NEWSPAPER BIT AND PIECES 1875——2005
1875
THE GALLOWS Nashville, Tenn., Aug 13, A Knoxville Tenn., special to the Banner says:
At an early hour crowds poured in from the country to witness the execution of John Webb. The streets near the jail, were thronged with an immense crowd. It was with difficulty that the guards could prevent the crowd from breaking down the jail fence so eager were they to see.
He partook heartily of a breakfast and called the attention of the guards to the fact that it was the last new suit of black clothes taken (given) him by his brother. At ten o’clock, when he dressed, he asked the Sheriff for a razor to shave which he refused, fearing violence. This angered him much and he told
the sheriff to go to hell and take it with him.
At 11:30 the death warrant was read to him, when he asked to read it himself. After finishing he raised his hand and declared : “Before God my execution is unjust,” and kissed the crucifix
he held, given him by the priest. He also added that he forgave everybody, but it was unjust to hang an innocent man, before leaving the jail he bid Ayers good bye, saying “Old fellow, you’ll have to pray mighty hard for forgiveness of murder you have caused, if you get to heaven.” The prisoner walked promptly to the wagon with his wife on his arm, accompanied also by Sheriff Swan, the deputies and a priest. His wife was much affected, and Webb endeavored to console her. The procession moved to the gallows, about a mile, with the sheriff’s posse fifty strong, the immense crowd following. Arriving there, a circle was formed by two military companies and the posse. The wagon was driven immediately under the gallows, when the prisoner briefly addressed the crowd as follows: ”The statement I made is true. I die an innocnt man. They are killing me for nothing. I put my trust in God.
I think I have been forgiven”. He then requested the Sheriff to call others, Mr. Haskins particularly, to whom he said, “I want to say to you it is a serious thing you’ve done. If you want to, kill a man, but don’t swear his life away”. He then denounced the whole party as having sworn to lies. Then
turning to James White, he said: “The night of the murder I staid with you, yon know.” He then handed a letter to Huckaby and continued his remarks to the crowd, saying: … want to see poor old John Webb hung. I prayed for all last night. Look at me and mark what I say, I die innocent.”
The mayor asked him who was guilty if he was innocent, which he declined to answer, saying Captain Washington had the true statement and it would be given to the public. His wife implored
him to tell all he knew. Just then a messenger came and informed Webb of the death of his sister, and the funeral today. He received the news with apathetic calmness, and his bold blue eyes wore a far off look as though piercing the veil of eternity. His wife urged him to pray for pardon, to which he
replied: “My dear wife, I would rather be in my place than that of many I see here”. He showed great nerve and held up unflinchingly to the last. When binding his legs he offered his hand saying:
“You have hold of the best soldier you ever had” and amid the agonizing screams of his wife he mounted the rear seat of the wagon, telling the people to look, saying: “I am the best piece of furniture you have seen for many a day”. His wife was then lead away from the horrible scene, the black cap was then drawn over his face and the noose adjusted, when the wagon moved and Webb leaned forward and easing himself off, at 1:20 was swinging in the air. He was pronounced lifeless in twenty minutes, and when taken down presented a natural appearance.
Source: Elyria Independent Democrat, Elyria, Ohio, August 18, 1875
1881Master Harry M. Delins, Klimet, Morgan County, Tennessee, is a promising young man we met with on our travels South. We expect to hear of him as a successful business man in a few years. He has our thanks.
Source: Ohio Democrat; New Pennsylvania, Ohio; September 29, 1881
1883OAKDALE, Tenn., July 5 – At a Sunday-school picnic yesterday, a gang of roughs, after getting drunk, started a disturbance on the train as it was returning. Jesse Hacker stabbed Tom Lysle in the side, and was immediately shot dead by Lysle’s brother. The latter escaped.
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, July 6, 1883
Tom Carter, John Groves, John Swatser, colored, and A. Brown broke into the residence of W.P. Cox, near Sunbright, Tenn., and made a demand for Mrs.Cox and her fifteen-year-old daughter, a beautiful child. Cox fled from the house and the villains took the girl into the woods and accomplished their hellish designs. She is now in a precarious condition. The four men were arrested and were taken toWartburg.
Freeborn County Standard, Albert Lee, Minnesota, July 19, 1883————————The first night on which Samuel Scott, of Wartburg, Tenn., went into a bed to sleep he died. He weighed 350 pounds, and by a physician’s advice used to sleep by kneeling upon the floor, with his head resting on a chair.
Source: Omaha Daily Bee, Omaha, Nebraska, April 14, 1883
retrieved from The Library of Congress, Chronicling America.
1885 FRATICIDAL MURDER
(Tolbert Scarbrough – Samuel Scarbrough)
St. Louis, June 4, – A special to the Post Dispatch from Chattanooga, Tenn. says:
A sensational fratricide occurred near Oakdale yesterday. Tolbert Scarborough, while under the influence of liquor, went to the home of his brother Samuel, and swore he would kill him, whereupon Samuel drew a pistol and shot him through the heart. The murderer was arrested.Source: Kansas City Star, Thursday, June 5, 1885; p. 1
1887
Noah Parker has been arrested in Morgan County, Tenn.,charged with the murder of his wife by throwing her in a well. He was arrested upon the confession of a woman with whom he was intimate that he had said he would do it. Source: Massillon Independent, Massillon, Ohio, July 1, 1887
1888A Shocking Death
Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 8 – This morning at Sunbright, Tenn., while bearing lumber away at Weaver’s mill, Henry Lyle slipped and fell against the saw, which was in motion. His lower jaw was entirely cut off and the saw teeth reached his lungs. He was still living this evening, but can not recover.Source: Waco Evening News, Waco, Texas, Thursday, August 9, 1888
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Balaam Sirnms,a small boy, was frightened to death at Lansing. Tenn. Several young men caught him, cut his hair and threatened his life. He lost his reason and died.
Source: Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, NJ March 26, 1888
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July 5 1888
KEPT HIS OATH
JAMES COPELAND a well to do farmer died in Flint Morgan County, June 17 at the age of 88. When the south seceded on 1864 COPELAND took an oath that he would never shave again untill the southern confederacy established it’s independence. He kept his oath and his beard at the time of his death was nearly seven feet in length. [Crossville Chronicle]
1890
January 30 1890
SAM SNOW SHOT
One day last week while a young man named SAM SNOW and his friend were out hunting on the mountain, not far from Rockwood, presumably in Morgan County, they seperated and in a short time Snow’s friend heard a gun fire and soon found SNOW unconscious from a fatal wound in his jaw and extending into his temple caused perhaps by the accidental discharge from his gun.
[Crossville Chronicle]
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MARY C HEDGECOTH wife of A. A. HEDGECOTH and daughter of E. HATFIELD and
MARY HATFIELD was born March 5 1857 in Morgan County Tenn and departed life April 29 1890 at her home five miles east of Northville, aged 39 years, 1 month and 24 days. She joined the Babtist Church of Christ at Haley’s Grove about the year 1872 and lived a devoted Christian, a loving wife and affectionate mother until the day of her death. She leaves to mourn her loss as an aged mother and father, husband and seven little children, the eldest being ten years old and the youngest about 10 hours old, besides many other relatives and friends. [May 22 1890 Crossville Chronicle]
1893
IT WAS A PUT UP JOB
Gerding Was Encouraged by tbe Police to Rob the Train
THEY WORKED HIM THROUGH SMITH
He was to get a Reward and they would have Glory
SMITH WAS A FIRST CLASS CHUMP
The Authorities Promised That He Would Not Be Hurt, But The Messenger Shot Him In The BackKnoxville, Tenn.. November 5.—(Special.) William Smith, who was shot in the Knoxville and Ohio express car Friday night, at Coal Creek, tells an interesting story of the way in which he got into the trouble. Smith was at a hospital here. To a reporter yesterday he made a full statement. Smith’s father stood at the cot in which he lay, with tears streaming down his ruddy cheeks. Two of Smith’s sisters knelt by the side of the bed and Rev. Dr. Moore held the young man’s hand while he talked. The eyes of the wounded man wandered restlessly about the room, never lingeringfor more than an instantupon any one object. He was suffering much pain, and moaned continuously. Smith asked Dr. Moore to pray. The reverend gentleman knelt by the bedside and asked those present to unite with him. It was an eloquent prayer that he offered, and Smith evidently deeply affected, When the prayer was finished, Smith turned his eyes to the preacher. “Do you think that will do me any good?” he asked,
anxiously. “Yes”, replied Dr. Moore, gently, “if you have faith and believe and are repentant of your sins.” “I’m repentant”, murmured Smith, “I want to be forgiven of my sins”.
