FROM DAYS GONE BY NOV. 17, 1917

November 17, 1917.
The following was omitted from my column in January, so being there are no papers for this week in 1916, or 1917. I am submitting this one on a very prominent citizen at the time in Johnson County, and still a prominent family.
Charles Thomas Bray, Sr. (C. T.), was born May 17, 1852 and died January 17, 1917. His passing did not come as a surprise to his many friends and loved ones for he had been confined to his bed for several weeks and the last few days of his illness all knew the end was near. Just about an hour before he died he called all his loved ones to his bedside and in all calmness and the true spirit of a husband and father told them that his life was near its end and asked them to live for an unbroken family in heaven. His last words to them were a prayer, "and may God bless you all."
He then spoke a few words to the family physician, and then a few moments later without any sign of pain or a struggle, or any sense of fear, he fell asleep to awake in heaven. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."
On December 24, 1880 he was happily married to Miss DeAlphia Stokes. To this union were born five daughters and six sons. All survived him save a son and daughter that died in early childhood. His children loved him and found in him their best friend. They looked to him for advice and his judgement to them was unsurpassed. He solved all their problems and carried their burdens.
So devoted were they that as the children grew up their father gave them homes around him and provided employment and all of them lived within a half mile of his own dwelling. This was always a joy to his great father-heart. He was a faithful husband and devoted father, a good neighbor and loyal friend, an able man and a noble Christian character. As a citizen he ranked among the best and as a businessman was successful.
C. T. was always a good man. While in his teens he gave his heart to God and joined the Methodist church. For more than 20 years he was a faithful steward. During this time he served as superintendent and teacher of the Bible class in Sunday School of his home church. His church was a treasure to him and he rejoiced in its prosperity. His heart was big and his hospitality great. His love for his pastors was exhibited in his deeds of kindness to them.
The funeral services were held at Bethel Church. A large course of sorrowing friends paid their last tribute to him. Burial was at the Williams Cemetery with gravesides concluded by the Masons of which he was an honored member.
Rev. E. L. Wainwright concluded by saying, "May the richest of blessings rest upon his loved ones and may they at last meet within the mansion of our Father's house, a circle never to be sundered more. No broken link, a family in heaven."

FROM DAYS GONE BY NOV. 10, 1916, 1917

November 10, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Wilson seems to be the winner but all states not decided yet. President Woodrow Wilson and Mr. Hughes were running neck and neck at press time, but Wilson only needs one more state to elect him. He was solid in the Southern States. In local races for County Treasurer L. J. Claxton received 677 votes and Joby Jones received 292.

    A defect in a front room chimney caused the home of Mr. Millard McAfee burn to the ground. Although most all household goods were saved, he carried no insurance. Another fire in a servants house owned by Mr. T. M. Hicks known as the Burnett home where Mr. & Mrs. Tom McAfee resided. The house contained about 50 gallons of gasoline which exploded, the origin of the fire was not known. The McAfee's were out riding at the time.

    City Court will convene next week, the jail has ten prisoners which most will be tried then. Rev. J. Calla Midyett of Watson, Mo. accepted the call to pastor Brown Memorial Baptist church. The Duff Brothers just finished drilling an artesian well near Raines bridge road. Attorneys William and Charles S. Claxton are erecting a new brick office fronting the eastside of the courthouse on the Kennedy block. It will be a 20x40. There is no scarcity of mules in the county now. If a man wants one he can get almost any kind. Several carloads have been shipped here this season.

    There will be an auction of the old Johnson Plantation, 3 miles west of Wrightsville, 776 acres divided into small farms of 25 to 75 acres to the farm. Mrs. Tom Outlaw died at Rawlings Sanitarium after a brief illness. She left a husband and two little children. She was buried at Pleasant Hill.

    1917- Athens and Monroe wanted it, but Wrightsville got it. The Executive Committee decides Wrightsville will get next years Georgia Weekly Press Association Convention. Hon. Ben Hill Moye, Sheriff W. D. Rowland and Charles D. Roundtree represented the city in this endeavor. The other places sent written invitations but Wrightsville sent theirs in person which got the convention here. It meets next July.

    Ex-Clerk J. V. Snell buys the 174 acre plantation of Mr. John W. Wilson just across Cedar Creek from Wrightsville. The price was $3800. Mr. S. H. Rhodes of Crawfordville just bought the large house and lot on Marcus street known as the Daley home which belonged to Mrs. Leila O. Daley of Atlanta. The Rhodes are the parents of Mrs. Flint Flanders.

    Among the many strides of progress being made by our farmers who are putting in a lot of throughbred livestock. Messrs. W. C. Tompkins and R. E. Butterly just added a lot of fine Hereford cattle to their large pastures.

    Miss Addie Lou Tanner of Tennille became the bride of Mr. Watson Moseley on the grounds of the Stat Fair in Macon. She is a daughter of Mrs. L. A. Tanner and he is a son of Mr. L. Moseley. Miss Clio Garnto daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jim Garnto married Mr. Wade H. Foster.

