July 11, 1912.
On Tuesday morning, just after a heavy rain, lightning struck the telephone wires connected with the residence of R. Z. Sterling considerably damaging the walls of one of the rooms, knocking off the plastering and weatherboarding. The occupants of the house escaped injury, but were considerably shocked. Several phones on the line were put out of business for a time.
In a separate incident that may have been caused by lightning, fire broke out in Kite at the store occupied by Mr. E. S. Price. It was a total loss, covered partly by insurance. In other Kite news, Mrs. W. A. Lamb was called to Summertown on account of the sickness of her sister. M. J. Claxton made a pleasent trip to Johnston, S. C. in his newly bought Flanders car. J. M. Johnson, with a crowd of friends, attended the races in Dublin on the fourth.
Mrs. Chas. M. Schwalls died at her home in Kite on Friday night, June 28th and was buried the next day at Wheeler graveyard. She was an excellent woman and her death is quite a loss to the community in which she lived. She is survived by her husband and children.
Mr. Fred Kea, Esq. has offered for the state senatorship. Kea is a native of Johnson County, born at Kite, and a son of the late Dr. Thomas Kea, and he was reared on his father's plantation near Adrian. He has been a citizen of Laurens County for the past 6 years, a young lawyer of ability, and the junior member of the law firm of Davis & Kea in Dublin. Kea aspires to represent the 16th district and asks full support of his Johnson County friends.
Wrightsville's fourth of July passed off quietly. Nothing occured to mar the "National Occasion." J. E. Tompkins & family moved to the house on Marcus Street vacated by Mr. & Mrs. T. G. Holt. The Holts' are pleasently situated at Waycross. Mr. J. M. Bryan has been licensed to preach by the Dublin District Conference which conviened at Adrian. Mr. Bryan is the eldest son of the late Rev. R. B. Bryan.
C. L. Wilson has transferred his barber shop from the old stand in the Lovett block to his spic and span new quarters in the Johnson building fronting on Elm Street's popular thoroughfare, where he has fitted up a handsome tonsorial parlor, frunished and equipped with all modern improvements.
On July 4th banker C. R. Williams gave his cashiers a dinner at his home on West Elm Street. The party consisted of J. T. Henderson & R. C. Powers, Citizens Bank of Adrian; L. J. Flanders, Bank of Rockledge; J. R. Cherry & wife, Montrose Banking Co.; C. T. Swinson, Bank of Lovett; A. L. Horton, Bank of Norristown; C. A. Fountain & C. W. Brantley, State Bank of Wesley. Wrightsville guests were: E. J. Sumner, Dr. R. R. Douglas, Oswald Tompkins and Miss Zada Snell.
Miss Addie Kellum died at the home of her nephews, Talmadge and Monta Kellum near Dublin on Sunday. Interment was at Northview Cemetery. She was the daughter of the late Mr. & Mrs. Russell Kellum of Laurens County, and aunt of Mrs. A. F. Daley. She was a former resident of Johnson County. Mrs. Martha Stewart died Monday evening at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. K. D. Meeks, near Lovett, and was buried at Pleasent Hill church. She was 67 years old, and was a sister of Mr. Steely Smith. She was a good woman loved by all who knew her.
Barney Bell brought to town the largest tomato they ever saw. It was of the Pondarosa variety and weighed one and a half pounds. It was perfectly matured and delightfully flavored. It was grown and cultivated by Barney, in Judge A. F. Daley's garden in town.
