The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1918
Stronghurst Graphic, Jan. 10, 1918
ODD FELLOWS HOST MANY: The Odd Fellows of Henderson County are holding a big rally in Stronghurst and expect to entertain 400 or more visiting brethren. The severity of the weather may, however, diminish somewhat the expected attendance. A school of instruction by one of the Grand officers will be conducted in the morning and in the afternoon the degrees will be conferred. The work of the initiatory degree will be given by the Lomax lodge and that of thefirst and third degrees by the Carman lodge. In the evening the public may attend an open meeting followed by a banquet.
NEW YEAR'S PARTY: The Galbraith sisters gave a New Year's dinner at their home in Stronghurst to about 30 of their Gladstone relatives and friends. A merry day was spent and guests returned home feeling that they had begun the year in an appropriate manner. A niece, Miss Fannie Galbraith, remained with her aunts for a longer visit.
ORGANIZE TO FIGHT FIRES: Although Stronghurst is furnished with a splendid system of water works with fire hydrants available for use in case of a fire and with a good fire engine and a fine equipment of hose and other apparatus necessary for fighting fire, we have several months been without any organization for making use of these. At a meeting of the village board this subject was brought up and it was decided that there should at least be some one delegated with the power to assume control in case of fire and to act as fire marshal and that an assistant should also be appointed. In accordance with this decision, A.L.Russler was elected as village fire marshal and George Dixson as assistant fire marshal.
Hereafter, these men will have full authority in the matter of directing work of handing any fire which may break out within the village limits and it will be expected of those volunteering in assisting in the work to recognize their authority and obey the directions given. Of course, this does not mean that one should not act promptly and in accordance with the dictates of his own judgment in arresting the progress of a fire as prompt action on the start might mean the saving of much property. It means that after the arrival of the fire marshal or his assistant, the directions given by them should be observed.In this connection a suggestion was made at the meeting that the village be divided up into three or four districts and that at a central point in each district a reel supplied with hose, nozzles and wenches be kept so that in case of fire breaking out a connection could be quickly made with an available hydrant pending the arrival of the regular apparatus and the fire marshal and his assistant...
VIOLA BANKER GOES WRONG: W.K.Stitt until a few weeks ago cashier of the Farmers Bank of Viola who was suddenly discharged because of bad stories which were circulated about him and other reasons and who on the evening of his discharge disappeared together with some of the bank's funds was arrested in Denver, Colorado, the first of the week. The story of Mr. Stitt's escapades date back several months and read like a novel. His capture or arrest, too, is a rather funny co-incident:It will be remembered that Chas. Enstrom and family and Rex Balmer and family left here on Saturday for the West, where they will make their home. On arriving at Denver where they had to change trains, who should they discover in the station but W.K.Stitt, the former Viola bank cashier. Rex, according to information, was instrumental in giving the information that caused Stitt's arrest and as he was identified by Rex and the Enstrom family there was no guess work as to him being the right man.
When questioned by the authorities at Denver, he at first tried to pass off the innocense plea, but on being cornered on all sides confessed that there was a woman in Peoria mixed up in the deal, who he claimed had gotten all the money. When taken into custody he had only $40 on his person. The exact amount of his theft has not been given out, but it is about $6,000 or $7,000. Rex Balmer made be in line for at least part of the reward offered as he help identify the thief.
Mr. Stitt has a family in Viola who are very highly respected and comes from a prominent family near Alpha; he was one of the most thought of and respected men of Viola when he first came to take up the position as bank cashier. He and his family had been residents of Viola before and everyone knew him. Mr. Stitt says that at the time no one could have paid him money enough to do anything wrong. It is said that the woman in Peoria with whom he had been spending considerable time, undoubtedly was the cause of his downfall.
Sheriff Lutrell departed for Denver to bring his man back to face trial for his defaulting and according to information no requisition papers will be needed to bring him back as Stitt has submitted to his return. The embezzlement covers a period of several months.
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING: The Stronghurst Mutual County Fire Insurance Co. held its annual meeting in the village hall. Ben Duke of Rozetta, Thos. Dixon of Carman and W.J.McElhinney were re-elected as directors. The old officers were re-elected: C.R.A.Marshall, President; Thos. Dixon, Treas.; and W.J.McElhinney, Sec. This popular insurance organization now has over $1,000,000 worth of insurance in force, having written $228,000 worth during the past year.
1893 GRAPHIC: Mart Kirby received his commission as post master. Lyman Taylor was the recipient of a lady's gold watch offered by J.S.Warner to the person guessing the nearest to the number of beans in a four ounce bottle. Temperatures were hovering at 10 to 14 degrees below zero. The tenth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Weir was celebrated by a tin wedding given by friends at their home. Mrs. Millen of Monmouth was conducting successful singing class at the U.P.Church in Olena. The failure of the Wilson brothers, prominent farmers and stockmen operating the Marsden farm 3 miles north of Stronghurst, was a subject of much interest and comment. The scarcity and high price of hogs was the subject of editorial comment, the price having reached $7.90 per hundred in Chicago.
BANK MEETS: The annual meeting of the stockholders of the First National Bank of Stronghurst was held in the directors room of the bank and the old board was re-elected without change: C.E. Peasley, C.C. Craig, L.M. Loomis, A.A.Worthington, C.H.Davis, H.N. Vaughan, Geo. Dixon and Del Dixon. All the old officers were retained: Pres., C.E. Peasley; V-Pres., C.C.Craig; Cashier, L.M. Loomis; B.G.Widney, Ass't.Cashier; J.F. McMillan and Ruth Mains, Clerks. The institution made a gratifying growth during 1917 and is to increase its capital stock from $25,000 to $50,000.
STRONGHURST LIBRARY: The Stronghurst Library which is kept open at the Waiting Room by the Stronghurst Community Woman's Club is for the use of everyone. There are 150 books to be loaned free and there are 100 books in the rental library which are loaned for 12 cents a week.A person may become a member of the rental library by paying $1.00 at anytime for a year's reading or by placing in the rental library a very recent book...