January 28, 1922.
The Wrightsville Headlight printed a piece from the Nashville Tennessean about the plight of farmers, called "De Ducks".
Under an Iowa dateline the newspapers of the middle west recently carried a story of a farmer who had sold his corn, attempting to explain to a banker why he needed a loan. The following dialogue ensued:
"But," the banker said, "I don't understand why you should want to borrow money when you have just shipped your corn. What did you do with the money?"
"De ducks got it," replied the farmer. "What do you mean by 'de ducks?" Replied the banker.
"Well," the farmer explained, "i shipped the corn to market and sold it for 52 cents a bushel. They de duck freight, that left 31 cents; de duck 1 cent commission, that left 30 cents; de duck elevator charges, that left 27 cents; de duck huskings that left 15 cents; de duck hauling, that left 5 cents; de duck the hired man's wages from that and you are a better farmer than I am if you can find anything left."
The "de ducks" are the plague of the farmer's existance. Under the prevailing marketing system he pays everytime he turns around, and unless times are remarkably good, it takes keen figuring to discover the profit.
All of the "de ducks" cannot be eliminated, but some of them can, and the average remainder can be reduced. Cooperative marketing will deliver the knock-out to the present "de duck" system. The farmer is certainly entitled to fair percentage of return on his investment and labor, and the only way in which we can be assured of it is by organization so that he can have a voice in the sales price of what he raises.
Agriculture needs to apply the same scientific methods of buying, warehousing, and merchandising as it does to producing. When that is done the industry will be placed upon a business basis.
Monday, December 30, 2019
From Days Gone By Jan 21, 1922
January 21, 1922.
The following was printed in late 1921 in the Wrightsville Headlight as farming was Georgia's biggest industry and the county fairs were the biggest and most important events of the time. It's entitled "The Fair" by D. G. Bickers.
"From Georgia farms and Georgia fields are Georgia products fine,
And gems and precious metals there from many a Georgia mine.
The Georgia woods have beat their share of treasure for the show
And Georgia marble smooth and white will soon be all the go.
There's Georgia melons, Georgia cane, and Georgia cotton, too,
And Georgia oats and wheat and corn like what the west can do,
There's Georgia bread from Georgia mills and Georgia wool for clothes.
There's Georgia shoes and Georgia hats and overalls and hose.
There's Georgia turnips turning and punkins never punk,
And Georgia 'taters syrupy like candy by the chunk.
There's Georgia pinders, peanuts--also ground peas, goobers, too,
And Georgia syrup, "ribbon cane" -- and Georgia "mountain dew",
There's Georgia cakes and Georgia cream and Georgia peaches sweet.
And Georgia rice and Georgia hams and Georgia middling meat.
There's Georgia cabbage, collards, and some other things as green,
And luscious Georgia fruits of all sorts - the like was never seen.
There's Georgia horses, mules and colts, and Georgia hogs galore,
And Georgia cows and calves and bulls, and then a plenty more,
Of other Georgia livestock from the pasture and the stall----
The finest that was ever seen in summer, spring or fall.
From out the Georgia mountains, Georgia hills and Georgia vales,
From off the plains and fields, from out the Georgia dales,
The products of this Georgia soil would open wide the eyes
Of Easterner or Westerner and fill him with surprise.
And many a Georgia fellow there will chew his Georgia quid
And reach into his Georgia jeans where Georgia gold is hid,
Enjoy in true old Georgia style the fair in all its parts
And show in turn the Georgianess of "sho-nuff" Georgia hearts."
Another entitled "The Dairy Cow" by Walt Mason.
"The dairy cow's a thing of charm; she lifts the morgage from the farm, and makes the farmer's life more sweet and sets him down in easy street. Where'er the dairy cow is queen, a country prosperous is seen, and dairymen, in joyful ranks, are packing bullion to the banks. Why plug along the same old way, producing nutmegs, prunes, hay, and putting up a bankrupt wail if one year's crop should chance to fail? There a better method now---the method of the dairy cow; this critter always earns her keep, and piles up riches while you sleep. So let us boost the Holstein cow, which beats the old breechloading plow; the Guernsey and the Jersey, too, as smooth as any cow in view. Let's talk up dairies, milk and cream, the safest money-making scheme."
The following was printed in late 1921 in the Wrightsville Headlight as farming was Georgia's biggest industry and the county fairs were the biggest and most important events of the time. It's entitled "The Fair" by D. G. Bickers.
"From Georgia farms and Georgia fields are Georgia products fine,
And gems and precious metals there from many a Georgia mine.
The Georgia woods have beat their share of treasure for the show
And Georgia marble smooth and white will soon be all the go.
There's Georgia melons, Georgia cane, and Georgia cotton, too,
And Georgia oats and wheat and corn like what the west can do,
There's Georgia bread from Georgia mills and Georgia wool for clothes.
There's Georgia shoes and Georgia hats and overalls and hose.
There's Georgia turnips turning and punkins never punk,
And Georgia 'taters syrupy like candy by the chunk.
There's Georgia pinders, peanuts--also ground peas, goobers, too,
And Georgia syrup, "ribbon cane" -- and Georgia "mountain dew",
There's Georgia cakes and Georgia cream and Georgia peaches sweet.
And Georgia rice and Georgia hams and Georgia middling meat.
There's Georgia cabbage, collards, and some other things as green,
And luscious Georgia fruits of all sorts - the like was never seen.
There's Georgia horses, mules and colts, and Georgia hogs galore,
And Georgia cows and calves and bulls, and then a plenty more,
Of other Georgia livestock from the pasture and the stall----
The finest that was ever seen in summer, spring or fall.
