The Graphic

July 14, 1927

 FACTORY WORK ADVANCING: The work on the factory buildings of the United Foods Co. is progressing as rapidly as had been hoped for, the process and power rooms being completed and ready to allow the work of installing the machinery to be started next week.   The process building is a practical establishment of durability and beauty.  It is located just north of the Santa Fe tracks two blocks west of the Stronghurst depot.  The walls of the building are of concrete blocks and the floors of cement making it absolutely fire proof.  Large skylights and ventilators assure favorable working conditions.

With the completion of the loading platform, at the rear of the process room, building operations will be suspended until fall when there will be a large warehouse built with a floor space the same size as that of the process building (140 x 50 ft.) but two stories high.  From present indications, the boiler, engine and the rest of the machinery will be installed in plenty of time for the canner to commence operations this fall.  One hundred peelers are wanted by the company.  A work table of five feet in length has been constructed in the process room to accommodate the peelers. Most of the growers have been very fortunate in this community and a carload of cabbage will be shipped out next week.

OUTING CLUB DIRECTORS MEET: The directors and supervising committee of the Stronghurst Outing Club met Monday evening in the directors’ room of the Stronghurst Telephone Co. building, and made plans for the coming year. A Clean Up Day and Basket Dinner at the club grounds one-half mile south of Shokokon for July 19th was planned.  Members are urged to attend.  The following officials were present:  G. C. Rehling, President; 1st vice president, J. W. Decker; 2nd vice president, Albert Chandler; F. G. Reynolds, H. P. Rankin and E. F. Beardsley, directors; L. E. Morey, Jess Denum and Lloyd Rankin, Supervising Committee and H.E. Painter, secretary.

DALLAS FACTORY BURNS: The Curtis Handle Factory at Dallas City burned out Tuesday morning, July 12th causing a loss of forty to fifty thousand dollars. Dallas City fire department was assisted by fire trucks from Ft. Madison and Nauvoo in keeping the flames from spreading, The origin of the fire is unknown.

HE SWAM THE DISTANCE:  Leo Bazel, an eighteen-year-old boy Burlington boy, swam down the Mississippi Rover from Oquawka to Burlington Sunday making the distance of about 16 miles in approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes.  He was accompanied by Elmer Pence in a row boat.

BEST FIELD OF WHEAT IN THE COUNTY:  One of the best fields of wheat in this part of the state and on which Mr. C.E. Peasley, experienced farmer of this community, says he has never seen surpassed any place, lies on the Marion Evans farm southwest of Stronghurst and cared for by Clarence Dixon.  Everyone should take a look at the field for we guarantee they will never see a prettier one.  Mr. Dixon is an expert shocker and the bundles of ripes grain are so skillful arranged that each shock in the 40 acres presents a perfect appearance.

MUDD FAMILY REUNION:  On July 10th the Mudd’s and their relatives held a reunion at the Monmouth Park.  At noon a very elaborate dinner was served and the afternoon was spent visiting among themselves.  This is first meeting of the Mudd’s and relatives for a number of years.  The reunion brought about the knowledge that our best friends are our relatives.  In the talks of the day, it was learned that instead of living so much apart that they should share their joys and sorrow together.  Everyone enjoyed themselves so much that they organized meeting two and three times a year (list of officers and attendees in this article.)…

THEY CRASHED!  Mr. Rush and Mr. Hatch, two airplane men, were seriously injured Monday evening, July 11th when the machine in which they were riding took a nose dive and fell to the ground from a distance of about 200 feet, according to a dispatch from our Lomax Correspondent. The machine in which the men were riding was an old wartime plane and was so badly damaged in the fall that it will be junked. Ed Hath of Chicago, student aviator and workman on the National Airway Factor at Lomax, was pilot of the plane and escaped with minor injuries. O. R. Rush of Amboy, Illinois, a student aviator and passenger in the plane, was injured quite seriously.

BANKERS MEET IN REDECORATED ROOMS:  The Directors of the State Bank of Stronghurst held their regular monthly business meeting in the newly decorated room.  The interior of the bank building has recently undergone a thorough treatment at the hands of Stronghurst’ s experienced painters, paperers, carpenters, masons and even watchmakers (the clock has undergone a facial massage and now looks out upon the world with a makeup that rivals “that school girl complexion” and with a simplicity that would not permit the profoundest doubter to so much as think of questioning the accuracy.)

OBITUARY: MRS. JOLLEY:  Mrs. Ellsworth Jollley passed away at her home some time Saturday night.  They had retired at a late hour and Mrs. Jolley seemed as well as usual.  When Mr. Jolley awakened Sunday morning, he found Mrs. Jolley had passed away.  Funeral was held Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock at the Christian Church with interment in the Crane Cemetery.

OLENA OBSERVATIONS: A slight sprinkle of rain this Monday afternoon has slightly cooled the torrid atmosphere, but more rain is needed.  Mrs. Paul Lant and children of South Bend, Indiana are spending a few weeks visiting relatives near Olena: she and one of her children will take treatments while here for different ailments. The ice cream social at the Olena Church was well attended and realized $25.41 ($475+ in today’s values). Miss Hazel Hicks is riding in a spick and span new coupe she recently purchased.  Mrs. Letitia Booten has also purchased a car.  Mr. and Mrs. Silas Salter and daughter, who were motoring back from California will probably locate in Galesburg where they formerly lived. Miss Thelma Burrell is taking treatments twice a week of Dr. Franz of Burlington for an injured eye and so far, has not been materially helpful. Quite a bunch went to the Irven Burrell home to charivari their daughter Inez and husband who has recently joined in marriage and who are now at home to their friends in Rock Island.

