The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Stronghurst Graphic: June 18, 1925
OBITUARY-MRS. ANNA STIMPSON: Mrs. Anna Stimpson the wife of Ray Stimpson, passed away at her home at 2 pm on Tuesday morning. Her death followed several weeks illness. Surviving besides her husband, is one daughter, Anna Laura, age 5, and one son Arthur, age 7 and her mother, Mrs. Mary Seins and three sisters and five brothers besides a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the Carman church with burial in the Carman Cemetery.
VISIT FORMER PASTOR: Last Sunday a large group of folks from Altona, Illinois friends and former parishioners of Rev. and Mrs. R. C. Myers, transported by five automobiles spent the day in Stronghurst. They attended the morning service at the Methodist Church and then on the parsonage lawn they spread the sumptuous basket dinners they had brought to which all did ample justice. The afternoon was spent in visiting reminiscing of happy three years Rev. Myers had spent with them…
REUNION OF ILLINOIS PEOPLE: Dr. and Mrs. Harter and Mrs. Zula Allison in Hollywood, California, had an Illinois reunion at their home and entertained for dinner Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Ward and son Roscoe, former of Terre Haute; also from Terre Haute Mr. and Mrs. Frank Beal; Mrs. Gretta Stryker and Mrs. R. D. Nevius and daughter-in-law, Mrs. M. D. Nevius; Mrs. Kate Tharp Worman; Mrs. J. M. Johnson; Mrs. and Mrs. R. E. Milligan and four children and Mrs. Baird, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ward. (Going to California or Florida was becoming more and more popular at this time.)
ATTEND CONFERENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY: Eight of the members of the Henderson County Baby Beef Calf Club attended the Junior Club University Tour held in Urbana full of enthusiasm over the good time they had been shown during the three day tour. The program included talks by some of the best men in the University on various farm problems, a day of livestock judging, demonstration work and tour of the University farm and buildings. One of the big events was the banquet which over 600 were seated. The speaker was Harold Caulrapp, dairy calf club of Whiteside County and a member of the boys' judging team which last triumphed over the English champions in the contest held across the waters…The boys attending from here were Fred Painter, George Painter, Irvin Painter, Walter Drain, Ted Galbraith, Wendell Wetterling, Russell Darrah and Leslie Cooper. They were accompanied by Farm Adviser Walker who attended the annual summer conference of farm advisers and Glenn Marshall, manager of the Stronghurst Farmers' Elevator, who attended the school for managers of farmers' elevators.
A LOUD BANG! A loud explosion as of a charge of dynamite aroused many people in town last Saturday morning between one and two o'clock and it was thought by some that bank bandits were pulling off one of their regulation stunts here. An auto was heard leaving by the west road leading south from the village a few minutes after the explosion and those who had ventured out of their homes soon observed an illumination in the neighborhood of the Joe Dixson place a half mile south of town. Investigation revealed that an auto tire which had been hung on the mail box at the Dixson home was burning fiercely. It was also discovered a rope which had been stretched across the street in the south part of town to shut off traffic on Broadway because of the oiling of that thoroughfare had been torn down by the auto and the lantern which had been hung of the rope carried as far as the Dixson place.
No evidence of other damage here was discovered; but word came that stunts of a similar character were pulled off later in the morning at Raritan and Roseville. While there are various theories entertained concerning the disturbances, the probabilities are that some boys and an auto and supplied with "Cannon fire crackers" were demonstrating their idea of "fun."
COMMUNITY CLUB PICNIC: The July meeting of the Stronghurst Women's Community Club will be a picnic affair, participated by the club members and their families on the lawn of the J.C.Brook home southeast of Stronghurst. Dinner will be served cafeteria style around the noon hour and those who attend are asked to come furnished with plate, fork, spoon, coffee cup, drinking glass and sauce dish. They also are asked to contribute something from the following list to the bill of fare: Sandwiches; baked chicken or ham; potato salad; baked beans; cottage cheese; potato chips; fruit salad; jelly or preserves; cake and bananas. The committee in charge will furnish ice cream and iced tea. Following the dinner, a program of music, readings, etc. will be carried out under the direction of Mrs. O. J. Sanderson and Mrs. J. W. Anderson. Those without means of conveyance to the place of gathering should communicate with Mrs. R. N. Marshall or Mrs. Alex Marshall, who have been appointed a committee on transportation. (Sound like a big-time social event! Remember they probably had to make the cottage cheese and potato chips from scratch.)
FIRE NEAR OLD BEDFORD: The dwelling house of Preston Hickman and family in McDonough County a short distance south of the Old Bedford church was totally destroyed by fire together with all the contents Wednesday morning. The fire which was of unknown origin was discovered by members of the family between one and two o'clock in the morning and had gained such headway that the family consisting of Mr. Hickman, who is totally blind, his wife and five children barely escaped with their lives. On account of the isolation of the place and poor telephone service, neighbors did not arrive on the scene of the fire in time to be of any assistance except in saving some small outbuildings. Only a small amount of insurance was carried on the house and contents which will make the blow a severe to the family.
OBITUARY-JACOB L. FORD: Jacob L. Ford, former resident of this vicinity, whose serious illness was, reported by this paper, passed away at the home of his daughter in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday night. The deceased was 81 years of age and was a veteran of the Civil War. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Mary Smith of Oak Park, Ill. and Mrs. Maude Stewart of Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Ford was twice married, his first wife who passed away about nine years so being Margaret Pogue of Media neighborhood. Funeral services will be at the Lugg chapel in Monmouth with interment in the Monmouth Cemetery.