Thursday, June 30, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY June 28, 1918

June 28, 1918.
The Georgia Editors are to arrive in Wrightsville Monday night, July 15th, for their three day convention. Some will come down train from Tennille, the late train from Dublin and some from north Georgia on the late "Shoe-Fly" to Tennille where they will be met by autos and trucks to bring them and their baggage. The people of Wrightsville have opened their homes to take those in after the hotels fill up.
The assembly will be held in the court house and Hon. Ben Hill Moye will deliver the welcome. Tuesday they will hold an executive session and at the noon hour the scribes will join the people of the city and county in a big basket bbq picnic at Idylwild at which time the Governor of Georgia will be an honored guest and the leading speaker. Tuesday night the ladies will give them a Garden Party on the court house lawn. Wednesday the last session will be held then they will be taken by auto to Dublin for entertainment and a boat ride down the Oconee. Thursday morning all will depart the town by the way they came.
Funds for the sale of the shares of stock in the Johnson County Fair Association are now in the hands of treasurer R. L. Kent at the Bank of Wrightsville. Plans for the place to hold the fair are being worked out. It looks to be one of the best fairs in southeast Georgia right here in Johnson, originated by Johnson, organized by Johnson, financed and furnished by Johnson County and to be enjoyed by Johnson County.
Clerk and Mrs. Joe B. Williams and children went down to Mr. J. R. Flanders Sunday afternoon to pay a visit to Capt. Chess Flanders. Uncle Chess has been in bed over 4 years in feeble health and old age and is not improving. He mentioned Capt. Kent's death saying how much he would have been pleased to have seen him before his death. He is about one year older than Kent. He is enduring his afflictions patiently and with the utmost resignment. His life on his bed is a living sermon.
On June 28th, today, its time to prove you are a loyal American. Will you greet the 4th of July with a free conscience? Or will you spend the 4th in shame-faced guilt? June 28th has been set as National War Savings Day. Your country expects you on that day to pledge every penny you can, up to $1000, towards the purchase of War Savings Stamps. The price of American citizenship is no longer cheap. A new hour has struck. The crash of war has ground all semblance of cheapness out of being an American. It is now a dear-bought honor. You must Pay.
Your country asks you to balance your patriotic cash account. Every penny you withhold, that you are able to give, extends aid and comfort to the enemy. No sordid legal summons will, for the present, compel payment. You are called to payment by the higher, more chivalric summons to volunteer on June 28th your pledge to purchase this year every dollars worth of War Savings Stamps you can buy.
This statement was issued by Fred T. Bridges of the Johnson County Farmers Union.

Friday, June 24, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY June 21, 1918

