Today in Johnson City History, Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Johnson City area happenings and a Fig Newton surprise
Sunday, November 19, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported short news accounts that were in some way related to Johnson City. The dateline was Johnson City, and the date was November 18. Some of the news accounts follow: “J. F. Huddle, on his return from the east, spent Tuesday here en route to Cranberry, N. C. Mr. Huddle is superintendent of the iron furnace at Cranberry, and went east to purchase the necessary material to put the furnace in good condition. Everything will be put in readiness in the next two or three weeks, and the furnace will be blown in before the holidays.”
Cranberry, North Carolina is about 32 miles from Johnson City. It is southeast of Johnson City.
“In the First ward the republicans (sic) have no candidate for alderman. In the Fourth the democrats (sic) made no nomination. This leaves the field clear for W. L. Taylor in the First and P. H. Wofford in the Fourth. The contest is, therefore, confined to the Second and Third wards, as both parties have (indecipherable) candidates there. The Second ward democratic (sic) nominee is Samuel Simcox, who opposes W. I. Hart, republican (sic). The Third ward elects two aldermen. The candidates are: Democrats, C. M. Chapel and J. D. Crowell; republicans (sic) T. W. Sizemore and J. F. Hatcher. The election will be held next Wednesday. The city will also vote on a proposition to secure a public library.”
“Elbert Hall, living near Flourville, lost his barn by fire last Sunday morning.”
Flourville is a community in rural Washington County.
The following three news item appeared in a slightly different form previously in this column; I have found it interesting how the details vary.
“The Palmer two-story residence in Carnegie was burned Tuesday morning. The house was occupied by Mr. McMonlgle (sic), but his family was visiting in Virginia. The house and contents were all consumed; fully covered by insurance.”
“Boring Bros. have sold out, or rather agreed to stop making handles for a period of years. The factory has been shut down. Atlanta capitalists are the purchasers.”
“Dr. J. W. Cox met with a serious accident Tuesday. His young horse got beyond his control, and the doctor was thrown out of his buggy on his head, causing severe concussion. Wednesday he was very slow, but has improved since.”
“Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock at the home of the bride’s parents, in the presence of a few relatives and intimate friends, Rev. T. J. Eskridge of Wytheville, Va., officiated at the marriage of Miss Mary Gertrude Mitchell to Jas. M. Range. The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Mitchell, and is a most beautiful and accomplished young woman, possessed of many pleasing graces which fit her for her new sphere in life. Mr. Range is the popular manager of the New York Racket store at Erwin, Tenn., and is a young man of strong Christian character and unquestioned integrity.”
Johnson City is about 105 miles from Wytheville, which is northeast of Johnson City.
“Prof. J. B. McMillin, wife and son, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Lyle.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Foy Dulaney visited relatives in Elizabethton Monday and Tuesday.”
“Miss Ada Darden has accepted a position as cashier at M. Jackson’s store.”
Steve Darden reports that Ada Darden was his and his brother, Bill’s, father’s aunt, and that she lived near the intersection of Poplar and Spring Streets. His father recalled that there was a store nearby to which she used to send him, when he was 6 or 7 years old, to buy Fig Newtons. What a great memory!
“Mrs. J. B. Cox, who has been dangerously ill of typhoid fever, is slowly improving.”
“Miss Bessie Lou Burgess has entered school at Holbrook college (sic), Knoxville.”
“J. D. Mulkey and wife have returned from a trip to Kansas.”
“Dr. R. A. Denton returned Tuesday from a visit to Abingdon, Va.”
“Mr. and Mrs. S. H. L. Cooper of Jonesboro visited friends here Tuesday.”
“Miss (indecipherable) Cox is home from Southwest Virginia Institute of Bristol on account of the illness of her father, who was injured by being thrown from a buggy.”
Southwest Virginia Institute was founded in Glade Spring, Virginia, on September 17, 1884, by Reverend J.R. Harrison, a Baptist minister. It later became known as Virginia Intermont College.
“Mrs. C. H. Jennings of Newport has decided to reside in Johnson City and is now occupying the Sellers residence on Holston avenue (sic).”
Newport is a town located approximately 58 miles from Johnson City.
“Mrs. DeLong Rice and Miss Evelyn Carr have returned from a visit to Chattanooga.”
The following news account also appeared in a different form in a previous column.
“M. H. Gammon has returned from San Antonio, and reports ex-Gov. R. L. Taylor’s family enjoying good health and very well pleased with their new home.”
“Mrs. H. L. Williams and sister, Miss Lula Hayward, left Thursday for Hardeville, S. C., where Mrs. Williams will visit relatives for awhile, after which she will join her husband in Washington.”
“The young society people gave an entertainment at Hotel Piedmont Tuesday evening in honor of the visiting young ladies. At 10 o’clock delightful refreshments were served. A string band rendered sweet music. After supper Miss Willie Ray of Asheville, N. C., entertained the company with some most pleasing recitations.”
“Dr. and Mrs. T. W. Scott of Urbana, O., after a week’s visit to their daughter, Miss Louise, left for their home Tuesday.”
“Mrs. J. E. Crand (sic) and sister, left Tuesday for Sheldon, Ill., their old home.”
Note: “Crand” is a typo for “Crandall”; this is a very slight, and differing, continuation of the story about Mr. Crandall being in prison for issues with his bank.
“A. T. McCormick died Tuesday after a lingering illness.”
“Geo. A. Ross, who has held a position at the Brushy Mountain state mines, arrived home Thursday to stay.”
Brushy Mountain is about 145 miles from Johnson City.
“J. J. Adams, who has been at the bedside of his sick daughter, Mrs. T. J. Peoples, at Jonesboro, for the past three weeks, is at home. He reports Mrs. Peoples convalescent.”
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.
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