From out the Georgia mountains, Georgia hills and Georgia vales,
From off the plains and fields, from out the Georgia dales,
The products of this Georgia soil would open wide the eyes
Of Easterner or Westerner and fill him with surprise.
And many a Georgia fellow there will chew his Georgia quid
And reach into his Georgia jeans where Georgia gold is hid,
Enjoy in true old Georgia style the fair in all its parts
And show in turn the Georgianess of "sho-nuff" Georgia hearts."
Another entitled "The Dairy Cow" by Walt Mason.
"The dairy cow's a thing of charm; she lifts the morgage from the farm, and makes the farmer's life more sweet and sets him down in easy street. Where'er the dairy cow is queen, a country prosperous is seen, and dairymen, in joyful ranks, are packing bullion to the banks. Why plug along the same old way, producing nutmegs, prunes, hay, and putting up a bankrupt wail if one year's crop should chance to fail? There a better method now---the method of the dairy cow; this critter always earns her keep, and piles up riches while you sleep. So let us boost the Holstein cow, which beats the old breechloading plow; the Guernsey and the Jersey, too, as smooth as any cow in view. Let's talk up dairies, milk and cream, the safest money-making scheme."
From Days Gone By Jan 14, 1922
January 14, 1922.
This is part two of interesting and little known facts about the first twenty-six presidents of the United States.
Andrew Johnson was one of the poorest presidents monetarily. Only Southern Senator to oppose Sessesion and keep his Senate seat after the Confederacy was formed. Only president to be a Senator, become President, then return to the Senate. First President to be impeached by the House but was aquitted by the Senate.
Ulysses Simpson Grant never voted for a Republican until he was top leader of the army, at 46 was youngest elected up to that time. Last president to have been a slave owner. He also created the Department of Justice.
Rutherford B. Hayes was first to call for full citizenship of Indians, spent an hour in prayer each morning before doing his presidential duties. First to win Electoral College and lose popular vote, Democrats claimed he stole the election. (Sound familiar).
James A. Garfield was last president born in a log cabin, second president to be assasinated although he live more than two months after being shot.
Chester Alan Arthur, until he became vice-president had no political experience in National politics, did not move into the White House for 3 months claiminng the previous occupant left it in a mess.
Grover Cleveland was first Democrat elected after the Civil War, only president who's wedding was in the White House, only president to lose re-election then return to the presidency in a subsquent election. Won popular vote but lost Electoral College 233-168. His Supreme Court struck down the income tax as unconstitutional.
Benjamin Harrison was the Centenial president, 100 years after George Washington, refused to shake hands believing it hygienic.
William McKinley lost $100,000 business deal but supporters established a fund to pay it off, later he tried to repay them but they refused to accept it. Last president to have served in the Civil War. Third president to be assasinated.
Teddy Roosevelt at 42 became the youngest president when McKinley was shot. Only president to recieve the Nobel Prize and Medal of Honor, first in foreign policy to use the term "America First".
William Howard Taft was the heaviest president at over 300, started tradition of throwing the first pitch of baseball season. As a progressive he wanted to lower tarriffs and offset revenues with income taxes, which, until the adoption of the 16th Amendment, unconstitutional.
Of the nation's first seven presidents, five were re-elected for a second term, of the next eight, none was. Two died and six either failed to be re-elected or decided to serve one term.
This is part two of interesting and little known facts about the first twenty-six presidents of the United States.
Andrew Johnson was one of the poorest presidents monetarily. Only Southern Senator to oppose Sessesion and keep his Senate seat after the Confederacy was formed. Only president to be a Senator, become President, then return to the Senate. First President to be impeached by the House but was aquitted by the Senate.
Ulysses Simpson Grant never voted for a Republican until he was top leader of the army, at 46 was youngest elected up to that time. Last president to have been a slave owner. He also created the Department of Justice.
Rutherford B. Hayes was first to call for full citizenship of Indians, spent an hour in prayer each morning before doing his presidential duties. First to win Electoral College and lose popular vote, Democrats claimed he stole the election. (Sound familiar).
James A. Garfield was last president born in a log cabin, second president to be assasinated although he live more than two months after being shot.
Chester Alan Arthur, until he became vice-president had no political experience in National politics, did not move into the White House for 3 months claiminng the previous occupant left it in a mess.
Grover Cleveland was first Democrat elected after the Civil War, only president who's wedding was in the White House, only president to lose re-election then return to the presidency in a subsquent election. Won popular vote but lost Electoral College 233-168. His Supreme Court struck down the income tax as unconstitutional.
Benjamin Harrison was the Centenial president, 100 years after George Washington, refused to shake hands believing it hygienic.
William McKinley lost $100,000 business deal but supporters established a fund to pay it off, later he tried to repay them but they refused to accept it. Last president to have served in the Civil War. Third president to be assasinated.
Teddy Roosevelt at 42 became the youngest president when McKinley was shot. Only president to recieve the Nobel Prize and Medal of Honor, first in foreign policy to use the term "America First".
William Howard Taft was the heaviest president at over 300, started tradition of throwing the first pitch of baseball season. As a progressive he wanted to lower tarriffs and offset revenues with income taxes, which, until the adoption of the 16th Amendment, unconstitutional.
Of the nation's first seven presidents, five were re-elected for a second term, of the next eight, none was. Two died and six either failed to be re-elected or decided to serve one term.
From Days Gone By Jan 7, 1922
January 7, 1922.
This is part one of some interesting, and little known facts about the first twenty-six presidents of the United States.
George Washington was thought to be old as president, but he was 13 years younger than Ronald Reagan and 10 years older than Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.
John Adams successfully defended British soldiers against murder charges in the Boston Massacre. He believed everyone deserved their day in court.
