Transcribed by Sarah Midyett Hutcherson in 2000-2002 for the USGenWeb Archives.  No copyright infringement is intended.  Click here to view the original page.

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Source:  Tennessee State Library & Archives Microfilm  — States Graphic — Brownsville, Tennessee — Volume 36 No. 31 — Friday, July 17, 1903

JOHNSON’S GROVE — Mrs. Sue WINBURN and her granddaughter, of Tampa, Fla., are visiting Mrs. T. B. CLARKE and her mother.

FORKED DEER —

Mr. Archie MOORE and his sister, Miss Hattie, were in your city Saturday & Sunday.

Mrs. C. F. COZART and granddaughter, Miss Mabel MORTON, are visiting her daughter, Mrs. M. J. MOORE.

WEST MADISON; MRS. NEELY — the aged mother of Mr. Algie & Miss Callie NEELY, died suddenly last Sunday afternoon. Mrs. NEELY had been sick quite awhile, but Sunday she seemed to be getting along unusually well. She was sitting up in a chair, her daughter had gone to prepare a chicken for her mother’s supper. There was no one in the room and Miss NEELY thought she would look in a moment to see if her mother needed any attention and found her lying across the bed dead.

TOOK MORPHINE; COMMERCIAL APPEAL — Suffering from an overdose of morphine, W. F. HAMMER, well-known Memphis lawyer, was unconscious for several hours at his home in Collierville Thursday night. A rumor was circulated the opiate was taken with suicidial intent. He had mistaken the morphine for paregoric, and thus the overdose of morphine. The rumor that Mr. HAMMER had attempted suicide gained credence from the fact of his arrest in Memphis last week on a charge of fraudulent breach of trust. The facts leading to his arrest date back to another arrest several months ago. Charles P. SULLIVAN was indicted on the charge of embezzling $940 from a firm for which he worked. He was given time to repay money at $40 to be paid monthly to G. T. FITZHUGH. During one or two of his trips to FITZHUGH’s office, he didn’t find him there so paid the money to Mr. HAMMER. SULLIVAN was notified he still owed the firm $90, the grand jury was asked to investigate. G. T. FITZHUGH, Mrs. SULLIVAN, mother of the clerk indicted and C. P. SULLIVAN appeared before the grand jury and an indictment of two counts against Mr. HAMMER were brought. It was rumored last night that Mr. HAMMER satisfied the amount he failed to deliver for Mr. SULLIVAN and charges will be dropped.

THE PATHETIC STORY OF A TENNESSEE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER; COVINGTON, TENN. JULY 12 — E. J. MAXWELL, who is hale and hearty, though 81 years of age, is the central figure in a story containing all the elements of the strangest popular fiction. In many respects it is similar to the pathetic tale of Enoch Arden. MR. MAXWELL, who lives near Cumberland Gap, Claiborne County, came to Tipton County a few days ago, after an absence of more than forty years, to visit his daughter, MRS. JESSE JOY, who lives in district #12 and whom he had never seen, she having been born a short while after his departure years ago. For many years, MR. MAXWELL was supposed to have been killed in a battle in the Civil War, and in 1881, the County Court of Tipton County declared him dead. In October, 1861, MR. MAXWELL, who was a well-to-do farmer and resided in Tipton with his wife and two children, answered his country’s call to arms and joined the Confederate forces. He served through the war, and when he surrendered was acting as assistant surgeon, with the rank of second lieut., enlisted in the 51st Tennessee reg. His company was commanded by Capt. Ben BROWDER; Capt. HALL succeeded him and finally Capt. A. P. HILL was in command of his company. While in the army he heard at intervals from his home, but on account of the rush of events never had an opportunity to visit his family. In 1864, his brother, JAMES J. MAXWELL, who remained at the old home in Tipton County, wrote him it is related, requesting the loan of some money in order to lift a mortgage from the farm. MR. MAXWELL advanced him $2,200. He received a receipt for that amount signed by his (JEFF’s) wife, who was formerly Mary E, ARCHER, per his brother, JAMES MAXWELL. In a few weeks, JAMES MAXWELL, according to the story, wrote that his (JEFF’s) wife had secured a divorce and that he had married her. JAMES further suggested to his brother to return home to care for his children. MR. MAXWELL says that while he was dumbfounded by the news of his wife’s alleged divorce and remarriage, that he took a philosophical view that as his brother “had the cow, he would have to feed the calves. “At the close of the war, MAXWELL settled near Cumberland Gap. He learned through friends that his wife had never secured a divorce, but that his brother had deceived her by falsely reporting his brother’s death while serving in the army. Upon investigation he ascertained that JAMES MAXWELL and his wife had married in 1867, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. RICH. His brother had evidently surmised that JEFF MAXWELL would hardly return in case he supposed his wife had deserted him and thus he would be relieved of the payment of the borrowed $2,200 in addition to securing his wife. At first, JEFF MAXWELL says he determined to return home and expose and punish his brother, but when he pictured the distress of his wife and the embarrassment and shame to which she and his children would be subjected, he remained silent. In 1881, a bill was filed in the Tipton County Court to sell his old home, his mother having died. The court took official cognizance of his death and decreed his share in the estate to his children. Shortly after this his brother JAMES died and he and another brother, E. D. MAXWELL, who also served in the Confederate army and who resided in Tipton County after the war, began correspondence which lasted until the death of the latter. About ten years ago, MR. MAXWELL wrote his wife, whom he had not heard from in thirty years, with regard to the welfare of his children. Though JAMES MAXWELL was then dead, their former relations were never re-established and MRS. MAXWELL died a year or two afterward. MR. MAXWELL had some business calling him to Little Rock, Ark., and stopped over here to see his daughter. He is owner of some iron, zinc and lead mines in Claiborne County.

