NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for NOV. 5th thru NOV. 19th, 1936 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, NOVEMBER 5, 1936 MRS. NUCY TURNER, AGE 67, OF NEW HOPEWELL IS BURIED MONDAY Funeral services for Mrs. Nucy Turner, age 67, who died at her home at New Hopewell on Saturday night, were held Monday morning att 11 o'clock at Concord, Rev. R.L. Skinner officiating, assisted by Rev. C.T. Morton of Hightower. Burial was in the church cemetery, Owens of Heflin directing. Surviving Mrs. Turner are her husband J.T. Turner, three daughters, Mrs. Mary Chandler of Cedartown; Mrs. Pearl Norwell of Hopewell and Mrs. Beatrice Monroe also of Hopewell; two sons, John R. and Lloyd of Hopewell and a number of grandchildren. She is also survived by three brothers and three sisters; Messrs. Spillman, Lawrence and T.P. Harris of Lecta, Mrs. Lillie Scott of Hopewell, Mrs. Minnie Arnold of Phil Campbell and Mrs. Ethel McCord of Newell. ------- ROBERT WHITE BURIED AT ROCK SPRINGS ON TUESDAY Funeral services for Mr. Robert White, age 65 years, who passed away Sunday night about 9 o'clock near Hightower were held Tuesday at Rock Springs church. Interment was in the church cemetery. ----- IN MEMORY OF JOHN A. ROGERS John A. Rogers was born Aug. 21, 1857 in Douglas county, Georgia. At the age of seven, his father came home from the Civil war sick with measles and died, leaving him, his mother and four sisters. He moved to Cleburne county, Alabama when he was 12 years old, where he took his place as head of the family in regard to making a living. He was converted and united with the Southern Methodist church at Oak Level when he was 17. He was an active member and served as steward for 25 years. He was happily married to Julia Allen Parker, Oct. 30, 1879, being 22 years of age. To them were born seven boys and nine girls, one girl dying in infancy. Fifteen are living and have families. Surviving are his widow Mrs. Julia A. Rogers of Crossville, Ala., C.B. Rogers of Dawson, Ala., J.B. Rogers of Jacksonville, Ala., Mrs. T.A. Young of Centre, Ala., H.A. Rogers of Crossville, Ala., Mrs. J.P. Sutton of Crossville, Ala., Mrs. B.R. Roberts of Tenn.; Mrs. W.C. Sutton of Albertville, Ala., J.W. Rogers of Crossville, Ala., G.K. Rogers of Albertville, Ala., Mrs. J.W. Lewis of Crossville, Ala., W.A. Rogers of Crossville, Ala., Mrs. Amby Campbell of Crossville, Ala., Mrs. H.F. McWhorter of Ensley, Ala., H.L. Rogers of Mancehster, Tenn., and Mrs. C.J. Tidwell of Alexandria, Ala. In addition to the immediate family there are 81 grandchildren, 17 of whom are married and 10 great grandchildren. He departed this life Oct. 18, 1936 at his home. He was 79 years, one month and 28 days old. Services were held at Lathanville church, Oct. 20, 1936 at 11 o'clock. Interment was at the Lathanville cemetery in Crossville, Ala. Rev. B.M. Bowen was in charge of the services with Rev. Wm. B. Gilbreath assisting. Bartlett of Collinsville was in charge. The eight pallbearers included seven grandsons and one grand son-in-law, namely, Alex Young, Conley Rogers, Clyde Rogers, Hollis Sutton, Clark Roberts, Howard Young, Alex Rogers and Gene Tolbert. Father had suffered much from high blood pressure for the last few years, falling in his room Feb. 16, 1936. He broke a hip which caused him much pain and suffering. We, the family have this testimony: "We grieve for our loved one, yet we feel sure of his destination. Numbers of times he had spoken of his assurance of a home beyond the sky and expressing it, he said " I'm all right." Only God knows what life means to us. Truly he ran a faithful race and we honor and cherish his sweet memory." -------- LETTER TO EDITOR OF THE NEWS (from W.H.L. Carruth in Sumrall, Mississippi) To Editor of the Cleburne News, Last year in an article in your paper, which was written about the late Fred H. Osborn, the statement was made that his father was the first buried in the Heflin Cemetery with Masonic honors. This statement is not correct, and I thought the time, for sake of historical accuracy, I would write and correct it, but posponed it from time to time. Today being the anniversary of my father's death, I am again reminded of the statement and I am sending you this article which I trust may be interesting to at least some of your readers. As said above, I do this so that history may be kept correct. Please let the writer of the article referred to above be assumed that neither my brothers no myself felt any resentment at the statement, but I just want to keep the record correct. I find that with most people when you ask them about someone they have known in the past, it is much easier to get them to remember the person if you call them by their "given name" rather by their initials, so in this article in most names which I mention I will follow this plan. My father, the late A.P. Carruth, better known to many of his day as "Splash" died Oct. 22, 1882 and was buried Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1882. He was the first person to be buried in the Heflin Cemetery and was buried with Masonic honors. Hence he was the first person