Clay County Courier Files

Clay County Courier Files, 1924

Sylvester WALLS and his little sister, Maggie, aged 14 and 11, respectively, arrived in Corning first of this week from Chester, South Carolina for a visit in the home of their grandfather, John M. WILLIAMS here. The journey of nearly 1,000 miles, was made without a mishap by those youngsters, whose mother and step-father, Mr. and Mr.s MOORE, expect to soon follow them from there to this place.

The W.D. POLK and Sons new ginning plant, located in North Corning, was put out of commission two days this week, following the destruction by fire, Wednesday evening, of one of its large storage houses filled with bolly cotton and a few tons of select seed. The match ignited in passing through a conveyor tube. The loss, about $4,000.00 is fully covered by insurance.

Elder W.C. MOCK, employed at LATHAM's Grocery here, narrowly missed serious injury last Friday about 6:00 p.m. while crossing Second Street diagonally from the Post Office to WELCH's Bakery. He dodged in front of G. GRABER's car which was moving South and collided with H. GOODE's machine traveling North, a windshield thumb screw cutting his right ear, punctured the flesh behind that ear and knocked him unconscious to the ground. Mr. GOODE stopped his car and picked up the injured man who quickly revived, and took him to Dr. SIMPSON's office where his injuries were treated. Mr. MOCK and the others agree that the glare of auto lights caused the mix-up and accident. He was off duty two days and now is apparently in good shape and health again.

The American Legion wishes to thank all who have so readily responded to the call for some patriotic manifestation. A good town is a patriotic town; A patriotic town wishes to let the world know that it doesn't have to have a war going on to have enough spirit to display the flag.
The following firms in Corning have shown that their patriotic spirit is not dead:
A.B.C. Cotton Gin and Corning Feed Mills, W.D. BENNETT, J.M. RHEA, Sam HALL, WELCHs'', Corning Motor Company, LOYD Cafe, Times-Enterprise, POLK Brothers, PITZELE's, GRABER's, Clyde LASATER, Sam CANTWELL, RED's Shop, STEINBERG's, LATHAM's, Corning Bank and Trust Company, ERMERT's, COMPANIOTTE Garage, SCHMITT Cafe, LETBETTER Garage.

Earl HAMLETT first of this week bought BOWERS and Sons Palace barber shop and bathroom on First Street. Young Brant BOWERS stays with the first chair and J.W. JORDAN is a new employee in that shop.

The identity of the person who recently broke two windowpanes at my home here is at present unknown to me and I have not specifically accused anyone of that act. If I have ever said anything to offend Miss Nell HALL, I offer an apology. Signed, W.E. SURSA.

H.W. VANDOVER, J.A. STEINBERG, Louis GRABER, Edgar STEPHENS and Julian HOFFAR attended a Thanksgiving Dance at the Poplar Bluff Elks home last Thursday night.

C.H. ROBINSON, auctioneer of Kennett, Missouri and J.F. ARNOLD, clerk of this place, conducted a big public sale of farm animals and implements, household articles, etc., for Vadis LANE and others Northeast of Corning last Thursday. Auctioneer Sam W. ARNOLD being ill, was unable to attend.

Robert E. HAYES' barm at his home a few miles North of Corning, was destroyed by fire last Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. In the structure were in 1924 sedan, 11 tons of hay, several bushels of corn, eight sets of harness and tools, making a several dollars' total loss.

Harley LOGUE, a stepson of John WISNER and other small boys, while playing in WISNER's barn in Southwest Corning yesterday afternoon, found several dynamite caps, presumed to have been hidden safely, high in the barn. The LOGUE boys' left thumb and index finger were blown off when one of the caps held by him exploded. F.M. CUMMINS' little son, Tom, was slightly injured by flying pieces of metal from the cap. Doctors SIMPSON and LATIMER attended to their injuries.

