From Days Gone By September 7, 1923

 September 7, 1923.

    Mr. W. C. Brinson and his committee to raise the money allotted Johnson County for promoting the Jefferson Davis Highway have succeeded in their venture and the county is nearly over the top with the funds as required and will be transferred to Secretary Gelder's this week. Each county had an amount allotted as per the actual road mileage that runs through the county. Johnson, Dodge, Lauren's and Jefferson have all signed contracts. Mr. Gelders will at once go to work on the big job of putting up road signs, logging it, etc. with this money and advertising it throughout the North and East.

    The local men who have so far backed this with their own money are J. W. Brinson, T. V. Kent, J. I. Spell, L. D. Lovett, J. T. Fulford, Parker & Price Grocery, Samps Powell, L. S. Powell, J. V. Greenway, E. E. Daley, J. C. Claxton, J. M. Cook, M. S. Duggan, R. L. Stephens, A. F. Flanders, W. D. Sumner, U. R. Jenkins, E. R. Frost, I. R. Tanner, J. G. Greenway, W. C. Brinson, O. H. Tompkins, J. B. Williams, J. H. Rowland, H. T. Johnson, E. E. Sanders, J. E. Sheppard, J. Y. Claxton, C. C. Davis, J. A. Lindsey.

    C. S. Claxton, T. E. Hayes, T. F. Elton, W. H. Lovett, G. E. Fulford, J. C. Sumner, J. Nat Riner, Gordon Clarke, Wm Jackson, M. R. Scarboro, C. D. Roundtree, R. L. Kent, R. E. Brinson, J. E. Jordan, B. H. Moye, Byron Price, W. T. Page, Loyd Price, A. L. Hatcher, Mason & Thompson, M. E. Woods, D. Mosely, Ga. Grocery Co., L. A. Lovett, H. G. Hatcher, W. F. Outlaw, A. W. Hightower, E. L. Stephens, H. L. Fulford and Monroe Cook.

    In coming from Bartow, Mr. Gelders, while checking the route got stuck in a sluice of water at Price's Bridge and it took real effort to get him out. Convicts we're immediately brought out to fix this. Another reason for this road to go through the county 

    The high school opens with bright outlooks. The Board of Education met and two schools have took an active step in consolidating. Wesley Chapel and Stokes schools in the upper part of the county have decided to join together. The Board accepted it. A new and modern building will now be erected, the location to be determined by the trustees of these two schools. Adrian High also opens with a record attendance. 

    The gasoline tax for the county goes up October 1st which will extract about $20 per year average for each motorist in the county or around $15,000 per year figuring 750 cars running in the county daily for one year. Auto tags are projected to run the states revenues up too. Tax Receiver J. A. Lindsey has completed the digest of Johnson Co. A comparison of returns show a decrease of $114,274 from the valuations of last year. The total county returns this year shows a valuation of $2,650,875.

    The town of Scott is coming again, says Oscar Smith. Where there was ashes will soon be new brick or wooden buildings. J. J. Harrison and R. T. V. Schwalls are putting materials on the ground now.

    Mr. Green B. Harrison will start him a dairy with Andrew Perry to manage it. The sewerage for the city will be rushed through now as fast as it can. The city power house is getting in it's new machinery.

 Ordinary U. R. Jenkins purchased a 1924 Buick and John Fulford is running a Willys-Knight. County Agent Crow and his club boys are at stock judging contests in Savannah. Miss Jeradine Brinson will teach music at Douglas High School. William Doke, Gresham Jordan and Roy Frost will attend Cochran A & M.

    County Warden Charles T. Wright took over his duties with the chain gang. He has four guards under him, J. Lovett Anderson, Asa A. West, Jimmie Tapley and W. T. Boatwright. The gang will start on the Jeff Davis Highway project starting with Price's Bridge 

    A fellow got off the train here the other day and rushed up the street somewhat hurriedly. The first man he met was a lawyer of the town. The stranger asked, "Have you a criminal lawyer here?" The astonished lawyer replied, "Well, they think they have but they haven't proved it yet "

From Days Gone By August 31, 1923

 August 31, 1923.

    The part of highway officials inspecting the immediate connecting links to the Jefferson Davis Highway route came through Johnson County this week from Augusta, Louisville and Bartow, going on to Dublin, Eastman and Abbeville, the last named being the point that interests this county is supposed to connect with the main line from Savannah, west to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and finally on to the Pacific Ocean.

