Cleburne County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for OCTOBER 1918 October 1918 ************************************************ 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 25, 2005, 10:26 pm The Cleburne News October 1918 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for OCTOBER 1918 NEWSPAPER issue of October 3, 1918 GASSED TWICE BUT STILL IN THE FIGHTING France, August 15, 1918 ( I am twenty-eight years old today) Dear Father, "Just a few lines today to let you know that I am in the very best of health. Received a batch of papers yesterday and have been busily engaged in reading them, and enjoyed them ever so much. Am "in" for a few days rest from the lines but had much rather be at work than hanging around. You are noticing in the papers how we are pounding the h__ out of Jerry! Well, he has not felt our full blow yet. As I noticed in the papers that President Wilson says he will have 3,000,000 here before long. Jerry is licked good and proper and I am sure that the kaiser is beginning to see the "handwriting on the wall." Wish I could relate my experiences to you but the censor forbids, however they have been many already. Have learned to duck Jerry's "whiz bangs", "souvenir shells" or just anything you want to call em. Have seen all the Cleburne boys who went with me to Camp Gordon. " In another letter dated September 5th, we take the following lines: "Am just back from several days from the front; am at Regimental headquarters for a short time, for a rest and a "cootie" bath. Fleas bother me more than cooties. I work from Regimental headquarters to companies in the line. Been in about two gas attacks, but did not amount to much; but at that, about eight of the outpost boys were put out of commission, Ben McLendon of Bremen, Georgia got it. I want to urder the people back home to never let an opportunity pass to contribute to the Red Cross. Those in service here are rendering a work that is certainly heroic. Your son, E.P. Dodson, 307 F.S.B., A.E.F. ___ LOCAL News Mrs. Mae Bean left Tuesday for Camp Shelby, Miss., where she will join her husband Cecil Bean who is stationed there. __ Mr. and Mrs. B.T. Foster and granddaughter Mary have returned home after an extended visit to relatives in different parts of Texas. __ DEATH OF MRS. WEBB Our community was greatly shocked and many hearts were made sad when it learned that death had claimed one of our most beloved women, Mrs. Arzell Webb, devoted wife of Mr. Jim Webb. Mrs. Webb was first carried to a hospital at Anniston where an operation was performed, and after to Kansas City for treatment where she remained about four weeks, then returning home where she suffered great pain untl god in his goodness saw fit to take her to himself on September 23rd at the age of 47 years and 26 days of age. Mrs. Webb was greatly beloved by all who knew her. She was a true and faithful wife and devoted mother. Besides the husband, ten children, four boys and six girls, survive; one of the sons is with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Her last words were wishing to see her boy in France and her step-son Arvid D. Webb who she said was coming. She lived in the sunshine and dying as she lived. All that was mortal of this good woman was laid to rest in the cemetery at Bethlehem to await the resurrection morn. Two friends. ___ Chester Burgess of Edwardsville, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Burgess, is among those reported seriously wounded in Wednesday's casualty list. Sam Zaner was reported as killed. ___ NEWSPAPER issue of Thursday, October 10, 1918 LOCAL News W.H. George, a well and favorably known citizen, died at his home near Chulafinnee on Monday. Mr. George has only moved to his home in this county a few weeks ago from Calhoun County. __ The body of Mr. Sam Howell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Howell of this place, arrived Thursday from Birmingham where his death occurred on Tuesday. Mr. Howell was about 27 and unmarried. The News extends sympathy to the bereaved relatives. ___ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, October 17, 1918 WILLARD EVANS WRITES HOME Willard Evans, soldier boy of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Evans of Route 3, Heflin, writes an interesting letter to his parents which follows: Somewhere in France, Sept 4, 1918 Dear Mother, I will write you a few lines to let you know I am well and getting along all right. Have stayed eight days in the trenches and was under heavy fire several times and thought my time had come, but I was lucky and got through safe. The Germans were bad with their guns until the old U.S.A. started their guns and then the Huns quieted down. I sure was surprized to hear that I arrived over here before Turner did, he having been in the camps much longer than I was. Has Arthur Harris and the other boys in Class 1 gone to camp yet? Tell the girls I said not to have anything to do with the boys who wear "store clothes" instead of Uncle Sam's uniforms. Did you get my letter I wrote you while on board the ship? I sent you some post card views of Washington, D.C. Well, I like this country some beter than I did at the start but it is nothing the old U.S.A. The climate is alot colder over here than back there. I could not keep warm at nights when I first got here but I am getting used to it now and have gained weight considerably so you see a cold climate agrees with me. I am trying to be a better boy than I was; and I hope I may hold out, so mother, don't worry about me. If the lord is willing I will come through all right. I will close for this time. Write soon and don't wait for me to write. Your loving son, Pvt. Willard R. Evans, Co. C 116 U.S. Inft., A.P. 765 ___ LETTER