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.

From Days Gone By April 21, 1932

 April 21, 1932.

    Local citizens met in the city council chambers favoring the location of a city hall, city offices, city fire department and calaboose or jail in one building uptown. The city owns the site of the old power plant near the Chevrolet place but this did not appeal to the citizens. They want everything centrally located uptown. In City Court, Andrew Tant, white man, pled guilty of assault and battery. Judge Brinson gave him eight months on the gang or fifty dollars.

    The American Legion and the three city churches will hold Memorial services at Brown Memorial next Sunday, instead of on Memorial Day. Rev. P. T. Holloway, pastor of the Methodist church will deliver the sermon and the local U. D. C. will have charge of the music. Veterans of all wars are encouraged to attend.

    Mr. Dewitte Brinson, local businessman has been urged to run for a spot on the Board of Trustees of the schools in the county. State Game Warden R. L. Roundtree declared he would enforce the laws in regard to closed fishing season from April 15 to June 1. Before the season closed, Mr. Bob West, a worker at A. F. Flanders drug store, caught an eight and a quarter pound trout at Coleman's Lake. The largest caught around here this season.

    Senator William J. Harris, 64, passed away after a long illness. He was Georgia's senior senator and he was buried at Cedartown. John W. Williams, local from here, worked under him doing the cotton census here for five years.

    Sheriff W. D. Rowland jailed six people, four white and two black. Down at Gumlog artesian well Saturday night and Sunday morning there was a drunken brawl going on and officer George N. Ivey arrested three white men and one white woman, Henry, Cuen and James Sheppard and Mrs. James Sheppard charging them with drunk on the highway and rioting at the well. Wilbur Knight was put in jail on a charge of pistol toting and pointing it at another. Lee Roy Cooper was arrested for being disorderly.

    A colored woman by the name of Redmond Mills, living on the Philip Price place in the eastern part of the county, was hit by a flash of lightning Thursday evening and died instantly. She was leaving the house and when in the yard the stroke flashed down and hit her, breaking her bones up badly. The woman would have given birth to a child soon.

    Mrs. Anna Shurling died at the Bethany Home in Vidalia. She was a sister of Captain Thomas Wiggins Kent. She had one son, William Shurling, and was buried in Westview.

    Mrs. Mary A. "Vashti" Crawford, 71, died at her home in Vidalia. Before marriage she was a Mixon, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. P. Mixon of Kite. She was born January 31, 1861 and wife of the late David Algerene Crawford, former county sheriff that was murdered in 1924. She had 4 daughters, Mrs. R. S. Mixon, Mrs. M. B. Watkins, Mrs. C. F. Corley, Mrs. J. M. Dean, sons, J. C., J. W. and Tom. Sister Mrs. R. T. lovett, brother J. P. Mixon, 26 granchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren. She was buried in Kite Cemetery.

    This years graduates of Wrightsville High School are, Ethel Anderson, Kate Bryan, Irene Beasley, Ruby Claire Bray, Julia Chester, Laverne Claxton, Rossie Mae Cox, Sara Douglas, Nellie Kitchens, Attice Oliver, Mildred Rachels, Evelyn Snell, Margaret Holloway, Mary Powell, Leslie Price, Agnes Horton, Nannie Helen Tanner, Louise Vickers, Nellie Pool, Robert Attaway, Roy Brantley, Chauncey Brinson, W. C. Claxton, William Flanders, Bill Hall, Clark Harrison, Charles Hicks, Rex Jackson, Marion Jackson, Cameron Kent, Walter Lovett, Wilson Marshal, Hubert Outlaw, Elmo Price and Ansalon Powell.

From Days Gone By April 14, 1932

 April 14, 1932.

    Nathan Wombles was incarcerated about 3 Tuesday evening by Chief W. J. Crawford for being drunk in the city. He was a farmer and came to town with his father on a wagon for some guano. Nathan stayed behind to sell some chickens. Chief Crawford said he tried to get him to go home and he started that way several times but would turn around and come back, so Crawford finally had to lock him up. About 1:30 Wednesday morning, nearby citizens heard a man crying for help and upon investigating found Wombles scurrying about the wooden jailhouse trying to get out as the jail was on fire. The citizens set to work to try and help him. Axes and everything possible was tried to save him. Night policeman Garland Mayo hurried there and Wombles was still alive. Water was turned on the burning building and it was saved from total destruction. Afterwards Mayo opened the door but it was too late. They found his lifeless body on the side that was burning the worst. It was determined he died from suffocation or being burned to death. He was 49 years old, the oldest son of Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Wombles of Moore's Chapel. Surviving him was his wife, the former Martha Howell of Meeks, and eight children and two grandchildren. He was buried in the Garnto Cemetery.

    Kite had a heavy wind gale with rain Friday night with some damage to houses and trees. The wind blew the rain up under the hinges on roofs of homes drenching some of the homes. Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Carter of Spann brought to town an egg weighing four ounces and measured in circumference, middle just six and one half inches end to end and eight inches around.

    George Johnson and James Rogers, two white men, are serving thirty days in jail for simple larceny with added sentence of eight months on the gang or forty dollars. They were caught stealing a plow and some chickens. Ordinary W. J. Flanders says pensioners have $15 coming to them from the 1931 balance and $160 due them from 1930.

    Miss Frances Crawford will sing during the McConnell Show. She is granddaughter of Dr. & Mrs. T. E. Vickers. Local camp Woodmen of the World met with a visit from Assistant State Manager H. C. Fabian and District Manager J. R. Cherry. Mr. Lofton Burns is the local organizer of the Camp. Rev. Jesse Hall has gone to preach a revival at the Baptist church in Ludowici.

    Richmond Sammons will be 80 years old on the 21st, and his wife 76 on September 13th. He was not old enough to go to war but at ten years old he helped keep the home affairs going while four of his brothers fought in Virginia for four years. Miss Mazie Peddy formerly of Adrian married Mr. William McKay of Jacksonville, Florida. She is a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Peddy.

    Mr. Ray Tanner, 29 and a native son, died in Jacksonville, Florida from apoplexy which shocked the entire family. He was a son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Bartow Tanner. He was survived by sisters, Mrs. Roy Connell, Mrs. H. G. Hatcher, Mrs. Bill Tyson and half-sister Miss Martha. Brothers were Otho and B. B. Tanner. He was buried in Westview.

    Mrs. Carl Brantley, the former Jewell Parr, died on April 6th at Rawlings Hospital of pneumonia. She was a bride of only a few weeks. She was survived by her husband, parents Mr. & Mrs. Parr, one brother and four sisters. She was buried in Westview.

    The Spann community lost Mr. W. A. Veal, born in Washington County but lived here many years. He was survived by sons, Cosby, Charlie, Seab, Louie and Bubba Veal, daughters Mrs. Lee Kitchens, Mrs. Julian Whitfield, Mrs. Reuben Bray, Mrs. David Morgan, Mrs. Myrtle Howell and Louise and Geneva Veal. He was buried at Piney Mount.