The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, August 17, 1922
M.W.A. PICNIC (This probably was one of the most important social events of this time period.) The annual M.W.A. Picnic given last Friday and Saturday was a success in every particular and was attended by large crowds both days. All concessions at the park seemed to be pretty busy most of the time and the merry-go-round was heavily patronized by the children and some who have ceased being children for some time. The program was carried out as planned with the exception of the speech by Congressman Graham who through some misunderstanding did not appear on the platform as advertised. The Roseville band furnished music both days which was enjoyed by all. The main attractions for both days were the ball games at Sanderson s field and Calvin s field.
The nine act vaudeville stunt staged here by the Dixon twins at the first picnic game was not the hit that it has been at former times. The fans were all out to see a ball game and did not care for the Shakespearean efforts of the Oquawka battery. Consequently, they were accorded the Razz with a capital R and the home team opened on them with vigor that it was no question of supremacy. Miller pitching for Stronghurst had the Oquawka boys helpless at all times, however, ragged support in the 7th inning gave Oquawka two unearned runs. Dixon was wild, both of them in fact, with throws to second and wild pitches in all other directions being features of the games...In the second picnic game Stronghurst defeated Kirkwood nine by a score of 3 to 1 in one of the fastest games the locals have been engaged in this season...
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The Community Rest Room and Library has recently been moved to the Hollingsworth Building and is now open to the public. The room is equipped with easy chars, tables, piano, lavatory and other conveniences and will make an ideal room in which to rest and visit. The room will be open each day and evening until train No.5 leaves.
The people of the community and visitors to our town are invited to use this room. It is not for club members alone, but for all people and only as the room is used can we know that it is a benefit to the community. The library will be open from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and the librarian will be glad to assist you in your selections. Make the rest room your head quarters when in town because it is for your convenience it exists.
***OBITUARY***MRS. GEORGE BARNETT: Mrs. George W. Barnett passed away at her home 3 ½ miles north of Stronghurst last Friday afternoon at two o clock. Although she had been seriously ill for over a year, her death was very sudden and a great shock to her relatives and friends. Mrs. Barnett had gone out into the garden to pick a few vegetable for table use and was returning to the house when she suddenly collapsed. Miss Lant, who has been staying at the Barnett home, noticed her fall and went to her assistance, but she passed away before she could be removed into the house. After the long period of suffering the passing from this life was peaceful and without pain.
Nancy Amy, the youngest daughter of John T. and Nancy Sackett McWilliams, was born near Ponemah, Ill on May 23, 1867 and passed away at the family home on Aug. 11, 1922 being 56 years, 2 months and 18 days of age. Her entire life, with the exception of two years spent near Greenfield, Iowa, was spent in Warren and Henderson Counties.
On October 12, 1892 she was united in marriage to George W. Barnett who with the children and numerous other relatives mourn her death. She is survived by her sons, Wesley of Yellowstone Park, Wyo., Herbert of Biggsville and Max; also two daughters, Mrs. Marian Voorhees and Mrs. Ruth Smith besides one daughter who passed away a number of years ago. Her brothers Arch McWilliams of Monmouth and A.J. of Biggsville and sisters, Miss Marian McWilliams of Chicago and Mrs. Belle Ralston who resides at Elmhurst, Ill. survive her. A brother, Frank, passed away years ago and also Chas. McWilliams whose death occurred only a week ago.
Mrs. Barnett was a Methodist all her life. Funeral services where held from the M. E. Church. Casket bearers were sons, Herbert and Maxwell, and brothers, Jay and Archie, and sons-in-law, Will Voorhees and John Smith. Burial was in the Ellison Cemetery.
***OBITUARY***MISS LUCINA N. CLOVER: Dallas City One of our most esteemed citizens and a pioneer of this section, passed away at her home in the west end of the city yesterday afternoon after an intermittent illness of heart trouble and complications of several year. She was native of Warren County and was 74 years, 3 months and 28 days old. Funeral service will be from the home with interment in the Clover family burying ground north of Lomax.
WEATHER IN THE NEWS: A high wind caused several thousand dollars damage in the Fox River Valley. A factory at Appleton, Wis. was unroofed, several barns blown over and a large number of tree uprooted. Two tornadoes within an hour struck Floyd County, Iowa, destroying buildings on one farm unroofing houses on others and laying corn flat over a wide area. No one was injured. (Amazing considering not much warning available in 1922.)
HE DIED: George Brockway of Monmouth is dead and Mrs. Brockway and daughter Dorothy and Theo Hess of Roseville are lying in Monmouth Hospital seriously injured while Howard Fletcher, Harry Woodward, Eldred Stanley and Mike Harrell, all young men from Roseville, are confined to their homes nursing serious bruises as the result of an automobile collision which occurred Sunday evening between 5 and 6 o'clock at the cross corner road a mile south of Larchland.
Mr. Brockway suffered the most serious injuries and was unconscious from the time of the accident until his death about 1:10 this afternoon. His skull was badly fractured and he also received a number of other bruises and cuts.
The condition of Mrs. Brockway and daughter is serious although it is not believed they are fatally hurt. The mother received a number of ugly gashes on her arms and head which required many stitches to close while the daughter had one of her arm practically severed from her body. It is believed they were pitched through the windshield when the collision occurred.
The Brockway were in a Ford touring car and were traveling east on the road a mile south of Larchland. The other car consisting the Roseville young men was a Studebaker sedan and was traveling south on the main Roseville road. Just at the corner the two cars met with an impact which was heard for some distance.
