From Days Gone By Aug. 26, 1915

August 26, 1915.

    Rev. Reese Griffin has been elected acting president of Warthen College, and the Fall Term will open on Sept. 6 at 8:30am. Tuition for term ending Dec. 23rd is 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades, $8; 4th and 5th grades, $10; 6th and 7th grades, $12.50; collegiate department, $18.00.  Admission can be obtained at the Exchange Bank.

    Prof. T. M. Hicks has started a private school with tuition 5th grade and up, $3.00 per month paid in advance. Should there be any below that grade the fee will be $2.50. There will be two sessions per day. Mr. Y. Kim of Korea, a graduate from Emory College with distinction conducted services at the Methodist church.

    Ice cream and cake will be served on the 27th on the court house lawn by the ladies of the Civic League. Ice cream cones for children will be 5 cents, and cake and cream will be 10 cents.

    There has just been opened in Wrightsville in the brick building between the B & W Drug store, and Johnson's Ice Cream Parlor, formerly used by the Wrightsville Merchantile Co. for the displaying of farming implements, a place to be known as The Wrightsville Cotton Exchange. Mr. J. F. Renfroe, our former postmaster is the cotton weigher at the City Warehouse. Monroe Cook has accepted the new agency for the Troy Laundry Company of Macon. He will take in your laundry every Monday and Tuesday and return it the following Saturday morning. Mr. J. H. Rowland has added another industry to his various enterprises, that of a canning plant. He has some fine canned tomatoes in artistically labeled cans.

    Mrs. John Meeks and little child are both quite ill at their home on Belmont Ave. The little one has typhoid fever. Mrs. J. J. Harrison died at her home in Scott from a complication of diseases on the 24th. Her remains were taken to Davisboro to the family graveyard. She is survived by her husband and 4 children, and her father Mr. Joe Ivey.

    Rev. Jordan Norris, a primitive Baptist preacher and Confederate veteran, died near Adrian on the 19th after a 10 day illness at the age of 84. He had been in the ministry 52 years, during that time having served one church, Gumlog, for 36 consecutive years. He was a prominent Mason and survived by one brother, two sons, and five daughters, who are respectively, Dr. S. M. Norris, John and Jim Norris, Mrs. George Thigpen, Mrs. B. M. Pollette, Mrs. Chas. Carter, and Mrs. James Swain. Services and internment were at Bethsadia near Adrian.

    The 5 month old infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. V. Snell is the victim of a peculiar, and what may prove, fatal accident. The child has been troubled with difficult breathing since it was 2 weeks old, and has been treated for the malady. But a few days ago Mrs. Snell, with the aid of her brother who was visiting her, examined the baby's throat, and to her dismay a black enameled safety pin was located some distance down the childs throat. The pin was open and the point sticking deep in the side of the throat. Dr. Johnson was summoned, and with difficulty he extricated the pin and the child is doing as well as expected. The only solution of the accident is that the nurse, who attended the baby used only black enameled pins in her clothing and some way got into the childs throat.

    The dry goods store of Hayes Bros. was broken into one night last week and several hundred dollars taken. Entrance was through the glass front. The prowness of Marshal Jackson tracked and located the thieves on the E. W. Tanner place a few miles from town. The stolen goods were found in the possession of 3 or 4 negroes who were placed in jail. It was a bold but fruitless robbery.

Fom Days Gone By Aug. 19, 1915

August 19, 1915.

    One of the latest improvements in the progress of the eastern section of Wrightsville is the extension of the tracks of the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad from the old Southern Cotton Oil company's warehouse up to the J. H. Rowland Grist and Feed Mill, located on the corner of College and Valley streets. This will be a great advantage to Mr. Rowland and will furnish excellent and convient service for the handling and shipping of the output of the mill.

    Mr. Rowland is not the "only peddle on the beach" down on the eastside. Mr. T. L. Martin, the prominent ice and coal dealer, has also erected a seed house, 80 x 40 ft., on the lot recently purchased from Mr. William Faircloth, located alongside the W. & T. tracks, all of which goes to show that Mr. Martin will be prominent in the cotton seed market this season. Messrs. Rowland and Martin are developers good and strong, and the city is gratified to herald the establishment of their substainial enterprises.

    A Mrs. Sheppard and Mrs. Otho Tanner have formed a co-partnership and will open a millinery parlor at the store formerly occupied by W. A. Hawkins in the Vivola building. Miss Hendrix of Baltimore will have charge of the millinery department at H. C. Tompkins store. Mr. Tompkins has been touring points north in his 8-cylinder Cadallac. While there he invested in a large line of dry goods and such for his store.

    The County Trading Store gave away $5 in gold. Mr. J. W. Rogers, living 4 miles from town was the happy winner. Wrightsville's first cotton bale arrived and was ginned at the Dixie Cotton Plant and stored at the City Warehouse. The bale weighed 462 pounds, and brought 10 cents a pound. This first bale was made jointly by Joe Horton and Jesse Palmer, two negro farmers on the Anthony Farm 2 miles from town.

    Tuesday afternoon the 17th at the brides' aunt, Mrs. Doctor Tommas at Bartow, Mrs. Claud McEntyre of Wrightsville and Mr. H. C. Hunter of Davisboro were united in marriage. Mrs. Hunter is the daughter of Mrs. J. P. Williams.

    Application was made to the September Term of Superior Court for Leave to sell, the interest of Henry C. Heath, DeOtis Heath, Allie Mae Heath, and Clara Heath, minors, the following tract of land, their interest being 4 - 6 remainder undivided interest. It contains 75 acres, north by Mrs. Sallie Bush and Mattie Trotter, and Lilly Smith, east by M. D. Mayo, south by N. B. Snider and E. O. Snell, west by lands of Amos Heath known as the William Henry Heath estate.

