THE LIBERTY HERALD
Editor, Will A. Vick
October 21, 1896
Such was the day when our neighbors began to gather at our quiet home to celebrate our afflicted mother's fifty-third anniversary. (I will restate that my mother has not walked a step in over three years on account of rheumatism.) She being unaware of their intention ordered chickens killed. Several more coming in, she ordered more chickens killed and help to be sent for to prepare dinner. So finally, seeing that she was somewhat anxious about dinner for her guests, Mrs. Drew Odom said, "Aunt Sue, we have brought dinner. We are going to give you a birthday dinner." Several baskets and boxes filled with good thing had already been sent to the dining room, but she did not know it. She was both surprised and delighted to learn that her friends had decided to make one of her birthdays a memorable, bright, happy day.
When it was announced that dinner was ready mother was carried to the dining room for the first time this year. What a beautiful table did she there behold-decorated with flowers-cakes nicely trimmed, jellies, pies of all kinds, custards, candy, pickles, etc. And on the side-table were mution [sic], boiled ham, sausage, chicken-baked, fried and smothered-and both kinds. What a feast we had!-good enough to satisfy the appetite of any epicure. After sixty-nine persons partook of the bounty, there was quite a quantity left.
The following are the names of the contributors: Mrs. Tim Thomas, Mrs. James Albert Baxter, Mrs. E.J. Robinson, Mrs. Robert Robinson, Mrs. Hop Groom, Mrs. Tom Fite, Mrs. C.B. Odom, Mrs. Rube McAdoo, Mrs. Wm. Mears, Mrs. Lizzie Hancock, Mrs. Joe B. Hawkins, Mrs. Ras [? can't read] McAdoo, Mrs. Ben Odom and Mrs. Lon Odom.
In taking a retrospective view, in after years, that day will be regarded by each of us, as one among the brightest. As the oasis in the great desert is to the weary traveler so will that day even will be a green spot in our memory. We feel very grateful, indeed, to each of the above named contributors for thus adding to the pleasure and happiness of our mother.
May He, who is the giver of all good and perfect gifts, restore unto them a hundred fold. And may they live to enjoy many, many bright and happy birthdays.
The note above, which was handed in that day, very beautifully outlines the object of the coming together of our friends.
Ida Hancock
Newt Ricketts of Ramah died last week and was buried at Mt. Vernon.
Miss Ella Pritchard has been seriously ill but is better at present.
Melvin Young and Dr. Drennon will debate the money question here Saturday night.
Rev. J.T. Oakley went to Prosperity last week to officiate at the marriage of J.W. Hayes, Jr. and Miss Edna May Hawkins. May Heaven's blessings rest upon the young and happy couple.
A.A. Beadle and Dr. Beadle have returned from a month's visit to Texas.
Misses Lucie Oakley and Lucie Talley accompanied Miss Chdra Parkins on her way home as far as Mufreesboro.
John W. Williams is some better.
They next went to J.M. Summers & Co's rear window where they had little trouble getting in by prizing the blinds open and raising the window, here they also broke into the cash drawer and obtained about five dollars. All of the money stolen was in small change such as dime, nickels and coppers. They were bold enough to strike matches in the stores and look for what they wanted. There is no clues as to who the guilty parties are.
Woodbury Herald
Charlie McNelly has embarked in the produce business.
Charlie Wheeler went to Cookeville Saturday.
James Fletcher has returned from Memphis.
Mrs. Ward sold her household goods here Saturday.
John C. Garrison is very sick at his home on Main Street and it is not thought he will get well.
Hon. John Overall was in town today.
Sock Williams spent Sunday in town.
Rob Roy went to Nashville and returned Saturday.
Rev. G.L. Beale went to Nashville to attend conference today.
Mrs. Jennie Blackburn left for Nashville this morning to be absent several days.
Mrs. Julia Brown has returned from Nashville.
Rev. J.B. Fletcher is at Paris, Texas.
Miss Eula Smith is visiting in Dowelltown.
A.P. Smith went to Smithville Sunday.
Mrs. Bertie Barbee has returned from Nashville.
Rufe Gleason has entered school at Russellville, Ky.
Mr. James H. Snoddy has gone to Indiana where he will make a public test of his Hog Cholera Specific.
George Scott and family started to Robertson county Saturday morning with his brother and James Scott intending to make it their future home.
The writer has swapped his place off for a house and lot in Dowelltown belonging to Dee Gibbs and intends making it his home in the future.
Dr. Jackson has almost raised the dead in the case of Sheley Vanatta and also Elijah Parker's wife.
Monroe Bennett has been here on a visit from Sumner county and intends on starting back this morning and carry back with him Miss Jane Sanlin, his aunt.
C.W. Mooneyham, an old Confederate, attended the reunion at Sparta last week.
The school at this place is making preparation for the closing exercises after which the present teacher, E.L. Mooneyham will go and take charge of Central College at Mechanicsville.
Eld. L.P. Potter was to preach at the home of Mrs. Isaac Cantrell, near Keltonburgh, she being not expected to live but a short while.
Prof. I.L. McGinness who moved from here down on the river to teach the fall school moved home today.
H.G. Atnip and J.A. Cantrell will set fire to their brick kiln soon.
John S. Green, the telephone manager here, after a lingering illness of typhoid fever for several weeks, died at midnight Sunday, Oct. 11. He leaves a wife and two children. John was a promising young man and it looked like a prosperous future was before him.
