The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
OBITUARY-MRS. A. JOHNSON: Ida Sophia Johnson was born in the parish of Vimmerby, Provence of Calmar, Sweden Dec. 3, 1868. She came to America with her parents in 1869 at the age of five months. She was confirmed in the Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church in Burlington, Iowa on March 16, 1884 by the Rev. Joshua E. Erlander. She united in holy wedlock to Mr. August Johnson of Gladstone, Ill. on July 31, 1895. They have continuously resided on their farm in Henderson County near Gladstone. Mrs. John died in her home after a lingering illness surrounded by her husband and children on Oct. 28, 1926.
At her bier stand now mourning, her husband and her four daughters: Mrs. Axel Waring of Stronghurst, Ill.; the Misses Gertrude, Sophia and Elsa and two sons, Carl and Glennard at home. Also, three grandchildren, Margaret, Carl and Frances Waring of Stronghurst, Ill.; one sister, Mrs. Mary Lundborg of Chicago, Ill. and on brother, J. A. Larson of Burlington Iowa and a number of other relatives and friends mourn her passing. Her funeral services were held from the family home Tuesday morning 9:30 o’clock and the Lutheran Church of Stronghurst at 11 o’clock. Interment was made in the Stronghurst Cemetery.
AGED ROSEVILLE MAN DIED: : Sam Young, a long-time resident of Roseville and vicinity passed away at his home Wednesday evening, Oct. 20th at about 8:30 o’clock, death being caused from heart trouble. He was 72 years, one month and four days of age at the time of his passing.
FUNERAL SERVICES IN BIGGSVILLE: : Sunday afternoon at the Presbyterian Church funeral services were conducted for Magnus Munson who passed away at the Burlington Hospital last Thursday following an operation for acute appendicitis. Rev. F. M. Caughey of the U.P. Church assisted by Rev. Tennant of the Grace M.E. Church of Burlington were in charge of the service. Singing was by Miss Evelyn Dixon, Mrs. A. P. McHenry, A. W. Pearson and Ora Smith with Mrs. M. J. Babcock accompanying. Casket bearers were A. P. Henry, James Kilgore, Sr., H. B. Kelly, Clyde Dixon, E. L. Claybaugh and John Boyd. Burial was in the family lot in the Biggsville Cemetery…
STOLEN: The patrons on a telephone line out of Lomax recently complained that their line was not giving service. The “trouble man” was called and proceeded to investigate. He was astonished to find about a half mile of the telephone wire missing, some scoundrel having deliberately stolen it.
BOATS USED FOR FUNERAL PARTY: : Mrs. C. E. Soule, wife of Dr. C. E. Soule, one of Beardstown’s most highly esteemed women, died on Tuesday last at her home in that city, her death being due to pneumonia which was brought on by exposure which she has been subject to since the Soule home has been surrounded by the flood waters. She was 60 years and is survived by her husband and several children.
The first funeral procession by boat ever held in Beardstown was held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon when her remains were taken from the home to the Congregational Church where services were held. The remains were then taken by boat to a point where the funeral party made railroad connections. Interment was in Bryon, Ill.
MASQUERADE PARTY: : Mrs. Wm. LeCroy entertained the children of the second grade with a few invited guests in honor of her little daughter, Margaret’s seventh birthday Saturday afternoon from two to five o’clock. Kenneth Mudd won first prize dressed as a witch. Ruth McClure won second prize dressed to represent a kitten and Charles and Helen Johnson deserve honorable mention as they dressed as an old man and lady and acted the part very well. Kenneth Peasley dressed as Geo. Washington.
The rooms were decorated in orange and black with pumpkins, black cats and witches for the occasion. After playing several games, refreshment of ice cream, cake, cocoa and candy were served. All wished Margaret many more happy birthdays. The hostess was assisted in entertaining by her daughters, Mary, Helen and Doris Reynolds, Mrs. Fred Reynolds and Mrs. H. C. Haefelin.
