From Days Gone By July 21, 1917

July 21, 1917.

    Now that the National Guard is being called into the Regular Army, someone must step up to protect persons and property here at home. This is the reason Home Guards are being organized all across the country. The Home Guard consists of men too old and boys too young for military duty banding together to protect the home front. The government has approved this move and is furnishing the necessary supplies to be prepared. Too late to pray after the devil catches you.

    The city fathers seem bent on cleaning up a certain class of undesirables living in Wrightsville and the efforts are applauded. Certain drastic laws have been passed by the city and if more drastic ones are needed to rid the community of these pests will be done and enforced. They intend to make it so hot for them that they have to go to work or hunt other quarters.

    Ordinary J. C. Wiggins h called for an election on July 24th for the question of taxation for school purposes.The people seem to be in favor of this tax for the maintanence of the Wrightsville School District. This is a very important event in the history of the city's progress. Some of the heaviest taxpayers of the town are heavily in favor. Judge Kent gives it earnest co-operation with such heavy tax payers in favor of there is many reasons to believe the issue will carry.

    A call went out to all Johnson County farmers to band together and ask the Ordinary to help us get a County Demonstrator. All neighboring counties have one that goes from farm to farm helping to stamp out hog cholera and the cattle tick that is costing the county millions each year. The boll weevil is coming and he must be met economically and intelligently. They must have help to change from a cotton crop to a diversified crop, to build soils to conserve our corn, beans, peas and sorghum crops where now we only have dry corn and hay for winter feed. It is the agents duty to boost the boys and girls tomato, corn, pig and calf clubs because in a few years they will be farmers themselves. Petitions need to be signed if the county wants to move forward on a Demonstrator.

    Friday afternoon a strong gale passed across one portion of the county doing considerable damage in some sections. The worst as between Wrightsville and Kite where a few outhouses were unroofed and partly blown down and the road was impassable by uprooted trees.

    On Saturday evening about 7 pm Mr. Jim Glisson, constable of the Spann District, shot Mr. Hill Stallings in the leg, inflicting a painful but not a serious wound. Mr. Stallings had sworn out a warrant for a negro who had left owing him a considerable sum of money. The warrant was turned over to Mr. Glisson for service. He located the man near Bartow and arrested him. After his return Mr. Stallings decided he would pay the cost of the warrant but on learning the amount, which he thought too high, an argument ensued. Stallings advanced on Glisson in a threatening manner when he was shot. They met at Spann Sunday morning when the difficulty was renewed but they were separated before any more hurt was done.

    To the surprise of many was the marriage of Miss Beulah Drake and Mr. Henry T. Page. She is the daughter of Mr.& Mrs. M. T. Drake of Adrian. He is a son of Judge J. E. Page also of Adrian. They were married in a buggy and left immediately for Orianna to make their home there. On Friday about 11pm death called r. Daniel R. Smith. He had been in failing health for more than a year and was bedridden the last 12 days. He left a wife and two sons.

From Days Gone By July 14, 1916, 1917

July 14, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Annie Tolliver escaped death the other night by being away from home in the colored quarters in the south side of Wrightsville. Residents were awakened about 1am by a terrible, unaccountable noise, which soon became known was the dynamiting of Annie's house, and had she been there asleep her death would have been assured. It blew the bedstead to smithereens, broke the sill of the house square in two and sent splinters 100 yards square. She was off visiting and came home shortly afterwards and reported it to night marshal W. J. Crawford. It seems it developed in the Mayor's Court that Annie, just days earlier, had a fuss with a colored gent, which brought the two before his honor. The law is anxious to get their hands on this would-be murderer.

    Mr. D. G. Blount, one of Wrightsville's most esteemed citizens, after a dozen days of typhoid, died.He was the eldest son of Jacob N. & Etheline Blount and was born and reared here. He was a devoted Methodist and a trustee of Warthen College. He was buried at Westview and survived by his wife and two daughters, Hilda & Isabel, three brothers, Judge B. B. Blount, Prof. L. M. Blount and Mr. James Webb.

    Mr. Dennis C. Price announced for county treasurer. More boys enlisted for service: B. B. Claxton, DeWitt Todd, Clifford Wheeler, F. L. Benson, Eugene Meeks and Sonnie Davis. Mr. & Mrs. L. A. Lovett had twin boys born on the 12th.

    Postmaster R. P. Hicks let a few tour his home and the library of his grandfather, Major James Hicks, who 100 years ago was in the prime of life. Everybody knew the Major to be a great mathematician but one could not best judge his talents in this line without looking through his volumes of original analysis of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and of calculus which were wonderfully preserved.

    1917- There will be 687,000 conscripts selected for the first army with twice that number to be drawn. Wrightsville organized a Home Guard. T. M Hicks was appointed captain, Col. W. C. Brinson 1st Lt. The Home Guards are to take the place of the Regulars who are sent out. They will protect home in case of rebellion or riot and act much as a sheriff or police force. There is expected to be up to 150 enlist.

    Dr. S. M. Johnson found when he went to get his new drink's name, which he called "Pride O' Dixie" copyrighted in Washington that there was on record several names very near like his and therefore he was compelled to change it. He has renamed the drink calling it now "Big Smiles". Dr. Johnson is pushing his new drink and its growing in popularity. He aims to have it bottled before long.

    D. R. Jackson and G. Anton Faircloth took the Bar examination before Judge J. L. Kent and passed.

From Days Gone By July 7, 1917

July 7, 1917.

    That Johnson County enjoyed the glorious Fourth of July was abundantly manifest in very part of the county. Picnics, birthday and family gatherings, sings, musical entertainments and occasions of like nature were the order of the day and all the people "took the 4th" off from their daily employment. Wrightsville people went far and near, all of the surrounding country's attractions getting visitors from the city. Idylwild flourished with the thousands present and a big day was had at this popular resort.

