The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, August 10, 1922
IMPROVING BROADWAY: the Union Construction Co. of Burlington have started work on the cement culvert to be built on the west side of Broadway from Grandey's corner to the A.T. & S.F. right of way. A culvert and cement sidewalk is being built on the east side of Broadway from Yoakam's corner to the Farmers' Co-operative Store. All the trees are being cut down along the street. These old landmarks must give way for modern improvements that gradually are taking the place of the old.
SELL SOME OIL STOCK: G.E. Pope, Pope Bros., operating as a partnership in West Virginia and owning about 9,000 acres of land at Stronghurst, Henderson County, Ill. which are regarded as good oil prospects, was here closing up a deal with Frank P. Welch, president of the Illinois Oil Co. who has purchased some of the acreage.
Officials of the company state that six wells are now being drilled on the property of which the Standard Oil of Indiana has two and has purchased about 1,500 acres. The Pur Oil Co. of Columbus, Ohio, which General Charles Dawes has a controlling interest, has bought 2,000 acres, and the Imperial Oil Co. of Pittsburg, 1,000.
The bulk of the acreage is to be held by Pope Brothers, but they are disposing of a portion to buyers.-Rock Island Argus.
***OBITUARY***McWILLIAMS: Chas. Herbert Mc Williams was born in Ellison, Ill. (This town was wiped out by a tornado in the 1858; people moved to the present day Smithshire.) on Oct. 11, 1836 and died in Chicago at the home of his sister, Mrs. Belle Ralston on Aug. 3, 1922.
Mr. McWilliams was the son of John T. McWilliams and spent his young manhood near Ponemiah and Larchland (areas in Warren County), going to the Dakotas in the early settlement of the Northwest; for a number of years he had lived near Sheridan, Wyo. where he had acquired a large ranch.
Early last winter he became afflicted with the dread disease, cancer, and although he consulted with and was treated by the best that science has, he gradually grew worse.
In April he went to the home of his sister in Chicago to have the advantage of the best scientific knowledge of cancer, but it did no benefit and he passed away last Thursday evening.
He leaves to mourn his death, Arch McWilliams of Monmouth, Jay McWilliams of Biggsville and three sisters: Mrs. Belle Ralston and Miss Marian McWilliams of Chicago and Mrs. George Barnett of Stronghurst besides a number of relatives and friends.
The remains arrived in Stronghurst on No.5 last Friday evening and was taken to the George Barnett home from which the funeral was held on Saturday afternoon. Interment was in the family plot at Old Ellison.
NOT WHITE'S CAR: "Stronghurst people are trying to connect the theft of R. E. White's Hudson sedan with an incident which occurred in that place early last Tuesday morning when a Hudson sedan was seen on the streets there and got gas by breaking the lock on the pump at a filling station. However, the Hudson seen in Stronghurst was equipped with white wire wheels. Mr. White's car had wooden wheels, at least while it was in his possession."-Monmouth Review
FOR SALE-CHEAP: One slightly used Allen Electric Washing machine costing when new $152.75. (Original price in today's values=$2,068.24; One half would be $1,034.12-not many would have such cash on hand.) is in fine working order and if purchased soon can be had for nearly half price. The original purchaser was unable to pay out and waves all rights and claims to property. Call at my house and look the machine over and be convinced that this is a rare bargain.-W. H. White, Justice of the Peace (The law had many duties!)
BASEBALL GAME-STRONGHURST 7; LA HARPE 5: In Sunday's game at La Harpe the locals easily defeated the Laharpers by the score of 7 to 5. Stronghurst had a shaky inning in the 8th when La Harpe scored 3 runs on error but tightened up sufficiently to hold them scoreless in the closing round. Huppert furnished one of the thrills of the game in the 4th when he hit to the ninth corn row from a home run with two men on and Emerson another for the last out of the game when he went back on second on a seemingly sure hit and "Houdinied" the ball out of the air. . .
CHAUTAUGQUA, A HIT: (When movies were new and before TV, the Chautauqua brought culture to rural areas.) Stronghurst's 1922
Chautauqua is now in full swing. The seating capacity of the tent has been taxed practically every evening of the assembly and in anticipation of a still larger attendance tonight when the great comedy success, "Friendly Enemies," is to be presented by a New York cast, the management is arranging to enlarge the seating facilities. This is the first year that the Redpath Bureau has conducted a five night single program Chautauqua circuit, and it appears that they did not feel justified in using as large tents and as large a general equipment as they use on some of their other circuits until the success of the "Evening Star" course, as this particular circuit has been named, had been assured.
