From Days Gone By June 15, 1923

 June 15, 1923.

    Thursday afternoon at Tennille, Sullivan pitched a no-hit, no-run game for that team against Wrightsville. Rawlings and Tyson formed the battery for Wrightsville. Tennille succeeded in putting over 5 runs. Here Friday afternoon Tennille added another victory 5 to 1. Clay Jenkins pitched for Wrightsville and scored the only run. Then on Monday Eastman defeated Wrightsville 1 to 0. Then here on Tuesday Molony pitched a shut-out game at the fairgrounds blanking Eastman's crack team 7 to 0. Wrightsville plays Sparta next.

    Scouts Wesley Brinson, Hubert Orr and Randall Chapman represented the Wrightsville troup at the district rally in Soperton. Col. Roy Rowland arrived here from Mercer in Macon, a full-fledged lawyer and is to locate his practice here.

    Dr. Wade R. Bedingfield, working several months in New York City taking a special course in eye, ear, nose and throat. He was first in both oral and written exams over 17 others. He was offered a staff position on the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary which he accepted for one year after which he will return to Dublin. Quit an accomplishment for this young Johnson County man.

    Dr. W. J. Flanders of Wrightsville, who is a geologist and soil expert has discovered unlimited quantities of iron oxide pebble in Brooks County which may bring sudden wealth to the property owners. This was analyzed and approved by the highway engineers. It is beleived a belt of pebble extends across the county and supply is practically inexhaustable.

    The Saturday and Sunday the Union Convention of Singers met at Idylwild in annual session and about 5,000 people attended the two days. The W. & T. Railroad handled 1550 people to the resort and about twice that many came by auto, buggy, wagon, truck or walked. It was Idylwild's largest ever crowd.

   Old aunt Keziah Thomas, colored washwoman of the city began washing clothes for Dr. & Mrs. J. W. Brinson, Sr. in 1876, and 1923 finds Aunt Keziah still on the job. She also washes for the Headlight staff.

    There is an ordinance against cattle being tied or at large on the streets and lanes of the city and council has notified police to impound all cows tied or loose on the streets. There are also alot of complaints about unsanitary hog pens in town.

    Mr. Rufus Claxton has opened a barber shop in Kite in one of C. M. Schwalls new buildings.

    Miss Myrtice Woods wed Mr. Virgil Wheeler at Kite, also miss Loreta Garrett wed Mr. Sandford Claxton. In Wrightsville Mrs. M. J. Ivey wed Mr. J. F. Elton.

    John A. Douglas, Sr. died at home in eastern part of the county on June 11th after a several month illness at the age of 78. He was born Jan. 16, 1845. His wife and 7 children survive him. He has one brother D. Z. Douglas and one sister Mrs. Viney Colston. His sons are A. B., E. A., Z. A., J. A., R. C. and R. R. Douglas. One daughter Mrs. C. D. Thompson. He was a Confederate veteran and was buried at Sardis.

From Days Gone By June 8, 1923

 June 8, 1923.

    They are off today with the same old spirit! Showing regular form the boys of home with a regiment of fans as boosters, has started the 1923 baseball season. Wrightsville will start off with two games with Tennille, one there and one here at the fairgrounds on Friday.

    Bill Tyson is leading off with Rawlings and C. Jenkins form first battery. Anthony, Cook,  Hatcher, Laut Lovett, Lewis Lovett, Tom Luther Lovett, M. Raley, Forest Jackson and Red Martin make up the team.

    Dr. A. M. Roundtree of Adrian, a popular physician, is seriously considering a run for senate in the 16th district. Dr. Roundtree was born and raised in Emanuel, now lives in Johnson where he has practiced medicine for 20 years and owns large farms in Treutlen and Laurens counties. Mr. Willie S. Kight is being urged to run for sheriff.

    Merchant T. E. Hayes is also a farmer and doesn't brag about more than "forty acres and a mule" for he has an intensive acre plan. He planted a half acre in town in cabbage around the first of the year and up to now has sold over $150 worth here in town, $75 of it to one merchant. He brought one cabbage in that weighed 17 lbs net. County agent M. E. Crow left for Madison, Florida to study that state's method in combating the boll weevil.

    Every lot but one in Westview had been taken up and Mayor T. V. Kent set about to purchase more land for the use of the people wanting to be buried there. He made a trade for one acre adjoining on the north side out of which will be cut 80 lots for sale to those wanting one or more. These lots will be available in a short time.

    Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Lord have moved to Kite where he will work for the Ford agency and garage now opening up there by L. A. Lovett and R. J. Boatright. Mr. Ivey R. Tanner was in Bartow shipping a car of swine which he sold to the Hall Commission Co. Of Moultrie.

    Upon application to the prison commission, Norris Rowland, the son of Mr. J. S. Rowland, has been assigned to the county camp here to serve the four years of his sentence which was given him in Superior Court for his part in the killing of Ellis Hadden some months ago, the young man having decided to serve the time instead of appealing further.

    The remains of Mr. David B. Palmer formerly of Buckeye community were brought from his home in Vidalia and buried at Bethel Church. Mr. G. M. Brantley died at his home near Mt. Gilead. He was 82 and served through the Civil War.

    John R. Wilson died June 1st at home after a few weeks sickness. He was 78 and a Confederate veteran and was buried at Liberty Grove with Masonic rites. He was a son of Archie and Pollie Wilson who were born in South Carolina.

Days Gone By June 1, 1923

 June 1, 1923.

    The chicken sale was another success with almost a carload sold. Around 261 people sold parts of their flock. There were 7,555 lbs of hens selling for 21 1/2 cents a pound, 1464 lbs of fryers at 36 cent and 1270 lbs of roosters at 10 cent. The carload of chickens shipped out to New York city.

    Capt. Stanley had one of his force of 28 try to make an escape Saturday night. Rob Hicks, colored, a trusty around the camp who did the washing, thought he had stayed around long enough, for the fifth time he has been on the gang and decided to make an escape. Leaving his seperated bunk early after bed time he fled and about half past ten his escape was discovered. The guards secured the trained dogs, put them on the fleeing desperado's track and after a hot chase of 15 to 20 miles the dogs caught him in a road and Rob was brought back to camp. He is now back working the roads in chains.

    Graduating from Mercer this time is Messrs. Lewis Lamar Lovett, Forrest B. Jackson and J. Roy Rowland. Hon. William J. Harris, U. S. Senator of Georgia will speak at the court house on June 8th.

    Dr. J. R. Dent has been very sick lately at his home in Oconee from malaria. Capt. T. J. Brantley will attend the state Confederate Reunion at Rome, Ga. Mr. William Oliver states he was delivering gas and oil to the oat field of Mr. Jim Cave. He picked up two bundles and weighed them showing 42 lbs heavy. One head of oats was 15 inches long.

    In all three Sunday schools of the city next Sunday will be observed an anti-cigarette program. Now showing at the Dixie this week each night is Freckles Barry in "Penrod" on Monday; Johnnie Walker in "My Dad" on Tuesday; Jane Novah in "The Show Shoe Trail" on Wednesday; Doris May in "Gay and Devilish" on Thursday and Randolph Valentino in "All Night" Friday and Saturday.

    County policeman W. T. Kitchens has been making a few more heavy raids lately among the whiskey dealers recently capturing a car with four people in it carrying 2 or 3 qts around. Officer Kitchens is continually on the watchout for the liquor runners and dealers and there is no telling when he is going to make a rush on some unsuspecting booze wagon.

    Mr. J. H. Rowland responds to a "sticking to your job" column. He says his wash woman, Classie Powell has been washing steadily for him for 14 years and hasn't missed a week. Then, his cook, Rena Hicks has been with him for 4 years save one week when sick.

    The 1oth season for the Georgia Peach finds him still going in baseball. One national magazine writer never gets far off in his paper without giving prominence to some "hit" of this southern favorite. Ty Cobb is really a wonder.

    A fellow with a house full of little children and a good wife and is so tarnaciously sorry that he won't provide for them the daily needs of actual existance ought to be made to do it somehow and that in a legal manner too. Character and reputation! How far would a parallel comparison of them go with most of us before we'd find the parting of the ways?

Days Gone By May 25, 1923

 May 25, 1923.

    One of the saddest occurances ever recorded in this county was the instantanous death of young Jakie Stewart, the 19 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Archie R. Stewart on Friday afternoon at the sawmill they were operating on lands of Mr. Stewart in this county. They live in Laurens but the mill is in Johnson.

    A head-block setter at his father's sawmill, young Jakie was an experienced hand having been at it since 14. He had a fishing outing that night with friends but the father had some rush orders and wanted his son to postpone his trip to set the head-blocks.

