The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
JOINT OIL COMPANY FORMED: Nearly one hundred farmers gathered at the request of the Henderson County and Warren County Farm Bureau at the Biggsville gymnasium on Jan. 24th to consider the organization of an oil company. Following a lunch, the meeting was called to order by C. W. Cooper, present of the Henderson County Farm Bureau and Chairman of the Joint Oil Committee of Warren and Henderson Counties.
A. P. Bartech of the Central Cooperative Oil Co. of Owatonna, Minnesota was introduced and he told of the difficulties encountered and of all success achieved…G. F. Barnes, an oil chemist of Chicago gave a talk on quality in oils and stressed the necessity of farmers having a better knowledge of lubricating oils and of being equipped to test oils as their suitability for use in motors. A letter from the manager of the Marshall-Putnam County Oil Company at Henry, Illinois, was read showing that the net profit at the end of six months operation amounted to $8.000 in addition to reserve.
C. E Duke presented the report of the oil committee appointed last summer to work out a plan for a joint company. He told of the committee visiting the plants of other co-operative oil companies and then presented suggested articles of incorporation and by-laws which were unanimously adopted by the men present. Following this vote, stock pledges were taken for a good size block of stock and arrangements were made to boost the stock sale as rapidly as possible. Provisions are made in the by-laws for the operation of this company in a similar manner to any commercial oil company and the net profits are to be returned to the stockholders.
NICHOLS HAREWARE IN BURLINGTON: “The building at 113 Jefferson Street has been purchased by Thos. A. Nichols and it is announced that about the first of April he will return to the hardware business opening a new store there which formerly was occupied by Grover Martin. He purchased the Martin stock as well as the stock of the Burlington Barber Supply Co. and will dispose of these under the firm name of “Nichols Sales Company.”
Mr. Nichols is a veteran of the hardware trade and since retirement from business several months ago when he sold his interests to George H. Minier, has conducted a merchandise and brokerage business which he will continue to have with his re-entry into the hardware business.”—Burlington Gazette
HORSE SALE-A FAILURE: The crowd at the J.M. Smith horse sale at the stockyards last Saturday was all that could be desired, but the horses failed to sell. Various explanations were offered by experienced farmers and stockmen as to why the horses didn’t sell with the consensus of opinion being that it was too early for a horse sale as the farmers were not ready to buy. Only three of the 24 horses were sold and the owner bought one of them back.
BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: Arthur Noyes returned to Chicago after being called here by the sickness of his father, Dr. F. A. Noyes; he is much improved. Moving time is here again: Ora Smith will move to the Jim Graham farm; Earl Dye from the Graham farm to the O. A. Whiteman farm; George Drain from the Whiteman farm to the Will Campbell farm and Glen Campbell will move his family to Burlington. Dr. Murry of Monmouth preached at the Presbyterian Church Sunday morning and a congregational meeting was held after the service to consider the sale of the parsonage for which several offers have been received. No definite action was taken. Taylor Woolsey is suffering with a severe burn on one of his hands received while lighting a gasoline stove. The shippers’ association meeting held at the high school was well attended and a number of important business matters were disposed of. Stephen Graham, Sr, was elected as a director in place of Walther South who had resigned. A plan for putting the association of a sound financial basis was formulated and adopted. Quite a sum of money belonging to the association is tied up in the Kirkwood bank by failure of the bank here, and the matter of available funds had to be arranged for otherwise.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: The ladies of the sewing circle gave a handkerchief shower in honor of Mrs. Martha Lewis and Mrs. H. Witmer’s birthdays. Mrs. E. Ligett returned to her home in Fairfield after a few days visit her with her daughter, Mrs. S. Stewart. George Lewis is on the sick list. Two bobsleds loads attended the church services at Olena Sunday P,M,: Mesdames L. Curtis, Maude Furnald, G. Zerber, W. D .Colley, Wm. Daughterty, Roma Welter, Vivian Graham, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Ditto, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Sandy, Misses Lucille Warner and Harriet Jaeger, Chas Petherbridge, Troy Colley, Mrs. Hubbs and sons and several girls from Mrs. Zerber’s class. Ike Brewer is filling his ice house today. A movie on the Near East Relief will be shown Friday evening at Bryan’s Hall. A lunch will be sold for the benefit of the Near East Relief Orphanage afterward.
OBITUARIES: MISS RUTH STIWELL: Miss Ruth Stillwell died Sunday morning at Hillcrest Sanitarium in Quincy, Ill., where she went early in the winter for treatment for tuberculosis. The body was taken to Oquawka and short funeral service were conducted at the home of Mrs. William Kemper by Rev. E. Wood, pastor of the Oquawka M.E. Church in which Miss Stillwell was a member.
MRS. PHEOBE DAY: Mrs. Pheobe Day, aged 92 years passed away last Saturday night in the home of her son John, southwest of Biggsville with whom she made her home. She with her son came from Oklahoma some three years ago. One daughter lives in California and a sister of Carman survives besides her son. Funeral services were held in the U.P. Church parlor. Mrs. Marsden of Carman, sister of the deceased was present. Burial was in the Biggsville Cemetery.
SOY BEAN NOW BIG CROP: The soybean acreage in this country increased from less than 500,000 acres in 1917 to about 2,200,000 acres in 1924 says the USDA. The product of 1,000,000 acres was used for hay, that of 7,00,000 acres for pasture and ensilage and 500,000 acres were used for seed. This increase in acreage is largely due to the development of better adapted varieties. The total value of the soybean crop in 1924 was $18,360,000 and of this value the new varieties were responsible for a little more than half.