Thursday, February 24, 2011

From Days Gone By, Feb. 22, 1912

Febuary 22, 1912.
Its the 180th anniversary of "The father of his country," and throughout this American Republic, the day is observed as a National Holiday. The banks, schools and all public institutions will be closed to honor the memory of the first president of the United States, George Washington. Warthen College will celebrate Washington's birthday with a holiday Friday the 23rd.
The seniors and juniors have begun rehersals on the plays they expect to give soon. The baseball nine takes advantage of every bright afternoon to practice. Miss Pearl Clark of Sandersville arrived this week, and entered on her duties as assistant teacher in the primary and intermediate departments.
Mr. D. W. Sims, Secretary of International Sunday School Association, arrived in Wrightsville and the object of his visit here is to inaugurate plans with the different churches of the city, for the State Sunday School Convention. It is an inter-denominational organization. J. M. Bryan was appointed county president, and W. J. Scott, secretary and treasurer. The Rev. Dr. G. W. Young, State Superintendent of Georgia Anti-Saloon League, and officer in the National League, lectured at the methodist church. The annual missionary institute of the Southern Division of the Georgia W. B. M. U. will meet at Waycross Febuary 27th & 28th.
Last Tuesday was Shrove Tuesday, the ending of all festivites and gaysties prior to the lenten season; and yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which will continue through forty days closing Easter Sunday, which will be the first Sunday in April this year. Lent is observed by the Episcopal and Catholic churches in commemoration of the forty days fast of the Christ prior to his crucifiction and resurection. Rev. Walter Anthony will lead revival at Wesleyan College.
At a meeting of the State Optical Association held in Savannah, Dr. Charles H. Kittrell was elected chairman of the executive committee. He is a well known former Wrightsville citizen but now resides in Dublin. Colonel M. J. Carswell, a prominent young lawyer of Jeffersonville, Twiggs County has announced for Solicitor of the new Dublin Circuit. He is a native of Wilkinson County. Rufus Ellis announced for county tax receiver, and George Brantley as well. Another well known citizen of this county, Mr. T. J. Williams is a candidate for county tax collector. He has held the Notary Public office of Powell's District for the past seven years.
Mr. & Mrs. G. A. Mixon are happy over the arrival of a little son. Mrs. W. W. Anthony is sick with grippe at her home. Mr. J. M. Blackhear is confined to his bed with asthma. Mrs. Mary Pritchard is at Rawlings Sanitarium. Mrs. W. H. Smith and little daughter, Frances, is in Atlanta where Mr. Smith is still at the tuberculous hospital.
J. W. Powell's black Gordon Setter with a white spot on his breast was stolen from his yard. J. H. Orvin of Route 3 placed his suitcase in a buggy, through mistake. It was a new Top buggy near Fulford's stables. It was placed there by mistake and he sure would love to have it back.

