From Days Gone By Jan. 23

 January 23,1926.

     Mr. Reuben R. Martin was successful in the Mayor's election defeating Mr. Monroe Cook 156 to 104. Owing to a vacancy on the council another election is to be held to fill Martin's seat. The only name offered so far is Mr. E. N. Hitchcock.

    The Bond election is being called for the purpose of building good roads and bridges. The county is asking for more miles of State road from the Highway Department. At present we only have 15 miles. The county currently draws $225.00 per mile from the State Gasoline Tax. Adding 35 miles to that will easily pay off the bonds and interest in 30 years.

    The three banks in Wrightsville held their annual meetings and elected officers and directors who are as follows: The Exchange Bank, Dr. P. B. Bedingfield, President; E. E. Daley, V. P. and Cashier; G. E. and R. E. Fulford, assistant cashier's; directors are C. T. Bray, U. R. Jenkins, J. T. Fulford, W. L. Thompson and W. H. Lovett.

    The Bank of Wrightsville, J. H. Rowland, President; L. A. Lovett, V. P.; R. L. Kent, cashier; O. H. Tompkins and H. T. Johnson, assistants;Directors W. H. Lovett, W. L. Thompson, L. Moseley and A. F. Flanders.

    The Farmers Bank, W. H. Raley, President; R. R. Martin, V. P.; R. B. Bryan, cashier; Clay Chester, bookkeeper; directors, W. C. Chester, L. D. Downs, Wm. Oliver, C. M. Dent and J. T. Miller.

    Mr. Nelson Hailey an aged colored man near 100 years old died. He lived on the Horace Lake farm near Lovett.

    Mr. F. T. Stevenson of Donovan died early Sunday morning from bronchial pneumonia. He was buried at McRae.

    Mrs. Viney Colston, one of the county's first citizen's died after suffering immensely, being almost an invalid for 3 or more years. She was 86 and been married twice. Her first husband being Mr. Williamson Rowland. Five children are living from this union, John, Joseph, W. T., Mrs. Perry Kight and Mrs. Wm. Anderson. Following his death she wed Mr. C. C. Colston and had 4 children, James, C. E., W. W. and Mrs. H. T. Brantley. Services were at Rehobeth but was a member of Sardis Primitive Baptist.

    County Agent Crow held another successful poultry sale. A total of 10,215 lbs was sold and bound for Tampa, Florida. This sale netted farmers $2,799.94.

    Mr. & Mrs. N. D. Whitaker had a son on January 10th. Clerk & Mrs. Green B. Harrison also had a son.

From Days Gone By, Jan. 16,1926

 January 16,1926.

    The first regular meeting of Wrightsville City Council was called and Mr. M. S. Duggan was sworn in as Mayor Pro Tem on account of Mayor Cook, who was just re-elected, died. Judge A. Lee Hatcher is attorney, W. H. Spell, Marshal and Chief of Police, R. T. Moye, assistant and L. C. Ross as night policeman.

    The Sunday blue laws were moderated some, allowing the drug stores and filling stations to remain open until 10 am on Sunday, if they wish, and closing for all services, re-opening at 1pm. Cafe's were also allowed to remain open.

    The local banks released their statements of condition. Exchange Bank, $416,398.60; Bank of Adrian, $102,935.18; Farmers Bank, $133,578.27; Bank of Wrightsville, $313,368.94.

    Mr. C. D. Roundtree is a candidate for Representative to fill the unexpired term of the late Dr. D. C. Harrison. Mrs. Leola Whitfield filed for divorce from Mr. Oscar Whitfield. The firm of H. J. & J. B. Claxton has dissolved on account of H. J. Claxton is retiring.

    The large tractor and machines of the county are working up the main streets and roads in and around the city. Rain fell heavily all over the county Sunday and the streams are rapidly filling up and roads are being muddied and travel is hard in some places.

    The right-of-way into the city has been secured for the entrance of the Bee Line highway into town from the west.

    The organization of Association Charities for Wrightsville and communities is moving along. Eight bodies have entered the organization. Those are: Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Christian Church, Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge, City Council and Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The Woodmen of the World is expected to join at the next meeting.

    The public was warned not to hire, shelter, nor harbor one colored boy named Henry Irwin, age 19, he has left home without his father, J. E. Irwin's consent. Also Mrs. C. L. Joiner issues the same warning for Charlie Welbert Stephens, 17 years old.

    The fertilizer factory of Mr. J. H. Rowland is nearing completion. Mr. Tom W. Raley has about finished his new home just across the Ohoopee from Mason's bridge. Mr. Claude Bray is now working at the Georgia Grocery Co. Mr. Lewis Lovett is operating a big feed mill next to the Wrightsville Grain Co. The Williams Furniture Co. has completed its new store room next to the Palace Cafe. Mr. Cleo Johnson has opened the Ice Cream Parlor across from the Dixie Theatre. Farmer W. T. Page put up a large porker in his smokehouse which netted him 535 lbs of meat.

    The Duff brothers will soon make their home again in this county returning to their farms near the city. They have lived in Dublin the last few years. They have purchased the land from Wm Jackson of Donovan, the land they had sold to him known as the Johnson place. Mr. John Duff expects to re-enter business in Wrightsville.

From Days Gone By Jan. 9,1926

 January 9,1926.

    Judge A. Lee Hatcher, as city attorney, issued an order calling for an election to fill the vacant office of Mayor of Wrightsville to be held on the 19th. This was necessary by the sad passing of Mayor James M. Cook. Cook was chosen Mayor again last year and was unopposed. Mr. R. R. Martin announced he would be a candidate for the office. Also Mr. J. M. Cook, Jr. has announced.

    The Headlight is the distributing agent for the Wrightsville name plates for all automobiles in the city and community.

    Ordinary U. R. Jenkins received the Writ of Election from Governor Clifford Walker. The date is February 5th for the election for county representative caused by the death of Dr. D. C. Harrison. The Governor calls for this election on account of he is calling a special session of the General Assembly to convene on February 24th for only three special reasons.

    The payment of the pensions to the Confederate veterans, a state bonds' issue for roads, and a state bonds' issue for the schools and colleges are the three things the Governor is seeking legislation on.

    The young daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Powell of New Home has been seriously ill with pneumonia. Carrie Ethel is hoped to recover.

   Johnson County Banks are banking these days. Their reports show quite a healthy financial condition in this section. Times are better and this year will see them pick up. The year 1926 is starting off mighty well for the business world and everybody is having plenty to do and most all of them are at their jobs.

    A new post office building like they have in Barnesville and many other Georgia counties would look mighty fine in Wrightsville. There has been a large sum planned for Georgia post office buildings and we trust our representatives in Congress will get one here.

    In the House of Representatives, Mr. W. W. Larsen introduced H. R. 6746. A Bill to provide for the authorization of appropriation for the purchase of a site and erection of a Federal building at Wrightsville. Building to include fireproof vaults, heating and ventilating, approaches, and all necessary fixtures for the use of the United States Post Office at Wrightsville with cost not to exceed $75,000. The building shall be unexposed to danger from fire by an open space of at least fifty feet on all sides, including streets and alleys.

From Days Gone By Jan. 2,1926

 January 2,1926.

    Ordinary U. R. Jenkins will call an election next Tuesday for the people to pass upon the proposed bond issue for Johnson. It is proposed to put a bonded indebtness over the county to the amount of $200,000 and to pledge the county's share of the gasoline tax to pay off the bonds, allowing the bonds to run a sufficient length of time to do this. Thus the people will not have to pay them by taxation on property. Also at the same time call an election to fill the vacancy of county representative caused by the death of Dr. D. C. Harrison.

    Mr. & Mrs. George Gordy and Mr. & Mrs. Chatty Johnson will move into the Anthony home. Then Mr. B. B. Tanner and family will move into their home.

    Agent Crow has been busy distributing the stump blasting materials and showing the people how it is used.

    Mr. Joseph Jenkins at his home up on the Tennille road was in town Christmas Eve shopping and was taken suddenly ill and is still in bed. Little Edison Brinson fell and broke both bones of his left forearm while playing with his siblings at his parents, Dr. & Mrs. R. E. Brinson.

    Miss Ada Carter, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. T. W. Carter became the bride of Mr. Charles Edward Veal, son of Mr. W. A. Veal. Miss Dessie Oliver, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Oliver was married to Mr. Wannie Price on Dec. 20th at Harrison.

    Mr. Jack Hammock's crib caught fire and was soon in ashes. One of the children was out near the crib by a bale of cotton and playing with matches when the bale alighted and the flames soon spread to the crib. Several hundred bushels of corn were burned, the bale of cotton, all his farming implements, and other things. Mr. Hammock recently lost a son, Martin, in a bad car wreck a couple weeks ago.

    Dr. D. C. Harrison, 56, died in Rawlings Sanitarium Wednesday night. He was buried at Pleasant Hill near Pringle Christmas Day. He practiced medicine at Kite about 30 years. He served two terms in the Ga. Legislature. Since 1919 he has been president of the Citizens Bank of Kite and holds valuable real estate and city property in Kite and the county. He was a son of David C. & Sarah Frost Harrison and was twice married. His present wife was Miss Lula Webster. Ten children blessed his home, six daughters by his first marriage and two sons and two daughters by the last. One brother Louis Harrison and sister Mrs. Dave New. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan sent a delegation and participated in the service 

    Mr. Hansell Dixon, an aged Confederate veteran died at home Monday night. He was buried at the family cemetery near the former residence of Mr. E. W. Tanner.

    Poor old Jesse Thomas! It was a fatal Christmas to him! He died away in the woods on that cold Christmas night! Jesse, nearly a hundred, died in the slush and swamp! He started across to a neighbor's house but he never got there. Overcome by afflictions of age and extreme exposure he fell. The day after Christmas the old darkey was missed by his friends.

