The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1915
Stronghurst Graphic, June 24, 1915
DROWNS IN GALESBURG: Alsea Waymack, the 19 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Waymack of Raritan drown while bathing in Highland Park Lake in Galesburg last Saturday. About 2:30 witnesses report that young Waymack went into the water with a lighted cigarette in his mouth and dived to show that he could perform the feat of smoking under water. He failed to reappear and an alarm was sounded. After two minutes of being submerged, the body was recovered by two other bathers. Efforts at resuscitation were immediate made and a message was sent to Galesburg for a physician and a Pulmotor( a device for pumping oxygen into and out of the lungs.)
Although they worked for two hours, there was no response and he was pronounced dead by a physician. A coroner's jury's a verdict declared the event an accidental death by drowning. In the physicians' opinions, the unfortunate young man had drawn the cigarette into his windpipe while under water cutting off his air rendering him helpless.
The young man had gone to Galesburg a year ago where he was employed as an elevator boy in the Holmes building. He was a member of the Raritan M.E.Church where his funeral service was conducted.
BUYS THE BUSINESS: Through a deal closed this week Mr. James Sutliff of Gladstone became the owner of the R.P. Frans livery barn and equipment. Dr. Frans has conducted the barn for the past nine months in connection with his veterinary business, but an increase in both mandated that he choose one or the other. He, therefore, decided to devote his whole attention to his profession and will continue to maintain an office and horse infirmary in the barn. His successor, Mr. Sutliff is an experienced man in the livery line and will have a complete equipment both in driving rigs and autos enabling to care for the growing business. He and his family will move here shortly.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: G.L.Mahnesmith is installing a large refrigerator in his place of business. Ed Stiz, an farm hand employee of Wm. Reedy south of Stronghurst was badly bruised when the team he was driving took fright throwing him from the cultivator catching one of his feet in a stirrup and dragging him along the ground for a considerable distance.
Ground has been broken for a new residence which Mr. James Wolf will erect on the lots recently purchased on the corner of Mary & Nichols Streets. Messrs. Gano and DeVries, two scenic artists from Chicago, have been painting new scenery and drop curtains for the opera house. The old front drop with its picture of rugged hills and an old church tower will be superseded by one depicting a water scene surrounded by ads of business firms of the village.
Fort Madison is reported to have a present population of 9,090, an increase of 190 over 5 years ago. Twenty-one train car loads of strawberries were shipped from Montrose for which growers realized $1.60 a crate. The Roseville Mausoleum Co. has purchased six lots in the Roseville cemetery and are preparing to erect a structure containing 250 crypts. The Media Township highway commissioners are suing Tulin Nelson in county court asking that he cut 80 rods of hedge along the public highway or pay damages.
The Nauvoo canning factory expects to put up 240,000 cans of peas this season. N.E.Curry and brother Emory drove with Albert Kaiser in the latter's car to Burlington. (Today, this bit of news sounds silly as we all zoom down the road, across the Great River Bridge and do our shopping, but in 1915 most did not own cars and took the train to Carman, changed railroads and road the Dolly across the river. Hence, that these three ventured such a trip was news worthy.) The La Harpe post office business increased sufficiently last year to permit an increase in the post master's salary from $1600 to $1700 per annum.
John B. Campbell of LaHarpe Township has turned loose a herd of 150 goats in a patch of brush land with the purpose of cleaning it up cheaply and effectively. The water tank and tower for the Stronghurst village water supply system were shipped from Pittsburgh. The pumping machinery is now being installed in the new pump house and the work of laying the mains is more than half completed. Misses Grace Davis, Hazel Kirby, Ethel Hartquist and Ruth Heisler are in California touring and visiting the Panama Exposition.