The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1917
Stronghurst Graphic, Feb.22, 1917
ROAD MEETING: Supervisors, road commissioners, and town clerks from the southern end of the county met with County Supt. of Highways, C.R.A.Marshall to discuss the improvement of roads in the county. No definite action was taken but it was decided to designate the best improved roads in each township by having markers placed at intersections of the roads as guides to travelers and also giving the number of miles to the important towns and villages. (As late of the 1980's such a sign was still on the crossroads in Olena.)
IMPROVEMENT AT THE NATIONAL BANK: The repairing and remodeling of the interior of the bank has been completed. The walls have been redecorated, a new lighting system installed using the dome indirect light, the floor covered with linoleum, all the furniture and wood work re-finished and everything put in first-class shape. A new safety deposit section has been installed and a new posting and bookkeeping machine purchased.
The institution made no mistake in hiring Mr. Widney last fall to fill the vacancy in the office of cashier as business had steadily increased since he assumed charge. The Christmas Savings Club has proved to be a success with 200 members and the savings department has 50 accounts, nearly all new . (It was located where the Fort & Neff office is today.)
WED IN GALESBURG: Their many friends are no doubt surprised to learn that Mr. Earl Brokaw and Miss Orpha Veech were wed in the M.E.Church parsonage in Galesburg on Wednesday afternoon of this week. The couple were attended by Mr. Erman Dodds and Miss Ruth Heisler who were the only witnesses to the happy affair.
AUTO THIEF CAUGHT: Considerable surprise was created in the village when it was learned that Sheriff Knox had come down from Oquawka and placed Harry Russler under arrest for the theft of the Ford automobile which disappeared from Guy Lanphere's barn in the village on Dec.2nd.For some time young Russler has been running a car, which he claimed to have bought, but it seems that when questioned, he had told several different stories in regard to the parties from whom it was purchased.
Something over a week ago he had the car insured through the agency of Mr. Widney of the First National Bank and had informed the latter that he had purchased it from Sticklen Bros. at LaHarpe.On Tuesday he drove the car to the Warren Dowell sale north of Carman. Mr. Lanphere attended the sale and saw the car and thought it resembled the one which he had lost. He examined the engine to learn what number it bore and discovered the figures had been obliterated by means of a file.
Although the front wheels of the car were not the same as those which had been on his car when it disappeared and although it was also equipped with a bumper, which his lacked, Mr. Lanphere was confident that the machine was the one he had lost.
He returned to Stronghurst and made known his suspicions to Mr. Widney, who looked up the engine number, which Russler had given him when he had insured the car and found that it was a fictitious one. He also found out from Stricklen Bros at LaHarpe that they had not sold Russler the car and also that they had furnished a new pair of front wheels for a Ford car which he had brought them and had equipped the car with a bumper.
Mr. Lanphere considered that evidence enough to warrant his asking for the apprehension of young Russler and the sheriff was accordingly notified. The latter found on his arrival in Stronghurst that Russler had not returned from the Dowell sale and decided to wait until he arrived. In the mean time Russler came in and before he could be apprehended started out again with the auto. The sheriff had been given a tip as to where he might possibly locate the object of his search and left town leaving instructions with Village Marshal Rezner that in case Russler showed up to place him under arrest. About nine o'clock in the evening the young man accompanied by a young lady drove into the garage of Knutstrom & McKeown and asked to be supplied with some gasoline.
While waiting for this to be furnished, he was placed under arrest by the marshal. Later, he was turned over to Sheriff Knox and taken to Oquawka.(Boy, was that some date!)
While young Russler denies the theft of the auto, the circumstances seem to be very much against him and there is practically no doubt that the car found in his possession is the one stolen from Mr. Lanphere. One of the most remarkable features of the case is that while the car has been in the village practically all of the time since it disappeared from Mr. Lanphere's barn, no one recognized it and this in spite of the fact that a reward of $25 has been outstanding for its recovery.
Much sympathy is expressed for the parents of young Russler, who are numbered amongst the best people of the village, and every one would be indeed glad if developments should prove their son's innocence of the grave offence.Later-Russler was taken before Justice Trimble in Oquawka and waiving examination was bound over to the grand jury in the sum of $700, G.Q.Fort, Fred Reynolds and A.L.Russler becoming his sureties.
1892 GRAPHIC: W.H.Dean has just been transferred from Lomax to Stronghurst as the Santa Fe agent. J.W.Brook disposed of 20 head of pure bred shorthorn cattle to a gentleman living near Ormonde, receiving $1000 for the lot. C.B.&.Q. representatives were trying to settle a damage claim with Jeff Kirby who had lost an arm in a wreck near Monmouth. They offered $3,500, but Kirby did not settle. Edgar D. Rankin had caught his left hand in a fodder cutter and it was so mangled that the greater part was amputated. Messrs. Squires and Thrush had just opened a new barber shop on Main St. Miss Ella, daughter of J.W.Brook married Mr. John W. Brush of Walton, Kan. on Feb.24th.
