Sunday, September 7, 2014

100-year-old news highlights from The Evergreen Courant from September 1914

The Evergreen Courant newspaper in Evergreen, Ala. published five editions 100 years ago during the month of September 1914. Those papers came out on Sept. 2, Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30. George W. Salter Jr. was the newspaper’s editor and owner. What follows are a few new highlights from each of those papers. Enjoy.

SEPT. 2, 1914

“Death of J.P. Anderson: John P. Anderson died on Thursday last at his home near Sparta following a lingering illness. He was one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of this county. He was about 70 years old.
“The funeral occurred on Friday afternoon at Hampden Ridge being conducted by the Masonic lodge of Castleberry. A number of Masons and friends of deceased from Evergreen attended the funeral. Mr. Anderson was a member of the local camp Confederate Veterans.”

“The City school will open on September 21st.”

“Death of N.B. Jones: N.B. Jones died on Wednesday night last, Aug. 26, after eight weeks illness, in the 73rd year of his age.
“Deceased had been a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Evergreen for many years. He was postmaster here at one time, and was for some years engaged in the mercantile business. In more recent years, he enjoyed the peaceful pursuit of farming.
“When the war broke out, he enlisted as a private and served honorably throughout that memorably conflict. He was an honored member of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee UCV.
“The funeral occurred on Thursday afternoon from the late home of the deceased on Pecan Street, conducted by his pastor Rev. W.T. Ellisor. The local Phytian Lodge conducted the funeral rites at the grave.
“Deceased is survived by his devoted wife and three children, N.B. Jones Jr. of Opelika, R.G. Jones and Miss Mary Jones of Evergreen.”

“We are having plenty of  rain here (Bowles) at present which makes it very disagreeable to the cotton pickers.”

“A good many of our young people are expecting to enter Newton school in the near future.”

“NOTICE is hereby given that the Court of County Commissioners of Conecuh County will sit at the courthouse in Evergreen, Ala. on the 8th day of September 1914 for the purpose of providing for the care of the paupers of the county and to consider applications for the position of superintendent of the poor for the ensuing year. By order of Commissioners Court, F.J. Dean, Judge of Probate.”

“F.L. Riley reached home on Saturday from St. Louis and other markets.”

“Troy Pullen of Vinegar Bend spent the weekend with relatives here. He came for the purpose of being at the funeral of his late uncle, N.B. Jones, but reached here too late.”

“Mrs. Taliaferro reached home on Wednesday last from Atlanta where she underwent a successful surgical operation.”

SEPT. 9, 1914

“The Agricultural School opens Thursday at 9 a.m. A number of speakers will be present and the public is expected to attend. Let all patrons and friends attend the opening and get acquainted with the teachers. (Signed) W.C. Blasingame.”

“Members of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee No. 338 will meet at the courthouse on Oct. 1 for election of delegates to state reunion in Mobile on Oct. 22-24 and payment of dues and other business of importance. All are urged to attend and remain until the meeting is over. (Signed) M.B. Salter, Sgt. Major.”

“Death of W.A. Burnett: Wm. A. Burnett, a former well known citizen of Evergreen and Castleberry, died yesterday at his home in Pollard after a lingering illness.”

“Conecuh High School Notes: Preparations are being made by the good people of Castleberry to have a great educational rally at the opening of the high school on Sept. 21.
“There will be speakers from the University, Auburn, the department of education in Montgomery and other places. A big barbecue is being planned. Altogether, it is hoped to make it the most momentous day in the history of Conecuh County.
“Miss Luther, principal of the high school, is to entertain the students informally on Friday night.
“C.E. Williams, teacher of science and manual training and director of boys’ athletics, arrived in Castleberry on Sept. 2.
“Miss Lucile M. Cobb of Tuskegee, teacher of English, expression and physical culture, is a young woman of unusual attainments.
“Dr. R.T. Holland is building a commodious cottage to be occupied by the principal of the high school.”