    Viligent searchers swarmed in the woods, swamps, fields and on Saturday morning about ten his stiff and frozen form was found and the matter was brought to the Coroner, L. R. Clayton. He summoned a jury and on a secluded spot that cold sabbath morning six citizens inquired into the cause of Jesse's strange death. The jury was composed of J. W. Williams, J. Tom Davis, Robt. T. Moye, C. D. Roundtree, W. D. Hall and E. H. Hamilton. They decided he came to the end of his way from the natural afflictions of old age and exposure and, all this over, he was given a decent burial on Monday.

From Days Gone By Dec. 26,1925

 December 26,1925.

    A good sign along now is the activity noted in the matter of transfers in real estate, many sales taking place in various parts of the county and among county people buying and selling. Records in the clerk's office are changing almost daily.

    Johnson Lodge No. 243 Mason's held elections for 1926. Worshipful Master- James T. Miller; Senior Warden - R. R. Martin; Junior Warden - F. F. Flanders; Secretary - A. L. Hatcher; Treasurer - H. F. Tarbutton; Tyler - J. J. Crawford. This Lodge is one of the oldest in this section of the state.

    A special petition was presented to Judge Camp by Hightower & New, attorney's for Rawlings and Tanner, stating the two defendants wanted to be transferred to the common county jail at Sandersville. The time asked for was one week, Dec. 19th - 28th. The reason was that the physical condition was such that they needed medical attention and such treatment was not available in Johnson's jail. Judge Camp approved the petition. Sheriff Claxton escorted them to Sandersville. This was not objected to by the State.

    The State Highway Department was asked the question of who sought, and authorized the change that highway route 15 was shifted from across Johnson County to Adrian and Soperton and placed to go via Dublin? Is Route No. 26 across the southern end of Johnson, the Dixie Overland highway route, a part of the State Highway system? If so is it the duty of the division at Dublin to work this road from Scott to Adrian? If it is their duty to work it whose gasoline is used on said stretch of road?

    Mrs. W. Frank Price died Friday night. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Garrett. She was the mother of 3 children, who survived, and a deceased infant. She was a member of Brown Memorial and was buried at New Home.

    John C. Bray was a son of Mr. & Mrs. C. T. Bray, Sr. He was born about 1887. He joined the Methodist Church some years ago and was Steward and Sunday School Superintendent of Bethel church. He left a wife and 6 children, 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

    Miss Prudell Mixon and Mr. Marion Josey were married at Powell's Chapel.

    Miss Mattie Smith and Mr. W. A. Mixon were married last Sunday at Kite. She is baby daughter of Jasper Smith. Mr. Mixon works at Farmers Supply Co. here.

    Mr. & Mrs. C. T. Bray had a fine baby boy on the 17th named Edwin Kenneth Bray. Dr. & Mrs. Charles C. Blankenship had a son on the 19th.

    Playing at the Dixie Theatre is Jack Hoxie in The White Outlaw and Jack Daughtry in The Scarlet Streak.

From Days Gone By Dec. 19,1925

 December 19,1925.

    In a mass meeting at the courthouse the citizens endorse the proposed road bonds to the amount of $200,000 with which to build roads and bridges in the county and not involve taxation whatsoever. Dr. J. W. Brinson issued a resolution which passed unanimously.

    The Postmaster General announced there will be no mail on Christmas Day. The postal workers will now have a chance to enjoy the holiday priviledge enjoyed by everyone else.

    The L. A. Lovett Ford Agency is making a new storage room for used cars in the brick building vacated by the Linder Horse & Mule Co. who have moved into the C. G. Rawlings stables vacated by J. T. Fulford. The barn and stables and office with garage is located behind the Kennedy buildings. J. H. Rowland is building a large two story mixing plant for fertilizers on the lot near the W. & T. Depot.

    Mr. Tom L. Martin, coal and ice dealer of Wrightsville has purchased a site in Sandersville to build a 40 ton capacity modern ice plant.

    The counties are waking up to Route 15 and big road meetings are being held. The meetings focus on the Athens-Florida highway. Three routes are proposed from Greensboro to Sparta. Route 15, as will be seen by the State Highway map, comes to Wrightsville from Sandersville, then it goes to Dublin and on to Lumber City, Waycross and Jacksonville. Route 15 means wonderful opportunities and possibilities for Wrightsville and Johnson County.

    J. J. Tanner was refused bond by Judge Camp. Tanner requested bond on account of his health. The Judge stated that if Tanner desired another jail he could be removed to any jail in the state on legal grounds if such existed.

    Near Pulaski, Mrs. Percy Rice of Scott was badly injured in an auto collision on the Metter-Statesboro road as she was riding with her son, W. C. Rice, his wife and child. After colliding with another car the door of the Rice car flew open and Mrs. Rice and the baby in her arms were thrown to the ground. She suffered 3 broken ribs but the baby was not injured at all.

    A half dozen citizens went out for a Sunday ride traveling the Price bridge road toward Bartow. They made it as far as the Berry Price farm near Price's bridge when the auto turned 3 complete somersaults and turned trutle before it stopped. Martin, Marchman and George Hammock, sons of Jack Hammock, Otis Lindsey, William Price and George Keyton were in the car with Keyton driving. People living along the road stated the car was running pretty fast, at least 65 previous to the wreck. It happened where the road seems level, wide and a very slight curve. Just how it happened is not known. The auto was a total wreck, the body and engine escaped, all else went to pieces and the body was lying flat down on the ground.

    Martin Hammock and George Keyton were hurt badly. Keyton internally from the steering wheel and Martin knocked unconscious. Both were rushed to Rawlings Sanitarium. The other 4 received bruises, cuts and George 3 broken ribs.

    George Beasley is improving after the shotgun blast from Swain Anderson. Anderson called the sheriff to come get him which he did and locked him up. He was released on $1500 bond.

    Martin Hammock died Tuesday morning never regaining consciousness after the wreck. He was taken from the sanitarium to his home at the Crawford house where he and his wife and 3 children lived. He was operator of the market-resturant in front of the Post office for some time. He was a son of Jack Hammock and was buried at Bethel church in Emanuel County.

    Mr. & Mrs. L. E. Parker announced the birth of a fine daughter on December 8th.

From Days Gone By Dec. 12,1925

 December 12,1925.

    The State Highway road building force just completed the long wooden bridge on Route 15 across the Ohoopee River at Mason's Springs, 2 miles out of town and the straight road built by them is now in use. This is a marked improvement for Route 15 and is now in fine shape from the city to Dublin and the new route is 2 miles shorter than the route via Lovett.

    The city of Kite is growing fast these days, much new business and residences being put up. This has been ongoing for several months. Besides those already mentioned Mr. Z. W. Claxton, Mr. Milledge Anderson and Rev. W. F. Chambless have completed new homes, Chambless built a brick home in front of the school building. Jimmie Anderson and Dr. J. A. Meeks finished their homes. Mr. S. D. Howard, the large turpentine dealer has completed 2 large houses, one for himself and one for his foreman. He also built a new commissary and barn for his stock. Mr. Ernest Claxton completed his Bee Line filling station being run by Brice Anderson.

   Kite is also planting shade trees in the middle of all the streets and will build new streets and have a drive to the right way along all of them. President Coolidge sent the name of Mr. Henry J. Claxton to the U. S. Senate to be confirmed as Postmaster at Kite.

    Mr. W. H. Lovett started cutting the large timber holdings he owns in Dodge County and has put in a new sawmill there. This is one of the largest timber tracts left in this region and will take several years to cut and process.

    There is widespread interest in a bond issue for Johnson to build roads and bridges of the county and to get assistance to put the Bee Line bridge across the Oconee River at Ball's Ferry.

    The patrons of Rehobeth and Greenhill Consolidated Schools are erecting a new building. The home on the Walker place owned by Ben Roy Spell burned to the ground. A colored family occupied the house and they lost everything. Mr. Tom W. Raley is building a new home this side his father, W. H. Raley. Cane grinding is about over with not much syrup being made this season owing to the extreme dry weather of the summer.

    A 1925 big Six Buick coupe with three occupants, men, stopped in town to fix a tire then drove toward Dublin. At the cemetery the same tire went flat again and the driver returned afoot to have it fixed again. Chief Spell had been watching their actions around the station and things just didn't look right. He went up to the car and the boys talked freely but the driver wouldn't say anything or look at Spell. As the Chief went around that car the driver took off on 3 tires and a rim leaving the boys. Chief Spell took the boys back to the station where the driver left the car and left town afoot. He has never been seen since. He is thought to be a Copeland and the boys said he acted strangely all the way from Anderson, S. C. where the boys caught a ride on the way to Florida. After some calls the boys story checked out and the car's owner from Sumter said the driver had stole the car.

    A shooting affray took place between George Beasley and Swain Anderson near their homes in the east part of the county, Swain shooting Beasley with a shotgun. He was shot in the face down to the waist and right side. Dr. Harrison sent him to Sandersville. Sheriff Claxton was called to the scene.

    Earlier Sheriff Claxton made a wholesale raid in the quarters Saturday night at the house of Anna Tarver and found her snugged in a backroom with a lot of pint bottles of shine. Four men were also arrested for gambling in the same house.

    J. J. Tanner, waiting on his new trial is asking for bond because he is sick with angina pectoris and says he not getting proper care in jail here. The bond will be fought by the State.

    Mr. James M. Neal of Kite is in bad condition from a stroke. Mr. & Mrs. James T. Miller had a fine daughter born.

From Days Gone By Dec. 5,1925

 December 5,1925.

    The slogan chosen for Wrightsville is "We Do Things". It is the production submitted by Mrs. W. L. Thompson. This slogan was chosen by three judges as the best suited for our city. This slogan will be widely used for advertising the city far and wide.

    Tax Collector J. Nat Riner has a long needed addition to his office in the courthouse building a railing and counter to handle his books and files.

    The Georgia Southern Power Company is putting in new machinery for lighting Wrightsville in the future. A 25 kw generator and a 150 hp Skinner engine are in place.

    County Agent Crow urges Farmers to stump their lands while times are good. He will have 1600 lbs of Pyrotol here by the 10th being furnished by the government. It costs $9.50 per 100 lbs with 100 caps to 100 lbs of Pyrotol.

