Friday, December 18, 2015

FROM DAYS GONE BY, DEC. 22, 1916, 1917

December 22, 1916, 1917.
1916- here is to be a complete divorce of church and school in Georgia according to a ruling sent down by Attorney-General Walker saying that the teaching of denominational schools under the supervision of local or county boards of education is in "violation of the policy of our government." The State School Superintendent M. L. Brittian sent out a letter notifying Boards they will have till the end of the present school year which ends June 1, 1917, to make arrangements whereby public and church schools shall be taught separately.
This places Wrightsville and Warthen College in a peculiarly close condition. This institution was specifically noted in his letter. Mr. Brittian says there will not be any withdrawal of the public school money from any county if they chance o use a church or property of the church unless a law is passed for such. Warthen College is on the list of 14 schools of different denominations now operating in the state and this will have to change.
The Vivola Theatre, owned by Mr. E. A. W. Johnson, operated by his son Herbert Johnson, is now under new management. His father has leased it to J. Frank Jackson who is resigning from The Headlight. Mr. Smith Williams and family will be moving to Macon where Williams holds a lucrative job with the American Tobacco Company.
Henry Bell, colored, a mere chap, was shooting crackers when one bursted in his right hand, considerably jarring it and burning it. It caused much excitement in Henry's quarters. Mr. & Mrs. C.S. Bryant of Augusta came to see Mrs. Bryant's parents, Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Tompkins. W. C. is closing his stores in Wrightsville and Harrison. There will be no more goods charged. His big sale starts January 1st.
1917- Editor C. D. Roundtree was selected by Hon. Dudley M. Hughes as chairman of the War Savings State Committee of the 12th District. War Thrift Stamps are now on sale at the post office. The government wants to raise 2 billion dollars this year. They sell for 25 cents, the Thrift Stamps. The War Savings Stamps in January cost $4.12 and a cent each month is added during 1918. On January 1, 1923, the government will pay you back $5. The county committee named by Mr. Roundtree are: Col. E. L. Stephens, S. P. Rice, C. T. Bray, Jr., Judge Charlie Claxton, L. B. Claxton, and William Jackson.
Dr. J. R. Dent is seriously sick at his home on Marcus St. While Dan Green, colored, was enroute home he was overtaken by a Ford driven by unknown parties. He gave them the road but they did not heed his position but ran up into him, wrecking his buggy. He was thrown out but not injured. The mule tore out and left him. The party paid him $6 damages and went on.
Another large land deal was made when Ex-Clerk J. V. Snell sold his two large plantations of 322 acres near town to Messrs. Bob and Carlos Snell. The sum paid was $13,000. Mr. Snell had only recently purchased it from John A. Wilson. Mr. Carlos sold his place up near Mr. Mayo's home and with his father purchased these two farms. Ex-Clerk is going to sell all his farming tools and quit for awhile and is looking for a house in Wrightsville.
Lt. Walter Bryan was ordered to Ft. Ogelthorpe to take the oath and proceed to Washington. Mrs. R T. Lovett has occupied her house, the Huff home, recently vacated by Mr. & Mrs. Roundtree, the later having moved to the corner of Myrtle Avenue and College Street.