Not a Professional
“You all called me a robber in the paper”, he gasped, turning to the reporter, “and
now I want you to set me right. I ain’t no professional robber. Last Monday I was coming up the street – Crozier street – and met Fred Gerding. He said to me ‘Smith, I know where there is some good money, if we can get three or four men to help us. I asked him where the money was. He said he would tell me if I would promise to go in with him. I told him all right. He then told me of a plan to rob an express car on the East Teunessee. He said he was an extra messenger, and knew all about the express business and the combinations of the safes, and how to get at the money. He said he was going to see some other fellows, and said he would see me again. I left him and went home and told my father what Gerding had said to me. My father said that Gerding was trying to get me into trouble, and told me to go down town and tell Chief Atkins all about it. I started for police headquarters
that afternoon, but met Barney Irwin on the way. I knew him, and told him about what Gerding had said. He told me to play in with Gerding, and that he would see Woodward, of the express company, and tell him about it, and see that I was treated right. Smith Was Not to Be Hurt “The next day I met Irwin and Woodward and explained Gerding’s plan to rob the car as I knew it. Woodward told me
to keep in with Gerding and agree to all his plans and he would see that I got out all right and was was rewarded by the express company. He said he could not tell me how much the company would give me, but he knew they would be liberal. The next day I met Irwin and Woodward again and they told me more of their plans. They told me to keep in with Gerding and said I would not be hurt if there was trouble. I met Fred Gerding on Thursday and agreed to go to Clinton with him. He said that he had asked Bunny McLemore to go into the deal, but that he had refused to do so and that we would have to go it alone.That evening I saw Irwin, Chief Atkins, Woodward and some others at the police station. Irwin gave me a revolver as he said so Gerding would have confidence in me. He also gave me money to pay my fare to Clinton. He told me to go on and make the attack and assured me that I would not be hurt. “They said they wanted me to go to jail a couple of days so as to keep down suspicion and said that I would be well paid for what I did.” “I met Gerding on Crozier street that night,” continued Smith, “and we went to the depot and took the train for Clinton. We got off there and walked to Coal Creek. We laid about there all day Friday until the train arrived at night. We boarded the train and ran into the car. It was agreed that I should cover the messenger while Gerding went through the safe. I did this and when the officers appeared, dropped on my knees and threw away my pistol. Then the messenger grabbed me and shot me through the back.
” The Officers Condemned.”
Smith will doubtless die. There areugly rumors current here concerning the officers connected with the affair. It is said that Gerding at one time tried to back out of the affair, but the officers got Smith to urge him on, as they wanted glory in view of an approaching municipal election. Gerding’s Connections are Good It seems that Gerding comes from noble descendants. The young fellow was visited by his aunt from Oliver Springs, who in an interview with The Constitution’s correspondent
today, Said: “When news came that Fred Gerding was connected with a train robbery, it settled like a pail of sorrow over Oliver Springs. Young Gerding is connected with the best families in the state. His father, Captain F. W. Gerding was for years a wholesale merchant in Louisville, Ky., is a member of the celebrated DeWarely Comrnandery Knights Templar, and is now retired from business. He is living on his farm two miles from Oliver Springs. The young man’s mother, who is dead, was a daughter of Count Alphonso DeMontague of France. He was the minister of Napoleon’s imperial staff. Fred’s grandfather, George F. Gerding, the founder of Wartburg, was prominent, both in this and the old world, and was a member of a noble German family. He was American minister to Belgium and other courts abroad for many years before the war. Why this beardless boy should bring such dishonor upon his people is the question on every one’s lips. There is certainly something in it which is a mystery. N. S. Woodward, the Southern Express Company’s route agent, who was mixed up with the affair, denies that he ever made any promises of reward to young Smith.
Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, November 6, 1893
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Maryville Times, (Blount Co. TN) Wednesday, November 22, 1893:
“Well Known Man Gone—Rev. A.B. Wright passed away quite unexpectedly at his home in this place last night. [November 8] He had been sick ever since he was thrown from his horse several weeks ago, and last Saturday he was attacked by bilious fever, which complicated matters and weakened him very much. On Tuesday night he was prostrated very suddenly, and last night a second attack of the same sort resulted fatally without an instant’s warning. His son, W.D. Wright, and daughter, Mrs. Tobias Peters, and F.H. Dunning were with him at the end. His eldest son, J.C. Wright, who had been here to see him, had left in the afternoon for home, but was recalled by telegraph and returned this morning accompanied by the other son, T.A. Wright. The funeral will be held Saturday at 11 o’clock in the M.E. church, interment will take place at Mt. Vernon with Masonic honors, the deceased being an esteemed member of that organization. Mr. Wright was probably better known throughout this section than any other man in it. He was born in Fentress County in 1826, and has been engaged in the service of the Lord since his 22nd year, and has preached in nearly every church in Morgan, Fentress, Scott, Anderson, Overton, Pickett, Roane and Cumberland Counties. He was also County Clerk of Fentress County for four years. A widow, three sons and one daughter survive him.” —Sunbright Dispatch.
1894
RAISED ON THE OLD PLANTATION.
Former Slaves United in Marriage After a Separation of Twent-five YearsTwo ex-slaves who had not seen each other for 25 years were married yesterday by Magistrate B.F. Camp. The principals v/oro John Thompson, aged 85 years, and Kitty Owens, aged 70. Before the late war both were slaves in the family of Mr. George Girding, who owned a large plantation in Morgan County, Tenn. At that time Thompson was looked upon as an old man, while the woman was called ‘”mammy” by the children in the family. After the two slaves were made free they went out in different directions to make a livelihood. The man decided to follow the river, and he secured a place in the dining room of a steamboat. He continued at this until several months ago, when he retired. Thompson had saved enough money to keep him in comfort for the rest of his days. He looked up some of his children, now living in Louisville, but found that they did not take any interest in their old father, not seeming to care whether he was alive or dead. It was while visiting his children that the old man met Kitty Owens. They did not know each other at first, and it was only comparing notes that the two recognized each other. A marriage was shortly arranged for the two. Yesterday they went to the county clerk’s office where a license was secured. The old people were accompanied to Magistrates Camps office by a curious crowd. There the ceremony was performed.
Thompson had been married three times, and his companion ouly one time less. As the old couple were leaving, office Magistrate Camp remembered that his fee had been overlooked.
“Lor, Yo’ honah, I hasn’t got any mo” money.” said the old man. The facial espression of the old darky underwent a complete change as he fumbled in his pockets. Finally Thompson got a small
amount of change out of his many pockets. This was given over to the magistrate, who found that it amounted to a total of 90 cents. The old man explained that he divided his savings so that they would last until he was 100 years old. He took only one of these piles weekly, never touching the rest
until the next week. The bride-groom said that he hoped to save enough out the next few weeks allotment to pay the balance of $1.10 to the magistrate. The old man and his bride were then allowed to depart happily for their home. Louisville Currier Journal
Source: Davenport Daily Leader, Davenport, Iowa, March 4, 1894
1895Sunbright Dispatch: The ninth district is all torn up over the arrest of Berry Goad, who is charged by Mrs. “Doc” England, his sister-in-law, with criminal assault. The hearing will be held at Wartburg Saturday before Squire C. W. Potter. Goad denies the charge and says that everything was all right until his sister, upon suddenly entering the house discovered Mrs. England and himself in a compromising position. It is expected that the evidence in the case will be racy.
Source: Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn.; Sunday, January 27, 1895—————————————–
BROKE HIS NECKDavid H. Cooper Accidentally Killed at Mossy Creek
Fell With a Scaffold While Painting a House – His Father and Brother Also InjuredSpecial to the Journal –
Mossy Creek, Tenn., June 28 – A most horrifying and fatal accident occurred this morning in the Carsonville addition to Mossy Creek, in which David H. Cooper was dashed to an instantaneous death, his father perhaps fatally injured and a younger brother painfully hurt.
The father and two sons were engaged in the erection of a commodious two-story house, which was to be the father’s dwelling, he having recently removed here from Wartburg, Morgan county – when the scaffolding tore loose from the building and hurled the unfortunate three to the ground, fully forty feet below. David Cooper’s neck was broken and his side badly crushed, so that he died instantly. His father Lindsay Cooper sustained a fracture of the right leg, three ribs are broken, his face badly cut and it is feared there are internal injuries; while the younger brother, Lewis, received only slight bruises, which are painful but not dangerous. The deceased was a graduate of Carson and Newman college, class of ’95, and a most promising young man, and had just begun preparing for a thorough course in law. He was an Odd Fellow, and only a week ago had united with the order of the Golden Cross, taking their insurance policy in favor of his young wife for $2,000.Hope’s are entertained for the older man’s recovery, though is condition is most critical.
