The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, Feb. 2, 1921
GONE UP IN SMOKE: A shack on the Santa Fe right- of-way a few rods east of the depot and occupied by a Mexican family by the name of Delago was burned up shortly afternoon together with most of the contents including $200 in currency which had been placed in a trunk in a corner of the room. Delago's wife and young son and another Mexican woman were the only people about the place when the fire broke out. They succeeded in dragging one trunk out of the shack and then ran to the depot and gave the alarm.
The fire bell brought the fireman quickly to the scene, but the nearest fire hydrant was the one on the corner north of the lumberyard and by the time a lead of hose could be coupled and laid, the fire had gained such headway that the firemen were directed by the railroad men to confine their efforts to a saving the adjacent shacks. While thus engaged, they were told of the trunk in the corner of the room, containing the money. A stream of water was then turned into this room and in a few minutes the flames had been subdued sufficiently to allow Delago, who had arrived on the scene, to enter the building and drag the trunk out. The contents, however, were a smoking ruin and no vestige of the money remained.
The two women on giving the alarm had tried to explain that there was a considerable sum of money in the shack, but owing to their hysterical condition were unable to make themselves understood. They were also unable to give an intelligent explanation of the origin of the fire. The Delago woman was in a delicate condition and in looking after her welfare and seeing that she was taken to the house occupied by section foreman Walker, the husband was unable to give his attention to saving his money and property.
As practically all of the clothes, bedding, furniture and other belongings of the family were destroyed or ruined by the fire and water, the plight of the family is a sad one and the case in one which would seem to call for some more substantial form of sympathy than words.
STARRY VAULT WAS WEDDING ARCH: Ernest Boyd and Miss Ethel Myers, two young people of Biggsville, were united in marriage Jan. 27th under conditions which were certainly unique and probably without parallel in the annals of such events in these parts. The groom had procured the marriage license from the Warren County clerk and the young couple presented themselves before Rev. D. K. Sailor at his home in Biggsville to have the knot tied. The clergyman told them that Biggsville being in Henderson County the ceremony could not be legally performed there.
The problem presented was happily solved, however, by the pressing into service of a chauffeur who took the prospective bride and groom and the minister in his auto out on the Kirkwood road to a point over the county line into Warren County where the matrimonial vows were taken in the open road beneath the starlit vault of the heavens.
While surroundings of the wedding were somewhat unusual, the future married life of the young people will probably flow along more smoothly than that of some couples who plight their troth in fine cathedrals and with all the details of the ceremony arranged with a scrupulous regard for conventionalities.
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES: Glenn A. Tucker, a former Roseville boy and now a resident of San Diego, Calif., has been appointed private secretary for Congressman Phil D. Swing of California.
The Blandinsville village council has levied a tax of $1500 to help pay for oiling the streets of the village. The McDonough County Farm Bureau has purchased 35 bushels of Mongol Soy beans which will be sold at cost to the farmers of the county for planting in the spring.
John Murphy, Attorney General for the territory of Alaska, recently visited his brother, Mark Murphy of Monmouth. The citizens of Seaton are preparing to vote on the purchase of a four acre tract of land to be used as a recreation ground for the youth of the village.
Two young lady students of Monmouth College are facing suspension on the charge of smoking cigarettes in the college dormitory.
While suffering from the effects of a nervous breakdown which occurred recently, Mrs. Tom Mapes of the Audrain neighborhood in Hancock County committed suicide by drowning herself in a water tank on the farm occupied by the family.
The patrons of Nauvoo post office have petitioned the post office department for better mail service and for some arrangement whereby mail can be brought from Keokuk when river conditions make it impossible to have it brought over from Montrose, Iowa by ferry.
The button factory in Oquawka which had been closed down for the last two months resumed operations this morning. The starting up of the industry is an occasion for rejoicing not only by the employees but also on the part of the community in general. State surveyors are said to be at work on the hill just south of Biggsville laying out the route for a piece of new road which will form a part of the state bond issue road from Monmouth to Burlington.
1896 GRAPHIC: The organization of the Henderson County Telephone Co. was completed when the following directors were elected: A. Mot???, M. Loomis, J.F. Mains, W. T. Weir, J. W. Gordon, C. R. Gittings, H.F. McAlister, J. O. Anderson and E.B. Campbell.
The edition of the Graphic was issued from the new 25x50 brick building which the publisher, J. F. Mains had just built and equipped with a new outfit of up to date machinery, including a large Potter cylinder printing press, weighing 4 tons and said to be the first power printing press ever brought into Henderson County.