    Mr. E. W. Tanner and family have moved to town from a few miles out to South Marcus Street. It has been 18 years since he lived in the city. Mr. C. T. Colston opened a grocery business in the store where Jack Robinson kept his jewelry and pressing club for many years. Filing for bankruptcy are James Lee Tapley and T. L. Price.

    Mrs. Dr. M. D. L. Peacock died at home in Kite from pneumonia and was buried in the city cemetery. Dr. Peacock, 3 daughters and 2 sons survive. They are Mrs. G. R. Bedingfield, Mrs. Dr. Meeks, Mrs. Laura Pen, Hines and Roscoe.

    Mr. Mark Jenkins, a brother of Ordinary U. R. Jenkins, died at his home at Stucky from paraylisis. He was 61 and survived by his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters. He was buried at Glenwood.

    Mr. Allen Page, a county landmark died from paralysis. He was a few days from turning 76. His widow, 2 sons and 5 daughter's survive.

    Mr. Elton Brantley lost his little son, James who was 9. Dr. Bedingfield attended him during his short illness. Dr. Bray was also called in but no doctor could save him. He was buried at Beulah.

    On Dec. 15th Miss Verna Myrtle Johnson of Mobile will wed Odes Eugen Hall. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Wallace Johnson of Alabama. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. J. N. Hall of this county.

    The Jackson Farms at Donovan sold a bunch of fine milk cows to T. L. Salter of Columbus. The cattle going to a dairy farm in Florida. There were 17 of the best milkers of the Jackson dairy and averaged $125 each.

    A letter from the Station Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga. which read like a moving picture but is a true story. Mr. Jack Van McClintock, a soldier friend of Johnson County son, William H. Frank's, wrote of his friend. The jest of the story is,

    " About 2 weeks ago while performing his duties as first aid man to the troops of the 29th Infantry on the firing range, he heard the screaming of a female voice. Turning to look he saw a horse dashing at full speed with it's Rider and the reins dangling loose as the horse was out of control. Dropping his first aid kit he was like the God of Speed. 'Mercury', out in the road, as the horse sped by he leaped in time to hang on to the horse's neck. In a few paces the horse tripped and fell upon Franks. The whole regiment came to the scene with an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Among his injuries were his left arm broken, his lower right leg broken and a few other minor injuries. At present he is recovering well. As for the run-a-way rider. It turned out to be a young maiden of the Post and she was fortunate enough to receive not a scratch. She is doing her part to cheer our hero daily."

From Days Gone By Nov. 28,1925

 November 28,1925.

    What is the best slogan for the city of Wrightville? It must not have over three words in it. It must be written on paper with your name, and turned in at Brinson's Drug Store. The Wrightville Commercial Club will appoint a three person committee to choose the best slogan from these contributors. Whoever's slogan is chosen will be awarded five dollars.

    The city primary was held Tuesday with three councilmen seats to fill. The top three vote getters won the seats. M. S. Duggan, 148; I. R. Tanner, 117; J. A. Hall, 112; E. V. Harris,109; R. R. Martin, 109; W. Frank Outlaw, 92. For mayor, James M. Cook won unopposed with 217 votes.

    The stockholders of the Fair Association met and re-elected it's officers and directors. W. H. Lovett and O. H. Tompkins were named to the board. The other directors holding on except Morris Riner and Z. T. Houser. W. P. Bedingfield is president, R. R. Martin VP, J. M. Cook, manager and C. D. Roundtree, secretary.

    The opening of the Jefferson Davis highway bridge across the Chattahoochee at Eufaula, Ala. will be held Dec. 15th. This route will connect the two former capital's of the Confederacy, Richmond and Montgomery. The highway in Georgia travels through Richmond, Jefferson, Johnson, Lauren's, Dodge, Wilcox, Ben Hill, Irwin, Turner, Worth, Dougherty, Terrell, Clay and Whitman counties.

    Ordinary Jenkins paid the Old Soldiers and widows their pensions this week. There are 53 pensioners on the county list. The city is doing much needed repairs to the streets and alleys.

    Rev. Samuel T. Samms, a colored Methodist preacher here died of appendicitis. He had been sick over a week. He had just come here from Soperton and had preached only one sermon. He was buried at Upatoi, Ga.

    Mr. Thad Frost died at home Nov. 10th. He was buried at Gumlog and was survived by a wife and seven children.

    Mrs. Missouri Ivey, born March 7th 1853 died Nov. 8th. Born in Glascock Co. and married in 1873 to Dennis Ivey of that county. They moved to Johnson in 1880 then later to Lauren's where she died. She had 11 children. Those living were W. R., J. H., C. D., V. T. and J. G. Ivey. Daughters, Lula Spell, Mattie Spivey, Minnie Toler and Mollie Lumley. She was buried at Bay Springs.

    Three couples were recently married by Judge John S. Wheeler. Miss Linnie Dee Cordy to Hoke Smith Tapley Nov. 15th. Ethel Hawkins to Floyd Powell. Addie Johnson to Rascie Horton.

    Judge Camp ruled in the State vs Charlie Rawlings requesting a new trial. The judge denied Rawlings appeal. He will now appeal to the higher court.

    At the residence of Judge Johnnie Bray, six miles west of town last Thursday night was an accident that made Judge Bray a victim and seriously wounding his two boys. Judge Bray died Friday afternoon. Bray and his two sons, John Jr., 12, and Hallie, 5, went to the garage to put gas into his auto. John Jr. carried the lantern and held it for his father to pour the gas. In some way the gas ignited and flames covered the father and spread to one of the boys and on the car. All three were badly burned. The younger boy was caught in the flames as he ran out by them. Judge Bray was burned waist down and arms and hands, John Jr. on both hands, thigh and face.

    Mr. Ostell Bray, a brother to Judge Bray described how had hard it was to remove their clothes from their bodies. Mr. Bray was buried at Bethel church. A wife and six children survived. He was a son of C. T. Bray. His brothers were Chas. T. , Nat F., Dr. Hershel, and Ostell. Sisters were Mrs. Cliff H. Martin, Mrs. Remus Hutchinson, Mrs. H. H. Hampton and Miss Geneva Bray.

From Days Gone By Nov. 21,1925

 November 21,1925.

    Next Tuesday is Wrightsville's election for mayor and three councilmen. B. B. Hayes, R. H. Rowland and H. T. Johnson will continue for another year. M. S. Duggan, R. R. Martin and I. R. Tanner's seats are up this time.

    The city of Wrightville is undergoing an advertisement campaign to the traveling world. Road signs, pointers, auto name plates, and maps are being purchased at the urging of the Commercial Club. The auto tags will be furnished to every auto of the city. Maps will be given to tourists at filling stations and road pointers will be put up all over the country. The Jeff Davis and Bee-Line highways will be well marked.

    In a rousing meeting of the Commercial Club, they are going all out indorsing the proposed tomato canning plant.

    Judge Camp heard the motion for a new trial in the case of the State vs Charles G. Rawlings. The decision is expected soon. The defense offered 9 counts in their appeal for  new trial. Of course the State rebutted this.

    Miss Bessie Hadden and Mr. Walter Hall were married on the 15th. She is a daughter of Mr. Ben L. Hadden, the groom being a son of Mr. Manning Hall.

    Mrs. Fannie Stephens, wife of Henry Stephens, died Nov. 13th after a lengthy illness with the last few days spent in the hospital. Her funeral was at Rehobeth. She was born Sept. 1860, a daughter of Mr. J. R. G. & Mrs. Julia Underwood. She married Mr. Stephens Dec. 3,1884.

    A bad cutting affray took place 5 miles south of Kite last Thursday about supper time. Charlie Tanner, a white married man of 30 years old, is in jail on assault with attempt to murder one Otis Jackson, a white, single man about 21. Jackson is in Dublin hospital from knife wounds and cuts.

    The cutting took place at Jackson's home where he lives with his aged mother on Mr. Henry Wheeler's place. Tanner came over there from his home on the Bascom Tapley Farm.

    The two boys have been friends for years but wound up fighting in the yard. After more than three years of friendship they had been drinking all afternoon. Streams of blood after the fight had Jackson struggling to the front Piazza and fell on it, calling on his mother for help.

    Dr. Lee W. Wheeler of Kite tried to sew him up but the cuts were too deep and numorous, one most dangerous was across the stomach from hip to hip. He is in a real bad fix.

    A warrant was sworn out for Tanner and Sheriff Claxton went to Tanner's home and arrested him. He had a slash on his coat supposed to have been made by a knife in the hands of Jackson. There were no eye witness to the fight.

From Days Gone By Nov. 14,1925

 November 14,1925.

    The Commercial Club of Wrightsville will meet at the city council chambers to consider the largest proposition to ever come before it. It concerns a $30,000 investment for the city and county, to be put here by foreign capital to operate the Enterprise. A wealthy syndicate is considering coming to Johnson to establish a large tomato canning and packing plant and will do it providing the people of the county grow tomatoes in large quantities.

    The county Fair came to a successful conclusion with good weather and large crowds day and night. Congressman W. W. Larson delivered an address on Friday and he distribution $400 club prize money to the boys and girls who one at the three big state fairs. Mr. W. T. Johnson's little son, Rosco, won the spelling bee and Mrs. W. A. Brooks won the grown folks spelling bee.

    John Walker, colored man sent up from Tattnall County, is to be a free man Saturday night. John has been in the county chain gang for thirteen and a half years. John was charged with voluntary manslaughter in Tattnall for killing a white man named Bub Rogers, a farmer of that county. He was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years. He is said to have cut Rogers to death. He spent his whole time on Johnson's gang. He got four and a half years off for good behavior, for he has been a good workman and behaved himself. John says he doesn't want to go back to Tattnall but aims to work on in this section with the highway forces. He is now 29 and was barely 17 when he was sentenced. His last few days have been spent in the court house and on the countys property doing general cleaning.

