From Days Gone By Feb. 24, 1932

 February 24, 1932.

    Johnson Lodge No. 110 I. O. O. F., Odd Fellows, is flourishing and Noble Grand James A. Hall is pushing its work with the aid of District Deputy Grandmaster, W. F. Outlaw. Miss Pearl Jordan, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Jordan, will give a radio program over WRUF, Gainesville, Florida on March 4th. She is the Home Demonstration Agent in Starke, Florida.

    The planters are hard at work again and much land is already broken and in fine condition. Over five tons of poultry sold here for $1,200 by Agent Blackwell at his recent sale here. Mr. George Dewey Downs and family are moving here from Rentz. Mr. & Mrs. Louie Frost had a son on February 21st. Southern Bell patrons enjoy their local service which is handled by Miss Lena Robinson and Miss Ora Lee Barnes as regular operators along with Mrs. Talmadge Holmes as relief operator.

    The annual basketball tournament of the new 6th District will be held in Dublin at the new shell. Teams competing are Eatonton, Bartow, Gray, Stapleton, Sandersville, Wrightsville, Avera, Wadley, Dublin, Cochran, Wrens, Tennille, Roberta, Gordon, Jeffersonville and Sparta.

    Col. Russell M. Daley has declared to run for Judge of the Dublin Circuit. Mr. S. J. Jenkins is moving the Sims Store from its past location to the store fronting the public square between Stephens and Duggans formerly occupied by Flanders Drug Store.

    In her Georgia Day talk to the J. D. Franklin Chapter U. D. C. in Tennille, Mrs. J. L. Beeson of Milledgeville, State Historian of the D. A. R. described the old Uchee Indian Trail from Bartow to Wrightsville which may be marked by the Tennille D. A. R.

    A pagent, "Ethioia At The Bar of Justice" will be presented at the courthouse. They did the play in January at the colored school auditorium and were so good they were asked to do it again. Prof. J. D. Gaither is the principal. Texas Ted Lewis Real Wild West Shows will be in town for three days. No admission will be charged they will just take up a collection.

    Mrs. Ola Henderson Veal died in a sanitarium in New Jersey on February 18th. She was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon.

    Mr. George A. Smith died at his home on West College Street after a long suffering illness. Born February 26 he would have been 60 years old. He was one of nine children of the late Daniel S. Smith from the south part of the county. He married twice, his last wife surviving. He was a Wrightsville Methodist and buried in Westview. Surviving daughter Mrs. Lewis Reese, two sons, George, a soldier in Panama and Tillman. One step-daughter Mrs. Herbert Hicks, four brothers J. Marvin, W. R., James W., Clint. Sisters, Mrs. Ruth Mooreman, Mrs. Ellen Haywood and Mrs. Mary Haywood.

    A very peculiar accident happened on Mr. Samps L. Powell's plantation 8 miles northwest Wrightsville. His colored tenant farmer, Josh Knight lost his 9 month old child by drowning in a big bucket of slops. It set on back side of kitchen and was filled with dishwater and table scraps for the hogs. The child was just beginning to walk. They heard no outcry but later found the child in the bucket drowned.

    Freedom came to Mr. J. T. Mcbride as Governor R. B. Russell, Jr. signed his papers making him a free man. He had over 9 years service to the county gang. He had been sentenced to life for murder in Columbus, Georgia in 1919 killing Joe Bailey. He has a wife and family in Columbus and will move them here to live.

    The richest man in the world now is said to be Henry Ford, it is told he is a simple minded, and unconcious of either his power or his cash. That bestows a high tribute to this great genuis.

From Days Gone By Feb. 17, 1932

 February 17, 1932.

    Orders were given by the National Commander of the American Legion at a meeting in Macon. He gave the order to the entire organization of 10,000 Posts with their state commanders to mobilize every ex-serviceman from the World War to take up this fight and whip the worst enemy this country ever known, the depression, causing 8 million men to be without jobs with families depending on them to live. The Legions goal is to put 1 million back to work in 30 days. They called on industries, civic organizations, cities, counties and all organizations of all kinds to help the Legion win in this fight, "War Against Depression". Attending this meeting from the Wrightsville Legion was B. B. Hayes, H. B. Bray, and R. E. Fulford.

    There is a personal call for help to aid the unemployed people of our county who are now getting provisions and sustenance from the charitable barns and corn cribs of those who have it and the guidance of Rev. Pete Holloway of the local Associated Charities. He says there is about fifty families who are hungry. He asked for donations of corn, meal, syrup, meat, grits, coffee, flour, etc.

