The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1914
Stronghurst Graphic, December 3, 1914
THANKSGIVING SOCIAL EVENTS: Last Thursday was an ideal day in this locality with the sun shining brightly and that Indian summer haze in the atmosphere which always lends a peculiar charm to the autumn season. In the morning an audience of 113 gathered at the M.E.Church to observe the occasion in the manner suggested with a spirit of gratitude toward the Giver of all good and listening to a sermon delivered by Rev. W.P.Anderson of the Swedish Lutheran Church. A special quartette composed of Messrs. Ivins, Amerman, Fort and Prescott was an enjoyable feature.
The annual dinner and supper given by the Cemetery Aid Association in the Odd Fellows hall was well patronized. In the afternoon a large crowd of local sportsmen as well as those from neighboring places gathered at the Lake Fort club to participate in the big shooting match arranged by the local gun club.
The contestants competed for turkey, geese, ducks and chickens as prizes. In the evening, the village opera house was crowded to the limit by those who came to see the play "In a Woman' Power" given as a benefit for the village band. Mr. and Mrs. Hal Andrews, professional thespians, were assisted by home talent. The Lyric theater also had a matinee performance and another show in the evening preceding the one at the opera house...
OBITUARY***H.D.McMillan***Mr. Hugh McMillan, a resident of Henderson County for many years died after an extended illness at the home of his sister, Mrs. M.A.McDill of Biggsville. Hugh DeKalb McMillan was born in Chester District, South Caroline, Sept. 17, 1829 and died Nov.24, 1914, 85 years, 2 months and 7 days of age.
In 1835 he removed to Illinois where he has since lived. He married Miss Elmira Hopkins in October, 1852 and to the union six children were born but one is living, Alvah H. in Nebraska. His wife passed away in 1865. In early life he united with the United Presbyterian Church at South Henderson and later transferred his membership to the Methodist Church at Stronghurst, the town of which he has been a resident for a number of years.
The deceased is also survived by four sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Rachael Thompson of Wichita, Kan.; and Mrs. M.A.McDill, Misses Mattie and Nan McMillan, Robt. T. and William L., all of Biggsville. Funeral services were held at the home of his sister Mrs. McDill and burial was in South Henderson Cemetery. Pall bearers were A. Burrus, H.O.Garrity, A.L.Brouse and J.R.Johnson.
KILL THEM ALL: H.N Vaughn's heard of 61 head of Polled Herefords, one of the finest herds of cattle of that class to be found in the state and containing a number of individuals valued at from $500 to $1000 each, were ordered slaughtered yesterday by federal inspectors who visited the Vaughn farm. The herd has been under suspicion of being infected with the hoof and mouth disease for quite a period and have been in quarantine.
The chief federal inspector for the district, who was here yesterday, ordered the animals slain and buried as soon as possible, and terms of reimbursement to Mr. Vaughn for his loss were decided upon. We understand the terms were quite liberal, but in view of the expense attached to building up a herd of thoroughbreds of this class, the loss will undoubtedly be a heavy one. The inspectors also ordered the slaughter of Mr. Vaughn's head of hogs consisting of 60 head.
METHODIST LADIES BAZAAR & DINNER: The ladies of the Stronghurst M.E. Church will hold their annual bazaar, dinner and supper at the church Dec.12th. All kinds of useful and fancy articles suitable for Christmas presents will be on sale at the various booths. Dinner will be served at noon when the following menu will be served: Creamed chicken, hot biscuits, mashed potatoes, cranberry sherbet, lima beans, pie, cheese, pickles, jelly, and coffee. Price of the dinner will be 35 cents and supper 25 cents. (The Methodist Church today still holds a turkey dinner in November; watch this paper for the announcement.
(A column appears entitled "A Quarter of A Century Ago;" this is invaluable to show us the early life of Stronghurst as the newspaper for this time period did not survive.) 1889 Graphic: News of the murder in Texas of Chas. E. Smith, a former telegraph student here had been received. The marriage of Mr. Geo. Curry to Miss Polly Curry occurred on Dec.4, 1889. The Apt brothers and J.A. Waggoner gave an entertainment in Dixson's Hall. Dec. 3, 1914 (This issue includes an appeal for war relief called the Dollar Christmas Fund. It discusses the hardships in Belgium, England and Holland.)
PROHIBITION PROPAGANDA: (The following was an editorial) The spirit of rowdyism and lawlessness on the part of a portion of the younger generation of this community seems to be on the increase of late and usually makes itself manifest on Saturday and Sunday evenings. It is a significant fact in this connection that the heaviest "booze" shipments are usually received at the local station at the close of the week. Drunkenness, profanity, obscenity, and a spirit of disregard and contempt for decency and law and order will usually be found to exist in a direct ration with the shipments of intoxicating liquor into a community. It is a deplorable fact that as a result of the liquor shipments which come to this village, a number of young men are starting and some already considerably advanced upon the road which leads to disgrace not only for the individual but for his family as well, and which renders his chances of their ever attaining to any position of honor or usefulness in life exceedingly small. (Evidently, even though Stronghurst was a dry town, someone was doing quite a prosperous business, especially on the weekends. Prohibitionists were gaining ground everywhere so no wonder such was the editor's view.)
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Chas. Peasley went to Chicago with two loads of cattle of his own feeding. With the payment of $1000 due the city of LaHarpe wiped out its bonded indebtedness incurred by the installation of a system of
water works twenty years ago. The Biggsville Clipper of last week stated that a young man from Stronghurst was fined $3.75 by Esq. Stewart of Biggsville for participating in a disturbance of the peace in that village on Sunday evening Nov 23rd.(I'm sure all the locals knew who he was!)
Milton English of Elmwood, Ill. and a Miss Duncan of Missouri, both cousins of M.E.Beardsley have been visiting at the Beardsley home. Mrs. Ed Brewer and her sister-in-law, Mrs. James Stamp of Iowa City left for Beebe, Ark.
where they will visit the home of Wm. Stamp and family. Fred Schnee, a son of our former citizen, Frank Schnee, who now lives in Sigourney, Ia., is here taking photographs of local people and scenes, the same being reproduced on the Lyric picture screen during the performances there. Fred's father is the proprietor of two moving picture houses in Sigourney.
The contestants winning the first set of prizes at Lazear's Cash Pharmacy were Marie Mudd-1st, silver knives and forks; Lillian Wheeler-2nd, silver teaspoons; Dorothy Bainter-3rd, silver pie knife; Robert Vaughn-4th-50 cent
bottle of perfume; Roxella Staley-5th, 35 cent box Nylo candy.
NOTICE--I am prepared to do country butchering and will also pay highest cash market price for hides and tallow. G.L. Mahnesmith.
The State Bank has received a supply of the new federal reserve bank notes of $5 denominations. They are handsome specimens of the lithographers art, containing a portrait of Lincoln on their face side and reproductions of two historical painting on their reverse side. (Otherwise, the bank was drumming up business.) The Stronghurst High School class of 1914 decided to present the school with a Victrola and a committee has been selected to purchase the instrument and a number of records suitable for school use.