The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1915
Stronghurst Graphic, November 18, 1915
DIES IN KANSAS: Robert C. Graham, a former well known resident of the Biggsville area for many years where he conducted a mercantile business, died at his home in Walton, Kan. on Nov. 5th at the age of 85 years. He was a Civil War veteran, having served in the 16th and 10th Ills. Infantry for a period of 3 years. His wife who survives him, is Mary McDill of Biggsville.
They moved from Biggsville to Abilene, Kan. in 1877? (microfilm is hard to read) and from there to Enterprise, Kan. and in 1884 to Walton, where they have since resided. One child born to them died in infancy. Besides the widow four brothers and two sisters survived: Samuel of Creston, Ia.; John and Thomas of Summerville, Kan.; William of Carthage, Mo.; Mrs. Sally Mundorf of California and Mrs. Mary Graham of Iowa. The remains where brought to Biggsville for interment where services were conducted in the U.P. Church.
LUTHERAN LADIES SALE: The Martha Society of the Lutheran Church will hold its annual sale at the church basement during the afternoon and evening of next Saturday. Here you will find a large assortment of well made aprons, a booth where a variety of fancy work will be displayed, a grab-bag and a candy stand.
At the food counter you will have a chance to purchase many good things for your Sunday dinner. Light refreshments consisting of coffee, sandwiches, ice cream and cake will be served throughout both afternoon and evening.
1890 Graphic: J.S.Bennington and Sons had secured the contract for building an opera house in the village. (This was in the upstairs of the former Miller Grocery Store that preceded Jack & Jill of today) The addition of 5 new stars to the galaxy representing the American Union was noted: North and South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho. The Kessler and Chant hardware store was burglarized and about $20 worth of cutlery taken. The thieves also broke into the Coquillette Implement establishment but found nothing that they could carry away. The death of Mrs. Emma Curry at the age of 89 years occurred on Nov.17th at the home of her daughter, Mrs. McLain of Biggsville. The United Presbyterian of Kirkwood was reported as split into two warring factions over the question of the use of an organ in their church services. (Walnut Grove church near Media had a similar experience earlier. Playing of music by an instrument was thought to be sinful; services should be plain and the singing of the psalms led by a songmaster.)
SILVER LAKE CLUBHOUSE BURNS: The handsome and finely appointed club house which the Silver Lake Hunting and Fishing Club recently built on their grounds near Carman at a cost of $7000 or more was totally destroyed by fire last Monday night. The only persons about the place at the time were the caretaker, Jos. Koch and his daughter, who were both asleep on the second floor of the building when the fire broke out.
Mr. Koch was awakened by the crackling of the flames at about 11 o'clock and on hurrying downstairs found the northwest room on the first floor filled with fire and smoke. The flames gained such rapid headway that there was no opportunity to save anything and Mr. Koch and his daughter barely made their escape with their lives.
The origin of the fire is unknown although it is thought it might have originated from sparks from an open fireplace in the room where it apparently started. A fire had been built in the grate that day for the comfort of some of the club members who were there and who left on the evening train.
Mr. M.E.Beardsley is the vice-president of the club and the other officials reside in Burlington. While no definite plans have been made for rebuilding, Mr. Beardsley is of the opinion that steps in that direction will take place this fall. The insurance carried on the building was $4,500.
PAPER CHANGES HANDS: The Henderson County Progress came out last week under a new management, the names of Thos. G. Hafner and Co. as publishers and E.L. Moffett as editor appearing at the head of its editorial columns. The retirement of Mr. Moore from control of the paper came as somewhat of a surprise. He has made no statement regarding the reasons for relinquishing his journalistic labors at the county seat nor regarding his future plans...
HUSKING BEE A SUCCESS: The Husking Bee at the M. E. Church last Tuesday evening drew a large crowd who heartily enjoyed themselves watching the contestants and listening to the excellent program of music and readings. The first prize in the husking match went to Miss Ruth Heisler and Mr. John Mink, who were the first to finished their allotted pile of snapped corn.
Second prize went to Clarence Moreland and Miss Dixon while the "booby" prize consisting of a small drum was awarded to W.C.Ivins and Mrs. Schierbaum. It is claimed that our local attorney (Ivins) in attempting to establish a reputation as a corn shucker, surreptitiously made use of a "shucking peg," which was barred by the rules of the contest. Oysters were served during the evening and the entire affair conducted in a manner which afforded much pleasure to the patrons and some financial profit to the church.
BUSINESS BOOMING FOR SANTA FE: The general prosperity of the whole country is true for the transportation companies as well and especially the Santa Fe...For example, orders given at Shopton are for 800 cars of horse and mules to be shipped from the Lathrop Stables to Eastern ports before Dec.1st. The movement of the shipment started last night with a train composed of 33 cars, carrying an average of 22 head of horse or mules each, making a total of 726 head shipped east at one time. When the special shipment has been made within the next 15 days there will have been 17,600 head of horses and mules shipped East to be sent to Europe, an average of 1,173 head shipped daily. (World War I demanded replacement for animals killed in action; thus, the market in the United States was the best in several years.)
VIEW OF THE TIMES: Henry Ford, the latest Wizard in the business world, has made it plain that W. J. Bryan is not the only man of prominence in this country who is opposed to the policy of "preparedness" which is now being urged upon this nation from so many sources. He has also let it be known that the opposition to "militarism" in this country is not confined to sentimentalists or "mollycoddles." No one would think for a moment of applying these terms to men of Mr. Ford's type.
The words quoted give the views of a keen, alert and practical men of affairs, and one whose patriotism no one dares to call in question: " Preparedness leads to war, causes it, dares it, urges it on. A nation fully prepared is a nation inviting imploring, seeking war. It is a nation strutting with a chip on its shoulder, doomed to the very thing it pretends to seek to avoid." (Today, we hear the same thing said; who is right?")
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Ervin Kemp is a traveling salesman headquartered out of St.Louis. Mr. W. W. Ebinger, the Ft.Madison piano man, was in town and reports good business as he has sold pianos recently to G. Q. Fort and M. E. Beardsley. (The Beardsley piano is now in the undercroft of the Stronghurst Presbyterian Church.)
Miss Elsie Cooper is teaching in a school district south of Lomax. A new switchboard, a line tester and ringing machine have been installed in the local telephone office. The switchboard from Western Electric Co. of Chicago contains all the latest advances. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Staley are the proud parents of a young son born to them last Friday morning. Miss Margaret Keane who lives with her mother on the farm one and a half miles north of Raritan is said to be seriously ill from goiter at the Mayo Bros. Hospital at Rochester, Minn.
Don't forget when in town to call on the Stronghurst Lumber Co. for enough screen door paper to cover your screen doors and keep the cold out. It will only cost you 25 cents per door. (This preceded the plastic wrapping we use today.)
Prices from the A. E. Jones Grocery ad: Coffee-15 to 35 cents a pound; celery 15 cents a bunch; tuna fish 10-20 cents per can; catsup 10-25 cents per bottle; flour 25# sack $1.50-$1.89.
Mrs. Will Pence of Gladstone visited her daughter, Mrs. Peter Bazel in Burlington. The Carman Sunday School will give a pie social at the M.W.A. hall with the school furnishing the entertainment. William Pendry Jr. of Carman married Miss Dorothy Persian of Oquawka in Burlington last week. Mr. Fritz Dannenburg presented his wife with a beautiful $800 Chickering player piano this week. The homes of A.C.Babcook and Mrs. Jemina Babcook of Carman have been treated to new coats of paint by Mr. Miller & Son of Dallas City.