Randolph County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for APRIL 1917 April 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: C. Teal Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net January 14, 2006, 8:06 pm The Roanoke Leader April 1917 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE ROANOKE LEADER", Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama for APRIL 1917 NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, April 4, 1917 A GOOD CITIZEN OF CARROLLTON IS CALLED TO HIS REWARD; MR. B.A. SHARP WAS WELL KNOWN IN ROANOKE Last Saturday, relatives in Roanoke received news of the serious sickness of Mr. Bluford A. Sharp at his home in Carrollton, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Belcher of this place and Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Weathers and daughter of Wedowee proceeded to the bedside of the sick man, whose death resulted at 7:30 that evening, after an illness continuing one week. Sunday, Mrs. Mary Sharp, Mr. G.H. Handley and son William and O.H. Stevenson went by automobile to attend the funeral which was conducted at 4 o'clock at the Old Camp Ground church a few miles from town, where Mr. Sharp held his membership and where he was for many years an active and leading worker in the church and Sunday school. The house was overflowing with people from that and many other communities, including Carrollton. An unusual and impressive feature of the occasion was that beside the casket of black in which rested the remains of the man over 76 years of age, was placed a small white case which enclosed the form of a tiny infant, the child of a farmer residing in the vicinity. Fitting reference to this coincidence was made by the ministers during the service. The pastor of the church, Mr. Ivey, was assisted by the pastor of the Carrollton Methodist church, Mr. Hamby, both of whom paid touching tribute to the memory of the deceased. Volunteer talks were made by half dozen people who had known and loved Mr. Sharp. These all bore personal testimony to his charity, his faithfulness and his unswerving loyalty to his church, his pastor and his friends. Rarely on an occasion of this kind are shown so many evidences of personal bereavement on the part of men in all stations in life. He was well and favorably known to many people in this town and county where he frequently visited. Mr. Sharp was one of those heroic characters coming down to us our of the stormy period of the Civil War, around whose sturdy frames was built much that is best in the civilization of our present day. Soldier, citizen, christian. In all these spheres, he acted well his part. He was devoted to his home, and in return was the recipient of unstinted love and admiration. Even those farther removed by the ties of kinship held for him the fullest measure of affectionate appreciation. It is such lives as this that illumine the world as they shine so steadily, all the more brightly when the darkness is densest, and in finishing their appointed course, like the sun at its setting, cast a radiance that rivals that of the King of Day, filling all hearts with their reflected beauty, inspiring all footsteps to follow in their wake. ------- TWO OLD CITIZENS ARE DEAD Last Saturday occurred the funerals of two aged and esteemed citizens. On that day, "Uncle Billy" Middlebrooks was buried at Union Grove, Ga. At the same time Mr. Wm. B. Gross was laid to rest at Mt. Pisgah. He was a brother- in-law of Mr. G.T. Anglin of this place. ------- LOCAL News Mrs. LeGrand Fairman has come to spend some weeks with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Hooper. Mr. Fairman has a position in Oklahoma, and Mrs. Fairman will proceed to that state when her visit is finished here. --- Charles H. Simms, a traveling salesman of Boston, was mingling with old friends in Roanoke yesterday. He went to school in this place 41 years ago; he had not been here in 18 years. He talked familiarly of old scenes and the older citizens. ---- MANY TRAGEDIES IN EAST ALABAMA ARE RECORDED IN LAST FEW DAYS; DEATHS BY ACCIDENT AND SUICIDE A distressing number of tragedies occurred in East Alabama the latter part of last week and the first of this. At Milltown, Clarence Stevens, the son of Dr. R.C. Stevens of LaFayette, took poison and also shot himself Thursday of last week, his death resulting 24 hours later. He had recently returned from the Navy. In Opelika, L.D. Farguson of LaFayette died Friday night as a result of an overdose of drugs, taken with intention it is said, of relieving pain. At Cragford Friday, Dr. J.T. Manning of Lineville committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol. It is stated that he was in bad health. Sunday afternoon, a party of Alexander City young people, belonging to prominent families, were out riding in a large automobile, going rapidly, which turned over about two miles out of town, with disastrous results. Charles Willbanks, Miss Maggie Parrish and Miss Helen Williams were killed. Miss Sarah Smartt, formerly of Five Points, is not expected to recover. James Thomas was seriously injured, while Jack Nolan Jr., and Misses Levis Carlisle, Ruth Carlisle and Annie Lambreth were injured. Mr. Willbanks was a