Clay County AlArchives History .....Rattlesnake Country 1910-1950
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Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 17, 2023, 12:42 am

Jul 18, 1913:
Mr. J. H. Messer, of Delta, Rt. 3, was in town Monday. He is just recovering 
from a snake bite which he received from a big rattlesnake which had fifteen 
rattles and a button. Mr. Messer killed the big rattler after he was bitten and 
then cut an artery in his hand. He says that he came very near bleeding to 
death, but that this action on his part saved his life pending the arrival of 
physicians.

May 21, 1936:
The rattlesnakes are not only being seen but are showing their vim in this 
community. Mr. W. W. Harper reached into his toolbox for a tool, and to his 
surprise there was a rattler in his toolbox that bit him on the finger. On last 
Thursday afternoon Mr. Edward Linton was shucking corn and as he reached for an 
ear of corn a rattler bit him. Mr. Matt A. Horn was digging fertilizer and threw 
a rattlesnake over his shoulder. 
Clairmont Springs correspondent to Ashland Progress.

Jul 6, 1936:
Mr. Jack Love decided that he would go fox hunting and to his surprise his dogs 
treed something, so he started to see if he had a possum. He found that it was a 
rattlesnake with twelve rattles, weighing 4 1/2 pounds and was five feet long. 
So, Mr. Love says his fox hunting is over for a while.

Jul 1, 1937:
During the past three weeks Claxton Ray, Enoch May and Ernest Joe Riddle, log 
haulers, report that they have killed 17 rattlesnakes, 11 of them in one day. 
One of the snakes measured 7 feet in length. The reptiles were killed near the 
old Griesmer graphite mine.

Jun 15, 1939:
Daniel Brooks, a colored farmer living several miles west of Ashland, brought to 
this office last week the rattles from a large rattlesnake, he killed last 
Friday neat the Griesmer Graphite Co. pump house. The snake was 4 feet and 2 
inches long. 16 inches in diameter and had 9 rattles. Daniel says the rattler 
was enjoying a repast of wild mulberries when he answered the death summons.

Jun 22, 1939:
Attorney Jno. J. Pruet, long time subscriber and close reader of The Ashland 
Progress, who appreciates its true worth in keeping abreast of current events 
and further enlightening himself, has called our hand on the figures in a snake 
story, we carried in last week's issue, stating that a rattlesnake killed by 
Daniel Brooks measured 16 inches in diameter. Bluntly, Mr. Pruet says he doesn't 
believe it. The trouble was Daniel wrote down the dimensions of the snake and 
used the word "diameter" instead of "circumference." As neither Daniel nor the 
writer of the story knew the difference between the two words, we put it like 
Daniel wrote it.  We have always tried to write up things and happenings in a 
big way, and when we comment on a dead snake it is just as easy to make it a big 
one as just an ordinary snake. Mr. Pruet also relates some snake stories which 
he says he can't prove, if necessary. He says there is a cat at his house that 
is so wild it will not answer except by the name of "Wildy" He reports that one 
day recently he spied his cat out in the front yard, and the cat had a large 
rattler by the nape of the neck: He states the rattler would squirm and shake 
and throw the cat several feet in the air, but the mouser held on. Finally, 
Wildy tired of the pastime, killed the snake and ate a large portion of the 
reptile; Relating another cat and snake episode, he stated that a few days later 
he discovered his cat in a crouched position in the same yard, and the cat was 
closely eyeing something. Investigation showed the object to be another snake in 
its coil. The feline watched the snake until it began crawling away, then sprang 
upon it and killed it. The breed of the last-named snake was unknown, so the cat 
did not eat it. We believe Mr. Pruet's snake stories are true, because if he had 
been with us one-night last August he could have seen some snakes that were 
snakes. We were gently lying in bed, sweating our life blood away when all at 
once a whole lot of little snakes appeared at the foot of the bed, and right 
behind them came a great big snake that swallowed all the smaller ones. We 
jumped out of bed, rushed to the ice box and gulp ed down a gallon or more of 
ice water, grabbed a hatchet and started out to look for the big snake. Guess he 
must have crawled in a hole or sumpin' as we gave up the hunt, piled back in 
bed, pulled the sheet over our head and finally went back to sleep. Yes, sir, 
snakes are funny people.

Aug 31, 1939:
Another interesting rattlesnake story is reported to The Progress. This time the 
number of snakes might cause some to think the story originated in the community 
where Ananias formerly resided, but we believe it to be a true story. There was 
one big rattlesnake and 13 little rattlesnakes. The big snake, or it might be 
called the "mama snake," had run or crawled into a log, according to the 
reporters, C. O. Mattox and W. O. Grogan, who reside a few miles west of 
Ashland. The snake had left about 12 inches of the rattle end on the outside of 
the log. With an axe the reporters cut the 12 inches off and to their surprise 
13 little 12-inch snakes crawled out. The mama rattler had six rattles. The 13 
little snakes had none. Fourteen rattlesnakes killed in one day is a good report 
and a true one.

Sep 21, 1939:
G. E. Lacy of the Salem community reports the killing of a large rattlesnake 
near his home one day last week. The reptile was 45 inches long, 7 inches in 
circumference and was equipped with 11 rattles.

Aug 1, 1940:
When W. F. Williamson cranked his T model for a business trip to Ashland last 
Friday, he discovered that he was not the only one in the car. A rattlesnake 
about 2 feet long was easing out of the door and looked as if it was going to 
occupy the seat beside the driver. Mr. Williamson quickly made up his mind that 
he would not make the trip with the rattling reptile, and out of the car he 
jumped. After a few moments of fright, he decided rather than walk into town 
from his home in the Liberty community he would try his luck in killing the 
snake.  He came to town alone and has since mended the hole in the door of his 
car. He says there are quite a number of snakes in the Liberty community. His 
brother, Carl, killed one a few days ago which carried twelve rattles and a 
button.

May 8, 1941:
Jesse Kirk was in the office this morning and reported that Carl Haynes told 
him, that while fighting a forest fire on Knowles Mountain near his home 
yesterday, the firefighters killed a rattlesnake that was 4 feet in length, had 
17 rattles and measured 18 inches in circumference at the largest part of its 
body. Jesse has been fishing a right smart here lately, and we suggest that if 
you doubt the size of this snake that you see Carl Haynes and have the story 
verified.

Oct 30, 1941:
While sweeping behind a door in her room Sunday morning Mrs. Grogan Sewell 
thought she saw a string, stooped to pick it up but found it to be a 
rattlesnake's pilot, coiled ready to strike, so another brave snake met sudden 
death. [Note: Rattlesnake pilot is a copperhead] 

May 30, 1946:
While plowing in his cotton Tuesday, Willis Parsons, who lives on the Joe 
Johnson place, on Rt. 3, killed a rattlesnake measuring four feet and one inch. 
The snake had seven rattles and one button. It ran between his mule's legs.

Additional Comments:
Warning: 
Anyone visiting old cemeteries, old home places or whatever in this area, during 
the Spring, Summer and Fall should always use be very careful where they step. 

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