Judge F. G. TAYLOR had business for a client, Deputies Sheriff RHEA and ARNOLD, S.P. LINDSEY, O.J. HAROLD, H.W. SMELSER, J.F. ARNOLD, D.D. LONG, J.B. TEASLEY, Wlliam PORTER, M. TISDIAL and L. KERLEY were witnesses or jurors and Ernest HARTWIG obtained hi final naturalization papers in United States District Court at Jonesboro the first part of this week. Above-named all went from Corning and attended that court last Monday.

Last Monday at midnight Thomas S. WARREN's general store and its contents, also his residence and a storage house near Palatka, a few miles Northwest of Corning, were destroyed by fire of undetermined origin. The store building was a mass of flames when Mr. WARREN and his family were awakened by the roar of the flames. No goods were salvaged from the store structure but the greater part of their household furnishing were saved. Only a small amount of insurance was carried on the heavy loss. Harry PHILLIPS and family, near-by neighbors, now temporarily share their home with Mr. and Mrs. WARREN.

T.W. WYNN, T.G. BRIDGES and P.M. COMPANIOTTE went to Memphis first of this week and drove their new cars to Corning.

Henry SHANK was royally entertained by his many friends and neighbors on last Sunday, January 11, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. WILLS, the occasion being his 75th birthday anniversary. Mr. SHANK is one of the oldest citizens of Corning, he having come here from Belleville, Illinois 50 years ago. Guests present were Mr. and Mrs. Roy KIMBALL, Mr. and Mrs. Fred KIMBALL, Mrs. Ollie MASON, Mr. and Mrs. George WALKER, Mr. and Mrs. Byron PLOUGH and their families, Miss Ida DOTSON, Mrs. Lois ESTES, R.I. HILL, Ed CLARK, Elmo and Turner ALLEN and Mrs. Gladys SILKWOOD of West Frankfort, Illinois. A fine dinner was served and a pleasant afternoon spent. All left wishing Mr. SHANK many more birthdays.

RALEY and ASHBAUGH have moved their law and real estate offices from the BARNES-MOORE concrete building on Second Street to the STANDFIELD Jewelry Store recent location in the brick building, HOPSON Arcade.

Brant POWERS, young barber is now employed at George McPHEETER's shop here in Hop Alley.

Jake STEINBERG left last Tuesday for Cardwell, Missouri where he has entered the mercantile business with his brother, Simon, the latter having already been in business at that place for the past two years. Sol STEINBERG has retired from that firm and will devote his entire time in futures in the cotton business.

Dr. T.P. HARPER and C.L. SHORES, T.J. MORRIS and other of Peach Orchard were transacting business in Corning first of this week.

Dave BROWN of this place was held up and robbed of about $20.00 and his watch, Thursday night at about 8 o'clock, by an unknown man. The highway man said he had a quantity of whiskey for sale near Corning Cemetery and after encouraging BROWN to accompany him to the "likker", he jammed a pistol against BROWN's body and robbed him. The supposed hijacker was seen by another man, driving about Corning Thursday afternoon in a Ford touring car which had Missouri 1914 license tags.

Dr. WALKER, Road Overseer C.D GAMEL and Merchant S. SMITH of Success were here Wednesday on business.

On last Sunday a birthday dinner was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G.B. BLACKWOOD near Walcott in honor of G.B. BLACKWOOD.
Mr. BLACKWOOD (Uncle Butler) moved to Greene County from South Carolina with his parents when he was nine years old and has resided in Greene County 67 years.
Fifty-five relatives and friends attended the dinner and of course, all had a good time, but no one seemed to enjoy the event better than Uncle Butler. Attending were Dr. S.P. BLACKWOOD and family of Corning, Sam and Mack THOMPSON, Mack BLACKWOOD, Merlie and Harlie BLACKWOOD of Paragould; Dr. and Mrs. S.H. BLACKWOOD, Maude DANIELS, H. and G. NUTT of Jonesboro, Dr. W.J. BLACKWOOD and Professor A. DIGGS and families and Kate and Cleveland BLACKWOOD of Walcott; Dr. J.D. and P. BLACKWOOD and families of Lorado.

