Fw: From Days Gone By, Jan 4, 1912

January 4, 1912.
Warthen College will begin the spring term on Monday, the 8th. A new boiler has been put in position and everything will be in fine condition for the most succeesful term in the history of the school. There will be many new pupils from out of town this term. Prof. Charles E. Clarkson of Marshall, Missouri will be added to the college department and Miss Bridges of Roberta, Ga. has been added also. Two new courses will be added this year. A preparatory course to the study of piano, offered to the first four grades, and a class in the Tonic Sol Fa System, which will lead to sight singing. These courses will be the key to "a talent in music."A welcome service was held at the Christian Church by Rev. E. W. Pease, the pastor. The object was to extend a christian welcome to the new pastors who have come to Wrightsville. These are Rev. J. B. Holly of the Baptist Church; Rev. J. C. Griner of the Methodist Church and Rev. Bridges of the Wrightsville Circuit. Miss Bronnie May Tanner will enter Bessie Tift College at Forsyth. Miss Rosa Blackshear will teach at Cochran. Miss Maude Lou Sterling will teach at Doerun. Miss Sara Lovett,graduated LaGrange Female College and will teach music at Harrison. Miss Nevada Johnson will teach at Sylvania high school. At the home of the brides parents, Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Jackson at Harrison, Miss Bessie Jackson married Mr. Henry Wilson. Mr. Wilson is assistant agent in the W. & T. Railroad office at Wrightsville. Mr. Edward Hicks married Miss Belle Brown of Macon on Dec. 26th. Mr. Hicks is the brother of Mrs. Tom Snell and Misses Janiebell and Nookie Hicks of Wrightsville. The merchantile business of J. E. Page at Orianna, five miles below Adrian,
on the Wadley Southern Railroad, burned to the ground. Mr. Page lives just over the line in Montgomery County and is a progressive farmer and merchant. The fire was considered arson.
Preston Norris formaly announces his candidacy for Johnson County Clerk of Court in the white primary of 1912. Judge J. E. Burch announces as a candidate for the judgeship of the Dublin Circuit. He is a son-in-law of Judge A. F. Daley. Mrs. Jas M. Bryan and little son Ralph are much better from their case of pneumonia. Mrs. H. M. Smith has been in Atlanta visiting her ill husband at the private sanitarium there. Mrs. J. F. Norris is in Eastman at the bedside of her
daughter Mrs. W. Fitzgerald who has pneumonia. The death of William W. Anthony was a blow to Johnson County. He was stricken with pneumonia on Dec. 18th and died on the 23rd. He was the eldest son of Rev. J. D. Anthony and was 60 years old. He lived in Wrightsville over 30 years and was a long time Clerk of Court and member of the firm of D. G. Blount & Co. The funeral was held Christmas Day and he was buried in the Anthony burying ground in sight of his home "Glenwood" just outside of Wrightsville. A telegram was received by the city announcing the death of Capt. Richard L. Hicks who died on the 31st in Mexico where he had been to recuperate his health. "Dick" Hicks was a native of Johnson County. He was once editor of the Dublin Post, then went to Thomasville and then to Bainbridge, his late home, where he is survived by his wife and two daughters. Capt. Hicks was the youngest son of Major James Hicks, and a brother of Mrs. C. A. Moore and Mrs. Jane Snell. He served on the honorary escort at the funeral of Gen. Robert E. Lee. His remains were brought back to Bainbridge. "The eventful year of 1912 is now before us; the year 1911 has passed into history. We stand today between two eternities, the past and the future, upon the threshold of the old and the new, Janus-like face, two ways. Let us forget the past with all its wrongs and disappointments. This is a new year; begin it right; enter upon our work fully prepared in the right spirit, and with the proper conception of our duty." A. F. Ware, President, Warthen College.