    On the sick list this week is Little Theo Parker, C. E. Brinson, Mrs. Rosier Stephens, and Mrs. Ruth Flanders. T. L. Martin stepped on a nail which pierced his foot to the depth of a half inch or more and is causing him great pain.

    Dudley, the 2 year old infant son of Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Orvin died Tuesday night from stomach trouble at the home of his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. James Webb. He was buried at Westview. Mr. Eldridge Crabb, an aged citizen, died suddenly Tuesday at the home of his brother-in-law Dan Smith, 5 miles from town.

From Days Gone By August 12, 1915

August 12, 1915.

    On Tuesday night of July 22nd several of the citizens of Wrightsville were aroused from their sleep by the rapid fire of pistols, and upon investigation by night watchman Lee Jackson, it is said that Horace C. Pournell, who resides in the eastern part of town, and who had been spreeing for several days, was doing the shooting.

    It was learned that Horace had become offended with three or four citizens of the town, and it is said had threatened the lives of these citizens; and Wednesday morning between six and seven, Sheriff W. D. Rowland, who held two state warrants for Pournell, who was endeavoring to arrest him.

    Pournell had left his home and gone to the Union Farmer's gin plant, where he had been at work, and when he saw Marshal Lee Jackson, one of the sheriff's deputies approaching, Pournell, it is claimed, walked out upon the railroad and began to fire upon him. Marshal Jackson returned the fire, shooting Pournell in the side.

    Just then Sheriff Rowland and deputy J. W. Crawford, emerged from behind the seed house at the gin, Horace seeing that his arrest was inevitable, it is said rather than be arrested he shot himself in the temple, the ball passing out at the top of his head, from which he died several hours after he was removed to his home.

    Horace was born May 10, 1883. He was buried on Thursday afternoon the 29th at Westview Cemetery. The funeral was conducted from his late residence on East Court street, Dr. T. L. Harris, pastor of the Christian Church officiating.

    Mr. Pournell was 32 years old and reared in Wrightsville. He was a carpenter and housebuilder by trade, and is reputed to have been a ver fine workman. He was survived by his wife, Annie Lee Burns, three small children including Jesse Mae and Evelyn, his parents Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Pournell and two brothers, Mr. Oscar Pournell of Albany, and Mr. Lawson Pournell of Wrightsville.

    The two Marshals, Jackson and Osborn, also deputy Crawford were arrested and would have a commitment trial. There the facts in the case would be given more comprehensively. The facts so far were gleaned from the most reliable sources obtainable.

    Mr. Lee Jackson, the night watchman of Wrightsville, who was charged with the murder of Horace C. Pournell on July 28th was given his commitment trial in the Justice Court of the 1201st District of Johnson County, at the court house on Friday, 30th, and after hearing the evidence in the case and the argument of counsel, it was the judgement of the Justices Claxton and Page, presiding, that the warrants against Jackson be dismissed for the want of evidence to support same, and that he be discharged from custody.

    The other warrants sworn out against J. W. Crawford and J. W. Osborn, were withdrawn without trial.

From Days Gone By August 5, 1915

August 5, 1915.

    Mayor Jas. M. Cook made some remarks concerning the new civic leagues' betterment of Wrightsville. He states it is the desire of the mayor and council that all efforts to maintain the health and cleanliness of our town be made and will take any suggestions to improve on what's already being done. "We do not know every condition in every part of town so therefore your suggestions are needed."

   "So far we have had but little sickness. We have regularly employed two men, with two wagons for the purpose of removing the rubbish, trash, and all matters that would tend to cause sickness, flies, or mosquitoes. Often times our neighbor allows his hog lot, or premises to become offensive unthoughtfully, and we do not like to make known the fact to an officer. In such a case as this I ask that you telephone me the block in which such conditions exist (not giving any name) and it will be at once remedied. Let us all work together for the betterment of sanitary conditions in our little town, and we will continue to be known as "Wrightsville, GA., a healthy little town."

    The Wrightsville Civic League realized the nice sum of $20.50 from the sale of cream and cake at the court house park on Thursday last. The County Trading Store will receive a big consignment this week of dry goods, shoes and notions.

    In Greenway community news the crops in this section are practically ruined from the dry weather causing the farmers grave concern. Fodder pulling will soon be in full blast. The greatest revival at Oaky Grove just closed with 30 members received into the church. Col. Lee Price is recovering from typhoid fever. The death of Mr. R. A. Powell was a great shock. His interment was at Oaky Grove.

    Two notable anniversaries of longevity were observed the past few days. One July 28th, Captain Thomas W. Kent celebrated his 87th birthday and on August 2nd his wife, Mrs. Martha Kent observed her 77th birthday.

    The 3rd annual Free Barbecue dinner, by the South Georgia Log-Rolling Association, "Woodmen of the World", is given today at Hawkinsville. An estimated 15,000 will attend from across the state. Baseball games, athletic sports, and Old Time Fiddlers Convention will take place. The W. & T. have special trains for this event.

    The following persons were named City Court jurors for the August Term: M. E. Deal, Wiley Chivers, W. G. Hutcheson, Stanley Wilson, N. B. Snider, R. L. Kent, George M. Hammock, Brice Anderson, H. E. Montford, J. A. Hall, D. S. Smith, Y. L. Heath, I. O. Hutcheson, N. A. Anderson, J. Wesley Smith, William Oliver, R. A. Reese, J. W. Garnto, M. L. Stapleton, B. H. Fortner, B. G. Fortner, N. D. Dixon, C. L. Lawson, and L. D. Lindsey.