• Alabama Type

    A Note from Union, 1876

    UNION.

    Mr. Editor: After a protracted drought of about five weeks, the copious showers of rain which have fallen here the past week have had a magical effect upon the growing crops, which were not materially injured by the dry spell, owing to their having been thoroughly cultivated. We believe in stirring the soil in this section, as the best protection against the evil effects of drouth. Our wheat crop was not all that we had hoped for it. In the language of the poet, it was “too thin”. We had to scare it up in the fence corners to cut it with scissors.

    We are glad to announce that a new industry has sprung up in our neighborhood, that of gathering blackberries for market. Dr. L. I am told has many hands employed to fill a large order from Oxford. Owing to the stringency of times, I understand they are in great demand at that place.

    Once of your fellow townsmen, Mr. Cave, is in his vicinity painting the dwelling house of Mr. Loyd. He is putting the “city agony” on it. I have heard from the Peeks Hill “localist”. He has gone into the manufacture of poetry. He fills orders for all kinds at factory prices, viz” 3c per yd. He has doubtless struck his talent now. I congratulate him upon his success.
    XX.

     

    JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN, SAT, JUNE 24, 1876

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    Sad Death of Lawrence Journey, Jacksonville, 1903

    SAD DEATH OF YOUNG BOY

    Lawrence Journey Killed in Accident Saturday.

    Lawrence Journey, son of Mr. John W. Journey, who was killed in an accident Saturday afternoon, was buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery yesterday afternoon.
    Young Journey was employed in a planing mill, running a moulder. In some manner, a piece of molding was broken and hurled back toward him. The missile struck him in the left side of his abdomen going entirely through his body. He lived only a few minutes.
    Journey was about sixteen years old, a brother of Mr. Ed Journey of this city, and a nephew of Circuit Clerk I.E. Watson.

     

    THE ANNISTON REPUBLIC, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1903

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    Mrs. Mae Ford, Jacksonville 1977

    ‘Family’ feeling fading in Jacksonville’s mill area

    Mrs. Mae Ford of 21 A St has lived in the village – to the west of the square and mostly down hill – more than 50 years.

    “I married here in the Methodist church in town and I’ve lived in number 4, 21, and 41,” she said “I’ve raised my family here and made my steps right in here.” the silver-haired woman said as she looked over some pictures of mill workers taken in 1906.
    “It’s the best neighborhood to live in,” she said “The older ones were just like a family. If one got in trouble, the others would go to help them.”

    Mrs. Ford raised six children in the village, not an unusual number for the 1930s and 1940s she said.

    “Everybody had five or six or seven children” she recalled “Nobody could afford anything for Christmas except for a red wagon for the whole family.
    “There’re no children around anymore.”

    Mrs. Ford worked in the Profile Cotton Mill for 34 years before she quit in 1955. “I spooled for 14 years. I also was an extra. I worked wherever they needed me. I’ve done everything in all the mills.”

    Mrs. Ford said living in a company-owned house was convenient.

    “It was close and handy,” she said “I could run out when I’d catch up with my work and check on my children. It was a good settlement.”

    Living in the village was also economical.
    Mrs. Ford worked when the company had an order and usually brought home $32 a month. Her late husband who also worked at the mill, made less than that for years she said.
    From their earnings, they paid the company $4.80 a month in rent and bought groceries at the Profile Store on B Street.
    What they didn’t buy, they raised in gardens, hog pens and company-owned cow pastures.

    “I just had a few tomatoes and cucumbers this year,” Mrs. Ford said. “When you get 74, it’s time to slow down. I still cut my grass though, and walk to town and church.”

    Also featured in the article:
    Jud Harrelson of 54 B st, James Jocko Martin of 1 A st, James Harbin of 94 c st, Mrs. Bertha Barnwell of 116 D st, Treda Bonds of 55 B st, Sandy Barnwell of 44 B st.

    THE ANNISTON STAR, 77 (Monde Murphy) Excerpt

  • Alabama Type

    Little Girl is Rescued from Well, Williams, 1930

    Little Girl Is Rescued From Well

    Jacksonville, Ala., May 2– Falling into a 95-foot well, and rescued alive is the dramatic and all but tragic experience of Geneva, 14-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Green of near Williams School House.
    Wednesday morning, the mother was washing in the yard and the child was playing around the well when a plank gave away, and the child plunged to the bottom of the well. Instantly the mother screamed for help, and fortunately Mr. Floyd E. Owens, who was working nearby with a road crew, heard the screams and rushed to the well. Procuring a rope as quickly as possible, Mr. Owens rushed into the well, and found the child had apparently been drowned. In making his ascent to the top of the well as rapidly as possible, and holding the child by one foot, head down, by the time the top of the well was reached the child began to cry, and in a few moments the child was breathing normal again.
    Dr. James Williams was promptly called, and administered medical aid, and it is thought that the act of holding the child head down was the thing that saved its life, causing the water to drain from its body and saving its life.
    Owens said the child had gone under the third time before he could reach the bottom of the well and rescue it.

