Douglasville Social Column: March 21, 1901

My column that ran in the Douglas County Sentinel this past Sunday mentions that little dash that falls between someone's date of birth and the date they passed from this life.  I mention how I run across little social columns all the time regarding folks from Douglas County, but in the past I've not paid much attention to them.

However, I'm beginning to think that they could have real value to people doing family research. These little details might help someone fill in the "dash".....to see how an ancestor lived their daily life. 

Once you read through some of these I think you will see my point......

From "The New South" dated March 21, 1901 in a column headed with "Local and Person":

Mr. A.A. McLarty, a popular justice of Winston was seen in Douglasville Saturday.

Mr. E.R. Stewart has become somewhat changed in facial appearance y the hirsute attachment that has come forth to adorn his upper lip.    .....This might possibly be Eldorado "Rader" Stewart, brother to Dr. F.M. Stewart, but I have not verified this.

Mr. W.W Johnson was here Monday from Winston. Mr. Johnson is a successful farmer and citizen of worth to his community.

Marshal L.O. McElvey spent Saturday and Sunday seeing the sites of Atlanta. He returned Monday morning and his many pleasant things to relate concerning his stay in the capitol city.

Judge J.E. Phillips turned loose a good deal of money amongst the teachers of the county Saturday and sent them away feeling much better than they did when they came.

Mrs. D. P. Webb of Austell spent a few days this week as guest of friends here. We learn that Mr. Webb and family are contemplating moving back to Douglasville some time in May.

The machinery for the flour mill will be here sometime between the first and tenth of April, and it will be speedily arranged for service. The enterprise promises much to the town and county.

The courthouse janitor is giving his attention to the yard surrounding the temple of justice and is making it look decidedly better.  It will be an improvement that will add much to the town's appearance.

Work on the new residence of Colonel W.T. Roberts was begun Monday morning and a number of carpenters are busy getting the structure in shape for occupation. It will have nine rooms and will be a handsome building. The foreman in charge is Mr. Armstead of Atlanta.  The Roberts home, of course, is home today to the Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville and Douglas County.  This article gave me vital information regarding the exact date construction started, and named the foreman!

Mr. R.J. Darnell was attending business in Douglasville this week. Mr. Darnell says that he doesn't feel like he can begin farming until he has cashed up for his newspapers and guano. He is one of the county's most thrifty husbandman and always makes his harvest fields yield him a profit.

Miss Johnnie McLarty, daughter of Mr. Sam McLarty died at her home near Douglasville Saturday night. Pneumonia was her trouble, and she had been sick with it several days. Miss McLarty was about the middle of her teens and was a young lady much beloved. Some years ago she cast her lot with Christ and has since kept in close touch with the Master. She was buried here Monday. The funeral was preached at the Methodist Church by Rev. John Spier.

The canning factory project is still talked about. There are several men who are willing and ready to take stock when they meet up with a sufficient number of others inclined the same way. A canning factory outfit wouldn't cost much and properly conducted it would pay the investors and prove a great benefit to farmers and merchants.

The next little blurb was added from the "Villa Rica Hustler".....

Douglasville is to have a very costly roller flour mill. The money is all subscribed and the machinery will be shipped from some point in Pennsylvania in a few days. This is good for our sister city as Villa Rica has nothing of the kind....guess our farmers will have to take their wheat to Douglasville.

It has been a good long while since the farmers were so well up with their work on the 21st of March as they are this year. The soil has been pretty thoroughly stirred much of the guano to be used has been put to its place and there has been some planting done. The indications are that the yields this year will be large and if the production of cotton is not overdone, the prosperity of 1902 will be much in excess of the present

Little Miss Mattie Hunt came home with Miss Minnie Dorris Friday and remained here Monday. Miss Mattie is a daughter of Mr. J.C. Hunt who resides several miles from Douglasville and is a bright attractive little girl. She is a natural musician and entertains quite well with the guitar and voice. She has two junior sisters, Misses Nellie and Ludie , the youngest only three years  of age and both can pick the guitar to nice advantage. Indeed it seems that the entire family is a musical one for there is not a member of it but what can handle some instrument in an artistic way.

There may be one column from this article that my scanner missed........

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Piedmont Chautauqua Sheriff's Sale

From "The New South" dated March 21, 1901

Sheriff's Sale Notice

To be sold on the courthouse steps first Tuesday, April, 1901 town lots 9, 10, 11, and 12 subdivision of Piedmont Chautauqua fronting ten and a half feet on east side of North Avenue in the town of Salt Springs levied on A.W. Williams for state and county taxes for 1899 and 1901.

The company that headed up the Chautauqua headed up by Henry W. Grady wanted to sell lots for "campers".....folks who would live in Salt Springs/Lithia Springs for a couple of months while the Chautauqua was underway.......camping spots or spots for cabins. 

This notice causes me to wonder.....Where was North Avenue? The map I present below of Chautauqua lots does not show a North Avenue at the time lots were sold. 

I do remember seeing something about additional land opened up for "campers" or other cottage space across the track, but have never seen a map that shows the lots.

A.W. Williams was someone who bought a lot and failed to pay taxes on it, more than likely. I'm doubting at this point he was connected to Chautauqua other than a participant in the programs, etc.