The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
DEATH OF FORMER RARITAN MAN: George B. VanArsdale, a former well-known citizen of Henderson County passed away at Wichita, Kansas March 6th following an apoplectic stroke. The deceased was the son of the late Abram and Mary (Huston) VanArsdale and was born and reared on a farm 3 miles south of Raritan.
He was for a number of years assistant cashier of the Media State Bank, resigning that position to go to Valley Center, Kans. where he had accepted a banking position. Later, he went to Dodge City, Kans. where he organized a bank of which he became the cashier. He served his connection with the Dodge City institution several years ago and since which time he has been engaged in various enterprises in Wichita, Kans. which was his home at the time of his death. He is survived by two sons and also by the following brothers and sister, Luther VanArsdale of Blandinsville, Ill.; W.H.VanArsdale of Raritan, Ill. and Mrs. Cora Steingraber of Dallas City, Ill. The remains arrived in Stronghurst on train No. 22 Monday afternoon and were taken to the W.R.VanArsdale home in Raritan. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Raritan Reform Church with interment in the Raritan Cemetery.
BLACKSTONE CASE CONTINUED: “The quo warranto proceeding against Harry C. Blackstone, state’s attorney of Henderson County was continued to March 18 in circuit court here when the defendant failed to appear. The summons issued by Judge Hillyer has not been served on Blackstone whose whereabouts is unknown. The quo warranto proceedings are the outcome of a petition signed b over 100 Henderson County residents asking that Blackstone be relieved of his duties on the grounds that he is not a licensed attorney.”-Monmouth Daily Review-Atlas
FREE TRIP TO CHICAGO OFFERED TO 4-H CLUB BOYS: Some boy in Henderson County may win a free trip to the Fifth National Boys and Girls’ Club Congress in Chicago next December. The Santa Fe Railway has just offered 62 trips with all expenses paid to club winners in nine western states. Illinois offered three of these awards. The other states are Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The award will be given to the boy or girl making the best record in crop or livestock projects in each of the winning counties traversed by the Santa Fe and having the services of a full time Agricultural Extension Agent who operates under the direction of an agricultural college…This is the fourth year that the Santa Fe has offered champion club members education trips to the National Club Congress held during the International Livestock Exposition…(Notice the headline. Evidently, girls could win but the press release did not think that likely.)
OBITUARY-M.J. STOKES: “Milton J. Stokes, a resident of the Soldiers’ Home for the last 15 years at 7:40 Wednesday in a hospital there after a short illness died. Mr. Stokes suffered a stroke Feb. 8th and failed rapidly since that time. He enlisted when he was 14 years old in the 124th Illinois, serving with his brother, Wesley. In the Union army Mr. Stokes also had three other brothers, Russell, Brinton and Simpson and his father served as a scout for General Grant. Mr. Stokes enlisted twice before he was 16, first enlistment being rejected because of his youth after a short service.
Mr. Stokes was born near Terre Haute, Indiana on Dec. 19, 1846 and came to Macomb with his father, who was a Methodist minister two years later. He was married to Emma Harper in Blandinsville on Nov. 18, 1869. They celebrated their 56th anniversary last November. Mrs. Stokes survives and is in fairly good health and Rolle Stokes of this city is a son. Mr. Stokes was a life long Republican and a member of the Methodist Church for 75 years. He was admitted to the Soldiers’ Home on April, 14, 1911. Funeral services were held in Lipincott Hall with burial in the Home cemetery with a soldier’s funeral carrying out the request of Mr. Stokes.”-Quincy Journal.
ADJUDGED INSANE: “Sheriff Davenport was summoned to LaHarpe Hospital to take charge of Lively Logan, an inmate of the hospital who was quite troublesome. He was taken there some time ago as a county charge badly afflicted and of probable unsound mind. No end of trouble developed for the nurses and the Sheriff was sent for as a result. Lively was taken to Oquawka and on Tuesday was adjudged insane by a jury and taken to the state institution at Watertown”. -Blandinsville Star Gazette. (This is an example how the mentally ill were handled in 1926.)
