100-year-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era

William Hawley Smith

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Feb. 28, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

A cow owned by Rev. B.H. Grier had twin calves a few days ago.

Mr. Mark B. Grier has entered the ordinance corps of the army, he will first take six weeks training at the University of Pennsylvania.

List of drafted men from Wilcox County who will leave for the army posts this week: Jessie Kelley, Frank Griffith, John B. Primm, Charly Knight, Harry S. Harwood, Louis C. Harris, Wm. D. Harvil, James S. Laird, McCrae Turner, John W. Thornhill, Young C. Autrey, W.C. Hayes, Sam Taylor, James T. Harris, S. Hunter Rayburn, Wm. Y. Lowery.

The friends of Mr. Edwin Hart will be glad to learn he has recovered from an attack of pneumonia. He says the weather is fine “over there” and he is enjoying life hugely except for a large size appetite for sweets. Go to, Edwin; bite a French girl or two and be content.

The county board of equalization, consisting of Messrs. W.W. Agee of Lamison, chairman; Claude Bryant of Canton Bend; and Tom. P. Melton of Pineapple, were in session at the court house last week.

Messrs. L.W. Godbold and R.F. Stokes and Dr. P.E. Godbold were in Camden Tuesday.

Mr. McGill of the firm of Hobbs & McGill of Selma was in Camden on last Friday. Mr. McGill is an expert optician, more than that, he is an honest, Christian gentleman. He has two regular engagements in Camden each month, the second and fourth Fridays. He will be here again on March 8 at Camden Drug Co. If your eyes trouble you, see him.

Mrs. J.R. Liddell is recovering from an attack of the measles.

The School Improvement Association will meet on Monday afternoon, March 11, at three o’clock in the Grammar School auditorium. The school children will entertain.

Miss Carol Reutz came home from the A.G.T.I. at Montevallo to attend the funeral of her grandfather, Mr. David McIntosh.

The Teachers Reading Circle for the Camden District will meet at the Wilcox County High School Sat., March 9, at 10 o’clock a.m. The book to be discussed is “All the Children of All the People” by William Hawley Smith.

Mrs. S.G. Ross has put a pig in the Grammar School pen; who will put one in the High School pen?

All who have wagons and are interested in the school and invited to send a load of sand to the Grammar School for the children’s sand pile.

Lower Peach Tree: Messrs. W.L. Jeffrey, Lamar Walker and Dr. K.A. Mayer made a business trip to Montgomery the past week.

Pineapple: On the morning of Feb. 13, our town and community was made unusually sad by the death of Mrs. Jessie Stanford, wife of Mr. J.M. Stanford. She was born and raised in this community, and was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, Sunday School, Ladies Aid and Missionary Society. The last few years she was in failing health but she bore it with Christian fortitude.