Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for MAY 1917 May 1917 ************************************************ 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 20, 2005, 9:56 pm The Cleburne News May 1917 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS from "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for MAY 1917 Newspaper Issue of Thursday, May 3, 1917 LOCAL News Mrs. Susannah Wright died at the home of U.S. Vaughan where she was visiting her daughter, Mrs. Cynthia Wright and her granddaughter, Mrs. U.S. Vaughan. The deceased was born in South Carolina, August 31, 1826 and died May 1, 1917, being in her 91st year. She was a member of the M.E. Church, South. Her home was in Calhoun County. ____ Mrs. Sarah Blackmon died at her home in Anniston on the first inst. She leaves to mourn for her, four children, two sons, Fred L. Blackmon and Ross N. Blackmon and two daughters, Mrs. L.F. Greer and Mrs. Walter Hefner, besides a large number of relatives and friends. Mrs. Blackmon is a daughter of Frederick Ross, long since deceased. She had three sisters and eight brothers, all of whom are dead except Napoleon Ross of Hico, Texas. She was born in that part of Cleburne which was formerly Benton county. She had reached a ripe old age. ____ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, May 10, 1917 LOCAL News Under the initial draft to secure 500,000 men to make up the first Army for the war with Germany, Alabama will furnish 11,149 men, which is required under the draft system. In addition to these quotas under the national draft, each state must supply men to bring the national guard and regular army up to war strength or if that fails, there will be an extension of the draft. ___ COL. BARKER'S SON HIT BY TRAIN Wednesday morning of last week, Col. J.R. Barker of this place received a telegram from Nauvoo, in Winston County, to the effect that his son Neal had been hit by a train. No particulars were given in the telegram. Mr. Barker left immediately for Nauvoo and upon his arrival found his son painfully, but it is hoped not fatally, hurt. Mr. Barker was attempting to cross the tracks of the Northern Alabama railroad with a loaded wagon when he was run into by a fast passenger train said to be running at a high rate of speed. The wagon was torn to pieces and the contents scattered along the railroad track. Mr. Barker was hurled several yards and badly bruised and cut about the head and body, and the attending physician said it will be 30 days or longer before the unfortunate gentleman can leave his bed. The team miraculously escaped injury although considerably shaken up. Mrs. Barker and daughter are in Nauvoo with son and brother. ____ MR. J.R. ROOKS CALLED TO BEYOND After an illness of long duration, Mr. J.R. Rooks passed to the great beyond at his home a few miles south of Heflin, shortly after 12 o'clock Friday morning, surrounded by his immediate family and neighbors. Mr. Rooks had lived in that community several years and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He had been a member of the Missionary Baptist church for more than forty years. He was in his 68th year. The funeral services were conducted by Rv. W.J. Campbell, after which the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Cedar Creek on Friday morning. The wife, several children and a half- brother survive. ____ LOCAL News Mrs. M.J. Norton, one of the county's oldest and most estimable women, has been quite sick at the home of her son on Bell Mills Route 1, but is reported somewhat improved. Mrs. Norton is in her 91st year. ___ DEATH OF MRS. O.H. BAXTER At the home of her husband in Heflin on Monday, Mrs. C.F. Baxter, wife of O.H. Baxter, departed this life. Deceased had been an invalid for seeral years but she bore her afflictions with much patience. She was born July 25, 1861. She was a member of the M.E. Church, South and lived a devoted christian life. She leaves a husband and seven children, three sons and four daughters, besides a large number of other relatives and friends, to mourn her death. Funeral services were conducted at the family residence on Tuesday afternoon with Rev. G.B. Boman, and interment followed at Heflin Cemetery. A good woman called home. ___ FRUITHURST News James Dunlap of the Georgia National Guard, spent Sunday with his parents as usual. __ IN MEMORY OF MY DEAR WIFE CLIO WATSON On Wednesday, December 20, 1916 the death angel came and took my loving wife. It was indeed the saddest hour of my life when I knelt at her side and realized that I must say farewell to Clio, who had made my life and home so happy, and that forevermore I was to be deprived of her sweet companionship here on earth. She was a true and faithful wife, was always willing to do what she thought was right. Clio is not dead, only sleeping, for her shining influence and helpful deeds will live on many years to come. Ever will I remember when I was facing death as it seemed for several days, there was no one more attentive to my wants and needs than she. But those hands that have administered to my needs so often now lie silent in death, and her kind and gentle voice that has so often cheered me on life's road will never be heard any more. Clio was born September 14, 1894. Thus we see she was called away in the bloom of life. But our heavenly father who doeth all things well knows best. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Davis and the youngest of six children, 5 girls and one boy. Her father and two sisters preceded her to the better world within the past two years. In August 1911, she joined the Missionary Baptist church at Cedar Creek and remained a faithful member there until in August 1916 she moved her membership to Howle's Grove where it remained until her death. She will be missed by the church for she was always a faithful christian girl, always anxious to attend church when possible for her to do so. Yes, she will be missed by all who knew her. She leaves a sorrowing husband, mother, two sisters, one brother and many dear friends to mourn her departure. I will say to those who mourn with me that if we could have had our choice, Clio would be with us today filling our lives with sunshine and happiness where sorrow and grief now abounds. But we can only bow, as best we can, in humble submission to this Divine act of Providence and say 'tis god's way, his will be done and not ours." James Watson ______ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, May 17, 1917 MARS HILL News George McElroy from Texas is visiting relatives in this community. __ BELL MILLS News The condition of Mrs. W.K. Owens is unchanged, to the great sorrow of her many friends. __ LOCAL News Mr. Fred Fowler, a successful merchant at Mt.Zion, Georgia sent us his 2 year renewal to The News. __ June 5th is fixed as Draft Registration Day, calling for all men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five to register for military service. ___ MRS. BALLEW DIED SUNDAY It was learned in Heflin on Monday that Mrs. I.L. Ballew died Sunday at the home of her husband in Boaz from a severe attack of the measles. The entire family is said to be sick of the disease. Mr. Ballew's condition wa such as to cause his friends great fear for his recovery. __ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, May 24, 1917 FRUITHURST News Mr. and Mrs. G. Gilbert left last week for Hurley, S.D., where they will spend some time visiting their children before going to their near home near Los Angeles, California. We regret very much to lose Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert but wish them prosperity in their new home. __ FORMER CITIZEN OF CLEBURNE DEAD Information to The News from Auburn, Alabama came this morning, the 24th, Thursday, telling of the death there of Mr. E.G. Barker, a former citizen of this county, well known and highly respected by hundreds in Cleburne. Mr. Barker died at 5 p.m. on Monday. ___ ADMINISTRATOR'S SETTLEMENT NOTICE State of Alabama, Cleburne County Circuit Court, in Equity In the matter of the estate of B. Higginbotham, deceased. This day came A.L. and S.A. Higginbotham, administrators of the estate of said deceased, and filed their accounts, vouchers, evidence, and statement for the final settlement of their said administration. It is ordered that the 25th day of June 1917 be appointed a day on which to make such settlement, at which time all persons interested can appear and contest the said settlement if they think proper. This 21st day of May 1917. J.T. Boyd, Register ____ LOCAL News Word received from the Cleburne boys at the Training Camp at Ft. McPherson say that they are having a busy time, drilling 10 hours a day, and studying 2 hours at night. ___ Mr. Spurgeon Almon of North Carolina is visiting his mother Mrs. W.U. Almon. __ John Moore of Gadsden spent Sunday with his mother, Mrs. Ella Moore. ___ J.M. Vancuron has returned from Tallapoosa where he has been under medical treatment. __ Mrs. V.A. Cook and sons Jim and Fred motored to Bowdon on Monday where they were called on account of the illness of Mrs. Wash Cook. __ Mrs. R.N. Brooks of Knoxville, Tennessee spent the first of the week here the guest of Mr. and Mrs. F. Steele, leaving Wednesday morning for Bremen where she will visit her parents. __ EDWARDSVILLE News Miss Odessa McEachern was the guest of her sister, Mrs. Harper, last week. __ W.L. Anderson and son of Douglasville, passed through here last week enroute to Choccolocco Valley. __ LOCAL News The editor received word Monday morning to the effect that his brother, W.A. Dodson of Barber, Arkansas, had lost his home and contents by fire on the 16th inst. There was no insurance. Only a few weeks ago, Mr. Dodson had the great misfortune of losing his wife, mention of which appeared in these columns. Mr. Dodson was planning a visit back to Alabama and Georgia this summer but now has abandoned his trip for the present. ___ MRS. W.K. OWEN CALLED TO REST Mrs. W.K. Owen, after an illness of long duration, died at the home of her husband at Bell Mills at about 6 o'clock on Wednesday evening of last week. Mrs. Owen had been an invalid for more than three years, and her condition had been critical for several months. She was a sister of Messrs. Ab and Will Burgess of Edwardsville and had a number of other relatives in the county. The interment was at Pine Grove the following day, funeral services being conducted by Rev. G.B. Boman. ____ MEMORIAL SERVICES AT LEBANON There will be a memorial Masonic burial service at Lebanon Church on the 4th Sunday in this month in memory of Bro. W.T. Voss at 2:30 p.m. , and on the 4th Sunday, a Sacred Harp singing. Annual decoration will be at eleven a.m. with singing at 2:30. W.R. McDonald ____ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, May 31, 1917 MRS. JOHN W. McMAHAN DIED SUNDAY On last Sunday at 9 o'clock, the angel of death visitd the home of John W. McMahan near Crossville in DeKalb county and took therefrom his wife, Margaret. Mrs. McMahan was a daughter of John J. Pollard who for many years was tax collector of Cleburne. Mrs. McMahan was born June 12, 1854, married to Mr. McMahan on the 27th of August 1874, reared a large family, six of whom preceded her to the grave. About one year ago Mrs. McMahan was stricken with paralysis since which time she has lingered and suffered until last Sunday morning when the angel of death eased up to the edge of the still waters, beconed to her and she