    Determined men of this county who are after things and doing things for the betterment of the county went after the route that is supposed to leave this main line somewhere between Vidalia and Abbeville running north through Augusta to Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D. C. The efforts made have been highly satisfactory so far. Money has been put into the fund to mark, map and advertise the route starting at Abbeville and coming this way through Eastman and Dublin, and then from here on to Louisville and Augusta. Interested parties here went to Bartow to meet and escort the officials, headed by Mr. Isador Gelder's of Fitzgerald, the secretary, into the city and through the county to Dublin.

    As soon as the routes are gone over a decision will be made and all parties and places interested will be promptly notified. Places along this route have subscribed a big fund as was asked of them and the way itself is now in pretty fair condition with promises made for a decided improvement in them. So this route stands a good show in getting official sanction.

    The Wrightsville High School will open September 3rd and the outlook for a record attendance for the term looms brightly. Entrance fees are to be paid to Mr. R. L. Kent, school treasurer, at the Bank of Wrightsville before school opens. The strong faculty consists of Prof. E. N. Anthony, Prof. Has. L. Fleming, Miss Doris Johnson, Miss Hallie Bryan, Mrs. W. L. Norris, Mrs. Gainor Fulford, Miss Clyde Perry, Miss Bernice Lewis, Mrs. George Gordy, Miss Annie Jenkins, Mrs. J. W. Vanlandingham, Miss Annie Mae Melton and Miss Ola Johnson.

    County Agent Crow plans to have a co-op hog sale once a month until further notice. The last sale produced two car loads bought by Mr. A. B. Johnson of the Hall Commission Co. of Moultrie for $8.01 as basis for tops. There were 163 head of hogs weighing 25,800 lbs and brought $1,836.05. One of the largest hog raisers in this part of Georgia is Mr. G. A. Tarbutton who's plantation is 7 miles west of the city. For several years he has made a specialty in the industry which net results is lots of cash. Mr. Lewis I. Davis of Liberty Grove showed off 4 large, long ears of corn from his field and 3 ears measured 37 inches. The other ear is 8 1/2 inches around.

    Mayor's Court was very small but it terminated very bad to the colored people in and around town. Clyde Thomas was fined $10 for being disorderly and so was Jessie Ware. Butler Jordan was fined $15 for being drunk and disorderly.

    Mr. John R. Rowland celebrated his 73rd birthday at his home near Moore's Chapel on the 12th. Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Walker had a daughter, Nina Pearl. Mr. Tom Raley has the latest model Ford car. Mr. W. H. Lovett owns a new Lincoln auto. Morris T. Riner of Meeks has a new Buick. Mr. Claude Bray works with Flanders Drug Store. Mr. J. Q. Sheppard moved to Wrightsville from Kite to work for Rowland's feed store. Mr. S. M. Johnson, Jr., is home from a season's baseball playing with the Florida State League.

    The playing of checkers seems to be a pleasant past time with some of our merchants. Mr. Sinquefield is so fond of the game he says he would not stop to kiss the rubiest lips of the prettiest girl in town. Mr. Thomas Boone Hayes who was born up north remarked he wished he was there sitting under a fruit-ladden apple tree, drinking cider and smoking a corn-cob pipe; indulging in these pleasures he would forget business cares and the boll weevil and remember the happy days of his youth and his old sweetheart, whom he first kissed as they were eating honey on a moonlit night near an old ash hopper.

From Days Gone By August 24, 1923

 August 24, 1923.

    The five and a quarter miles of City sewerage is just ahead says Mayor T. V. Kent. Arthur Pew, the engineer, has completed the work of making the entire survey, fixing prints and maps to submit to bidders for doing the actual work. It will take about four weeks to lay down the sewers and hope to start by October 1st.

    Sewers will be laid out in the middle of the streets. Connections to all buildings and plumbing will be paid by the property owners. Also a tapping fee will be charged. This will be expensive to property owners but not to worry, the people want sewerage. It is expected to take six months to completely finish the job.

    There was a special session of the Jeff Davis Highway boosters in Dublin. Abbeville, Eastman, Dublin and Wrightsville attended. Harmony reigned supreme. This is going to be a national highway. The country isn't going to have a more important one when it is put through and it is going whether by here or anywhere else.

    Officials are coming soon to look the route over and the local delegation plans a public promotion. Dr. J. W. Brinson has the list of contributors and memberships are still available and needed. This road will perpetuate the life of this great Southerner and at the same time bring us a highway.

    Late last week City Court adjourned. There were a total of 67 criminal cases disposed of and 10 went to the gang, two whites and two blacks were squirted and 75 bonds were forfeited, all this in just four days of court.

