directors up for election — Stephanie R. Andresen, Donna K. Baker, Russell E. Cunningham and Margaret M.S. Noe — were voted to fresh terms.

Voters also passed a Constitutional By-Law change to eliminate the title of Chairman Emeritus from the Board of Directors. In accordance with their traditional progression of service, the Supreme Arbor Officers advanced as Supreme Chief Gleaner Dick Hadden gaveled the meeting to a close and stepped down for newly elected Supreme Chief Gleaner Norma Garner.

Also elected were Linda Ruehrmund, Supreme Vice Chief Gleaner; Fernando Rivera, Supreme Chaplain; Cheryl Jones, Supreme Conductor; and Glen David Trabenkraut, Supreme Guard.

President Kevin Marti and received a special medal from Board Chairman Terry Garner. Not only did Frank Dick serve as the Society’s President and CEO for 21 years, he continued to serve another 20 years as Chairman Emeritus and the Society’s most effective ambassador.

His humble beginnings on an Ohio farm and service as a Purple Heart veteran in World War II led to a lifetime of gratitude for the opportunities and blessings he received. At age 95, he exhorted a theater of Gleaner members to remember Winston Churchill’s admonition to “Never, never, never give up,” and his own urging to find all the ways to do all the good one can.

Recognition that the Society is on solid footing was tempered by acknowledgment of the challenges America’s benefit societies continue to face. Speaker Allison Koppel, CEO of the American Fraternal Alliance, spoke of recent trends among fraternal benefit societies.

She noted that Gleaner consistently ranks among the top 10 largest such societies. Together, during the pandemic, benefit societies have donated more than 30 million

The highlight of the convention was a special openingnight tribute to Frank Dick. He was introduced by

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Above: Retired Gleaner Life Insurance Society President and CEO Frank Dick, center, was shown with Board Chair Terry L. Garner, left, and President and CEO Kevin Marti after receiving a medal and special tribute during the 60th Biennial Convention on Oct. 22, 2021.

Below: Frank Dick expressed gratitude for opportunities he has received throughout his lifetime, and encouraged Gleaner convention attendees to make use of their fraternal benefit features to help other people.

Left: Friends gathered with retired Gleaner Life Insurance Society President and CEO Frank Dick after he was honored Oct. 22, 2021, at the Belterra Casino Resort CenterStage Showroom in Florence, Indiana, during the 60th Biennial Convention.

Shown with him from left are friends Janet and Gary McDowell and former Gleaner Life President and CEO Ellsworth Stout and his wife Mary Stout.

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hours and millions of dollars. “Fraternals have helped fill this void that the pandemic has created,” Koppel said. Yet she also pointed to a steep decline in the overall number of fraternals. “When I started 15 years ago, there were 80 fraternal benefit societies,” Koppel said. “Now there are just over 50.”

projects to do good things for others and make our communities better places to live.

• Protection: We believe in promotion of economic independence, financial security and dignity.

• Fraternalism: We find strength in community. We join together to accomplish more than what we can do individually.

Perhaps as an answer, the authentic purpose of Gleaner members — to protect their families and communities — was shown to be very much alive as arbor after arbor shared examples of unique and innovative ways they’re making a difference. These included food drives for local pantries, snow sledding trips for children, kitchen classes to make authentic German pretzels, free laundry cleaning days at laundromats, and much more. The convention concluded with more than 60 totes of items being donated by Gleaner arbors to charities in the Switzerland County, Indiana, area. Proceeds from a silent auction netted $9,000 for the Community Foundation of Switzerland County, and Gleaner Life matched that dollar for dollar to produce an $18,000 donation.

All of our goals are guided by the Gleaner motto Prudens Futuri, which means “Thoughtful for the Future.” Inspired by the biblical story of Ruth, Gleaner members carry out these principles guided and strengthened by their belief in God. All Gleaner members are united by this common bond, demonstrated by our commitment to the principles and values of our organization. Individuals wishing to become members must apply for membership and confirm their common bond and desire to become a part of the Gleaner community.

Those who are approved for membership are assigned into an arbor (local service club) in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of Gleaner Life Insurance Society.

Such actions continue to emphasize the Society’s original purpose. As a fraternal benefit society, Gleaner’s core identity and purpose for existing are exemplified in the Common Bond — a statement of purpose that is included in every application for a Gleaner certificate which unites members. Just as Gleaner has modernized its financial solutions, technology and arbor-related programming, the Society also modernized its Common Bond in 2021 to feature more inclusive language. The updated Common Bond maintains the tenets of its earlier versions while being broad enough to include the diverse life experiences of Gleaner’s members:

What the future has in store is unknown, but trials and tribulations are certain and each family will face crises.

Harnessing new solutions to time-tested principles is exactly what farm families did in the 1890s. What Grant Slocum and the original Gleaner members demonstrated was that cooperation built on the principles of benevolence, protection and fraternity helps protect families from whatever challenges time may bring.

COMMON BOND Gleaner Life Insurance Society was founded in 1894 on the principles of Benevolence, Protection and Fraternalism. The values of hard work, steadfast loyalty and a cooperative spirit have their roots in the agricultural heritage of the Society. These values continue with the Society and its members today.

• Benevolence: The Society is guided by the charitable spirit of our members. We believe that each of us is our neighbor’s helper. We work together through service 111

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Chapter Eleven

Honoring the Gold Star Gleaners Honoring 130 Society members — the Gold Star Gleaners — killed in WWII. Harold Spangler, Sugar Ridge Arbor (OH) Pilot Officer Harold LeRoy Spangler was killed Sept. 17, 1942, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Scotland. “First Gleaner War Claim Paid on Ohio Member,” read the headline in the Gleaner Forum. “From his Wing Commander came word of the death of Pilot Officer Harold LeRoy Spangler who, as a member of the crew of an aircraft, lost his life during flying operations near Bladenock, Wigtownshire, Scotland… .

This young man, who had been interested in flying for some time, joined the Canadian Air Force before the United States entered the war and had not transferred at the time of his death. He had been a member of Sugar Ridge Arbor for a little over two years. Funeral services took place at 1:30 p.m. September 21, at Kirkinner Cemetery (in) Wigtownshire, Scotland. The sympathy of the membership goes to the youth’s mother, Mrs. Catherine Armitage.”

Spangler was 28 when the Avro Anson twin-engine plane he was piloting crashed half a mile from Wigtownshire’s airfield. He also left a wife, Anna Harvey Spangler.

World War II, the deadliest war in human history, formally ended Sept. 2, 1945. The war killed more than 70 million people. Thousands of Gleaner Life Insurance Society members left home to answer the call of freedom. Of those, 130 members died in military service. They were known as the Gold Star Gleaners.

Gleaner Life encouraged support for the Allies’ cause.

Home Office members served, Victory Gardens were planted, and food and other resources were rationed.

Perhaps most important, the Society waived war exclusions attached to many insurance policies and paid face amounts for members who died in military service. This helped many families survive the death of a loved one. Next of kin often received little information from the U.S. War Department. Some were told only that their son had died “somewhere in France.” Gleaner members were in fact involved in many of the war’s notable actions. At least one was at Pearl Harbor and at least two died after enduring the infamous Bataan Death March. Many died liberating Italy, France and the Philippines. Some service members were lost in icy waters off Greenland, others in China and the jungles of New Guinea. One was age 47; others just 18. An honor roll was printed in 1946 but, as more was learned, a 2020 project for the 75th anniversary compiled more details about all 130. Following are their stories, listed by policy claim date.

Duane Jackson, Eaton Rapids Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Duane Jackson was killed Oct. 17, 1942, in a motorcycle accident at Camp Cook, California, where he was receiving tank corps desert training. He had been drafted and enlisted at Fort Custer, Michigan, March 9, 1942. Jackson was 27 and had worked as a farm laborer.

He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Jackson of Eaton Rapids. Gleaner District Manager Russell L. Jones assisted the parents in preparing proofs that were delayed due to difficulty contacting Jackson’s commanding officer, whose unit was constantly moving.

Richard W. Vogel, Alpine Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Richard W. Vogel died Sept. 6, 1942, traveling to an Army air base for training. He was treated at the Salt Lake City Army Air Base in Utah. Vogel, 38, was a farmer and a Society member of more than 20 years. He enlisted Aug. 20, 1942, at Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery 113

Millard V. Buskard, Bellwood Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Millard K. Buskard, 21, was reported killed in action Dec. 12, 1942, near Buna, New Guinea. Buskard was with the 126th Infantry Regiment in the 32nd Infantry Division, which was engaged in the two-month Battle of Buna to push Japanese forces off the eastern coast of New Guinea. Buskard had joined the Michigan National Guard in 1940. He had been a member of the Bellwood Arbor in Stanwood, Michigan, for only 19 months when he was killed. He is interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

in Comstock Park, Michigan. His father, John Jacob Vogel, had also suffered the death of his wife in June of 1942.

Franklin Gilliland, Harrison Arbor (OH) Army Cpl. Franklin P. Gilliland was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry. He was listed killed in action Nov. 9, 1942, in a notification to his mother, Leah Gilliland. Cpl. Gilliland was serving with the 26th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division. On Nov. 8, the division had launched the Allies’ amphibious landing at Oran, Algeria, as part of the start of Operation Torch, the liberation of North Africa. Gilliland is buried in the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia. When he had joined Harrison Arbor in 1940, he was working on the family farm east of Napoleon, Ohio.

He was born in 1917 and was survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Lester Simkins, Gary Arbor (IN) Marine Pfc. Lester C. Simkins died Feb. 7, 1943, when a PB4Y-1 Liberator airplane he was a gunner aboard crashed on a photo reconnaissance mission half a mile after takeoff from Espiritu Santo island in the Pacific. The bodies of the 12 crewmen were never recovered. Simkins, 19, had received a Junior Policy six years prior. He learned to fly in Lansing, Illinois, and finished second in his aerial gunnery class. He was survived by his mother, Harriet, plus five brothers, a sister and three half-brothers. He was remembered with a church memorial service and a Gold Star at Hammond Technical High School.

Dale Aldrich Wolfrom, Laingsburg Arbor (MI) Navy seaman 2nd class Dale A. Wolfrom, age 27, was aboard the cruiser USS Quincy when it was sunk by Japanese ships in the Battle of Savo Island. He originally was reported “missing in action since Aug. 9, 1942” by the War Department. In early 1943, Gleaner Forum noted: “To date, the War Department has furnished no proofs, and Mrs. Wolfrom is informed that she may not be able to establish this claim until after the war is over.” However, Gleaner Life did resolve the issue within a few months, paying the insurance policy Dale had purchased. It listed his parents as beneficiaries. Wolfrom entered the service Nov. 9, 1940. Less than a year later, on Nov. 1, 1941, his father died, adding to the shock suffered by his mother.

The October 1943 Forum carried this letter from her: “Dear Society: Yours received and many thanks for same.

I don’t know how to thank you as words can’t express my feelings. I am so glad my son thought of his parents — he must have known he could do no more — and that he might never come back. … Thanks again. – Dale’s Mother, Nellie Wolfrom.”

Donald V. Ruth, Delaware Arbor (OH) Army Pvt. Donald V. Ruth, 24, of Marion, Ohio, was killed in action in North Africa. He died Jan. 31, 1943, in Tunisia with the 168th Infantry Regiment, which fought that day at the Battle of Sened Station.

He had joined Delaware Arbor in 1938 while living at home in Marion, Ohio, and working at a gasoline station. He formally enlisted on Oct. 21, 1941, before Pearl Harbor and earned an Army sharpshooter’s qualification badge. His regiment took part in the North Africa invasion. In addition to his parents, Ruth was survived by a brother in the Navy and three sisters.

Frederick F. Hammer, Maumee Arbor (OH) Navy Petty Officer Third Class Frederick F. Hammer, 25, was declared dead in the crash of a Navy PBY-5 Catalina seaplane Jan. 10, 1943, off Bermuda. Hammer, an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, and the other eight crewmen from patrol squadron VP-52 were never located. Hammer resided in Defiance, Ohio, but had joined the Maumee Arbor about three years prior to his death when he began one of his first jobs. He was survived by his parents, Carroll and Hazel Hammer of Defiance, as well as two brothers and a sister.

Clyde L. Lownes, Bonne et Belle Arbor (IN) Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. Clyde L. Lownes died March 15, 114

1943, while stationed at Pyote, Texas. He died while undergoing a scheduled tonsillectomy. Lownes, 29, had been a member of the Bonne et Belle Arbor for more than 12 years. He was a native of Indiana, born in Manteno and buried in Fulton. He was survived by his father, a sister, a half-sister and a half-brother, Harvey Hubert, who was serving with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific at the time.

mortar fire, he continued on his route, accomplished his mission, and was then mortally wounded by the enemy during mortar fire.” Smith, 27, had been a member of Starke Arbor for more than seven years. Prior to entering the military, he had worked as a grocery clerk and a gas station attendant in Warren, Ohio. He is buried at the North Africa America Cemetery and memorial in Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

Malcolm E. Mohler, Malinta Arbor (OH) U.S. Coastguardsman Malcom E. Mohler, 23, died aboard the Coast Guard’s ship USCGC Escanaba when it sank June 13, 1943, during convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Mohler had enlisted in the Coast Guard on Aug. 6, 1940, in Detroit. Three months after the U.S. entered the war, the ship was sent to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to be armed to escort Atlantic convoys.

The Escanaba crew also pioneered the use of rescue swimmers wearing rubber survival suits to retrieve freezing survivors from the sea, as well as techniques to revive them. Mohler’s duty was rolling depth charges during battle. On Feb. 3, 1943, the Escanaba rescued 133 survivors of the USAT Dorchester after the troop ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat.

Four months later, the Escanaba was escorting several ships off Ivigtut, Greenland, to Newfoundland when an explosion possibly caused by a mine quickly sank the ship. Only two of the 105 men aboard survived. Mohler had been born April 4, 1919, in Flatrock Township, Ohio.

He graduated in 1937 from Malinta-Grelton High School.

In addition to his parents and one sister, Mohler was survived by his fiancée from Manitowoc.

Dale D. Lewis, Elm Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Dale D. Lewis, 21, died Jan. 3, 1943. Initially, his mother, Ziola Lewis of Whitehouse, Ohio, was told only that he died in the southwest Pacific. Lewis was killed in action with the 127th Infantry Regiment, part of the 32nd Infantry Division. At the time, the 127th was pushing Japanese forces off the eastern coast of New Guinea. Two months of fighting in hot jungles cost the under-supplied men of the 32nd Division 1,954 killed or wounded and another 2,952 hospitalized due to disease. Lewis is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines.

Charles F. Kline, Ottokee Arbor (OH) U.S. Army Air Corps Pvt. Charles F. Kline was killed Feb. 3, 1943, when the transport ship he was aboard, the USAT Dorchester, was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic. The Dorchester’s sinking, about 100 miles off the coast of Greenland by a German U-boat, was one of the worst U.S. troopship losses of the war. More than 670 died while 230 were rescued. Four Army chaplains handed out life vests to troops and, after running out, gave up their own vests and went down with the ship. Kline was awarded the Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. Kline, 20, was a member of the Ottokee Arbor for more than four years. He had been attending school and assisting with farm work when he went into the service. Kline’s body was never recovered. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing East Coast Memorial in New York City and at the Pettisville Union Cemetery in Pettisville.

Raymond T. Sharai, Sodus Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Raymond T. Sharai died of a brain tumor in June 1943.

He had been sent back from North Africa to the Bushnell Hospital in Brigham, Utah, where he died. Sharai, 27, was a resident of Benton Harbor and was known as a singer. He had been orphaned as a boy, and was raised by his aunt and uncle, Laura and Amos Thomas. He had enlisted in July of 1940 in Detroit. He was survived by his wife Mary, and a daughter. Eleven years prior to his death he had received a Gleaner policy written by his uncle, Gleaner District Manager Bert Sharai.

Raymond E. Smith, Starke Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Raymond E. Smith received the Silver Star after his death March 31, 1943, at the U.S. defeat at Kasserine Pass in the North African campaign. He was a member of Company G of the 168th Infantry Regiment. According to his Silver Star citation: “During the heaviest part of the action when the company communication lines were broken by enemy mortar and artillery fire, Private First Class Smith went out on a line repair patrol and although the enemy soon observed him and subjected him to intense

Marvin F. Lamphier, Pontiac Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps Cadet Marvin F. Lamphier was killed in an airplane 115

training crash Aug. 10, 1943, nine miles west of Waco, Texas. He had been chosen for training the winter before and assigned to Randolph Field, Texas. Lamphier, 22, was one of the charter members of the Junior Gleaner program when it had enough applicants to first issue policies Jan. 1, 1927. He was 5 when he became a Gleaner through the Pontiac Arbor. He was survived by his parents, Floyd and Evelyn Lamphier, and is buried at Lake Orion’s Eastlawn Cemetery.

