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.)

January 1902

Tobe Dead - T.E. Stanley, perhaps better known as Tobe Stanley, died at his house near Haynes after a most distressing illness of two weeks with pneumonia and was buried the following evening at Tipton's graveyard by the Woodmen of the World, of which order he was a beloved Sovereign. Messers. M.N. Gaines, J.O. Winfield, B.F. McCrary, H.A. Knight and F.R. Atkins, prominent Woodmen of this city, officiated at the interment. Deceased leaves a wife and four children. He was about 45 years of age at the time of his death. Stanley was a good citizen – a God fearing, upright man – and one who was highly respected where ever known. Every attention that the love and devotion of a good wife could suggest was shown the sufferer. Two physicians – one from Helena and another from Marianna – were called in consultation with home doctors, but to no avail; the grim reaper had already set his hand upon the prostrate man and science was powerless to gain a reprieve of the sad summons. Mr. Stanley will be missed by all who knew him, and the wife and babes left in their distress and grief will have sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement, in which The Times sincerely joins.

The Course of True Love Last Sunday noon Squire Gorman was interrupted in his religious devotions by being called from church by W.C. Davis with the request to go to a short distance in the country and officials in a marriage between himself and Miss Maggie Milhinder. Davis accompanied by his friend Mr. Watts, came from across the L'Anguille about nine miles distance, in a two-horse wagon, and contemplated returning the same day with his bonnie bride, but alas, there's many a slip twist cup and lip. The Squire told Davis to go on to the bride's residence and he would follow as soon as he could get his horse. The Squire was soon mounted and hastened to the place, but a change had occurred. Mr. Davis met him at the woodpile and informed him that the girl's father was on the war path with a shotgun forbidding the bans and said "it looked like there would be trouble." Squire Gorman tried to pacify the irate parent, seconded by Maggie's mother and the girl herself, but in vain and when the old man burst out with "Dang if he wouldn't hold the old hill down for the night," they knew it was useless to argue. The only excuse the old man had was he didn't like Davis and he shouldn't have his daughter." This settled it and Davis and his friend returned to their home, convinced that the "course of true love does not run smooth." The Squire is minus his fee.

Yellow Dog Camp - In last Sunday's Memphis Commercial, in the Mississippi news, was an article headed "The Star Yarn Spinner," in which the correspondent makes light of a story of the ill-treatment of a man named Garrett, in a railroad camp called "Yellow Dog," intimating that there was no such camp and that no such practices was allowed in Mississippi. Henry Franks, of this city, has been giving his experience to his friends here for several weeks while in the tolls of the "Yellow Dog" camp. He says Yellow Dog is no myth. He was hired with a lot of other hands in Memphis last December to go to Yellow Dog to work at $1.50 per day and board but that it was hardly 75 cents and by the time the commissary got through with him and his checks there was nothing left. He says they were guarded with armed guards at all times and could not leave until their time expired and they were clubbed for trivial offenses and had to sleep on straw. Franks says it was levee work and they are building a railroad on the levee; that C.D. Smith & Co., of Memphis, are the contractors and that his boss was named Johnson. The place was also called The Gums. He says he heard stories of negroes being killed and buried in the dump, but knows nothing of the truth, but that they were constantly being threatened. Franks is a young white man and those who know him and hear him tell his experience, believe he is telling the truth especially since they have read Garrett's "yarn."

Youngest J.P. - John W. Hall, of Widener, the youngest justice of the peace in the county, is serving his first term as magistrate of Griggs Township and is one of the most popular young men of our acquaintance. Mr. Hall announces himself in this issue as a candidate for Assessor of St. Francis County subject in the action of the Democratic party. John Hall is serving his first term as levee tax collector for the St. Francis Levee Board and is personally familiar with all the levee lands and the value of land in general. In selecting an assessor, his knowledge of lands and their values should be the first qualifications considered by the waters and as this land assessment year it is doubly important that the assessor be well posted in land. Mr. Hall's candidacy is commended and his fitness for the office will at once be apparent to every voter by reason of his close study of the tax books and his familiarity with the bottom country. Remember all these things when you go to the polls and cast your ballot for the candidate whom you believe possesses superior qualifications for the office.

Locals - Miss Beverly Horney sold 20 tickets to the band concert and captured the prize offered, which was a pretty silver cup. Miss Beverly is one of the sweetest little girls in this city and her enterprise in selling tickets for the concert is demonstrative of her popularity. ***Miss Annie Wolff spent a few days in Wynne on a very delightful visit to her cousin, Miss Norma Hancock, and returning home Monday evening was accompanied by Miss Hancock, who was the pretty and popular guest at the Wolff home for a couple days. *** Want to carry home a rich oyster roll and enjoy it with your family? John Fitsimmons can accommodate you on short notice. See him at The Silver Dollar Restaurant. ***Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Williams returned from West Point, Miss., where they had been to spend the holidays with Mrs. Williams’ people.

