From Days Gone By June 9, 1932

 June 9, 1932.

    There has been more meat stealing going on around here lately. Mrs. E. A. Lovett lost a lot of hams Friday night when someone went into her locked smokehouse and took 12 or 14 large pieces. Rain swept away the tracks of the miscreant and no clues obtained.

    Sheriff W. D. Rowland received a telegram from Hamlet, N. C. Friday telling him of the arrest there of one Tom Robinson, colored man of this community, who sometime ago got into trouble and behind bars in the local jail on a charge or two. Tom didn't like jail life and he made a get-a-way, breaking out of jail and fleeing for parts unknown. Sheriff Rowland left Sunday morning by auto for the prisoner and brought him back to answer for the charges. Col. W. M. Shurling accompanied him. Tuesday Tom was sentenced to the county chain gang for jail breaking for 11 months by Judge Brinson.

    Planter E. J. Sumner who lives well, farms well, turpentines well, does a lot of business well, though times are hard and money harder though it may not be so with him. The first cotton bloom of the season came from one of his farmers, Newburn Knight.

    Through the summer months the grocery stores are closing each day of the week at 7 pm, except Saturday's. There will be a square dance at Idylwild tonight with music by the Pringle String Band. Col. Russell M. Daley will run for Judgeship of the Dublin Judicial Circuit. He is the junior member of the Burch & Daley law firm.

    Fifty out of every 100 families own their own homes according to the Department of Commerce based on the Federal census. Grayson Rowland, Harlie Fulford, J. C. Matthews, Harry Rowland, Fluker Tarbutton and W. J. Tapley are on a fishing trip to Stewart's Landing.

    The faculty for 1932-33 Wrightsville High School are, H. K. Adams, Superintendent; Lee McDonald, coach and math teacher; Miss Sarah Durham, history; Miss Lucile Suddeth, home economics; Miss Nina Stokes, english; Miss Evelyn Carroll, 7th; Miss Martha Rawls, 6th; Miss Grace Hutchinson, 4th; Miss Willie Sue Shirley & Miss Charlotte Wallace, 3rd; Miss Hilda Donan, 2nd; Miss Ruth Courson, 1st.

    Mr. Oliver P. Sinquefield was laid to rest at the family burying grounds near Tennille. He died at his sisters, Mrs. J. N. Lanier in Harrison. He was sick for many months and confined to his room most of that time. He was not married and would have been 54 on June 10th. Surviving are his siblings, Frank, G. C., J. D., T. C., Mrs. Jordan Stokes, Mrs. Bettie Jordan, Mrs. Nannie Stone and Mrs. Lanier.

From Days Gone By June 2, 1932

 June 2, 1932.

    Mr. M. C. Tyson will entertain the audience tonight with a special feature of music by the Melody Makers, a trio of players at the Fiddler's Contest at the Palace Theater. He was formally with the North Carolina Ramblers and the Tennessee Gully Jumpers. The annual Union Singing Convention at Idylwild has been running for 29 years. At this one will be a memorial service for the late lamented song producer and singer, Prof. E. L. Faircloth of Greenville, S. C., who died December 6, 1931.

    Mr. L. O. Moseley has returned to Atlanta from Montgomery, Alabama where he was manager of a large hotel. He is now associate manager of the Piedmont Hotel in Atlanta.  Tom L. Martin is turning out a lot of ice from his new manufacturing plant. Its Wrightsville's newest industry. There was 2,467 pounds of poultry sold at the co-op poultry sale in Wrightsville. Prices were about 75 per cent of pre-war prices.

    Col. R. L. Stephens announces for Solicitor-General to succeed Fred Kea. Stephens is a Johnson native and was committed to the Bar in 1915. Miss Sallie Mae Stephens and Mr. Harold Smith were married last Sunday at the home of Rev. G. F. Sumner. They are members of the Myrtle Grove community.

