Tuesday, July 1, 2025

From Days Gone By July 29, 1929

 July 29, 1929.

    Oxford Noble Pennithorpe, a purebred Jersey cow, owned and tested by William Jackson of Donovan, has just been awarded a Silver Medal by the American Jersey Cattle Club for the fine showing she made on her first official production test, started when she was three years and ten months of age. In 365 days this fine producer yielded 675.87 pounds of butterfat and 9,537 pounds of milk, missing a Gold Medal award by less than 25 pounds of butterfat. In her best month she yielded a total of 69.97 pounds of butterfat. She was with calf 253 days during the test and qualified for her Silver Medal in Class AA. This new Silver Medal cow was sired by Viola's Fawn Prince, and she is his first daughter to be officially tested. Her dam is Pennithorpe's Noble Daisy.

    Planter N. D. Norris praised the county for more and better marketing conditions here. His praise of chickens and hogs was loud, but he says this does not go far enough. That produce of all kinds can be marketed here that could be as good as the poultry and swine. He especially mentioned onions, sweet potatoes and melons.

    The Elisha Walker monument unveiling was postponed until next Saturday on account of some far away authorities not being able to get here. President J. N. Hall of the Johnson County Singing Convention says the August event will be at Gethsemne church.

    Dr. John G. Harrison, Dean of Mercer University and a Johnson countian, has had thrust on him another honor, being appointed as a member of the State Board of Education by Gov. L. G. Hardman. At Camp Wilkins, Athens, last week in the Speaking Contest by the Future Farmers of America of Georgia, Eugene Price of Adrian High School won first place in the finals and won $25.

    Policemen Crawford and Mayo found an abandoned car on North Marcus and parked it in a local storage room pending a claim of ownership. It was a 1928 Ford Roadster. It had a Macon City tag on it, was without gas, curtains up, and a bathing suit in it.

    The cotton season is just ahead and prospects are good for a splendid crop, to please the optimists. To tickle the pessimists it might be said there are also prospects of too many boll weevils along now.

    Solicitor J. Roy Rowland is about to assume the duties of his office again after almost a year of being in ill health. Mr. & Mrs. Floyd B. Brantley had a daughter, Phyllis Janette, on July 21st.

    Playing at the Wrightsville Theater, "A Woman's Justice", and Buddy Roosevelt in "The Devils Tower". Also "Tarzan The Mighty".

From Days Gone By July 22, 1929

 July 22, 1929.

    The unveiling of the monument at the grave of Elisha Walker will occur on the 27th at what is known as the Stokes graveyard, 7 miles west of town. This is organized by the D. A. R., Mr. Walker being a veteran of the Revolution. A marker will also be placed on the grave of his daughter, Mrs. Permelia Walker Rawls. The descendants of this veteran include the Walkers, Brays, Jordans, Moores, Stokes, Youngs, Hammocks, Holts, Seals, Raines, Rawls, Robinsons, Flanders and many more.

    Friday afternoon late a terrific hail and wind storm hit the eastern part of the county in a narrow, long streak, and did a lot of crop damage where it hit. The hail many said was the largest they ever saw. Around Rehobeth church seemed to be the worst hit. Corn was beaten down and the fruit and leaves beaten off of cotton. Fences suffered from falling timbers and one plantation house was hit by lightning on the farm of Frank Price. A number of chimneys on the Claxton and Cook farms went down in the gale. The Stephens place suffered too.

    Lots of farmers just south of Johnson are shipping a great abundance of watermelons. The W. & T. railroad have handled special freight trains the past two weeks. A total of 377 cars have traveled the rail up to Saturday. Last year the rail shipped 415 cars and they expect 500 cars this year.

    Ruth Elders, the woman daredevil, who attempted to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, and was later picked up in mid-ocean, will appear as leading lady with Hoot Gibson in "The Winged Horseman", an airplane picture at the Wrightsville Theater.

    Private Ralph C. Anderson is now in the 30th infantry in Hawaii. His uncle here is Zack Anderson. Mrs. Tom E. Jenkins is secretary and treasurer of the 12th District Auxiliary Georgia Rural Letter Carriers Assoc.

    T. L. Martin, secretary Board of Trustees, states the Wrightsville High School will be on the A-1 state accredited list, with the probability of being on the Southern list, which it has never been before. Tuition is free through grammer school with a small fee for high school. They are discontinuing the vocational department for financial reasons. Miss FloRene Hatcher will be director of music at the Jackson High School.

    Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Brantley had a daughter on July 16th. They have 3 sons. It is a granddaughter of Mr. Frank Flanders.

