From Days Gone By April 8, 1929

 April 8, 1929.

    Mr. Earnest Lee Harrison, a Johnson County son, lost his right hand in the operation of machinery in a machine shop in Elizabeth, New Jersey where he was employed in the shops of the Durant Motor Company. This according to his brother, Mr. Leonard W. Harrison.

    The 15th annual session of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia will be held in Augusta this month. Johnson County does not have a commission form of government but is run by the Ordinary W. J. Flanders, assisted by County Warden C. T. Wright. They will be attending for the county along with A. L. Hatcher and C. D. Roundtree.

    Groceryman L. E. Parker is bringing to the city by truck a lot of Florida vegetables which he retails out of his store. He makes two trips a week, requiring a day and a half each trip. He travels from 52 to 100 miles below Jacksonville.

    Ordinary W. J. Flanders is having some fine roads built around Donovan. Mr. Silas Price has gone to Gila Bend, Arizona, to work with the Southern Pacific Railroad. This is where his sister resides. They are children of Mr. & Mrs. D. C. Price. Mr. B. C. Weill says he will likely open Idylwild next week for the summer season. He has recently done a lot of work there.

    A meeting of Johnson County farmers interested in poultry will be held at the court house on the 13th to organize a county Poultry Breeders Association. Its asked that each participating farmer should have at lest one hundred laying hens. In order to reach this goal, it is necessary to have an organization that will secure a paying egg market, good quality feed at a reasonable price and last and greatest benefit derived there from will be the systematic study of breeding, feeding and management in general of the flocks.

   Much interest is being taken this year in farming and if the seasons strike our section right there is going to be a good crop made, all of which is encouraging. Farming is about all we hope to depend on in this territory now and their success brings prosperity to the people.

From Days Gone By April 1, 1929

 April 1, 1929.

    Several of the ex-servicemen of Johnson County, after a long delay, are now considering organizing a post of the American Legion in Wrightsville. Mr. Beverly B. Hayes received word from Col. Guy Alford of Swainsboro that he would help establish one here. It will take 15 to 20 ex-servicemen interested, hold a brief meeting, elect a temporary commander and adjutant, agree they want a post here, select a name and petition for a charter to the state commandery. The cost is $2 per man, $1 for state dues and $1 for national dues including a subscription to the Legion monthly. Local post dues are fixed by each post. Alford advises the state convention will be in Brunswick in June.

    Adrian, the smallest town of the eleven that contested with a program over WMAZ won a silver cup and a banquet to the town for the best musical program over WMAZ radio. Each town was given an hour air time. Adrian won with 3,431 votes cast by listeners. The Adrian entertainers were Mrs. L. D. Bailey, Mrs. E. A. Taylor, Mrs. M. C. Flanders, Mrs. J. R. Rogers, Mrs. F. L. Kea, Miss Flora Jones, Mr. G. W. Bailey, Mr. G. A. Fountain and Mr. J. B. Hutchinson.

    The local banks released their statements of condition. The Exchange Bank $280,324.87; Bank of Wrightsville $241,678.12; Farmers & Merchants of Kite $31,716.14; Bank of Adrian $76,776.36.

    Mr. Carl Roundtree, a Wrightsville boy and reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama, does heroic work in that flooded area. He delayed his story to the paper to save two women and a baby near Elba, Alabama.

    The State Prison Commission reviewed eleven cases at the State Farm in Milledgeville and denied clemency to all. Mr. Charlie G. Rawlings was one of the eleven who is serving a life sentence for complicity in the killing of Gus A. Tarbutton. His plea was denied.

    On Easter Sunday Miss Bessie Wynn Powell and Mr. Roy Frost were wed at the home of Rev. J. E. Hall. She is a daughter of Mr. Silas L. Powell and he is the youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Frost, owners of the Frost Hotel in Wrightsville.

    Lewis H. Holt, Jr., 21 and a student at the University of Georgia died in a Dublin hospital from many injuries when his car overturned several times on the Dublin-Milledgeville road. Holt would have graduated in June with a law degree. He was buried in Sandersville.

    Two colored men mixed it up in an Easter brawl near Mitchell Grove colored church on the Dublin highway. George Wynn died from a breech-loading shotgun to the pit of the stomach fired by Lee Wright. They lived about 200 yards apart on the plantation of Mr. W. H. Raley. The fatal shooting took place at Coon Walker's house. A large number of coloreds were there at the time. When Wynn was shot he ran for home falling dead in his yard. Sheriff Rowland was called but Wright had fled for parts unknown.

From Days Gone By March 25, 1929

 March 25, 1929.