MONMOUTH SALVATION ARMY DISBANDED: The Monmouth Salvation Army has been disbanded and Captain Williams, who has been in charge of the work there has decided to retire. The reason given for this situation is that a great deal of this work is now being taken care of by the city churches and community aid societies.
THE VOICE OF S.H.S.(Paul Bell, editor) There was no assembly last Friday as the students had something special to do: all day six weeks’ exam. Blanche Beardsley hopes Russ doesn’t have to go home any more on Friday night. The coach and a large number of boys are getting in shape for the track season. Some of the pupils are showing symptoms of spring fever. Ralph Peterson has been singing “A young man fancy is in the spring time.” The English teacher asked, “All that shines is not gold. Will someone give me an example.” Dale Grandy, “A new Ford.”
SOIL TESTING SCHOOL SUCCESS: In spite of the well nigh impassable roads, seven of the eleven townships were represented at the Soil Testing School held at the Farm Bureau office Friday, March 12th. A. Thor of the experiment station staff and in charge of the experiment fields in Western Illinois was present to assist Farm Adviser Walker in conducting the work. Soil samples from 320 acres of farm land were provided by eight of the men present, each sampling forty acres. The samples for a forty acre field consisted of 23 from the surface soil and 5 from the sub soil and were taken according to a definite plan furnished each man. After the tests were made, the results were recorded and a map made of each field designating the portions testing sweet or neutral and those showing slight, medium or strong acidity. One copy of this was taken by the individual farmer and the other is retained in the Farm Bureau office as a permanent record…(Science is coming the farming.)
A BIG TAX INCREASE: The taxes for the year 1925 paid by persons owning property within the corporate limits of Stronghurst amount to $8.18 per $100 of assessed valuation. This is an increase of 1.57 % over the previous year when the rate was $6.61 per $100. Comparison of the figures representing the taxes paid for the two years respectively, show that the increase of $1.57 per 100 for the year 1925 was divided among the various items of taxation as follows: state tax increase, 20 cents; county tax increase, 5 cents; township tax increase, 2 cents; road and brides increase, 34 cents; village tax increase, 5 cents; School Dist. No. 104 (high school) tax increase 5 cents; and School Dist. No. 30 tax increase, 86 cents. (At this time $1.00 is equal to $15.93 in today’s values)…
MURDER IN MONMOUTH: “Bud” Graves, a Monmouth Negro, suspected of being a bootlegger, was found murdered in his home in the city last Tuesday afternoon by two police officers who had been summoned to the house by a mysterious telephone message. Graves’ body was found in a bedroom in the house and it was thought at first that he had died from the effects of a drunken spree, but when the body was disrobed at the undertaking rooms, it was found that he had been shot in the back at short range with a 32-caliber revolver.
Clues which were soon picked up by the police led to the arrest of two negro men, Clarence Cooks and Bruce Collins of Burlington, Ia. and a Negro woman, Mrs. Mamie Young of Monmouth, all three of whom admitted being in the house with Graves when the shooting occurred. It is thought that the murder occurred some time Monday evening and that the body had lain in the bedroom several house before it was discovered by the police. Graves was about 25 ears of age and lived alone in the house in which he was murdered. Responsibility for the crime is expected to be fixed at the examination of the three suspects.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY: The South Country Birthday Club entertained with a St. Patrick’s Day party the home of Mr. and Mrs. Algert Nolan on Wednesday evening. A program of clever wit and entertainment from broadcasting station “P-A-T: with “Mike” announcing an “Irish Jamboree” was enjoyed with community singing and a general good time. The “green” was prominently used in decorations, the dining table having as its center of attraction an indoor aerial. Twelve birthday guest received special service and favors of a miniature “Irish Maid.” Assisting hostesses were Mrs. Ernest Negley, Mrs. J. J. Ross and Mrs. James Lindberg with Mr. Walter Nolan and Mr. Arthur Hartquist in charge of the program. The club was pleased to welcome at this time several new members who had just recently moved into the community.
