The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic: May 21, 1925
FIRST HONORS AT BI-COUNTY MEET: The wisdom of Coach Nicholas’ policy in striving for the development this year of an all round athletic team rather than for the development of one or two specular performers was justified last Friday when Stronghurst’s High School team because of their ability to place in 11 out of 14 events held at Alexis, carried off the honors in both the regular list of events and the relay (Read the details on microfilm at the Henderson County Library.)
In the literary event held in connection with the meet, the Stronghurst representative divided first honors with Roseville, each with a total of 18 points…The meet was very largely attended and successfully managed. A large number of Stronghurst fans were in attendance and felt themselves more than repaid for the long trip in witnessing the victor of their home team.
PURCHASED NEW FIRE TRUCK: The Stronghurst village board held a special session last Tuesday night to consider the matter of the purchase of a new fire truck for the village. S. J. Myers, a representative of Kenosha, Wis. was present and the board contracted with him for the purchase of a fire fighting apparatus mounted on a Dodge-Graham auto truck. The principal feature of the apparatus is a “Booster” pump capable of raising the pressure from the street hydrants from 45 to 120 lbs. producing a stream of water much higher than any building in the village. There are also two cooper chemical tanks with a capacity of 35 gal. each, hose for the same and two lengths of suction hose which can be attached to hydrants or dropped into wells or cisterns included in the outfit. The contract price for the complete outfit is $4,650 (today’s value=$68,913). It will probably be about 60 days before the machine will be ready for shipment.
WORK BEGINS ON NEW SCHOOL: H. B. Nelson of the H. B. Nelson Construction Co. of Davenport was here and let the subcontract for excavating for the new school building to W. V.Curtis of Stronghurst. The site for the building was staked out and Mr. Curtis now has men busy on digging. Nelson returned to the Davenport to arrange for the shipment at once of two car loads of equipment to be used in the actual construction work, which will no doubt begin as soon as the excavation work is complete.
WEDDING BELLS-PENCE & MAXEY: Donald Pence of near her and Miss Effie Maxey of Stronghurst were married at Burlington Saturday. The groom is a son of Mrs. Ena Pence and is an industrious young farmer and good citizen. His bride has been employed as teacher of the Millville school east of Lomax for the past two years and is well and favorably known here. On Monday evening a bunch of local young people drove out to the Pence home and gave the happy couple a charivari. They will make their home on one of the Pence farms.
(Note to the readers: This was a man genuinely admired by all and his tragic, unexpected death rocked the county. It was one of those times when most would have said,"It can't be true; he was so young.")
OBITUARY-A.L. BEALL: A. L. Beall, who for the last ten years has efficiently administrated the affairs of the office of Supt. Of Schools in Henderson County, passed away at the Burlington Hospital last Saturday morning, May 16th after a brief illness. (The following account was written by Mrs. Murtland, the Media correspondent.)
"The community was greatly shocked and grieved Saturday morning when the words flashed over the wires that one of our best known and highly respected citizens, A.L. Beall, had passed from this life to that of the great beyond at 12:30 o'clock that morning at the Burlington Hospital. Monday night Mr. Beall was taken suddenly seriously ill and as his condition grew worse, he was taken to the hospital Wednesday morning where he underwent a serious operation that evening and while all that skilled physicians and surgeons, trained nurses and loving hands could do was done for him, he was not able to overcome the ravages of disease and he fell peacefully and quietly into eternal rest. Allen Lloyd Beall, the oldest child of a family of five given to George M. and Mary Ellen Beall, was born in Gurnsey Count Ohio, March 19, 1877 and departed this life May 16, 1925 at the age of 48 years, 2 months and 2 days.
When but two years of age, his parents moved to Henderson County, Illinois, where all his life except one year in Kansas has been spent. His first days at school were spent in a country school, Hazel Dell, in the Reed neighborhood, his first year in high school at Oquawka with him making the journey each day from this Reed home on horseback.
When only a young boy, he was bereft of the care of his father and had to make his own way as well as assisting his mother in the care of the younger children. He was always desirous of an education and by his perseverance and ambition to better fit himself to met the battles of life, he was able by the time he was 21 years of age to graduate from Stronghurst High School after which he took up profession of teaching which he successfully followed for a number of years.
