Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for JULY 1916 July 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net April 18, 2005, 4:28 pm The Cleburne News July 1916 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for JULY 1916 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, July 6, 1916 HAS LIVED IN THREE COUNTIES BUT HAS NEVER MOVED "Uncle" Bob McCaghren, one of the county's most highly respected and best known citizens, was in Heflin on Monday and gave The News office a pleasant call while here. Uncle Bob is in his 80th year, his birthday falling on July 22nd. He has been wonderfully blessed with good health. He has always been an industrious, hardworking man. He came to Alabama with his parents from South Carolina when about a year old, they settling near Muscadine, where they lived but a short time, when they moved to Sallis Creek, near where Mr. Caghren lives now. He has lived at his present place place more than 60 years and has lived in three different counties but has never moved. We are glad to number "Uncle" Bob among our best friends. Years ago, this (Cleburne) county was Benton county; later it was Calhoun, then Cleburne county. So it is easily understood how "Uncle" Bob has lived in three counties without ever having moved. ____ SUMMONS COMES TO MR. VIRTUS A. COOK; After Many Months of Intense Suffering, Death Claims It's Victim Mr. Virtus A. Cook is dead. Death has again visited our town and robbed a happy home of an affectionate husband, loving father and the community a promiment citizen. For many months his family and friends knew that the end was a matter of time. He himself knew that the hand of death was upon him, he knew it and he met the end bravely. He was not afraid. He wished to stay with his family if it could have been the lord's will but his maker called him and at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon he breathed his last, surrounded by his family and friends. Only brief mention can be made of the life and character of Mr. Cook in this issue. Next week an extended notice will be published. The interment was at Pine Grove Church and his body will be laid beside that of his brother John, as was his request. ____ LOCAL News Miss Bertie Lovvorn and brother Luther of Carrollton, Georgia were the guests of Jennie Maye Adams last week. __ Mr. and Mrs. Simon Strickland of Heflin spent several days this week with their children, Mr. and Mrs. S.A. Strickland, at the home of Mr. Martin Hamrick. Villa Rica New Era ___ Mr. Elijah Tolleson of Hinze, Mississippi is in Cleburne visiting his father, Mr. W. Mc. Tolleson and relatives. He will be here for several days visting with his many friends and relatives before returning home. Mr. Tolleson is an old Cleburne boy. __ News was received in Heflin Wednesday morning of the death of Mrs. M.M. Roberts, which occurred at the home of her husband near Lebanon on Tuesday, after an extended illness. The bereaved have the sympathy of a large circle of friends. ___ Thos. J. Hart and Mrs. W.J. Fowler, accompanied by Mrs. Mary Branon visited relatives in Heflin on the Fourth. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, July 13, 1916 THREE DEATHS NEAR MUSCADINE A sad gloom has been thrown over this community the past week. Three of our neighbors have answered the final summons. Mrs. M.M. Roberts was laid to rest at Lebanon; also Mrs. LaFayett Tumlin and Mrs. W.T. Voss, all well known and beloved citizens. We tender our sympathy to the bereaved relatives and friends. ___ A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF MR. V.A. COOK One of Alabama's greatest sons has fallen. How strange it seems to us that he is taken away in the prime of his splendid manhood, and how unbearable these staggering blows would be were it not for the fact that an infinite god is sovereign on the throne of the universe and even the bird does not fall without his consent, or nations rise without his permit; and that all things work together for good to whose who love the lord. What a shadow of gloom Bro. Cook's death has cast over the entire community, and especially over his father's home. But in the greatest of this gloom is the bereaved wife and those promising children, and they should thank god for such a husband and father. And his noble father and faithful mother in their sad hour should feel grateful to god that he has through them, given the world such a splendid son. How grateful his honored brothers should feel for the noble life record their brother has made as a christian citizen, husband, father and official. And now Virtus, oh my dear brother, a last farewell. I shall soon greet you in the mansions in the sky and there, thank god, we shall spend an eternity in the Light of the Eternal Day. G.L. Hicks. As Bro. Hicks declares in his beautiful lines on the death of Mr. Virtus Cook, his removal from the walks of man has proven a shock to the entire county. He was known almost to every man and child in the county. His courteous and clever disposition made and held the warm friendship of those with whom he was thrown in a business or social way. Mr. Cook was born near Lecta in this county on April 13, 1867 and was raised on the farm, and at the age of 19, was married to Miss Margaret York on December 6, 1885. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook; Mrs. Welcome Brown of Heflin; Mrs. James Brannon of Kennedale, Texas; Mr. Grady Cook of Bell Mills; Mr. James Cook, Miss Lillie Cook, Mack, Ed and Fred Cook who are at home with their mother. One little boy, Rufus, died at the age of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Cook joined the Baptist church at Pine Grove in August 1895. He served this county as sheriff one term and made a faithful and efficient officer. For several months he was confined to his home during which time hundreds of his friends visited him, coming from every section of the county. Rev. G.B. Boman who conducted the burial service, paid a high tribute to his life and character and to his faithful companion who so patiently ministered to his every want of the sufferer during his long and painful illness. The interment was at Pine Grove church, a number of his friends being present to pay a last tribute to their departed friend and neighbor. Peace to his memory. _________ DEWEY WALTON SHOOTS HIS FATHER At about 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening, Dewey Walton shot and very seriously wounded his father W.J. Walton, firing four shots only one taking effect in the right side passing nearly through his body. The weapon used was a .32 calibre Smith & Wesson pistol. Mr. Walton is at a hospital in Anniston where he was immediately carried after the shooting. The difficulty that caused the shooting it is alleged, was a family affair. Young Walton, who is about 16 or 17 years old, was immediately placed under arrest and carried to jail by Sheriff Rowell. Mr. W.J. Walton died at St. Luke Hospital in Anniston between 7 and 8 o'clock Wednesday night and his body was brought to Heflin Thursday morning. No arrangements for the funeral are known, at the time of going to press. ____ LOCAL News Mrs. Z.J. Day attended the funeral of her cousin, James Herren of Deming, N.M. which took place last Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. __ Mr. W.A. New of Charlotte, N.C. visited his daughters Mrs. J.N. Day and Mrs. Willie P. Harris this week. Mrs. Day and her daughters will go about the middle of this month to visit her father in Charlotte and other points east. __ LETTER FROM H.M. NIXON FROM DALLAS, TEXAS To Editor of the Cleburne News, I know that a great many of the readers will appreciate a few lines in regard to city life here. If Heflin should become so "spread out" as to extend from Edwardsville to Chosa Springs and from Evans bridge to the Ross bridge and to Cove church north of Heflin and that densely populated it would be a great city, would it not? Dallas, Texas is one of the great cities of the south. If I lived at the Virgil Evans old home place just north of Evans chapel and could walk down to where Bro. Will Evans now lives and catch a street car coming from Pleasant Ridge church and ride that car to the railroad bridge to Cahulga Creek and there transfer to a car coming from where New Harmony church is located, and then ride that car to where Cove church is situated, I would be about as home as I am from my work. I am now at work on the street car track, which is not very hard work and have a permanent job. My wages are $10.50 a week with two tickets daily extra for coming and going. I can live cheaper here than there; can get a good lunch for 15 cents. A great many eating houses will sell you 21 meal tickets for $4.... H.M. Nixon ____ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, July 20, 1916 LOCAL News Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Barnes have returned from an extended trip to south Alabama. They brought back with them from Thomasville, little Margaret Phillips, an orphan, and on Wednesday, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes adopted the little girl. ___ Col. and Mrs. C.H. Vann left Wednesday for Ashland, Ala where they will make their future home. Their many friends regret to give them up. Col. Vann will be associated in the practice of law with Solicitor Cornelius. __ Mr. Bob Faulkner of Iron City was thrown from a buggy in a runaway scrape near the Ross place on Saturday afternoon and painfully hurt. He was taken to the hospital in Anniston Sunday afternoon. __ Paul Harris who has been confined to his room for some time is improving some. __ Clarke McMahan is at the home of his parents Col. and Mrs. W.C. McMahan, suffering from an attack of pneumonia. He was brought from the home of his sister at Lafayette, GA last week. __ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, July 27, 1916 FORMER CLEBURNE CITIZEN DEAD AT AGE 63 Mr. J.M. Lemaster, aged 63, died at his home at 1702 Walnut street, Thursday of last week at 5 o'clock. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the residence, Rev. S.L. Pruett officiating. The deceased is survived by his wife, five sons and four daughters. Mr. Lemaster, who had lived in Anniston for about nine years, spent many years of his life in the cause of education in Cleburne county, his home at the time being up near Oak Level. He was a member of the Methodist church and lived an exemplary life. ___ MOVED TO THE WEST FIFTY YEARS AGO; HERE AGAIN TO SEE OLD FRIENDS Friday night, James T. Gaines and wife of Rock Springs, Texas arrived in Heflin. Mr. Gaines was reared in this county on what is known as the old ?? farm in the old Gaines settlement near Abernathy on the Coosa river. When Mr. Gaines was a boy of 21 years of age the civil war broke out; men burned with the fever of patriotism all over the country and when volunteers were called for, Mr. Gaines hurried off to war. He said he was afraid the war would be over before he got there so he did not wait for a company to be formed up at home but hurried to Choccolocco calley and joined up in Hanna's company and proceded immediately to the war and was soon engaged in active service, and was in every battle fought by Gen. R.E. Lee in Virginia. Mr. Gaines served throughout the entire four years of the war and was not wounded. He made only one trip back home during the war. He could have