The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
ABOUT TOWN: Roy Shook and family have moved from the Mahnesmith building on Broadway to the residence recently vacated by Mr. C. M. Randall. Mrs. Thomas, who resides in the west part of the village, has recently been in poor health. Harold Painter and family have moved from the Nordstrom property in the west part of town to the J. B. Milliken house on Broadway. Mrs. A. E. Francen of Galesburg is having her Stronghurst house in the east part of town remodeled and redecorated. Mr. Mack Dickey is doing the work. Frances Mahaffey, Florence May Finley, Raymond Johnson and Max Veech, all students of Monmouth College, were home for the weekend. The Mudd Motor Co. has recently sold two Ford trucks to Hugo Johnson, a Tudor Sedan to A. D. Mann of Burlington and a touring car to Bert Yaley. H. C. Tutwiler has moved his harness stock and repair shop from the C. H. Building north of the post office to the J. H. Baker residence in the east part of town.
May 12, 1927 HEAD OF MILITARY TRACT ASSOCIATION: Professor L. O. Dawson, principal of Stronghurst Community High School was elected president of the Military Tract Association at a business meeting on Friday, May 6th in the private dining room of Seymour Hall in Galesburg. This is quite an honor and Stronghurst is proud of possessing such an able man to supervise its schools.
ANNOUNCES HIS MARRIAGE: Mr. K. E. Yoakam announced his marriage to Miss Evelyn Moar. Mr. Yoakam was formerly proprietor of a jewelry store in the village. Last summer he quit the business here and left town. His home is now at Beverly Hills, California.
OBITUARY***NELLIE G. MATHERS: Nellie G. Mathers was born on the farm one and on-half miles southwest of Biggsville on August 25, 1881 and died on May 8th at the Cottage Hospital, Galesburg, Ill. at the age of 45 years, 8 months and 13 days. Her death was caused by hyperstatic pneumonia after ten weeks illness. It was her desire to regain her health in her own home. After doing all that could be done in the home, it was deemed best to take her to the hospital where she could receive better care, but her call had come and the power of man could no longer rule.
Nellie G. Mathers was married to Jas. J. Mathers on January 8th, 1908 and since her marriage has lived on the farm 2 ˝ miles east of Stronghurst. To this union was born one son, Robert, who with his father, remain to mourn her death. Also, her mother, Mrs. Paul D. Gibb of Biggsville; sisters-Mrs. Jas. Wilson of Biggsville; Mrs. Geo. Marsden of Stronghurst; Mrs. Claude Vaughn of Lomax and two brother, William and Chester Gibb of Biggsville. Her father and one sister, Mrs. Agnes Adair preceded her in death. A large number of nephews and nieces with many friends are saddened over her departure.
Mrs. Mathers attended the Biggsville High School and while a young woman became a member of the United Presbyterian Church. After marriage she moved her membership to the United Presbyterian Church of Stronghurst of which she was an active member…Funeral services were held in the Stronghurst U.P. Church with interment in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.
HAS LIVED 69 YEARS IN THE COUNTY: Mr. George Kemp of Decorra celebrated his 69th birthday and likewise his 69th year in Henderson County on Monday, May 9th. When interviewed, Mr. Kemp told the paper that the longest he had ever been out of the county at one time was not over 30 days. His father, Warren Kemp, also spent his life in Henderson County. He has but one living relative who is older than himself, an aunt, Nancy Graham aged 93 of Gladstone and a pioneer Henderson County settler.
When George was a boy, wild game was plentiful with the exception of deer. There were a few deer at that time and Mr. Kemp says he has seen as many as eight at a time, but they were very shy and it was almost impossible to get near enough to shoot them. Wild turkey were more plentiful in Henderson County than they are now in Florida where wild turkey hunting is a common sport. Mr. Kemp has killed every kind of game which inhabited the county but the bald eagle and the deer. When 12 years old while on a rabbit hunting with his father’s muzzle loader, he killed his first wild turkey. It weighed about 28 pounds and was not fat. When carried with its neck over his shoulder its feet drug in the snow which was about 8 inches deep. Turkeys are easy to capture because when blood is drawn on them, like sheep, they refuse to attempt to escape.
Mr. Kemp is now engaged as a blacksmith at Decorra and has been very successful at his trade. He is also manager of the Decorra elevator. He is an honest and industrious man and a credit to Henderson County. He and his wife have raised a family which have a right to be proud of.
ACCEPT POSITION: Prof. Albert E. Nicholas, teacher of mathematics and athletic director of Stronghurst High School, has accepted the position of principal of the high school at Industry, Ill. for the following school year. Industry is about 11 miles south of Macomb and on the hard road. Its population is over 600 and there are about 130 students enrolled in the high school.
OLENA OBSERVATIONS: Rev. Hubb delivered one of the finest sermons on “Mother’s Day.” On last Wednesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Johnson, a miscellaneous shower was given for Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Pence. A goodly number were present and a very fine display of presents were in evidence. Nice refreshments of fruit salad, wafers and cookies were served. Mr. Wilbur Davis, who has spent the past month with his parents, left for Chicago where he expects to find employment. He was accompanied by his sister, Miss Bessie, who will spend a week there with her sister, Miss Golda and her brother, Lee. They went by Starved Rock and had a very fine overland trip. Mr. Warren Johnson and son left for Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Will Avery have moved into their vacated property. Mr. John Rickles of Des Moines, Ia. have moved into Olena and are occupying part of the Frank Rickles home.