Monday, October 31, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY OCT 25, 1918

October 25, 1918.

The first fair that the county ever had came to a successful ending Saturday night. Hundreds came every day to view the excellent displays and compared it equally in quality with the largest fairs. The shows ha a full house all the time. It was a financial success too. Expenses were met with money left over for next year. The management expects to make the fair even bigger next year.
Twenty-three little treasures were resented in the Baby Show. For perfect physical form went to Miss Gladys, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. D. Rowland. Miss Louise, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Holt was first for beauty. Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Johnson's little boy won for physique. Miss Lorena Mae, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. F. C. Oliver's got the green ribbon. Fredrick Luther, son of Mr. & Mrs. F. G. Mayo won 4th place. Third for beauty went to Miss Alice Joyce, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. B. J. James.
Spanish influenza is spreading rapidly and Johnson County is fully in its grip. Doctors are driving day and night and haven't caught up in several weeks now. Sickness is rampant and deaths more frequent. The oldest physicians say they never saw anything just like this. The schools have all closed and instead of things getting better the epidemic seems to be getting a bigger foothold. Probably no place in Georgia has any more cases of the flu than Kite. Every family has some member sick but no deaths yet. The drug store ran out of medicine and its having to be brought in from Wrightsville and Adrian. Capt. Bill Kemp has had a lot of sickness too among his convicts with about a dozen bedridden.
Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, 90 years old, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Underwood. She was buried at Westview. Mrs. J. R. Wilson, 76 years old died October 19th after about a week's illness. She was survived by her husband and one son, Henry. She was buried at Liberty Grove.
Walden Downs who died in New York at the military hospital was brought home and a solemn and impressive ceremonies were held at Union Hill. Soldier Downs was a member of Red Hill church, and a member of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 110 of Wrightsville. He was born October 10, 1893. Of his family now living are his father, mother, an five brothers. September 25th 1917 he entered the army at Camp Gordon for 6 weeks, then transferred to Camp Wheeler as a member of 118th Field Artillery, Battery B, a part of the Dixie Division. July 27th he left for Camp Jackson, South Carolina for 3 months. On October 2nd he made it to Camp Mills, Long Island, New York being sick the day he left South Carolina. Mr. L. D. & Frank Downs made it to his bedside before he died.
Soldier Roger Davis is home on furlough from having a broken right arm. Mr. Angus W. Hightower was rejected because of being to light weight. Mr. & Mrs. U. R. Jenkins has a son born October 15th. In the cotton report Johnson County had ginned up to October 2nd, 9,066 bales compared to 10,018 in 1917.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY OCT 18, 1918

October 18, 1918.

Today the gates opened to the Johnson County Fair Association and is already considered one of the best, though small, exhibitions any single county in this part of the state has ever had. There are collections of every conceivable article raised and used on the farms of Johnson County, both agricultural and livestock. The county was ready for this fair. Rich in resources and not overflowed with liabilities the people are in splendid shape. Large crops are being harvested, the barns are full and the smokehouses will soon be bulging out at the front doors with porkers raised on $2 corn and $1.50 sweet potatoes. The fair also has the merry-go-round, ferris wheel, old plantation shows, open air acrobats, aeroplane, magic lanterns, 8 piece band, midget show and baby show.
W. B. Coleman of Laurens County announced for state senate. Mr. & Mrs. A. F. Flanders move into their home on West Elm street, reently occupied by Mr. Bob Chapman. Mr. J. W. A. Crawford files for bankruptcy. Johnson County only has $40,000 the 4th Liberty Loan. This leaves over a $110,000 to be raised by Saturday night when the campaign ends. The government has ordered that the week of October 21 o 26th be set aside as rat killing week for the purpose of freeing the state of rats. The rat is our greatest destroyer. You are asked to cut off their tails and bring them in to Mr. A. J. M. Robinson. Prizes are to be given to the ones killing the most rats. First prize $5, Second $3 and Third $2. Everybody is urged to do all they can to free Johnson County of this awful pest.
Captain E. H. Frazier, Director for the 11th District of Georgia, First United War Work Campaign came and discussed the necessity of a War Room in the county and to have such a building on the courthouse grounds. He discussed this throuoghly with Judge J. C. Wiggins. The room would be a constant reminder of the brave fellows fighting from this county for our Liberty and freedom from German tyranny. A permanent record in which the names of every Johnson County boy in the United States Army shall be listed. How often could such a record have been used since the Civil War? After the war is over this permanently bound book should be deposited among the County Records where subsequent entries could be made. Judge Wiggins granted permission to erect on court house grounds to be built at once.
Mr. Walden Downs, son of Mr. & Mrs. L. D. Downs, a brave young soldier who spent a year at Camp Wheeler and was enroute to go overseas when he was taken sick dying while in New York. He was brought home and buried at Union Hill.
Spanish influenza has began to take a toll on the county with many sickness and some deaths. W. D. Stewart of Scott died of such and was buried at Bay Springs. He left a wife, one boy and 3 girls. Miss Francis Miller, 81, died at her home near town and buried at Piney Mount. Young Russell Price died being sick about two weeks. He was buried at Oaky Grove. Little Martha Kent, the bright young daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Kent died at their home in Jacksonville, Florida. She was buried at West View.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Oct. 11, 1918

