From Days Gone By August 25, 1916, 1917

August 25, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Governor Nat E. Harris is coming to Wrightsville tomorrow night to speak at the court house. He is making a fast sweep through this section. The Fall Term of Warthen College opened this week. Warthen has one of the best facilities of any school in this section of the state, and this may be the best year ever.

    In Scott, Mr. S. P. Rice erected a nice building on Main street for his wife's millinery and ready-to-wear clothes. Both gins here have been wide open and the cotton prices have been good. Mr. J. E. Beasley has dropped out of the race for county treasurer.

    Miss Bessie Davis and Mr. Lint Holt were married Thursday afternoon. The marriage was objected to by the parents "But love laughs at locksmiths." She is the youngest child of ex-sheriff Davis. The groom is the son of Mr. & Mrs. T. D. Holt. Miss Fannie Mae Jones of Putnam County married Mr. Thomas Oliver Martin of Wrightsville a few days ago In Athens. Mr. Martin is the youngest son of the late Capt. John L. Martin. They will make their home here.

    1917- The decision was made public today by Federal District Judge Speer that the selective draft law was constitutional. Thomas E. Watson claimed the draft was akin to involuntary servitude. Some things the state legislature did this year was to create Treutlen and Atkinson counties, exempt college endowments from taxation, raise the property ownership restriction of pensioners to $3000. Rep. Scott of Adrian during the closing hours of the legislature introduced a measure to have a constitutional amendment submitted to the people of the state to change the county lines near Adrian so that the city would be all in Johnson County, but the time of the Assembly being fully occupied he could not get it through this session. He will submitte it again next term.A bill passed to prevent a farmer from selling his cattle off his farm unless they are free from ticks. This was done to help with the state wide tick eradication.

   

From Days Gone By Aug. 18, 1917

August 18, 1917.

    City Court convened on Monday with lots of business off the docket, with Judge B. B. Blount presiding and Solicitor W. C. Brinson looking out for the states interest. In the first three cases up, two negro women and one negro man were convicted of misdemeanors. The next trial was W. T. Scarboro vs Paul Webb concerning a fight out at Liberty Grove Church, returning a not guilty for Mr. Webb.

    On Tuesday's docket two colored men were convicted of trespassing. Will Braddy, Sam Jackson and Sing Wilcher plead guilty to gambling. Andrew Smith was acquitted on the charge of disturbing church worship and Lester Rogers guilty of a misdemeanor. Richard Cordry was convicted on passing a worthless check. A colored gent was too careless in carrying his "bull-dog" and drew a fine.

    The first cotton bale this year was brought in by Mr. Hill Thomas who had it ginned at Spann before bringing it to Wrightsville Tuesday. Mr. E. L. Smith who was already in town missed out on first bale honors because the gin in town could not run for some reason that morning. Thomas' bale weighed 659 pounds and Mr. C. H. Moore bid 25.16 cents for it bringing Thomas $165.16. Mr. Moore is getting his two gins read at Rockledge and Kite.

    The W. & T. is making some improvements and additions to the Wrightsville depot. It is hoped the railroad will spend all it can spare on this improvement for it is badly needed both in point of accommodation to the public and to keep up with the growing fever of the city.

    Mr. H. T. Downs injured his feet in a logging accident. Mr. W. E. Orr ran across a monster rattlesnake out near the R. H. Smith saw mill. The reptile had 18 rattles and the usual button. After some little scuffling Mr. Orr succeeded in killing it.

    Wrightsville continues to offer up her sons for Uncle Sam's service. Four have been accepted this week and sent to Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia for training. They are Roy L. Stone, Zack A. Cullens, Laudice D. Lovett and James R. Rowland. It is not known just how many of those examined last week will be accepted or rejected finally but it is certain that as many as half of them would in all probability be rejected so the board is issued summons to 244 more registered men to appear net week.

    Mrs. Lotus Flanders died at her parents residence. She had been ill for two weeks and the skilled hands of trained physicians and nurses worked endlessly to no avail. She was the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. W. J. Flanders. She was quite a young lady. She was buried at Westview. Mrs. Ruth Pounds, daughter of Mr. E. T. Pounds of Wrightsville married Lamar Moss of Atlanta, n Atlanta Saturday afternoon. His home is in Augusta but he holds a high position with one of Atlanta's leading merchantile businesses.

    The bill to create Treutlen County passed t the closing hours of the legislature by an overwhelming vote. It is said the new county was made not to include any of Johnson County's territory.

From Days Gone By August 11, 1916, 1917

August 11, 1916, 1917.