    Miss Lee Smith, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Smith wed Mr. Marcus R. Stallings of Tampa on July 7th. Miss Mary Lou Barnes, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barnes married Dr. W. C. Lowe of Jacksonville. Miss Mary Brooks of Donovan, daughter of Mr. A. R. Brooks, wed Mr. Cecil Bailey on July 18th. Mr. Bailey is from a prominent McRae family. He is employed with Sims Grocery in Wrightsville and will make their home in Donovan.

    A wedding of widespread interest was that of Miss Margaret Kent, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. L. Kent, a graduate of Bessie Tift College. She wed Mr. Aubrey L. Jones of Richmond, Virginia. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. R. S. Jones of Erwin, Tenn. and is manager of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of Richmond.

    

From Days Gone By July 15, 1929

 July 15, 1929.

    The Wrightsville Commercial Club took action over certain legislation proposed that effects Johnson County and it was transmitted to the legislators with the request to carry out the wishes of the Club if possible. The Club opposes the placing of the Solicitor-General of this circuit on a salary of $3,250 to be paid by the respective counties in proportion to their population. They also went on record opposing the Bond Bill. It favors Judge Hatcher's to increase the highway milage from 6,300 to 7,300 miles, and naming the location of the additional milage, wherein Johnson County would get the Bee-Line and the Jefferson Davis Memorial highway on the state system.

    Judge Bascom S. Deaver of the Middle District of Georgia in Macon, refused to appoint a receiver for the estate of C. G. Rawlings, which was asked by two creditors. He ordered attorneys to draw a decree enjoining L. B. Holt, trustee, Sandersville banker, from disposing of any portion of a large tract of morgaged land on which the Southern Cotton Oil Company of Savannah has a claim of $20,000. The order will permit the sale of the land, provided the purchaser will deposit into court a sum of money sufficient to satisfy the claim in the event a judgement is rendered in favor of the Savannah company at some future date, or make a bond to protect it.

    The petitions for receiver were brought by the Savannah corporation and by Mary Rawlings Houston, daughter of C. G. Rawlings. Mrs. Houston also asked an accounting of Mr. Holt as trustee of her father's estate. Mr. Rawlings is serving a life term in the State Penitentiary.

    Professor Knox of Metter was chosen to head the local high school system at a meeting of the board of trustees. He has many years experience as superintendent of some of the leading high schools of the state. He will move his family here over the summer.

    County Agent Crow held his tenth poultry sale of the year. This one netted farmers $1,008.32 and was bought by the R. L. Warren Produce Company of Atlanta. There was a total of 5,676 pounds shipped. Mr. Henry Hammock brought in the first open cotton boll of the season.

    Alice Watkins files for divorce from Lewis Watkins. The Wrightsville Theater is featuring Richard Barthelmees in "Scarlet Seas", also Al Hoxie in "Two Gun Murphy".

    The Wrightsville Tigers, colored team, defeated the Soperton Bears in baseball. Lefty Reese held Soperton to two hits while Wrightsville batted eight runs.

    Mrs. Sallie Lockhart, 85, passed away at her daughters, Mrs. George A. Smith on the 13th. She suffered a fractured hip ten weeks ago. She was out in the yard and passing through the gate when the wind storm blew it against her. This, and other ailments just grew worse. She was the widow of W. H. Lockhart and was born in Warren County. She was a Methodist and survived by six children. She was buried at Warthen.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

From Days Gone By July 8, 1929

 July 8, 1929.

     The Fourth of July was pleasantly spent by the people with picnics, dinners, ball games, and many went fishing. Mr. Lucian L. Lord and about 500 guests enjoyed a birthday dinner for his wife and his son, Albert also turned 21. The 50th wedding anniversary of Rev. J. W. Spell was also celebrated. Then later in the afternoon Albert and Miss Jessie Townsend were married.

    Mr. J. W. Claxton returned from an extended tour through North Carolina with the Locust Grove Institute band in which he plays. Mr. George Bray is now the chief soda jerker at Brinson's Drug Store. Sunday and Monday gas was selling in Wrightsville for 20 cents per gallon, down 5 cents and is still holding there. The Ford Motor Company produced 1,065,630 cars and trucks the first six months of this year. Just for June they produced 177,419 units.

    The smaller paper money sent out by the Federal Reserve is allowing banks to exchange old, worn out larger bills for new ones. The new bills are two-thirds the size of the old bills. The potraits on the new money are: $1 Washington; $2 Jefferson; $10 Hamilton; $20 Jackson; $50 Grant; $100 Franklin; $500 McKinley; $1,000 Cleveland; $5,000 Madison and $10,000 Chase.

