The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1915
Stronghurst Graphic, July 15, 1915:
GET READY FOR THE CHATAUQUA: The local Chatauqua committee elected officers and discussed plans for the assembly to be held here August 23 to 28th. O.W.Beckett was elected president, A.H. Kershaw, vice president and J.R.Marshall secretary and treasurer. Elected to serve as an executive committee were Mrs. J.F. Murphy, Mrs. E.E.Bond, Miss Emma Marshall, Mrs. W.W.Ross, J.C.Brook, A.E.Jones, and Charles Swanson.
The attractions secured for this year's assembly promise to make it the best ever held. Price of the season tickets will be $1.50. At the present when so much money is being spent by the public for mere diversion and for amusements which appeal solely to the sensuous and the emotional part of their natures and which produce the same effect upon their mental being that alcohol does upon the physical system, the need for more of those forms of entertainment which really re-create and make for higher and better ideals on the part of the people cannot but be apparent to all right thinking people. (Wonder what was happening on the streets of Stronghurst?)
The Chatauqua is designed to meet this very need. The people of this community owe it to themselves, parents owe it to their children. Stronghurst owes it to her own best interest to see that the Chatauqua is well patronized. Make your plans to attend each day; you could not spend $1.50 more wisely.
FIREMEN HOLD MEETING: The members of the Joseph Dixson Hook and Ladder Co. met in the village hall to consider matters relative to the affairs of the organization.
No meeting has been held for a long time and attendance at this meeting showed a lack of interest so it thought best to re-organize. All offices were declared vacant and an election proceeded with the following selected: A.L.Russleer, Foreman; ass't foreman-Roy Shook; second ass't-N.H.Curry; treas.-S.D. Hitchner; finance committee-N.B.Curry, W.F. Johnson, Elzie Gilliland; secretary-L.D.Fornell.
Meeting will be held every Tuesday and regular fire drills will be practiced in order to increase the efficiency of the organization.
CONCRETE WORK: Having moved my concrete business from Monmouth to Stronghurst, I am now ready to furnish you estimates on all kinds of concrete work, such as walks, floors, curbs, curing, foundations, water troughs or any kind of work in the concrete line. Call me for the present at W.J.Reedy, on the Raritan line. A.W.Ryan
KILLED ON THE TRACKS: Edward Hill, the night operator for the C.B.&Q. at Biggsville, was instantly killed last Sunday morning by being struck by the fast mail train. Mr. Hill stepped on the track upon which the mail train was approaching in order to hand a clearance message to the conductor of a freight train which was passing on another tract and did not realize the near approach of the mail train.
His body was hurled a distance of 40 feet striking a lamp post and extinguishing the light. His neck, ankle and one arm were broken and his head crushed in. He was 30 years of age and leaves a wife and two small children. He came to Biggsville 3 years ago and has made many friends. The remains were shipped to Big Rapids, Mich., the former home of the deceased where funeral services and interment took place.
FREE RECITAL: The Pupils of Miss Fern Strickler will give a recital in music July 19th at the Stronghurst U.P.Church. The program promises to be full of musical merit and the public is cordially invited to attend.
ANGEL OF DEATH ARRIVES: The death angel visited the village last Saturday evening and took from our midst one of the bloom of early youth and before whom there seemed to be the prospect of a promising future. Miss Hazel Clark, the youngest daughter of Mrs. Clara Clark, passed away at about 6 o'clock after an illness of about 3 weeks, which seemed from the very start to baffle the skill of the physician.
Hazel was born in Stronghurst Nov.21, 1894 and her whole life spent here. She graduated from the high school in 1914 and was preparing to enter upon the work of teaching. She had arranged to attend the Institute at Oquawka three weeks ago and was very much disappointed when the doctor informed her that her condition would not permit her making the journey. She was ambitious to enter her chosen calling and during the delirious periods of her illness the thought of teaching occupied her mind.
Hazel was a faithful and consistent member of the Christian Church in this place having made a profession of her faith as a young girl. Her father, James Clark, died about 14 years ago and she is survived by her mother and two brothers, Floyd and Harry and one sister, Mrs. Garnet Mesecher. Funeral services were conducted at the Christian church with interment in the village cemetery.
GRAPHIC: The Automatic Hitch Co. sent out its first shipment of goods from their factory here and it was predicted that the invention was bound to meet a big demand. Lon Bryner was overcome by intense heat in front of the Thomas Hotel and fell unconscious to the sidewalk. Prompt medical treatment restored him to his usual health.
HE DIED: An unusually sad and distressing occurrence of the past week was the death of 18 month old son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Smith as the result of swallowing some of the poison from "Daisy Fly Killer." The parents of the child live on the Carl Painter farm south of Stronghurst.
On Tuesday afternoon their little boy Robert got hold of a pad of the "fly killer" which the parents had purchased and sucked some of the poison through the opening in the covering. Shortly after the parents had taken the dangerous play thing from the child, he became ill and a physician was hastily summoned.
Every effort was made to save the little fellow's life, but although he vomited a great deal, the deadly poison had gone so far in its effect that these efforts proved fruitless and the little sufferer passed away.
AND THE RAINS CAME: This vicinity has been visited with some violent storms and tremendous down pours of rain during the past week. Last Saturday evening a terrific thunder storm broke loose at about 8 o'clock and an especially heavy bolt of lightning put the light plant out of commission and the sudden cutting off of lights added to the terror of those whose nerves were already over wrought. The home Mrs. Ida Woods in the south part of the village was struck and a hole knocked in the roof, but fortunately no one was injured.
A mare and colt belonging to Mrs. Johanna Wheeling were killed in a pasturesouthwest of town and considerable damage was done to telephone equipment throughout the country. The amount of rainfall was enormous.
Wednesday evening at about 6 o'clock another deluge occurred, lasting for nearly an hour and the streets of the village were turned into streams through which the water poured in regular torrents. Unusually high water in the creeks in the vicinity is reported and the damage to standing and shocked grain will be very heavy.
SIGN UP NOW: An opportunity for enjoying a fine river trip and viewing the wonders of the big dam and power house at Keokuk will be afforded by the excursion to be given by the United Presbyterian of Burlington. Take your family and a well-filled lunch basket and join the picnickers in a day of recreation and pleasure. (This would have been an exciting day on the river and a high point of the summer.)
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Elzie Beaver, who is employed in a bank at Hemlock, Mich., was down visiting his father A.L.Beaver. The front of the Lyric theater building is being remodeled and a ticket booth provided which will enable patrons to purchase tickets before entering the building. Dimmer auto goggles and eye shields-the most satisfactory are available at Yoakam's. The water pipe laying gang completed their work and loaded their big ditcher on a flat car for shipment to some other place.
The steel tower for the big water tank is completed and forms a conspicuous feature of the landscape in this vicinity, which can be seen for many miles. ( Today, we take the presence of a water tower for granted, but this was quite a "wonder" for that time period as it was the tallest structure in town. Farmers driving in from the country noted its prominence and town people pointed it out with pride.) Mr. Wm. Kane of the Media area commenced threshing on Tuesday, he being the first in this vicinity to do so.