    Miss Mamie Riner of Wrightsville received her diploma from the G. S. T. C. at Collegeboro this commencement. Cadet Robert Brinson, son of Mrs. R. E. Brinson, who has been a student at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, is returning home after a successful year. Following the graduating excercises at Wesleyan College, Misses Frances Flanders and Juliette Roundtree graduated the 1932 class.

    In a fast game of baseball the local nine played excellent ball at Oconee, but lost the game 4 to 3. One of the best fishermen in the county, Mr. Dewey Hall, says he is all fixed up for the summer season. Another angler who is proud to go fishing again is Mr. O. P. Prescott.

    Mrs. Rebecca H. Hines died at Eastman on Sunday evening while visiting her daughter, Mrs. H. C. Allen. Her home was in Reidsville but she formally lived in Wrightsville. Besides her daughter she is survived by a son, Dr. Holmes Hines of Reidsville. She was buried in the Bartow cemetery.

    Mrs. Mollie Frost died at her home in Augusta on Monday night. She had been feeble a long time and her death not unexpected. She was buried at Oaky Grove. She was a sister to Mrs. W. T. Keyton, Mrs. O. L. Tanner and Messrs. Philip Price and J. P. Price. Two sons, Rufus and Walter, three daughters Mrs. Ben Tanner, Mrs. W. H. Perry and Mrs. R. R. Perkins. She was a Baptist.

From Days Gone By May 26, 1932

 May 26, 1932.

    The Wrightsville City Council and Mayor will have an open house next week for the new city hall. Fifty new seats have been purchased, cells and fixtures are in place. The fire wagon is in its stall ready for a run. Nearly 500 Johnson County farmers have received aid from the Federal government this year for general farm operations, announced Mr. R. E. Fulford, chairman of the county committee. The total amount of loans was $77,032.75. This is $50,000 more than last year.

    Mr. Tom L. Martin's ice business is running twenty-four hours and turning out plenty of the frozen product. Mr. Newton Howell of Kite is the Coroner-Elect for Johnson County. A man by the name of Tharpe preached at church in Wrightsville Sunday and he gave hypocrites the cold, straight-from- the-shoulder truth about their meanness.

    Mr. M. E. Crow, former county agent is in the race for the lower house in the General Assembly. He is a farmer, and county agent from 1918 to January 31, 1931. He was raised in South Georgia and been here 15 years. Col. Charles S. Claxton is running for the same office. Charles D. Roundtree is running for Senator of the 16th District which covers Johnson, Laurens, Treutlen and Emanuel counties.

    Slim Blount and his locals put up a good baseball game at the fairgrounds Monday against New Home with the score of 13 to 9 in Wrightsville's favor. In Saturday's game it was New Home 10 to Wrightsville's 2.

    Wrightsville and Johnson County are entitled to some hard surfaced roads and indications are we are making progress in obtaining them. The following midwives have certificates to practice in the county: Margie Ann Brinson, Jennie Barksdale, Lizzie Bonner, Pearl Brown, Bessie Mae Braddy, Nancy Fluker, Mildred Hurst, Malissie Henderson, Ella Harris, Patsy Henderson, Arrena Jackson, Lula Latimore, Nora Montford, Hattie Mathis, Lucy Miller, Sallie Outlaw, Laura Poindexter, Emma Robinson, Patience Thomas, Linnie Williams, Harret Wright and Frances Gilbert.

    Mr. E. O. Snell's daughter, Tommie Lee, of Williamsburg, Va. will wed Dr. J. B. Weber of Philadelphia this fall. They now live in Hawaii. Mrs. Emma Roberts of Laurens County and Frank F. Flanders of Wrightsville were wed by Rev. John G. Ivey. Mr. Leslie Powell, son of Mr. & Mrs. B. B. Powell, now a citizen of Chicago wed May 2nd to Miss Gladys Montgomery of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. He is with the Deluxe Art Studios of Chicago.

