The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, April 20, 2014
CONVENTION HERE: The 13th Annual meeting of the 14th Dist. of Federation of Woman's Clubs of Illinois will be held in Stronghurst April 26th and 27th. The day meeting will be held in the Christian Church and the evening ones at the United Presbyterian Church. Men as well as women are invited to attend the evening session. Roy O. Wyland of Chicago will give an address on "America and Her Future..."
***OBITUARY***EMILY HIXENBAUGH COOKSEY: Emily, daughter of Henry and Dellia Hixenbaugh, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, Jan. 20, 1829, died at Stronghurst, Ill., April 13, 1922 at the advanced age of 93 years, 2 months and 23 days. She was married to William Cooksey on Nov. 2, 1848, who preceded her in death Feb. 17, 1876. To this union 8 children were born: Mrs. Sydney A. DeBolt, Silver City, Ia.; Mrs. Sarah E. Bradley, Galesburg; Mrs. Clara O. Clarks and Jennie E. Wright, both of Stronghurst survive while the following four are dead: Francis M., Wm.H., Jas. S. and Mrs. Emma Turnquist. Five generations belong to this family. There are 48 grand children, 32 great-grand children and 3 great great grand children.
Mrs. Cooksey came with her husband and family from Ohio 62 years ago and settled on a farm near Terre Haute. She has resided in Stronghurst for over 30 years. Early in her life she was converted and united with the Baptist Church at Terre Haute.
About three years ago she was injured from a fall which confined her to her bed. During the past three weeks she sank rapidly and peacefully passed away on last Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services were held at the M.E. Church with the remains laid to rest in the Terre Haute Cemetery.
OBITUARY****C. Virginia Stewart; C. Virginia Steward,; wife of David Stewart, passed away after a lingering illness of a year at the Wm. Ogden home in this city, aged 40 years, 10 months and 8 days. Funeral services were held at Old Bedford Church with burial in the Blandinsville Cemetery.
THEY WENT TO COURT: YALEY VS McKEOWN: A law suit held in Judge Hurd's court was a case that involved an exchange of live stock and the ownership of the property. The plaintiff, A. C. Yaley, claiming the exchange was conditional upon the test of the tubercular condition of a certain cow, the defendant, Glen McKeown, denying and claiming an unconditional trade. Defendant denied right of plaintiffs wife to testify. Judge Hurd ruled she had that right. Preponderance Court decided in favor of plaintiff as of evidence in favor of plaintiff, follows. Yaley to have hog and pay $6 of cost; McKeown to have hog now and pigs and pay balance of costs, about $7. Bond filed and appeal taken to next term of Circuit Court. No lawyer employed by either side. The main witness of the case was Dr. W. R. Salter, he having tested the cow and found her to be tubercular.
DECLAMATORY CONTEST: The girls' declamatory contest was held at the U.P. Church with a good attendance. The speakers acquitted themselves in fine style. The winning selection was "Lilac Time," a dramatic representation of the departure of Phillip, a British soldier from his beloved French maiden, Jeannie, and his return to her and to the bliss accompanying the "lilac time" of youth. "A Little Dusky Hero" was the title of the selection winning second place; this was a pathetic story of a "disobedient black boy" whose aspirations were to become a hero, which he fully attained when he saved his wounded "Kuhnel," at the same time losing his own life. Dorothea McMillan will represent the Stronghurst High School with "Lilac Time" in the Military Tract meet at Elmwood and at the bi-County at Stronghurst. Frances Worley will represent us in the county meet with "A Little Dusky Hero" at Stronghurst. "The Sign of the Cross" given by Agnes Findley received 3rd place.
A 1922 VIEW OF FLORIDA: Since leaving Stronghurst last October, we have traveled over 5,000 miles, have been in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Have seen a great deal of the country under various conditions but of course saw very little like Illinois.
Florida has a wonderful climate and some very productive land where diversified crops are raised; however, they specialize in celery, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. although they raise some good grain crops and some very fine, pure bred stock.
It is beyond me how any one financially able (which I am not) can think of living in these frigid zones when they could be enjoying the warm sunshine, the ocean breeze and above all, bathing privileges (Florida boasts of some of the finest bathing beaches in the world; it would certainly take a fine one to excel the Daytona, Florida beach-it is simply wonderful.) We traveled over all kinds of roads, hills and mountains and got along fairly well until we struck our own greatest state in the union. Here we stuck in the mud, being compelled to leave our car 100 miles east of Peoria and come home by rail. It is a pity to see so many states with so much worthier roads and Illinois with so few good roads outside of the Chicago district (sounds familiar today).
It is strange how so many people pass judgment on towns by street conditions so often one drives for miles on smooth roads, well cared for until you reach the corporate limits of a town and then strike streets full of holes, rough and apparently uncared for by anyone and a tourist is inclined to size up the whole town on a par with the streets. Of course, this will not apply to Stronghurst streets, I am speaking of towns down in Georgia and Tennessee-A. S. McElhinney.
