The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, January 12, 1945

Miss Hazel Ruth Wheatley and Norman Porter were married at Wheeling Dec. 30^th, the bride the daughter of Mrs. Stella Wheatley and the groom, a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Porter.

Saturday night Jan. 6, Mrs. Morris Porter and Miss Edith Willison gave a shower in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Porter. Many useful gifts were received and best wishes were extended by a number of friends and relatives.

A baby boy weighing 8 lbs. was born Tuesday night to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Johnson.

Claude Ellis, son of Mrs. W. O. Ellis, has been promoted from First Lieut. to Lieut. Commander. He is stationed in Memphis, Tenn.

Midshipman S. T. Hays Jr. has returned to Annapolis, Maryland after spending the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Hays.

Miss Betty Holt returned last Wednesday night to Fulton, Mo. where she is attending William Woods College.

Fred. M. Daniel has returned to Kimper Military School at Booneville, Mo., after visiting his parents Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Daniel, Sr. during the Christmas holidays.

The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, January 28, 1945

PFC Loyce E. Langston Awarded Purple Heart

The following letter was received recently from the secretary of war by Mrs. Novella M. Langston, wife of the late Pfc. Loyce E. Langston.

“My dear Mrs. Langston,

The President has requested me to inform you that the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumous to your husband, Private First Class Loyce E. Langston, Infantry, who sacrificed his life in defense of his country.

The medal which you will receive shortly is of slight intrinsic value, but rich with the tradition for which Americans are so gallantly giving their lives. The Father of our country, whose profile and coat of arms adorn the medal, speaks from it across the centuries to the men who fight today for the proud freedom he founded.

Nothing the War Department can do or say will in any sense repair the loss of your loved one. He has gone, however, in honor and the goodly company of patriots. Let me, in communicating to you the country’s deep sympathy. Also express to you its gratitude for his valor and devotion.

Please believe me,

Sincerely yours,

Henry L. Stimson”

Staff Sgt. Leonard James Awarded Air Medal

At 12^th AAF B-25 Base, For Meritorious Achievement While Participating in an Attack Upon a German Held Railroad Bridge near Avignon, France, Staff Sergeant Leonard W. James, 23, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., has been awarded the Air Medal it is announced from headquarters of the Twelfth Air Force in (can’t read rest of line of newspaper).

Flying as an Armorer Gunner with his Veteran B-25 Mitchell bombardment group in Corsica, Sergeant James has flown 57 Combat missions against targets in Italy, France, and Yugoslavia since going overseas in May, 1944.

Bombing target in eight countries from the Balkans to Central France since it began operations in Eastern Tunisia in March, 1944, Sergeant James Mitchell group has been frequently commended by High-Ranking Staff Officers for brilliant close support and pin-point bombing operations. Flying hundreds of successful “Bridge-Busting” missions in Italy, it helped starve the enemy of supplies, enabling ground troops to throw them back from Salerno to the Po Valley.

Later – From headquarters of the Twelfth Air Force in Italy comes word that the B-25 Mitchell bombardment group to which Staff Sergeant Leonard W. James, 24, of Mammoth Spring, Ark., is assigned as an armorer gunner has been cited again by the War Department as a distinguished unit, this time for the sinking of the Italian cruiser Taranto in La Spezia harbor September 23. Carried out without lost of aircraft an with no casualties despite a formidable….(remained of the article was not copied.)

The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, February 2, 1945

Funeral Services for Mrs. Oscar Powell Held Thursday

Rozetta Martin was born January 22, 1890 and died Wednesday, January 31^st, at the home of her father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Martin.

When 17 years of age, she was united in marriage to Oscar Powell. To this union was born 9 children, all living and seven of whom were at her bedside when death came. She was preceded in death by her mother when she was only 4 days of age.

The deceased was a member of the Church of Christ having united with the church at the age of 16, and remained faithful to the end.

She is survived by her husband Oscar Powell, 9 children, Ivey, of the home, Mrs. Hattie Geibs, Marvin Powell, Mammoth Spring, Arvy Powell, Mrs. Gladys Godwin, Seattle, Wash., Mrs. Clara Nevels, Cabool, Mo., Mrs. Bertha Humphreys, Saddle, Ark., Roy Powell, New York, Staff Sgt. Olen J. Powell, who is somewhere in China, her father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Martin.

Funeral services were held at the Church of Christ Thursday afternoon at 1:30, conducted by Eld. Joe Blue, and burial was made in the Shiloh cemetery.

Pall bearers were: Orville Armstrong, Virgil Boler, Tom Griffith, Cecil Smith, Jodie Kentcheloe and Ira Smith.

The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, June 29, 1945

Mrs. Mary Blackburn Found Dead Monday Near Her Home

Mrs. Mary Jane Blackburn, age 85, was found dead Monday afternoon at a spring, located about 100 yards from the home of her son, with whom she has made her home for several months.

Mrs. Blackburn, though 85 years of age, had her daily chores that she would insist on doing. She had gone out to attend to the chickens about 5 o’clock that afternoon and when she had been gone out to attend to the chickens about 5 o’clock that afternoon and when she had been gone quite awhile, Mrs. Michaels went to see about her, and found her lying on the ground near the spring, with her face down; and she had passed away.

Mary Jane Hazelwood was born May 7, 1870, at Calomine, Ark. In 1880 she was married to John A. Michaels, who preceded her in death.