    Mr. C. J. Smith of near Spann shared some interesting documents he had in his possession. In 1797 land in this section, 161 acres, sold for $50 according to a land grant he had. John McCoy sold to James Bailey that amount on the Big Creek and beside the land of Richard Smith. Another document signed by Gov. Lumpkin commissioning Francis E. Flanders, Justice of Peace, dated Jan. 1, 1835, then in Laurens County. In 1859 William B. Hall had a case of slander against William Johnson, and a long hand, pen and ink, witness summons to Flanders to attend court when William W. Holt was Superior Court Judge and James W. Walker was Clerk. Also in his possession, John Rogers, acting colonel of the 39th Regiment on March 25, 1830, issued an appointment to Francis E. Flanders as 2nd LT of the 86 company district, Georgia militia. On March 1, 1830, Thomas Moore, clerk of court Laurens Co., issued to F. E. Flanders letters of administration on the estate of James Mason.

FROM DAYS GONE BY May 19, 1932

 May 19, 1932.

    John Hughes Curtis, Norfolk boat builder, confessed to police that his activities in the Lindbergh kidnapping negotiations were figments of his imagination. Curtis had told of a ship with kidnappers aboard and went into details as to negotiations designed to effect return of the child. It was a notorious bid for notoriety and money.

    Saturday and night were bad times for two Johnson County tax officials. W. T. Johnson, Tax Receiver, lost his home by fire about 4:45 in the afternoon, and J. Nat Riner, Tax Collector, lost his big barn about 11 that night. Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. J. D. McAfee were in the main part of the house sewing when the fire caught up in the ceiling. Johnson had about $600 insurance. The house was on the north side of town.

    Mr. W. H. Lovett will run for State Senate. He is one of the leading financial pillars of this part of the state. He is engaged in farming and other businesses including lumbering, manufacturing fertilizers, banking, trucking, railroading, merchandizing and real estate. He is married to Louise Lovett, daughter of Mrs. E. A. Lovett, and has two children, Billy and Betty.

    The results in the Scott trustee election, with two positions to fill were, J. C. Carter 121; R. T. V. Schwalls 104; J. M. Smith 34. Miss Vivian Outlaw leaves for a tour of New York. There will be a co-op poultry sale here next week. Mr. C. L. Wiggins of Kite has three sets of twin calves which will give some momentum to his cattle enterprise.

    The paper says, put the Jefferson Davis highway through this year. We live in one of the few Georgia counties minus any paving. Route 15 into Dublin is expected to be a real paved road some time soon. Johnson County is anticipating this and is working to that desired end. From 20 to 40 autos now cross Ball's Ferry daily. When the Bee Line is finished it will take two ferries to accommodate the traveling public at this point.

    Mason's Bridge, the old wash hole, is getting patronage by the hundreds daily already. J. W. Claxton has become sole manager and proprietor of Idylwild Park purchasing the interest of Mr. McBride. The big, new ice manufacturing plant of Tom L. Martin is in full operation. He will make enough ice to supply trade all over the countryside. City trash moving goes on Saturday nights around midnight and after, according to Bennett Tapley who drives the city trash truck. The idea is to move the trash and rubbish from the streets and sidewalks about the time the stores close.

    Dublin baseball team easily defeated Wrightsville 17 to 1. Captain Bluford Blount of the newly organized baseball team here is getting a new line-up to play Wrens today.

    The Johnson County Home Demonstration Council, chaired by Mrs. C. E. Harrison, is sponsoring a curb market on Bradford street opposite Col. Claxton's office. Mrs. T. L. Raines is market master. It will be held twice per week on Wednesday and Saturday rain or shine. Wrightsville is a small market and most families have a garden, cow and poultry. However there is a season these cannot be bought. This lack affords an opportunity for the farm home-makers to market their surplus from their farms. The theme is to keep Johnson County money at home.

    The Adrian School graduates this year are: Amanda Lou River, Preston River, Barbie Hutcheson, Annie Belle Harrell, Louis Curry, Lanier Flanders, Barnie Sammons, Maggie Mae Webb, Ruby Smith, James Renfroe, Mary Alma Carter, Jessie Nell Thigpen, Doris Smith, Gifford Douglas, Lotis Barwick, Mattie Phillips, Zelma Morton, Harris Horton, Annie Laurie Mason, Sara Chapman, Delmas Pope, Gladys Hall, Mary Stewart and Doyce Price.

