Singleton tells of friend who passed away in the mountains of Colorado

Silverton, Colorado

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Old man finds peace living in the Rocky Mountains” was originally published in the March 4, 1993 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Throughout the Old Testament, there is evidence of men going into the mountains for prayer and meditation. During this time, just before the blossoms of spring dot the landscape, the hills seem to beckon those who seek this solitude more than any other time of the year. The stillness of the deep valleys and the quietness of the life around adds even more to the peace and solitude.

As the cold crisp winds sway the leafless branches of the timber, peace fills the soul and all the burdens of life seems to fade in the distance. The quietness of the moment fills the mind, and time seems to stand still.

Brushing away all thoughts and problems of tomorrow, this moment seems that it will last for all eternity. The stillness of the evening seems also to add a moment of sadness, for within a few short days, the coming of spring will fill the air with change and beauty. The cold, crisp quietness of winter will have faded, and Mother Nature will once again paint the land with a magnitude of beauty and color.

Perhaps I am trying to write about something that I don’t understand. Perhaps on this chilly and beautiful Saturday afternoon, I am letting the stillness around me sway my thinking.

Realms of eternity

It could be that I need to throw my head back and scream to the high heavens. But then, I stand here atop this high hill and face the western skies and the setting sun, not daring to make a sound in fear that I might disturb the realms of eternity.

I have, in my lifetime, been fortunate to travel to many parts of this world. Nowhere have I found that true feeling of peace, as to be had in the closing days of winter atop the high hills.

During a time, my family and I had the wonderful privilege to live at the foot of the great Rocky Mountains. During my spare time, I sought out the old mountain men who came to town once or twice a year for their few supplies. As I would sit and talk to these old men, many who had left their homes for the peace and solitude of the high country, I learned many things.

I became best friends with an old man who lived in a rough log cabin, located high in the mountains above 11,000 feet elevation. This old man had at one time been a successful businessman in the state of New York.

During his business career, he had become quite wealthy. But, according to his story, all his money could not buy the peace of mind that he longed for. Because of the hectic life of his successful business, he had never married and started a family. He was so busy seeking great wealth that he had let much of life pass him by.

All the money he needed

“I had all the money that I could have ever spent,” he related to me. “But my nerves began to fail me. I was about to suffer a nervous breakdown. My doctor ordered me to get away from the business for a while and take it easy.

“Taking my doctor’s advice, I visited the high mountains of Colorado. From the hotel where I was staying, I began to venture into the high country. On one of these trips, I came across this old shabby log cabin that was vacant and run down. I began to inquire about its owner and soon it belonged to me.

“I moved from the fine and comfortable hotel suite to the bare old cabin that had only a fireplace, a rough handmade table, and an old bed made of crude, rough planks that stood in the corner of the one room cabin.

“Within a few days, I returned to the town of Silverton, where I drafted a letter to my brother and to my business associates. My instructions were to dispose of all my holdings and property. I informed them that I would never return. I had found that which I had been looking for all these years. I had found peace.

“One cannot know the true facts about life and death and total peace of mind unless they witness and be a part of the high country. One must be able to view the vastness of the great mountains and become a part of them before the true meaning of their purpose here on this planet is made known to them.

Gain knowledge

“That is why those men of the Old Testament sought the high mountains to gain knowledge and companionship with the Creator. I would not trade a moment of the peace and contentment that I have come to know, for all the wealth and property that I could have had. When the hand of death reaches out to me, I will be at peace with myself. I will be in the high country.”

This was part of the last conversation I had with my old mountain friend. I was to learn later, after I had left the area, that my friend had passed away, there on the side of the high mountain peak. Death had found him just as he had said it would, there on the mountain.

He was found by two elk hunters, seeking refuge from a blinding snow storm. The old man was found sitting in front of the crude stone fireplace, as if he had fallen asleep, in the one crude chair within his beloved cabin.

A small headstone marks the spot where the old mountain man now sleeps, just a few steps to the west of the cabin he loved so much. As I visited the spot some years later, I was reminded of what he had said during our last conversation. He was now at peace.

As I stood there beside the small unkept grave that day in October 1974, I think I felt some of that peace of mind and contentment of the soul, just as he had relayed to me in our conversation many times earlier.

And as I looked into the chilly October skies above me, I knew, too, that soon this place would sleep beneath a soft blanket of deep snow that would protect and cover the lone grave until the early days of the coming summer.

Walking down the long, lonely narrow trail that carried me back to our so-called civilization, I knew that my friend was in good hands. Here on the high mountain, he had found that which he had searched for in life. There are many in this society that haven’t been so lucky.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Stokes Alligator at Miller's Ferry, Alabama is a wonder to behold

Stokes Alligator at Miller's Ferry, Alabama.

Going all the way back to the first episode in February 2019, I’ve been a big fan and dedicated listener of Big Daddy Lawler’s podcast, “Gettin’ Outdoors.” In a recent episode, Big Daddy mentioned that the Miller’s Ferry Resource Office was now open to the public after being closed for nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This office is where the world-famous Stokes Alligator is kept on display.

The Stokes Alligator is the Safari Club International’s world-record holder. It’s 15 feet, nine inches long and tipped the scales at 1,011.5 pounds. The alligator was captured on the night of Aug. 16, 2014 by a team of gator hunters led by Mandy Stokes of Thomaston. Other hunters on her team included John Stokes, Savannah Jenkins, Kevin Jenkins and Parker Jenkins.

Dozens of times over the years, my teenage son and I have discussed this gigantic gator and what it must have been like to haul it in. We’d read that the Stokes team was in a 17-foot aluminum boat on the night of their famous hunt, and we could only imagine what it was like to hook half a ton of angry reptile. When we heard that the resource office had reopened, we decided to take a little field trip to see the Stokes Alligator for ourselves.

The weather on Friday was picture perfect, so after a couple of C.O.B. combos at Jackson’s Fried Chicken, we drove over to Miller’s Ferry. Before we even got a chance to park, we could see the giant Stokes Alligator through the building’s large front windows. We parked in front of the William Dannelly monument, put on the still-required face masks and went inside for a closer look.

There inside, you’ll find the Stokes Alligator on the south side of the lobby. His display takes up almost one entire side of the room. To say that this massive alligator is an impressive sight is a huge understatement. There is no substitute for seeing it yourself.

Seeing the Stokes Alligator in person is like seeing some prehistoric throwback, a modern-day dinosaur that was out of place in today’s world. How old was this creature when captured? What had it eaten to gain such massive size? Are there even larger alligators out there somewhere right now in such remote backwaters that no human will ever lay eyes on them?

I’ve done my fair share of kayaking on the Alabama River, and the Stokes Alligator is much longer than any kayak I’ve ever been in. I could only wonder what it would be like to encounter such a beast on the river. If he decided to chomp down on the leg of a swimmer, you would truly be at his mercy.

In addition to the Stokes Alligator, the lobby at the resource office has a number of other interesting items on display. You’ll find stuffed coyotes, weasels, deer, beavers, minks, a wide variety of fish and even a long, green eel. There’s even a display of model steamboats, and I was especially interested in the display of old Indian projectile points and other assorted artifacts.

In the end, if you’ve never seen the Stokes Alligator in person, I encourage you to do so. To me, it was like seeing one of the Natural Wonders of the World, and it was well worth the drive to see in person. The resource office is located at 1226 Powerhouse Road, just off State Highway 28, on the east side of the Alabama River, about 10 miles from downtown Camden.

Singleton tells of the 'mystery of the Devil's Soup Bowl' in Monroe County

'Devil's Soup Bowl' near Megargel, Alabama. 

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “The mystery of the Devil’s Soup Bowl remains unsolved” was originally published in the Feb. 24, 1994 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

There are many things on this planet that we don’t understand. Many of these mysteries are far from this place we call home, here in Monroe County. But, even here, there are mysteries that have remained unsolved for years.

Many of us travel hundreds of miles to see and learn about these strange happenings but never stop to realize that just down the road aways a phenomena awaits, known only to but a few.

In my excursions around our county, I have come across several strange things. The Devil’s Soup Bowl ranks right at the top with the strangest. I first heard of this place of mystery shortly after my arrival in the county. As with many other things that I wanted to see, I could hardly wait for the time to present itself that I could see for myself this place of strange happenings.

After arriving at the small pool of water, I thought that perhaps the story that had been told to me had been blown out of proportion a bit. Or, as the years passed, the stories of the Soup Bowl had been added to by the local country folks, as was oftentimes the custom.

Very unusual

But, as I stood there beside this pool of mystery, I began to realize that something of a very unusual nature had happened here atop this small ridge west of Highway 21, southwest of the Megargel community.

The longer I viewed the small body of water, the more interested I became. My friend who had taken me had relayed to me many of the old stories told by the elderly people who had lived nearby and once farmed the land that surrounded the mystery pool.

