The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic: August 28, 1924
KLANTAUQUA IN PROGRESS: The three day program being put on in Stronghurst by the Illinois Klantauqua System is attracting large crowds each afternoon and evening and good individual programs are being presented. Each session opens with community singing and is closed with a lecture on the tenets and principles of the Ku Klux Klan. Between these features are sandwiched the entertainments, consisting of concerts, vaudeville sketches, etc. (Remember, no TV in this time period and live entertainment was a sure draw of audiences. The Klan used this to gather crowds.)
The Bidwell Rice Co. furnished the concert feature with three versatile artists whose music and acting won many demonstrations of approval. The lecturer the first day was Dr. Wm. Holderby who spoke of the many evils which threaten America today and which he claimed the organization he represented was designed and calculated to remedy.
The entertainment feature of Wednesday's program was furnished by The Frazers, a company consisting of a gentleman and lady who in their monologues, character impersonations and dancing, furnished fun galore. Mr. Frazer is one of the most versatile entertainers that has ever appeared in Stronghurst and is a whole show by himself. The lecturer of the day was the Hon. J. W. Gorrell of Iowa, who made two excellent addresses on the principles of the Klan. Previous to the evening meeting a parade of robed Klansmen in automobiles with red fire illuminating was very effective
Thursday program will consist of concerts by the Gypsy Serenaders, a lecture in the afternoon by Mrs. Rosa T. McGehee and at night by Mr. C. C. Crawford.
FARM BUREA PICNIC: Those farmers, who ran away from their work and attended the Henderson County Farm Bureau picnic in Crapo Park last Saturday, report that it was a most enjoyable occasion. The larger part of the crowd of several hundred gathered before the noon hour and amused themselves by visiting with old neighbors and with horseshoe pitching. At dinner time a most bounteous feast was set on tables which were enjoyed by all present.
Following the dinner a program opened with community singing led by Farm Adviser Ernest D. Walker, Walter T. Doughty and C. W. Bond, President and secretary, respectively of the Greater Burlington Association were introduced and extended a welcome on behalf of Burlington. Dr. LeCroy, the new county veterinarian in charge of the tuberculosis eradication, gave a short talk explaining the principal points concerning their work. A. C. Everingham, dirt farmer of Hutsonville, Ill. and representative of the Illinois Agricultural Association made the principal address of the afternoon. He stated that the farmers' serious financial situation was due not to low prices of his product, but to the inequality between the prices received for his products and the prices of the necessary supplies for the farm. This is due in a large part to the fact that the American farms are now producing an exportable surplus which must be sold on a depressed world market:(read the article on microfilm at the Henderson County Public Library for all of his views).
GUEST OF HONOR: The Misses Lucile Jones, Ardis Hicks and Louise Ranking were hostesses at the home of Miss Jones on Wednesday evening to a group of young ladies-the guest of honor being Mrs. Maxine Flanegin who was recently married.
The house was beautifully decorated, amongst the decorations being long ribbons stretched throughout the house with a favor for each guest being attached to the ends of the ribbons. The guests, after being given the loose end of the ribbon, traced the same through the various rooms until the favor was found. The ribbon given Mrs. Flanegin led to a beautifully decorated box in which she found a collection of beautiful presents which had been deposited by the guests. Later a delightful luncheon was served. The whole affair was very happily planned and was an occasion of are enjoyment to all who participated.
SALE OF MILCH COWS: We were in the dairy district of Southern Illinois and selected a car load of the choicest Jersey and Guernsey milch cows which we are shipping to Stronghurst. We will sell them at public auction on Saturday, Sept. 6th. They are expected to arrive by the first of next week and may be inspected in the pasture of Mrs. Chas. O'ren, east of town. If you appreciate excellence in the line of milch cows, go and look this bunch over after they arrive.-Decker & Gregory.
