Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, December 8, 2024
Darling Jones' son, going hunting, Munsey Slack and more
Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, December 8, 2024
Monday, December 8, 1924: A century ago today, The Americus Times-Recorder reported that “Alfred Jones, Johnson City, Tenn., is the only living son of a soldier of the American Revolution, his father, Darling Jones, having served under General Francis Marion, ‘the Swamp Fox.’ Alfred Jones was born in Washington county (sic for County), Tennessee, and has lived there his entire life. He is the father of 10 children. He is 92.”
According to www.ancestors.org, Darling Jones was born of July 22, 1764 in Wake, North Carolina. He married Nancy Jane Lettie Nelson in 1786, in North Carolina. Together, they had at least two sons and one daughter. Mr. Jones died on October 9, 1848 in Washington County, Tennessee and was buried here. Mr. Jones fought in the Battle of King’s Mountain, which took place in 1780.
The Americus Times-Recorder was, and still is, a newspaper published in Americus, Georgia.
Saturday, December 8, 1934: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported “Bringing home the venison, Dan Wexler, A. T. Dosser, Jr., and Clyde Culpepper returned early Friday morning from the Pisgah National Forest about four miles out of Brevard, North Carolina (several indecipherable words) the proud possessor of a fine buck.
“Wexler’s kill, the largest of the three, weighed 140 pounds dressed out and was bearing antlers of eight points. It is reported to be the largest killed this year at the hunting grounds. The bucks of Culpepper and Dosser were only a few pounds short of the one killed by Wexler.
“According to Wexler, the hunting party was informed when it was learned that the three participants had been selected as the lucky ones in the annual draw staged in North Carolina. He stated each year from approximately 2000 applications, 400 were (several indecipherable words) privilege of hunting three days without a license. Each hunter is allowed a buck or doe, he said, and is permitted only one kill. Wexler, Dosser and Culpepper all had the good fortune to have their names picked to hunt at the same time. The hunters are allowed to try for three days to make a kill, Wexler said, and from 20 to 25 are allowed in the mountains each day during the month of December.”
Brevard, North Carolina is about 92 miles from Johnson City.
Friday, December 8, 1939: The Durham Morning Herald reported news with a dateline from Bristol, Virginia. The date was December 7 and the news was carried by the Associated Press. Readers learned that “Death came today to E. Munsey Slack, Bristol newspaper publisher and civic leader. He was 61.
“The veteran publisher was stricken last night with a cerebral hemorrhage while attending a dinner party with friends at Abingdon, Va. He died at an Abingdon hospital 12 hours later.
“Slack, who worked as a boy in his father’s weekly newspaper print shop here, published newspapers at Abingdon and Johnson City, Tenn., before giving up his interests to enter the Bristol publishing field.
“At the time of his death, he was president of the Bristol Publishing corporation (sic for Corporation) and the News-Bulletin, afternoon paper.
“Slack was born in Bristol and was educated at King college (sic for College) and Franklin (Ind.) college (sic). He began his publishing career as owner of the weekly Abingdon Virginian in 1901, and moved to Johnson City in 1903, founding the Johnson City Staff, which he directed until 1924, when he sold his interests.
“Funeral services will be held at his Abingdon home Saturday at 9 a. m. His widow and six children by his first wife survive.”
King College is now known as King University. It is located in Bristol, Tennessee.
The Durham Morning Herald is now known as The Herald-Sun and is published in Durham, North Carolina.
Friday, December 8, 1944: Eighty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported that “Second Lt. James P. Walker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jennis A. Walker of Telford, has been assigned to Camp Chaffee, Ark., where is is a training officer in reconditioning annex of the station hospital, according to the camp public relations officer.
“Lieutenant Walker received his commission in the Medical Administration corps in November and Camp Chaffee was his first assignment.”
Thursday, December 8, 1949: Seventy-five years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported “Companies No. 1, 3, 4 and 5 answered a call shortly after 7 a. m. yesterday to ‘The Barn,’ beer establishment at East Main street (sic for Street) and Broadway, Chief L. L. Geisler said. About $50 damage was caused apparently by a discarded cigaret (sic for cigarette) in a booth where it probably smoldered for a long time, Geisler added.”
“At 8:40 a. m. Companies 1, 3 and 4 went to the home of Clyde L. Sanders, where paper over an unused fireplace burned as a result of burning soot passing from another portion of the house through the chimney, Assistant Chief George W. Wilson said. There was no damage.”
“Patrolman P. E. Broyles and George Murray recovered a Kentucky auto taken Tuesday night from a Roan street (sic) service station parking area.
“Patrolman John R. Howell reported investigating a minor traffic collision at 3:50 p. m. Tuesday on Fountain Square. Vehicles involved were a Yellow Cab driven by Lyle Benjamin Andes of 1310 Fairview avenue (sic for Avenue) and a car driven by J. O. Messer of Clinton, Tenn. No one was listed as injured.”
Clinton, Tennessee is about 127 miles from Johnson City.
To subscribe, click on this link:
https://www.todayinjohnsoncityhistory.com/subscribe
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.
Grateful appreciation is expressed to Collin Brooks for his social media expertise. If you need assistance with your social medial needs, call him at 423-735-8755.
Will Riddle, owner of Riddle Technology Services, can help you with all your computer and computer-related needs. He’s the best! Call him at 423-480-4024.