RETIRES FROM BUSINESS: : ?Wm. W. Church who for more than half a century operated a wagon factory on the present site of the Knoxville, Ill. Old Ladies Home building, has retired from active business at the age of 94.
CARAVAN THROUGH THE COUNTY: : The Republican county and district candidates, with numerous party adherents and the Stronghurst band, made a tour of the county on Monday and Tuesday and left in their wake an ever-increasing body of loyal Republican enthusiasts. The Caravan made its first stop at 10:30 o’clock Monday morning at Gladstone. Noon was spent in Biggsville. Rozetta and Bald Bluff Townships were visited in the afternoon and a big night meeting was held in the court house at Oquawka at about 8 o’clock. On the second day of the tour, Carman and Lomax were visited in the morning and dinner was taken at Terre Haute. Raritan was the afternoon stop and supper held at Media. The concluding campaign meeting held in the Strand theatre at Stronghurst in the evening. Mr. A. H. Kershaw was in charge of this meeting. Everywhere the Republicans received a royal welcome. Bands of patriots gathered in every town to meet the candidates and to encourage them. The Stronghurst band led the caravan and its lively music kept everyone in the best of spirits during the entire tour.
At most of the stops all of the candidates made short speeches. From the county were J. W. Gordon, candidate for re-election as county judge; J. J. Barnes as county clerk; Spurgeon Musgove as county treasurer; W.B. Gregory as county sheriff and W. Lee Viar as candidate for County Supt. of Schools...
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: : Quite a number from this locality attended the “Billy” Sunday meeting at Stronghurst. Rev. Hubbs announced to his Olena congregation on Sabbath Day that his wife remained quite seriously ill from a general breakdown and her attending physician ordered complete rest and quiet. Hence no callers are admitted. Mrs. Hubbs has greatly endeared herself to this community by her gentle manners.
RARITAN REPORTS: Mrs. Bob Kuyper of Pella, Ia. spent the last week in the C. E. Perrine home. Mrs. Doren Perrine, who was called here by her mother’s illness, Mrs. P. H. Voorhees, departed for her home in California. The Ladies of the Reform Church will give a chicken pie supper and bazaar in the church basement the evening of Nov. 2nd.
OBITUARY-MAGNUS MUNSON: : Mr. Munson passed away at the Burlington Hospital last Thursday following an operation for acute appendicitis. Rev. F.M. Caughey of the U.P. Church, assisted by Rev. Tennant of the Grace M.E. Church of Burlington were in charge of the services. Singing was by Miss Evelyn Dixon, Mrs. A. P. Mc Henry, A. W. Pearson and Ora Smith with Mrs. M. J. Babcock accompanying. Casket bearers were A. P. McHenry, James Kilgore, Sr, H. B. Kelly, Clyde, Dixon, E. L. Claybaugh and John Boyd. Burial was in the family lot in the Biggsville Cemetery. Relatives present from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Munson from Davenport, Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Henry Munson and children of Galesburg, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Munson and children of Burington, Miss Matild Linberg, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Lindberg, Arnold Lindberg and Mr. and Mrs. Knutstrom of Galesburg, Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. C. B. Fauetchy of Burlington and Abe Bergen of Monmouth.
OBITUARY-JACOB LOX: : Mr. Lox who was 64 years old and a resident of Gladstone for 40 years, passed away at his home Wednesday. He had been ill for several years and bedfast for eleven weeks. The funeral services were held Saturday at 2 o’clock in the U.P. church with Rev. Whitmyer officiating. Burial was in the Oquawka Cemetery.
