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

William Kirk Tomlinson Sr.'s grave in Dover, Delaware.

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Jan. 10, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

Mrs. Jennie Foster, principal of the grammar school, has had a pig pen built for two months but no pig has been sent in. Can’t some friend of the school furnish the pig?

The sad news reached here Tuesday night that Miss Myrtle Fail, who is attending school in Montgomery, was badly burned. It is impossible to get particulars, but it is the hope of this whole community that the young lady is not seriously injured.

Mr. W.A. Dale has moved into the new building erected by Dr. E. Bonner and Hon. J.M. Bonner at the old post office site. Mr. Dale carries a full line of groceries and general merchandise. He has put on a delivery wagon and will deliver your orders promptly. His phone is No. 102.

NOTICE: Notice is hereby given that application will be made to the Governor and Board of Pardons of Alabama for the parole of Joe Howard Riley, convicted in the Circuit Court of Wilcox County on the 7^th day of May 1914 of murder in the second degree and sentenced to 30 years in the penitentiary.

Death of A.J. Campbell: Andrew Jackson Campbell was born Dec. – 1845 and died Dec. 26, 1917. He volunteered early in the Civil War in Co. D, 3^rd Alabama Cavalry and served loyally until the end. Not long after the war he married Miss Sallie Stevenson, who preceded him to the grave by on a year or two, and with whom he reared five children, all of whom survive him. “Uncle Jack,” as he was familiarly known, was ever a Democrat of the old school and was well known throughout the county in the trying days of Reconstruction for his loyalty to his party. He usually served as a delegate from Mt. Hope beat in the convention days and his outspoken voice and witty ejaculations often brought jocularity and applause from his associates.

Death of William Tomlinson: Mr. William Tomlinson died at his winter home on the Young place at 6 a.m. Wed., Jan. 2, 1918 of pneumonia.

Mr. Tomlinson leaves two sons to mourn his death. One son has enlisted in the United States army; and another son, William Tomlinson Jr., was with his father at the time of his death.

Mr. Tomlinson’s wife and two daughters live at Dover, Delaware. His body was shipped to Dover.

Mr. Tomlinson has spent the past five winters in Gees Bend and had made many friends.

Camden Visitors to Awin: Superintendent O.C. Weaver, Mrs. W.J. Bonner, president of the Wilcox School Improvement Association, and Mrs. W.W. Primm, secretary of that organization, were visitors to Awin on Monday last and met with local workers in that community. Awin is to be congratulated on the spirit with which they are manifesting in their school interests.

Lower Peach Tree: The death of an old colored man on Mr. Stabler’s place occurred on Dec. 23^rd, according to his statement he was about one hundred and ten years old.

We have the coldest weather in years; big Bear creek was frozen nearly over and we had some sport duck and rabbit hunting.

Stewartville: At the home of Rev. A.P. Majors on Sunday last, Miss Essie Waren and Mr. Charles Helton were married. Their Stewartville friends wish them well.

Bellview: Mr. J.B. Sessions has just completed his store. His family have just recovered from the measles.