Walter J. Johnston, Prairie View Arbor (OH) Army Staff Sgt. Walter J. Johnston was killed Aug. 4, 1943, when the B-17 he served aboard as a gunner crashed into a mountain in Wales. It was making a cross-country night training flight. The crew had flown numerous combat missions with the 427th Bomber Squadron of the 303rd Bomber Group, which was based in England at the Molesworth airfield. It struck the summit of Arenig Fawr, a 2,800 foot mountain in Snowdonia, Wales, located six miles west of Bala, Wales. Bala residents placed a marker honoring the eight crewmen killed, and over the years have continued to place wreaths at the site. Johnston, 25, had enlisted 14 months earlier in Toledo. He was survived by his mother, Dora B. Johnston of Wauseon, and had been a member of the Prairie View Arbor for two years.

Maurice G. Kosier, Kunkle Arbor (OH) Army Air Force Cpl. Maurice G. “Push” Kosier was serving in India when he died Oct. 3, 1943, in an airplane crash in China. Nicknamed “Push” for his athletic ability, he joined Kunkle Arbor at age 16. He enjoyed acting and played center on the Kunkle High School basketball team. He graduated in the Class of 1941 and was attending Albion College in Michigan when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He enlisted six days later at Toledo, the first from his high school class according to a Forum story that reported all the young men in his class enlisted.

Kosier received parachute training in Illinois and his mechanic’s diploma in Buffalo, New York, before arriving in India July 25, 1942. He and the five other crewmen of a C-46 transport plane were killed when the plane exploded shortly after takeoff from the Kunming Airport. Kosier was buried in a cemetery in China.

Paul Kopschok, Dilworth Arbor (OH) Navy Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Paul Kopchok served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. He was reported missing after the ship was struck by three torpedoes from a Japanese submarine and sunk Sept. 15, 1942. The carrier was supporting operations around the island of Guadalcanal. Kopchok, 23, was declared dead one year later, one of 193 Navy personnel who died in the sinking. Kopchok had been in the Navy for four years. He was a Society member for six years, first with Mansfield Arbor while a student and then Dilworth Arbor. He was survived by his parents, two brothers — including another one in the Navy — and two sisters.

Robert H. Danielson, Rolling Prairie Arbor (IN) Army Pvt. Robert H. Danielson died Sept. 9, 1943, at the Camp Thomas Army Hospital in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. His death was due to “pulmonary tuberculosis pneumothorax” that claimed him after seven days of treatment. He was 24, and a member of Company B of the 737th Military Police Battalion. Danielson had joined Rolling Prairie Arbor when he was 18 at the urging of Gleaner agent Claire Fail. Danielson is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City.

Harold Edward Bardon, Florida Arbor (OH) Navy Seaman Second Class Harold Edward Bardon died Dec. 8, 1943, following a training accident the day before. He was taking part in amphibious landing training at Little Creek, Virginia, where he worked on landing barges. Bardon, 20, suffered “intercranial injuries” and died the next day at the Naval Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.

Lyle E. West, Gary Arbor (IN) Army Pfc. Lyle E. West died Sept. 9, 1943, on the Allies’ first day of landings during the invasion of Italy. West was with the 142nd Infantry Regiment, which fought its way onto the beaches around Salerno. West, 23, had been a member of Gary Arbor for four years prior to his death. He was survived by his parents, three brothers and four sisters. West is buried at Lake Village Cemetery in Lake Village, Indiana.

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bombardier aboard the B-24H “Dizzy Lizzy” from the 763rd Bombardment Squadron. On the way to bomb the Nis railroad yards, the plane reached the meetup point with an additional flight of B-24s. The “Dizzy Lizzy” was involved in a midair crash with one of the other B-24s, and the crews of both planes were killed. Abair had joined Seven Lakes Arbor when he was a student at Plymouth High School. He was 23 and survived by five sisters, including one who served as a U.S. Navy lieutenant during the war.

Bardon was employed at the Marion Steam Shovel Company in Marion, Ohio, prior to his induction into the Navy. He had joined Florida Arbor at age 18. He was survived by his wife, Evelyn A. Bardon, and his mother, Myrtle Bardon. Bardon is buried at Chapel Heights Memory Gardens in Marion.

Harland M. Clark, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Harland M. Clark, 23, of the infantry was killed in action Nov. 24, 1943, in southern Italy as the Allies tried to break through the Germans’ mountainous Winter Line north of the upper Volturno Valley. Clark was with the 168th Infantry of the 34th Infantry Division. He was one of the first Junior Gleaners, joining the Temple Arbor at age 10. He was survived by his father Harold “Harry” Clark of Central Lake, Michigan, and one sister. He is buried at Southern Cemetery in Central Lake.

Charles E. Brettin, Marine Arbor (MI) Army Staff Sgt. Charles Edward Brettin, 21, was killed in action in Italy on March 1, 1944. He served as an infantry gunner with the 30th Infantry Regiment. Earlier near Fratello, Sicily, when he was a private first class and assistant gunner, Brettin had received regimental commendations for running 10 yards under direct fire to mount a gun in full view of the enemy and using it to knock out enemy machine guns holding up an advance. He had received his boot training at Fort Custer, Michigan, and Camp Roberts, California. He had never been home for furlough since his induction into the Army March 29, 1942. Sgt. Brettin was born Aug. 22, 1922, in North Judson, Indiana, and moved to Marine City with his family in 1936. He joined the Marine Arbor and worked for the Motor Valve Company, living with his mother and stepfather on their farm. He is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.

Stanley L. Hansen, Mutual Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps Pfc. Stanley L. Hansen of Ludington was killed Jan. 4, 1944, in an airplane accident in Jorhat, India. He had enlisted in 1942 in Kalamazoo, and had been a ground crew member for 13 months. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hansen of Victory Township, Michigan. Stanley, 20, had joined the Mutual Arbor at age 13. He is buried in South Victory Cemetery outside Ludington.

John A. Lilley, Lapeer Arbor (MI) Army 2nd Lt. John A. Lilley was reported killed Oct. 10, 1943, while parachuting from his damaged bomber after combat over northwest Germany. He was the bombardier aboard the B-17 “Tennessee Toddy” with the 401st Bomber Squadron of the 91st Bomber Group. It suffered mechanical loss of two engines on a mission to Munster, Germany, and crash landed near Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Six of its crew were captured. Lilley, 20, had joined the Lapeer Arbor at age 7. He was a 1940 graduate of Lapeer High School, studied one year at Flint Junior College and worked at a machine gun factory prior to enlisting. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hazen Lilley. Lilley is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.

Morris Raphael Latour, Ira Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Morris R. Latour was killed in action with the 133rd Infantry Regiment in Italy on Jan. 26, 1944. At the time, the regiment was part of the 34th Infantry Division that was advancing toward the Germans’ Gustav Line. Latour, 21, had been overseas for four months when killed. He had joined the Ira Arbor while employed by the Mayea Boat Works of Fair Haven. One brother, Benjamin Jr., was in the Merchant Marine and another brother, Bernard, was in the Army Air Force. Their father, arbor secretary Benjamin “B.J.” Latour, received the news of his son’s death. Latour is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in

Donald Abair, Seven Lakes Arbor (IN) Army 2nd Lt. Donald L. Abair was killed April 5, 1944, during a bombing mission near Fogia, Italy. Abair was the 117

Battalion of the 24th Marine Regiment on the island of Saipan. He was survived by two sisters and his parents, Henry E. and Carrie Lee. Herbert Lee had received a Junior Gleaner policy at age 2. The Seven Lakes Arbor was located in Plymouth, Indiana, where he is buried. Lee was age 19 years and 7 months.

Anchorville, Michigan.

Harold W. Durham, Liberty Center Arbor (OH) Army Corps of Engineers Technician Fifth Class Harold W. Durham lost his life in the worst troopship sinking experienced

by U.S. forces during the war.

He had enlisted in the Army Dec. 12, 1942, 19 months after being married. Durham, 31, served in the Army’s North African campaign with the 853rd Engineers Battalion (Aviation). He was among more than 2,000 U.S. troops bound for Europe aboard the British ship HMT Rohna on Nov. 26, 1943. The ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by a German radiocontrolled glider bomb. More than 1,000 U.S. troops died in the rough waters along with 123 of the ship’s crew. Durham was a 16-year member of Liberty Center Arbor and a member of the Florida Methodist Church of Napoleon. He was survived by his wife, Amy Woodward Durham.

Richard L. Wood, Butternut Brook Arbor (MI)Army Pvt. Richard L. Wood, 28, was killed in action June 5, 1944, serving with the 32nd “Red Arrow” Infantry Division at Yakamul, New Guinea. Wood had enlisted in April 1941 at Kalamazoo. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Wood, all members of the Butternut Brook Arbor at Covert, Michigan. He is buried at Arlington Hill Cemetery in Bangor, Michigan.

Charles H. Johnson, Hartford Arbor (MI) Army First Lt. Charles H. Johnson, age 24, was killed in action fighting in Italy with the 339th Infantry Regiment, the Michigan-Wisconsin “Polar Bear Regiment.” He was killed June 2, 1944 — three days before the regiment and the 85th Infantry Division liberated Rome. He had been a member of the Hartford Arbor since age 9. He was survived by his father and one sister. Johnson is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.

Frederick William George Hollweg, Armada Arbor (MI) Navy Ensign “Fred” Hollweg was killed during training when the torpedo bomber he was piloting crashed at sea April 12, 1944, returning to Boca Chica, Florida. Wreckage from the three-man plane, including its empty life raft, was found in the ocean 15 miles from Key West. Hollweg, 19, had been 5 years old when his parents purchased a Junior Gleaner policy in the Armada Arbor near their home in Armada, Michigan.

Ellis Ray Shaffer, Chester Arbor (OH) Ellis R. Shaffer was an Army Air Force Technician Fourth Grade when he was killed July 2, 1944, at Hollandia, New Guinea, “as a result of injuries received in an accidental bomb explosion.” Shaffer, 23, had been serving as a turret gunner for a medium bomber. Shaffer had been a member of the Chester Arbor for three years. He entered the service in August 1942. Prior to enlisting, he was employed by North Electric Co. of Galion, Ohio, at its assembling plant, wiring panels for telephone and radio communication for airplanes. He was survived by his mother, Icelina Shaffer, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

George B. Stahl, Lowell Arbor (IN) Army Cpl. George “Bernard” Stahl, 27, was killed in action “somewhere in Italy” on June 3, 1944. He had enlisted 11 months before the war. He took part in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns as a tank crewman with the 13th Armored Regiment before going to Italy with the Fifth Army.

Earlier in Italy, he had been surprised to meet one of his two other brothers, Sgt. Leonard Stahl, who also was in the Army but neither had known where the other was serving. Bernard had become a member of Lowell Arbor when he was 19 and assisting his father, Ray, on the farm.

He later worked in the Gary steel mills. His beneficiary was his mother, Laura Stahl of Lowell.

Herbert E. Lee, Seven Lakes Arbor (IN) Marine Corps Pfc. Herbert Elton Lee was killed in action June 14, 1944, in the Pacific. He was fighting with Company K of the 3rd 118

Edward J. Sarles, Silverwood Arbor (MI) Pvt. Edward J. Sarles, age 28, of the Army infantry was killed in action July 5, 1944, in France. Sarles’ parents had died when he was a boy. He was raised by his grandparents and an uncle, Lyle Sarles, who had a farm near Silverwood. Sarles was 19 when he joined Silverwood Arbor. He is buried in West Burlington Cemetery in Burlington Township, Michigan.

last week of July in the St. Lô breakout from Normandy.

Taylor’s final letter, written four days before he died, said he’d lost 30 pounds, but hoped to be home the next year in time for deer hunting. Taylor was 17 when he joined the Grass Lake Arbor. He was survived by parents Roy and Esther Taylor, a married sister, and a younger brother, Robert, in the Navy. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer.

Wendell R. Tabler, Channahon Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Wendell Ray Tabler, 24, of Channahon, Illinois, was the first Gleaner Gold Star casualty from Illinois. His parents received two telegrams within days from the War Department. The first reported that he had been seriously wounded in France on July 15, 1944. The second reported his death on July 16. Tabler entered the Army in 1942. He took part in the North African campaign with the 2nd Armored Division, the invasion of Sicily, and the Normandy campaign. He was written for a Junior membership in 1934, and worked as an electrician at the Elwood Ordnance Plant. He was survived by his parents and a married sister. He is buried in Channahon’s Willard Grove Cemetery.

William Ronald Nesen, Harmony Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. William “Ronald” Nesen was the pilot of a B-17 bomber lost April 24, 1944, in the English Channel. The plane, “Sleepytime Girl,” was with the 550th Bomber Squadron on a mission to Germany when hit by flak, forced to turn back to England, and shot down by two Me-109 German fighters. Nesen, 27, and half the crew did not survive crash landing in the water off Dungeness, Kent. Nesen had worked through his first year as a student at Alma College when forced to halt his education due to lack of funding. He was the son of William and Neva (Perrine) Nesen of St. Louis, Michigan.

He had a brother, Robert; a sister, Betty; as well as another brother, Stanley, who served in Gen. Patton’s Third Army. The Gleaner policy for Nesen benefited his wife, Elizabeth, whom he had married Christmas Day 1941 in Grand Rapids.

George A. Prince, Ruth Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps 1st Lt. George A. Prince, a B-24 bomber pilot, was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross — the Army’s second-highest award — for extraordinary heroism after his death in action May 30, 1944. Lt. Prince was guiding his B-24H nicknamed “Cluster’s Folly” to bomb an aircraft parts factory at Neunkirken, Austria. The bomber was shot down by a German fighter plane and crashed at Lusci Plank, Yugoslavia. All of the crewmen survived except Lt. Prince and the navigator. He was 26 and had joined the Ruth Arbor with a Junior policy at age 10. He was survived by his parents, Claude and Hannah Prince.

He is buried in Oxford, Michigan.

Milburn R. Taylor, Grass Lake Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Milburn R. Taylor, 20, died in action in France on July 28, 1944. He was in heavy artillery with the 8th Infantry Regiment, one of the first regiments ashore on Utah Beach during D-Day. It fought the

John Kisela, Gary Arbor (IN) Marine Pfc. John Peter Kisela, 19, was with the 4th Marine Division when he was reported killed in action June 14, 1944, in the Pacific area. No additional information was received by his parents John and Anna Kisela, although they believed he was taking part in the invasion of Saipan when he died. Previously, Kisela had helped liberate the Marshall Islands. He was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, but moved to Indiana when young. He attended Holy Trinity Slovak school and Merrillville High School and worked at Glen Park Dairy company. He was insured by his grandparents when he was 7 and assumed an adult policy at age 18.

Dean Brooks, Grass Lake Arbor (MI) Army Cpl. Dean

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Albert A. Smith was declared dead while missing Aug. 7, 1944, after the first day of a German counterattack that came to be known as the Battle of Mortain in northwestern France. Smith was serving with the 120th Infantry Regiment, which suffered heavy casualties but helped repulse the five-day assault by German Panzer divisions. In 1940, Smith had taken out a policy in the arbor at New Castle, the city where he later enlisted in January of 1941. His beneficiary was his mother. Smith is memorialized at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, France.

Brooks was with Battery A of the 21st Field Artillery Battalion when he was killed during the liberation of Verdun, France, on Sept. 1, 1944. That day, American troops liberated the city and German forces responded by bombing it. Brooks had worked on a farm belonging to his parents, William and Bessie Brooks, but volunteered in April 1941. He was 26 when he died. In addition to his parents he was survived by three sisters and one brother. Brooks is buried at Grass Lake West Cemetery.

Joseph A. Olszewski, Omer Arbor (MI) Army Staff Sgt. “Joe” A. Olszewski, 26, was killed in action July 16, 1944, during fighting to liberate St. Lô, France. He was a member of the 9th Infantry Division’s 47th Infantry Regiment. He had grown up as a farm boy and for nine years had been a member of the Omer Arbor of Standish, Michigan. He was survived by his parentsbeneficiaries, Joseph and Stella Olszewski. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, with a memorial plaque in Evergreen Cemetery in Omer, Michigan.

Frank Wallace, Gary Arbor (IN) Army Sgt. Frank W. “Woody” Wallace was killed in action Sept.

6, 1944, liberating Belgium. He served with Company C of the 60th Infantry Regiment. It fought its way across the River Meuse at Dinant under fire and with heavy casualties the day Wallace was killed. Wallace, 30, had been a benefit member of Gary Arbor for four years at the time of his death. He had been promoted from a private after his enlistment at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

He was survived by his wife and beneficiary Andrea Mae (Fox) Wallace. He is buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Clinton, Indiana.