    Someone has well said, "This depression will be over before 80 percent of the people know it." The 20 percent are industriously busy preparing for better times. The 80 percent will be bemoaning their own fate and the other fellows good fortune. Fortunes and independence are built on faith and the intestinal fortitude to stick on the job when the other fellow has given up. These 20 have faith, they are improving their land, buildings, laying the foundation when better times have finally and impressively arrived, which they will. The 80 will want to buy at a low price what the 20 have acquired at a low price. There never was a time like the present to start a foundation of good hogs and cattle.

FROM DAYS GONE BY May 12, 1932

 May 12, 1932.

    Ordinary W. J. Flanders called a meeting concerning how to take care of the county's poor and unfortunates in the best way. The county has no poor farm and is giving funds per month to the needy. The amount now goes beyond the amount paid in taxation per annum. It was recommended by Judge John Luther Kent to take steps to plan a home for the needy. A committee composed of W. J. Flanders, W. H. Lovett, C. S. Claxton, J. G. Greenway, T. J. Powell and C. D. Roundtree to look into this. It was finally voted to continue as it is with a request from the populace that expenses be cut as far as possible.

    Mathew E. Crowe, former county agent is considering a run for the Georgia House and Charles Claxton is sure to run. Others mentioned are Z. T. Houser of Scott and Tom J. Powell of Kite. In the Wrightsville school Trustee election it was Emory L. Rowland 275; D. T. Brinson 199; J. N. Hall 160 and C. S. Claxton 62. In the races for Kite School Trustee Willie A. Minton and W. S. Kite beat out B. A. Anderson and C. L. Williams. In the Price-New Home race Cecil Frost won over Perry Blizzard.

    Johnson County crops are looking up now since the refreshing shower. Little crops were beginning to injure and much of the cotton was yet in the ground that will now sprout and come up. Mr. H. P. Hicks is building an apiary for bees. Next Saturday the Price-New Home School will offer at auction the tin roofing and other things of value around the school.

    Mr. Henry Stephens 74th birthday was held at Rehobeth Church. Born May 8, 1858 a mile from his present home. He has nine children living, J. Q., J. A., I. J., Silas, Stevie, Mrs. Rosa Anderson, Mrs. Linnie Belle Davis, Mrs. Nora Sheppard and Mrs. Minnie Renfroe, sister Mrs. Julie Loyd, 26 grands and 8 great grands. He is a 30 year Mason of the Grand Lodge of Georgia.

    A birthday dinner was held for  John C. Powell near Kite for his 66th birthday. Attending were sons, Forrest C., S. J. and grandson Edwin, son-in-law D. L. Meeks and grandchildren Gladys and Willie Meeks.

    Eugene Talmadge, Commissioner of Agriculture and candidate for Governor, will go to jail if he does not refrain from interfering with funds of the veterinary department ordered by Judge Malcom B. Jones. Employees have been without pat since January one. Talmadge is unwilling to make an agreement.

    The capture and carrying to the chain gang of F. L. (Kooter) Kreutz, last Saturday night was carried out by Judge Bidgood's order when he revoked the probated sentence of Kreutz. The revoke came as a result of a conviction in City Court while out on probation. Officers Vernon Raines and Tom C. Brantley raided a big fish trap in the Ohoopee River near Raines Bridge. It was a full grown affair all snugly placed in the stream, but did not have anything in it when retrieved.

    J. M. Meeks died and was buried in the Methodist cemery at Glenwood. He was the father of Rev. C. M. Meeks, presiding Elder of the Savannah District Methodist. He died at the home of step-daughter Mrs. Lindsey of Wrightsville. He was 80 years old and survived by sons, Rev. C. M., W. W., M. M., J. R., C. E., M. A. and daughters Mrs. M. Wilson, Mrs. E. Leggette, Mrs. Julia Williams and step-sons G. M. and William Anderson.

