100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal newspaper

Capt. Thomas Mercer Riley

Q. Salter, editor and proprietor of The Monroe Journal, published five editions of The Monroe Journal newspaper a century ago, during the month of July 1914. What follows are a few news highlights from those five editions of the paper a century ago in Monroe County.

JULY 2, 1914

Mr. M.M. Pullen of Evergreen was circulating among Monroeville friends this week.

The Monroeville baseball team played Atmore on the 24th and as usual came off victor, the score being four to three.

Monroeville will take a day off Saturday and enjoy the “Glorious Fourth.” All business houses will be closed throughout the day by mutual agreement.

We, the undersigned merchants, agree to close our respective places of business on Saturday, the fourth day of July, 1914.

Customers are requested to do their shopping on Friday.

Lazenby Mercantile Co.

The Fancy Grocery

Lyon Pharmacy

J.L. Forbes

L.A. Hixon

Dennis Drug Co.

J.D. Rawls

Sowell Mercantile Co.

Barnett & Jackson

The annual protracted meeting will begin at the Monroeville Methodist Church next Sunday. Rev. W.T. Ellisor of Evergreen will do the preaching and Rev. J.F. Price of Georgiana will conduct the singing.

Masonic Officer Elected: Excel Lodge No. 655 – Dan T. Hall, W.M.; J.W. Brown, S.W.; R.L. Casey, J.W.; C.C. Davidson, Treasurer; R.J.D. Kelly, Secretary; H.R. White, S.D.; J.R. Roley, J.D.; C.M. Arnold, Tyler; L.B. Cohron, Chaplain.

There was a terrible fire in our neighborhood (Mt. Pleasant) about three weeks ago. The Blacksher and Bryars turpentine still burned but they were fortunate enough to save other houses from being burned. The plant was rebuilt within about five days and is running full time again.

JULY 9, 1914

Masonic Officers: Alabama Lodge No. 3 – G.R. Vaught, Worshipful Master; W.E. Deer, Senior Warden; J.F. Gaillard, Junior Warden; G.W. Gaillard, Treasurer; L.N. Lambert, Secretary; W.P. Wiggins, Senior Deacon; A.J. Locklin, Junior Deacon; C.S. Goodloe, Tyler; R. Perry, Chaplain; H.J. Coxwell, Steward; J.L. Marshal, Marshal.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and little daughter spent the Fourth with relatives at Finchburg.

Judge N.C. Thames, contractor of the star mail route between Monroeville and Claiborne, has purchased an automobile and is giving quick service between the two points.

Vredenburgh-Bellville Split Double Header: The Fourth was a gala day in Vredenburgh. The Vredenburgh saw mill company giving a barbecue and Brunswick stew. Something over a thousand visitors were in town, having accepted the Company’s invitation, and a most enjoyable day was spent.

The interesting event of the day was the two games of ball between the Vredenburgh team and the star Bellville team. Vredenburgh won the morning game by five to four, and losing the evening game by a score of eight to 10. Batteries for morning game for Vredenburgh, Savage and Hardin; for Bellville, Ahrent and Lindsey. Batteries for evening game, Vredenburgh, Miller, Chapman and Hardin; for Bellville, Simmons, Lockwood and Lindsey. The morning game was the interesting event of the day, being a pitchers’ battle between Savage and Ahrent, Savage getting the best of it, allowing but three hits and fanning 12.

The evening game was rather a listless affair, the boys showing the effects of the strenuous morning game and the late dinner they ate; the only enlivening feature being the long drive over center field fence for a home run by Cobb of Vredenburgh.

Monroe County Masonic Conference: The Monroe County Masonic Conference will convene with Monroe Lodge No. 485, Franklin, Ala. on Aug. 13, 14 and 15, 1914. Bro. A.M. Scott, State Lecturer, has fixed this as the time. Let every lodge in Monroe County be represented by delegates.

W.S. Nash, Secretary

Monroeville resembled Goldsmith’s “Deserted Village” Saturday, almost everyone spending the Fourth either at Perdue Hill or Vredenburgh. The national holiday was celebrated at the first named place by a grand barbecue and ball game and at the latter by a picnic and bazaar under the auspices of the U.D.C. chapter.

Much interest is being manifested by the people along the proposed eastern route for the Mobile to Montgomery highway. The proposed route will lead out from Montgomery to Luverne to Greenville into Evergreen.

JULY 16, 1914

Baseball at Franklin: Franklin played the G.F. and A. baseball team two interesting games Saturday afternoon, resulting in scores of three to one in the first and six to one in the last. Both teams were composed of players from almost every team in Monroe County.

Mr. J.U. Blacksher of Maros was a visitor to the county capital the first of the week.

L.J. Bugg, Esq., represented the local bar at the recent meeting of the State Bar Association in Montgomery.

The salary of the local postmaster has been increased by the department from $1,100 to $1,300 per annum in consequence of increased business.

Mr. Kempton, the local jeweler, has added a line of sheet music to his already varied stock.