    Around 4 pm a log had been squared and a piece of lumber being sawed. To hold the timber in its place and to keep it from warping or running out of square the lad grabbed a canthook lying close by, sunk it into the timber, and held as the death-dealing cylinder dug its way down the line towards him, who the next moment was lying across the saw, its sharp teeth having cut its way through the body, leaving only a small portion of the backbone holding the two parts together. The father, standing with his hand on the throttle, grabbed the boy and jerked him, but, too late. His life had been taken without a moments warning. The canthook must have slipped its moorings.

    The saw stopped suddenly as the drive belt blew off. The overalls, parts of flesh and intestines, even the cash in the boys pocket were horribly mangled. Never more will this sawyer start a line through a log without his mind reverting back to the terrible disaster that happened to his son on this fatal day.

    Present on the grounds beside the father and son were Oscar Daniels, Hinton Stewart, W. J. Stewart and Ollie Sutton. They extricated the dead body from its horrible position and with the aid of Dr. S. M. Johnson put it back together. Funeral services and internment was at Piney Mount.

    The Studebaker auto of the liquor running type, held since the notorious capture several weeks ago of the two big cars and two women said to have been out of Savannah, was sold here Saturday by the sheriff in front of the court house bringing $300 by Hubert Motor Co. of Savannah. Two men were here buying for the company. The Hudson did not sell because of an intervention being filed.

    Mr. John M. Brantley is back in town after his awful suffering from the cyclone 3 weeks ago. His daughter is improving also. Godfrey Davis, an aged Confederate veteran is still confined to his bed. J. W. Braddy files for bankruptcy.

    Major Loring R. Clayton, county coroner has announced for re-election. Alden Price may run for county treasurer. The present treasurer Flem W. Hall will likely run again.

    The Women's Club has planted flowers all around town. W. D. Sumner dressed a porker weighing 620 pounds. The horse fund for Rev. Sumner is up to $96.85. The Parker-Price drug store has installed a large Delco lighting plant. Mr. & Mrs. Arthur B. Rowland had a daughter on May 19th.

    The season for a hot baseball line-up is now on and fans are ready. Wrightsville is set to have another good team with Tyson,  Cook, Jackson, Lovett, Raley and Smith back to play. They begin around June 1st.

    Yesterday gasoline took another tumble going down one cent per gallon. A week ago it fell a cent and this reduction comes closely on the first decline's heels. Gas is now selling for 23 cents a gallon here.

From Days Gone By May 18, 1923

 May 18, 1923.

    Allen Wilson, a white man about 35 or 40 years old was given a peliminary hearing Sunday afternoon for marrying his niece, Annie Lou Wilson, a girl of about 14, the daughter of Wilson's brother, John Wilson near Meeks. Allen was said to have assistance from Newton Bedgood and Eunice Meeks who drove away from John's home with the young woman meeting Allen a short distance from her home. The four drove to Emanuel County where Allen and Annie were married. They went back to Bedgood's home for the night.

    John Wilson was irrated at the girl swore out warrants for Wilson, Bedgood and Meeks. Officers Rowland and Tyson went to Bedgood's home Sunday afternoon and arrested all but Meeks who had left. Allen was given the hearing he demanded before Judge Z. A. Anderson at Providence and was bound over to Superior Court under bond of $300. Bedgood was bound over for conspiracy under a $100 bond. It was charged that Bedgood and Meeks aided in the elopement. The girl said they were along. The court told her to go back to her father's. The affair was greatly regretted in that community.

    Dr. S. N. Bradshaw is now a veternary at Linder's Stables. Mr. Walter N. Powell will run for county treasurer. Cashier Robert L. Kent is driving a new Buick around town and Mr. E. A. Lovett is the owner of a new Lincoln, the first of that make for the city.

    The city was in darkness Monday and Tuesday nights and Messers. L. C. Ross and W. H. Spell went to Macon to get damaged parts fixed. This is the first break in service in many months. Tuesday the city began whitewashing all the shade trees and light poles and fences adding much to the city's appearance.

    Last Wednesday a birthday celebration was held for Isham, 75 and his brother, Henry Stephens, 65. Judge Alfred Herrington of Swainsboro died. He was known all over Johnson having practiced law here and was Solicitor General when Johnson was in the Middle Circuit. Mrs. Georgia Durham Watson, widow of the late Thomas E. Watson died at Hickory Hill in Thomson from uremic poison from acute diabetes.

    Mr. Gordon Tapley, son of Mr. & Mrs. James L. Tapley of Wrightsville was badly injured in the left leg at his father's sawmill in the eastern part of the county. He was using an axe when the head left the handle striking Gordon a firm blow with lots of blood loss. Dr. Brantley examined it finding the little bone cut in two and the large one shattered. He was taken to Sandersville.

