Today in Johnson City History, Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Lots of people doing lots of things
Sunday, November 5, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported several short news accounts of interest to those in Johnson City and Jonesboro, which was spelled that way at the time. News with a dateline from Johnson City and a date of November 4 included the following: “Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Adams were called to Jonesboro last Sunday on account of the serious illness of their daughter, Mrs. T. J. Peoples. Mr. Peoples was also very low of typhoid fever.”
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection and can be prevented by means of a vaccine.
“The Hallowe’en party at the residence of Mrs. Nettie Waggoner Tuesday evening was a most enjoyable occasion.”
“Mrs. L. B. Caldwell and son, Harry, left Thursday for Highland Park, where they will join Dr. Caldwell, who was recently appointed pastor of the M. E. church there.”
“Miss Betts Lyle is visiting her cousin, Miss Carrie Summers, at Morristown.”
“A. P. Harkins and family have moved to These (sic), Cocke county (sic) to reside.”
“Mrs. Parthenia Simmerman has returned from an extended visit to her mother near Asheville, N. C. “
“Mrs. P. E. Hart, of Milligan, visited her daughter, Mrs. J. G. Johnson, during the week.”
In 1899, Milligan referred to a community in rural Carter County, as well as Milligan College. Milligan College is now known as Milligan University.
“Miss Alleen Galloway, of Flourville, visited relatives here this week.”
Flourville is a community in rural Washington County.
“Mrs. S. C. Brown has returned from a two months’ visit to her mother in Knoxville.”
“Judge H. C. Hart came up from Knoxville Sunday and spent a few days with his family.”
“Chancellor John P. Smith made a visit to Knoxville Monday.”
“Mrs. C. K. Lide very pleasantly entertained the society of Christian Endeavor of the Presbyterian church last Monday evening.”
“Rally services will be held at the First Presbyterian church (sic) tomorrow, it being the first service to be held since the completion of the new lecture room. Rev. A. G. Buckner, president of King college (sic), Bristol, will occupy the pulpit.:
“Rev. A. A. Ferguson, of the Christian church, will begin a series of meetings at his church tomorrow.”
“C. H. Cooper has accepted a position with a Bristol lumber company and moved his family there last Saturday.”
“Births – To Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Berry, on last Monday, a son. To Mr. and Mrs. Jas. A. Martin, on last Sunday, a daughter. To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Barrow, Wednesday, a daughter.”
“Last Sunday a special collection was taken by the Sunday school of the M. E. church youth, for the orphanage at Greeneville, Tenn., and the neat sum of $50 was raised. The infant class, of which J. B. Cox is teacher, having an enrollment of eighty-five, only forty of whom were present, gave $20.15 of the total.”
News with a dateline from Jonesboro, and a date of November 4, included the following: “Mrs. J. H. Scales, after a very pleasant visit to her mother, Mrs. Mary Reeves, returned Thursday to her home in Pulaski, Va.”
Pulaski, Virginia is about 129 miles from Johnson City. It is northeast of Johnson City.
“Rev. R. E. Smith, who has been circuit rider at this place for several years, moved with his family Tuesday to Parrottsville, where he was sent by the recent conference at Bluefield, W. Va.”
Johnson City is about 52 miles from Parrottsville.
“John Bailey died at the pest house, north of Jonesboro, last Tuesday morning. It seems that his children, being near the mill springs in Jonesboro, contracted smallpox. Bailey, for some reason, kept the fact concealed that his children were so afflicted until they had nearly recovered. At this stage the fact leaked out and he and his children were at once removed to the pest house. Soon after reaching the pest house, Bailey took the disease which speedily resulted in his death. The death of Bailey about ends the smallpox scare in Jonesboro.”
“Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Peoples have both been very sick this week of typhoid fever.”
“Miss Anna Claire Reeves, one of Jonesboro’s most popular young ladies, left today for Pulaski City, Va., to spend the winter with her sister, Mrs. J. Hugh Seales.”
Pulaski, or Pulaski City, Virginia is about 129 miles from Johnson City.
“Miss Mae Fuqua, after a very enjoyable visit to her sister, Mrs. Silas Cooper, returned to her home in Hopkinsville, Ky., today.”
“Joseph F. Maxwell, a prominent attorney of Paula, Kan., was in Jonesboro yesterday paying a visit to the home of his boyhood. He is the only son of Hon. William Maxwell, who was for many years a prominent attorney of Jonesboro. Mr. Maxwell has been absent from Jonesboro for nearly thirty years. His father died in Kansas some thirteen years ago.”
“A delightful time was had Tuesday evening by the young people of Jonesboro at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Keefauver, on North Cherokee street (sic). The reception was given by the young men of the town in honor of the young ladies of the Social and Schubert clubs (sic).
The Schubert Club still meets on a regular basis.
The Chattanooga Sunday Times was published as The Chattanooga Daily Times the other days of the week. It is now published online as the Chattanooga Times Free Press. I do not have access to any newspapers that may have been published on a daily basis in Johnson City in 1899; The Comet was published weekly.
Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.
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