The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1915
Stronghurst Graphic,March 18, 1915
NEW BRIDGES FOR THE COUNTY: County Superintendent of Highways C. R. A. Marshall has noted the particulars in regard to the recent letting of bridge contracts as follows: The contract for the Belknap bridge, which is located in Hancock County, 40 rods from the Henderson County line, was let to W. A. Fowler of LaHarpe for $1,390; it is a 30 ft. span.
The contract for the Dugan bridge, a 10 ft. span structure in Bald Bluff Township, was let to Capperrrine and Deyo of Bradford, Ill., for $872. C. D. Stratton of Little York, Ill., obtained the contracts for the Wm. Sloan and A.Wiegand bridges in Biggsville Township. The Sloan bridge will have a 40 ft. span with a 20 ft. road way and will be built for $1975; the Wiegand bridge will be 16 ft span and will cost $545.
The contract for the Griffith's bridge in Raritan Township, an 18 ft. span structure, was awarded to W.A.Fowler of LaHarpe for $635. Other projects being considered are a 24 ft. bridge in Gladstone Township and three 9 ft. spans in Media Township.
1890 GRAPHIC: On March 14th Samuel Best of this vicinity lost his life. Mr. Best was chopping down a tree in the timber and in falling, it caught the unfortunate man and pinned him down beneath the trunk crushing one limb and holding him a prisoner until members of the family at home hearing his cries came to his assistance. The injured man lingered in an unconscious state until the night of March 17th when he passed away. A law suit was tried in Justice Morgan's court in which a gentleman by the name of Littelle sought to recover the amount of one month's wages as a teacher in the "Cork" school south of town, claiming that he had contracted to teach a four month winter contract and was only paid for three when the directors closed the school after only three months. The verdict was awarded for the amount claimed.
VILLAGE BOARD PROCEEDINGS: (During this period of time the village board settled on letting bids for a brick pump house, a water tower 100 ft.to the balcony line, and a steel 4 foot riser drum-all to be at a cost of $3,000. A light was to be installed near the school building.)
NEW MACHINE AT PAPER: The Graphic acquired a Linograph, which is known as a slug-casting machine and casts a metal slug containing a line of type with every complete operation of the machine and will cast as many as seven of these lines a minutes, the number depending upon the speed and skill of the operator... As we do not expect to employ a skilled operator to handle the machine, it will therefore be some time perhaps before we will be able to avail ourselves of the full benefit which the machine is calculated to give in the carrying on of our work.
The addition of the Linograph makes the Graphic plant one of the best equipped for both newspaper and job work to be found in this section of the state...
NEW SAFE ARRIVES: The First National Bank received their new safe and Thurman Steffey and his crew were engagedthe greater part of two days in getting it from the car to its resting placeon the concrete base near the front window of the bank. It contains all thelatest features in construction and is of the "circular jacket" pattern weighing about 6800 lbs. The inside vault is equipped with a time lock governed by three separate clocks so that in case one or two of them fail,the third will operate the mechanism of the lock.
DIES IN CHURCH: Mrs. L.P. Bergren, a life long resident of the Biggsville neighborhood was summoned to her reward last Sabbath morning while attendingservices at the United Presbyterian Church in Biggsville. Mrs. Bergren was a sister of the late Francis Gibb of this place.
From the Monmouth Review: As the service progressed Mrs. Bergren was seized with an attack of coughing and to avoid disturbing the other worshipers retired to the entry. When friends went to join her a few minutes later it was found that life was extinct. Examination by physicians brought the announcement she had died of heart failure.
Mrs. Bergren was fifty-six years of age and had lived in and about Biggsville all her life. The family home is located five miles northwest of the village and the well known woman is survived by her husband and two sons, Edgar and Arthur, living at home. Mrs. Eliza Beebe of Biggsville is a sister. Oscar and A. Bergren of Monmouth are brothers of the bereaved husband.
Since childhood she had been a member of the United Presbyterian Church and was greatly beloved by her church associates. The funeral services will be held from her home church.