    The agricultural department of the Kite Consolidated School sponsored a common sense program known as the "Live-At-Home" program as a result of studying the jobs on procuring fertilizer on cotton, the farmers of the Kite community came together last year and bought $28,600 worth with a savings of around $8,000. They feel its the only way to solve the farmers problem is buying together in bulk. They are also making sweet potatoes one of their best cash crops.

    Congressman W. W. Larson sticks to his decision to run for Judge Superior Court Dublin Circuit. He says he's done with Congress. Col. J. Frank Jackson won his race for Solicitor of City Court of Sandersville with 1388 votes to Godfrey's 1011 and Mayo 1182. Smith beat English for Sheriff and Duggan was re-elected Clerk.

    The Wrightsville City Council is moving their headquarters into a new home. It will be the store room between Mr. J. E. Vanlandingham's store and the West Beauty Parlor, moving from the upstairs of the Post Office building. Rev. Bascom Anthony bought a home in Savannah and will move there along will his son, B. G. Anthony and family.

    Miss Marion Price, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Price of near Pringle, won first prize in the suit contest conducted by the R. L. Stephens store, the Butterick Pattern Company & Manufacturers of materials with a handsome suit of Pique which exhibited clever originality and talent. Her sister, Miss Iris Price, won second prize of $1 and Miss Sarah Frances Harrison, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. G. B. Harrison won third, a prize of material.

    James Campbell and Nathan Fulton, both colored, mixed up in an ugly affray Saturday night and as a result both are jailed with bandages on their head, eyes, forehead and ears. The fight about went too far. Theives broke through and stole all of the meat in the smokehouse of Dr. L. G. Moye, Mayor of Adrian. The gas in their car gave out, so they emptied the Mayor's car. No arrests have been made yet.

    Fire destroyed the residence of Mr. Lovett J. Claxton on East Elm Street. His family was at home at the time, about 10 a. m. The city firemen put it out but it was a great loss. He thinks it started in a closet. He did carry insurance.

From Days Gone By Feb. 10, 1932

 February 10, 1932.

    Mr. W. D. Smith, son of Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Smith who lived on the Stewart place last year, died by drowning in the Chattahooche River near Atlanta. His father died January 16th and left his mother to live with her daughter, Mrs. Lester Wilson, who now lives on the Kennedy place south of Wrightsville. The drowned man left his home Saturday and took his nine month old son, W. D., Jr. with him telling his wife that he was going to the store to buy the child some shoes. When they crossed the river bridge at Bolton, Smith stopped, threw off his overcoat, and leaped over the railing into the river. Standing close were several men who went to rescue him. Pulling up his lifeless body, they found the babe tied to his neck. They took the child to the hospital and it was saved. The men said they must have been in the water no more than five minutes before they retrieved him. Smith had been married twice, as was his present wife. By former marriages they had two daughters each. His wife said he had been unemployed for several months after losing his job as a news agent on a train. She assigned despondency for the act. She said she never dreamed of his committing suicide.

    There are yet many families without a home and farm to work in the county this year and there is a lot of need in this county just like there are in every other county around here, but, there are fewer people on starvation in Johnson County than in some others it could mention. A lot of families are being helped willingly and gladly where the need demands it.

    The Washington and adjoining counties Masonic Convention met with the Harrison Lodge for its regular visitation meeting. Mr. Leon Chester and workmen are remodeling a store room vacated by Flanders Drug Store. It is reported that Sims will occupy this store shortly. Mr. R. T. V. Schwalls filed for bankruptcy. The Bank of Wrightsville's statement of condition was $204,141.25.

    Charley Dent discovered a lot of spoiled meat in his supply. He had kept about 900 pounds under ice coverings but somehow it did not do well and was ruined. Other farmers have reported the same problem. Miss Bronnie Nell Cheaves, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Wyly Cheaves is improving from severe burns sustained at Middle Georgia College. She was standing before the fireplace and her clothing caught fire and burned a leg badly. Miss Florence Brinson returned to her school at Pleasent Plains in Washington County. Wrightsville took two more basketball games in Dublin. The girls won 53 to 12 and the boys 25 to 22. Harrison and Powell were the stars.

    Julian Andrews, young son of Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Andrews of Spann District is recovering from a badly cut foot while playing on a stalk cutter. They live on the J. T. Miller place. Miss Lucile Smith wed Mr. Delma Webb February 7th. She is the fifth daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Smith near Kite. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. R. F. Webb of Wrightsville.

