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.

From Days Gone By August 18, 1932

 August 18, 1932.

    The Commercial Club will meet on August 24th, with a lot of business to attend too. Steps are being taken to secure aid to build a bridge across the Oconee River at Ball's Ferry. Also, they are asking the telephone company for a cut of fifty cents per month on residence phones and $1.25 on business phones. As a measure of economy, uptown offices of the Railway Express Company have been moved to the depot and Millard Daley placed in charge. Business is on the upward trend and people are generally more optimistic. Cotton has advanced several dollars per bale; the tobacco market in south Georgia is opening; the highway department is preparing to spend two and a half million dollars on roads. But for small towns business is about the same.

    The Wrightsville High School will take back in on September 5th. School may only last four months this term unless special financial provisions are made by the Governor of the State. Superintendent Linton Hutcheson says the State is indebted to the county $30,000, while over $20,000 is due the schools in taxes. By October the State will owe $8,000 more to Johnson County.

    Marvin Holloway, son of Rev. & Mrs. P. T. Holloway, was searched for in several counties Saturday night, but he is now back with his parents. They were alarmed when finding his abandoned car at Wadley with the key in the ignition. Police said another man had parked the car there earlier in the day. Come to find out Marvin met a college chum who was going to Augusta, and he rode with him, although his car was not where he left it when he got back. He failed to catch a ride back with the friend, so he took the Jacksonville bus back to Wadley. He was found at Louisville before he made it to Wadley. It was feared by his parents that foul play was involved.

    Mr. Fred Brantley has left Brantley's Drug Store for Homestead, Florida to work with Howard Johnson in the drug business there. Mr. Johnson is a Wrightsville man. Mr. W. C. Brantley and Mrs. Tom Brantley had a birthday party that was attended by Mr. T. E., Miss Willie Mae, Leon, Mrs. W. E., Linnie & Minnie, Evelyn, Hazel, Helen, J. F., Luther and Tom, all Brantley's. Also a Mrs. Knight. Petitions for divorce were filed. J. W. Powell vs Mae Powell and Mrs. Ouida Tharpe vs R. C. Tharpe.

    The beautiful home of Miss Annie Lou Robinson burned from a kitchen fire about 2 am Tuesday morning. She was home at the time. Some furniture was saved but many family heirlooms were lost. She is now residing with her brother, Dr. J. C. Robinson on the north side of the courthouse.

    Messrs. J. R. & Grady H. Brantley are going the cheaper route to get a white face bull, by raising one. Mr. Grady's calf is only 8 months old and weighs 300 pounds. Mr. T. J. Powell's practice of a white face (Hereford) bull on native cows is becoming more popular as they see more profit in beef cows. Mr. Ellis Claxton took the Angus fever and bought an Aberdeen-Angus bull after hearing about M. T. Riner and Dr. H. B. Bray's black polled calves. Mr. H. T. Mason is going the sanitary method of raising hogs. He has only one sow. Last Spring she had 11 pigs and raised 10 to weigh 2,240 lbs in 180 days. Last Fall she had 10 pigs, 7 killed at 4 months averaging 138 lbs dressed. This past May she had 9 pigs, which now weigh about 50 lbs each.

    Professor Luther Lillard, 67, died at his home on the Bee Line highway after a lengthy illness. He was a native of Tennessee but lived here since 1893. He was a practical farmer and taught school a few years, and was for 8 years Superintendent of Schools and was a member of the Board of Education at his death. Surviving are his widow, and children, Albert, Luther, Jr., Elmer, Miss Inez and Miss Louise. He was a Mason and was buried in Westview.

From Days Gone By August 11, 1932

 August 11, 1932.

    After a Coroner's investigation over the body of Mr. C. D. Henderson, country storekeeper and planter on the Oliver estate, seven miles west of Wrightsville, was determined as suicide. Broken over the depression, he went into the schoolhouse yard at Union School, parked just over the hill, hidden from the road, he shot a 32 pistol bullet through his head and his body fell over lifeless. A note was found at his feet indicating he might end his life but making no such open declaration. The shot was heard about 9am but it was about 1:30pm when he was found by some young boys. He left a wife and nine children. He was born May 20, 1878 at Mitchell, Georgia and his father was Wade Hampton Henderson. He was taken back to Glascock County for burial.

    Mr. G. B. Dunlap, salesman of the city, his daughter Nannelle with her visitor, Miss Rose Furman of South Carolina, had a close call while returning from Macon. Dunlap was forced from the road by an approaching car about 12 miles from Sandersville. Miss Furman was cut and bruised about the face. The car was badly wrecked.

    Mrs. R. L. Stephens left for Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York city for merchandise for the R. L. Stephens Store here. The family of Mr. James M. Anderson celebrated his 76th birthday at Kite. Mr. & Mrs. Johnnie M. Johnson of Kite had a son on July 24th. Mrs. J. T. Harrison fell down her steps and sprained her ankle very badly. She is about 43 years old.