brother of Dr. Jim Willbanks who married Miss Ruth Brittain. The latter was visiting her parents in this city at the time of the accident and left Monday for Alexander City. In the outskirts of Opelika a little girl of eight years, Ola May Nichols, was run over and killed by an automobile from Auburn. She ran in front of the car in trying to cross the road. Just before going to press, the shocking news comes that Prof. E.C. Cunningham died this morning as a result of taking poison at his home near Double Head. He was for many years a correspondent of The Leader and was very popular as a writer and as a man. ---- ROCK MILLS News April 3rd Mrs. Alice Bishop visited her daughter Mrs. Mealor in Columbus last week. --- L.A. Harper has been critically ill for several days. --- NAPOLEON News March 29th Bro. P.G. Bailey was buried at Haywood yesterday. A large concourse of relatives and friends were present. Bro. Walter McMurray officiated. Several eulogies were pronounced by some of his old friends still left on this side of the eternal shore, faithfully waiting to pass over. His wife, three sons, five daughters and several score of grandchildren remain to mourn his loss. Bro. Bailey had been a sick man for a year or more and his sudden death was without surprise. His entire family was in attendance at the funeral, save one daughter in Arkansas. Bro. Bailey was a good citizen, devoted to his family, charitable and never was anyone more devoted to the church of God. He was the oldest Confederate veteran in our section, being seventy-nine and was an honorable member of Aiken-Smith camp. W.A.J. Bailey and W.S. Canady of Langdale and Perry Bailey of Atlanta attended the funeral yesterday. ---- Mrs. J.M. Hester is dangerously ill with measles and not likely to recover. ------ ADMINISTRATOR'S FINAL SETTLEMENT State of Alabama, Randolph County, Probate Court March 23, 1917 In the matter of the estate of W.A. Calloway Jr., deceased Notice to: Jennie Mae Calloway who resides in Atlanta, Georgia Will A. Calloway who resides in Atlanta, Georgia This day came Marie Calloway, administratrix of the estate of said deceased and filed her accounts, vouchers, written evidence, and statement under oath for final settlement of said administration. Whereupon it is ordered that the 28th day of April 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. Witness my hand this 23rd day of March 1917. John T. Heflin, Judge of Probate ----- LOCAL News John S. Sledge went to Shawmut on Monday to see his son Ernest, who had recently suffered the misfortune of having one leg broken above the knee. The accident was caused by an automobile backing over him. --- A four year old child of Mr. and Mrs. D.F. Lipham died in Lowell on Friday and was buried at Young's Chapel on Sunday. Three more children in the same family are seriously ill. ---- W. Hamp Adams left on the 11 o'clock train today for LaGrange and Atlanta. It is reported that he will return with a popular young lady of Bacon Level as his bride. --- Mrs. M.A. Bishop returned last week from Columbus, Ga., where she had been to visit her daughter Mrs. Clifford Mealor, to whom a boy was born recently. --- The Leader has learned from Mr. M.P. Pittman that his grandson M.P. Pittman Jr. has come from Omaha, Texas to make his home with his grandparents in their advanced years. --- Miss Nellie Frost of Lamar is visiting her aunt, Mrs. J.A. Walls, who continues ill. --- Handley Henry died near Welsh community on the 27th ult. --- NOTICE OF PETITION TO SELL LANDS TO DIVIDE State of Alabama, Randolph County, Probate Court March 27, 1917 In the matter of the estate of J.H. Parmer, deceased, by C.M. Parmer, administrator; Application to sell lands for division among heirs and joint owners. Notice to: Warner Huddleston, whose residence is unknown Mrs. Lummis Davis, whose residence is unknown Willie Parmer, whose residence is unknown Mrs. Luvie Newell, whose residence is unknown Andrew Parmer whose residence is unknown Buck Huddleston, whose residence is unknown Ben Huddleston, whose residence is unknown Mrs. Babe Derrow, whose residence is unknown Nancy Henderson, whose residence is unknown Mrs. Sindy Foster, whose residence is unknown Take notice that C.M. Parmer, petitioner has filed his petition in said court for the sale of lands described therein belonging to said joint owners, upon the grounds that the same cannot be divided among the joint owners and the 8th day of May 1917 has been appointed for the hearing of said petition. You are therefore hereby notified to appear before said court on said day and contest said petition if you think proper. Witness my hand this 27th day of March 1917. John T. Heflin, Judge of Probate ----- A DOUBLE WEDDING Mr. J.D. Wood of Springfield and Miss Minnie Stewart of Franklin, Ga., and Mr. I.G. Hendon of Springfield and Miss Roxie Cofield of Delta were married Monday afternoon at the Stewart Hotel. Rev. T.M. Hammonds, pastor of the Baptist church, officiated. These young people are receiving congratulations from many friends. The Randolph Star ---- LOCAL News Last Sunday, Vernie Stephens and Miss Neta Pearl Baird, prominent young people of the Double Head community, went over to Georgia and were married. