Looking Back
( Editor’s Note: This column looking back at St. Francis County’s history is featured each Friday on this Lifestyles page along with the week’s History Photo. The items included in this column were printed in previous editions of the Times-Herald.)
July 1914
Death of Littlefield - Mr. John Littlefield, who lived on the ridge about five miles north of town, came down last week with the intention of going to Hot Springs for the purpose of taking the baths and treatment for bright's disease. He had been suffering for several months, but would never give up and after coming to town Dr. Bogart was called to see him and advised him to abandon the trip, as he was not able to go then and to go to bed and wait a few days. He was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Swan, who are related by the marriage of his daughter to Mr. Bozeman Swan, and rapidly grew worse until he died.
Particulars of Death - Mr. H. J. Jordan was in town and gave us the following particulars of the death of his wife by being crushed in an overturned auto. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan had gone to Shreveport, La., in their auto to visit their daughter, Mrs. Henry Johnson, and while enjoying a ride on June 24th, a large touring car belonging to a lumber man by the name of Jones, overtook them. Mr. Jordan turned to the right to allow the car to pass, when a large car struck the hind wheels of his car, skidding it around enough to strike in full force the front wheel completely demolishing the wheel and overturning the car, pinning the occupants beneath. Mrs. Jordan received the weight of the car across her shoulders, paralyzing her from the shoulders to her feet. She did not lose consciousness, and lingered until Sunday when she died. The occupants of the car were Mr. and Mrs. Jordan and 3-yearold boy, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and Miss Alice May Johnson, none of whom were seriously hurt, except Mrs. Jordan. A jury of investigation was held, at which none of the Jordan's were present, and Mr. Jones was exonerated by saying his car did not strike Jordan's car. Yet, Mr. Jordan says the condition of the car proves that it was struck, as marks on the axle clearly shows.
Heat Hatches Out Partridges - McCrory- Elliott Thompson, son of the Mountain depot agent here, robbed a partridge nest of 15 eggs on June 20. The father took charge of the eggs and put them in a paper sack, thinking to have the boy return them to the nest, but placed them on a shelf and forgot them until June 27, at which time he opened the sack and to his surprise found 13 birds and two eggs. Two of the birds died and they were trying to raise 11 of them.
Shot His Wife - Squire G. W. White, of Griggs Township, was in town on business and gave us a pleasant call. He informed us that Will Donelson, a negro tenant on the E. A. Rolfe place two miles north of Widener, shot his wife in the thigh and ran away, but was captured by two other negroes named Alec Harrell and Wallace Bell, on the Coover place, a few miles further north, who turned him over to Deputy J. T. Pickens, at Widener, who brought him to town and lodged him in jail awaiting an investigation. Jealousy is said to have been the cause of the trouble. The woman would recover unless complications arose, though it was stated that she fainted from loss of blood, before medical attention could be secured. Drs. Winter and Darnell attended her
Colt Times - Mr. L. H. Fisher went to Hamlin Monday; A crowd of our young people went to church at Caldwell Tuesday night; Messrs Walter Stone and Elmer Gatten went to Lexa, Friday, returning Saturday, on the local. Elmer said he don't want any firing while it is so hot; Miss Mabel Reid of Benton returned home after a week's visit with friends and relatives at Colt; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stone left Saturday night for northern Missouri, where they would spend the summer with their relatives and friends; Walter Stone was the only one taking a bookkeeping course at Colt High School.
Frying Pan Club - Messars. Price McDaniel, Jack Davis, Sam Hodges and Ed Landvoigt, members of the Frying Pan Club, enjoyed an outing on the beautiful Fishing Lake. Plenty of fish were caught and a fish fry served on the banks where Capt. Jim DeRossitt joined the quartette. A menu of crispy browned fish, corn and wheat bread, sliced tomatoes, chow chow, coffee, ice water, etc., was surely appreciated. Cigars after dinner and spirited discussion as to "what made Milwaukee famous," sent down into history another one of those outings which has made the Frying Pan Club famous. While in every respects this occasion may be called an outing, yet the term of "kindergarten" would apply. Among the members of the club are several who are neophytes in the piscatorial art and it falls to the lot of older and expert members to instruct them. On this occasion it fell to the lot of Sam Hodges to put Jack Davis through a "course." Sam said Jack was a hopeless case – couldn't catch a cold, much less fish, and that he would forever remain a "tiller of the soil and hewer of wood," as far as fishing is concerned. Price McDaniel, under the guidance of Col. Landvolgt, did credit to himself and teacher. He obeyed instructions implicitly and success crowned obedience. It was worth the price of admission to see the look of wonderment on his face when he hauled in a 3- pound trout, after Col. told him where to cast. "How did you know he was there?” he asked. "Experience and art, my boy," replied the Col. Price .
The Dust Devil - A dream of yesterday became a reality of today, best tells the progress of oiling of streets which was now in full swing. Main street and a number of other prominent streets of Cotton Plant had this week been graded and received their first coating of oil, the first in the history of the town. The work of grading and oiling all the streets was progressing rapidly. A committee of two was appointed last week to solicit funds for oiling all streets and succeeded in raising over $ 500 in less than one day. The town donated an equal amount and the dust devil subdued. This work when first spoken of seemed visionary but now was a reality and it would probably be a cold day in June when the people of Cotton Plant allowed themselves to again be plagued by the dust nuisance. ***Cotton Plant Banner - Cotton Plant is a bustling little city in Woodruff County. We are glad to note the enterprise of its people. We have suggested oiling the streets of this city. It requires someone to take the lead in such matters and push them to a successful conclusion. It seems a big thing, but we understand that it is really cheaper in the long run than water. We have never seen an oiled street and do not know except from hearsay, how effective the oil is in keeping down the dust, but if it is a success, Forrest City should have it, by all means.
Forrest Hill Items - Mr. and Mrs. David Henson and children spent a afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Otto; Little Miss Lizzie McDaniel had been visiting Mrs. Bell McCutchen the past two weeks; Mr. Tom Grissom and daughter of the city were visiting in our neighborhood Sunday; Mr. and Mrs. Malcom Possey and children, Mary and Annie Laura, of Bonair, were in our burg over Saturday; Mr. D. Henson killed a big owl Monday morning; Tommie Higgins and Miss Nora Lovell attended church at Madison.
Fire At Madison - About 11: 30 o'clock the fire alarms of this city were turned on in response to a distress call from our little sister town of Madison. A number of fire laddies headed by Chief McDaniel and Assistant Chief Jimmy Murty and with 400 feet of hose, made a quick run to Madison in automobiles and did good and valuable services in assisting owners to save their goods and in extinguishing the fire. As near as we could learn the fire originated in the negro poolroom and burned the entire row of frame buildings from there to the gin. All were occupied by negroes except the meat market and ice house.
Card of Thanks - Madison July 23,1914. I want to thank all of my many friends and others, both white and colored, for their very valuable help and assistance given me, and kindly interest manifested in my welfare, in fighting the fire and helping save as much goods as I did. All of these friends worked as hard as if it had been their own stuff and I certainly appreciate their help and thank them sincerely and from the bottom of my heart. I wish each and everyone of them good health and prosperity. Sincerely, Ed Berry.