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: The evangelistic meeting in the Olena church the past three weeks closed Sabbath evening. Miss Imogene Quinn of Indianapolis, Ind., the evangelist, was one of the sweetest characters we have ever met. She was an able and earnest speaker and preached more pure gospel sermons during her two and half weeks there than Olena had heard for many years. She drew the line sharply, you were either for or against the Christ who died to set men free. The church was greatly helped-Ye cannot serve God and mammon. After one week's vacation with a sister in Chicago and her mother in Indianapolis, she will return to Gladstone and being a series of meetings there on Aug. 31st.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Veech are leaving for a visit with friends and relatives in western Iowa and Nebraska. Mr. Jessie Lyons, Mrs. Charles Lyons and Mrs. Charles Lant are on the sick list. Mr. P. J. Johnson who has been such an acute sufferer with his eyes the past several weeks is beginning to gain a little vision. This trouble is thought to be the result of too lengthy examinations in the X-ray treatment which he had previously undergone. Mrs. Margaret Peyton is staying with her uncle, Mr. David Dobbin, near Stronghurst while his daughters, Mrs. Hise and children and Miss Dobbin are visiting relatives in Missouri. Word was received from Wilbur Davis who is in the Navy and spent the winter in Florida, stated that he accompanied a fleet of 46 vessels with their sub chasers from a trip to the Panama Canal and was then leaving for a cruise to Cuba. From Chicago, word was received of the wedding of Mr. Karl Brecht of that city. Mrs Brecht, his mother, will be remembered as Miss Mille Gibson formerly of this place.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: The Farmers' Picnic of the south Country had their usual picnic dinner at Crapo Park; all report a gay time. Claire Farquher of Chicago is spending his annual vacation with his fathers and brothers. Wever Gittings and family of Okaloosa, Iowa are visiting relatives. The annual fish fry and picnic will be held on Labor Day with the regular menu of catfish and all the trimmings. Races, speaking, ball game, horseshoe pitching and other amusements will make a day to be remembered; The Christian Bible class will be in charge of the entire occasion. The Lomax Opera House has been sold to S. S. Murdock of Galesburg who will open up and run it twice a week with movie shows.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: In Raritan an outdoor meeting was held on the Reform Church campus last Sunday evening and if the weather is favorable, it will be held there this coming Sunday evening. A miscellaneous shower was held at the Chas. Cann home in honor of Mr. and Mrs. George Admire. Carl Kennett has started a produce business at Raritan. Lloyd Kennedy and crew have been bailing straw at Joe and Del Dixson farms. W. F. Allison of Butler, Missouri drove here to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Allison. Dr. O. R. Gent, who recently gave up his chiropractic practice here and his wife have both set a practice in Seattle, Washington. Mr. J. G. Farley, after a visit of several weeks at his old home in Parkersburg, W. Va., stopped here to visit his wife who is spending the summer with her mother, Mrs. Dodds a few days on his return trip to Wichita, Kans. Mrs. Geo. Dixson had the misfortune to fall in the bathroom of her home and fractured her left wrist. While the injury is necessarily a source of considerable pain and inconvenience; it does not prevent her from getting about.
Charles A. Parmeter, city councilman and prominent citizen of Burlington, Ia, was drowned in the Mississippi River at what is known as Picnic Point last Thursday afternoon when a speed launch in which he and three other men were riding struck a sunken log. Mr. Parmeter might have saved his own life had he not generously surrendered a life preserver which he secured from the wreck to one of his companions who could not swim. Peter Groom and daughters, Mary Edith and Nellie came from Kansas City for a visit at the old Groom homestead southeast of town occupied by J. H. Voorhees and family. Mrs. Groom joined later and the family returned home Saturday. Mr. Groom is obliged to go about on crutches as the result of the injuries which he sustained last May when he fell and broke his leg just above the ankle. The break was an usually bad one and the injured limb had been in a plaster cast up to a short time before the patient started on his trip.
