From Days Gone By April 22, 1915

April 22, 1915.

    A petition was filed with the Secretary of State for a charter for the Midland Railway. The proposed road will span 150 miles following the old stage coach route between Atlanta and Savannah. It would run through the counties of Johnson, Bulloch, Washington, Baldwin, Emanuel, Chatham, and Effingham. The proposed amount of capital stock is one million dollars, will continue for 100 years and the principal office will be at Savannah. It has ten petitioners, eight from Effingham, one each from Burke and Chatham counties.

    If ever a town needed a remedy it is Adrian. Situated as it is, those knowing its boundaries could agree with that first statement. Its people are trampled over only on account of the lines such as they are. Adrian does not want a new county as much as it desires to be in one county or the other, preferably Emanuel but Emanuel does not desire to fight over it. To put her in Johnson would only take about 1500 acres from Emanuel and to put her in Emanuel would take 3000 acres from Johnson. This is figuring the other side of the Big Ohoopee to Johnson in the first case and making the lines straight on the west and south sides of town in the second instance. This is the opinion of the Forest-Blade.

    The annual picnic of Warthen College will be given tomorrow at Idylwild, the beautiful picnic grounds of the W & T railroad which has been put in fine condition for just such an event. They will  enjoy skating, fishing, swimming and all other outdoor sports and a good dinner.

    Mrs. J. R. Campbell's son, William had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Mrs. R. P. Hicks sister, Francis Marshall is at Piedmont Sanitarium as is Judge A. F. Daley. Miss Adrinne Tompkins is suffering from nervous debility. Mrs. Elizabeth Trawick has grippe. Mrs. Annie Tompkins has appendicitits. Mrs. C. J. Smith is being operated on for a goiter. Mrs. C. H. Moore had the misfortune to dislocate her wrist and is now confined to the bed with grippe.

    Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Raines of Tafton, Florida announce the birth of a daughter on the 18th named Bertha. H. C. Tompkins has new and different styles of Palm Beach suits for ladies. If your buggy tires crack send or "cuss the blacksmith," carry them to Frank Outlaw's new shop.

    Mr. Thomas Sweat passed away on Thursday. Heart failure the cause of his death. He served in the Confederate War and has always lived in Johnson or adjoining counties. He was buried at Cedar Grove.

    Mrs. Dock Odom's death last Friday was a shock to her loved ones and friends. She was the youngest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. Sammons who live 4 miles east of Wrightsville. Services were held at Union Hill.

From Days Gone By April 15, 1915

April 15, 1915.

    Rally Day was held for the county schools at the Warthen College auditorium. State School Superintendent M. L. Brittian was on hand.

    In the Reading contest for 2nd grade- Gladys Green, Meeks; 3rd grade- Eugene Cook, Wrightsville; 4th grade- Velma Leighton, Davis school. In Spelling: 3rd grade- Inez Rowland, Wrightsville, and Russell Norris, Payne school (tie); 4th grade- Grayson Rowland, Wrightsville; 5th grade- Albon Hatcher, Wrightsville; 6th grade- Rubye Briscoe, Wesley Chapel; 7th grade- Alma Blount, Wrightsville.

    Story Writing: 3rd grade- Louise Moore, Wrightsville; 4th grade- Ethelyn Blount, Wrightsville; 5th grade- Willie Price, Meeks; 6th grade- Jeradine Brinson, Wrightsville; 7th grade- Mazey Brantley, Kite.

    In the athletics contests: Running High Jump- Marion Snell, Philadelphia, and Claude Hammock, Wrightsville (tie); Standing Broad Jump- Claude Hammock, Wrightsville; Running Broad Jump- Claude Hammock, Wrightsville; 220 Yard Dash- Rufus West, New Home; 100 Yard Dash- Claude Hammock, Wrightsville.

    In the Boys Sack Race: Minion Layton, Wrightsville; Girls Sack Race- Willie Beasley, New Home; Boys 3-Legged Race- Morris Harrison and Leon Claxton, Davis; Girls 3-Legged Race- Julia Tompkins and Leila Bryan, Wrightsville.

    After the contests and prizes awarded there was a ball game on the diamond between Wrightsville and Sandersville. It was Wrightsville on top with a score of 18 to 7.

    The Jennie Lind Society met at Warthen College and the following officers were elected: Schley Moore, president; Bessie Davis, vice-president; Vetta Williams, secretary; Frances Kennedy, reporter; Mary Moore Johnson, critic; Lorea Rowland and Emory Rowland, program committee.

    On Saturday just as the sun reached the mid-day hour, the messenger of death visited Mrs. T. W. Brantley, nee Minnie Lee Meeks, daughter of M. L. Meeks. She was born August 27th, 1880, and was married Febuary 28, 1899 and past away March 13, 1915. She left a husband and seven children, two sisters, three brothers, one half-sister and two half-brothers. She was the twin sister to Mrs. W. T. Rowland.

From Days Gone By April 8, 1915

April 8, 1915.

    About 5am Sunday morning dense smoke was discovered issuing from the front of the barber shop, located in the Johnson  building on the south side of the square. An alarm promptly sent the fire department who went to work, to some disadvantage, as the shop was full of smoke, as was also Kavako's fruit and candy kitchen adjoining, making the blaze difficult to locate. An entrance was made and the water turned on and the fire was soon extinguished. Most of the barber shop fixtures were saved, but Kavako's stock was badly damaged from smoke and water. The walls and floor was also badly damaged.

