The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
CALLED TO HIS REWARD: David Gilliland, son of William and Agnes (Stevenson) Gilliland, was born at Biggsville, Illinois, October 14, 1877. His father and mother, two brothers and one sister preceded him to the Great Beyond. One brother, John Gilliland of Stronghurst, Ill. and one sister, Mrs. Ella Drain of Terre Haute, Ill. live to cherish his memory. He was united in marriage January 12, 1906 to Miss Eva E. Campbell of Media, Ill. to which union were born three sons, LaVern Campbell, aged 18 years; William Gerald, aged 16 years; and David Joseph, aged 14 years: all clean, upstanding young men nearing the threshold of lives of usefulness, a comfort to their mother in her hours or sorrow and honor to the memory of a kind and thoughtful father.
Mr. Gilliland graduated from the grade schools of Biggsville, Ill. and attended the Biggsville High School two years. He was a diligent student and active in the athletic events of his school and retained his interest in all clean athletic sports throughout his life. After leaving school, he followed the vocation of painting and decorating for a number of years and was painstaking and efficient in this line of endeavor. In 1912 he was employed as manager of the Media Lumber Co. at Media, Ill. in which capacity he merited and retained the confidence, not only of his employers but also of the entire country round about with whom he daily dealt; which position he held until 1924 when he resigned on account of illness, the seriousness of which not even his closet friends suspected and from which he never recovered. Throughout the weeks that followed, friends who called upon him hoping to encourage him in regaining his health were impressed with his patience and cheerfulnes, but saddened by casual remarks indicating the he felt that it was the beginning of the end—as if he were trying to tell them, "I hear a voice you cannot hear, which says I must not stay. I saw a hand you cannot see which beckons me away."
In his daily walk-in life, he was modest and retiring, meek and humble in spirit, seeking no personal preferment, yet willing to give of his time to the public welfare if seemed that his services were needed, having served as president of the Board of Directors of the grade schools and having given his best efforts to the village for many years as a member of the Board of Trustees. At the last general election, he was elected village clerk without an opposing vote, but on account of failing health was unable to assume the duties of the office. He was baptized in the United Presbyterian Church at Biggsville, Ill. at an early age and the faith that was the guide add sustaining influence of his life was well known to his intimate friends. During the last days of his long and wasting illness, he found refuge in prayer and comfort in his favorite passages of the Scriptures which he repeated to members of the family at his bedside.
Last Wednesday, a change came. He could no longer speak. Tuesday night with his last conscious breath as a parting message it would seem to the family and friends, his lips murmured the wondrous word of Him who Jesus loved, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Abiding in the hope of this promise, on Saturday, Aug. 15th in the early hours of the morning, his spirit went out to Him who gave it.
Funeral services were held from the U. P. Church conducted by Rev. J. A. Mahaffey. The pall bearers were LaVern Gilliland, Harry Gilliland, Joe and Earl Campbell, William Drain and C. R. Pendarvis. After the services the body was taken to the cemetery at South Henderson near Gladstone and laid to rest in the family lot. The floral arrangements were many and beautiful. (This man must have been a really exemplary individual.)
CLOSE THE DOORS: The committee in charge of the Henderson County Sunday School Picnic which is to be held at Media on August 21st asks all business places in the village of Media, Stronghurst and Raritan to be closed for at least noon until 6 o'clock pm in order to afford the opportunity for everyone to attend.
(A really long article is in the issue about the Henderson-Marshall Putnam baseball game; if interested read the thrilling account on microfilm at the Henderson County Public Library.)
FORMER BIGGSVILLE PASTOR IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT: Rev. W.M. Lorimer, former pastor of the Biggsville U.P. Church and now living at West Alexander, Pa. was the victim of an auto accident in which he suffered a broken collar bone and an injury to his left side. The accident occurred near to top of a long hill near Washington, Pa., which had been made slippery by record rains. It caused a large Buick touring car coming from the opposite direction to skid into the car driven by Rev. Lorimer. The Lorimer car was completely wrecked. Rev. Lorimer was rendered unconscious by the injuries received and the other occupants of his car all more or less cut and bruised. The passengers were Rev. Lorimer's two daughters, Miss Lucile Lorimer and Mrs. Homer Maxwell, and Mr. Maxwell. Rev. Lorimer was taken to a hospital in Washington and later to his home at West Alexander. His injuries, while painful, are not expected to be serious.