OBITUARIES***CLYDE INGERSON*** Again the Death Angel visited the community and took one just on the threshold of young manhood. Clyde Ingerson, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ingerson passed away at his home last Sabbath, Feb.18th after an illness of quite a long period from pneumonia. Clyde was born on a farm near Hopper's Mill June 2, 1899, making him 17 years, 8 months and 16 days old at the time of his death.
Seven or eight years ago his parent moved to the farm southwest of Stronghurst which has since been his home. He was attending the Stronghurst High School and a member of the Sophomore Class at the time he was stricken with the disease. School was dismissed on the afternoon of the funeral, the pupils attending in a body and five of his classmates and one of his young friends from Terre Haute High School acting as pall bearers. The deceased is survived by his parents and one sister Grace.
***LITTLE JACK STEFFEY*** Mr. And Mrs. T.D.Steffey were called upon to pass through the valley of sorrow during the past week in the loss of their youngest child, little Jack, who succumbed to an attack of pneumonia on Feb.19th. The little boy, who was only 2 years, 1 month, and 24 days at the time of his death, was the object of his parents deepest affections.
He is survived by his parents, two sisters-Thelma and Phyllis-and two brothers-Robert and Dixson. Funeral services were conducted in the home with interment in the village cemetery.(The flu was prevalent throughout the United States at this time and many died.)
AGENCY FOR BUICK CARS: Knutstrom & McKeown have taken the agency for the popular Buick line of automobiles and would be glad to demonstrate the points of merit of this make of cars by showing you the sample on the floor in their garage in Stronghurst.
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: Roscoe Hardin is employed in the city of Omaha. A large flock of geese passed over the village flying northward-the harbingers of spring. Chesley Towler and wife are moving into Dr. Marshall's home on Mary St. Israel Brundage of LaHarpe died; he had in business the longer than any other man in that community. A.J.Davis brought back 26 head of mules from Missouri and will offer them for sale.
According to the Biggsville Clipper, the search for oil in paying quantities in that neighborhood has been abandoned. H.N.Vaughn, Tom Dodds and Will Voorhees accompanied a shipment of a carload of pure bred Herefords to VanHorn, Texas. C.A.McElhinney of Burlington, Iowa died on Feb.11th following a paralytic stroke, which he suffered several days previously. The deceased was formerly a resident of Raritan where he engaged in the livery business. W.C.Ivins has been confined to his home by an attack of rheumatism and is still unable to give full attention to business affairs.
AWARDS DAMAGES: In the case of Media Township vs George M. Foote, Henry Annegers, Frank Yaley and O.J.Sanderson growing out of the decision to vacate the road running east one mile from the Sanderson Corner and opening a new road one half mile further south the following awards were made: George M. Foote-$1,328.21 for four and half acres and 400 rods of fence which he will be required to build; Henry Annegers-$191.60 for about one half acre of land and the building of 80 rods of fence; and Frank Yaley-$1600 for vacating the old road which will necessitate a longer haul to market for his grain. (Nothing is said about Mr. Sanderson.)
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Some new members were taken into the Mystic Workers Lodge; the Biggsville team came down and did the work. (Those initiated were Mrs. Ed Stott, Mrs. Al Stott, Lynn and Lee Galbraith and Chalmer and Lyle Graham.) A fine banquet was served and a royal good time was enjoyed. Mr. Herb Nichols moved here from Dallas City into the Simpson house.
The restaurant people have moved into the building vacated by the post office. Mr. Chas. Babcook, who has obtained a job in the button factory, moved his family into the old Wayman house in the east part of Oquawka. Mr. Charles Forward, who was operated on in the Burlington Hospital three weeks ago for gall stones, was able to return home. Miss Josephine Graham, the post mistress, moved into the building just north of the old post office and will have plenty of room for an office in the new location.
CARMAN CONCERNS: The marriage of Elzina Dixon of this place and Mr. Clarence Morhling of Stronghurst occurred at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. Will Dixon and wife with only the immediate families present. A delicious dinner was served and the happy couple left for a visit with relatives at Pulaski and Cleveland, Ia.
The sale of Warren Dowell was largely attended; they will move to Stronghurst soon. Supervisor Walter Howell, Road Commissioners Willis Dowell and James Johnson and Clerk George Marsden attended a meeting at Stronghurst to discuss the proposition of guide boards throughout the county and also oiling the roads.The passenger train No. 18 on the Santa Fe was delayed several hours in Lomax. Harry Sparrow has been proving up on a claim in Colorado. Ed Wright will be moving there after his sale.
MOST SENSATIONAL COW: A new world's record for all breeds for butterfat production in the seven day division was established by the pure bred Holstein-Friesian cow, Sogis "Fayne Johanna" in a test ending Jan.8, 1917. This remarkable cow produced 50.68 pounds of butter in seven consecutive days in a test conducted by the New York State Agricultural College, Ithaca, N.Y.She was bred by A.A.Cortelyou of Somerville, N.J. and her present owner is Oliver Cabana, Jr., proprietor of Pine Grove Farms, Elma Center, N.Y. at which noted establishment four other world's record holders have been developed during the past six months.