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

Grave of Augustus Laruzan Slaughter Jr.

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Nov. 1, 1917 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

The cane mills of the county are busy grinding sugar cane and millet into syrup.

Hog cholera is reported in Monroe County, near McWilliams. Our farmers are urged to obtain serum and inoculate their hogs as soon as possible.

The fall term of Circuit Court convened last Monday, Judge Miller presiding. The courtroom was well filled and Judge Miller’s charge was given respectful attention, and the feature of the day was the presence of the High School boys. The grand jury is now in session and is composed of representative citizens of our county and it is expected that the court will conclude its work this week.

Death of an Aged Lady: Miss Mary Ann Morgan of Pine Hill, an elderly lady, who was deaf, dumb and blind, died in Camden last Sunday. In her last illness, ministering ladies comforted her. She was buried in the Camden Cemetery last Sunday afternoon. Rev. B.H. Grier officiated and sweet ladies and girlish hands decorated the newly-made grave with roses and other flowers. God has released her from her earthly sufferings and taken her spirit to Him.

Dr. T.W. Palmer, president of the Alabama Girls Technical Institute at Montevallo, was at Furman last Sunday to be at the bedside of his sick uncle, Mr. R.O. Simpson. Dr. Palmer is a native of Furman and his many friends are always glad to see him.

Mr. Clem Harris, after a visit to home folks, has gone to join his army post.

The regular November term of the County Commissioners court will be held in Camden on Mon., Nov. 5.

Dr. McConnell, who succeeds Dr. Oldham as chief of the county tick inspectors, was here last Saturday to confer with the other county tick inspectors. Mr. J.H. Williams of Pine Apple was also present and also J.H. Barnett, county farm demonstrator.

The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Slaughter of Lower Peach Tree will be grieved to learn of the sad death of their little son, Augustine L. Slaughter Jr. on the evening of Tues., Oct. 23, at their home. The bright little boy, the day before, caught fire while in his kimono at the family home, and before aid could reach him was so badly burned that death followed after a day of suffering. Our heart’s sorrow goes out to the bereaved parents in their distress. May God comfort them in the deep affliction, which has befallen them.

Tax Collector Van DeVoort has returned from a trip to west Wilcox and says collections are pretty good, especially on the west side.

Mr. Max Boykin, train master of the Selma & Pensacola division of the L&N Railroad, was a Camden visitor this week. He has furnished another man to handle freight on the Camden branch and hopes in the future to have the evening train reach Camden promptly.

Rev. C.J. Bentley, pastor of the Furman Baptist Church, was recently injured in Birmingham by being run over by an automobile. He has a fractured arm and several bruises and is yet in a Birmingham infirmary to the regret of his many friends.