to be buried in the Heflin Cemetery with Masonic honors. The funeral services were in charge of Heaton Lodge of Arbacoochee. The best of my memory the following Masons participated; there may have been others who I have forgotton. I was only about nine years old then: Andrews Wright, known as Anders Wright acted as Worshipful Master; Rev. Trimble, a Methodist minister acted as Chaplain. I do not recall the others who acted in an official capacity. In addition to the above named Masons, the following were in the procession: Mark Pinson, Howard Bell, Judge W.R. Hunnicutt, Joe Taylor, Crawford McDaniel, Fayette Snow, Jack Bedwell, Bob McCaughren, Bill McMahan, David Creamer and Elijah Black, all of Cleburne county. Also John Davis, Lawrence Davis, Henry Davis, Joe Murphy and Wes Wright of what was then known as Davisville in Choccolocco Valley. Certainly I cannot remember the names of all who were present but I do recall some of them and give their names here: Jesse Ellis, Lige Henry, John Thrower, Frank Stovall, James Glasgow, Jack Reed, Bob Norred, Julius O'Harrow, Doctor Bell of Bell Mills, Alex Riddle, Frank Riddle, John Ross and Wesley Hunnnicutt. I presume that all of the above named persons are dead, and to most of the younger generation in and around Heflin, these names may be altogether strange. I am not sure, but it is possible that Uncle Jeff Henry of your city and Walter Bell of Atlanta and Oscar Bell of Texas, the late John Dodson and John Walker of near Bell Mills were also present. Of the younger men who can recall this instance, I cannot recall at this time any except the following: Elza Strickland of Texas and Tom Black and Judge Glasgow of Heflin. Just as a matter of comparison between now and fifty-four years ago, I call attention to the following facts: When my father died, my mother had to send for a man named Tom Williamson who lived near Chulafinnee some six or seven miles from us to make a coffin. When we went to the cemetery, those who attended traveled in wagons, buggies and horseback. It was six miles to our home in Heflin and it required almost the entire day to make the trip and conduct the services. Now, a homemade coffin is very, very rare. People who attend funerals now usually do so in autos and the corpse is hauled in a hearse and the time required, except for long distances, is only a few hours. It may be of interest to some of your readers to know that if my father had not died at the time he did, the first general mercantile firm in Heflin would have been Hunnicutt and Carruth, the partership being W.R. Hunnicutt and A. Carruth. I trust that I may be pardoned for recalling another incident in connection with my father. In think that it was in 1870 that the Democrats of Cleburne county decided to select a list of men for the various county officers which were to be elected that year, without a convention or a primary, but by with only one object in view, that of winning with good men. This was done by personal solicitation of Democrats from all parts of the county after they had held conferences. My father was persuaded to run for Sheriff. He was elected. At that time, Edwardsville was a rather rough place. After the election and after a great deal of worry and earnest thinking, my father decided that he would not serve. My older brothers Gus and Tom were children then and he told my mother that Edwardsville was not a suitable place in which to try to bring up boys. So he decided to forego the office rather than risk the chance of losing the boys. Of course my mother heartily agreed with him. As the law was then, if a county office became vacant, the Governor filled it by appointment, so in order that the Decmocats could retain the office of Sheriff, my father was sworn in and served for a few days. He then resigned and William A. Alexander, who I think lived near Oak Level, was appointed to fill out the unexpired term. I just wonder if there are any of the older citizens in and around Edwardsville who remember Sidney and Tully Carruth, who lived just north of Edwardsville. Mr. Editor, thanking you for the kindness of space for this article and with every good wish for my friends in dear old Cleburne, I am respectfully, W.H.L. Carruth, Sumrall, Mississippi, October 22, 1936. --------- LOCAL News Mrs. Mollie T. Burgess, formerly of Edwardsville and Heflin, is now living with her son Hugh O. Burgess at 1159 St. Charles Place N.E., Atlanta, Georgia. ----- MRS. HUNNICUTT'S BIRTHDAY The Birmingham News, Oct. 26 An orchid to Mrs. Phoebe Hunnicutt of Heflin, Ala., on her ninety-fifth birthday and many happy returns of the day from The Birmingham News. The widow of Judge W.R. Hunnicutt, Mrs. Hunnicutt has for more than 80 years dispensed hospitality in the community that has made her honored and revered by hundreds of persons who have enjoyed the graciousness of her home or have been given a lift when their way was rough. Scores of friends visited her today to congratulate her on her birthday. A native of Cleburne county for more than 80 years, she has been an active and interested member of the Methodist church and her home has