One story by an elderly gentleman, now deceased, told of seeing a mystery light in and around the water during the hours of midnight. This light was only seen during the time of the month when the full moon was at its brightest.

Another story told of a bluish halo of sorts that hovered above the southern end of the small body of water. Those who had seen the mysterious halo told of its growing brighter for a few moments after the first sighting. Then, it would grow dim and fade in color as it slowly faded from view, later to be seen moving around beneath the clear waters of the small lake.

Then, there are the stories of hearing strange, bone-chilling sounds in the area during certain times of the month. Stories by the early settlers of the area seem to indicate that around this small pool of mystery, few if any sought to find out for themselves the solutions to any of the happenings. It seemed that the narrow trails that ran nearby were traveled very little during the hours when darkness had settled over the area.

Dry during drought season

The water in the mystery bowl is fresh. As you look closely, you might see a few minnows here and there in the clear waters. There have been some who supposedly have seen the small mystery pool go dry during the drought season. I have talked to only one person who tells of seeing it dry, only once.

Before the small road was closed by the installation of a locked gate, I visited this place quite a number of times. During my visits, I carried various instruments with me that might give some indication as to what lay beneath the mysterious waters of the small pool or lake.

On one occasion, I removed from my pocket a small survival compass. Upon opening the compass, it seemed as if a great magnetic force of some kind surrounded the small body of water. The compass seemed to go crazy, spinning around and around.

On the next trip to the Devil’s Soup Bowl, I carried my metal detector to see if I would get any reading of any kind within the area. The moment I turned the instrument on, it, too, began to sound as though the whole area was made of solid metal. After moving around the small body of water, I turned the metal detector off and placed it inside my vehicle.

I, then, reached in my pocket and brought out the small survival compass. I went to exactly the same place where I had stood before with the compass. Upon opening the compass, this time nothing happened. The needle pointed due north as it was supposed to do.

During three other visits, the small compass behaved the same way. Only during the times of the full moon would the compass spin. The other times, it worked as a compass should. The opposite pattern of behavior applied to the metal detector. Only during the times of dark nights, when there was no moon, would the detector give any indication of metal in the area.

There has been so much speculation among the old timers who grew up near the Devil’s Soup Bowl. Some think that there is a spirit beneath the waters of the small lake. Others think that perhaps beneath the waters is a meteorite that fell from the skies somewhere around the 1840s. Whatever the case may be, I know for sure that there is something very strange going on there around this mysterious pool of water.

I am certainly no authority about the situation, but my belief is that beneath the waters of the small lake lies a small meteorite weighing several tons, buried there deep beneath the surface of the earth. During the middle 1800s, there is evidence that several small meteorites fell within the state of Alabama. A couple of books and other materials have been written about this shower of stars that fell on Alabama. I believe this might be one of those mentioned.

Whatever the mystery of the Devil’s Soup Bowl, I would like to know. If it isn’t a fallen meteorite, then perhaps there is something of a great occurrence. Maybe in time, the mystery of the small lake will be investigated and researched to answer all questions. Then again, in our world of make believe, we may never know.

As for now, the answers wait, beneath the mysterious waters, there in the Soup Bowl of the Devil.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for March 30, 2022

74 YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 1948

Air Marker Planned For Camden: The State Department of Aeronautics announced last week that Camden is one of the towns which has been selected for an air marker. The marker will be painted on the roof of a prominent building so as to be readily seen by passing aircraft. It will consist of the name of the town in 10-foot letters, together with the latitude and longitude, meridian arrow and another arrow indicating the direction of the nearest airport.

Mrs. Will Liddell was a Mobile visitor Saturday. While there she autographed copies of her book, “With a Southern Accent” as the Haunted Bookshop’s guest at a writer’s reception in her honor.

Camden Loses In Legion Finals: Camden’s American Legion Post No. 84 basketball team, after going all the way to the finals in the State Legion Tournament, lost to Montgomery’s Post No. 2 by the score of 38-37. In defeating Camden, Montgomery became State Champion.
The final game in the tournament was played Saturday night, March 20, at the Sidney Lanier Gym. Previously, Camden had advanced to the finals by defeating Haleyville, 45-43. Montgomery had defeated Foley, 53-42, to meet Camden in the championship game.

The Camden Town Council at a meeting Friday afternoon passed a resolution approving the proposed sale of the Camden Phone Co. to T.O. Crutchfield. Approval by the city government of transfers of telephone franchises are required by law.

86 YEARS AGO
MARCH 26, 1936

FREE PICTURE SHOW: The children of Camden wish to thank the firm of J.R. Liddell & Son for the splendid picture show on Wednesday afternoon. A number of souvenirs and prizes were awarded. The show was sponsored by the makers of Robin Hood Shoes for children.

DEATH CLAIMS HON. PAUL EVERETT JONES: As we go to press, we learn of the unexpected death of Hon. Paul Everett Jones, prominent local attorney, and Deputy Solicitor for Wilcox County, Alabama. Mr. Jones was a leading citizen in this section and greatly loved by a host of friends.

Fred Ratcliffe, son of Dr. and Mrs. H.A. Ratcliffe, was in an automobile wreck a few days ago. Friends are glad that his injuries are not serious.

Mrs. Heustis Jones, Mrs. Sallie Miller Brice will leave Thursday to visit the Azalea Trail in Mobile.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Albritton is rapidly nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy early in April.

AMATEUR BROADCAST FOR BENEFIT OF CAMDEN BASEBALL TEAM: Time, March 31, 8 p.m., Place, Grammar School Auditorium. Four cash prizes will be given to the winners. If you desire to enter, see Eugene Watts and give your selection. Admission 10 cents and 25 cents.

Ride out to the Bridgeport road and see the beautiful azalea at the home of Mrs. A.J. Bigger.

97 YEARS AGO
MARCH 26, 1925

Mrs. John Miller and Mr. Estin Purifoy attended the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in Selma Tuesday night.

The death of Mr. Clemment Clapp of Selma, which occurred early Sunday morning, will be sad news to his many Wilcox County friends. He lived at Lower Peach Tree and at Camden during his childhood.

FRISBY-LOWERY: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Oliver Lowery of Sunny South, Alabama, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Anne Louise, to Horace Frisbie Jr. of Lamison, Ala., the wedding to take place April 9, 1925 at the home of the bride’s parents.

Barbara La Marr will be at the Camden Theatre Saturday night in one of her best pictures, “The Shooting of Dan McGrew.” Miss La Marr plays the role as the “Lady who is known as Lou.”

McWILLIAMS: A very sad accident occurred last week when “Grand Ma” Grimes fell and broke her hip. Mrs. Grimes is about 74 years of age and has been an invalid for a great many years.

MOORE ACADEMY: Dot Grimes and friends dehorned a cow Saturday afternoon with her Chevrolet.

LOWER PEACH TREE: The boat passed here on time heavily loaded with freight for our wharf and way landings between here and Mobile.

111 YEARS AGO
MARCH 30, 1911

Obituary: What was not supposed to be serious, developed into a very sad shock to the entire community Monday last when Thos. Lee DeWitt passed away. Lee was employed by the Hamrod McKay Lumber Co. in the capacity of logging, and while felling a tree, a limb broke from a nearby tree, falling on and bruising his body. The physicians were summoned immediately and everything done possibly for his recovery, but the pain was too great to be borne. On Monday, the 14^th, the funeral took place at the Lamison Baptist Church at four o’clock, Rev. Morgan of Jackson, Ala. officiating.

Last Sunday night, a terrible cyclone came over the town and neighborhood of Jones Mill in Monroe County and did much damage. Seventeen people were seriously injured and one killed out right, many houses were blown down. Steve Byrd, who formerly lived near Pine Apple, was killed. Frank McCrory, formerly of Awin, is badly injured and is not expected to recover.

Friends of John Miller, Esq. will be pleased to learn that he passed a very creditable examination before the Supreme Court and is now a full fledged attorney. We predicted for Mr. Miller a successful career.

Mr. Robb Dunn killed a wild turkey gobbler last Wednesday morning that weighed 23 pounds.

Russell D. Liddell, the former Cashier of the Camden National Bank of Camden, who left here some months since has returned to Alabama. While he was in Europe, he resolved to return to this state and has voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. He went direct to Mobile for this purpose and has since been taking medical treatment. He admits drink got him into trouble.

124 YEARS AGO
MARCH 30, 1898

The best pickle you ever stuck a tooth in at E.O. Rentz for 20 cents per quart.

Mr. J.L.B. Robbins happened to the painful accident of having his hip dislocated a few days since. He is getting along very nicely but still confined to his bed.

Lumber is being hauled for a fence which will be built around the M.E. church.

Mr. Lambert, our cow and tax man, passed through the city with 81 head of cattle last week.

Miss Patton Benson, who has been visiting relatives in our city, returned to her home in Forest Home last Saturday. Miss Benson, during her stay in our midst, has won many friends who will always be glad to have her visit our town.

