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| Grant Gillis |
In the Nov. 1, 1923 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era,
publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported, under the headline “Furman Home
Destroyed,” that the “beautiful home of J.B. Watson was burned Friday. The
invalid wife of Mr. Watson was carried to a neighbor’s house. The piano,
bedding, a little furniture, a few trunks and a very little clothing were
saved.”
Readers that week also learned that “Camden defeated
Thomasville’s football team here last Friday, the score being 19 to 0. After
the game, a luncheon was served to the boys of both teams, and a few friends,
by the ladies of Camden, at the High School building.”
In the Nov. 8, 1923 edition of The Progressive Era, under
the headline “Shinny Still Captured,” it was reported that “Deputy Sheriff Tait
executed a search warrant on Gilbert Watkins, living near Camden, Saturday
morning and found a 10-gallon still, trough and pipe, also seven gallons of
beer. Gilbert was arrested and placed in jail to await circuit court.”
Readers that week also learned that the “high school
teachers served oysters downtown last Friday evening, and in spite of a heavy
downpour of rain, the patrons of the school all attended, and a nice sum was
realized for this good cause.”
In the Nov. 15, 1923 edition of the newspaper, it was
reported that “Mrs. Everette Pritchett has in the grove at their home about 25
pet squirrels, and it is a pretty sight to see from 10 to 12 of these pets
running around in the grove at any hour of the day. They go to Mr. and Mrs.
Pritchett’s window in the morning and wake them and are fed from their hands.
Some are so gentle that they will go in to Mr. Pritchett’s packets for nuts.”
Readers that week also learned that “Mr. A.C. Capell has a
satsuma orange tree at his home near Camden, which is loaded with golden fruit.
He has gathered up, to date, 395 oranges.”
In the Nov. 22, 1923 edition of the paper, it was reported
that “Mr. G.W. Watson died at his home at Fatama on Tues., Nov. 13, after a
long illness. Mr. Watson served four years in the Civil War as a member of the
famous 42nd Alabama Infantry. He married Miss Joanna Williams in
1865, this union was blessed with 12 children, seven boys and five girls, all
living at this time.”
Also that week, readers learned that “Camden High School
defeated Beatrice here last Friday by the score of 19 to 0. R.D. Capell played
a good offensive game, making all three touchdowns. Sam Jones and James Miller
for Camden made several long gains.”
In the Nov. 29, 1923 edition of the paper, it was reported
that “Camden was well represented in Montgomery Saturday to see Alabama win the
victory over Georgia in the football game. They enjoyed seeing Grant Gillis do
some star playing, Gillis having been on the Camden ball team here last season.
Among them were Messrs. J.M. McLeod, Cecil Skinner, Eugene Watts, G.L.
Wilkinson, John and Jesse McLeod, Robert Lee Hawthorne, Jim Bell, S.J. Ervin
and Clarence Smith.”
That week’s paper also let readers know that “Miss Loula
Merriweather of Montgomery has accepted a position as English teacher in the
Wilcox County High School, this place having been made vacant by the
resignation of Miss Sarah Ervin. Miss Merriweather, who is a graduate of
Alabama College, where she was president of the student body, comes very highly
recommended to us, and the school is to be congratulated on securing her
services.”
Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Thursday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of December 1923 in Wilcox County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. Their friendly staff will be more than happy to get you started.
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