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Centennial History Book
Necessary and needed were the ORGANIZATIONS of Farnam
W.C.T.U. ACTIVE ORGANIZATION AT FARNAM
Written by a Charter Member
The earliest records of the local Womans’ Christian Temperance Society bear the date of January, 1906. It is believed that there had been an organization of a few months duration previous to that time.
The first roll of members in the secretary’s book for 1906 contains these names: Mrs. Underwood, Mrs. Bradshaw, Mrs. G. D. Faulkes, Mrs. G. S. Hicks, Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. John Dawson, Mrs. Crossgrove, Mrs. L. C. Kitchen, Mrs. Will Hicks, Mrs. H. 0. Willson, Mrs. M. C. Divoll, Mrs. C. L. Dunham, Mrs. J. Kendall, Mrs. Horace Hicks, Mrs. A. E. Reeves, Mrs. Stilley and Mrs. Kate Fitch.
This organization took an active part in creating sentiment for a "dry Nebraska" in 1916.
During the World War it contributed money for sending comfort bags to our soldiers, each bag containing a New Testament.
For many years the W. C. T. U. has maintained the White Ribbon Recruits, a band of children up to five years, whose mothers promise to teach them temperance and purity. There have been eighty-eight such children enrolled. The oldest is now twenty three years of age.
In January 1921, Miss Lida Herrick, a National organizer, spent a week with this union in the effort to raise funds and gain new members as a fitting celebration of the adoption of the 18th Amendment. Dawson County was apportioned $400. Farnam’s share was $100.00 and believe it or not the business men of Farnam contributed $100 for enforcement of prohibition.
The year 1921 shows the largest membership in the history of the organization, 48 members and 14 honorary members. The years, 1929 and 1930, were a close second, the members numbering 41.
It was about 1920 or 21 that the W.C.T.U. became more thoroughly, organized, taking up many of the various departments through which the organization is enabled to serve along a variety of lines.
The primary purpose of the Womans’ Christian Temperance Union is the abolition of the legalized liquor traffic, but that is not its only interest. It stands for and lends its support to all causes which promote more wholesome living conditions for every man, woman and child.
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