Spirit of the American Doughboy

One of the unmistakable landmarks in Bolivar, Missouri is the statue of a World War I soldier on the courthouse lawn. Named “The Spirit Of The American Doughboy,” the statue was designed by Ernest Moore Viquesney. Dedicated on November 11, 1925, it honors Polk County men who served in the war.

 

 

E.M. Viquesney was born in 1876, and was a veteran of the Spanish-American war. He began a careful study of American soldiers beginning in 1918. Veterans posed for him after the war and he studied many photographs before finishing the project in 1920 while living in Americus, Georgia. Viquesney designed his statue to represent America’s commitment to the preservation of freedom. With the raised right arm, some researchers have suggested the pose is inspired by the Statue of Liberty.

Plans for the dedication ceremony were organized by the Howard S. Keeling American Legion Post. A native of Bolivar, Private Keeling served in the 18th Infantry, 1st Division. He was killed in action on October 9, 1918. A parade featuring many Bolivar organizations formed at the high school. At 11:00 A.M. residents began ringing bells and whistles to mark the moment the armistice took effect eight years earlier. The noise makers blared for eleven minutes before the half mile long parade began its march to the square. Led by the Bolivar Boys’ Band, the procession included both Civil War and World War I veterans. The veterans were followed by Boy Scouts and a captured German howitzer and two machine guns. Children from the rural schools and Bolivar also joined the parade. An entry from the American Red Cross featured first graders and kindergartners carrying a patient in a cart.

A band concert opened the afternoon portion of the festivities. Of course the featured event was the unveiling of the statue. Miss Ruth Keeling, sister of Private Keeling did the honors. Congressman Sam C. Major presented the statue on behalf of the local court. It was accepted by Keeling Post Commander Roy. F. Beaman. In summing up the day’s events, the local newspaper declared “it was easily one of Bolivar’s greatest days.”

There are three “Spirit of the American Doughboy” statues in Missouri. The other two are in Sedalia and Lexington. The Bolivar statue is one of 35 standing on courthouse lawns today. It is also one of only four to be inscribed “Copyright Walter Rylander 1920.” Rylander was one of the veterans who posed for Viquesney in his uniform.

Sources:

The Bolivar (Mo.) Herald, November 12, 1925.

Missouri Digital Heritage Soldiers' Records: Howard S. Keeling. 

Goldsmith, Earl and Kopel, Les. 2010. The E. M. Viquesney "Spirit of the American Doughboy" Database.