Those from out of town attending were Mr. and Mrs. Launroth, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph James and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Huneke and children, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Leurs and son, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Cook and Mrs. Clara Sewards of Burlington, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Putney of Stronghurst, Mr. and Mrs. John and Ike Peterson of Olena and Ivan Brown of Monmouth.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: : Mrs. Will Musser entertained last Saturday afternoon, Verna and Mildred Millen, Mary Jean and Elizabeth Foster and Delta Knox in honor of Mary Jean’s 13th birthday and the first birthday of her little daughter, Danna Jean Musser. William Sloan was able to return from the hospital Saturday. Rev. and Mrs. F. M. Caughey and son Mac returned from a visit with Mr. Caughey’s brother at Ames, Iowa, and with Mrs. Garrity at a Des Moines hospital; she is very low.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: : Mrs. R. N. Stephenson and Mrs. Ida Day of Cheyenne, Wyo. are here making preparations for the selling of the Stephenson home. Mrs. Stephenson has been living with her daughter, Mrs. Day, for the past two years there. Miss Adaline Thomas came from Rio for a brief visit with home folks before going to her work in Burlington. Wilson Stewart is shucking corn near Stronghurst. Mrs. Smith of Ipava came to help care for her daughter, Mrs. J. Hubbs, who is ill at this time. Zelda Gray Schell and a number of her girlfriends enjoyed a wiener roast Monday evening. Miss Iva Gray acted as chaperone.
OQUAWKA QUERIES: : Mrs. Etta McFarland, Mrs. Martha Schell, and Mrs. Frank Thomas and daughter attended the Billy Sunday meeting at Monmouth Sunday. Mrs. Arthur Gilmore has returned home from Macomb where she was called by illness of a relative. Mrs. Clarence McOlgan was quite sick Saturday. A session of Circuit Court was held here Saturday. Miss Ethel Knox and Amos Noble attended the show, “Blossom Time” in Burlington Saturday evening. Mrs. John Fisher returned to her Chicago home after a few days visit at the Mrs. Lucretia Phelps home. Arthur Stripe north of town is driving a new Ford Sedan. Miss Beulah Radmacher has been quite sick with an attack of appendicitis.
BAND IS NO MORE: : The Stronghurst Band is no more. The money has stopped coming in and expenses could not be met so it was not deemed wise to go in debt during the winter with only the promise of compensation during the next summer’s concert season. The band members receive no pay for rehearsals and most of them pay $1 per week for lessons (In today’s values is $17.42.) devote an hour of their time each day to practice and as a majority are minor sand cannot afford to pay additional expenses. Of course, some of the merchants are willing to help the band financially, but this will not do. The organization does not boost one or two merchants, it boosts all of them in Stronghurst.
In some towns there are a few merchants who will not contribute their share to public enterprises, but at the same time receive equal benefits from them as others who contribute. We don’t believe we have any such merchants in Stronghurst. We hope soon to be able to publish a list of those contributing to the band fund, which will bear the names of every business firm in Stronghurst. (The paper is putting pressure on those who do not contribute.)
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: : Miss Frances Worley left for Des Moines, Ia., where she, with other members of her class, will take the Iowa State Board examination for nurses. Mr. J. B. Staley is putting in hard wood floors at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Cavins at Media this week. Miss Audrey Marsden has been confined to her home the past few days by illness and Mr. Donald Chandler has been filling her place at the Farm Bureau offices. Mr. John Knowles who has been clerk for the Wax Mercantile Co. for the past number of months, has resigned his position and is again care taker of the Stronghurst Club house. Mrs. Arthur Macombrie of Olathe, Kans. came for a visit with Mrs. Elbridge Fort and other friends. She will be remembered as Miss Mary Monteith, a former Stronghurst young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Stevenson of Elvaston, Ill. spent Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Brooks. Mr. Brooks is recovering from the attack of influenza which he has been suffering for the past two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Ross entertained with a family dinner on Sunday in honor of the 88 birthday of their mother, Mrs. Katherine Ross. Elmer Coleman, who has been visiting his mother, Mrs. Joe Long, left for the Great Lakes training station and will leave in the near future for California.
VOICE OF S.H.S the high school paper) The work of grading the school yard is being very successfully done by Mr. O. J. Sanderson with the help of James Hudnut. The west half of the yard is completed and in two or three days the yard will be entirely done. Nothing helps more towards beautifying the look of a school than a fine-looking lawn. So, when grass is sown on it, Stronghurst will have a lawn to be proud of. Mr. Nicholas has lately shown a great fondness for animals. He even brings his pet cat to school and tie it to his desk. A certain senior boy took Ida Ruth Sandy to the picture show last Saturday night. It seemed as though she didn’t like shows. She said that she didn’t or anyone and that she wanted her quarter back. The high school subscribed for a newspaper called Le Matin, direct from Paris. It reaches here all the way from eight days to two weeks after it is published and the subscription price amounts to about four dollars…It is especially for the French classes.
