Over the Top: How Newton County’s Colored Schools and Leaders Proved Their Patriotism in World War I
Newton County Colored Schools Demonstrate Unity and Patriotism During World War I
In 1918, Newton County joined the nationwide call to support the war effort through the War Savings Stamp Campaign. By year’s end, the county had surpassed its goal, raising an impressive $481,315 against a quota of $462,000. The Newton Record proudly proclaimed that Newton County had gone “over the top” by more than $20,000, praising County Director Sam Grizzle and his assistants for their unpaid dedication to the campaign.
The newspaper described the drive as a remarkable display of unity, emphasizing how local volunteers gave their “full time and talents” purely out of patriotism, not profit. Yet, behind this celebratory account was another, largely untold story — the significant role of Newton County’s African American citizens, whose parallel fundraising efforts helped ensure the county’s success.
A Broader Story: The African American Contribution
Though the county’s totals appeared unified in the press, Newton County’s Black residents conducted their own War Savings campaigns through segregated schools, churches, and home demonstration clubs. These efforts, led by educators and pastors across the Altare, Pleasant Grove, Shiloh, Pine Ridge, and other rural communities, contributed an astonishing $38,000 — nearly 8% of the county’s total.
Despite economic hardship and racial inequality, the Colored Schools exceeded their combined quota by 106%, a feat that underscored both determination and faith. Communities such as Greenwood (178%), Union Grove (169%), and Bethany (158%) far surpassed their goals, while larger centers like Altare, Shiloh, and Pleasant Grove led in total funds raised.
Through the cooperation of schoolteachers, pastors, parents, and students, the county’s African American population proved that their patriotism equaled, and often surpassed, that of their white counterparts. Their dedication not only supported the war effort but also strengthened community pride and unity at home.
Colored school subscription chart
| Community / School | Quota ($) | Subscribed ($) | % of Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altare | 2,000 | 2,100 | 105% |
| Battlefield | 1,000 | 625 | 63% |
| Bethel | 1,000 | 930 | 93% |
| Bethany | 500 | 790 | 158% |
| Decatur | 2,000 | 1,350 | 68% |
| Good Hope | 2,000 | 2,000 | 100% |
| Good News | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100% |
| Green Grove | 2,000 | 2,325 | 116% |
| Greenwood | 500 | 890 | 178% |
| Hickman Chapel | 500 | 501 | 100% |
| Hickory Grove | 2,000 | 2,000 | 100% |
| Little Mountain | 500 | 500 | 100% |
| Little Rock | 2,000 | 535 | 27% |
| Middleton | 1,000 | 1,005 | 101% |
| Midway | 2,000 | 960 | 48% |
| Miles | 1,000 | 952 | 95% |
| Mt. Olie | 500 | — | — |
| Mt. Zion (Beat 2) | 500 | 510 | 102% |
| Mt. Zion (Beat 3) | 1,000 | 1,035 | 104% |
| New Prospect | 500 | 500 | 100% |
| Oak Grove | 1,000 | 710 | 71% |
| Oak Ridge | 500 | 510 | 102% |
| Pace | 500 | — | — |
| Pilgrim Rest | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100% |
| Pine Grove | 500 | 500 | 100% |
| Pine Ridge | 2,000 | 2,000 | 100% |
| Pleasant Grove | 2,000 | 2,715 | 136% |
| St. Augustine | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100% |
| St. Hill | 1,000 | 1,150 | 115% |
| St. John | 2,000 | 2,003 | 100% |
| St. Mark | 500 | — | — |
| St. Paul | 2,000 | 2,000 | 100% |
| Sand Hill | 500 | 500 | 100% |
| Shady Grove | 500 | 520 | 104% |
| Shiloh | 2,000 | 2,453 | 123% |
| Spring Hill | 1,000 | 1,000 | 100% |
| Union Grove | 500 | 843 | 169% |
In 1918, there were 37 African American community schools. Quota in the above chart refers to the assigned goal, while Subscribed ($) indicates the actual amount of dollars raised. The last column represents the percentage of the goal that each community school achieved.
“Top Performing Newton County Colored Schools – Wartime Liberty Loan Drive.”
- 🟨 Gold bars highlight the exceptional top performers (Greenwood, Union Grove, Bethany).
