The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
COMMENCEMENT: Commencement exercises for the Senior Class of 1926 were held Friday, May 28th at 8 pm in the United Presbyterian Church. A large crowd was in attendance with the church filled to its utmost capacity. As the processional was played on the pipe organ by Mrs. Gertrude Upton, the Seniors, 25 of them, marched from the front entrance down the aisle, across the pulpit and became seated in the choir box in the front of the church. Rev. J. E. Holt gave a splendid invocation. Miss Florence Findley, class salutatorian, gave the welcome. The audience was next entertained with a piano solo, “Country Gardens” by Winnibeth Rankin. Lucile Butler, class valedictorian spoke to some length. Charles E. Fort, Jr. rendered the vocal solo, “When the Heart Is Young.” Dr. Albert Britt, President of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. gave the commencement address. Following this the high school chorus sang “Hail to the Dawn.” Diplomas were presented by Prof. L. O. Dawson. Members of the entire Senior Class received signed diplomas. Prof. Dawson commended the class for its high scholastic standing and joined the community in congratulating the graduates, which were the following: Elsie Ahlers, Sarah Brook, Paul Bell, Lucile Butler, Bessie Curd, Chester Brokaw, Irene Kershaw, Gladys Lant, Alfred Shallenberger, Alma Mills, Alice Powell, Sheron Gregory, Louis Marshall, Gladys Mudd, Florence May Findley, Richard Howell, Max Veech, Lorraine Anderson, Joe Howell, Robert Pence, Frances Mahaffey, Pauline Marsden and Frances Sweasy. The exercise closed with prayer by Rev. R. C. Myers.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TRAINING SCHOOL: Final arrangements are being made for the Sunday School Teacher’ Training School which will be held here on June 6th to June 20th. An enrollment of 234 has been reported to date, a majority of whom expressed a preference for holding the school at Stronghurst. Indications are that the enrollment will reach of exceed 300…
NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN: Stronghurst has a new business opened up in the J. E. Wells Building on Main Street. The Roberts Chevrolet Co., O. M. Roberts proprietor, has secured the Chevrolet agency for this vicinity and is now ready to do business. The salesmen for the concern are Forest B. Roberts, son of Mr. O. M. Roberts, and Chester Brokaw. The Roberts are former residents of Blandinsville. All are capable business men and they bring a new business which will be a credit to Stronghurst.
DECORATION DAY SERVICES: A small assembly of loyal citizens gathered at the United Presbyterian Church Monday afternoon and listened to a very interesting program given in commeration of those soldiers who have given their lives for their country. The church was prettily decorated with bouquets and wreaths of flowers. A large African lily, furnished by Mrs. W. C. Ivins was very appropriate as a memorial to the many-colored soldiers who answered their country’s call by death. (Mrs. Ivins was definitely stepping outside the box of an ordinary woman.)
The service opened by the singing of “America” and a prayer by Rev. Lester Gerber followed by Mrs. L. E. McAndrews singing, “God be With Our Boys Tonight.” Rev. Lepeliak, pastor of the Reformed Church of Raritan gave a very beneficial address. He observed that the last war was a righteous war and that was also true of the Civil War. Today, the people of the South are happy and the slaves are free. He also stated that America must wake up to keep her civilization and the only hope is the revival of the old-time religion…After the vocal solo, “Volunteers” by Chas. Fort, Jr., the services were adjourned to the Stronghurst Cemetery where a number of little girls, escorted by the Boy Scouts, carried and placed a small flag and wreath of flowers upon the graves of soldiers.
COMPLETES NURSES TRAINING: Frances May Worley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Worley of Stronghurst and also a graduate of Stronghurst High School received her diploma on Tuesday evening after completion of a three-year course at the Burlington Training Hospital School. She was one of the eleven graduates and the only one from Henderson County…
FARM BUREAU WILL PLAY LITTLE YORK: The Henderson County Farm Bureau baseball team will lay the Little Your Independents at Little York on Saturday. Herbert Pence will be on the mound for the Farm Bureau boys with his usual stuff and if given support by the team, will give his opponents a run for their money. The farmers are practicing hard and should soon round into form.