Miss "Puss" Barton, an estimable lady of Big Springs, died one day last week. A doctor happened to be at her home the day she died. She told him she believed her lungs were affected and asked him to examine her. He laughed the matter off and refused to make the examination. In the afternoon, while she was sitting in a chair, she suddenly exclaimed, "Put me to bed I believe I am going to faint." She was placed in bed and expired in a few moments. It is supposed death resulted from heart trouble.
Rev. Joel E. Davis of LaGuardo died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at his home at that place. He was a well known citizen of our county and his many friends will be sorry to hear of his death.
Someone broke into S. Marton's dry goods store last Friday night. All that was found missing was ten cents from the cash drawer. There was evidence that the thief had been rumaging in the show case, but Mr. Marton says he cannot see where anything was taken.
At 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Methodist church, Mr. Wm. Harsh of Gallatin and Miss Maggie Fite of this city were united in marriage, Rev. Wyckliffs Weakley officiating.
There can be seen posted all over the county, beautiful lithographic advertisements of the St. Louis Exposition. We desire to say that these handsome pictures were printed from stone from the quarry of Col. J.H. Goodbar, six miles north of town. The work is the very best that art can produce and speaks volumes for the Putnam county stone, which has no superior.
Alvin Goodpasture, the two year old boy of Mr.& Mrs. A.W. Boyd, died just before noon Saturday. The little fellow has been suffering all summer with stomach trouble and the physicians failed to give it relief. The little one was laid to rest Sunday afternoon.
Mr.& Mrs. R.L. Farley has returned from St. Louis, Chicago, and Milwaukee, after a most delightful trip. The are at the home of Mr.& Mrs. C.C. Fowler, but will move in a few days to the residence of which Dr. H.C. Martin now lives.
We are reliably informed that the large stone mills of the Cumberland Buff Co., now located at Charleston, S.C., will be moved to this place. The principal owners, Messrs. McCarrel and Son, have been contemplating such a move.
The infant boy of J.M. Brown is critically ill with fever.
Fire at Smyrna on the night of Oct. 11, destroyed the livery and feed stable of Henry Lowry and the undertaking establishment of Wm. King.
W.T. Mingle, editor of The News, has been absent this week in Chattanooga visiting his brother.
We are sorry to hear of an accident in which Maj.R.M. Rucker was thrown from his buggy in a runaway and was badly bruised and his face painfully cut.
Hon. Columbus Marchbanks will speak in Murfreesboro on Monday.
Next Saturday at New Middleton an election for magistrate will be held to fill the unexpired term of J.B. Baird, recently deceased. H.B. Ballinger is a candidate.
Rev. J.E. Woodward, formerly pastor of the Methodist church at Highland, Jackson county, has located at ElDara, Ill.
Lieut. L.K. Ferguson, who was recently at Riddleton to see his parents, was ordered to Jackson Barracks near New Orleans, La. He was then sent to Fort Monroe, La. and now has been sent to a post far away from home-Fort Canby, Washington, on the Pacific coast.
For price and description call on or address
R. L. Clark & Son, Liberty, Tenn.
Mrs. T.M. Bright is still very sick and her condition is extremely critical.
J.W. Overall has gone to some of the upper counties on a campaigning tour.
It is very probable that H. Clay Evans will speak here before the canvass closes.
Miss Callie Griffith, daughter of Johnathan Griffith near Forks of Pike, is very sick.
Matt Priest is still very sick with no material change in his condition since our last issue.
Mrs. Tennie McFerrin has moved back to Woodbury after closing a successful music class.
Geo. H. Potter and Jesse Drake of Smithville passed through this morning going to Nashville.
Melvin Young and Prof. Killman will discuss finances before the free silver club here Tuesday.
Mrs. Dr. Martin of Temperance Hall has been visiting relatives here for a few days. The doctor came up after her yesterday and she returned home.
Rev. T.A. Carden left yesterday morning for Conference. He says he knows he will not be returning to Liberty Circuit, but has no idea where he will land.
W.H. Frazier, Mrs. N.A. Anthony and Miss Violet West of Temperance Hall came up last Sunday to hear Rev. Carden preach his farewell sermon.
Rev. W.P. Banks is again presiding elder of the Nashville district for the ensuing conference year. Rev. T.J. Stricklin was returned to the pastorate of the Dowelltown circuit.
Last Sunday night a little darkey by the name of Nathan Oakley stole a mare from Capt. J.D. Wheeler living near Alexandria. The thief was traced to Forks-of-Pike and from there up Clear Fork. Monday night a telephone message was sent to Woodbury and the thief was found there trying to sell a mule for which he had swaped the mare. He was arrested and has been turned over to the authorities of Wilson. The stolen mare was recovered.
Mrs. John Corley is very sick at her home above Dowelltown.
Rev. T.J. Baker of Smithville was on the down stage Monday going to conference.
Miss Maggie Martin of Temperance Hall has been visiting here for a few days.
Lannis Bass near Dowelltown has in his possession a jersey steer weighing about 400 lbs. Owner can get by paying expenses.
Prof James A. Tate spoke to a full house at the Methodist church last Friday night. He spoke for two hours but the audience heard him patiently and did not grow tired in the least. All who heard it say it was the finest prohibition speech ever made in Liberty.
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