We are in receipt of a piece of music called “Bellview Waltz” by Miss Stella Spurlin of Camden. It is beautifully printed on good paper and clean type. The waltz is very musical and shows that the composer has unusual musical talent. It is six pages in length and full of variety. Camden should be proud of her talented daughter. This music is for sale at the Jewelry Store of Col. W.F. Spurlin. Price 50 cents per copy.

The members of the Memorial Association are required to meet at the residence of Mrs. W.F. Spurlin Thursday afternoon, 31^st inst., at four o’clock. A full attendance is desired.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for March 29, 2022

Buddy Raines and the 'Mystery Track of Loree'

10 YEARS AGO
MARCH 29, 2012

Local weather reporter Betty Ellis reported .20 of an inch of rain in Evergreen on March 22 and .21 of an inch on March 23.

Unusual tracks found at Loree: When Buddy Raines set off for Evergreen from his home in the Loree community last Thursday morning, the sharp-eyed 62-year-old spotted something unusual in a cornfield near his home.
At first, he thought that someone had driven a motorcycle across the corn that he’d planted the previous Sunday, but upon closer inspection, he could tell that it was no motorcycle.
“Whatever it was wasn’t so heavy that it mashed into the soft dirt or messed up the rows very much,” Raines said. “Whatever it was, the track wasn’t there during the day on Wednesday. This was done sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.”
Raines wondered if the track may have been left behind by a large snake like the exotic anacondas and pythons that have begun to plague Florida in recent years.
The track stretched all the way across the field and was 12 to 13 inches wide. The track was just deep enough to flatten the tops of the furrows in the field. There also appeared to be a line in the tracks that indicated that it may have been caused by an animal with a tail.
Individuals who examined photos of the unusual track offered up a number of theories about what could be responsible. Animals mentioned included various snakes, alligators, snapping turtles, gopher tortoises, beavers, peacocks and otters.

31 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1991

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .15 inch of rain on March 23. He reported a high of 81 degrees on March 24 and lows of 40 on March 18 and March 19.

Clint Hyde earns Eagle Scout badge: On Sun., March 10, Clint Hyde, son of David and Harriet Hyde, received the coveted Eagle Award. Many boys join the Boy Scouts, but very few reach Eagle.
The ceremony took place at the Evergreen Baptist Church and many Boy Scouts, friends and relatives attended. Clint was escorted by scouts Will Cook, Chris Lanier and Daryl Fox, who also were flag bearers. A brass ensemble which consisted of scouts Shannon Pugh and Brent Salter, scoutmaster Pat Poole, band director Phil Mika and friend Cynthia Pugh, provided patriotic music to start the ceremony.
Assistant Scoutmaster Richard Jenkins was the Master of Ceremonies with Assistant Scoutmaster Tim Johnson narrating “The Trail to Eagle.” Rev. Jack Williamson, who is Clint’s pastor, asked David and Harriet Hyde to help make the presentation of the Eagle Award to Clint.

Southern Pine selects students: Each year Southern Pine Electric Cooperative sponsors two students from area high schools to receive a one-week, expense-free tour of Washington, D.C.
Candidates representing Hillcrest High School are Casondra Cooke and Chris Lanier. Candidates representing Sparta Academy are Kimberly Jane Griffin and Chris Owens.

39 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1983

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 1.21 inches of rain on March 15; .41 on March 16 and .34 on March 17. He reported a high temperature of 76 degrees on March 15 and a low of 29 on March 13.

McArthur Thompson is still missing, in spite of a massive widespread search for him by the Evergreen Police Department, Conecuh Sheriff Edwin Booker’s staff, the State Troopers and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. Thompson, a black male, approximately six feet tall, 175 pounds, who drags one foot, was last seen about four weeks ago, according to his mother, who reported him missing.
Sheriff Booker said that all law enforcement agencies, including Conservation Department Enforcement Officers, were still working around the clock trying to locate the missing man. The sheriff also said that Larry Fluker, local NAACP leader, had offered the help of his organization and had “spread the word” in communities over the county.
Mack was last seen by some of his associates on March 11, 1983. The strangest thing about the case of missing Mack is that he was scheduled to appear in court as a prosecuting witness.

Trial of cases on the State Bar Criminal Docket, Conecuh County, are scheduled for trial next week. Circuit Court will begin Monday morning at 9 o’clock in the courtroom of the Conecuh County Courthouse with Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding.

55 YEARS AGO
MARCH 30, 1967

Wolfe Ambulance Service will begin offering ambulance service to all of Conecuh County this Sat., April 1. Cope Funeral Home will end this service Friday. Frank Wolfe of Monroeville, owner of the new service, is already operating an ambulance service in Monroe County.

Warrant Officer One R.B. Griffin has started a 12-months tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He is the son of Mrs. Bertha Griffin of Rt. 1, Evergreen.

Service station operators were warned this week by Evergreen Police Chief John Andrews not to sell gasoline or other combustible fluids in glass containers. He pointed out that to do so is a violation of a city ordinance.
Andrews said that each year about this time when lawn-mowing is resumed there are violations of the ordinance reported. He said that it is very dangerous for gasoline to be carried in glass containers and enforcement of the law is necessary for public safety.

Marine Private First Class James C. Salter Jr., grandson of Mrs. Emmie Tatum of Rt. 1, Evergreen, is in Da Nang, Vietnam serving as a member of ‘A’ Battery, First Battalion, 13th Marine Regiment.

Lyeffion Principal Roy M. Davis crowns Ollie Mae Ward as Miss Lyeffion at the annual pageant Saturday night, sponsored by the Lyeffion FHA.

65 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1957

Unidentified Gigantic Balloon Found On Needmore Farm Monday: No Clues Are Given On Object’s Identity: A huge plastic balloon at least 150 feet long was found near Needmore Monday afternoon by the wife of a farmer. Upon being notified, the balloon was investigated immediately by the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office.
The gigantic balloon had fallen in a densely wooded area on the farm of Wilson and Martha Cross and was draped over several scrub pine trees. It looked like a huge tent, at least 40 feet long, and at the widest part about 25 feet. The remainder of the balloon was called up on the ground.
On following up the call by Martha Cross, Deputy Mancil Pearce called for the assistance of Probate Judge Lloyd Hart, game warden W.A. Thames and Leon Salter, who is a Colonel in the National Guard, and several men to help bring the object back to the Court House.
Officials were very puzzled with the only explanation being offered that perhaps it was a weather balloon of some type. Local officials were not the only ones perplexed however as officials of the U.S. Weather Station in Montgomery and Maxwell Air Force Base could offer no explanation either.
Deputy Sheriff Mancil Pearce expressed the desire to unfold the object and see just exactly how big it would be. Speculation by witnesses on the scene was that if unfolded, the plastic would be big enough to cover the Conecuh County Courthouse.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for March 28, 2022

World Champion turkey caller Eddie Salter.

38 YEARS AGO
MARCH 22, 1984

Eddie Salter of Evergreen won the state crown in the Alabama State Turkey Calling Contest held in Jackson on Tues., March 13. Shown with him are: Contest Emcee Joe C. McCorquodale Jr., second place winner Hannis Williams of Bay Minette, a former state champion; Danny Baggett of Evergreen, third place winner; and Tom Henley, president of the sponsoring Clarke County Wildlife Association.

Jeff Fountain, 14, of Jackson took first place in the Junior Division of the Alabama State Turkey Calling Contest held in Jackson on Tues., March 13. Eddie Davis, 14, of Prattville was second and Jerry Cotton, 10, of Evergreen placed third.

“Amity Joe,” owned and shown by Kathy Salter of Evergreen, is the Alabama Horseman’s Association Grand Champion for 1983 in Color Pleasure and Halter Stallions and Gelding and fourth in the state for Ladies Western Pleasure.

Little Leaguers will register players: The Evergreen Little League will be registering players for the 1984 season tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall. In order to properly register, a parent must accompany the child along with a $10 registration fee and certified birth certificate. T-Ball ages six and seven for boys and six, seven and eight for girls. Minor leagues ages eight and nine, and Little League ages 10, 11 and 12.
This will be the last chance to sign up. Tryout date will be March 31. Time will be announced later.

Women’s Softball meeting Tuesday: There will be a meeting of the Evergreen Women’s Softball League Tues., March 27, at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse. All managers must bring their league dues and team colors. All interested women are urged to attend.

Cancer Softball Tournament is set: There will be a softball tournament to be held March 30-31 at the Evergreen Municipal Park. Evergreen entries will be limited to the first 16 teams to enter. Entries must be called in no later than Wed., March 28.
Trophies will be given to the first, second, third and fourth place teams. Also, the first place team will have their entrance fee refunded. The entrance fee will be $70 per team. Hit your own ball and no red dot balls will be allowed.
There will be certified umpires to officiate the games.
The concession stand will be open and there will be plenty to eat and drink, so bring the family out and enjoy a day in the park. Any team interested may register by calling Doris Gorum. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

48 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1974

Alvis Griffin killed this fine gobbler on the opening day of the spring turkey season Wednesday of last week. The bird weighed 18-3/4 pounds and had 8-3/4 inch beard. Alvis said he killed Tom “in the woods.”

