The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic. Nov. 22, 1922
***OBITUARY***MRS. ANTONIE KAISER: Antonie Seidler was born in Engen, Baden, Germany, Feb. 2, 1836 and passed peacefully away at her home in Monmouth on Nov. 17, 1922 at the ripe old age of 86 years, 9 months and 15 days.
In 1854 she immigrated to America in a sailing ship, the trip across the Atlantic requiring five weeks. In 1862 she was married to Nikodem Kaiser, a school and classmate who was exactly one year older to the day. They were married at the home of Frank Fowler and then moved to what was then known as Young America, now known as Kirkwood. Here eight children were born and on these three died in infancy and one daughter, Caroline, died in 1908. The husband and father died in 1881.
The remaining survivors are her three sons, Charles R. of Stronghurst, Louis A., a captain in the U.S. Navy now stationed in Galveston, Texas, William B. at La Harpe and a daughter, Sophie with whom she made her home at Monmouth. She also leaves surviving 12 grandchildren.
In 1896 Mrs. Kaiser moved to Monmouth and that has been her home ever since. Funeral services were held from the home with interment in the Kirkwood Cemetery. The pall bearers were sons of our of the deceased's best friends: Otto Fowler, Adolph Bob, Fred Gaeer and D. E. Gayer and two grandsons, Albert Kaiser and Charles L. Martin of Ambridge, Pa.
MISS MARY DIXSON HONORED: Miss Mary Dixson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Dixson, recently was honored at Knox College being chosen song leader of the girls of the college. This office carries with it much responsibility and requires a student with real leadership ability. Under the direction of the song leader, the girls sing at college games and contests and provide music for special events during the year. At present they are planning to serenade the faculty and friends of the college with Christmas carols before the holidays. A chorus of girls dressed in white and bearing candles will waken the new girls in the dormitory the morning before they go home for Christmas vacation by singing carols. This custom has long been observed at Knox and is an event to which every girl looks forward. (Is it still practiced today?)
***OBITUARY*** BEULAH E. MOREY: Beulah E. Morey, daughter of W. F. Morey, died at the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa on Nov. 21st at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held from White's Undertaking parlors at Monmouth. The deceased was born in Stronghurst, Ill. August 30, 1894.
ORGANIZING A BAND: A meeting will be held at the State Bank next Friday for the purpose of organizing a band. All former band men and those wishing to start in and anyone interested in having a band for Stronghurst are urgently requested to attend this meeting. Try and be there to help back the boys. A director has been secured and 26 players have signed on; they want more. With a little financial assistance we will have one of the best bands in the country.
WEDDING BELLS: Mr. Keith Hicks and Miss Eula Charter, both of the Olena neighborhood, were married last Saturday evening by Rev. W. H. Cross at his home in this city. Mr. and Mrs. C. Burrell were the accompanying witnesses.
Mr. Theodore Gerveler and Miss Vesta Wilson of Fort Madison, Iowa were married at that place on Nov. 16th. The bride's mother, Mrs. Sarah Wilson of this city gave a reception dinner for the newly weds with only near relatives of the bride present. The couple will make their home in Fort Madison.
OLENA OBSERATIONS: Young people of the community have rather slipped it over on us and hiked way to different towns and had a few brief words said to them and gave the necessary promises that made them one. On Nov. 15 Miss Violet Lant and Mr. Robert Sullivan, both of Media, were joined in wedlock in the 1st M.M. parsonage in Galesburg. On Nov. 18th at the Christian parsonage in Stronghurst the solemn rites were said that united in wedlock Miss Eula Charter and Mr. Keith Hicks. These young people are receiving the congratulations of a host of friends and have been made the recipients of an old time chivaree.
Mr. Sam McCartney's pupils of the Olena School gave a very creditable entertainment in the village Thursday evening followed by the sale of about 15 boxes which were auctioned off by Col. Gray and which only brought very nominal prices. A nice angel food cake donated by Mrs. Robert McCartney was sold by votes at 1 penny each and went to Miss Thelma Peterson with Mary Prier and Golda Davis close competitors.
Miss Thelma Peterson who is teaching the Heisler School and her pupils gave a recent entertainment and box supper which was largely attended and report about $42 to the good. The annual bazaar and chicken dinner will be given by the Gladstone M. E. Church Nov. 24th. Mrs. Charles Fosher, oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Johnson, recently was operated on in the Burlington Hospital for the removal of her tonsils when it was discovered that she had symptoms of tubercular trouble. She is expecting to leave soon for treatment in Iowa City and if not greatly benefited there will probably go to Arizona. Mr. Leslie Lyons is quite low. Word has been received that Mr. William Coffman of Carman was critically ill at his home there.