    The November Term of City Court convened Monday. A full dozen guilty pleas were recorded and Judge Blount assessed fines. Most were white defendants. Fines ranged from $25 to $50. Three were tried by jury and we're acquitted. Two others were found guilty.

    Around Lawson K. Derisaw, a colored citizen of some wild ideas, gathered two heated legal battles this week. Monday, Derisaw was up for cotton stealing and was the Victor, the jury turning him free. Tuesday he was again areigned by Solicitor Rowland on a charge of cruelty to animals. On this Derisaw was found guilty.

    A jury convicted Tom Cain on a whiskey charge. In a civil case the Gatlin estate was plaintiff and W. N. Snell defendant, the question lying around the ownership of a mule.

    Mrs. L. J. Reynolds died at her home in Mt. Vernon November 7th. She was buried at the Hall cemetery here. She was a daughter of Mrs. Julia Hall and a sister to Mr. Dewey Hall. She was 35 and survived by her husband and two children.

    Two prominent real estate men of Florida returned home here for a stay. They are Stacy and Howard Johnson, who have made it good in the real estate business. Their father is Mr. E. A. W. Johnson.

From Days Gone By Nov. 7,1925

 November 7,1925.

    The county's best fair opened up Tuesday with a big carnival and a fine showing. There is a mamoth display of exhibits and plenty of fun for all with Wise Amusement Company playing the fair this week. Friday will be a big day and Saturday is colored folks day.

    There was a pretty bunch of girls in the beauty contest with the judges selecting Miss Tullyne Moye, a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. T. Moye. Others in the contest were Frances Pound, Miriam Delph, Ethlyn Moore, Nannie Kennedy, Frances Luke, Janet Clarke, Alice Kent, Alma Blount, Geneieve Truitt and Ellen Kitchens.

    The city sold it's electric light plant to the Georgia Southern Power Company. The city collected $10,000 for the transaction. The new owners will start right away. A high tension system of wiring will be installed and a big line put in from Dublin to Wrightsville. The city will continue to provide water and sewerage.

    The survey to the river on the Bee-Line is about complete. The adoption of the highway by the State is coming up today in Atlanta.

    Dr. T. L. Harris, Judge Z. A. Anderson, N. G. and Sidney F. Smith attended the Grand Lodge of Mason's of Georgia meeting in Macon. Sanders & Moye, Chevrolet dealers, will open a garage and service station.

    The thriving little citg of Kite is on another building boom. Several new homes are being built by Dr. J. A. Meeks, Jimmie M. Anderson, S. D. Howard, Prof. W. F. Chambless, James Harrison and N. D. Norris. Mr. J. M. Hammock is putting a new grocery store in the Schwalls building. Brice Anderson will operate a new filling station being built by Ernest J. Claxton on the north corner of the lot next to the Star Trading Company.

    Miss Mattie Mae Hathaway was wed to Mr. Veazy Johnson as they set in their auto in front of the Methodist Church. On Sept. 24th Miss Ouida Harrison wed Ben Roy Spell in Louisville, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. D. C. Harrison of Kite. Spell is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Ben R. Spell.

    Mr. E. W. Markin, an aged citizen, died at his daughters home in the city Sunday morning and was buried in the Anthony graveyard. He was 82.

    Mrs. Maude Smith, born Aug. 13,1892 and died Oct. 1,1925. A daughter of John J. & Sallie Smith and was twice married. The first was to Mr. L. J. Drake of Emanuel Co.and had two boys, Curtis and Jessie Clyde. Their father died when they were small. Later she wed Mr. Jas. W. Smith of here and had one child, Myrtis Maude which is only a few months old. She was converted at Maple Springs revival in 1919.

From Days Gone By Oct. 31,1925

 October 31,1925.

    The big local fair opens here next week with amusements plentiful every day and a big parade on Wednesday night.

    County Agent Crow and his clubs brought home more bacon from the Georgia State Exposition in Macon bringing home around $350.

    A stump blasting demonstration will be on the plantation of Mr. Reuben C. Douglas at Meeks. Mr. W. E. Broach,  Ag field agent from Athens will demonstrate the blasting with the use of pyrotol on this occasion.

    News came of Robert Lee Durden and Nudie Dixon were killed in an automobile wreck at Graymont in Emanuel County.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Rowland have acquired a new Studebaker touring car.

    Playing at the Dixie Theatre is Bebe Daniels in "Dangerous Money" and Jack Perrin in "Canyon Rustlers", also, "Bond of Fear" with Buddy Rosevelt. 

    On October 18th Mr. William Waller married Miss Inez Wheeler at Kite.

    Miss Ida Smith and Mr. George L. Youmans were married at the Baptist Church in Wrightsville. The bride is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. E. Smith and works with Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company. Mr. Youmans is a prominent planter and businessman of Wesley in Emanuel County.

    Mrs. Claudia Askew Bryan of Riddleville's daughter, Essie Mae, we'd Mr. Herman L. Rogers of West Palm Beach, Florida. They were married at Jasper, Florida October 7th.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Youngblood of Adrian announced the marriage of their daughter, Frances Irene, to Mr. U. S. Wynn, of Adrian on September 30th.

    T. E. Hayes of Hayes Drug Store, has filed for bankruptcy. R. I. Ackridge warns all that his son, James Ackridge, 17, has left home without cause. He is a minor and he forbids any person hiring, sheltering, employing, keeping, detaining or assisting him in staying away from his home.

    Mrs. T. F. Brown has 100 acres in the town of Donovan, a three horse farm in cultivation, 5 room dwelling and two tenant houses convient to railroad, school, church and gin. She will rent for one to give years.

From Days Gone By Oct. 24,1925

 October 24,1925.

    The Georgia Supreme Court granted a new trial in the State vs J. J. Tanner. Judge Camp expects to call a special term of Johnson Superior Court to hold the new trial. The new trial is based on a technicality. Under the Georgia Code, a declaration made by a conspirator in a criminal Enterprise, after the Enterprise has been concluded, isn't admissable as evidence in the trial against any of the conspirators. 

    The Rawlings hearing for a new trial is set for October 30th. Fluker Tarbutton's lawyers asked Judge Camp to marshal all of the assets of the late G. A. Tarbutton. The son is administrator of the estate. He also asked for an injunction against the Receiver, L. B. Holt of Sandersville, who has charge of a fund of $95,000 being held for the estate of Tarbutton & Rawlings.

    In the city election on the sale of the light plant passed on a vote of 131 to 0. Mayor Cook feels highly gratified the people of the city stood together on this matter.

    Johnson wins big at the Southeastern Fair. In the hog shows it was Rosa Lawrence, Tommy Glisson, Ralph Brinson with Hampshire's. Nancy Crow, Berkshire; Jonah Claxton, Buford Brantley Durocs; Lamar Claxton, Thurston Harrison, Spotted Poland China and Mary Glisson, Chester White. Others winning places were J. E. Walker, Lamar Hatcher, Will Screws, Elmer Jackson and Joe Screws.

    The 1925 farm survey of Johnson County is done every 5 years. Number of farms 1,561; white farmers 986; colored farmers 575; owners of farms 354; Tenant Farmers 1207; no. acres farmed 102,218; woodland not pastured 1,959; all other land 7,537; farm values $2,159,451; horses 188; mules 2,059; cattle 3,186; swine 8,269; corn bu. 281,950; cotton bales 8,215; breeding sows 1,445; peaches bu. 8,263; pecan trees 2,180; peach bearing trees 1,379.

    An ugly row happened Friday night in the quarters when a half dozen mixed up together in a fuss, according to Chief Harvey Spell who arrested a number of them and others turned over to the State authorities. Beatrice Moore was charged with stabbing Albert Outlaw with a long bladed knife.

    Two young colored lads were charged with stealing chickens from Mr. John B. Harrison. They were Willie Clarke and Willie Jones. They were found guilty and must pay $75 or go to the chaingang for 12 months. The parents also gave the boys a public whipping.

    Mr. & Mrs. D. T. Brinson have a new Essex Coach, Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Cave have a Chevrolet and Judge A. L. Hatcher is in a new Nash Coach. Mr. & Mrs. E. W. Tanner are moving to a home on South Marcus Street. The city fire department got their new fire truck built by J. J. Jordan of Dublin.

    Mrs. R. Leon Frost, 19, died Oct. 14th at her home in Memphis, Tenn. Mr. & Mrs. Frost were married only a few months when she got pneumonia. She was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.

    Mrs. Mason, born May 4, 1850 in Johnson and married to H. C. Mason died Oct. 17th. Her husband and 10 children survive. She was 75 and a member of Cedar Grove church. She was buried in the old cemetery within a few hundred yards of her birthplace.

From Days Gone By Oct. 17,1925

 October 17,1925.

    The city is having an election next Tuesday asking the voters, women included, to vote on the matter of selling the light plant to the power company. Dublin sold it's plant this week.

    The light plant had a bad night Sunday. The lights were about to go on, about church time, when a fire began raging somewhere beneath the floor of the main room. It was a hidden blaze caused by a defective wire. The floor was torn up and the blaze put out.

    The Virginia tobacco men are coming back to secure contracts from Farmers intending to plant the crop.

    Charles D. Roundtree, editor of the Wrightville Headlight is retiring as President of the Georgia Press Association. Mr. E. H. Parker of Lovett has bought the home of Mr. & Mrs. John D. Outlaw here in the city. Mr. Outlaw will move to his farm out in the county to farm and work in his blacksmith shop.

    The two remaining banks released their statement of condition. The Bank of Adrian $151,829.51; The Farmers Bank $155,288.74.

    On Aug. 21st, Chas. G. Rawlings was found guilty of murder of G. A. Tarbutton on Feb. 17th and was given a life sentence. He filed a motion for a new trial. October 17th was set as a hearing date on this motion at the Dublin court house. There are about 860 long pages of it saying nothing of the other evidence. The lawyers for the State are ready. The defense have given no statement. Rawlings awaits the decision in his case, confined in county jail. J. J. Tanner who is also under a life sentence, awaits the Georgia Supreme Court decision on a new trial.