The Runaway Horse - No man of family feels perfectly at his ease when his wife and children are out driving behind a horse of questionable temperament and there are thousands of ladies and children who require outdoor exercise and expose to air and sunshine who will not avail themselves of the services of the "good old family horse" the thoughtful husband has provided, because they are afraid to drive alone and in this respect they are not to be centered because a gentle horse, is like a gun that isn't loaded, only more so; he's liable to "go off" at any time and if your wife or child is crippled for life the only thing you can say is, “I didn't know it was loaded." Scott Bond of Madison has procured the agency for a simple device, called "The Perfect Harness Hooker," which detaches your horse from the shafts almost in the twinkling of an eye the minute the animal becomes unmanageable. The invention is safe and reliable and can be operated by a child. If the horse is addicted to the habit of kicking or running away with the use of the "The Perfect Harness Hooker," it may be driven with perfect safety and confidence. Another beauty of this excellent detacher, which commends itself at once to the practical man is, that its adoption destroys the necessity for the use of traces or singletrees and there is no such thing as having to repair your backing straps or cross bars. It will be readily seen besides being convenient in the respect that by its use will be enabled to hitch and unhitch horses from the buggy in 18 seconds. "The Perfect Harness Hooker" is both a saver of time and money. Already Scott Bond has taken a number of orders, 25 or 30 perhaps, in Forrest City and the Detacher is receiving the endorsement of our most substantial citizens. It is unquestionably a good thing and no man who has the pleasure, comfort and safety of his wife and children at heart will be without "The Perfect Harness Hooker," when it is shown and its many good points explained. The Detacher is made of best malleable material; nicely finished to match any harness and its use prevents sore backs and galled shoulders-buggy runs steady and easy on the horse, forming a relief to his shoulders. When you buy anything from Scott Bond you always get your money's worth and because of this reputation which he enjoys this Safety Detacher has the endorsement of our liverymen, physicians and business men. Talk with Scott Bond about "The Perfect Harness Hooker."

January 1946

Burglars Active - City police are on the alert for the burglars who entered two business houses over the past weekend. Saturday night, the Service Co. station was entered through the skylight and around $50 in cash stolen. The second burglary was on Sunday night when the Hood Grocery and Market was entered through the front door. The glass had been broken and the night latch unlocked from the outside. Nothing was reported as missing from this store except a small quantity of cigarettes. Still unsolved was the burglary and ransacking of the law offices Attorney M.B. Norfleet last Dec. 13. The thief entered the offices, it is believed, by having a key to gain admission. An ivoryhandled pistol was all that was reported missing in this case.

Eliza Roy Buried - Funeral services for Mrs. Eliza Roy, who died at the home of her niece, Mrs. C.A. Reese, on Jan. 6, were held at the Stevens Funeral Home here. The services were conducted by Rev. Chambers of the Christian church and interment was in Forrest Park Cemetery. Mrs. Roy was born near Hughes, in 1863, and lived most of her life in this county. For the past 26 years, she had made her home with the A.C. Reese family.

Girl Attacked - Wynne - Miss Beatrice Hutchinson, aged 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hutchinson of Cherry Valley, was found in a semi-conscious condition and practically nude, by a Wynne postman when she climbed into his car. Miss Hutchinson was taken to a Wynne clinic by the postman. She is recovering from shock and loss of blood. Officers believe Miss Hutchinson was beaten by one or more assailants and put into the car, or else managed to climb into it before she became unconscious.

Accident Victim In Grave Condition - Frank Doyle, 65, well known Forrest City resident, employed at the AAA office in the post office building, was critically injured shortly before 7 o'clock last night, when he was struck by a hit and run driver, as he attempted to cross North Washington street at the intersection with Fussell. Mr. Doyle was removed to Roy hospital in a Stevens Ambulance, where he was found to have suffered a broken left leg and severe cuts and bruises about the head and body. This afternoon his condition was described as "extremely critical" by Dr. Roy. The accident was witnessed by several spectators, who said Mr. Doyle was hit by a black sedan headed north, and that the car did not stop after striking him, although the impact caused the car to swerve and the lights to fail. State Police were notified and a patrol car at Wynne at the time was given a description of the car. They soon arrested Rueben Hodges Jr., as the driver of the car and with him was Gene Edmondson, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Edmondson of this city. Young Hodges is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hodges who reside near this city. Both boys were recently discharged from the service. They were returned here by the arresting officers and placed in charge of the city police, since the accident occurred within the city limits. Upon being questioned by city police the boys admitted that they realized they had hit "something" at the time of the accident, but that their vision was obscured by lights from passing cars and they became confused and continued on to Wynne where they were later arrested. No charges have been filed against them, pending the outcome of Mr. Doyle's injuries.