Robert Sherwood, Berlin Arbor (MI) “News of the death of their only son, Sgt. Robert F. Sherwood came to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Sherwood as they were wrapping Christmas presents for his third Christmas overseas,” the winter 1944 Forum edition sadly reported. Sgt. Sherwood, 24, was killed in action Sept. 16, 1944, in eastern France. A 1938 graduate of Saranac High School, he had entered the service in 1942 after working on his father’s farm. He originally was a member of the infantry’s amphibious forces, but later wrote to his parents that he was a “communication runner” with the 15th Infantry Regiment’s headquarters. Sherwood took part in the invasions of North Africa and later Sicily, where he was wounded twice, sent back to a North African hospital and received the Purple Heart. He wrote his parents briefly on Sept. 6, 10 days before his death, to say his “shoes are worn out going so fast through southern France.”

Albert A. Smith, New Castle Arbor (IN) Army 1st Lt.

John M. Myers, Clinton Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps Cpl. John M. Myers, 24, died Sept. 24, 1944, as the result of injuries from an airplane crash near Blackmore, England.

He was the radio operator and gunner aboard the B-26 medium bomber “Baby Doll III” with the 572nd Bomber Squadron. It was one of six planes ordered flown back to England on an ill-fated ferrying mission from France.

Torrential rain and bad visibility in England caused all but one plane to run out of fuel. Five crashed, killing 11 crewmen. Myers had received a Junior Gleaner policy at age 10 with the Clinton Arbor in Ovid, Michigan. He is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Coton, England.

Alexander J. Teresko Jr., Mesopotamia Arbor (OH) Army Cpl. Alexander J. Teresko Jr. died of wounds Sept. 25, 1944, about 30 miles south of Metz during the campaign to liberate that French city. Teresko served with the 314th Field Artillery Battalion. He had joined the arbor at age 20 while working on his father’s large dairy farm in Geauga County. He was married prior to enlisting in 1942 at Cleveland. Teresko was 28 when killed by enemy artillery. He is buried at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Lyle E. Asher, Kankakee Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Lyle Eugene Asher was killed fighting in Italy with the 350th

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Infantry Regiment on Oct. 10, 1944. That day it attacked German positions near Monte della Tombe in the Apennine mountains southeast of Bologna. His wife, Mrs. Lorena (Cross) Asher, had originally been informed that her husband was “Missing in Action,” and later received word that he had been killed. He also was survived by their 7-year-old son, Royce Dean Asher. Asher had been written for a Juvenile policy by his father, Charles Asher, and later took out an adult policy. He was born April 24, 1913, in Limestone Township and graduated in 1930 from Kankakee High School. He married in 1936 and was employed by the David Bradley Manufacturing Co. before entering the Army on Feb. 21, 1944.

Dwight Ollen Grossman, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Technician Five Dwight Grossman served with Company E of the 338th Engineer Regiment. It was helping reopen the sabotaged western Italian port of Leghorn and Cpl. Grossman “was operating a bulldozer when it struck a mine which exploded, causing severe injuries.” He was taken to the hospital but died the next day, Oct. 31, 1944. Grossman, 22. was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lott Grossman. They had signed him up for a Junior policy eight years before when he began high school in Argos, Indiana. He is buried there.

Germany. He was 20 and a member of Company L of the 120th Infantry Regiment in the 30th Division. Gerkin was born June 5, 1924, in Morocco, Indiana.

He had joined the Watseka Arbor when he was 12. He is buried at Floral Hill Cemetery in Lovejoy Township, Illinois.

William H. Seegmiller, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. William H. Seegmiller, 20, was killed in action on the border of Holland and Germany on Nov. 9, 1944. He was serving with the 413th Infantry Regiment at it moved through the German city of Aachen. Seegmiller enlisted in Florida in April of 1943, and is buried in Lakeland, Florida. He had been written for a Junior Gleaner policy at age 10 and was placed with Temple Arbor in Detroit since his family was in the process of moving from Cadillac, Michigan, to Florida. He is buried in Lakeland, Florida.

Caroll Edwin Moore, Ruth Arbor (MI) Navy Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Caroll E. Miller was one of two Society shipmates killed on the cruiser USS Birmingham when it was devastated by an explosion aboard the adjacent light carrier USS Princeton. (See also Gold Star No. 52, Ralph W. Hoff ). The explosion came Oct. 24, 1944, as the Birmingham helped fight fires aboard the Princeton, which had been bombed by a Japanese dive bomber during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. An explosion in the Princeton’s magazine heavily damaged the Birmingham and three other ships alongside. Moore, 26, had joined Ruth Arbor in Oxford, Michigan, on Jan. 1, 1939.

Ralph William Hoff, Malinta Arbor (OH) Navy Spec.

3rd Class Ralph William Hoff, 22, was declared dead while missing Oct. 24, 1944, aboard the light cruiser USS Birmingham. He had been stationed on the ship since enlisting in 1942, participating in the invasion of Sicily and then crossing the equator to join the Pacific Fleet. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the invasion of the Philippines, the cruiser had pulled alongside the aircraft carrier USS Princeton to assist with firefighting after the Princeton was hit by a Japanese bomb. A huge explosion on the Princeton blasted fragments across the Birmingham, killing 229 men on the Birmingham and leaving four crewmen missing. Hoff had joined Malinta Arbor at age 16. He was survived by his parents, William and Christina Hoff of Napoleon, Ohio, plus one brother and one sister.

Edward P. Grindrod, Foss Arbor (IL) Army Pvt. Edward Percy Grindrod, 28, was killed in action Oct. 4, 1944, near Palenberg, Germany, as U.S. troops broke through the Germans’ Siegfried Line. He had joined the Army on Dec. 7, 1943, and was sent overseas in July with B Company of the 117th Infantry Regiment. He first saw combat in Belgium and Holland.

His wife, LaVelle (Kirby) Grindrod, was notified that her husband was missing, and later that he had died. Grindrod was a 14-year member of the Society and captain of the 1933-34 Coal City High School basketball team. He was married in 1941

Billy Jene Gerkin, Watseka Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Billy “Jene” Gerkin of Hoopston, Illinois, was killed in action Oct. 14, 1944, during the Allies’ encirclement of Aachen, 121

Cemetery in Hanna, Indiana. Gourley had been a member of the Galena Arbor in LaPorte, Indiana, for five years. He was 24. Survivors included parents Ray and Cora Gourley and three brothers.

and worked at the Elwood Ordnance Plant. He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Hombourg, Belgium.

John E. Seiler, Batavia Center Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. John E. Seiler of Batavia Center Arbor in Branch County, Michigan, was killed “somewhere in France” Nov. 26, 1944. He was with the 377th Infantry Regiment, which at the time had liberated the city of Metz and was assaulting forts beyond it. He is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Avold, France. He was 23, and left four children. Two girls were being cared for by his parents, Karl and Vera Seiler; and two boys by one of his brothers.

Garnet F. Leffers, West Lockport Arbor (IL) Army Pvt. Garnet F. Leffers, 29, died of wounds Sept. 12, 1944, during the American drive to liberate Metz in France. He was serving with the 10th Infantry Regiment. Leffers had joined West Lockport Arbor just before being inducted into the Army. He was survived by his wife, parents, six sisters and four brothers. He is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, France.

A thank-you letter from his wife, Muriel, to Gleaner Life was published in the Gleaner Forum magazine.

William G. Buckley, Arcade Arbor (IL) Army Air Force Tech. Sgt. William Buckley, 27, of Chicago was a plane radio operator with the 61st Airlift Squadron. He served in all the major U.S. European theater invasions including North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy, receiving the Air Medal for gallantry. He was killed in action Sept. 18, 1944, during Operation Market Garden bailing out of the damaged C-47 paratrooper transport “U-Uncle” near Rhenen, Netherlands. He was one of five brothers, four of whom served in the war. Buckley had been a member of the Arcade Arbor for two years when he died at age 27. He had entered the Army in June of 1942.

His wife, Adele, was his beneficiary. He is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Avold, France.

Clyde Earl Gourley, Galetna Arbor (IN) Coast Guard Seaman First Class Clyde Earl Gourley died Nov. 12, 1944, during operations at Leyte Island in the Philippines. He was one of five Coast Guardsmen killed aboard the landing ship LST-66 when it was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. He is buried at Hanna

Earl L. Legg Jr., Kankakee Arbor (IL) Army Pvt. Earl L. Legg, a medic with the 115th Infantry Regiment, was killed Nov. 28, 1944, during the Rhineland Campaign in Germany. Legg was giving aid to a wounded officer when an enemy artillery shell landed nearby and killed Legg. He was 31 and had been a member of the Kankakee Arbor for more than four years. He was survived by his wife, Maycel Legg of Chicago; his parents, Earl and Alice Legg of St. Anne, Illinois; and two sisters. Legg is buried at Kankakee Memorial Gardens and Chapel Mausoleum.

James J. Paunoff, Hayes Arbor (OH) Army 2nd Lt. James J. Paunoff died Oct. 25, 1944, as a result of injuries sustained when his P-47G fighter crashed near Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina. He was 22. Paunoff was 12 when he became a member of the Hayes Arbor in Fremont, Ohio. He was survived by his father and mother, John and Sophie Paunoff ; and wife Esther Marian Paunoff.

He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio.

Allen L. Blackman, Lulu Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Allen L. Blackman, 22, of LaSalle, Michigan, was killed in action Nov. 23, 1944, in northwestern France. He served with the 409th Infantry Regiment of the 103rd Infantry Division which, on that date, liberated the town of St. Dié. As a Monroe County youth, he had joined the Lulu Arbor at age 17. His mother, Edna B. Blackman, was presented with his posthumous Bronze Star. He is buried in the Erie Union Cemetery in Erie, Michigan.

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Robert S. Seeley, Williamsburg Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Robert S. Seeley of the 413th Infantry Regiment was wounded in action Nov. 27, 1944, near Durwiss, Germany. He was hospitalized in England where he died of wounds Dec. 6, 1944.

Seeley’s regiment fought in Holland and aided the Canadian First Army in its drive for the River Maas before its transfer to the American First Army.

Seeley, 22, was a member of the Williamsburg Arbor near Traverse City, Michigan, and had studied to be a teacher. He was survived by his wife, Margaret; and infant son, Bobby. He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.

Kenneth Taylor, Courtland Center Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Kenneth Taylor was killed in action Nov. 26, 1944, on Leyte Island in the Philippines. He came from a military family; his only brother was serving at the same time in the Navy in the Pacific, and his father had served in World War I. Taylor became a member of the Courtland Center Arbor from Rockford, Michigan, with a Junior policy at age 14. He was 20 when killed and is buried at the Courtland Township Cemetery.

Samuel V. Hartgrove, Lapeer Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Samuel V. Hartgrove was killed in action Dec. 16, 1944, in Germany. Hartgrove, 28, was a member of the 309th Infantry Regiment killed during the First Battle for Kesternich. Hartgrove had been written for a Gleaner policy just two years prior. He was survived by his wife, Gladys; his parents; and a sister. He is buried at the HenriChapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.

John L. Crocker, Electric Arbor (OH) Army Staff Sgt. John L. Crocker died Nov. 30, 1944, as a result of wounds suffered in action. He was with the 314th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division, which on that date was moving into position to liberate the French town of Hagenau. Crocker, 31, had been a member of the Electric Arbor for just over three years. He was survived by his parents, T. Richard and Leah Crocker; three brothers and two sisters. Crocker was awarded the

Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Epinal, France.

Robert M. Patton, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Robert M. Patton was killed in action Oct. 2, 1944, in northern Italy. He was serving with Company D of the 350th Infantry Regiment in the 88th Division, which that week captured Mount Battaglia and then held off a furious fiveday counterattack by German divisions. Patton, 20, had been a Gleaner member since age 4, taking out a Junior Twenty-Pay Policy through Temple Arbor. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he was survived by his parents.

David Bailey Travis, Chester Arbor (OH) Navy Fireman First Class David Bailey Travis was declared dead while missing Dec. 3, 1944, after a battle in the Philippines.

“Bailey,” 30, was serving aboard the newly commissioned destroyer USS Cooper when it engaged Japanese destroyers in Ormoc Bay. The Cooper was struck by a torpedo, split in two by the explosion and sank in less than a minute with the loss of 191 men, more than half its crew. Travis had been a member of the Chester Arbor for nearly five years. He held a Twenty-Pay Endowment.

Surviving were his wife, Helen Mae of Mt. Gilead, and two young daughters, Sharon Kay and Nancy Jean. He is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.

Donald M. King, Hadley Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Donald M. King was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart after being killed Oct. 27, 1944, in Italy. He served in the 337th Infantry Regiment, which at the time was fighting off counterattacks by German troops at Monte Castellaro, southeast of Bologna. King originally was deferred from the military draft due to his essential work on the farm in Litchfield, Michigan. “When the need for more servicemen became acute, Donald answered the call,” reported a notice in Forum. King took out Gleaner membership with Hadley Arbor 21 months before his death at age 22. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Litchfield, Michigan.

Marcus T. King, Van Wert Arbor (OH) Staff Sgt. Marcus Theodore “Ted” King was killed Dec. 17, 1944, in action in Germany with the 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. At the time, the units were clearing German forces west of the Roer River. King, 26, had joined Van Wert Arbor three years prior to his death. He was survived by his wife, Mary Helen King; a son, Jerry D. King; parents, Daniel and Minnie King; and one brother and two sisters.

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He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City, OH. Kenneth Goldsmith, Ottokee Arbor (OH) Seaman Second Class Kenneth Goldsmith was killed Nov. 20, 1944, in the Pacific. He was aboard the USS Mississinewa, a Navy fleet fuel ship. It was sunk by a Japanese manned suicide torpedo while the Mississinewa was anchored at Ulithi atoll in the Caroline Islands. Goldsmith is buried at Pettisville Cemetery in Pettisville. He was 19. His father had taken out his first Junior Policy in 1939, and Kenneth later signed up for a Twenty-Pay Policy with a war clause.

Lester E. Aiston, Lulu Arbor (MI) Lester Eugene Aiston, 19, died in action Oct. 24, 1944, during the Leyte Gulf landings in the Philippines. He was a Ship’s Cook Third Class aboard the infantry landing craft LCI-65 when it was hit by a suicide aircraft, one of the first of many kamikaze planes that the U.S. Navy would face. Aiston enlisted Jan. 11, 1943. He had been a member of Lulu Arbor for seven years, and had worked for E.S. Holtcamp Trucking Co. He is buried at Lulu Cemetery in Ida, Michigan.

William W. Turnbull, Ottokee Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. William W. Turnbull was 19 when he was killed in action Dec. 17, 1944, in Germany. Turnbull had enlisted at Toledo only 15 months before. He had listed himself as an actor when he enlisted. Turnbull is buried near his father in Wauseon Union Cemetery in Wauseon. Turnbull had been a member of Ottokee Arbor for five years, holding a Junior Gleaner Twenty-Pay Policy.

Paul Leo Branz, Chatsworth Arbor (IL) Sailor First Class Paul Leo Branz of the U.S. Naval Reserve was killed in combat Dec. 13, 1944, aboard the USS Nashville. The Navy cruiser was assisting with the invasion of Mindoro in the Philippines when it was hit by a kamikaze aircraft.

More than 130 sailors were killed.

Paul’s father, Ben, had taken out a Junior Gleaner policy for the couple’s son when he was 10. He had been a member with Chatsworth Arbor for nine years when he died at age 19. He is buried in the Chatsworth-Charlotte Cemetery.

Harry W. Isham, Wright Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Harry W. Isham was reported missing in December of 1944 in the Pacific, and six months later was determined to have been killed on Dec. 5. Isham was serving in the Army’s 149th Infantry Regiment with the 38th Infantry Division. At the time, the unit was fighting in Leyte in the Philippines. He had entered the Army on Aug. 9, 1942, in Howell. He was 22 when killed and had been a member of the Society for more than 17 years. He was survived by his mother, Mabel Isham; and a sister, Sarah. His body was not recovered. He is remembered at the Wright Cemetery in Iosco and at the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Howard W. Lehrbass, Valor Arbor (MI) Army Sgt. Howard Lehrbass was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge. He was part of the 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron’s Troop B trying to block German advances west of St. Vith on Dec. 22, 1944.

According to his commanding officer, “Howard was one of a small group who were guarding the troop vehicles a short distance to the rear of the main line. Large groups of the enemy came into the rear of the line and repeatedly attacked the group guarding the vehicles, the means of escape for those ahead. Never has such a small group fought as well as the group that Howard and one other noncommissioned officer, were commanding.

In the course of the fierce fighting, he was hit by small arms fire. Despite the immediate medical attention, the wounds proved fatal almost immediately.” Lehrbass was 28 when killed. He had been a member of the Valor Arbor in Scottville, Michigan, for five years. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery at Custer, Michigan.

