Stronghurst Graphic, July 25, 1918...
engine. Mrs. W.P.Terry recently sold three of her New Zealand red rabbits at a fancy price; one of the rabbits went to parties at Biggsville and two to Kirkwood. The Women's Community Club met at the Academy and sewed on comfort kits. The Community Club has taken upon themselves to support a French war orphan and to see to and pay for the mowing of the Academy lawn.
A surprise birthday party was given Mrs. William McIntyre at her home in the north part of town; fifty relatives and friends were present to help celebrate with cake and ice cream. The ladies of the Media community are planning a big social and ice cream supper to be held on the Academy lawn to pay for comfort its for the soldiers. Several of the boys gone from here didn't receive a kit as there was no money nor material to make them.
Twenty-four counties in Illinois are preparing for the one hundredth anniversary of the state's admission to the union. Mrs. A.W.Martin, head of the Henderson County committee, appeared before the Board of Supervisors at Oquawka and was able to secure $200 to help defray the expenses and assure sufficient funds with which to make Sept.5th a day that will be remembered with both pride and pleasure by the people of Henderson County. All surplus funds after expenses will go to the Red Cross.
Under present plans a refreshment booth is to be supplied and conducted by each township chairman of the Allied Relief work. Supplies will be solicited in each township and each chairman will decide what will be served. The orator for the day will be Hon. Frederick Voigt, a prominent Chicago lawyer and distinguished member of the Illinois Bar Association. The Orchard City Band of Burlington with 20 members will furnish music during the day. A grand chorus composed of one or more quartettes from each of the eleven townships plus a grand pageant featuring a number of tableaux illustrating historical events in the state is slated for entertainment. The promoters hope that every school in the county will be closed on that day so that children may attend and enjoy this replay of history.
An exhibition of antiquities and relics of past days, such as primitive farming implements and household utensils and anything else the harks back to forgotten eras, will be displayed. If you have such an relic, attach a card to it giving its history and send it to Mrs. Chas. Whiteman at Biggsville who is charge of that exhibit. It will be housed in a log cabin and a small admission fee will be charged. A booth will be fitted up and presided over by the Red Cross nurses who will accept contribution to the organization. Booster automobile parties are expecting to visit all parts of the county and some towns in other counties.
The Fordson Tractor Demostration given by J.M. Johnson, the local Ford man, at the A.R.Brooks farm attracted a large crowd of farmers. About 15 acres of oat stubble was plowed and put in condition for seeding to fall wheat. The plowing was done with 3 two bottom Oliver gang plows and these were followed by a tractor pulling tandem discs. The pulling power of the Fordson was amble when set at a depth of 10 inches without stalling the tractor. The ease with which the machine moved over the plowed ground, pulling the tandem discs also attracted much comment. Mr. Johnson took several orders for plowing and discing outfits from farmers witnessing the exhibition.
Flying at the rate of almost a 100 miles per hour Lieut. George Bond, a native of the town and his companion, Lieut. R.F.Yarbough, arrived from Scott Field, St.Louis. The flying instructors received the heartiest welcome ever extended a visitor of the city. The president of the United States could not have been better received. Lieut. Bond was born and raised there and knows everyone in the city.
Business was suspended and the entire populace took points of vantage to see the machine and its passengers. Factory whistles blew and auto horns honked and the din was terrific. Lieut. Bond later said that he could not hear the noise on account of his motor.
After circling over the city, they aired out to the Bond farm four miles southeast of Abingdon where the machine was landed. The officers were taken into town where a sumptuous feed was served at the home of the lieutenant's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Bond.
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