Thomas Jefferson opened the door and personally greeted guests at the White House, often in his bedroom slippers. Even before term limits he believed two terms was enough for any president.
James Madison was the first president to ask Congress for a declaration of war, and the first sitting president to lead American troops to the Battle of Bladensburg.
James Monroe was the first president to tour every region of the country and the last to wear a ponytail.
John Quincy Adams took the oath on a constitutional law book and not a Bible. The only president to serve in the House of Representatives after he lost re-election as president.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to be a target of assasination and repeatedly called for an amendment to eliminate the Electoral College.
Martin Van Buren inherited a slave as a teenager, who ran away, thus the first northern president to have been a slave owner. Created the Democratic Party and the first to be nominated by that party.
William Henry Harrison was the first presidential candidate to go state to state campaigning, served the shortest time in office (30 days) and gave the longest inaugural speech that lasted 2 hours. First president to die in office.
John Tyler was the first president to have a veto overridden by Congress, named no vice-president after assuming the presidency from Harrison's death, first to lose a wife while in office. Hail to the Chief was first played for him and adopted for future presidents. First to be threatened with impeachment by his own party. He narrowly escaped death when a cannon explosion occured during a demonstration. The result would have been two presidents to die in office in a 3 year period.
James Knox Polk was the only Speaker of the House to win the presidency and the first to promise to serve only one term.
Zachary Taylor was the first to call his wife the First Lady. His daughter defied him by marrying President Jefferson Davis.
Millard Fillmore appointed the only Whig Supreme Court Justice. (Whig was a political party at that time). While presiding over the Senate as Vice-President, watched as Senator Foote of Mississippi pull a pistol on Senator Benton of Missouri on the Senate floor.
Franklin Pierce at 49 was the youngest president before U. S. Grant was elected. Only president born in New Hampshire.
James Buchanan was only president to never marry and last to be born in the 1700s.
Abraham Lincoln was the only president to hold a patent. He was not even on the list of original candidates for the 1860 Republican nomination. His depression was so bad he joked to friends not to allow him near a knife. First president to be assassinated.
This is part one of some interesting, and little known facts about the first twenty-six presidents of the United States.
George Washington was thought to be old as president, but he was 13 years younger than Ronald Reagan and 10 years older than Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.
John Adams successfully defended British soldiers against murder charges in the Boston Massacre. He believed everyone deserved their day in court.
Thomas Jefferson opened the door and personally greeted guests at the White House, often in his bedroom slippers. Even before term limits he believed two terms was enough for any president.
James Madison was the first president to ask Congress for a declaration of war, and the first sitting president to lead American troops to the Battle of Bladensburg.
James Monroe was the first president to tour every region of the country and the last to wear a ponytail.
John Quincy Adams took the oath on a constitutional law book and not a Bible. The only president to serve in the House of Representatives after he lost re-election as president.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to be a target of assasination and repeatedly called for an amendment to eliminate the Electoral College.
Martin Van Buren inherited a slave as a teenager, who ran away, thus the first northern president to have been a slave owner. Created the Democratic Party and the first to be nominated by that party.
William Henry Harrison was the first presidential candidate to go state to state campaigning, served the shortest time in office (30 days) and gave the longest inaugural speech that lasted 2 hours. First president to die in office.
John Tyler was the first president to have a veto overridden by Congress, named no vice-president after assuming the presidency from Harrison's death, first to lose a wife while in office. Hail to the Chief was first played for him and adopted for future presidents. First to be threatened with impeachment by his own party. He narrowly escaped death when a cannon explosion occured during a demonstration. The result would have been two presidents to die in office in a 3 year period.
James Knox Polk was the only Speaker of the House to win the presidency and the first to promise to serve only one term.
Zachary Taylor was the first to call his wife the First Lady. His daughter defied him by marrying President Jefferson Davis.
Millard Fillmore appointed the only Whig Supreme Court Justice. (Whig was a political party at that time). While presiding over the Senate as Vice-President, watched as Senator Foote of Mississippi pull a pistol on Senator Benton of Missouri on the Senate floor.
Franklin Pierce at 49 was the youngest president before U. S. Grant was elected. Only president born in New Hampshire.
James Buchanan was only president to never marry and last to be born in the 1700s.
Abraham Lincoln was the only president to hold a patent. He was not even on the list of original candidates for the 1860 Republican nomination. His depression was so bad he joked to friends not to allow him near a knife. First president to be assassinated.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
From Days Gone By Dec 31, 1921
December 31, 1921.
Wrightsville saw a quiet, sober and enjoyable Christmas. Drunkeness was at a low ebb and is now and disorderly charges have been few. The houses of worship were filled on Christmas day. The town businesses reports heavy selling several days in advance.
A jolly set of young people from around Mr. Oliver's and Raines Crossroads paraded all over Wrightsville and put on the first outward Christmas celebration of the season save the small amount of firecrackers shot in town. Dressed funnily and driving and riding odd conveyances they made merry for sometime beforr taking their departure.
Messrs. T. V. Kent and J. D. Bush have purchased the entire undertaking establishment of the Tanner Undertaking Company and have attractive quarters in Mr. Kent's department store on the west side of the court house.
Mr. Mark Anthony, a football star of Georgia was the guest of Mr. Louie Johnson and other friends in the city. Dr. & Mrs. R. E. Butterly entertained them with a dinner.
Warden Stanley is soon to break dirt on the Bee-Line highway out of the city towards Kite working his way to Moore's Chapel then completing it into Kite and to be at the Emanuel line by early summer. He has just completed a long stretch of public road into the city along the Summer's bridge way to Adrian.