The marriage of Ralph Field of Raritan and Miss Mildred Zenor of Williamsfield, Ill. was announced. Members of the M.W.A. from Stronghurst and Smithshire assisted in the organization of a camp at Media.
From 6-8 inches of snow fell on Jan. 2nd but with a temperature above the freezing point soon turned to slush.
The newly organized Stronghurst brass band held a social and supper in the opera house in the evening of Jan. 30th.
WHAT DID HE SEE? Mr. Arctomya Monax, who has been confined to his home for the past two months or more, was out taking the air. The day was fine and spring-like and Mr. Monax was enjoying the warm sunshine immensely when looking over his shoulder he saw an evil looking aberation closely following him as though intent on doing him bodily injury. The sight so startled the gentleman that he beat a hasty retreat for home and we have been advised by those who claim to know something about the effect of sudden fright upon the nervous system of individuals of Mr. Monax's type that it will probably be six weeks or more before he will be able to be out again.
MOONSHINE FOR SALE: Sheriff McDill found a moonshine whiskey plant on the farm of a Negro living 5 miles northwest of Gladstone Last Friday morning. There were 5 separate stills in the plant, each having a capacity of several gallons. The stills were made of large milk cans fitted with copper coils and were hidden beneath the floor of the building.
Several barrels of mash were also found hidden in a pile of saw dust on the place and in another place was found about gallon hooch. The owner of the outfit is still at large and is supposed to have gotten a tip of sheriff raiding this place while he was in Burlington trying to dispose of some of the product of his illicit plant.
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: Mrs. Ira Peterson is reported to be very ill at her home west of the village with inflammatory rheumatism. On account of the condition of roads and weather there was no preaching neither service nor Sabbath school on Sabbath day.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross Lant and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Marshall were over from near West Burlington to attend the funeral of Conley Browning on Feb. 1st; they report the roads in very bad condition. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fisher welcomed a young daughter into their home and have christened her, Alice. (Many young girls were assigned this name due to the popularity of Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt.)
Miss Nellie Lant has been quite a sufferer with appendicitis, but is better now. Clinton Burrell and wife expect to begin housekeeping in the drainage district in the employ of Mr. Will Stewart. Calvin Lant and wife are storing their household goods as they are expecting to take a trip to Lincoln, Nebr. Mr. and Mrs. Swearinger of the north neighborhood have moved to Keithsburg, Illinois.
OBITUARY - CONLEY BROWNING: Conley Gilmer Browning, son of Joseph and Ruth Browning, was born near Walthill, Nebr. Feb. 29, 1912 and passed away at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lant, Jan. 20, 1921, aged 8 years, 11 months and one day. After the death of his father five years ago, he came with the family to Illinois to reside with his grandparents with whom he spent the remainder of his childhood. He was a bright, obedient lad whose sunny disposition won him many friends and he was a general favorite with his playmates; he will be missed in the school and in the home. During his illness of three weeks, he was a patient sufferer and all that loving hands could do was done to alleviate his suffering, but a 7 o'clock Sabbath morning he fell asleep in the arms of the good Shepherd who said, "Suffer the Children and forbid them not to come unto Me, for such is the Kingdom of heaven." Conley was a member of the Olena M.E.Sunday school and attended regularly. He leaves to mourn his mother, two brothers, Joseph and Stuart, and one sister, Jessie Virginia, his grandparents and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held in the Olena M. E. Church. Music was furnished by singers from the United Presbyterian Church of Stronghurst with Mrs. Upton at the organ. The pall bears, who were his schoolmates, were Evert Kane, Alfred Shellinburger, Loren Pearson and Clarence Richey, Jr.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. Humphrey is very sick with hiccoughs and under Dr. Marshall's care. A. C. Babcook was called to Chicago by the death of his sister, Mrs. Nan Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Johnson have been staying at the Finch home helping to care for her father, Wm. Finch. Geoge Goff is in Nebraska making arrangements to move there in the spring.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: Miss Boyd Porter will leave for Clarence, Mo. for an extended stay with relatives. Jess Baker started for Hot Springs, Ark., for treatment. Fred McKim, having sold his farm to H. M. Gittings, will hold a public sale; he and his family expect to move to Lomax in the future.
Merlin Kimball, R.F.D. carrier, has been off his route for the past 10 days on his annual vacation. Sub J. P. Bradley had charge of the route.
Chas. Persinger of near Fort Madison loaded a car of wheat for shipment to the Chicago market.
The tax books for the township are at the bank, Fred Rehling having charge of them; taxes are reported considerable higher. Two carloads of Franklin County coal arrived here last week.
