From Days Gone By Dec. 31, 1926

 December 31, 1926.

    A big fire in Kite destroyed the large lumber plant of Carr & Howard, manufacturers of lumber and naval stores. It was a large outfit working between 15 and 20 men and turned out a large quantity of lumber and pine products. The origin is not known. When discovered it was full ablaze. With the mill machinery, plant and fixtures went a lot of lumber. They did not have insurance.

    A small blaze in the home of Josh Linder, colored, brought out the fire department and put it out before much damage was done. The membership of Union Hill church are making arrangements to rebuild. The location will be a little further eastward from the old one.

    The Farmers Bank, after closing its doors December 22nd, did not open for business Thursday morning. A note on the door said, "This bank placed in the hands of the superintendent for liquidation". It was signed by R. B. Bryan, J. T. Miller, R. R. Martin, W. C. Chester, W. H. Raley, L. D. Downs and C. M. Dent, directors of the bank. The closing came as a surprise in financial circles. President Raley stated that depositors had withdrawn a lot lately by degrees, there was no "run" made, the reserve did not come up to legal requirements. They are awaiting an audit before conferring further on a reorganization.

    The South's celebration of the Christmas festivities was not without its tradgedies. Forty-two are dead from accidents and shootings and as many more badly injured. Firearms exacted a heavy toll. Seven were shot to death in Florida and other accidents put that total to eleven. Alabama had six deaths. South Carolina five killed. Georgia had five killed and Kentucky and Tennessee reported four deaths each.

    Wrightsville came close to losing its school building to a fire on Monday afternoon. The blaze was smouldering beneath the floor of the primary room on the second floor, an axe ripped up the floor and the bucket brigade saved the day.

    Enroute to Atlanta Mr. J. H. Rowland's large touring car carrying himself, Sheriff Claxton and Dr. H. B. Bray left Milledgeville and came upon a detour sign placed beyond the turnout and swerving his car into the detour it overturned. Rowland and Bray were pinned under it. Sheriff Claxton extricated himself and worked to get the others out. Some blacks close by rushed to help remove them. Rowland was not hurt bad but the Sheriff and Doctor were hurt in the breast and were laid up in the hospital.

    Well, the divorce mill certainly did grind in Georgia in 1925 when there were 2,057 divorces granted by the Georgia courts. This was an increase of 155 over 1924. There were 28,095 marriages performed last year as compared with 32,491 in 1924, representing a decrease of 4,396, or 13.5 per cent. In 1925 there were 175 marriages in Johnson County and in 1924 there were 154. Business picked up a little in the last year. Year before last  three divorces were granted in the county to nine last year. Fulton County led the divorce mill last year with 568 granted.

From Days Gone By Dec. 24, 1926

 December 24, 1926.

    The new owners, B. C. Weill and W. V. Tyson, along with some of the land owners between town and Idylwild have contracted with Georgia Southern Power to extend electric light lines to Idylwild. W. C. Brinson and James M. Luck went in with the new owners. They plan many other improvements by next season.

    Dock Kemp of Spann publicly thanked the Ordinary and Grand Jury on behalf of the colored people of the county for the improvements at the courthouse by the addition of closets. Dock is always doing something to help his people and is himself, proud of the work.

    Mr. Eulie Drake of near Adrian last week caught an eagle which measured nearly 5 feet from tip to tip. Two eagles were out in the field fighting over a chicken. Drake set some steel traps around the dead chicken and to his surprise caught one and another trap was missing assumed carried off by the other eagle. The one in the trap made fight on Mr. Drake running his claws through the sole of his shoe. These two eagles have killed a lot of grown chickens in the community.

    The county Board of Education considered the employment of the county agents for 1927 at the December meeting. Mr. Crow and Miss Proctor were given new contracts with the same salary. County Agent Crow shared his annual report with the Board. He enrolled 165 boys and girls in the different clubs and they all won $611 at the various fairs and 4 scholarships awarded for next summer. The sales of hogs sold was $20,596.62; poultry sold $15,781.27; 10,014 bushels corn for $9,075.70; 4,908 bushels sweet potatoes for $6,857.20, all for the county farmers.

    Mr. J. H. Oliver with the famous Seller,s Cabinet Makers was here in the interest of putting the business here. Lonnie Maddox has sold his barber shop to Willie Braswell. Mr. Cannie Sumner will occupy their new home on South Marcus street moving here from Spann. Barber George Gannon has purchased a machine and all the fixtures necessary for operating a pressing club to be installed in the back of his shop.