A colored named Fason was turned loose having been parolled by Govenor Hardwick. A few more have paid out and the gang is barely 50 in number now. Mr. Lovett Price and Mr. T. D. Holt has been added to the guard force.
A new barn down at camp headquarters is finished. Several are in jail waiting to be tried. One of these is a colored man nicknamed "Peg" and "Peg" has started a regular "preaching" racket down there.
Around 2am the town was arroused with the fire alarm when the tenant house of Mrs. William Tyson out Idlywild was in flames. The colored tenants lost everything. Then later at 7am another alarm when the vacant residence next to Mr. R. T. Moye. The bucket brigade saved Moye's home but was all they could do.
Officer C. T. Mixon went to Hastings, Florida for a colored prisioner whom Sheriff Davis located and had jailed on a local charge. Mr. W. T. Kitchens went to Macon where he has opened a store selling army goods. Mr. T. W. Horton of Scott filed for bankruptcy.
Christmas weddings were very numorous this year. Miss Exie Lou Martin to Mr. Clyde Lord. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Martin, he is son of Mr. & Mrs. F. C. Lord.
Miss Lotis Stroud and Mr. Sidney Peebles, Miss Sarah Price to Mr. Olin Brantley, Miss Bessie McCoy to Mr. Roy Scarborough, Miss Eva Mae Beasley to Mr. Asa R. Morris, Miss Winburn Jackson to Mr. Lorenzie Powell and Miss Carrie Davis to Mr. Talmadge Colston.
Wrightsville saw a quiet, sober and enjoyable Christmas. Drunkeness was at a low ebb and is now and disorderly charges have been few. The houses of worship were filled on Christmas day. The town businesses reports heavy selling several days in advance.
A jolly set of young people from around Mr. Oliver's and Raines Crossroads paraded all over Wrightsville and put on the first outward Christmas celebration of the season save the small amount of firecrackers shot in town. Dressed funnily and driving and riding odd conveyances they made merry for sometime beforr taking their departure.
Messrs. T. V. Kent and J. D. Bush have purchased the entire undertaking establishment of the Tanner Undertaking Company and have attractive quarters in Mr. Kent's department store on the west side of the court house.
Mr. Mark Anthony, a football star of Georgia was the guest of Mr. Louie Johnson and other friends in the city. Dr. & Mrs. R. E. Butterly entertained them with a dinner.
Warden Stanley is soon to break dirt on the Bee-Line highway out of the city towards Kite working his way to Moore's Chapel then completing it into Kite and to be at the Emanuel line by early summer. He has just completed a long stretch of public road into the city along the Summer's bridge way to Adrian.
A colored named Fason was turned loose having been parolled by Govenor Hardwick. A few more have paid out and the gang is barely 50 in number now. Mr. Lovett Price and Mr. T. D. Holt has been added to the guard force.
A new barn down at camp headquarters is finished. Several are in jail waiting to be tried. One of these is a colored man nicknamed "Peg" and "Peg" has started a regular "preaching" racket down there.
Around 2am the town was arroused with the fire alarm when the tenant house of Mrs. William Tyson out Idlywild was in flames. The colored tenants lost everything. Then later at 7am another alarm when the vacant residence next to Mr. R. T. Moye. The bucket brigade saved Moye's home but was all they could do.
Officer C. T. Mixon went to Hastings, Florida for a colored prisioner whom Sheriff Davis located and had jailed on a local charge. Mr. W. T. Kitchens went to Macon where he has opened a store selling army goods. Mr. T. W. Horton of Scott filed for bankruptcy.
Christmas weddings were very numorous this year. Miss Exie Lou Martin to Mr. Clyde Lord. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Wallace Martin, he is son of Mr. & Mrs. F. C. Lord.
Miss Lotis Stroud and Mr. Sidney Peebles, Miss Sarah Price to Mr. Olin Brantley, Miss Bessie McCoy to Mr. Roy Scarborough, Miss Eva Mae Beasley to Mr. Asa R. Morris, Miss Winburn Jackson to Mr. Lorenzie Powell and Miss Carrie Davis to Mr. Talmadge Colston.
From Days Gone By Dec 24, 1921
December 24, 1921.
According to Victor Davidson of Wilkinson County the proposed Bee-Line Highway was once an Indian trail. Known as the Ridge Road it divides the valleys of Big Commissioner and Big Sandy creeks, lined with old homes.
The movement ehich is gathering force in Washington, Johnson and Emanuel counties for the building of a Bee-Line state highway from Savannah to Macon, running through these counties, crossing the Oconee River at Ball's Ferry and passing through the middle of Wilkinson County, is arousing considerable comment here.
The proposed route known as the Ridge Road passes through Irwinton and running near the majority of the towns of the county would be of untold benefit to thousands of people in Wilkinson. Macon being the market in which most of the produce of the county is sold, there has been felt a widespread need for an excellent highway to that city for many years, and should the big canning plants open up in Macon in the near future, Wilkinson County, on account of its proximity, will be able to market all the vegetables that can be raised.
Although the length of this stretch of road lying in Wilkinson County is about 30 miles, yet there is no doubt but that this could be built as cheaply as any road in the state. There is a world of clay and sand all along the route which could be had without effort. In addition to that there is a peculiarity about this road that is to be found perhaps nowhere else in Georgia, in that throughout its entire length in the county, it can be run without crossing a single stream of water, which would eliminate all need of bridges.
This road gets the name of Ridge Road from the fact that throughout the whole county it follows the long narrow ridge which divides the valley of the Big Commissioner from that of the Big Sandy creeks. The ridge is the divide and in places very narrow. One joker makes a statement which is slightly exaggerated in that "when a car is coming from Macon in the rain water that runs off the right side of the car goes into Big Sandy and the left side into Big Commissioner". However, there are one or two spots where this might happen on the road.