MILK PRODUCTION IN HENDERSON COUNTY:  A flood of nearly 726,000 gallons of milk is due on Henderson County farms during the next 150 days, according to an estimate by the Blue Valle Creamery Institute.  About two thirds will be consumed within 48 hours after it is produced, but fully 242,000 gallons will be separated, converted into cream, held for four or five days perhaps then marketed as butterfat.  It is the handling of this last third of the production in warm weather that largely determines the farmer’s yearly profit from his cows.

Three times as much milk is produced in summer as in winter, just at the time it is most difficult to care for milk products properly. Cleanliness and low temperature are the secrets of producing high quality products. One of the big factors in the price paid for cream is its quality. Progressive farmers are increasing their incomes by taking advantage of the new system of handling milk recommended by the agricultural colleges.

The procedures of making sweet cream in substance is as follows:  After each skimming, take the separator bowl and tinware apart immediately, wash with cold water, then wash with hot water, a brush and washing powder, final scalding them with boiling water or steam so wiping will be unnecessary.  Cool the cream as it comes from the separator or immediately after and keep it below 60 degrees.  In the absence of ice or running spring, a cooling tank can be arranged by placing a covered barrel or tub, large enough to hold two cans, between a pump and a watering trough.  The smaller of the two cans should be used to hold the warm cream until it is thoroughly cooled down, then it can be added to the cold cream in the larger can.  Never mix warm and old cream.  By following these instructions, the average farmer with homemade equipment can market, if not always a sweet product, at least always a high-quality product that will fetch a high price. (Today, we take for granted that a carton of cream will be on the grocery shelf).

CARMAN CONCERNS:  Mr. Elmer Norris still remains very poorly; Doctor Emerson is caring for him.  Some of the boarder at the hotel here are interested in aeroplanes and are getting in readiness to take an Aerial Trip soon to China.  It is said that the plane is being built at Lomax, Illinois.  Dr. Emerson called at the home of Clara Coffman who still remains poorly. Mrs. Wm. Pendry, Jr. will entertain the Thursday card club.  The farmers in this area have their harvesting completed in our community and are getting ready to commence threshing grain in a few days.  Some have their corn laid by but the majority are cultivating for a second time. 

LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Bainter and son Harold, Mr. and Mrs. John Marshall and daughter, Barbara Jean, Mrs. Franis McKeown and sons Lester and Everett and Miss Della Shafer were guests at Sunday dinner in the home of the former’s daughter, Mrs. James Stevenson near Biggsville.  Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reynolds spent Sunday at the home of their uncle, Mr. Charles Brown at Canton, Ill.  Mr. Brown has been in declining heath for some time.  He will be remembered by many of our older citizens as one of the first barbers when the village was in its infancy. Mrs. Johanna Wheeling who has been spending the past six weeks at the home of her brother in San Antonio, Texas is expected home Saturday.  Her daughter, Mrs. Fred L. Johnson leaves for Kansas City and will accompany her mother to Stronghurst. Mr. George Chant was suddenly stricken with an attack of ptomaine poisoning while downtown Thursday evening.  Upon coming from the club room above Worley’s drugstore and walKing north, he fell on the sidewalk in front of Foster Lazear’s drugstore.  He was carried into the store and Dr. Harter came and took Mr. Chant home where he soon had him very much improved. Mr. Chant’s friends were glad to see him on the streets the next morning in good health.  Mr. and Mrs. Gram Sillars of St. Louis, Mo., motored to Stronghurst Sunday afternoon and will remain for a week’s visit with the lady’s parents Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Fort, Jr. and other relatives.  Mrs. Charles Bell and Miss Mary McKeown attended the Bible School conventions of District No. 2 held at the Oquawka M. E. Church on last Sabbath afternoon; they were accompanied by Paul Bell and Vincent Upton.  Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Long returned from Olney,, Illinois where they attended the funeral of their son-in-law, Mr. L. L. Hill who died July 1st after three years of suffering from cancer of the stomach.  Mrs. Hill was aa graduate of our local high school and is now bookkeeper for the General Motors Co. at Olney. Mrs. Mary Folmer of New York is a house guest at the Will Ross home and spent Wednesday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Doak. 

FACTS ABOUT ILLINOIS:  Illinois ranks second in the manufacture of heating and illuminating gas.  Sixty-three plants employ 6,075 workers.  Illinois stands second in the manufacture of leather gloves and mittens.  Twenty-seven plants employ 1,727 persons.  The state stands second in the manufacture of hats and caps (other then felts and straws).  Fifty-six plants employ 786 workers.  Illinois stands second in lapidary work. Four plants employ 50 persons.

MEDIA BROADCASTER, part of the Stronghurst Graphic: Several townspeople and about 40 members of the Junior and Senior choirs motored to Lomax Sunday evening where along with Rev. Cross they presented a program. Dr. and Mrs. Hoyt and sons, Mrs. Nora Houston and Joe Voorhees of Raritan arrived home after a two weeks’ vacation trip at Minnesota. A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Eschol Houtchens on July 12, 1927. 

KILLED IN FALL FROM CHURCH: Samuel F. Black, janitor of the Presbyterian Church at Pontoosuc while oiling the church bell fell from the roof and was instantly killed at about 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon, July 9.  He was very aged and feeble.  The jury found death to have resulted from injuries sustained in an accidental fall.  No one witnessed the tragedy.