From Days Gone By, Feb. 29, 1912

Febuary 29, 1912.
Febuary has made good on bad weather. The proverbial ground hog gave this kind of forecast out on the 22nd inst., and he didn't lie about it either, did he? Really this has been the worst all-round Febuary this deponent has ever experienced, and it goes without saying he has witnessed several. This kind of weather is retarding the progress of the farmers very materially.
Through the efforts of Mrs. W. A. Sinquefield and Mrs. A. F. Daley, a liberal contribution of clothing, with a nice sum of money was collected this week for the benefit of Mrs. Zan Cox, whose husband was recently killed in Wrightsville, leaving her with four small children. The donations were made by several of the good women and men of the town, regardless of denomination, all conceding the cause a worthy one. The ladies who solicited the contributions will deliver them in person to the unfortunate wife and little ones, whose sad condition appeals to the hearts of those more fortunate than they.
Meanwhile, Governor Joseph M. Brown issued a proclamation offering $200 reward for the capture of William Mixon, with evidence sufficiant to convict, to the sheriff of Johnson County. Mixon is about 25 years old, 135 pounds, five feet six inches tall of light complexion and blue squint-eyed.
Mrs. R. H. Hines was called to Reidsville wednesday by the serious wounding of her son-in-law, Mr. R. S. Rogers, by W. M. Wiggins, while in the court room. In a mad dash to escape from the mayor's court room, where he was on trial charged with selling liquor, W. M. Wiggins, a white man, shot and wounded three men before being overpowered. He fired twice from his pistol, one shot passing through R. J. Rogers chest and striking S. M. McCall and glancing from his temple. The second bullet burried itself in the arm of Lon Moody. Wiggins was arraigned at once on the charge of assualt with intent to murder and was ordered held under bond of $5,000, which he failed to give.
The white primary for August is increasing in candidates for the various offices of the county. A. S. Mayo, C. J. Smith, M. D. Wingett have entered the race for tax collector. Jos. M. Smith, and L. B. Claxton, the incumbent have qualified for county treasurer. C. H. Moore has entered for clerk of superior court.
J. T. Blankenship, the old reliable milkman of the Johnson Dairy, has took charge as manager of the Union Meat Market. A new meat market has been established by C. S. Blankenship and J. T. Miller in the Daley block on Elm Street next to Hawkins. The last attraction of the Lyceum course at the Vivola is the Fisher Shipp Concert Company of Chicago. Also, the carnival is here in full blast with tents, merry-go-round, ferris wheel and is located on the Lovett lot and operated by the Adams Amusement Company.
Prof. A. F. Ware was elected to the faculty of the University of Virginia Summer School in mathmatics. This is a very high honor for Prof. Ware and Warthen College. Emmett Butterly is home from the state university with the mumps. At the home of the brides parents near Wrightsville, last sunday, Miss Myrtle Mae Ford and Mr. C. T. Mosley were married by Rev. C. R. Williams. The bride is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Ford.
The banks of the county reported their condition for the close of business, Febuary 20th, 1912. The First National Bank, $132,469.15; The Bank of Wrightsville, $144,051.73; The Bank of Adrian, $28,953.66; The Citizens Bank of Kite, $69,625.02; The Exchange Bank of Wrightsville, $82,307.66.
A petition for a charter was submitted to the superior court of the county to incorporate the Union Supply Company for 20 years. The capital stock is to be $2500 divided into shares of $100 each. They propose to deal in retail dry goods, groceries and dress making. The petitioners, represented by attorny J. L. Kent are : J. T. Davis, R. G. Davis, J. C. Renfroe, R. R. Frost, J. T. Miller and S. A. Attaway.
A petition was presented to the mayor and council of Wrightsville concerning the proposed pool room. "Recognizing the evil tendencies of pool rooms and kindred places of amusement, and having at heart the best interests of our boys and men, we, the women of the missionary societies of Wrightsville, do implore you men, that you do not permit opening a pool room in our midst. You alone have the power to prevent this evil, and may we not depend on you to do it? Signed by Mrs. J. M. Mason, methodist; Mrs. J. B. Holley, baptist; Mrs. T. G. Holt, christian.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

From Days Gone By Feb. 8, 1912

Febuary 8, 1912.
The marshal of Soperton was killed on Febuary 4th in a duel with the nephew of Wrightsville resident, Mrs. R. H. Hines. Town marshal Sam Calhoun is dead, and Norris Holmes is fatally injured as a result of a shooting scrape. Holmes was handling a 12 calibre rifle when Calhoun asked him to put it up. Instead Holmes turned the gun on the marshal and fired. Calhoun then drew his pistol and returned the fire, mortally wounding Holmes.
Calhoun died early the next morning. He belonged to one of the oldest and most influential families of what was then Montgomery County. He had been marshal of Soperton for several years, a man of many friends who were soliciting him to enter the sheriff's race. He left a wife and several small children.
Norris Holmes was unmarried and a son of C. L. Holmes. He had spent some time at the sanitarium for the insane, but was discharged for the past two years and was living with his parents. His father owned the large merchantile firm of C. L. Holmes & Son at Soperton. He suspended that business and was engaged in the cotton business until his health failed last year and at this time was living at a health resort in Emanuel County.
Holmes seemed to have had a long standing grudge with the marshal who at one time arrested him for violating a town ordinance. Mrs. R. H. Hines of Wrightsville was called to see her nephew Holmes who died on tuesday from his wounds. He was buried at Condor.
During the late freeze, many pipes and hydrants bursted and plumber Harrison and the hardware stores have been doing good business. On account of the frozen pipes Warthen College was on a water famine. Owing to the inability to use the furnace at the methodist church, there was service only at the baptist church where the other denominations attended and Rev. Holley preached to a large congregation. A heater is now being placed in the sunday school room at the methodist church, but owing to the extreme cold weather the work of building the flue is retarded.
Mr. E. N. Hitchcock is now with the Rowland Merchantile Co. as a salesman. A big sale is now going on at the Empire Store. Never in the history of Wrightsville has there ever been such bargains offered the people in this section. Dry goods, shoes, clothing, millinery and everything needed to wear or use is being sold at greatly reduced prices. It will last 15 days. Faircloth & Claxton in the Brinson Building has plenty of money to lend at the lowest rates for loans to improve Johnson County farms.
On last sunday afternoon following the close of the sunday school, New Home Church, about six miles from town was destroyed by fire. It caught from the stove flue and as the wind was blowing it was not long before the entire building was consumed. The church was heated during the services and afterwards caught fire.
Tuesday afternoon De Pugh Miller, the son of Mrs. J. M. Blackshear of this city was handling a parlor rifle and had the misfortune of shooting the big toe of his left foor nearly off. It was a 22 caliber, the wound tho painful and the hole not so large that he is still able to walk. Dr. Brinson dressed his wound and he seems to be better.
Mr. George M. Rhiner's condition is now very precarious and is getting worse by the day. Mr. Hodges Snell has acute rheumatism. Mrs. E. L. Stephens and Judge Wm Faircloth are sick with gripp. Mr. Henry Montford who has been critically ill from heart trouble is much better. He is up and walking around. He says he is better from a medication sent to him by a traveling salesman.
Mr. & Mrs. E. M. Redwine of Atlanta will have their china wedding anniversary on Feb. 17th on Capitol Avenue. Mrs. Redwine was the former Miss Mae Cook and were married here in 1892. On the evening of the 5th at Lovett, Miss Nina Johnson of that place married Mr. LaFragh of Tennille. She is the daughter of Dr. P. M. Johnson and neice of Dr. S. M. and E.A.W. Johnson and a former student of Warthen College and Bessie Tift College. The groom originally from Dublin is a telegraph operator at Tennille for the Central of Georgia Railway.
John J. Duff announces for Treasurer of Johnson County in the august primary. J. H. Rowland wishes to correct a misrepresentation that is going around that he is running for Ordinary. He has done no such. It would be impossible on account of other business matters and would not accept the office if his name was placed on the card and won.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