Paul W. Valentine, Ottokee Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Paul William Valentine, 21, of Ottokee Arbor (OH) was killed in action Nov. 15, 1944. He was fighting with Company G of the 19th Infantry Regiment liberating Leyte Island in the Philippines. Co. G was part of the regiment’s 2nd Battalion sent behind Japanese lines Nov. 10-23 to block the Ormoc Road. The road was used to

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reinforce Japanese “Yamashita Line” strongholds in the jungle-covered mountains. Key to blocking the road was capturing and holding Saddle Hill, which Companies G and E accomplished on Nov. 15, the day Valentine was killed. Although surrounded, the 2nd Battalion kept the enemy supply road closed for a week. That helped U.S. forces break the Yamashita Line, and the battalion was awarded a Presidential Citation. Valentine was born in Morenci, Michigan, and moved at age 13 to Fulton County, Ohio, where he attended Chesterfield schools. Some of Valentine’s training occurred at Fort Brady at Sault Ste. Marie before he was transferred to the University of Illinois, enabling him to take leave and visit his parents, R. Ray and Mary I. Valentine. He also was survived by four brothers, Gerald, Howard, Dale and Lawrence. Valentine is buried in Lyons Cemetery, Ohio.

24, had received a Junior Gleaner policy from his father at age 12. He was survived by a wife, Alice; and his parents, Frank and Elva Brown. He is buried at Aux Sable Grove Cemetery in Yorkville, Illinois.

Robert F. Stick, Battle Creek Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Robert F. “Bud” Stick of Company C of the 291st Infantry Regiment died in action Jan. 21, 1945, during the final days of the Battle of the Bulge. Stick was killed by a sniper at Aldringen, Belgium. A native of Indiana, Stick had moved to Michigan as a child. He had worked at Michigan Carton Co. with his father and uncle. Stick had been insured with the Battle Creek Arbor at age 16. He was 19 when killed. Stick was survived by his parents and one sister. He is buried at Hartford City Cemetery in Hartford City, the home of his maternal grandparents.

Arthur William Westerberg, Yellowhead Arbor (IL) Army Sgt. Arthur William Westerberg, 27, was killed in action Feb. 22, 1945, in the Caraballo Mountains of Luzon during the liberation of the Philippine Islands. He was serving with Company C of the 136th Infantry Regiment. Westerberg was born July 5, 1917, in Grant Park, Illinois. He enlisted in April 1942 in Chicago after working in the paint production industry. His father, Charles Arthur Westerberg, was secretary and a founding member of the arbor.

Westerberg was survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister. He is buried at Union Corners Cemetery in Grant Park.

Lorentz B. Smith, Reserve Arbor (OH) Army Technician Fifth Grade Lorentz Bryan Smith died Feb. 11, 1945, as a result of wounds suffered. He was serving with A Battery of the 387th Coast Artillery (Automatic Weapons) AntiAircraft Battalion in the Ninth Army. It was building up along Germany’s Roer River and came under attack from German artillery and a V2 rocket. He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands. Smith was 21 and had been a member of Reserve Arbor for three years, joining while a student at Ashtabula, Ohio.

Arthur E. Brown, Plattsville Arbor (IL) Army Technical Sgt. Arthur “Art” E. Brown was killed in action Jan. 30, 1945, in the Philippines. He was with Company E of the 129th Infantry Regiment as the unit fought to retake Clark Field and Fort Stotsenburg on Luzon Island. Brown,

John P. Roszman Jr., Delaware Arbor (OH) Army Sgt. John P. Roszman Jr. was killed Jan. 16, 1945, while serving with the 66th Armored Infantry Battalion, part of the 12th Armored Division. At the time it was pushing back the Germans’ Operation Nordwind in the vicinity of Herrlishiem, France. Roszman was 22. Before entering the service, he was employed at the Universal Cooler Corp. in Marion. He went overseas in September of 1944. He was survived by his wife, Janice; a 1-month old son, Michael; parents, John and Ida; one brother; and one sister. He is buried in Prospect Cemetery in Marion.

Franklin B. Hamann, Yellowhead Arbor (IL) Army Staff Sgt. Franklin B. Hamann died Feb. 27, 1945, in England of wounds suffered Feb. 2 while in action in Germany. Hamann was wounded while serving with the 302nd Infantry, part of Patton’s Third Army that had just crossed into Germany and was fighting for control of the Campholz Woods and Sinz. Hamann, 24, was evacuated to a hospital in England where he died. Earlier, on Oct. 13, he had been wounded, but had returned to duty. He was raised in Grant Park and had joined Yellowhead Arbor July 1, 1939. He was employed at the Lions Metal Works in Chicago Heights before his induction Dec. 14, 1942. He was survived by his wife, the former Esther Marie Hunt of Grant Park. He is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, England.

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William R. Brokate, Melvin Arbor (IL) Army Pvt. William R. Brokate was killed March 3, 1945. He originally had been reported missing. Brokate served with Company C of the 253rd Infantry Regiment. Company C fought a three-day battle March 3-5 to dislodge German defenders from the sheer rock cliffs and tunnels of a quarry northeast of Bubingen, Germany, one of the last defenses shielding Germany’s Siegfried Line. The company, which lost three-quarters of its troops, received a Presidential Citation. Brokate had been a member of Melvin Arbor for only 20 months, accepting his policy with the war clause. He went overseas Jan. 18, and his last letter home was dated Feb. 22. He was survived by his parents, William and Ann Brokate; four sisters; and three brothers. Brokate was born July 25, 1925, according to his obituaries and was baptized Sept. 13, 1925, although his grave marker at Drummer Township Cemetery in Gibson City, Illinois, lists his date of birth as 1927.

James H. Jones, Port Huron Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. James Henry Jones, 20, was killed Oct. 6, 1944, near Ancysur-Moselle, France. He served with the 10th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Infantry Division. It was part of Gen. Patton’s Third Army that was crossing the Moselle River and starting to liberate Metz. Less than three weeks earlier, Jones had sustained a minor wound but returned to action. He had been a member of Port Huron Arbor for three years, attended Keewahdin schools and worked for the Austin Construction Co. He is buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Luxembourg City.

Stanley Blackburn Jr., Gravel Creek Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Stanley Dunn Blackburn Jr. died Feb. 24, 1945, in Luxembourg after being wounded the day before. He was serving with Company M of the 385th Infantry Regiment, part of General Patton’s Third Army. Blackburn was 20 when he died. He was a 10-year member of Gravel Creek Arbor. He is buried at Westlawn Cemetery in North Branch.

Daniel J. Taschner, Sebewaing Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Daniel J. Taschner was killed in action March 5, 1945, with the 379th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. On that day it cleared German units blocking a key bridge across the river Rhine at Uerdingen, Germany. Taschner is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten,

Netherlands, a nation the 379th helped to liberate. There also is a memorial in the Blessed Virgin Mary Cemetery in Sebewaing. He was 35 when killed. Taschner had been a member in Sebewaing Arbor for more than 12 years. He was survived by his mother, Catherine, and two sisters.

Glenn G. Blakeman, Pleasant Valley (MI) Army Pfc. Glenn G. Blakeman, 19, was killed in action March 10, 1945, in Germany. He was serving in Company C of the 417th Infantry Regiment, part of Gen. Patton’s Third Army, when reported missing. Confirmation that he died reached his parents two weeks later. Blakeman was a Petersburg, Michigan, native and Dundee High School graduate. He had been employed at Tecumseh Products Company when he entered the Army on March 24, 1943. He went overseas in November of 1944, one month after marrying his wife, Betty, at a Wisconsin USO. He also was survived by a stepson, Paul Roggenkamp; three brothers in Monroe County; and his parents, Perry and Clara Blakeman of Petersburg. They had given him an Endowment at Age 65 Junior Gleaner policy. He joined Pleasant Grove Arbor in January of 1930. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxembourg.

John D. Patton, Liberty Center Arbor (OH) Army Sgt. John D. Patton died March 16, 1945, in action with the 395th Infantry Regiment (99th Infantry Division) as it expanded a vital foothold across the east bank of the Rhine River. It followed the Americans’ surprise capture of a bridge at Remagen nine days earlier and its crossing by the 99th Division. Patton was killed while securing Steinshardt (also spelled Steinhart), one of several small villages in the hills east of the bridge. Patton had been a farm worker when he enlisted July 20, 1943, at Toledo.

He died six days after his 20th birthday. He was born and buried in Colton, Ohio. He was survived by parents Edward and Bertha Patton; a sister, Mary Ellen; and a brother, Lawrence, who also served in the Army.

Norman P. Thomas, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Norman Paul Thomas was shot and killed in handto-hand fighting the night of Jan. 13, 1945, in the Philippines. Thomas was serving with Company G of the First Infantry Regiment on Luzon Island as it liberated Lingayen Gulf. He was 25, and had been in the Army

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for 2½ years, working previously at the Culver Military Academy. He joined the Society when he was 17. He was survived by his wife, Anna; a son, Norman; a daughter, Jane Ann; his parents; one sister; and four brothers, two of whom also served overseas. He is buried in the Leiters Ford IOOF Cemetery in Leiters Ford, Indiana.

Russell Phelps, Rome Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Russell R. Phelps was killed March 20, 1945, with the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. The 157th had broken through the Germans’ Siegfried Line and was capturing Homburg when Phelps was killed. Phelps, 30, was survived by his wife, Lucille, of Ashtabula, Ohio, where he is buried in Saybrook Cemetery. Phelps was wounded earlier in the war but returned to active duty.

He had been a benefit member of Rome Arbor since age 19. Prior to the war, he worked at the Madison plant of Lake Erie Milling Co. and also the Industrial Rayon Corp. He enlisted in Cleveland on May 5, 1943, and went overseas in October, 1944.

Everett E. Edgerly, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Everett E. Edgerly was killed in action April 9, 1945, in western Germany.

He served with Company C of the 47th Infantry Regiment as it helped encircle more than 300,000 German troops in the Ruhr Pocket. Edgerly was 30 when killed. He had received a Junior Gleaner policy and his name on the Kalamazoo Arbor rolls when he was 13. His membership later was held by Temple Arbor. He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.

Forest G. Eaken, Middleport Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Forest Glenn Eaken was killed in action March 6, 1945, on the Philippine island of Luzon. He was serving with the 130th Infantry Regiment in the 33rd Infantry Division which at the time was fighting in the rugged Caraballo Mountains on its way to liberate northern Luzon from the Japanese.

Eaken was 24. He was written for a Junior gleaner policy and membership in Middleport Arbor at age 6 by State Manager Eddie Fortin. Eaken was survived by his wife, Sarah; and his parents, Joseph and Georgia. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Watseka, Illinois.

Floyd F. Craft, Portage Center Arbor (OH) Army Capt.

Floyd F. Craft was killed in action March 30, 1945, near

Heidelberg, Germany. He was with the 413th Field Artillery Group’s headquarters, and was awarded the Army Air Medal. Craft had been 11 when his parents gave him a Junior Gleaner policy, and was a member of Portage Center Arbor for 11 years. He later applied for and received an Endowment at 65 policy. Craft was buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Avold, France. His father died in 1943 while Craft was serving at officer training school in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was survived by his wife, June E. (Shockey) Craft; a daughter, Beverly; mother, Mrs. Alice G. Craft; and a married sister, Marie Kinney.

Kenneth C. Wall, Bushnell Arbor (MI) Army 1st Lt. Kenneth C. Wall was killed in action April 4, 1945, in the Philippines. He was with the 158th Infantry, the “Bushmasters” regiment, which was made up largely of Native American troops.

The unit had landed days before at Legaspi to liberate the Bicol Peninsula of Luzon Island. Wall was 23. He had received a Junior Gleaner policy in 1940. In October of that year he left Cedar Springs, Michigan, with the Michigan National Guard. Wall was survived by his parents, Nathan and Rachel Wall; two sisters; and one brother. He is buried at Idlewild Cemetery in Kent City.

Harold L. Carlson, Hambden Arbor (OH) Army Air Corps Capt. Harold L. Carlson was killed in action July 20, 1944, in northern Italy with the 34th Bomber Squadron of the 17th Bomber Group. Carlson, 26, was aboard a B-26 along with the squadron’s commanding colonel on a special bombing mission against the Ostiglia Road Bridge near Corniglio, Italy. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, lost altitude, crashed into a mountain and exploded. Carlson and five others were killed in the crash.

He had enlisted in January of 1942 in Franklin County, Ohio. As a pilot, he earlier had successfully flown back to his base in the much-publicized “Coughlin Coffin” B-26 with only one engine running. He had joined Hambden Arbor at age 10, with his mother taking out a TwentyPay Life policy. He was studying optometry at Ohio State University when he enlisted. He was survived by his wife, 127

Gerald E. Obenauf, Cedar Creek Arbor (MI) Army Staff Sgt. Gerald E. Obenauf was killed by rifle fire in combat May 12, 1945, in the Philippines.

He was a squad leader in action with the 136th Infantry of the 33rd Infantry Division on Luzon’s Nueva Viscaya province. Obenauf was 23. According to unconfirmed reports, he was awarded the Silver Star for heroism earlier in the year.

He was survived by his father, Paul E. Obenauf, and a sister, Arleen Smith, both of Muskegon.

He had joined Cedar Creek Arbor four years prior. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila.

Etha; a daughter, Linda Ann; his parents; and a brother, Lloyd. He is buried in Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

Philip L. Rogers, Shiawassee Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Philip L. Rogers was killed April 15, 1945, in the Philippines. He was serving in Company C of the 126th Infantry Regiment, the “Red Arrows,” of the 32nd Infantry Division, which at the time was battling Japanese defenders for control of the Villa Verde Trail in the Caraballo Mountains of northern Luzon.

Rogers was 22. He became a Gleaner member at age 4 when a Twenty-Pay Life Juvenile Policy was taken out. He is buried in Pine Tree Cemetery in Corunna, Michigan.

Paris Hicks, Indiana State Arbor (IN) Army Technical Sgt. Paris E. Hicks of Lebanon, Indiana, was killed in action April 21, 1945, in Italy. He was with Battery C of the 27th Armored Field Artillery Battalion with the 1st Armored Division near Bologna, Italy, when his half-track struck a German mine.

He was 26. Earlier, in 1943 in North Africa, Hicks had been awarded a Silver Star for valor when he guided his vehicle 20 miles behind enemy lines at night to rejoin his unit after being left behind during a retreat earlier that day. Hicks had joined Indiana State Arbor 10 years prior. He had farmed with his father before enlisting in September 1940. Hicks is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, Indiana. He was survived by his parents, Elza and Eva Hicks; five brothers, Army Air Corps Cpl. Claude E. Hicks, Army Engineer Cpl. G. Paul Hicks, Floyd E. Hicks, Delmar A. Hicks, and Charles G. Hicks; and two sisters, Dorris O. Hicks and Wanda G. Hicks.

Thomas A. Blanchard, Spring Hill Arbor (MI) Army Cpl. Thomas A. Blanchard was killed in action in Germany April 18, 1945, less than three weeks before the end of the war in Europe. He was serving with Company C of the 756th Armored Division Tank Battalion in the middle of a five-day battle to capture Nuremberg. Blanchard was 19. He had received an Endowment at Age 65 policy in Spring Hill Arbor when he was 12. Blanchard is buried at Flint Memorial Park at Mount Morris.

Frederick J. Arheit, Toledo Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Frederick J. Arheit was posthumously awarded the Silver Star after he was killed April 5, 1945, in southern Germany during the Battle of Heilbronn. Arheit, 20, had been reported missing in action while with Co. K of the 398th Infantry Regiment as it fought to hold a bridgehead across the Neckar River. His parents, Fred and Gertrude Arheit, had given him a Junior Gleaner Twenty-Pay Policy at age 10 while living in Toledo. He attended Springfield High School and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo.

Ray M. Beardslee, Pontiac Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Ray M. Beardslee died in action March 19, 1945. He served with Company M of the 309th Infantry Regiment, which three days earlier had cut the German Autobahn highway just east of the Rhine river. Four months prior, Beardslee had fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

He was 23. Beardslee was survived by his wife, Grace, as well as by a sister and a brother. He held an Endowment at age 65 Juvenile Gleaner policy taken out when he was 16. Beardslee is buried at the New Albany National Cemetery in Indiana.

Elwyn Carleton Decker, Farmers Friend Arbor (MI) Army Staff Sgt. Elwyn C. Decker, the son of Michigan state Rep. Alpheus P. Decker, was killed in action May 6, 1945.

He had graduated from Deckerville High School, worked in Lansing and then entered the Army in February 1943. He was part of Company F of the 132nd Infantry

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Regiment, the Army’s only regiment especially trained for jungle combat. He went overseas 15 months later, and earned two Combat Stars while fighting on Bougainville and Leyte islands.

Decker was killed May 16, 1945, on the Philippine island of Cebu.

According to reports, his platoon was trying to knock out a heavily fortified enemy position when it became pinned down by mortars and grenades. Decker, 23, was killed by an exploding grenade. He was survived by his family including one sister and six brothers, three of whom also were serving in the military. He is buried in Downing Cemetery in Deckerville.