“Mrs. C.F. Archer has bought the millinery story of Miss Mary A. Salter and will have her opening Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 15-16.”

“Crosses of Honor for Confederate Veterans and Their Descendants: All Confederate Veterans of Conecuh County, or, in case of death, their widows or oldest lineal descendants, who have not yet received their Southern Crosses of Honor, are urged to make application for same through the presidents of U.D.C. Chapters in Conecuh County: viz. Mrs. Edwin Page, President Pinckney D. Bowles Chapter, Evergreen.
“The date for bestowal of Crosses are Admiral Semmes birthday, Sept. 27; R.E. Lee’s birthday, Jan. 19; Memorial Day, April 26; and Jefferson Davis birthday, June 3.”

SEPT. 16, 1914

“Opening of Conecuh County High School: Preparations are concluded for the Educational Rally and big barbecue at Castleberry, Mon., Sept. 21. The Castleberry citizens are sparing no pains to make the day a great one. Noted speakers will be present. The Conecuh Guards, our military company, will given an exhibition drill. Baseball game, doubleheader, with Garland. Barbecue and other features with dinner in abundance. Everybody interested in the success of the Conecuh County High School is cordially invited to be present.”

“With a new coat of paint and the grounds adjacent cleared of all debris, the Agricultural School building shows up more attractive than ever.”

“Frank Jones, son of Marshal J.C. Jones, was taken to a Montgomery infirmary last week for treatment. He is suffering from effects of injuries sustained when he was run over by a wagon two months ago.”

“The County Teachers Institute convened here on Monday and has since been in session. Quite a large number of teachers are in attendance. The institute is being conducted by Prof. Stevenson of Roanoke.”

“A large force of laborers and teams are engaged in grading and widening the road from J.R. Irwin’s residence to the bridge beyond. The town and county teams are being used and the work is being supervised by Byron Dean and Marshal Jones.”

“City Primary: The city primary for the nomination of mayor and councilmen was held on Monday, resulting in the nomination of the present town officials without opposition. The regular election will take place on Monday next 21st instant. Those nominated are the following: Mayor – W.B. Ivey; Councilmen – R.F. Croom, J.G. Lunday, A.H. Mason, F.A. Pritchett, H.A. Shields; Executive Committee – H.W. Dunn, E.J. McCreary, E.E. Newton.”

“John P. Anderson: Cpl. John P. Anderson, Co. E, 38th Alabama Regiment, was born in the state of Alabama, Conecuh County, near the old antebellum village of Sparta and here lived his entire life and died at his home at Hampden Ridge, Aug. 25, 1914 at the ripe, old age of three score years and ten.
“He enlisted the later part of 1861 with Co. E, 38th Ala. Reg. and surrendered at Charlotte, N.C. with Gen. Johnston with the injunction to come home and make just such a citizen as he had made a solider, and how well he succeeded, his neighbors will testify in the affirmative. He was a charter member of the U.C.V. of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee, No. 338.”

SEPT. 23, 1914

“The City School opened on Monday morning with an enrollment of pupils much larger than for several years.”

“Don’t fail to see the second series of The Adventures of Kathlyn at the Arcade Theatre on next Monday night.”

“Senator W.C. Crumpton reached home last week from Battle Creek, Mich., where he has been for the past six weeks.”

“The Agricultural School opened on Thursday last with appropriate exercises and with the largest enrollment of pupils in a number of years. Ninety pupils are enrolled and more are expected very soon.”

“A.J. Lee of Burnt Corn yesterday sent us the largest boll of cotton we ever saw. This boll, he says, was taken from a stalk nine feet and five inches tall. He explains that the reason of the great height, however, was the boll weevils have destroyed all top squares.”

