The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1918
Stronghurst Graphic, Dec. 7, 1918
LETTER FROM GEORGE PEASLEY: "I have moved from Pauillac and have been on the road for so long have not had much chance to write. Soon after we were stationed here I was sick for a week and a half. I had a bad cold but am feeling fine now...The weather here at Berzeta has just been fine, days sun shiny, nights cool and no rain. Have seen several caravans of camels and the regular desert tents. We are around where the Arabs live and have had a chance to learn more about the race than I ever expected.
Have been to Tunis and spent a few hours of liberty seeing many sights. Visited the site of Carthage which I had studied about in ancient history. The customs of the Arabs are a curiosity as much so to us as we are to them. If we stop on the street to talk, in less than a minute we will be surrounded by Arabs. Visited a castle which was occupied by rulers of hundreds of years ago. The curious streets where everything is sold from little shelves has a roof over it so in the summer it will no be so hot.
While at Carthage we met an American Consul who showed us about the city. He was from Portland and could speak the Arabic language...Spent several hours in Marseille which is next to Paris in size. The streets are narrow and run every direction and angle so its very easy to get lost. We were an hour finding our way back to camp one night. Speaking of rats, I never saw the like; they ran wild in the streets, over our feet and every place else. Came across on the Mediterranean, a French liner, but you can tell the world it did not compare with the comforts of our U.S.steamer.
I expect to leave here in a few days....George K. Peasley, U.S.Naval Air Station, Pauillac, France.
ARMISTICE CELEBRATION: Notwithstanding unfavorable weather and the bad roads, there was a sufficiently large crowd present at the peace celebration held in the Lyric theatre to comfortable fill the edifice. No attempt had been made to carry out an elaborate program and the principle features were the singing of the National and patriotic songs by the audience under the leadership of W.C.Ivins, staging by the "Victory Girls" and the address of Congressman W.J. Graham. While the occasion lacked the wild hilarity and exuberance of joy which marked the impromptu celebration on the day following the signing of the armistice, it was none the less a fitting observance of the event and a manifestation of sane patriotism. (This article contains the points made by the Congressman in his address; if interested, read the microfilm at the Henderson County Public Library in Biggsville.)
CHRISTMAS HOURS: To give their customers an opportunity to do their Christmas shopping , the following merchants have decided to keep their stores open each evening from Monday, Dec. 9th until after Dec. 24th. Thereafter hours will return to the usual custom of closing at 6 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of each week: Towler & Grandy (dry goods), A. E. Jones (groceries), N.F.Hollingsworth, George T. Chant(harness shop), H.D.Lovitt(grocery store), Ben L. Mudd (cash grocery), W.G.Regan(furniture store), Wax & McKeown(grocery store), and B.L. Tucker.
MANAGER TAKES A NEW JOB: James M. Anderson, who has been charge of the Farmers Grain and Mdse. Co's business here for the past year has tendered his resignation to take effect the first of January 1918. The position has been offered to and accepted by Mr. D.R.Warren who has been engaged in the grain business at Swan Creek, Ill. For many years. Mr. Anderson, whose management of the business has been successful and satisfactory, will return to Chicago where he has accepted a very lucrative position with the J. Rosenbaum Grain Co., said to be the largest concern of its kind in the world with elevators in a number of foreign countries as well as the United States.
ALIVE: The happiest family in this locality on Thanksgiving Day was that of E.L. Logan and the entire city and vicinity around Dallas City. The Logan family received a long letter from Virgil Logan, who is in France and all right; although officially reported by the Government as "Missing in Action Oct.7th." The suspense and uncertainty of his fate since then had been awful for both the family and friends and the relief of knowing he is all right in correspondingly great.
SHOT HIMSELF: Lester Clark, the C.B.&Q. Agent at Lomax, shot himself through the head with a revolver Sunday evening, Nov.24th at his home in Lomax. The deed is believed to have been the result of despondency resulting from ill health. He was taken to a Burlington hospital where one of his eyes was removed and the latest reports indicate that he will recover. It was thought at first that the sight of both eyes had been destroyed but happily this did not prove to be the case.