    Agent M. E. Woods of the Chevrolet sales house of the city has sold all the cars he had on hand, a total of four this month one to Mr. J. E. Jordan.

    Mr. C. S. Meadows, Sr. died August 16th at his home in Norma town from an illness of some months. He has full Masonic honors as he was one of the oldest Mason's in the state. He was 84 and was very active both in business and politics. He was long a member of the Baptist Church; a Confederate Veteran and commander of the local camp. He served in the Georgia legislature, a mayor, and his influence and assistance left it's mark on the constructive development since this section of the country was cleared of the turpentine woods and settled by farmers.

    Mr. E. L. Wade of Montrose died of stomach cancer. He was 62 and a leading farmer in that community. He is the father of Mrs. Ivey R. Tanner of Wrightsville.

 Mrs. Lizzie Logue, wife of Mr. Asa Logue was born in Washington County March 1851 and died August 4, 1923. She left a husband and 11 children, 33 grandchildren and 10 great grand children. She was buried at Piney Mount in Johnson County. She married at 22 and was a Baptist until she married then joined the Methodist. She was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Brown.

From Days Gone By August 17, 1923

 August 17, 1923.

    Last Wednesday evening just about sundown an ugly affray occured at the home of Norman Anderson about a half mile from Isham Stephen's home on the Pullen's bridge Rd when Mr. Anderson was badly wounded by a pistol bullet fired from the hand of Mr. W. I. Renfroe. The bullet entered the back and is still lodged in his body. Doctors are attending him and he is improving.

    Mr. Renfroe immediately called a doctor and Sheriff Davis and told the Sheriff what had been done and told him to come down for him when he wanted him or send for him or he would report to an officer at any time in person. A warrant was issued for him and he made bond of $300. The cause of all this is still not known.

    Capt. W. C. Davis, 58, a prominent Dublin attorney committed suicide at his home by shooting himself through the temple with a revolver. Financial worries are believed to be the cause. He left a letter to his son marked "personal" and contents of letter have not been devulged yet. He lingered in unconsciousness for 3 hours before death.

    Judge Ben Hill Moye has put many cases behind him in City Court. It was either try the case or forfeit the bond with him and the result has been a big amount of heavy fines. Several colored men went to the county gang from 6 to 12 months each and a large number paid out. There have been now 42 convictions and pleas of guilty entered, 3 acquittals, 75 bonds forfeited, 10 sent off to the county gang.

    The County Fair will be held this year Sept. 26-29 at the fair grounds here. The Primitive Baptists will start meetings this week at Brown Memorial. Pleasant Grove sing is moved to September because Idylwild is hosting a big sing this weekend. Another big hog sale will be here next week. Wrightsville School will open Sept. 3rd. Dr. A. M. Roundtree has decided to run for State Senate.

    Young Jamie Chapman fell off a pair of Tom-Walkers striking a wire which caught him around the throat making a long, ugly gash causing loss of a lot of blood just missing his juglar vein. He was rushed to the doctor and is improving.

    A Mr. Wright of Washington Co. will take Warden Stanley's place. Stanley is going to work for Emanuel Co. Mr. J. H. Rowland brings in the first bale of cotton for 1923 at Lovett's Gin weighing 447 and R. L. Stephens paid 25 cents per pound for it.

    Warden Stanley killed a rattlesnake with 12 rattles. Mr. Lovett Claxton at the Saw Mill on Cedar Creek a big one flopped down off the trash pile into the fireman's pit in front of the boiler. Mr. Otis Davis is now working at the Farmer's Bank. Capt. T. J. Brantley turned 79 and was entertained with a big party. He was a Confederate Veteran and was at Appomattox within 20 yards of Gen. Lee when he surrendered to Gen. Grant. Mr. Raymond Lester takes charge of the Boy Scouts for this district. Mr. Chas. J. Smith files for bankruptcy.

    E. C. Roberts, director of Tuskegee Institute is coming here to speak at a rally and tag drive for Dock Kemp Training School for colored youths of this section. This is an attempt to obtain more funds from the Julius Rosenwald fund with which to erect an additional room to the school.

From Days Gone By August 10, 1923

 August 10, 1923.

    The President died, instantaneously and without warning while conversing with members of his family about 7:30 pm on August 3rd. His physicians report that death was apparently due to some brain embolism, probably an apoplexy. President Warren G. Harding 29th President of the United States is dead. Calvin Coolidge took the oath as President at Plymouth, Vermont at 2:47 am August 3rd. The oath administered by his father, John C. Coolidge who is a Notary Public. The text of the oath had been telephoned to Mr. Coolidge from the White House.