JOB DIDN'T PAN OUT: Ex-sheriff R. T. McDill was back from Bee, Washington, where he went to look over a job as guard at a federal prison located on an island in Pugets Sound. Bob thought the work would be all right but was not very favorably impressed with the living accommodations. He therefore declined the job and came home. While he was in Stronghurst, he received a telegram from the warden of the Joliet penitentiary offering him a position at that institution and asking him to report for duty at once. Bob expressed his intention of investigating the Joliet proposition. His reputation for fearlessness and efficiency in the handling of criminals makes it possible for him to choose his own position.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Randolph Higgason was down from Knoxville on business. Mrs. J.H. Strodtman is recovering from a rather severe case of blood poisoning which rose from a scratch inflicted upon one of her hands by a hen which she was holding. The transfer of the First National Bank's big safe and the Graphic's new Linograph from the depot and their installation have been attended by a marked display of interest on the part of the populace. (Sidewalk superintendents took in both events.) Mabel Barney, the second oldest daughter of the late Frank and Mary Barney, started on a journey to Salina, Utah, where she will probably make her home with the family of Dr. W. M. Thome, who is a brother-in-law of M. M. Johnstone, formerly of this place and now a resident of Chicago. (Mabel was one of the orphans who were left money from an insurance policy after both parents died one after the other.) Elmer Carlson of the Olena neighborhood left with Nels Anderson for Marion N. Dakota, and will work on Mr. Anderson's farm. Miss Erma M. Marshall who was at Battle Creek recently was the guest of the Postum Cereal Co. management visiting the plant. Miss Marshall was shown every process in the making of Postum, Grapenuts and other foods made by this firm which is one of the largest pure food plants in the world. The art gallery, once a private collection of C. W. Post, is open to the public and contains more than a hundred painting in oil and water colors by some of the world's greatest artists. The collection of statuary and tapestries is one of the best in the Middle West.
James Flynn of near Monmouth is in the toils of the law in Oquawka charged with a conspiracy with one H. C. Clayton in defrauding Carter Landredge of Rozetta in a deal involving the sale of a span of mules and one horse. A worthless check was given by Clayton for the animals and Flynn who afterward sold them to some Roseville parties claims to have purchased them from Clayton. The latter has disappeared, but diligent search is being made for him by officers of the law.
Mrs. Sarah Y. Evans passed the 86th milestone in her life's journey and the members of the King's Daughters Society of the Maple Grove Church are helping her celebrate the event at her home near Decorra. The Stronghurst village well has reached a depth of 380 ft. and the drill has been going through a rock strata for a considerable distance. A crevice in the rock has been encountered and through this a sufficient amount of water has entered the well to rise to within 106 feet of the surface. The engineers have ordered a test made to ascertain the quantity of the water this supply will furnish and further drilling will be suspended until this is done. D. C. Dobbin, collector for Stronghurst Township, balanced his books the first of this week and returned them to the county treasurer at Oquawka. He reports the amount of his collection as $19,647 with $3,090 delinquent.
In Media, Rev. D. W. James, assistant superintendent of the anti-Saloon League, occupied the pulpit at the U. P. Church; he seems very much encouraged with the progress the work is making. The next number on the lecture course will be the Monmouth Glee Club. Mr. W.H. Bayles and son have re-fitted the old barber shop and have placed in a full stock of wall paper, prices ranging from the lowest to the highest. The Willing Workers of the M. E. Church will give a necktie social next Wednesday night. (Does anyone know what that was?)
In the Olena neighborhood young son of Harry Fox and also Kitty Jacobs have pneumonia. Some of the young people gave an "eat" at the Fred Fisher home in Hopper.
NEW SAFE ARRIVES: The First National Bank received their new safe and Thurman Steffey and his crew were engagedthe greater part of two days in getting it from the car to its resting placeon the concrete base near the front window of the bank. It contains all thelatest features in construction and is of the "circular jacket" pattern weighing about 6800 lbs. The inside vault is equipped with a time lock governed by three separate clocks so that in case one or two of them fail,the third will operate the mechanism of the lock.
DIES IN CHURCH: Mrs. L.P. Bergren, a life long resident of the Biggsville neighborhood was summoned to her reward last Sabbath morning while attendingservices at the United Presbyterian Church in Biggsville. Mrs. Bergren was a sister of the late Francis Gibb of this place.
From the Monmouth Review: As the service progressed Mrs. Bergren was seized with an attack of coughing and to avoid disturbing the other worshipers retired to the entry. When friends went to join her a few minutes later it was found that life was extinct. Examination by physicians brought the announcement she had died of heart failure.
