From Days Gone By Nov. 10, 1932

 November 10, 1932.

    Overshadowing all predictions, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York, swept the Presidency in a record landslide. He carried all but six states. He carried every county in Georgia except Towns and Fannin. Johnson County gave him all but 28 votes out of 1342 cast. Also elected was Senator Walter F. George.

    New Home School organized a P. T. A. with Mrs. Cecil Frost as President and Mrs. M. E. Woods, Secretary. Mr. C. F. Stone opens a new business under the name of Modern Cleaners, specializing in pressing and dry cleaning. It is located in the Blankenship building two doors from the Headlight. The State Highway Board will receive bids on paving 6.3 miles of road on Route 80, beginning at Scott. This will be Johnson County's first paving of a road.

    Mr. & Mrs. Zephoe Belcher had a son on September 21st, called Eanon Alvin Belcher. Mrs. Belcher was the former Miss Cleo Tanner. Miss Renard Bradley and Mr. Tillman Spivey wed at Piney Mount November 6th. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. Braddy. The groom is a son of Mrs. A. H. Spivey. Miss Doretha Sheppard, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. C. M. Sheppard was honored by her senior class at Andrew College at Cuthbert. She was voted most original in the Who's Who election.

    Francis L. Joiner, 55, white man in eastern part of the county drew down a straight 12 months sentence on the State Farm at Milledgeville by Judge W. C. Brinson. Nine days before he was a jail inmate of Sheriff W. D. Rowland on a warrant sworn out by interested parties for treating Ora Lee Anderson, very unmercifully, who was his step-child. The court ordered that the minor child of Mrs. Joiner be placed in her sole custody, to be overseen by Mrs. Olan Perdue and Mrs. G. J. Tyson.

    Luther Mills, colored, of Scott, was shot and killed in what is known as Carter's negro quarters reported Deputy J. C. Carter. The officer was seeking Tillman Merdich, colored, in connection with the slaying. Mills was shot at 3 times and hit once, penetrating his right side and entered his heart. Mills stabbed Merdich and was advancing on him when Merdich began firing.

    County Policeman Vernon Raines and Officer Jim Tapley made a raid on an illicit liquor outfit up on Buckeye. A large copper still was dismantled, and a couple gallons of whiskey brought in as evidence. One white man and one colored man was arrested. Mr. & Mrs. Mack Waller near Pringle lost their home and belongings to a fire. They were awakened about 4 am. A nearby house full of meat and lard was also destroyed.

    On November 4th, little Sarah Clifford Lake, 4 year old girl of Mr. Horace Lake, died of dyptheria. She was buried at Westview. Thomas Horton, infant son of Mr. & Mrs. John S. Horton of Charleston, South Carolina died October 26th. Surviving are grandparents Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Tanner and Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Horton of Scott.

    In Uvalda, Lee Tapley dropped dead about dark in the Altamaha River swamp. He was with H. L. Gibbs, a rural carrier, they got lost and it is believed the excitement of it gave him heart failure. Gibbs called for help and was found about 7 in the morning. His sister was Mrs. lee Wilson of Kite.

From Days Gone By Nov. 3, 1932

 November 3, 1932.

    Continuing their triumphant  march toward a championship, Wrightsville High completed a 6 to 0 victory over Emanuel County Institute at Graymont-Summit, here at the fairgrounds. They play Louisville next. In the 20 games that Wrightsville has played since Coach Lee McDonald took over, have lost only 2 games. ECI last year and Gray in a post-season game.

    The county will have a county policeman, action taken by Ordinary W. J. Flanders announced after the Grand Jury recommended it. A committee was formed of himself, Morris T. Riner, W. R. Jackson, Jim T. Drake and R. M. Brantley. They chose to employee Mr. Vernon Raines for this purpose.

    The law may move slowly in some instances but it eventually achieves its objective. This is more or less clearly demonstrated in the fact that an auto stolen from the Editor's son over 2 years ago, was recovered in Chicago by that police department. The car, a new Ford Roadster was stolen in Montgomery, Alabama on October 17, 1930.

    A fire of undetermined origin destroyed the barn and garage of Mr. Will Parker at Raines Crossroads while they were away from home. Parker had just completed gathering his corn and other feedstuff in the barn. Some livestock burned up also. He lost all his tools, automobile and a Delco lighting system. He had no insurance. Mr. C. A. Fountain of Adrian files for bankruptcy.

    A farmer who is interested in building up his soil should have seen the field of Crotalaria, Spectabilis, the new legume grown by Mr. E. J. Sumner, 7 miles south of Wrightsville. It made maximum growth of 6 feet in heighth, and very heavy foliage. it will double the yield of his next crop. It was introduced from Africa by the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. It is a soil builder for livestock but they will not eat it green. Its considered 3 times as valuable as cowpeas, 4 times as velvet beans and 8 times as beggarweed. Thirty to forty thousand pounds per acre was not uncommon.