    Here is how the President died: Mrs. Harding was seated beside his bed, reading from a magazine. At the end of a paragraph she paused and let the magazine drop into her lap. "That sounds good; go ahead", said the President. They were his last words. A moment later he threw his right hand over his head, and sank down, dead.

    If there is any indication coming from the number of civil and criminal cases ahead of the next week's term of City Court it is likely to be a full week before His Honor, Judge Ben Hill Moye releases the jury to go home and find their families well.

    Sheriff Lewis Davis has 10 prisoners in jail for this term and a big crowd out on bond to come next week. There are a number of accusations awaiting arrest adding to the number. Clerk Joe B. Williams stated he had 30 civil suits and 117 criminal cases for the court. Every lawyer in the city is on some case coming up.

    A large number of farmers, bankers and others went out to the W. P. Bedingfield pasture meeting looking over the pasture,  inspecting the Dallis, Carpet and Lespedeza grasses growing on it and listened to 4 or 5 speakers on it. They stated, in Feb or March in low lands a pasture is started with 2 to 5 lbs of Dallis, 5 to 7 lbs of Carpet and 10 to 15 lbs of Lespedeza per acre. Idle acres can be put to work and these grasses will never become a pest. Sow on top of the ground. Don't plow it in. This pasture makes cows give more milk with less feed from the barn and brings cash throughout the year. The average Georgia cow eats 20 lbs of hay and 8 lbs of grain per day while in the barn. This is cut one-third or more while on the pasture 

    Mason's from all through this section are gathering at Idylwild for a genuine round of pleasure. Subscriptions are still available for the Jeff Davis Highway. This road will help the city and county. Five dollars for a life membership to the amount of  50 or more will do the work. They can be bought at Bronson's Drug Store. There were 65 white and 14 colored teachers who took the state exam here. Mr. J. M. Hammock will run for Tax Receiver.

    Warden R. M. Stanley tendered his resignation to Ordinary Jenkins. He will go to work for the Emanuel County Board of Road Commissioners. Mr. James Lumley leaves here to work at Citizens Bank of Swainsboro. Born to Judge and Mrs. Ben Hill Moye a daughter on August 1st. Mr. & Mrs. Osley M. Sumner had a boy on July 25th.

    Miss Pauline Ethridge, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Ethridge of Adrian we'd Mr. Stump Brinson of Mullen. Miss Isabel Reynolds Mawha of N. J. will we'd Prof. Paul Easterling Bryan.

    Mr. Noah Copeland living down near Meeks, a son of Mr. Wright Copeland has been in a very bad condition for 10 days with rabies. Mr. Brice Anderson of Kite who's son was bitten by a rabid dog is doing good after treatments. Miss Elizabeth Hall age 62 died suddenly at her home near Liberty Grove. She was cousin to J. A., J. E. and J. W. Hall. She was buried in the Hall graveyard.

    Johnson County sons are preaching all over the state. You won't start out to any section and get far enough away without running into one about the time you think nobody there knows you are near our folk.

From Days Gone By August 3, 1923

 August 3, 1923.

    We stand a chance to get or to lose a real national highway right through the middle of Johnson County if action is taken or not taken this week. A little money will make the difference. We will never get anywhere on the way unless some effort and funds are forth coming. It is the same story but on a newer proposition. If Wrightsville and Johnson ever goes anywhere now is the time to get on another map.

    Eastman raised $600, Dublin $1000, Louisville and Bartow are getting up about the same amount. It remains for Johnson to get equal to the others in porportion. Other counties are going after it and it can slip around us here.

    Why money? They want it to log the route, make maps of it, put up markers, blaze the way and advertise it so that national travel will use it. That's all folks. We must have this highway while it comes our way to get it.

    Wrightsville and Johnson should make a strong pull to get the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway to come through. It would mean the eventual elimination of one main, long road to keep up and put the county on a national highway of through travel. The Bee-Line will be built someday.

    There has been much activity with the City Council on the adequate installment of a sewerage system throughout the town. For years there has been an adequate water supply filling the wants of the people but now wanted sewerage. The last few months has placed the financial condition of the city as to enable it to go into these modern improvements now being promulgated. Policing the city has been resultant of much revenue compared to other years turning in around 100 cases so far this year. Revenues from every source has gained some and the city is practically living within it's income.

