Window on the Clearwater
Traditional news Today's technology
triviahead.JPG - 10433 Bytes

No one got this one!

World War I Draft Board is the answer for Clearwater History Trivia #582, a special feature to celebrate the history and heritage of Clearwater Country.

Join in the discovery!

Monday: Men

Tuesday: Different times

Wedesday: Signature

Friday: Physical description

Saturday: Locally administered

Monday: Federal part

Tuesday: H. Walrath

Wednesday: Description

Friday (12-13-19): Cards

Saturday (12-14-19): Local boards

Monday (12-16-19): Joseph Kauffman

Tuesday (12-17-19): Next of kin

Wednesday (12-18-19): Profession

Thursday (12-19-19): It changed some lives

Friday (12-20-19): Employer

Monday (12-23-19): Hair

Tuesday (12-24-19): Eye color

Thursday (12-26-19): A World War

Friday (12-27-19): Research

Monday (12-30-19): Now a resource for families

Tuesday (12-31-19): Genealogy

Thursday (1-2-20): 1918

Monday (1-6-20): World War I

Tuesday (1-7-20): A record

Wednesday (1-8-20): Indexed

Thursday (1-9-20): Available to the public

Friday (1-9-20): Genealogy source

World War I Draft Registration was unique in a number of ways. While it was a federal program, Clearwater County had its own 'Draft Board' that oversaw the registration of the men in the county. I haven't been able to discover who all the members of this draft board were, but two of the men that signed the registration cards were H. Walrath and Joseph Kauffman.

There were three registration dates:

  • 1--5 June 1917 for men born 5 June 1886 to 5 June 1896
  • 2--5 June 1918 for men born 6 June 1896 to 5 June 1897
  • 3--12 Sept. 1918 for men born 12 Sept. 1873 to 12 Sept. 1900

While not its original purpose, from a genealogical standpoint, the World War I draft registration cards can provide a lot of information about men born in the United States from September 1873 to September 1900.

Information on the cards may includes such things as:

  • Name
  • Birth date
  • Birthplace
  • Draft registration date
  • Sometimes, father's birthplace
  • Name of nearest relative
  • Age in years
  • Gender is implied, since all registrants were males
  • Marital status
  • List of any dependents
  • Address
  • Eye color
  • Hair color
  • Height
  • Size
  • Occupation
  • The man's signature, as well as the person verifying the registration

For further information or how to search the records, see this link: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States,_World_War_I_Draft_Registration_Cards_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records#What_Can_These_Records_Tell_Me.3F

Trivia Archives

Sponsored by:

Want accurate, daily news for Orofino and Clearwater County?

Subscribe to:

Window on the Clearwater
Traditional news Today's technology

It's a bargain at $3 per month, $18 for 6 months or $30 per year. (Idaho residents, please add 6% sales tax)

Subscribing is easy:

  • Drop us a check with your email address and we will sign you up. (See the mailing address at left)
  • Pay online: Click this Registration link and follow the Pay Pal instructions.

Window on the Clearwater
P.O. Box 2444
Orofino, ID 83544
Orofino 476 0733
Fax: 208-476-4140
Email