Robert E. Sosey, Delaware Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Robert E. Sosey, 23, was killed in a medical evacuation plane crash on Leyte Island in the Philippines on March 10, 1945. Sosey served in Company K of the 126th Infantry Regiment. He was a patient aboard a C-46 transport plane with the 70th Troop Carrier Squadron that crashed on a mountain in bad weather. All five crewmen, two medical personnel and 30 passengers were killed. Sosey was a member of the Delaware Arbor for nearly six years.

Robert was survived by his wife, Beulah, and an aunt, with whom they lived. Sosey is buried at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Carl Raymond Smith, Branch Arbor (MI) Army Sgt. Carl Raymond Smith, 26, was killed in action April 6, 1945, in southern Germany. He was with the 397th Infantry Regiment in the 100th Army Division. He was killed during the third day of the nine-day Battle of Heilbronn as American troops fought their way across the Neckar River.

Smith was a member of Branch Arbor and held two policies, including one with a war clause.

Both policies were paid to his widow. Smith is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Custer, Michigan. Two of Carl’s brothers also served in World War II and one, Ivan, also was killed less than eight months earlier in Normandy, France.

Rexford John Ostrom, Lapeer Arbor Arbor (MI) Navy Lt. Commander Rexford John “Ossie” Ostrom was an aircraft carrier fighter plane squadron commander

whose valor earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He had been born Oct. 30, 1915, in Elba Township and was captain of the football team at Lapeer High School (Class of 1933). He was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He then attended flight school and served 14 months in the Aleutian Islands before returning to California to form two new fighter squadrons. He was a flight leader aboard the escort carrier USS Santee when his F6F Hellcat fighter was reported shot down on April 10, 1945, over the Okinawa island group. Ostrom, 29, was survived by his wife, Virginia Dahlgren Ostrom, and two daughters, ages 3 years and 11 months.

Donald W. Knight, Brunswick Arbor (MI) Army Pfc. Donald W. Knight died of meningitis and a brain abscess in a French hospital “somewhere in France” on June 12, 1945 — a month after VE-Day. He had enlisted in May of 1943 at Kalamazoo, working previously as a farm hand. He served with a service company in the 743rd Tank Battalion of the 30th Division.

Knight was 20. He had a Juvenile Policy with Brunswick Arbor since age 8. He was survived by his parents, Denzil and Alice Knight; and a brother, Raymond.

Robert George Taylor, Bridgeport Arbor (MI) Navy Aviation Radioman Third Class Robert G. Taylor was killed May 2, 1945, in the Pacific when the carrier-based TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bomber he was aboard crashed while supporting ground combat on Okinawa. Taylor was in Squadron VT-34 serving aboard the light carrier USS Monterey. He and the other two members of the crew are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Taylor had joined Bridgeport Arbor at age 16. He was 18 when killed, and was survived by his father, George Taylor of Bridgeport.

Carl R. Rahl, Romeo Arbor (MI) Army T. Sgt. Carl R. Rahl was accidentally shot and killed on May 30, 1945 — three weeks after fighting in Europe ended — in Kremze, Czechoslovakia. Rahl served with the Company G of the 104th Infantry Regiment. He had married Ardis Jean White on June 14, 1944, three weeks before he sailed 129

for Europe. Rahl had received the Bronze Star during combat with the Third Army. He was survived by parents Frank and Mary Rahl of Armada, and a sister, Marjorie Buck. Rahl, who had received a Gleaner policy at age 7, is buried at the Romeo Cemetery in Romeo.

parents, Carl and Stella Jemenko of East Chicago; three siblings including a brother, Carl Jr., in the Army; his wife, Joella Jones, whom he had married before his Army company departed; and a daughter. Jemenko’s name is included on the Cabanatuan Memorial.

Arnold R. Alberts, Alpha Arbor (MI) Army Pvt. Arnold R. Alberts was killed in action July 13, 1945, during the liberation of the Philippines island of Luzon. He was 20 years of age and serving in the 145th Infantry Regiment.

According to a letter from his company commander, Alberts was killed in the night when the enemy launched a banzai attack on the company’s perimeter at Baguio.

He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Louisa V. Alberts of Comstock Park, Michigan; and one sister. Alberts had been a member for just over two years. His $1,000 Twenty-Pay Life policy carried a war exclusion but was still paid in full. Prior to entering the Army, Alberts had worked in a Grand Rapids furniture factory. He is buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery in Comstock Park.

Lee B. Kingsbury, Crystal Arbor (MI) Army Coastal Artillery Cpl. Lee B. Kingsbury died of disease on his birthday, July 27, 1945, in the Philippines. He was serving as a sight-finder with an anti-aircraft gun unit at Leyte when he died of jaundice. He was 32. He had joined Crystal Arbor in January 1937. Kingsbury had worked at Fisher Body Plant 1 in Flint for nine years. He entered the Army in 1942. He was survived by his wife, Frances; his father, Clare; and two brothers, Ceryl and Donald.

Kingsbury is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Middleville.

Floyd F. Price, Bowling Green Arbor (OH) Army Pfc. Floyd F. Price died of wounds July 25, 1945, while fighting on the Philippine island of Luzon. He was 26. Price served with the 127th Infantry Regiment of the “Red Arrow” 32nd Infantry Division. At the time, the 127th was vigorously mopping up Japanese units that were refusing to surrender and fighting to the end in the mountains near Sinipsip, north of Baguio. Price had been first written for a Gleaner insurance policy at age 15 by agent Harry Nixon into the Bowling Green Arbor. He later took out additional insurance.

Frank Jemenko, Gary Arbor (IN) Army Pvt. Frank T. Jemenko was among about 3,000 Americans who died in the Japanese prison camp Cabanatuan in the Philippines.

Jemenko was a Junior Gleaner with the Gary Arbor at age 13.

The Washington High School graduate played American Legion baseball. In 1939, he joined the Army’s 17th Ordnance Company.

It was sent to the Philippines three months before Pearl Harbor to service Army tanks and halftracks. He survived the Bataan Death March but, under brutal conditions at the prison camp, died on July 31, 1942, of diphtheria. Jemenko, 20, was the second Society member to die in the war, a fact not known for three years. He was survived by his

Raymond R. Diemer, Deshler Arbor (OH) Actually the first Gleaner Life Insurance Society member to die during World War II, Pfc. Raymond R. Diemer of the Deshler Arbor had enlisted before Pearl Harbor. He was with the Army’s 803rd Engineering Battalion, and had been assigned to the Philippine Islands. He was among troops who surrendered in the fall of Bataan and were force-marched by Japanese captors on the Bataan Death March. He survived but died in a prison camp at age 23 of malaria July 17, 1942. It took almost three years before U.S. officials learned of his capture and death and could notify his family. From Summer 1945 Forum: “Because his parents were never notified that he was a prisoner, nor until very recently of his death, they had kept his premium payments paid. In addition to the full face of his policy, they will also receive a refund of these advance payments between the date of his death in 1942 and the date the war department notified the bereaved parents of this sacrifice.” Diemer is buried in the Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery in New Bavaria. He was survived by his parents, Louis and Nellie Diemer; one sister; and four brothers, including three serving in the military, Army Pfc. Donovan Diemer, Army Cpl. Norman Diemer, and Army Pfc. Carroll Diemer. VFW Post 8847 in his hometown of New Bavaria, Ohio, bears his name.

James E. Hack, Chester Arbor (OH) Army Air Corps fighter pilot 2nd Lt. James Earle Hack was killed in action April 24, 1945, in Germany. At the time, he was based in France with the 524th Fighter Squadron with the 12th Tactical Air Force. He had flown more than 40 missions and was in a P-47 Thunderbolt, bombing and strafing in support of the 7th Army, when he was shot down and killed. He was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf

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Clusters and Purple Heart. Hack was 22 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Delaware, Ohio. He had enlisted Sept. 29, 1942. He was survived by his parents, Charles and Lottie; one brother, Carl; and a sister, Mary.

Society will be too. I hope his sacrifice will stand as a memorial in the future and we will have no more wars. …

I know Hal is at rest with his Lord.” Brink is buried at the Pleasant View Union Cemetery in Fayette, Ohio.

Donald E. Nelson, Foss Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Donald E. Nelson was killed in a troopship mishap March 13, 1945, in the Atlantic Ocean. He originally was reported missing northwest of the Azore Islands.

A mechanical problem caused a French aircraft carrier to collide with the ship Nelson was aboard, USAT J.W. McAndrew.

The collision opened a gash in the McAndrew where 134 troops were quartered, and 81 were swept into the ocean. In the dark, only 13 were rescued. The rest were declared dead after three months. Nelson was 22. He received a Junior Gleaner policy in Foss Arbor at age 14 while earning spending money delivering newspapers. He is remembered on a memorial at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Coton, England.

Hilliard Smith Gilroy, Crystal Lake Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Hilliard Smith “Smitty” Gilroy was copilot aboard the 347th Bomber Squadron’s B-17G Flying Fortress “Daisy Mae.” It was part of a May 18, 1944, mission to bomb the Romanian oil fields in Ploesti when cloudy weather aborted the mission. Returning to its Italian base near Foggia, the plane was within sight of the Adriatic Sea when hit by an antiaircraft explosion that blew off its nose section at 16,000 feet near Mostar, Yugoslavia. Eight crewmen were killed while three escaped by parachute. Two were taken prisoner. Gilroy enlisted Oct. 13, 1942, just months after graduating from Frankfort High School. He had been 15 living in nearby Elberta when his father had signed up for a Twenty-Pay Life Insurance policy.

Ernest C. Belson, Rutland Center Arbor (MI) Army Technician 5 Ernest Cassius Belson died Aug. 13, 1945, of wounds suffered the day before. He was serving with the 248th General Hospital in the Philippines. He was 28. He had joined Rutland Center Arbor six years prior, and entered the Army in April of 1942 at Fort Custer.

Belson was survived by his parents, William and Lida Belson of Hastings; two brothers, Ross and Forest; and a sister, Mildred. Belson is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila.

Hal E. Brink, Ottokee Arbor (OH) Army Air Corps Staff Sgt. Hal E. Brink was a gunner on his 53rd mission when he was killed in action on April 24, 1945 — just two weeks before the end of the war in Europe. His B-26, “Stud Duck,” was with the 34th Bomb Squadron based at the time in Dijon, France. It was one of two B-26s in the flight shot down after they had bombed oil facilities at Schwabmunchen, Germany. They were quickly attacked by three German Me-262 jets firing rockets, and were seen damaged and going down. Brink had enlisted in California while living in Colton, California. His death so near the war’s end was especially hard for his father, who wrote, “This was the hardest. Hal had such a lovable personality and was certainly a fine young man. We were very proud of him and I know the Gleaner Life Insurance

Vernon R. Brock, Temple Arbor (MI) Air Corps Technical Sgt. Vernon R. Brock was a member of the U.S. Army’s Eighth Air Force, reported missing in action Nov. 26, 1944, and declared dead one year later. He was born in Albion, Michigan, and enlisted March 26, 1943, in Kalamazoo. Brock, 20, was a flight engineer and top turret gunner on the B-24 “The Firebird.” It was part of the 491st Bomb Group’s 853rd (or 852nd, according to one record) Bomb Squadron during a costly raid on an oil refinery at Misburg near Hanover, Germany. Although the target was bombed, a large force of about 500 German fighter planes shot down 16 of the 28 bombers that the 491st sent over, including Firebird and all eight other B-24s in the formation’s upper-altitude squadron. Only two of the Firebird’s 10 crewmen survived. Brock’s plane crashed northwest of the town of Hildehseim. He and other squadron members are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Brock’s mother, living near Albion, was listed as his next of kin.

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Frank L. Detrick, Gilman Arbor (IL) Army Pfc. Frank L. Detrick died of “non-battle” causes Oct. 12, 1945 — two months after the end of hostilities. He served with an Army Engineer company. He was listed as a machine shop worker when he enlisted Feb. 20, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois. Detrick, 22, originally was reported buried in Korea. He was reinterred in Gilman Cemetery. Illinois State Manager Ed Fortin wrote an Endowment at Age 65 policy for Detrick when he was 13. He was survived by his beneficiary, his mother, Lena L. Detrick.

Hugh Waldo Deetz, Wilmington Arbor (IN) Navy Petty Officer Second Class Hugh Waldo Deetz was killed March 26, 1944, when the submarine he was aboard was sunk, apparently by its own torpedo. He was serving on the USS Tullibee on its fourth patrol of the war off the Pacific’s Palau Islands when it surfaced and fired two torpedoes at a Japanese ship, only to explode minutes later.

Information from the submarine’s lone surviving crewmember led Navy officials to conclude one of the ship’s torpedoes had run a circular course and hit the sub. Deetz was a Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class.

He was 23 and a benefit member of Wilmington Arbor for a little more than eight years.

Robert N. Mitchell, Deshler Arbor (OH) Army Air Corps Sgt. Robert N. Mitchell died in action Jan. 9, 1945, when the stricken B-29 Superfortress he was aboard went missing. Mitchell was the tail gunner aboard the plane “Miss Behavin” with the 871st Bomb Squadron on a raid from Saipan to Musashino, Japan, near Tokyo. Another plane in the formation reported a Japanese fighter plane crashed into “Miss Behavin,” dropping it out of the formation near the coast of Japan where it was attacked by 15 other enemy fighters. Mitchell, 20, held a Juvenile Endowment at Age 65 Policy in Deshler Arbor. He had been a member for 10 years. He enlisted Feb. 25, 1943, and was survived by his mother, Jennie V. Mitchell of Toledo. He is listed at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

Wells A. Brayton, Temple Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps Lt. Wells Arthur Brayton of the 98th Bombardment Squadron was reported missing and presumed killed July 3, 1944.

Brayton, 23, was the bombardier aboard the B-24 “War Bird,” missing on a mission from Eniwetok Atoll to Truk

Island. Two months earlier, he was described in newspapers as being “about the smallest bombardier” in the Army at 4-foot-11 and 120 pounds. A photo of him standing with a 6-foot-6 gunner was printed in newspapers. Brayton was a chemical engineering student at Michigan College of Mining and Technology (today, Michigan Tech) when he enlisted in the Aviation Air Cadets in 1942, and had been a GLIS member since age 16. He was survived by his parents, Ivan and Velna Brayton of Painseville, Michigan. He is listed at the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

Charles L. Haas, Delaware Arbor (OH) Army Cpl. Charles L. Haas died Feb. 20, 1946, at Vaughn General Hospital in Hines, Ill. Haas, 35, enlisted Feb. 5, 1942, but at a training base in Kentucky he suffered from cholecystitis. Despite operations and confinement at hospitals in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Battle Creek, Michigan, he died of the disease. Haas was in a combat engineers’ unit with the Fifth Armored. He first was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later underwent training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was survived by his parents, Charles and Lillian Haas. He is buried at Saint Mary Cemetery in Delaware, Ohio.

Joseph Earl Chandler, New Castle Arbor (IN) Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Joseph Earl Chandler was aboard a bomber reported missing Feb. 27, 1945, in the extreme southwestern Pacific.

Chandler was the bombardier on the B-24 “My Irish Colleen.” It was part of the 371st Bombardment Squadron of the 307th Bomber Group, known as the Long Rangers due to their long-range missions. Other planes lost contact in bad weather with the B-24 on their way from Morotai Island in Indonesia to bomb a Japanese oil center at Tarakan, Dutch Borneo. Search efforts failed to locate any trace of the crew, officially declared dead in 1946. Chandler enlisted in 1942 and was on his 29th mission. He received the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. A graduate of New Castle High School, he was a star runner in the 440-yard dash. He worked at the Chrysler Corp.

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plant prior to enlisting. He was survived by his mother, Goldie Chandler; a sister; and his grandmother.

Harold Edgar Snyder, Amber Arbor (MI) Army Air Corps Sgt. Harold E. Snyder — also a veteran of World War I — died in India on a volunteer mission April 9, 1945. About 20 men from Snyder’s unit (the 490th Bomber Squadron) had lost their equipment and urgently needed replacement supplies and clothes.

Snyder, 47, volunteered as the engineer aboard a flight to Ledo, India, to obtain equipment from a supply distribution point. The B-25 took off from its home base at Warazup, landed at a base in Shingbwiyang in northern Burma (today known as Myanmar), took off from there and was never heard from again. It is believed the plane crashed in the Naga Hills before reaching Ledo. Snyder was awarded the Air Medal. He had been a member of Amber Arbor in Ludington for more than 30 years. After serving in World War I, he had worked as a guard at the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C. He had been living in Medina County, Ohio, when he enlisted in 1942. A marker memorializing Snyder is in the South Victory Cemetery outside Ludington.