This road has played an important part in the history of Wilkinson County. First, we find it an old Indian trail leading from the Indian village of Fort Hawkins towards the sea coast. Later, when the county was laid off and Irwinton was settled, it became the line of communication between this isolated spot and the civilized world. The Oconee River being opened for navigation for barges and small boats, the cotton, tobacco and other produce was hauled along this road to Ball's Ferry and often on to Savannah. Later on, when Fort Hawkins settlement began to grow, the road was extended there along the old Indian trail, and this being the nearest route to Savannah by as much as a whole day's journey, then became the stage route to Savannah the road was during those years traveled as much perhaps as any road in the state.
Running along the highest ridge of the county, on either side are the wide valleys of the two creeks stretching out for miles, furnishing the finest views to be found in middle Georgia. It is small wonder that as the county increased rapidly in population the aristocracy of the antebellum days should build their fine homes along this route. To this day many of the dilapidated remains of those homes may yet be found, others with their chimneys standing guard over the ashes as ghostly reminders of the departed glory of the old South.
Still later, along the road came Sherman's hosts, burning and pilliaging the countryside, passing through Irwinton, destroying the court house on his march of destruction. And to this day the country has not recovered from the devistation nor have the indignities suffered been obliterated from the minds of the people. In their triumphant march along this road, Sherman's men carried J. R. Kelley, now attendance officer for Wilkinson, then the one-legged soldier, a prisioner in their hands and sentenced to be shot at sunrise because he had the nerve to attack single-handed the Federal patrols approaching the town of Gordon, killing one of them. Mr. Kelley succeeded in rolling out of the covered wagon he was in and escaping his captors while crossing Ogeechee swamp.
There are no less than three Primitive Baptist churches located on the road, Ramah, Friendship and Myrtle Springs. Ball's Ferry across the Oconee, connecting this stretch with Washington County, is one of the oldest ferries across the Oconee river, getting its name from Anderson Ball, one of the most prominant pioneer citizens of the county.
According to Victor Davidson of Wilkinson County the proposed Bee-Line Highway was once an Indian trail. Known as the Ridge Road it divides the valleys of Big Commissioner and Big Sandy creeks, lined with old homes.
The movement ehich is gathering force in Washington, Johnson and Emanuel counties for the building of a Bee-Line state highway from Savannah to Macon, running through these counties, crossing the Oconee River at Ball's Ferry and passing through the middle of Wilkinson County, is arousing considerable comment here.
The proposed route known as the Ridge Road passes through Irwinton and running near the majority of the towns of the county would be of untold benefit to thousands of people in Wilkinson. Macon being the market in which most of the produce of the county is sold, there has been felt a widespread need for an excellent highway to that city for many years, and should the big canning plants open up in Macon in the near future, Wilkinson County, on account of its proximity, will be able to market all the vegetables that can be raised.
Although the length of this stretch of road lying in Wilkinson County is about 30 miles, yet there is no doubt but that this could be built as cheaply as any road in the state. There is a world of clay and sand all along the route which could be had without effort. In addition to that there is a peculiarity about this road that is to be found perhaps nowhere else in Georgia, in that throughout its entire length in the county, it can be run without crossing a single stream of water, which would eliminate all need of bridges.
This road gets the name of Ridge Road from the fact that throughout the whole county it follows the long narrow ridge which divides the valley of the Big Commissioner from that of the Big Sandy creeks. The ridge is the divide and in places very narrow. One joker makes a statement which is slightly exaggerated in that "when a car is coming from Macon in the rain water that runs off the right side of the car goes into Big Sandy and the left side into Big Commissioner". However, there are one or two spots where this might happen on the road.
This road has played an important part in the history of Wilkinson County. First, we find it an old Indian trail leading from the Indian village of Fort Hawkins towards the sea coast. Later, when the county was laid off and Irwinton was settled, it became the line of communication between this isolated spot and the civilized world. The Oconee River being opened for navigation for barges and small boats, the cotton, tobacco and other produce was hauled along this road to Ball's Ferry and often on to Savannah. Later on, when Fort Hawkins settlement began to grow, the road was extended there along the old Indian trail, and this being the nearest route to Savannah by as much as a whole day's journey, then became the stage route to Savannah the road was during those years traveled as much perhaps as any road in the state.
Running along the highest ridge of the county, on either side are the wide valleys of the two creeks stretching out for miles, furnishing the finest views to be found in middle Georgia. It is small wonder that as the county increased rapidly in population the aristocracy of the antebellum days should build their fine homes along this route. To this day many of the dilapidated remains of those homes may yet be found, others with their chimneys standing guard over the ashes as ghostly reminders of the departed glory of the old South.
Still later, along the road came Sherman's hosts, burning and pilliaging the countryside, passing through Irwinton, destroying the court house on his march of destruction. And to this day the country has not recovered from the devistation nor have the indignities suffered been obliterated from the minds of the people. In their triumphant march along this road, Sherman's men carried J. R. Kelley, now attendance officer for Wilkinson, then the one-legged soldier, a prisioner in their hands and sentenced to be shot at sunrise because he had the nerve to attack single-handed the Federal patrols approaching the town of Gordon, killing one of them. Mr. Kelley succeeded in rolling out of the covered wagon he was in and escaping his captors while crossing Ogeechee swamp.
There are no less than three Primitive Baptist churches located on the road, Ramah, Friendship and Myrtle Springs. Ball's Ferry across the Oconee, connecting this stretch with Washington County, is one of the oldest ferries across the Oconee river, getting its name from Anderson Ball, one of the most prominant pioneer citizens of the county.
