Subject: KFY: Mt Vernon Signal Newspapers, 1909 - Rockcastle Co 

FROM LONG AGO 
Submitted By: Ray E_v_a_n_s 
ray.evans@worldnet.att.net 

Mount Vernon Signal
June 18, 1909

(Note: This information has been re-typed from the microfilm.  The re-typed 
material has been subjected to a computerized spelling check.  However, an 
effort has been made to preserve the English usage and spelling of that period.)

PERSONAL NEWS
		Marion Hamlin is in Georgia. – Miss Risse Williams is visiting in 
Somerset. – Mrs. R. B. Mullins has been very sick for a few days. – O. F. Wallin 
came down from Cedar Creek yesterday. – Mrs. G. M. Ballard is reported to be 
improving nicely. – Mrs. Bronaugh, of Crab Orchard, is visiting Mrs. Sue Butner. 
– Miss Helen D. Keys left Monday night for her home in Cincinnati. – Judge E. V. 
Puryear, of Danville, was here yesterday on legal business. – Cashier and Mrs. 
Salin have returned from a pleasant visit to Owenton. – Miss Allie Safell, of 
Lawrenceburg, is visiting Miss Francis Sparks. – Mrs. E. S. Albright has been 
very sick for the past ten days but is better now. – Little Miss Margaret Sparks 
has returned from a pleasant visit to relatives in Livingston. – Mrs. W. L. 
Richards writes that her brother who has been suffering from appendicitis is 
better. – Misses Eta Moore and Stella Adams, of Berea, are guests of friends and 
are taking the county examination. – G. W. Baker, the poplar drummer, came in 
Sunday from a four week’s trip through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. – Dr. 
Southard has dispensed with his mustache and even his closest friends are 
passing him by as a perfect stranger. – Robert and E. B. Cox were in Louisville 
Monday buying goods. Robert and E. B. Cox will be the style of the firm. Mrs. A. 
H. McFerron was the guest of her daughter, Mrs. E. B. Cox and son, Sheriff R. L. 
McFerron this weck. – E. Bulloch was in town Monday for the first time in six 
months. Mr. Bullock has been in a very serious condition and we are certainly 
glad to see him so much improved. – 

LOCAL NEWS
		The new Masonic hall will be ready for occupancy by next Monday. – 
There will be services at the Christian Church Sunday morning and evening by 
Rev. Ralph T. Carpenter, of Lexington. – KILLED: Lum Sowder, a son of Riley 
Sowder, shot and instantly killed Bill Bullock at Dallas in Pulaski County last 
Saturday. The trouble was the result of an election difficulty, this being the 
day on which Pulaski’s Republican primary was being held. We are told, that 
Bullock was advancing on Sowder with a knife when he fired the fatal shot, which 
took effect just under the chin. Sowder was immediately arrested and placed 
under bond. – G. T. Johnson has installed a peanut roaster just across the 
street from the courthouse. This is the place to get fresh roasted peanuts. – 
DEATH: Mr. R. D. Sowder, 43, a son of, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Sowder, of Level 
Green, died in the Lexington asylum last Saturday afternoon and taken to Level 
Green where his remains were last to rest Monday morning. Mr. Sowder was at one 
time a well to do businessman in one of the southern states, and while in 
business there, one night was attached by a band of thieves and robbed. He was 
struck on the head and rendered so completely unconscious that it was a long 
time before he regained consciousness and several months before he showed much 
improvement. He finally recovered, as it was thought and for several years 
apparently ran his business allright. A little more than a year ago, he began to 
show signs of insanity, pronounced by a physician to be the result of the injury 
received years ago. His condition grew gradually worse and less than a year ago 
he was sent to the asylum where he remained until his death. He was a member of 
the Somerset I. O. O. F. and when at himself was a splendid business man and 
citizen. His body was laid to rest in the Old Mt Pleasant burying ground leas 
than a hundred yards from the spot where he was born 43 years ago. – The 
question of whether or not the cows shall be put off the streets will be brought 
up at the meeting of the board tomorrow night. Those for against the ordinance 
should appear before the board and present your views why such an ordinance 
should not be passed. We say put the cows off or turn everything loose. So far 
as the town is concerned it is much better to have the hogs on the streets than 
the cows and that argument sometimes advanced that it would work a great 
hardship on some to take the cows off the street, is all buncomb, [sic] and such 
arguments are only made by people who are looking strictly to their own interest 
and care nothing for the welfare and appearance of the town. But a few people 
want to build concrete sidewalks for the cows to walk upon and it is up to the 
board to do something. Pass the ordinance and we will guarantee the Marshal to 
keep the cows out of the way.