From Days Gone By Dec. 29, 1911

December 29, 1911.
Christmas past off quietly here, there are no casualties to report, notwithstanding the rain, the mud and slush of the streets. The town was crowded with people. The continuous rain gave opportunity for the eager boy to shoot fire poppers and other fire works, and this we were constantly reminded that the Christmas holidays were on. Everyone was glad to see the sunshine out bright and clear again, after a week of continuous rain. The weather now is crisp and cold, just such as is needed to save the recently killed meat. The merchants all did fairly a good trade here, it is said that Tanner & Cox sold literally out of everything good to eat that they had. Moving and removing has begun, and there will be a good many changes, both in our town and in the country for another year.
While out target shooting on Monday with a number of young persons, J. V. Chapman was accidentally shot in the abdomen by Lee Gregory, a youth. Young Gregory was out hunting and shot at a bird, the bullet missing the mark and hitting Mr. Chapman. The wound was not of a serious nature. On the first Tuesday in January 1912, to the highest bidder on the court house in Wrightsville, the J. D. Webb place containing 100 acres, more or less, three and one-half miles from town will be sold, terms cash, by J. Z. Webb. The sudden and unexpected death of Honorable W. W. Anthony, which occured at his home in the city, after a brief illness of pneumonia, threw a gloom over the entire city. Adrian will hold a big auction sale of all of the personal property of the late Thomas Jefferson James on January 3rd, 1912. Many things will be offered from the estate of this wealthy man, including one standard bred stallion, Tennessee jack, 32 mules, 16 horses including colts and mares, oxen, milk cows, 80 cattle, Berkshire boars, thrashing machine, McCormick reaper, mowers, carrages, plows, wagons, electric light and water works plant in Adrian and a seven passenger Chalmers 40 automobile, fully equipped. The sale is by Mrs. Alice A. James, Executor. A veterans meeting was held at the court house for the local United Confederate Veterans with the following veterans present: J. T. Snell, Thomas Jefferson Brantley, Benjamin F. Martin, D. R. Underwood, John L. Martin, J. F. Price, T. F. Price, T. W. Walden and Lee Mosley. The object of the meeting was to petition the ladies of the county to organize the Daughters of the Confederacy which had recently been disorganized, so that they can operate with the veterans of Camp Martin in any and all enterprises pertaining to the welfare of those veterans of Johnson County. It is essential to the preservation of the camp. A committee was appointed and will report back at the next meeting on the first Wednesday in January 1912.

Fw: From days Gone By Dec. 22, 1911

December 22, 1911.
This weeks issue of the 1911 newspapers are not available. This column is from a December 1911 issue written by S. J. Gabbert, Dearborn, Mo., in the American Hereford Journal but appeared in the Wrightsville papers entitled "Why Boys Leave The Farm". "Sometimes I would like to turn myself loose on the subject of "why farmer boys leave home and go to the city," or "how to keep the boys on the farm." I may be mistaken, but I think I can give some pointers along this line that will appeal to many farmer boys. Having been born and raised on a farm, and never leaving it, I have had some of the foolish longings, trials and hardships of many good, useful boys who would have made excellent farmers and stockmen had they the proper training from their farmer fathers. If nine-tenths of the farmers and stockmen would give one-tenth as much attention to their boys as they do to their farm or stock, there would be fifty per cent less boys leave home and go to a life unsuited to them, and to which they were unsuited. There would be fewer failures, fewer broken hearts and fewer unmanly men, if fathers would take as much interest in their son's welfare and happiness and progress as they do in their live stock. I breed cattle and love them. I also breed fancy saddle and driving horses, and like them almost as well;but the same time I am raising sons and daughters. I have two of each, and I love them more than all the cattle and horses. Profiting by my own longings when a growing boy, for the allurements of city life and its pleasures, I shall endeavor to make the farm life more attractive
than the city. I shall try to make them feel that they are more essential to my happiness and pleasure than fat cattle and fancy saddlers. I shall endeavor to enthuze into them the same attractiveness that good cattle have for me. The horses, I shall teach them, are for theirpleasure, use and profit, as well as for mine. Too many old stingy farmers love the "almighty dollar" better than their wives and children, and use their boys as they do 'Gld Dabbin,' for work only. You can treat a dumb brute that way, for he cannot resent it, but you go too far with a boy, especially if he is bright, and the only protection he has is to get away from the "old man" and hard work.The result is that the fancied leisure life of his city cousin, and the pleasures therein lead him to the city. Treat the boy as if he was part human; give him an interest in the stock or farm; let him make his money and spend it as he likes, but encourage him to use it judiciously, economically and for some article that will grow into more money. Then your boy will develop faster than the best show calf, pig or colt on the farm. The subject is so big and so needed that I feel as though more should be written about it. We spend large sums of money in the papers, advertising our
stock to sell, but do not give the two-legged animals, that are worth thousands more than the four-legged ones, a single penny or thought above their work as money-savers. About three-fourths of the farmer are "grafters," and when they cannot graft some other man or men they take it out on the boys with hard labor for eighteen hours a day. Every time they lose money on a trade, the boys suffer most, for the old saying comes then, "boys, you will have to work a little harder and without a new suit," etc., etc. My heart goes out to the poor, hard-working money-less farm boy, living in the backwoods, working from daylight until nine o'clock at night with no cheer at home, no entertainment of any kind; nothing but the country school house with its hard desks, and the old frame church on Sunday, with six long year hard eighteen-hour-long work days. Who can blame some boys for going to the city?