The superintendent, Mr. Davis, frankly admits that he has been surprised at the large attendance here and says that larger tents and seating equipment will undoubtedly be provided next season.
The talent which has appeared here thus far has all been of the high standard which the Redpath people have the reputation of maintaining in their selection of entertainers, and it can be safely asserted that when the Chautauqua closes Friday night, the season ticket holders will have received more in the way of wholesome and mental, moral and spiritual uplift than they have ever before received through the expenditure of one dollar and a half.
Monday night's attractions were the Dixie Duo and Granville Jones. The Duo composed of Miss Estelle Van Horne and Miss Anne Braner, delighted the audience with their Negro melodies and other songs peculiar to the southland while Miss Van Horne's impersonation of a Negro preacher delivering a sermon made a decided hit with her listeners. The subject of Mr. Jones' lecture was "The Philosophy of the Hillbillie." The speaker was born and reared in the Ozark mountain region of Arkansas, which he avers is the habitat of the true "hillbillie" type of American citizens. The philosophy of the "hillbillie" is a simple one and its essential features are belief and faith in God and the government and loyalty to Kith and Kin.
On Tuesday night the Zedler Symphonic Quartet gave a musical treat. While there was nothing of the "Jazz" or so called popular music included in their repertoire, even the least educated ear could not fail to catch something of the appeal of higher and nobler instincts of life contained in the compositions of the masters in music.
On Wednesday evening Mr. Frank Dixon, the well known lecturer on governmental and social problems dealt with "The Indispensable Tools of Democracy." ...He believes that while the principles embodied in the preamble and first ten amendments of our federal constitution are fundamental and sufficient for all governmental purposes, the machinery provided for making these work is out of date and wholly inadequate because the government at times almost ceases to function. (If interested in more details, read the microfilm at the Henderson County Library.)
PERSONAL TRAGEDY: A telegram to George E. Pope from St. Michaels, Md., was received yesterday bearing the sad tidings that his wife, his wife's mother and his youngest son had been killed in an automobile accident, and that his daughter and two other sons were seriously injured. (Mr. Pope was part of the company exploring for oil in Henderson County.) Mr. Pope was away on a business trip at the time of the accident, but his brother, E. E. Pope, succeeded in locating him at Fort Wayne, Ind. last night just as he was boarding a Pennsylvania train in his way back to Chicago and thence here.
On receiving the sad news he immediately left for Parkersburg, Va. where the victims of the sad tragedy were taken and where the interment will take place. No further particulars of the accident had been received. St. Michael is located on Chesapeake Bay and is about a two hour ride from Baltimore. Mr. Pope has the sympathy of the entire community in his bereavement.
PAID HIS FINE: Some years ago a football game was played between La Harpe and Blandinsville teams and Blandinsville won. A good bit on money changed hands and La Harpe sports were dejected.
On the La Harpe team one of the best players was Jim Campbell. He had at one time lived in Blandinsville and as an alibi some of the La Harpe boosters started a report that he had laid down on them and not done his best to win the game. It was not true. He played fairly and the insinuation that he had been tampered with was a reflection on Blandinsville as well as an injustice to Campbell. Last week while he was sitting in La Harpe came by a fellow named Bundy who stimulated perhaps by something more than just to be disagreeable, twitted Campbell again with having thrown the long lost game. Campbell rose up slowly and hit him once. It was enough. It took him half an hour to regain consciousness and realize that he was still on earth and had made a mistake. Campbell was arrested and fined $8 and costs. The Blandinsville boys when they heard it felt that he had resented an insult to them as well as to himself and they promptly made up a purse of $10.50 and sent it to him as an expression of their approval. The incident is closed.-Blandinsville Star Gazette
WEDDING BELLS: FAGAN-LINK: Last Wednesday evening at the home of the Christian minister in Monmouth occurred the marriage of Miss Mildred Fagan of Biggsville and Clifford Link of Monmouth at eight o'clock. They were accompanied only by the brother of the bride who with the minister's family were the only witnesses. The bride was gowned in a white canton crepe and carried a bouquet of flowers. Immediately after the ceremony, the couple went to their home at First Avenue and Seventh Street which had already been furnished and ready for occupancy. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fagan of Biggsville and has for the past three years been primary teacher in the public school. Mr. Link's home has been at La Harpe but was principal of the public school three years ago. Since that time he has held a position in the National bank at Monmouth.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Mrs. Vance of Clinton, Ill. is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Daisy Babcook. Mrs. J.Y. Whiteman and daughter, Miss Martha, returned from a trip to Minneapolis and spent the weekend at the home of relatives in Chicago. The Staley family held a picnic at Crapo Park in Burlington. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Foster and family of Monmouth, Mrs. Adam Sloan and children, Mr. and Mrs. Will Sanderson and son and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Gibb and children. Miss Jessie Claybaugh who has been on the sick list is again on duty at the central office(she was the telephone operator). A party of people from here drove to Burlington and joined the excursion from there to Keokuk. The party consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. McMillan and daughters, Lois, Margaret and Maxine; Lucile Bigger, Lucile Zimmerman, Lois Fuller, Vern Cook, John Bigger, Mae Whiteman, Paul Fuller and Claude Erin.