On August 14, 1901 he led to the altar Miss Mildred F. Barnes and with his bride came to Media as he had been employed as principal of the grade school. In 1903 he graduated from Media Wever Academy, then attended the State University at Urbana one year, Monmouth College during 1912-1913 and later the Teachers' College at Macomb, Ill, from which he received his A.B. degree two years ago and his plans were to attend this same school during the months of this summer and receive his Master's degree
Ten years ago, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools which position he still filled at the time of his demise. His untiring efforts for the betterment of the schools of the county have raised the standard of both schools and teachers. He had the interest of each pupil at heart and has even bought books that were necessary for girls and boys to have to complete their school work when they were unable to purchase them and by his kindness and word of encouragement, many children of the county have pushed on and made more of the opportunities of this life than they otherwise would have done.
Two children, Robert Allen, age 12, and Ruth Maribeth, age 5, were given to Mr. and Mrs. Beall to gladden and brighten their home and to them he has always been a most loving and indulgent father; he will be sadly missed by the little ones and the grief-stricken wife to whom he was much devoted and affectionate.
Mr. Beall became a member of the United Presbyterian Church in the fall of 1901 and for several years he has been an elder of the church here. He was affiliated with the M.W.A. and Tri-State League. He has held the office of town clerk and for some time has been secretary of Media Community High School Board. Not in Henderson County alone was he so widely known and loved but in many other places throughout the state where his business called him.
Why one so young in years should be taken from his dear ones when his life was so full of work for and thoughts of them and others, we cannot understand but our Heavenly Father knoweth best and He had need of him and has called him up higher.
He is survived by his wife and children, two brothers-Phonso E. of this place and George E. of Cambridge, Ohio and a host of other sorrowing relatives, friends and neighbors who will greatly miss his coming and going among them. (A poem follows.)
The funeral services were held from the U. P. Church conducted by Rev. J. A. Mahaffey, pastor of the Stronghurst Presbyterian Church…The pallbearers were E. G. Lewis, C. R. Pendarvis, E. S. Mathers, Chas. Pogue, Barnard White and D. L. Warner. The honorary pall bearers were Neil Ausmus, Jasper Shoemaker, C .R. Apt, Bernard Smith, L. O. Dawson and Lommer Runner-teachers from the schools of the county. After services, a large number of those present followed the remains to Kirkwood where they were interred in the family lot of the beautiful cemetery there to await the summons from on high."
Those from a distance to attend were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Fulton of West Allis, Wis.; George Beall of Cambridge, Ohio; Will and Carl Beall of Washington, Iowa; and Prof. B. A. Hoffman of Elburn, Ill.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Mrs. W. C. Ivins left on train No. 5 for Kansas City, Mo. where she will visit for two weeks of more with her sisters, Mrs. Johnstone and Mrs. DeAtley. The new pastor of the Lutheran Church, Rev. Elmer J. Holt, A.B.B.D., was formally installed in his office on Monday evening by the Rev. F.A. Johnson, D.D. of Maywood, Ill. Oscar Beckett left for Carrolton, Missouri to see his brother, Charles who is seriously ill. Mr. and Mrs. Asa Worthington entertained 50 guests at their home south of town in honor of Mrs. Worthington's birthday. Mrs. Russell Brokaw and two children are guests at the I. H. Brokaw home. They expect to leave in a few days for Albion, Mich. to join Russell, who is employed in an automobile factory in that city. Bert Putney left to join a company of signal service employees working on the Santa Fe in the vicinity of Chicago. Mrs. Putney left Tuesday to join her husband and will cook for the outfit. Mrs. J. F. Mains entertained at her home Monday evening. The game of "500" was the principal diversion of the evening and Miss Edith Hartquist received the prize offered. Mrs. J. W. Stine won the "booby" prize. A two-course luncheon was served during the evening.
Calcium Cyanide is said to be the best ground hog exterminator and Farm Adviser Walker is prepared to furnish a supply of this chemical at 21 cents per lb. to farmers or others who are troubled with these pests. He states that a glass fruit jar makes the best container to bring when coming for the cyanide. Mrs. George Chant arrived home from Albuquerque, N. Mex. where she spent several months with her sons, Lloyd and Philip. She reports that abnormally cool temperature has prevailed in New Mexico this spring and that has done considerable damage from frost to the fruit crop. Word was received by Naomi Cooper that her brother, Perry Cooper, former resident and businessman of Stronghurst, was critically ill at his home in Crandon, Wis.