Olen Brooks, son of Ida Woods, formerly of Evergreen was saluted by the Southern Star paper of Lansing, Michigan. He participates in major sports which include basketball, football, track and wrestling. He wants to go to Southern California to play football.
During the wrestling season, Olsen won three of his matches. He wrestled at 155 pounds. His shortest pin took him 26 seconds, and the longest, four minutes. Olen came in third in the city meet.

All funds raised at the two basketball games Thursday night, March 21, at Evergreen High School went to the purchase price of the piano. Roscellous McCreary for the PTA reports that the men’s and women’s games between the faculty members and the former students was great fun for all.

69 YEARS AGO
MARCH 26, 1953

County Schools Plan ‘Play Day’ On April 10 – “All work and no play, makes Jill a dull girl,” will not be true of the students of Conecuh County during the month of April. For the first time in the history of the local schools, every child will have the opportunity to participate in some form of activity during Play Day.
On Fri., April 10, 1953, at nine o’clock, all high school students in the county will meet at Brooks Stadium in Evergreen to actively engage in at least one activity which they have learned in the physical education classes in their local school. Every grade will perform beginning with the seventh grade girls who will have the Stride Ball Relay, through the 12-grade boys who will have tug-of-war. There will be no competition between schools as all children will be divided into color groups and play in their groups of the same color regardless of their individual school.
In addition to this program of all children playing, the healthiest boy and girl from each school will be presented at an honor court. Four boys and four girls in the county will be selected, one couple from each school, and this will indeed be one of the highest honors any student could receive in the county.

The Repton PTA will sponsor a barbecue Thursday night, April 2, on the high school football field.
The T.R. Miller High School Band will play and parade on the field. T.R. Miller has one of the better bands in the State of Alabama. Bewley’s Chuck Wagon Game, string band from Texas, will play when the high school band is not playing.
The Orange Bowl football game will be shown in the high school auditorium.

76 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1946

Local Golf Course Is Being Improved: With Spring upon us and Summer just around the corner local golf enthusiasm is rising with the thermometer. Good turnouts have been present on recent Thursday and Sunday afternoons with a fair sprinkling of players on other days.
The local course is well known in south Alabama golfing circles as combining an attractive layout with a thorough test of golf. During the war, in common with most other small town courses, the local layout suffered from lack of attention. This was due to the shortage of labor and materials rather than negligence. As a result of the good work of Mr. Tatum, who is now caretaker, much improvement has been made. Although the greens require considerable further attention the course as a whole is being greatly improved.
In the near future a membership committee will make an effort to renew all old memberships and obtain as many new ones as possible. Membership is open to any residents of Evergreen without invitation and includes the use of the locker room and showers. No initiation fee is charged, dues being payable monthly to the city clerk.
Out-of-town players and returning servicemen are especially urged to join the local club. Mr. John Holland of Castleberry has stimulated considerable interest among players there, several of who have played the local course recently. A large number of out of town members is hoped for.
Prospective members should see one of the members of the committee, whose names will be announced shortly, the city clerk or Mayor Robison.

99 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1923

Baseball: The baseball team of the State Secondary Agricultural School began the season with a victory over Georgiana, witnessed by a fair crowd in spite of the threatening weather. The boys are working every afternoon and are improving rapidly. The game was featured by the pitching of Dave Lewis and three base hits by Amos and Hines.
Be sure to see the game with Brewton Fri., March 30, at 3:15 p.m. at Gantt’s Field.

J.D. Deming has been catching some very fine trout recently. Five fish were landed the aggregate weight of which was 25 pounds. Two of the number weighed 6-3/4 pounds and 6-1/2 pounds, respectively. Jeff seems to know when the signs are right.

Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

W.C. Majors of Frisco City

28 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1994

County student wins regional science fair: Ellen Sawyer, a senior at Monroe County High School, entered a project that was chosen Best of Fair held last weekend at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
Her project was a three-year study of the effects of rainfall and pollution on tree growth in Monroe County.
Other area students from county schools also placed in the regional fair: Nicole Hobbs, MCHS, first place, social sciences and human behavior; Dustin Busby, Frisco City High School, second place, earth and space sciences; Daniel Young, MCHS, third place, earth and space sciences; and Alison Stabler, Excel High School, third place, chemistry.

Majors added to high school Hall of Fame: W.C. Majors of Frisco City was one of 14 people to be inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame Monday during a banquet at the Civic Center in Montgomery.
Majors, a recently retired teacher and coach, held the head football coach’s position at Frisco City, Excel and Fairhope high schools, and Monroe Academy during his career. During a 13-year term at Fairhope, Majors amassed a win-loss record of 110 victories, 30 losses and one tie, leading the Pirates to 10 playoff appearances. He also served on the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s committee that originated the first state playoff system for football in 1962.

Marine Pvt. Juble J. Burgess, son of Andy J. and Linda S. Burgess of Route 2, Frisco City, recently completed recruit training (at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.). Burgess is a 1993 graduate of Excel High School.

53 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1969

Weekend Fire Destroys Sawmill In Frisco City: Fire of an undetermined origin completely destroyed the sawmill of the F.H. King & Sons Lumber Co. in Frisco City Sunday night, March 23.
The blaze was discovered in one section of the mill by the night watchman as he made his rounds shortly before 10 p.m. He said he called the fire department and Bush King, the company millwright. By the time the watchman got back to the sawmill building after telephoning for help, the fire had spread and was coming out all doors and windows of the corrugated metal covered structure.
The Frisco City Volunteer Fire Department called the Monroeville Volunteer Fire Company and both groups fought the blaze for more than two hours in an effort to confine it to the sawmill building.

More Fly-Boys: James Wade received his check flight and was awarded a Private Pilots License Fri., March 14, by Jimmie Baswell, Manager of Monroeville Aviation, Inc. Right is Robert “Toro” Champion, working out the last few hours of qualification before he gets his license. James Wade is a senior at Monroe County High School. Robert Champion is a freshman at Patrick Henry Junior College.

Pfc. Larry Lambert In Fighter Squadron: BEAUFORT, S.C. – Marine Private First Class Larry B. Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orbie L. Lambert of Route 2, Frisco City, is serving with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, a unit of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing. His squadron is a supporting unit of Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.

78 YEARS AGO
MARCH 23, 1944

Mrs. Mose Davis of Peterman received a letter recently from her husband, Shipfitter Third Class Mose L. Davis, who is overseas with the Seabees. He said that he and his brother, Seaman First Class John Allen Davis, had met in Sicily and neither of them knew the other was across the water.

1^st Lt. Howington Killed In Action: Friends of First Lt. Hartwell Kiley Howington regret to hear that his family has received notice from the War Department that he was killed in action Jan. 21, 1944 when the bomber of which he was the pilot was shot down over the Calais, France section.
Lt. Howington was the son of the late Rev. A.F. Howington and Mrs. Cora Kelly Howington of Frisco City.
The first of October he was called overseas and stationed somewhere in England, where he has been serving with the Eighth Air Force. On Dec. 11, 1943, he was presented with the Air Medal by James T. Posey, commanding officer of a well-known Liberator Group in England. Lt. Howington participated in such celebrated attacks as those on Munster and Wilhenshaven.

William Causey Awarded Air Medal: T/Sgt. William J. Causey of Beatrice, recently returned from service outside the continental United States, now is being processed through the Army Air Forces Redistribution Station No. 2 in Miami Beach, where his next assignment will be recommended. Sgt. Causey, age 22, as a B-25 radio operator, flew 15 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. N.H. Causey of Beatrice.

128 YEARS AGO
MARCH 22, 1894

The Confederate Veterans held a meeting in the courthouse Saturday. We understand that a number contemplate attending the reunion at Birmingham in April next.

A difficulty occurred near Scotland, this county, Tuesday of last week between Mr. Ed. English and Frank Burgess in which Burgess was dangerously, if not fatally, shot with a pistol at close range, by English. One of the balls entered Burgess’ left side and the other the right shoulder, both inflicting dangerous wounds. Mr. English was arrested, waived examination and gave bond in the sum of $300.

CIRCUIT COURT: Special Term of Circuit Court for Monroe County. Whereas in the opinion of the Judge of the First Judicial Circuit a special term of the circuit court of Monroe County is necessary. Such special term will be held in said county, beginning on Monday the 23^rd day of April, 1894 and continue one week at which a grand jury will be organized, criminal cases tried and disposed of writs of inquiry executed and civil business in which a jury is not required.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of said county will notify the Jury Commissioners to meet and draw the grand and petit Jurors for said special term as required by Section 6 of the Jury Law of 1887. – James T. Jones, Judge of 1^st Judicial Circuit.

