From Days Gone By Nov. 3, 1911

November 3, 1911.
The Industrial Index of Georgia had an interesting description of
Wrightsville and Johnson County and its rich agricultural section in which it is
located. "Wrightsville is one of the splendid, progressive cities of central
Georgia that offers advantages to the homeseeker and the possible investor.
There has been much development at and around Wrightsville, but the resources
have hardly been touched, comparing what has been done with what may be done.
The smaller cities of this kind need substantial new citizens for their
development more than they need money. There are opportunities for the
establishment in Wrightsville and the adjacent section of manufacturing plants
for which the raw materials are at hand and which can be secured at entirely
resonable cost. There are good opportunities for the investment of money with
every prospect of highly-satisfactory returns. New citizens will be welcomed,
new business enterprises of every character encouraged and local capital joined
under proper conditions with outside money in the establishment of new
factories."
The Vivola Theatre held a large audience tuesday evening, eager to hear
Creatore's Band, one of the most superb musical organizations in America.
Wrightsville is the only town of its size in Georgia that has ever had the
priviledge of hearing Creatore's Band, and in years to come the young people and
children will tell with pride of the night they heard Creatore. Sandersville,
Tennille, Bartow, Swainsboro and others attended with a special train came from
Tennille and their praises of Wrightsville's new theatre and greatly surprised
to see such a handsome play house as the Vivola. A great debt of gratitude is
owed manager Tompkins for the opportunity to hear such a band. Conservative
estimates places receipts at $500 for the show. The next attraction will be the
Parland Newhall Company on Nov. 8th.
Rev. J. B. Holly and family have arrived from Louisville to reside at the
Baptist parsonage. Mrs. D. G. Blount went to Vidalia to work at the Home Mission
Society of the South Ga Conference. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer E. Daley are entertaining a
very distinguished guest in the person of "little Miss Daley" she arrived
tuesday for an indefinite visit. Little Miss Isabel Blount celebrated her 6th
birthday.
By far the most important event in the history of Wrightsville's social world
was the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Rev. & Mrs. C. A. Moore at the residence
of Dr. & Mrs. S. M. Johnson. Uncle Charlie Moore has been a minister here for
more than 50 years and they have 6 children: J. Ira, R. A., C. H., Richard
Moore, Mrs. W. E. Arnold and Mrs. S. M. Johnson.
At the late primary on the 25th for mayor and aldermen for Wrightsville,
after a tie for mayor Dr. T. L. Harris was the victor over Col. W. C. Brinson.
Dr. W. J. Flanders of Telfair County formally a member of the Georgia
legislature from Johnson is considering a run for prison commission. He is
currently an inspector of convict camps. City tax books are now open for the
collection of advalorem taxes and will remain open only a short while.
Mr. J. K. McAfee is recovering from an attack of blood poison caused from
being bitten by a hog. Mr. O. A. Kennedy returned from Rawlings Sanitarium much
improved from his recent surgery.
The Wrightsville Merchantile Company has just opened an undertaking parlor
and will carry a complete stock of coffins, caskets, robes, burial gloves,
everything from the cheapest coffin to solid mahogony state caskets. Can also
provide nice horses, hearse and careful drivers.
While driving the car of her uncle, Mr. T. G. Holt, Miss Eloise Hood met with
an accident. In trying to avoid a mudhole near Mason's Bridge, the car skidded
on the clay and partially overturned in the ditch. With her was Misses Rebecca
Harris, Nora and Ola Johnson all of whom escaped injury. Mr. I R. Tanner
happened upon it and returned the girls to town. On last monday the two-story
wooden building owned by the negro masonic lodge was destroyed by fire. When
discovered it was fully engulfed. The first floor was used by Rabe Harris for a
shoe and barber shop and sale of soft drinks, fruit, etc.