    Wrightsville has several young ladies employed here. Miss Louise Moore is with the Georgia Power Co., Miss Estelle Clarke is with Prof. Linton Hutcheson at the Board of Education, Miss Paralyn Harrison works with her brother, Clerk C. B. Harrison, Miss Ruth Moye is at the law firm of Claxton & Claxton while Miss Virginia McWhorter is with attorney J. Eugene Cook.

    Clarence Smith, six year old son of Mr. & Mrs. V. M. Smith of near Meeks, died from a ten day illness. He was grandson of Mr. & Mrs. C. J. Smith of Meeks, the only son. He was buried at Corinth.

FROM DAYS GONE BY Feb. 3, 1932

 February 3, 1932.

     The striking of soft coal, as the engineer predicted, has added more encouragement in the search of oil by the Georgia Oil Company at Graymont. The strata of soft coal was tapped at a depth of 1,200 feet. The engineer, Elder Nance who believes he will strike oil, was jubilant over the discovery. Mr. Nance stated he did not expect to strike oil before 1,700 feet. The Georgia Oil Company is a subsidiary of the Seaboard Terminals of Baltimore.

    Captain Stanley has the road gang working on the Bee Line highway, Emanuel County is building bridges on her end and Wilkinson and Washington have their milage all built up. Mr. E. E. Sanders won the special election to city council to fill Clayton Lord's unexpired term. He got 66 votes to J. W. Vanlandingham's 46. Col. J. Frank Jackson of Sandersville is a candidate in Washington County for the office of Solicitor of City Court there.

    Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Hicks had a daughter on January 16th. Miss Sara Frances Flanders, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. A. F. Flanders, graduated Wesleyan College. Mrs. R. L. Stephens left for Baltimore and New York to order her spring line for the R. L. Stephens Quality Store. Wrightsville AC defeated the Dublin AC 27 to 26 in basketball. Mr. B. B. Tanner is the head of the new bulk station of the Atlantic Gas Company in Dublin. Johnson County made 14,513 bales of cotton against 16,081 for 1930.

    Judge A. L. Hatcher, company representative of the Prudential Life Insurance Company is proud of the work done here. Carpenters and workmen are making full repairs on their houses and barns and fencing and also getting plantations in fine shape. The policy of Prudential is to make better farms of the property they have.

    Mrs. Henry T. Hammock who lives three and a half miles up the Tennille road celebrated her 75th birthday. She was a Miss Walker before marriage. They had sixteen children, fifteen who lived to be grown.

    A lot of hog meat was taken from three places in and near town and a chase of tracks with the county dogs with a number of officers worked most of the day. Sheriff Rowland is making a big effort to locate the meat and the parties that robbed the three smokehouses of Mr. E. L. Smith, Mrs. W. A. Sinquefield and Rev. John Ivey.

    Manning Foskey, 50, of Dublin lost his life. Policeman W. J. Crawford's son, Johnnie, was driving the truck which struck the man. It was considered unavoidable. Crawford carried Foskey to the hospital and reported the accident to the Dublin sheriff's office.

    Mr. Edd W. Tanner, 61, died at his home on South Marcus Street. He had been confined to his room for 8 months. A farmer for 43 years or more and was born here. His wife by a second marriage survives. Also one daughter by first marriage, Mrs. E. B. Gaines and one son, Eugene. He was buried in Westview.

    Jesse R. Morris, 77, native of Washington County died January 8th at his daughter's, Mrs. G. Q. Franks of the city. He had been living here three years. Besides her he has five sons living. He was buried at Oaky Grove.

    The valuable residence of Sidney F. Smith near Kite, owned by him formerly, now the property of John Hancock, was destroyed by fire. The cause is unknown. Smith had lived in the house up to the Saturday before the fire when he had moved to the Jasper Smith homeplace. The home was vacant at the time of the fire.

From Days Gone By Jan. 28, 1932

January 28, 1932.

    The local American Legion Post plans many events during the coming weeks. They are planning a one day convention of the 12th District to be held here at a later date. B. B. Hayes resigned as service officer and Col. J. Roy Rowland appointed in his place. The week of Feb. 8-13 will be safety week for the Post. They will distribute pamplets on safe driving. The Post will also give a medal to the highest honor boy and girl in the 7th grade in Wrightsville and Kite. The Legionares are advocating "Live At Home" for the farmers to help get out of the depression they are in. In 1931, Johnson County imported around $100,000 worth of flour, meal, meat, lard and horse feed, all of which could have been produced here. The Live At Home meeting will be held in Kite high school auditorium to discuss the various enterprises of the county and their possibilites.

    Mr. Clayton Lord is moving from the city to his farm, making a vacancy on the city council. He served a year before this resignation. Mr. John W. Vanlandingham has consented to be a candidate. Mr. E. E. Sanders has also tossed his hat into the ring.