Lutz, 20, was not among the survivors. He had joined the Marines on Jan. 6, 1940, with K Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment. It arrived in the Philippines just nine days before Japanese forces attacked the Philippines after Pearl Harbor. After a gallant but hopeless fight on Corregidor, the regiment was ordered to surrender May 6, 1942. Lutz was held at O’Donnell prison camp on Luzon prior to being put on the Arisan Maru. It was called a “hell ship” due to extremely inhumane conditions. Lutz is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, and at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

He was the final Gleaner Gold Star of World War II.

Walter S. Roper, Bowling Green Arbor (OH) Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Walter S. Roper was declared missing and presumed killed June 22, 1945, on a bombing mission over Japan. Roper was the radar operator on the B-29 “Pappy’s Pullman” with the 421st Bombing Squadron on a mission from Tinian to Kagamigahara, Japan.

Other planes observed the B-29 under attack by enemy fighters after appearing to have two engines knocked out. It was believed to have crashed 10 miles west of the target. Roper joined Bowling Green Arbor on Jan. 1, 1939. He was survived by his mother, Beth H. Davidson of Pemberville, Ohio.

Frederick C. Lutz, Gary Arbor (IN) Marine Corps Pfc. Frederick Clair Lutz died Oct. 24, 1944, after the Japanese prison ship Arisan Maru was sunk. The unmarked “hell ship” was between the Philippines and Taiwan when torpedoed by the unsuspecting U.S. submarine USS Shark, which in turn was sunk by a Japanese destroyer. The POWs aboard the Arisan Maru escaped, but none were immediately picked up by other Japanese ships.

Only nine prisoners survived out of the 1,781 aboard.

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Chapter 12

Gleaner Photo Albums Board of Directors

Terry L. Garner

Mark A. Wills

Chair 2007

Donna K. Baker 2015

Vice Chair 1999

Margaret M.S. Noe 2013

Russell E. Cunningham

Daniel R. Sutton 2015

2017

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Stephanie Andresen 2020

Senior Officers

Kevin A. Marti,

D. Arell Chapman,

FSA, CLU, ChFC President and CEO

CRISC, FLMI Senior Vice President, Chief Operations and Technology Officer

Deborah K. Elliott,

Anthony D. Golden,

SHRM-SCP, SPHR Senior Vice President Chief Human Resources Officer, and Secretary

CLU, ChFC, RICP, FIC Senior Vice President, Sales

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Senior Officers

Todd M. Warner,

Kaylene S. Armstrong,

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Investment Officer

FLMI Vice President, Finance, Controller and Treasurer

Barbara Janowski,

Jaime Linden,

RN, ALMI, AALU Vice President, Insurance Operations and Chief Underwriter

FIC Vice President, Member and Community Engagement

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Officers

Tadd J. Brooket,

Judy Lawrence,

Assistant Vice President, IT Systems and Security Manager

FLMI, ACS Assistant Vice President, IT Development and Processing

Chuck Monahan,

Dawn Osborn,

ALMI Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Communications

ALMI, ACS Assistant Vice President, Underwriting and New Business

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Appendix

Gleaner Life Insurance Society OFFICERS: 1894-PRESENT

Harvey L. Raschke 1978-1983

PRESIDENTS

Carl P. Moore 1979-1981

Grant Hiram Slocum Oct. 12, 1894, to Aug. 14, 1924

Richard A. Livesey 1980-2007

Ross L. Holloway Aug. 22, 1924, to Nov. 5, 1936

Vernon Howard 1982-2004

Herbert P. Orr Nov. 9, 1936, to Aug. 14, 1939

Michael J. Wade 1982-2000

Henry H. Hackett Aug. 23, 1939, to Sept. 10, 1946

Janet A. Goulart Jan. 1, 1993, to 2015

Richard George Ransford Sept. 10, 1946, to April 2, 1979

Ellsworth L. Stout Feb. 24, 2000, to June 2008

Frank Dick April 2, 1979, to June 16, 2000

Jeffrey S. Patterson Jan. 1, 2004, to 2019

Michael J. Wade July 1, 2000, to 2008

John L. Lengerman May 3, 2004, to 2007

Ellsworth L. Stout April 21, 2008, to June 8, 2012

Sherry Nino 2007 – 2015

Kevin A. Marti June 11, 2012, to present VICE PRESIDENTS

Deborah Keller 2007 – 2013

L.E. McKittrick 1951-1954

Daniel L. Gordon 2012 – 2018

John W. Dressler 1966-1971

Wallace Taylor 2012 – 2016

Joseph G. Kulick 1966-1972

D. Arell Chapman 2014 to present

Stuart Micklethwaite 1966-1978

Deborah K. Elliot 2016 to present

S. David Spencer 1974-1983

Anthony D. Golden 2018 to present Barbara Janowski 2018 to present

Bill B. Warner 1976-2001

Kaylene A. Armstrong 2018 to present

Frank Dick 1978-1979 151

Raymond F. Reitter June 1, 1926, to July 27, 1937

Todd A. Warner 2020 to present

Edmund J. McLean March 1, 1938, to Jan. 2, 1940

Jaime Linden 2020 to present

L.E. McKittrick Jan. 8, 1946, to Jan. 4, 1951

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS

William Hayward Jan. 4, 1951, to Dec. 18, 1958

Harvey L. Raschke 1968-1978

Richard E. Henne Dec. 18, 1958, to Jan. 9, 1961

Frederich D. Wahl 1974

J. Lee Strachan Jan. 9, 1961, to April 1961 (acting)

Brian P. Williams 1974-1980

Stuart E. Mickelthwaite April 1961 to July 31, 1978

Michael Tunney 2016-2017

Frank Dick July 31, 1978, to Jan. 14, 1985

Kaylene S. Armstrong 2016-2018

Michael J. Wade Jan. 14, 1985, to Feb. 27, 1997

Grier C. Edwards 2016-2018

Jeffrey S. Patterson Feb. 27, 1997, to 2018

Michelle L. Horn 2016-2018

Deborah K. Elliott 2018 to present

Deborah K. Elliott 2016

ASSISTANT SECRETARIES

Tony Golden 2018

Ross L. Holloway March 26, 1908, to Jan. 20, 1920

Jaime Linden 2019-2020

Edmund J. McLean Aug. 22, 1924, to March 1, 1938

Chuck Monahan 2019 to present

Mary E. Colbeck March 1, 1938, to Aug. 4, 1939

Tadd J. Brooket 2021 to present

Richard G. Ransford Aug. 23, 1939, to Sept. 10, 1946

Judy Lawrence 2021 to present

William Hayward Dec. 30, 1946, to Jan. 1, 1951

Dawn Osborn 2021 to present

Richard E. Henne Jan. 4, 1951, to Dec. 31, 1954

SECRETARIES

Howard K. Scott Jan. 1, 1959, to April 30, 1961

Ross L. Holloway Jan. 28, 1920, to Aug. 22, 1924

Harvey L. Raschke Jan. 1, 1961, to Jan. 25, 1971

James H. Mahan Dec. 30, 1924, to May 12, 1926 152

Lola F. Leonard Jan. 25, 1971, to Aug. 31, 1971

James Fee

Vernon Howard Jan. 7, 1974, to May 30, 1997

First Supreme Council:

Janet A. Goulart Jan. 1, 2004, to 2015

Joseph J. England

TREASURERS

Grant H. Slocum (ex officio)

John M. Ealy Oct. 12, 1894, to Sept. 4, 1918

Term of Service:

Sherman F. Chase, M.D. Benjamin F. Eayrs

Sherman F. Chase, M.D. Caro, Michigan 1895-1917

John R. Hudson Sept. 4, 1918, to Feb. 16, 1936

Joseph J. England Caro, Michigan 1895-1935

Robert K. Orr April 15, 1936, to Jan. 21, 1941

Benjamin F. Eayrs Caro, Michigan 1895-1899

L.E. McKittrick Jan. 22, 1941, to Dec. 31, 1954

Grant H. Slocum Caro, Michigan 1895-1924

J. Lee Strachan Jan. 4, 1955, to Feb. 9, 1961

Ara Collins Marlette, Michigan 1899-1911

R.G. Ransford Jan. 9, 1961, to April 13, 1961 (acting)

John Livingston Argos, Indiana 1911-1919

J. Lee Strachan April 13, 1961, to Jan. 25, 1971

Frank C. Goodyear St. Louis, Michigan 1911-1940

Leonard Davis Jan. 10, 1972, to Jan. 17, 1974

George L. Strachan Muir, Michigan 1916-1932

Joseph Kulick Jan. 7, 1974, to Oct. 3, 1977

Elfa L. Munn Grand Ledge, Michigan 1916-1955

Leonard Davis Jan. 9, 1978, to Jan. 5, 1979

Henry I. Zimmer South Bend, Indiana 1916-1950

Carl P. Moore Jan. 5, 1979, to January 1982

Nathan F. Simpson Detroit, Michigan 1919-1925

Michael J. Wade Nov. 1, 1982, to Feb. 27, 1997

Herbert F. Baker Weadock, Michigan 1920-1930

Jeffrey S. Patterson Feb. 27, 1997, to 2018

Ross L. Holloway Detroit, Michigan 1920-1936

Kaylene A. Armstrong 2018 to present

Harry M. Hough Wauseon, Ohio 1930-1962

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (1894-2021) First Executive Council:

William H. Wright Winona Lake, Indiana 1932-1952

Ara Collins William H. Fritch 153

Herbert P. Orr Caro, Michigan 1936-1939

Richard J. Bennett Napoleon, Ohio 1993-2015

Henry H. Hackett Kankakee, Illinois 1939-1946

Suann Hammersmith Blissfield, Michigan 1997-2017

J. Lee Strachan Ionia, Michigan 1939-1969

Dudley A. Dauterman Bowling Green, Ohio 1997-2013

Albert Goodknecht Kankakee, Illinois 1940-1956

Michael J. Wade Adrian, Michigan 1999-2007

Richard G. Ransford Detroit, Michigan 1946-1979

Mark A. Wills Coal City, Illinois 1999 to present

Alpheus P. Decker Deckersville, Michigan 1950-1965

Bill B. Warner Somerset, Michigan 2001-2013

William F. Held Peru, Indiana 1952-1957

Todd M. Warner Toledo, Ohio 2013-2019

Wayne W. Hudson Sheridan, Michigan 1955-1969

Terry L. Garner South Bend, IN 2007 to present

Roy H. Rathman Bonfield, Illinois 1957-1973

Margaret M.S. Noe Adrian, Michigan 2013 to present

Joseph G. Kulick Gary, Indiana 1957-1977

Donna K. Baker Adrian, Michigan 2015 to present

Ira Schwen Berkey, Ohio 1962-1970

Daniel R. Sutton Lowell, Indiana 2015 to present

Stuart Micklethwaite St. Clair Shores, Michigan 1965-1983

Russell E. Cunningham North Baltimore, Ohio 2017 to present

John B. Poole Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 1969-1975

Stephanie R. Andresen Omaha, Nebraska 2020 to present

George A. Leonard Cincinnati, Ohio 1969-1973, 1975-1997

FRATERNAL OFFICERS SUPREME CHIEF GLEANER 1894 Joseph J. England Caro, Michigan 1895-1898 Ara Collins Marquette, Michigan 1899-1907 John Livingston Applegate Arbor (IN) 1908-1910 Frank C. Goodyear St. Louis, Michigan 1911 Zale Borton (acting) Fayette, Ohio 1912-1915 Henry I. Zimmer South Bend, Indiana 1916-1921 J. Floyd McKinstry Grant Park, Illinois

Leonard N. Davis Portage, Ohio 1970-1993 David E. Sutton Lowell, Indiana 1973-2015 Russell L. Buck Freeland, Michigan 1973-1997 Elvin Wills Coal City, Illinois 1977-1999 Frank Dick Adrian, Michigan 1979-2001 Raymond J. Atzhorn Greenwood, Indiana 1983-1999

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1922-1923 Harry H. Hough Wauseon, Ohio 1924-1926 Thomas C. Elliott Defiance, Ohio 1927-1929 William Harris Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 1930 Harry H. Hough Wauseon, Ohio 1931-1937 Charles Asher Kankakee, Illinois 1938-1939 Guy Everton Plainfield, Illinois 1940-1941 George E. Thompson Holland, Ohio 1941-1947 Donald Henry Deckerville, Michigan 1948-1949 Edward C. Fortin Gilman, Illinois 1950-1951 Alton Lusk South Bend, Indiana 1952-1953 Roy Rathman Bonfeld, Illinois 1954-1955 Floyd Goodyear St. Louis, Michigan 1956-1957 Clayton E. Weiss Mishawaka, Indiana 1958-1959 Moses Dionne Beaverville, Illinois 1960-1961 Harley Hill Cardington, Ohio 1962-1963 Leonard Davis Portage, Ohio 1964-1965 Russell Buck Freeland, Michigan 1966-1967 C. Frank Leslie Ligonier, Indiana 1968-1969 Harry Ayers Lockport, Illinois 1970-1971 George Flack Metamora, Ohio 1972-1973 William Kleinhans Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 1974-1975 Raymond J. Atzhorn Greenwood, Indiana 1976-1977 Harwood Stellwagen Tinley Park, Illinois

1978-1979 Merle Frazier Omaha, Nebraska 1980-1981 Howard K. Strachan Ionia, Michigan 1982-1983 Donald F. Drummer Bloomdale, Ohio 1984-1985 Donald D. Kinzler Joliet, Illinois 1986-1987 Myron A. Harris Omaha, Nebraska 1988-1989 Robert Kleinhans Kentwood, Michigan 1990-1991 Wayne Michaelis Bowling Green, Ohio 1992-1993 Charles Schafer Lakeville, Indiana 1994-1995 Kay Price Lockport, Illinois 1996-1997 Kenneth Buck Freeland, Michigan 1998-1999 Timothy Drummer Hoytville, Ohio 2000-2001 Kenneth Swett Lowell, Indiana 2002-2003 Trudy Hartline Omaha, Nebraska 2004-2005 Donna Nelson Adrian, Michigan 2006-2007 Kirk Price Elmwood Park, Illinois 2008-2009 Judson Tolmen Union Mills, Indiana 2010-2011 Gary Mills Cedar Springs, Michigan 2012-2013 Stephanie Andresen Omaha, Nebraska 2014-2015 Shannon Knox Toledo, Ohio 2016-2017 Connie Bland Manteno, Illinois 2018-2019 Jeffrey Price Shorewood, Illinois 2020-2021 Richard “Dick” Hadden Deerfield, Michigan

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FRATERNAL OFFICERS 1894-2021 SUPREME ARBOR OFFICERS (Alphabetical list) Andresen, Stephanie Omaha, Nebraska Conductress 2007-09 Vice Chief Gleaner 2009-11 Chief Gleaner 2011-13 Anthony, Marjorie Findlay, Ohio Chaplain, 1988-91 Asher, Charles Kankakee, Illinois Chief Gleaner, 1931-37 Atzhorn, Raymond J. Greenwood, Indiana Inner Guard, 1968-69 Conductor, 1970-71 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1972-73 Chief Gleaner, 1974-75; Inner Guard 1982-83 Ayers, Harry Lockport, Illinois Outer Guard, 1960-61 Inner Guard, 1962-63 Conductor, 1964-65 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1966-67 Chief Gleaner, 1968-69 Baker, Lamotte L. Iosco, Michigan Inner Guard, 1901-1903 Barnes, Ada Belding, Michigan Chaplain, 1938-41 Bell, Theodore F. Algonac, Michigan Inner Guard, 1908-11 Bland, Connie Manteno, Illinois Guard 2007-11 Conductress 2011 – 13 Vice Chief Gleaner 2013 – 15 Chief Gleaner 2015 - 17 Bloss, Eunice A. Swartz Creek, Michigan Chaplain, 1905-13

Borton, Zale Fayette, Ohio Conductor, 1904-1907 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1908-10 Chief Gleaner, 1911 Buck, Russell Freeland, Michigan Outer Guard, 1956-57 Inner Guard, 1958-59 Conductor, 1960-61 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1962-63 Chief Gleaner, 1964 Buck, Kenneth Freeland, Michigan Guard, 1990-92 Conductor, 1992-93 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1994-95 Chief Gleaner, 1996-97 Byrne, William Kankakee, Illinois Outer Guard, 1908-11 Campbell, Charles Ellington, Michigan Outer Guard, 1899-1900 Conductor, 1901-1903 Campbell, Mary Mason, Michigan Chaplain, 1948-51 Cawood, James W. Marlette, Michigan Chaplain, 1897-98 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1899-1900 Champion, William John Metamora, Ohio Outer Guard, 1950-51 Conductor, 1952-53 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1954 Davis, Gail Louisville, Ohio Guard 2003 – 05 Conductress 2005 - 07 Davis, Leonard Portage, Ohio Outer Guard, 1955 Inner Guard, 1956-57 Conductor, 1958-59 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1960-61 Chief Gleaner, 1962-63 156