Miss Nora MARTIN of Pocahontas (formerly of Corning) last Monday began teaching the Winter-Spring terms of public school at Walnut Grove school house, a few miles Northeast of Knobel. Miss MARTIN is a graduate of Pocahontas, her home high school, and Loretto College, St. Louis.

Mr. and Mrs. O.J. HAROLD's two little daughters, Francis and Marguerite, respectively five and seven years old, celebrated their birthdays last Saturday at their home on Third Street. Both of their birth anniversaries occur in December. Games were played on the lawn by the happy children and splendid refreshments including two large beautiful cakes, topped with five and seven candles, were served by Mrs. HAROLD. More than 30 little Misses, Francis' and Marguerite's juvenile friends were present and all hugely enjoyed the day.

Christmas program, Heelstring church, Wednesday evening, December 24:
Invocation, Brother DOWDY; God rest ye, Gentlemen, Jewell CURTIS; Merry Christmas, Addie DOWDY; Song, Santa Claus is Jolly, Juniors; Christmas Puzzle, Paul MILLER; Santa Clausville, Jessie WATSON; Christmas Spirit, Tempie HERREN and Fourth grade; Letter to Santa, Bennie WINNINGHAM; I'll Scare Santa, Agnes HERREN; Dialogue, The Red Stocking, Fifth grade; A forecast future, Oliver PARK; Christmas in Southland, Harold DOOLIN; Dialogue, spelling Christmas, First and Second grades; Song, Santa Land, Juniors; A Christmas Tree, Freda SMITH; Christmas Mystery, Seventh and Eighth grades; Christmas Day is Here, Felix HARBISON; Babe of Bethlehem, Ruby GARRETT; Christmas Vision, Gwenellyn ADAMS; Christmas Greeting, Carl GARRETT; Birth of Christ, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth grades.

Esquire W.E. SHIVLEY of Brown township, while in Corning one day last week, officiated at a triple wedding in the court house here, uniting Louis CATES and Miss Vera HAWKINS of Datto, Jeff GULLEY and Miss Lucille AUTREY and August MARKHAM and Miss Dovie SHELTON of Poplar Bluff.

W.E. REDWINE, proprietor and manager of Corning News Agency, will one day next week, remove his business and headquarters from Corning Post Office lobby into the Southwest corner of Tom BRIDGES' drug store here on Second Street. Postmaster G.W. STANFIELD will then re-locate his jewelry store and shop in the front part of the post office.

Officers RHEA and ARNOLD of Corning, McCANN and EDWARDS of Datto, raided an illicit still near Black River in Heelstring and Datto section, last Monday night, arresting two men and bringing in a large whiskey still. The men were bound over in Esquire Otto SULLINS' court and are in jail awaiting the action of Circuit Court on the 19th of this month.

William Nathan BELFORD, former prominent lumber mill man and aged citizen of Corning, died last Tuesday in a Little Rock hospital after a long illness. His remains were brought here Wednesday and on Thursday afternoon the funeral took place at his home on Elm Street, followed by internment in Corning Cemetery.
He was born in Golconda, Illinois, July 31, 1851 and married Sarah E. NICHOLLS, May 5, 1882, then moved to Stonefort where eight children were born to them. Surviving are his widow, a son J.B. and daughter, Miss Bess Jane of Corning; another daughter, Mrs. C.T. BLOODWORTH, Poplar Bluff; sons H.B., of Hoxie, R.O., Etowah; F.E., Reyno; O.R. Earle and H.A., Helena. Also surviving are his two brothers, James and Uriah and their mother in her 97th year at Golconda, besides 14 grandchildren.

Among recent cases of the strange hiccough epidemic, which became prevalent recently in many parts of North America, are several persons in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri, including J.W. BLACK and R.W. ECKERT of Corning and a prominent physician of Sikeston. Mr. BLACK recovered quickly, but ECKERT and the Sikeston doctor were last week placed in hospitals, the former in Poplar Bluff and the latter in St. Louis on account of serious illness following the attacks of that malady. Mr. ECKERT, after a 24-hour siege of hiccoughs, last Saturday fainted in PITZELE Store here where he is employed. Manager M.S. RIEGLER of that establishment, took him to a Poplar Bluff hospital where he is slowly recovering.