SOURCE: Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee;
Saturday, June 29, 1895
————————————–November 20 1895
He Came This WayLast Thursday a young man named JOSEPH D KELLY was hit with a single tree in the hands of a negro by the name of CHARLES HURD. The young man’s skull was so crushed that he died Saturday morning. The murder occured near Joynersville Morgan County, a small town a few miles from Harriman. [Crossville Chronicle]
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HURD WILL BE LYNCHED
Mob Gathers to Attack the Jail at Wartburg
Young Negro who Murdered Jim Kelley in Morgan County Probably Dead Already – Jail GuardedSpecial to The Journal Wartburg, Tenn., via Lancing,
November 20 – All day it has been rumored that horsemen were scouring the country preparatory to lynching Charles Hurd, the murderous young negro who on last Thursday assaulted Joseph D. Kelley, a young man residing nine miles east of here. Word has just reached here that a mob is forming at Liberty church, three miles east of here and are momentarily expected and there is
little doubt that Hurd will never see the light of another day. He seems to realize that his fate is
sealed and at this hour lies cowardly in his cell moaning and praying. Deputy Sheriff John M. Langley has summoned a small posse to aid in repelling the expected attack but it is not thought that much resistance will be offered. The best citizens of this place condemn lynch law but nothing can save Hurd from the vengeance of young Kelley’s friends. His fate is sealed at the close of this writing.
Hurd, by swapping clothes with a brother and starting the brother off through the mountains in a different direction from the one he took succeeded in fooling the bloodhounds as they are after his brother.
NOTE: Trascribed as written; Headline stating Jim Kelly murdered should
be Joe..Joseph D. Kelly, son of James Benson Kelly and Barbara Robinson.
SOURCE: Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee;
Thursday, November 21, 1895
1896POWDER EXPLOSION
Two People Killed and a Number Severely Injured at Petros, Tenn.
Chattanooga, Tenn., June 26. – A terrific explosion of blasting powder occurred at the Petros, Tenn., railway station for state convict mines at Brushy Mountain Thursday afternoon. It demolished the general store and hotel kept by Sam Joyner. Several kegs of powder, which were in the building, were evidently ignited by Willis Joyner, the little son of the proprietor, who was burned to death. A stranger named Maiden was killed and a number of persons in the building were seriously injured. Mrs. Eliza Schubert, manager of the hotel, was, perhaps, fatally hurt. A special train with physicians was sent to the scene of the accident.
Source: Marietta Daily Leader, Marietta, Ohio, June 27, 1896
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WARTBURG FLAG RAISING,Junius Parker Addressed Morgan County Sound Money Democrats, Special to the Journal
Wartburg, Tenn., Oct 3 – The sound money democrats of Wartburg had a flag raising today. A large 12×25 foot flag was hoisted on a pole about 75 feet high. It was raised in front of the home of James F. Llewellyn, one of the most prominent democrats in Morgan county. Junius Parker, Esq., of Knoxville, made the address of the day, and was greeted by a very large crowd.
There are quite a number of sound money democrats in Morgan county and they are gaining in
strength every day. There are also about one hundred and fifty sound Germans in Morgan county,
who are fighting Bryan and free silver.Source: Daily Journal and Tribune, Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee;
Sunday, October 4, 1896
1898
To be the mother of many children is ranked among nature’s chief blessings but when the cares of the busy housewife are added to the trials of frequent motherhood, it is too great a burden for a woman who is not in prime health arid condition. Every woman who is called upon to bear the ordeal of bringing many children into the world needs the support and reinforcement of that wonderful strength promoting “Favorite Prescription” originated by Dr. R. V. Pierce, chief consulting physician of the Invalids’ Hotel and Surgical institute, Buffalo, N. Y., and one of the most eminent of living specialists.Mrs. David H. Langley, of Lancing, Morgan Co.,Tenn., in a recent letter to Dr. Pierce, writes: I am now thirty-six years old and have given birth to ten children. Eight only are living. I have twin boys six years old. The same spring after they were born I was confined to my bed all spring and summer with female complaint; had it so badly I could hardly walk around the house without feeling worse. I was restless at night, sleep almost left me, and I was almost a skeleton. I did not call my doctor as I had tried the doctors twice before when I was down with the same trouble, and my husband paid out a great deal for me. I received no lasting benefit; I had almost lost all hope of being able to do anything. My husband had to work very hard and I could not even attend to the babies. No one can know the distress of my mind as well as body. Dr. Pierce’s favorite prescription was the only medicine that seemed to do me any good. After I had taken the first bottle and part of the second. I could sleep well and all mytroubles began to get better. I believe I took eight bottles and then I felt like a different person. I gave birth to another baby and my old complaint came back. I began using the “Favorite Prescription” and was soon relieved and was able to do my work, including the washing”.
Source: Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, December 25, 1898
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J.A. HAMBY more familiar known as GUNTER was born in Morgan Co in 1843 and is in his 55th year. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and participated in battles of Fishing Creek and Shilo. He was discharged shortly after the last named battle because of sickness. After peace was declared he began studing and teaching. Being an inveterate reader his range of study and investigation was very wide and he aquired a store of useful knowledge which enabled him to direct the young as well as to qualify him for the ministry which he entered at age 25. He was ordained to preach by the Christian church. He taught for several years in the state of Kentucky and went from the latter to Texas, where he resided for a period of years. He was admitted to the bar, but never followed the calling to any great extent.
March 23 1898 Crossville Chronicle
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June 1 1898
Miss MATTIE FARMER of Hebbertsburg, and SAMUEL WEATHERFORD of Morgan Co. were married at Pine Orchard
Source: Crossville Chronicle
1899Byrd Freel and J. H. Satterwaithe, two well known farmers of Sunbright, Tenn., quarreled over a dog of the former that had disappeared, Freel accusing Satterwaithe of killing the animal. Freel drew a revolver and shot Satterwaithe, killing him instantly. Freel claims that Satterwaithe threatened to kill him.
Source: Daily Public Ledger, Maysville, Kentucky, April 8, 1899
———————————Robert Hudson, a fireman on the Cincinnati Southern railroad, was killed near Sunbright, Tenn.
Lima Daily Democratic Times, Lima, Ohio, Feb 23, 1889
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Sale of Coal and Mineral Lands
Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 5 – Michigan capitalists who have been here for some time have closed a deal with John M. Davis and others, of Morgan county, Tenn., for several thousand acres of coal and mineral land. The railroad from Harriman to Waterbury will be extended into the property which will be developed. A bond issue will be floated for the railroad enterprise.
Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, December 4, 1899
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Mrs. Keith, of Spencerville and Mrs. C B Sharp, of north Jackson street,
left yesterday for a visit with Mrs. H. R. Post, of Rugby, Tenn. Source: Lima Daily News, Lima, Ohio, September 20, 1899
1900
TENNESSEE STRIKE ENDS
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn.. Oct. 25,.
President George P. Howard of the Crooked Fork Coal & Coke company at Petros, Brushy Mountain, Tenn.. stated today that the strike at the mines had been adjusted and 300 men will return
to work at once.
Source: Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska; October 26, 1900
1901
SEEKS TO REGAIN THE LAND
Suit Between Two Counties of State of Tennessee.
Knoxville, Tenn., August 18 (Special)
A bill was filed In the chancery court at Kingston, Tenn., styled Roane County vs Morgan County, in which it is to regain territory taken from Roane county and attached to Morgan by the last legislature. There was considerable feeling over the matter last winter, both sides to the controversy having a
lobby at Nashville before the legislature, but Morgan county was successful, and the bill passed. Now Roane county will attempt to hold the territory on the constitutional ground that it has not the
number of square miles it is entitled to under the constitution. It will be a hard fought lawsuit.
Source: Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, August 19, 1901
1902
A Sad Case
Knoxville. Tenn.. Oct. 21.
Just as the case of Clarence Peake, charged with murder of Silas Hulin, of Clinton.Tenn., was about to be called in the supreme court here yesterday, the supposed dead man appeared and announced that he had been in Colorado and had come back to prove Peake’s innocence. Peake, who is the son of a prominent family, had been sentenced in a lower court to ten years in the penitentiary, but is now in the insane asylum near here, a raving maniac, because of the charge against him.
Source: Daily Chronicle, Elyria, Ohio,October 21, 1902
Source: Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Ga, February 10, 1903Two Miners Killed Petros, Tenn., February 9, - Hugh Webster and John Fry were killed by falling slate in the Tennessee Blue Gem Coal Company's coal mine today. Both men leave large families.
1903
An incident occurred at Sunbright Tenn., Saturday, which is out of the common run. Ernest Dunnigan, who seems to have been something of a desperado, bore a grudge against W. E. Kennedy. Dunnigan went to Kennedy’s house, called him out and announced: “You kill me or I’ll kill
you,” Instead of waiting for Dunnigan to shoot him, as the latter evidently he would, ‘Kennedy violated the usual rules of such procedure by instantly shooting and killing Dunnigan. We have no idea that Kennedy will be punished. In fact he ought to be discharged with the thanks of the court for ridding the community of a terror and a constant menace. It’s an awful thing to shed human blood—to take human life. But when the bully who goes about with the constant purpose in his mind to maim or kill his fellow creatures, with or without provocation, is shot down, as he deserves to be, we heave a sigh of relief and feel like congratulating the one who does the disagreeable duty for doing great public service.