The first quarterly meeting of Monroeville circuit will be held at the Methodist church at this place next Saturday and Sunday.

Miss Alma Packer of Packer’s Bend is visiting Mrs. W.G. McCorvey.

144 YEARS AGO
MARCH 26, 1878

Burnt Corn – We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. E.B. Lett, which occurred in Mobile, whither she had gone for medical treatment on Wednesday, the 13^th. Mrs. Lett was afflicted with anasarca, a lingering disease which never fails, sooner or later, to carry its victim to the grave.

Capt. Finnegan has his palatial steamer, John T. Moore, now on the Alabama.

Capt. Wash Welch, the urbane and gentlemanly first clerk on the John T. Moore places us under obligation for late Mobile and New Orleans papers.

Claiborne – Mr. M.W.L. Pettibone, a most excellent citizen, died at his home in Claiborne last week. His death casts a mantle of gloom over the entire community in which he lived and to the grief-stricken family we extend our sincerest sympathy.

Returned – Our young friend Jas. M. Wiggins returned from Mobile last week, where we are pleased to learn, he graduated in the Medical College with considerable credit and honor both to himself and the faculty.

St. James Hotel – To those who would unite economy to a full enjoyment of good things of life, with all the comforts of a home, we would say, by all means try the St. James before you go elsewhere, writes a sensible correspondent to the New York Dry Goods Bulletin. The hotel is situated in a central and eligible location, No. 5 South Royal Street, Mobile. The original idea of Mr. Geo. Elsworth, the proprietor, was to supply a want that’s long been felt, viz. that of furnishing a comfortable home for the commercial traveler and businessman generally, at a moderate rate. In this, he has succeeded admirably, as hundreds of our country friends who have stayed at the St. James can amply testify.

George Singleton recounts wonderful times of hunting wild muscadines

Muscadines, aka bullises.

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Eating my way out an oak limb” was originally published in the Oct. 30, 1975 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Every year when the hot sulky days of August are over and the cool crisp air of Indian summer settles over the hills, I think of the  wonderful times that I used to have as a boy hunting muscadines.

I was one of these urges that came over me a few Saturdays ago, and I decided to take to the woods once again. I had seen muscadine vines on many of my excursions through the hills to the north, so it wasn’t long before I was looking up at the finest, ripest, sweetest muscadines I had ever seen.

To be a successful muscadine hunter (some call them bullises) you have to be able to climb almost any kind of tree. And then you have to be able to throw a two-foot long stick, sometimes the distance of 60 or 70 feet straight up. I don’t like to think of myself as getting old, but it didn’t take long before I decided that I had lost some of my talents that I had as a boy.

Slow climb

After a dozen or so unsuccessful attempts to knock the ripe muscadines off the vine by throwing sticks, I decided that if the mountain wouldn’t come to me, I would go to the mountain. Leaving my shoes at the bottom of the tree, I began a very slow and back-straining ascent up the tree, to a limb about 30 feet from the ground where I could reach the muscadines.

I didn’t see a lot of difference in my climbing now, than when I was younger, other than I had to rest about every foot of the way up. And too, I seemed to have put on a little weight here and there, over the years. After reaching the safety of the large limb that I was going to sit on, I caught my breath and began to sample the wild rich taste that was squeezed from the dark firm muscadines that hung in clusters at my finger tips.

The difference between an amateur and a professional muscadine eater is that an amateur puts only one at a time in his mouth. After the juice is crushed from the muscadine, the hull is taken from the mouth by hand.

Crushes muscadines

A professional usually puts from between eight to 20 muscadines in his mouth at one time, depending on the size of his mouth. The professional crushes all of the muscadines at one time, thus enabling him to swallow more juice at a sitting. The professional also is able to discard the hulls out the side of his mouth without losing a drop of the delicious juice.

After an hour or so had passed, I felt that I regained my status as a professional muscadine eater. The bullises were getting harder and harder to reach, as I ate my way farther and farther out on the huge oak limb that I was sitting on. Satisfied that I was good as ever, and feeling quite proud of the success of my venture, I reluctantly left my perch on the strong limb and slid to the ground and my awaiting shoes.

As I bumped along in my jeep on the way home, I felt a little remorse about the many underprivileged kids who had wasted this Saturday afternoon watching television, when they too could have graduated from the ranks of the amateur to the select group of us professionals.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Reader provides more interesting details about a woman named Frank

Frank Crawford Vanderbilt

Some readers may remember reading in this space a month or so ago a column about a field trip that I took to the McConnico Cemetery, located a short distance from “downtown” Perdue Hill on County Road 1. Not long after that story ran in the paper, I received a nice message from Tom McGehee of Mobile.

McGehee, the Museum Curator at the Bellingrath Gardens & Home in Theodore, is also a board member for the Masonic Hall at Perdue Hill. According to McGehee, a 40-year-old woman named Alice Pettibone Elliott died on Aug. 16, 1886 and was buried at McConnico Cemetery. Her parents were Samuel and Vermont-native Sarah Pettibone, who were living in Conecuh County in 1850.

By 1855, the Pettibones had moved to Monroe County and were living near McConnico Cemetery. Three of their children died there (probably of yellow fever) in September 1855. All three are buried in the McConnico Cemetery.

Twenty years before her death in Monroe County, Alice, married a Confederate veteran named John Felix Elliott on May 23, 1866. Elliott was the grandson of an accomplished silversmith named Jean Simon Chaudron, who was part of the Vine & Olive Colony in Demopolis. After his wife’s death, Elliott moved Texas, where he passed away in 1901 at the ripe old age of 81.

Now, here’s where things get really interesting.

According to McGehee, Elliott’s first wife was a woman named Frank Crawford of Mobile, who he married in 1859 in Mobile. (Frank’s father had promised that he would name his next child after his best friend, never guessing that his next child would be a girl.) Elliott bought Shell Cottage, which still stands today at 1818 Spring Hill Avenue in Mobile, but the young married couple never lived there.

When the Elliotts returned from their honeymoon, where they had been accompanied by the bride’s mother, Martha Crawford, the bride returned home with her mother, instead of moving in with her new husband. Their marriage was later annulled. Other sources say that the couple got a divorce, McGehee said.

In 1868, after the War Between the States, Frank and Martha visited a distant cousin in New York City. This distant cousin was Sophia Vanderbilt, who was married to business magnate, Cornelius Vanderbilt. After Sophia’s death, Cornelius invited the two Crawford women to move in with him at 10 Washington Place, near Greenwich Village.

A year later, Cornelius, Frank and Martha took a trip to Canada. To everyone’s surprise, the 75-year-old grandfather married the 30-year-old Frank. Frank was a devout Methodist and got “The Commodore” to donate $1 million to a small Methodist college in Nashville. Today, we know it as Vanderbilt University.

In the end, I appreciate McGehee taking the time to send me this information. No doubt many readers will find this information interesting and may have their own tidbits of information to add to the story. If so, let me hear from you.

Where was the Lebanon ARP Church located in Wilcox County, Alabama?

Bethel Reformed Associate Presbyterian Church

Longtime readers of this column know how much I enjoy hearing from readers, especially from those who have questions about Wilcox County history.

On Wednesday of last week, I received a nice e-mail from Sandra McCollum of Jackson, Miss. Sandra is descended from a number of early Wilcox County pioneers, including members of the McBryde, Stewart, Hanks and Patterson families. A number of her ancestors left Wilcox County in the early 1800s and settled in Tippah County, Miss.

All of her Wilcox County ancestors were Associate Reformed Presbyterians who moved to Wilcox County from Abbeville, S.C. Some of her ancestors lived at Oak Hill, but most of them attended an ARP church called Lebanon Church. Most of Sandra’s friends in Wilcox County have told her that no one knows where the Lebanon Church was located.

With that in mind, I set out to determine as best I could where this old church was located. My go-to source for such questions are historic maps of the county produced by the Department of Geography at the University of Alabama. These maps include the names and locations of many old forgotten communities, but, unfortunately, they contain no information about the location of Lebanon Church in Wilcox County.

The oldest reference to the Lebanon Church that I could find in archived editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era was in the July 3, 1913 issue of the paper. That day’s edition included an obituary for Confederate veteran William Norris Stewart, who died at Neenah in April of that year. His obituary mentions that he joined the Lebanon Church as a young man after moving to Wilcox County from South Carolina.

Later, I ran across a 1956 article that said the Bethel ARP Church at Oak Hill “had its origin in Lebanon church, located in Wilcox County, in 1822. In 1856, Lebanon divided into two churches to serve its widely scattered members. Bethel at Oak Hill became one of the two churches. Lebanon has disappeared, but Bethel continues and including its original status as a part of Lebanon, it has had a history of 134 years.”

