The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1919
Stronghurst Graphic, April 3, 1919
OIL OR GAS NEAR BIGGSVILLE: Prof. W.S. Haldeman, head of the chemistry department of Monmouth College was in Biggsville making a study of the geology of the community. He says that he found several peculiar formations in the cuts and cliffs about Biggsville. The professor is much interested in the oil and natural gas situation in Illinois and has had the opportunity to make wide investigation and study of the oil fields in Kansas and Oklahoma. When told about the wells that had been sunk in the vicinity of Biggsville, he expressed a desire to visit them. In Company with Dr. Douglass and an Atlas man he went to the well that was put down several years ago on Postmistress Whiteman's farm. He said he knew little of the history of the well , but from the large amount of sulphur that is in the water and from the heavy coating of carbon on the inner walls of the pipe as well as from the refuse scattered about, he was inclined to believe that there was either oil, gas or coal in the vicinity. He said that there is no way for accounting for the carbon on the pipes except the presence of the three substances; the carbon is the same as lamp black on a smoked lamp chimney and is caused by poor combustion. Of course, it is impossible to tell whether either of the three elements were there in paying quantities. He said that whoever sunk the well evidently knew something about locating a well as the pocket in which it is located is a very likely one for such. He said that the refuse taken from the well, which is a dull grey color, resembles the strata in which oil is sound in the Southwest.
In a cliff along the railroad the professor discovered a trace of loose strata which is frequently found in oil regions. It is an oily looking section of dirt and gravel that looks as though it had been burned out years ago-Monmouth Atlas
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Clyde Galbraith expects to car his goods to Clifton Hill, Mo. where he will farm this summer. Mr. Jess Smith moved from the Forward place into town in the house vacated by Mr. McCabe. Mr. and Mrs. Gus Jacob and son returned to their home at Oakville, Ia. after visiting relatives and friends here. Miss Margaret Porter returned to Marion, Ill. to resume her school work. Mrs. Dr. Gay of Winfield, Kan. visited her sister, Mrs. W.M. James. A.J.Ditto moved to the Dr. Ditto farm on the bottoms where he will farm this year. Mr. McCabe moved to the Arthur Gray farm. Ray, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Whiteman, who was in France several months with the 3rd anti air craft division, has been honorable discharged and returned home. The Gladstone Dancing Club gave a social dance last Friday evening.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Charles Kirby and Paul Pendry were initiated into the Masonic Loge and Clair Dixon and Dan Siens were initiated into the I.O.O.F. Miss Mabel Breen had charge of the primary room while the teacher, Mrs. Will Lightner was at LaHarpe caring for her mother who is quite ill. Mr. and Mrs. John Annegers boarded a train for their home in Canada. Mr. Warren Persian has returned home safely from overseas. Warren was one of the boys who was in the casualty list and was gassed. Mrs. Mary Siens and family moved to Olena. The election passed off very quietly and the following men were elected: Road Supervisor-G.W.Howell, re-elected; Justice of the peace, Tom Clark and Constable-a tie between Charlie Kirby and William Vaughan. Private Willard Bowman of Burlington, who has just returned from France, is visiting Frank Marsden. Willard was in the hospital for sometime and was slightly gassed. He is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Bowman, who formerly were residents of this place.
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: Orville Boyd and Roy Weir of Biggsville, two recently returned overseas boys, have been employed by A.E.Moore to assist him in taking care of the building contracts he has made for the coming season. Mrs. M.F.T. Schierbaum left for a visit with her daughters, Edna at Champaign and Ethel near Chicago. Mr. L.E.Logan, who has been suffering from an abscess, was taken to Galesburg hospital where an operation was performed for its removal. Mr. and Mrs. Chesley Towler have gone to Rockford, Ill. where Chesley has accepted a position as assistant manager of the Harry Hamill Clothing Co. store at Camp Grant. This company has numerous branches in various parts of the country and does enormous business in the sale of military and civilian clothing.
