From Days Gone By October 6, 1932

 October 6, 1932.

    Wrightsville High School football season opens against Swainsboro at the local fairgrounds. This years team is mostly new players but have been excellently trained by Coach McDonald. The first string includes Claxton Clarke, center; Grady Sumner, "Preacher" Holloway or James Vickers, tackles; Dick Shurling, guard; Ralph Brinson, end; Hugh Hall, backfield; Carl Moore, E. R. Spell and Kight, all new members.

    The 10th and 11th grade home economics girls organized a club with Ruby Kate Price, President; Veola Riner, Vice-President; Lena Lovett, Secretary-Treasurer; Sadie Hall, Reporter. The teacher, Miss Lucile Suddeth, home economics teacher is sponsor. The Home Demonstration Agent is having a clothing clinic for renovation and remodeling of old clothes and hats. Miss Martha Martin, daughter of R. R. Martin, is now teaching at Adrian Consolodated School.

    Judge Grover C. Bidgood failed to pay his municipal taxes six months before his election. Mr. O. D. Cullen filed a petition in Laurens Superior Court to oust him as the presiding officer of the Dublin City Court.  Mr. & Mrs. M. A. Jackson lost their home to a fire. Roy L. Dowd and Corine Bragdon were wed by Rev. John L. Ivey. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Dowd and the brides parents are Mr. & Mrs. C. S. Bragdon of Metter.

    Mr. John A. Douglas, cotton census reporter for Johnson gives figures up to September 16, there being 3,780 bales ginned up against 5,327 this time last year. The sugar cane crop of Johnson County appears to be getting taller and taller as well as adding to its quality. Mr. H. T. Tharpe of New Home brought in the tallest of the season establishing a new record. It measured 8 feet 2 inches. It topped the previous record by some 8 inches.

    The veterans will get their checks this week through Ordinary W. J. Flanders. It was $50 each for the veterans and 16 widows. The veterans left are Henry Wheeler, Sim L. Cooper and A. J. Hall. Mr. W. H. Lovett was formally nominated state senator from the 16th district by the convention at Idylwild. The soda parlor and cafe of Luther Downs is now being operated by Roy Frost. It will be called Frost Soda Parlor and Cafe. Road construction expenditures reached a new peak in Georgia last year. Johnson County is still without a hard surfaced road. Johnson is one of the very few counties in Georgia that is without a paved road of some kind, and its stratigic location on the Bee Line and Jefferson Davis highways should merit action.

    The statements of condition of the local banks. Bank of Adrian $49,899.18; Exchange Bank $165,029.25; Bank of Wrightsville $161,957.75.

    Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Carroll, near Wrightsville, infant child died and was buried at Liberty Grove. Mr. Carroll is a farmer in the Hall community.

    Mr. Bartow Brantley, prominent county citizen died in a Dublin hospital and was buried at Union Hill. He was 59, a native of Washington County but lived here for many years. Surviving are his mother and children, Floyd, George, Bill, Buford Brantley, Mrs. Clayton Lord, Mrs. G. D. Davis and Mrs. J. A. Colston.

    There are countless numbers of families in this county who are in need of food and raiment. They are not starving and naked, to be sure, but they are in need. There is no way to get around this. It cannot be denied. In recent months the Red Cross distributed a large amount of flour. Although they tried hard to distribute to the needy only, but there were those who claimed a share and received it, who were not entitled to it. A man who will receive in this manner something that he is in less need of than his neighbor, when his neighbor and his children are hungry, has not a spark of charity in his heart. Now the cloth ration has been cut, this cloth should go to those little children who are without clothes to enter school; to the families of fathers who are out of work and no means of support and those widow mothers who are facing the prospects of a hard winter without sufficiant clothing to warm their bodies. If you can buy do not stand in the way of those who can't.

    

From Days Gone By September 29, 1932

 September 29, 1932.

    Plans for increasing business in the county and appointment of a committee to promote interest in the November election was the subjects of the American Legion meeting this week. Businesses were asked to sponsor a "Dollar Day" sale on various items for one day, during which real bargains would be offered to the public. B. B. Hayes was declared winner of the medal offered by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the ex-service man most useful to the Post during the past year.

