1920 was a pivotal year for Tom Gallagher. He would move to Sedalia, become store manager for Cole’s, and meet the Riley family.
1920 was no less transformational for the Riley family. They would lose their business and try to re-invent their livelihood.
In summer 1919, Tom Gallagher was back in Junction City. He was out of the army. It was time to rejoin the work force and the social scene.
A telegram arrived April 22 from Headquarters Advance Section, ordering the regiment to move to Le Mans.
And suddenly the telegrams changed the destination of the regiment to Brest.
Victory – History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry
Continue readingWe shall never forget the night that Varennes was flooded with light, and a celebration broke loose on the strength of the reported signing of the armistice.
Victory – History of the 805th Pioneer Infantry
The 805th Pioneer Infantry was in France, arriving in Rolampont on September 20, 1918.
The United States entered World War I in April 1917. The goal was to organize a million man army. In May 1918, President Wilson authorized the creation of eight colored regiments.
In March 1916, Tom Gallagher moved from Lamar, Missouri to Junction City, Kansas. He was the shoe department manager at Cole Brothers’ Dry Goods Store, replacing his brother Henry. Henry moved back to Lamar, becoming manager at Coles’ store there.
Jesse Cole was born in 1875 in Fort Scott, Kansas. His father William, 27, was a bartender and mother Mary, 22, was a homemaker. Jesse grew up with an older sister and four younger brothers.
In 1897, at age 22, he was a partner in The Cyclone, a dry goods store in nearby Garnett, Kansas. The partners were Glaze, Lewis, and Cole.
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Family Nibbles 