Thursday, December 22, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Dec. 27, 1918

December 27, 1918.

The colored people of Johnson County will meet at the court house on January 1st in a mass meeting celebrating the emancipation of the race. The gathering is scheduled to start at 10:30 am. A leader in these gatherings and a big man among the race is J. W. Davidson of Atlanta who will address the meeting. He is said to be one of the greatest Negro speakers in the country. His subject will be, "The Negroes World Democracy In America." Special seats will be reserved for white people. Locally Jack Jordan and L. C. Curtis are the chief committee in charge of the occasion.
Burke County is in the lead of cotton producing this year at 56,853 bales ginned. Johnson County's report stands at 17,218 as against 19,576 bales last year. Postmaster R. P. Hicks is handling the Christmas rush of mails and packages in a manner satisfactory to all. He wishes to be relieved of his duties in January.
A man working on shares, getting half he makes, buys $615 of War Stamps and even $400 of bonds in 1918, and has paid for all of them. How is that? Such is the record of Mr. O. M. Martin living out here with Uncle T. J. Brantley. Mr. Martin not only owns this much of Uncle Sam's securities but is out of debt and ready to start off the new year with a clean sheet.
A big land deal was recently made by the Globe Realty Company whereby the large farm between the city and Idylwild owned by Dr. R. E. Butterly was sold to Messrs. E. A. & W. H. Lovett, the amount involved being probably the largest single real estate deal yet pulled off in this county. Dr. Butterly in the trade became owner of the three brick stores adjoining his on the corner across from the Exchange Bank.
The Southern Grocery Company, J. W. Johnson manager, will open for business in the city sometime about the first. Mr. Johnson has moved back to this city from Vidalia and will operate this new business which will be located in the brick stores now owned by Dr. R. E. Butterly across from Brinson's Drug Store.
The local banks released their statement of condition. The Scott Banking Company $113,075.22; Exchange Bank, $381,014.92; The Citizens Bank of Kite, $241,292.91; Bank of Wrightsville, $379,288.27.
The general meeting of the Mount Vernon Association will meet at Pleasant Grove December 28-30. School will not begin again in Wrightsville until the first Monday in January giving two weeks vacation. Coming home from the service are M. E. Woods, N. D. Paul, Clayton Lord, Alex Martin and W. H. Lovett.
Its only the day after and nobody can tell yet much about it, but if its as dry everywhere else as it has been around here old Sahara is a dream. But then Saturday was a rough day. It rained and was cold and windy too. Roads were again stirred up and rendered almost impassable by travel.
A traveling man entered the city one dark night recently on the 6 o'clock train. The city lights were then out of commission and darkness pervaded the atmosphere so thick that he could barely feel his way from the depot, so he said in talking about his reception in the city. He was dashed with amazement at the spectacle of beholding next day the sudden collapse he averted in walking to the right of the erected sidewalk and its sudden step-off. No harm was done, as he said he was cold sober.
The world doesn't love a coward. So long as his children and grandchildren live the slacker will bear the mark of Cain.

Monday, December 19, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Dec. 20, 1918

December 20, 1918.

Coming to Johnson County a year ago a stranger, Fred T. Bridges, County Agent, has become a household name. In the Spring he organized a pig, corn, velvet ben and calf clubs. This resulted in enrolling 134 boys and one girl in the pig club, 35 boys in the velvet bean and corn club, and 12 in the calf club. As a result these kids from farms all over the county have raised $3,275 worth of products. The members have won $750 in prizes alone from these clubs.
Agent Bridges helped farmers in the handling of nitrate of soda, helped organize the first fair, helped to raise better hogs and cattle in the county, and next year will be the completion of the county stockyard.
Judge William Faircloth is preparing 10 acres on his Idylwild plantation and has purchased 1000 two year old peach trees to begin an orchard. He believes he can be as successful as those at Fort Valley. Prof. John Duff, the jeweler will occupy the M. S. Duggan building once he moves to the Union Grocery Company building. Capt. W. Z. Kemp has been presented with an auto truck by Ordinary Wiggins for use on the chaingang.
Mr. Bob Faircloth is moving from Emanual County to the Idylwild farm of Judge Faircloth. Mr. J. V. Snell has purchased a home and farm near Hazelhurst in Ben Hill County. Mr. W. R. Ivey and family moved to Kite to make it their home. Col. W. C. Brinson has bought the farm of Dr. J. W. Brinson just south of the city. Miss Sallie Odom married Mr. J. P. Stephens.
The Wrightsville Camp of Woodmen of the World elected new officers for 1919. W. I. Martin, C. C.; T. L. Chester, A. L.; L. M. Blount, banker; Yome L. Heath, clerk; Ezra Cook, watchman; A. F. Johnson, sentry; B. V. Love, escort. F. B. Brantley, W. I. Martin and C. W. Nelson were chosen as the Board of Managers. The colored people are buying their War Stamps pretty well and the chairman wishes to thank all of them who have come up like men to their obligation. A great many are still behind.
While transferring a large bowl of soup from the stove to the table Sunday, Mrs. Geo. H. Prescott was severly scalded when one of her smaller sons raised up under the vessel and unknowingly hit it under the bottom with his head, capsizing the vessel and soup and terribly burning Mrs. Prescott about the face and neck. Gasping, part entered her mouth and burned her internally.
There were several more letters to Santa this week. Ethel Downs wants a little wooden kitchen set and a nice tea set, her little brother wants a kiddy kar or a little exress wagon and a little tool set. Thelma Irene and Earl Brinson Scarboro wants a climbing monkey, drum, automobile and doll. Little Wilmer Downs 5 years old, said he didn't want much because there were so many poor children who want things but their papas were killed in the war. Fred and Ray Brantley asked for a big pack of toys and goodies and a tricycle. Eddie Webb wants a toy train and track and lots of fruit. Maggie Mae Webb wants a large doll and fruit.
Everytime you meet an amateur lady driver meeting you zig-sagging down the streets in high-powered auto, you at once realize the truth the writer expresses when he said a little learning is a dangerous thing.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Dec. 13, 1918