RARITAN REPORTS: Mrs. Lulu McIntyre of Kansas City came for a visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Cooper. While duck hunting one day last week, Frank Worley had the misfortune to sprain his knee causing him to go about with a cane. Both Mrs. Burkett and Mrs. Fred Deutueler are on the sick list. Mrs. Leonard Livermore was operated upon for appendicitis in the Monmouth Hospital. Mrs. Koch of Clinton, Iowa is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Galloway.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Mrs. F.C Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Davidson and son Channing arrived from Niagara Falls and will take up their residence in this city. The December meeting of the Women's Club will be held in the club rooms Saturday afternoon. "Natural Wonders of the U.S." is the subject for the meeting and response to roll call is to name a natural wonder.
FASHION NOTE AD: Long gloves will give an added touch of smartness to your winter costume. We have them in imported kid and chamoisuede, also strap and clasp style in short gloves-E. R. Grandey.
POLITICS, POLITICS, POLITICS: TO THE CITIZENS OF HENDERSON COUNTY: A few weeks ago an article appeared in all the county papers signed by M.E. Nolan, State's Attorney, headed "A Refutation" and in fairness to myself and the citizens of this county, I feel it my duty to answer and give what evidence I have concerning the transaction which seems to be weighing so heavily upon the mind of the State's Attorney. I do not wish to enter into any argument in the matter but will merely give the evidence I have and leave it to the people to judge. I shall make no statement other than I have evidence to prove. I wish, however, to say that Mr. Nolan in his statement undertook to give the action of the last Grand Jury and as that is a secret body, I am not at liberty to state what took place in the Grand Jury room, but I will say that there are 23 men in Henderson County who were present and know whether or not the statements made by Mr. Nolan are true or false. He also makes the statement that Mr. Liteich stated to the Grand Jury that his affidavit, if he made one, was made while he (Lilteich) was under the influence of opiates. For the information of the people, I will say that the records of the St. Francis Hospital at Burlington where Mr. Lilteich was, shows that he (Lilteich) was discharged as a patient from said hospital on April 25th, 1922 which by comparison you will find the same day his affidavit was made. I leave that also for the people to say whether or not at the time said Lilteich made the affidavit, he was under the influence of opiates in said hospital. He also says in his statement that Lilteich affidavit is the main affidavit and in order that the people be enlightened on that subject, I submit the following affidavits to show my side of the matter, which affidavits came to me unsolicited: (Here follows the affidavits of Arthur Wagner, Emile Baumle, John Lilteich and R. Ryerson-all attested to by Notary Public, J. Logue Akin.--I will summarize for brevity.)
ARTHUR WAGNER (dated April, 25, 1922): He says in Aug. 1921 He purchased of Paule Jewelry Co. a 17 jewel Elgin watch with a gold case to be presented to M. E. Nolan for certain concessions in said County and State. He gave the gold watch to John Lilteich and directed him to deliver it to Mr. Nolan. He recalled he directed Paule Jewelry Co. to engrave on the case "From the friends to M.E. Nolan." Mr. Lilteich said he delivered the watch to Mr. Nolan.
EMILE BAUMLE (dated April 25, 1922): He says he works for Paule Jewelry that he sold said watch to Arthur Wagner in August 1921 and was directed to engrave it as stated above.
JOHN LILTEICH (dated April 25, 1922): He says that in August 1921 Arthur Wagner gave him a watch he had purchased from Paule Jewelry Co. to be delivered to M. E. Nolan, State's Attorney. A few days later he delivered the watch and Mr. Nolan told him " for fear there might be some trouble about this, I will give you my check and you can give me a check back for like amount." He was given a check and he purchased a draft for like amount and returned it to him by a man by the name of R. Ryason. He states that this watch was given to M. E. Nolan for certain concessions in Henderson County.
R. RYERSON dated Nov. 20, 1922: He says that is lived in Oquawka and he is same person mentioned in John Lilteich's affidavit, that he (Ryerson) was in Burlington some time after August 1921 and that John Lilteich gave him a draft drawn on the Iowa Savings Bank of Burlington in the sum of $25 payable to M. E. Nolan and asked him to take it to Mr. Nolan. He did so.
"WHAT WAS HAPPENING? Sheriff McDill had accused Nolan of bribery and had presented the above to the Grand Jury; however, that body did not indict Mr. Nolan who said the whole scandal was being fabricated because Mr. McDill lost his party's nomination for County Treasurer and was running an as Independent opposition to Mr. Painter, the Republican candidate. Politics is messy even on the County level.-VaR"
(See back Quill issues of Feb. 18th and March 4th for the background.)