    The local banks released their statements of condition. The Bank of Wrightsville $208,290.88; Farmers & Merchants of Kite $29,983.28; The Exchange Bank $255,877.30; The Bank of Adrian $69,143.27.

    Johnson is in for a good crop this season, the best in 10 years. Corn is good and cotton is coming along fine. If the weevil is kept down watch the cotton figures this year. Some tobacco is growing good too. The South Georgia Tobacco markets open July 23rd with high prices predicted.

    Johnson Counties legislators have been appointed to lots of committees. Sen. Felix C. Williams is on Amendments to Constitution; Appropriations; Banks & Banking; Finance; Chairman Fish & Game; Military Affairs; Municipal Government; Special Judiciary; UGA and its branches. Rep. A. L. Hatcher's committees are Chairman of General Judiciary; Appropriations; Education; Public Highways; State of the Republic and UGA. Rep. Hatcher has introduced two big bills. A game and fish matter and road proposition. This bill would add 1,000 miles to the highway system and giving the system 7,300 miles and naming certain state aid road milage. This additional milage includes roads from Bartow to Wrightsville to the Laurens line, and the Bee Line highway.

    Miss Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. M. A. Jackson married Mr. Lafayette Popwell at Clanton, Alabama. They will live at Lakeland, Florida. Miss Sara Lovett, daughter of Mrs. E. A. Lovett wed Mr. Roy Leon Thompson on July 3rd. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Thompson of Cochran. They will live at Cordele.

    One of the worst derailments of the W. & T. yet happened at Idylwild as No. 1 was enroute to Dublin. Seven boxcars left the tracks but no one was hurt. It was a long train with Engineer W. D. Stokes and Capt. Barfield the Conductor. They were running at moderate speed crossing the Idylwild trestle with 19 cars, 2 coaches and the engine. Between the long trestle and the short one where Mr. Lindsey was killed September 4, 1925 in a bad wreck, the company has maintained good tracks. But it was on this small curved stretch it happened. It is believed a boxcar jumped the track and derailed seven others, two heavily loaded and five empties stuck in the embankment. The car loaded with merchandise shot to the left and stood upright on the opposite side of the coal car. Crews worked all Monday afternoon and night to clear the wreckage and the train was running as usual on Tuesday.

From Days Gone By July 1, 1929

 July 1, 1929.

    Cheered by the fact that the operation has proved successful, Miss Lavada Rebecca Amos, Augusta honor student, whose 8th operation gave her something she had not had in the 20 years of her life---her eyesight--is recovering from the operation performed in Augusta last week. The bandages were removed from her eyes by Dr. Wade R. Bedingfield, noted Augusta surgeon and eye specialist, who, in the case of Miss Amos, performed his second operation to overcome one which previously had failed. It was the second time that the physician has restored the sight of one who was blind from birth. Miss Amos's eyes will be kept bandaged for some time yet in order to accustomed to the light gradually. Dr. Wade R. Bedingfield is a Johnson County son who is fast forging to the top in his profession.

    Lee Wright, colored farmer on the Will Raley plantation was freed in the preliminary hearing given him by Justices Anderson and Roundtree. Wright was charged for murdering George Wynn. George had threatened Lee time and time again and witnesses testified that Wynn was advancing on Lee with a knife and a plow handle. Lee pled self defense when he got a shotgun from Coon Walker's house and shot Wynn in the right side. Wynn ran up the road to his front yard and fell dead. Wynn's family testified that he was drinking at the time.

    Prof. E. D. Tollerson of Franklin has been elected principal of the Kite Consolidated School for next term. Hon. A. Lee Hatcher, Johnson's representative in the legislature, is introducing a special bill to put the Bee Line on the state highway system.

    Pastor Jesse E. Hall and his congregation at Beulah have done over the church building and now looks like a new one inside and out. The tall dilapidated steeple, with the big bell in the tower, has been removed and the paint brush used freely. The quaint old window blinds have been taken down and the glass stained giving better inside light. They will have a big revival soon.

    Mr. Leander Moseley, 83, died peacefully at his home Tuesday morning. He had been confined indoors most of the last year on account of feebleness. He was born and reared in Emanuel and moved here 63 years ago. Early in life he married Miss Mary Jane Heath and had 12 boys and 3 girls. Those living are Cannie, W. L., D., Jeff, Seaborn, C. T. and Watson Moseley, Mrs. Mabell Attaway and Mrs. Isabel Weiner. His wife also survives him. He was a Confederate veteran, a Baptist of Brown Memorial and for many years a stock owner and a director in the Bank of Wrightsville. He was buried in Westview.