Dean, Betty Lou Findlay, Ohio Chaplain, 2000-2003 Dionne, Moses Beaverville, Illinois Outer Guard, 1952-53 Inner Guard, 1954 Conductor, 1955 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1956-57 Chief Gleaner, 1958-59 Drummer, Donald F. Bloomdale, Ohio Inner Guard, 1976-77 Conductor, 1978-79 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1980-81 Chief Gleaner, 1982-83 Guard, 1992-1993 Drummer, Timothy Hoytville, Ohio Guard, 1992-93 Conductor, 1994-95 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1996-97 Chief Gleaner, 1998-99 Eayrs, Benjamin F. Caro, Michigan Vice Chief Gleaner, 1894 Elder, Mary Mishawaka, Indiana Inner Guard, 1952-53 Elliott, Thomas C. Defiance, Ohio Outer Guard, 1916-21 Inner Guard, 1922-23 Chief Gleaner, 1924-26 England, Rev. Christopher Caro, Michigan Chaplain, 1894 Everton, Guy Plainfield, Illinois Chief Gleaner, 1938-39 Every, Mabel Mason, Michigan Chaplain, 1956-59 Fee, James New Lathrop, Michigan Chaplain, 1895-96 Outer Guard, 1897-1900

Flack, George Metamora, Ohio Inner Guard, 1964-65 Conductor, 1966-67 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1968-69 Chief Gleaner, 1970-71 Fortin, Eddie C. Gilman, Illinois Conductor, 1938-41 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1942-47 Chief Gleaner, 1948-49 Frazier, Merle Omaha, Nebraska Inner Guard, 1972-73 Conductor, 1974-75 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1976-77 Chief Gleaner, 1978-79 Fritch, William H. Imlay City, Michigan Vice Chief Gleaner, 1895-96 Chaplain, 1901-04 Garner, Norma Hanna, Indiana Guard 2013 – 15 Conductress 2015 – 17 Chaplain 2017 – 19 Vice Chief Gleaner 2019 – 21 Gilbert, Shirley Pleasant Lake, Indiana Conductor, 1924-29 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1930-37 Goodknecht, Nellie Kankakee, Illinois Chaplain, 1962-67 Goodyear, Floyd St. Louis, Michigan Outer Guard, 1948-49 Inner Guard, 1950-51 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1952-53 Chief Gleaner, 1954-55 Goodyear, Frank C. St. Louis, Michigan Inner Guard, 1904-07 Outer Guard, 1908-10 Haberlin, Alice Lowell, Indiana Chaplain, 1980-83 157

Hadden, Richard “Dick” Deerfield, Michigan Guard 2011 – 13 Conductor 2013 – 15 Chaplain 2015 – 17 Vice Chief Gleaner 2017 – 19 Chief Gleaner 2019 - 21 Hall, Harley O. Cardington, Ohio Outer Guard, 1954 Inner Guard, 1955 Conductor, 1956-57 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1958-59 Chief Gleaner, 1960-61 Harris, Myron A. Omaha, Nebraska Inner Guard, 1980-81 Conductor, 1982-83 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1984-85 Chief Gleaner, 1986-87 Harris, William Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Outer Guard, 1912-15 Conductor, 1916-21 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1922-25 Chief Gleaner, 1927-29 Hartline, Trudy Omaha, Nebraska Guard, 1996-97 Conductor, 1998-99 Vice Chief Gleaner, 2000-01 Chief Gleaner, 2002-03 Henry, Donald Deckerville, Michigan Inner Guard, 1930-39 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1940-41 Chief Gleaner, 1942-47 Holderman, Mary B. Morris, Illinois Chaplain, 1916-21 Hough, Harry H. Wauseon, Ohio Inner Guard, 1912-15 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1916-21 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1926-30 Chief Gleaner, 1922-23 Chief Gleaner, 1930

Hunt, John Verona, Michigan Vice Chief Gleaner, 1901-07 Jones, Cheryl Kankakee, Illinois Guard 2019 - 21 Kellogg, Ida Rome, Ohio Chaplain, 1942-47 Kinzler, Donald L. Joliet, Illinois Inner Guard, 1978-79 Conductor, 1980-81 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1982-83 Chief Gleaner, 1984-85 Kleinhans, Mary Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Chaplain, 1976-79 Kleinhans, Robert Kentwood, Michigan Conductor, 1984-85 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1986-87 Chief Gleaner, 1988 Knox, Sharon Toledo, Ohio Conductress 2009-11 Chief Gleaner 2013-15 Lenig, June LaPorte, Indiana Chaplain, 2003-07 Leslie, C. Frank Ligonier, Indiana Outer Guard, 1958-59 Conductor, 1960-61 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1962-63 Chief Gleaner, 1964-65 Livingston, John Argos, Indiana Vice Chief Gleaner, 1897-98 Chief Gleaner, 1899-1907 Lusk, Alton Lindley, Indiana Outer Guard, 1938-39 Inner Guard, 1940-41 Conductor, 1942-47 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1948-49 Chief Gleaner, 1950-51 158

Lyon, Doris Midland, Michigan Chaplain, 1992-95 Mack, Hanley Bad Axe, Michigan Outer Guard, 1922-23 Inner Guard, 1924-29 McKinstry, J. Floyd Grant Park, Illinois Conductor, 1912-15 Chief Gleaner, 1916-21 Merrill, Katherine Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Chaplain, 1952-55 Michaelis, Mary Bowling Green, Ohio Chaplain, 1968-71 Michaelis, Wayne Bowling Green, Ohio Inner Guard, 1984-85 Conductor, 1986-87 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1988-89 Chief Gleaner, 1990-91 Mills, Gary Cedar Springs, Michigan Supreme Guard 2005-07 Vice Chief Gleaner 2007-09 Chief Gleaner 2010-11 Moore, George D. Medina, Michigan Conductor, 1894-1898 Chaplain, 1899-1900 Munn, Elfa A. Grand Ledge, Michigan Chaplain, 1914-15 Nelson, Donna Adrian, Michigan Guard, 1998-99 Conductor, 2000-01 Vice Chief Gleaner, 2002-03 Chief Gleaner, 2004-05 Ostrander, L.W. Caro, Michigan Outer Guard, 1894 Inner Guard, 1895-98 Conductor, 1899-1900

Otis, Ruth Mason, Michigan Chaplain, 1960-61 Perkins, Benjamin Perrysburg, Ohio Inner Guard, 1948-49 Conductor, 1950-51 Pratt, Minnie B. Watseka, Illinois Chaplain, 1922-23 Price, Jeffrey Shorewood, Ilinois Chaplain 2011-15 Vice Chief Gleaner 2015-17 Chief Gleaner 2017-19 Price, Kay Lockport, Illinois Inner Guard, 1988-89 Conductor, 1990-91 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1992-93 Chief Gleaner, 1994-95 Price, Kirk Conifer, Colorado Guard, 2000-01 Conductor, 2002-03 Vice Chief Gleaner 2003-05 Chief Gleaner 2005-07 Rathman, Roy Bonfield, Illinois Outer Guard, 1941 Inner Guard, 1942-47 Conductor, 1948-49 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1950-51 Chief Gleaner, 1952-53 Reilly, Margaret (Brosanhan) Gilman, Illinois Chaplain, 1934-37 Sass, Virginia New Lenox, Illinois Chaplain, 1984-87 Ruehrmund, Linda Cardington, Ohio Guard 2015-17 Conductress 2017 -19 Chaplain 2019 -21

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Deb Rydberg Lakeland, Florida Guard 2017-19 Conductress 2019-21 Schafer, Charles Lakeville, Indiana Inner Guard, 1986-87 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1990-91 Chief Gleaner, 1992-93 Stellwagen, Harwood J. Tinley Park, Illinois Inner Guard, 1970-71 Conductor, 1972-73 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1974-75 Chief Gleaner, 1976-77 Strachan, George I. Ionia, Michigan Outer Guard, 1904-07 Conductor, 1908-11 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1912-15 Strachan, Howard K. Ionia, Michigan Inner Guard, 1974-75 Conductor, 1976-77 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1978-79 Chief Gleaner, 1980-81 Sutton, Patricia Lowell, Indiana Chaplain, 1972-75 Swett, Kenneth Lowell, Indiana Guard, 1994-95 Conductor, 1996-97 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1998-99 Chief Gleaner, 2000-2001 Thompson, George E. Holland, Ohio Conductor, 1930-37 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1938-39 Chief Gleaner, 1940-41 Tolmen, Judson Union Mills, Indiana Guard, 2002-2003 Conductor 2003-05 Vice Chief Gleaner 2005-07 Chief Gleaner 2007-09

Urbaniak, Dave Jackson, Michigan Chaplain 2007-11 Voorhees, Benjamin J. Midland, Michigan Outer Guard, 1943-47 Weis, Clayton E. Mishawaka, Indiana Inner Guard, 1953 Conductor, 1954 Vice Chief Gleaner, 1955 Chief Gleaner, 1956-57 Willoughby, R.T. Elliott, Michigan Outer Guard, 1901-03 Wills, Mark Coal City, Illinois Chaplain, 1996-99 Wood, S.S. Mayville, Michigan Outer Guard, 1895-96 Wright, William H. Camden, Indiana Inner Guard, 1916-21 Conductor, 1922-23 Zimmer, H.I. South Bend, Indiana Chief Gleaner, 1912-15 CONVENTIONS 1894 First State Meeting Odd Fellows Hall, Caro, Michigan, Dec. 31 1895 Second State Meeting Music Hall, Caro, Michigan, Dec. 19 1897 First Biennial Convention Opera House, Caro Michigan, Dec. 28-29 1899 Second Biennial Convention State Headquarters, Caro Michigan, and Germain Conservatory of Music, Saginaw, Michigan, Dec. 13-15 1901 Third Biennial Convention Representative Hall, Lansing, Michigan, Dec. 17-20 1904 Fourth Biennial Convention Representative Hall, Lansing, Michigan, Jan. 12-15 1906 Fifth Biennial Convention The Auditorium, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jan. 2-4 1908 Sixth Biennial Convention Memorial Hall, Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 15-16 160

1910 Seventh Biennial Convention Convention Hall, Saginaw, Michigan, Jan. 11-13 1912 Eighth Biennial Convention Oliver Opera House, South Bend, Indiana, Jan. 9-12 1914 Ninth Biennial Convention Memorial Hall, Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 7-9 1916 10th Biennial Convention Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jan. 12-14 1918 11th Biennial Convention Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jan. 9-10 1920 12th Biennial Convention Armory, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jan. 27-30 1921 13th Biennial Convention Labor Temple, Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 13-16 1923 14th Biennial Convention Hotel Statler, Detroit, Michigan, Dec. 5-7 1925 15th Biennial Convention Oliver Hotel, South Bend, Indiana, Dec. 9-11 1927 16th Biennial Convention Armory, Kankakee, Illinois, Dec. 6-8 1929 17th Biennial Convention Prudden Auditorium, Lansing, Michigan, Dec. 10-12 1931 18th Biennial Convention Chamber of Commerce, Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 7-9 1933 19th Biennial Convention LaSalle Hotel and Palais Royal Auditorium, South Bend, Indiana, Dec. 11-13 1937 20th Biennial Convention Knights of Columbus War Memorial Building, Kankakee, Illinois, Dec. 7-8 1939 21st Biennial Convention Hotel Hayes, Jackson, Michigan, Dec. 6-8 1941 22nd Biennial Convention Hotel Portage, Akron, Ohio, Sept. 3-4 1947 23rd Biennial Convention Hotel Anthony, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 15-17 1949 24th Biennial Convention Hotel Faust, Rockford, Illinois, Oct. 27-29 1951 25th Biennial Convention Hotel Pantlind, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oct. 22-24 1953 26th Biennial Convention Mansfield-Leland Hotel, Mansfield, Ohio, Oct. 26-28 1955 27th Biennial Convention Van Orman Hotel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 21-23 1957 28th Biennial Convention Hotel Louis Joliet, Joliet, Illinois, Oct. 25-27

1959 29th Biennial Convention Bancroft Hotel, Saginaw, Michigan, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 1961 30th Biennial Convention Dayton Biltmore Hotel, Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 27-29 1963 31st Biennial Convention Dayton Biltmore Hotel, Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 27-29 1965 32nd Biennial Convention Key Largo Inn, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 22-24 1967 33rd Biennial Convention Jack Tar Hotel, Lansing, Michigan, Oct. 20-22 1969 34th Biennial Convention Detroit Hilton Hotel, Detroit, Michigan, Oct. 30-Nov. 2 1971 35th Biennial Convention Hospitality Motor Inn, Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 10-12 1973 36th Biennial Convention Albert Pick Motor Inn, South Bend, Indiana, Oct. 19-21 1975 37th Biennial Convention Balmoral Woods Inn, Crete, Illinois, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 1977 38th Biennial Convention Hospitality Motor Inn, Lansing, Michigan, Oct. 21-23 1979 39th Biennial Convention Ramada Inn-Southwyck, Toledo, Ohio, Nov. 2-4 1981 40th Biennial Convention Marriott Inn, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Nov. 6-8 1983 41st Biennial Convention Sheraton Hotel, Naperville, Illinois, Nov. 4-6 1985 42nd Biennial Convention Sheraton Inn, Lansing, Michigan, Nov. 1-3 1987 43rd Biennial Convention Sheraton Westgate Inn, Toledo, Ohio, Nov. 6-8 1989 44th Biennial Convention Marriott Inn, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 27-29 1991 45th Biennial Convention Holiday Crown Plaza, Lisle (Chicago), Illinois, Oct. 18-21 1993 46th Biennial Convention Grant Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan, Oct. 1-3 1995 47th Biennial Convention Toledo Hilton, Toledo, Ohio, Oct. 27-29 1997 48th Biennial Convention French Lick Springs Resort, French Lick, Indiana, Oct. 17-19 1999 49th Biennial Convention Springfield Hilton, Springfield, Illinois, Oct. 22-24 2001 50th Biennial Convention Hyatt Regency Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan, Oct. 5-7 2003 51st Biennial Convention Saw Mill Creek Resort, Huron, Ohio, Oct. 17-19 161

2005 52nd Biennial Convention South Bend Marriott, South Bend, Indiana, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 2007 53rd Biennial Convention Indian Lakes Resort, Bloomington, Indiana, Oct. 19-21 2009 54th Biennial Convention Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan, Oct. 2-4 2011 55th Biennial Convention Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 21-23 2013 56th Biennial Convention French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana, Oct. 25-27 2015 57th Biennial Convention Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, Illinois, Oct. 23-25 2017 58th Biennial Convention Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, Michigan, Oct. 13-15 2019 59th Biennial Convention Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center, Sandusky, Ohio, Oct. 11-13 2021 60th Biennial Convention Belterra Resort and Casino, Florence, Indiana, Oct. 22-24

1918...............................................................................1,271,063.90 1919...............................................................................1,297,822.20 1920...............................................................................1,342,104.21 1921...............................................................................1,521,941.46 1922...............................................................................1,527,865.78 1923...............................................................................2,003,872.80 1924...............................................................................2,293,793.00 1925...............................................................................2,431,645.74 1926...............................................................................3,013,077.35 1927...............................................................................3,599,064.14 1928...............................................................................4,110,517.59 1929...............................................................................5,295,437.45 1930...............................................................................5,799,627.22 1931...............................................................................6,701,461.74 1932...............................................................................6,878,342.70 1933...............................................................................7,356,967.00 1934...............................................................................6,910,334.94 1935...............................................................................6,751,456.23 1936...............................................................................6,843,123.20 1937...............................................................................7,187,141.16 1938...............................................................................7,509,907.59 1939...............................................................................7,820,335.00 1940...............................................................................8,120,509.85 1941...............................................................................8,436,539.27 1942...............................................................................8,472,861.99 1943...............................................................................9,032,549.90 1944...............................................................................9,386,495.85 1945...............................................................................9,649,437.08 1946............................................................................ 10,014,245.01 1947............................................................................ 10,194,120.91 1948............................................................................ 10,611,625.51 1949............................................................................ 11,056,168.97 1950............................................................................ 11,588,858.06 1951............................................................................ 12,056,529.46 1952............................................................................ 12,657,854.74 1953............................................................................ 13,093,375.64 1954............................................................................ 14,051,368.33 1955............................................................................ 14,493,007.48 1956............................................................................ 15,223,017.00 1957............................................................................ 15,638,110.04 1958............................................................................ 16,470,202.80 1959............................................................................ 17,086,844.07 1960............................................................................ 17,788,096.55 1961............................................................................ 18,496,616.99 1962............................................................................ 19,223,409.46 1963............................................................................ 19,918,348.36 1964............................................................................ 20,670,899.85