    1916- The baseball season is about over for Wrightsville, but it made a wonderful record of success in every respect. In the last series with Dublin starting on Thursday, Lowery and Smith vs. Owen and Wilson. Dick had them going in the 6th when the rain came making it a tie ballgame. A special W. & T. train brought 170 people from Dublin to Idylwild Friday afternoon and it was a pitching battle through 9 innings. With the heaviest gate receipts of the season Wrightsville beat Dublin 1 to 0.

    In Saturday's matchup it was Dublin's favor 4 to 2. Certainly it hardly ever is Dublin's day to play ball and surely Monday and Tuesday were off days with Wrightsville winning 5 to 3 and 6 to 1 respectively. Dublin mustered up enough courage backed up by what little strength she had left to win 2 to 1.

    Wrightsville will soon have the most up-to-date picture show places in this section. The formal opening of the Vivola Theatre is coming soon with a nightly program of the best pictures from the Universal Film Company. Mr. Louis Cochran has rented one of the new buildings from Mr. E. A. W. Johnson to open a dry goods and clothing business. Mr. C. L. Wilson has purchased the grocery business of Mr. J. F. Price located in the Brinson building. The first bales of cotton were brought in by Mr. N. D. Norris at 509 lbs and Mr. C. E. Colston at 627 lbs. They sold for 13 cents and 13.11 cents respectively.

    Mrs. Mollie Cochran died at Rawlings Sanitarium after several months illness. She was the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. J. W. Flanders. Her first husband was the late J. J. Butterly. She is survived by her husband G. W. Cochran, daughter Miss Lucile Butterly, two sons, Emmett and Joe Butterly, her mother, and three brothers J. F., John, and A. F. Flanders, two sisters, Mrs. J. H. Burch and Mrs. Perkins.

    1917- Wrightsville is steadily growing making her neighbors sit up and take notice. There is talk of a new bank this fall, and another bottling works. Mr. C. M. Dent has reopened the Wrightsville Bottling Works in the Kent building and Dr. S. M. Johnson's Big Smile drink will be bottled in his new business The Wrightsville Beverage Company. W. G. Burns is opening a new dry goods and furniture store on corner of Marcus and Court streets. The County Trading Store has taken residence of the Davis Store and Jacob Kaplan has opened one in the Johnson building.

    Mr. & Mrs. R. C. Adams has opened The Crystal Café giving the city two resturants. The garage of Mr. L. A. Lovett has been completely remodeled his place. The office looks like a parlor car. We have two hotels and there is a need for another one.

    Mr. Arthur Rowland, son of Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Rowland has joined the aviation corps. The examination of the 244 draftees was completed. The number accepted was not available yet.

    Asa Hartley, 45, a white farmer, was killed, and his brother and a little boy injured when their buggy was hit by the Central of Georgia train in the yard at Tennille. Engineer Dugger stated because a freight car was on his left at the crossing, he did not see the approaching buggy. Hartley was driving the buggy and was killed instantly. His brother and the boy escaped with minor injuries.

From Days Gone By August 4,1917

August 4, 1917.

    Emanuel and Johnson counties are still vigorousy waging their fight against the creation of Treutlen County. The people of Emanuel and Johnson emphatically do not want it and added that only those paid servants of the Gillis family hired from Swainsboro want it. These fellows go to Atlanta, pose as private individuals and pass around among the legislators, "Oh, yes, we're from Emanuel County. We don't care and neither do our people. Go and vote for Treutlen County."

    But "Our People" in Emanuel and Johnson deny this. The town of Adrian is up in arms against it. The towns along the boarders don't want it. Nobody is crazy about it except the Gillis family and their university cohorts and short-shirted newspaper men, subjects of the Gillis generosity. Our people went to Atlanta to tell them and those up there who heard us, and not a few of them did, the straight of this proposition. We want those Soperton people to have all that is coming to them but we don't think so much of giving them a "gold mine" right now. Just to show how the people of both counties feel about the matter, the most prominent, and wealthy and influential man in this part of the state, Hon. John C. Coleman of Swainsboro stated in a letter to editor C.D. Roundtree of the Headlight, in part,"Knowing of your influence, we the people of old Emanuel will ever be grateful for your support in defeating the Treutlen bill.

    Now it still looks like defeat for Treutlen this time and it ought to be forever. Only a glimmer of a chance to get it up in either House or Senate before the session is over. And if it does go over until next year it is said that there will be a broke house among the family backers of the move.

    The local board has prepared the draft list of 244 men to appear in groups of 81 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The examinations will take place in the court house and a failure to receive notice by mail does not constitute a legal excuse for not appearing. Just how many men will be secured from these 244 is uncertain. The quota for Johnson County is 122 men.