    Mr. M. B. Wheeler died at home in Kite after a several days illness, but his death was not unexpected. Born April 15, 1873 he was 59 years old. Surviving are his wife, children, Virgil, Duncan, Mrs. Eva Anderson and Mrs. Estelle Anderson. He was buried at Gumlog.

    The entire city was saddened over the passing of Mrs. A. F. Flanders, wife of Dr. Flanders, druggist. She was 47 and sick for about 4 months. Born and reared in Crawfordville, but lived here many years. Her parents were Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Rhodes. She married in 1909 to Dr. Flanders. Two children, Miss Sarah Frances and A. F. Flanders, Jr. Two sisters Miss Alger Rhodes and Mrs. James I. Spell. She was buried in Westview.

    Too many folks expect to get along without hard work. The fellow who is willing to work, do without many things that maybe he would like to have, who learns to spend a little less than he earns, will get along. He may not be able to cut as high stubble as some, but he will live worth while.

From Days Gone By Oct. 27, 1932

 October 27, 1932.

    Wrightsville High School continued to march to a championship with a scintillating aerial game that wrecked the Green Hurricane of Dublin, 26 to 0. Dublin was considered the strongest team in the district. The combination of Jack Moye and Hugh Hall goes most of the credit. The two new Board of Education members were J. H. Rowland and C. H. Martin.

    A Lion's Club was organized here with R. L. Stephens, merchant, as President. Charter members include, J. W. Brinson, J. Kaplan, J. E. Cook, J. M. Cook, J. E. Hall, H. T. Hicks, H. T. Johnson, L. A. McCrary, H. B. Bray, R. E. Hayes, H. F. Tarbutton, H. K. Adams, Lee McDonald, H. G. Hatcher, W. C. Brinson, E. G. Blackwell, D. T. Brinson, J. E. Vanlandingham and H. P. Hoard.

    The home of Ed Jordan on Route 3, who were at home at the time in the kitchen fixin dinner, when fire was discovered. It gained so much headway they could only save a little furniture and some linen. It originated in the front of the house. Fire destroyed the home of Tom Belote near Scott. The whole top was on fire before it was discovered and nothing could be done but watch it burn.

    The Kite Meat Curing and Cold Storage Plant, a new enterprise will open November first. It has an electric-driven equipment for curing meat and cooling the storage plant have been installed. Mr. George Vickers brought in a long sweet potato measuring 21 inches had it been straight. Mr. H. P. Attaway had some sweet potatoes, 8 which weighed 12 pounds 2 ounces taken from the same hill. One of the county's most progressive merchants, H. Sperling of Kite, announced a goodbye sale. He is leaving Kite for a future location.

    Little Miss Mary Frances Harrison and Master Howell Mayo were chosen mascots of the Hallie Huff Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy. She is five years old and daughter of Clerk and Mrs. C. B. Harrison. Howell is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Delmar Mayo. Mr. & Mrs. M. G. Holt of New York had a daughter, Mary Louise, on September 26th.

    John Kennedy, 15, of Lollie, Ga. was buried at Blue Springs Church. He died after being paralyzed for three months after breaking his neck while diving into a shallow water at Terrell's bridge. He is survived by parents, Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Kennedy.

    Preston Norris, former Wrightsville citizen and law examiner in the Department of Interior since 1917 in Washington, died there after an illness he had since September 29th. He was 53 and buried in Westview. A native of Johnson County, surviving is his mother, Mrs. J. F. Norris, brother, J. B. W. Norris, sisters, Mrs. W. Fitzgerald, Mrs. H. B. Adkins, sons, Gerald, Benjamin and Francis, daughters, Christine and Kathleen. He was a member of the Christian church and the Odd Fellows.

    Eugene Talmadge, nominee for Governor, thinks there is a danger of over emphasizing athletics in college. "Football is one of the finest of sports, but at present, I beleive, is being carried to an extreme that will eventually make academic work secondary to athletics and brawn ahead of brain. Look at the expensive stadiums colleges have built throughout the country, while in most instances the buildings and equipment are badly in need of repair and insufficiant properly to accomodate the student body. Instructors are poorly paid, while coaches draw magnifcient salaries."

    Talmadge was asked, "Do you think intercollegiate athletic competition should be abolished?" "Not at all" Talmadge said. "I merely think that there is a growing tendency to place sports at the head of all college activities, a tendency which should be curbed. After all, young men go to college seeking an education. Their muscles can be developed plowing the fields and toiling the soil."

    "I was a scrub halfback at the UGA for 4 years, and you know a person has to love the game to be that. It's the advantage given athletics that I object to. It's an easy matter for a prep school star to get a scholarship at most any college, while his physically weak brother has to get through school the best way he can."

From Days Gone By October 20, 1932

 October 20, 1932.

    Wrightsville High School pep is reaching toward the boiling point this week because the local football boys go over to do battle against their greatest gridiron rivals at Dublin. Coach McDonald's boys have had little opposition thus far, having scored a total of 42 points to nothing by their two opposing teams. Swainsboro was not able to make a first down against our boys, Wrens did not threaten our goal, but were able to make four first downs, all by passing. Dublin has not been defeated but only beat Swainsboro by one touchdown. Wrightsville and Dublin are the only undefeated teams in the sixth district.