    The new machinery has arrived and is being installed. Council members visited Swainsboro and Vidalia to inspect their systems and decided not to accept the engineering offer of the McCrary Co. and went with Pugh.

    Bonds have been advertised for a month now and were sold yesterday. The City Council opened the sealed bids for the $30,000 in bonds, there being 6 bids considered as presented. The successful bidder was the Lowry Bank & Trust Co. of Georgia. These bonds will mature on December 1, 1949. Other bidders were from banks in Chicago, Atlanta, Texas and Ohio. Prospects for Wrightsville to have a full and complete water and sewerage system are certain and the people's dream is coming true.

    Dr. D. C. Harrison, Johnson's representative in the House is home at Kite for a few days. Mr. Arlie Price has assumed his position with Parker & Price Grocery. Mr. Claude Hicks is with the Central of Georgia Railway. Mr. Alfred Barnes has gone to Aiken to work for Community Ice and Coal Co. Mr. J. H. Rowland brought in the first open cotton boll of the season.

    School teachers from all over will be coming here this week to take the regular state examination for license to teach school. Alton Caneega and John Edward Vanlandingham leave for Rome to attend Martha Barry Schools. During the past month Idylwild has become the popular resort for camping and picnics.

    On July 25th Jimmie Mitchell returned home to his mother, Mrs. Martha Mitchell near Snell's Bridge after being imprisoned for 8 years.

    On July 25th Mr. James Joel Hoover, 67, died at his home 5 miles from Wrightsville after a 2 week illness of paralysis. He was buried in the Scarbourgh Cemetery. He was twice married, three children by his first wife with only one living. His last wife, Miss Jane Brantley, had 13 children with 8 still living.

From Days Gone By July 27, 1923

 July 27, 1923.

    Officers W. T. Rowland, N. D. Whittaker, W. T. Kitchens and W. J. Crawford made a wholesale raid up on U. R. Jenkins homeplace in the Bray settlement, finding 13 colored people engaged in a game of cards on the front porch of the dwelling and upon surrounding the patch they captured 12 of them, one getting away, 11 being jailed and a white man bonded. One colored woman was in the crowd.

    Policeman Claxton and Spell made another big haul in the city Sunday, catching a half dozen or so for the same offense and put them in jail.

    Monday morning Henry Johnson plead guilty to having liquor, etc. and was sentenced to 12 months on the gang or $186.20. He was one of the two captured by officers down near Spann the latter part of June and been in jail ever since. The other man, Henry Kemp, has been on the gang since the 29th of June having plead guilty also.

    A livestock meeting will be held at the test pasture on the farm of Mr. W. P. Bedingfield 4 1/2 miles Northeast of Wrightsville. This is one of 48 test pastures established the last 3 years by the Central of Georgia Railway. These pastures prove that Lespedeza, Carpet Grass and Dallis grass will make pastures on our lowlands which will afford more grazing than those of the most famous pasture regions. The Johnson Co. pasture has done very well, although some of the pasture is too high and dry. It averaged a cow and a fifth grazed per acre for more than 6 months last year.

    There are a lot of hog cholera going the rounds about this time every year and the report is that there is more or less of it spreading now. County Agent Crow states he will treat hogs in any part of the county when called upon and will only be the cost of the medicine used. He adds that the time to treat them is when they are well and hearty, not wait until the cholera attacks the herd.

    On August 9th, Mason's of more than 30 lodges will meet at Idylwild for a second rally and picnic. Warden Stanley is completing a new bridge at Gumlog. Dr. H. B. Bray is home at his mother's. He is now looking him up a place which will suit him for his practice.

    Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Burns had a son on the 16th named William Maurice Burns. Mr. & Mrs. James T. Miller had a son on the 23rd.

    Jimmie M. Anderson and son Milledge returned from Houston, Texas where they visited a cousin, Mr. J. Lovett Anderson, 80 years old who moved from here to there about 40 years ago and has never been back since.

    Clerk J. B. Williams had the accident of having iodine mistake Ed for a similar colored eye medicine and the error not discovered until his son had dropped some of the iodine in his eye which had already been giving him trouble. The pain of the wrong medicine was great and a physician was summoned immediately and he is being watched closely.

    Mrs. Lula Stokes was born Sept. 28, 1877, married W. N. Stokes July 23, 1896 and died July 8th. She left a husband and 11 children, one being 3 months old. She joined the Methodist Church at 13. She was preparing to attend church but was suddenly stricken with acute indigestion, lingering only a few hours before passing away.