The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1919
Stronghurst Graphic, March 13, 1919
CONFERENCE REPORT: Rev. C.C.French of Monmouth addressed a union meeting at the Stronghurst U.P.Church last Sabbath evening in which he reported on the recent conference at Camp Grant for discussing plans for making the physical, mental and religious instruction received by the young men of the land during their period of national service a source of help in the reconstruction period upon which we have entered and a permanent influence for good is their respective communities. Rev. Finch was one of three Warren and Henderson County delegates to attend. He says it is the plan to reproduce the conference in various district centers throughout the state.
LAID TO REST IN SAME GRAVE: One of the sad funerals caused by the flu was held in the Olena Cemetery. Mrs. Ruby Jacobs Hicks with her little son who died two days before the mother were both laid to rest in the same grave. Last March she was married to Charles Hicks. Almost immediately he was called to camp and was still there when little Charles was born. He was mustered out and finally returned home just one month before his wife died.
Mrs. Ruby Jacobs Hicks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jacobs, was born in Henderson County, Illinois Oct.29, 1899 and departed this life March 5, 1919; death resulting from an attack of influenza followed by pneumonia. She was 19 years, 4 months and 7 days of age.
On March 15, 1918 she married Charles Hicks of Stronghurst. One little son, Charles Laverne, blessed this union. With the same disease that took his mother, he preceded her to death but two days. Besides her husband, she leaves to mourn her loss her parents and two sisters, Ruth and Lena, both at home with their parents. Funeral services were held at the Olena Cemetery.
VILLAGE BOARD MEETS: At the regular session in the village pump house, the board reviewed the bills and ordered them paid. Election judges were appointed: C.H.Davis, Geo. T.Chant, and C.M. Lukens; clerks: R. Butler, Elzie Gilliland, and Roland Davison. The committee to investigate the cost of oil for village streets had not completed their work. A committee was appointed to revise and compile the village ordinances now in effect and to arrange for the publication of six copies in loose leaf binders.
1894 GRAPHIC: Wm. Adair purchased the 238 acre Galloway farm near Biggsville at $68 per acre.(at 2005 prices that would be $1,592.37 per acre) James Milligan had just been elected cashier of the newly organized bank at Smithshire. Dr. Rohrer, who had been engaged in dentistry in Stronghurst for nearly a year, moved to Sigourney, Iowa. J.H.Schroeder of Hoppers Mills died suddenly on March 13th. His dead body being found late in the evening about a half mile from his home near a brush pile which he had gone to burn after dinner. The contractor for the A.T.S.F. sold ten mules in front of the court house in Monmouth with the best span bringing $80.
***OBITUARIES***MRS.WESLEY BRECKENRIDGE: Hazel Genevieve Turner, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.H.Turner of Memphis, Mo., formerly of Wyaconda, Mo., was born near Fairmont, Clark County on July 2, 1893 and departed this life Sunday afternoon March 2, 1919. She united in marriage with Wesley Breckenridge of Williamstown, Mo. on May 14, 1918, not quite ten months ago. Since that time they resided on their farm four miles south of Wyaconda. Two little twin babies were born to the union. An old tragedy has been repeated: one life has gone out at the expense of another.
She leaves to mourn her death the two little babes, a mother and father, Wesley, her young husband and two brothers, Hubert and John Melton. Hubert is still in a weakened condition having given over a pint of his blood in a last effort to save his sister's life under the direction of a skilled physician but to no avail.
The entire community of Wyaconda has received a deep shock as Hazel was a girl who was loved by all. . .Funeral services were held at Wyaconda from the Christian Church.
MARTHA AGNES THOMPSON: The deceased was born in Henderson County, Illinois Jan. 24, 1861 and died on March 1, 1919. In infancy she was baptized in the old South Henderson United Presbyterian Church and in early childhood she united with the Presbyterian church of Kossuth, Iowa. Upon moving to Illinois in 1885 she transferred her membership to the Reed Methodist Episcopal church and has been a consistent, constant member.
During the war she labored unceasingly for the welfare of the soldiers and sailors and really worked beyond her strength in the Red Cross and similar work...About fifteen years ago she entered the home of her brother John where she did her best to take the place of the deceased wife and her nephews and nieces held her in the bonds of love akin to that of a mother. In her last conscious moments she expressed her love for the soldier nephew, Frank, now in France and the desire to see him.
