The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic, April 24, 1924
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: Media High School Declamatory Contest will be held at Wever Academy with Monmouth college furnishing the judges. Seven girls and four boys have entered. A nominal admission fee will be asked to help cover expenses. Mrs. A. J. Bacon remains about the same under the care of Dr. Henderson of Stronghurst. The directors of the Media State Bank held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The interior, walls and ceiling are being re-decorated. County Supt. of Schools, A. L. Beall went to Western Illinois State Teachers' College, Macomb, to attend a conference of city, town and county superintendents and high school principals. An instructive program on school activities, the new distributive law and the requirements in education for high school teachers, etc., was heard. S. G. Mathers attended a meeting in Oquawka of highway commissioners. Mrs. Tom Morgan is teaching in the grade school filling Prof Shoemaker's place while he is at his home at Colusa suffering an attack of tonsillitis. Dr. Clark of Roseville has been attending little Dorothy Graham who has been quite ill of gastritis. Prof. Murtland was unable to attend to school duties on account of Ptomaine poisoning; however, he was back at work now. Mrs. Sam Lant who has been quite ill for a week or more was taken to Stronghurst so that Dr. Ghent who is treating her might be better able to give her every attention. She was no better at last reports. Miss Mildred Lawyer is quite ill from an attack of tonsillitis. Margaret Emeline, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emory Eberheardt, had the misfortune to fall from the back porch of the home while at play breaking her arm. Dr. HR. Rankin was called to set the injured member. H. O. White left for Peoria to serve on a Federal Grand Jury. Mrs. Anna Adair is doing practical nursing in Roseville. The four week contest for new members between the young men and boys against the old men of the Men's Bible Class ended Sunday with the young men and boys victorious. The old men will give them a fish fry in the dining rooms of the U. P. Church.
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: Rev. Bartram was accompanied to his appointment Sabbath day by his wife, a son and his wife of Bloomington, Ill., and a son who has just returned from the oil fields of Oklahoma. Two youths from Lomax with a new roadsters were seen in the village Sabbath Day. Miss Andra Marsden has accepted a position as secretary to the M. E. pastor of Quincy, Ill. She has also affiliated by letter with the 1st Methodist Church there and is taking an active part in all its various interests. Mr. and Mrs. Gibb and children of Biggsville and Mr. and Mrs. Hartman and babe of Olena ate Easter dinner with the lady's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Burrell. Mr. J. L. Lyons has been having a well dug on his farm and Mr. James Brewer and help are drilling a well at the Clas. Carlson home. Water seems to be a scarce commodity in many homes. Truly we never miss the water till the well runs dry.
CARMAN CONCERNS: A representative from the Guest Piano Co. of Burlington, Iowa, was a business caller in the village. (If you could afford a piano, your economic situation was good.) Miss Helen Babcook and Mr. Golden Babcook had Easter vacation visiting at the parental home of A. C. Babcook and family. They are students at Bradley School at Peoria. One of Goldie's boy chums accompanied them home for a visit over Easter Sunday. Frederick Crane who attends Carthage College, returned to school after spending his Easter vacation at home. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gillis and family and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wisby spent Easter near Disco at the home of Harry Wisbey. Mr. James Lord and family spent Easter at the home of Clarence Dixon south of Carman. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Dixon spent Sunday at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Clyde Anderson and family in the Decorra neighborhood. Mrs. Crofford and daughter, Merlene of Burlington, were calling in Carman enroute to the Acel Dowell home; Mrs. C. is the aunt of Mrs. Dowell.
Word arrived from Halfa, Ia., of the death of Charles Cargill who had lived in our neighborhood for many years but moved to Iowa several years ago. The body will be brought back here for burial. The home talent play from Lomax was given in the burg with a full house. Miss Dorothy Dowell of Stronghurst is spending a week with her aunt helping her clean house.
BRIDAL SHOWER IN BIGGSVILLE: Some 50 friends enjoyed a miscellaneous dinner Saturday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Maggie Whiteman, in honor of her niece Mrs. Leone Kilgore Forsythe, just a recent bride. The rooms of the home were beautifully decorated in the bride's favorite colors and the color scheme prevailed through the house of yellow and white. In the large double parlor under the electric chandelier was suspended a yellow umbrella typifying an April shower. Under the rain shade stood a table also decked in yellow and white upon which were the wrapped gifts. When the guests had all arrived, the bride and groom, to the strains of an instrumental duet played by Mrs. Babcock and Mrs. McHenry, were escorted down the stairs by two cousins of the bride, the Misses Madaline White and Myral Crisp, to places near the table and under the umbrella where Mr. Forsythe was introduced and then congratulations and best wishes were extended. Then the couple proceeded to unwrap their packages, which were many and useful. Later in the afternoon refreshments of angel food cake in yellow and white paper cases were served by the Misses Fannie Ericson, Lucile Bigger, Julia Stevenson, Madaline White, Pauline Whiteman and Bermadine Mickey. From out of town were her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Kilgore, Mrs. A. M. Crisp and daughter, Myral of Galesburg, and Beatrice Stewart of Monmouth.