Last week the Civics class had a debate on the question: “Resolved that the U.S. should adopt the Initiative, Referendum and Recall. Speakers for the affirmative were Charles Davis and Kenneth Veech. And speakers for the negative were Lester McKeown and Pauline Stine. This was the first debate in the class this year. Mr. Dawson, the teacher, was seeing how green the class was and scheduled another debate with the question:” Resolved that our jury system needs revising. Reeder Marsden and Kenneth Veech will speak for the affirmative and LaVern Leinbach and Pauline Stine for the Negative. Lester Mc Keown is to act as chairman.
ORA SMITH IN THE RACE: “Ora Smith of Biggsville, candidate for Treasurer of Henderson County was a visitor at school Tuesday. Mr. Smith is making a campaign for this office as the choice of the Democratic Pary at the primary last spring, receiving the nomination without opposition. He is a man of ability and integrity and the financial affairs of the county will be in good hands if he is elected. We have personally known Mr. Smith for 15 years and know him to be a gentleman of unquestioned character. He is conducting his campaign along the lines such as all candidates should employ; soliciting support from voters without splashing mud at any other candidate. The campaign has been interfered with by sickness and bad roads and if you do not receive a personal visit from Mr. Smith, it is because he is unable to cover the county in the short time that yet remains before election. He wants your support and it will not be a misdirected confidence if you vote from him on Nov. 2nd.”-Lomax Searchlight, a political ad.
(Another political ad was offered by the candidate for Sheriff, W. R. Smiddy who was serving his fourth term as Supervisor of Lomax Township and his third term as Mayor of the village of Lomax.)
Curiously, the S.H.S. paper has a column, “Auld Lang Syne” that uses the following from the Oct. 31, 1901 Stronghurst Graphic: The Henderson County farmer’s annual institute was held last Friday and Saturday, Henry Brown, an old resident of Smithshire, died last Friday. William Morris, colored, was burned at the stake by a mob at Balltown, La., for assaulting Mrs. John Ball. Mr. J. E. Pence has resigned from the position of sextan of the Oquawka Cemetery. Baltimore and Ohio passenger train, No. 3, was derailed on a curve near Ravenna, Ohio by spikes and slag that had been placed on the rails by two boys, under 18 years of age. John Sigrist, center rush of the Ohio State University Football team has a broken neck in a game with the Western Reserve eleven. Roads to Beulah, Colorado are lively with pilgrims on the way to the new gold fields, Ore brought in is said to assay at $1,200 a ton. W. B. Towler purchased the Enos Moore residence in the west part of the village. The Stronghurst football team was defeated at Biggsville by a score of 6 to 0. Will Allison’s team got loose last Thursday evening and took their own sweet way from the Ellison Church in going home after the lecture. Considerable damage was done. James Swigert of Bosworth, Mo., foreman of the concrete gang on the Santa Fe Railroad was knocked from a car at Galesburg and killed.
MEDIA BROADCASTER IN THE STRONGHURST GRAPHIC, Oct. 28, 1926: (Long article pushing for the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce to advertise its assets-the county is fourth in per capita wealth outside Cook County. The per capital wealth of every man, woman and child is $1.092. Tax rate is the lowest in the state being only 48 cents per hundred…
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL NEWS (Long article about the Hallowe’en Carnival) Mr. and Mrs. Eldon White will entertain the young married people’s social club Thursday evening Oct. 28th at their home with a Masquerade party. The first home football game will be played here on Mathers field Saturday afternoon. Tickets are 35 cents. Mrs. D. R. M. Henderson of Stronghurst has been treating Mrs. George Wax. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hendrickson, Jr. are the proud parents of a baby boy born last Wednesday.