June 21, 1918.
Mr. Charles Malony, President of the W. & T. Railroad makes a reasonable reply to the petition of Johnson County folks asking him not to run anymore Monday excursions on this line for the period of the war. He states, "I will gladly comply with the request. With all respect to the particular negro excursion operated from Tennille to Hawkinsville I wish to explain that this excursion had been advertised in the usual way for 10 days prior to May 27th, and not a single protest against the operation reached me until after the train was in motion and then we had to carry out our agreement."
Will Outlaw, colored, made an attempt Sunday afternoon to kill his cousin, Duncan Outlaw, as Duncan, Charles and John Outlaw and Fellow Harton were passing down the road near the Charlie Hall place about 6 miles southeast of Wrightsville, going to a singing school near their home.
As they approached Hutchens branch about 4 pm, Will jumped up from beside the road and leveled the single barreled gun on Duncan, pulling the trigger and landing the birdshot in his right thigh. Duncan turned around and Will let him have a second load in the other thigh, a few shots hitting him in the lower parts of the body. Friends interfered, but Will seems to have followed Duncan on up to a white man's home and there took two more chances at Duncan but missed him.
Will and Duncan, it seems, according to E. M. Outlaw, who swore out warrants for Will's arrest. They have a great deal of trouble, but they had compromised the matter and went into an agreement not to have any further trouble or to have anything to do with each other again. But it all broke out anew Sunday afternoon with the above results. Will was placed in jail, but was released later on bond.
Bailiff C. T. Mixon and Mr. John A. Douglas, Jr. carried a colored man and a white man to Camp Wheeler Saturday morning. The colored gent said he had never heard anything about the business since he "regist" and therefore hadn't reported for duty. The white man was in uniform. He said he had been at Spartenburg, South Carolina and was off on a 15 day furlough which expired the 8th. When asked why he hadn't reported back he said he had been sick.
Messrs. Emory Rowland, Robbie Rowland, Billie Henderson and O. A. Kennedy, Jr. left as volunteers for the army. Twenty-eight more white boys are scheduled to leave next week from the draft. H. C. Garland, Angus Foskey, Morris Denton Key, Willie D. Wood, Fred H. Daley, S. A. B. Mitchell, Tullie Burris, N. T. Blizzard, John Hall, W. L. Hall, Jim Daniels, E. L. Wheeler, Melrim Smith, Jewel Cooper, Jim V. Smith, Wm G. McTier, Cannie M. Lindsey, Gilbert Simpson, B. M. Powell, James A. Turner, Roy L. Dent, Dee O. Young, W. A. Perry, O. L. Ricks, William Brown, John Marvin Davis, V. L. Tapley, James I. Spell.
Coloreds who left yesterday were Thomas Walker, Willie Johnson, Richard C. Carswell, Charlie Lee Linder, George Cannon, Joe Carlow, John W. Arline, Juttie Thomas, Railegh Ruffin, Eddie Randall, Tom Irwin, Isadore Daniel, Johnnie Lumpkin, J. Clinton Logue, Scola Davis, Sam Jackson.
Mr. L. A. Lovett, owner and manager of the Ford Garage has arrangements whereby he can furnish any farmer in this county with a Ford tractor from Ford's plant. The price for the tractor is $750 and for the Oliver No. 7 plow, designed especially for it, for $140.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY June 14, 1918

June 14, 1918.
Around the 1st of the week, within 48 hours, 7 American vessels are now known to have been sunk by German U-Boats off the Atlantic coast from New Jersey and this act has startled the nation. Many seaports have been ordered closed indefinitely, putting a stop to all shipping. The port of Savannah is closed also.
The names of the ships sunk are City of Columbus, Carolina, Edward H. Cole, Jacob B. Haskell, Isabel B. Wiley, Hattie Dunn and Samuel W. Hathaway. It is not known how many were drowned. Our airplanes are now looking over the coast for the destroyers. The crew on one ship was given 10 minutes to leave the ship by the Germans before it was blown up.
Thus Germany brings the submarine warfare right up to the gates of the United States and unless a close patrol is placed over the entire coastline grave fears for further shipping are had. Losing on the western front Germany has struck this blow in the face of America to show us that she is very much alive and to detract attention from the real thorn in her flesh. Foch and his army are fighters.
But our boys are moving abroad. Many are falling in the trenches. Our boys are bleeding their lives away on the battlefields of no man's land. Our husbands and our sweethearts have gone from us to ight our own battles. Our dearest treasures have bid us a sad farewell, and hopes to gaze on their smiling countenances once again are but meager ones. Our friends and neighbors have sent theirs and hundreds of them will never return. It is well to speak of it plainly.
There is no time for slackerism in this country. Yet there are those little, puny, small, pessimistic, tommy-rotted, narrow-minded, knock-kneed, run-down, shallow-minded, yallow-streaked, disgruntled pushllanimouses running around like little fice dogs barking at a bunch of elephants. Shame of the country upon you. A word to the wise is sufficient regarding slackerism and a true admonition to those whose chief delight is to pass their time in idleness and pleasure-seeking is assuredly not out of place along about now.
A storm of protest was heard in Johnson County Monday morning when a W. & T. train came along and carried off 7 carloads of cotton choppers and plow hands from all points along its line to a colored gathering of some kind in Hawkinsville. At this most critical time of making the crop the railroad, induced by what little fare collected and in the very face of the nationwide movement of labor conservation put on this excursion. Hands flocked from the cotton patches, saw mills, and every conceivable employment to "go on de scursion." Information is that a colored man named White at Tennille chartered the train and went up and down the line advertising a baseball game and other attractions at Hawkinsville and they went in flocks. Sixty-five tickets were sold at this point, also from Donovan, Spann and Lovett. Almost a hundred plows in the county were stopped for the day.
The matter was taken up by telegrams to the National Council of Defense and to H. M. Stanley, Commissioner of Labor in Atlanta. Congressman Larson has also been asked to look into this. It has cost our farmers a great deal in loss of labor. It doesn't look like the railroad authorities, if they have their country at heart, would even think about doing such a thing.