FIRST ANNUAL INTER-CLASS TRACK MEET: Stronghurst High School's first Annual Inter-class Track Meet was a highly successful affair from every angle and the attendance on the part of the general public denoted a real community interest in the athletic branch of the high school system. The rivalry which was manifested between the respective classes, composing the local school, showed itself to be almost as keen as that which is usually found existing between opposing schools. One of the results of holding such an inter-class meet will be a good showing in the various inter-scholastic track and field meets to be held in this section of the county.
First honors went to the Junior Class with an accumulation of 39 points. The Seniors were second with 34 points and the Freshmen third with 19 points. The Sophomore tallied 17 points. Wilcox and Burrell, both juniors, led in the individual point winning. Wilcox took first in the 100 yard dash and the running broad jump. Burrell landed first in the pole vault and the discus. (Check this issue at the library for the particulars.)
EASTER OBSERVANCE 1924 STYLE: While the weather on Easter Day contained a suggestion of the tendency of winter to linger a little longer, the bright sunshine and tinge of green on field and forest together with the music of earlier song birds were evidence as a reminder that the annual marvel of nature's resurrection was again at hand.
The spiritual significance of the day was recognized by a large turnout of people at all of the churches. Beautiful potted plants, amongst which the Easter lily, adorned all the houses of worship:Special Easter sermons were preached in the morning by the pastors of the Methodist, Lutheran and Christian Churches and in the evening by the pastor of the U. P. Church. At the Christian Church in the evening the pastor gave an interesting and instructive interpretation of the scenes connected with the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior as portrayed in Marie Corella's book Barabbas. At the Swedish Lutheran Church the evening service was given over to the children, who rendered an impressive Easter program. Perhaps, the most elaborate of the special services of the day was the Easter cantata entitled, "The King Triumphant," given at the M. E. Church in the evening by a large choir directed by Mrs. George Widney. This service taxed the capacity of the church, notwithstanding the fact that there were evening services at the other three churches in the village.
KILLED AT THE CROSSING: Failure to heed the oft repeated advice to auto drivers to stop, look and listen on approaching a railway crossing caused the death of George W. Ash, aged 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ab Ash of Pontoosuc, Ill. last Saturday morning. The accident occurred at the second crossing of the Santa Fe track west of the depot at Pontoosuc. The evidence taken at the coroner's inquest showed that Ash, driving a Ford car, was speeding toward the crossing from the south while fast mail train No. 15 was approaching from the east. The evidence seemed to indicate that when Ash realized that he could not clear the crossing in front of the onrushing rain, he made an attempt to stop, but was unable to do so with his car crashing into the side of the first of two engines which were pulling the train. The auto was thrown to one side and then caught again by the second engine and dragged 100 feet or more.
When witnesses rushed to the scene, they found Ash pinned down by the steering wheel of the auto with one top bow wedged across his body and one foot caught in the foot levers. The unfortunate man was still breathing when taken from the wreck, but he passed away in a few moments without uttering a word or making a move.
Ash was unmarried and lived with his parents. Funeral services were held at the Pontoosuc Presbyterian Church with the remains interred in the Myers Cemetery.
STATE BUILDS HARD ROADS: Eight hundred and fifty men with 200 teams started work upon 1,000 miles of hard surface roads which Illinois plan to build during the summer. A total of 410 miles of road has been built by the State this season. Last week was the real beginning and is expected to increase by leaps and bounds during the next few weeks until a force of nearly 10,000 men will be laying concrete payment at the rate of approximately 50 miles per week. Ten mixers started work last week and more than 100 are expected to be busy within a short time.
***OBITUARY***MRS. CLARA ADAIR: Mrs. Clara Adair who has been an invalid for many years and who has been confined to her bed in the Macomb Hospital for seven months passed away there last Tuesday. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Fred Meacham of near Roseville and one son Mace of Raritan besides a number of grandchildren and other relatives. Her remains were brought to the Amos Morris house and funeral services were held at the Baptist church with interment in the local cemetery.