Stronghurst Graphic

The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

The 1920 Graphic

Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1920

Stronghurst Graphic, April 15, 1920

THEY WIN THE PRIZE: While the housing problem in this and other villages and cities of the country is one which is causing more or less trouble to the human species and especially to the transient and migratory element, the members of the feathered songster tribe which each summer come to make their abode in Stronghurst and help make life a little brighter and happier for its people, should this year experience no difficulty in finding convenient, comfortable and even luxurious places of abode where the troubles incident to bird house keeping will be reduced to a minimum.

The bird house building contest between pupils of the grade schools in the community, which originated with Mr. W. C. Regan and which closed last Friday, resulted in the construction of a large number of houses, many of them unique in design and showing evidence of considerable mechanical and constructive ability. The entries were all taken to the school here on Friday and a display made in the central hall on the first floor. The exhibit was viewed by a large number of people and many compliments were passed and much surprise expressed at the extent and variety of the same.

The scene presented was that of a toy village composed of houses of great variety of architectural design, many of them being nicely painted and otherwise ornamented.

The exhibit which won first prize was a large two story 12 room affair of the standard bird house type and was constructed by Lynn Beardsley, a lad whose two years of manual training in city schools proved of decided advantage in this contest.

Second prize was given to Vincent Upton whose entry was a small, but well designed and well constructed wren or blue bird house made to be suspended from a tree or other support. George Calvin took 3rd prize with a rustic house of the old log cabin design with roof extending down over a front porch. Sherman Gregory was awarded 4th place for his unique bungalow design, which gave evidence of considerable originality and painstaking effort. Fifth place was given to Fred Kershaw, whose entry was a small, but substantially constructed house of the cottage type.

In addition to the stimulus given to the inventive and constructive genius of the children, the result of the contest will no doubt be the arousing of a greater interest on the part in the life and habits of our bird friends and also in their protection.

BIRD DAY PROGRAM: In connection with the judging of the exhibits in the bird house building contest at the school house, the pupils of Miss Harbison's and Miss Hartquist's rooms entertained the visitors with a program of music, recitations and essays as follows:

Victrola-Bird Record; Poem, "Merry Brown Thrush"-5th grade; Song, "The Cat Bird"-1st primary; Reading, "Robin's Return"-Irene Kershaw; "Trouble in the Tree-tops"-Eileen Jones; Song,"The Jolly Old Crow"-2nd Primary; Letter-Ruth Wassom; Poem, "The Oriole"-2nd Grade; "Let the Birdies be"-Eloise McMillan; Recitation, "Address of the Birds"-five girls; Recitation-Fern Coleman; Recitation-Faye McMillan. At the close of the entertainment the pupils honored Mr. Regan, the originator of the bird house building contest by giving him their best class yell.

***OBITUARY***MRS. WINIFRED FULLER: Mrs. Winifred Fuller, daughter of Samuel Homes of Biggsville passed away at her home in Galesburg on April 8th at the age of 42 years. She leaves to mourn her departure her husband, W. E. Fuller, 3 daughters and her father. Her mother preceded her in death several years ago. The funeral took place at Biggsville on April 10th.

***SAMUEL MATHERS*** Samuel Mathers was born May 2, 1836 in Washington County, Pa., and died at Weiser, Idaho, April 1, 1920, being 83 years and 11 months old. At the age of 11 he moved with his parents to Illinois and located near the present site of Stronghurst. He was converted as a young man and lived a consistent Christian life. He was a man of exceptional physical vigor and his whole character partook of his rugged nature. During the "fifties" and early "sixties" he was a pioneer on the Kansas frontier and during the time of the border warfare was engaged in freighting and other pursuits connected with life in a new country. Later he moved farther westward and for a while followed the occupation of mining in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

He returned to Stronghurst, Ill., area about 1863 and in 1865 was married to Miss Catherine A. Gibson. This union was blessed with six children: five boys and one girl of whom four sons remain: E. S. Mathers of Media, Ill.; S. G. Mathers of Media, Ill.; D. G. Mathers of Kimball, Nebr.; and John R. Mathers of Zillah, Washington.