Landmark, Statesville, North Carolina, Sept. 22, 1903
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FIRED STORE TO COVER THEFT
Pilot Mountain, Tenn.,
Scene of Double Crime
Sunbright, Tenn., Sept. 23 – At
Pilot Mountain on the Cincinnati Southern, a large grocery store of Dennis brothers was burned last night after several hundred dollars worth of goods had been hauled away by robbers. Losses, $2500 to stock and $1000 to the building. The post office in the building was destroyed but the stamps and money were in an iron safe and were saved. There is no clue to the guilty parties.
Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 24, 1903
1904
Sentenced to Life TermsKnoxville, Tenn – Nov. 25
Henry Fritts and Robert Hughes were sentenced at Wartburg, Tenn., today to serve terms of life imprisonment for the murder of George Edmonds at Oliver Springs last spring. Both men will be brought to Knoxville for safe keeping pending an appeal to the Supreme court.Source: Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, November 26, 1904
1905
Joseph Duncan had lived Forty Years on his Farm
(Review Special Service.)
Moweaqua. Ills. March 31.
Joseph Duncan died Thursday at 12:30 a.m. aged 88 years. Mr Duncan was born in Morgan county, Tenn. in 1817. At the age of 23 he was married to Miss Susan Debaul of Washington County, Tenn.
They moved to Illinois in 1849 and in 1867 they settled on a farm near Moweaqua. They have been living near Moweaqua for nearly forty years. Three years ago his wife died leaving him with his children, Mrs. Mary C. Francis, M.T. Duncan and Joseph Duncan, Jr., of Mowequa and J. T. Duncan of Decatur. Mr. Duncan was a well respected citizen by all who knew him. Since a young man he has been a member of the Baptist church. Funeral services will he held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. Mr. Cooper officiating.
Source: March 31, 1905, Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois
Source: Washington Post, Washington, D.C., April 17, 1906Petros, Tenn., Destroyed
Knoxville, Tenn., April 16. – Fire at Petros, Tenn., destroyed nearly the entire business section to-night, causing loss estimated at close to $40,000. The fire started in the Williams’ general store,
and within one hour, eight buildings, all frame, were on fire.
1907
Suicide’s Body Shipped Home.
The body of George W Ewell of Deer Lodge, Morgan County, Tenn, who committed suicide here on Tuesday was shipped to Dyersburg, Tenn last night for burial. M. W. Ewell a brother of the suicide has arranged for the Interment Source: Washington Post, Washington, D.C. November 15, 1907
1908
Negroe’s Bloody Work, Chattanooga, Tenn, Jan 20
David Langley. Jr., night watchman at the Cincinnati Southern bridge near Annadel, Tenn., wa shot and killed by an unknown negro. Before committing the murder the negro kicked a freight conductor in the head. The negro tramp had stolen an overcoat belonging to Langley and was followed to Annadel by the watchman, where the theif alighted and proceeded to a cabin. Securing the assistance of Night Operator Browning, the two men went to the house.The negro tramp met them at the door and knocked Mr. Browning, who carried a pistol, to the ground, with an axe. Picking up the pistol dropped by the operator. the negro shot the bridge watchman through the heart, killing him instantly. He then escaped through the woods. Brownings skull is fractured and it is said that he cannot recover. Source: Coshocton Daily Times, Coshocton, Ohio, January 20, 1908
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News has reached Chattanooga, Tenn., to the effect that a posse of Morgan county citizens captured and lynched Walter Cole, the negro who Monday killed Walter Langley, a Cincinnati Southern bridge watchman at Annadel,Tenn. The posse had followed Cole all night, finally surrounding him in the woods. The negro resisted arrest and the posse opened fire, riddling his body with bullets.
Source: Daily Kennebec Journal, Kennebec, Maine, January 22, 1908
1910
Her Husbands Die in Duel
Woman had Divorced Both and then Rewedded the First
Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 1
A Coroner’sn jury which investigated the killing of Ben Barger, an employee of the Tennessee Brewing Company of Memphis, and G. M. Gaynon, a member of the Fire Department of this city,
returned a verdict that each came by his death from shots fired from the other. Mrs. Gaynon some time ago obtained a divorce from Gaynon and married Barger, but after one year divorced. Barger and remarried her first husband. Bager sent Gaynon this written challenge: “You have got my wife and you have got to fight me. Are you man enough? Please name the place we can meet. You are a coward if you don’t fight”. He also attempted to inveigle Mrs. Gaynon from home with a false message to her that he had shot himself and was asking for her. Barger was the stepbrother of Mrs. Gaynon, his mother is still living at Rugby, Tenn.
Source: Wellsboro Gazette, Wellsboro, Penn., August 4, 1910
1911
ONE HUNDRED OR MORE DEADFrom the Mine Explosion and Majority of Bodies Likely to Be Found TodayOVER HALF OF VICTIMS MARRIED MEN
Fifty-six Women Widowed and 184 Children Orphaned by the Disaster at Briceville – Workmen
Still Attempting to Force the Cross Mountain Mine to Give up the DeadBriceville, Tenn., Dec. 11 – With sixteen bodies recovered and identified rescue parties today renewed their hacking and digging in an attempt to force the big Cross Mountain mine here to give up its dead. Having forced their way three miles into the mountain and bratticed most of the mine’s cross entries, members of the rescue crew expect to stumble onto corpse strewn chambers at any hour now. Discovery of the first body of this morning came at 10 o’clock, when a dead miner was found in a sitting posture in one of the interior chambers. He was Andrew Johnson. It is estimated the explosion rendered 56 women widows and made 184 children orphans. That there are 100 or more dead men remaining in the mine there is no doubt. All hope of rescuing any of the scores who went to their toll Saturday morning to be embraced by death has been abandoned. The discovery late last night more bodies prompted crowds to gather at the death cave-in early this morning. Weeping wives, made widows by Saturday’s dust blast in the Knoxville Iron company’s mine, came to the shaft entrance in scores this morning, prepared to meet their dead. In a warehouse but a short step from the mine entrance are great aurabers of coffins waiting for their occupants. Corpses in plenty for these coffins will be found in the mine early this afternoon, it is believed. Possibly the majority of the victims will be found today. Of the eight corpses discovered last night three were sitting bolt upright in a mine car while the bodies of five others were lying on the ground. Their deaths came by explosion of dust. Charles Kesterson, whose body was among the first discovered, was found at the telephone back in the mine by the rescuing crew. Evidently Kesterson was trying to phone news of the blast to the officeof the mines when he was struck by falling debris. His skull was badly mashed and his body was cut.
Thousands Visited Scene. At least 10.000 persons visited this hamlet and willing workers were many. George P. Chanler. president of the Tennessee Coal company, is in charge of the relief work. He divided the men into gangs of 50 and sent each shift into the working for two hours. Even when the air in the mine was at its best they could not work longer in there. The throng of visitors is largely responsible for the exhaustion of food supplies in Briceville. All stores are bare of eatables and many went hungry. However, hunger will not be long an added horror to relatives of the Victims, as Knoxville” and other -cities are rushing food supplies.
Straining on the ropes that keep the throng back from the mine opening are the relatives of victims, anxiously awaiting some word of life within the yawning mouth of the death trap. The situation becomes more intense as each car of debris is brought to the surface, for, its driver might bring some word, or with the debris, might be the body of a loved one. The shrill whistle of the special train bringing coffins brought another horror to the already dazed inhabitants of the little town. The special brought 100 boxes and they were piled near the mouth of the mine. A terrible pall of silent sorrow exists about the mouth of the mine as thousands congregate, some standing for hours and others moving momentarily from one point of vantage to another.
Officials Are Reticent.
No official or semi-official opinion has been given out as to the cause of the disaster. President T. I. Stephenson had nothing to say in answer to this inquiry. It is generally believed however, that the
disaster was due to a dust explosion.
Mine officials also continue to decline to give out any positive information on the number of men who went to work in the mine, but it is thought that the number was between 100
and 200.
[Source: Mansfield News, December 11, 1911]
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Fireman Henry Angel of Oakdale, Tenn., and several trainmen were injured when a Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texan Pacific limited was wrecked in a tunnnel near Burnside, Ky.
Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana December 22, 1911
1913TWO DIE IN REVOLVER DUEL
Sheriff and Fugitive Exchange Shots and Both Are Killed.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn,, June 14.—Deputy Sheriff John Sliger and Joe Tipton, whom he was trying to arrest, killed each other tonight on the public highway near Rugby, Tenn, Tipton had been drinking and was firing his pistol promiscuously when Sliger demanded his surrender. Tlpton turned his weapon on the officer and the two men began shooting simultaneously. When the smoke had cleared away both were dead, within a short distance of each other,
Source: Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana June 15, 1913
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Two Brothers Killed in a Soft Drink Stand
Petros, Tenn., December 25
William and Robert Russell, brothers, were shot and instantly killed here late last night
and Beecher Holmes and his younger brother, charged with murder, are being held in the Petros
branch of the state prison. The Russell brothers were in a soft drink stand when, it is alleged, the Holmes brothers came in and began shooting. Officers say the double tragedy followed action
by William and Robert Russell in giving evidence against the Holmes brothers in connection with whisky selling charges. Threats of a double lynching caused the officers to place the accused men in the branch state prison. Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, 12/26/1913
————————–BROTHERS FIGHT DUEL, ONE DEAD, OTHER DYING
OAKDALE, TENN., Nov. 19 – In a duel with pistols her late this afternoon, Wm. Jackson, aged 35, was shot and almost instantly killed by his brother Samuel Jackson aged 30. As William fell he fired twice at his brother both bullets taking effect. Samuel was reported dying late tonight.
The brothers, both whom are married, lived together with their families. It is said that they became involved in an argument while intoxicated and the shooting followed.Source: Montgomery-Advertiser, Montgomery, Alabama, Thursday, November 20, 1913; p. 10
1916OLIVER SPRINGS, Tenn., May 23.
While John and Chester Shoopman, cousins, were “playing soldier”, a shotgun in the hands of John was discharged, the charge entering his thigh and wounding him so seriously that his condition is critical, as lock jaw is feared. They didn’t know the gun was loaded. They were at the home of John, about five miles from Oliver Springs. They were drilling with the guns at the time the shooting occured. John is twenty and his cousin is twenty one. Source: Kingsport Times, Kingsport,Tennessee,6/25/1916
1921
ALLEGED MURDERERS CAUGHT AT HARRIMAN
Knoxville, June 10 – Tom Chrismas and Otto Stevens, charged with the killing of George Lewis, of Knoxville, near Clinton, on the night of May 30, who have eluded pursuit by a number of posses, were captured last night near Harriman. Christmas and Stevens were held in the office of Chief of Police W. W. Roberts, at Harriman, and this morning were brought here. They were placed in jail with John McClure and Charles Petree, who are alleged to have confessed to a minor part, in the killing of George Lewis and the assault on Andrew Crumley, Knoxville taxicab driver, the night of May 30 in the woods near Clinton, and a subsequent attempt to rob the bank at Oakdale. Posses have been searching the hills of Roane and Anderson, Morgan and adjoining counties for the remaining members of the band since Petree and McClure; were captured several days after the attempted bank robbery.
Kingsport Times, Kingsport, Tenn., 6/16/1921
1923
Robbins-Satterfield Wedding
Miss Gladys Satterfield and Ben Robbins of Oakdale,Tenn. were married
yesterday afternoon at Pineville. They will leave Saturday for Chattanooga
where the will make their home.
Source: Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, Kentucky, March 30, 1923
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MORGAN COUNTY SHIPS CARLOAD OF POTATOES
The Morgan County Potato Growers, Association, which grew a considerable acreage of potatoes under supervision of County Agent Robert L. Lyons this year, made their first co-operative shipment recently. Twenty-five farmers co-operated in making up a car of 230,150 pounds in bags which they shipped to a Birmingham firm. They received $3.50 per bag f. o. b. Sunbright, Morgan county. The local market, which was limited, had been around $1.00 to $1.25 per bushel.. The association received a little better than SI. 30 net on the shipment. A. L. Jordan assisted Agent Lyons
in grading and handling the potatoes. Mr. Jordan stated that the farmers were highly pleased with
the results as well as the firm which purchased the potatoes. There will be from 15 to 20 more carloads shipped from the county, the crop being Agent Lyons’ major project.
By the Associated Press. Kingsport Times, Kingsport, Tenn.; Oct. 2, 1923
1924
Gunshot Victim FoundCLINTON.Tenn., July 23.
Lansdon Farris, 27 years old, former convict, was arrested yesterday morning
at Laurel Fork, near Petros by Deputy Sheriff Bunch, and lodged in the jail here yesterday afternoon, charged with the murder of Dee Cockrum. 30 years old, whose body was found in the woods near Laurel Fork, having been shot in the back with a shot gun. Farris was arraigned here yesterday afternoon before Justice of the Peace J. K. Arthur, and held under a bond of $10,000 to wait the action of the grand jury. Cockrum, who was a cook for the Ladd Lumber company, left home about noon on July 17, and had not been seen alive again so far as can be ascertained. Source: Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY July 23, 1924
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CLINTON.Tenn., July 23. Lansdon Farris, 27 years old, former convict, was arrested yesterday morning at Laurel Fork, near Petros, by Deputy Sheriff Bunch, and lodged in the jail here yesterday
afternoon, charged with the murder of Dee Cockrum 30 years old, whose body was found in the woods near Laurel Fork, having been shot in the back with a shot gun. Farris was arraigned here
yesterday afternoon before Justice of the Peace J. K. Arthur, and held under a bond of $10,000 to wait the action of the grand jury. Cockrum, who was a cook for theLadd Lumber company, left home about noon on July 17, and had not been seen alive again so far as can be ascertained.
Source: Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, July 23, 1924
1926
Know Your Pastor
REV. CHARLES A. YORK
Rev. Charles A. York, pastor of the M. E. Church. South Brunswick, was born in Rose, Tenn., on
May 29, 1891. He was educated at Randolph-Macon college, at Ashland, Va., Dunsmore Business College, Staunton, Va.. University of Maryland Law School, at Baltimore, and at Emory University, theology at Atlanta, Ga. Rev. Mr. York has served pastorates at Savage, Md., for six months as
a supply; two years at Ballston, Va., and is now in his second year at Brunswick. At Ballston, he was the first full-time pastor. With a church membership of 81, the first unit of a new $60.000 church was substantially completed. During the World War. he entered the infantry as a private and was discharged in 1919 as a Second Lieutenant.
Source: Frederick Post, Frederick, Maryland, October 9, 1926
1930
NEGRO CAPTURED AFTER BATTLE
Oakdale, Tenn, May 17 (AP) Willie Campbell, Negro of Columbus, Ga, sought by a posse since Thursday for stabbing Marion Goodman, Southern Railway Detective, in the railroad yards here,
was captured today after a gun battle in which he was seriously wounded. Officers said he confessed he attacked the officer. More than two hundred men participated in the hunt. Bloodhounds had been following the Negro since Friday. Late last night he was surrounded in a wood near here and this morning members of the posse began closing in. As they came in sight, Campbell drew a pistol but before he could shoot scores of bullets were fired at him. He was felled with a bullet through his abdomen, one through his arm and another through his leg. Goodman was attacked after arresting
Campbell and another Negro for trespassing on railroad property. The detective was in a Chattanooga hospital today in a serious condition with eight knife wounds.
Reno Evening Gazette, Reno, Nevada; May 17, 1930
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria, Ohio
Jan. 26, 1931TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS…Frederic A. Whiting, Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art,
born at Oakdale, Tenn., 58 years ago.
1931
Mrs. Clyde Bradford, S. Central ave, and children, Ruth and Edward, were to return Sunday from
Rockwood. Tenn., where they visited Mr. Charles Lehman, father of Mrs. Bradford. They will
be accompanied by Mrs. William Shelley, St. Johns, and children, Juanita and Theodore, who
have been visiting Mrs. Shelley’s father, William Lehman, of Deermount, Tenn.
Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, Aug 9, 1931
1933
RAILWAY SIGNAL MAN HEROICALLY PREVENTS WRECK OF RAIL FLYER
Oakdale, Tenn.—(UP)—A railway Signal man, suffering from a possibly fractured skull, heroically averted a wreck of the crack Ponce de Leon passenger train, Detroit to Miami, today, by flagging the flier to safety before it reached a landslide which have wrecked his rail motor car and caused his injury. He was W. D. Waters, who with R. C. Kelly, was speeding on an inspection tour of the electric block system of the line when their small car struck the landslide. Waters was thrown 50 feet, and suffered a possible fracture of the skull at the base of the brain. Kelly was hurled upon a rock pile. Pulling Kelly to safety. Waters deliberately damaged the block system’s wires in a manner he knew would result in red danger lights ahead for the fast approaching Ponce de Leon. He then stumbled up the track, waving a red fuse of warning. Thundering down the track among the Tennessee hills, the crack train screeched to a stop just at the edge of the landslide. The debris was then cleared away and the train rumbled on its way southward. Waters and Kelly were taken to a hospital at Rockwood, where Kelly was found suffering from a painful scalp wound and wrenched back. Both men are married, and live at Lancing, Tenn. Source: Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 11/21/1933
Stolen Ransom Money Turns Up In TennesseeBulletin Wartburg, Tenn., Oct 19 –
A five dollar bill, believed to be part of the $50,000 ransom payment for Mrs. Berry Stoll, was discovered in the Citizens Bank and Trust Company here today. H. W. Summers, president of the bank, said the bill bore the same serial numbers as those received on a list he received from
federal agents. The bill was taken in yesterday, he said.The Chroncile Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, October 19, 1934
1934
PILOT KILLED IN MAIL CRASHWreckage if found 150 miles off course in Mountains of Tennessee Sunbright, Tenn., Dec. 24 (AP) –
The charred wreckage of an American Airlines mail plane and the crushed and burned body of its pilot, Russell Riggs of Fort Worth, Texas, was found Sunday near the top of Big Pilot Mountain, four miles east of here. The plane had been missing since 2:52 a. m. Saturday, shortly after leaving Louisville, Kentucky, for Nashville, Tennessee. Apparently lost in a fog over the Cumberland mountains of East Tennessee, the pilot had flown approximately 150 miles off his course.