    J. J. Tanner left the Johnson jail for the State Farm in Milledgeville, so his matter is closed. Tanner has been feeble but was able to leave with the guard. He will spend the remainder of his life there.

    Adrian school building is now being erected. They have the foundation all down and sub flooring laid and ready to start on the walls. It is being built on the west side not far off the road to Scott.

    The Citizens Bank of Kite closed its doors again for the second time in 1926, this time financial troubles being to strenuous for it to remain open any longer. The directors decided to close up until relief was in sight. Mr. J. E. Clarke, the President, says the bank is solvent but owing to the depressed financial condition and their failure to collect what is due them they decided to close. It is believed they will pull through and make up a new organization.

    Union Hill church, 5 miles east of town was torn up early Tuesday morning by a hit-and-rise cyclone that swooped down on the building. People heard a roaring and thunder and saw the lightning but after daybreak saw the church destroyed. The top taken off, the front part switched clean off its moorings and the entire structure upset and moved. The building will have to be removed to build another. This makes two Baptist churches lost in this section.

    SGT. R. L. Sumner, a son of the late Rev. William Sumner, who moved to Telfair County 26 years ago, was here on a visit. Mr. Sumner has been in the U. S. Army the last 11 years and is now stationed at Pensacola. He has not been here in 26 years and was glad to get back once more.

    Emanuel County Sheriff Fred Flanders lost his second son George, in the Augusta hospital from wounds received in an auto accident. He was driving from Swainsboro to Midville when for some reason his Chrysler roadster hit a bridge.

From Days Gone By Dec. 17, 1926

 December 17, 1926.

    Attorney Thomas W. Hardwick for Charlie Rawlings stated he filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Georgia for an oral hearing in the case of the State vs. Rawlings, whose life sentence was recently affirmed by the high court. The disgruntled attorney stated that he felt like they would grant this appeal in as much as the body was divided three to three on the first decision and the matter deferred until it was confirmed by due operation of the law, although he could not say. He was still fighting for his client. In case he was not granted a rehearing, or if he was and did win his point there, he intimated that he will likely carry this case to the United States Supreme Court if possible.

    The case of the State vs. Sidney Lamp, charged with the murder of Clifton Powell in the eastern part of the county September 8th, has been taken to the Supreme Court by his attorneys, Col. E. L. Stephens and C. S. Claxton and should be heard soon.

    There were two pretty warm contests in the county in the election of Justices of the Peace and Baliffs. In the Powell District, J. B. Davis and B. J. Lamp ran for Justice, there were 71 votes cast and Davis got 45. In the same district G. N. Ivey and D. S. Fortner were elected Baliffs. In the Spann District C. T. Carter, J. E. Glisson, C. B. Flanders and J. L. Stewart ran for Baliff. Glisson and Flanders won. The general election was held December 7th for Mayor and Council of Wrightsville. Mayor R. R. Martin was elected to another term and James D. Bush, D. T. Brinson and B. B. Hayes elected councilmen.

    The Odd Fellows held their election of officers. They are, Noble Grand - James D. Bush; Vice Grand - Jacob Kaplan; Secretary - T. L. Harris; Treasurer - T. L. Martin; District Deputy - James A. Hall; Trustee - W. F. Outlaw.

    Plans are now going forward on the construction of Brown Memorial Baptist church. The membership are making preparations to start to work as soon as the insurance people make their adjustments. No lowering in quality nor looks will be allowed in the new structure. Donations are coming in already to get this started.

    Miss Mary Virginia Hodges of Dublin will soon marry Mr. Emory L. Rowland of Wrightsville. They will reside here in Wrightsville.

    Mr. Tommie Wheeler, about 35, died in an Augusta hospital following an operation of which he had many in his life time. He was a son of Mr. White Wheeler who preceded him in death some years ago.His mother and several siblings survive him. He was a Baptist and worked in Augusta as clerk in a hotel. He was buried in the Wheeler cemetery near Kite.

    The business firm of Neal & Stephenson, doing business in Kite is dissolved. J. S. Stephenson is selling his interest to J. M. Neal who will continue its operation. Dr. J. W. Brinson has purchased his drug store a new up-to-date fountain which will be installed as soon as it arrives.

    Deputy Carl Claxton and Chief Spell visited Liza Stuckey's Saturday down on the eastside of town and found about five gallons of whiskey in the place. Liza went to jail in default of bond.