The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1915
Stronghurst Graphic, Jan. 28, 1915
LOCAL BOY IN TROPICS: Edgar Rankin writes the local banker, C. R. Kaiser about conditions in Nicaragua where he is president of the Rio Grande Plantation Co.: "It's surely very delightful weather down in Nic. on the Rio Grande. The rains are quite frequent, almost daily, also quite often during the night. No demonstration just simply clouds up and pour it out an average of about 200 in. per year. It's not much wonder everything grows so rapidly. Our properties are looking much better than I ever saw them before and our production is gradually increasing.
We have about 1400 acres in cultivation about 1000 acres in bearing and during the dry season which begins the later part of the month, we expect our fruit cuttings to run up to 4000 stems per week. Then our income will run up to $1000 per week. Any income over expenditures should go back into the farm improvement.Times are close in this country.
The Montona law went into effect about six weeks ago in which a person can't sue or be sued for a period of four months...I did on Christmas day what I never did before; we made garden and now have beans, peas, onions, lettuce, tomato and cabbage, also watermelons planted-almost up and doing fine. We are surely blessed with splendid drinking water; also fruit of the country, abundance of bananas, the king of all fruits, oranges, pineapple, grapefruit, limes which make splendid limeade equal or better than lemonade, also splendid in pie, breadfruit, casava- similar to Irish potatoes.
This country is surely a poor man's paradise-never have to provide for cold weather clothes and the majority dress in cotton goods.
Hogs and cattle do very well here but very scarce, hogs especially; pork sells for 25 cents per lb. on the river, that's fresh, of course, and chickens do well. Eggs sell in Bluefields for 60 cents per dozen. Our butter sold out of our commissary sells for $1 per lb. and comes from Holland; it has a kind of golden taste when eating it as it's golden in color and pretty golden in price.
Our main subsistence down her is rice and beans and I think we have them at the rate of 700 times a year...A hog killed must be sold out immediately to the workman and used right up. One of our foreman from Chicago killed one the other day which netted him $60 besides the lard which is very expensive here..,".Edgar D. Rankin
WEDDING BELLS: Saturday evening, Jan. 23 at 7:30 at the M. E. parsonage at Biggsville occurred the marriage of Pearl H. Fisher to Wilbur C. Black, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.W.Black, Rev. Jackson performing the ceremony. The bride's gown was white silk and the groom was attired in dark blue serge. M r. and Mrs. Black will make their future home on the Black farm 1 1/2 miles south of Olena.
1890 GRAPHIC: Billy Bigger and a man by the name of Totten, both employed on Joshua Rankin farm engaged in a knife battle Jan. 24th in which Bigger received several flesh wounds. Prof. Thompson of Media Academy was quite low with pneumonia. Mrs. W.R.Gaddis died at her home about two miles west of Stronghurst on Jan.25th. Nearly 1/2 of the population were suffering from a new disease called "LaGrippe." Tom Mains had secured a position with a Chicago firm.
DEATH CLAIMS WOOD HOBART: The grim reaper entered this community last Sunday evening and claimed as his victim Mr. Wood Hobart, one of Stronghurst' well-known business men. Mr. Hobart had been a great sufferer from rheumatism for several months and about three weeks ago was obliged to give up his attention to the affairs of his drugstore. He had been confined to his bed for about two weeks previous to the final summons, which came at 6 o'clock Sunday evening.
Mr. Hobart had realized the seriousness of his case for some time, especially when it became evident that his heart was becoming affected.
He met death bravely and calmly, conversing with those about his bedside until only a few moments before the end came. Mr. Hobart was a quiet unassuming man, kindly in disposition, upright and honorable in his business affairs, a good citizen, a man who was loved by those who knew him best, and respected by all.
Woodley King Hobart was born at Mt.Pleasant, Iowa, May 23, 1872, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Hobart, being residents of that city. After leaving home in early manhood, he went to California where he spent several years.
After his return he came to Stronghurst and made his home with his sister, Mrs. Dr. Salter, and worked in the drugstore which was then being operated by Dr. Salter. Finding the drug business to his liking, he took a three year course in pharmacy and obtained a graduate pharmacist's certificate.
He was afterward employed in drugstores in a number of cities in this state, his longest service being at Kewanee, Ill. He married Miss Freda Lange, the daughter of Mrs. Louise Lange of Kewanee about four years ago. About a year later Mr. and Mrs. Hobart and Mrs. Lange, who has been an inseparable companion and aid to her daughter, came to Stronghurst. Here Mr. Hobart purchased the drug stock of E. Doty & Sons and started in business on his own account.
Mr. Hobart is survived by his wife, two sisters, Mrs. Flora Salter of Stronghurst and Mrs. G. W. McCoy of Sacramento, Calif., and one brother, Fred E. Hobart of the same city. Funeral services were conducted in the Stronghurst Christian Church with interment in the village cemetery.
STRUCK NATURAL GAS: Drilling in the village water supply well has reached a depth of about 225 feet and the work is proceeding rapidly with a day and night shift at work. Quite a strong flow of natural gas developed and the force engaged in drilling the well are utilizing some of it for burning in the stove used to heat their shack, piping it from the well through a small pipe to the stove. It is not expected that gas in any large quantity will be found.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: The mercury is hovering around the 20 below mark. W. F. Rust who lives 5 1/2 miles northeast of Stronghurst intends to sell his farming business and move his family to the state of Washington where he expects to engage in railroading. A tract of 5 acres owned by W. J. Graham and J. Y. Whitman in the drainage district is said to have produced 2,236 bushels of millet seed which has been sold for $1.25 per bushel net.
The hay crop from the same tract was sold at $10 per ton making the total returns from the crop $55 per acre. (Probably not everyone was in favor of creating drainage districts and this notice was to inform the opposition of its benefits.)
Ed Stine and his son Cleo, Ben Mudd, John Stine and Dale Davis are in Chicago attending the big automobile show. They were guests of the Mitchell Automobile Co. on an excursion to the company's factory at Racine, Wis. where a big banquet was given to the agents and salesmen.
In Media, the house belonging to Mr. Jack Davidson occupied by Mr. W. D. Colley and family was burned to the ground. Only part of the furniture downstairs was saved. The loss was partly covered by insurance.
Mr. Louis Mason is selling off his personal property in expectation of going to Kansas City. Bert Gibson's little girl in the Galesburg Hospital survived an operation to remove a foreign object in her lung. It was found to be gravel.
MACOMB HOSPITAL: Macomb is rapidly becoming the medical and surgical center for the state of Illinois outside of Chicago. With the new clinic that was recently organized every member of the medical fraternity is now connected with one of the clinics.
The hospital and surgical fees have been adjusted to meet the present hard times and one third of the former costs have beeneliminated. Now anyone can be treated or operated upon who can raise even afew dollars. In addition an absolutely free clinic is given for the very poor.-Macomb By-Stander
CARMAN CONCERNS: Mr. Henry Coats who has been ill for some time passed awayMonday morning at 8:30. He was 63 years old having been a resident heremost of his life. He is survived by one son Frank and one brother John B.Coats and a sister, Miss Tempa Coats beside leaving many other relatives.Mr. Fritz Dannenburg while hauling logs tried to find a new road to cross the creek and as the ice was rather thin, Fritz accidently fell into 9 ft.of water. We don't know whether he struck bottom or not.