From Days Gone By August 4, 1911

August 4, 1911. A big glorious rain throughly wet portions of Johnson County, and now some of our farmers are exceedingly well pleased. Jack Henderson of the firm of Tanner & Henderson, prominent suburban farmers brought to town buckets of large, lucious peaches and all kinds of vegetables. E. L. (Babe) Smith came with fine specimens of watermelon and muskmelons. Then George A. Smith, the popular tax receiver of the county brought some of the best and sweetest roasting ears. The Headlight has put a pen behind its offices for 25, week-old white leghorn chicks. The are lively and chipper as you please. These little white-feathered orphans are now flourishing. They were shipped here from the celebrated White Leghorn Poultry Yards, located at Smyrna, Georgia where they sell only the best and purest breed of that variety. The old home place of the late J. D. Webb, containing 100 acres, all under fence; 85 acres in cultivation is for sale. The plantation is located about three and one half miles from Wrightsville on the Dublin road. All parties desiring to invest in a good plantation will find it to their advantage to see R. F. Webb who will be selling within 30 days. The court house grounds are being greatly improved by the addition of a coping being placed by F. F. Flanders. This enclosure will not only beautify the grounds, but will also protect the hedge and grass which Judge Wiggins has put in such a splendid condition. John R. Grice has just completed 2two commodious rooms which have been added to his residence on East Elm Street. Also a cold storage, bathroom, and other convienices which makes his already popular home for boarders one of the most desirable in the city. Mr. E. T. Andrews and family are leaving Wrightsville for Dublin to take a position as manager of the Farmers Union Cotton Warehouse with a handsome salary. Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Manderville announce the birth of a daughter thursday morning. Yesterday at the home of the brides parents, Mr. & Mrs. A. T. Clark of near New Home, Miss Willie Clark married Col. Lee Price. The bride is a young woman of pleasing personality and was a pupil of Warthen College and a sister to Mr. Gordon Clark. Col. Price is a rising young attorney in a law practice with his brother, Col. Rufus Price in Swainsboro. Miss Louise and Master Tom Luther Lovett entertained at a birthday party with a large number of little friends. N. Braddy took a photograph of all the children in a group. Judge J. C. Wiggins our popular ordinary has been wrestling with an attack of rheumatism for a week or ten days, causing him much pain. In his absence clerk W. C. Brinson is serving the public promptly. W. F. Dent and family left for the Indian Springs for the health of Mrs. Dent. Capt. J. L. Martin carried his nephew, Mr. W. S. Thomas to Augusta to consult with Dr. Hull, an eminent specialist in regard to Thomas' eyesight which has almost completely failed him. Mr. J. Virgil Carter of Scott died at an Augusta hospital where he was operated on for gall stones. The operation was a success but he died soon after it was performed. His remains were interred at Scott with Masonic honors. The Knights Templars served as honorary escort. Mr. Carter was the son of James Carter of Scott. He was cashier of the Scott bank and held in high esteem. When Mr. J. R. Vickers was driving into town near the residence of W. A. Sinquefield, the mule he was driving became frightened at an approaching automobile and ran some distance upsetting the buggy and throwing Mr. Vickers to the ground with such force that he was unconsious when assistance reached him. He had no broken bones but was badly bruised about the body. The name of the party driving the machine was not learned, but they instantly stopped and rendered assistance. Mr. V. is fast recovering from his injuries.