FROM DAVID NEAL BLAKE FROM "OVER THERE" Below is a letter from David Neal Blake to his mother, Mrs. A.D. McEachern, route one, from Heflin. Neal is with the American Expeditionary Forces, "somewhere in France." Somewhere in France, September 8, 1918 Dear Father and Mother, Will write to let you know that I am well and doing nicely. You will have to excuse me for not writing sooner as we at the front line and I did not have much time to write. We got relieved from the front lines yesterday and are back a good distance from the fighting now and guess we will get a rest for a few days now anyway. Things look pretty good at the front and where we were they are taking alot of prisoners and sure have the Dutch on the run. I sure will be glad when the war is over and can get back to you. Of course we are in a lot of danger here but they can't kil us all and I am in good hopes of getting back safe and sound. I am certainly anxious to hear from home, haven't got a letter from anyone since I left Camp Jackson. Is Ethel and Perry still in Heflin? Tell them to write me and kiss little Clellon for me. Well mother, please do not worry about me for what is to be will be. I will try and write you every week and more often, when I get time. Our writing paper and envelopes are pretty scarce when we are at the front. Your loving son, David Neal Blake, Bt'y A 120th F.A., American Expeditionary Forces, PO 734 _____ LETTER FROM ARRIS HOWLE FROM FRANCE Arris Howle, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Howle, who is scrapping the Huns "somewhere in France" writes his parents from Uncle Sam's Army: Dear Father, How are you all by this time, fine I hope. We sure have a nice place to write, and can walk around and have got a good place to say, are in a town that has the prettiest yards with all sorts of flowers. The people that own this place live upstairs and we stay downstairs. We have a big time listening to them talk but can not understand a thing they say, neither do they understand us, so we just guess at it and go on. Write and tell me the news and what is going on back there. Love to all, Arris Howle, 306 Engineers Train., A.P. 791, A.E.F. ___ PROMINENT BREMEN CITIZEN SUCCUMBS TO INFLUENZA The editor of The News received a phone message early this Thursday morning informing him of the untimely death of Mr. Wilbur Beall, a nephew, who died of a severe attack of influenza after an illness of only a few days, at his home in Bremen. Mr. Beall was one of the most prominent men in Haralson county and was held in high esteem by all who knew him, and his untimely death is a distinct loss to Bremen and community. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist church at Bremen and secretary of the sunday school there. A devoted wife, three precious children and hundreds of friends are left to mourn his death. The interment will take place at Buchanan on Friday at 11 o'clock. ____ CARD OF THANKS We extend our gratitude and thanks to friends and kindred for their love and sympathy for us in the dark hour of bereavement and sorrow in the death of our beloved and only son. We will always feel a deep and lasting love for them. We ask god's richest blessings upon them. Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Howell ____ LOCAL News Mrs. N.A. Sox of Edwardsville returned Thursday night of last week from an extended visit to her sister, Mrs. J.L. Freeman at Silome Springs, Arkansas. Mrs. Sox was accompanied by her sister Mrs. F.L. McMahan of Tallapoosa, Georgia. ___ Mr. S.J. Waits of Borden Springs was in town Saturday and while here called in and renewed his subscription to The NEws and also that of his brother P.C. Waits at Paris, Texas. Thanks. __ Mr. A.L. Hudson of Atlanta, Texas, after a visit of three or four weeks with relatives in Cleburne, returned to his Texas home last Saturday. He was accompanied home by Will Robertson who went to visit his mother Mrs. Bud Robertson, who is dangerously ill. __ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, October 24, 1918 SGT. MARSHALL HICKS WRITES FROM FRANCE The following interesting letter is from Marshall Hicks, now in France, to his sister Mrs. Mary Jane Brown of Heflin: Somewhere in France September 30, 1918 To: Mrs. Mary Jane Brown Dear Sister, Received your letter some few days ago and was indeed glad to hear from you and pleased to note that all were well. I intended to answer that note the very same day but my dear, I sure have been too busy to write. This is my first opportunity to write a letter and I am making the most of it; I am going to tell you something right now; I sure do appreciate letters and since I am so far away I appreciate them far more than I used to. I want you to try to write me a letter every week; don't wait for me to answer and don't wait to see if there is a letter coming. But write, write and keep it up. I shall try to write every week if I can but I can't promise you a letter that often. Have the children write too. I am in the very best of health, eat all I can hold, sleep 10 hours every night, and that is all I should. I am well fixed for living in comfort, have a room all to myself, a real honest-to-good bed, than an office where I can do all my work without anyone pestering me. In ten steps of my room is large hot- water shower bath, so I just slip out of bed every morning and take a shower the first thing. The country I've seen is great, I like it, people and everything about it; they are the best people I have met in France and I just love them; still I think Alabama will be large enough to hold me when I come back. Whoever it was that told you the presttiest girls in all the world live in France have never seen Sgt. Hicks' girl, they would then and there change their minds. But