    Mrs. Anna Rebecca McWhorter, died. She was the daughter of Eli & Anna Reaves McWhorter. She was born May 19, 1843 in Hancock County, joined the Baptist Church at Bethel in 1856, moved to Johnson County in 1865 and joined Rehobeth. Moved to Wrightsville in 1872 and moved her membership to Wrightsville Baptist. She married William F. Shurling November 20, 1884, united with Sisters Church in 1885 and was a widow with one child, William McWhorter Shurling. She left the farm for Tennille in 1890 then back to Wrightsville in 1891.

FROM DAYS GONE BY May 5, 1932

 May 5, 1932.

    The Kite High School holds its graduation excercises  and the graduates were: Thelma Minton, Annie Ruth Meeks, Aliene Renfroe, Ada Brantley, Sarah Harrison, Georgia Belle Brantley, Nettie Ree Amason, Myrtle Schwals, Eddie Mae Powell and J. B. Powell.

     Col. Charles S. Claxton has announced he is running for Trustee of the school district along with Col. Emory L. Rowland. Mr. J. N. Hall will run also for Trustee.

    The Dublin District Methodist Conference will meet in Wrightsville at the Methodist church beginning today. Attending will be presiding elder, J. O. J. Taylor, assisted by Rev. P. T. Holloway. Also attending were Dr. Harvey W. Cox, President Emory University; Rev. T. C. Clary of the South Georgia Conference and Dr. Dice R. Anderson, President of Wesleyan College and a home product will be Rev. W. W. Anthony.

    General Chairman Pete Holloway of the Associated Charities will be distributing the carload of flour to those in need during this depression. The Singing Convention will be at Bay Springs Sunday. Miss Alice Garnto married Mr. Ell Powell at Kite, he is the son of L. S. Powell and she is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. N. B. Garnto. Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Smith had a son on May first.

    Mrs. A. S. Watkins turned 70 on April 27th and celebrated with her daughter, Mrs. Bessie Meeks at Kite. Attending were her four sisters, Mrs. E. N. Wicker, Mrs. B. E. Belcher, Mrs. E. J. Dixon, Mrs. Annie Ganus; brothers, Charlie and Walter Stephens. Mr. J. W. Stephens and Mrs. Hattie Matthews could not attend.

    Joseph Kersey, born in Emanuel County in 1855, came to Johnson 63 years ago to Kite. He stated he has paid all road taxes, state and county taxes, never served on a jury, never been sued and today doesn't owe a cent to anybody and has never failed to do his public duty to his country. A unique record.

    The Commercial Club heard arguments supporting the organization of a tax payers' league for the city and county. They are asking for a decrease in salaries of all Federal employees and to cut the budget so as not to require any further increase in taxation. Concrete will be used to pave Highway 80, the 11.25 miles from Macon to Dublin and widening five bridges, two on the Dublin-Scott road. It is said Route 80 should be completed soon and has been placed above all other roads.

    The local Chapter of the U. D. C. put on a spring carnival in the city. Fancy costumes, worn by actors, presented a Mardi Gras effect. It ended with a square dance and the Virginia Reel.

    Mr. J. T. Blankenship, veteran meat market man would have been 64 on May 17th, was buried in Westview. He was survived by his wife, daughters Estelle and Ola, Mrs. Maude Stewart, sons, Ira and Ferris O.; brothers William, Emmion and Edd P.; sisters Mrs. Corine Mullis, Mrs. Minnie Warren. He was born in Glascock County and moved here 41 years ago. He ran a meat market here for 24 years. All the town businesses closed for the funeral. Later that night someone entered Mrs. Blankenship's smokehouse and stole all her meat.

     Four members of the Mallory family of near Adrian were buried in three days. Mr. W. T. Mallory, Mr. W. H. Hayslip, stepfather of Mrs. Mallory, W. T. Mallory, Jr., killed in accident coming from Fort Benning, and their baby. All were buried at Popular Springs.