ASSETS (1894-2020) 1894...........................................................................................167.50 1895....................................................................................... 1,010.00 1896....................................................................................... 2,529.00 1897....................................................................................... 6,005.30 1898.....................................................................................15,985.79 1899.....................................................................................28,236.26 1900.....................................................................................49,073.86 1901.....................................................................................62,687.68 1902.....................................................................................81,243.63 1903.................................................................................. 117,346.23 1904.................................................................................. 133,642.71 1905.................................................................................. 169,857.23 1906.................................................................................. 207,465.47 1907.................................................................................. 247,854.55 1908.................................................................................. 284,026.21 1909.................................................................................. 340,982.00 1910.................................................................................. 362,631.44 1911.................................................................................. 421,295.96 1912.................................................................................. 457,724.68 1913.................................................................................. 502,890.76 1914.................................................................................. 576,577.15 1915.................................................................................. 814,106.88 1916.................................................................................. 971,654.92 1917...............................................................................1,148,651.37 162

2012............................................................................ 1,437,607,615 2013............................................................................ 1,417,181,664 2014............................................................................ 1,363,466,920 2015............................................................................ 1,332,942,696 2016............................................................................ 1,317,259,971 2017............................................................................ 1,285,147,174 2018............................................................................ 1,242,963,107 2019............................................................................ 1,277,561,985 2020............................................................................ 1,357,884,833

1965............................................................................ 21,526,858.63 1966............................................................................ 22,348,375.07 1967............................................................................ 23,229,047.97 1968............................................................................ 24,066,054.14 1969............................................................................ 25,049,695.82 1970............................................................................ 25,876,905.61 1971............................................................................ 27,081,635.73 1972............................................................................ 27,961,240,89 1973............................................................................ 29,273,924.98 1974.................................................................................. 30,717,979 1975.................................................................................. 31,872,342 1976.................................................................................. 33,761,472 1977.................................................................................. 35,789,575 1978.................................................................................. 39,084,372 1979.................................................................................. 41,825,984 1980.................................................................................. 46,776,075 1981.................................................................................. 51,131,562 1982.................................................................................. 56,242,497 1983.................................................................................. 65,684,329 1984.................................................................................. 77,140,778 1985.................................................................................. 99,093,789 1986................................................................................122,603,891 1987................................................................................149,820,206 1988................................................................................188,018,000 1989................................................................................236,392,000 1990................................................................................282,868,434 1991................................................................................337,261,013 1992................................................................................408,865,905 1993................................................................................469,477,079 1994................................................................................521,932,690 1995................................................................................578,126,327 1996................................................................................615,241,968 1997................................................................................644,112,353 1998................................................................................678,693,293 1999................................................................................712,769,570 2000................................................................................743,659,581 2001................................................................................814,539,137 2002................................................................................903,777,075 2003............................................................................ 1,039,769,534 2004............................................................................ 1,194,073,723 2005............................................................................ 1,269,604,887 2006............................................................................ 1,223,927,165 2007............................................................................ 1,148,018,389 2008............................................................................ 1,103,004,745 2009............................................................................ 1,143,427,919 2010............................................................................ 1,318,516,136 2011............................................................................ 1,409,256,076

SURPLUS Gleaner Life did not begin recording its surplus until 1935

1935........................................................................................ 111,236 1936........................................................................................ 177,258 1937........................................................................................ 220,680 1938........................................................................................ 252,154 1939........................................................................................ 237,996 1940........................................................................................ 242,512 1941........................................................................................ 240,032 1942........................................................................................ 414,755 1943........................................................................................ 610,123 1944........................................................................................ 653,503 1945........................................................................................ 714,171 1946........................................................................................ 721,341 1947........................................................................................ 613,454 1948........................................................................................ 708,584 1949........................................................................................ 834,572 1950........................................................................................ 916,290 1951.....................................................................................1,009,496 1952.....................................................................................1,135,294 1953.....................................................................................1,277,482 1954.....................................................................................1,387,111 1955.....................................................................................1,507,320 1956.....................................................................................1,641,037 1957.....................................................................................1,809,241 1958.....................................................................................1,967,309 1959.....................................................................................2,115,893 1960.....................................................................................2,296,215 1961.....................................................................................2,559,947 1962.....................................................................................2,773,417 1963.....................................................................................2,960,555 1964.....................................................................................3,002,924 1965.....................................................................................3,178,664 1966.....................................................................................3,336,513 1967.....................................................................................3,466,078 1968.....................................................................................3,567,237 1969.....................................................................................3,680,568 1970.....................................................................................3,763,674 163

1971.....................................................................................3,882,840 1972.....................................................................................4,069,389 1973.....................................................................................4,367,467 1974.....................................................................................4,690,827 1975.....................................................................................4,782,036 1976.....................................................................................5,124,576 1977.....................................................................................5,618,200 1978.....................................................................................7,436,148 1979.....................................................................................7,819,385 1980.....................................................................................8,467,959 1981.....................................................................................8,700,236 1982.....................................................................................8,343,699 1983.....................................................................................8,249,937 1984.....................................................................................9,106,138 1985.................................................................................. 10,448,578 1986.................................................................................. 13,199,241 1987.................................................................................. 14,881,700 1988.................................................................................. 14,742,634 1989.................................................................................. 16,623,521 1990.................................................................................. 19,511,871 1991.................................................................................. 22,946,553 1992.................................................................................. 27,899,753 1993.................................................................................. 33,514,972 1994.................................................................................. 39,159,806 1995.................................................................................. 43,965,423 1996.................................................................................. 50,384,041 1997.................................................................................. 57,401,323 1998.................................................................................. 63,414,805 1999.................................................................................. 69,085,447 2000.................................................................................. 74,612,809 2001.................................................................................. 79,364,442 2002.................................................................................. 82,671,690 2003.................................................................................. 87,861,946 2004.................................................................................. 91,698,969 2005.................................................................................. 92,673,175 2006.................................................................................. 90,171,437 2007.................................................................................. 92,938,023 2008.................................................................................. 80,599,574 2009.................................................................................. 81,142,306 2010.................................................................................. 83,100,051 2011.................................................................................. 81,498,416 2012.................................................................................. 80,808,535 2013.................................................................................. 83,067,253 2014.................................................................................. 85,027,409 2015.................................................................................. 87,921,490 2016.................................................................................. 90,779,043 2017.................................................................................. 93,870,797

2018.................................................................................. 94,605,173 2019................................................................................106,198,050 2020................................................................................124,861,550 INSURANCE IN FORCE (1894-2020) 1894........................................................................................ 167.500 1895........................................................................................ 904,000 1896.....................................................................................2,420,500 1897.....................................................................................4,394,000 1898.....................................................................................7,038,750 1899.................................................................................. 12,254,500 1900.................................................................................. 16,426,250 1901.................................................................................. 21,282,750 1902.................................................................................. 25,640,250 1903.................................................................................. 29,218,250 1904.................................................................................. 34,764,250 1905.................................................................................. 39,892,500 1906.................................................................................. 42,629,000 1907.................................................................................. 46,030,500 1908.................................................................................. 48,028,250 1909.................................................................................. 50,670,000 1910.................................................................................. 54,369,250 1911.................................................................................. 57,833,500 1912.................................................................................. 59,171,900 1913.................................................................................. 59,166,650 1914.................................................................................. 56,727,100 1915.................................................................................. 57,186,650 1916.................................................................................. 58,638,000 1917.................................................................................. 56,468,876 1918.................................................................................. 54,925,005 1919.................................................................................. 54,772,205 1920.................................................................................. 54,701,505 1921.................................................................................. 56,160,470 1922.................................................................................. 53,109,285 1923.................................................................................. 51,567,270 1924.................................................................................. 48,703,203 1925.................................................................................. 42,322,116 1926.................................................................................. 37,292,147 1927.................................................................................. 39,186,161 1928.................................................................................. 40,277,194 1929.................................................................................. 41,587,532 1930.................................................................................. 41,439,860 1931.................................................................................. 40,840,622 1932.................................................................................. 40,760,787 1933.................................................................................. 39,051,371 1934.................................................................................. 39,043,624 1935.................................................................................. 38,207,200 164

1936.................................................................................. 38,943,583 1937.................................................................................. 40,008,923 1938.................................................................................. 39,443,575 1939.................................................................................. 40,221,182 1940.................................................................................. 40,925,930 1941.................................................................................. 39,565,453 1942.................................................................................. 37,520,588 1943.................................................................................. 38,065,972 1944.................................................................................. 38,840,865 1945.................................................................................. 39,561,264 1946.................................................................................. 40,787,647 1947.................................................................................. 42,209,613 1948.................................................................................. 43,368,347 1949.................................................................................. 44,503,865 1950.................................................................................. 45,029,603 1951.................................................................................. 45,624,676 1952.................................................................................. 46,832,408 1953.................................................................................. 48,634,389 1954.................................................................................. 50,486,736 1955.................................................................................. 52,658,329 1956.................................................................................. 53,757,371 1957.................................................................................. 55,669,534 1958.................................................................................. 56,204,486 1959.................................................................................. 57,080,263 1960.................................................................................. 58,724,378 1961.................................................................................. 60,246,405 1962.................................................................................. 63,164,554 1963.................................................................................. 67,732,263 1964.................................................................................. 71,510,574 1965.................................................................................. 77,694,086 1966.................................................................................. 84,651,046 1967.................................................................................. 89,942,985 1968.................................................................................. 95,113,927 1969................................................................................101,662,683 1970................................................................................111,119,058 1971................................................................................120,377,948 1972................................................................................127,418,492 1973................................................................................133,835,136 1974................................................................................141,054,086 1975................................................................................146,445,907 1976................................................................................154,818,849 1977................................................................................163,052,219 1978................................................................................170,503,036 1979................................................................................180,180,988 1980................................................................................191,061,104 1981................................................................................198,626,025 1982................................................................................204,244,000

1983................................................................................203,811,000 1984................................................................................203,526,000 1985................................................................................295,747,000 1986................................................................................408,046,000 1987................................................................................512,907,000 1988................................................................................591,918,000 1989................................................................................652,161,000 1990................................................................................692,278,176 1991................................................................................754,114,389 1992................................................................................807,845,000 1993................................................................................878,863,000 1994................................................................................969,569,000 1995............................................................................ 1,142,276,000 1996............................................................................ 1,254,940,000 1997............................................................................ 1,357,639,000 1998............................................................................ 1,428,884,000 1999............................................................................ 1,519,463,000 2000............................................................................ 1,615,975,000 2001............................................................................ 1,677,049,000 2002............................................................................ 1,710,065,000 2003............................................................................ 1,707,872,000 2004............................................................................ 1,752,686,000 2005............................................................................ 1,824,039,000 2006............................................................................ 1,864,201,000 2007............................................................................ 1,886,932,000 2008............................................................................ 1,909,962,000 2009............................................................................ 1,936,027,000 2010............................................................................ 1,950,161,000 2011............................................................................ 1,957,498,000 2012............................................................................ 1,965,693,000 2013............................................................................ 1,960,291,000 2014............................................................................ 1,921,019,000 2015............................................................................ 1,906,605,000 2016............................................................................ 1,881,427,000 2017............................................................................ 1,861,479,000 2018............................................................................ 1,870,801,000 2019............................................................................ 1,889,090,000 2020............................................................................ 1,949,828,000

1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 165

MEMBERS ARBORS 670......................................................................... 64 1,808 ..................................................................... 87 3,131 ...................................................................156 5,588 ...................................................................242 8,601 ...................................................................301 14,354.................................................................360 19,099.................................................................438

1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947

24,456*...............................................................548 32,153.................................................................633 36,548.................................................................720 43,161.................................................................816 49,404.................................................................919 52,840.................................................................994 56,843............................................................. 1,064 60,041............................................................. 1,188 63,764............................................................. 1,168 68,634............................................................. 1,220 72,657............................................................. 1,273 75,215............................................................. 1,333 71,570............................................................. 1,325 72,331............................................................. 1,345 71,323............................................................. 1,367 74,081......................................................... 1,396** 74,159............................................................. 1,360 74,300............................................................. 1,371 63,813............................................................. 1,353 63,427............................................................. 1,336 64,373............................................................. 1,327 60,476............................................................. 1,290 58,077............................................................. 1,291 54,765............................................................. 1,279 47,950............................................................. 1,233 43,177............................................................. 1,132 45,892............................................................. 1,135 47,204............................................................. 1,135 49,810.................................................................937 49,949.................................................................912 49,341.................................................................889 50,390.................................................................870 49,079.................................................................799 49,264.................................................................779 49,538.................................................................783 51,369.................................................................736 53,275.................................................................717 52,685.................................................................716 53,955.................................................................684 54,870.................................................................678 52,118.................................................................605 49,676.................................................................565 50,397.................................................................552 51,294.................................................................552 51,996.................................................................523 52,765.................................................................513 53,808.................................................................510

1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 166

54,137.................................................................425 54,456.................................................................419 54,395.................................................................414 54,405.................................................................407 54,748...........................................................400*** 55,068 55,846 55,995 55,824 55,840 55,146 54,537...........................................370 (85 active) 54,171...........................................186 (95 active) 53,551...........................................177 (97 active) 53,260...........................................177 (99 active) 52,810.........................................176 (103 active) 52,395.........................................176 (104 active) 52,055.........................................176 (104 active) 51,937.........................................198 (112 active) 51,505.........................................198 (112 active) 51,239 51,216 50,776...........................................198 (69 active) 50,735...........................................197 (64 active) 50,105...........................................197 (83 active) 49,567...........................................199 (85 active) 49,134...........................................199 (85 active) 48,590...........................................198 (90 active) 48,189...........................................198 (90 active) 47,512...........................................196 (87 active) 46,796...........................................196 (87 active) 46,010...........................................184 (87 active) 45,057................................................................... 85 43,790................................................................... 85 42,564................................................................... 85 40,885................................................................... 81 38,918................................................................... 84 35,620................................................................... 83 34,283................................................................... 84 33,823................................................................... 83 43,383................................................................... 63 44,668................................................................... 59 44,960................................................................... 56 46,254................................................................... 52 47,806................................................................... 54 51,373................................................................... 52 53,241................................................................... 53

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

MEMBERS ARBORS 56,242................................................................... 49 57,921................................................................... 52 60,107................................................................... 52 62,579................................................................... 44 64,420................................................................... 47 66,013................................................................... 47 68,004................................................................... 46 69,973................................................................... 43 73,193................................................................... 44 77,390** 42 78,621................................................................... 44 77,075................................................................... 46 73,955................................................................... 45 72,088................................................................... 48 72,526................................................................... 56 75,508................................................................... 56 76,464................................................................... 60 75,819................................................................... 60 74,384................................................................... 59 71,894................................................................... 60 69,999................................................................... 63 67,981................................................................... 63 65,873................................................................... 65 63,625................................................................... 64 61,742................................................................... 68 60,488................................................................... 67

*

In 1901 there were 1,398 “honorary” or noninsurance carrying members. These were not counted in the figures.

**

The number of arbors peaked in 1916 at 1,396; members presently at 60,488.

***

From the report of President Ransford at the 1953 biennial convention. He referred to “some 400 faithful secretaries.”

1982......................................................................................................7 1983......................................................................................................7 1984......................................................................................................7 1985......................................................................................................7 1986......................................................................................................7 1987......................................................................................................7 1988......................................................................................................9 1989................................................................................................... 10 1990................................................................................................... 12 1991................................................................................................... 15 1992................................................................................................... 23 1993................................................................................................... 32 1994................................................................................................... 36 1995................................................................................................... 39 1996................................................................................................... 50 1997................................................................................................... 61 1998................................................................................................... 76 1999................................................................................................... 81 2000................................................................................................... 98 2001.................................................................................................105 2002.................................................................................................110 2003.................................................................................................115 2004.................................................................................................118 2005.................................................................................................120 2006.................................................................................................115 2007.................................................................................................115 2008.................................................................................................123 2009.................................................................................................126 2010.................................................................................................125 2011.................................................................................................125 2012.................................................................................................125 2013.................................................................................................118 2014.................................................................................................120 2015.................................................................................................126 2016.................................................................................................101 2017.................................................................................................100 2018.................................................................................................100 2019.................................................................................................100 2020.................................................................................................100 2021................................................................................................... 91 TOTAL...................................................................... 2,973

SCHOLARSHIP REPORT One of the real success stories has been the Gleaner Scholarship Program. The number of scholarships awarded now totals 2,973.

YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED 1980......................................................................................................5 1981......................................................................................................6 167

Gleaner Life Insurance Society Past Presidents

Grant Hiram Slocum October 12, 1894 to August 14, 1924

Ross L. Holloway August 22, 1924 to November 5, 1936

Robert P. Orr November 9, 1936 to August 14, 1939

Henry H. Hackett August 23, 1939 to September 10, 1946

Richard G. Ransford September 10, 1946 to April 2, 1979

Frank Dick April 2, 1979 to June 16, 2000

Michael J. Wade July 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007

Ellsworth L. Stout April 21, 2008, to June 8, 2012

www.gleanerlife.org 5200 West U.S. Highway 223, P.O. Box 1894 Adrian, Michigan 49221