Mr. Henry Goldsmith spent a few days among Monroeville friends this week. The steamboat with which Mr. Goldsmith has been connected for several years now lies stranded in the mid reaches of the Alabama with no prospect of being floated until a much higher stage of water is available. The river is lower now than at any time within the last seven years.

Misses Sallie Baggett and Delia Hightower and Mr. Gus Hightower attended services at Pleasant Hill near Manistee last Sunday afternoon.

JULY 23, 1914

Mr. A.J. Straughn of Repton, has taken charge of the Wiggins House in Monroeville. This well known hostelry will be under the personal management of Mrs. Straughn and the best of accommodations will be afforded patrons.

Mr. A.O. Brantley of Burnt Corn was a business visitor to Monroeville Saturday. He reports keen interest in his community over the proposed location of the Mobile-to-Montgomery state highway along the line of the Old Federal Road which runs through Burnt Corn.

Following are the subjects at the Baptist Church next Sun., July 26. Morning hour, “The Gates of Hell in Monroeville.” Evening hour, “The Final Session of the Supreme Court.” The preacher will have some things to say in regard to those who hinder the enforcement of law, and will show that those who do such things are as guilty in the sight of God and the best class of people as the party who breaks the law. At the evening service he will show what the outcome of the whole will be. He will introduce the judge, attorneys, witnesses and some of the prisoners before the court or in court.

Forty-three applicants took the teachers’ examination here this week.

Mr. J.B. Barnett paid a brief visit to his father, Mr. W.H. Barnett, near Troy this week.

Messrs. R.L. Coxwell and S.J. Yarbrough and Miss Emma Yarbrough made an automobile trip to Forest Home Saturday.

JULY 30, 2014

The local baseball team met with their first defeat this season in a two-game contest with Finchburg on the home diamond last Saturday. Both games were won by Finchburg with scores of four to two and 16 to four, respectively. The home team had a record of 23 straight up to that time.

Mr. B.H. Stallworth has broken dirt for the erection of a new brick garage 30x100 feet located on the west side of the square. He will also erect two brick stores on the lot between the garage and L.A. Hixon’s store. Mr. L.N. Lambert is the contractor. Material is being placed on the ground and the buildings will go up rapidly.

REUNION OF CAPT. RILEY’S COMPANY: On Sat., July 25, 1914, the writer had the pleasure of taking his old cousin, Julius C. Finklea, one of Capt. Riley’s old comrades who had never attended one of these reunions before. When we drove up to the gate and stepped from the surrey and being met by Capt. Riley, my eyes needed my handkerchief when I saw these two comrades meet and shake hands. Yes, I imagined I could see them with other brave comrades facing the cannon’s mouth at Gettysburg and other places where so many good and brave men fell and are lying.

As the captain led us into his yard, I saw the same table under a shade tree that I saw last year laden with melons, figs, peaches and other good things where his comrades and others were enjoying themselves and where we all had a big handshaking. After resting and chatting awhile and the Captain had passed cigars around, we had some appropriate music, “Old Comrades March,” “Just Before the Battle, Mother,” “Tell Mother I’ll Be There,” “Dixie,” “Annie Laurie” and others.

Of course, I didn’t say I was hungry, for I was too full of chat and seeing the old comrades enjoying themselves, but I could smell the good things cooking and from signs about the dining table I knew from last year’s experience what we were soon going to face. Were these old tried and brave comrades with their gallant commander this day to face the enemy in battle array with the command “Charge that breastworks, boys, and hold it at all hazards”? No, the tide had changed and the command was “Dinner is ready, men; come in!” After all were seated at the table, the Captain at one end and where sat George C. Nettles last year at the other and gave thanks, John McCants took his place. Yes, one by one are falling out and we know not who will be missing at the next reunion in the Captain is living to give another. The table, as one of our black Mammies expressed it, “looked like a sin and a shame” to be so burdened down with so many good things, and those at the table, you may depend, enjoyed eating and chatting.

After dinner cigars, etc., were again passed around, old war stories were told and a general chatting, rejoicing and more music. Col. Jones of Evergreen was called upon to deliver an address which was good and appreciated. After the address and more music, Julius C. Finklea, one of the old comrades, was called and repeated a sad, but beautiful, poem entitled “High Tide at the Battle of Gettysburg,” which he experienced during that awful conflict.

Only 10 of the old comrades were present, viz: Capt. T.M. Riley, John A. McCants, Robert W. McCants, Hugh E. Coutney, W.S. Wiggins, Bright Waters, Joseph F. Watson, Julius C. Finklea and W.G. Riley. I remember five others who were not present: L.W. Duke, Swan, Texas; W.N. Duke, Paxton; E.C. Lindsey, Fairfield; Gadi Finklea Jr., Dallas, Texas; C.C. Nettles, Mobile.

About 3:30 p.m., the time to break up came and while saying goodbye and shaking hands with heart full of sadness and rejoicing and thankfulness we had the beautiful piece of music, “God be With You Till we Meet Again.”

J.J. Finklea