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.