Mrs. Bergren was fifty-six years of age and had lived in and about Biggsville all her life. The family home is located five miles northwest of the village and the well known woman is survived by her husband and two sons, Edgar and Arthur, living at home. Mrs. Eliza Beebe of Biggsville is a sister. Oscar and A. Bergren of Monmouth are brothers of the bereaved husband.
Since childhood she had been a member of the United Presbyterian Church and was greatly beloved by her church associates. The funeral services will be held from her home church.
JOB DIDN'T PAN OUT: Ex-sheriff R. T. McDill was back from Bee, Washington, where he went to look over a job as guard at a federal prison located on an island in Pugets Sound. Bob thought the work would be all right but was not very favorably impressed with the living accommodations. He therefore declined the job and came home. While he was in Stronghurst, he received a telegram from the warden of the Joliet penitentiary offering him a position at that institution and asking him to report for duty at once. Bob expressed his intention of investigating the Joliet proposition. His reputation for fearlessness and efficiency in the handling of criminals makes it possible for him to choose his own position.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Randolph Higgason was down from Knoxville on business. Mrs. J.H. Strodtman is recovering from a rather severe case of blood poisoning which rose from a scratch inflicted upon one of her hands by a hen which she was holding. The transfer of the First National Bank's big safe and the Graphic's new Linograph from the depot and their installation have been attended by a marked display of interest on the part of the populace. (Sidewalk superintendents took in both events.) Mabel Barney, the second oldest daughter of the late Frank and Mary Barney, started on a journey to Salina, Utah, where she will probably make her home with the family of Dr. W. M. Thome, who is a brother-in-law of M. M. Johnstone, formerly of this place and now a resident of Chicago. (Mabel was one of the orphans who were left money from an insurance policy after both parents died one after the other.) Elmer Carlson of the Olena neighborhood left with Nels Anderson for Marion N. Dakota, and will work on Mr. Anderson's farm. Miss Erma M. Marshall who was at Battle Creek recently was the guest of the Postum Cereal Co. management visiting the plant. Miss Marshall was shown every process in the making of Postum, Grapenuts and other foods made by this firm which is one of the largest pure food plants in the world. The art gallery, once a private collection of C. W. Post, is open to the public and contains more than a hundred painting in oil and water colors by some of the world's greatest artists. The collection of statuary and tapestries is one of the best in the Middle West.
James Flynn of near Monmouth is in the toils of the law in Oquawka charged with a conspiracy with one H. C. Clayton in defrauding Carter Landredge of Rozetta in a deal involving the sale of a span of mules and one horse. A worthless check was given by Clayton for the animals and Flynn who afterward sold them to some Roseville parties claims to have purchased them from Clayton. The latter has disappeared, but diligent search is being made for him by officers of the law.
Mrs. Sarah Y. Evans passed the 86th milestone in her life's journey and the members of the King's Daughters Society of the Maple Grove Church are helping her celebrate the event at her home near Decorra. The Stronghurst village well has reached a depth of 380 ft. and the drill has been going through a rock strata for a considerable distance. A crevice in the rock has been encountered and through this a sufficient amount of water has entered the well to rise to within 106 feet of the surface. The engineers have ordered a test made to ascertain the quantity of the water this supply will furnish and further drilling will be suspended until this is done. D. C. Dobbin, collector for Stronghurst Township, balanced his books the first of this week and returned them to the county treasurer at Oquawka. He reports the amount of his collection as $19,647 with $3,090 delinquent.
In Media, Rev. D. W. James, assistant superintendent of the anti-Saloon League, occupied the pulpit at the U. P. Church; he seems very much encouraged with the progress the work is making. The next number on the lecture course will be the Monmouth Glee Club. Mr. W.H. Bayles and son have re-fitted the old barber shop and have placed in a full stock of wall paper, prices ranging from the lowest to the highest. The Willing Workers of the M. E. Church will give a necktie social next Wednesday night. (Does anyone know what that was?)
In the Olena neighborhood young son of Harry Fox and also Kitty Jacobs have pneumonia. Some of the young people gave an "eat" at the Fred Fisher home in Hopper.