Community Visits in 1917

Through the community news items in The Crittenden Press, let's see what was going on in the community of Copperas Spring, Levias and Glendale.

Nov. 1, 1917 - Copperas Springs New Items

• Miss Lottie Herron, who has been quit ill, is now convalescent.
• Miss Mary Deboe of Fredonia, visited Miss Willie Pickens last week-end and attended Church at Sugar Grove.
• Gordon Brown is visiting his cousin, Lewis Gass and family.
• L. C. Horning and family left Friday for Harrisburg, Ill. where they will make their future home.
• Roy Boister, of Crayne, was the guest of Willis Dollins Saturday and Sunday.
• Billie Lowry and Miss Ula Gass attended the School Fair at Seminary.
• Worth Boister of Crayne, spent the weekend as the guest of George M. Travis and Family.
• Miss Hattie Crider, of Bellmont, visited her sister, Mrs. Ed Hunt, one day last week.
• John Hillard wnt to Louisville Thursday to visit his son, Walter, who is now in the training camp there.

Nov. 1, 1917 - Levias Community New Items

• Mrs. Fannie Settles and grandson, Herschel Love, were visitors at the home of Mrs. Charles LaRue .
• Gloyd Gilliess spent the week-end with his sister, Uda Jones,near Paducah.
• Mrs. Mary J. Franklin is the guest of her son, John, at Tolu.
• Mrs. Mat LaRue visited her daughter, Irene Conyer, near here Saturday.
• Mesdames J. L. Settle and daughter, Maude Love, spent Friday with Mrs. Martha Barnes and daughter, Pearl Carter.
• Alpha and Curtis Allison, of Dodge, North Dakota, are here visiting relatives.
• J. L. Settles and family spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Wheeler.
• Nora Threlkeld and children, of Repton, Spent several days here last week with relatives.

January 25, 1917 - Glendale Community

• The relatives and many friends of A. W. Thomas of Leitchfield, were shocked and hearts made sad when the news came that he died Jan. 16th, 1917, after an illness of less than an hour of acute indigestion. His remains were brought to the home of his brother, R. H. Thomas, Thursday night and buried at Hurricane Friday. Although he was ill such a short time he told his wife to tell all of his friends and especially his dear old mother that he was going to glory.
• Mr. and Mrs. Lanham, of the Oak Grove neighborhood, attended the burial of A. W. Thomas, her uncle, at Hurricane Friday.
• Boy Edmond Turley has been ill of a bad cold, but is better now.
• Miss Mary Hurley was unable to teach school last week.
• Wilma Cline is threatened with pneumonia.
• J. J. Thomas and wife of Missouri attended the burial of his brother at Hurricane Friday. Also Rev. A. F. Thomas of Illinois. l He spent a few days with his brother, R. H. Thomas, and mother, Mrs. Mary Thomas, who is grief stricken over the death of her son.

More Mt. Zion Church History

This picture is of the second Mt. Zion Church building, the first being blown down in the cyclone of March 1890.

This article appeared in The Crittenden Press, July 19, 1906. It was written by George Ann Simpson Travis and William Joel Hill.

The church at Mount Zion was organized in the year of our Lord 1838 by the Presiding Elder Cain. The log house was built near that date.

The charter members were Rylan Heath and wife, William Hill, wife and son, Dr. Bristow and wife, William Hughes, Ezekiel Porter, James Broadfoot and wife and Ingram Lucas. Patsy Hughes, J. B. Hill, James T. Taylor and wife came in later on.

The writer is under the impression that old brother Ira Nunn and wife were also charter members, as services were held at his house and also at Dr. Bristow's before the church was built.

When the log house was built Uncle Highly Gilbert helped to cut down the first tree that was put in the building. He was just a boy at that time and died a member of the church.

Mount Zion can well be called the mother of Methodism in this county. On January 25, 1859, a deed was made to the Church and Masonic Fraternity by William Williams and wife for the sum of five dollars and was recorded in 1864 by Berry S. Young.

Brother Big Truitt was one of the pillars of the Church. He went out from this Church to preach the gospel He did not live long but he lived a true Christian life, and many will rise up in that Day to call him blessed.

On March 27, 1890 the church was blown down by a cyclone, this being the second church. Then more land was secured and deed made by Robert Heath in 1901, L. R. Hughes, J. W. Cook and G. P. Wilson, trustees. Then a new house was built and was dedicated by Rev. J. W. Bigham.

