Freestone County, Texas History 1931 News The Mexia Weekly Herald 09 Jan 1931 Friday Page 4 Lindly Home in Wortham Burned WORTHAM, Dec 30. (Sp) - The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lindly, on West Main street, was burned Monday night. The fire alarm was turned in about 11:30, and the company had to work for several hours to save adjoining residences. The Lindly home was a complete loss of $15,000, partly covered by insurance. Origin of fire not known, and the Lindly's were away from home and had been since Friday. =========================================== The Mexia Weekly Herald 30 Jan 1931 Robert E. Lee, Jr. Wed in Groesbeck GROESBECK, Jan. 27 (Sp). - Robert E. Lee, Jr., was married in Groesbeck on Saturday afternoon. It was not known whether the bridegroom was a descendant of the illustrious Confederate commander, but his name was the same. Miss Ethel Grace Cates of Wortham became the bride of Mr. Lee in a ceremony performed by County Judge Johnson Wakefield in the court house Saturday. The couple will make their home in Wortham. =========================================== The Mexia Weekly Herald 20 Feb 1931 Front Page CONCRETE FOR WORTHAM ROAD TO BE STARTED Early Contract Is in Prospect for Important Link OTHER WORK Local Leaders See Good Chance for Hillsboro Road Contracts for the paving of Highway No. 14 from Limestone county line through Wortham to Richland will be let before summer, speakers assured the Wortham Lions club in a meeting Wednesday at noon. The state highway department has indicated that the concrete hob will be under way in a few weeks, J. I. Riddle of Mexia, told the Wortham Lions. At the same time Mr. Riddle, chairman of Mexia's road building committee, expresses confidence that the dirt work on Highway No. 14 from Groesbeck to the Falls county line at Kosse will be underway soon, and there is a good chance to get a designation for the road to Hillsboro via Coolidge. Accompanying Mr. Riddle to Wortham were W. W. Barnett, Noel Hollingsworth, and Phil Karner, also members of the committee which has become famed for its successes in road building. .... Page 4 BUTLER CASE IS DELAYED Accused of Killing Oscar Harrison at Wortham FAIRFIELD, Feb. 25 - (Sp). - The case of W. C. Butler, charged with the murder of Oscar T. Harrison near Wortham in Freestone county last August, set for today in the 77th district court at Fairfield was continued on motion of the defendant and reset for the third Monday in May. The deceased was a tenant on the farm of Mr. Butler, and the killing grew out of some controversy over the sale of cotton grown by the deceased, and occurred at the barn of Mr. Butler's home in early morning just before day break. Mr. Butler is also defendant in a suit for damages brought in the 87th district court of Freestone county, by the widow and child of Oscar T. Harrison growing out of the killing of Harrison. A special venue of 60 men had been drawn for the trial of the Butler case, and were discharged by Judge H. ?. Kirby upon the continuation of the case. The jury for the week being also discharged finally as no other case was found ready for trial. This is the last week of Judge Kirby's February term of court; after which he returns to Limestone county for the March and April terms of 77th district court. MRS. SIMMONS DIES SATURDAY Roy Simmon's Mother to Be Buried in Dallas Monday Mrs. Hamp Simmons, 76, former resident of Mexia, died early Saturday morning at the home of her son, Roy Simmons, Wortham oil man and financer. Death came at 2 a.m. Saturday. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. in Dallas at the First Presbyterian church, with Dr. M. W. Anderson officiating. Mrs. Simmons was an active member of that church for many years, having a record of 18 years without absence from Sunday school while not out of the city. Surviving are one son, Roy Simmons, of Wortham; four sisters, Mrs. W. M. White, Sr., of Mexia, Mrs. A. B. Rennolds, of Mexia; Mrs. John Reed of Austin, and Mrs. Charles Browder, of Grand Prairie; and three brothers, Dr. E. A. Means, Dallas; LeRoy Means of Colorado, and John Means of Dallas. Mrs. Simmons was reared in Mexia the daughter of a pioneer physician, Dr. T. L. C. Means. Her husband preceded her in death by a number of