    With a total valuation of its resources given at $49,899.18 on September 30th, the Bank of Adrian failed to open its doors last Saturday morning. Hon. Morris T. Riner, President, and the Directors are seeking aid from the R. F. C., hoping to get affairs fixed and reopen the bank. The banks bills payable was only $7,034.05. The bank had about $15,000 on demand and on time deposit, with a surplus of $1,000. Loans amounted to $32,380.79 at that time. The bank owns $12,000 in property and about $6,000 in cash and cotton, mostly cash. The closing of the bank created much interest in the Adrian community. This leaves the two banks in Wrightsville which are going strong.

    The State Highway placed its last marker in Richmond County on the Jeff Davis Memorial Highway at Belair, ten miles from Augusta. Services were sponsored by the U. D. C. The fire alarm sounded there was an impending blaze on the John R. Grice property up on the hill near the water tank. Of course it was immediately extinguished by the city fire laddies. State Game & Fish Commissioner Peter S. Twitty issued a commission to J. Cannie Sumner of Spann as District Game Warden. He would cover Emanuel, Jenkins, Treutlen and Johnson. He was a son of Judge W. D. Sumner, a former representative of the county.

    Miss Bertie Price of Kite and J. L. Fuller of Atlanta married. She was a daughter of the late Bishop Price and granddaughter of Bud Townsend of Kite. Mr. Fuller was a successful businessman in Atlanta. Miss Nora Smith and J. D. Ivey wed October 16th. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. R. Smith near Scott, groom is nephew of Rev. John G. Ivey of Wrightsville.

    On October 14th, Miss Evie Smith became the bride of Dr. Phillip B. Bedingfield, performed by Rev. Jesse E. Hall. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Smith, former residence here but moved to Laurens County. Dr. Bedingfield is a leading practicing physician of this county. He is President of the Exchange Bank and lives about 5 miles out Pringle road.

    In Little Cedar swamp two and a half miles east of Wrightsville, officers Vernon Raines and Jim Tapley made a raid on a whiskey outfit and captured a couple of men on the spot. The copper still, a square 25 gallon can, set on its moorings already for business which had been going on some time. Just before the visit of the officers, a couple barrels of beer were destroyed by them but no whiskey was found. Massie Jones and Eph Davis, two colored men, were arrested and brought to jail.

From Days Gone By, October 13, 1932

 October 13, 1932.

    Georgia Democrats put on a big pot in Atlanta when Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt comes to the capitol city next week. He will be at Warm Springs all this week. Great throngs of Georgia people will go to Atlanta to help out the next President of the United States. The railroads are granting very low rates on all lines into the city. All state and city officials, clubs, schools, colleges and higher ups will be there.

    The Democratic National Committee organized for the party the Roosevelt Motor Club of America. The branch office is in Atlanta and is establishing an agency in each county. Col. J. Eugene Cook is Chairman in Johnson County and organizing the Democrats who own cars to help raise funds.

    In observance of Armistice Day November 11th, the American Legion will present a special program. They are asking for information on those who have died during or since the war. The Legion wants to compile a complete list of those that died during the war. Mayor of Atlanta, James L. Key, will be here as will Honorable Luke Arnold, his Executive Secretary.

    New Home School suspends school for the week on account of the spread of diphtheria in the community. Former Wrightsville Mayor, E. E. Sanders, plans to run for Mayor again. It was not known yet if the current Mayor Hatcher will run again.

    In the Grand Jury Presentments, recommended a county policeman. Bridges repaired at Garnto's Mill, two on Kite road from W. W. Colston's to Kite. New bridges from Bud Reese's to John Q. Ivey's, also Gumlog bridge and banisters on Johnson's bridge. There were over 94 on the county's paupers list.

    Ordinary W. J. Flanders received a lot of help in road building. Numbers of people have given their labor on the roads to pay their road tax for the year. A force just left town with hoes, shovels and axes. A few people chose to pay their road tax of $2.00.

    The County Commissioners supported the constitutional amendment that passed in 1931, to be ratified November 8th by the voters. It will decide whether the various counties of the state shall be repaid the money they have spent in building the state highway system.

    Mr. D. R. Thomas, development agent of the W. & T. Railroad, reported on conditions of the boll weevil. Its one of the first times with the greatest quantity of cotton boll weevils Georgia has ever had, and, the greatest number of farms failing to show an actual profit. Also in the midst of the depression. He stresses the immediate destruction of cotton stalks, as soon as picking is finished, which will have the effect of forcing the weevil to move to other fields for its food, or finally go into hibernation, for the Winter, empty and in such weak condition that it cannot survive to come out next Spring. This was recommended by E. C. Westbrook, cotton specialist in the Extension Service of the Georgia State College of Agriculture.

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."