DEATH OF J.P.. REASONER: John P. Reasoner, a former well known Henderson County citizen whose home in recent years has been at Battle Creek, Mich., passed away in that city last Saturday, March 13, as the result of a paralytic stroke which he suffered a few das previously. Mr. Reasoner was a relative of R. N. and Geo. Marshall and Mrs. Reasoner, who is the daughter of R. W.Gaddis, deceased, is a sister of Mrs. J. Marion Fort and Mrs. John Carothers also of this vicinity. Mr. R. N. Marshall, Miss Evelyn Carothers and Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Fort left to be present at the funeral.
LOMAX LINGERINGS: A series of meeting are being held at the Nazarene Church which began of Wednesday night in charge of Rev. A. J. Mitchell of Missouri. Earl Carter and wife of near Dallas city have moved to the Ena Pence farm south of town. Gayle Sparrow who underwent an operation for appendicitis at the Burlington Hospital is improving nicely and expects to be able to return home this week. James Tull who spent the winter with his sister at Gelena, Kansas has returned home. Louis Eckhardt and son Clifford attended a tractor school at Bushnell. Mrs. Frank Miller left for a month’s visit with relatives in Kansas and with her son Ernie Baker and family in Oklahoma.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: H. L. Kelly and son have fitted up the room west of their main storeroom and have put in a line of dry goods and shoes which they are now getting in shape. Mrs. Glenn Falder and niece, Miss Mildred Kilgore of Chicago, are visiting at the home of the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kilgore. August Weigand has been appointed administrator of the late Margaret Beggs estate. Mrs. Irene Zimmerman was over from Burlington to pack her household goods to move there. Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Burkett are moving into the Thos. Zimmerman house just vacated by Mrs. Zimmerman.
BIGGSVILLE COMMUNITY CLUB NOTES: The Community Club met in the home of Mrs. Nancy Jamison with Mrs. W. L. Hazen and Mrs. George Jamison assistant hostesses. After the regular business session, the following officers were elected: Mrs. John Foster, President; Vice-President, Mrs. Elmer Jamison; Secretary, Mrs. Ben Hill; Treasurer, Mrs. Laura McHenry; Mrs. John Gridley as second Vice-President and Allie McGaw as Corresponding Secretary. The musical numbers consisted of singing “America, the Beautiful and “My Old Kentucky Home.” A vocal duet by the Misses Adeline Stevenson and Francis Smith was enjoyed by the group.
The display of old china and pottery was given by the owner. The most ancient of the array was a creamer belonging to Mrs. N. Q. Welch which her great grandfather had brought from Ireland in 1760, a cup and saucer of Mrs. H. B. Kelly being 100 years old and brought from Scotland; a brass candlestick of Mrs. Chas. Graham over 100 years old and brought from England and a cup and saucer of Mrs. Albert Pearson which her grandmother Kelly started housekeeping with. Mrs. Welch also had a pair of men’s wool socks with clock work brought from Ireland in 1760 by her grandfather. Miss Mary Nesbit of Monmouth College was introduced and gave a good talk on china and china painting. (In 1900’s china painting was a class at Monmouth College; my mother-in-law, Esther Ross, had several pieces which she had painted in that class.)