From Days Gone By July 28, 1911

July 28, 1911. The steam shovel is now at work cutting down the grade on the W & T Railroad leading north from town. The officials of the railroad are sparing no money in the betterment of the road and substantial improvements are being made all along the line. The operation of the steam shovel is a very interesting sight and a novelty to many in this section. It is a "ponderous" machine, and the rapidity with which it removes dirt is amazing. I. R. Tanner is now in charge of the force who is grading the W. A. & L. Railroad. Supt. McKenzie is pushing the work as rapidly as possible and things are moving along well. The Rowland Merchantile Company, in spite of a dull season, is doing a big share of the trade. They have extended their business by establishing a branch store in the Kennedy block, next door to Peoples Hardware Co. (Bank of Wrightsville bldg). Staple and fancy groceries are sold with H. W. Kitchens general manager. Agreeable to a business deal recently made, the gin plant owned by the Dixie Oil and Cotton Co. has gone into the hands of Messers E. A. and W. H. Lovett, Jr. who are now sole owners. Partial new machinery has been installed, everything else has been overhauled leaving everything in perfect order when the ginning season opens. Farmers can carry their cotton to Lovett Ginnery and get prompt service with W. H. as manager. He is a safe, pains-taking young man who will deal fair and square with all. The city is having the pesky weeds dug up from the sidewalks in the residence portion and will cut some of the lower limbs of the shade trees which the good ladies will be thankful for. J. V. Snell is having his home on South Marcus street remodeled and enlarged. Ole Virge will soon have a very desirable home. Councilman E. T. Andrews is the first to bring an open cotton boll for this season. Will J. Raines brought in 8 peaches of the "cling-stone" variety. They were a product of a special tree he paid a fancy price for several years ago. W. D. Hatcher is ahead on big watermelons. He recently plucked one from his patch which weighed 65 pounds. Miss Maude Lou Sterling has been elected to the faculty of the high school at Doerun. Dr. Ford Ware received an appointment from Gov. Hoke Smith to attend the medical college at Augusta. A. F. Ware, president of Warthen College is sending out the 1911-12 annuals containing 24 annual sessions for the college. It contains photos of our public buildings, street scenes, etc and is tied with the college colors, Violet and Gold. It was published by printers, Foote & Davies of Atlanta. Miss Laura Daley is improving. Mr. W. J. Dent, Sr. is ill and owing to his advanced age and weak constitution, his condition is regarded as extremely critical. J. T. Blankenship, our popular dairyman, is able to be out again after a severe attack of mumps. Wade, the 6 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Outlaw, died near Pringle after a short illness of tonsilitis. He was buried at Pleasent Hill. Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, widow of Rowan Williams died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Spell. She had been in poor health for some time and a few days before her death had a stroke of paralysis which hastened her taken away. She leaves her children, Rev. O. R., J. M., Willie and Mrs. Spell. In her younger days she lived a very active life. She raised 5 sets of children; two of her own and three for her sons and daughters. She was a faithful member of Arline's Chapel and was buried in the old family cemetery. The home of W. C. Tucker, in the southern part of Adrian, near the methodist church burned. The congregation was just being dismissed. The Tuckers left early that morning by train to their old home at Garfield to spend a few days. It was among the best buildings on that end of town and was the property of Capt. T. J. James. Most of Tuckers belongings were saved. The residences in that section are quite close together and with a stiff western breeze it took hard work by the citizens to save that portion of town. While bathing in the swimming pool at Idylwild Miss Thelma Harp came near drowning. Several were there but no one noticed she had ventured where the water was too deep. When noticed she was going under the third time. Messers. V. Chavous and G. H. Ware jumped in to save her as she went under a fourth time. They carried her out of the pool and with restoritive measures she regained conciousness. An interesting game of baseball was pulled off here between Pringle and Wrightsville. The score was 8 to 9 in our favor which shows that there was some expert playing on both sides.

From Days Gone By July 21, 1911

July 21, 1911. On last friday evening at 8:30 the Wrightsville volunteer fire department gave a banquet at the Lovett Hotel, complementary to the mayor, board of aldermen and police force. Col. W. C. Brinson who is a famous "after-dinner speaker" entertained the crowd. Then somebody busted up the party. As the fire team was gathered at the dinner some "smart alecs" who are trying to achieve notoriety as "fake" incendiaries, set fire to an old abandoned shack near the Marcus Street railroad crossing endangering the adjoining property. The long distance cable of the Bell Telephone Company was damaged before the flames were extinguished. This was the third "fake fire" in the last few months and sensible people are tired of it. A real fire is bad enough, and these pranks that continue to be played by some in town should receive strong disapproval from our people and harsh punishment if caught. The Burns building on the corner of Court and Marcus, which was destroyed by fire last year is being rebuilt. It will be ready for occupancy in a few months. This will add to the looks of that portion of town as the debris presented an unsightly appearance. Mr. E. T. Andrews who has been in charge of the City Warehouse resigned as manager and has accepted that position at the Farmers Gin Company. The pay of the R.F.D. carriers which was raised $100 per annum, began July 1st and they are all smiles now. W. S. Williams of the firm of Vickers & Williams & Co. has been at the bedside of his mother who is quite ill. While returning from Idylwild with a party of cyclists, Miss Hilda Blount fell from her wheel near the railroad crossing and painfully bruised her face and arm. Dr. Johnson gave her quick medical attention and she should be fine. Mr. & Mrs. Silas Powell are happy over the arrival of a daughter this week. Miss Alma Blount celebrated her 8th birthday. Prof. W. L. Bryan who is now reading law at Columbia University, New York City, writes of his stay in Gotham. He is having a birds-eye view of the city from the 45th story of the tower on the Metroplitan Building from which it is said that over 1 -16th the homes in the U. S. can be seen from the 50th floor, which is the tallest substantial structure in the world. Today at Savannah, the Oglethorpe Light Infantry will commemorate the semi-centennial of the 1st Battle of Mannassas, and of the 50 men who left Savannah May 21, 1861, 11 are known to be living, and Capt. John L. Martin of this city is one of that number to be present on this occasion. This company was a part of the 8th GA Regt. commanded by Francis S. Bartow who was killed at Manassas while planting the colors of the brigade. Mr. Stephens, Johnson County's lower House member introduced a bill to abolish the city court of Wrightsville. Many favor this move while just as many oppose it to make it a lively debate. Mrs. Annie Bell Jackson Tanner passed away at "Ingleside" her home near here. Her health had been declining for some time. She went upstairs to lay down when a few minutes later she was discovered dead. She was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Jackson of Donaldson and the wife of Bartow B. Tanner. Mrs. S. G. McCoy, widow of the late Alex McCoy died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D. A. Brown in Cochran. Her death was quite a surprise as her illness was short. She was buried at Kittrell. Mr. J. R. Edwards, the notoriously successful truck farmer, brought to town a cabbage head, that heads'em all. This cabbage had a cluster of heads (22 in number) growing from one single stalk. The heads were perfect in shape and maturity, each about the size of a lemon. Last saturday Charlie Linder, a well known colored man, was tried before Judge Kent for selling whiskey and sentenced to 10 months on the chaingang. On Sunday Sheriff Davis pulled 5 more coloreds, 3 men and 2 women for selling whiskey. These tigers were placed in jail for the next trial. So the ranks of the whiskey dealers are being thinned out.