FROM DAYS GONE BY DEC. 5, 1917

December 15, 1917.
From "Somewhere In France," a letter home written by Emmett E. Martin, Battery K, 7th Regt. American Expeditionary Force, France, November 8, 1917.
"There may be someone in Johnson County who would like to hear from one who is in France. I guess that I am the only one in France from dear old Johnson County. If there is anyone else here from there, I don't know it. I will begin my trip from Fort Adams, R. I. on the morn of Aug. 16th. We had orders to begin packing our barrack's bags and get ready to leave for some place but we did not know where. Well we got everything packed up but two bed comforts which were left out to sleep on that night, so the next morning they were also packed the bags. The barracks bags were taken down stairs and piled in front of the company office to be moved to the New Port harbor which is just across the bay from the fort.
Everything was moved to the harbor and by 2pm we were ready to march to the harbor but from cause the regiment did not leave the fort until 5. We marched through the city of New Port amid cheers and jeers. There were thousands of people at the harbor to see us off. Fathers and mothers to say goodbye to sons, sisters to brothers and sweethearts to sweethearts, and of course I had one there to say goodbye to me, one whom I did not delight in parting from but I had to part from her. There were a lot of sad partings.
After all the goodbyes we boarded at 9:30 and pulled from the harbor. The next day we arrived at another harbor which I will not name, for fear the censor will not let my letter pass and I will not name any place at which we stopped. We went ashore at the harbor mentioned above for an hour then we went aboard another ship for parts unknown, but on Monday the 20th, about 12 we sighted land and about 4pm that day the boat pulled in at another but we were not allowed to go ashore. There the 8th regiment which left Fort Adams a few days ahead of us was waiting for us and also two other regiments from some other place. About 4 the 21st the boat pulled away with a convoy of 4 destroyers for the voyage across the Atlantic.
We had been sailing about 8 days we sighted a squad of boats meeting us. Well, we did not know what kind of boats they were; They looked to small for battleships and we begun to think we had run in a nest of U-boats, but thank the Lord it was not, it was a convoy of U boat chasers come to convoy us the rest of the way. The next day, I don't remember the date, but any way we sighted land again and that afternoon sometime the boat pulled in the harbor but never learned where and were not allowed to go ashore. Pulled out next day and we were looking for submarines night and day but saw none.
The afternoon of Sept. 2nd we dock in an English harbor but did not go ashore till 10:30pm where we marched to the train station, boarded for parts unknown. The next day we stopped at some little station with orders to get off. We fell out like goats jumping a fence and marched about a mile to an English camp where we stayed a week then back to the train and loaded up in the little baby carriages. The next day we boarded another ship. The next day we arrived at a French harbor marched to an English training camp. We stayed there a week, and packed up again. Marched back to the station and loaded onto little boxcars, 60 men to the car, we were alittle crowded but the cars soon pulled out and we were happy on the way flying the American flag.
This time we were 4 days on the cars when it stopped with orders to get off. This time it was a French camp. Soon after we got off there must have been 1000 French soldiers there to see us and from the way they acted I don't think there had been any American soldiers there before. We stayed there till Oct 30th when we left for the American camp so at this writing I'm at the end of my journey.
Before closing I will say to all my people and to my friends in Johnson County if they see this in print to pray that I may return home someday, and I would also like to hear from anyone who cares to write me; the address given here will find me all o.k."