    A Laurens citizen stated the road from Dublin to Wrightsville is one of the most frequently traveled but doesn't seem to have any friends. It should be made into a splendid highway and not be so difficult to travel. The road is proposed to be on the Dixie Highway, the route from Chicago to Jacksonville, Florida.

    The commitment trial of Wylie Smith was held at Kite by Justice of the Peace, W. P. Norris, and the verdict was justifiable homicide. The following are the facts in the case:

    It will be recalled that on last Sunday morning about 3am that Lee Copeland went to the home of Smith, flourishing a knife and talking objectionally to Mrs. Smith. Smith left, going to a neighbors home getting a gun and returning home where Copeland was still holding the knife and advancing toward Smith in a threatening manner, he shot him to death.

    Mr. J. G. Layton moved to the Crawford home on College street where they are conducting a nice boarding house. Judge A. F. Daley is improving his residence by building a broad front veranda which will extend on the east and west sides of the house. Mr. W. H. Lovett and mother, Elizabeth, have moved into their new bungalow on South Marcus.

    Sick this week was Mrs. Susan Sammons, lagrippe; Miss Mary Rowland, pneumonia; Mrs. Georgia Gay, grippe. Judge Daley went to Atlanta concerning his health and Mr. J. T. Fulford has been suffering intensely with carbuncles under each arm. He had to go to Rawlings Sanitarium for treatment.

    Mrs. Rosa Kennedy accepted a position of milliner at Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Mr. H. M. Hutcheson a former citizen here, but now at Rockingham in Appling County was here visiting friends. Mrs. J. L. Walker of Waycross, who is State organizer of the Daughters of the American Revolution was here with a view to organize a D. A. R. chapter, which was partially organized.

    At the Methodist parsonage in Bartow, on Sunday, March 28th, Miss Ella Walden of that place, and Mr. W. F. Johnson of here, were united in marriage.

    Mrs. Sallie Snell Page, wife of Judge J. E. Page, and daughter of the late William Snell of this county, died Sunday night, April 4th at her residence in Orianna after an extended and complicated illness. Her death still came as a shock. She was the mother of nine sons, six who survive her, besides her husband. She is also survived by her mother Mrs. Jane Snell, two brothers, H. W. and T. N. Snell of Florida, and three sisters, Mrs. T. E. Hayes, Mrs. R. A. Bradshaw and Mrs. Chas. Wood.

    Her remains were brought to Wrightsville Monday night over the Wrightsville and Tennille Railroad. The funeral was at the Methodist church with whom see was a member, with internment at Westview.

From Days Gone By, April 1, 1915

April 1, 1915.

    On March 26th in the upper edge of Johnson County, a farmer named Sheppard heard someone in his smoke house. He ran out of his home with a shotgun and fired killing instantly a negro who was on a pry pole holding up the corner of the smoke house. He was doing this while a white man had crawled in to get the meat. When the fatal shot was fired the white man had started out, and was under the edge of the house. As the negro was shot and killed, the house fell on the white man, killing him instantly.

    Solicitor and Mrs. B. H. Moye had a son born March 28th. Mr. & Mrs. J. V. Snell had a daughter on March 30th and Mr. & Mrs. C. H. Moore had a daughter born on March 31st.

    Mrs. J. H. Rowland is recovering from her sickness, so is Rev. and Mrs. E. L. Wainwright. Mrs. Mabel Blount is ill with lagrippe. County School Superintendent R. L. Sumner has grippe. Mr. W. F. Dent had an attack of acute indigestion. Also sick are Mrs. L. A. Attaway and Mr. H. E. Purvis. Mr. H. V. Pope buried his wife at Bay Springs and Mr. Wiley Mimbs, a merchant in Scott died after a short illness and was buried at Bay Springs.

    Dr. Riser stated over 500 people were examined for hook worm disease and expects twice that number to be examined next week. About 400 cases are being treated in the county at this time.

    Henry S. Wilson agent with the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad here has accepted a promotion within the company and will transfer to Dexter on the road between Dublin and Hawkinsville. Mr. & Mrs. Jas. D. Bush have move to their new farm outside of Wrightsville. Dr. J. W. Brinson just erected an automobile house behind his residence for his "Hup" car. Mrs. Maggie Hayes on Court Street has added a veranda and three more rooms. Mr. M. N. Killebrew just put an ice house behind his business on the Kennedy block.

    The following merchants have agreed to close their stores from April 1st to September 1st at 6pm except on Saturday's. Kitchens Grocery Co., The Davis Store, T. E. Hayes, Tanner Grocery Co., Tanner & Kent Furniture Co., Wrightsville Furniture Co., D. G. Blount, Peoples Hardware Co.,Hayes Brothers, F. C. Lord & Son, Wrightsville Grocery Co., The Cain Store, F. A. Sinquefield, H. C. Tompkins, M. & H. Grocery Co., Wrightsville Grain Co., W. S. Burns & Son.

    From the point of production March 4th, was a banner day for the Ford Motor Company. The high-water mark of several months was reached with a grand total of 1847 Fords, produced by the factory and the Ford manufacturing plants. This is getting pretty close to a production of 2000 Ford cars, every day, and makes still more certain the 300,000 car limit between August 1914 and August 1915, upon which is contingent the profit-sharing with Ford purchasers.