The citizens of Mendon, Ill. have decided to ignore the time changing order and none of the clocks in the village have been set ahead except the R.R.station and the post office. (Protest against daylight saving time) Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dodds have received word that their son Erman has been stationed with the marine Corps in Texas and that he was about to leave for San Francisco from which point he expected to be sent to Alaska. Mr. and Mrs. W.J. McElhinney have returned from Chicago where he underwent a successful operation at the Augustana Hospital. Walter Keener and family are moving from Stronghurst to a fruit farm in Johnson County, Ill. District Supt. Smith was here for the quarterly conference at the local M.E.Church. He gave a stereoptican lecture on the Centenary movement. Rev. A. Jaggers was called to Fall Creek neighborhood to officiate at the funeral of Mrs. George A. Riley. Mrs. Martha Magie, widow of the late Horton Magie of Terre Haute, Ill., died at the home of her son Albert in Ottumwa, Ia. Her remains were brought to Terre Haute and interred in the cemetery after funeral services held in the M.E.Church.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: The social novelty sale and program given at Lewis Hall was a success both financially and socially. Col. Fred Gray and Lloyd Lefler auctioneered off the pie and other articles on which the bidding was lively, one spool of sewing thread selling as high as $1.26 and some of the pies sold as high as $2.75. The hall was nicely decorated with flowers and the program consisted of talks given by Col Fred M. Gray, C.R. Pendarvis, E.G. Lewis, Mr. Lawyer and Miss Erminda Clark. The neat sum of $74 was realized and the community club added 30 or more members during the evening. Mrs. W.C.Winders and daughter are moving into one of Mr. Pogue's houses. Mrs. William McIntyre, who underwent a serious operation at the Burlington Hospital is reported recovering as rapidly as could be expected.
TOWNSHIP GOES REPUBLICAN: The straight Republican ticket was successful in last Tuesday's election in Stronghurst township. In view of the fact that for many years the vote has been pretty evenly divided between the two parties, the result of this year's election came as somewhat of a surprise. The women of the township manifested but a mild interest there being but 32 ballots cast. Of these, 23 were for Republican candidates for the offices for which women are allowed to vote.
AWAITING "JUICE:" Although the transmission line of the Western Illinois Utilities Co. was completed to Stronghurst several weeks ago, nothing has been done as yet in way of providing for distribution of the energy from the line in order to make it available to Stronghurst citizens...Word received from the officials of the company more than two weeks ago was to the effect that a gang of workmen would soon be here to rewire the village and put in the necessary equipment for furnishing service, but this gang has not showed up as yet. The citizens of LaHarpe are now making use of the current and that service seems to be very satisfactory...
VICTORY GIRLS MAKE GOAL: The box supper given by the Victory Club Girls last Friday night was in every way successful; the amount from boxes was about $75 of which $45 went to complete the $270 pledged by the girls for War Relief Work and the remainder given to the boys athletics. Fred Gray was auctioneer with Flem McMillan as clerk.
***OBITUARY***MRS. A.B.HEAD: Mrs. A.B. Head, formerly of Henderson County and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Perrine, pioneer residents of Raritan Township died at Los Angeles, Calif. On March 18th, aged 61 years. She was married in 1876 to A.B. Head of Sciota, Ill, which place was her home for 15 years. In 1891 she moved with her husband to Raritan where the latter engaged in merchandising for three years. The family then moved to Galesburg which has been their home although much of their time has been spent in California and Florida.
Mrs. Head is survived by her husband; one brother, I.V.D. Perrine of this vicinity; and two sisters, Mrs. Ella Ward of Kansas and Mrs. Addie Tharp of Burlington, Ia. Ora, the daughter and only child born to the couple died several years ago. Mrs. Head's remains were brought back and taken to the I.V.D. Perrine home and from there to Raritan where the funeral was conducted in the Baptist church where the deceased held the membership for several years. Interment was in the Raritan Cemetery.
PRETTY HOME WEDDING: The home of Mr. and Mrs. I.H.Brokaw of this village was the scene on the evening of April 2nd when their daughter, Gertrude Ellen Brokaw became the bride of Mr. Bert Russler of this village. The ceremony was performed by Rev. K.R.Anderson in the east parlor. The bride and groom to be descended the stairway leading to the parlor while a wedding march selected from Lohengren was played by Miss Blanche Russler, a sister of the groom. The couple took their places under a canopy of pink and white sweet peas and roses where the words of holy bonds of wedlock were spoken. The bride's gown was a handsome costume of Georgette crepe and she carried a bouquet of pink roses; the groom wore the customary black.
Following the ceremony a delicious four course supper was served to guests who were the immediate families of the bride and groom, the family of the officiating clergyman and Miss Helen Morse of Galesburg. The wedding presents were numerous and beautiful. Soon after the supper the happy couple entered a waiting automobile and were driven to Gladstone and took a train for Chicago where they will spend a few days.
The bride is a lady of many graces and accomplishments: she is a graduate of Stronghurst High School and has recently taught a number of successful terms of school in this county. She has been active in the Sabbath school and church work of the U.P.congregation of Stronghurst. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.L.Russler and had been called to the service of his country spending six months in training at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He was discharge the latter part of last November. He has of late been employed on the Centerview farm near Raritan owned by Mr. I.H.Brokaw and on this farm the new couple will be at home after May 1st.