Just Missed Top
The ship had crashed into the mountain, barely fifty feet from its top, and burned. The body
of Riggs, badly burned and torn, lay face down beside the motor. Five or six pouches of mail and several packages of photographs were scattered near the plane, but were undamaged. Two mountaineers, Kermit Freels, 23, and brother Theodore Freels, 27, discovered the wreckage at 10:00 a.m., after a two hour search. They lived two miles from the scene, the nearest house.
Thought it was Auto
“A plane passed right over our house about 4 o’clock Saturday morning,” Kermit Freels said. “I stepped out of the house, thinking it was an automobile coming.”It was foggy and the plane was flying low. I could make out its lights. The motor was running good: I said to the folks “That plane has got to raise some to get over that mountain.’ It had not over but about three minutes when I heard a noise, and saw a light up on the mountain, but I thought at the time the plane had gotten over..
Started Search
‘”Sunday, me and my brother heard about a plane wrecking and we went out to look for it. “We found it “about twenty steps from the top of Big Pilot mountain.” If the pilot had raised about fifty feet he would have gotten over. “The plane had torn up the mountain – side like dynamite, and
torn the tops our of six or eight trees”. Freels said he and his brother came down the mountain side, walked to Sunbright, and got a message to the sheriff. Sheriff .H.C. Byrge and several of his deputies went to the scene to stand guard until other authorities arrived.
Body Carried Two Miles
A. two-mile trip down the mountain side was necessary to carry the pilot’s body to an ambulance.
A representative of the department of commerce and a postal inspector were reported- en route. from Nashville. National guard planes and several ships sent out by the Airlines spent Saturday searching the area between Nashville and Louisville for the unreported ship. Its route was Cleveland, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Texarkana, Dallas and Fort Worth. It was due at Sky Harbor, near Nashville, at 3:30 a.m. Saturday.
Gettysburg Times, Gettysburg, PA, Dec 24, 1934
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Tennessee Man Offers Grazing Land For Stock
Thousands of acres of rich grazing land in eastern Tennessee are available to Nebraska stockmen who are faced with the problem of finding feed for their drouth stricken herds, the state veterinarian was informed Monday in a letter from a Tennessee man. H. C. Nelson, of Sunbright. Tenn, wrote that he has 3,500 acres of fine grazing land of his own on the Cumberland plateau and an “unlimited range”‘ is close at hand. Nelson said the range will be ample to provide feed for stock until
November or early December
Source: Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, July 9, 1934
1935
Green Drake and Mrs. Emma Tallman, of Sunbright. Tenn., are visiting friends in town. They were called here by the death of Mrs. C. L. Osborne.
Charleston Daily Mail, Charleston, WV, Jan 20, 1935
Source: The Nashua Reporter, Nashua, Iowa, May 15, 1935Puzzling Waters–The waters of one of the creeks near Petros, Tenn., are black six days in the week and clear on Sunday. Miners use the stream to wash coal on working days, but rest on Sunday.
1937
Girl Wife Gets Divorce
Wartburg, Tenn., July 3, (INS)
Alma Ruffner Honeycutt, 14-year old girl-wife, yesterday had been handed a six months “bed and board divorce”. from her 23 year-old husband, Harold. Chancellor A.H. Wallace awarded the child-mother the “bed and board divorce”, described by attorneys as a “legal separation” after Alma told him “I really don’t want a divorce”. In addition to the six months separation, Chancellor Wallace ordered Honeycutt to pay his young wife $17.50 a month for support of the child, a boy born last December. Lee M. Jeffers, Mrs. Honeycutt’s attorney, explained the decree merely gives Alrna that long to make up her mind whether she wants an absolute divorce or not. “I still love him and still want to live with him,” Alma told the court. Mrs. Honeycutt won the decree on a cross-bill which she filed Monday in answer to her husband’s suit. Honeycutt’s petition, which charged Alma with “cruel and inhuman treatment,” was dismissed when he failed to appear In court.
Source: Hammond Times, Hammond, Indiana, July 3, 1937
1940
ANOTHER FELLER?A 17-year-old schoolboy shows promise of emulating the feats of Cleveland’s Bob Feller. Sammy
Bertram pitched a no-hit, no-run game for Sunbright, Tenn., against Lancing…won, 2-0.
Lima News, Lima, Ohio, August 7, 1940————————
Prominent Tennesseans, 1796-1938
Who’s Who Publishing Co.
Lewisburg, Tennessee
Copyright, 1940pg. 277
WARTBURG
ADKINS, MRS. LORAINE DAVIS,
Postmistress at Wartburg, Tennessee. Born at Wartburg, Tennessee on October 11, 1906, of English-Irish ancestry, to Charles H. and Dora Tony Davis. Paternal grandparents were Reuben and Lucinda Summers Davis; maternal grandparents were John and Julia Scott Tony. Educated in the public and high schools of Morgan County, at Wartburg. Member of the Baptist Church; a Democrat. Mrs. Adkins was appointed Postmaster at Wartburg on October 1, 1933 by President
F.D. Roosevelt. Mrs. Adkins was sponsored by Senators McKellar and Bachman. She had not been before the public prior to becoming Postmistress. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers in the Civil War; her paternal grandfather being a Colonel. Since being appointed to U.S. Postal service, Mrs. Adkins has proven her ability to be a postmaster and the condition of the affairs of her office prove her efficiency. Her maternal grandmother, Julia Scott, was a descendant of the Scott family which was among the earliest settlers of this section of the state. Mrs. Adkins married D. N. Adkins on December 3, 1922. She is the mother of four children: Juanita, 13; Donald, 12; Virginia Lee, 11; Betty Lou, 9. Prior to becoming Postmaster, Mrs. Adkins managed the Davis Hotel at Wartburg for a period of about a year. Her hobby is outdoor sports.——————–
Prominent Tennesseans, 1796-1938
Who’s Who Publishing Co.
Lewisburg, Tennessee
Copyright, 1940pg. 277
WARTBURG
BROCK, WILLIAM RILEY, Sheriff of Morgan County. Born in Morgan County on Sept. 8, 1873, of English-Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were Milton T. and Cordelia T. Kesterson. His paternal grandparents were Lindsay and ( ) Brock. His maternal grandparents were James and Elizabeth Walker Kesterson. Educated in the public schools of Morgan County. Member of the Baptist Church; Mason; K.P.; Republican. Mr. Brock was elected Sheriff in August, 1936 over his opponent by an overwhelming majority. Previous to this he had served as Deputy Sheriff for five years. Prior to that he was in the lumber business for several years, was Postmaster at Pilot Mountain for twenty years, and was store manager for a lumber company. His long public career has earned for him a reputation of dependability. His overwhelming vote on his election as sheriff is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his county. Mr. Brock is the father of ten children: Mrs. Delta Mae Smith; Virgil Brock; Mrs. Mabel Emerson; Otto Brock; Mrs. Bertie Anderson; Ava Brock; Carl T. Brock; Edward Brock; Hazel; William Riley, Jr. Mr. Brock has eleven grandchildren. He says that his hobby is “making friends”. His grandfather
Kesterson and his father fought with the Federal forces during the Civil War. He was first married to Malissa M. Phipps on August 2, 1892, and later to Susie Gann on January 15, 1900.
1941
Former Brunswick Man Given Post
Major A. C. York, Cousin Of Sergt. Alvin York, New Morale Officer
Fort Monroe, Va., Aug. 26—
Major Charles Asbury York, 50, of Brunswick, Md.. third cousin of Sgt. Alvin York, legendary hero of World War No.I, has been appointed Post Morale Officer and assistant E and R officer at this station. Born in Burrville. Morgan County, Tenn., less than a dozen miles from the birthplace of Sgt. York, whose life is being emblazoned on the screens of the nation in a feature motion picture, Major York was called to active service from the ranks of reserve officers. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 319th Infantry Division while at Camp Lee in the officers training camp. Prior to his call to active duty Major York .served as Conference Director of Young People’s Work and extension secretary to the Baltimore Conference, Methodist- Episcopal Church South. Following studies at Randolph Macon College, a law course at the Univ ersity of Maryland, Major York was ordained as a Methodist minister after completing theological studies at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. The minister-soldier has served in pastorates of Covington, Va, Arlington, Va., Brunswick, Md.. Savage, Md., and Union. W. V Frederick Post, Frederick, Maryland; August 27, 1941
1942
INDIANAPOLIS
Police said they were holding Glen Branstetter, 17, of Deer Lodge, Tenn., as a suspect in the shooting of Jess Phillips, 57, of Sunbright, Tenn., Aug. 10. They said Branstetter would be returned to Wartburg,Tenn., to face charges of murder. Source: Vidette Messenger, Valparaiso, Indiana September 10, 1942
1946
Miss Stringfield to Become Bride of Donald Abbott
Mr. and Mrs. James Sexton, 1247 Adams st, announce the approaching marriage of their grand-daughter, Miss Hazel Stringfield, to Donald Abbott, son of Mrs. Mildred Rhees of Sidney.