    Mrs. Carlton Rowland died at the home of Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Rowland. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Cal Dixon and survived by her husband and infant son. She was buried in the Kent cemetery. Judge E. Martin Price died Saturday morning at Pringle. He was a Mason and was buried at Pleasant Hill in Washington County.

    Mrs. Sallie Warren died at home near the city Friday morning. Eight children were born to her and her first husband, the late Amos J. Bush, with three living, James D., Tom, and Mrs. Elvira Chappell. She was born April 9, 1852 and married twice. She was a member of Brantley's Chapel but was buried at Beulah.

    When Mr. Lee Kennedy and Miss Alma Davis were wed at Brooklet, the groom became a brother-in-law to his son, Mr. L. A. Kennedy, Jr. The son has been married several months and while visiting him, the father met the sister of his son's wife and were married.

    Miss Joyce Jenkins wed Mr. Millard Ray. She was a daughter of Mr. H. L. Jenkins living near the Johnson/Washington line on the Tennille road. Mr. Ray is a merchant of Coleman, GA and member of the firm of Rogers & Ray.

    Idylwild has invited a large crowd to the resort to spend the glorious fourth with free entrance to the grounds.

From Days Gone By June 24, 1929

 June 24, 1929.

    Lee Wright, colored farmer on the Raley plantation will be given a peliminary hearing on the charge of murder which was laid to him by relatives of George Wynn, his colored neighbor, who it is alleged Wright killed on Easter Sunday morning in a melee. It is said a number of colored people witnessed the killing. Wright has been in jail a few weeks, having been apprehended in Macon by Sheriff Rowland.

    Judge W. C. Brinson heard two cases in City Court against colored fellows, one pled guilty the other was tried. Ozie Fields was tried on the charge of being drunk and cursing on the highway and was given a fine of $100 or 10 months, and half of the $100 fine was suspended under probation to his employer, Mr. Lovett Claxton. George May said he let his fingers stick to some meal that didn't belong to him and he got a sentence of $40 or 8 months. He worked for Col. C. S. Claxton.

    By people not going fishing on Sunday, the law stopping fishing in Johnson for three months expires June 29th. July 1st the people can fish within the law in any stream in the county. Two years ago the Grand Jury made fishing prohibited in this county during April, May and June.

    County Agent M. E. Crow is called the best agent in the state, says Johnson is in for a good crop if the people will fight the weevils and the season hits right on all the crops which have been mighty fine so far. Those aggresively fighting the weevil should make good. Corn is looking well also. He advises a free use of poisons on cotton but is inclined to lean to the dust and powder instead of the mixture as a remedy, "Trouble the weevil and not him trouble you."

    The dairy business seems to be a prosperous one in Johnson now and for some years past. Good cows have been the boast of a number of citizens for years. The largest cattle owners produce milk, cream and butter in abundance and sell quantities by shipping it away or as much as local markets can consume. Mr. William Jackson at Donovan runs a dairy of from 90 to 110 cows. He ships the products to Savannah and other markets. On the list of supplies to the local markets are Mr. Ben Peddy with 15 to 20 cows, Mr. Louie T. Kent with 10 to 15 head, Mrs. Ben Hill Moye with a dozen or more and Mr. Frank Flanders with a half dozen or so.

    The Sea Island Yacht Club is opened by the hotel on St. Simons for private parties and dances. It is expected that the Yacht Club, with its broad veranda overlooking Frederica River will be the scene of many social functions.

    The Idlehour Theatre will be showing "Casey Jones", the greatest railroad picture ever. And coming in July will be "Uncle Tom's Cabin", Universal's $200,000 production.

    Miss Estelle Clark, Miss Bessie Bell and Miss Gertrude Delph are anticipating the attendance of the Tybee Beauty Pagent at Tybee next week. The committee would like to have a number of entrants from here and in the county.

    Nelson M. Shipp, divisional director of the joint committee for highway bonds says the proposed bond issue would be an $80,000 savings to the tax payers of Johnson. Under the current plan the county contributes one-fourth of the cost of constructing state highways. Johnson with only 16 miles would have to pay $80,000 of the $320,000 at the rate of $20,000 a mile. Under the new proposal to bond the state and have these highways paved entirely with monies from auto license fees and gas taxes. All of Johnson's 16 miles of state highway would be paid out of these fees. This means the city/county would pay the bulk of the amount, as this county has only 952 autos. No state highway should be built from property tax. The so called gas tax in reality is not a tax, but rent, and a paved highway is the most rentable thing in the world.