    Within less than 12 hours after the death early Sunday morning of Benjamin F. Parker, another of Lovett's oldest citizens, John H. Hardaway died. They were among the few left who followed General Lee and the rise and fall of the Confederacy.

    Mr. Parker was 75 and retired from his farm a few years ago. For the last 2 years he was mostly confined to his home. He was born in Houston Co. entering the Confederate army at age 14 and stayed till the close of the war. He lived in Lovett for 30 years. He was survived by his wife Mrs. Georgia Parker, three sons Niles Gordon, E. Holly and B. D. Four daughters, Mrs. Leo Kight, Maude Parker, Mrs. E. Scarborough and Mrs. E. A. Lovett. He was buried at Lovett cemetery.

    Mr. Hardaway died at his sons, he too had been sick the last 2 years. He went to the war from McDuffie Co. in the 48th Ga. Regt. in 1862, serving until Appomattox. His wife Sally Jackson died several years ago. He lived in Lovett for 22 years. He was survived by 4 sons Gordon H., T. D., R. L. and Washington. He was 77 and buried in Westview.

    In erecting the next church edifices it might be well to have in mind the length of the seats and make them uniform so that when the rear ones are dilapidated they may be moved in exchange for the front ones.

From Days Gone By May 11, 1923

 May 11, 1923.

    Wrightsville is very proud of four young ladies that graduate this term from the State College for women in Milledgeville. They are Miss Nannie Kennedy, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. O. Kennedy, Miss Annie L. Claxton, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. L. J. Claxton, Miss Alda Walker, daughter of Mr. Joe M. Walker and Miss Luella Stokes, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Stokes.

    The matter of consolidation of the county's schools is now discussed widely with interest for the proposition. The only thing that could now stand in the way is the finacing of the new system. At Kite, Minton's Chapel, Meeks, Adrian which is now partly consolidated, Scott and at Wrightsville and New Home is bekng talked up alot. The last legislature under Act No. 563 authorized this: " Where the county authorities by combining smaller schools in whole or in part into a consolidated school with at least four teachers the state superintendent of schools shall be authorized to transmit $500 annually toward the support of this school."

    There will be a big chicken sale May 24th here sponsored by the local merchants called Golden Rule Co-Op Sale. The co-op hog sale was held yesterday which netted the farmers a lot of cash proving there is another money crop other than cotton. Nine two-horse wagon loads of hogs in a line through town going to the sale pens. These wagons came from the Bray farm. Others were C. H. Martin, William Jackson and Dr. R. E. Brinson. A number of buyers were on hand with one being from Cuba. This makes five carloads shipped out of here since May 1st.

    The matter of buying a real live buggy horse for Rev. Sumner is still going on and will till the money is raised. To date $84.75 has been raised. Mr. Mark Hammock, while doing some work in his barn in the loft, his foot slipped and he fell onto some boxes badly injuring his left leg. He lives 4 miles from town on the Tennille road. Cashier Robert B. Bryan now lives in the W. C. Tompkins house. Mr. Tompkins has moved out to the Haines place. Mr. Samps L. Powell is expected to run for county treasurer.

    Mr. A. O. Kennedy has just finished constructing a saw mill plant located across the W. & T. tracks south of the courthouse and is now sawing lumber. Mr. Tom Tarver suffered a fire loss at his sawmill of about $600, when he lost the belting, saw, and a lot of parts that almost cost him the whole mill. It is located in the western part of the county.

    Warden R. M. Stanley recently allowed Jim Johnson, colored convict, his freedom on a parole issued by the authorities. He is now with William Oliver on his farm. Jim shot his wife more than 12 years ago and serving a life sentence. Judged Ben Hill Moye petitioned for his parole.

    Mr. Alver McAfee, the soldier son of Mr. & Mrs. E. J. McAFee is at Camp Benning and is nearing the termination of his army service. Tuesday afternoon Mr. Loraine Douglas age 21, died at his parents home in the city, Mr. & Mrs. John A. Douglas, Jr. He had been sick going on 3 years. He was buried at Westview.

    It does continue to rain and the wet weather will injure the crops badly if it keeps on as it has been the past six weeks. William Duncan in Steelhearts is at the Dixie Theatre.

    You've heard of shifting the responsibility, haven't you? And of an equal lying down on an equal? That reminds us of Willie's composition on "Responsibility." Willie wrote:"Boys has got two buttons on their suspenders to keep their pants up and when one button comes off there's a lot of responsibility on the other button."