From Days Gone By Oct. 13,1917

October 13, 1917.

    A mass meeting was called by Wrightsville Mayor T. L. Harris for property owners to meet at the courthouse. The reason is to consider what shall be done with the old electric light plant, and to make some arrangements to have lights either from a new system or from a repairing of the one it now has and keep on furnishing wood which has become expensive.

    Wood has gone up so in price that the Mayor says that it will bankrupt the town to have lights and coal can hardly be obtained at any price. The city has done all it can do, considering both the financial ends of the city's interest, to have lights all the time and have failed and they want the people to come together and get something satisfactory. The most economical system of lighting the city can be installed and this is what they want the people to consider, and the cost will effect every property owner in the city.

    Prof. Sasser of the Wrightsville District School plans to keep the school entirely upon a business basis. He aims to keep all bills against the school paid up every 30 days and to do this he will have to get what is coming to the school in the way of tuition, etc.

   Seven more names have been called up for military service. The list includes: white-Johnnie K. Dowd, T. W. Smith; colored-Nathaniel Walker, Willie Finnie, Jesse Chandler, Robert Johnson, Ike Marcy. Enlisting through the Navy was Mr. Wilson L. Holmes of Scott.

    Gov. Hugh M. Dorsey is lending his full co-operation and influence in the sale of Uncle Sam's Liberty Bonds in Georgia. He has issued a statement to the bankers and wealthy citizens to assist in their sale. His statement to the Bankers of Georgia, in part: "The U. S. is today engaged in war, the outcome depends the future of democracy. As Americans we must support our country with our last man and last dollar if necessary. The first duty of a citizen is to the country that affords him liberty and protects his life and property. Every dollar subscribed now will also tend to bring the war to an early termination and therefore, save many lives."

    A big land deal was pulled off on a 362 acre plantation. Last week a deal was closed for 362 acres for $10,055. The price being paid to Mr. James M. Cook of Wrightsville by Mr. W. H. Harrison who is a prominent planter in the county. Three years ago Mr. Cook purchased this plantation for $4,300. During this time he has collected $4,342 in rents, or $42 more than he gave for the place which makes net to him $10,097. Mr. Cook offered Mr. Harrison $100 profit back for the place but Mr. Harrison refused it. This sale shows that Johnson land is as valuable for plain farming as that of neighboring counties.

    Two of Johnson's best citizens and farmers have been injured by falling off loaded wagons. Mr. Ben J. Peddy fell from a wagon with 4 bales of cotton the wheels passing legs putting him on crutches. Mr. L. E. Vanlandingham was hauling up hay out of the field when he fell off on the hard ground. The mule became frightened which caused him to fall.

    There were 10,018 bales of cotton ginned in the county for 1917, compared to 8,605 for 1916. There have been 3 or 4 carloads of horses and mules already distributed out among the farmers of the county this season sold by Rowland & Tanner and The Linder Horse & Mule Co. Cotton is still climbing upwards and the farmers are still selling it. By the time it gets to 30 cents not many will have a pound to sell. Those recently purchasing automobiles are Newton Smith, Jefferson Tyson, Tommie Smith and Sidney Smith.

    The death of little Miss Theo Noraine Johnson, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Johnson came as a sudden shock to her family. She was 6 years old. She was buried at Westview.

From Days Gone By Oct 6, 1917

October 6, 1917.

    Wrightsville and Johnson County extends a formal invitation to the Georgia Weekly Press Association to hold their convention here. Wrightsville is quite in earnest about entertaining the Association which meets in July, 1918. The invitation was signed by practically every business and organization in the city. A lot of county people also signed showing their willingness to assist the city. Groups listed as signing the invitation are: Board of Trade, Civic League, Mayor and Council, officers of Johnson County, citizens of the county, attorneys, bankers, merchants, hotels, Methodist, Baptist and Christian churches.

    There would be practically 300 people attending this convention. That Wrightsville can take care of them goes without saying. The meeting would last three days with the partys staying two nights. They will come from Rabun's Gap to Tybee Light and from where the dark Atlantic roars to the golden banks of the Chattahoochee.

    The Johnson County School Board met and Miss Josephine Jordan was appointed County Demonstration Agent. The school is moving along very well. There are 225 pupils, 50 of whom are in high school.

    Mr. Tom Outlaw has opened a new blacksmith's shop at the Outlaw old stand near the W. & T.  depot. As a means of serving the government in time of war, the Central of Georgia Railway has ordered 13 new locomotives at a cost of $1,300,000; 14 passenger cars at $280,000 and 700 freight cars at $840,000.