Sunday, Oct. 20, is the date selected for the wedding, to be solemnized at 1:45 o’clock in the
afternoon in the South Lima Baptist church. The Rev. J.C. Clasper, pastor, will officiate and the custom of open church will be observed. A reception will be held in the Sexton home following the ceremony. Miss Stringfield was graduated from Wartberg high school in Wartburg, Tenn. Mr. Abbott attended Sidney High School and served three years in the Navy.
Lima News, Lima, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1946
1947
Mule Keeps Vigil
LANCING, TENN. Mitchell Griffith of Lancing purchased a mule in Scott County and began his 30-mile return trip to Lancing on foot, leading the animal. When two weeks passed and Griffith did not return, a searching party was sent out. Sixteen days later the party found Griffith’s body atop a remote mountain and there standing over his master’s body was the Scott County mule. A coroner’s jury said the man had died of natural causes. Source: Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio, 4/10/1947
1950PARKER, RUBY SUMMER – Marine Flies Home to Bury 4 in Family
Sunbright, Tenn. (AP) – A Marine Corps veteran who recently had been fighting in Korea was flying home Tuesday to bury his wife and three children. M/Sgt. John B. Parker, a 25-year veteran of the corps, is scheduled to arrive here Thursday. The funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Sunbright Baptist Church.
Mrs. Ruby Summer Parker, 45, and two of her children, Judy, 10, and Thomas, 2 were found dead “from some kind of gas” when two of her brothers broke down the door of her home last Saturday. The other child, Bryan Parker, 11, and Miss Betty Edith Tinch, 20, who operated a beauty parlor on the first floor of the residence, died Sunday in a hospital. The two smaller children were found in their beds, but the mother, the beautician, and the oldest boy were found on the floor. A telephone hook its hook indicated they had tried to get help before becoming overcome by the deadly gas. Services for Ms. Tinch will be held Wednesday at the Presbyterian Church in nearby Allardt.
Source: Kingsport News, Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tenn.; December 13, 1950, p. 3
Prison Marooned by Mountain LandslidePetros, Tenn., (AP) – Brushy mountain prison stands virtually marooned Thursday following the
slide of a mile-long chip of Frozen Head mountain to the institution’s front door. Two of the prison’s three coal mines are out of operation, their means of access wiped away by the landslide Wednesday. After increasingly heavy rainfall, “most of the entire south face of the 3,500-foot mountain seemed to split away from the main mass”. That’s how one newsman at the scene described it.Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, February 2, 1950
1951Cigar Smoking Lad Doesn’t Like Bullets
AP News feature, Knoxville,Tenn.
William Glenn Greene, is a man of the world who, at the age of 3, can take in stride a black cigar, a chew of tobacco or a bullet in the head. “Scrap Iron” is his nickname around Brushy Mountain State Prison at nearby Petros, where his father, Reuben Greene, is commissary manager. The healthy-looking, tow-headed boy said he smokes two or three cigars a day and takes a chew when he can get one, but he’s not too keen about bullets. He lit up a cigar, inhaled deepy and turned his attention to a toy truck as his father told of the shooting incident which took place on the eve of his third birthday last July: “We went to a little store, and ‘Scrap Iron’ walked behind the counter and picked up a gun we didn’t even know was there. “He couldn’t pull the trigger with his finger, but he did manage to pull it with his thumb and the bullet grazed him almost in the center of the forehead. “The bullet punctured a can of tomato juice on the counter and the juice dripped down on his head. We thought he was badly wounded because of the blood but at the hospital it turned out to be just a flesh wound. “At that, it took four stitches to sew it up.” Greene said his son picked up his smoking and chewing from convicts at the state prison about the time he was learning to walk. ”Scrap Iron” looked up from his toys as questioning turned his way again. Yes, he admitted, his mother did seem to sort of object to his cigars and chewing tobacco but she hadn’t made him quit yet. He has a sister, Carolyn, who is nine. Carolyn says she doesn’t smoke, but she doesn’t mind a bit if the menfolks do. Source: Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, December 22, 1951————————–
Children of John Harvey Coker and Cecil Gann76 Year-Old Man’s Wife Has Triplets
Oliver Springs, Tenn., Oct. 8 (UP) – Doctors said today that triplets were born Saturday night to a 76 year-old man and his 36 year-old wife and the two girls and a boy are “doing well”.
The parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Coker, of Coalfield, Tenn., have several other children. The triplets were born within eight minutes and each weighed five pounds.
Source: Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday, October 9, 1951, p. 17
1958Tear Gas Quiets Prison Rioters In Tennessee
PETROS,Tenn. (INS) Warden Frank Llewellyn said today that 250 rioting prisoners at the Brushy
Mountain State prison have not indicated why they started a demonstration. He ordered all guards out of the cell block to prevent the convicts from taking hostages shortly after the riot began Monday night. The warden reported that the convicts tore up plumbing and mattresses, causing considerable
damage,and were trying to get other prisoners in different parts of the prison to join them in the riot.
Tear gas was used to quiet the convicts who were locked in their cells. The warden said he could not be sure they could be prevented from breaking out of the Petros, Tenn., institution. State police have reinforced the guards. Source: Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, March 11, 1958
1959Convicts Hold Out in Tennessee Mines
Petros, Tenn. (AP) –
Rebellious convicts reportedly booby-trapped a coal mine with dynamite at Brushy Mountain State Prison today and refused to give up after releasing one of three hostages. The state assistant corrections commissioner, Pat Patterson, discussed grievances with the 95 convict miners, and said a spokesman telephoned to the mine entrance; “We’ve talked it over and we’re not coming out.”
State authorities said Shirley Bunch, the hostage who was released, said the convict miners had booby-trapped the entrance with dynamite. The report was unconfirmed from any other source. Convict spokesmen made it clear, however, that they did not intend to harm anyone, citing their release of Bunch, who said he was having chills. Bunch, 63, was one of three unarmed mine foremen whom the convicts seized as hostages Monday morning. He had not been harmed. Patterson told newsmen later that Gov. Buford Ellington had ordered that there be no concessions to the rebels.
This, Patterson said, includes no food, no water. Patterson said the prisoners’ demands included more pay for coal they mine. Patterson promised revisions where desirable but declined to make any major concessions. The prisoners now receive 25 cents a ton for coal mined in excess of six tons a month. A spokesman said they average about $1.25 a day. The first break, Bunch’s release, encouraged officials to believe the rebellion might be nearing an end. But it was a false hope, Patterson said. The convicts took over the mine 10 miles northwest of Knoxville at the start of the day shift Monday, grabbing three unarmed foremen as hostages and sending the mine superintendent up as a messenger to prison officials. They threatened to dynamite or burn the mine shaft unless they were granted their demands, which ranged from more food to better working conditions. One official said the men had explosives enough “to blow up the whole mountain.” Possibly 200 sticks of dynamite were in the mine, but the convicts were not believed to have any weapons. The three foremen who were being held 3,100 feet inside the mine reported to Patterson by telephone that they had not been harmed. The prison’s coal output from three Cumberland Mountain mines is used in other state institutions. Only 95 of the 605 inmates took part in the rebellion and two smaller mines continued in operation.