years. .... Page 5 Notice Selling or buying land? Insist on an accurate Survey made by qualified land surveyor. Phone 114. Wortham. Ernest Fietes. Page 7 REGENTS WILL HEAR REPORTS TEHUACANA. Feb. 17. (UP) (Sp.) - A complete report of the work done by and in Westminster Junior College during the last twelve months will be made to the Board of Regents who will gather at the school Friday for a two-day meeting. Plans will be made for the coming year, results and plans of the school's campaign will be made and the proposed gymnasium on the campus of the school will be one of the chief topics of discussion. Besides the regents there will be President Franklin W. Stepenson and Dean Wayland P. Moody present for the meeting. The members of the board are: Prof. John T. Black of Ferris (president), O. D. Hallum of Tehuacana (secretary), J. B. Bounds, W. D. Moody, H. F. Ferguson, Dave Bounds, all of Tehuacana, Rev. G. W. Sanders of Wortham. M. L. McCandless of Greenville, Dr. J. D. Davidson of Teague, Rev. L. W. Shivers of Teague, Rev. J. A. Richardson of San Angelo, Carlos Webb of San Angelo and A. N. Box of Lone Grove. J. C. BYERS OF COOLIDGE DEAD COOLIDGE Feb 18 (SP) - J. Clinton Byers, one of the best loved and well known citizens of Coolidge died at the family residence Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the age of 57. Mr. Byers had been in ill health for sometime but was able to be up a few days before he took seriously ill. The deceased was born near Wortham Sept. 27, 1874 where he lived until a young man. He was united in marriage to Miss Sybil Livingston of Hope Ark. Aug 30, 1903, and this couple settled in Wortham where they lived a number of years before moving to Coolidge. One son was born to this union. Mr. Byers was very active in all religious affairs, and served for a number of years as director of the choir of the First Methodist church here, of which he was a member. He had also served on the Board of Stewards of that church. Funeral services were held at First Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 and were conducted by Rev. J. J. Creed, assisted by Rev. J. R. Curry of Waco. Interment was made in the Wortham Cemetery. He is survived by the widow, Mrs. J. C. Byers; one son, Wallace Byers of Wharton and two sisters, Miss Leona Byers of Coolidge and Mrs. Luther Allred of Oklahoma City. =========================================== The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Texas) April 10, 1931; Page 4 FORTY CASES TO BE PASSED ON BY JURORS FAIRFIELD, April 6 (Sp) - A special grand jury was organized in 87th district court here Monday to review the 40 or more felony cases which Sheriff Jim Sessions has worked up during the short three months of his term of office. J.R. Hawthorne, of Streetman, was made foreman of the grand jury, and 11 other men selected to help him review the largest number of cases presented to a special grand jury in years. Present Cases County Attorney Verloe Gephert was busy presenting cases to the grand jury and a jail full of defendants unable to make bond was at the other end of the court house from the jury room. Scores of whiskey stills have been captured and men arrested at the stills jailed. Then there are murder cases, swindling charges, and the slaying of W.J. Fagan in a whiskey raid was to be presented the jury for action if it so desires. A deputy sheriff shot Fagan during a raid and the aged man died almost instantly. Jury Members Other members of the grand jury are J.S. Irwin of Teague; W.B. Savage of Donie; C.E. Childs, of Fairfield; J.T. Drumwright, of Wortham; James Guest, of Liberty; J.S. Smith of Dew; W.W. Ford, of Cotton Gin; Will Shelton of Freestone; Curtis Hagler of Winkler; O.C. Smith of Wortham; and Cliff Coleman of Kirvin. R.R. Childs was made dorr baoliff and the sheriff's force will act as riding bailiff. Judge W.R. Boyd set the second and third weeks of his term for the criminal docket, and the first and fourth weeks for civil jury cases. The month promises to be a busy one. =========================================== Malakoff News of Malakoff, Henderson County, Texas July 2, 1931 Miss Mildred Shirley returned home Thrusday from a several weeks visit in Wortham. Little Jerry Peurifoy returned home with her for a visit.