Monday, June 13, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY June 7, 1918

June 7, 1918.
Ordinary J. C. Wiggins, who is in charge of the affairs of the county has let a contract for the building of walks and sidewalks across and around the courthouse. Work has already begun. The Georgia Cast Stone Company of Dublin has the contract.
Beginning on the east side fronting the Kennedy block a walk 8 feet wide of concrete blocks will be built from the sidewalk on Bradford Street around the court house on the south side across to Marcus Street by the artesian well. The main walk in front will be repaired. The sidewalks on Marcus, Elm and Bradford will be built of tiling, their width being ten and a half feet. The north side will not be included in this project.
The entire work will cost the county $1545.00, and is considered one of the best moves in a long time. Judge Wiggins says the money is in the bank to pay for it with some left over.
Mr. Fred T. Bridges, county agent, was chosen to be reading clerk for the House. He will go to Atlanta when the legislature convenes. Born to Sheriff & Mrs. Willis D. Rowland on May 30th, a fine little girl. The firm of Parker & Caneega is mutually dissolved. It has been totally purchased by Mr. H. H. Caneega.
In Kite news, Mr. J. M. Johnson is very busy laying piping for the water works. The large light plant has arrived which he will soon get in operation. Kite will soon be lighted up. Mr. H. T. Johnson has bought the barber shop. Weddings of recent include Mr. Oscar Riner and Miss Trudie Garland. Mr. Otis Davis and Miss Cora Claxton. Mr. Otis Fortner and Miss Ida Mae Harrison.
The total eclipse of the sun will be next Saturday afternoon will cause the earth from here to the southern part of Florida to be so dark that the chickens will go to roost and lights will be needed by 5:30 pm. The belt of totality will be over 45 miles wide. The last total eclipse was May 28, 1900.
Wednesday there were 71 new soldier boys made in the county. Of the 71 on the roll 55 are white, 16 are black.
White boys are: Samuel J. Powell, Osley M. Sumner, Willis Edwards, Ernest P. West, Shellman R. Martin, Willie A. Lindsey, Walter Frost, Henry G. Wicker, Alex S. Martin, Lewis H. Hilson, Jas H. Peacock, T. B. Lord, Wm B. Price, Otis K. Davis, Chas. O. Smith, Eugene J. Rowland, Ellis H. Mayo, Willie A. Smith, Daniel W. Matthews, Lewis Morris, Arthur C. Lindsey, John F. Jordan, Leston E. Powell, Andrew T. Clark, James A. Wood, Charlie M. Smith, Geo. P. Schwalls.
Chas. L. Wheeler, Ernest G. Garland, G. N. Ivey, Horace K. Dixon, Lorenzo Jackson, Juel Redfear, Sanford J. Harrison, Richard Smith, Richard C. Moore, Jas. C. Sumner, Blakely Stevens, Richard L. Harris, Thos J. Renfroe, Alphius Durden, Hugh C. Daley, Geo. Cheaves, Jesse Daniel, Elza L. Trotter, Geo. E. Bailey, Lester Wilson, Wm H. Mason, Wm N. Snell, Johnnie Curl, Walter Horton, Thos Watkins, Martin Mimbs, Remus E. Fulford and Daniel C. Snell.
Colored boys: Tom Gainor, Willis Need, Lewis Youngblood, David Wright, Irwin Knight, Oscar Brockington, John Waters, Johnnie T. Willis, Chester Wilson, David Standford, Edward Barrett, Fellow Harden, Willie Telfair, Tommie Outlaw, Cornelius Cason and Raymond Powell.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY May 31, 1918