RARITAN REPORTS: Hazel Smith has been suffering from an ulcerated tooth; it was extracted but found an abscess which is causing her considerable trouble. The ladies of the community are rehearsing a small play to be given later. Gerald McDonald lost his gold watch on his way to Sabbath school. For several days last week the town was entirely out of kerosene. The oil wagon came the latter part of the week and brought a much needed supply. Bertha Rosen?, who was taken ill with pneumonia several weeks ago at the home of Maurice Torrance near Good Hope, does not seem to improve as rapidly as expected. John Gould took the election returns to Oquawka. Mrs. Smithwick, who was called here by the serious illness and death of her mother, Mrs. Catherine Barry, departed Sunday for her home in Wood River, Nebr. A birthday party in honor of Ruby Hurkett was celebrated in the John Hunt home. The pupils of the public school will give a play entitled "Tommy's Wife," a three act comedy at the opera house. Mrs. Dean Cortleyou was the winner of the 26 piece silverware which was given away at the John E. Callow store. Glenn Ray, who suffers from rheumatism, was able to be up town. Mrs. Amos Cavin returned from the hospital. John Callow and Lloyd Thrush delivered 540 dozen of eggs to Stronghurst.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: Fred Cox, who has been seriously sick with pneumonia, is slowly improving. Mrs. Vern Hopkins visited her parents, Rev. Carpenter and wife of Henry, Ill. Mrs. C. Bowlyou continues to do quite poorly; a trained nurse from Burlington is caring for her.
OUT OF A JOB: Robert N. Clarke, Illinois director-elect of the U. S. Grain Growers, Inc. was relieved of the duties of Illinois state Organizer through action taken by the executive committee of the association due to a misunderstanding arising out of the recent annual convention. It was understood that Mr. Clarke did not wish to continue with the development of the association in his state unless the board would make certain concessions. Officers of the U. S. Grain Growers, Inc. stated that they regarded the stipulated concessions as detrimental to the best interests of the association. (Clarke was originally from Stronghurst.)
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Mrs. W. C. Black and son have improved so much that they were able to discharge their nurse, Mrs. M. Payton of Olena. Three car loads of hogs were shipped to the Chicago market from the local yards. Curry and Ross shipped one, Hartquist Bros. one and the Farmers' Cooperative Shipping Association a car load. Mrs. Josie Kline McCoy of Oklahoma City arrived for an extensive visit at the Ed Stine home. Mrs. McCoy is the sister of the late Mrs. Ed Pera Stine and daughter of Thomas Kline. Mr. W. H. White is suffering from neuritis and consulted a specialist. The Blair Beverage Company at Burlington was fined $750 in federal court for violating the Volstead law (they were making hooch.) J. G. Farley of the promoting firm Mathews, Farley and Mathews of Wichita, Kansas, has leased the Newt Vaughan residence on the corner of Mary and Dixson Street. Charles Kaiser, cashier of the State Bank, on acting on the advice of his physician, entered the St. Mary's Hospital at Galesburg. Mr. Kaiser has been in poor health the last few months and it was decided that what he needed was a month of complete rest and freedom from all business cares. Mrs. John Salter can accommodate a few more persons desiring first class table board by the meal or week.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: Communion services were observed at the U.P. Church Sabbath morning. Special music was furnished by the choir and several pots of beautiful spring flowers reminded all of the glad Easter tide. In the afternoon the children of the M.E. church gave a delightful Easter program. Carl Leftwice is riding a brand new bike. Chas. Pogue shipped a fine bunch of hogs. Mrs. John Suydam is no better and a trained nurse, Mrs. Margaret Gosham of Ellison is caring for her. The entire stock of hardware, groceries and men's furnishings of the James A. Callow & Co. is being disposed of at public auction and large crowds are in attendance each evening. Messrs. Gray & Gregory are the auctioneers. The Callow family will locate elsewhere but as of yet are undecided. Mrs. Barnard White, primary teacher of the public school, took her pupils to the woods for a flower hunt. Medames Chas. Pogue, Thomas Wilson and Mrs. Powell have been confined to their homes as victims of grippe.
WEDDING BELLS:Media- Miss Edythe Sutton and Mr. Raymond Lefler surprised their many friends by announcing their marriage at Keokuk, Iowa on April 6th. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Sutton and was a member of the Junior Class of the high school. She was active in church and social circles, especially along musical lines. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jno. Lefler of Hamilton, Ill. and is a young man of excellent character and sterling worth. During the World War he served his country in the Navy. For several years he was a trusted and much valued helper of the E. G. Lewis Seed Co., resigning about a year ago to take a position as checking clerk with a large packing house in Evansville, Indiana, which he still holds.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: The tree planting arranged by the Community Club in honor of the service men of this township was held last Friday afternoon at the high school instead of on the campus. Mr. Claude Erwin, who has been ill the past two days, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Chauncey Whiteman. In connection with Easter Services at the M. E. Church 24 persons were received into membership. Mrs. Roy Cochran and children have been quite ill with the flu and whooping cough. David Landrith of Gladstone moved his blacksmith shop from the D. S. Bryan building into the building of S.E. Duncan on Main Street north of the Runyon garage.