October 11, 1918.

Albert Temples has paid the supreme sacrifice for his country by offering up his life in its defense on a foreign battlefield. He was desperately wounded before Metz on the 15th of September and died in a French hospital on the 18th. He was a member of the 328th Infantry. Albert had a brother in this county, Mr. H. H. Temples who resided near New Home church. Albert married a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Franks but she died about a year ago. Their 18 month old baby lives with its grandparents. Albert's parents were Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Temples who live in South Carolina.
Two more Johnson County boys are dead from pneumonia and another is reported dead but not confirmed yet. The two dead are Lewis Morris and Verdie Tapley. Morris was 21 and a son of Mr. & Mrs. Jessie R. Morris who live on the Loyd Price plantation. He was at Camp Gordon but was brought home and buried at Oaky Grove. Verdie Tapley died a Gordon also. He is the son of George Tapley of Kite. He was buried in the family cemetery.
In another war measure, if anyone in the county wishes to erect a building for their own use or use by another, must file an applicationand be approved by the War Industries Board. The local men on this board are C. D. Roundtree, W. C. Brinson and H. T. Hicks.
Messrs. A. W. Hightower, C. E. Dixon and T. L. Raines leave for Camp Gordon and J. R. Garrett for Camp Wheeler. The colored boys going to Camp Wheeler are Wes Anderson, Abon Seals, J. W. Roberson and Ushel Hurst.
Only a few more days until the Johnson County Fair opens and already over 40 babies have been entered for the Baby Show. The Central of Georgia Steam Shovel came down and spent a week at the Sand Cut between Tom and Kite, loading and hauling sand to a washout down below Kite.
Mrs. W. F. Blount died on September 21st at 60 years of age. She was taken sick on Saturday morning and only lived a few hours. She left a husband and nine children. She was buried at Bethany.
Mr. C. H. Moore escaped serious injury to himself and Ford Tuesday night this side of Tennille at the W. & T. crossing, when, to avoid a train collision, he jerked the jitney off a car-high embankment this side of the track, but the wise Ford stood straight up on its feet when it landed. Mr. Moore wasn't too excited too much to turn him back, but caught the "Shoo-fly" down the road enroute to Savannah.
It is said that there are two squirrel hunters in the county and they have hunted so much the trails are open through the swamp near their homes. Bob Veal and J. J. Wilkins have actually been hunting so much their neighbors say game is as scarce as hen's teeth in that community. Bob has put it across the preacher, though, it is claimed, and this has caused somewhat of a cessation of hostilities among the nimble feet of the pines.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Oct. 4, 1918