LEVEL GREEN NEWS
		There were services at Burnett’s Chapel Saturday evening and Sunday 
conducted by Rev. Bell from Cove is this county. – The weather Bureau advises 
us, about when it will rain, but seems unable to tell us when it will stop 
raining. – (Raymond D. Sowder’s death reported elsewhere.)  -- The singing 
school which has been in session at the chapel for several weeks will close 
Sunday next. The efficient master has an elaborate program arranged for the 
occasion, and all will be interested as well as entertained. – Misses Lura and 
Katie Price were in Mt Vernon shopping Monday. – O. J. Mullins recently 
purchased nineteen head of sheep from T. J. Brown for a handsome figure. – Velma 
Sowder who has been attending the Brown Memorial school returned home last 
Monday. – Mr. W. F. O’neal who has been sick for several weeks remains 
unchanged. – Harve Brown is still buying cattle for export. – Despite the heavy 
rains, wheat is ready for harvest. Binding by machinery and by hand started 
Monday. – The first sunshine for three weeks burst forth upon cornfields and 
found them in a helpless condition. Cricket O’Neal has been carrying a lighted 
lantern for sometime, to force himself into the belief that it would produce 
sunshine.

PONGO NEWS
		Because of the heavy rains our farmers are badly behind with their 
crops. --  Mrs. Rebecca Cromer is reported very sick. – Dr. Owens reports 
considerable sickness in this section of the country. – The telephone is 
certainly a great blessing in this part of the country, but it would be a 
greater blessing if people who are not wanted and are always rubber necking 
would stay off the line when other people are trying to talk. The roosters 
fighting and children crying make it almost impossible to hear anything over the 
rural lines, for as soon as the bell rings, there is someone at every point 
where there is a phone to grab the receiver to hear what is being said. Good 
people look after your own affairs and then you will not have to worry of being 
bothered by other people business which in no way concerns you. Some of the 
farmers have lost several hogs from different diseases. We understand that Buck 
French has lost about twenty-five. – Mrs. Mise continues about the same. – Let 
all the correspondents come forth with a good newsy letter next week.

BRODHEAD NEWS
		J. R. Cass and wife have returned from a week’s visit to St Louis. – 
J. R. Rose and little daughter are in Louisville this week. – Quite a number 
from this place attended children’s day exercises at Union Church near Spiro 
last Sunday. – George Durham, formerly of this place but now with the Durham 
Bottling Works of Elizabethtown, spent Sunday with his mother here. He reports 
trade good and we feel sure that he will make the above firm a splendid 
Salesman. – From all reports wedding bells are sure to ring in our midst at an 
early date. – Cashier J. W. Hutcheson is gaining some renown as the earliest 
gardener in Eastern Kentucky. All vegetables commonly brought from the south at 
this season are now found ready for table use in his garden, Special attention 
needs to be called to his water melons planted in February are now very ripe and 
delicious each melon bearing his name. This is due to the fact that he carved 
his name on each seed before planting. His melons are kept on display at the 
Citizens Bank. – Miss Lizzie Storms, of London, is an attractive visitor in town 
this week. – Miss Miranda Tate has returned from a visit to relatives in 
Richmond. – Egbert Wallin was in town Tuesday. – B. R. Wilmott and U. B. Cass 
have returned to the “Garden Spot” of the world, after a month’s visit to St 
Louis. – Mrs. W. E. Gravely is visiting in Burnside the guest of Mr. and Mrs. H. 
H. Hutcheson. – Mr. and Mrs. Ed McAfee and daughter, Miss Alma, of Salvisa, were 
guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hutcheson, from Saturday until Monday. – Keep in 
mind the Brodhead Fair dates which are August 18, 19 and 20th.