OBITUARY-WILLIAM EDWIN HURD: Mr. Hurd, oldest son of Rev. George W. and Christena J. Hurd was born in Wisconsin, March 13, 1852 and passed away at his home here on May 28th, aged 74 years, 2 months and 15 days. His parents who were early pioneers to Illinois had gone to Wisconsin to work at a saw mill and were living on an island in the Bad Axe River. Settlers lived far apart and no doctor was near when this, their first child came into their home and the mother and babe were cared for by a friendly Indian squaw.
When about a year old, Mr. Hurd and his parents returned to Hoppers Mills, Ill. where he resided until young manhood. He was always a great lover of music and when just a boy would work in the field all day and walk 3 miles in the evening to take a lesson on the violin.
On July 3, 1872 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Trimmer and lived near Hopper Mills until 1878 when they, both being of pioneer parents, felt the call of the West and started overland for Kansas crossing the Mississippi river on the ice in March. After residing on a homestead near Lincoln, Kansas for a year and a half, they with the Hake brothers and several others formed a wagon train and started for the great Northwest. After four weary months of travel they arrived at Seattle, Wash. where Mr. Hurd worked in the railroad yards for a year and a half. On leaving that place, they settled at Pendleton, Oregon where he learned the carpenter trade. From there they went to Walnut Grove, Calif. where his wife and companion was taken from him by death in 1883, leaving him with five small children, four of which he brought back to Illinois, leaving the infant daughter in California for year with an uncle. To this union six children were born, the oldest Marion Edwin dying in infancy. Surviving George J. Hurd of Wells, Tex., Pearl Dyer of Ellsworth, Kans., H. H. Hurd of Keokuk, Iowa and CIB Hurd and Mrs. Mary B. Shook of Stronghurst.
Mr. Hurd, always a lover of music, returned to the West in 1884 with his loved violin where he played professional in the following states: Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Texas and Illinois. On Sept 3, 1887 he united in marriage to Maria Jane Tittle of Meadville, Mo. and to them was born two children, Charles Murray who was called from them on Dec. 14, 1913 and Frank Emerald of Galesburg, Ill. Three brothers survive: G. M. Hurd of Tallulah, La., R. G. Hurd of Sanger, Tex. and F. T. Hurd of Southon, Tex, also four grandchildren: Eva Pearl and LeRoy Shook of Stronghurst and Mrs. Erma Dyer Palmquist of Ellsworth, Kans.
Many years ago, Mr. Hurd united with the M.E. Church at Hopper Mills and acted as Sunday School Superintendent the last three years of his residence there. On moving to Stronghurst about 25 years ago, he transferred his membership to the Christian Church where he worshiped and assisted in any way he could until ill health prevented him from taking any active part. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows lodge for many years and was always glad to lend a helping hand whenever and wherever he could. He served as Justice of the Peace for the past 30 years. He leaves his wife, children and grandchildren and a host of friends to mourn his loss. Funeral services were held at the Stronghurst Christian Church with interment in the Stronghurst Cemetery.
(Movie theatre lists all the features for the next two weeks in an effort to increase numbers. A listing of pieces to be play by the town band on Saturday night encourages attendees.)