    After many months of suffering Mrs. Winnie Wilson died at her daughters home, Mrs. Allie Cochran near Cedar Grove church. She was survived by three sons and three daughters.

FROM DAYS GONE BY, November 3, 1916, 1917

November 3, 1916, 1917.

    1916- Johnson County gets her share of prizes at the 12th District fair in Dublin, particularly in the livestock show our people shined. J. W. & L. L. Webb won 2nd place Best Duroc Jersey sow, they also won Best 1916 Colt, unregistered, Best Mare unregistered and Best Jersey Cow unregistered. J. F. Henderson won Best Pair Mules and 1st and 2nd Best Stallion unregistered. C. T. Bray won Best Stallion, registered. Miss Pauline Hammock took best uniform display for the Canning Club.

    A lot of large land owners are posting their lands to hunting because government experts sent out a bulletin stating that partridges are boll weevil destroyers, that they kill them as they find them and are the only bird except the guinea that destroys them. Toad frogs are also believed to kill them. Although this has not been proven landowners fear the entrance of the boll weevil in 1917 and are taking every hint and precaution seriously.

    Kite may get another bank. Hon. C. R. Williams, president of several small banks in this territory is willing to furnish the capital stock. Kite already has a prosperous bank but some feel there is room for another.

    The Aragon Hotel, a boarding house for coloreds owned by Miss Lou Jenkins caught fire and was destroyed. She had some insurance and Mr Joe H. Rowland whom she purchased it from still has papers on it ad will probably collect insurance also. A Chevolet of a Mr. Brown of Bartow wrecked while making a curve just across the Ohoopee from town. The car was smashed up good but the occupants got away with only minor cuts and brusies. Miss Rowena Daley married Rev. W. B. Burford of Jackson. She is a daughter of Mrs. A. F. Daley.

    1917- Last Friday was Johnson County Day at the 12th District Fair and was well represented. Winners in the Canning Club were W. A. Page, Miss Ola Jenkins, Mrs. Jos. M. Smith, Mrs. T. P. Stephens, Mrs. Wm Faircloth, Mrs. R. L. Kent, Mrs. Pauline Hammock. In livestock it was W. C. Tompkins C. T. Bray and Anthony & McNeely.

    The Exchange Bank and The Bank of Wrightsville reported to the chairman for Johnson County a total of $24,400 subscribed to the Liberty Loan last week. Citizens Bank of Kite reports $600. No report yet from Scott or Adrian. The local Red Cross chapter will hold a membership drive this week.

    The high cost of waging the war has forced Uncle Sam to increase postage stamps from 2 to 3 cents and postcards from 1 to 2 cents. All packages going overseas to our boys must be mailed no later than November 15th for Christmas delivery.

    Congressman Wash W. Larson can be credited with winning the fight to allow any and all secret orders, especially the Masons to build places for their benefit of the soldiers in camp. Because of Larson the war department issued the orders.

    Moye & Shurling has started the city's first law library in their offices and will be open for use by any attorney. Mr. A. W. Hightower has left Peoples Hardware for Lovett's Garage. E. N. Hitchcock is erecting a nice cottage on north Marcus next to Dr. Flanders. The old oil lamps with their smokey chimneys have again come into their own use, but Chief Jackson says he's doing his best for electric lights.

    The latest purchasers of Oldsmobiles are Mrs. Nana Tanner and Dr. R. E. Butterly. Mr. Henry Clay Tompkins is driving the latest Studebaker. But not all are buying autos. Some are buying rubber tired buggies and wagons. Over 50 have been sold and at least a dozen were two horse.

    Miss Sallie Tapley and Mr. Joe Wheeler were married on October 20th. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Tapley and Joe is a son of Mr. & Mrs. S. J. Wheeler. Miss Rosa Phillips Youngblood of Kemp married Judge J. E. Page of Orianna.

From Days Gone By O916, 1917

October 27, 1916, 1917.

    1916- In a mass meeting of citizens showed much enthusiasum for the Midland Railways proposition of building into the county via Kite from Swainsboro. The railway asked that the city of Kite raise $50,000 and the city of Wrightsville $100,000 as a guarantee for the purchase of mortgage bonds when it had entered each town and Johnson County and freight rates had been materially reduced. The citizens appointed a committee of E. A. W. Johnson, R. R. Douglas, W. C. Brinson, Joe H. Rowland and C. D. Roundtree.

    The home of Mr. L. B. Claxton in this county 7 miles south of Bartow was destroyed by fire. There was no one home and it was several minutes before anyone arrived. The only things saved wee a piano, one dresser, sideboard and 4 trunks. It was believed to have started from the chimney. The loss was about $1600. The 3 month old baby of Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Chivers died at their home near Bartow. Mrs. Chivers was Miss Sallie Dickens of Wrightsville before her marriage.

    Scott has raised enough money to build a $2000 school building on a 4 acre tract in the southern part of town. It will have 4 main rooms and a large auditorium. The BOE donated an amount to them and they have a local tax to make up the difference.