The electrical storm manifestation which accompanied last Saturday night's storm were a rather awe inspiring nature-vivid lightning flashes and terrific peals of thunder following one another in rapid succession. Mr. R. W. Upton was considerably affected by the effects of a bolt of lightning which struck near his residence and ran into the home on the telephone wire. He suffered from headache for several hours but has fully recovered from the effects of the shock. Mrs. Sam Claybaugh is suffering from a fractured ankle which she sustained from a fall at his home. Ira Foote's horse "Peter" took first money at the Macomb fair last week in the 2:30 trotting race making the mile in 2:14. Two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Will Reedy, living southeast of town, had their tonsils removed at the Monmouth Hospital. Will Sullivan and helpers are engaged in building a large porch for the Apt Brothers residence. The porch extends the full length of the building on the west and a smaller porch will be built on the north adjoining the kitchen.
Wm. Long has purchased the building just south of the Santa Fe Depot, former owned by Mrs. T. D. Steffey, and is engaged in buying and wrecking second hand automobiles. He has for sale most any part of an automobile. He has put in new scales on the street in front of his place of business for his own use and to accommodate the public. A covered wagon passed through here on Wednesday that many thought at first was a Ku Klux Klan outfit, but it was found (on close inspection) to be an advance advertising car for the motion picture, "The Covered Wagon," that is be shown in Burlington, Iowa at the Rialto Theatre. It consisted on an automobile covered to suggest one of the covered wagons that our forefathers used to come West.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. Oscar Dillon went to Lomax for treatment for a finger which was hurt by running a splinter under the nail. Mr. Hugg and son Ralph of Burlington were here looking after farm interests. Mr. Morrison and family of Chicago have been at the home of his sister. Miss Quinn, the lady evangelist who has been holding meetings in Olena, spent time at the Babcook home. Miss Irene Hoots will again resume her duties as primary teacher in the local school. Mrs. Martha Johnson has been at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Virgil Dixon, to help cook for threshers. Mr. Warren Dowell has purchased a new Ford touring car. Mr. and Mrs. Golden Babcook left for Forest, Ill., where they will set up housekeeping and Golden has a job. Mrs. Anna McCanon of Burlington had a nice monument placed at her husband's grave by a firm from Burlington. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy McCanon, a baby boy whom they have named Roy, Jr. The boys who left for their hike to Iowa returned Thursday. Several of the farmers here are having their cattle tested for tuberculosis.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: About 35 members of the Lomax gospel team held an interesting meeting in the M. E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. John Pogue and Mr. and Mrs. Phonso Beall and children left for several days visit with relatives in Des Moines and expect to attend the Iowa State Fair. Co. Supt. of Schools, A. L. Beall, is in Oquawka holding the annual Teachers Institute. Those in attendance from this place include the following: Misses Farree Mathers, Anna LaVelle, Florence Gram, Ruth Howell, Mrs. Howard Graham and Bennie Heap. Mrs. Bev. Adair is quite ill with inflammatory rheumatism and heart trouble. Both her daughters, Mrs. Don McCartney of Monmouth and Mrs. Roy Willard of Raritan, are caring for her. Rev. and Mrs. Walter Rose are rejoicing over the arrival of a little daughter tipping the scales at 8 ¾ lbs. Mrs. Rose is the former Evelyn Garrett. Mr. and Mrs. Otis Smith and family have gone to Marion, Virginia for a six weeks visit with parents and friends; they are making the trip in their Ford. Mrs. Martha Van Alstine is ill at here home and being cared for by a nurse from Stronghurst.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Mr. and Mrs. John Grinnel of Harrisburg, Pa. returned home after visiting the lady s aunt, Mrs. Chas. Keener and daughter. Mrs. Arch Griffiths and son Wayne returned from a visit to the Wisconsin Dells. One hundred fifty of the three hundred and fifty descendants of John and Elisabeth Gibb Stevenson deceased met at Crapo Park for their second annual reunion. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson were natives of Ireland coming directly to Biggsville upon landing and making this their home for their lifetime. Their family consisted of two sons and eight daughters: Wm. Stevenson, Sr., John Stevenson, Sr., Mrs. James Gibb, Sr., Mrs. Paul Gibb, Mrs. Wm.Adair, Mrs. Wm. Gilliland, Mrs. John McKeown, Mrs. John Boyd and Mrs. Martha Smith, all of whom were represented; the other five sisters are deceased.(the numbers don t match) Jake Cramer of Kirkwood is the new clerk in the Musser grocery store.