Still later, I found a 1957 article that said that the old Lebanon ARP Church stood “near the present town of Camden.” Other than that small clue, I could find no additional details that specifically say where the Lebanon Church was located. To say that it was near Camden could mean it was possibly located in a wide variety of places, including the old Neenah community.

In the end, Sandra is planning a trip to Camden later this spring to do more research on her family. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information about the topics mentioned above, especially the location of Lebanon Church, please let me know, and I’ll be happy to pass the information along to Sandra. With her deep family roots in county history, it would come as no surprise to learn that she is related to many of our knowledgeable local history buffs.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for March 23, 2022

Sam Jones McNeill

73 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1949

Sam McNeill’s Body Being Returned: The name of Sam J. McNeill is listed as among 75 Alabama war dead who are being returned to this country for reburial, according to an announcement issued last week from Atlanta. The bodies are being returned to New York from the European Theatre of Operations on the transport Haiti Victory.
Sam McNeill was killed in action in Germany late in 1944. He was inducted into the service in June of 1943 and was sent to England as a member of the Armed Forces early in 1944.
Before his army induction, he served Wilcox County as chief deputy sheriff. Prior to that time, he was a popular young merchant of Camden. The announcement of his death in the ETO in 1944 cast a pall of sorrow not only over his hometown, Camden, but the entire county.

Methodists To Dedicate Springer Memorial Chimes: The Spencer Springer Memorial Chimes, presented to the Camden Methodist Church by Mrs. S.G. Springer, will be dedicated at ceremonies to be held at the church in Camden on Sunday afternoon, March 27, at three o’clock. The set of Deagan chimes and an amplifying system were presented to the church last month by Mrs. Springer as a memorial to her late husband. The installation of the chimes has been made and concerts along with the Hammond organ are a feature each afternoon.
Rev. Ovie W. Mathison, local Methodist minister, will officiate at the ceremonies Sunday, and Mrs. Springer, will make the formal presentation to the church.

85 YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 1937

The Camden PTA has arranged with the Easter Rabbit to have him hide over 300 eggs on the Old Catholic lot in front of Mrs. Heustis Jones on Friday before Easter on March 26, our school district will be there to join at three o’clock. We hope every child is in the hunt. A small area will be reserved for the pre-school age. Admission 10 cents. Ice cream and candy for sale.

Mr. Henry Williams of Canton was seriously injured today while building a chimney. He was rushed to a Selma hospital for treatment.

Camden has had one resident to be presented at court in years gone by, the wealthy, beautiful, later charming, Mrs. Sam Matthews, later Mrs. John Forniss. Her beauty in advanced years was due, it was said, to enameling of her face which was done by experts in England for her court presentation.

LOST: One pole red milk cow, branded S on right hip, horns cut off. – Barney B. Sadler, Camden, Ala.

J.B. SESSIONS: The funeral of J.B. Sessions, 75, who died on Wednesday, was held at Bell’s Landing M.E. Church with burial in the nearby cemetery Thursday afternoon. Born in Mississippi, Mr. Sessions had lived 70 years in Wilcox County, where he was a prominent planter with a wide circle of friends.

Miss Eugenia Strother and Miss Betty Compton of Livingston Teachers College spent several days last week with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hicks Strother and Miss Maggie Moore Strother.

96 YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 1926

DEATH OF A.A. ACKER: Death claimed Augustus Albert Acker at his home in Thomaston, Ala., at 11 o’clock p.m. on last Thursday. Bronchial pneumonia was the immediate cause of his death.
For 19 years, he was an employee of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and a track foreman at Thomaston.
He was born and reared in Sardis, Dallas County. Funeral service was held at Sardis at four o’clock Friday afternoon by Dr. Seymore of Selma.
Mr. Acker was well known in Thomaston, where he has a host of friends.

The Wilcox County High School and the Camden Grammar School will be closed this week on account of influenza. Both schools will resume work on Monday, March 29.

Hon. Thos. E. Kilby of Anniston was in Camden Friday. He is an Ex-Governor of Alabama and is now a candidate for the Senate of the United States.

Prof. W.M. Jackson, principal of the Wilcox County High School, is attending the AEA in Birmingham this week.

Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox Chapter DAR did not hold the meeting on last Thursday as was expected on account of influenza.

PINE HILL: Miss Annie Laurie Byrne and Mr. Elred Bradford were unanimously elected pianist and chorister respectively of the Methodist Sunday School.

110 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1912

Rev. Mr. Kimbrough, pastor of the Baptist Church here, was called to his old home in Kentucky Sunday by the death of his father and there was no service at the Baptist Church.

The friends in and around Camden and particularly the old Confederates will learn with much regret of the death of Mike Boltz some days since at Grand Cane, La. He was a nephew of Mr. Henry Boltz of Camden and a member of Co. H, 38^th Alabama, CSA. He was a brave soldier in the lost cause and his death is regretted by many in Wilcox County.

The members of F.K. Beck Camp No. 224 Confederate Veterans are requested to meet at the Court House on Sat., April 13, for the purpose of electing delegates to the Reunion at Macon, Ga., May 6-8, and to transact any business that may come before the meeting. – J.N. Stanford, Commander; W.A. Dexter, Adjutant.

W.J. Stanford, “the Piano Man,” representing the Starr Piano Co., is temporarily located in Camden as headquarters. He sells more pianos in Wilcox and adjoining counties than any other man in the business due to the fact that he sells direct from the factory as his people manufacture the goods they sell, thus cutting out the middleman.

The peach and plum trees have put on their gorgeous spring dress and may yet have to call for heavy wraps to protect them from the unsettled weather conditions.

123 YEARS AGO
MARCH 22, 1899

Mr. George Boltz of the Steamer “City of Mobile” spent a few hours in the city Monday.

MR. J. EADES GULLETTE: After an earthly pilgrimage of four score years and four, the spirit of Mr. J. Eades Guillette winged its flight to its creator yesterday morning, March 21, 1899. In the death of this, the oldest citizen of Camden or vicinity, a form passes from our view, around which clustered the veneration of our entire community. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and a true and loyal Mason.

Hon. K.A. Mayer of Peach Tree was in the city a few hours Monday.

Our councilmen are going to have a meeting soon, and the first and important duty they will discharge will be the selection of a marshal for the ensuing two years.

Mr. P.B. Maughan, who has been attending lectures at the Birmingham Medical College, returned home last Friday.

Judge J.E. Alford of Mobile is in the city this week and is being warmly welcomed and congratulated by his host of Camden friends.

Pasture your cattle with E.P. Boltz. He furnishes a boy to drive them to and from pasture and charges only 50 cents each monthly.

Improve your breed of chickens by raising the White Plymouth Rocks. Eggs sold at only 50 cents per dozen by Miss Lulu Cochran, Camden, Ala.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for March 22, 2022

Buddy Raines points at faint 'mystery track'

10 YEARS AGO
MARCH 29, 2012

Local weather reporter Betty Ellis reported .20 of an inch of rain in Evergreen on March 22 and .21 of an inch on March 23.

Unusual tracks found at Loree: When Buddy Raines set off for Evergreen from his home in the Loree community last Thursday morning, the sharp-eyed 62-year-old spotted something unusual in a cornfield near his home.
At first, he thought that someone had driven a motorcycle across the corn that he’d planted the previous Sunday, but upon closer inspection, he could tell that it was no motorcycle.
“Whatever it was wasn’t so heavy that it mashed into the soft dirt or messed up the rows very much,” Raines said. “Whatever it was, the track wasn’t there during the day on Wednesday. This was done sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.”
Raines wondered if the track may have been left behind by a large snake like the exotic anacondas and pythons that have begun to plague Florida in recent years.
The track stretched all the way across the field and was 12 to 13 inches wide. The track was just deep enough to flatten the tops of the furrows in the field. There also appeared to be a line in the tracks that indicated that it may have been caused by an animal with a tail.
Individuals who examined photos of the unusual track offered up a number of theories about what could be responsible. Animals mentioned included various snakes, alligators, snapping turtles, gopher tortoises, beavers, peacocks and otters.

16 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1997

Harry Ellis of Evergreen was honored recently by WSFA-TV for his continuing contribution as a Storm Team Weather Watcher. Harry attended an appreciation dinner for the 31 Weather Watchers who call the WSFA Storm Center regularly, reporting weather data from their respective hometowns. WSFA’s Chief Weathercaster Rich Thomas commended him for ‘the part he plays in helping the Storm Team report accurate weather information from all around WSFA’s coverage area… especially during severe weather.’ Beginning in May, WSFA will recognize the Weather Watchers on the air for the work they do.

Crack in County Rd. remains a mystery: As the Conecuh County crack widens, the plot thickens over what is causing this unusual geological condition.
A thick, slippery layer of clay is getting the blame for the condition that has been drawing attention to the Repton area.
Emergency Management Agency coordinator Billy Mims said the apparent fault line appeared sometime between 5 and 6:30 a.m. March 18 and it has been spreading ever since. The crack in the ground is located on County Road 73, 4.8 miles east of Repton in the Springhill community.
As of last week, it was 300 yards long and as much as 60 feet wide in some places with varying depths of five to 23 feet.