I must say that some of them are "peaches". The difference in language did not bother me long. I soon learned to "parley voo francia". What is simpler or better than to get you a french grammar and then get some little lassie to teach you the language. I will soon be able to make a regular speech in their language. I was sailing the day you wrote me that letter. I was in mid ocean and no doubt gazing out on the sad and solemn sea, thinking of many things, thinking of all the mean tricks I ever did. I even thought of a cat I once dropped in the river, and wondered how far I would have to swim before I reached land and if the water was cold, and oh, just a million things. But one bright morning I woke up and ah! there was land. I could just imagine how Columbus and his crew felt long ago when they heard the cry, "land, land". We anchored about a couple miles off shore, and another shipload of soldiers swung right by us, their band was on deck and it was playing "goodbye broadway, hello France", and those boys simply went wild. One poor fellow was so sea sick on the way that one day he said he would (never mind what) if he went back until they built a railroad across the atlantic. The sea was so calm that there were but very few who got sea sick. I never missed a meal on the whole trip. Since thinking the thing over I think I will have to go to Texas before I go anywhere else. I am glad to learn that all is going well with you and I shall pray that it ever be so with you. If I get back in one piece I am going to put Vicie through college if she will go. I sure am proud of that kid; she is the smartest Hicks yet, except of course the boy they call Marshall, he is the smartest one of the set, but I don't think anyone knows it but himself. Dear, I've got to close; I want to write little Susie a letter tonight. Try to never worry about me; I can take care of Hicks; I am not worrying about a thing in all the world except they will have the war won before I get into the front line trenches. Wheatever you do don 't give me up for dead until I write and tell you myself. Give my regards to old Cleburne and tell them that they are represented in France by no lesser light than myself. Be good and take care of yourself and plant alot of watermelons next spring as I and my wife shall come to see you as soon as they are ripe. Remember your brother whose faith is so weak he don 't think he has many times when you to to one who always hears your prayer. All love, your brother, Marshall Hicks, Med. Dept., 80th F.A., A.E.F. _____ LOCAL News Mr. Turner Wheeler, son of Mr. Dan Wheeler, who was connected with Uncle Sam's Army, died at a hospital in New York a few days ago, his body being shipped back to Heflin, and was buried at Pine Grove. His father lives at Bell Mills. A son-in-law of Mr. Wheeler, a Mr. Adams, died northwest of Edwardsville a few days ago, his wife being in a precarious condition at the time of his death. ___ John McMahan is home from Flat Top mines where he holds a lucrative position, suffering from a severe attack of influenza. __ Roy Kent, a 13 year old son of Mr. A.L. Kent, though too young to carry a gun and fight the Hun, is doing his part by helping gather up all the peach seed and hickory nuts and bring them to Heflin to be shipped out to be used in making carbon for gas masks worn by American soldiers. This is a commendable act in Roy and one that others could very well emulate. ___ Adolphus Gaines, who is stationed at Camp Augusta, Georgia, who came home on a furlough about two weeks ago, was stricken with fever soon after his arrival and has been in a critical condition at the home of his mother Mrs. Alice Gaines. __ Mr. W.M. Austin of Edwardsville, died at his home there Saturday and was buried at Cane Creek Baptist church. Mr. Austin was confined to his bed for five or six weeks. He was one of the county's best citizens and his death will be sad news to his hundreds of friends. __ Mr. R.A. Noell, one of the county's best known and popular citizens, died at his home in south Cleburne Thursday of last week. Interment was in the Heflin Cemetery with Masonic honors. Mr. Noell had been in declining health for a long time and his death was not unexpected by his family. ____ Rev. Hanibal Allen, who for many years was a citizen of this county, has moved back from Texas, and it is said will make his home at Tallapoosa, Georgia. ___ News has been received of the death of Mrs. W.A. Owen, which occurred at her home in Edwardsville on Tuesday afternoon. The News extends sympathy to the bereaved family. ___ NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, October 31, 1918 CORP. JIM REESE MAKES THE SUPREME SACRIFICE News of the death of Corp. Jim J. Reese, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.B. Reese of Fruithurst, was received at this office on Tuesday morning, whose death occurred at sea on October the 13th. About three weeks ago, young Reese, who was attached to the 75th Artillery C.A. Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, embarked with that company for France from Fort Screven, Georgia, where he had been in training for several months for military service. Jim was well known to the people of Heflin and every one deeply sympathizes with Mr. and Mrs. Reese in the untimely death of their son. Jim has made the supreme sacrifice, giving up his life enroute to the bloody battlefield and his death on the high seas makes him none the less a hero. The funeral and interment will be held at Fruithurst upon the arrival of the body from New York. The interment will be at Edwardsville, on Friday Nov. 1st. ____ File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/newspapers/newspape433gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.6 Kb