From days Gone by july 14, 1911

July 14, 1911. During the thunderstorms last week it was found out that the Wrightsville Methodist Church was not the only one struck by lightning. Two more methodist churches were hit in the Dublin District the same day. In addition to Wrightsville, the methodist churches at Brewton and Adrian were struck also. Local legislation was introduced in this session of the Georgia Legislature, entitled an Act, to create a Board of Roads and Revenue Commissioners for the county of Johnson. It will sub-divide the county into three road districts consisting of three members, electing a commissioner from each district. The Act provides for the appointment of three commissioners whose term of office shall be until the election and qualification of their successors at the next general election. It will also describe their jurisdiction and powers. This legislation was submitted by Messers. H. T. Downs, P. B. Bedingfield, J. C. Cave, J. T. Fulford, M. C. Carter and C. T. Bray. It is estimated that there were about 1500 people at Idylwild Sunday attending the all day sing. The trains over the W. & T. were loaded, all taking advantage of the cheap rates. Jas M. Cook went to Savannah to get his car which had been sent there for repairs. E. A. Lovett and family are visiting Lithia Springs. They made the trip in their automobile, W. H. Lovett at the wheel. Mrs. W. A. Sinquefield is quite ill here in the city. Rev. S. A. Hearns of Sparks is here by the illness of Mrs. Hearns who is sick with billious fever at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. W. W. Anthony. After an illness of several days Samps Johnson is up and out again. Mrs. G. T. Vaughn died here friday of pallagra. Her remains were taken to Avera in Jefferson County. She is survived by her husband and two children, one an infant five months old. T. J. Williams and J. S. Bell applied as executors of the estate of the late W. F. Taylor. J. H. Rowland asks for letters of dismission from the estate of J. C. and L. V. Chester. On tuesday Miss Gussie Wall Mathias and Mr. Leslie Claxton were married by the grooms brother, Rev. James Claxton. They left to honeymoon at Tallulah Falls. They will reside in Kite. Dr. W. F. Quillian of Monterey New Mexico will be the new president of the Methodist Training School in Nashville. He graduated Emory College and at the age of 21 he accepted the presidency of Warthen College. Prof. Paul Bryan who has been teaching at Emory College the past year, and is now at the University of Chicago, has accepted a scholarship to attend Yale College at New Haven, Conneticut this fall. Bryan graduated Emory with distinction and has taught at prominent institutions in Georgia and Texas, and while at Yale, he expects to fit himself for the degree of Ph. D. Policeman J. T. Ferguson and J. W. Ausbon are hearing complaints in regard to the bad condition of the hog pens located in the different sections of town. This is notice to get your hog pens in a good sanitary condition. It is necessary to the health of the town that these hog pens should be kept clean. We will be making a round of inspections and without regard to race, color, wealth, poverty or previous condition of servitude, we are going to make cases against those whose hog pens are not found in a clean, healthy condition. So get busy and look after this matter now; it may save you some money!