    Enoch Waters, 18, and Roosevelt Warthen, 18, were instantly killed Friday morning when a lumber truck collided with a ditch at the corner of the cemetery where the Dublin and Ringjaw roads intersect. The truck was driven by Otho Brown, a colored youth about the same age. Brown escaped with bruises. A fourth colored boy, Ernest Waters, a brother of Enoch, jumped off the truck before it crashed unhurt. They were hauling lumber for James O. Lake. The truck overturned throwing Enoch and Roosevelt on the ground and the lumber and truck buried them.

    Mrs. Susana Lake died at her son's home, Mr. E. Lake, near Lovett. Burial was at Pleasant Grove. She was 89, born in 1835 in Edgefield, S. C. She married E. M. Lake in 1909. Six children survive her. Mrs. Susan Perry, Mrs. R. F. Johnson, Mrs. Tobe Coleman and Mrs. Barm Coleman, Mr. E. P. and Mr. Joseph Lake.

From Days Gone By Oct. 10,1925

 October 10,1925.

    The State Highway Department has begun construction of the new bridge across the Ohoopee at Mason Springs replacing the dilapidated old one that was frightful to cross. The bridge crew pitched their tents near the little brown church beside the highway and will be there two to three months. A new right of way across the swamp and stream has been cut. The road on towards Dublin is to be straightened some, leaving the old one to the east and passing on through the field.

    In Johnson County there had been ginned 7,742 bales of cotton as against 2,335 up to this same time in 1924.

    County Agent Crow has carried Johnson County products to the Southeastern Fair. A spelling bee will be an attraction at the local fair. There is some interest in building a new basketball court here.

    Mr. Brooks Elton is the recent owner of a new Chevrolet automobile. Mr. Travis L. Price has filed for bankruptcy.

    The county Board of Education met with Superintendent Luther Lillard. The board now consists of A. L. Hatcher, Chairman, S. P. Rice, W. T. Mixon, N. F. Bray and Dr. T. A. Powell. It was voted to raise the salary of Miss Gertrude Proctor, Home Demonstration Agent, $25 per month.

    The banks released their statements of condition. The Exchange Bank $461,185.47; Bank of Wrightville $381,429.58; Citizen Bank of Kite $180,555.38.

    On October 6th, Mr. J. N. Hall married Mrs. Elizabeth Love of Treutlen County by Rev. G. F. Sumner.

    Mr. Luther W. Smith died at home near Scott on September 27th from a stroke. He leaves a wife and three sons. Five brothers, George A., W. R., Clint, J. Marvin and James W. Sisters, Mrs. H. C. Moorman, Mrs. Jim Haywood and Mrs. R. A. Haywood. Burial was at Poplar Springs.

    Mrs. J. W. Smith, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John J. Smith died at home Thursday being I'll for several months. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and five step-children. She was buried at Piney Mount.

    The ten month old baby son of Mr. & Mrs. George Tanner died Friday night. The child was critically ill for quite sometime. Burial was at Hall's cemetery.

    The remains of Mr. James C. Oliver were brought here from McRae and intered at Westview, dying suddenly on Sunday while at church. He was 54 years old.

From Days Gone By Oct. 3,1925

 October 3,1925.

    Monday morning of last week the W. & T. Railway had another bad wreck near Idylwild, just to the east of the road crossing outside the enclosure, 8 or 9 cars going off the track. No one was hurt. The track was soon cleared and but little delay was experienced in train operations. This was a costly wreck to the road.

    Then on Monday afternoon of this week the W. & T. had another wreck near Harrison when passenger train No. 3 was derailed and fortunately no one was injured in this one either. This is the third wreck in a month. This was also another heavy loss to the road and traffic was delayed awhile. The wreck was cleared Tuesday about noon and rail service was resumed.

    Sheriff L. J. Claxton and his deputies made a visit to Daley Grove church of colored people Sunday afternoon and raided a bunch of whiskey operations. The five defendants appeared before Judge B. B. Blount Monday morning. Grover Turner, Louis Stephens and Crawford Hicks pleaded guilty to whiskey charges and were given a fine of $50 or 8 months. Eulie Curry and Bob Hannah gave bond to await trial in November.

    The power people are now in a frame of mind to enter into trade discussion with the city for the electric light plant here and negotiations for the sale of the system to them will now be considered.

    The farmer's are fast winding up their cotton picking. Gins are now running during the day only but are kept busy ginning the remainder of the crop.

    Mr. Elmer Jackson of Donovan has some prize Duroc Jersey pigs on his large stock farm this year. The ten specimen of Durocs, 180 days old, weighed 2311 pounds last week. Six months old, they are indeed good pigs and Jackson is showing what can be done in hog raising in this county.

    Mr. C. S. Blankenship sold out his meat market to Mr. L. E. Parker and Messrs. Price and McAfee are operating it. Those driving new autos are W. C. Chester, W. V. Tyson and Emory L. Rowland.

    Messrs. J. E. Sanders and R. S. Moye are now handling the Chevrolet autos for the county. Sanders resigned from B. B. Hayes merchantile and Moye resigned from the Georgia Grocery Co. They will now sell Chevy's full time. Coupes are $810; Coach $840; Sedan $930.

    A marriage took place in Harrison between Miss Theodosia Jordan of there, to Mr. Benjamin Alford of Wrightville. Two marriages occured Sunday. Miss Nannie Lou Williams, daughter of Mr. James Williams of Tom, became the wife of Mr. Ernest Smith, eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. N. G. Smith of Rehobeth community. Miss Lucile Edge, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. H. Edge was married to Mr. Milo Walden, son of Mrs. Isaac Walden.

    The monkey has come to town to stay at last. And he is all fixed up and chained to a post and looks like he has escaped an evolution trial all right enough. Col. W. M. Shurling has him eating candy at his place and the little sprout is being seen by all visitors there.

From Days Gone By Sept. 26,1925

 September 26,1925.

    Judge Camp called Johnson Superior Court to order. Several divorce cases went up the first day, some getting their first and others their second verdicts. Civil business kept the court busy until Wednesday when criminal cases were taken up.

    Business in Wrightville is better than in many years. Merchants and bankers are thriving. Trade goes on daily above the same period last year. They say it looks good on to Christmas.

    Cotton picking is still going on and is harvesting a pretty good crop this year and the price holds up. Cotton ginned up to September 1st shows 4,657 bales against 1,340 bales last year.

    The 1925-26 term of the Kite Consolidated School started off well with 300 pupils in the first week. They are now pushing 350.

    Just after supper Friday night a mule hitched to a wagon ran amuck up town on Marcus Street and caused a commotion among pedestrians and vehicles. The frightened animal was stopped when he and the wagon neared the courthouse front and as they latched on to the side of the auto of Mr. DeWitte Brinson, frightening his family and causing some damage to his car.

    Dr. E. N. Bradshaw goes to Scott and Adrian each Saturday to treat stock that are sick, lame, or have bad teeth. He has turned out to be a good veterinarian and has been here about 6 years. Mr. W. H. Mullis is now the local telegraph officer.

    The Grand Order of Honor & Benevolence, a secret fraternal order of the colored people held their annual convention here in the colored Methodist Church. Elder Reese invited the Mayor to deliver an address of welcome to all. The Mayor gave them a mighty good talk which was appreciated by all. Their sessions lasted two days 

    Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Thompson had a daughter, Grace Carroll on September 19th. Miss Nora Bell Schwalls married a Mr. Meeks. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C. M. Schwalls of Kite.

    Mrs. Tyler Young, a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Hammock, died at her parents having been in an afflicted condition for several years. She was buried in Westview.

From Days Gone By Sept. 19,1925

 September 19,1925.

    The drought is finally broken in Johnson as rains fell the last few days. In some sections the wind and rain so strong it damaged crops, fences and timber. Cotton was blown from the bolls, fencing blown down, corn stalks broken off with ears on the ground. More than 250 Farmers suffered as the storm went across the middle-eastern part of the county from North to South.

    Pres. Molony of the W. & T. announced Mr. W. L. Burns from the Dublin shops is to be Master mechanic at Tennille. Receiver J. Arlie Lindsey states tax valuations are higher than last year by an increase of $18,840. The county tax amounts to $58,410.39 and for schools $13,275.09. The Wise Amusement Co. returns to the county Fair with a larger and better carnival on Nov. 3rd to 7th. The Bank of Adrian statement of condition was $127,351.70. Ernest Carey killed a four foot ten inch rattler with 12 rattles near his home.

    The Mayor and Council purchased a Ford truck and is outfitting it with the necessary equipment. It will have hose, ladders, wrenches, overcoats, caps, axes, etc. It will cost about $1000 to outfit.

    Early Tuesday night fire destroyed the home of court stenographer Alton Watson in Dublin. The family wasn't home but neighbors saved what they could. He was recently working on the Rawlings trial records for the lawyers and courts and these along with his typewriter were saved.

    Floyd Daniel, colored, was jailed Sunday night by Sheriff Claxton who found him at church near the "amen" seats listening to his preacher when he was nabbed. It seems that Floyd and a woman said to be his wife by the name of Lula and another colored man were going to church when arose a bad beating scrape which Lula was beat up over the face, neck, head and body, and a pocket knife used freely on her including in one eye. She was hurried to a doctor then taken to her parents on C. M. Dent's place. The beating took place on the J. T. Fulford plantation.

    Old Jim Kemp, brother of Dock Kemp, who was shot by Clem Kemp a few weeks back, is headed to the asylum after he was found ill at mind. Lunacy papers were sworn out against Him and the judge sent him away.

    Miss Jewell Renfroe of here and W. Robert Cullen's of Adrian were married at Beulah. She is a daughter of Mrs. J. F. Renfroe. Cullen's is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Cullen's near the Lauren's County line.

    Miss Annie Lou Walden, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Charlie G. Walden of Donovan, died after a long illness and was buried at Beulah.

    The body of D. M. Bray was buried at Westview. He died suddenly in Macon while at the Central Railroad shops. He was 35 and leaves a wife, daughter and son along with 4 brothers and 2 sisters. He was a Methodist.