After a long illness Mr. A. J. Bush, one of Johnson's oldest citizens died
near Wrightsville. Mr. Bush leaves a wife and several grown children one being
Mr. Jim Bush. The burial was at Beulah Cemetery. Mr. James Sheppard died at his
home near Moores' Chapel. He was well known in that community. He was survived
by a wife and five children including Mrs. E. N. Hitchcock of Wrightsville.

October 27, 1911. A primary election for mayor and five councilmen to serve Wrightsville for 1912 was pulled here last wednesday. The following is the ticket of the final vote: For Mayor- T. L. Harris, 92; W. C. Brinson, 92. For Councilmen: B. H. Lord, 171; L. J. Claxton, 162; J. M. Cook, 149; B. E. Jordan, 146; A. T. Cobb, 137; W. W. Anthony, 114. Of the council the first five were elected, in mayors race was a tie. This produces some complication and the matter was put in the hands of the Executive Committee who called for another election on November 2nd announced by committee chairman, Wm. Faircloth. The attractions at the Vivola continues to draw crowds nightly. The moving pictures and a clean Vaudeville performances this week, Manager H. C. Tompkins sold $140 worth of tickets in an hours time for Creatore's Band. The people of Wrightsville were entertained this week by two very distinguished people, one of whom was Miss Laura Ida Booth, the neice of the great actor Edwin Booth, and daughter of John Wilkes Booth who shot President Lincoln from the stage while playing in the American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in 1865. The other was L. A. Howard, a relative of Gen. Oscar Oliver Howard. There is no better farming lands in the state of Georgia than here in Johnson County as the following figures prove: On 2 acres of our land there was produced this year 5,893 pounds of seed cotton which has already been picked and ginned with not less than 300 pounds still in the field. This means 4 bales weighing not less than 535 pounds each. There was used on this land 10 2-horse wagon loads of stable fertilizer and 1000 lbs of commercial fertilizer. This fine yeild was made by Mr. Ben Walker on the plantation of Mrs. W. A. Sinquefield, better known as the James F. Thompson old place. Cox & Tanner, a new staple and fancy grocery firm recently organized here, composed of two hustling young men, Grady Cox and Otho Tanner are making competitors "sit up and take notice". R. Z. Sterling our popular livery stable man has just invested in an automobile in order to meet the demands of his patrons and afford them rapid transit to adjoining towns. If "Bud" is as good judge of machine, as he is a horse, it is safe to say his investment is ok. Several young ladies here have organized an Embroidery Club and have weekly meetings for the purpose of doing fancy work and handmade Christmas gifts. N. B. Miller of route 2, a good farmer and member of the Farmers Union paid a visit to town. Little Margaret Wright and brother, Edward, have returned home from Macon where they had throat operations. Mrs. Will Mixon is quite ill at home. Her condition is very precarious. Master L. A. Kennedy fell and broke his arm. Dr. Brinson set the broken member and the little fellow will be fine. Dr. E. New of Dublin, in consultation with Dr. T. S. Page on the critical illness of Page's sister Mrs. Dicey Hall. She is somewhat improved. After an illness of Pellagra of several months, Mrs. Callie Killebrew Hightower died at her home in Dublin. Mrs. Hightower was formally of Wrightsville. Mrs. Jenkins, widow of the late W. J. Jenkins, died at her home near Harrison from heart trouble. She had been apparently well, and while sitting in a chair she was stricken by death which was quite a shock to her family. She was buried in the family cemetery near her home. She was the mother of Dr. and Mrs. Herschel Jenkins of Harrison, and Aunt of Mr. E. A. W. Johnson and Dr. S. M. Johnson and grandmother of Mrs. Gordon Brantley. After an illness of 6 weeks Mrs. Maggie Snell Stephens, wife of Mr. J. D. Stephens died at her home in Scott and buried at Bay Springs. She was the daughter of the late James Snell, one of the most prominent families in the county, and a sister to Mrs. J. H. Rowland, Mrs. R. R. Martin and J. V. Snell. She was survived by her husband and two children. C. H. Hicks, administrator of Jacob Hicks filed a petition to be dismissed from the estate having fully administered his estate. Philip Cook, Secretary of State certified the charter of the Bank of Adrian, first chartered December 20, 1893. The new charter states a capital stock of $25,000 divided into 250 shares of $100 each. Term for 30 years. Signed by A. J. Peddy, G. H. Barwick from Adrian, Emanuel County; G. E. Youmans, J. Brown Hutchinson, J. B. Williams and T. A. Cheatam, Adrian, Johnson County.