Brother Thrasher was preacher in charge at the time and the church has been wonderfully blessed since. And now dear brethren and sisters as man's chief end is to glorify God, if we have anything good let us pass it along, perhaps it may help others and let us continue to pray.

Yours in Christ, G. A. Travis and William Joel Hill

W.O.W. Unveiling at Mt. Zion June 13, 1912

James B. Rich's W.O.W. marker at the Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Churches and the one room schools are so much a part of our past history. This article appeared in the June 13, 1912 Crittenden Press.

W.O.W. Unveiling at Mt. Zion Sunday was attended by biggest crowd in the history of the place. At Mt. Zion cemetery Sunday were assembled what is admitted by the old residents to be the largest crowd of people within the history of this historic place. People came from all parts of Crittenden County and from other counties as well.

The occasion was the unveiling of the handsome monument erected to the memory of sovereign James B. Rich by the W. O. W. fraternity, of which the late Mr. Rich was a member. The exercises being under the supervision of Rosewood Camp No. 22, which Robert E. Wilborn is Consul Com.; C. R. Newcom, Past Con. Com.; C. V. Oakley, Adv. Lieut.; F. B. Heath, Clerk; T. M. Conyer Watchman; R. I. Nunn, Banker; James Arflack, Escort; W. F. Myers Sentry, and H. D. Pollard, Master of Ceremonies.

The unveiling took place at 2 o'clock p.m. An interesting program had been arranged in connection with the ritualistic ceremonies of the Order, and was carried out to the satisfaction of everyone.

After the march, conducted by Master of Ceremonies H. D. Pollard, the Marion Concert Band played "Nearer My God to Thee." The Choir sang "Rock of Ages" and after an invocation by Rev. J. A. Wheeler, pastor of Mt. Zion Church, the quartet, "Bloom Brightly, Sweet Roses" was rendered by Messrs. Bart Fisher, Chester Fisher, Leonard Fisher and Miss Erline Fisher. The beautiful recitation, "Oh Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be Proud" was given by Miss Clara Barton Woody, after which an address was made by Rev. Rufus Robinson.

After the unveiling of the monument by officers of Rosewood Camp No. 22 W.O.W., Judge J. G. Rochester introduced Hon. Alben W. Barkley, of Paducah, who gave an interesting speech.

At 11:00 o'clock a sermon was preached at the church by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Wheeler and noon a bountiful dinner was served on the grounds, of which everybody present was invited to partake and the day passed pleasantly away.

After leaving the place the Woodmen and others who were present were loud in their praise of the most hospitable manner in which they wee received and treated by the good people of Mr. Zion and vicinity.

The occasion was a success in every way and reflects credit to Rosewood Camp no. 22. W. O.W.

Green Gables Home in Mexico, KY

In 2004, Nancy and Donald Tabor purchased the Lilly Stephenson's house which had been empty since it's owner had died in the winter of 1977. When Lilly Stephenson died, her daughter, Imogene Winstead locked the doors, removed a few belongings and rarely returned. When Nancy and Donald purchased the house it was still full of Stephenson's clothes, furniture, dished and personal items, as Nancy says, it was locked in time.

Restoring the old house was always a dream for Nancy. In fact, her ties to the house are many. Her uncle and grandfather, Jim and Lige Campbell, built the house in 1921. Her father worked on the farm as a boy. As a child, she visited the house and as an adult cared for her cousin, Lilly Stephenson.

With the restoration program the couple has paid attention to each detail, from the floor to the ceilings. One of the most consuming jobs, Nancy tells us, has been the process of staining all of the home's woodwork. It was all removed and stained and each nail used to re-install it was later covered with puddy and another coat of stain. Beautiful wooden front doors with sidelights welcome guests into a lovely parlor, as if you had indeed stepped back in time.

It's been 4 years since the restoration project began, Nancy has put her heart and soul in the project and in shows in every detail of the beautiful stunning old home. If wall could talk, I'm sure they would be welcoming the Tabor's unto their restored home.

Genealogy Society Takes A Tour of Tabor's Restored 1921 Home

The Crittenden County Genealogy Society recently took a tour of the 1921 home of Nancy and Donald Tabor in the Mexico Community. Standing on the front steps of the home are:
Front row left to right: Anna Rhea Porter, Brenda Underdown, Connie Gould
Second row: Dot Kunnecke, Doyle Polk, Fay Carol Crider
Back row: Nancy Tabor, (the home's owner),Don Foster and Betty Croft.
See Story above for more history on this beautiful old home.

Neighborhood News, May 12, 1898

Brown-Wring Cemetery. This cemetery has also been called the Childress Cemetery and the Millikan Cemetery.

