100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal newspaper

Alabama Gov. Thomas E. Kilby

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Jan. 23, 1919 edition of The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroe County, Ala.

Postmaster Mack Prim of Franklin was circulating among Monroeville friends Monday.

Mr. Jas. K. Kyser was over from Burnt Corn Tuesday and reported several cases of influenza in the community.

Messrs. G.L. McKinley and William Cobb of Franklin were in Monroeville Tuesday. Mr. Cobb carried a musket during the Civil War and although in his 80^th year he has the appearance of a much younger man.

W.G. McCorvey Jr., who saw some hard service at the front over in France, has received an honorable discharge and is now at home. He arrived in New York a few weeks ago but spent a time in the hospital, having been slightly injured by a shell explosion while in action. He has a host of friends who are glad he has been returned to civil life again.

Mr. Whitt B. Green of Burnt Corn made possibly the largest sweet potato crop grown in Monroe County last year. Mr. Green, who is a Confederate veteran and in his 83^rd year, cleared three-quarters of an acre of new ground, planted it to sweet potatoes, did all the work of cultivation and gathered 200 bushels of potatoes, some of them weighed 7-1/2 pounds. Who can go him one better?

Mr. J.S. Wiggins, who has been stationed at West Point, N.Y. since entering the military service, returned home last Friday, having received his discharge.

Officers Literary Society Elected: The Kipling Literary Society met Sat., Jan. 18, 1919 to elected new officers. The following ones were elected: President, W.H. Wise; Vice President, Verdelia Simmons; Secretary-Treasurer, Louis Grimes; Sergeant-at-Arms, Jim Bizzelle; Reporter, Mary A. Boulware; Program committee, Grace Simmons, Kenneth Lazenby and Tom Andress.

We were delightfully entertained with some readings by Verdelia Simmons. As there was no further business to come before the meeting, we adjourned to meet again Sat., Jan. 25.

After having been confined to his room for several days with influenza, Mr. L.C. Baggett is able to be back at his post in the Fancy Grocery.

While there has been a decrease in the number of cases of influenza in and around Monroeville, there are still several cases and new ones are reported every few days.

THOMAS E. KILBY IS INAUGURATED GOVERNOR: With his hand on the Bible used by Jefferson Davis in taking the oath of office as president of the Confederate States of America, Thomas Erby Kilby, former mayor of Anniston, state senator and lieutenant governor swore to uphold the constitution of the state and government; and as this formality was performed on Monday he became governor of Alabama, succeeding Hon. Charles Henderson. The oath of office was administered at 12:30, John C. Anderson, chief justice of the Alabama supreme court, administering the oath.

Death of Mr. Joseph S. Scott: Mr. Joseph S. Scott, eldest son of the late Dr. G.G. Scott, died at his home at Mt. Pleasant on last Wednesday after an illness of several days. The body was taken to Montgomery for burial.