gotten a furlough and come home much more than he did but he was a single man and had a number of friends who had wives and children and he always waited so they could go hom. When the time came for unmarried boys to take furloughs he was the first to receive one and in less than 30 days from the time he received it, he was offered a thousand dollars Confederate money. He told them "no, I did not pay for it and I will not sell it." He was with General Lee when he surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox court house and received his discharge then. He was also with General Magruder when he with 11,000 men held the enemy at bay for 30 days. After Mr. Gaines returned home from the war he went to Louisiana where he won the heart of a charming young widow, and from there he and his wife went to Texas and settled 40 miles from the nearest post office. There they endured the hard frontier life and went into the stock raising business. By close attention and effort they succeeded in this undertaking and acquired a great fortune and now as these older people have accumulated enough to live in luxury the remainder of their days, they will procure a comfortable home and spend the remainder of their days here in the old country. Mr. Gaines had three brothers go to the war but he was the only one to return. Two were killed in battle and one died in prison at Ft. Delaware. The former was also captured and placed in prison at Ft. Delaware where he remained until he was paroled or exchanged. He says he had rather be in the army than in prison. In the far west, their closest neighbor was 15 to 20 miles away, and 40 miles distant to the nearest post office. He traveled eighty miles to court. So sparcely settled was the county that Mr. Gaines was either drawn as a grand or petit juror at each term of district court. Mr. Gaines, during his stay in Heflin, before going up to Tallapoosa, met several of his old time friends, among them being Messrs. B.F. Owens, Elijah Black, Jack Norton and Sweet Snow. In his home town, Rock Springs, Mr. Gaines has considerable property and up to the time he left on this trip, was one of the directors of the Rock Springs Bank. ____ WALTON HELD TO THE GRAND JURY The preliminary trial of Dewey Walton, charged with killing his father W.J. Walton here on July 10th, came off Monday before Judge A.H. Glasgow in County Court. The court room was crowded to its full capacity with people from all over the county. According to the boys statement on the witness stand, he claimed to have shot his father to protect his sister. It was brought out that Walton had worn out two switches on the girl and upon being told by Dewey, the son, to stop whipping her, began to beat her over the head with his fist, thereupon the boy jumpred to his father's coat, securing his pistol and fired four shots at him. Neighbors testified that the girl had bruises on her body and head on the night of the tragedy. The defendant was allowed bond in the sum of $2,000. to await the action of the September term of the grand jury. Bond had not been furnished on Wednesday morning. Mr. W.B. Merrill appeared for the defendant. Barker and Vann represented the state. ____ LOCAL News Mrs. E.A. Howle of Anniston attended the funeral of Mrs. Mary A. Striplin last week. __ Mr. John R. Roach of Beat 5, an old confederate veteran who is in his 80th year was in Heflin on business and called and ordered The News sent to his address. __ Mr. W.G. Milligan of Pensacola, Florida was in Heflin Friday last. Mr. Milligan was called to Calhoun County on account of the death of his father Rev. M.G. Milligan. We sympathize with Mr. Milligan in the death of his father. __ Mr. C. Smoot left Tuesday for a visit to points in Tennessee. __ John Moore has accepted a position with Armour & Co. and will leave for Gadsden on Monday. __ Mr.and Mrs. Bruce Evans of Anniston spent the weekend in Heflin with relatives. __ Mr. Herman Gray, our genial operator, was called home Sunday on account of his mother being ill. __ Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Cook of Bowdon, GA passed through Heflin on Sunday enroute to Cullman, Ala. __ Mr. and Mrs. Duston Reid, accompanied by Mrs. R.T. Reid, spent Sunday in Douglasville, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Foster. __ Mr. Sweet Snow was painfully hurt by being thrown from a buggy when his mule became frightened at a passing auto, a Ford. __ There will be a memorial singing at both Ai and Edwardsville next Sunday. There will be dozens of splendid Sacred Harp singers and leaders. The singing at Edwardsville will be held in memory of Mr. J.D. Laminack and at Ai the singing will be in remembrance of Rev. W.E. Garner, Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Weathers, Mr. C.C. Gaines and Mr. and Mrs. John P. Dodson. ___ FAMILY REUNION AT AI WAS HAPPY OCCASION One of the happiest evens of that community in a long while was the reunion of the Prichard family at Ai church last Saturday. The arranging committe formulated a program for the day's exercises which was carried out in every detail. N.J. Pesnell, C.E. Garner and W.W. Prichard composed the committee. At the eleven o'clock hour, Rev. O.F. Lambert filled the pulpit, delivering a splendid sermon. In the afternoon, Rev. Truitt of Georgia delivered an interesting sermon. Music and short talks was the program for the afternoon and a genuine good time was had. Among those present were Rev. O.F. Lambert, Martin Campbell and family, C.E. Garner and family, N.J. Pesnell and family. All report an excellent time. ____ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape406gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.3 Kb