From Days Gone by Dec. 15, 1911

December 15, 1911.
Mr. James Mitchell who was accused of stabbing Mr. H. P. Hicks in last weeks column, tells his side of the story. "As I was coming from the show, making my way to the fire that had broke out, I came across Mr. Hicks and he raved out at me, telling me to stop cursing in the presence of his children. I told him that if I had cursed I did not notice it, and he raved out again, and told me to shut my mouth, and do it now. I told him that I had not cursed before his children, and he said in a loud voice, "You are a d---- lie", and came on me with his knife and cut my coat, and would have done me much damage, but I caught his hand and we fell to the ground and was pulled apart." The stockholders of the Citizens Bank of Adrian met. There was a nice profit made by the bank and it was ordered that the stockholders be paid a 10 per cent dividend, and the balance be set aside as a surplus. The officers elected were: C. R. Williams, President; E. J. Sumner, Vice-President; and A. Woods, 2nd Vice-President. Board of Directors were C. R. Williams, E. J. Sumner, E. W. Carter, S. J. Sumner, W. S. Burns, C. C. Pope, A. Woods, J. E. Webb, Ed Ellison, M. T. Riner, J. W. Smith, and F. C. Gillis. Cashier, John T. Henderson, Asst. Cashier, R. C. Powers. The statement of condition of the Bank of Wrightsville was $167,718.85. The report of the condition of the First National Bank was $150,140.59. Preston Norris announced he will be a candidate for Johnson County Clerk of Superior Court in the 1912 primary. Col. B. H. Moye and family have moved to their new home on South Myrtle Avenue, recently occupied by W. A. Mixon and family. Jas F. Flanders of Sylvester was in the city this week. "Our Jim" is as handsome and distinguished looking as ever, a magnificent specimen of young manhood. W. C. Brinson, J. W. Cook and B. R. Blount, accompanied by their friend, W. Pritchard, a traveling salesman from Atlanta, enjoyed a hunting expedition on the Savannah River. R. Z. Sterling, accompanied by Mrs. Sterling, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. L. J. Claxton, went to Gibson in an automobile to attend the funeral of Mrs. H. G. Kent. Mr. & Mrs. Louie Kent announced the birth of a daughter, and "Grandpa Luther" is wearing a smile that won't come off. John R. Grice has rented his home to Rev. J. R. Kelly and family who will take possession January 1st and continue to operate the same as a boarding house. Mr. & Mrs. Grice are much beloved by their boarders, and have maintained a splendid house, and an excellent table, which have made the Grice House very popular. Mr. & Mrs. Grice will leave in early January for an extended visit to their son, Cleo, in New Smyrna, Florida. Last Sunday morning Mr. Charles W. Maddox of Scott, fell from his buggy dead. Mr. Maddox was a well known farmer of this section, and his friends and relatives regret very much to learn of his sudden death. In a memorial obituary of Mary T. Meeks who died Nov. 3, 1911 after a brief illness. She was born in Hancock County Jan. 12, 1837. She joined Bethel Baptist in that county in 1856, from there she moved it to Rehobeth in 1865. On Nov. 23, 1865 she married Rev. D. L. Meeks and was blessed with 46 years of marriage. In another memorial obituary of Miss Dicey New who was born April 24, 1856, married to John H. Hall at the age of 20, was left a widow with 4 children on Feb. 11, 1889 and departed this life Nov. 23, 1911. She spent her last days in Wrightsville. At age 16 she joined Pleasant Hill Baptist in Washington County, afterwards moving it to Liberty Grove where she was a member at her death. She left 3 sons and 1 daughter. In a letter to Santa Claus from William Parker he writes, "Please bring me a wagon, drum, horn, a toy horse, a tool chest and some letters to print with. Now Santa don't bring me a doll, Grandpa said you was. But I don't want it. You can
give it to sister."