December 13, 1918.

A great mass meeting will be held on the 18th where Mrs. James McCormick of Memphis will be here. She is a Red Cross speaker of national reputation on the issues of the hour. The churches will call in their prayer meetings and the leaders in the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call and it is asked that all other matters be put aside. A week's campaign is underway to add 3,000 names to the Johnson County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Mr. J. G. Brantley, Fuel Administrator for Johnson County says its been brought to his attention that people who are hauling wood to the city have been charging extortionate prices for same. He issues a warning to those guilty that they are in violation of law and will be dealt with if proven to be so. He also issued the set prices to producers to be : hardwood, seasoned (oak, ash, hickory, etc.) $6 per cord; hardwood green $4 cord; yellow pine seasoned $4.50 and green $3. All wood must be sold by the cord.
Mr. M. S. Duggan has recently closed a trade for the entire stock of the Union Grocery Company, and will take possession of same the first day of January. He will move his present stock into the store now occupied by the Union Grocery Co. and will combine the two. He takes occasion to thank all of his patrons and friends for their kind patronage in the past and solicits their future trade.
The resurrection of the Wrightsville Auto Company will take place the first of the new year. Mr. B. I. Walden, the owner of the old garage, will open up in the Kennedy building. The Rowland Grain and Seed Company will discontinue business December 31st, and all accounts not closed up by this date, will be turned over to an officer for collection.
Mr. T. N. McWhorter has purchased a plantation down at Hinesville and has moved his family to Liberty County. Capt. W. Z. Kemp has located his convict camp at Gum Log where he will work up the roads in that area. Messrs. Vernon Hall, Lewis Hutcheson and George Bray are home from the service. Neil Gillis is Ordinary of his new county of Treutlen. See now why he wanted a new county so much.
In Kite news Dr. & Mrs. Vestus Schwalls of Scott, are being congradulated upon the birth of a daughter December 6th. Mother and babe are fine. Robert Boatright has been mustered out of service and is back home. He will resume his same job. Kite had a carnival last week which carried off a lot of money, but, gee, how much fun the boys did have!
Christmas will be rather dull in all probability as people have much of their cotton still unsold and ready cash isn't so plentiful. But one little boy found the time to write Santa a letter. "Dear Santa: I want you to bring me a doll locket and a doll cradle. Eugene wants a climbing monkey, gun, doll and knife, and please bring us plenty of fruit. Papa and Mama, Sara Mae and Eugene Smith. P. S. We have moved to the country on R. No. 3.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY Dec. 6, 1918

December 6, 1918.