Sunday, December 13, 2015

FROM DAYS GONE BY, DEC. 8, 1916

December 8, 1916.
The Johnson County Board of Education released the report on the county schools, their teachers, and number of pupils. The following are the school names, number of pupils and their teachers.
Arline Chapel 36, Miss Mildred Walker; Brantley Chapel 38, Miss Margaret Dennis; Cedar Grove 53, Miss Myra Marchman; Davis 79, E. D. Aaron, Otis Davis; Eureka 70, Miss Julia Hines, Missouri Powell; Eunice 29, Leola Martin; Gethsemane 40, Anabel Logue; Greenway 50, Gladys Smith, Nelle Marchman; Green Hill 80, L. C. Prince, Mabel Williams; Hall 35, Myrtle Warren; Hollywood 46, S. W. May.
Kite 124, W. F. Crawford, Beauford Stovall, Ina Carr, Jewel Morgan; Liberty Grove 50, Carrie Webb; Mattie Lou 47, G. C. Rowland; Meeks 75, Annie Blackshear, Ettie Wheeler; Moores Chapel 38, Ora Richardson; Mayo Hill 88, T. F. Lance, Elizabeth Lane; Minton Chapel 70, J. W. Carden, Sussie Mixon; New Home 116, Z. L. Strange, Madel Hitchcock, Hattie Price; Powell Chapel 46, Zelle Claxton; Pleasant Grove 88, Cora Williams, Louella Brown; Price 56, J. Y. Chastin; Piney Mount 63, Myrtis Marchman.
Poplar Springs 66, Leckie Parker, Matti Watkins; Providence 44, Otis M. Sanders; Pullen Bridge 33, Ella Pope; Pineview 63, E. E. Keen; Rehobeth 36, Leila Lawrence; Red Hill 52, Annie Mae Adkins; Scott 100, E. E. McLin, Eddie Hagan; Spann 103, J. Roscoe Smith, Susie Lane; Stokes 31, Laura Webb; Sunshine 32, Esther Flanders; Tom 53, Lena Russell; Union 47, Lizzie Rushin; Wesley Chapel 43, Pauline Brantley; Wheeler 16, E P. West; Wrightsville 150, Z. Whitehurst, Rosmond Moral,Mozell Tumlin, Mrs. B. M. Griffin.
What came near being a disastrous fire started in the gable of the front roof of the Linder Hotel about 7pm. The department had a close call to save the pretty house. A lot of damage was done by both fire and the water. The origin was unknown.
Mr. R. W. Gatlin is making extensive improvements on the east side of the court house in the Kennedy building. He has rented a space and entered into an agreement with J. T. Blankenship, the meat market man, is moving one door north. Gatlin intends to make it a very nice garage. He has put new tanks and air apparatus in the front.
An educational mass meeting will be held for the colored public school at Nealie Chapel A. M. E. church. B. J. Davis, the great negro Oddfellow, a leader of the race, an educator and one of the greatest negroes in Fraternal Organizations will address the meeting, as will A. J. M. Robinson.
Whatever the cause and the result may be there is being sold in this county a great number of mules and a few horses and mares. Every week sees ne or two car loads shipped to Wrightsville. Tuesday's Sheriff sales saw a great deal of land change hands. The Flanders tract near the city on Idylwild road was sold to J. F. Henderson at $4003.63 for 63 acres. The Meeks tract of 39 acres near Kite brought $900. Dr. Harvey of Bartow bought the S. L. Powell land at $1. The Smith tract of 50 acres was bought by J. M. Smith for $700. The M. D. Mayo tract of175 acres for $2000 by Carlos Snell.
Mr. Carlos Stephens and Miss Anna Mae Johnson were married. He is a son of Mr. J. R. Stephens,and she is a daughter of J. A. Johnson. Miss Corene Miller and Mr. Loren Mason were married. She is a sister to N. B. Miller. The groom is a son of Mr. & Mrs. H. R. Mason.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