    The Sam Hill rose up mighty high in John Hill at the Moxley saw mill on this side of Kite and John says he couldn't help it. John had warned Charlie Johnson to let Hill's wife alone and told him he must stop paying attention to her. But Johnson didn't stop and came to the mill with Hill's wife. A row ensued. Hill grabbed his shotgun and made for Johnson. The gun wouldn't fire but one time and the shot went wild. Hill then took the barrel and went for Johnson and the wife and her mother. Hill brained Johnson to death on the spot and beat up the two women. Hill went to Kite and told officers what he did and asked to be arrested. He felt like he was justified in his actions. The two women are still among the living.

    Mr. Wren Spell died from a pistol bullet in his head Monday morning in his room in the home of Mr. & Mrs. John A. McAfee. Evidently being suicide. People at the planer mill where he worked said he had made statements to that effect. He went in the lumber office and secured a 32 SW revolver and rushed away driving his car from the planer to the house where he told Mrs. McAfee of his intentions. She begged him to stop but rushed passed her to his room. Mrs. McAfee ran to the neighbors when she heard the gunshot. Tom Reese happened by and she had him go check. Tom entered his room and found Spell lying on his back on the floor, shoes off, hat off, his head lying on a folded quilt, pistol wound in the right side of his head. He was still breathing. His brother, E. R. Spell was notified and came over. The wounded Spell lived about an hour. He wrote three notes, one to W. H. Lovett requesting to be put away nice. One to his father not to worry about him and the third note said "Good-Bye". He was a son of Mr. & Mrs. Ben R. Spell, Sr. He was buried in the Williams graveyard.

    Miss Goldos Chester, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Chester was hanging curtains using a fork which slipped entering her left eye. Mrs. Edd Jordan was hurt while riding in their car on a slippery road throwing her arm into a glass window cutting her in about three places. No one else was hurt.

    Ethel Flanders, a troubled colored woman was taken by Sheriff Rowland to the asylum in Milledgeville. She was in jail awaiting trial. She was a bad prisoner, tearing up everything she got her hands on in the jail and would have demolished it if she could have.

    The turpentine business is quite an operation in the county with seven stills with 750,000 cups on trees this year. Percy Rice and Carter own a still each at Scott. H. C. Williams at Adrian, Morris Riner at Meeks, Carr & Howard and Claxton & Claxton at Kite and U. R. Jenkins near Green B. Harrison's place.

    Agent Crow assisted the poultry sale at Adrian selling 5,029 pounds to the Gertz Produce Company of Chicago for $1,229.45. It has rained more this March in Georgia than any March ever recorded. According to the U. S. Weather Bureau in Atlanta 12.83 inches has fell in the state. Some were accompanied by heavy winds and some small cyclones. J. H. Rowland lost the roof of a barn at a tenant house across Cedar from a twister. Many trees were uprooted also.

From Days Gone By March 18, 1929

 March 18, 1929.

    The Wrightsville & Tennille No. 1 passenger train from Tennille to Dublin had a very bad wreck near Lovett Sunday morning. It carried a number of heavily loaded box cars loaded with fertilizers. Just as the train was rounding the long curve in front of the I. T. Jackson home this side of Lovett the derailment occured. Seven or eight box cars ploughed up the track for a long distance but the engine remained on the tracks as did the two passenger coaches in the rear. No one was hurt.

    It is believed that spreading rails caused by a wet road bed caused the derailment. All the available work hands rushed to the scene and began to clear the wreckage and getting the box cars back on the rails. By late Sunday night the tracks were cleared and train service resumed Monday morning.

    Wrightsville is planning a clean up date to have all the premises free of trash, cans, etc. and to fixup the trees, fences, yards, alleys, lawns, streets and vacant lots so no uncanny sights appear anywhere.

    Farm relief loans can be had soon according to L. E. White of Columbia, South Carolina who told Congressman Larsen that blanks should be out this week to the county committees. There will be $35,000 to $40,000 alloted to Johnson County and will be dished out according to actual relief.

    Farmers sold three car loads of hogs to the White Provison Company. The hogs sold for 9:61 for No 1s amounting to $4,413.35.

    The city authorities made an exchange with the machine people for a larger tractor. They exchanged the Catapillar 20 for a 30 which seems to work better for the citys needs.

    it was a rainy day, two ways, for darkies like John and Ethel Junior who were caught Friday at Scott by officers Carter and Smith. The pair entered town with a new automobile which belonged to a Griffin, Georgia man. Curious manuverings tipped the officers that something wasn't right. They were stopped and arrested for stealing the car. They were placed in the Wrightsville jail.