Postmaster R. P. Hicks has resigned as Wrightsville's Postmaster. Mr. Hicks was commissioned the first time in early 1915 succeeding Mr. J. F. Renfroe. He was re-commissioned February 14, 1916 and his term hasn't yet expired but he will hold on until January or until a successor is named. Hicks stated the work has increased so, especially since the war began and with no increase in wages feels he can't continue at the present rate of pay.
Dublin will have no fair this year due to the flu which has broke out afresh in Dublin and Laurens County so the Board of Health ordered it shut down. The lid is off for our stores to put on their delivery boys again if they decide to do so. Many people want this service restored and the Council of Defense takes pleasure in lifting the ban. Mr. M. N. Killebrew has opened up a market in the back room adjoining the Dixie Grocery Company where he ill carry a general line of meats.
Through every conceivable avenue the attention of the county chairman of the War Savings Stamp Campaign is being called to the fact that Johnson County is so far behind with her redemption of the pledges made back yonder in June. Johnson's quota is $276,565 of which $43,145 has been purchased, leaving for redemption $33,515. Now that is the way the county stood the first day of October. Since that time the county has bought about $20,000 more, which leaves us far behind yet. The government is asking everybody to meet their obligation now whether pledge was made due now or not.
Mr. Ivey R. Tanner, the man who knows as much about a mule as Balaam of old and can tell whether any animal is worth the trade or not and never deals in "cheap stuff" either. Ivey has been a builder for years, but most recently became a builder in Wrightsville, where he enjoys a lucrative trade and business. He resides in a lovely home on Marcus Street. In recalling incidents he never fails to interest you and in enjoying a joke he's got the belt. Progressive and aggressive, he is making and building for a future with a big determination to win out victorious over everything save a big appetite. Ivey is congenial and clever, the kind that keeps a stiff upper lip when the snow is on the ground. The kind of men who make a town.
Mr. James Hunter Johnson died at his home on November 22nd from Bright's Disease. He suffered greatly the few days prior to his death. He was a Methodist also member of Twiggs Lodge Master Masons and the local Woodmen of the World camp. Mrs. Vera Mae Webb wed Mr. Cleo Brantley at the home of the brides parents. Rev. Pompie Flanders did the honors.
While engaged in marketing 4 bales of cotton in Wrightsville Tuesday just before 10 am, Mr. Andrew T. Clarke, one of the counties solid citizens succumbed instantaneously to hear failure caused by a second stroke of paralysis. He fell in front of the Cotton Exchange just as he was showing samples to the buyers and breathed his last breath as he was lain on the table inside the Exchange.
He had left home feeling fine according to his son-in-law Mr. A. M. Fordham. Once in town he was walking the streets talking and laughing with his many friends. When the undertaker arrived Clarke was taken to the home of Mr. Lovett Claxton and prepared for burial. He was survived by his wife and his children are nine in number, only one dead, the eldest girl who was burned to death some years back. The others are Mrs. W. T. Page, Mrs. G. B. Harrison, Mrs. A. R. Vanlandingham, Mr. Gordon Clarke, Mrs. A. M. Fordham, Mrs. Col. I. L. Price, Miss Ada Clarke, Pvt. Turner Clarke and Mrs. S. W. Harrison. Burial was at New Home.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

FROM DAYS GONE BY November 29, 1918

November 29, 1918.

Capt. I. W. Haughey, an army physician from Nebraska, but stationed at Camp wheeler, was sent to Wrightsville to address Class 1 which would have been drafted into the army had the war not ended. Over 540 came in response to the call sent out by the Local Board. The meeting was held at the court house and Haughey was introduced by Col. Brinson. The captain went into the subject at once with his gloves off and put out in strong terms the definition, the cause, the action and the results of contracting veneral diseases and their effects on boys entering the service of this government.
when the ill-fated ship Otranto went down on the coast of Scotland in the early part of October it carried with it forty-eight boys from this state, the most from any state, and about the heaviest blow to Georgia of the war. Emanuel County suffered heaviest of all Georgia counties. So far as is known only one from Johnson County went down with it. This was Lonnie Steptoe of Kite. Notice that he was lost has just been published. It is not known whether his body was saved or not.
willie Parker has been discharged and is the first to reach home since the cease fire. Dr. I. H. Archer, in France, sent cashier E. E Daley a Boche helmet which had been worn by a Hun. It had a shrapnel hole in the top of it, where the Hohenzollern got his dose.
The chairman of the County Council of Defense has been notified that restrictions of all kinds have been removed and that any class of structure can now proceed without a permit. If you have a house to build, he said go ahead and build it.
A new merchantile business organization is replacing a retiring one in the city. The promoters are all well known successful merchants here for many years. They are J. H. and w. D. Rowland, E. N. Hitchcock and Raymond Roland. The Union Grocery Co. managed by Hitchcock will close. The new firm may still operate under the name of Union Grocery Co. but the business will be locate at Rowland Grain & Seed Co. The new firm will carry a full line of farmer supplies, vehicles, implements and harness, a general line of groceries, hardware and undertaker's supplies.
An organization among the colored people of the county to encourage work among the Negroes and to stop loafing has been launched. Rufus T. Bennett, arranged it along with H. T. Akins, James Jordan, D. F. Kemp, C. H. Robinson, E. V. Bently and Prof. J. D. Tucker.
Mr. A. M. Kea of Dublin has been given the job of Deputy U. S. Marshal to take the place of Mr. J. Ben Wilson, who was recently killed near Soperton by J. A. Alford when they made a raid on a still.
Everybody intersted in the possibilities of war finds in D. w. Griffith's specticale, "The Birth of a Nation" which comes to the Vivola Theater soon a thrilling association with the issues of today. The great crisis of 1861-70 as pictured in the play have their lesson for the Americans of today. The North and the South internal struggles; the strategy of the Petersburg Campaign and of Sherman's March to the Sea; Lee's surrender to Grant, and the aftermath of war in the Reconstruction period, all these from a servial of mastial and political events that enchain the spectators' interest. Out of the terrible conflict a new nation, united by spiritual as well as geographical ties, was born. The fire of American patriotism never burned brighter than it burns today, and the play which shows the evolution from past to the present will be gladly welcomed at the local presentation.
Its 12,000 feet of the greatest film ever up to that date. Cost of production 500,000; 5,000 scenes, 18,000 people and 3,000 horses compose this giant military specticale. The Vivola Theater will have a matinee and night, one day only, Saturday, December 7th.