39 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1983

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 1.21 inches of rain on March 15; .41 on March 16 and .34 on March 17. He reported a high temperature of 76 degrees on March 15 and a low of 29 on March 13.

McArthur Thompson is still missing, in spite of a massive widespread search for him by the Evergreen Police Department, Conecuh Sheriff Edwin Booker’s staff, the State Troopers and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. Thompson, a black male, approximately six feet tall, 175 pounds, who drags one foot, was last seen about four weeks ago, according to his mother, who reported him missing.
Sheriff Booker said that all law enforcement agencies, including Conservation Department Enforcement Officers, were still working around the clock trying to locate the missing man. The sheriff also said that Larry Fluker, local NAACP leader, had offered the help of his organization and had “spread the word” in communities over the county.
Mack was last seen by some of his associates on March 11, 1983. The strangest thing about the case of missing Mack is that he was scheduled to appear in court as a prosecuting witness.

Trial of cases on the State Bar Criminal Docket, Conecuh County, are scheduled for trial next week. Circuit Court will begin Monday morning at 9 o’clock in the courtroom of the Conecuh County Courthouse with Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding.

65 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1957

Unidentified Gigantic Balloon Found On Needmore Farm Monday: No Clues Are Given On Object’s Identity: A huge plastic balloon at least 150 feet long was found near Needmore Monday afternoon by the wife of a farmer. Upon being notified, the balloon was investigated immediately by the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office.
The gigantic balloon had fallen in a densely wooded area on the farm of Wilson and Martha Cross and was draped over several scrub pine trees. It looked like a huge tent, at least 40 feet long, and at the widest part about 25 feet. The remainder of the balloon was called up on the ground.
On following up the call by Martha Cross, Deputy Mancil Pearce called for the assistance of Probate Judge Lloyd Hart, game warden W.A. Thames and Leon Salter, who is a Colonel in the National Guard, and several men to help bring the object back to the Court House.
Officials were very puzzled with the only explanation being offered that perhaps it was a weather balloon of some type. Local officials were not the only ones perplexed however as officials of the U.S. Weather Station in Montgomery and Maxwell Air Force Base could offer no explanation either.
Deputy Sheriff Mancil Pearce expressed the desire to unfold the object and see just exactly how big it would be. Speculation by witnesses on the scene was that if unfolded, the plastic would be big enough to cover the Conecuh County Courthouse.

84 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1938

High School Boy Sustains Fractures Of Both Arms: Bobby Jones, 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Jones, sustained fractures of both arms just above the wrists at noon Tuesday when the bicycle which he was riding collided sidewise with a truck driven by Richard Brassell. The accident occurred on Perryman Street where Shipp Street intersects.
Young Jones and a number of other boys were riding toward the business section of Perryman while the truck was going north on Shipp Street. Neither saw the other in time to avoid the collision. Young Jones, when he saw that a collision was inevitable, threw out his hands to catch the weight of the impact which caused fractures of both arms. Both bones of the right arm were broken while only one was broken in the left. The ligaments of the left were badly injured it is said. He also received a number of other minor bruises and sprains.

Riddle Will Speak Here Next Tuesday Night: Elsewhere in this issue will be found an advertisement announcing that Senator D. Hardy Riddle of Talladega, candidate for governor, will address the voters of this county at the courthouse on Tuesday night, March 29, at 7:30 o’clock. He extends a cordial invitation to all to come out and hear him.

Work has been started on the paving project from Greenville to the Butler County line on the Greenville-Luverne section of Alabama Highway No. 10.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for March 21, 2022

30 YEARS AGO
MARCH 19, 1992

The Hillcrest High School Jaguars are on a record-setting pace with an early 5-2 record and three consecutive wins. The Jags will play in Excel today and try to avenge an earlier loss against Andalusia Friday in Evergreen.

The Sparta Warriors return eight starters from last year’s 12-8 record club. Coach Mike Bledsoe is hoping more consistent play will better the school’s 1-3 early season record.

Members of the county championship Lyeffion Junior High School girls basketball team were Kanesche Nevlous, Jeanette Northern, Lachell Dailey, Keynetta Knight, Shantelle Hunter, Nicole Mitchell, Coach John Jenkins, Azure Salter (bookkeeper), Shakira Darden and Tiesha Mobley.

Members of the Lyeffion Junior High School basketball team are Coach John Jenkins, Donald Ray Mixon, Robert Quinn, Timothy Thompson, Adrian Joyner, Anthony Taylor, Venson Lett, Selanmin Gross and Coach James Riley.

Players from Lyeffion Junior High School who were named to the All-County Tournament Team were Adrian Joyner, Christy Maxwell, Keynetta Knight, Tiesha Mobley, Shantelle Hunter and Kanesche Nevlous.

51 YEARS AGO
MARCH 18, 1971

Pro football star Tom Neville of Montgomery will be the featured speaker for the youth day services tomorrow which will climax the Spring Revival now in progress at Evergreen Baptist Church. Neville is an offensive tackle for the Boston Patriots. He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery and played his college ball at Mississippi State where he graduated in 1965. He earned All Southeastern Conference honors in 1963 and 1964 and was an All-American in 1964. Tom is an active member of the Normandale Baptist Church in Montgomery and is active in youth work in his and other churches.

Turkey season open Saturday: In the wee hours of March 20, many households will be disturbed with the hurried preparation of avid turkey hunters as Alabama’s spring turkey season begins.
The gobble of the wild turkey will excite hunters in all or parts of 51 counties in Alabama during the spring season which extends from March 20 to April 26.
With the exception of the northern one-fourth of the state, Henry County, Dale County, east of U.S. Highway 231 and Baldwin County south of U.S. Highway 98, the gobbler will be fair game.
Alabama’s law permits the taking of five gobblers (no hens) during the combined fall 1970 and spring 1971 seasons.

The big ones were biting in Florida last weekend. Jerry Brundage brought home these two each of which weighed 14 pounds.

72 YEARS AGO
MARCH 16, 1950

Thirty-four grid hopefuls were running through their paces in spring football drills at Evergreen High this week in spite of daily rains that kept the field soggy. The first week of practice ended yesterday (Wednesday) and Coach Wendell Hart and John Lockwood report that the squad has good spirit with all the boys trying hard to learn fundamentals.
Coach Lockwood has 21 candidates for the seven line positions. Heading this group are four starters from last year, Capt. Jeff Moorer, 178, Max Pope, 186, Shelton Craig, 183, and Douglas Potts, 186. Pope and Craig have been moved to guard from tackle with Potts taking over one of the tackle posts. Capt. Moorer is at center. Ranking candidate for the other tackle post is Jack Robinson, a 200 pounder who played a starting tackle for Repton last year.
Lettermen Franklin Williamson heads the field of end candidates. Cleve Robinson is the only other candidate for end with any experience and he isn’t a letterman. Others battling for a terminal spot are Clinton Cobb, Autrey Palmore and Joe Stowers.
Back of Robinson and Potts at the tackles are Sam Cope, 198, and Allen Edson, 165, of last year’s squad but neither are lettermen and Wayne Douglas up from the junior team.
Craig and Pope have plenty of competition at the guard posts with Cecil Culbreth, 165, Paul Hanks, 150, and George Salter, 140, non-lettermen, from last year’s team heading the list. Others in the running are Wayne Brown, Lavon Shaver and Frank Sellers.
Capt. Jeff Moorer seems to have the inside track at center, but Clayton Cobb and Sammy Robison are battling. Both Cobb and Robison had some experience last year, but failed to letter.
Coach Wendell Hart has 13 backfield candidates headed by Ed Hooks, 170-pound starting fullback last year, and Billy Mudge Lee, 158-pound quarterback-left halfback starter on the 1948 club.
Scrapping Hooks for the fullback duties are Billy Watson, Ben Logan, Ward Alexander and Pace Bozeman. Bozeman didn’t letter but was with the squad last year. Alexander is up from the junior team. Watson and Logan are making their first try.
Lee is running at both quarterback and left half. Gillis (Red) Morgan, starting quarterback last year, is expected to practice the end of this week after missing opening practices because of a sprained ankle. Gwyn Daniels, who lettered at quarter last year, and Billy Lewis up from the juniors are other signal calling candidates.
Two-time letterman Bobby (Pistol Pete) Wells joins Lee as the top left half candidate. Shirley Frazier, a regular on the juniors last year, is the only other player trying for this post.
Lettermen Donahue Edson is the top man at right half. John Henry (Gone With The Wind) Brantley, a sensation with the juniors last year, and William Stewart, are the other candidates.

