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

Hon. James Buchanan Lloyd

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Sept. 20, 1917 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

Death of Dr. C.C. Lloyd: The many friends of Hon. J.B. Lloyd throughout Wilcox County will sympathize with him in the death of his brother, Dr. C.C. Lloyd, who died at his home at Greenville, Ala. on Sept. 8.

Dr. Lloyd was quite an old man, having passed his 83^rd milestone. He was a Confederate veteran and a member of the 17^th Alabama Regiment during the war, and took a great deal of interest in the Confederate reunions and until his death was chaplain of his camp.

Dr. Lloyd retired from the practice of medicine about 35 years ago since which time he has devoted his life to the ministry of the gospel.

Wilcox Boys Leave: War as a reality was more vividly impressed on Wilcox in the past week than ever before. On Wednesday morning, 22 young men entrained for Camp Wheeler, near Macon, Ga. Quite a number of citizens were present at the depot to give the departing boys a last farewell.

(The group of 22 included John Ernest Blount, Will Bennett, Richard Coates McWilliams, Thomas Jones Horton, Henry W. Thomas, Carlos P. Weatherly, Josiah Forniss Irby, John William Rogers, Albert Streit, Horace Falls, John Henry Daily, Walter Bright Godbold, William McDaniel Reaves Jr., Willie O. Morgan, Bob Autrey, Silas Henry Ricketts, George Calvin Rikard, Henry Loftin, Sam Jones Albritton, Eugene Lafayette Cathcart, Harry Irby Savage and John George Daily.)

The people of Neenah are building a road from there to the Black’s Bluff road. Every beat ought to have improved roads.

The Camden Grammar School, with Mrs. J.S. Foster as principal, has reached the highest initial enrollment of its history. The first week showed 122 with quite a number still to come in. The High School has enrolled 98 to date.

The McWilliams Public School opened on Monday last. The interest manifested by the patrons was evidenced by the fact that funds were raised to employ a third teacher and all seemed enthused over the prospect for the year. Supt. O.C. Weaver, Dr. W.P. Roberts and Prof. J.B. Sellers made talks encouraging the movement to employ an extra teacher. Prof. J.B. Sellers, Misses Olivia McArthur and Willie Sadler will be the faculty for the ensuing year.

Prof. Irby Savage, who recently left for Uniontown, to begin his work there, and Mr. Sam Albritton of the University, arrived home Sunday in response to a call to the colors. They left Wednesday of this week to report at training camp.

Rev. Howard R. Walker, an Episcopalian minister, died suddenly in Mobile recently. He was at one time Rector of St. Mary’s Church at Camden.

Many travelers now visit Camden. This is an indication of better times. However, we need an improved train service, for a visit to Camden by railroad means a stay of two nights and a day, and only those come who cannot avoid the trip.

Mr. Frank Tait has gone North to serve in the U.S. Navy.

Misses Mary and Natallie Cappell of Cappells will attend the high school here this season.