The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1920
Stronghurst Graphic, July 8, 1920
ROCKET THROUGH BANK WINDOW: Last Saturday morning the office force of the State Bank of Stronghurst was surprised and startled by the crash of a broken window, a loud detonation inside the room and a shower of shootings balls of colored fire mingled with flying particles of glass. Thoughts of a bomb attack by bank bandits flashed through the minds of the officials and employees, who were at work in the room where the explosion occurred.
No desperate looking strangers, however, showed up and an investigation into the cause of the crash and explosion led to the discovery of the empty cylindrical case of a sky rocket on the floor. Further investigation revealed the fact that two small boys had been indulging in a premature celebration of the Fourth in the street in front of the post office, just across the street from the bank and that a rocket which one boy held under his arm had been touched off by the other boy and that the large plate glass window of the bank was directly in the line of flight of the missile as determined by the direction in which it was pointed. Some idea of the velocity and force of the projectile may be gained from the fact that a hole about 6 inches in diameter was made in the heavy glass, which is fully five-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, and that pieces of this glass were thrown clear through into the rear room of the bank a distance of 30 feet or more. The rocket failed to explode until it had passed through the window, which accounts for the pyrotechnic display inside the bank.
By a miracle, no one was in direct line with the flight of the rocket or of the large flying particles of glass. Manly Staley, one of the assistant bookkeepers was, however, slightly cut about the head with small particles of glass and C. R. Kaiser, the cashier, sustained a bruise on the leg from some flying fragment. The projectile passed over the typewriter which stood on a table directly in front on the window and had anyone been engaged in using it, they could scarcely have escaped serious injury. While financial loss involved in the smashing of the large plate glass window will be considerable, the outcome of the accident may be regarded as very fortunate under the circumstances.
CIVIL WAR VETERAN CALLED: Franklin Westfall, who moved here from Fort Madison several months ago, died at his home in the west part of the village on July 3rd after an illness of several weeks from heart trouble. Mr. Westfall was 78th years, having been born in Des Moines County, Iowa Feb. 4, 1843. On Feb. 4, 1864, his 21st birthday, he enrolled in the 118th Reg. Ill. Volunteer Infantry and he served his country faithfully as a soldier until he was honorably discharged on Oct. 1, 1865.
On April 23, 1866 he married Miss Emma Howell of Carman and the couple spent their married life in Henderson County with the exception of eight recent years in Ft. Madison. Three children were born to the couple, all of whom died in infancy. The only surviving relatives of the deceased in addition to his aged companion are two sisters, Mrs. Marietta Trimmer and Mrs. Catherine Hudson, both of this place.
Funeral services were conducted at the home. Following the ceremony the remains which were enclosed in a flag draped casket were taken to the Carman Cemetery for interment. Those from a distance attending were Mr. and Mrs. Harley Hard of Keokuk, Ia, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Burns and Mrs. Albert Heidbreder of Ft. Madison; Mrs. John Dowell and daughter and Mrs. Gertrude Dowell of Carman and Mrs. Ella Burrell and Mrs. Joe Kemp of Hopper.
WRECK ON T.P.&W.: T.P.&W. passenger train and a special on the P.&P.U. road loaded with miners from the Brewster and Evans mine south of Peoria met in a head-on collision at North Bartonville last Saturday evening. Engineer Kindall of the mine special was killed when he attempted to jump from his engine and some twenty or more of the passengers on the T.P.&W. train were more or less badly injured. Mrs. Flora Maddock of Blandinsville was one of those who were injured, suffering some bad bruises and nervous shock. She was taken to the Peoria hospital.
ANNUAL CLUB PICNIC: The South Country Club held their annual picnic Saturday afternoon at Adair's Ford near Media. The husbands and families of the members were the guests and fishing was one of the principal sources of pleasure. A picnic supper with the usual feast of good things was served and very much enjoyed by all Although the quantity of fish caught by the party may not have been sufficient for a full repast, the deficit was made up by other viands equally appetizing.
AN INVITING SPOT: It is well worth one's time to visit "Nooka" which name has been applied to the grounds which have been laid out at the rear of the residence of Attorney and Mrs. W. C. Ivins of this place, (Today located 2nd house on west side of 3rd block of South Division) Here may be found beautiful arbors, very enticing during the warm midsummer afternoons by their inviting coolness, one of these arbors being fitted up as a place where a quiet nap may be enjoyed. A bird bath, near which is a bird house just now occupied by a family of Martins, is one of the features of the grounds. A fish pond is also being designed within an enclosure of flowering shrubs.
There is also an arrangement of a succession of hardy flowers, beginning with early flowering bulbs and violets, followed by poppy, fox glove, hydrangea and others of the old fashioned garden flowers. A visit to "Nooka" suggests the thought, "Why not more such places as part of the surroundings of the homes of our people?" The labor involved is more than compensated by the enjoyment to be derived.
GO TO GIRLS STATE FAIR SCHOOL: Through the efforts of the county and local Household Science chairmen, Henderson County will have four representatives at the Girls' State Fair School at Springfield in August. The young ladies who will attend the school from this county are Miss Martha Davis of Stronghurst with Miss Ruth McMillan as alternate; Miss Maxine Lovitt of Terre Haute with Miss Alma Gustafson as alternate; Miss Viola McClinton of Gladstone and Miss Martha Whiteman of Biggsville.