    Mr. J. M. Blizzard won the Wrightsville Headlight's watermelon contest with a 49 pounder. The city council recognized the depressed business conditions and ordered a revision of special licenses reducing them. A fire originating from a defective stove flue totally destroyed the home of Mitchell Harris, colored. He did manage to save some furniture. The Wrightsville & Tennille discontinued all but one train per day between Tennille and Hawkinsville. A decrease in patronage made this necessary. The school bells tolled for the school system. It will operate as long as funds are available. Officials do not anticipate at present more than a 4 month term. 

    Mr. & Mrs. Kelley Powell had a son, Hollis Ray, on September 18th. Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Renfroe of Otter Creek, Florida, had a daughter, Marjorie Anne. Renfroe is a son of Mrs. J. F. Renfroe of Wrightsville.

    Johnson County's application for government cloth through the Red Cross was decreased to 4,800 yards on account of the limited supply of raw cotton donated by the government. The county applied for 44,692 yards. This means the only ones in the county that will get cloth are those strictly on charity.

    James Hodges Price, 4 year old son of C. E. Price, died at home after a 2 week illness. Survived by father and siblings, Mrs. Mildred McCord, Mary & Annie Myrtle Price and Elmer Price. He was buried in Westview. W. T. Harrison, Sr., highly respected farmer died at his home near Beulah and was buried there. He was 65.

    Rev. James Edward Page, 23 year old minister of Harrison, died at his parents, Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Page. He had been ill about 6 weeks with typhoid he caught while holding a revival at Cedar Grove. Born in Washington County and ordained a minister just 2 years ago. He graduated Brewton-Parker in 1931 and was attending Mercer. He served Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Plains and one in Wilkinson County. He was buried in Harrison cemetery.

    The county agent makes the following statement which is still true today. "All the world loves an honest man. All the world despises a liar. Every one in town lays his heart at the feet of the young man who starts out in life proposing to be himself and nobody else; depending on God and himself and nobody else; refusing to take advantage of any accident of name or position; a young man who prizes his character above all things; a hearty hater of shamand pretense, who had rather die than to climb to highest pinacle of fame and fortune under false colors. On the otherhand, there never lived who did not despise a hypocrite, a deceiver. And yet there are young men who start out in life deliberately undertaking to make their way through the world pretending to be something they are not. What is it that causes a man to deliberately choose a life of greed and dishonesty? An inordinate desire for anything may lead either to violence or deceit. Violence is risky and some times costly. Any coward can be a deceiver. Be honest! Be yourself."

    

From Days Gone By September 22, 1932

 September 22, 1932.

    John Luther Kent beat out three opponents in the race for Judge Superior Court, Dublin Circuit. He only carried Johnson County, but his total popular vote was 3,461. He beats out Rep. W. W. Larson, G. C. Bidgood, and Mr. Daley. The regular September Term of Superior Court was postponed by Judge R. Earl Camp until the second Monday in October. It will probably be Judge Camp's last court as Judge J. L. Kent will take over in January.

    Mr. E. N. Hitchcock will open a new grocery store under the name of Rex Food Shop, next to the Beauty Parlor across from Wrightsville Motor Company. Prospects for a good football team at Wrightsville High this season are excellent. Scott Junior High will open September 23rd. The Johnson County cane crop should be fine this season if it averages up to that of H. W. Beasley of Kite. A stalk measuring seven foot two inches. He expects to make a great deal of syrup this year.

    Rev. M. R. Little, Wadley, one of the most beloved ministers died at home from declining health. He was 73, and served almost every church in the Mt. Vernon Assoc. He was moderator for many years and at his retirement last year, elected moderator emeritus. For more than 25 years he pastored New Home, and also served Nail's Creek, Pleasant Grove, Rehobeth, Kite, Jackson's, Oak Chapel and Blundale. He was a native of Carroll Co. and graduated Mercer Univ. He left a wife and 2 children. He was buried at Wadley.

    Mr. Billie Carroll of Dublin, formerly of Johnson, died after a three month illness. He was 65 and when here he worked for J. M. Luck in the chair factory. He was buried in Tom Carter cemetery. Mr. Ben Hill Hammock, Laurens Co., died at his home after a long illness. He lived just over the county line. Surviving are his widow, several children, mother, 11 brothers and sisters. He was a son of Henry Hammock, a Baptist, and buried at Piney Mt.