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Jack Stevenson received two loads of cattle and Edgar Rankin one load Friday evening from St. Paul. Harry Plummer has been of the sick list with the flu. Mrs. S. C. Whiteman was taken to the Burlington Hospital for treatment. Ed Stotts returned from Charles City, Iowa where he was among a group of farmers and dealers who were entertained by the Hart-Parr Tractor Co. The Women’s Missionary Society of the United Presbyterian Church met in the church parlor. Dr. Almira Mekemson and Mrs. Ericson had charge of the two lessons in two study books. These new officers were elected: President-Mrs. Frank Whiteman; Vice-President-Miss Maggie Reynolds; Secretary-Miss Agnes Glenn; Treasurer-Mrs. Ollie Douglass; Literature Secretary-Mrs. Carrie Reifschneider; Thank Offering Secretary-Mrs. Elizabeth Sterrett and Mrs. Ericson-Chairman of the Social Committee.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Miss Blanche Curd is again able to resume her high school attendance after an extended illness from pneumonia. C. S. Forbes and wife left on a short vacation trip during which they will visit their son, Marion and family at South Bend, Indiana. Del Fornell is taking care of Forbes’ draying business during his absence. Keith Stratton, who has been in the employ of the Stronghurst Grain and Mdse. Co. has returned to his home in Walton, Kansas. Mr. H. C. Minchen, Santa Fe Division Superintendent, and Mr. Fred Gillipiat, his chief clerk, stopped here while on an inspection of the division. About 60 people were present at the St. Patrick’s Day Social given by the young people of the M.E. Church. A jolly time was enjoyed, games and the serving of refreshments constituting the chief features of the affair.
According to an item which appeared in the Monmouth Review Atlas of March 17th, Henry O. White of the Olena neighborhood has filed a petition in bankruptcy in the federal court in Peoria listing liabilities at $25, 909.67 and assets of $186.50. It is reported the damage suit brought by Mrs. Ed Waterman of Lomax against W. J. Fisher for the death of her husband while he was in Fisher’s employ, has been settled out of court for $2,500. ($39,925 in today’s values). The original amount sued for was $10,000 ($159,700). The Willing Workers of the Stronghurst U.P. Church will hold their next tea in the church dining room on Friday, March 26th. Hostesses will be Mrs. John Peasley, Mrs. Guy Sanderson, Mrs. Frank Smith, Mrs. A. C. Yaley, Mrs. Elbridge Fort, Miss Evelyn Carothers and Miss Esther Marshall. All ladies of the community are invited. Mrs. N. C. Curry was pleasantly surprised Friday afternoon by 12 of her lady friends who reminded her that one more milestone of her life had passed by. Dainty refreshments were served and Mrs. Curry was presented with a set of silver teaspoons. If Jessie was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she has one now. An out-of-town guest was Mrs. Delford Putney, who had been visiting at the Curry home. Friends learned that Gene Baxter, former Stronghurst boy, who for the past three years has been employed as manager of the Pioneer Lumber Co. in Gilson, Ill. was married on Saturday evening, March 6th to Miss Edna Dewain of that city.
COUNTY CLERK IN ACCIDENT: “County Clerk Jos. Barnes and Chas. Endicott met with an unfortunate accident while driving near Coldbrook Saturday evening about 7:30 when their car collided with a car standing by the side of the road and threw them forward into the windshield. Mr. Endicott escaped injury, but Mr. Barnes received bad bruises and cuts about the head and face. He was taken to the Monmouth Hospital where he received medical treatment and was able to be brought to his home in Oquawka that afternoon. The car was badly damaged.”.-Monmouth Daily Review Atlas
ON THE NATIONAL SCENE: Melting snows submerged the graves of the Minute Men of 1776 and other Revolutionary War heroes in three feet of water at the historic old graveyard at Harvard square, Cambridge, Mass. Sons of the Revolution in New York placed wreathes on the statue of George Washington in Union Square partly in celebration of his birthday and partly in answer to what they consider recent attacks on the character of the Father of His Country. “Old Ironsides,” the famous Constitution ship of the old American Navy is to start on a coast trip into the Gulf and up the Mississippi in the interest of the restoration fund which has been started. Already $150,000 has been received in contributions.
LATEST FASHION FROM PARIS: A prominent actress arrived from Paris wearing a grayish beige wool skirt with a red Leather straight-line coat with raglan sleeves. Summer ermine appeared in a narrow collar and in a border down the side of the coat. A lip sticked-red felt hat draped in the back with grayish beige colors was repeated in her hose and shoes. (Local women would have read this article with interest and repeated those colors in their next ensemble.)