    The ladies ordered flower seeds from Hastings for the courthouse and beds were made around the square. Mr. James D. Bush donated 18 pruned pecan trees for the lawn.

    County Agent m. E. Crow moved from Wrightsville to the Tanner-Bullard plantation outside the city to the two-story residence of Mrs. Nana Tanner Bullard just south of town.

    Miss Geneva Powell and Mr. Dan McCoy, Jr. were married by Judge Gordon Sammons at Moore's Chapel. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Willie Powell and the groom is a young farmer of the Liberty Grove community.

From Days Gone By March 11, 1929

 March 11, 1929.

    All the ladies of the city, the PTA, and the Civic League are meeting with county officers to formulate a plan to beautify the courthouse lawn. Dr. J. W. Flanders, Ordinary, and School Supt. Linton Hutcheson have called the meeting. The Hastings Seed Company sent a list of flowers they have, and the cost will be paid by private funds.

    The Wrightsville Commercial Club held a meeting at the council chambers, the object is to offer a strong invitation to the Harvey S. Firestone Rubber Manufacturing Company to locate a branch of its plant in Johnson County. They also elected officers for the year. President, Mayor James M. Cook, Vice-President Dr. J. W. Brinson, Secretary C. D. Roundtree. Dr. Brinson and Mr. Roundtree and Dr. Bray were instructed to wire an invitation to Mr. Firestone of the City and County's many advantages, inducements and backing to come and investigate this locality. Mr. Firestone is expected to put a plant somewhere in the state or in the south.

    The Board of Trustees of the Wrightsville District High School met and elected every teacher on the faculty for another year. Heading the list was Supt. J. W. Williams. Under his leadership the school has made rapid strides. The Wrightsville High School is now the county high school and pupils may come to it from anywhere in the county. Williams is responsible for putting a modern Home Economics Dept. in and helped with consolodated school work. He and Supt. Hutcheson are working to put all county schools under one system.

    Grady Dixon, son of Mr. Cliff Dixon, was badly injured. He had his mule hitched to the buggy and when he untied the mule he threw the chain in the buggy. He had the lines and as he was climbing in the mule dashed off throwing Dixon against a tree fracturing his skull. Dr. Vickers attended him and he was sent to Claxton's Hospital in Dublin.

    Mr. W. D. Sumner was a heavy loser when fire broke out in his small barn and with his water tank low the flames spread to his larger barn and he lost both. He had no insurance and the loss was a large one. Judge J. C. Harrison lost his barn and contents earlier losing 100 bushels of corn, fodder and some seed. He was able to let his stock out saving them. Another fire started near the Keel Lumber Company's big saw and planer mill at what is known as the M. E. Cawthorne home where Mark Colbert lived. The wind was blowing west and saved the lumber plant. The mill kept running while the fire was being fought. The Colbert's saved most of the contents but the house was destroyed.

    Judge Camp ordered the postponement of the March Term of Superior Court. County-wide sentiment was to put it off on account of there was little business to be done at this time. The Judge said he could hardly go against the universal sentiment of the people.

    Wrightsville's basketball girls closed the season with only one loss, the championship game as Chauncy beat them 27 to 14. They had to settle for a second place trophy.

    In a general row Monday night in the home of Willie Screws when Tommie Screws and his sons, Gordon and Earnest, and one Pauline Phillips went to Willie's to get clothes worn by Phillips boy. There must have been some bad feelings in the Screws family for when they went to leave Willie started firing shots at the quartette, why is not clear. Earnest got a bullet threw the hand and his father, Tommie was hit in the chest lodging in his lung. His recovery is doubtful, another bullet grazed his nose. Tommie works on the farm of Carl Claxton just across Cedar Creek from town. Late Tuesday Earnest swore a warrant out for Willie Screws who works for County Agent Crow. Willie plead self-defense and tells a different story than Earnest.

From Days Gone By March 4, 1929

 March 4, 1929.

    The County Board of Education was highly commended for their prompt action in hiring Miss Maggie Bethea as the County Home Demonstrator. For a dozen years she served in this position in Tatnall County. She is a native of Wilcox County. This position is believed to be an important one in helping our farmers and their wives and daughters. Miss Bethea has won distinction in this line of work several times and won a number of highly prized awards in this work.

    Congressman W. W. Larsen was appointed to the Agricultural Committee in Washington to handle farm relief legislation in the House. Prof. Linton Hutchinson received a check from the state treasurer for $12,000 to pay the local teachers salaries for February and March.