FIELD MEETING IN OQUAWKA: A field meeting designed to show the farmers of Henderson County and adjacent territory the value of modern methods of soil improvement is to held on June 11 on the soil experiment field maintained by the College of Agriculture, one half mile northeast of Oquawka; it is announced by F.C. Bauer, chief of fields in a letter to Farm Adviser Walker. Speeches by various members of the college agronomy department and an inspection of the crops growing in the field will comprise the program which will start at 1:30 in the afternoon. LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Herbert Brook who underwent an appendicitis operation at the Burlington Hospital is getting along nicely. Mr. James Strickland and family are now located in the Stamp property, formerly occupied by W. D. Kennedy and family on the north side. Mr. Will Carter who works for the Hartquist brothers, while repairing a fence a few days ago, stepped on a nail which penetrated his shoe and foot. He consulted a physician who opened and disinfected the wound. After a few days on enforced rest, he has resumed work. Miss Winifred Jones who is a student at Bradley College in Peoria visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Jones. Jesse Deum and daughter, Miss Hazel, and Miss Dorothy Lukens left for Colony, Mo. where they spent Decoration Day with relatives. The Misses Ethel Jenkins and Audrey Marsden attended the class play at Terre Haute.
Those wishing ice on Sundays will find me at the Lake Fort ice house from 9:30-11:00. The Loyal Women of the Christian Church will hold a bake sale Saturday afternoon at 1:30 at the NuVon Hotel. Dewey Mudd has employment at the Sheaffer Pen Co. of Ft. Madison. Clarence Burrell of Kinsman, Ill. and the Misses Leon and Garnett Burrell of Galesburg spent Decoration Day with their mother, Mrs. Helen Burrell. Fred and Robert Wilson of Dunkirk, N.Y, who are employed by the Western Union Telegraph Co. as linemen, were called here by the serious illness of their sister, Mrs. Elsie Crane. Dr. F. M. Henderson resumed his trips here after missing out on a trip on account of having his tonsils removed at the Galesburg Osteopathic convention and clinic two weeks ago. Floyd Clark and Geo. T. Chant drove by truck to West Point, Ill. where they delivered an ice counter to C. W. Rampley. C. D. Wax of this place is manufacturing these ice counters and the business is growing. Invitations have been received here by relatives and friends of Mr. John Stine to attend the graduating exercises of the class of 1926 of the Columbia School of Expression at Chicago. Mr. Stine has been engaged as one the instructors in the school.
The Union Memorial Day Service was held last Sabbath morning at the M.E. Church with Rev. R. C. Myers in Charge. Rev. Elmer J. Holt of the Lutheran Church offered the opening prayer and Rev. Gerber of the Christian Church delivered a most able address. The M.E. choir furnished the music with Miss Edyth Salter at the piano. Only two Civil War veterans were present, George Fort and Hezekiah Butler. Mr. H. M. Allison and Mr. John Lant were unable to be present. Knowing that Marie Mudd Ruth would not be making Stronghurst her home in the future and that she would be starting on a two months tour at Chautauqua work, her friend Mrs. Hazel Duncan and Mrs. Ruth’s sister-in-law decided to give her a surprise. After a social time, each one present gave her a gift which would helpful at her new home in Walton, Indiana. E. O. Brown went to Chicago to consult a specialist in regard to his health. Mrs. Frances Harbour, and the Misses Lucile Jones, Louise Rankin and Mildred Grandey were excursionists on the Capitol steam from Burlington to Fort Madison. Rev. Holt leaves for the East to attend the annual convention of the Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America in Philadelphia as well as the Sequi-centennial Celebration there. He plans to stop off at Washington, D.C. and other points of interest.
MEDIA RECORD IN THE STRONGHURST GRAPHIC: WEDDING BELLS-ERICKSON & HOWELL: Edwin Erickson and Waneta Howell of Media were united in marriage Wednesday morning at 11:30 at the home of the bride by Rev. W. H. Cross of the Media United Church officiating. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Howell and has been employed by Judge Gordon in Oquawka who though very pleased with her marriage is loath to lose so efficient assistance in his office. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Erickson of this vicinity and is holding the governmental position of postmaster at Media. Following the ceremony, a twelve o’clock dinner was served to witnesses of the happy event: Rev. W. H. Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Howell and daughter Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Erickson and children Paul, Agnes and Elna and Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Erickson. The bridal coupe left on a short honeymoon. Their first stop will be Muscatine, Iowa, where they visit a short time with relatives.