On March 14, 1879 his wife, Catherine, was called home and on Oct. 22, 1880 he married Miss S. Bice. To this union was born one son who died in infancy.

During the 11 years of his residence in Weiser he made many warm friends who will always feel that they have been blessed to the acquaintance of this prince of Israel. Funeral services were conducted there and the body, accompanied by the sons, D.S. and John, a daughter-in-law and grandchild reached Media were short services were held in the home of D. S. Mathers with interment in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

1895 GRAPHIC: William Marshall, an old Henderson County resident, passed away in Stronghurst on April 13th at the age of 66 years. Luther Duncan, a young man of 22 years who had been an employee in the Graphic office for 3 years, died on April 14th. The marriage of Albert Graves and Miss Mable Crenshaw occurred at Old Bedford church on April 14th. The question of a Township high school for Biggsville was decided in favor of the proposition by a majority of 36 votes in a bitterly contested election.

A local farmer was advertising choice seed potatoes at fifty cents per bushel. A. E. Jones and H. F. Turner had just entered into partnership for conducting a grocer and boot and shoe business. The State Capitol building at Springfield was damaged by fire to the extent of $25,000 on April 13th. The village of Roseville voted in saloons by a majority of three votes. Oquawka voted dry by a majority of 33 and Monmouth decided to re-open her thirst parlors by a majority of 165.

The scene presented was that of a toy village composed of houses of great variety of architectural design, many of them being nicely painted and otherwise ornamented.

Sherman Gregory was awarded 4th place for his unique bungalow design, which gave evidence of considerable originality and painstaking effort. Fifth place was given to Fred Kershaw, whose entry was a small, but substantially constructed house of the cottage type.

He was converted as a young man and lived a consistent Christian life. He was a man of exceptional physical vigor and his whole character partook of his rugged nature. During the "fifties" and early "sixties" he was a pioneer on the Kansas frontier and during the time of the border warfare was engaged in freighting and other pursuits connected with life in a new country. Later he moved farther westward and for a while followed the occupation of mining in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

On March 14, 1879 his wife, Catherine, was called home and on Oct. 22, 1880 he married Miss S. Bice. To this union was born one son who died in infancy.

1895 GRAPHIC: William Marshall, an old Henderson County resident, passed away in Stronghurst on April 13th at the age of 66 years. Luther Duncan, a young man of 22 years who had been an employee in the Graphic office for 3 years, died on April 14th. The marriage of Albert Graves and Miss Mable Crenshaw occurred at Old Bedford church on April 14th.

The question of a Township high school for Biggsville was decided in favor of the proposition by a majority of 36 votes in a bitterly contested election. A local farmer was advertising choice seed potatoes at fifty cents per bushel. A. E. Jones and H. F. Turner had just entered into partnership for conducting a grocer and boot and shoe business.

The State Capitol building at Springfield was damaged by fire to the extent of $25,000 on April 13th. The village of Roseville voted in saloons by a majority of three votes. Oquawka voted dry by a majority of 33 and Monmouth decided to re-open her thirst parlors by a majority of 165.

LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Among the Easter day decorations at the M. E. Church was a beautiful Easter lily sent by Mrs. Cleo Bond and daughter Bettie of Galesburg in memory of the late Dr. Bond. (He died of the flu after treating patients.) Miss Minnie Wood has been having a serious time since returning from the hospital where she had her tonsils removed. She has had gatherings in both sides of her head. Her mother, Mrs. Ida Wood, was also sick. Son Vern came home from Richland, Ia. to help care for them. Miss Mary Morgan is leaving to join her brother, G. R. Morgan and wife, who are sojourning in health resorts in Colorado where Robert is seeking relief from a malady which it was hoped climatic conditions there might check. At the present time he is able to be about part of the time and he is having his auto shipped to him so that he may have the benefit of traveling in it. Prof. W. M. Spruit is leaving the principalship of the Media High School to accept a position as Athletic Director in a large high school in Nebraska at a decided increase in salary.

