HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of September 19, 1901.)
“W. E. Parish has purchased a fine young herd of blooded cattle from a Kentucky breeder.”
Stuart Gillis was caught at work last week, and now the S. of R. organization is only a memory.”
Lillie Clipper was asking a divorce from Moses Clipper. Her attorney was S. K. Gillis, and Jas. A. McLean was circuit clerk.
“Ben Morris has returned from Pensacola, and we hear that he and Bowers Campbell are going into business in one of Laird’s new stores.
Whitfield Correspondence: “Jas. W. Flowers has a letter from the justice of the peace at Crestview, about our pastor, and which, we regret to say, was not very pleasing to his friends.”
The Breeze carried an extended account of the assassination of President McKinley. (Can any reader recall the correct pronunciation of the assassin’s name? Wrong again: it was “Scholgosch.)
Mt. Shine correspondence: “The baseball players of Laurel Hill were audacious enough to engage in a practice game Sunday afternoon, when they should have had enough gentlemen about them to show that they were citizens of a so-called civilized town.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of September 21, 1905.)
“Keep your eyes on Glendale, the garden spot of West Florida. The new railroad, the DeFuniak & Northern, is about complete, and especially low rates are in effect. For further information see W. L. Cawthon or A. L. Beach, at DeFuniak, or D. E. Murphy, at Glendale.”
Yellow fever item: “Mrs. Buchanan, who left Monday for Chicago, had gotten no further than Pensacola on Friday, from where she was to leave at noon on a locked car for the North, but she was turned back by the health officers at Flomaton, who were just about as crazy as anyone can be, and stay out of the asylum.”
(Twenty-eight years ago–from the Breeze of September 19, 1907.)
“A. R. Campbell is now clerk in the First National bank.”
Rev. C. L. Neel tendered his resignation as pastor of the Baptist church.
The Marianna military company was expected over for a competitive shoot with marksmen from Co. K.
“Wanted–a lady teacher with some experience, to teach five small children. Address Mrs. B. H. Munn, Bolton.”
“Reward–$25–for Alex McCutcheon, a negro, laughs big and stutters when he talks. Wanted for jumping bail.”
“If sounds indicate anything, there must have been a knock down and drag out time, in Happy Hollow, on Saturday night.”
Dr. W. H. Stinson had returned from New York City, where he had taken a post graduate course in medicine. “Doc looks as if city life had agreed with him.”
The publication of a newspaper in DeFuniak must have been a profitable business in DeFuniak a quarter century ago, as much legal advertising, frequently more than a page, was carried weekly.
One DeFuniak young man was in a peck of trouble: He had expended all his surplus funds for booze, and the express agent, complying with the statutes made and provided, refused to deliver liquor to a minor.
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of September 10, 1910.)
“Davis Cawthon is head clerk now in the Little Store, succeeding W. F. Hall.”
“Will Ray was among the country school teachers who spent Sunday with home folks.”
“If you want to know if Walton county has real farm lands, ask such farmers as Clark and Koontz Miller, Len Adams, Wm. Murphy, Billie Wilkerson, John Anderson, John McSwain, M. L. Lassiter, and hundreds of others.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of September 16, 1915.)
Destin correspondence: “Fishing is getting better all the time: it isn’t usual to hear of from 10,000 to 15,000 pound catches of skip jacks.
“Mrs. Bert Murray gave a lovely party Thursday afternoon in honor of her guest, Miss Gladys Townsend.”
“Calvin Gray was tried for a murder committed twenty-eight years previously–in 1887. The killing was said to have been done at the Gray mill, between here and Argyle.”
Under the title of “Another DeFuniak Boy Makes Good” the Breeze told of Carr Brothers of Calhoun county, being so pleased with the way that Leslie Cawthon drove a car for them, that “they engaged him to make a long trip for them in the West. That’s going some, for a knee pants boy.”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of September 16, 1920.)
“We pay 60 cents per dozen for eggs. W. K. Jennings Co.”
“Mrs. Marie Deese has arrived from Graceville, to take up her duties as matron at Palmer College.”
Mrs. G. M. Fullerton was announced as a candidate for county school superintendent.
“DeFuniak girls leaving for college this week include Marie Flournoy, Flora D. McLean, Edith and Ina Simmons, Gladys Storrs, Helen Savage, Elizabeth Cawthon, Pauline Tervin, Malena Murray, Gertrude Warren and Carrie Mae Campbell.”
“Miss Blanche Hinesley, who drove down from Dothan, where she is a bookkeeper for Bloomberg & Sons, had scarcely reached here when she was informed of the death of David Blumberg, killed in an auto accident near Pine Level, Ala.”
Big black headlines covering half of the first page of the Breeze, declared, “Quick Action on Oil Discovery!” “Half-Million Dollar Company Organized!” “Visitors Pour In From All Parts of the Country–DeFuniak May Prove a Second Klondike!” “Johnson’s Gusher Steadily Increasing Its Flow!!!” “Roads Covered With Autos!” A second extra of the same date said, “Says It’s Good–Eminent Chemical Engineer, Passing through DeFuniak says Oil Discovery has Great Possibilities!”
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of September 17, 1925.)
“Raymond [Wickersham] left for Cambridge, Mass., where he will enter Harvard University.”
“Misses Minnie Tappan, Muriel Tarrance and Frances Stallworth left Saturday for Freeport, where they will teach.”
The new chamber of commerce, which was becoming a live and working organization, elected a directorate of fourteen members.
[Friends] entertained in honor of Miss Helen Cawthon, who was to leave shortly for the Woman’s College at Tallahassee.
“At the home of Mrs. B. B. Murray the B. Y. P. U. entertained sixty guests in honor of the dormitory students at Palmer College.”