***OBITUARY***RODNEY GOVE: Rodney Gove, one of Henderson County's oldest citizens and a resident and business man of Hopper's Mills when it was one of the thriving towns of this section of the state, died at his home in Raritan Nov27th at the age of 80 years. He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Catherine J. Cook of Hopper, and by the following children: Mrs. Nellie Dalton of Smithshire; Mrs. Laura Marston of Blandinsville; Charles, Benjamin and Frank Gove and Mrs. Abbie Pendarvis, all of Keosauqua, Iowa.
***OBITUARY***MRS. CARL FISK: Mrs. Carl Fisk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Cortleyou of Abingdon, Ill. and former residents of Raritan neighborhood died at her home in Sheridan, Wyo. recently. Her remains were brought back to Abingdon for burial and the funeral was held there last week, the same week in which the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Cortleyou's younger daughter occurred.
***OBITUARY***ERNEST BAGWELL KILLED: Friends here received word that Ernest Bagwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.D.Bagwell, formerly of this place was killed in action in France on Sept. 24th. Ernest will be remembered by many as a little fellow of 8 or 10 years when his parents moved from here to Kansas City several years ago.
HOME KILLED MEAT: I have my new shop fitted up and am now prepared to supply you with choice home killed meats of all kinds. Drop in and see what I can do for you in the way of quality, service and price-Floyd Clark.
1893 GRAPHIC: On Dec. 4th the training stables of Nat Bruen, located just east of the Burlington fair grounds, burned to the ground and 14 head of fine trotting bred stock, ranging from stallions (worth $3,000 a piece) to young sucking colts were burned to death. Jeff Kirby was elected assistant cashier of the Stronghurst State Bank in place of Elmer Taylor who resigned. A foot of snow fell on Dec. 2nd and good sleighing was enjoyed. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hamilton had returned to Stronghurst after a year spent at Chandlerville, Ill. Mail facilities at Stronghurst had improved to such an extent that there were five daily distributions of mail. The death of Grandma Pollock occurred at Tinsdale, Kansas on Nov.24th. The ladies of the M.E.church and the Junior League held a fair and served dinner on Thanksgiving day and gave a free entertainment at the opera house in the evening.
Mrs. Alice Moore, widow of James Moore, who was killed in the same railroad crossing accident in which Joseph Dixson lost his life, had just been presented by the Santa Fe Co. with a check for $500 although no claim had been made for damage against the company. H.D.Voorhees, a venerable and respected citizen of Raritan, committed suicide by hanging himself in his barn on the morning of Nov. 30th, Thanksgiving Day.
HOME TALENT PLAY: The Women's Community Club is arranging to present the Oriental-American Fantastique, "Katcha Koo" at the Lyric Theater on Friday and Saturday evenings, Dec.13th and 14th. This play will be given by home talent and will no doubt afford two evenings of rare entertainment.
****OBITUARY***MRS. MARY E.MORSE: Mrs. Mary E. Morse, mother of R.E. Morse of Stronghurst, died at Missoula, Mont. on Nov.26th. The remains were sent to Galesburg near which city the deceased lived for many years and interred in the Robins Cemetery. (This is a long obit from the Galesburg paper.)
CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. Alonzo Groff, who was kicked by a mule a few days ago at the Kipper home, is getting along as well as could be expected. Mrs. Eliza Brown was called to Burlington by the illness of her son-in-law, Mr. Gludey who is a patient at the hospital with pneumonia. Mrs. Frank Wisbey received the sad news that her brother had died at his home in Kansas with the flu. Willard Crose left for Blythe, California. Mrs. James Good is the latest victim of the flu. Among those confined to their homes with the flu are the A.C.Babcook family, Robt. Gillis and family and Louis Bagles and Fred Clover family.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: W.Q.Crane and wife are spending the week in Chicago. Mrs. Harry Pence and Everett Crane have LaGrippe. Nearly all the corn is gathered in the community; the crop was very favorable. Clarence Burkitt arrived home from Alabama where he had been working at his trade. The community was saddened by the death of Walter Worley, second youngest son of Elizabeth Worley and were deeply moved to learn that on Sunday evening Elsie of the same household was called home, influenza being the cause followed by pneumonia.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Horace Babcook has bought the house he now lives in of Mrs. Morris of Nebraska for a consideration of $300. Mr. Fred Pence who has had the flu now has pneumonia and is somewhat better. Mrs. Charles Hedges, Miss Hazel Ellison and James Sandy are reported as having the flu. Ula Milligan and Samuel Galbraith, youngest son of Clyde Galbraith are ill at their homes. Will Weir of Oak Grove Fruit Farm has returned from Los Angeles, California. He visited many former Henderson County residents: George Matthews, formerly of Gladstone Township is quite wealthy dealing in real estate; Nort Francis formerly of Oquawka is living on a large pension from the National Cash Register Co.; Doc Montgomery is an employee at the Willington shipyard; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bruen are well and prosperous; Dandy McFarland is Supt. of a department in a Broadway Department Store at a good salary; and Oscar Williams is well and happy as ever.