followed him to the edge of the Great Stream, and the angel placing her in the boat he, with muffled oars and strong arms, rowed her gently, safely to the other side. Brother, don't look to the silent tomb for that dear wife, but look across the Great Stream that she has just crossed and cherish the hope of that reunion. ____ BRIGHT LITTLE BOY CALLED TO REST The beautiful spirit of little Hubert, 9 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Tolleson, took its flight to that land tha fairer than day, last Saturday night, after a heroic struggle in which the grim reaper proved victorious. About two weeks ago the little fellow was fearfully burned about the legs by having ran into an old coal pit that had been discarded for more than twelve months, but which still contained a mass of live coals of fire, terribly burning him from the knees down. For a few days hopes were entertained for the little boy's recovery, but Saturday night when giving an anesthetic to allay his great pain and suffering, and while the burns were being dressed, the shock was too great, and Hubert went to his long and peaceful sleep. Hubert was an unusually bright little boy, cheerful, and his death has cast a gloom over the entire community, and the heart broken parents and grandparents have the profound sympathy of their many friends throughout the county. The funeral and burial services were conducted by Rev. J.T. Freeman at Evans Chapel on Sunday afternoon, interment being in the family burying ground there. ___ EDWARDSVILLE News The angel of death visited the home of J.A. McCoy and bore the spirit of his devoted father away. __ LOCAL News Mr. and Mrs. T.G. Hill and children returned to Tallapoosa on Tuesday after a visit with relatives here. __ Newt Stephens left Monday for Atlanta where he joined the Army. Our best wishes go with him. __ Willie Black of New Orleans spent the first of the week here the guest of relatives. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Black, formerly of Heflin. __ Mr. and Mrs. Pierce of Collinsville are visiting in Heflin as the guests of the latter's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Duke. Davis has a responsible position with the A.G. S. Railway. __ Earl Grant has returned to Fruithurst after an absence of ten months in Mississippi. During this time he had been staying with our former townsman, J.W. Wiley. __ Mrs. Gertrude Wilder and daughter Gay arrived in Fruithurst Saturday morning from Texas. __ Mrs. E.L. Gilmore of Tallapoosa spent Friday with her mother, Mrs. J.M. Sleeper. Friday was Mrs. Sleeper's birthday and we wish for her many more happy birthdays. __ CARD OF THANKS We take this method of returning our thanks to our neighbors and friends for their kindness and help during the continued illness and death of our husband and father, Robert Prichard. We pray god's richest blessings upon them for their untiring devotion to him during his long illness. Nancy Prichard E.E. Prichard Ella Prichard John Prichard Sarah Prichard A.J. Prichard Cornelia Prichard Wm. Creel Mary Creel Richard Breed Fannie Breed _____ IN MEMORY OF E.G. BARKER Auburn, Ala. May 22, 1917 Dear Friends in Cleburne, Yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock our father was called away from this world. He had been getting weaker and more feeble during the winter months but in his last sickness had been confined to his bed for only about three weeks. Yesterday was his sixty-eighth birthday. To you who knew him so well while in Cleburne, we do not need to tell how faithfully those sixty-eight years were devoted to his family and his fellow man. He was very patient during his sickness and was conscious to the last hour. He had believed for several weeks that he could not be with us long. He was sorry to leave his family but was resigned to the will of his creator. He very often said, "I must go soon children, but don't be excited, it's all right, we all have to die." During the few months that his home has been in Auburn, he made a large number of friends, who showed their regard and respect for him in many ways, making offerings of beautiful flowers, and showing the tenderest spirit of sympathy and helpfulness toward his family. It is remarkable that among the closest friends he formed were the children of the neighbors who, when he was able to walk about, would gather around him in the afternoon to hear him talk, sing old time songs and lay tunes on a leaf. His funeral services were conducted by Rev. M.P. Edwards in the Baptist church this morning at eleven o'clock. The pall bearers were his sunday school teacher with five other gentlemen who were fellow members of his class. He was buried in Auburn cemetery at about 12 o'clock today. During the time he lived here one of his chief sources of pleasure was that he had an opportunity of attending sunday school and church regularly when he was able. He had a deep affection for the friends in Cleburne, among whom he spent the greater part of his life, and took pleasure in planning to visit among them this summer. At the time of his death his wife, his oldest son, G.M. Barker, and his seven youngest children were at home. His one motto in life has been "do it right." The weight of his advice to his children has always been "be truthful, honest, be temperate, and in all things try to please your creator." May god help us to keep his advice and follow the example he so faithfully and patiently set for us. He was always forgetting himself and sacrificing for us. Our grief is great but we must be resigned, even as he was "to the will of his creator." His Family. _____ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape416gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.6 Kb