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, April 11, 1917 MARRIED LAST WEDNESDAY As intimated in The Leader last Wednesday, Mr. W. Hamp Adams, one of Roanoke's most industrious and worthy young gentleman, left town that day to enter the state of wedded bliss. However, so carefully had he guarded this important mission that the newspaper people were not in position to make definite announcement of it. Mr. Adams left by automobile for Bacon Level where he was joined by Miss Laura Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Phillips, and they proceeded to Evansville, Ga., where they were married. Afterward they went to Atlanta for a few days, returning Saturday morning. They are now at home at the residence of Mr. Adams on Louina street. In winning this excellent young lady as his life companion, the fortunate groom is to be sincerely congratulated. ---- MARRIED AT STROUD Sunday morning, Rev. J.W. Rucker went to Stroud where he was called to perform the marriage ceremony uniting the lives of Mr. J.E. Breed and Miss Ethel Martin. The event was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents, Rev. and Mrs. C.B. Martin. Mr. Breed is an excellent young gentleman of Roanoke's industrial village and is fortunate in winning so estimable a young lady for his life partner. ---- PROF. E.C. CUNNINGHAM The untimely, tragic taking away of Prof. E.C. Cunningham, reported through these columns last week, was particularly distressing news to the writer and his associates in the work of making The Roanoke Leader, to whose columns the deceased had been a valued contributor at intervals since this paper was established. The personal relations between The Leader force and our "Happy Land" correspondent were most pleasant on our part, while the work of his gifted pen was appreciated by the newspaper people and their readers to the full measure of its unusual merit. We sorrow to think that we shall no more meet in the walks of men this genial gentleman or give to our readers the flashes of his ready wit and good natured, humor. Mr. Cunningham was a unique character. There was much in his manner and his make-up to draw people to him. He was courteous, considerate, congenial. Had he turned to writing as a profession he might have made a fortune, as he did make, in his limited field of operations, fame as a humorist of the original sort, dealing largely with the simple, every day affairs of life. That his bright intellect should have veered into the shadows in his ripening years and a misguided step should have snatched him away from home and friends, is melancholy in the extreme. But he will be remembered with kindest regard by all who knew him well. The charity which he so uniformly showed to others will, in turn, keep bright his memory. ----- LOCAL News Lavert Sorrell, who belongs to the United States Navy, is off on a furlough, visiting his mother in the home of Dr. Hooper. Roanoke has several boys in the Navy and in the Army. --- Cephas Davis has moved from Newnan to Roanoke. His family arrived yesterday. --- The house of Isham Cofield, colored, in the number 2 section of the city, was destroyed by fire Saturday. He carried $250. insurance. --- The eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. D.F. Lipham died yesterday morning. The remains will be interred at the old home up the country today. This is the second child in this home in the Lowell community, to die within the past two weeks. ---- Mr. and Mrs. Ware Awbrey of Cragford are spending a few days with relatives and will proceed to Atlanta to visit the former's mother. --- Robert Riley, snare drummer in the Lowell Band, left yesterday afternoon for Montgomery to join the Army. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, April 18, 1917 MRS. MARY WILLIAMS DIED SUDDENLY AT HER HOME MONDAY After an illness of only twenty-four hours, which was not considered serious, Mrs. Mary Williams died of heart trouble at 5:30 o'clock Monday morning at the residence of Mrs. Mary Sharp, this city, where, with her daughter Miss Bonnie Williams, the primary teacher in the public schools, she made her home. During her few years residence here, this good woman had quietly won the hearts of all who had come to know her, and this, together with the esteem in which her daughter is held by the people, drew forth every expression of love and sympathy when the sad and sudden summons came to the devoted mother. Mrs. Williams' gentle, modest nature and patient, self-sacrificing spirit well illustrated the best that is in Southern womanhood and added lustre to the name of "Mother". Left a widow with two small children, the other daughter now being Mrs. Walter Finney of Chambers County, she struggled on with cheerful fortitude till the call came to her, after sixty years, to cease from labor and enter into rest. Hers was not the glory of the battlefield, yet in the nobler strife in which she was called to engage, she was a heroine, indeed. It was not her lot to hear the plaudits of the multitude of deeds, wrought in public place, but to feel the pulsing love and gratitude of those who touched her in the humbler walks of life, where her presence carried sunshine and her virtues shed their fragrance. Mrs. Williams' thoughtful