From Days Gone By Sept. 12,1925

 September 12,1925.

    State Highway surveyors started surveying the Bee-Line from the city to the Oconee and will likely take a month to complete. Johnson, Washington and Wilkinson put up the required funds for this survey. It will move over the Oconee to Irwinton and connect with the already established highway to Macon.

    The Union Gin caught fire and spread rapidly to the seed house. The cotton warehouse was saved by the thick brick wall that halted the flames enough for the firemen to put it out. Mr. Edd Jordan, manager and owner of the property said the wall saved the warehouse. Ten carloads of seed were lost in the fire.

    While the Gin fire raged another tragedy occurred when the W. & T.  passenger train No. 3 left Wrightsville on time enroute to Dublin and  was running about 30 mph. In order to make the grade ahead fireman Asa T. Lindsey was in the tender fixing the fire. The engineer, Arthur T. Cochran, 23 year veteran with the W. & T. said when he looked around the curve saw the Idylwild trestle on fire knew a wreck was enevitable. He applied the brakes and the engine rode the rails over the burning section, swooped down and up, bent to the right and fell on its left side down and away from a 10 foot embankment out into the swamp. Two cars of seed, one car of merchandise, the tender, 2 coal cars and the engine left the tracks and the fire rapidly spread to the coal.

    As hundreds came from the city Conductor John Brooks freed the remaining cars and were pushed back down the track out of harm's way.

W. & T. President, Chas. Molony was aboard the fatal train and he and the passengers were unhurt. However in a frantic search for Lindsey he was found buried under a carload of seed and was only discovered by one leg sticking out. This began frantic work to get his body out before it could be burned up. As other's fought the fire Lindsey's badly mangled body was dug out of the wreckage. 

    It seems the woods were on fire which caused the trestle to catch fire. The Sandersville railroad sent an engine to pull the passenger cars to a side track and a wrecker came from Macon to clear the wreckage so the tracks could be repaired. Mr. Lindsey was carried to Sandersville under his wife's direction. They had two daughters 14 and 6. He was buried at Mt. Moriah church. This was the worst train wreck in the railroads history up to that time.

    Miss Margaret Kent riding with Bernard Roberts of Ennis in a Hudson Coach met an auto about 3 miles up Tennille Rd and swerved to miss the auto ran into a ditch at 50 mph and turned belly up. Mrs. Kent broke her collar bone and Roberts brusied. Mr. Ben Roy Spell while coming from Kite crossing Cedar bridge hit a hole and his Ford Touring car ran off in the swamp. He was only bruised.

    Sweethearts for years, the happy marriage of Miss Susie Mae Outlaw and Mr. Bob Lord culminated in South Carolina. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Outlaw. He is a son of Mr. F. C. Lord.

From Days Gone By Sept 5,1925

 September 5,1925.

     Mr. Eugene Miller, Marvin Snell and Maxie Smith went fishing and in the days Roundup of more fish than they could eat they killed 39 water Rattlers and one moccasin while in the Cedar swamp.

    The Wrightville High School opened with 283 pupils with enrollment expecting to run about 350. Mr. W. H. Lovett fired up the planing mill having put back most of the building and repaired the machinery.

    Mr. & Mrs. Ivey R. Tanner of South Marcus St. had a daughter on August 25th. A petition for divorce was filed between Arlie Outlaw vs Emma Outlaw.

    Mr. Morris Riner states he lost more than a thousand dollars worth of timber on his turpentine farms the last two weeks from forest fires. All the turpentine Farmers of the county have suffered similar fates.

    Ordinary Jenkins reports actual work has started on the Bee-Line highway to Macon. Captain Wright and his force of road builders started this week. The Macon Boosters are coming to Wrightville to support the pushing of this road to completion.

    Jim Kemp, colored, who said he was 125 years old when asked, has a load of squirrel shot in his breast and face from a gunshot wound inflicted at the hands of Jim's nephew, Clem Kemp, a son of Dock Kemp. It all happened near Spann Monday afternoon in the Cotton patch when Jim slipped down and across the rows of cotton with a hoe until he made fight at his relatives and was finally shot in the front. Tuesday morning he carried a swollen face when brought to town by Dock to have his wounds dressed.

    Jim's mind is evidentally demented according to the story. Dock says it's not the first time his brother has given them trouble. Clem shot first in the ground to try to deter Jim but he kept coming so Clem put the next load in him. Jim will get over it barring blood poisoning and may lose an eye.

    Mr. J. E. Webb, a wealthy businessman from Adrian died after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, one son, Marvin Webb and 4 daughters, Mrs. A. J. Peddy, Mrs. Carrie Jones, Mrs. Laura Brantley and Mrs. W. C. Smith. He was buried at Poplar Springs.

    Mrs. J. D. Vickers, 87, died at her son's, Dr. T. E. Vickers following a stroke. Burial was at Bethany. She is survived by her son and three daughters, Mrs. Dock Elton, Mrs. J. T. Keen and Mrs. Nannie Whitaker.

    Mrs. B. L. Hadden died and her funeral was held at Gethsemane Church.

From Days Gone By August 29,1925

 August 29,1925.

    Charles G. Rawlings was found guilty and was recommended to the mercy of the court by the jury that sat on his case. Judge Camp imposed a life sentence on the aged Rawlings and sent him back to jail, awaiting further developments as the defense filed a motion for a new trial and the Judge set Oct. 17th to hear this motion.

    When the State rested the Defense asked for some time to confer, the request was granted. Upon returning Rawlings took the stand to make his statement to the Jury. He gave his version of events, at one time breaking down and weeping. The defense announced they would rest with that. This gave a surprise. Introducing no evidence gave the defense the opening and the closing speeches and Col. Evans opened followed by Solicitor Kea. Friday Col. E. L. Stephens spoke for the State and the closing was by Ex-Governor T. W. Hardwick for Rawlings. Each side had 3 hours to use and all this time was occupied. The jury went out at 2pm Friday and at 7pm came back with the verdict of guilty.

    Owing to the very dry season there has been considerable damage by fires, destroying forests and turpentine timber loss is heavy. The home of ex-sheriff Lewis Davis caught fire in the kitchen roof. The family was in the home when the neighbor, Mrs. Attaway discovered the blaze and the fire was extinguished. Later the home of Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Parker caught fire but it was quickly put out.

     Fires destroyed 5 buildings in Tennille belonging to J. V. Boatright, including the brick stable he just converted into a gasoline station. Ten autos we're burned in the George Daniel building.

    Mr. Brice Anderson informs that the one horse farm on his plantation produced 9 bales of cotton. The tenant being Otis Lee Kight. This is above average for the county.

    Contractor T. L. Chester has been working in Arcadia, Fla. won a prize for naming a sub-division in that city. The name is "Villa Rica Parque".

    Sheriff Claxton made another big raid Saturday morning down on Smith's branch on the east side of the county, returning to a scene of usual descriptions of this sort that had been located and "looked over" Friday night when one colored native of the area was rounded up as the producer of "joy" which no doubt had parched many a dry throat. They broke up a very cute playhouse away back in the branch, poured out a lot of the costly fluid and drove to town with the big still. The sheriff says he aims to keep it up in capturing these outfits producing the whiskey in Johnson.

    Mrs. W. S. Burns died after being bedridden for 19 months. She was 79 and married for 59 years. She was buried in Westview. Her husband and 7 children survive her.

From Days Gone By Aug. 22,1925

 August 22,1925.

    The fire bug put in another days work Sunday morning about church time. The alarm sounded the W. H. Lovett's planing mill was afire. The whole Northside of the city was threatened. The firemen tried but it being so dry and a stiff wind blowing. Dublin sent a truck and a dozen men and finally got it under control. It is the 4th fire at Lovett's mill. He carried insurance on most of it. It's believed the fire was from shavings strewn along from the pile to the boiler. Lovett says he will rebuild.

    While playing little Joe Brinson, son of Mr. & Mrs. DeWitt Brinson, with is brothers were playing with a tin can and some wire when somehow the end of the wire went directly in his eye and he may lose his sight in that eye.

    Mr. Clayton N. Dent, 45, died in Macon while hauling lumber to the sash and door Co. His truck overturned while rounding a curve and he was half buried under the heavy load.

    Judge Camp opened Superior Court. A hundred men were called for jury duty but for varying excuses only 59 remained. A new face was at this trial, Col. Thomas E. Hightower of Dublin was retained by Rawlings. Much time was taken in whipping into shape all phases of the case. Rawlings attorneys argued the jury was improperly empanelled but Judge Camp overruled. Finally by the afternoon 12 men all Farmers, were selected. They were J. L. Drake, J. B. Wambles, Sr., Willie Lindsey, R. L. Kitchens, Dennis Mimbs, J. Elton Brantley, Jesse J. Grant, A. R. Brooks, C. H. Kitchens, J. M. Henry, D. O. Young and Respus Powell.

    The first witness was Lewis Stephens, colored, who was digging the bauxite holes. Next C. T. Alexander, the timberman, Mr. & Mrs. T. I. Young and Dr. H. B. Bray lead the circumstantial evidence with what the witness actually saw. A case of conspiracy between the 2 defendants and the attempt to prove that the death of Tarbutton was due to wilful crime and not to an accidental discharge of the shotgun carried by Tanner form the basis of the State's case. The defense denies any conspiracy or plot to kill Tarbutton and asserts that the dead man was accidentally shot.

    Dr. S. M. Johnson and M. E. Crow testified about the inquest and the scene of the fatal spot where the brains of Tarbutton were piled in a winding path down the steep descent of Ringjaw Bluff. A hot argument ensued over insurance papers held by Lake Holt, Receiver of the Rawlings estate.

   J. D. Bush, undertaker, testified to the wounds in Tarbutton's head. He prepared the body for burial.

    Late Wednesday afternoon the State put up Noah Covington, the white man who says he saw the shooting. More witnesses will be sworn by the prosecution before that side rests. There are about 50 witnesses on each side. The trial will likely consume all this week and may run into next week.