From Days Gone By Feb. 1, 1912

Febuary 1, 1912.
John Barnes, from Washington County was in the city and while here questioned the purpose of the councils vote on pool or no pool for Wrightsville. "Does this refer to the pool room already in operation, or to another place for the public? If to the former, why? It has been in operation for more than a year, and certainly no evil has resulted there from. While maintained and operated for the benefit of one of the secret orders, yet it is a pool room. If to the latter, then why not give the public a chance to enjoy the priviledge accorded to the secret order? No reasonable nor tangible arguement can be put forth to deny the operation of another place of this kind without eliminating the one already in existence, which we do not urge. To us this is only a matter of fair play, in other words, equal rights to all, special privileges to none."
Another new candidate in the commercial world has been established in Wrightsville. It opened on the west side by J. Tom Davis, late head salesman at the Empire Store. It has a grocery department and dry goods, shoes, notions, etc. Cox & Tanner have one of the best fancy and family stores to be found anywhere. They have just received a new fresh line of Hinez' goods, and there, with fruits, confections, and is very appetising.
Wrightsville has been favored with some first-class attractions at the Vivola the past week. "Ingomar", the barbarian, an old but beautiful melodrama was played to a good house, and "The Wolf", the great New York Lyrie Theatre, success by Eugene Walter was great also. Next week "The Arrival of Kitty" will be presented.
Judge Kent has moved his office to the Brinson building, and Col. Ben Hill Moye has moved his office from the Vivola building to the upstairs at the Brinson building. E. J. Sumner has had a switchboard placed in his store and is having wires run to connect with different points.
Mr. Crawford Holt was taken to Rawlings Sanitarium for treatment. Ralph Bryan still has pneumonia. Mrs. Gordon Kent of Adel had to go to Rawlings also, accompained by her sister, Mrs. W. A. Sinquefield and Dr. J. W. Brinson. Mr. W. W. Moye of Columbus, and Mrs. T. H. Grier of Dublin attended the funeral of their father last week, Mr. John W. Moye.
J. V. Snell announced his candidacy for Clerk of Superior Court. He has been connected with this office for several years. The county convention of the Republican Party of Johnson County was called to meet in the Odd Fellows hall on Feb. 6th to elect delegates to the State and District conventions. H. T. Aiken, chairman and J. G. Pullen, secetary. J. C. Wiggins, Ordinary, reminded all pensioners of Johnson County that their money is ready for pickup. The Confederate Veterans, Camp Martin, elected Miss Bessie Martin as sponsor to attend the grand reunion of Confederate Veterans in Macon on May 7th, 8th and 9th.
Mr. M. Eugene Moody died from an aneurism at the sanitarium of Dr. Leon Moye at Vidalia. His remains were carried to Tennille at Zeta Cemetery. He resided in Wrightsville several years, 45 years old and a native of Washington County. He married Miss Maud Cox and was a relative of Mrs. R. L. Kent.
Driving a load of hay across the farm of J. S. Jackson on the Howell Mill road, a colored man was severly shocked and two horses instantly killed by current from the main feed wire of the Georgia Railway and Electric Company, which in some manner had become crossed with a telegraph guy wire, charging the ground for some distance around. Just before he forced his horses over the fatal territory a team of mules balked at the crossing and finally ran away, injuring their driver, who had attempted to force them across.
It is only a few months until Idylwild will be open to the public. Already the youngsters and grownups, too, are looking forward with pleasuradle anticipation to the opening of this famous resort.