WILL UNDERGO AN OPERATION: Rev. K. R. Anderson accompanied by his wife, left for Omaha, Nebr., where he will under go an operation for an intestinal ulcer. The seriousness of the operation will depend upon the exact location and extent of the area involved. During his absence, which will be some 4-5 weeks, the U.P. Pulpit will be supplied by Rev. Dr. Barnes.

AT THELYRIC: The Earl G. Gordinier Co. will play a week's engagement at the Lyric Theater beginning April. 26th. This Company is so well known in Stronghurst that it is not necessary to say anything about them. Most of the group will be the same except that they will have a new leading lady, Miss Helen Shipman. She has been with some of the best stock companies in the U.S. and is the best the Gordiniers ever had. Gene Lane is still with the show and will have some fine comedy parts and some new comedy specialties. Otis Gordinier and wife have a good line of parts and the best specialties they ever had. If you enjoy a good, clean show, be sure and go.

MEDIA MEANDER-INGS: The Women's Community Club is planning to have an apron sale at the home of Mrs. Dan Campbell. Relatives received word of the death of George Pendarvis at his home in Parson, Kansas. The funeral of Mrs. Mary E. Bice, who died last Monday afternoon after a lingering illness, is being held at the home south of town with burial in the Olena Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cromwell moved to the old Kane place south of town. Mrs. P. VanAlstine moved into the house they recently purchased of Bessie Pendarvis. Mr. Perry Heaps is the possessor of a fine new Hudson Super-Six.

GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Stanley shipped their household goods to Burlington to the fine home they had purchased. Mr. and Mrs. E. Wilburn of Fort Worth, Texas are visiting at the home of Mrs. Wilburn's mother, Mrs. Laura Asbury. G. H. Campbell of Oquawka gave a talk at the M. E. Church Sabbath morning on the new church movement. Miss Grace Rodman has been confine to her home with the mumps. Ely Westlake just returned from a six months stay at Atchinson, Kansas with a daughter. He thinks the town one of the greatest in the sunflower state, a town where many factories are running. Will Allen had the misfortune to get his leg badly cut with a buzz saw while sawing wood at F. H. Walter's. Clyde Brouse took him to Oquawka in his auto and Dr. Eads & Riley dressed the wound. Chalmer Graham and Howard Sandy are in training at Camp Grant, Ill. for the U.S. army. Mrs. Figg of Chicago is visiting her sister-in-law, Mrs. Hal Thomas and family.

CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Moreland, Miss Lena Dixon and Mr. More-land, Sr. and daughter Ruth departed to their home near Dolliver, Ia. Mrs. Norton Parks, who is quite sick, was taken to the Burlington Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Graham entertained their son and wife from S.Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Clarence DeHague and the Misses Mary and Tressa Graham of Weaver, Ia. Harry Coffman got quite badly hurt by a horse but is improving rapidly.

SELLING OUT TO RETIRE: Mr. C. S. Cooper, Raritan's harness maker, has decided to close out his stock of goods and retire from active business life. Mr. Cooper is amongst the last of the pioneer business men of Raritan, having been engaged in the harness trade there for 45 years with the exception of one year spent in Stronghurst and one year in Kansas City. He is also one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil War. In order to be near their daughter, Mrs. Lulu McIntire, Mr. and Mrs. Cooper will make their future home in Kansas City, Mo.

MEDIA MEAN-DERINGS: The Women's Community Club is planning to have an apron sale at the home of Mrs. Dan Campbell. Relatives received word of the death of George Pendarvis at his home in Parson, Kansas. The funeral of Mrs. Mary E. Bice, who died last Monday afternoon after a lingering illness, is being held at the home south of town with burial in the Olena Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cromwell moved to the old Kane place south of town. Mrs. P. VanAlstine moved into the house they recently purchased of Bessie Pendarvis. Mr. Perry Heaps is the possessor of a fine new Hudson Super-Six.

CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Moreland, Miss Lena Dixon and Mr. Moreland, Sr. and daughter Ruth departed to their home near Dolliver, Ia. Mrs. Norton Parks, who is quite sick, was taken to the Burlington Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Graham entertained their son and wife from S. Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Clarence DeHague and the Misses Mary and Tressa Graham of Weaver, Ia. Harry Coffman got quite badly hurt by a horse but is improving rapidly.