NOTICE: Having sold my farm, I will sell at public auction on the J. H. Ross farm 4 miles west and _ mile north of Stronghurst and 2 _ miles north of Decorra, Ill. on Feb. 16th 19 head of horses and mules, 31 head of cattle, 20 head of brood Sows bread to farrow as well as farm implements. Terms: Sums of less than $10($118.90 in today's values), cash in hand; on sums of $10 or over a credit of 3,6, or 9 months will be given on approved notes bearing 7% interest from the date.-Harry Ross
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: James K. Spence, former Supt. of the Stronghurst schools, has accepted the position of cashier of the Harmony State Bank of Denver, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bowen of Terre Haute visited their daughter, Mrs. Geo. Shafer and family. J. H. Miner and F. M. Bane gave a lecture on farm topics illustrated with stereopticon views at the Belmont school house.
Coal is reported to be selling at Lomax at 7.00 per ton; the quality is not stated, but it surely could hardly be of a much lower grade than what has been selling in this territory recently for from $8-10.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: The new county farm advisor, F. M. Bane with his wife and daughter are temporarily domiciled in the Worthington residence in the village; they are arranging to make their home on their farm southeast of town for a few months. The rooms over Jones grocery are being remodeled and fitted up for the use of the local Modern Woodmen of America as a lodge and club room. They have been using the I.O.O.F. hall for a number of years but have decided to move into their own quarters. Dr. J. H. Highfield returned from Chicago after having had his hands examined by a skin specialist there. This specialist told the doctor that he was suffering from a case of Novocain poisoning resulting from the handling of that drug which is now used quite extensively in the dental profession; it is expected that a cure will soon be affected and the doctor hopes to be able to resume his dental practice soon.
F. M. Bane spent the weekend with relatives at Prairie City, Ill. Chas. Henry Evans, son of Hugh B. and Polly Ann Evans, old time residents of the Terre Haute neighborhood, died at his home near Cherryvale, Kans. Jan. 27th; he was a nephew of Mrs. L. B. Jenkins of Terre Haute. Mrs. Minnie Peterson, who went to Garden City, Kans. to help care for her father, has decided to return to Illinois and make her home in Galesburg. The improved condition of her father's health makes this move possible. J. H. Miner disposed of his residence on South Broadway to Mr. R. A. McKeown. Mrs. Erlin Lant and daughter returned to Illinois for a visit with her mother, Mrs. Helen Burrell. Erlin is looking over the prospects in the oil fields of the south. Mrs. Lant reports that the farmers of southern Missouri are much discouraged over the price of cotton, which is not bringing enough at present to pay the expense of picking.
(A list of criminal cases for the county court is on page 5 of this edition.)
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: Mr. Grier Mathers is adding to the looks of his home by the addition of a new porch on the west. The revival meetings being held at the United Presbyterian Church were discontinued on account of the illness of Mrs. Kyle. The community club has rented the old office building of the E G. Lewis Seed Co. and is fitting it up for a club room. The box social at the township high school last Friday was a big success both socially and financially, the sum of $76 being realized. The first part of the evening was devoted to a free entertainment given by the girls of the high school under the direction of Miss Shrenck. A part of the proceeds will be given to the Literary Digest feeing fund and rest will be used about the high school in some way.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Galbraith and family have moved back from Clifton Hill, Mo.; their goods came in two cars and they will move into their own house very soon. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kemp are rejoicing over a fine baby boy born to them last week. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green have moved to Burlington where he is employed in a barber shop. The stork called at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Sandy leaving them a fine baby boy. Misses Hazel Ellison, Grace Rodman and Raymond Allen have all been on the sick list with tonsillitis.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: The evangelistic meeting being held at the U.P. church is quite well attended in spite of the bad roads. Mrs. Ivabelle Stewart has entered a number of exhibits in the Iowa Produce Show to be held in Burlington. Thomas Stewart had corn entered in the same show. Miss Mary Millen has been confined to her bed with bronchial pneumonia but is recovering slowly. Ernest Boyd and Blanche Meyers were married last week and are making their home for the present with the bride's parents. Clyde Douglas, Collins Douglas, Alfred Worth, and Thomas Stewart attended the opening at the plow factory in Monmouth. Miss Martha Whiteman left for Santa Barbara, California where she will join her mother and sister who left earlier in the month. Clyde Campbell, who has been seriously sick in the Burlington hospital for several weeks, is very low with no hope for his recovery. Mrs. Lawrence Griffith, who was operated on for appendicitis, is recovering nicely. The Biggsville Cemetery Society will hold an exchange- all at the picture show room. In the late afternoon a lunch will be served free and a program will be given free to those attending.