From Days Gone By April 28, 1932

 April 28, 1932.

    Wrightsville has bought a new business home. In negotiations with Mr. W. H. Lovett they acquired the brick store room occupied for many months by the Tom Reese Pressing Club. The purchase is for the building and 10 feet of land on each side. Councilmen Frank Outlaw, James A. Hall and Jack Robinson purchased it for $1800. The building will be fixed up with cells, council chambers, fire apparatus and other things needed. Prisoners will be secure in this new place and escapes will be unlikely. The Wrightsville Commercial Club will meet tonight with Dr. H. B. Bray presiding. The main topic will be a Tax Payers League. The Wrightsville council cuts the street tax in half from $4 to $2 per year.

    Mr. Cline brought the newest design of the Ford car to town and around 1300 people visited Mr. L. A. Lovett's showroom. The new coupe, fully equipped with V-8 engine and fast at 65 hp. It sells for $603.

    There may be four candidates for the new 6th District for Congress. Judge R. Earl Camp, Dublin; Carl Vinson, Milledgeville; Carlton Mobley, Forsyth; W. P. Norris, Wrightsville. In a Justice Court peliminary hearing for Joe Moore, colored, was bound over to Superior Court on charge of assault with attempt to rape. Bond was set at $500. Many visitors are expected at Bee Line Springs this season, with many improvements being made. Management by Mr. & Mrs. S. D. Howard.

    Wiley Jackson, living 8 miles east, close to Pringle, lost his home by fire. He lived on the farm of Dr. P. B. Beddingfield. His wife was cooking dinner when she discovered the roof of the kitchen afire. He had a wife and 3 small children. Someone entered Mr. Carl Carter's smokehouse and he says next time he wish they would ask him for the key to keep the boogers away.

    Kite Lodge No. 327 F. & A. M. submitted a resolution with respect to the late John W. Mayo, born Sept. 2, 1845 and died Aug. 21, 1931. He married Miss Charlotte Anderson Davis April 9, 1865. They had nine children with two living, Mrs. N. B. Snider and George W. Mayo. He served in Company F, 14th Ga Johnson Greys, a member of Kite Baptist and was a Master Mason.

    Mr. C. C. "Nat" Wheeler died in the hospital in Washington, Va. He was a citizen of the county and a traveling salesman for several states. He was 48 and a member of the Christian Church. He was survived by his wife, 3 daughters and a son along with father W. L. Wheeler and brother Willie Wheeler. He was buried in Westview.

    Mr. J. B. Blankenship, 63, died at his home on Court Street after a 2 week illness. He was an old resident of the city and for 24 years ran a market here. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Roana Daniels Blankenship, 3 daughters, Estelle, Ola and Mrs. T. W. Stewart, 2 sons, I. J. and F. O. He was buried in the Anthony Cemetery.

    An army corporal and his niece were killed, and the soldiers mother and another woman in serious condition at a Macon hospital as a result of a collision between their coupe and a fruit truck at the crossroads at Henderson, Houston County. Corporal William T. Mallory was returning to Fort Benning from Adrian attending services for his father. The child, Sola Mallory, 6 years old died a few minutes after the accident, William died at the hospital. They were buried at Poplar Springs.

    In a very ugly affray in the eastern part of the county near the Emanuel line, about a mile from Ennis on Saturday night, twin brothers Jimmie and Jeffie Minton, young white men, and another white man, John C. Powell, son of Stephen & Mattie Powell, got in a row about some differences they had earlier in the night. When near Pat Brown's home on the A. S. Chamblee farm the fight ensued. Officer George N. Ivey said the use of knives, pistols and other weapons played a part. Jeffie Minton was cut on his neck and a long gash across his face. Powell was cut on his throat, stomach and chest and in bad shape. The auto used was smeared with blood. Who was the aggressor has not come to light yet. Sunday night L. T. Malony, a Louisville attorney and Deputy Sheriff Jim Hubbard of Jefferson County had warrants for the Minton brothers on charges of auto theft and a second charge of arson as they burned the car.