October 4, 1918.
Lieut. Asbury J. Hall of Adrian has made the supreme sacrifice in France, having been killed in battle September 13th. LT. Hall is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Y. L. Hall, a graduate of Mercer, and one of the best young men of his community. He sailed for France January 1, 1918, and was transferred to the 167th U. S. Infantry. He was a member of the Rainbow Division.
In the new draft includes deferring classes of persons who are more likely to further the war by remaining in civilian occupations than by entering the army. Special attention will be given for agriculture occupations, and labor requirements for such. Somebody has to stay home and feed the army.
Formal announcement was made that the government has taken over the operation of the Wrightsville & Tennille railroad, along with the Louisville & Wadley; Sylvania Central and Wadley Southern railways. Directors of the W. & T. held a meeting, declared a dividend of 3 per cent and all officers resigned. The W. & T. corporation will not have charge of the operation of the road, but will act as financial agent for the stockholders and see that their property is protected and cared for. Mr. W. A. Winburn was made Federal manager for the four railroads with headquarters in Savannah. Taking over the W. & T. railroad means that all the roads entering Dublin are now under Federal control.
The gins have been as busy as ever all this week. People come in the afternoon and stay over until late the next afternoon before they can get their bale ginned and sold. It has been selling higher this week. The birth of twin girls is announced by Mr. & Mrs. B. Vickers at their home a short distance from the city on Friday September 27th.
It is said that old corn liquor was the cause of it all out at Mt. Pleasant church last Sunday, when one Will Stubbs, colored, emptied a barrel of his hip pocket machine into the abdominal departments of one colored youth named Sims Smith. Sims was waiting his turn to have his picture made, according to eye witnesses, when up walked Stubbs, who it is claimed had filled up with the "strong stuff" to the extent of "feeling swell", and pulled the trigger, a ball going into young Smith's stomach.
The boy was rushed to Rawlings Sanitarium, where his life has hung in the balance ever since. Some of the deacons and members of the church called for the sheriff, who responded, and placed Stubbs behind bars. A warrant charging him with assault with attempt to murder was sworn out for him Monday morning and he is still in jail awaiting the outcome of the wounded boy's condition. Stubbs will also have to answer to the courts for uprooting a perfectly good meeting among the colored folks around Mt. Pleasant.
Another ugly shooting affray took place on the plantation of Mr. E. J. Sumner about noon when Coatney Davis, is said, pulled a pistol and fired upon Charley Morgan, while Morgan and his wife, Lucy, were going to the house out of the cotton patch. The bullet lodged in Charley's left leg, breaking the bone. Lucy came to town post haste and swore out a warrant for Coatney's arrest.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Sept. 27, 1918

September 27, 1918.
President Wilson designates October 12th "Liberty Day" and calls on the entire country to observe the day to stimulate a generous response to the Fourth Liberty Loan. This date is the 426th anniversary of the discovery of America. Every city, town and country side is asked by the President to arrange commemorative addresses, pageants, harvest home festivals and directs that all Federal employees who's services can be spared be given a holiday.
The Local Board has been busy mailing out the questionares to the recent registrants. There 582 registered men between 19 and 36 inclusive. Dolso Hayes who is in France received a fracture of the shoulder and is laid up in a base hospital. Word from Grady Jenkins who was reported missing in action, has actually been captured and a prisioner of the enemy.
The Vivola Theatre is having the Delco system installed. Manager J. Frank Jackson has purchased a light plant of his own for lighting up and running the show house. The Bertha Theatre in Dublin was destroyed by fire, a loss of $50,000. Eleven autos stored on the ground floor went up with the blaze. The horses and mules next door were rescued.
The most sensational political development of the times arose in Dublin when state senator-elect G. H. Williams made the startling announcement that he wasn't going to accept the nomination for state senator, but was now a Republican, straight from the shoulder, and was going to run against W. J. Harris for the U. S. Senate.
A party left Wrightsville Saturday night on business, pleasure and sight seeing in Oklahoma. Part of them were going to take in the Old Soldier's Reunion while the others were looking over some prospective purchases and sales of real estate. Those going were Obe Fortner, J. V. Snell, L. Davis, Dock Mosley, T. J. Brantley and E. W. Tanner. They will be gone about 3 weeks.
The general meeting of the Mount Vernon Association meets at Nails Creek church September 28-29. The Woodmen of the World, Camp No. 949, Wrightsville, will become a chartered camp at its next regular meeting.
The gins were so flooded here with cotton on Saturday they didn't catch up and a half dozen or more bales had to wait over to Monday. The Headlight office is moving to a building owned by W. H. Lovett just across the street from Brinson's Drug store in the brick building formally occupied by F. C. Lord & Son Grocery. William Jackson is planning on retiring from the merchantile business on account of war conditions and the scarcity of labor he would be glad to sell to some good, dependable businessman. It is a good stand for a country store, Donovan has no other operating store.
The banks released their Statement of Condition. The Scott Banking Company, $153,551.01; The Citizens Bank of Kite, $285,470.44; The Bank of Adrian, $217,284.45; Exchange Bank of Wrightsville, $529,354.87; The Bank of Wrightsville, $469,978.96.
There is a demand for horse racks or stalls for the country people when they come to town. Last Saturday the vacant lots were full of vehicles. Not everybody owns a car. The people were having to tie the horses & mules to their wagon wheels. Mr. & Mrs. Otis Sumner have a sweet daughter born to them.
The Johnson County Fair, the first ever put on by locals, will be October 17, 18, 19. Admission is adults 25 cents, children 6 to 12, 15 cents. Fred T. Bridges has applications if you have any cows, calves, hogs, chickens or any other livestock, needle work of any kind, pictures, chinaware, agricultural displays. This is the first attempt at a county fair.