“Opening of Conecuh County High School: Monday was a gala day in Castleberry. It was the occasion of the opening of the Conecuh County High School. It was a history-making day, and it will be pointed to in the years to come as one of the greatest occasions in the history of Castleberry.
“There was an immense concourse of people from many sections of this county and the immediate surrounding country. A very small percentage of those assembled was able to witness the exercises as the spacious auditorium was filled to overflowing, leaving the larger number on the outside.
“The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Jones, pastor of the local Baptist church.
“Speeches were made by Mayor E. Downing, Supt. R.E.L. Key, C.S. Rabb and State Superintendent W.F. Feagin and members of the school faculty, the principal speech being made by Mr. Feagin.
“The exercises concluded, the great crowd was invited to partake of an elegant dinner spread in the cool grove by the school building, and all present appeared to do justice to the splendid repast. It was excellent in quality and sufficient in quantity to have fed many more hungry souls.
“After dinner, the local military company gave an exhibition drill and the day closed with a baseball game.
“The new school building is ornate in appearance and splendidly constructed, affording ample room for present and future needs. The Courant hopes at an early date to print a photo cut of the building. The school is situated about one mile from the business part of the town near the center of a six-acre lot. No prettier location could have been selected.
“Miss Sarah E. Luther, principal of the school, has the distinction of being the only lady principal of a high school in the state. She is thoroughly in love with he work and we predict that she will place the Conecuh High School in the forefront of high school efficiency in this state. She will be supported by a corps of teachers well trained in their work.
“The school started off with a fine enrollment of pupils which is expected to grow.
“It was a matter of sincere regret on the part of the people of Castleberry as well as those from other parts of the county that Dr. R.T. Holland was prevented by unavoidable circumstances from being present on this occasion, as he was not only largely instrumental in securing the location of the school, but was a most liberal contributor to the building fund.”

SEPT. 30, 1914

The annual reunion of Alabama Division United Confederate Veterans will be held in Mobile Oct. 22nd to 24th. Special railroad rates will be given on this occasion.

N.B. Jones: Again the grim reaper has gathered to himself one of our number, when Brother N.B. Jones was called hence, on Aug. 28th, 1914. In the 73rd year of his age, to share the blessings of eternal life.
Brother Jones had been a well known and highly respected citizen of Evergreen for many years. He was postmaster of Evergreen at one time, and was for many years engaged in the mercantile business. In more recent years, he enjoyed the peaceful pursuit of farming.
When the Civil War broke out, Brother Jones enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army and served honorably throughout the memorable conflict. He was an honored member of the Camp Capt. Wm. Lee, U.C.V. He became a member of Armor Lodge, No. 31, Knights of Pythias a number of years ago. Brother Jones was a quiet and peace loving man, and commanded the respect and esteem of his neighbors and friends.
Therefore be it resolved, that in the death of Brother Jones, the town has sustained the loss of a good citizen, his associates a kind and considerate friend and brother.
Be it further resolved that these resolutions be spread on the minutes of the lodge, a copy sent to the family and that they be published in The Evergreen Courant.
Respectfully submitted,
J.C. Jones
Byron Tisdale
Robt. H. Jones
Committee

Richard H. Parks, a prominent lawyer and former solicitor, committed suicide in Dothan on Friday last by shooting himself.

The Buick Automobile Co. will buy four bales of Conecuh County cotton at 10 cents per pound. E.C. Hines, local agent of the company, was instructed by wire on Monday to purchase the cotton. The company will buy cotton in every county where it has an agency.

Mrs. A.L. Johnston returned home last Monday from Beatrice where she was called to the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Laban Turk. This good woman passed away while Mrs. Johnston was with her.

Attorney E.C. Page reached home on Sunday from Montgomery where he has been for two weeks for medical and surgical treatment.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Crook went down to Milton, Fla. last week in their touring car.

Haimon Long said Monday that the firm of I. Long & Sons would buy 1,000 bales of cotton, paying 10 cents, half cash and half in trade, or they will pay all cash and give 15 percent more than the ruling market price on the day of purchase.

Conecuh County Sunday School Convention was in session here on Saturday and Sunday. The attendance was not large, but the sessions were interesting and instructive.

D.R. Lamont, who was cashier of the recently defunct bank at Atmore, committed suicide by shooting himself on Thursday last.

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