    Ordinary W. J. Flanders sent the county dogs to track a man from a field on the Moseley place, which is rented by Mr. William Jackson. He requested the dogs after some plow stocks were stolen from the field. The tracks led to a house where a couple families lived but the house was vacant. The hunt was called off.

    Mr. G. C. Smith, garageman and filling station operator in Adrian, came in Monday morning to find both his fine collie dogs had been poisoned, and in the afternoon his car was wrecked. Melvin Smith, J. W. Dent, and Early Braswell were headed out to fix Early's truck when the sterring gear disconnected wrecking them.

    Hammock's store in Scott was robbed Tuesday night. This is the sixth time in two years. Bloodhounds chased the tracks to near Dublin but could not catch the miscreant.

    Wrightsville won a double header basketball game in Dublin. The girls won 47 to 14 and the boys won 13 to 12. The Kite boys are studying vocational agriculture and the elementary principles of forestry.

    Judge James T. Miller moved his insurance office upstairs in the Farmers Bank building. Mr. J. H. Jones is now located in the Crawford shop building near the Farmer's Supply store. He is ready to build your coffins, caskets, screen doors, windows and cabinets and he can sharpen any tool.

    In Adrian, the plot of ground on the Central of Georgia right-of-way, extending from the depot to the Green Hotel, is being prepared for a city park. The flowers and shrubs will be planted by the Garden Club.

    Mr. James Simpson died at home on the 17th from a several day illness. His wife, three daughters and one son survive. He was buried at Liberty Grove. At Adrian, Mrs. Mary Curry, 82, was found dead in bed, being in failing health for years. She is survived by one son, James, the town marshal. She was buried at Poplar Springs.

    On Sunday morning the town lost Mrs. V. B. Robinson at her home on West Court Street. She had been in feeble health for some time. She was a great granddaughter of Revolutionary soldier Elisha Walker. She was a Methodist. Before marriage she was a Miss Page. Her husband preceded her in death in 1908, she would have been 80 next month. Four children survive, Dr. J. C. Robinson, Mr. C. C. Robinson, Miss Annie Lou Robinson and Mrs. W. H. Montgomery. She was buried in Westview.

    Mr. Loyd Price of New Home died at home on the 21st. He operated a large farm for years. His wife and seven children survive. Travis L., Byron, and Fred Price, Mrs. J. Y. Chastain, Mrs. J. M. Powell, Mrs. E. L. Garrett and Mrs. Elmo Frost. His two sisters Mrs. Dan Bryant and Mrs, D. H. Tuttle. He was buried at Oaky Grove.

From Days Gone By Jan. 21, 1932

 January 21, 1932.

    Two persons were killed and two injured in an automobile accident five miles from Tennille on the Oconee-Tennille road. H. T. Hooks and six year old son, Harris, of Davisboro, were killed instantly and the other two occupants of the car, Mrs. Hooks, wife and mother of the victims, and A. L. Thigpen, of Oconee, were injured. Summer Marshman in front of whose home the wreck occured, witnessed the accident and said the driver, Mr. Thigpen, seemed to lose control and it turned over in a deep ditch. Mr. Hooks and Mr. Thigpen were employees of the Cleveland Oconee Lumber Company.

    The Sheriff's Department reported the robbery of the general merchandise store of Mr. Henry Tyson in Meeks during Sunday night. Deputy Tom Brantley states a lot of meat and lard was taken. They spent a half a day Monday but found no leads or make an arrest.

    The Wrightsville banks re-elect all its officers. The Exchange Bank: Dr. P. B. Bedingfield, President; W. H. Lovett, Vice-President; E. E. Daley, VP & Cashier, R. E. and G. E. Fulford Asst. Cashiers; Directors - Dr. Bedingfield, Mr. Lovett, Mr. Daley, W. L. Thompson, C. T. Bray, R. E. Hayes and U. R. Jenkins. The Bank of Wrightsville officers are R. L. Kent, President; Herbert T. Johnson, Cashier and Mrs. Frank Price, bookkeeper and teller. Directors are  Mr. Kent, L. A. Lovett, Mr. Johnson, A. F. Flanders, R. L. Stephens, L. L. Lovett and C. H. Lovett.

    Ordinary W. J. Flanders rented the L. Davis residence in East Wrightsville for establishing a pauper's hospital. A number of persons drawing funds from the county were unable to secure a home and treatment owing to their conditions so he wants to secure a place of refuge for these invalids. This is an inexpensive and convenient undertaking by the county. Flanders just closed a deal for the home of Mr. Frank Price which occupys a corner of the land that the county owned which the stockade is built. The sum of $900 was paid for the home.