SOLD FARM: During the past week, J.W.Stine closed a deal by which he disposed of his farm of 270 acres 5 miles south of Stronghurst in Section 19, Township 8-4 to Calvin Thompson of Raritan neighborhood. The price paid for 150 acres of the farm was $39,000 while the remaining 120 acres brought $25,800. This land is of the richest black soil variety to be found in Henderson County.
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: M.E.Beardsley and wife visited friends in Chicago. Mr. James Galbraith of Emerson, Iowa and Mrs. John Bell of Henderson, Iowa, have returned home after a visit with their sisters in the east part of town, Miss Jennie Galbraith and Mrs. Clair White. Bertie Russler, who was one of the 9,000 boys mustered out of military service at Camp Gordon, Ga. arrived home. He held the rank of sergeant at the time of his discharge and was in training in the officers school at camp. The influenza epidemic at LaHarpe has come near to disrupting the newspaper business in that town. Ed Martin of the Times, Harry Bradshaw of the Quill, and Ed Warren of the LaHarper all have the flu at the same time. A number of Blanche Beardsley's friends were entertained at her home celebrating her seventh birthday. James P. Milliken has three young Galloway bulls and three Galloway heifers on exhibition at the International Livestock Show in Chicago.
Sad tidings of the death from pneumonia in France on Oct.11th of Harry Voorhees, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Voorhees of Raritan have been received by his parents. All restrictions on the purchases of sugar have been removed by the Food Administration; but it is expected that consumers will still practice conservation and economy in their use of this important article of diet. Mrs. Nellie Ferguson left for her home in California and was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Harriet Curry who expected to stop at Wellington, Kans., where she will spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. Lois Cortleyou.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: Mrs. Ward and daughter Hester visited the John Wever home. Miss Mary Cashan of Peoria visited at the William Kane home west of town. Thanksgiving services were held in the basement of the U.P.Church Thanksgiving evening and was well attended. Mrs. Olin Palmer and grandfather had quite a runaway. Her grandfather was taking her to her school and the horse became frightened at something, throwing them both out and badly crippling her grandfather. Mrs. Blanche Clayton of the south country started to school in town; she will stay at the Campbell Hotel and go to school. Some farmers are busy shucking corn. Harry Winders is home from camp in Georgia. The "Wever Fire" branch of the Victory Girls will hold a pie social at the Media Academy Friday evening.
FRENCH MOTHER'S GRATITUDE: Forty ladies of Media and community have united in support of two French war Orphans, Bertha and Rene Rose. A letter written by the mother in French. (Edited version follows)..."I pray you to receive the thankfulness of my dear children who will not forget you in their little prayers at night and Sunday, burn candles for your good purpose. Here is my little family: Mrs. Cecile Rose, Bertha-10 years, Robert-3 years, and Rene-6 months. The youngest, Rene, by a curvature of the vertebral column is a hunchback. It makes for him a little comfortable nourishment because he is very delicate. I give him in the evening a new laid egg or a little strengthening syrup before the meal. The other two are in very good health...Mrs. Cecil Rose, Nancy, France.
Media Township had a quota of three French war Orphans. Only two above mentioned are being supported. For the payment of ten cents a day for one year persons, groups, individuals, or school may adopt a child. This small amount, $36.50, is enough to clothe a child or in case of illness or sudden necessity to provide comforts otherwise not to be had.