START AN AUTOMOBILE TOUR: County Farm Advisor J. Howard Miner and family and Clyde Garner started on an auto tour which will take them through the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to Niagara Falls. Returning they will pass through Canada into Michigan where Mr. Miner will look after farming interest which he has there. The party is equipped with a complete camping outfit and expects to spend most of the four week outing in the open.
W.C.T.U..MEETS: The local Temperance Union met at the club room. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the attendance was not as good as usual. An account of the National Union meeting at London was given. An article was read on the absence of John Barleycorn at the Republican National convention and on the lessening of crime since the passing of the bone dry law. Another article written by a missionary giving the deplorable news of the great amount of liquor being shipped out of the U.S. to foreign countries was read. The letter from the Foundlings home at Rockford, Illinois asked for contribution of money or other gifts. It was decided to plan to send some canned goods some time at the end of the canning season. Mrs. Ellen Finch was placed at the head of the movement with Mrs. John Staley and Mrs. Ralph Butler as helpers.
THEATRE PARTY: Mrs. Lawrence Lynch entertained a company of 16 young women at a theatre part at the Lyric theatre. At the close of the picture show the party was served refreshments consisting of ices, cold drinks, salted nuts, wafers and mints at Worley's parlors. Here the party were seated at small tables in the center of which were bowls of sweet peas, small sprays of the same flower being used as favors. The color scheme was carried out throughout the luncheon.
GARDEN CONTEST: The committee in charge of the U. S. Garden Army Contest between the children in this community has finished their work of inspections of the gardens. Good arrangement and evidence of careful tending were shown in most cases and the judges found deciding where to place the awards difficult. The judges were Miss Marguerite Wheeling, Mrs. C. M. Harter, and Mrs. W. C. Ivins. Ruth Wasson was awarded first place and Howard and Edith Sutliff second. Third place was declared a tie between Hugh Yaley and Gladys and Agnes Mudd. The committee arranged for a display of garden products in August at which time prizes will be awarded for the six best beets, potatoes and carrots and also for the best collection of vegetables.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Oscar Hamburg has sold his interest in the Curtis & Hamburg Taxi and Auto Truck Service Company to his partner, W.V. Curtis. Nat Bruen is in Saskatchewan, Canada looking after interests. Miss Ruth McMillan is suffering from a badly crushed finger having caught it in an auto door. Miss Mabel Simpson, who has been in the government employ at Washington, D.C. returned to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Simpson. The Economy Manufacturing Co. of Lomax has been awarded the contract to furnish the U.S War Dept with 50,000 brooms.
While enroute to Burlington the auto in which Richard Frye and family were riding was wrecked just east of Stronghurst by another car which came up behind and attempted to pass it. One of the front wheels of the Frye car was broken down and considerable other damage indicated. Fortunately, no one was injured. Oliver Pitts of West Virginia spent several days visiting his brother Samuel Pitts. Sterling F. Simpson, Sr. of Macomb came over to Stronghurst to pick up his son, Sterling F., Jr. so he might spend the Fourth with his family. Mr. and Mrs. David Blanchard of Washington, D.C. visited the home of the lady's parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. V. Brokaw, southeast of town.
Miss Marta Brokaw, the other daughter, who has been engaged in governmental work at Washington for the past few years, is also home. Work on the foundation for Stronghurst' new hotel which Messrs. Vaughn and Dickinson are to build on the site of and to the rear of the Morgan building on the west side of Broadway was begun. The farm Bureau office which occupied the north half of the Morgan building has been moved into temporary quarters over the First National Bank.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mrs. Will Graham and sons, Loren and Howard, went to Ely, Ia to remain over the 4th of July with her son Farrell and family. Al Fuerat and son Bud of Keokuk, Ia.. visited relatives and were guests at the Greeny Jacob home. The stork made a call at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Elvine and left them a fine baby girl weighing 7 lbs. Mrs. Elvine is the little French bride who came over to her soldier husband last July. C. A. Hedges had a fine new porch nearly finished on his residence. Nearly everyone from here visited Burlington during the regatta and 4th of July celebration. Ralph Miller of Gladstone was the first one to come over from Burlington in an airplane. He dropped a package off for D. S. Bryan and after circling the village several times returned to Burlington.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: Mrs. Jessie Clark and family are visiting relatives at Barry, Mo. Roger Vaughn is spending his summer vacation with home folks. Aunt Rebekah McKim is visiting friends in town having returned from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jane Haigh of Nebraska. Everett Sherwood left for Morgantown, W. Va. where he has a position. Stuart Hoover, who has been overseas in the U.S. army, is spending a few days with his brother, Geo. Hoover and family. Mrs. Nancy Gaun, wife of R. R. Gaun, age 54 years, passed away at her home after but a few minutes illness of heart trouble. She had been in good health and her death was a severe shock to the family. The funeral was conducted at the residence and burial was in the Shaw Cemetery.