The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1919
Stronghurst Graphic, July 31, 1919
SAYS LEAGUE OF NATIONS DEFECTIVE: In the first public discussion of the question which the people of this vicinity have had the opportunity of listening to, Ex-senator Wm. E. Mason, reviewed some of the more important sections of the League of Nations Covenant last Saturday afternoon at the village park and told why, in his estimation, the agreement drawn up and signed at Versailles by the representative of the Allied nations should be rejected in its present form by the United States Senate. Because of his experience in treaty making affairs gained while serving in the Senate and his familiarity with international law gained through study and as a lecturer in law schools of the country, Mr. Mason is well qualified to discuss the League of Nations questions: (This is a long article detailing his arguments.)
I. O. O. F. PICNIC: The attendance at the I. O. O. F. Picnic and homecoming held last Friday and Saturday did not meetexpectations and was considerably below that of previous years. A heat wave of unusual intensity which marked the two days of the picnic no doubt was partly responsible for the comparatively light attendance as the withering heat made physical comfort almost impossible during the hours when the sun was shining.
The evenings were more pleasant and the attendance correspondingly augmented. A few changes and omissions became necessary. The Hon. Wm. E. Mason who was to speak at 3:30 on Saturday afternoon gave his address earlier as he wished to leave on train No. 9 for Chicago. Judge J. W. Gordon's address which was to have been first followed the address of Mr. Mason. Both were well worth listening too and should have been heard by more people. This was especially true of Congressman Mason' address; he came all the way from Washington to deliver it. It seemed, however, that a large percentage of those on the grounds were more interested in the pursuit of fleeting pleasure than the pursuit of knowledge or information. The acrobatic performances given by the "Original Bernards" and the "LaCroix" were good and seemed to be enjoyed by the crowd while the balloon ascension and parachute drop on Friday evening claimed the attention of nearly every one.
There was no balloon ascent on Saturday due to the rather strong wind. The merry-go-round did not seem to have the drawing power with the youngsters that it has had in former years, but at the advanced prices, a fair profit was no doubt reaped by the owners. The slides and swings of the new public playground equipment proved very popular with the little folks and this no doubt served to reduce the merry-go-round receipts. A ring of booths and tents occupied by notion vendors, cane racks, cat racks, doll racks, thimble-rigging games of various kinds, fortune telling and skin game gambling devices of every sort enclosed three sides of the park and did a more or less thriving business while the credulous tendency and curiosity which marks average human nature was taken advantage of with considerable pecuniary profit by the proprietors of a show entertaining the most remarkable "Aggregation of Animal Monstrosities now on American soil. "The crowd of "hangers on," members of the gambling fraternity. and dissolute women was one of the most disreputable bunches that has ever disgraced the village. Music was furnished by the Stronghurst band assisted by musicians from Burlington, Ft. Madison and Monmouth. A dance platform which had been laid in the street at the southwest corner of the park was well patronized each afternoon and evening and was usually surrounded by a crowd of spectators who seemed to enjoy watching the dancers. The intense heat which prevailed during the picnic made the demand for ice cream and cold drinks an exceedingly heavy one and business in this line was brisk both at the refreshment booths and in the village restaurants.
LET THEM OFF EASY: Late Sunday evening, three of the demireps (prostitutes?), who ran a "cat rack" on the picnic grounds Friday and Saturday, were roundedup at the depot with three male companions and placed under arrest on the charge of disorderly conduct. One of the men succeeded in making a get-away while the rest of the bunch were taken to the village lock-up and allowed to swelter while Magistrate Hurd was aroused in order to give them a hearing. On their plea of guilty the quintets was given a fine of $5.00 each and told to "beat it" out of town on No.5, which advice they seemed glad enough to follow.
1894 Graphic: A heavy rain broke the drought which had become very serious in this locality. Hon. Perry Anderson, state senator from this district, died at his home in Alexis on July 27th. The arrival of a pretty little girl at the home of post master W.J. McElhinney on July 27th was announced. John Staley was building a new residence in the west part of the village. Ralph Bingham, the "boy orator" gave an entertainment in the M.E.church on the evening of July 28th; it was reported as being the best thing in its line ever given here.
NEW AUTO FIRM: The handsome new garage building being constructed on the site of the old Sutliff livery barn is to be occupied by the firm of Sutliff & Wallin with their line of Hudson, Dort, Essex and Reo cars and International and Stewart trucks and with complete and up-to-date garage service.. .