    The first contingent of colored boys drafted for service will leave for Camp Gordon, Atlanta. They are: Tom Bennett, Alfred Little, Tom Dudley, Emmett Davis, Ed Brantly, Amos Thomas, Jr., Dock Wright, William Snell, Levi Ivey, Irby Teams, James Dockins, Perry Cody, Jonas Morgan, Thomas Roberson, Benjamin Jackson, Fonnie Hooks, Arthur Wright, Henry Story, James Kemp, Robert Smith, Joe Burnett, and alternates, Will Andrews, Solomon Riddle, Robert Snell and C. H. Howell.

    Dr. Emmett Butterly has settled satisfactory with the M. D. & S. Ry. for the damages he and wife sustained in the wreck which happened to them at a crossing near Macon several months ago, when their car was hit head-on by a passenger train.

    Sparks World- Famous Shows will be in Wrightsville October 17th. They will exhibit "Mary" the elephant, the largest living land animal on earth, weighing over 5 tons, also 20 clowns, male & female riders, aerial artists,leapers, tumblers, gymnasts, trained elephants, two groups of forrest-bred man killing lions performing in great steel cages. Its the show that never broke a promise.

    Chief M. L. Jackson and Deputy Jim Tapley made a raid on a Ford car within the city and captured a gallon of shine in it. A man named Barnes and one named Smith were in the car with the driver, which was a hired livery car from a local garage. They gave bond but Chief Jackson and Deputy Tapley will keep the shine for evidence. There wasn't a chance to borrow any for snake-bites.

    Mr. Jackson Wilson died September 20th at 63 years old. He was born December 12, 1854. He married July 20, 1874 to Miss Emily Bass who survives him along with 5 sons and 4 daughters. He was at Cedar Grove Methodist church and was one of its Stewards.

    Mrs. Julia Walker died Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John A. Douglas, Jr. after a lingering illness of several weeks from a fall from the porch steps. She was 80 years old, a Methodist and was married to the late Richard Walker. She was buried at Westview.

    Mrs. Joe W. Rowland died at her home near Moores Chapel. She was in bad health for many months. She was buried at the Hall Cemetery (Liberty Grove). She was a sister to Dan and John M. Meeks, Sr. Her husband Joe was a former Johnson County sheriff.

FROM DAYS GONE BY SEPT. 29, 1916, 1917

September 29, 1916, 1917.

    1916- The Wrightsville Headlight, through its owner and editor, Charles D. Roundtree, has purchased The Johnson County News and will consolidate the two papers and plants in the Headlight building. The News was owned by Mr. Frank A Sinquefield and operated by Mr. Frank Jackson. The paper had only been in circulation for five months. With both sets of equipment this will be the best equipt plant in this section. Mr. Jackson will take over as foreman.

    The long-delayed trial of Ed Montford charged with the murder of Herschel Beacham four years ago, was called to Superior Court. It was found that the long list of witnesses some absent or way off, a jury was selected while the necessary witnesses were rounded up. On Wednesday morning the long list of witnesses began to testify. The first being a negro, John Gardner, who claimed he saw the murder transacted. His story never changed. The defense is represented by Faircloth & Claxton of Wrightsville and Camp & Twitty, Parker and George B. Davis of Dublin. The State has Adams & Daley of Dublin and Moye & Shurling of Wrightsville. The State closed its side of the case and the defense began its examination of witnesses.  Helen Edison identified the diamond ring as the one she let Beacham wear off from her home that fatal afternoon. The trial will possibly go into next week.

    Miss Lena Rowland, daughter of Sheriff Willis D. Rowland, and Mr. J. Frank Jackson were married on Saturday. On Sunday, Miss Maude Miller and Mr. Walter Horton were married. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ivey Miller. Zemmie Jackson has filed for divorce from Henry Jackson.

    1917- Wrightsville invites the Georgia editors and their wives to come here for the Georgia Weekly Press Association meeting. The invitation was sent to the executive committee in hopes Wrightsville can host the event. The Johnson County Chapter of the Red Cross was organized this week. Ben Hill Moye was made chairman, Mrs. R. P. Hicks vice-chair, Mr. H. T. Hicks, secretary and Mr. E. E. Daley, treasurer.