Stephens Point Daily Journal, Stephens Point, Wisconsin, July 14, 1959------------------Mine Boss Killed By Sniper’s Shot
LAKE CITY, Tenn. (&) A sniper’s bullet killed a coal mine owner Monday as he worked his machinery on a federal flood control project here in defiance of threats of sabotage or death. Five persons were questioned at length in the slaying of Jess Fesler, 53. of Sunbright, Tenn., shot in the back as he stood beside his bulldozer on the project near the Lake City High School. Anderson County Sheriff Glad Woodward questioned two of the men in Clinton, south of Lake City, and Campbell County Sheriff Rose Kitts held three men for questioning in Jacksboro. Lake City is located on the Anderson – Campbell county line about 30 miles northwest of Knoxville is in the coal-field area extending through southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee. The area has seen numerous cases of violence since the United Mine Workers began a drive to bring all mines under union contract. Three persons have been killed in Kentucky. Sheriff Woodward said, however. “We are positive this shooting is in no way concerned with union troubles.”Source: Oswego Pallendium Times, Oswego, New York, 6/9/1959
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Sniper Kills Former Coal Mine Owner
LAKE CITY,Tenn. (AP)A sniper’s bullet killed a former coal miner owner Monday as he worked his machinery on a federal flood control project here in defiance of threats of sabotage or death. Five persons were questioned at length in the slaying of Jess Fesler, 53, of Sunbright,Tenn., shot in the back as he stood beside his bulldozer on the project near the Lake City High School. Anderson County Sheriff Glad Woodward questioned two of the men in Clinton, South of Lake City. and Campbell County Sheriff Rose Kitts held three men for questioning in Jacksboro. Lake City is located on the Anderson Campbell county line about 30 miles northwest of Knoxville. It is in the coalfield area extending through southeast Kentucky and northern Tennessee. The area has seen numerous cases of violence since the United Mine Workers began a drive to bring all mines under union contract. Three persons have been killed in Kentucky. Sheriff Woodward said, however, “We are positive this shooting is in no way concerned with union troubles.” Sued For 534,111 The UMW welfare fund sued Fesler in 1957 for $34,111 it claimed he owed for back contributions to the fund. He filed a crossbill contending he had signed the union contract under duress. However,Woodward said he is probing mainly in other directions for possible motives. Among other things, the sheriff said. Fesler:
1. Was the complaining witness in an armed robbery case against Franklin D. Smith, which was to have been heard by the Campbell County grand jury next week.
2. Had been seen frequently with women other than his wife.
Source: Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Lancaster, Ohio, 6/9/1959
1961RESCUERS TRYING TO REACH MINERS
Little Hope for Two of Men Held
by U.S. Inspector
by James A. Bryant
Petros, Tenn., (AP) Men dug through a debris-choked coal mine shaft high on the face of a mountain
today in an agonizing effort to reach three trapped miners. “Get me out,” pleaded one of them, Herly Carroll, 18, from beneath the rubble more than nine hours after the old mine caved in on eight miners Friday an hour before they were to start a two-week vacation. Federal Mine Inspector Steve Bukovich said there was no hope of finding Charles Seiver, 23, and Charlie Kennedy, 28, alive.
* *
A doctor used a hacksaw to amputate the arm of Robert Woods, 19, who was pinned between the
rocks and a coal car. He was taken to an Oak Ridge hospital in serious condition. Woods’ father, Claude Woods, 47, suffered a fractured pelvis. The other three miners escaped serious injury.
The mine, 2,300 feet up on the face of Fork Mountain in the Cumberland Mountains of east
Tennessee, had been closed several years. The miners were taking out coal pillars and shoring up the mine, preparatory to reconditioning it for the Fork Mountain Mining Co. “It happened all at once,” said Billy Rose. 54. “When we heard the noise we all started running and I passed one boy. And the rocks caught me. As soon as the rocks stopped falling, the other fellows came back to help us out”. The caved-in shale covered an area about 100 feet long, 30 feet wide and 8 feet deep about 400 feet from the mine entrance, which is reached by an incline railway.
* *
Only three or four rescue workers, using hand tools, could get in the shaft at one time. As the rescue operation continued through the night, lights burned in every house in the mountain village of Fork Mountain. Relatives and friends clustered in small groups at the foot of the mountain. There was an air of expectation each time the lights of a rescue man could be seen starting down the incline railway, followed by disappointment when he brought no news of the trapped men. The mine is about 40 miles northwest of Knoxville.
Source: Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, June 24, 1961
1963
PICAYUNE – A former Baton Rouge resident suffered a fatal heart attack here
yesterday while trying to extinguish a fire under the hood of his car.He was RAYMOND E. BROWN, 61, of Coalfield, Tenn. Brown, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., was a retired employe of the Solvay plant here and resided in Baton Rouge from 1934 to 1961. He was en route from New Orleans to his home in Coalfield when his car caught fire on U.S. Hwy, 11 miles north of here. He died at the Crosby Memorial Hospital in Picayune. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Mildred Brown of Coalfield; three daughters, Mrs. Earl C. Spell and Mrs. J. J. Mumphrey, both of Baton Rouge and Mrs. W. B. Krumholt, Jr. of Texas City, Tex. and eight grandchildren. The body is at Sharp Funeral Home, Coalfield. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Source: State Times Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tuesday, April 2, 1963, p. 24
1965PRISON ESCAPEE ARRESTED
Cincinnati (UPI)
A Tennessee prison escapee crossed paths with a Cincinnati policeman Tuesday for the second time in 10 days and the chance meeting brought an end to his freedom. Siles Campbell, 21, LaFollette, Tenn., faced return to the Brushy Mountain State Prison at Petros, Tenn., after his arrest by patrolman William Smith. Just 10 days ago, Campbell was arrested by the same policeman for public drunkenness. At that time, local authorities were unaware of his background. So he was released after paying a $10 fine. They learned of his prison escape Sunday, when the warden at Petros phoned police here and said Campbell might show up. Police were unable to trace Campbell through the address he had given in his court appearance because it was false. But fate took a hand and delivered him into the arms of the law at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday while Patrolman Smith was walking his beat. Campbell, a trusty at the prison, had walked away from a road project six weeks ago and come to Cincinnati to stay with friends.
Source: Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio, June 30, 1965
1972Escapee Releases Diabetic Hostage
Bartow, Fla. (UPI) – A sheriff’s deputy in need of insulin for diabetes was released by an escaped prisoner who held him hostage yesterday, but a manhunt continued for a Miami Beach family taken from their motel room. Deputy Sheriff Bruce Browning was found handcuffed to a tree in the East
Tennessee mountains. Officials had worried that Browning would go into shock unless he received insulin. The Deputy, who requires insulin every 48 hours, was taken hostage on Friday by convict, William Elias Davidson, and his gun-toting, bleached blonde wife, Ellen. Authorities in Florida and Tennessee said Browning was released near Wartburg, Tenn. He was bound to a tree with his own handcuffs beside a river in the deserted resort area of Pilot Mountain. Browning was found by two boys who wandered by. They called Morgan County Sheriff Cecil Byrge, who said ‘me and my deputy went up there and we had to saw the handcuffs off his wrist because they had taken the key with them.’ Byrge said Browning took an insulin shot and was in ‘good condition’. Officers in Polk County, Fla. learned yesterday that the Mel Prime family of Miami Beach was missing from the Wonderland Motel near Davenport, Fla., about a half mile from the swampy area the
getaway car was found. Deputy Browning confirmed the family had been seized Friday night by Davidson and is wife. The Prime family’s car was taken and the two desperadoes and their hostages through police roadblocks. Browning said he spent most of the trip on the floor of the car. Members of the Prime family were identified as Mel, his wife Blanche and their three children: Howie, 12, Jimmy, 11; and Cecilia, 9. The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, August 27, 1972
The Chronicle Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, August 27, 1972
2004100-year-old Clyde Hamby “ain’t in no hurry”
Published Oct. 15, 2004
By Krista Richmond
Chronicle staffwriter
Oct. 7 wasn’t just any birthday for Clyde Hamby of Westel. He celebrated 100
years of life. “I’ve enjoyed life,” said Hamby. “I ain’t in no hurry.” Hamby was born and raised in Hebbertsburg to Dexter and Dora Hamby. They lived close to Yellow Creek, and his father worked at the local post office. In his early 20s, he met Ora Hunter, who worked in Rockwood and lived next to his sister. They married and had eight children. The six children still living are Imogene Delius of Westel, Thelma Potter of Crab Orchard,Dallas Hamby of Ozone, Glenn Hamby of Alloway, Willard Hamby of Hebbertsburg and Roy Hamby of Crossville. Now there a five generations in his family, including several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Hamby lost is wife in November 2002 after 74 years of marriage. His youngest sister,Arleva Hembree, lives in Rockwood. When asked about the secret to his long life, he said, “I don’t feel too old. I eat three times a day and sleep all night.” Genetics might have something to do with it as well. His mother lived to be 102. Hamby also likes to stay active. He is involved in the Masonic Lodge, in which he has been a member of for 50 years. Hamby was a farmer, raising livestock and logging in the mountains, and still keeps chickens. Hamby will celebrate his birthday on Saturday with a gathering at the Hebbertsburg Community Center.
[Source, Crossville Chronicle]
2005Sunday, January 16, 2005
Sunbright voters keep city alive
By Judy Underwood-/Morgan County NewsA tiny town in northern Morgan County will continue as an incorporated city. A group of citizens petitioned to have the question of whether or not the Sunbright’s city charter should be surrendered after the city council imposed a 62-cent city property tax. The votes have been counted and the city of Sunbright prevailed with 145 voting against surrendering the city charter. A total of 99 voted to surrender the charter and dissolve the city.
Source: Roane County News, January, 2005