From Days Gone By Dec. 17' 1921
December 17, 1921.
William Wright, colored, living 7 or 8 miles west of the city was caught Saturday night with alot of wet goods and shooting irons around his usual place of abode by officers Lee Jackson and Will Crawford in a raid on the premises. A gallon and a half of the home-made brew was captured, a 15 gallon lard can still was destroyed and 2 barrels of mobby went up in flames.
When Officer Jackson went into the yard he was confronted by Wright who went back for his pistol. The officer grabbed him and took the big gun away from him. Wright's wife took a hand in the fray with a big shotgun but she didn't get far before this was taken away from her. She grabbed the whiskey and started under the house with it when Crawford pulled her out by a foot. They had some crowd of shooting irons around. The big blue-steel pistol, a 44-40 Winchester rifle, a pop-gun and a breach loading shotgun and Wright carried a big pocket knife which much resembled a Bowie knife. Wright was jailed on several charges.
Solicitor W. C. Brinson charged Mrs. Eliza Stuckey after her house had been raided Sunday night by officers Elton Oliver, Will Crawford and Henry T. Downs, Eliza had a big time at her house Sunday night. All the bloods of darktown were either there, had been there or was on the road there and as a result of the net dragging seven sons Eric were landed in the guard house charged with gambling. Brinson is making an effort to stop so much of this gambling around by putting some folk in the gang who operate such houses.
The Bee-Line Highway Association was formed in Wrightsville and the outline was given of the proposed route. The Bee-Line route from Savannah to Macon through Johnson County via Kite and Wrightsville is to be undertaken. They are pushing for the state to adopt this route. The committiee consisted of C. D. Roundtree, Dr. J. W. Brinson, Mr. W. A. Mixon, W. H. Lovett, G. D. Smith, J. C. Cave, M. T. Riner, J. S. Stephenson and S. M. Price. Also added were Fluker Tarbutton, Z. T. Houser, W. R. Smith, L. A. Lovett, J. B. Williams, M. Daley, C. T. Bray, H. J. Claxton, Henry Stephens, W. H. Raley, C. L. Claxton, Henry Garnto, Samps L. Powell, S. H. Lynch and W. N. Powell.
Part of the group traveled part of the proposed route of the Bee-Line starting in Kite and Wrightsville and headed towards Irwinton by way of Ball's Ferry crossing on the Oconee River and met with the Irwinton committee at their courthouse.
The Bee-Line Highway, a road project in which now the citizens of Johnson, Emanuel, Wilkinson, Bibb and others are relaying this interest to the state highway department. Candler County has been asked to join also as a letter was sent to Secretary Williams of the Woodpecker route, which runs from Savannah over the Dixie Overland through Statesboro, Metter, Graymont, Swainsboro, Kite, Wrightsville, Irwinton to Macon. It is shown that this route saves 25 to 30 miles between Swainsboro and Macon by way of Wrightsville and would shorten the trip from Atlanta to Savannah.
William Wright, colored, living 7 or 8 miles west of the city was caught Saturday night with alot of wet goods and shooting irons around his usual place of abode by officers Lee Jackson and Will Crawford in a raid on the premises. A gallon and a half of the home-made brew was captured, a 15 gallon lard can still was destroyed and 2 barrels of mobby went up in flames.
When Officer Jackson went into the yard he was confronted by Wright who went back for his pistol. The officer grabbed him and took the big gun away from him. Wright's wife took a hand in the fray with a big shotgun but she didn't get far before this was taken away from her. She grabbed the whiskey and started under the house with it when Crawford pulled her out by a foot. They had some crowd of shooting irons around. The big blue-steel pistol, a 44-40 Winchester rifle, a pop-gun and a breach loading shotgun and Wright carried a big pocket knife which much resembled a Bowie knife. Wright was jailed on several charges.
Solicitor W. C. Brinson charged Mrs. Eliza Stuckey after her house had been raided Sunday night by officers Elton Oliver, Will Crawford and Henry T. Downs, Eliza had a big time at her house Sunday night. All the bloods of darktown were either there, had been there or was on the road there and as a result of the net dragging seven sons Eric were landed in the guard house charged with gambling. Brinson is making an effort to stop so much of this gambling around by putting some folk in the gang who operate such houses.
The Bee-Line Highway Association was formed in Wrightsville and the outline was given of the proposed route. The Bee-Line route from Savannah to Macon through Johnson County via Kite and Wrightsville is to be undertaken. They are pushing for the state to adopt this route. The committiee consisted of C. D. Roundtree, Dr. J. W. Brinson, Mr. W. A. Mixon, W. H. Lovett, G. D. Smith, J. C. Cave, M. T. Riner, J. S. Stephenson and S. M. Price. Also added were Fluker Tarbutton, Z. T. Houser, W. R. Smith, L. A. Lovett, J. B. Williams, M. Daley, C. T. Bray, H. J. Claxton, Henry Stephens, W. H. Raley, C. L. Claxton, Henry Garnto, Samps L. Powell, S. H. Lynch and W. N. Powell.
Part of the group traveled part of the proposed route of the Bee-Line starting in Kite and Wrightsville and headed towards Irwinton by way of Ball's Ferry crossing on the Oconee River and met with the Irwinton committee at their courthouse.
The Bee-Line Highway, a road project in which now the citizens of Johnson, Emanuel, Wilkinson, Bibb and others are relaying this interest to the state highway department. Candler County has been asked to join also as a letter was sent to Secretary Williams of the Woodpecker route, which runs from Savannah over the Dixie Overland through Statesboro, Metter, Graymont, Swainsboro, Kite, Wrightsville, Irwinton to Macon. It is shown that this route saves 25 to 30 miles between Swainsboro and Macon by way of Wrightsville and would shorten the trip from Atlanta to Savannah.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
From Days Gone By Dec. 10, 1921
December 10, 1921.