From Days Gone By Dec. 8, 1911

December 8, 1911. On last Saturday night, while Mr. P. H. Hicks was returning home from the circus with his little son and daughter, and when near the residence of Dr. Haines, on Court Street, he was overtaken by a white man named Mitchell. It was said he was drinking, and was cursing to such an extent that Mr. Hicks remonstrated with him, and asked him to desist using such language in the presence of his little daughter. The rebuke so enraged Mitchell that without a moments warning he attacked Mr. Hicks and inflicted a severe wound on the back of his neck with a knife, after which Mitchell and his brother came on in town, got in their buggy and left. Mr. Hicks succeeded in reaching the residence of Dr. S. M. Johnson, which was near by, and had Dr. Johnson to dress his wound. After which he was taken home. A warrant was at once taken out for Mitchell and he was arrested and brought to town where a peliminary trial was held. Also last Saturday night some vacant shanties belonging to the Robinson Planning Mills, near the W. & T. Railroad, in the southern portion of town, caught fire from some unknown cause, and was soon destroyed. The planning mill near by was in jeopardy but the fire companies quenched the flames so the loss was not much. In the last issue of the Wrightsville Chronicle, the suspension of that paper was announced, and the plant will be converted into a job office. Editor F. A. Sinquefield and manager Frank Jackson, deserve credit for the efforts they have put forth to make the Chronicle a success, and it was regreted their departure from journalism. The Dan Kelly Vaudiville Company is now playing at the Vivola. For one night only, December 14th the comedy success of the century "The Chorus Lady", a comedy by James Forbes. Prices are 50 cents, 75 cents and $1.00 on sale at H. C. Tompkins store. Little Elizabeth Stephens is convalesing after a severe illness. Mrs. C. A. Moore is recovering from a fall. Claudius, the little son of Mr. & Mrs. Albert Beall, of Dublin is ill with pneumonia at his grandmothers, Mrs. Sinquefield. Donnie Mayo, the 12 year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. M. D. Mayo, died at their home near Wrightsville. The little girl had been in feeble health for some time, though she died suddenly. She was interred at Beulah Baptist Church cemetery by Rev. W. E. Harville. Charlie Wilson and George Gannon went to Swainsboro making the trip in Tanner's auto, with Otho at the wheel. W. A. Mixon and family have moved back to their old home on Belmont Avenue. Santa Claus is making his annual visit to Wrightsville, and the stores are a veritable scene of beauty and brightness. Handsome and simple gifts are here in abundance, and one has only to go and select what they want. No town in the state handles a better selected or a larger stock of Christmas goods and novelties than Wrightsville.