    A strong Home Guard company is to be organized in Wrightsville. The initial meeting of men and boys a the courthouse last Friday night and a number were signed up. A second meeting is to be called on the 6th and all interested are urged to attend.

    The registration cards of Johnson County have been numbered serially according to orders from government headquarters and mailed to the officers in charge of this department in Atlanta. Sheriff Rowland, Clerk Joe B. Williams and Ordinary J. C. Wiggins have worked overtime to get this done. The selection of these to be called to service will soon know about it. The numbers will be drawn and the list sent back to the local examination board. Each man will have the right to appeal. It will be several weeks before anyone has to leave for service or training under this system and it will give those called time to get their home affairs in order.

    Legislation is being considered by the state to change the senatorial districts in this state from 44 to 51. It gives each district 3 counties except the 51st which is Fulton and DeKalb. The present 12th district of Emanuel, Johnson and Laurens would become the 16th district consisting of Emanuel, Johnson and Washington, thus losing Laurens to the 50th district.

    The steering committee in charge of the school situation proceeded for a district school taking in 2 square miles each way from the courthouse. It was voted to float bonds in the amount of $20,000 for school purposes. A letter was read concerning the purpose of buying Warthen College for $16,000 the rest to be used for a colored school. A levy of one-half of one per cent will suffice for school purposes.

    Wrightsville has taken on such a growing impetus lately and is making some municipal as well as private improvements to accommodate the country trade which comes here. Therefore a dozen or more hitching racks will be put in the business portion of the city. Some shade trees are now suffering for want of hitching posts. Mr. J. Kaplan will open a new dry goods store in the new Johnson building. The Davis Store stock was sold to Hayes Brothers.

    Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Downs had a fine baby girl. Mr. Elijah Carter died at his home Thursday and was buried at Piney Mount. Miss Elizabeth Lane married Mr. Quergeon Martin in Tallahassee on the 30th. She is from Greenville, GA. and has been here teaching school. Mr. Martin is the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Tom L. Martin.

    Besides an expert bridge builder Capt. W. Z. Kemp is also an alligator catcher. While doing the washing stunt near the Snell bridge on the Ohoopee Saturday, one of his trustees discovered a ten foot, 250 pound monster in the lagoon near by and reported it to Capt. Kemp who sent for a rifle to shoot his majesty with but before the rifle arrived the gator struck for high land and was killed with the shotgun in the hands of Kemp.

From Days Gone By June 30, 1916, 1917

June 30, 1916, 1917.

   1916- The Farmer's Institute for Johnson County will meet July 8th at the court house. Speakers are from the College of Agriculture, speaking on improving soil fertility, diversification of crops, livestock raising, and trucking.

    Mr. C. A. Heckle of Scott is entering the race for representative of Johnson County. He has lived at Scott for years marrying in one of the county's largest an most prominent families. Two more enter the race for County Treasuer, Mr. Gordon Wheeler and Mr. W. R. Amason. Dr. W. J. Flanders has issued his platform as he is running for the position of Prison Commissioner of Georgia

    Those from Wrightsville who are among the braves who have either been in the army or just answered the "call of the colors" are: Clyde Lord, Ulysees Snider, Clayton Rowland, Arthur Deborde, and J. O. Holt.

   In happenings around Kite, Mrs. Susan Killebrew, an aged an respected lady died at her son-in-law, Mr. Lee Lumley, Friday afternoon. She was a member at Oaky Grove and was buried at Kite cemetery. Judge Wash W. Larson, candidate for 12h district congressman, C. T Bray, candidate for state senate, and Dr. W. J. Flanders were in Kite shaking hands and kissing babies.

    On June 10th the mighty hand of death entered the home of Mr. & Mrs. H. C. Mason and took their son Burnice Felder, 2 years old. The little fellow had been sick almost its whole life.

    1917- A mass meeting has been called by the steering committee to discuss the future of Warthen College. Wrightsville stores have agreed to close on Thursday's each week at 12pm giving employees a half holiday.The grocery stores, hardware and drug stores will remain open. Messrs Fred Grimes and Butterly Bros. have put in a new auto garage across the street from the post office and will offer expert service.

    Capt. W. Z. Kemp and his force of convicts are building the road between Wrightsville and Adrian, and when finished will take his crew to Kite. In Mayor's court saw a house full over one case, two from darktown having been brought up before his honor for fighting. They were issued fines of $5 each. Mr. & Mrs. Otha Tanner gave birth to a fine baby girl. Ray Tanner, A. O. Kennedy, Jr., and Johnnie Outlaw left for Atlanta to join the army.

    A party of nine young people were out riding near Alston when the driver, Finn Jones made a quick turn at a junction, but he didn't make the turn and the car rolled completely over, killing Eunice Garrett instantly throwing her through a wire fence that cut her throat. Miss Jennie Garrett may not recover, and Miss Mozelle Garrett is hurt badly. Six of the party were children of Mr. & Mrs. Bob Garrett. Mr. J. K. McAfee lost his mule by lightening.

    Miss Ruby Delle Lord and Mr. Johnnie Sumner were married. She is a daughter of Mrs. Ella Lord. Johnnie is a son of Rev. G. F. Sumner. Mr. Jas R. Vickers died at the home of his son, Dock Vickers. He was in good health till just before he died. He was 79, raised as an orphan boy and served in the Civil War. His wife died in 1905. His children are Mrs.Annie Elton, Mrs. J. A. J. Walker, Dr. Mose, and Mr. B. Vickers. He was buried at Bethany.