Mr. E. E. Sanders is mayor of the city after last weeks elections. Messrs. C. S. Blankenship, I. R. Tanner and W. F. Outlaw won the three open council seats.
Miss Jennie Moore and Mr. Ellie Drake were married. Jennie is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C. T. Moore of Adrian. Mr. Drake is son of Mr. & Mrs. Lum Drake. Mr. Samps Powell and Miss Bertha Mae Garrett were married also. Mr. Charlie Brady died suddenly at Alamo. He was once employed here with the Headlight.
In a very spirited game of basketball in Tennille, Wrightsville went in defeat by the score of 27 to 20. Eugene Cook stared for Wrightsville. Wrightsville has several good games booked for this season and with a little practice will give these teams a hard fight.
Johnson had ginned 3,701 bales of cotton up to November 14th against 7,395 bales up to the same point last year. Johnson County's quarenteen has been lifted. It is now free of the cattle tick.
The fire alarm sounded around 8:30 Sunday night and the force with alot of people came out to assist in stopping the destruction of property by fire. The vacant residence that was built by Mr. W. H. Smith and belonging to Mr. R. B. Bryan was afire and burning fast. The department turned out in full force but too late to save anything. It was a seven room frame house and practically new. It is not known how the fire originated.
The sales here Tuesday was attended by more people than have been gathered here for awhile. There was a few sales made through levies by the sheriff but the most of the property sold was sold by administators for the purpose of distrbuting among heirs. Principal among these were the Powell, Harrison and Davis estates which were put up to the highest and best bidder and which did not bring on the average more than $12 per acre. There was a few shares of bank stock sold also.
Messrs. L. Samps Powell and W. T. Harrison, Jr. and Messrs. J. W. and O. K. Davis were the administators who sold the property, Col. A. L. Hatcher representing the two former estates and Judge B. B. Blount the Davis estate. Col. C. S. Claxton sold two tracts of land under levy. Some cattle was sold by Sheriff Davis under another levy.
Gov. Hardwick orders soldiers pensions to be ready to distribute by the 25th. The war tax on soda's was also lifted. The directors of the Jefferson County bank at Wadley closed its doors Friday morning and placed in the hands of the state bank examiners. The branch at Matthews is also affected.
The moon may be a dry planet, but there is considerable moisture in moonshine. Many people are saying how proud they are of the way the roads over the county are being improved by the present force of hands. Alot of moving around will be done between now and the new year. Several houses in the city are vacant now and there are reports that a few more will be vacant by owners moving to thier farms.
Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Burch had a little daughter and all are just fine. Miss Sallie Davis is now with Powell Chapel School.
W. T. Johnson will open up a place of business next to the E. A. W. Johnson store. The Tanner Undertaking Co. is moving down to the store of Mr. T. V. Kent, where it has arrainged new quarters for its big stock of coffins, caskets and robes.
Mr. Stephen D. Powell died November 13th living in the Providence Community. He was born in 1877. In 1905 he married Miss Mattie Mae Caplan and had 10 children, one who died in infancy. He died of pneumonia and was buried at Gumlog cemetery.
Mr. E. E. Sanders is mayor of the city after last weeks elections. Messrs. C. S. Blankenship, I. R. Tanner and W. F. Outlaw won the three open council seats.
Miss Jennie Moore and Mr. Ellie Drake were married. Jennie is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C. T. Moore of Adrian. Mr. Drake is son of Mr. & Mrs. Lum Drake. Mr. Samps Powell and Miss Bertha Mae Garrett were married also. Mr. Charlie Brady died suddenly at Alamo. He was once employed here with the Headlight.
In a very spirited game of basketball in Tennille, Wrightsville went in defeat by the score of 27 to 20. Eugene Cook stared for Wrightsville. Wrightsville has several good games booked for this season and with a little practice will give these teams a hard fight.
Johnson had ginned 3,701 bales of cotton up to November 14th against 7,395 bales up to the same point last year. Johnson County's quarenteen has been lifted. It is now free of the cattle tick.
The fire alarm sounded around 8:30 Sunday night and the force with alot of people came out to assist in stopping the destruction of property by fire. The vacant residence that was built by Mr. W. H. Smith and belonging to Mr. R. B. Bryan was afire and burning fast. The department turned out in full force but too late to save anything. It was a seven room frame house and practically new. It is not known how the fire originated.
The sales here Tuesday was attended by more people than have been gathered here for awhile. There was a few sales made through levies by the sheriff but the most of the property sold was sold by administators for the purpose of distrbuting among heirs. Principal among these were the Powell, Harrison and Davis estates which were put up to the highest and best bidder and which did not bring on the average more than $12 per acre. There was a few shares of bank stock sold also.
Messrs. L. Samps Powell and W. T. Harrison, Jr. and Messrs. J. W. and O. K. Davis were the administators who sold the property, Col. A. L. Hatcher representing the two former estates and Judge B. B. Blount the Davis estate. Col. C. S. Claxton sold two tracts of land under levy. Some cattle was sold by Sheriff Davis under another levy.
Gov. Hardwick orders soldiers pensions to be ready to distribute by the 25th. The war tax on soda's was also lifted. The directors of the Jefferson County bank at Wadley closed its doors Friday morning and placed in the hands of the state bank examiners. The branch at Matthews is also affected.
The moon may be a dry planet, but there is considerable moisture in moonshine. Many people are saying how proud they are of the way the roads over the county are being improved by the present force of hands. Alot of moving around will be done between now and the new year. Several houses in the city are vacant now and there are reports that a few more will be vacant by owners moving to thier farms.
Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Burch had a little daughter and all are just fine. Miss Sallie Davis is now with Powell Chapel School.
W. T. Johnson will open up a place of business next to the E. A. W. Johnson store. The Tanner Undertaking Co. is moving down to the store of Mr. T. V. Kent, where it has arrainged new quarters for its big stock of coffins, caskets and robes.
Mr. Stephen D. Powell died November 13th living in the Providence Community. He was born in 1877. In 1905 he married Miss Mattie Mae Caplan and had 10 children, one who died in infancy. He died of pneumonia and was buried at Gumlog cemetery.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
From Days Gone By Dec. 3, 1921
December 3, 1921.
The November term of City Court stopped work late Friday afternoon having put through a long line of criminal and civil proceedings through the judicial mill. Judge S. W. Sturgess of the City Court of Dublin was on the bench part of the week for Judge Moye who was disqualified in a number of cases. Judge Moye took the bench again Thursday morning and until adjournment on Friday late.
Solicitor W. C. Brinson represented the interest of the county in his usual efficient manner and quite a number of convictions are on the court's record. Eight went to the chaingang from the court. Of these, five were men and three were women. The latter were arrainged on charges growing out of crimes committed in the city. There are now 49 inmates of the county gang and Warden Stanley has the largest force the county has ever had. A lot of bonds were forfeited.
Even the joker is there. All except one queen, Warden Stanley now has a full deck. A white man went off Saturday for a liquor crime to which he plead guilty before Judge Moye and two more blacks went off Monday afternoon, making now 52 inmates on the chaingang. The two blacks were Robert Davis, who plead guilty to a pistol charge, and Lewis Youngblood who visited the farm of Prof. L. M. Blount Sunday afternoon and carried away a bag of pecans. He, also, said he was guilty and they both drew 8 months a piece. Warden Stanley now has 9 more then the gang ever carried before and is building roads in a hurry.
Just as Mr. J. E. Linder had returned from his room in the Ansley Hotel in Atlanta, to the street where 20 minutes before he had alighted from his big Packard automobile he discovered to his dismay that his costly machine was gone. Mr. Linder and party had just srrived in the city and the others had gotten out at the Piedmont and he drove on down to the Ansley. He stopped his car, got out and registered, went up to his room, bathed his hands and immediately returned to the street and during this short interval the car was nowhere to be found. Detectives and the police were put after it, but up to now no trace of the missing auto has been revealed. Mr. Linder had theft insurance to the amount of $2000. The Packard people fixed him up with a brand new beauty in which he came home.
There is no doubt that the railroads of the country are hit hard and many of them are facing a crisis in their running existence and it is being talked that there will be a general scrapping of short lines in many sections of the United States. Whether this will be done or not we cannot say. We do know that their business is crippled and will be for another year, because their business is like most every other business--not much doing. Nothing being shipped in nor out and won't be for some time to amount to a great deal. It is then for our people to begin to look into road building possibilites over this section, building highways over which may be conveyed such commodities as will necessary have to move.
It all depends on how you look at it. A lot of folks go around wearing good clothes, owe every other fellow you meet and then brag on how much they pay the preacher.
The November term of City Court stopped work late Friday afternoon having put through a long line of criminal and civil proceedings through the judicial mill. Judge S. W. Sturgess of the City Court of Dublin was on the bench part of the week for Judge Moye who was disqualified in a number of cases. Judge Moye took the bench again Thursday morning and until adjournment on Friday late.
Solicitor W. C. Brinson represented the interest of the county in his usual efficient manner and quite a number of convictions are on the court's record. Eight went to the chaingang from the court. Of these, five were men and three were women. The latter were arrainged on charges growing out of crimes committed in the city. There are now 49 inmates of the county gang and Warden Stanley has the largest force the county has ever had. A lot of bonds were forfeited.
Even the joker is there. All except one queen, Warden Stanley now has a full deck. A white man went off Saturday for a liquor crime to which he plead guilty before Judge Moye and two more blacks went off Monday afternoon, making now 52 inmates on the chaingang. The two blacks were Robert Davis, who plead guilty to a pistol charge, and Lewis Youngblood who visited the farm of Prof. L. M. Blount Sunday afternoon and carried away a bag of pecans. He, also, said he was guilty and they both drew 8 months a piece. Warden Stanley now has 9 more then the gang ever carried before and is building roads in a hurry.
Just as Mr. J. E. Linder had returned from his room in the Ansley Hotel in Atlanta, to the street where 20 minutes before he had alighted from his big Packard automobile he discovered to his dismay that his costly machine was gone. Mr. Linder and party had just srrived in the city and the others had gotten out at the Piedmont and he drove on down to the Ansley. He stopped his car, got out and registered, went up to his room, bathed his hands and immediately returned to the street and during this short interval the car was nowhere to be found. Detectives and the police were put after it, but up to now no trace of the missing auto has been revealed. Mr. Linder had theft insurance to the amount of $2000. The Packard people fixed him up with a brand new beauty in which he came home.
There is no doubt that the railroads of the country are hit hard and many of them are facing a crisis in their running existence and it is being talked that there will be a general scrapping of short lines in many sections of the United States. Whether this will be done or not we cannot say. We do know that their business is crippled and will be for another year, because their business is like most every other business--not much doing. Nothing being shipped in nor out and won't be for some time to amount to a great deal. It is then for our people to begin to look into road building possibilites over this section, building highways over which may be conveyed such commodities as will necessary have to move.
It all depends on how you look at it. A lot of folks go around wearing good clothes, owe every other fellow you meet and then brag on how much they pay the preacher.
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