LIVINGSTON NEWS
		Charley Hanson, of Ford, is with us again. – H. T. Conley, tie 
inspector for the Pennsylvania Tie Company is here loading ties. – Henry 
Lampkins made a flying trip to Jackson County Saturday. – A few more trips and 
wedding bells will ring. – Charlie Whitehead was in Mt Vernon Monday. – Sam 
Pennington, of Jackson County, visited Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Rigs Tuesday. – Mrs. 
S. C. Franklin, of Mt Vernon was here between trains Tuesday. – Master Johnny 
Rigs is up again after several days lay up caused by sticking a nail in his 
foot. – C. C. Williams, of Mt Vernon, was here Tuesday on business. – H. L. 
Delph bought a cow and calf from Henry Browning for $35. – S. E. Pennington has 
returned from a two month stay at Hot Springs, Ark. Someone is glad now. – Miss 
Ida Howard, one of Livingston’s prettiest girls left today for a month’s stay at 
Four Mile, Ky. There is one sad heart in Livingston. – W. M. Kincer, who went to 
Colorado about six months ago, has returned. – Owens and Elder have closed their 
singing school; and have returned home. Boys come again. – A wreck was caused 
Tuesday this side of Hazel Patch by four cars being derailed. H. D. Magee was 
called out with the wrecker and soon had the track cleared. Nos. 23, 33 and 32 
were delayed four hours. No one was hurt. – G. M. Ballard, G. T. Johnson and F. 
L. Thompson, Sr. were here Tuesday. – Charley Reynolds, ticket agent, and wife 
are in Lebanon Junction this week. – We have a good joke on L. H. Davis about 
his carrying a four pound piece of solder all over Cincinnati in his grip. But 
we will not tell it if he will leave us alone. Ed Woodall says he can’t deny it 
for he knows it to be a fact. He set his grip down and someone put the solder in 
it and it is a fact because he carried it home. – Will Rice was in Mt Vernon 
Monday. – Miss Celia Mink has returned from Corbin. – Dave Dunn, of Danville was 
here Sunday. – Mr. and Mrs. James Mullins have returned from Brush Creek. – W. 
H. Burton was in Mt Vernon Tuesday. – Mrs. J. N. Nelson visited her parents, Mr. 
and Mrs. J. C. Stanley Tuesday. – Little Margaret Sparks has returned to Mt 
Vernon after a ten day’s visit to her aunt Mrs. H. D. Magee. – Mrs. Bud Anderson 
and children visited relatives at Dudley and Brush Creek first of the week. – 
Mrs. A. N. Bentley is visiting her daughter, Mrs. H. D. Magee. – Mrs. H. L. 
Delph is on the sick list this week. – Capt. W. R. Dillon, of London , was on 
Saturday’s train en route to Crab Orchard. – Mrs. Thomas Farley has returned 
from Louisville where she has been visiting relatives for the past week. – J. J. 
Cozatt was here Friday. – John Graves, of Paris, was here Tuesday. – Miss Lena 
Albright, of Brodhead, was the guest of Ruth Painter last week. – Mrs. R. J. 
Lemons and daughter have returned from Louisville. – Mrs. Fred Owens has 
returned from Corbin. – Mrs. Rosa McFerron was the guest of her sister, Mrs. W. 
J. Childress last week. – Mrs. Allen Mounce is quite sick at this time. – Miss 
Gertrude Martin, of Brodhead was here between trains. (I knew Miss Martin as 
Mrs. Gertrude Owens when I was a youngster in Brodhead. She was the post-
mistress there for many years.)  -- Master George Omary is quite sick at 
present. – Mrs. Will Samms and children have gone on a trip to Pittsburg. – Dr. 
Childress has just returned from Oklahoma where he has been visiting his brother 
for several weeks. – C. K. Rice, Mrs. H. W. Rice and Mrs. J. E. Woodall are all 
on the sick list. Hope they will recover soon. -- Miss Fannie Katherine Quiggins 
is rapidly improving. --  Messrs. J. P. E. Drummond and J. W. Samms are 
attending the Train Dispatchers meeting in convention on Columbus Ohio. – Arthur 
Rice, who has a job as operator, says he thinks he will go to farming soon.      

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