        Zack Moye, 62 year old farmer living 7 miles from Adrian, is in serious condition at Claxton's Hospital from stab wounds said to have been inflicted by Brad Lord, his son-in-law. Lord was charged with assault to murder. Moye was stabbed several times, once just under the heart. The blade of the knife was said to have been broken in a wound on his forehead. His son, who took the charge out on Lord, said the difficulty had its origin over some cotton. Lord lived on the farm and farming with his father-in-law.

    Another harvest is about over and a glance at the books shows that most of the farmers are coming out in the red, as usual, and some facing the winter without even the necessities of life. The fault is partly their own, although as a general rule they have worked hard to pay their debts and make something for themselves. The farmers have been entirely too dependent on cotton, as the record clearly shows. Until they produce sufficient food stuffs and meats to sustain them throughout the year, and raise only enough cotton to finance their crops, then only can they hope to maintain themselves. The time has arrived when the farmer has got to look after himself instead of being dependent upon his fellow man if he is to live, prosper, and do well.

    The wise man will not borrow from the government if he can possibly avoid it. Past borrowing has not helped agriculture to meet the hard times. It has made them harder. The farmer's debt have not helped him, and more debt will not help him. Loans even from the Federal Government must be paid back and that payment taxes the borrower and depletes his profits, if and when he has any. Very few of the borrowers from the government will not be losers in the long run. For the individual as well as the governments, national and local, the way out is not by more borrowing, more debt making, but by economy and thrift.

From Days Gone By Sept. 15, 1932

 September 15, 1932.

    Some 2,100 voters of Johnson County sloshed their way to the poles to nominate their representatives in the Congress, state officials and state legislators. The county votes were as follows: U. S. Senate, Walter F. George; Governor, Eugene Talmadge; Secretary of State, John B. Wilson; Attorney General, M. J. Yeomens; State Treasurer, George W. Lankford; Comptroller General, W. B. Harrison; Commissioner of Agriculture, G. C. Adams; State School Superintendent, M. L. Duggan; Commissioner of Commerce and Labor, Hal M. Stanley; Prison Commissioner, Lewis P. Chick; Public Service Commissioners, Guy O. Stone and Jule W. Felton; Superior Court Judges, R. C. Bell and H. Warner Hill; Judges for Court of Appeals, Frank A. Hooper, Jr., Lucien P. Goodrich, Alex W. Stephens, John S. Adams; Representative 6th District, Carl Vinson; Judge Superior Court Dublin Circuit, J. L. Kent; Solicitor General Dublin Circuit, James A. Shannon; State Senator 16th District, W. H. Lovett; Representative of Johnson County, C. S. Claxton. The new Democratic Executive Committee- J. Roy Rowland, W. C. Brinson, J. Eugene Cook and W. P. Bedingfield.

    The Wrightsville High School opens with one of the largest enrollments in the history of local schools up to that time. A total of 176 boys and girls, 60 of them in 8th grade and 37 seniors. If you include primary this total goes to 408, 47 in 6th grade. The Kite Consolidated School opens on the 19th. High school teachers are E. D. Tollerson, Mr. Parrott, Miss Mary Free and Miss Lula Harrison. Grammer school teachers were Mrs. C. S. Martin, Miss Nannilu Moseley, Miss Nancy Dee Brantley, Miss Lena Minton, Miss Allie Belle Fortner and Miss Ellen Hatcher.

    Cameron Kent left for school in Douglas, Nancy Rowland to Valdosta, Misses Kate Bryan, Annie Helen Tanner and Joyce Folsom to G. S. C. W. at Milledgeville. Misses Dorothea Sheppard, Margaret Holloway, Lucy Gay McCrary and Nellie Day Thompson are headed to Andrew College at Cuthbert.

    Carlos Miller, 17 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Miller of Spann, injured his right leg while assisting his father in mowing hay. He walked in front of the mower and suddenly tripped and fell. The blade struck his leg just above the ankle and penetrated the bone. He was rushed to Dr. Bray.

    Mrs. Mattie Horton died August 26th leaving 8 children, Mrs. Ella Ennis, Mrs. Acie Lord, W. D., T. E., J. R., W. W., E. C., Elmer Horton, one brother Mr. Gid Radney. She was buried at New Home.

From Days Gone By Sept 8, 1932

 September 8, 1932.