FROM DAYS GONE BY Dec 1, 1916, 1917

December 1, 1916, 1917.
1916- Enroute from Sandersville to the coast the fishing party of Jupe Hicks of Wrightsville and a Williams and Quillian of Sandersville passed through Savannah in their automobile when they collided with a street car. All the occupants miraculously escaped injury.
Wrightsville is one of the best horse and mule markets of this part of the state. It has come to this respect within the past 8 years. Besides the local dealers a lot of foreign dealers travel here. The principal dealers in this market are: Messrs. C. G. Rawlings, J T. Fulford, J. E. Linder, G. W. Cochran and the firm of J. H. Rowland and Ivey R. Tanner. Most of their stock comes from North Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri.
Col. and Mrs. Ben Hill Moye are the proud parents of a fine baby girl on Nov. 22. Out near Providence, Mr. Silas Stephens and Miss Zola Tharpe were married. Also married were Mr. I. J. Stephens and Miss Eva Mae Boatwright.
Though it was cold that Friday night it didn't stop the party that went on invitation of Capt. W. Z. Kemp to the convict camp for a supper of 'possum and 'taters, just think of a nice, fat one, all flavored up and graveyed up and juiced and sauced with its own deliciousness, surrounded b tender baked yams all ready for eating. That's enough to make the mouth of President Taft "run water". Well it was just that good according to Dr. T. S. Page, Judge J. C. Wiggins and Editor C. D. Roundtree.
1917- The Board of Trustees of the 12th District Ag School met in the Governor's office. Four counties wanted the school. Emanuel and Wheeler were stricken from the list leaving the two highest and closely contested counties of Laurens and Bleckley to show their sites before the trustees. But neither fulfilled the expectations of the board, with on site inspections.
Mr. A. B. Rowland received his commission as 1st Lt. of Infantry in Uncle Sam's army. He is the eldest child of Mr. & Mrs. Joe H. Rowland. The Army Y. M. C. A. campaign put on here last week netted $800 for the army. Provost Marshal Crowder has changed the selective draft regulations so now youg men have until Dec. 15th to volunteer for military service.
Village mail delivery was approved from Washington. Congressman Larson informed the city of Wrightsville they would have door to door mail service beginning in January 1st. There will be one carrier that will make two trips a day, morning and afternoon. Mailboxes by the door, numbered, will be required.
The case of the State against I. D. Tompkins who was caught here with two suit cases full of bottled whiskey is still pending. Tompkins came from Jacksonville with his booze and when he stepped off the train he was nabbed by Sheriff Rowland. John and Ira Waters, brothers, mixed it up together in what was almost an ugly cutting affray Saturday on the street in front of Jenkins Pharmacy. A few licks were passed and they both drew their knives and went at it. Ira got a cut on the head.
Mr. T. D. Wood, while cutting on a stick somehow stuck the knife in his eye. Dr. Brinson was called and Wood was taken to Augusta where a specialist had to remove his eye. A perfectly good Ford burned up in front of Peoples Hardware belonging to Tom Davis, colored, who lived out on Mr. Fulford's place. The fire started as he cranked the car an his family was in the car. His wife was hurt getting out and a little child was too. Tom got all his hair singed off.
Little J. D. Claxton, the 3 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Claxton died Nov. 21st from a severe illness. He was buried at Gumlog. Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Thompson had a baby girl on Nov. 19th. Miss Mattie Price and Willie Anderson were married this week. Miss Hattie Smith and Mr. Frank Jordan were married. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. E. Smith. He was a son of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Jordan.

FROM DAYS GONE BY NOV. 24, 1917

November 24, 1917.
Johnson County Superior Court convened this week with Judge John Luther Kent on the bench, John A. Douglas, jury foreman, and J. P. D. Oliver, bailiff. The judge expedited the civil docket winding up a lot of cases in just two days. The criminal cases were disposed of in various ways. One white man, the only white in jail, a man named Smith, plead guilty and drew a $100 fine. Others got off heavier and some lighter.
Governor Hugh M. Dorsey is coming to Wrightsville during his administration. He promised to do so during his campaign and said he would come next July during the hosting of the Press Convention. Wrightsville is preparing to give the Georgia editors a royal time. A trip to Idylwild will show them an ideal picnic resort and an up-to-date railroad like the Wrightsville & Tennille.
After hearing from the Florida governor that sick soldiers are not properly cared for in camp, Governor Dorsey immediately investigated Georgia's camps and found the rumors false. Camp Wheeler he found 1,540 patients, of this number 1,125 had measles but were not in danger and many up walking around. There were plenty of stoves to keep them warm. He spent more than an hour conversing with medical officers and soldiers and not a single one complained of conditions there.
The Drum and Bugle Corps of the Georgia Industrial Home will give a free concert at the Vivola Theatre. There are 18 in the corps and they never fail to please their hearers.
Dr. Thos. Walker, an expert animal doctor is now located in Swainsboro for the purpose of doing hog cholera work in Emanuel and Johnson counties. He is employed by the national government and his services are free, the only cost being for the serum and viruses in the treatment. He will administer the double treatment which immunes the hog for life.
Uncle Sam aims to soon take over the auto manufacturers plants and convert them into plants to turn out war materials. The bids for the new district agricultural school closed last week. They were turned over to the trustees for consideration.
A baby boy was born to Dr. & Mrs. J. Gordon Brantley on November 21st. On November 15th at the home of the brides father, Dr. T. L. Harris, on Marcus street, Miss Ollie Reid Harris and Mr. M. Elliotte Wood of South Carolina were married. Mr. Willie Mark Forehand and Miss Marie Hightower were married. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Hightower of Scott.
Quail shooting has started up. The possums will now get a rest which is much needed.