ever been open to the ministers of the church from the circuit rider to bishops. It has been said of her that no one who sought charity from her ever left empty handed while her devotion to the sick and infirm of the community has become legend. The mother of nine children, five of whom survive, Mrs. Hunnicutt is renowned for her "way" with babies and on many occasion she has been called to minister to an ailing child at the suggestion of physicians. Mrs. Hunnicutt attends church regularly, participates in voting in local and general elections and maintains an active interest in civic and church affairs. The Birmingham News, Oct. 26th, Monday. -------- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, NOVEMBER 19, 1936 MOVES BACK TO FARM Mr. and Mrs. F.R. Thrower have moved back to their farm at Chulafinnee. They had resided in Heflin since 1931, Forney having been deputy sheriff and Jailer under former Sheriff W.I. Owen. ----- DWELLING, CONTENTS BURNS AT PULLTIGHT ON SUNDAY Word was received here Monday that the farm dwelling and contents of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Rollins of near Pulltight were destroyed by fire of undetermined origin at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Sadly, no insurance was on the house or contents. ----- PARRISH RITES HELD THURSDAY Funeral services for J.A. (Andy) Parrish, 78, who died Wednesday of last week at the home of W.S. Brown of Micaville, were held at 2 p.m. Thursday of last week at Micaville Baptist church, Rev. R.L. Skinner of Bell Mills officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, directed by Owens of Heflin. Uncle Andy was a native Cleburne countain and will be missed in the community. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. W.S. Brown, Mrs. Cama Key, Mrs. Alma Triplett of Micaville and Mrs. Maggie Ford of Valley Park, Mo.; two sons, Marion and Jesse Parrish of Micaville and a number of grandchildren. ------ IN MEMORY OF T.F. MILLS On Nov. 2, 1936, the Death Angel visited the home of Mrs. Mills and claimed as its victim the beloved husband and father, T.F. Mills. Mr. Mills was born in Franklin County, Ga., June 17, 1865, moving to Bartow County, Ga. at the age of 16, later moving to Cleburne county where he resided until his death near Vigo, Ala. He met and married Miss Mattie Porter in the year 1898 at Tecumseh, Ala. To this union were born ten children, seven girls and three boys. Mr. Mills was a member of the Baptist church for 40 years, but had been disabled to walk for the last five years. He will be greatly missed in his home and by the children. Surviving are the blind widow, daughters Mrs. Oscar Palmer, Mrs. M.F. McWhorter of Fruithurst; Mrs. Isaac Tanner of Esom Hill, Ga., Miss Isabell and Eula Mills; one son, Tommie Mills and ten grandchildren. Interment was in Cherry Grove Cemetery with Rev. Smith of Piedmont conducting the funeral services. CARD OF THANKS We wish to thank the friends and neighbors and everyone for their deeds of kindness shown us during the sudden death of our beloved husband and father; also for the beautiful floral offerings and the courteous undertakers and Rev. Smith for their kind words of condolence. May every deed be returned and God's richest blessings be bestowed on everyone. Mrs. M.F. Mills, children and grandchildren -------- DR. BURGESS IS LAID TO REST Dr. J.E. Burgess, 60, native of Edwardsville, died at the residence at 1 p.m. Tuesday, after an illness of several months. Funeral services were conducted from Edwardsville Baptist church Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. H.R. Carter of Heflin officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, directed by Owens of Heflin. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Lula Burgess, two sons, Leman and Howard Burgess of Edwardsville; two daughters, Mrs. L.L.McKinney of Heflin and Miss Ruth Burgess of Edwardsville; and a brother R.L. (Bob Lee) Burgess of Edwardsville; three sisters, Mrs. W.A. Brown of Heflin, Mrs. Alta Brown of Muscadine and Mrs. Jack Norton of Heflin. Dr. Burgess was born and raised in Edwardsville where he spent nearly all of his life. ----- HERE'S ONE FOR RIPLEY; A Marriage Mix-Up By W.C. McMahan Some time ago on the streets of Heflin I met Mat, Nellie, Dave and Hettie and a girl and a boy. Mat was Nellie's father-in-law and Nellie was Mat's mother-in-law. The boy was the girl's half uncle and the girl was the boy's half aunt. Mat was Dave's father and Dave was Mat's step father-in-law. Nellie was Hettie's mother and Hettie was Nellie's step mother-in-law. Mat was the boy's father and the girl's grandfather. Hettie was the boy's mother and the girl's step grandmother and half sister. Dave was the girl's father and the boy's step grandfather and half brother. Dave was Hettie's stepfather and Hettie was Dave's stepmother. Nellie was the girl's mother and the boy's grandmother. Mat was Hettie's husband and Dave was Nellie's husband. I will give $1. to the first person who brings or sends me a correct solution of the riddle. These people are well known in Heflin. It is a true story. W.C. McMahan --------