***OBITUARY***LILLIE CHRISTINA WILLIAMS: Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Williams mourn the loss of their little daughter Lillie Christina who passed away at their home near Decorra on July 23rd, aged 2 years and 8 months. Besides the parents, four brothers and four sisters are left to mourn the little ones departure. Three brothers preceded her in death. Funeral services were conducted at the home with the remains laid to rest in the Carman Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams wish to state that the report which was circulated, that their loved one was found dead in bed, is false; and that she died with her parents and brothers and sisters surrounding her bed. They also wish to express their appreciation of the kindness of the friends who helped them lay their loved one to rest.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mr. and Mrs. Sing-master and son of Keota, Iowa and Miss Ethel Thompson of Brighton, Iowa visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dutton Miss Jessie Drew of Chicago visited her sister, Mrs. Will Galbraith. The Misses Gladys Freed of Kansas City, Mo., Ruth Forward, Virginia Stanley and Dorothy Stevenson went to Green Bay with Mr. Stevenson in his auto. Quite a goodly number attended the picnic at Stronghurst Saturday (I. O. O. F. Picnic). Chautauqua will commence on Aug.3rd.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Mrs. Ed Kemp and little daughter, Doris, of West Branch, Iowa are visiting her mother, Mrs. Robert Gillis, Sr. Mr. Elmer Cartwright and family and Mr. Marcellus Clover motored to Denmark, Iowa to spend the day with Harry Clover and family. The little child of Mr. and Mrs. Cal Williams who live 4 miles east of here on the Harry Ross farm, died at her home Thursday; the little body was brought here for burial (see obit above).
LOMAX LINGER-INGS: C. E. Effenbeck and wife are spending a few weeks with their daughter, Mrs. Fred Smith at Knoxville. N. H. Vaughn's new residence is well under construction. Considerable threshing is being done, but the grain is not turning out as well as last year. Geo. Shanks has purchased the E. Harvey elevator and will operate it as usual. Wedding bells did ring for James Hedge and Miss Gladys Echardt both of Carman who were married in Quincy. A booster meeting at the church closed the stock sales of the Economy Mfg. Co. of Canton, Mo. The entire block already is subscribed. E. Hartey sold his Lomax house to Elmer Russell.
MEDIA MEANDER-INGS: Charles Pendarvis spent a few days in Urbana in the interest of the Lewis Seed Co. Mrs. Ernest South was taken ill with appendicitis and was taken to the Galesburg hospital for an operation. Quite a number attended the Stronghurst Picnic. Miss Ruth Fitz, a trained nurse from Galesburg, spent the week caring for Mrs. E.E.South.
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: T.A.Nichols and family of Burlington drove over and took part in the I.O.O.F. Picnic. G.W.Worley has decided to quit paying rent of the property in which his drug store is located, having purchased it from the Doty estate heirs. Mrs. Tillotson came down from Moline to visit friends and look after her property interests. She has not fully recovered from a siege of typhoid fever which kept her in a hospital several months and hopes to regain some of her strength during her sojourn here.
She reports the Dr., her husband, as having been confined to the house for several weeks this spring with eye trouble, but says that he is now recovering able to attend to his practice. Mr. Everett Milliken has taken the agency for the Monarch Neverslip Tractor and will give a demonstration of it on his farm east of Stronghurst. Pete Groom, who is connected with the Safety department of the U.P. Railroad with headquarters at Omaha, enjoyed a brief vacation amongst old Stronghurst friends. Bert Moore and family left for Winnipeg, Canada, where Mr. Moore will look after business interests; Mrs. Moore and the children expect to remain there until the first of September visiting old friends.
John Fordyce and family came over from Smithshire for the picnic. John was feeling pretty good over his recent sale of his farm. He purchased the 140 acres near Smithshire something over a year ago at $200 per acre($2594 in today's money) and after getting two good crops from the land at record prices sold the tract to David and John Barry of Raritan at $310 per acre($4020), making a profit of $15,400($199,738) in addition to the crops.
H.O. Whiteman, the noted hog expert of this section, predicts that the price of hogs will go to 30cents before they become any cheaper. Company G, the local I.N.G. of Monmouth, have been called to Chicago to assist in quelling the race riots now in progress there.
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: Parties from Bushnell, Ill have been in town during the past week investigating the prospects for the creation of a Mausoleum in the village cemetery. Mr. C.C. Painter of the southwest neighborhood is suffering from an infected arm, which is causing him considerable pain and uneasiness and requires careful medical attention. Joe Huff and family, who have been living at Rushville, Ill., returned to Stronghurst and are domiciled in the rooms above the Hollingsworth Millinery store. Mr. Huff has accepted employment in the Johnson garage. The weather has been unusually hot and coupled with the drought which prevails has had the effect of damaging the corn crop.
Mr. E.E. Petrie and son, Alexander, of Aledo were in town in the interest of the candidacy of for delegate to the state constitution convention which meets next January. Alexander Petrie, who was but 17 years of age at the time of his enlistment, became a member of the 139th Infantry in August 1918. This regiment was sent to Archangel, Russia, where they spent several months at the front with the temperature most of the time in the neighborhood of 50 degrees below zero.
Prof. Abels will act as platform manager and superintendent of the Stronghurst Chautauqua. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and has had seven years experience in Chautauqua work. Miss Neida Reher of St.Louis, Mo. will have full charge of the Junior work. She is a graduate of the Physical Department of Northwestern University and will be the instructor of Physical Education at Christian College, Columbia, Mo.this school year.
FORDSON TRACTORS: I have taken the agency for the Fordson Tractor and will have a car load in this week. We only have three left unsold in this car. If you need a Fordson and plow better, get your order in at once-Jas. Sutliff