The cemetery is located off View Road, down a logging road and on the side of a bluff. If not familiar with the area, you would need a local person to lead you to the cemetery. This cemetery has many unmarked graves, and many with only sandstones as markers. A one-of-a-kind person, Doyle Polk, cares for this cemetery by weed eating and trying to keep the fallen limbs off the stones.

We are fortunate at times, through reading the old Crittenden Presses, to find information telling about a person that has been buried in one of our old family cemeteries that doesn't have a stone. Such as happened in the column titled New Salem Neighborhood News, May 12, 1898.

Died at his residence near Emmaus Church, April 3, 1898, Washington W. Brown, in the 80th year of his age. In the death of "Uncle Wash" as he was formerly known, Crittenden County and this neighborhood have lost another old land mark. He was among one of the best citizens in this county, a good Christian man, honest in all his dealings with his fellow man, his hospitality was unbounded, his home was his friends home, no one ever left his house empty handed that asked for charity.

He leaves a wife and eight children to mourn for him. His remains were buried at the Millikan grave yard. A large concourse of the good people assembled at the grave to pay the last tribute of respect to this good man.

Uncle Wash has answered the summons of the master, has crossed the river, and is at rest with the loved ones that have gone before. May we all be ready as he was when the summons comes.

Another unmarked burial in this cemetery is that of Nancy Fuller Campbell, who died January 26, 1934. Her obituary reads:

Crittenden Press, January 1934 - Death has again invaded our ranks and claimed for its victium, Mrs.Nancy Campbell, wife of J. T. Campbell, who departed this life as the day drew to a close Friday evening, January 26, 1934. Her remains were interred in the Milikan Cemetery. Mrs. Campbell was born March 5, 1855. She had been marrried 52 years and to the union 7 children were born. Five of the children have been dead for a number of years and only 2 girls, Mrs. Alma Ward and Miss Myra Campbell and the husband survive.

County Court Dec. 15, 1898

Reading the County Court items from our early days gives us a look back in time to the events that was taking place in Crittenden County.

Dec. 15, 1898

• J. F. Harris allowed $25 for right of way for public road near Piney Creek Church, the old road having been ruined by a branch.
• J. S. Newcom, commissioner to open road asked for by E. L. Nunn, reported road open and ready for travel. H. B. Tudor was appointed overseer, with the following hands, J. S. Newcom, E. L. Nunn, W. H. Tudor, Geo. W. Gahagan, and J. N. Truitt.
• The following road overseers were appointed: H. F. McDonald, Charles Nunn, S. W. Simpson.
• The will of the late John A. Hodge was probated. The subscribing witnesses are M. C. O'Hara, Eva Kirk and Eliza Jane Hicks. After providing for funeral expenses, the divisor says; I give, devise and bequeath all the residue of my estate, both real and personal, to my wife, Ebie Hodge, and my two children, Jackson and Donie Hodge. Said wife to hold during her life time and equal interest with my two children, Jackson and Donie, and her interest to revert to the children at her death. The sum of $5.00 is bequeathed to Kurg Hodge.

4th of July at Crittenden Springs Hotel

This sketch of The Crittenden Springs Hotel Resort was featured in The Evansville Press in 1890, advertising the opening of the season at the grand Hotel.

Since the 4th of July will be here soon, let's take a look back in time to the 4th of July in 1905, 103 years ago. The Crittenden Springs Hotel was getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July in grand ole Kentucky style.

Independence day at the Crittenden Springs will be a royal Fourth. It is expected that a large crowd of people, who have cast aside the cares of life for the time being that they may enjoy one whole day of pleasure and good fellow felling, will cover the old hills about the spring.

The band will play, the birds will sing and music will reign supreme, while the stars and stripes, waving in the breeze, will indicate that the birthday of Old Glory's reign in at hand.

Among the events of the day will be a genuine shooting match at 30, 50 and 500 yard range, two or more match games of base ball and many other incidental amusements. Come evening time there will be the big dance, and most important of all, the grand fireworks beginning at eight o'clock. If possible, everyone should come prepared to stay all day and remain over at night long enough to see these fireworks, which will be a rare treat for everyone, and possibly something your children have never seen before.

And not the least important part of the preparation for the entertainment of the crowd will be the cold drinks on the ground and the barbecued meats prepared in the grand old Kentucky style.

The beautiful hills around the Crittenden Springs Hotel must have been a grand site this 4th of July so many years ago, ahh to have been able to attend one of these celebrations.