    The large residence on North Marcus Street of the late W. C. Tompkins, was rented by Miss Bertie Dickens for a boarding house to be called the Dickens House. It has been in operation as a boarding house for 29 years.

    A Laurens County colored man tells that coons can be caught because they will get drunk if you leave peaches soaked in moonshine where they can get to it. This goes to disprove the theory that animals were more intelligent than humans. Both of them are not intelligent enough to let whiskey alone.

    Business may come and business may go, but gentlemen the gasoline business is going on forever. There doesn't seem to be anything we or anyone else can do about it, but we call attention to the fact the price of gasoline in Johnson County is still too high, especially when considered that it can be bought for much less in neighboring counties.

    Political candidates speaking in the county were Col. R. I. Stephens for Solicitor-General Dublin circuit; Hon. W. W. Larson for Judge Dublin circuit; Hon. R. F. Burch for Commissioner of Agriculture; Hoke O'Kelley for Governor; Jule Felton for Georgia Public Service Commissioner.

    The difference between the Republican and Democratic platforms is that the Republicans were very careful not to commit themselves too strongly on the questions before the people, one of their henchmen having declared that their prohibition plank was designed to please both the wets and the drys, as it completely straddled. The Democratic platform is unmistakenly clear and comprehensive, and there is no evasion of the issues that must be decided at the ballot box. The result will be an overwhelming victory for Roosevelt and Garner on the 8th of November. It is predicted that they will receive a majority in 40 of the 48 states, and may gain some of the 8.

    The Constitution has said that "in nearly every case when you exclaim,'There ought to be a law against that!' if you'll look it up, you'll find there is", It has been well said that it is one of the curses of the country today.

From Days Gone By Aug. 4, 1932

 August 4, 1932.

    On Tuesday night around midnight, three or four colored folks entered Mr. & Mrs. J. Carl Claxton, just across Cedar Creek, and sacked up three fine turkeys. Policeman Garland Mayo saw them about 3 am with the sacks and suspected some sort of robbery. When they saw him they dropped the sacks and ran. The next morning Mr. Claxton obtained a warrant for Hozie and Horace Fields, and Albert and Buddy Trawick for simple larceny.

    Continuing their operations, meat thieves broke into the smokehouse of Marvin Jarrell and stole half a hog. On Friday night at Donovan, Mr. John M. Tyson who lives on the county line, lost about 200 pounds of hog meat from his smokehouse. A warrant was obtained for Bill Davis, colored.

    The Red Cross delivered 150 barrels of flour to the county to benefit around 175 families to help with the depression. When a man earned $100 a month just a short while ago, but lost his job on account of the depression, is willing to work for even just enough to pay his board, it is a pretty sure sign that he'll get a job somewhere.

    The depression is coming home to us more every day. For instance, take the old-fashioned two-wheel horse cart -- its the "Hoover" cart now, we believe -- that is coming back into existence and if that, along with the buggies that can be seen every day parked in their old once-reserved places, is not a sure sign. And another feature which more strongly brings the depression home is the fact that most of the "Hoover" carts are equipped in part, if not complete, with parts of automobiles that once adorned the farms and homes with pride and satisfaction.

    Mr. Dick Smith, from the Buckeye area is recovering from a rattlesnake bite while on a fishing trip. Mr. Dewey Downs of Dexter narrowly escaped death when lightning ran into their home. He was on the front porch at the time. Mr. Clint Smith of Scott area brings in the first open cotton bowl of the season.

    Dr. Thomas Lamar Harris celebrates his 70th birthday. A pioneer physician and minister of the county, originally from Sandersville. He has 9 children, 31 greats and 2 great greats. Mr. & Mrs. Alex Mayo celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 26th. Mr. & Mrs. Ray Barnes had a son on July 24th.

    Congressman Carl Vinson of Milledgeville will address the voters of the county at the Kite schoolhouse. Ordinary Flanders receives a check for the county for $3,509.82 for its portion of the gas tax. The paper urges the city officials to have an Ant Extermination Day.

    A new ferry boat has been put into operation at Ball's Ferry. This is the only place between Milledgeville and Dublin where automobiles can cross the Oconee River.

    The Wrightsville Junior baseball team defeated the Dublin Junior team by a score of 9 to 2. Wrightsville players are Stanley, Duggan, Lovett, Jenkins, Harrison, Smith, Parker, Cox, McBride and Chester. Judge Chan Brinson is manager.

    Mr. William Franklin Rachels, formerly of Washington County, died in Atlanta at age 76. He resided for a while at Donovan. He is survived by children, Mrs. E. N. Jones, M. G. and Dr. W. F. Rachels. He was buried in Sandersville City Cemetery.