     

    PIEDMONT JOURNAL FRIDAY MAY, 1930

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    Passing of Kiziah Hudson, Jacksonville, 1879

    DIED–On the 26th inst. after an illness of but four days, of congestion of stomach and lungs, Kiziah, relict of Samuel B. Hudson deceased.
    The sudden death of this good woman has cast a gloom over our entire community. Her Christian virtues, her sorrows under the Providence of God, begat for her a sympathetic friendship in every heart. She was a most devoted mother, and lived in and for her children alone, and her last prayer was to be spared, God willing, to live for them longer. They have lost in her the best friend they will ever look upon again this side of the grave.
    But a few days ago she was in the bloom of health to all appearance. Now she is dead. What a lesson to the living, to remind them of the uncertainty of Life! Let us all so live, that when our summons comes, we may, like her, be fully prepared to meet it calmly and with perfect trust.

     

    JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN, SAT JUNE, 1879

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    Death of W.M. Scott, Jacksonville, 1878

    DIED.–Tuesday the ?th inst, after a long illness from cancerous affection, Wm. Scott, an old and honored citizen of this county. He was born in Rutherford county, N.C., May 30th 1800. and was 79 years one month and 10 days of age at the time of his death. He came to this county in 1835 and selected and settled upon the place 4 miles above this town which he constantly resided upon during life. He was among the first settlers of the county, and throughout his long and useful life he enjoyed the full confidence of his neighbors and the esteem and respect of all who knew him. Such men are rare and when they pass from the stage of action, it is a public calamity. The relatives have the sympathy of our entire community.

     

    JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, JULY, 1878

  • Alabama Type,  Peculiar and Funny

    Cotton Thieves, Jacksonville 1890

    Cotton thieves have been operating in Beat 8 of this county. Mr. Butler Green has lost two bales, and Mr. John Maxwell has lost three bales. One of the bales was found secreted in the woods. The sheriff had made arrangements to watch the bale found in the woods and catch the thieves when they came after it at night; but the owner, not knowing of the intention of the sheriff, removed the bale before night, and thus the opportunity for the detection of the bold thieves was lost.

     

    JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN SATURDAY JANUARY, 1890

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    A Young Lady Selects the Spot on Which she is Buried, Jacksonville 1890

    A SINGULAR INCIDENT.

    A Young Lady Selects the Spot on Which she is Buried.
    Anniston Hot Blast.

    Miss Mattie Skelton, the 18 year old daughter of Mr. Green B. Skelton, died on Sunday and was buried at Four Miles Church, yesterday, near which is located her home.
    Measles have been prevailing in the vicinity for some time. One afternoon, a couple of weeks since the young lady carried several of her intimate friends to the cemetery, told them that she would soon take the measles and die, and pointed out the spot upon which she wished to be burried. She also stated that she wished for Rev. F.M. Treadaway to conduct the funeral services over her remains.
    Within a week she had taken the disease, and within another was a corpse. Out of respect to her wishes the chosen minister conducted the services and her remains lie interred in the identical spot chosen.

    JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, JULY, 1890

  • Alabama Type,  In Memory

    Death in the Water, Jacksonville, 1904

    An Agonized Mother Witnesses The Drowning of Her Little Child

    MRS. SKELTON IS WELL KNOWN IN ANNISTON

    Gadsden, March 31. A distressing accident occurred at Guntersville Saturday morning resulting in the death of a bright little three year old girl. A Mrs. Skelton of Alabama City was en route to Jackson county on a visit to relatives and had her three year old child with her. The mother and child alighted from the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis train and boarded a barge in order to get to the boat. Both had walked nearly the length of the barge and Mrs. Skelton stopped while the child continued to go forward and was looking backwards, when she stepped off into the river and sank from sight. The river at Guntersville is rising rapidly and all efforts to recover the body proved fruitless. Up to the latest reports from there, the body had not been recovered.
    Mrs. Skelton and her little girl formerly resided in Anniston and are well known here.

     

    THE ANNISTON STAR FRIDAY APRIL, 1904
    DEATH IN THE WATER

  • Alabama Type,  Peculiar and Funny

    Annoying the Shoemakers, Piedmont, 1891

    EDITOR OF THE INQUIRER : – I wish to notify all whom it may concern, that on and after March 25, visitors will not be allowed to go through the workroom of the Piedmont Shoe Factory without paying an admission fee of fifty cents, and will not be allowed to exceed thirty minutes in going through same, which is ample time to see the workings of all the machinery. My reasons for making this a rule is not by any means a money-making scheme, but simply to keep the employees from being constantly annoyed. A person of reason understands, that when a man is working to do his best, and especially a beginner, and is aware of some one watching every movement, is liable to make false movements and damage valuable stock. This has occurred quite frequently. People cannot imagine the delay caused by visitors, and we hope they will understand this statement as it is meant.
    GEO. H. KINGMAN, Prop’r A.G. WILLIAMS, Sup’t.

     

    PIEDMONT INQUIRER, THURSDAY, MARCH,1891
    Annoying the Shoemakers.