The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, Nov. 2, 1922
SURPRISED ON HIS BIRTHDAY: : A surprise party in honor of J. W. Layton s 70th birthday was held at the Layton home by a large gathering of relatives from near and far. Guests arrived about 10:30 am with baskets of good thing to eat and the day was spent in many social diversions among these was a horse shoe pitching contest participated in by the men. A pleasant surprise was the presence of Mrs. Stone of Kansas City, Mo., a cousin whom Layton had seen in 20 years. She was accompanied by her two daughters who hold a lucrative position in a large mercantile establishment in Kansas City.
***OBITUARY***MISS HAZEL PAUL: This well known Dallas City and Lomax girl died at the Burlington Hospital Monday afternoon after but a week's illness following an operation for appendicitis on Oct. 22nd. She was a fine girl, an accomplished musician and for several years has been teacher of large music class in Burlington. She was the youngest daughter of the late Morgan Paul and wife. Hazel was 29 years and is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Forney Blakely of the east country and Mrs. Henry Tibbetts of Rock Island. No funeral arrangements have been announced but the interment will be at Lomax. Dallas Review
LOVITT FAMILY REUNION: The descendants of the late Daniels Lovitt met at the home of his daughter, Mrs. M. E. McDermott, seven miles south of Stronghurst to celebrate the day. These reunions have been held for the past three years and are a day when they can recall the good times of the past and renew old acquaintances. The 51 guests present were served a bountiful feast and the pleasant occurrences of the day will live long in their memories. (List of attendees in article).
SOUR GRAPES, THEY LOST: Colchester High School defeated the local high school on Sanderson's field last Saturday by a close (to a hundred) score of 99 to nawthin. The Colchester team was the huskiest looking aggregation ever seen in action of the local field and with wonderful team work combined. They either grow them awful large in that section of the country or educating them must be a slow process as they surely had plenty of time to develop and acquire manhood's estate. We give credit for having a real football team, but we have our doubts about the high school part. It is rumored that they were recruited from the mines and induced to answer here teacher when roll was called and under the guidance of a high salaried coach were instructed in the gentle art of the great academic sport. They have the right as well as any other town to produce a winning football team, but why not make it an independent one? The high school teams should be kept free from contamination by outside interests who make it a gambling proposition. A careful investigation should be made by the State Athletic Association in regard to the eligibility and the organization back of this team and if found guilty of any violations of the rules, they should be ousted from the association if not guilty we will extend to them the glad hand. Stronghurst will meet the fast Carthage team at that place next Saturday.
***OBITUARY***REV. A. J. JOLLY, Ph. D.: Rev. Arthur J. Jolly, pastor of Dallas City Methodist Church and a man who has done a great work in straightening out the difficulties both spiritual and financial of that institution was called to the other world Sunday, his death casting a pall of deep sorrow over us all.
Rev. Jolly has been a frail person in body, but mighty in deed and act ever since he has been with us. He had been semi-invalided for several weeks on account of a bad cold which seemed to be growing upon him until last week pneumonia developed and he was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital in Fort Madison so he might have the constant care of trained nurses; but to no avail, for he gradually grew weaker until death claimed him Sunday afternoon at one o'clock.