    Johnson County and the City of Wrightsville now have a new tractor apiece. They were just shipped in from Augusta by W. A. Neal & Son who sold them. The county obtained a Caterpillar 60 and the City got a Cat 20. They are the best on the market. The county purchased a new road machine to go with the tractor. The old tractors were a menace to a bank account and repair bills heaped high monthly.

    Mr. Henry G. Wheeler will turn 85 on March 16th. His wife is 78 and they have been married 61 years on March 5th. He was an old soldier of the sixties and the other veterans will join him for this big event.

    The Wrightsville High girls basketball team defeated the Cochran A & M College girls 45 to 23. Wrightsville's players are Florence Brinson, Carolyn Blount, Nannie Clair Hicks, Ruth Moye, Mamie Riner, Miriam Cook, Elizabeth Kent, Gertrude Delph, Estelle Clarke and Ethel Chester. Miss Ellmore Milton is the coach.

    Last week Mr. Bennie Wilson missed a lot of provisions from his saw mill kitchen and took out a search warrant for the meat, flour, tobacco, etc. that was stolen. The search was made in the Wrightsville quarters and were found at Dock Walker and Floyd May, two saw mill hands. They pled guilty and Judge Brinson gave them a straight sentence of 8 months on the chain gang.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Meeks had a narrow escape returning from Florida. As they reached Moultrie, the gearing of the car locked and while frantically trying to turn the car Mr. Meeks tore the steering wheel off and the car headed on into a tree. Mr. Meeks had two fingers, knee and chest wounds. Mrs. Meeks had two bad cuts in the face and nearly broke an arm and leg.

    Georgia and the South has been hit by much rain in the last 10 days causing flooding of rivers, creeks and branches. Newton evacuated its whole town as the Flint River swelled. Montezuma, Milledgeville, Macon, Albany, Bainbridge, Cordele, Valdosta, Augusta and many others were hard hit by storms. Mr. Joe Preston of Duncan, Miss. died in the storms. He was a brother of Mrs. James Monroe Cook, Sr.

    In Johnson County heavy losses have been experienced. Most roads and bridges are washed out. Train No. 1 on the Central railroad did not run on account of washouts at Herndon and Wrightsville was without mail service for a day.

From Days Gone By Feb. 25, 1929

 February 25, 1929.

    Vidalia will host the entire Twelfth District in high school basketball holding a tournament there on the 28th thru March 2nd. Sixteen teams of high schools will be represented. They include Perry, Alamo, Abbeville, Hawkinsville, Eastman, Fort Valley, Soperton, Jeffersonville, Chauncy, McRae, Emanuel County Institute, Adrian, Cochran, Wrightsville, Rochelle and Vidalia. Over 200 students and 2,000 spectators are expected to attend. Prof. J. W. Williams will accompany Wrightsville's team.

    Mayor J. M. Cook furnished paint to the home economics classes to paint the dormitory at the high school. Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Lovett, Elmer Daley and W. L. Thompson motored to Miami, Florida and attended the Young Stribling versus Jack Sharkey boxing match. Also attending were R. L. Stephens, Herbert T. Johnson, Harlie Fulford and Lewis L. Lovett.

    Sheriff W. D. Rowland will occupy the former room used by the sheriff in the courthouse as soon as it is made suitable. The ladies restroom is being re-arranged to the north side so it can have an outside entrance. Albert E. Clift is the newly elected president of the Central of Georgia Railway and Ocean Steamship Company.

    County Agent M. E. Crow held a successful poultry sale at Adrian where 12,010 pounds were sold for $3,101.50. The buyer was E. E. Eller Produce Company of Wilkesboro, North Carolina who shipped them to New York.

    Kite and the county are grieving at the passing of Mrs. Dr. D. C. Harrison who died at home February 19th from a short illness. Before marriage she was Miss Lula Webster of Washington County and had four children. She was a member of Kite Baptist and was buried next to her husband at Pleasant Hill near Pringle.

    On January 8th Mrs. Della Bush Evans died. She was born in Johnson County August 1, 1882, and married Mr. Lee A. Evans January 14, 1900 of Montgomery County. She joined Beulah Baptist at a young age but after marriage moved her membership to Bethel in Wheeler County where she was buried. She was survived by her husband, an aged mother, Mrs. Sallie Warren, sister Mrs. W. J. Chappell, brothers J. D. and H. T. Bush.

    On February 16th Miss Nellie Sammons wed Mr. Robert Powell at the home of the bride. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sammons. He is a son of Mr. Bob Powell.

    The harder the times the more petty thieving is going on. There has been numerous thefts around the community lately. A good lock and key don't stop some of it. If it keeps on you are going to have to set up a watch around to keep what little you have from running off.