    It was another sad day at the depot as the second contingent of boys leave for Camp Gordon. Twenty-two were in this second call. They were: Lucius Attaway, Morgan Mimbs, Lonnie Hammock, Perry Blizzard, B. A. Wheeler, George A. Townsend, Malcom Snell, G. L. Powell, H. C. Morris, E. R. Watts, H. T. Young, W. L. Green, H. B. Caneega, Lotus McAfee, Otis McAfee, W. M. Hammock, Walden Downs, Henry Seals, Tom Whitfield, Clinton Stewart, Gordon Tapley and Julian Whitfield.

   The Racket Store is opening in Mr. E. A. W. Johnson's new building. Henry Clay Tompkins is putting stock in now. The Idle Hour Is the new name of the Ice Cream Parlor located in front of the Vivola Theatre.

    Young R. T. Pounds was hurt out at his grandfather's, Mr. Ellis Johnson. R. T. was riding a mule and it became frightened threw him, seriously hurting the boy. Mr. J. M. Hightower was appointed new State Game Warden for Johnson County.

    Death relieved the suffering of Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy, the widow of John P. Kennedy, Saturday morning the 22nd. She was at her daughters home at the Kennedy House. Her children were Mrs. William Faircloth, O. A. Kennedy, L. A. Kennedy and J. O. Kennedy; sisters Mrs. J. C. Gay and Mrs. H. C. H. Snell. She was buried at Westview.

    Wrightsville and Johnson County, is not going to make any effort for the new district agricultural school. We have a building ready and 200 acres of land in a tract around this building and 75 citizens able and capable of donating a $1000 apiece if it required that much to pull off the deal, but so far there is no movement towards obtaining the school. Nearly all the other counties are going to make a pull for it.

From Days Gone By Sep 22, 1917

     Governor Hugh Dorsey has announced the Board of Trustees for the new Agricultural School to be located somewhere in the 12th District by the bill that passed last session. As it stands now this board will receive bids from any city and county that wishes to apply by October 15th. C. D. Roundtree was chosen for Johnson County. Other counties with appointees are Bleckley, Dodge, Emanuel, Houston, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Toombs, Twiggs, Wheeler, and Wilcox.

    Cotton picking all over Johnson County, that is what they are doing. The fields are not getting black very fast because the pickers are scarce. People are paying anywhere from 75 cents to $1 and 10 cents per hundred to get it picked and then they are crying for more help. It has been fairly good weather on them all the season so far and that has kept the grade up as well. All the washers are in the cotton patch and one can hardly get any washing done at all. If the weather will stay good three more weeks the best of the harvest will be complete. Judge Kent postponed Superior Court this week on account of the farmers trying to gather their crop. It has been carried over to November.

    Business was at a rush at Kite Saturday. A  lot of people were there and seemed to have plenty of money and everybody wore a smile. B. J. Wiggins sold 25 bales of cotton and had a check for $3484.25. The cotton weighed 13937 pounds at 25 cents per pound. He also has two fine colts he will put in the fair this year. Nat Wheeler is still ginning cotton and Ell Douglas is receiving it in the warehouses. Bob Boatwright is on crutches from rheumatism. Vestus Schwals is now with Dr. D. C. Harrison rug store. Milledge Claxton is doing a big merchantile business running two stores. Mrs. J. M. Neal operates a first class millinery. J. S. Stephenson and Quince Powell are here on banking business.

    All the banks have released their condensed statements. The Exchange Bank, $319,331.22; Bank of Adrian, $138,342.57; Bank of Wrightsville, $304,182.30; Citizens Bank of Kite, $149,237.29; Scott Banking Company, $104,875.82.

    In Scott, Fords are taking a back eat to Overlands, Oldsmobiles, Maxwells, Dorts and Chevrolets. Mr. Sidney Smith just bought a new Oldsmobile. There has been an unusual amount of horse traders in town the past week and they have been pulling off a lot of trades with all the good-looking mules and horses on hand. Miss Rosa Garnto became the bride of Rev. G. G. Harrison.

    The Johnson County Convict Camp lost two of its white prisioners Sunday night just as the inmates were going to bed. Bud Chalker and Marcus Sheppard made a break to liberty. The guard had taken the prisoners through the  yard into the tents and ordered each man to his place. The escaped ones, instead of stopping when they reached their cots, walked leisurely on through and out the back.

    It is said that an automobile was waiting for them and they easily made their getaway. Up to now they have not been apprehended which leaves only one white man, named Pool. Catain Kemp was working the road from Scott to Adrian, which is part of the proposed Dixie Overland Highway, and it was at tis camp on this road that the convicts escaped.