OLENA HOMECOMING: Among the festivities of the present week in this section of the country, the annual home-coming picnic which is to be held Saturday, Aug. 22nd at Olena should not be overlooked. No effort is being spared to make the occasion of real pleasure for all who attend. A sumptuous chicken dinner such as the ladies of Olena community are noted for serving will be one of the outstanding features of the picnic and the price has been fixed at the very reasonable figure of 40 cents($6.02 in today's values) to all. An excellent literary program is also being arranged.
PROWLER AROUND: A resident of the section of Stronghurst lying west of Broadway informs us that a "peeping Tom" night prowler has been operating in his neighborhood lately and that a surprise in the nature of a charge of leaden pellets is liable to be met with by the nocturnal visitor if he persists in his practice. It might be well to suggest here that for those having legitimate business about the residence premises of other individuals, especially after dusk, the wise and safe plan is to make themselves and their business know without any unnecessary delay.
HIT BY AN AUTO: H. C. Wells, a traveling salesman from Chicago was seriously hurt last Sunday night on the hard road between Kirkwood and Biggsville when he was struck by a Ford coupe driven by Clem Perrine of Kirkwood. Wells was standing on the pavement near the car in which he and a companion were driving from Rockford to Fort Madison and which had been pulled off the concrete to allow examination for engine trouble. Perrine, who was said to be driving at a high rate of speed and who said he had been partially blinded by the headlight glare of a car he had just passed, failed to see either the stalled car or the man standing near it. After striking Wells, the car plunged into the ditch, shot through a fence and rolled over three times in a roadside field. Perrine escaped with only a few bruises, but his machine was badly wrecked. Wells is in a Monmouth hospital where his injuries are reported to be of a serious nature.
NOTE FROM THE ROAD: (E. G. Lewis and family had built camping gear on their car and was headed West and this is a note he sent back to the editor.) "We came from Norton, Kansas toda-265 miles and drove into camp at 6:00 pm. Made our best time today. We give the Jack rabbits credit for setting the pace. We know they can go 40 miles per hour, but do not know how much faster. This isn't Illinois. Best corn, perhaps, 20 bushels per acre and poorest, nothing."
WE CAN DO BETTER: A few of the farmers in this county have just suffered a considerable amount of damage from hail. The loss is, of course, deplorable, but large as it is, it will be nothing as compared with the money which insurance companies will now take out of the country in premiums on hail insurance. Hail insurance at fifty cents per acre ($7.53 cents in today's values) is too high when it is considered how seldom we have serious damage.
Wouldn't it be better to handle this in a mutual way at actual cost? The expense would undoubtedly be far below the present rates. If there is any interest shown in the above idea, we will be glad to call a meeting to discuss the matter. Let us have your opinion. Signed by the following: Chas. E. Peasley, E. D.Walker (county agent), and John M. McElhinney
WEDDING BELLS: ROGERS & REYNOLDS-Miss Alta Maree Reynolds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. G.Reynolds of this place and Mr. Earl Rogers were united in marriage in Colorado Springs, Colo, home of the groom on Aug. 10th at 8: 30 pm by Rev. Frank Ross, pastor of the U. P. Church of Colorado Springs. The bride is well and favorably known to people of this community where she was born and grew to womanhood. She was educated in the local grade and high schools, graduating from the later mentioned institution with the class of 1923. She for a number of months has been employed as manager of a hair dressing establishment at Kewanee, Ill. The groom is connected with a bus line company in Colorado Springs. Presently, no information is available of the couple's future plans of residency.
CRASHED ON THE OLENA ROAD: A Nash touring car being driven by Harry Whitmore of this place and a Ford coupe piloted by Joe Long with Lyman Taylor as a passenger, collided at the Watson Cemetery corner three miles northwest of Stronghurst last Sunday with rather disastrous results, both cars being badly smashed and Taylor receiving a bad gash over one eye caused by flying glass for the wind shield of the coupe. The injury was sufficient to render Taylor unconscious for a time and caused him to lose considerable blood. He was brought to town and his injuries given medical attention.