76 YEARS AGO
MARCH 21, 1946

C.C.T.S. Places Man On All-State Team: In the state high school tournament, held at the State Teachers College, Montgomery, Ala. March 15-16, the Conecuh County Training School team held the state champions of State Teachers College High School to the closest score of the tournament, 38-32.
CCTS, receiving the toughest break of the tournament by drawing the mighty State Teachers College High School team, held the 1,900 students and fans in suspense as they led at the end of the first quarter, 8-6, and trailed at the half by a narrow score of 21-19. In the closing minutes of the game, the reserve strength of the boys from the college high school team enabled them to slip in front of the final whistle by three baskets.
The tournament coaches selected Calvin Johnson, Conecuh County Training School’s center, on the all-state team. The boys who have put CCTS in the limelight in basketball throughout the state of Alabama are Calvin Johnson, George Armstrong, Clausell Laster, Milton Mixon, Benjamin Lindsey, Ray McDuffie, Oscar McWilliams, James A. Stallworth and Earnest Abrams.
All state team: L. Hall, F, State Teachers College High School; H. McCants, F, Gadsden High School; C. Johnson, C, Conecuh County; C. Jones, G, State Teachers College High School; A. Robinson, G, Tuskegee Institute High School.

86 YEARS AGO
MARCH 19, 1936

Southwest Alabama Agricultural School Basketeers Win County Tournament: The SAAS basketball teams, both girls and boys, won the county high school basketball championships at the SAAS gym Saturday night, defeating the Lyeffion boys and girls teams in the finals of the county tournament, which was held Friday and Saturday.
Grady Tanner, Lyeffion forward, was the high scorer in the boys division, with 22 points while Verdelle Robinson, Evergreen forward, with 30 points, was the high point girl.
Results of the tourney games follow:
Friday afternoon games: Lyeffion boys, 22; Castleberry boys, 7; Lyeffion girls, 27; Annex girls, 11; Saturday morning: SAAS girls, 41; Castleberry girls, 11; SAAS boys v. Repton boys, forfeited, 1 to 0, to SAAS; Saturday afternoon: Lyeffion boys, 10; Annex boys, 9; SAAS boys, 24; Brooklyn boys, 3; Saturday night (finals): SAAS boys, 25; Lyeffion boys, 18; SAAS girls, 32; Lyeffion girls, 19.

Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

U.S. Navy destroyer USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692)

27 YEARS AGO
MARCH 16, 1995

VF to expand Distribution Center: Vanity Fair Mills, Inc. will expand its Distribution Center on Drewry Road to approximately one million square feet in a multi-phase project announced Tuesday, creating “overall increased employment in the Monroeville area.”
Total investment in the first phase is estimated at $7 million.
Charles Lambert, vice president of customer services, told a gathering of about 100 state and local officials, community leaders and citizens in the Water Tower Conference Center that Monroeville had been chosen as the location for a major consolidated center that will be technologically advanced.
Vanity Fair Mills presently employs more than 2,300 people in its Monroeville facilities and over 10,000 worldwide.

Baseball standouts: Former Monroe County High School baseball standouts Hudson Williams, Tony Bayles and Wes Kelly are competing at the collegiate level this spring. Williams and Bayles are members of the Alabama Southern Community College team in Monroeville. Williams, a sophomore, and Bayles, a freshman, are outfielders. Kelly, a freshman second baseman, is playing at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Subscription rates to rise: The Monroe Journal will increase subscription prices next month, but readers can subscribe now for up to two years at the old prices.
Effective April 9, yearly subscription rates will be $23 in the Monroe County trade area; $27.50 elsewhere in Alabama; and $30 out of state. The single-copy price will remain at 50 cents.

51 YEARS AGO
MARCH 18, 1971

Bids asked on Mexia water job: The proposed water system for the Mexia area is being advertised for bids to be opened April 9.
Any person located along the proposed line who has not signed the user agreement and made the required $20 payment before the bid opening will be required to pay $125 or cost of connection, whichever is greater.
Persons who have not signed but wish to do so should see one of the following: Cecil Dollihite, M.C. Nettles Jr., E.T. Nettles, D.D. Mims III or Auzie Lee Brown.

Blacksher dominates jamboree: J.U. Blacksher High School’s football team played host to a five-team football jamboree last Friday night and promptly proceeded to defeat three of the visiting squads and tied the fourth.
The Uriah team appeared to be the strongest of the five, which included Frisco City, Excel, Lyeffion and Repton.
Blacksher’s victories consisted of an 8-0 win over Excel, with a six-pointer by Danny McGhee; 6-0 over Repton on a TD scored by Mike Norris; 8-0 over Lyeffion, with a six-pointer by Mike Norris and two points by Jimbo Hartley; and a 0-0 deadlock with Frisco City.
(Top Frisco City players included Tim Wally and Dale Stacey, and Randy Hanks was named as Repton’s top performer. Top Excel players included Refus McCants, George Lint and Butch Hanks.)

Lt. Kearley on destroyer: Navy Lieutenant (junior grade) John J. Kearley, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Kearley of Monroeville, is now serving aboard the destroyer, USS Allen Sumner at Mayport, Fla.

77 YEARS AGO
MARCH 15, 1945

Pfc. Bruce B. Jordan Dies From Wounds: Mr. John L. Jordan of Frisco City has received official confirmation from the War Department that his son, Pfc. Bruce B. Jordan, died Feb. 2 as a result of wounds received in battle on Luzon Island. Friends of the family wish to extend their deepest sympathy in their bereavement.

Mrs. William Andress of Monroeville received a message from the War Department on Feb. 26, informing her that her husband, Cpl. William Andress, was killed in France on Feb. 2 by an accidental gunshot. He is survived by his wife and two small children of Monroeville.

After spending 30 days with his wife, parents, relatives and friends, Technical Sergeant Fred Biggs has returned to Columbia Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina for reassignment. He was overseas nine months, serving with the 12^th Air Force in Corsica. He flew with B-26 Marauders as an engineer-gunner, completing 51 combat missions.

W.C. Hendrix, who has been in the U.S. Navy several years, arrived last week and will spend his furlough visiting his numerous relatives over the county. He figured in seven invasions from Africa to the South Pacific, where he has just completed 14 months service. He was wounded on Dec. 14, 1944.

HAYLES PURCHASES FOUNTAIN GROCERY: The purchase of the Fountain grocery store by L.R. Hayles was announced Monday when the new owner took charge of the business. Mr. Hayles will continue the business at the same stand and carry a full line of fancy groceries.

127 YEARS AGO
MARCH 21, 1895

The Journal is requested to announce that the regular monthly meeting of the Monroe County Corps will hereafter be held in Monroeville on the first Saturday in each month. A full attendance will be required at the April meeting.

During a thunderstorm at Pineville one day last week, lightning struck a house occupied by a family, killing a little boy about 10 years old and severely injuring several other members of the family.

The Presbyterian church and Masonic Hall building is being neatly painted, adding greatly to the attractiveness of its appearance.

The new Baptist church at Perdue Hill is about completed.

Several cases of Measles are reported in the vicinity of Mexia.

Death of Mrs. Betts: Mrs. Ann B. Betts, wife of Mr. Jacob F. Betts Sr., died at her home at Burnt Corn on March 2, 1895, aged 78 years.
Mrs. Betts was a most estimable lady whose many Christian virtues endeared her to all who knew her.
She was for many years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was a constant and liberal contributor to the support of its institutions. The sympathy of all is extended to the husband and family in their sad bereavement.

161 YEARS AGO
MARCH 22, 1861
SOUTHERN CHAMPION

WHAT DOES IT MEAN: A few weeks ago, two dead bodies were seen floating down the river near this place (Claiborne), one a man and the other a woman, and upon close observation, it was discovered that the man was tied hand and foot and large scars upon his back as if beaten with a stick. Another body of a man was seen in the river last week, an attempt was made to rescue it but failed. The bodies seemed to have been in the water for some time and were very much decomposed.

FLAG PRESENTATION: We understand that the young ladies of Claiborne have procured a handsome flag for presentation to the Claiborne Guards before their departure for Fort Morgan. As the company is to leave here on Saturday night, tomorrow evening, four o’clock, has been decided upon as the time, and the Masonic Hall the place where the ceremony is to be performed. The flag will be presented by Miss Henrietta Gaillard on behalf of the ladies, and received by Mr. E.A. Scott, in behalf of the company. N.A. Agee, Esq., will deliver a valedictory address to the company in behalf of the citizens.

On last evening, the Guard partook of a supper given to them by our generous townsman, W.P. Leslie, Esq., and on tomorrow evening, Mr. F.A. Seymour gives them their “last supper” in this place as citizens, and may they return at some future time to partake of a soldier’s supper in our midst.

CORN – From the large arrivals of corn at this place, we are led to believe that the good people of Monroe will not suffer for the lack of this indispensable article this spring and summer. The arrivals for the past three weeks may be set down at from ten to twelve thousand bushels, and there seems to be a steady demand for more.