From Days Gone By Oct. 20, 1911

October 20, 1911. This weeks newspapers from 1911 are missing from the Historical Society's collection. The following is a somewhat humorous story from a 1911 Wrightsville paper called The Preachers, by Rex. "An annual conference is always a great time with the Methodist preachers, a time of meeting after a year separation, when and where they get together and recount experiences, and swap yarns, and where they have good homes and plenty to eat. A crowd of preachers is the jolliest sort of crowd. No long faces, no clouds to faltfinding, no grumbling, all sunshine. Not only a jolly crowd, but men who know how to dispose of business. Why, a Methodist Conference would put a Georgia Legislature to shame in the disposition of business. They do more in one day for the good of the state, than the legislature will do in a whole session. Perhaps its because they get no "per diem." They are a set of fellows that can be trusted, as many of them handle thousands of dollars during the year, and are required to give no bond. A Methodist preacher knows more people than any other man, or class of men in the state. They gather more to talk about than the average man, and their social intercourse at the conference brings out some of the richest experiences, and most assuring anecdotes that can be heard anywhere. I remember jotting down a few of their stories at one of the conferences. The conversation drifted into sanctimonous religion, which was very common a few years back, and as an illustration, the following incident was mentioned: Down in Screven County many years ago, there was an old preacher that wore a high collar and a long coat, and a long face. The children were all afraid of him, and would hide out when he came to spend the night. On one occasion he came to a certain home, as he often did and spent the night. Next morning there was not a child to be seen on the place, except a little girl about four years old. After breakfast, she climbed up on the knee of the old preacher and began running her little fingers over his face. Finally she said, I love you, and the old preacher said, "you do my child," what makes you love me?" She said because you got a face just like old Sam." Old Sam was a mule in the lot. Another old preacher, down in Montgomery County, had a particular place to spend his Saturday nights before his appointment in the neighborhood. In that home was a boy about twelve years old. Whenever he came his (the boy's father) would say, "Johnnie, run and take out the preachers horse, run and feed the preacher's horse, run and get the preacher a bucket of fresh water." Well, the thing went on till Johnnie got tired of waiting on that preacher, and so one day the preacher drove up and the father said, "Johnnie, run and take out the preacher's horse and feed him," and when they had come into the piazza the father said, "Johnnie, run and get the preacher a bucket of cool water." Johnnie took the bucket and started, but his eyes fell on the preacher's feet. Johnnie stopped in front of him and said, "Was you called to preach?" The preacher answered, "Yes, I was called to preach." Johnnie said, "Are you're sure you were called to preach?" "Yes," said the old preacher. "I am sure I was called to preach," "Well," said Johnnie, "if I prove to you that you was not called to preach will you come here anymore?" "Yes," said the old man; "if you can prove to me I wasn't called to preach I'll not come here any more." "Well," said Johnnie, "don't the Bible say 'how beautiful are the feet of them that are called to preach the gospel;' your feet ain't beautiful." The old man's feet were knotted and twisted with corns and bunions.