    Johnson County has plenty of sugar cane grown this year to make its 1916-17 syrup and the people in other counties do not know the richness of flavor and the purity of sweetness unless they eat some of ours. Mr. C. H. Cook is the leader of this enterprise.

    1917- The new draft law classifies all men now registered. Every registered man is put into one of five classes as to the order of being drafted. The sale of Liberty Bonds is still on-going in the county. Few will question the patriotism of the American farmer. No other class has a love of home, liberty and love of independence. He will firmly stand behind his government in time of war in making the world safe for Democracy. They provide the food o support the people at home, our boys in the trenches and our allies.That is why all others are asked to buy Liberty Bonds to help bring this war to a close.

    Another big land deal was pulled off in the county. The 646 acres in the J. L. Williams tract about 7 miles south of the city was purchased by the Duff Brothers of Wrightsville, the Globe Realty Co. handling the deal. The price was around $21 per acre which cost them $13,566. Its a fine piece of property and is to be greatly improved by its new owners. They own a tract adjoining this one which makes them the largest land owner in one single block.

    While returning from a call out in the county, mechanic Roger Gatlin and a colored man collided, each driving a Ford. Mr. Gatlin thought he was clear but the on-coming car ran astride his front wheel completely shattering it. The colored man's car was not injured but Mr. Gatlin broke his little finger. Solicitor W. C. Brinson was at his barn feeding the cow and while descending a flight of stairs from the barn, fell to the ground while toting the feed. There were no broken bones but it did put him in bed for awhile.

    Mr. Will Mixon will move his family to Dublin where he goes to work with Mr. B. A. Hooks stables. Miss Vola Claxton married Mr. Charlie Bray at the home of the bride.She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. L. J. Claxton. Mr. Bray is a son of the late Mr. C. T. Bray. Mrs. N. A. Anderson died at her home near Gumlog on October 21st. She was 28 and leaves a husband, 4 children, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. She was buried at Gumlog.

From Days Gone By Oct. 20, 1916, 1917

October 20, 1916, 1917.

    1916- What has loomed up visably above the horizon of railway business circles is the proposition of the extension of the Midland Railway from Statesboro to Wrightsville via Kite, a distance of about 45 miles. It was estimated the cost of the 45 miles from Miley to Wrightsville at $12,000 per mile or $540,000.

    The day after Tommie Lee Cooper hit Mr. J. G. Layton with a brick bat on the head, he plead guilty to assault and battery. The judge immediately had him dressed in stripes and put on the chain gang. It happened in the center of town and Cooper, colored, ran apprhended by Will McWhorter who saw him running away. Sheriff Rowland brought him back to jail.

    By hitting the bulls-eye with unerring skill from the standing, kneeling or sitting position, Charles H. Hightower qualified as a marksman in the U. S. Marine Corps. Charles, who is a son of Mrs. Nancy Hightower of Scott enlisted June 9, 1916.

    Mr. & Mrs. H. D. Chester had a baby boy. Mr. & Mrs. Lonnie L Webb had an 8 pound girl. Mr. & Mrs. T. L. Chester had a baby girl as well. Mr. C. A. Fountain of Adrian lost his wife last week. Wrightsville still enjoys a healthy and substantial growth.

    1917- The County Home Demonstration Agent has only been In the field for 3 weeks but she will make sure Johnson is well represented in the 12th District Fair in Dublin. She ha reserved a spot for a Johnson exhibit and is asking the Girls Canning Club, and the Boys Club to bring their canned stuff, or farm and garden products. Miss Jordan may be found, when in town, at the office of Mr. A. J. M. Robinson.

    The 59th annual session of the Mt. Vernon Association of Baptists are convening at Bethany Church. Brown Memorial sends to the Association the best report it has ever had. The total membership is 134 and contributions amounted to $1650.08.

    What is one of the best an largest plantations in one body in Johnson County was recently purchased by Mr. C. H. Moore of Wrightsville. The tract of land is known as the Johnson lands and is situated about 4 miles north of the city. It lies on the banks of the Ohoopee River and is considered as good a farming land as there is in the county. There are 776 acres and it is said Moore paid the owners, The Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co. for around $26,000. This plantation has been on the market for some time.

    Gov. Hugh M. Dorsey has extended the time to Nov. 15th to receive bids for the 12th District Agricultural School on account of farmers gathering crops and many counties preparing for fairs. Swainsboro, Eastman and Dublin are going after it and its very uncertain which place might get it. Dublin seems to be making the most headway. Johnson County, for some reason, will not make any effort to get the school within her boundaries.

    Dr. & Mrs. J. C. Robinson have moved to the city from Jeffersonville. Mr. Herschel Bray has been discharged from the army to resume his studies in the Atlanta Medical College. Planter Charlie Colston sold a bale of cotton that weighed 712 pounds for 26.40 per pound netting him $187.97 and the seed, at a lower rate brought him $39.80. Death came to Mr. S. Willis Thomas at his cousins home, Mr. Pat Martin. He was stricken with parylisis. He was buried at Westview, and survived by a wife and five children.