Attorney E.L. HOLLAWAY, who recently located in Corning, has succeeded Attorney A.L. BROWN at deputy prosecutor for the Western district of Clay County. Mr. BROWN tendered his resignation several days ago, in view of the fact that Prosecutor-elect Z.B. HARRISON is to appoint Mr. HOLLAWAY his next deputy here, in order that Mr. SHANE, our present prosecutor, might appoint Mr. HOLLAWAY to fill out the balance of this term. Being deputy from now until Mr. HARRISON takes over the office, Mr. HOLLAWAY will become familiar with the work in this end of Clay county, and have matters in shape by the time our next term of criminal court convenes.
Attorney HOLLAWAY comes to us from WYNNE where he was for some time the partner of one of Clay County's former representatives, John W. BRAWNER. He heard so much about Clay County and had it so highly praised that he decided to locate with us. Those who know Attorney HOLLAWAY speak of him highly, as both a citizen and a lawyer. Mr. HOLLAWAY is a former Hendrix College and Valparaiso University student. He is a graduate of both the law and literary departments of Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee.

I.A. MERRIWETHER and family have located here, in the Judge Jordan residence on Third Street.

George W. McPHEETERS, recently of Doniphan, Missouri has succeeded Gilbert HAYS here in Hop Alley barber shop.

Reverend John HOFFMAN and George W. KING returned here Wednesday from Des Moines and with them came R.M. HUBBLE of that city, a prospective land buyer who, with his family will probably become citizens of Corning or this vicinity.

Mrs. L.G. LATHAM, who last week finished a course of marcelling in a Mariello school in St. Louis, returned Monday to her home here.

William MILLER, who some time ago, bought of D.L. BENNETT the Uneeda Hotel building and recently the stock and fixtures of James BERGMAN, took possession of that property on First Street here last Monday. James BERGMAN and his former night clerk William BALLARD are farming on Dr. SCOTT's place in Heelstring settlement and Mrs. BERGMAN (Jim's mother) and her daughter have moved to Poplar Bluff where they expect to conduct a boarding house.

W.H. HENNING died at his home in South Campbell, MO. , Monday, Feb. 23, after a weeks illness of pneumonia. The funeral had been arranged for ten o'clock Tuesday morning at the family residence, on account of the ill health of Mrs. HENNING, who has been an invalid for sometime and was bedfast when her husband died. She gradually grew worse and died Tuesday morning just 20 minutes before the hour set for her husband's funeral service. Both husband and wife were born in May, 1854, she being 15 days later.
A double funeral service was then arranged for 11 o'clock Wed. morning at the Church of Christ, conducted by Elder DIES. The service was attended by a large amount of friends and one relative of Mrs. HENNING, a Mrs. POWELL of Caruthersville, a niece. There is only one surviving relative of Mr. HENNING, a half-sister of Zion, Illinois, who could not come on account of sickness at home. The HENNINGS were mighty good people and had been residents of Campbell since 1917 having moved there from Clay County, Arkansas.
He was a representative for the Piggott Marble Works. He was a member of the Masonic order and his wife was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. The remains were laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery in graves side by side.

Cashier E.N. GOLDMAN of the Peoples Bank was among Peach Orchard business visitors to Corning Tuesday.

Harry HICKS of this place and his brother, Earl, Of Toledo, Ohio, were summoned to West Frankfort, ILL. on Wed. night of last week by a friend who wired the news of the death of their brother, C.L. HICKS, his wife, infant daughter and mother-in-law, all killed in the tornado that wrecked their home and the north section of that town Wed. afternoon. Harry (Doc) returned here last Wed. morning and reports that he attended the interment of his relatives and that one member of C.L. HICKS family survives, a four 7 year old son, Harry, who suffered only a slight scratch on one side of his face.

The finest Essex ever built, $895.00. You can not get equal style, performance and reliability within hundreds of dollars of its price. CAMPANIOTTE Brothers, dealer, Second Street, Corning.

Updated 27 Nov 2008