From Days Gone By Jan. 1, 1921

January 1, 1921.
    Santa Claus came into every home in Johnson County this trip and made the hearts of the old folks, the middle-aged folks and the tiny tots all happy and not a family was left untouched by his majestic sweetness. The poor was looked after as well as the more wealthy and everybody rejoiced.
    This time the gift of more valuable and useful presents was the order of the day, the dry goods and furnishing stores doing about as much Christmas selling as the regular toy stores. People bought a lot of presents needful to the members of their families, more than usual.
    Lightning struck the school dormitory at Orianna last Wednesday and killed young Newburn Hatcher instantly. He was 15 years old. With Miss Maggie Smith, an assistant of the school, and Prof. Bates, the principal, the boy was standing on the veranda when the bolt struck. The boys' cap was torn into rags and his shoes torn from his feet but not a place on his body was scarred. The teachers standing with him were shocked also but only slightly injured. Dr. A. M. Roundtree of Adrian was summoned. The lad was a son of Mr. Isaac Hatcher of Orianna.
    Draft deserters whose fears were lulled to rest by over two years from prosecution are about to receive an unpleasant surprise. The names of 172,911 of them are soon to be published in their "hometown" sections as an early step to bring them to a speedy trial, the War Department announced. Much aid in this is expected from the American Legion
    Mr. Harry Lewis is moving to Dublin and vacating his store here. Harry has lots of friends here making more than the ordinary Jew and his departure would be missed. Barber Willie Brantley is moving to Macon where he will open a barber shop. Mr. & Mrs. J. N. Hall are moving to Wrightsville. Mr. D. W. Bray has moved from Lovett to Dublin. Soldier Daniel Frank Martin of Camp Jackson, 61st Infantry is home on furlow.
    E. N. Hitchcock and Raymond Rowland have severed their ties with Wrightsville Hardware Company. Mr. Hitchcock is opening a grocery store. Santa visited the home of Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Bray leaving a bright little daughter. Mr. & Mrs. Arthur B. Rowland had a 9 pound son also. The old bird is still flying around leaving a fine daughter with Mr. & Mrs. Leon A. Lovett.
    The Bank of Adrian relessed its statement of condition at $192,031.47. Mr. George W. Gannon left for Ironton, Ohio, the home of his people. His father had a bad accident having his leg crushed while at work. On December 9th death visited the home of Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Cox taking their daughter Marie being sick only 4 days. She was born October 29, 1907, just 13 years old. She was buried at Pleasant Grove.
    For several months but little has been said with reference to the discovery of oil in the Edd Spell area, 5 miles West of Wrightsville. This was because the long dry period caused a cesstation of signs and evidence, the oil ceasing to bubble from the ground. Cut with the avdent of the Winter season and the rainy weather new and more abundant signs are now visable in the same sector as before.
    Mr. Spell claims that this is natural with seepages of this kind, leaving no alarm when it ceased to ooze out, but has now started back. Leases of 15 to 20 thousand acres have been secured up to this time on lands and he says it will again be renewed in an effort to secure a sufficentcy to bring oil magnates here for the purpose of entering the bowels of the earth in a search for this much desired fountain of wealth. It was claimed in the outset the evidence disclosed in this Spell area afforded sufficent reason to assert that it was on this spot somewhere, and this belief is still held optimistically.