May 31, 1918.
    The labor condition in Johnson County is getting to be a serious problem, as the drafts draw near. Persons in charge of farms who have laborers or persons in the army who are necessary for a period to get the crops planted and cultivated until laying-by time can file applications for furlough, for a short period. Blanks for furlough have been sent to the county agricultural agent, and instruction can be had from him in regard to this.
    Chairman J. H. Rowland released the figures by district, dollars raised for the Third Liberty Loan to date. Wrightsville, $63,830; Adrian, $9,225; Smith, $9,526; Ivey, $5,950; Price, $3,966; Powell, $6,725; Kite, $13,845; Pullen, $8,582; Spann, $4,695; Brays, $8,940; Ring Jaw, $3,916.
    The Johnson County Red Cross drive raised $2500 as the people were most generous. On June 8th and 9th, the Johnson and Washington   County Singing Convention will hold their big sing at Idylwild. The Johnson County Fair Association has set the dates of our first fair on October 17, 18, 19. The Wrightsville Headlight celebrated its 30th birthday, making it one of the oldest papers in the state.
    Mr. Shade Carter, one of the county's foremost young men, was badly injured in Macon last Tuesday evening when an automobile struck him, hurling him to the sidewalk and causing a break in two places of his collarbone, a bad bruise on his arm and a cut as long as your forefinger on the head. He barely escaped death.
On Sunday May 12th Miss Ada Rowland, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Rowland, and Mr. George W. Cheaves were married. Judge J. S. Wheeler officiating. The groom is a soldier boy. On Saturday May 25th Miss Ida Mae Harrison became the wife of Mr. Otis Fortner, both of near Kite, by Judge Wheeler. The bride is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jim Lewis Harrison and Mr. Fortner is a son of Mr. G. L. Fortner.
The Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad wants crossties and will pay for them to be delivered at any side track on its line. First class black or red cypress, 60 cent each, heart pine, 55 cent, they are to be gotton out 7 inches by 9 inches by 8 feet 6 inches long.
A total eclipse of the sun will occur on Saturday June 8th and will be visable here. An eclipse of this great magnitude is seen but once in a lifetime.
With practically two weeks of open weather Johnson County farmers have come from under a terrible strain on their labor forces, killing the grass as they came to it and placing their growing crops in a good condition. In the language of the average planter, "It came mighty nigh gitting the upper hand on us." and it did. The rainy weather conglomerated whole fields with the green, green grass growing all around, over and under cotton, corn, cane, potatoes, gardens and the like but they defeated "General Green's" army and sent them to the cemetery without a funeral.

FROM DAYS GONE BY May 24, 1918

May 24, 1918.
Robert L. Rogers, Ambulance Company 327 at Camp Gordon writes a letter home to Johnson County.
"I have been in the service nearly four months and like it better every day. I believe I am in one of the greatest works of the entire army, the medical corps. Our work when we cross, if we ever do, will be to care for the wounded soldiers. My company is expected to go any time.
I earnestly ask each one of my friends of old Johnson County that prays, to always remember me in their prayers that wherever I go, that I may do whatsoever God would have me do, and may His will be done and not mine. I also ask each one of you whenever you have a chance to help the Red Cross or Y. M. C. A., to do your part, for you can't imagine how much good they are to us boys unless you could spend some time here in camps.
The Y. M. C. A., has a Sabbath School class at 9:30 each Sunday morning, also we have sermons each Sunday, and some kind of entertainment most every night. And without the Red Cross nurses the army would be a failure, so let me ask you again to give to each whenever you have a chance.
Let me say to each church member, each Sunday School worker and each member of any religious society to do your very best. If there was ever a time when much work and prayer was needed it is now. So if you have been backward or unconcerned, let me beg you to start today, and strive to do your very best, for the field is ripe for harvest.
To the Woodmen of the World, I wish to say that I do appreciate what you all are doing for me, and how much I would like to be back with you all again.
Listen, I would be glad to hear from each and every one of my friends in old Johnson County. A letter from home does me so much good. Asking you all again to pray for me, that I may do my duty at all times. I am as B. 4. Private Robert L. Rogers."

POEMS THAT WILL LIVE

Some people were made to be soldiers,
And the Irish were made to be cops;
Sauerkraut was made for the Germans,
And spaghetti was made for the Wops.
Fish were made to drink water,
And men were made to drink booze;
Banks were made to hold money,
And beds were made for a snooze,
Everything was made for something,
There's even a use for a miser;
God made Wilson for President,
But who in the hell made the Kaiser?