The heavier car struck the Ford squarely in the middle, turning it over and pinning the occupants beneath it. The sedan then turned over on its side in a ditch on the east side of the main road. As it struck the ditch, all of the young men with the exception of Hess were thrown clear of it. Hess was pinned under the wreckage and sustained severe injuries. He received a number of bad bruises and also several cuts. He was brought to the local hospital with the Brockways and will probably be kept there several days to await developments. At first it was feared that all four had sustained severe internal injuries, but investigation at the hospital failed to show that such was the case.
Eyewitnesses of the accident say that the Studebaker machine was traveling at a high rate of speed when the collision occurred and that the machine in which the Brockways were riding had no chance to avoid getting hit. The larger machine belongs to Baker Fletcher of Roseville and was being driven by his son Howard. Young Fletcher and also Woodward, Stanley and Harrell were considerable shaken up, but were able to be taken to their home where they gave a correct account of the accident.
Medical aid was summoned from Roseville and Monmouth and it was only a short time before ambulances were on the scene to bring the more seriously injured to the local hospital. Mr. Brockway was unconscious when brought to the hospital and remained in that condition until his death.
The Ford machine was a total wreck and is a mass of bent iron and broken glass. The larger car was not so badly damaged although when it turned over on its side considerable damage was done to it.
Members of the sheriff's forces motored to the scene this morning and took some pictures of the accident and got other information which may be necessary for the coroner's inquiry.
The Brockways resides at 211 South C Street and have made their home in Monmouth for a number of years. Mr. Brockway was employed as a salesman for the Standard Oil Co. and was well known throughout this vicinity. The news of his death will be received with general regret by those with whom he was associated.-Monmouth Review.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Misses Marie Berg and Ethel Jenkins who are employed at the Stronghurst Telephone Co. office are now enjoying their vacation. Mrs. Ruby Kern and Mary Morgan are taking their places. Hortense Harbinson and Mae Morgan are now at Yellowstone Park; they expect to return home soon. Mrs. Nell Long commenced work at the G. W. Worley Drugstore to take the place of Miss Agnes Kirby who has resigned. Miss Naomi Cooper brought in a tomato that was grown in her garden weighing 2 pounds and 2 ounces. There is an abundance of fruit and vegetables this year-in fact so much that in all probability a large amount will go to waste
RARITAN REPORTS: Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Perrine, Mrs. E.F. Hamilton and daughter, Mrs. Raus Cooper visited Cora Mabry and E. F. Hamilton who are patients in the Macomb Hospital following surgery. Walter Halbert of New York is visiting relatives. Mrs. Maude Stillwell of California arrived at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Eldert after an absence of 13 years. She was joined there by Mrs. Lelah Custer and daughter of Farmington. Mrs. Roscoe McDonald will visit home folks in English, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Park Maddock and children visited the lady's sister in Squirrel Ridge. Stewart Adams returned to his work in Chicago. Mrs. Cornel Schenck received a telegram from Kansas stating the death of her mother, Mrs. Hare, occurred on Monday evening; she was 83 years old.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Dr. and Mrs. Ellis and children who have spent the past seven years as missionaries in Persia and who have been home on a visit with her people in California, are guests of her brother, Don Lee and wife. Dr. Ellis spoke Sabbath night at the M. E. Church and his talk on his work was very interesting. Henry Overly of Kalamazoo, Mich. was a guest at the J. E. Pearson home. At the ladies cemetery association tea at the home of Mrs. Maggie Whiteman, guests spent a pleasant afternoon enjoying pineapple whip, sandwiches, wafers, hot coffee and ice tea-seven dollars was taken in. Hostesses where Mrs. Whiteman, Mrs. Chan Whiteman, Mrs. Nay Jamison and Mrs. Mable White.
BIGGSVILLE CHAUTAUQUA: The Chautauqua program commenced with local talent by the young people and a lecture by Rev. Paul Arnold Peterson of the Presbyterian Church in Monmouth. His subject was "The Leper Spots." On the afternoon of the 17th and evening The Hurby Brothers Orchestra of six pieces will perform. On the 18th a Chicago operatic company will entertain and on the 19th Rev. Roy Smith of Minneapolis, formerly assistant to Dr. Gunsavius, will lecture. Rev. Smith has appeared here twice and is much liked. On Saturday William Jennings Bryan will be the great man of the day. (This is big time having Bryan, who was a dominant force in the Democratic party populist movement. He was three times a candidate for President of the United States and served as Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson resigning because of his pacifist beliefs.)
AUTO ACCIDENT: South of Biggsville on the Sabbath night the cars of Lee Mekemson of this place and Harvey Pence of Kirkwood collided. Little Herbert Mekemson had his collar bone broken and Mrs. Mekemson received bruises. Mrs. Pence had a shoulder badly hurt. After medical treatment they were able to go to their homes as neither car received any injury.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: Several from here attended the floating palace show at Dallas City. (What is this?) The Mitchell & Dodson tent meetings closed Sunday evening. A large crowd was present at the farewell sermon. A goodly number have united with the church. Lee Pence of Mackay, Idaho has been visiting relatives. Lomax 1st team played Dallas with the score 11 to 0 in favor of Dallas. Lomax team was badly out of line having only five of their regular players. The fire department was called to quench a blaze in W. C. Freeland's garage and car. The blaze was soon put out with little damage to either the car or garage.