From Days Gone By October 13, 1911

October 13, 1911. A light frost was seen on East Elm Street tuesday morning; the first in Wrightsville, so early in the season. The municipal primary is only a few days off, and so far we have heard very little politics discussed; candidates are very scarce, only one having publicaly announced. The big sign of the closing out sale at the Empire Store which spans the street is attracting alot of attention. Mr. T. G. Holt, proprietor understands the art of advertising and his unique method is been quite a success. The display windows at H. C. Tompkins department stores have elicited much admiration from its artistic design. The work done by expert artisan from Baltimore reflects the store windows seen on Broadway in New York. Mr. Jordan Sinard left for Albany to work for the firm of Reid & Carter. Mr. Sinard has been in Wrightsville the past 2 years with the Tanner Grocery Company. Material for building an office for J. H. Rowland is being placed on his lot, corner of Bradford and College Streets. The popular depot agent, B. H. Lord is very sick. Mr. Shelly of Sandersville is in charge of the W. & T. office until Lord Returns. Miss Rosa Blackshear went to Dublin with her little brother and sister, John and Dulcet who are both with the fever. The Rev. Mr. Holly has been called to the pastorate of the Baptist Church. Miss Chastain of Blue Ridge is the guest of Mrs. G. W. Cochran. She has accepted a position to teach at New Home. A peach tree in the yard of Mrs. J. T. Furgerson has several clusters of blooms. Quite an unusual sight for this season of the year. The new garage which Mr. A. T. Cobb is having built by contaractor Chester, on Marcus Street is near completion. This is quite an addition to our city and automobile owners in general. On saturday October 31st at the Vivola, Creatore, and his splendid band will be heard in Wrightsville for the first time. Special trains will run from all points along the W. & T. Railroad. This is the best concert band in America today. On last wednesday afternoon at the methodist parsonage, Miss Venie Holt and Mr. Geo. W. Gannon were married by Rev. W. L. Wright. Mr. Gannon came to Wrightsville about 3 years ago from Ironton, Oregon. Last sunday morning at the home of the brides parents, Rev. & Mrs. H. G. Everitt in Wrightsville, Miss Mattie Everitt and Mr. Thad Ivey were married by her father. The couple will live at Moores Chapel. Mrs. Nancy Smith, widow of the late W. R. Smith died at her home near Sumner's bridge. She was 80 years old and been in feeble health. She was survived by several children and was a sister of Dr. J. W. Flanders. She was buried at the family burying grounds. Mr. John B. Acree died at his home in Camilla at the age of 83 having a stroke of paralysis. He was well known in Mitchell County. He was the father of Mrs. J. M. Mason of Wrightsville. After a long period of failing health Mrs. Zadie Booker Ivey, wife of Mr. W. B. Ivey died at her home near Moores Chapel from organic heart trouble. She was buried in the family graveyard. Mrs. Ivey was raised in Glascock County, but had resided here for several years. She was a christian woman and loved by all who knew her. She was survived by her husband and nine children including Mrs. W. D. Rowland, Miss Bessie Ivey and Mr. John Ivey of Wrightsville. Rev. John T. Webb passes over the river from his home near Bethel on October 6th. He was a local methodist preacher for more than 50 years. He was buried at Bethel church. Mr. Webb was loved by all who knew him, he was never to busy nor the distance to far for him if he was needed. On the 9th of September he had reached his 87th birthday. Mrs. Kate Carroll, wife of Patrick Carroll, and daughter of Mr. Shurlock, members of a band of gypsies located a couple miles east of Wrightsville died at the camp after a continued illness of diabetes. A mahogany casket, encased in metalic, was ordered from Macon and the remains, after being embalmed were taken to Atlanta and placed in the family vault at the cemetery of this oriental class of people, with the ritual of the catholic church. J. M. Walker, Johnson County's new game warden will be at the clerk's office in the courthouse every saturday in october for the purpose of issuing state and county license to our hunters and fishermen. Yesterday morning the automobile of J. H. Rowland killed Frank, the little pet dog of W. P. Tribble. Frank had been with the Tribble family for many years. A valuable milk cow, belonging to Col. B. B. Blount, accidentally fell into a ditch in the pasture and broke her neck. So, for the present, Buford is forced to resort to lactal fluid of the "tin cow".