NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE CLEBURNE NEWS", Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama for SEPTEMBER 1931 NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, SEPTEMBER 10, 1931 FORMER CLEBURNE WOMAN PASSES IN TEXAS Mrs. Harriett Walker, wife of Frank Walker who moved from Cleburne county several years ago, died at the home of her husband at Bivins, Texas a few days ago, after an illness of long duration. Mrs. Walker was the daughter of Kinyan Handley, remembered by the older citizens of the county. Besides the husband, several children survive. ----- DEATH OF A FORMER CLEBURNE COUNTY RESIDENT ( Taken from a Meridian, Texas paper) Mrs. Martha Jane Hawks Allen was born August 30, 1841 and died at the home of her daughter Mrs. J.R. Pirkle of Haskell, on July 27th, aged 89 years, 10 months and 28 days. She was married to H. Allen in 1865 who preceded her in death three years ago. To this union, six children were born, three of whom are living to mourn the loss of their mother, Mrs. J.F. Pirkle of Haskell; R.J. Allen of Kopperl and W.P. Allen of Frederick, Oklahoma. She is survived by 35 living grandchildren, 83 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Grandmother Allen was converted early in life and joined the church and lived a Christian life the remainder of her days. She was a fine old lady. I had known her for some time and I loved her, for she was a sweet spirited old lady and she was loved by all. She did good wherever she went, always was cheerful. Went to church as long as she was able to. The sorrows of life came to her but now we know she is at rest, judging by the Christian life she lived here. Her influence will live on and on and her children will rise up and call her blessed. Her remains were brought here Tuesday and kept at her home, which is occupied by her granddaughter, Mrs. Albert Hensley and family. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon in the Baptist church, in charge of Rev. F.E. Kirchner of Meridian, assisted by Rev. Lester. She looked very natural. The floral offerings were large and beautiful. Her granddaughters were the flower girls and her grandsons the pallbearers. The out of town relatives who attended the funeral were: Mrs. J.F. Pirkle of Haskell Mr. adn Mrs. R.J. Allen and family of Kopperl Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Allen of Frederick, Oklahoma Mr. and Mrs. Scott and children and Mrs. Will Sliger of Breckenridge Ben Scott of Dallas Paul Scott of Dennison The relatives have the sympathy of their many friends in the loss of this dear good old lady, for she is gone from us, but not forgotton. Mrs. Albert Hensley and other relatives. ------- IN MEMORY OF L.J. PRUITT The subject of this sketch, L.J. Pruitt, was called from our midst by the grim reaper death, on July 5th, after being in ill health for several months. Brother Pruitt was born Sept. 29, 1863; he was a member of the Primitive Baptist church and lived a true christian life that is a bright example to his friends and loved ones left behind. It is sad to part with him, yet we wish to be submissive to the Lord who doeth all things well and hope that the same grace that sustained Bro. Pruitt in this life, enabling him even in his suffering to praise God, will carry us safely through all of our distresses and sorrows and at last bless us with the glorious prize he has won. Bro. Pruitt is survived by a good companion, two children and a host of friends and relatives. Funeral services and interment were at Mars Hill church and cemetery. A Friend. ----- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, SEPTEMBER 17, 1931 MRS. RIDDLE DIES SUDDENLY AT HOME IN JESSUP, GA. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Campbell left early Tuesday morning for Jessup, Ga., in response to a telegram telling of the death of Mrs. Newt Riddle, a sister of Mrs. Campbell, who passed away suddenly Monday night. Mr. and Mrs. Riddle were well known by many of our people. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Thursday, SEPTEMBER 24, 1931 HEFLIN CITIZEN, 80, TELLS OF THE PAST (Written by A.J. Haley) A sketch of my life I was born in DeKalb county, Ga., Sept. 16, 1851. My father moved to Alabama when I was a small boy; later on, the Civil War came up; my father furnished four boys to the "lost cause." We moved to Franklin, Heard county, Ga. My schooling was limited. In those days we had no schools, we had to work to make a living; all I learned was over a pine knot fire after a hard days work on the farm. In 1873, I entered what was then a high school. I spent seven months in that school. In 1874, I came to Wood's copper mines in Cleburne county. I worked at the mines until July 1, 1875 at 80 cents per day. I then took up an eight months' school at Stone Hill and on Oct. 14, 1875, married the best woman in the world. We had born to us six children, two boys and four girls. I taught school and farmed a number of years. On Oct. 6, 1880 we moved to Heflin, where I have been for 41 years. I sent all six of my children to school here until they were grown; lost two of the girls. When I came to Heflin, I worked for Bob Smith for three years, then for Morgan & Perryman Bros. I then went to weighing cotton and loading guano, worked at that for 12 years. In 1910, I was selected Tax Assessor for Cleburne county and served four years; then I served eight years as Deputy Tax Assessor for W.M. Evans four years and for W.F. Groover four years. Then I was elected County Treasurer for Cleburne and served one year, then I was elected Major of Heflin and was elected the third time in succession and since then I have been helping the boys (do nothing). Last Wednesday, the 16th, I passed the 80th mile post. I am just standing on the bank of the river waiting to cross over and rest in the shade of the trees. A.J. Haley ------ CHILD LAID TO REST Heflin, Ala., Sept. 18th Funeral services for Doyle Gossett, 10 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Gossett, who died Thursday at the home near here following an illness of typhoid fever, were held at 11 o'clock this morning at the residence. Interment was in Union Cemetery near Wellington in Calhoun county with Usrey of Anniston in charge. Surviving are the parents, two brothers, William and Robert and two sisters, Mary and Maude. ----- HIGGINBOTHAM RITES HELD MONDAY AT CHULAFINNEE Funeral services for S.A. Higginbotham, 80, who died at his home at Chulafinnee Sunday night following an illness of about two months, were held from the Chulafinnee Methodist church at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, Rev. L.D. Tyson of Anniston officiating, and interment was in Chulafinnee local cemetery, with Usrey of Anniston in charge. Surviving are two sons, W.F. of Anniston and R.L. of California, and a daughter Mrs. Ike Hayes of Bremen, Ga. ----- THREE MEN CHARGED WITH DISTILLING "Tack" Laminack, Curtis Lynch and Bryant Chandler were captured Monday just over the line in Haralson county, Ga. and charged with distilling. The men were carried to Anniston. Officers in the raid were Federal officers Barnes and Sellers, John H. Draper and Deputies Prestridge and Haywood. Officers destroyed eleven stills and poured out 2,500 gallons of beer in a series of raids last week. Four of the boilers were copper, the rest of zinc construction and ranged from 100 to 400 gallons capacity. The illicit distilleries were found along the Haralson county, Ga. line, it was said. ------ BORDEN SPRINGS News Sept. 21st Last Monday morning, Sept. 21st, at 5 o'clock, the death angel visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Mercer claiming as its victim Mrs. J.V. Hardin, mother of Mrs. Mercer. Mrs. Hardin was 80 years of age. Funeral and burial services were held Tuesday at Salem Baptist church near Bluffton of which she has been an active member for about 60 years and will be greatly missed throughout the community. Usrey of Anniston was in charge. Pallbearers were six of her grandsons, Hurst Williams, Joe and Clark Mercer, Max Hardin, Ross McElwee and Vernon Garmon. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Anderson Mercer of this place, Mrs. Ethel McElwee of near Cedartown and Mrs. Charles Garmon of Piedmont; one son, Arthur Hardin of Esom Hill and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. -----