care and ministrations of love, extended from the aged and afflicted to the little babe. So when she passed away, many hearts and homes were saddened. The service conducted in her memory at the Baptist church of this city, of which she was a member, at nine o'clock Tuesday morning, were attended by a large concourse, and were very touching. A profusion of flowers covered and surrounded the casket. Dr. W.C. Bledsoe, former pastor of the deceased, spoke comforting words. The school attended in a body, as did the members of the Missionary Union. Mrs. J.C. Wright, the president of this organization, paid a beautiful tribute to Mrs. Williams, who was the leader of one circle of the Society. At the cemetery, she repeated these words, at the request of the family. Many friends from Roanoke and other points attended the burial at the old home of the deceased at Fredonia, where she was greatly loved by her former neighbors. The last rites were conducted by Rev. W.E. Faust. ---- CARD OF THANKS We take this method of expressing our appreciation to our neighbors and friends for the many deeds of kindness and the kind words of sympathy spoken to us in this, the saddest hour of our lives. May Heaven's blessings richly reward you all. Mrs. E.C. Cunningham, Horace Cunningham. ---- INFANT OF S.W. AMOS DEAD Last Thursday, the remains of the five month old infant of S.W. Amos were interred in the public cemetery, after services conducted by Rev. B.F. Young. The loss to the young father is all the more sad, since this is the last member of his family to pass from earth. The wife and mother died shortly after the birth of this babe. Another child was claimed by death a year or so ago. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved. ---- 6 ACRES ADDED TO CEMETERY At a recent meeting of the city council, a purchase of six acres was made from Mrs. J.W. Ray and Mrs. Omar Bartlett of land lying north of the public cemetery now in use. The price paid was $1200. All lots in the old cemetery have been taken and the authorities were compelled to provide additional ground. ---- A SURPRISE MARRIAGE Last Sunday afternoon, Mr. Elmer Belcher and Miss Mamie Richards went over to Evansville, Ga., accompanied by a couple of friends, where they were married by Squire Henderson. The groom has a position with the Roanoke Hardware Company. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Richards, with whom Mr. andMrs. Belcher are now at home at the Langley residence near the Roanoke Marble Works. ---- LOWELL News Last Wednesday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Stewart, their daughter Miss Cora was married to Mr. C.D. Barron. The ceremony was performed by Rev. B.F. Young. --- T. Walker Philpott, while at work in the mill last Friday, sustained a bad fall, resulting in serious injuries about the head and body. --- The infant of Mr. and Mrs. N.T. Landers died Monday night and was buried at Lebanon yesterday afternoon. This is the second child these unfortunate parents have lost within a few months. --- LOCAL News William Hammock and Miss Era Weaver, prominent young people of Abanda, were married Sunday afternoon. --- Robt. Riley returned Friday from Birmingham where he went to enlist in the Army, but was rejected on account of being undersize. --- C.H. Colwell has been elected Night Marshall and went on duty Sunday night. --- Mrs. W.A. White was called to Columbus on Thursday by the death of the wife of her son, John E. White. The husband and one child survive the deceased. --- Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Williams are spending a few days at their old home down on the Chattahoochee. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Wednesday, April 25, 1917 TWO MEN KILLED RECENTLY On April 15th, a killing occurred at Pine Hill, in the northern portion of Randolph county. A son of Mige Traylor slew Clyde Parrish and made his escape. Saturday night, at a small store one mile north of LaFayette, Tom Scott, the storekeeper, was shot and instantly killed by a negro named Lon Tucker, whom it is alleged he refused to sell longer on credit. At this writing, the negro has not been lodged in jail. The Leader's information is that whiskey had some connection with both cases. ---- LOCAL News Otis C. Fincher left Tuesday morning for Birmingham where he has a position. --- The Leader now goes to Mr. and Mrs. Omar Bartlett, formerly of this place, to their present home in Flint, Michigan. --- Mrs. S.W. Lane is suffering from a badly injured foot, which renders her helpless. --- Rev. D.M. Joiner of Lanett was in the city Wednesday, returning home after a visit to his father who is 74 years old and who suffered a second stroke of paralysis two weeks ago. The Opelika News, April 20th. --- Mrs. John Sledge underwent a serious operation Tuesday at her home near town. At this writing she is reported as doing well. Her aunt, Miss Rebecca Johnson, and also a trained nurse, are attending Mrs. Sledge. --- Tom McCarley of the United States Navy is here on a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. McCarley. --- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/newspapers/newspape818gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 21.4 Kb