The Ellaville Sun Friday August 6, 1937 No. 6 G.W. JOHNSON, 89, TALKS ABOUT LIFE Served As A Guard At Andersonville Prison in 1863 When Just A Lad of 15 "I have always tried to keep the devil behind me." Those forceful words, sincerely and intensely spoken, stood out as Mr. George W. Johnson talked about life---after 89 years of living. The background was a traditional barbecue given at the home of his son, Mr. Joe E. Johnson at Lowe, in honor of his 89th birthday which he had reached July 9. Approximately 150 relatives and friends thronged the oak-clustered yard to pay him tribute. "I'm not saying I've always done it," the aged Schley County man hastened to say, repeating "but I have always tried to keep the devil behind me." Then, without being asked he answered an eternal question......"And it's not gonner bother me one bit to pass away." Mr. Johnson was born in Sumter County in 1848, but as a very young man, he moved to Andrew Chapel community where he has spent most of his life. Just a stripling of 15, he was called to Confederate Army duty at Andersonville prison in 1863 as a prison guard. And he contends that some of the wild reports of suffering and starvation were exaggerated. Right after the war he became a farmer in Andrew Chapel community and in 1876 he married Miss America Elizabeth Riley of Sumter County. Mr. Johnson regrets wasted opportunities in the lives of all. He points out that almost everyone could and should do more for the church and the school than they do, and wishes they could realize it in time. What factors are chiefly responsible for his long life? Well, Mr. Johnson doesn't have an opportunity an opinion along that line. He is content to accept the years without any personal guesswork. As a young man he united with the Methodist Church. Reviewing his long years as a citizen, Mr. Johnson, who gained the reputation of being a fine farmer, believes he is entitled to receive an old age pension. "But," he emphasized. "I'm not going to lie to get anything." Mr. Johnson makes his home with his three children, a daughter, Mrs. W.T. Robinson, who lives in Macon County about a mile from the Schley County line; and two sons, P.H. (Plem) Johnson of Andrew Chapel. He got a tremendous kick out of the affair last Saturday. He has 16 grand children and one great grand child, the latter being one year old Marjorie Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Johnson. SCHLEY SLANTS by Raymond Duncan Mrs. Emma J. Walters plucked from her lovely garden a huge sunflower. It bore 209 buds and blossoms. Clyde Lawhorn of Concord grew a 6s pound watermelon, the heaviest reported here this season. J.W. (Uncle Bill) McGhee displayed "tomato triplets"---a freak union of three tomatoes. One of J.L. Duncan's prized Buff Orphington laid an egg last week at the tender age of five and a half months. And has been repeating that performance each day. "Deaf" Mule Heard----- Big, jolly Leo Williams of LaCross, who drives a Schley County High School bus during the school term, was limping this week---and a bit thankful he was able to limp. He and his son Herbert, were badly bruised and shaken up last week when a mule bolted, throwing Leo from the wagon and forcing the boy to jump. Reason for the accident: A "deaf" mule heard one of the pigs Williams was hauling let out a squeal, and became frightened. It Had To Get Off----- Ross Wyrosdick wanted to mail, on the Seminole Limited, a letter which a friend was preparing the other night. The train blew, rounded the curve, stopped and put off passengers, but the letter-bearer hadn't shown up. Ross rushed up to the conductor and shouted, "Wait. there's a fellow coming who's got something that has got to go on this train." "What is it," asked the conductor, " A corpse?" Back On The Job---- The "court house boys" welcomed return of a recently-ill crony this week. The Rev. Charles D. Carter, veteran clerk of superior court, went back to his office Tuesday after being sick for almost two weeks. Annual Spraying---- Ellaville trees were getting their annual summer painting this week. The city was spraying them with a whitewash solution. Teaching The Bible---- One Ellaville citizen, who does not care to be quoted struck a vital note in the argument over the state's decision to furnish every school child a Bible. Said he: "You have to know how to teach the Bible, or it's better not taught. And I don't believe the average teacher is capable of teaching it. Or are they planning to TEACH it? Birthday Wishes----- Birthday greetings today to Marion Mott and Thomas Livingston. Mr. Walter Jones and Mrs. W.D. Barwick observed anniversaries Wednesday. James Edwin Stewart has a birthday Saturday and Miss Charlotte Jones on Monday. 9 MONTH SCHOOLS WILL OPEN FALL TERM AUGUST 30 Schley County High School at Ellaville and all other county schools with nine month terms will open the 1937-38 session Monday, August 30. Eight-month schools will begin work September 13 and Negro schools will open October 1. Opening dates were fixed and white teachers elected at the regular monthly meeting of the county Board of Education Tuesday morning. Two additional instructors will be elected for Schley County High. The list follows: Schley County High---E.M. Palmer, Supt; Carey Hatcher, Principal; W.L. McDonald and Miss Louise Clark, high school-Misses Geraldine Knighton, Elizabeth Burroughs, Patricia Robinson, Kate Jones, Willie B. Wilson, Mildred Lockerman and Elizabeth Tillman, grammar school. Ebenezer---Miss Lucile Thompson and Mrs. Ruby Wells. Glenn Holly---Misses Lydia Buchanan and Thelma Simpson. Concord---Misses Mary Tondee and Mattie Lee Echols. Midway---Mrs. Roy McCorkle and Miss Adele Brooks. Fellowship---Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Cosper. OUT OF THE PAST Fifty Years Ago (1887) "Now is the time of the year when love's young dream gets jolted all out of shape by the fickle hearted girls at the protracted meetings," wrote Bob Strange in The Schley County Enterprise. By order of President Harold, Mr. W.D. Murray went down on the new railroad between LaCross and Americus to estimate the damage to crops caused by the grading of the road. Flint River is on a regular tear, being very much higher now than in the freshet of 1881. Cook, Kelsoe and Co.'s brick yard is under between 10 and 15 feet of water at Oglethorpe. The loss, unestimated, will be high. About 85,000 brick are submerged. Twenty-Five Years Ago (1912) Mr. George Jordan was displaying one-pound tomatoes here this week. Buena Vista's baseball team edged out Ellaville, 8 to 7, here August 2. Hair and Reese were the batteries for the visitors while E. Berkley and Graham performed for Ellaville. Plains and Ellaville struggled to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings here August 5. Dispute over an umpire's decision broke up the contest. Young people of Hopewell and Ebenezer communities held a picnic at Myrtle Springs. EBENEZER Those present at the 28th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Drew were Mr. and Mrs. Don Walls, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Sorrels, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Womack, Mrs. Wesley Driver, Miss Rubye Johnson, Mrs. J.B. Teele, Mrs. Susie Davis and Mrs. Winifred Widner. end # 6.