The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
A WORTHY APPEAL: Word has been received from Evangelist Loren E. Pecaut, who is now conducting meetings at Keithsburg, Ill., that he has an option on a tent 48x80 that he can get if he acts at once. He desires to purchase it because he can do more work for Christ. He says he realizes the need of preaching the gospel to as many folks as possible and that many people will come to a tent meeting that will not come to a church. He asks for small donations by letter from several of the churches in Stronghurst and he has requested the paper to solicit contributions from the business men, farmers and whoever feels able to give.
CANNERY UP TO FARMERS: Whether this community is to have a canning factory or not is now up to the farmers, the townspeople have done their part said Mr. Zeigler, manager of the United Fords \Company whose main plant is at New Boston and proposes to build a branch factor here. The statement was made before a large crowd interested in the establishment of such a factory, who had gathered at the Community Room Saturday afternoon to discuss details to clear up things which had not previously been understood by many people.
In reference to Mr. Zeigler’s statement that the proposition is now up to the farmers, judging from the large number of farmers present in spite of the rain and the almost impassible condition of the roads and the interest displayed in the meeting by the farmers, it looks as if this community is assured of a canning factory. At the opening of the meeting a number of business men who had visited the New Boston factory told for the benefit of those who had not heard before of the favorable opinions of the people of New Boston vicinity regarding their plant, the good business it had been doing for several years, and of the reliability and financial soundness of Mr. Zeigler.
Mr. Zeigler explained that he was not going about establishing a factory here in any haphazard manner, but careful attention would be given to every detail. For instance, Mr. Elsworth Wetterling told of how when he started raising tomatoes for the Lomax factory, he was left to work out his own salvation. Being a green hand at it naturally he made some mistakes in growing, which cut down his profits, but he said that last year he netted $75 per acre off of his tomatoes ($1,352 in today’s values) and the rains cut the production about in two. Mr. Zeigler said that he would have experienced men from New Boston here the first year to help the farmers get started right and to give them whatever help they needed. He said the first year the plants would be brought from the New Boston green house but after that a large green house would be built here. He said that he would furnish machines and men to plant for those who desired help and the cost, plants labor and all, per acre, for planting tomatoes would be but about $5.00 ($90 in today’s values).
The farmers of the community are asked to raise 500 aces of tomatoes and a much less acreage of cabbage, cucumbers and pumpkins. Mr. Zeigler promised this kind of truck raising to be highly profitable if careful attention is given to the business. He cited $100 ($1,802 in today’s values) to be a fair average for tomatoes to net when properly cared for…Farmers are urged to think this matter over seriously and if they have any questions which they would like answered, to see Mr. Zeigler himself or Mr. Walker of the Farm Bureau. The town is not trying to shove this factory onto the farmers. If the farmers want it, the town wants it and if the farmers don’t want it, the town can’t make it a success.
OBITUARIES-TILLOTSON: Dr. G.K. Tillotson of Moline, Ill., passed away at 9 pm March 9 at the hospital. He had a stroke on Monday of this week and was taken there. He never regained consciousness. Dr. Tillotson was well known here and had many friends as a result of some 25 years of dental practice here which was discontinued about 10 years ago with his moving to Moline, where he followed the same profession until the time of his affliction. Time and place of the funeral is unknown but his body will be taken to Marshalltown, Iowa for burial.
VAUGHN-Relatives received the sad news this morning of the death of Mrs. Robert Vaughn at her home in LaGrange, Ill. Mrs. Vaughn was formerly Miss Helen Landon, one of our most efficient high school instructors. She had hosts of friends here who extend sympathy to the bereaved husband.
NOTES HERE AND THERE: The Women’s Community Club meeting held in the club room featured an interesting paper on native birds read by Mrs. I.F. Harter and Mrs. Anna Marshall. About 40 women met in the prayer service at the United Presbyterian Church last Friday afternoon. The Henderson County Farm Bureau held an interest meeting discussing the results and methods of the McLean County System of Swine Sanitation and the mixing of rations to secure the cheapest gains. (A table of carloads of grain and stock shipped on the Santa Fe from Stronghurst 1920-1926 is in this issue) (A listing of perfect attendance by grade of the Stronghurst Grade School in this issue-look to see if your great grandmother is listed.) The application of the Warren-Henderson Oil Co. for recognition as a corporation has been acted on favorably by the state authorities and a certified copy of the articles of incorporation has been received and place on file in the county recorder’s office in Monmouth. The crack Terre Haute quintet won the Henderson County High School Basketball Championship at the Biggsville gymnasium when it defeated the fast Media cagers by a score of 23 to 18 in the final game of a two-day tournament.