- 🟧 Orange bars show strong overachievers (Pleasant Grove, Shiloh, Green Grove, St. Hill).
- 🟩 Teal bars mark schools that met or slightly exceeded their goals (Altare and others).
Profiles in Civic Leadership: Robert “Bob” Cole and Charlie Willis
Among Newton County’s ninety-nine members of the prestigious Limit Club—citizens who purchased $1,000 or more in War Savings Stamps—two were African American: Robert “Bob” Cole of Shiloh and Charlie Willis of Pine Ridge. Their inclusion among the county’s top donors represented a powerful statement of shared sacrifice and leadership during an era of segregation.
Robert “Bob” Cole (1839–1931): A Legacy of Faith and Industry
Born enslaved in 1839, Robert Cole rose from bondage to become one of Newton County’s most respected landowners. By the early 1900s, he owned more than 300 acres east of Newton and operated a successful farm and mercantile store. A founding member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Cole was known for his generosity, discipline, and sound judgment.
In 1918, Cole’s purchase of $1,000 in War Savings Stamps earned him membership in the Limit Club, symbolizing his belief in both faith and citizenship. Upon his death in 1931, the Newton Record praised him as “a living example of the possibilities of any man in this country to succeed regardless of his race or color.” His funeral at Shiloh drew both Black and white mourners—a final testament to a life that transcended division through perseverance and character.
Robert “Bob” Cole (1839–1931) — farmer, merchant, churchman, and wartime donor — exemplified the civic spirit that defined Newton County’s African American community. His perseverance and leadership continue to reflect the enduring strength of faith, family, and service.
Charlie Willis (1864–1939): The Farmer of Pine Ridge
Born to Frances Willis (1842–?), Charlie Willis farmed near Decatur and was an active member of Pine Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. With his wife Ellen Murrell Willis (1867–1939), he raised eleven children and built a home life grounded in faith, work, and education.
Willis’ $1,000 purchase of War Savings Stamps—equal to several months’ wages for many farmers—secured him a place in the Limit Club alongside the county’s wealthiest white landowners. His act of generosity represented more than a financial contribution; it was a statement of civic equality and patriotic devotion, offered in faith that his children would inherit a better nation.
Charlie Willis (1864–1939) — Farmer, father, and Pine Ridge Church member — achieved national distinction as one of Newton County’s African American Limit Club members during World War I. His contribution of $1,000 in War Savings Stamps symbolized both patriotism and perseverance, proving that civic leadership transcends circumstance.
Legacy of the Colored Schools
The success of the Colored Schools’ War Savings campaigns reflected not only participation but leadership. These schools became centers of organization, where teachers taught lessons in thrift, sacrifice, and citizenship. Students learned that buying stamps and supporting soldiers was a duty tied to freedom itself — a theme that resonated deeply within communities only a generation removed from enslavement.
Through their fundraising success, Newton County’s Black schools demonstrated that civic pride and educational advancement were inseparable. The same organizational spirit that fueled their wartime success would later sustain postwar community improvements, from literacy drives to land ownership initiatives.
Interpreting the Past
The 1918 War Savings Drive in Newton County was heralded as a symbol of unity and patriotic zeal, but it also masked the unequal recognition of those who made it possible. The story of Newton County’s Colored Schools, churches, and leaders like Bob Cole and Charlie Willis reveals a fuller truth — that African Americans were central to the county’s wartime success, even if their names rarely appeared in print.
Their efforts remind us that patriotism is not measured by recognition but by sacrifice. Through faith, hard work, and perseverance, Newton County’s Black citizens proved that they, too, stood “over the top.”
Newton county numbers in 1918
- County Goal: $462,000
- Total Raised: $481,315
- Colored Schools Raised: Over $38,000
- Percentage of Total: 7.9%
- Limit Club Members (Black): Robert “Bob” Cole (Shiloh) and Charlie Willis (Pine Ridge)
sources
- The Newton Record, War Savings Drive in Newton County, Thu, Jul 11, 1918 ·Page 1.
- The Newton Record, Respected Colored Man Passed Away in Newton, Thu, Jun 04, 1931 ·Page 1
- The Newton Record, Bob Cole, Divided Merchandise Among Children, Thu, May 05, 1927 ·Page 5
- The Newton Record, Plans for the Big War Savings Drive, Thu, Jun 13, 1918 ·Page 1