WEATHER REPORT: Although we have had a few warm days, July 1922 has been the coolest in 40 years according to F.M. Myers, official weather observer at Ft. Madison. There were only seven days during the month which were over 90 degrees compared with July 1885 when for 16 days the temperature averaged 96 degrees and .25 of an inch of rain fell.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: There is a possibility that Hedding College may not re-open this year owing to financial difficulties. The Maple Grove Church will serve a roast pork dinner on Friday and fried chicken on Saturday at the park. Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Hurd (Cotton) came down from Galesburg to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Hurd last Saturday. On Sunday he took them on a ten mile drive on the river and bluff roads north of Burlington and returning partook of a picnic lunch in the beautiful Crapo Park, the most beautiful spot on earth. Mr. W. V. Curtis moved Mrs. Thyseen's milliner furnishings to Canton, Mo. Miss Agnes Kirby has resumed her duties in Mr. G. W. Worley's store after a week's vacation. Tuesday night was a typical fall evening. The temperature was 55 degrees; pretty cool for August. Dallas City will vote soon on a proposition to put in a complete sewer system. All indications are that it will carry by a large majority. Joe Peasley left for Canada where he expects to purchase some cattle for feeders and ship them back here. The drought in Canada has made the feeding of the range cattle a serious proposition and they are being sold out at a figure so low that they can be shipped back here and fed out at a profit.
RARITAN REPORTS: The play, "All a Mistake," which was given by local talent in the opera house Tuesday evening was well rendered and well attended. The gross receipts were $52 which goes for the benefit of the library. A 12 lb. boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Schenck on Aug. 2, 1922. The Dorcas Society of the Reformed Church met at the church all day Thursday. Cora Mabey was operated upon in the Macomb Hospital. An auction sale of army blankets was held on the street Thursday evening. James Spiker and family of Bushnell, Arthur Grate and family of the Bedford neighborhood, Paul VanArsdale and family of Point Pleasant Township, Mrs. Carrie Hallbert and daughter Vera of Pella, Iowa, C. E. Perrine and family and L. V. D. Perine of this place, all enjoyed a day's outing at Spoon River.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mr. and Mrs. John Cunningham of Sandwich, Ill. visited the home of their daughter, Mrs. Edgar Gray. Quite a delegation attended the Eastern Star meeting at Oquawka. Rev. D. K. Sailor has purchased a new Ford touring car. The Women's Foreign Missionary Society met at the home of Mrs. Lena Pence. The Ladies' Aid is having the inside of the U. P. Church newly decorated. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lewis went to Moberly, Mo. where they expect to make their future home. Their household goods are ready for shipment and will be shipped as soon as they are able to get a house. Mrs. Lloyd Brainard was taken to the Burlington Hospital where she underwent an operation for appendicitis.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: Raymond Lefler has begun work has a permanent helper at the Santa Fe depot. Jake Ford is very low and his daughters from Oak Park have been summoned to his bed side and are helping to care for him. Home grown watermelons have made their appearance among us. A load of fine ones was brought over from Oquawka and are selling for 15 and 20 cents. The town is free from dust as the streets have been oiled. The town board is having the streets and alleys mowed by Wm McIntyre.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: Harry Sparrow received a new separator over the Q. Revs. Michell and Totson of Missouri are holding a series of tent meetings at the rear of the Nazarene Church. A goodly attendance has been to hear them. Nearly all the threshing is done; most of the wheat was a fair yield but of not a good quality.