Sunday, April 30, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY April 25, 1919

April 25, 1919.

The old soldiers of Johnson County met at the court house and elected Mr. T. J. Brantley, captain, and Uncle O. S. Fortner, 1st LT., Joe B. Williams as secretary-treasurer. There were 22 present and 26 absent of the old veterans now living in the county.
Mr. T. J. Brantley and Mr. Isom Stephens were elected delegates to the United Confederate Veterans Reunion at Dawson which convenes on the 18th and 19th of June. The 20 cents apiece for dues was paid by all and the Headlight served them cold drinks and cigars.
Those veterans present were J. R. Wilson, J. F. Price, G. P. Spears, S. L. Cooper, W. T. Brantley, J. L. Miller, H. G. Wheeler, O. S. Fortner, L. D. Spence, W. G. Davis, W. H. Blankenship, T. J. Brantley, W. H. Frost, D. H. Tuttle, Isom Stephens, John Marsh, H. H. Tucker, L. S. Powell, J. P. D. Oliver, L. Mosley, J. A. Douglas, Sr., W. S. Burns.
Those still living but absent were H. C. Townsend, B. Y. Wheeler, J. K. Mixon, J. T. Snell, H. C. Mason, Minter Burns, D. C. Blankenship, Gabriel Kittrell, Hansel Dixon, R. T. Henderson, L. Underwood, John Brantley, A. E. Simpson, B. D. Brantley, T. H. Walden, Reeves Walden, James Moxley, Alfred Barnes, W. P. Ennis, P. T. Mixon, Daniel E. Smith, W. D. Smith, T. J. Stapleton, W. G. Foskey, Joseph Wilkins, D. Z. Douglas. The governor is raising the funds now to pay the soldiers their pensions for 1919.
All of southern Johnson County was stirred up over the murder charge brought by Henry Thigpen against Vestus Mathis. When Mathis was passing the Thigpen home the 6 year old daughter ran out into the road and met instant death under the wheels of the Briscoe automobile driven by Mathis.
The father claims Mathis was driving reckless, speedy and in an unconcerned manner; that by care and proper control the accident would not have happened. The mother was stricken with grief for days from the sudden shock. Mathis says he was under control but the girl ran out from behind the Thigpen's auto. Seeing her danger he zig-zagged to miss her but she was already there.
A lot of witnesses have been summoned and Mathis has been in jail over a week now. His father lives in Emanuel County and he went to see him for advice and was arrested there. Mathis says he greatly regrets the occurance. The outcome of the case is awaited with interest.
The preliminary trial of Tom Wicker was held Saturday. He was charged with the murder of Jack Dawson at Price's bridge the night of April 5th. Angela Dixon, held as accessory to the killing of Jim Giles was turned go Saturday at the instance of the prosecution for lack of evidence, to be committed. Giles was killed in his home on April 13th and his wife is in jail charged with his murder.
Mr. T. V. Kent has opened a large furniture business. J. O. Tanner has Dixie Flyer and Hanson Six automobiles for sale at his up-to-date garage. Mr. Leon A. Lovett has added on to his business. He is the Ford dealer here. Messers. Pournell and Lord have charge of the office and repairs are left to Jack Hamilton, Willie Crawford and Bob Lord. J. N. Riner files for bankruptcy.
Miss Noona Lee Tanner is to wed Mr. Ezekial Baldwin Gaines in May. Miss Bessie Martin married Mr. John L. Willis and Miss Trixie Lancaster married Mr. J. Jack Crawford. Col. and Mrs. Ben Hill Moye had a fine young girl on April 17th.
Judge J. C. Wiggins is repairing the walk on the west side of the court house with cement. Mr. Crafts of Dublin is doing the work. There is considerable interest in the creation of a Board of Trade for Wrightsville.
Cotton still revolves around 26 cents but hogs go from 12 to 17 cents per pound, thus giving an additional reason for growing hogs instead of cotton. The Georgia farmer who gets left this year in hog raising is missing a great money-making opportunity.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY April 18, 1919

April 18, 1919.