Whitmore, it seems, was driving north from Stronghurst and Long was driving east from Olena. The high corn and weeds at the corner prevented each driver from seeing the approach of the other car until too late to avoid a collision. Neither car was overturned, but the force of the impact was sufficient to demolish the radiators, fenders and windshields of both cars and to cause other damages which will entail considerable expense in the nature of repair bills.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Guy Garrett and wife of Media Township left for a visit of extended duration at Denver, Colorado where Guy hopes to benefit in health from the change of climate. (So many with Tuberculosis tried to regain their health by such a move.) Joe Peasley returned from his Canadian trip bringing 100 head of stock cattle with him, which were unloaded at Gladstone. Mrs. Henry Haben was tendered a farewell reception by a number of her lady friends at the home Mrs. Jessie Murphy and was presented with a Tennyson Birthday Book as a memento of the occasion. Mrs. Haben and children left for Des Moines, Iowa where Mr. Haben has employment and where they will make their future home. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Flatley of Little York came down to assist her in getting ready to move. Oscar Swedlund, who is employed in the garage department of the W.U.Telephone Co. in Chicago, drove here for a vacation visit with friends. He was accompanied by his sister Helen and Miss Ethel Hartiquist, who had been visiting in Chicago and by Rex Armstrong of Chicago whose former home was in Biggsville.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: The Union Church in LaHarpe is be remodeled at a cost of $18,000 ($270,900 in today's values). When completed the edifice will seat 600. Mrs. Rose Natrzrk and daughter Iris of Chicago have been visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Grainger of this place. Mrs. Fred Reynolds and daughter Doris returned home from Warsaw where they visited Mrs. Reynolds' sister, Mrs. C.S.Williams. J. E. Wells and wife whose home has been at Raritan moved into the Doty residence in the west part of town. Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Painter with their son Harry and wife and child are on an auto trip through Iowa and Missouri. They will visit relatives at Tarkio, Mo. too. Mrs. Mink had the misfortune to trip and fall while carrying a kettle of hot wash water at her home. A quantity of the water splashed on her foot, scalding it so severely that medical attention was needed. I. H. Brokaw and wife and son Chester returned from an auto trip to Albion, Mich. to visit their son Russell and family. The also stopped at the homes of A. L. Russler and Rev. Jaggers, former M.E. Pastor here. The Stronghurst and Carman Odd Fellows had their annual fish fry on the river bank south of Shokokon. A storm arriving at 11 o'clock caused a sudden change of plans and the scene of festivities was changed to a hall in Carman where a fine time was had be all.
Little Richard St.Clair, nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen St.Clair of LaHarpe was struck on a street crossing in that city by an auto driven by Charles Blythe. The radiator and lamp struck the boy in the temple and he fell beneath the car. The wheels did not pass over him, but the blow on the head fractured his skull and it is considered that he has only a fighting chance for recovery. Miss Marie Rankin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Rankin of Media Township, underwent an operation for appendicitis at the Monmouth Hospital. Mr. L. D. Colyer, who makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Chas. Lukens, is critically ill and because of his advanced age his recovery is doubtful. The Lant family had a reunion at the Stronghurst park with about 25 guests attending. In spite of the rainy weather many attended the picnic at the Lutheran Church on Wednesday. The net proceeds from the dinner and supper were $108. The afternoon amusements consisted of potato races, clothespin races, washer women races, foot races rope jumping and horseshoe pitching. Of interest to all is the coming of "The Ten Commandments" to Burlington at the Rialto Theater where the photoplay will be starting Sunday.
WEDDING BELLS-JOHNSON & KIMBLE: S.F.Johnson and Miss Grace Kimble, both of this vicinity were united in marriage at Burlington, Iowa on August 17th. The groom is the son of the late DeWitt and Kate Johnson and is a well-known young farmer. The bride has been the past two years acting as nurse at the Mrs. Wm. Worthington house south of Stronghurst. The couple are enjoying a honeymoon touring Iowa and will visit relatives in Taylor County.
MEDIA MEANDERINGS: The Farmers' Coop Store is installing a fine new counter refrigerator which will, when completed, fill a long fell want and add greatly to the appearance of the store. The directors of Media Grain Co. held a meeting at the town hall for the purpose of voting on the proposition to discontinue the company. Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Baskett, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gibson and Mr. and Mrs. George Hickman had a fish fry Saturday at Oquawka Beach. Paul Erickson is acting bookkeeper for Raritan State Bank while their regular man is away on a month's vacation. Conrad Rhicell and Miss Agnes Ericson went on the excursion train to
Chicago. J. E. Lawyer was able to some home from the Santa Fe Hospital at Fort Madison for the weekend. Several attended the picture show at Raritan Saturday evening.
ACCIDENT AT ORMONDE: Another addition was made to the list of accidents which have occurred at the dangerous Santa Fe railroad crossing just east of the station at Ormonde last Monday when Hale Bonner, a farmer of that neighborhood had his leg broken and received other injuries when the truck loaded with baled hay which he was driving was struck and demolished by fast passenger train No. 9. A rather unusual feature of the accident was that Bonner had taken the precaution to stop and look and listen before driving on the track. A grove of trees obstructed his view in the direction from which the train was coming and its approach was so swift and silent as to prevent his clearing the crossing after it came in sight.
( A similar situation exists today at Fort's Crossing southwest of town.)