    Budgets for the city and county schools were cut 16 and 10 per cent, respectively, by the Board of Education. This action, Superintendent Linton Hutchinson said, will save approximately $1,000 a month or $10,000 for the term. With only $2,000 in the bank and expectations of receiving only a few thousand between now and Christmas, they were forced to reduce budgets. When the state legislature meets in January, the financing of the schools must be solved by it.

    The annual Fiddler's Convention of Johnson County Post No. 44, American Legion will be held again at the courthouse. Prizes will be awarded to the best fiddler's and dancers. Mrs. J. E. Cannady celebrated her 47th birthday with 100 relatives and friends. Mr. C. A. Fountain files for bankruptcy.

    New Home schoolhouse will hold a political rally with all candidates invited. Hon. Charles R. Crisp of Americus, candidate for U. S. Senator, will speak at the courthouse. Albert J. Woodruff of Decatur, member of the public service commission pays a visit to the county running for another term.

    Approximately 400 veterans of the World War have applied to Chairman Beverly B. Hayes, of the Legion Employment Committee, for jobs on the Federal Aid Highway Project in Johnson-Emanuel counties. Projects involve the construction of nine bridges.

    Up to September 1, Johnson County farmers had ginned exactly 71 more bales of cotton than at this time last year. The total stood at 1,421 bales compared with 1,350 a year ago. The 1932 county crop has been estimated at from 7,000 to 8,500 bales.

    Mr. I. O. Hutcheson, who lives three miles west of Meeks killed his third large rattler on his farm. He was five and a half foot long with nine rattles. The other two he killed were not quite as large. Mr. G. L. Garnto who lives near Red Hill community, while sitting on his porch his attention was directed to his chicken house. He investigated and found a five and a half foot rattler had killed a young fryer and trying to eat it. As he approached it attempted to escape but he killed it. Rattlers appear to be plentiful this year.

    The Johnson County 4-H Stockjudging Team won first place over neighboring counties at Mr. William Jackson's dairy at Donovan. The judges, Buren Claxton, Robert Radford, James Vickers and Lanier Frazier won a free trip to the Southeastern Fair.

    Mr. B. A. Anderson of Kite says a crop of Austrian winter peas gave him an increase of thirteen bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. T. L. Harrison claims a five hundred bale yield of peavine hay on 12 acres.

    John R. Sumner, fifteen years old of near Wrightsville, died in a Dublin hospital after a six week illness. He was survived by parents, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Sumner, and siblings Lucile, Beulah, Jack, Wesley, James, Elton, Callie, Essie Lee and Avis Sumner. He was buried at Red Hill cemetery.

From Days Gone By September 1, 1932

 September 1, 1932.

    Johnson County is drawing quite a few political candidates coming here to speak. Some of them were Col. Russell M. Daley for Judge Superior Court Dublin Circuit; For Commissioner of Agriculture were candidates to succeed Eugene Talmadge. They were G. C. Adams, R. F. Burch of Eastman who predicts he will win 100 counties, J. Oscar Wall of Eatonton. John I. Kelley came running for governor; Judge R. Earl Camp of Dublin for 6th district representative and Col. R. I. Stephens of Dublin for solicitor-general Dublin Circuit.

    The opening of Wrightsville High School has been delayed a week by the Board of Education. It was ordered to permit the county to provide transportation of rural high school students. The Kite Consolidated Schools will open September 19th.

    A shooting and cutting affray started by two coloreds at Donovan Saturday night resulting in both seriously injured and arrested on charges of assault to murder. Jim Curtis and Will Warthen are in the county jail receiving medical attention, Curtis for a bullet wound through the breast and Warthen for several stabs. All this originated in front of Jackson's store in the heart of Donovan. Warthen pulled his pistol and began firing at Curtis who ran into the store which was crowded with customers. Curtis then ran back out of the store where the fight continued, Wathen being stabbed several times with a knife. Both are expected to recover.

    James L. Miller, 85, farmer, died at his home at Spann after several months of declining health. Born in Hancock County June 9, 1847, he moved to Johnson in the fall of 1887. He married Miss Lydia Fields of Baldwin County June 17, 1869 and had 8 children, 6 surviving. He was a Confederate veteran. Survivors are J. T., R. F., E. C. Miller, Mrs. Mattie Whitfield, Mrs. Mollie Dudley and Mrs. Lula Webb. He was buried at Piney Mount.