To this union 8 children were born. They are J. M. Michaels, Colfax, La., Will Michaels, who died in 1901, Mrs. Sarah Shreeves who died in 1914, Mrs. J. E. Shepard of Thayer, John Michaels of the home, S. P. Michael who died in 1942, Dick Michaels and Mrs. John Porter, Mammoth Spring.

She was married to T. V. Stephens of Ash Flat in 1903, who died in 1910. She was married to Leroy Blackburn, Jan. 15, 1918. He passed away in July 1923.

The deceased leaves to mourn her passing 3 sons, John, Dick, and J. M. Michaels, 2 daughters Mrs. J. E. Shepard and Mrs. John Porter, 34 grand children and 31 great grand children, 2 brothers, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at Welcome Hill Thursday at 2:30, and burial was made in the Whiteside cemetery near State Line road.

The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, July 20, 1945

George Michaels Killed, When Kicked by a Horse

George Allen Michaels, 14; son of Mr. and Mrs. John Michaels of Mammoth Spring, R1, was fatally injured on Friday afternoon of last week when kicked by a horse.

George, with his father, had been working in the field and had quit working, and was going in home for supper. They were leading the horses they had been working. Upon reaching the creek they had to cross, George took the horses and waded across, while his father turned to the left and went down the road a short distance to cross the creek on a foot log and then join up with his son and go on in home. Before meeting up with his son Mr. Michaels notice a horse, which he had not been working, following the horses he had been working. Upon coming in sight of the boy, he noticed the boy lying on the ground, about 10 feet from where the boy crossed the creek. Believing the boy was resting before taking a swim, which he sometimes did before…. (the rest of this article was continued on page 4 of the newspaper and I failed to see the note and failed to copy it.)

Aboard a U. S. Battleship in the Pacific, John L. Golden, 26, of Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, recently was advanced in rating to fireman, first class, USNR.

Golden as a member of the crew of this 35,000 ton battleship, works in one of the ship’s engine rooms with the machinery which sends the ship along.

During civilian life, one of his favorite hobbies was hunting. He now indulges his hobby with 16-inch guns. During battle. (This was how he wrote it in the paper. I don’t know what he was trying to say.)

With this ship, Golden has been through invasion operations, the second battle of the Philippines Sea, the first carrier task force raids against Formosa and the Ryukya Islands, and raids on….(the rest of this article was not copied)

“Aunt Kit” Hager

Susan Elizabeth “Aunt Kit” Hager, was born in or near Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 6, 1853, age 92 years, 8 months, and 13 days.

“Aunt Kit” as she was affectionately known, has lived in and around Mammoth Spring for about 30 years, and has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Hurtt for the past 14 years.

Her husband preceded her in death some 40 years ago. She being the last one of the family, her nearest relatives were nephews and nieces of which there are a large number as well as many other (there is a hole in the paper so unable to read the last word of this paragraph.)

She professed a hope in Christ at the age of 16 years and has lived a consistent Christian life throughout the years, having been a member of the Baptist Church of Mammoth Spring for many years; although her health has been such that she was bared from active service for several years.

Funeral services were held at the Baptist Church on Friday morning of last week, conducted by Rev. G. W. Napier and Rev. Ben Meeks.

Pall bearers were 5 nephews of “Aunt Kit” with Theo Hobbs as the sixth. They were as follows: John Drye of Mammoth Spring, Fred Burns of Kansas City, Elzie Drye of Hardy, Joe Cargill and Orvis Hudgens of Thayer.

Burial was made in Davis cemetery.

The Democrat, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, September 7, 1945

Rose-Berry

Miss Violet Rose, formerly of Wirth, but now employed with Boeing Aircraft Co., in Wichita, Kansas and Cpl. Hollie Berry, formerly of Hardy, now stationed at Schiek General Hospital, Clinton, Iowa were married July 23^rd at Wichita, Kansas. The bride is a graduate of Mammoth Spring High School, graduating in 1942 as valedictorian. She attended college at Chillicothe, Mo. She is now a typist at Boeing Aircraft Co.

The groom has served the past 2 years overseas.

John Lamar Dillard

John Lamar Dillard, was born October 20, 1876, at Violet Hill, Arkansas, in Izard county. He departed this life at his home in Mammoth Spring Thursday, Aug. 30, 1945, age 68 years, 10 months, and 10 days.

On June 17, 1908 he was united in marriage to Ethel Bowling. To this union was born five children: Mrs. Bertina Campbell of Thayer, Mo., Mrs. Janet Golden of Mammoth Spring, John L. Dillard, Jr., S1c of the U. S. Navy, Cpl. Norman Dillard of the U. S. Army, both somewhere in the South Pacific, and Vernon Dillard of Mammoth Spring.

The deceased leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, five children, 7 grandchildren, one brother, Gordon Dillard, of Wiseman, Ark., and one sister, Mrs. Emma Robertson of Pottersville, Mo., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Dillard came to Mammoth Spring in 1909 and had made his home here ever since, operating a barber shop until failing health made it necessary for him to retire from business in April of this year….(wrinkles in the newspaper make this part unreadable)…several of the daily papers, and made regular rounds, morning and evening delivering his papers.

In 1925 he united with the Christian church and was a deacon in the church at the time of his death.

Funeral services were held at the Christian church in Mammoth Spring Sunday afternoon at 2:30, conducted by Rev. P. O. Freeman of Thayer. The church house was filled to overflowing with relatives and friends; and the floral offering was beautiful. The choir was composed of members from various churches in Mammoth Spring and Thayer, and the songs rendered were very appropriate for the occasion.

Updated 16 Feb 2015