The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic May 31, 1923
Twenty-five Years Ago-1898: On the evening on May 18th, the marriage of R.N. Marshall and Miss Anna Brook occurred at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Brook. Heavy rains had caused the high embankment of the Santa Fe R.R. just west of town to crumble, and the traffic was suspended for a day while some twenty or more carloads of gravel were being dumped in to fill up the breach. A small cyclone which passed over the country south of Stronghurst on the afternoon of May 20th wrecked the farm building on the Harvey Garrett farm 5 miles northeast of Raritan and did considerable damage to other buildings in the vicinity of Smithshire. William E. Gladstone, "grand old man of England," died May 19th at Hawarden Castle. The graduating class of Stronghurst High School consisted of R.B. Parsons, Bessie M. Brown, W.A. Powell, Virgil Harter, Lois Lovitt, A. L. Beall, Leroy Kline, Clara Davis, John S. Lant and Ruby Crenshaw. Three prisoners, Clyde Ammerman, Chas. Ryason and Chas. Richards, escaped from the county jail at Oquawka on the night of May 31st by digging out through the walls of the institution. Stronghurst's first moving picture show was written up as follows: "A novel entertainment for the smaller towns was given at the opera house last evening. Living and moving pictures are produced by the cineograph which is a decided novelty here. A fair crowd was present last night and the entertainment was highly appreciated. Another similar entertainment will be given tonight and will doubtless draw a much larger crowd." News of Commodore Schley's victory at Santiago in which the fortifications of that city were completely battered down was received." (Spanish American War).
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: The members of Henderson County American Legion stopped here Sabbath Day and held Memorial Services on the lawn of the Weaver Academy at the memorial tree planted in honor of Bruce Rankin who is one of our unknown dead (must be they don't know where he is buried). Mr. C.R. Pendarvis had draped a large American flag around the tree and also strewn some flowers around it earlier in the day. A salute was fired which was answered by the bugler. The services were quite impressive. A number of citizens were present. The Legion was making a tour of the county that day to pay honor to our soldier and sailor dead.
A farewell picnic for members of the high school was held Tuesday evening after school. The senior class is holding their picnic today at Crapo Park, Burlington. The members of the class are Albert Swanson, Henry Collins, Fern Cook, Paul Erickson and Martha Collins. Media was well represented at the county track meet at Oquawka. Wm. Pogue was awarded first prize in the declamatory contest.
C. G. Richey was in Chicago buying cattle last week. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Hanna of Riverside, California, visited a few days at the home of Mrs. Hanna's cousin, Edgar D. Rankin. Ruth Howell, who has been ill for several days past, was taken to Burlington Hospital where she underwent a serious operation immediately after arriving. She was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Howell and Miss Waneta, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Pendarivis, Edwin Erickson and Dr. Erickson of Lomax. She rallied from the anesthetic and was resting as well as could be expected. The streets were given another treatment of oil last week. Raymond Leffler and Waldo Erickson, two of our most estimable young men, will leave for Chicago where they have employment. The Farmers Stock Co. is shipping six car load of stock from the local yards today.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Friends received word of the death of one of the little twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Gibson of Galesburg. The little one has been treated at Rochester by the Mayo Bros, having a tumor back of the eyes causing her to lose the sight of her eyes. Death was caused by tumor the brain. Mrs. Gibson was before her marriage, Miss Jeanette Campbell of this place.
Joseph Rodman, a former resident of this place, passed away at his home in Galesburg Monday at 1:30 o'clock following a five years illness, having since March been in a serious condition. The greater part of his life was spent at Biggsville having moved 16 years ago to Galesburg. The body will arrive here Thursday morning and funeral services will be held at the cemetery.
Mrs. Will Davenport of Omaha is visiting at the home of her father, J.R. Johnson. The garage has changed hands again. Don Lee sold last week to Mr. Johnson who has been the workman. Biggsville seems to be quite a busy place this past week since the Santa Fe trains pass through. There is a train screaming on the track most of the time. A goodly number of people visited the grade school and were very pleased with the work being done there. Mrs. Chas. Burrus is confined to her bed owing to a fall in her cellar after striking her head on a shelf. What might have proved a real bad cut proved only to be a bad scratch across the eye of Miss Dorothy Millen while at play at school. The boys on the play ground were striking small sticks with larger ones when one was whirled at Dorothy's head. Only closing the eye lid was all the saved the eye ball for a serious injury.
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: Mrs. Margaret Peyton has been spending the past few weeks in Stronghurst at the Frank Johnson home helping care for Mrs. George Deitrick, mother of Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. M. J. Green and Mrs. Mills of Stronghurst were calling on friends near Olena; they had been to the Olena Cemetery with flowers and flags to decorate graves of their loved ones. The Cemetery has a very neat appearance thanks to Mr. Brown, who is the custodian and his helpers. Mr. Albert Dean has been adding to the appearance of his new house west of the village by painting and screening. Mr. P. J. Johnson has been shelling and delivering his corn crop to Mr. Walter Carothers. Corn prices are good but not a large amount for sale in this locality. Mrs. John Lant is slowly improving in health and is now doing most of her work. Mrs. Rurth Browning and Mrs. Sharples of Stronghurst were efficient help.
LOMAX LINGERINS: The remains of Thomas Howard, Jr. arrived from Galesburg; the funeral was held at the Christian Church with burial in the Crane Cemetery. Wm. Babcook of Carman loaded the ear corn of Adam Foggy into cars for shipment to feeders. The Lomax Lumber Co. has received a car of Franklin County coal, being the first of several cars for the coming winter. W.R. Gaddis and wife have moved from the Lowry place to the property recently purchased by Dr. Emerson.