    Mr. Louis B. Hilson remains were buried at Westview on August 23rd. He died suddenly at his son's near Tennille. He was survived by sister, Mrs. J. J. Braddy, six sons, C. L., Fay,, L. Q., L. H., H. V., J. L. Hilson and daughter, Mrs. C. T. Anderson.

    Bernard Deal, 76, of Washington County died at his home from declining health. Born and reared in the Bethany community, a farmer and active church worker. Besides his widow, he is survived by 5 children and brother Lewis Deal. He was buried at Bethany.

    Richard Wicker who lived in the Lovett section died and was buried at Piney Mount. He was survived by his wife and children, Mrs. George Wood, Grady and Chan Wicker. Rev. Andrew Smith, 81, Missionary Baptist minister of Harrison died. He was buried in the New Cemetery with Masonic honors by the Anderson Lodge of Wrightsville.

    Mrs. Caley Brantley, 81, of the Bethany community died at her son's home. She was a native of Washington County but lived in Johnson several years on the Vickers farm. She was a 30 year member of the Christian church. Her children surviving are Mrs. Milton Cox, Mrs. J. M. and W. L. Anderson, Mrs. B. W. O'Quin and Mrs. J. H. Blount and son, J. F. Brantley. She was buried at Bethany.

    John W. Bailey, 82, died at home. He farmed for half a century, native of Washington County and lived in Texas a short time. He lived on the old Nathan Garnto place. Children surviving are Will, Tom, Sam, Ewley, Marcus, Quince Bailey, Mrs. A. F. Johnson, Mrs. G. C. Reese and Mrs. Thomas Logue. He was buried at New Home.

From Days Gone By August 25, 1932

 August 25, 1932.

    All the deeds for the new right of way for Route 15, connecting Dublin and Wrightsville have been sent to the highway department. All land owners signed right of way deeds but one, and it was condemed. The new right of way is from Brewton Creek to the Johnson County line and will soon be graded.

    Congressman Carl Vinson of Milledgeville, seeking election from the new 6th District, is committed to the Bee-Line highway project. Speaking to 300 to 400 people at the courthouse. He vows to get the road on the Federal highway system and will support the efforts of a bridge across the Oconee near Ball's Ferry. He attributed the present depression to the tariff act of the Republican administration and asserted it had impoverished all the people.

    Dr. J. R. Rogers of Adrian brought in the first bale of cotton this season. It weighed 397 pounds and ginned by Lovett & Company. The price paid was seven cents. It was understood the cotton was raised in Treutlen County. The first bale of Johnson County cotton ginned here was by S. J. Stephens of near kite. It weighed in at 525 pounds. Lovett & Company officials estimate the county crop will produce around 7,000 bales.

    Rattlesnakes have been plentiful this year with some large ones being killed. Mr. Olin Hutchinson killed two large ones on the skirts of his cotton field. While picking cotton his yard dog discovered them. Each one having nine rattles and the usual button.

    All signs seem to indicate one of the largest crop of doves seen in Georgia in many years. Dove shooters are warned by the State Game & Fish Department to wait until the season opens September first before hunting. Several cases have already been made.

    J. Eugene Cook, attorney and solicitor-elect of Wrightsville City Court, has been appointed chairman of the Young Men's Democratic Club for this congressional district. He is already a member of the state steering committee. He served as county chairman in 1928, and was active in the Roosevelt Democratic Club.

    The Scott Women's Club is sponsoring a political rally at Scott. Miss Mamilu Harrison, daughter of W. D. Harrison of the Beulah community, has been elected as a faculty member of Swainsboro High School. Mr. & Mrs. Louie Veal of Milledgeville had a son. Mrs. Veal was the former Nina Frost, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Frost.

    Our home boys are getting along fine away from home. One note came from W. M. Shurling, Jr., stating he was accepted in the Electrical Engineering department of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. He has been invited to join the Georgia Club there. Twenty-eight boys from Georgia are there which keeps them from being homesick.

    Mrs. J. W. Spell has an ant remedy that works. She has a million ants to her credit. She sets some bottles in the yard, burying them almost up to the neck. These bottles are half full of water with a sprinkling of kerosene poured in. The ants find their way into the bottles and that is the last of them alive. She says it works and is the only remedy she has found to work.