She is survived by two half sisters, Mesdames Malcena McGaw of Stronghurst and Elizabeth Lukens of Media; a half brother, W.A.Thompson of Wilsonville, Neb.; by a brother, John G. Thompson of Reed and 24 nephews and nieces. Monday morning at ten at the house the pastor read the twenty-third Psalm. Interment was beside her parents in the South Henderson Cemetery. -Henderson County Journal
LOCAL AND AREA HAPPENINGS: "Squire" A.W.Lynn, a well known citizen of Gladstone, passed away at this home last Tuesday evening. The Presbyterian Church at Good Hope, Ill. was destroyed by fire last Thursday morning entailing a loss estimated at around $12,000; the origin of the fire is a mystery. J.R.Marshall arrived from Fairmount, N.Dak. to visit friends. Mr. and Mrs. E.R.Grandey are the happy parents of a fine young son born March 7th. E.U. Overman, a former resident of Oquawka and states' attorney for Henderson County, died at this home in Red Cloud, Nebr. on March 16th. Mrs. Abram Davis and son, Lester, have returned to their home in Olathe, Kans. Axel Rudolph Johnson of this vicinity received his final naturalization papers at the county seat last week and is now a full fledged citizen of the U.S. C.C.Butler is recovering in a Galesburg hospital from an operation which was made necessary because of an accumulation of pus in one of his lungs.
Somewhat to the surprise of friends, Rev. K.R.Anderson arrived home from the hospital at Clarinda, Ia.; he is well on the road to recovery from his recent operation and expects to occupy his pulpit in the U.P.Church next Sabbath. Sergeant Chas. Kindred, who has been in the regular army for the past 5 years and whose company is stationed at El Paso, Tex., has been a visitor in the home of his sister, Mrs. A.L.Russler. Joe Hoffeditz, who has been in the artillery service overseas, arrived home having received his discharge at Camp Grant. Army life and training has wrought a great transformation in Joe's appearance and some of his old acquaintances almost failed to recognize him. Seventy-five friends of Ed Bowen sent post cards to him at training camp hospital in Alabama where he is convalescing from typhoid fever.
Miss Lura Speck, who lives with the Alex Marshall family west of Stronghurst, fell on an icy walk at her home breaking her left arm at the wrist. The fire was supposed to have been started by the explosion of an oil stove left burning to keep the sows and their new families of pigs warm destroyed two hog houses on the W.H.Myers farm near Terre Haute. Mr. Myers lost one valuable hog in the fire and a fine sow belonging to his son Frank and her litter of eleven pigs. Frank had purchased the sow at the Eckhardt's sale for $135 just a few days previous.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Wever, the youngest child of Mrs. George Gillis, died of pneumonia followed by the flu after a two weeks illness at the home of his grandfather, Mr. Marcellus Clover. Mr. Clarence Dixon, wife and baby of Denmark, Iowa are visiting the lady's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Coen. The Rehling heirs have sold their farm where Mr. Coen lived to Mr. John Oberly of Gladstone; it is known as the Hopkins farm.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: Mrs. John Knutstrom received a letter from her son John who is in France telling of his being able to leave the hospital and join the 85th Division. Will Galbraith has gone to Western Iowa to buy some stock cattle to put on the farm. Miss Irma Magee from Fairfield, Iowa is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Taylor Galbraith and her grandfather, Mr. Jesse Tate. Mary Hoover of Regina, Canada visited with her uncle, Jack Ditto and family. Mr. and Mrs. I.F.Forward have received a telegram telling them of their son Frank's safe return to the U.S. Glen Kimmitt, who has been in Camp Sheridan, Ala, has been honorably discharged from service. Mrs. T.P.McKee had left the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.W.McClinton, to rejoin her husband in Rexburg, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Galbraith were surprised by 75 of their friends and relatives at the home of her mother, Mrs. Dave Cook. A memorial service was held in the M.E.Church honoring the two soldiers who died in France, Oakley Colley was killed in action and Frank Miller died in a hospital of pneumonia.