Mr. W. M. Owens, staff correspondent for the Augusta Herald wrote an interesting piece on Wrightsville, which he called "A Hustling Town Of Live Businessmen And Farmers."
"The brightest and newest paper in the state--two strong banks--handsome and well stocked business houses--a half score of big cotton warehouses; These, and others too numerous to mention in detail, are the assets of Wrightsville, the seat of Johnson County, the best farming area in the state and populated with farmers who raise hog and hominy and live independent of the western farmer for corn, hay and meat.
Wrightsville has a population of 2,500. The town has enjoyed steady and substantial growth from a period dating several years before the war. The merchants are progressive, so are the business and professional men, and W. M. Shurling, Mayor, is an enterprising citizen and professional man, having a law office here.
The Wrightsville paper---The Headlight---is in every sense a local paper. The editor, C. D. Roundtree, who has been in charge of the paper since 1915, coming here from Swainsboro, where he conducted the Forrest-Blade of that town, makes no effort to publish foreign news in his paper, catering entirely to the people of this immediate section and furnishing them with up-to-the-minute local news items.
The farmers of this county, Mr. Roundtree pointed out, take daily papers for foreign news, fiction and the like, and thee are but few country homes in this section but what are entered by a daily newspaper. And, it is worth while noting, many of them take the Herald and state that they are better pleased with it than any state paper.
Wrightsville is situated almost in the heart of Johnson County and is on the Wrightsville and Tennille railroad, an enterprising line, which despite the fact that it operates only mixed trains, carries the most sanitary and comfortable of coaches and has a roadbed that is unequaled by any small road in the state.
It has just been announced in Wrightsville that a new bank is to be opened here, giving the town three strong financial institutions. The new bank will have a capital stock of $50,000 and the other two are capitalized at $35,000 and $25,000.
Among the most prominent businessmen and most active citizens of Wrightsville are E. A. Lovett, J. H. Rowland, W. C. and H. C. Tompkins, Elmore Hayes, R. E. Butterly, R. P. Hicks. These gentlemen are engaged largely in the merchantile and cotton business and have caused to be erected here a number of large cotton warehouses.
There are few towns in the state that can give evidence of a better financial future than Wrightsville, and this can be discovered by a visitor by the simple method of keeping one's eyes open, it not being necessary to take the word of the business men for it.
The matter of good roads is receiving considerable agitation here just now, it being admitted that the roads in some sections of the county are in a deplorable condition, and this is one of the matters that the county, now that the war is over, will get squarely behind and find a remedy for."

Sunday, April 16, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY April 11, 1919

April 11, 1919.

Five coloreds were riding towards Price's bridge Saturday night and their lights went out. They went up to a farm house near by for repairs and left in the same direction when the lights again went out. Starting to return in the dark the car was fired into by some unknown party with a shotgun, the load, entering the bosom of one Jack Dawson, a farm hand on the plantation of Mr. Loyd Price. The other four ran for their lives, leaving the Ford in the road with the engine running, the wounded Negro and all being found there by people living in the community.
Coroner Frank Jackson was summoned to the scene and entailed a jury which after making extensive investigations returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by gunshot wounds inflicted by an unknown person. A collection was taken for his burial and the expense of same saved the county. The Grand Jury is expected to further investigate this.
The colored people all went to St. Galillee church between the city and Idylwild Sunday and held a day's meeting until the afternoon the peace and quiet was disturbed by two getting out in the road and taking each other as a target for their pocket guns. No harm was done to either, but one of the sisters not far off got in the way of a bullet and was hit, but not seriously. Officers placed them under arrest but the church brethren are going to push it to the end of the law because they are tired of having their services upset so much.
The county is losing its extension agent as Mr. Fred T. Bridges is going to Dublin. Mr. Jacob Kaplan is having a big sale. The firm of J. O. & B. B. Tanner is dissolved. Mr. C. H. Moore added to his large plantation in Treutlen County on the lower side known as the Ben Griffin plantation. On it is the grave of the late Governor Troup and his relations, a lot of them.
Mr. & Mrs. T. L. Martin announced the birth of a fine daughter on April 9th. Mr. & Mrs. Claude Tompkins had a fine little girl on April 4th. On March 29th Miss Mary Will Johnson became the wife of Mr. Emanuel Harrison.
The little daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Eara Westbrook died April 2nd. She was born September 9, 1917 and a granddaughter of Mr. J. Tanner. Her name Earline Westbrook, was a member of Gethsemene Baptist church. Mr. Jasper Smith died at his home east of the city Sunday night after an illness of two weeks. He was one of the oldest and best men of Johnson County and has a large family connection here and elsewhere. He was 65 years old and was buried at New Home.
Dr. Benjamin Sheftall the local vet cured a mare of pneumonia with a remedy known as "iodum miller". The mare was brought to him on March 24th by its owner Mr. G. B. Warren who lives near Lovett. Then its temp was around 106 and went above. Everyone thought it was hopeless but by April 5th, just ten days it was feeling good as ever. Mr. Warren being a poor man the vet didn't charge him anything above the actual cost of the medicine.
Mrs. Ella Lord says she is mighty proud of her grandchildren who number twenty-six, the youngest being a son born to Mr. & Mrs. M. T. Lord on the 2nd. None are afflicted in anyway, all living and prospering and look good if they favor their grandmother.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY April 4, 1919

April 4, 1919.

