The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, May 24, 1923
OLD BEDFORD CHURCH DEDICATION: Sunday, May 20, 1923, will go down in history as one of the greatest days in the annals of the Old Bedford Community. One of the largest crowds ever assembled in that neighborhood was there to attend the dedicatory services in which the new church building was set apart for sacred purposes; and all those who were present will no doubt keep the day long in remembrance.
H.H. Peters, secretary of the Illinois Christian Missionary Society, was master of ceremonies and during the day raised more than $4,000 to be added to the $8,000 already pledged toward the cost of the new structure, thus making it possible to give the church to God and the community free of debt.
The basket dinner served cafeteria style at the noon hour was a feature of the occasion greatly enjoyed by all, not only because of the bodily refreshment provided, but also because of the fellowship privileges which it afforded...
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Attorney W.C. Ivins has been engaged to deliver the Memorial Day address at Dallas City. In this issue of the Graphic appears a display ad pertaining to the appearance of Bud Fisher s famous cartoons, Mutt and Jeff made over and into a Dramatic Farce Comedy which will be offered here in Stronghurst under a big tent theatre, one nite only, May 30th. There are three acts of loud, long, lingering laughs with Mutt & Jeff in person. The entertainment is clean in every respect and constructed for laughing purposes only. The Tent will be located on O Gren pasture lot. J. Y. Gearheart, Wm. Voorhees and Roy Hixson of Raritan were here Saturday attending the sale of milk cows held by W. A. Avery. Mrs. Doug Billups and little daughter spent a few days at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank Graham, Jr., north of Stronghurst. Rev. W. H. Cross, pastor of the Christian Church here has received and accepted an invitation to preach at Burlington next Sunday morning. Samuel Curry, an aged Roseville citizen, and the uncle of townsman, C. H. Curry, suffered a paralytic stroke recently and is in a serious condition at his home. Mrs. W. T. Weir, who has been a patient at the Wadsworth Hospital here for several weeks, returned to her home at Coloma and is now under the care of Mrs. Kimble, a Media nurse.
The Lomax Canning Co. is putting about 140 acres in tomatoes this year with the idea of increasing the output of their factory, which last year amounted to about 15 car loads. A violent rain storm which came up about 9:30 last Saturday night cut short the band concert which was being given and sent the large crowd which had assembled in town scurrying toward their homes or other places of shelter. Abe Magee has been busily engaged with his team during the past week in clearing away the fallen trees and other debris about the village left in the wake of the terrific wind storm of last week. Earl Randall of Mt. Hamel, Ia., came in on the train for a short visit with his mother, Mrs. O.W. Beckett. He reports a backward season in Southeastern Iowa the same as here.
Miss Florence Cortleyou, who was in the Burlington Hospital for three or four weeks, has recovered sufficiently to allow her being brought home. She is making a satisfactory recovery from the operation she underwent. Will Hodgen and wife of Omaha, Nebr., were amongst those in attendance at the Old Bedford church dedication. They are visiting at the home of his brother, E.R. Hodgen of the south neighborhood. Mr. Hodgen is in the commission business(he sold livestock) in Omaha, a position he has held most of the time since going there 33 years ago.
Fred Keisling and Thomas Dailey, the Burlington toy makers accompanied by J.H. Cummings of Riverside, Ill., who has a nation wide reputation as a sales manager, ere here consulting with the members of the Better Stronghurst Association in regard to the factory proposition of which mention was made weeks ago. Mrs. M. L. Evans, Jr. of Decorra, who was at Rochester, Minn. for an operation for throat trouble, is expected to be able to return to her home Friday. Mrs. W. C. Black, who has been a patient sufferer with neuritis for several weeks, is slowly improving and unless something unforeseen develops, she will be able to leave the hospital in a week or ten days. Prof. Olin of the local high school was called to Alexis by the death of his brother, Hawley Olin, which occurred May 18th. The deceased was a student in the Alexis high school and was a young man who ranked high in the estimation of the Alexis community.
The row of big cottonwood trees which bordered the B.L. Mudd residence lots along Nichols street, have fallen victims to the woodman s ax during the past week, the village authorities having decided that they had become a menace to adjoining property and to the safety of individuals. Sam Ayres and Sam Howell ran down and captured a young sand hill crane on the river bottoms near Carman. Although but a fledgling, the bird measures six feet from toe to tip of beak. It has beautiful gray plumage and is attracting much attention at the Simpson-Widney garage where it is on exhibition. Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Hanna of Riverside, Calif. stopped off here for a short visit with relatives while enroute to Ohio where a brother of Mr. Hanna is ill. Mr. Hanna is formerly a resident of this vicinity and Mrs. Hanna is a daughter of the late David Rankin, former owner of the Edgar Rankin farm east of Stronghurst and afterward a large land owner near Tarkio, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna were the guests of Mrs. Mary Thompson and afterward visited at the Edgar Rankin home.