The body was brought back here and the funeral was conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Methodist Church. He will be shipped to his former home at Cropsey, Ill. where he has a son who was killed in the army buried. Mr. Jolly was aged 56 years, one month and 23 days and is survived by the wife and two grown sons.-Dallas City Review
NOT THE TRUTH: It has come to my knowledge that the Independent candidate for County Treasurer is still circulating affidavits about me which purport to charge me with crookedness in office, notwithstanding the said affidavits and the attempted frame-up they represent were exposed and exploded before the last Grand Jury. It is being told by the candidate that I narrowly escaped being indicted by the Grand Jury. I believe the time has come to give the public the facts. Prior to the last Grand Jury, Mr. McDill showed these affidavits to Mr. Wm. Whiteman and told him that he (McDill) got them "to raise hell with Nolan." This information reached me. I went before the Grand Jury and demanded an investigation of the matter. I told the Grand Jury that I was no better than any other man and that if the affidavits were true, I ought to be indicted and I further told them that if they felt that I was guilty and voted to indict me, I would resign my office and step down and out. McDill was subpoenaed to bring in his affidavits and he brought them. I voluntarily retired from the room while the jurors examined McDill and his affidavits. It appeared that the main affidavit was signed by one John Lilteich. The man was subpoenaed by a bailiff and appeared before the Grand Jury and was sworn and testified in the matter. He stated that while he was ill in the hospital at Burlington and under the influence of opiates, R. T. McDill, or another party, came to see him with a paper he wanted signed; that he had no recollection of signing it; that if he did sign it, it was while he was under the influence of an opiate; he stated positively that he never swore to any paper at all; that this affidavit purports to be sworn to before Frank E. Thompson, a notary public; that said Thompson was never in his room at the hospital to his knowledge and that he never swore to any such affidavit before said Thompson; that the statements in said affidavits charging Nolan with bribery or accepting bribes or offering to or being will to accept a bribe were untrue; that Art Wagner had told him, as he understood that he had never talked with Nolan nor Nolan with him, he further stated that I had never received or accepted or offered to receive or accept anything what ever to protect him or anyone else in the violation of the law to his knowledge. He fully explained the business transaction, a matter of attorney and client, upon which this whole fabric of lies has been built. He gave me a clean bill of health as to my official conduct. The Grand Jury found there was no guilt on my part and ignored the matter.
The above should be sufficient refutation of these malicious and scandalous affidavits. I cannot see why they are being used in this campaign against Frank Painter and some other Republican candidates.
I am not running for office at this time, but I will say positively and emphatically that where as said affidavits or any of them purport to charge me with having accepted a bribe, or with having been willing to accept a bribe, or with anything crooked whatever, they are basely, absolutely and unqualifiedly false in word and spirit; and this I state upon my honor as a man and upon my official oath as State's attorney of this County-M. E. Nolan, State's Attorney (My, politics was certainly more exciting in 1922! Mr. McDill, the sheriff was running as an independent for County Treasurer.)
W.R. SMIDDY-DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SHERIFF: W. R. Smiddy, the Democratic Candidate for Sheriff of Henderson County, was born Sept. 10, 1890 and was reared on a farm in Lomax Township. That he stands high in the estimation of the citizens of the township is evidence by the fact that he is now serving his second term as a member of the Henderson County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Smiddy is an ex-service man, having gone to the defense of his country during the World War and served eight months as a member of the 70th Engineer Corps. That he was a loyal soldier is evidenced by his discharge papers...
A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER: Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Ross entertained their mothers, Mrs. Catherine Ross and Mrs. Emily Bainter at a birthday dinner on Oct. 28th. This date marks the 90th milestone for Mrs. Bainter and the 84th for Mrs. Ross. Four generations were present to celebrate the occasion. A rather unusual incident of the day was that of little Catherine Ross, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Ross, Having her picture taken with her two great-grandmothers. Mrs. Bainter is in excellent health and Mrs. Ross is much improved from her recent illness.
OBITUARY: WALTER G. CHERRY: Walter G. Cherry was born Feb. 9, 1905 and departed this life Oct. 29, 1922 at the home of his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cherry southeast of Carman, Ill., aged 17 years, 8 months and 21 days. His entire life since the age of 9 years has been spent in this community where he has gained many friends by his kindly disposition. Walter recently became a member of the young men's class of the Maple Grove Sunday School where he will be missed. Beside the parents, he will also be mourned by Mrs. Myrtle Seigworth, Mrs. Madah Hildebran and Helen Cherry and a host of friends. Funeral services were held at the Carman church and interment in the Carman Cemetery.