    B. H. Moye served as chairman of the meeting to organize a Red Cross Chapter for Johnson County. The work of the Red Cross is of tremendous importance and the people should rally to it.

    Johnson county's crop of cotton is opening fast, the first bolls were brought in by W. T. Tompkins, G. K. Jordan and H. L. Fulford. The prices this fall are predicted to be the best ever. The first bale is expected to be ginned next week. To ride over the county and view the growing and well fruited staple one would judge that there is a pretty fair crop on hand. At least an average or a little above.

    Sunday was the first dog day and it didn't rain, thus, according to the old proverb, it will be a long dry spell of about 40 days. And it was sizzling hot too! The temperature ranged around 95 all day and into the darkness of night it was hot weather and all week it has been hot.

    Mr. Tullie Raines and Miss Myrtice Veal were married Sunday at Sandersville. Right after the marriage the new couple headed to their home near Wrightsville. Miss Rowena Douglas died early Tuesday morning. The young girl of 14 summers had been ill only one day, at the home of her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Drown Douglas. Burial was at the Anderson graveyard near their home at Hodo.

    A pet yard dog belonging to Barber Johnnie Wilson run mad one day last week, biteing its owner and his father-in-law, Mr. Brown and young Willie Parker. The dogs head was amputated and sent to Atlanta or examination. Rabies existed and serum was obtained from the health department. Those bitten are now receiving treatment.

From Days Gone By July28, 1916, 1917

July 28, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Wrightsville beats Dublin 9 to 0 n Tuesday's baseball game. Then on Thursday the largest crowd that ever witnessed a ball game at Idylwild saw Swainsboro defeat Wrightsville 6 to 1. But now Wrightsville claims the amateur championship of Georgia after the forfeiture of the final game of the series with Swainsboro. The game ha been advertised for 10 days and the Swainsboro team refused to play the final game. Wrightsville has won 43, lost 9, tied 3, having won 6 and lost 3 to Swainsboro. Wrightsville challenges any team in the state, at home or abroad.

    The cut is still advocated to take 37 square miles of Johnson County b creating the county of James, with Adrian the county seat. This would leave  Johnson with only 221 square miles, and in the shape of a small coffee pot. Wrightsville and the main part of the county is fighting this, however, many around Adrian are tired of fighting for it.

    This is the proposition. If Johnson were to lose 37 square miles it certainly would not be doing violence to Washington County with its 680 square miles to slice off a straight line across its southern boarder taking the 37 Johnson lost to Adrian. Then too, the people within the effected territory of Washington are very desirous of being annexed to Johnson. The Harrison folk don't mind saying they would rather be in Johnson. We would be willing to swap Adrian for us.

    Aside from this Adrian cannot be blamed for wanting to get re-arranged to a new county or put all in Johnson or Emanuel. Johnson would be gad to take all of Adrian. Either way everyone is ready for the question to be settled.

   1917- The issue a year later has turned to the proposed creation of Treutlen County. This move would d a grave injustice to Emanuel, Johnson and especially Montgomery. Paid lobbyists are at work, wealthy citizens are spending the cash to take almost all of Montgomery, a tremendous slice of Emanuel and 35 square miles of Johnson which equals half a million taxable property from Johnson. Emanuel and  Johnson are 95 percent against this, and bitterly oppose to the creation f Treutlen County. Johnson asks that this bill does not pass creating Treutlen.

    Johnson's draft quota is 22 men and the board will call men until the quota is filled. The local taxation for school purposes passed wit a large majority. Wrightsville is considering the purchase of a fire engine, truck and apparatus. A couple fellows with a Smith-Form-A-Truck arrived for a demonstration and many are pleased with it. More adequate fire equipment is badly needed for the city.

    On July 23rd Mr. Willie Hammock, son f Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Hammock died. H had been in ill health for some time at his parents home in the country, having come up from his home in Fitzgerald. He was then stricken with paralysis. He was buried on the 10th anniversary of his marriage to Miss Franklin who survives him.

    Ed Neal and Bob Hannah both colored, engaged in a free-for-all pistol duel Sunday afternoon out near the city n the plantation of Mr. E. O. Snell, weapons were ordinary pocket pistols. It seems that Neal and his wife had separated a short time back and Hannah and the woman aligned themselves together which was much against the wishes of Ed. The couple had been off and had just returned to her mothers. Ed went out in search of the pair evidentally and upon seeing Hannah coming from the house he opened fire with the gun. Hanna returned the volley and a duel ensued. Hannah was hit directly in the mouth, the ball shattering his teeth and penetrating his neck, coming out at the back. Neal got a small flesh wound in the right arm.