    The people of Johnson should have the benefit of an airline route to Macon and a bridge across the river. This should be a state highway with out county contributions. Wrightsville is situated in the highway of the world, opportunely placed on the map, and much more travel would come this way if that road and bridge could be worked out. A five year building program is contemplated.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

From Days Gone By June 17, 1929

 June 17, 1929.

    Miss Helen Shurling 15, Miss Mary Shurling 17, two sisters, and Miss Morell Wood 15, were badly hurt on Sunday afternoon near Tennille on the bridge at Deep Cut over the Central Railroad track sending all to the hospital. A big Buick going at a fast speed across the highway bridge swerved at them as a prank as they stood on the bridge but hit them all. Helen was thrown off the bridge, 10 feet below breaking her jaw and internal injuries almost fatal. Mary was bruised internally and the Wood girl a broken leg. The girls, wounded and bleeding were left there crushed in agony on the ground. The little boy with them escaped uninjured. The Sunday afternoon Kodaking party was turned into a bloody, excruciating painful calamity.

    The car stopped about 100 feet away, one of 3 men got out to take a look at the situation, got back in and sped away. The injured girls were rushed to Sandersville and a hot chase set up to catch the fleeing car, all surrounding counties were on the lookout with over a dozen counties involved. Finally the 3 were arrested and landed in the Sandersville jail held without bond pending the outcome of the girls. Those arrested were John Frank Rogers 23, Union Point, George Wilkins 25 and Nathan Rogers 22 of Washington County.

    Tom Page, Johnnie Beasley and S. A. Attaway all reported burglaries around their places, the thieves seeming to target meats in the farmers smokehouses. The nightly marauders carried away some hams and other kinds of meat. They are telling folks to lock their smokehouses and get a good dog.

    Hon. Nelson Shipp of Macon is coming to Wrightsville to speak on bonds for good roads. The poultry sale netted farmers $1,408.51. Idylwild is having a big square dance this night. There will be a tent meeting at Scott between A. L. Foskey's store and McGahee service station. The prohibition enforcement matter is getting old. This way of shooting into cars with innocent and helpless is no way to aid the cause and the people have about lost all sympathy with the revenuers who operate this way.

    Pasturing cattle is becoming a big industry these days and has made its way to Johnson. Mr. W. H. Lovett has bought some fine breeding stock having several hundred head up on the Tarbutton and Parson place. Dr. H. B. Bray has a large number also.

    Rev. F. C. Oliff has accepted the presidency of Andrew Female College at Cuthbert. Rev. Oliff is a half Wrightsville man having married a daughter of Judge & Mrs. W. J. Flanders.

    Miss Myrtle Frost of Wrightsville and Mr. Louis Veal of Milledgeville were wed at Tennille Methodist. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Frost of here. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Veal. Miss Irene Smith of Decatur wed Waymond A. Clay of Dekalb Co. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Sidney F. Smith and a graduate of Kite and Martha Berry College. They will live at Viola, GA.

    Miss Henrietta Odom of Newton wed Mr. Edwin Ferrell of Albany on June 1st. Her parents are Mr. & Mrs. Robert Benton Odom of Newton and she was the former Miss Penny Dent of Wrightsville. Mr. & Mrs. James L. Miller celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 17th. James is one of a few Confederate veterans left in the county.

    Mr. Tom V. Sanders died at the hospital in Dublin where he lived for 35 years practicing law and livestock farming. His plantation was considered a model farm. His parents and family moved to Wrightsville from Griffin where they were all raised. He is survived by brothers Wade, Walter D., E. E. and H. B. Sisters Mrs. Lena Cunningham and Mrs. Ella Duffee. He was buried in Westview.

    Mr. Stephen J. Ham, 63, died in Savannah hospital on June 8th. He was born in Ft. Valley but for 15 years lived at Scott, employed by the Central Railway. He was prominent in the Masonic and Woodmen fraturnities. Surving is his wife, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He has no children but one granddaughter, Mrs. W. C. Smith and grandson, Rance Smith of Scott. He was buried at Carters Chapel.

    Mr. Jim Sumner, 72, respected citizen of Soperton fell dead as he entered the Soperton post office. He had been sick and off duty as mail carrier from the post office to the train there for a few days, but upon improving he had gone from home to the office to do some writing when he fell dead of heart failure. He formally resided in Johnson where he has a large family connection. His children are Mrs. Bennett Tapley, Mrs. Robert Webb and George and Trellie Sumner. He was brought back and buried at Pleasant Grove.