    Dr. William Rawlings, known nation wide is the founder and owner of the large Sanitarium and hospital that bears his name in Sandersville sat by his brother, Charlie, most of the trial.

From Days Gone By Aug. 15,1925

 August 15,1925.

    Charlie Rawlings will likely appear in court Monday. Lawyers on both sides see nothing in the way and will be ready when Judge R. Earl Camp calls the case on the 17th.

    Judge B. B. Blount convened City Court. There were about 128 criminal cases and a big bunch of civil cases. Twelve plead guilty. The first day 8 were tried, 4 being freed and 4 found guilty. A rather funny case came up. A Townsend was accused by a Beasley of killing a cow that got in a field of Beasley's and the testimony was mostly circumstantial. The defendant was cleared by jury. Three white men, Jackson and Wilson's were freed on a dynamiting case.

    The case of Ray Hewitt who was convicted of larceny after trust and the Court of Appeals granted a new trial. Two cases against John Williams, the colored man who was tried in an illicit whiskey transaction in the county and was convicted and fined $500. The two cases were reversed on the grounds of insufficient evidence to convict which turns the colored man free.

    The city has a business proposition if the city father's will act on it. It is concerning the disposition of the dilapidated, insufficient, out-of-date, old fashioned lighting plant down by the railroad tracks. The city cannot afford to let this go. To keep pace with the times the Southern Utilities Co. is willing to give Wrightville what they are fixing to give 40 more towns around us, the benefit of modern power and adequate lights at a cost lower than the city has ever paid. The city charter allows the disposal of the old plant and it is hoped it is taken advantage of.

    Mrs. William Bales, a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. S. Burns died and was buried at Northview in Dublin. She was 60 and died of cardic arrest. She was survived by her husband and 3 children, Mrs. Sallie Darden, Miss Mary Lizzie Bales and Miss Nell Bales. Sister Mrs. J. R. Cherry and brothers J. J., W. G., T. H., L. M. and D. G. Burns.

    At the age of 50 Mr. Joe B. Williams died suddenly at home. He was part owner of a furnature business here with Green Harrison. He served as Clerk of Court for 8 years. He was Secretary of the Mt. Vernon Assoc. For years he was a trustee of Brewton Parker Institute and a member of Brown Memorial. He was a Shriner, an Odd Fellow and K. K. K. member. He was twice married. His present wife was Nita Lumley of Emanuel Co. Six children survive him. Brothers, Alonzo, Monroe, Sam, Arlie and John W. Williams. Sisters, Mrs. Fannie Stapleton and Mrs. Susie Underwood. The Mason's assumed the services.

    Miss Alds Walker of Wrightville and Mr. Red Winn of Athens were married.

    A memorial is in the works to be placed on the state capitol grounds honoring Thomas E. Watson. Johnson Co. is raising $1012 for this memorial.

From Days Gone By August 8, 1925

 August 8,1925.

    At the asking of County Agent M. E. Crow, the tobacco men from North Carolina and Virginia are here. They are Mr. T. B. Cheney and Mr. E. H. Hodnett of Ringgold, N. C. and Mr. Matthew Keese of Keeling, Va. They are experts on tobacco growing and are eager to share their expertise.

    They will get a list of farmers interested in growing tobacco in 1926 and it is predicted that this county will be dotted with the weed next year. The price is good, the quality fine and neighboring counties are getting in thousands of cash dollars already for it's culture. 

    To the east and to the west they are growing it successfully, to say nothing of towards the south and everyone believes that Johnson will come among the first counties of the belt in it's production once the crop gets started here.

    Mr. J. H. Rowland and farmer, William Dudley, brought in the first 1925 cotton bale, the earliest on record. The bale was ginned by W. H. Lovett & Son and was a light bale, weighing 597 pounds. The Dixie Cotton Co. by E. E. Sanders bought the bale.

    Sheriff Lovett J. Claxton and his deputies made several arrests Sunday of disorderly person's around the county, mostly in the western part. The disturbances arose among the colored people. It has become a frequent thing of troubles arising at negro churches and the ring leaders are being gone after hot and heavy by the more orderly element of their color. Everytime they have a big meeting there seems to be more or less of it brewing and the church leaders say they want to break it up.

    Ralph Anderson of Kite has returned from camp at Fort Bragg. Mr. S. M. Johnson is back with the baseball team at Lakeland, Fla. after suffering a broken ankle.

    Mr. Raymond H. Rowland has moved his sawmill into the city lot where his planing mill burned. Mr. & Mrs. John E. Hall of Hall Brothers and Mr. R. E. Hayes of Hayes Cash Store have gone to New York to buy merchandise.

    Mr. W. H. Lovett partnered with his son, Master Billy in the ginnery here and at Harrison. It was formerly E. A. & W. H. Lovett. The firm is now W. H. Lovett & Son. Billy is barely 5 years old and is now the youngest businessman probably in the state. He takes the place of his late grandfather, Alf Lovett.

    The payroll of the Wrightville & Tennille railroad company in the year 1924 amounted to $170,235.04. This is equal to $14,186.25 per month, or $465.12 per day. Of all the money taken in by the W. & T. for 1924, 47.23 per cent went for payrolls.

From Days Gone By August 1,1925

 August 1,1925.

    Hon. William Jennings Bryan, the great Commoner, and three time candidate for president, died at Dayton, Tenn. while taking a nap. He had just came out of the famous Scopes evolution trial and was preparing to launch a national drive against the teaching of evolution in all the public schools of the nation. Death was due to heart failure. Mrs. Bryan was on the porch when he passed. His son was in Idaho and daughter in California.

    Bryan was born in Salem, Illinois March 19,1860. His parents lived in Virginia, his father a lawyer and judge. He graduated law in 1887 and practiced in Lincoln, Nebraska. His national fame came from two speeches he made to Congress. One was against the appeal of the silver purchase clause of the Sherman Act in 1893, he advocated the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1.

    In 1896 he raised the 3rd Nebraska Volunteers and was it's colonel during the Spanish-American War. In 1901 started printing "The Commoner" at Lincoln. He was Secretary of State under President Wilson. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

    The effort for a new trial for J. J. Tanner before the Supreme Court should see a decision in the next few days. City Court was busy with cases with most of them dealing with drunkenness.

    County Agent Crow is seeking the services of a tobacco expert to come to Johnson and assist in raising tobacco. Many Farmers are interested in it's growth which seems to be a tremendous money producer lately. It is now grown all over the county except the northern section. Fine crops are in the Buckeye area near the Lauren's line and near the Emanuel line.

    Mrs. Bashie Watkins, widow of John Watkins of Blundale, and Mr. Denson Thomson of Meeks were married in Kite at Mr. J. L. Hatcher's home. They will make their home in Meeks.

    Miss Mabel Sumner and Mr. J. Dean Page were married July 21st in Wrightville. Mabel is daughter of Rev. & Mrs. G. F. Sumner. Dean is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Elbert Page of Pleasant Plains community in Washington Co. He has worked the last two years in Tampa, Fla. with the railroad. They will make Tampa their home.

From Days Gone By July 25,1925

 July 25,1925.

    Sheriff Lovett J. Claxton and his son James, returned from Council, Ga., below Waycross with Jim Upshaw, a colored man who left here post haste some nights back for parts unknown after a bad affair down in the colored section of Wrightville. Upshaw decided he would use a knife and stick on one colored woman who goes by the name Coot Baker. She charges him with cutting her badly across the breast and other places and beating her across the back leaving her for dead on the dirt by the railroad tracks. She hollared loudly until help came. Upshaw fled, the Sheriff started a hunt and he was located at the big sawmill below Waycross.

    Mayor James M. Cook had a big court with more than 15 cases being docketed. The court room looked like a session of some higher tribunal with more than 100 people present.

    The crops are looking good all over the county with hopes of a good fall harvest. The corn is good and with the rains sights of it should be made. Cotton is good but depends on the outcome of the weevil's work over the next 20 days. Fodder pulling will soon be in full force.

    The first open cotton recorded this year was brought in by C. H. London who lives on the farm of L. D. Lovett. The traveler towards Kite, just across the Cedar swamp and up the hill on the left cannot help but notice the pretty young peach orchard of Mrs. J. H. Rowland. It has been growing the last couple of years and since McRae's misfortune and Wrightville's good fortune shows the peaches in our county will do well.

    Mr. H. L. Hall who operates the Crystal Theatre in Dublin, has now leased the Dixie Theatre here.

    Johnson seems to be on the move. The Bee-Line is going to be put through, the Jeff Davis is being revived and highways all over the county are better than ever and schools and churches are having a reconstruction boom going on with consolidation and new buildings are coming along.

    Mr. & Mrs. Byron Price had a fine baby daughter on Sunday July 12th.

    Mr. Felton Hall died on Thursday night at home near Liberty Grove from gastritis. A wife and two children survive. He was a son of Mr. M. A. Hall and was 23 years old. He was buried at the Hall Cemetery.

    News was received of the death of Richard Mixon on July 11th at his home in Corsicns, Texas from appendicitis. His wife survived him along with his brothers, Rev. W. A. Mixon of this county, George W. of Lyons and Cornelius of Texas. He also had five sisters.

From Days Gone By July 18,1925

 July 18,1925.

    The Supreme Court of Georgia denied the appeal for a change of venue in the State vs Chas. G. Rawlings, jointly charged with the murder of G. A. Tarbutton on Ringjaw Bluff. Judge Camp has already named August 17th for the trial in Johnson Superior Court. Meanwhile Rawlings awaits his fate in jail with J. J. Tanner incarcerated with him, Tanner waiting on appeal for a new trial with the high court.

    A new power company, Georgia Southern Power Company was granted a charter. This company bought the Oconee River Mills at Milledgeville, an electrical plant with a hydro-driven unit on the Oconee River and a steam plant under the name of Milledgeville Lighting. They have also contracted to buy the Dublin plant.

