The Graphic

August 25, 1927

OLENA HAS ATTAINED 92 YEARS: The Olena Home coming was held Saturday, August 20th; the day was excellent and a good attendance noted that practically every business man in Stronghurst was present at the dinner.  The occasion was remarkable from two standpoints, the meeting of old acquaintances and the wonderful feast.  Everyone was loud in praising the ladies of Olena and the community for their culinary ability and the able manner in which they conducted the affair…

History of Olena: In the year 1835 while this county was still a part of Warren County, the site of Olena was laid out by Robert Kendall, just south of the village, but located on Kendall’s addition to Olena.  By an act of the legislature, Jan. 20, 1841, Warren County was divided the eastern part remaining Warren County retaining Monmouth as their county seat and the western part becoming Henderson County with Oquawka as its count seat. The first general store and post office in the village was conducted by the founder of the village, Robert Kendall, probably 1836.  Among the buildings was a public school.  Some 60 years ago Olena was a thriving village had it resident pastors and physicians, hotels, harness shops, shoe shops, blacksmith shops, drug stores, general stores, post office, dress making and millinery departments, a good brass band, one of the best literary societies and singing schools in the county.

In 1861 Olena had a gala day when the first flag pole was erected and the national colors displayed, firing the hearts of all true patriots of the community.  The celebration of July 4th was often held on the village lawn.  The Soldiers’ reunion was held here a few times. Sorry to relate—that at one time Olena had it open saloon—the first was conducted by a Frenchman-Longchamp. (Remember this is prohibition.)

Many craftsmen and professional men have been residents: different periods of time of the village.  Among physicians were Anderson, Stewart, Maxwell, Bailey, Cooper, Cowden and Brown. The first blacksmith was Nebergall; he was followed by Hulet, Brown, Detrick, Repass and others.  Mr. Minntrick and Mr. Johnson were craftsmen in the shoe and boot making and mending.  Gohagen ran a harness shop.  James Crowley and Mr. J.P. Long were painters and decorators.  This little hamlet also at one time had a saw and grist mill which was most liberally patronized.  This was located on the farm now owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Lant and was operated by Mr. John Long of Roseville, Ill. with Mr. Showers as miller.

As the village grew, many of the good people who had no place to worship except their homes began to see the need of a church for public worship and as those of the Methodist faith were in the ascendancy they took the lead so in 1855 the Olena Methodist Church was erected at a cost of $2,000.  Carpenters were George Curry (I think this was Samuel Curry) and George H. Curry-father of C. H. Curry of Stronghurst. This building was finished and dedicated in 1857. Fifty-one years later this church celebrated its 51 anniversary with a three-day program which truly was a feast of good things spiritually, morally and physically.  From this domination four ministers were sent to preach The Living Word.  (Alas, this was continued on page 8 but was not microfilmed!)

WRECK AT LOMAX:  What might have been a fatal accident for fireman George Breeze who has been night hostler here for several weeks, occurred last Saturday afternoon at Lomax when a Santa Fe engine used for handling a construction crew at that point in connection with the new T.P. & W. spur being laid, overturned into a ditch and had to be taken out with a wrecker.

The engineer and a brakeman escaped uninjured, but fireman Breeze was caught under the engine and had it not been for a large ditch in which he fell when the engine turned over on him, he might have lost his life.  Rescue workers soon had him out, but he was painfully injured and was taken to the Santa Fe Hospital in Fort Madison for treatment.  The new grade was probably too soft for such a heavy engine and gave way letting the track down on one side. 

AG. CLUB FREAK BANQUET:  With 20 pounds of fresh roasted peanuts and water as the menu, the Agricultural Club of the high school staged their second annual Peanut Banquet Tuesday evening in the ag room at school.  Farm Adviser Walker was present and assisted by showing a picture of the Annual Judging Contest for boys of Vocational Agricultural Departments in Illinois held at the University of Illinois.  Rev. C. S. Mc Clure, pastor of the Methodist Church was also one of the guests.  Mr. F. H. VanDyke, who is in charge of the Agricultural Department in the high school led the group in various games which took the form of an indoor athletic meet.  About 20 boys are expected to be enrolled in the agricultural classes this year. 

HENDERSON COUNTY LAND BRINGING GOOD PRICES:  The sale of two of the best farms in Henderson County, comprising 200 acres at $225 an acre, was reported by Mr. R.W. Upton of Stronghurst as taking place on Tuesday afternoon, August 23rd.  The larger farm to be sold was the guy Garrett farm of 120 acres which is well improved and lies one mile north of the Catholic Church northeast of Raritan.  The purchase was made by Glen Meacham who now resides on that place.  The other purchase was made by Dean Cortelyou who purchased the 80-acre Peter VanArsdale farm one mile south of Raritan.  Mr. Cortelyou and family will move from their farm in that neighborhood to their newly purchased property of September 1st.

ARRESTED FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT:  Two cases of disorderly conduct were heard before Earl Knox, Justice of the Peace on Aug. 22 at Oquawka.  Defendants belonged to one of the government crew working on the river.  They entered a plea of guilty after which one was fined$11.00 and the other $18.00 and costs. 

Case of disturbing the peace-trying to operate Sunday Rodeo within city limits-rider was arrested and a hearing was held before W. E. Shorts, Justice of the Peace.  The case was continued until Monday, August 29th at 10 a.m.

GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: The Sewing Circle took in $95 ($3,195.80 in today’s values) at their Country Store at the Biggsville Picnic Thursday and Friday. Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Puck moved their household goods from La Harpe Saturday to the John Knustrom property.  Mr. Peck is the principal of the school here for the coming year.  Mr. and Mrs. Foster and children have gone to Keokuk to make their home where he has employment.  Mr. Foster has been working with the “telegraph gang” here for some time.  Zela Gray Schell returned her home in Beardstown after several weeks visit with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gray.  Those from here who attended Teachers’ Inst. at Oquawka last week were H. C. Blackstone, Florence Brewer, Lena Pence, Ruth Forward, Gladys Grate, Kimbro Shake, Virginia Thomas, Ruth Shaw, Oliver Peck and Walter Huff.  Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Colley returned from a motor trip and visit in the state of Virginia.  Dr. and Mrs. B. L. Little and sons of Burlington were Sunday guests with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ellison.  Miss Marion White, son and Paul Tiffany, Dr. and Mrs. H. C. Mohr, all of Cambridge, Mass., and Mrs. Wm. Launroth of Burlington were visitors with Mrs. Irma Lox, Mrs. Geo Lewis and Mrs. Chas. Petherbridge.  The sidewalks on Main Street are now finished and surely are a fine improvement.

BIGGSVILLE BRIEFS: The Biggsville Chautauqua opened last Monday evening and closes on Thursday evening with a play, “Daddy Long Legs.”  The attendance is fair and the numbers so far have been of high quality and very entertaining. (culture has come to the Heartland). Ladies of the M.E. Aid Society cleared $85.68 at the stand conducted at the two days picnic ($2882+ in today’s values).  Some twenty relatives of the Stewart family held a reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stewart on the old Stewart homestead.  Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Stewart were the honor guests as they are to leave soon for their home in California.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell and Mrs. Hettie McLain called on Vina Mekemson home on Sunday afternoon.  Mrs. Charles Burrus and daughter, Miss Anna, and Mrs. Elmer Jamison and daughter, Miss Edna left by auto for a trip to Starved Rock.  George Millen and son Roy and Marion Davenport spent Friday and Saturday in Quincy; the two boys are preparing to attend business college there this year. 

RARITAN REPORTS: Percy Veech had his tonsils taken out at one of the Macomb hospitals.  Earl Brokaw was a Macomb Fair visitor.  Lucille Simonson has been sick and still under the doctor’s care.  Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wickles and children started on a motor trip to Missouri to visit relatives. 

LOMAX LINGERINGS: Harry King and family of Nebraska have been visiting at the W. T. King home.  Harry filled the pulpit at the Christian Church Sunday evening.  He is a good talker and his sermon was enjoyed by all present.  Glen Romkey of Burlington  is employed by the National Airway system. The Sinclair Pipe Line Co is repairing and cleaning the pipe through here this week.  Mrs. Lulu Marsh of Missouri come last week and will work at the canning factory during the tomato season. H. F. Strickler is expected home this week from a three weeks business trip in California. Robert French and family of Louisville, Ky., are visiting relatives for two weeks.  The three Fresh Air children of Chicago who have been spending the summer here will return to their home this week. (Fresh Air program took low income children and sent them to rural areas for two weeks.) Louis Eckhardt and wife who have been stopping with Mrs. Chas. Smiddy this summer have returned to their home here. 

HENDERSON COUNTY: Who says Henderson County is not on the map?  With parties coming all the way from Portage, Wis. seeking employment in her airplane factory at Lomax; other parties autoing all the way from Alabama seeking high bred white faced cattle and finding them in Terre Haute Township; a whole carload of them and through efforts of our efficient Chamber of Commerce, a first class Pleasure Boat came all the way from St. Louis to give, we the people a day’s outing, and one dear woman was heard to say that in all her life she had never a day so full of pleasure and so far as reported everyone felt the same way.  Then you must not forget that Henderson County has two canning factories and two bathing beaches.  The look at all those beautiful prehistoric mounds which prove beyond a doubt that some branch of the human family inhabited our county thousands and thousands of years ago.

Then Henderson has a few peculiarities all her own: On presidential election years the county is Republican, extra, ultra, Republican, but between times, she can elect a home grown Democrat to the important office of County Supt. of Schools; can import a Democrat from Missouri and make him Sheriff; and if reports are correct, the aforesaid Sheriff is a little unique in the line of Sheriffs as he empties his confiscated booze instead of putting it is storage there by tempting some poor booze loving brother to break the eighth commandment as well as the law of the land.  If everybody would boost who knows, our county may find herself a place in the Sun.

FIX THE ROAD: “ A meeting recently held at the Burlington Hotel by Burlington Association at which time the Henderson County Road and Bridge committee and Co. Supt of Highways C. R. A. Marshall, were present and steps were  taken to improve a strip of bad road between Lomax and Burlington.  The road and Bridge Committee is composed of the following Supervisors: W. R. Smiddy, D. L. Warner and Chas. Pogue.  The road to be improved is one and one half miles in length extending from the hard road south from Crystal Lake School and is one of the worst roads in the world in bad weather.  The improvement will consist of a road being  8 inches of gravel being put in.  The contract for the work has already been let to a Peoria construction company and is to be completed by Sept. 15th.  The cost is to be paid by Henderson County assisted by the Greater Burlington Assn.  There is hope that this improvement can be extended a mile south and folks down this way who are interested may be asked to help finance it.  If this were done, people in this section would have practically a year-round outlet to the cement highway between Burlington and Chicago.(the road will help the Burlington merchants so no wondered they will help.) ” -Lomax Searchlight