The WWI draft registrations included a question where it asks the registrant if they claimed an exemption.  Exemptions came in three flavors:

1. Dependency – It’s amazing how many of these people had dependent parents.  Of course, wife and children were also dependents.  One registrar wrote a note saying “Registrant is employed by his father.  Father not dependant on him.”  Another wrote, “I don’t believe his mother is dependent as he does not know where she is.”

2.  Essential Occupations – These were normally occupations that included some type of military or government service.  One man worked for the Secret Service and claimed his exemption based on that.

3.  Religious Scruples – In WWI this included only Amish, Quaker and Church of the Brethren.  I have seen none of this in the Native registrations.

There is humor to be found everyplace.  One man wrote in the exemption field “married and poor.”  That could be any of us I think, especially when first married.