NEWS OF THE WORLD —

JOHN OSBORNE, a negro, who criminally assaulted and afterwards robbed MRS. LIZZIE WENTZ, a white woman, aged 60, at her home in Union County, N. C., was taken from officers when en route to prison and hanged. General CASSIUS M. CLAY, the famous Kentucky statesman and duelist is hopelessly insane.

General LONGSTREET, a famous Confederate commander, is critically ill at his home in Gainsville, Ga.

GEORGE S. MORRISON, who died a few days ago in Chicago, was one of the greatest engineers in the United States. He built five great bridges over the Mississippi and ten over the Missouri rivers, the bridge over the Ohio at Cairo, Illinois and many others. His greatest feat was the bridge across the Mississippi at Memphis, which has a single truss span of 790 feet.

LOCAL NEWS —

Cars killed Capt. J. A. TAYLOR’s buggy horse a few days agonear Bland BOYD’s.

MR. SID BAYNES is out again after a light attack of sickness. Thursday evening of last week, Miss BETTIE MANN, while attempting to get out of a buggy sprained her ankle. She is confined to her room at the residence of Mrs. B. K. GREEN.

The many friends of Mr. & Mrs. J. T. GRAY will be rejoiced to learn that their daughter, Miss Mamie who has been so dangerously sick at the residence of R. H. ANDERSON is now out of danger. Our old and esteemed friend, J. MAT CLARK, we regret to state, has been critically sick this week.

MARY SUSAN WADFORD, through her attorneys, BOYD & CARLTON, filed a petition for divorce in the Circuit Court this week. Petitioner prays for an absolute divorce and that her only child, now in custody of the defendant, Henry WADFORD, be committed to her custody.

MRS. JUDITH B. MOORE — died at her home in Brownsville, Tenn., on June 28th at the age of 82 years. She had long been a prominent member of the Baptist church in Brownsville. For some years she had been crippled as the result of a fall, but bore her afflications with Christian fortitude. She leaves to mourn her loss two sons and one daughter. Baptist Reflector.

THE DEATH OF MRS. ANN E. WILSON — which occurred at the residence of MR. J. A. MANN in this city on July 12th removes a pioneer resident of this section, one of those who in her woman’s sphere an equal worker and homemaker with her husband. MRS. WILSON was born in Amelia County, Va., March 6, 1827, and moved with her parents to Fayette County, Tenn., in 1832; was married to JAMES WILSON March 22, 1852, who preceded her to the better land about 13 years ago. She had been a devoted member of the Methodist church for about 65 years. Her remains were interred at Somerville on Tuesday beside those members of her family who had gone before her. she leaves one son, W. H. WILSON, of Somerville; one son- in-law, J. W. RIDDICK, of this city; four grandchildren; two sisters, MRS. J. A. MANN and MRS. E. H. KELLY; two brothers, W. H. HALL of Union City and R. B. HALL of Holly Grove, Ark.

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL —

In the presence of quite a number of relatives and friends, Rev. R. M. KING solemnized the rites of matrimony at the Methodist church last Sunday evening between H. B. COMPTON and Tempie McCONNICO.

MRS. C. W. PRATT and baby boy and brother, ALBERT LANGHAM, of Rayville, La., are here on a visit to their parents, Mr. & Mrs. ED LANGHAM.

DR. SMITH, of Nettleton, Ark., MRS. BRANCH, of Dyer, MRS. PERRY, of Fruitland, MRS. MOORE of Halls, and MRS. COFFMAN of Nashville, are visiting their brother, Mr. Henry J. SMITH. MRS. WM. J. GREER, of Hot Springs, Ark., is visiting in the Whitelaw neighborhood, being called to the bedsise of her father, MR. D. A. WHITELAW, who has been dangerously ill.