The definition of a "flapper," according to Webster" latest edition says the Warsaw Bulletin is the following: "Painted in front, shingled behind and empty in the attic." The editor makes haste to remark they haven't anything of the kind in Hancock County, but that specimens may be found in the next county. (Now, does he mean Henderson, McDonough, Schuyler or Adams? In the Roaring Twenties a flapper was a daring woman looking for "a good time." Was this a backhanded slap at these other counties.) The benefits realized by Henderson County wool growers last year from marketing their wool through the Illinois Wool Pool has led them to make similar arrangements this year. Mala Gray, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gray, formerly of this vicinity, suffered fractures of the bones of both her upper and lower jaw, the loss of a tooth and a number of severe bruises last Thursday evening when the Ford car in which she and Dale Lovitt of the Terre Haute neighborhood were riding collided at a cross roads near Carthage with a Ford coupe owned by a Carthage man. Miss Gray's condition is said to be improving. She is a sophomore in the LaHarpe high school.
The Galesburg and Western inter-urban railroad was sold for taxes and bid in by Walsh interests at $13,500. This will enable the Walshes to carry out their plan of leasing the line to the Illinois Power and Light Co. to be used by them as a right of way for their electric transmission line between Monmouth and Galesburg. The back taxes, penalties and interest on the property amounted to $26,000 or almost twice what was realized by Warren County from the sale. The legality of the Dallas City Community High School District was established last week by a decision in the circuit court at Carthage. This case has been hanging fire for something like three years and in the meantime the board of education has gone ahead with their building plans and have their fine new structure well on the way to completion.
A PRETTY FACE: "A stunning woman was in town this morning trying to acquire a lot of pocket change via the bad check route and came pretty near getting away with it. She purchased goods at two of our store tendering checks signed P. C. Cranford on the State Bank at LaHarpe and she endorsed one Mrs. Faye Cranford and the other Mrs. Ethel Cranford. She took her goods and change and went on for another victim. She was soon run down as a phone call to LaHarpe proved the Cranfords were unknown there. The goods and money were turned back, but the lady got scared and flitted before a warrant could be gotten for her arrest. All neighboring towns are warned to be on the look out for her as she is said to be a good looker and as slick an artist and actor as one would care to see" Dallas City Review
A SAD AFFLICTION: Mrs. T. H. Mc Michael, wife of the president of Monmouth College, has gone to a Chicago hospital where she is expected to undergo the ordeal of having her foot amputated, such an operation having been deemed necessary by a Chicago specialist who was consulted in regard to an infection of the foot which was showing a tendency to spread. Members of the McMichael family have been summoned to her bedside to await the results of the operation as fears to the outcome are entertained. Later, Word has been received that Mrs. McMichael passed through the operation having her leg removed near the thigh and that she was resting as easily as could be expected.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: MEDIA MEANDERINGS: The Baccalaureate sermon for the graduating class will be held at the U.P. Church Sunday evening. The graduating exercises of the high school class of 1925 will be held in the Academy Saturday evening, May 30th. The class is composed of Agnes Erickson, Zelma Campbell, Mildred Lant, Roy Cavins and LaVerne Gilliland. Dr. John L. Conger, head of the history department at Knox College will deliver the commencement address. Bennie Heap who has been teaching in the Lomax school is home for the summer. Edwin Lewis is recovering from his recent tonsil operation.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Chas. Essex returned from Lewistown where he had been visiting at the home of his daughter and husband, Dr. and Mrs. Rex Mudd. Record School closed last Friday with a picnic; a splendid dinner was served and Miss Newton, the teacher, furnished ice cream. Glen L. PIcken of Newton, Iowa has been hired by the school board to fill the vacancy made by Clarence Bolen resignation. Miss Edna Jamison has again accepted the position as commercial teacher. Prof. and Mrs. Schuler and son are spending two weeks at the hotel, having held a sale of their household goods. J.P. Myers was called to Charition, Iowa by the death of his brother, Waywick Myers. Friends of Alexis Baker are glad to hear of the good position appointed him as Secretary of the U.S. Ambassador at Verna Cruz. Mexico. Farmers are busy getting their corn planted and ladies doing the usual house cleaning.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: J. E. Neilsen of Fort Collins, Colo. has purchased the G. W. Shanks store and completed invoicing Saturday. Harry Miller and family of Dallas City have moved to Lomax and are located in the Real Estate Row. The 8th grade graduation exercises were held at the Christian church. Wm. Sanders and wife passed through here enroute in "The Rambling Ross" from Los Angeles to Burlington. They state they were 28 days coming through. This was their 7th trip to California.
HONORED AT CHAMPAIGN: The name of Miss Gail Brook, who is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Brook of this community, has been inscribed on the "Superior Scholarship" roll of the class of 1926 at the University of Illinois. This is an unusual distinction since only students in the upper three percent of the sophomore, junior and senior classes respectively are entitled to the honor, which also carries with it the right to wear a special emblem on which are inscribe the words, "Honors Illinois."