    A big company of oil seekers are drilling a well on Allen Jones place between Graymont and Metter. A citizen of Graymont stated they have carried enough pipe by her place to reach China. The well is now 700 feet deep and are working 24 hours. All that countryside is stirred over the prospects of a flow and hundreds visit the site daily.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Holt of St. Petersburg, Florida had a fine daughter on January 19th. Mr. Frank Burke is now with Brinson's Drug Store. Work on the Jeff Davis Highway is progressing. They are working on Price's bridge over the Ohoopee and is a large job.

    Dock Johnson, colored man of Kite, drew a sentence of 11 months or pay a fine of $60 in City Court. Judge W. C. Brinson heard the case against Dock who was charged with simple larceny in the theft of a car tire and rim on December 10th.

    Miss Jewel Parr, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Parr of Oconee, wed Mr. Carl Brantley, the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Gus Brantley.

    Mr. Stephen H. Smith, 74, died at his daughters from a stroke. Mr. Smith and his wife had just recently come to the county to visit.

From Days Gone By Jan. 14, 1932

 January 14, 1932.

    Mr. Willie Wilson came to his death from a self-inflicted shotgun wound on Tuesday by his own hand. It happened at his home five miles west of town near the home of Ben Roy Spell. His wife and two daughters, Mildred and Elizabeth, arose, prepared breakfast and were in the kitchen eating when they heard a noise in the dwelling like a tree limb falling on top of the house. They never took notice of it, and did not know what happened until Mrs. Wilson went to get her hat to go milk the cows. Then she discovered the cause of the noise.

    Thurston Price was coming up to the Wilson home when he heard the shot. He and Wilson spent all of Monday rabbit hunting and he said Wilson acted normal. When he got to the house he found him lying on the floor, the top of his head shot off, blood was splattered all over the room, a fearful sight. The double barrelled shotgun between his legs and only one barrel was fired.

    Coroner L. R. Clayton went to the scene with Sheriff Rowland an ordered an inquest. Serving were R. R. Martin, J. W. Price, O. M. Martin, B. R. Spell, Jr., H. F. Tarbutton and J. Nat Riner. Mrs. Wilson testified he acted normal except worrying over crop conditions and his farming business and had been having some strange conversations of late. The verdict of the jury was death by suicide. He was buried in the Wilson Cemetery in the Cedar Grove community.

    Re-election of all city officers, reductions in salaries, and appointments of committees marked the first city council meeting under Mayor H. G. Hatcher. Jack Robinson, Mayor Pro-Tem, and chosen were E. L. Rowland, Clerk; A. L. Hatcher, City Attorney; R. T. Moye, Collector; W. J. Crawford, Day Marshal, and Garland Mayo, Night Marshal. Salaries for Clerk, Attorney, and Policemen were reduced from $20 to $15.

    In a close race in Adrian, Dr. L. G. Moye defeated T. B. Kea for Mayor 100 to 96. Councilmen elected were C. M. Renfroe, A. E. Harrison, and T. A. Frazier.

    Judge R. Earl Camp announced his candidacy for Congress from the new 6th District in opposition to Representatives Carl Vinson and Sam Rutherford. Representative Carl Vinson's bill to provide the purchase of a new site to build a new post office here has hit a snag. Congress has adopted not to erect any public buildings where the postal receipts are under $10,000, but a change is being sought in the law.

    Next to the Headlight office, two stores owned by Dr. Flint Flanders, druggest here, are being overhauled. The 5 & 10 Cent store will move on down west next to the Headlight building and Flanders will move his drugstore from its present location to the building vacated by Miss Alger Rhodes. Some work has been done on the Farmers Bank building and Luther Downs will operate a cafe there.

    Mr. William A. Sinquefield, Jr., 69, died from declining health. He had lived here about 40 years and was a native of Washington County. Early in life he farmed but later operated a store here. For over 20 years he was a Mason in the Anderson Lodge. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Hattie G.; stepson W. L. Thompson, step-daughter Mrs. C. A. Beall, five brothers, Frank A., G. C., O. P., John B., and T. C.; four sisters, Mrs. Jordan Stokes, Mrs. W. A. Jordan, Mrs. J. N. Lanier, and Mrs. Nannie Stone. He was buried in Westview.

    Mr. Henry C. Mason, living up on the Tennille road, died at his home. Just a few veterans of the sixties remain in the county with Mason's passing. There are four veterans and 15 widows left in the county.