    The city father's have been putting the streets in fine shape using the tractor to pull the large road machine, and the streets, lanes and avenues are in good condition.

    Mr. Laudice D. Lovett bought Mrs. C. Tom Mixon's home on South Marcus next to Mr. I. R. Tanner. Mr. Lovett plans to move the house back from the street and remodel it.

    Mr. & Mrs. T. C. Brantley had a daughter July 7th named Attie Hazel. Mr. John E. Beasley has filed for bankruptcy. Morgan Snell brought to town an egg in an egg in it's it's original form from his barnyard. John B. Harrison brought in the first open boll of cotton off his 7 acres. Dock Mosely has two fields of cotton west of town which he believes will produce a bale or more to the acre.

    Mr. Dennis Hutcheson died at Rawlings Sanitarium from a complication of troubles. He was about 57 and lived most of his life in Wrightville. He operated saw Mills and had a good business. He left two daughters, Mrs. Lou Anna Wilson and Mrs. Osley M. Sumner, one son, Guy Hutcheson. He was buried at Westview by Kent & Bush undertakers.

    Willis Powell, colored boy, driving a strip down car Sunday afternoon, was killed in a wreck near the home of Mr. J. N. Hall when the car summersaulted with him as he ran down a steep hill. In the strip down with Powell were two colored girls with one being badly injured. Willis did not die instantly but lived to some time during the night. It is said that when the car dipped down into a hold it swerved around and over, throwing him up in the air. He is a son of Homer Powell who lives on the plantation of Mr. Edd Linder near Galilee church.

From Days Gone By, July 11,1925

 July 11, 1925.

    A bad hail storm hit some sections of the county doing a lot of damages to corn and cotton, stripping it badly. The loss is heavy on some farms.

    Southern Bell is working this territory trying to better the service, especially the long distance wires and lines. Out of Wrightville new long distance circuits connecting with all cities away are being planned.

    Dr. D. C. Harrison received some important legislative committee assignments by Speaker Cecil W. Neil. Those are: appropriations, Georgia State Sanitarium, penitentiary. Senator A. M. Roundtree was given 6 appointments: agriculture, education & public schools, forestry, hygiene and sanitation, school for the deaf, state of the republic.

    Idylwild is a very popular resort this season with picnics, parties, campers and visitors coming from alot of places. Idylwild went down after the war, like everything else, but it is coming up again.

    Mr. Frank F. Flanders is remodeling his residence in the northern part of the city. Dr. Reuben Dent has moved from Screven to Ft. Lauderdale. Mrs. J. L. Kent, Miss C. D. Roundtree and Miss Juliette Roundtree are at Tybee for a few days, and Savannah to visit Mrs. Daniel D. Davis on Lincoln Street.

    Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Lovett, Miss Maudilla Lovett and Miss Ida Brinson went North to visit cities and resorts in Mr. Lovett's Lincoln. They are visiting Washington, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia, and will also visit Niagra Falls. They will take an ocean steamer on the return trip.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Underwood had a boy, the grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Stokes. Dr. & Mrs. Herschel B. Bray had a daughter July 7th. Mr. & Mrs. Johnnie Hall had a little girl, and Mr. & Mrs. C. D. Henderson have a new baby.

    The banks released their statements of condition. The Bank of Adrian $84,958.91; The Farmers Bank $133,263.74; Citizens Bank of Kite $137,435.20; Exchange Bank $325,177.55; Bank of Wrightville $317,090.97.

    The remains of Mr. Leonard L. Claxton were brought to Gumlog. He died in a Savannah hospital after getting sick on Tybee where he and three Kite ladies were spending several days. More than 1500 people payed their respects to this young man. Just preceding the sermon a delegation of the KKK, no. 200, entered the church and payed their respects, who, evidentially was a member. They offered up a beautiful prayer and a floral wreath. After the sermon the Mason's of Kite performed their service. He was just 23 and a merchant in Kite. He was one of three sons of Mr. & Mrs. Milledge J. Claxton of Kite, his brothers Ernest J. and Sanford Claxton. He was born Nov. 28,1901. He was unmarried.

From Days Gone By July 4, 1925

 July 4,1925.

    A new bridge will be erected across the Ohoopie river at Mason's Springs. Also the road will be straightened out on the west side towards J. D. Kitchens and W. H. Raley. The bridge will cross just up stream from the old structure.

    Still no word from the Supreme Court on the change of venue motion by Rawlings. Judge Camp moved the court date to the 3rd Monday in August to assure the people it is ready for trial once the ruling comes down.

    Meanwhile Rawlings is whiling away the time in jail with his Bible and conversing with Tanner, his former farm overseerer.

    A Johnson Co. son is forging rapidly to the front. Dr. Wade R. Beddingfield of Augusta is moving up fast. With the expert training and actual experience he obtained in New York at the Eye & Ear Infirmary for 2 years. His office is crowded daily and his practice is extending throughout a wide area.

    John T. Fulford is in Hot Springs, Ark. in hopes to regain health taking baths at that national health resort. Mr. Will Tom Smith who farms up near Harrison in this county sold a load of melons here. Mr. W. D. Smith will celebrate his 80th birthday July 27th. He lives at Scott with his son James M. He is a Confederate veteran.

    The W. & T. will have a special train from Tennille to Hawkinsville for the big Knights of the Ku Klux Klan barbeque and rally at Hawkinsville.

    Mr. Leonard Claxton of Kite is dead. He died while in Savannah after getting seriously sick. He was brought back and buried at Gumlog. He was 24 and a son of Mr. & Mrs. M. J. Claxton of Kite.

    Miss Irene Coleman of Stevens Crossing and Mr. L. D. Hammock of Miami were married at Summertown in Emanuel Co. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Coleman. The groom is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Hammock of Wrightville. After the wedding they were guests at the Frost Hotel before leaving for Miami where Mr. Hammock is in business.

From Days Gone By June 27, 1925

 June 27, 1925.

    There is little developing in the famous Rawlings trial. Judge Camp suspended the case on account the Supreme Court has yet to hand down it's ruling on the change of venue. Col. Fred Kea took the matter up by mail with the Chief Justice who says the court is not neglecting the case.

    Plans are going forward on building the Bee-Line highway. District engineer Darden went over the proposed route from Irwinton to Ball's Ferry and there to Wrightville. The idea now is to bridge the Oconee a couple hundred yards below Ball's Ferry. There the Wilkinson side approaches from the long ridge most favorable to the river. On the other side is a swamp a half mile wide out to the bank where a high but very sloping hill emerges Eastward and meets Washington Co. at the Williamson place, just 12 miles from Wrightville. Johnson Co. put up $720 or $60 per mile and Wilkinson has put in it's share with the highway department.

    Ex-Governor & Mrs. Thomas W. Hardwick were passing through town from Dublin to Sandersville and were involved in a wreck at the Myrtle and Court Street intersection. The truck of Bill Amerson and family with his son Allen driving collided with Hardwick. Allen and a little girl were hurt but not badly.

    A bad mix-up with knives happened 3 miles out in the county Saturday night when Willie Floyd and Jack King came together with open blades gashing each other badly. Willie got his nose split open and a gash on the arm. Jack got a dangerous wound near his heart in the left breast. No reason for the affray has been learned.

    June 16th Mr. & Mrs. F. C. Oliver of Spartanburg, S. C. had a baby girl, Kathleen. On June 20th Mr. & Mrs. O. A. Kennedy, Jr. had a son. Rev. & Mrs. Rufus D. Hodges had a daughter June 23rd.

    Mrs. Ben L. Hadden died at home on June 14th her husband on retiring to bed found her dead. She was buried in the Anthony cemetery.

    Following a brief illness Mrs. Martha P. Luck died at her daughter's, Mrs. T. F. Bullard on June 20th. She was 71 and originally from Fairburn, Ga. and her body was accompanied there by Mrs. Bullard and Mr. & Mrs. James M. Luck.

    On May 27th Mrs. Lou Walters died. She was the daughter of Mr. Mat Williamson and great grand-daughter of Elder Jordan Smith, a pioneer Primitive Baptist preacher. Her ancestors were Wright's, Evans, Harris, Gainors and the large Smith family of this section. When 18 she married Richard Walters and had 9 children. She was 70 and of the Christian faith.

From Days Gone By June 20,1925

 June 20, 1925.

    Monday is the time set by Judge Camp for the Rawlings trial for the murder of Gus Tarbutton, unless the Court of Appeals has not yet decided on the change of venue motion. Meanwhile, the largest civil suit ever filed in the county was the suit of Fluker Tarbutton against C. G. Rawlings and J. J. Tanner for his father's loss of life on Ringjaw bluff.

    Sheriff Claxton served Tanner in jail. Rawlings was served here by the Washington Co. Sheriff. Tarbutton is sueing them for $250,000.

    About a half of a car load of chickens was sold here to a New York firm. The matter of school consolidation at Rehobeth lost by a vote of 19 for and 30 against. Col. J. Roy Rowland is in Atlanta being admitted to practice law in the highest courts of the state.

    The Southern Pulp & Naval Stores Company will be erecting a large pulp Mill in Dublin. Rep. J. Marion Peacock of Lauren's Co. is introducing a bill barring dancing on Sunday, especially at public places, recreation resorts, beaches and at all regular dance halls. He declares he sees no more reason to allow Sunday dancing than there is in Sunday fishing. The young legislator puts both in the same category.

    Confederate Memorial coins are now on sale at the Exchange Bank, Bank of Wrightville and Citizen's Bank of Kite. The County's quota is 5,000 coins with proceeds going to finish the carving on Stone Mountain. This will be a lasting tribute to the soldiers of the sixties.

    Miss Adeline Snell married Mr. Allen Brantley at the home of Rev. O. H. Rhodes. They will reside with the bride's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Morgan A. Snell.

    Lizzie Riner died at Rawlings Sanitarium last Saturday after several days illness. She was 84 years old on Feb. 9th and had been living with her nephew, Mr. Morgan Snell for some time. She was buried in the Snell family cemetery.