By the vote of seven to five Cochran won the location finally for the 12th District Agricultural and Mechanical school. One trustee did not vote because he had not seen the sites. As soon as the executive can have the land surveyed and deeds examined work on the erection of a building will be started. It is hoped the school will be opened for pupils by the first of September.
Much anxiety was felt last week by the families of ten homes when a mad dog run amuck in the settlement and bit ten people before it stopped. The head was sent to Atlanta for examination and Dr. J. G. Brantley wired Atlanta that the animal had all evidence and symptoms of rabies. Medicine was then immediately wired back and Dr. Brantley is treating them. Those bitten were Mr. & Mrs. H. G. Harrison, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gus Mixon, two of Mr. Crawford Holt's sons, two of Mr. Jeff Marsh's sons, a daughter of Willie Burns, a daughter of Mr. Willie Harrison and the little son of Mr. J. Edd Brantley.
An application was submitted to charter a new bank in Wrightsville to be named The Farmers Bank with $50,000 capitol stock divided into 500 shares of $100 each. Peititioners were W. M. Shurling, R. E. Butterly and R. B. Bryan. The Citizens Bank of Kite is enlarging their banking house and fixtures. The vault will be enlarged and placed further to the rear of the building.
The way of the transgressor is hard. In fact it is very hard, even on this earth. Especially is it hard for the murderer who takes the life of his fellow creature in cold blood. The three murderers found guilty and sentenced to life terms at the recent Johnson Superior Court are now finding it hard. They have begun their life's work on the public highways of the state, two of them, Joe Alexander and Will Stubbs, going to Richmond County and the other one, Red Wright, being placed with Captain Kemp's gang in Johnson County. This left Sheriff Rowland with one inmate, an aged white man being held on alimony proceedings instigated by his second wife, who is now a divorcee.
Congressman W. W. Larson is headed to Europe to check on conditions there. Mr. W. W. Dent is now selling Watkins Household Remedies. Mr. J. L. Drake of Adrian says he will probably be a candidate for Sheriff in the next election. Other probable candidates mentioned were W. H. Kitchens, C. M. Schwalls, W. R. Smith, Jonah L. Davis, W. T. Rowland, W. D. Rowland. The Confederate soldiers of the county are preparing for the 1919 Reunion of the Georgia Division, United Confederate Veterans in Dawson.
Another crazy was committed the third this year by Judge Wiggins. Carrie Johnson was brought before the Judge in a very crazy state of mind. The sheriff is waiting on orders from Milledgeville.
Last Thursday Buster Brown and Tige came to town. They spent two days advertising Buster Brown shoes at Hayes Brothers store. The little folks had a lot of fun from Buster's and Tige's performances.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

FROM DAYS GONE BY March 28, 1919

March 28, 1919.

The 12th District's agricultural school will be awarded finally on March 29th, in the office of Governor Hugh M. Dorsey, Capitol Building, Atlanta. Last Thursday the bids were opened in the Governor's office and it was found that only Cochran and Dublin were again trying for the location of the school and between the two is quite a rivalry.
The Board of Trustees are perfectly familiar with the bids and the lands being offered by both places and therefore no inspection of the sites will be made. Cochran has her titles straightened out now, but she is finding that Dublin has everything ready and it will be a matter of close work for the board to decide.
The city of Dublin offers through Mr. N. G. Bartlett 202 1/2 acres of land, valued at $30,975; light, water and sewerage free for five years, valued at $10,000; 13 1/2 acres of campus ground, valued at $6,750; one 8 room college building, valued at $40,000; one 8 room frame dormitory, valued at $4,000, and $25,000 in cash, aggregating a valuation of $116,125.
Cochran renews its former offer of 202 acres valued at $40,000; $25,000 in cash and has added to the former offer of lights, water and sewerage free for five years.
The 12th District Fair Association plans a big spring festival in Dublin consisting of a large showing of livestock, poultry, automobiles, tractors and improved farm machinery. It is planned for April 7th to 12th.
There is to be a revival of the good ole days when vocal music reigned supreme and hundreds traveled long distances to hear and participate. This means another grand old singing convention in April, on Saturday and Sunday, 12th and 13th, at New Home church. Then all the singers of the county and Washington County will meet together again as they did before the war.
Able to sit up in a rolling chair but can't walk alone, Mr. J. E. Linder is home from Sandersville Sanitarium where he has been since December 30th, with a broken thigh caused by a car striking him in Wrightsville. Mr. Lasse O. Mosely is still overseas with the army of occupation. Among those who have arrived home are Marvin W. Riner of Kite, Troy Dent and Dennis Oliver of Adrian. Also Neil B. Blount, color sgt of the 17th Engineers of Wrightsville.
Mr. J. M. Frost has a fine barber shop out near Price School called The Duck House. Mr. & Mrs. R. H. Smith announced the birth of a fine son on March 22nd. Mr. & Mrs. G. F. Sumner celebrated their 25th anniversary out at Gethsemene community. Miss Audrey Smith of near Scott married on the 19th to Mr. Roy O. Guest of Alamo. The Bank of Adrian released their statement of condition at $167,500.33 as did The Scott Banking Company at $100,991.78.
Wrightsville should send a commission down to Pavo to see what those people feed their hens. 1200 dozen eggs a week, $360. Some money! Enough to educate their children, everyone of them at Oxford.
A complaint came in that this person timed their watch the day on a short call in the city and found that it took exactly three minutes before he got an answer from the hello girl in the exchange. If this is the kind of service we are paying for we might as well cut it out. Telephoning is worse than going after it.