Giddings, Schneider, M. Speer and Sullivan
Families
Alan Anderson, Compiler
Sept 23,1865 "UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE - COL. T.C. SULLIVAN, of this place, was brought before the Provost Marshal on Thursday last (Sept. 16th), for shooting a Fed- eral soldier, by the name of FISHER. It appears from the evidence that FISHER entered the Vineyard of SULLIVAN, for the purpose of getting grapes; and whilst there, he was shot. The gun was loaded with bird shot, a number of which entered different parts of the body of FISHER, inflicting several slight wounds, none of which, however, are very serious. This unfortunate occurrence is deeply re- gretted by our entire community. Col. SULLIVAN was sent to Macon yesterday morning, to be tried before a Court Marshal (sic)." Nov. 18,1865 "THE CASE OF COL. T.C. SULLIVAN - ...sentenced to pay a fine of five hundred dollars or five years imprisonment at the capitol prison in Washington city. We appeal to the citizens of Sumter to raise the fine and thus restore him to the bosom of his helpless children. He is too poor to raise it him- self. Here is the opportunity for Sumter to show her gratitude towards a truly inoffensive and ven- erable citizen...Any one wishing to contribute for this purpose, can do so, by leaving their contribu- tion at this office ("Sumter Republican"), or hand- ing the same to Col. A.S. CUTTS." Nov. 21,1865 "A CARD - The undersigned takes this method of ex- pressing his deep gratitude to the citizens of Am- ericus and vicinity, for their kindness to him in the trying ordeal thro' which he has just passed. Their sympathy, so practically exhibited, has pla- ced him under obligations as lasting as life; and from which he would not, if he could ever, divest himself, but on the contrary, he will cherish them as the most pleasing reminiscences of a long and not altogether, uneventful life. T.C. SULLIVAN." Aug. 15,1873 "We are pained to announce the death of Mrs. John E. Sullivan, of this city. She died on Wednesday morning, the 12th. Mrs. Sullivan was a very esti- mable lady, and will be sadly missed among her large circle of friends..." July 24,1885 "After Thirty Years - Mr. Moses Speer, after atten- ding the State Sunday School Convention will visit his old home on the line of Troup and Heard coun- ties, near the banks of the historic Chattahoochee. He will be accompanied by his daughter, Miss May, who is now on a visit to Macon. Mr. Speer has not seen his old home in thirty-nine years. His bro- ther, Ordinary A.C. Speer, will leave Americus in time to go over land and meet them upon their arri- val there..." Aug. 7,1885 "Back to the Old Home - Major Moses Speer and Judge Amos Speer have recently returned from an extended tour through Middle and North Georgia. On the route they visited their old home at Liberty Hill. The Major had not visited the spot in thirty years, but Judge Speer was there eleven years ago..." Feb. 25,1888 "...Maj. Speer and Rev. J.O. Branch were returning to the city...when near Mr. Mitchell's mill pond (McGarrah St.), on Cotton Avenue, an engine on the Central road was backing down to the depot, cross- ing Cotton Avenue. As they neared the bridge in front of the mill house, the horse became frighten- ed and shied from one side of the dam to the other, trying to jump over the railing. After crossing, the horse became more frightened and Rev. Mr. Branch got out of the buggy and took hold of the bridle; about this time the train came back up the track and made a terrible noise...The horse drew Mr. Branch along with him up to the track, rearing and pitching...Mr. Branch turned loose the bridle and Maj. Speer pulled the horse up the track...the animal reared up and turned the hind wheels of the buggy to the train...and jammed them in between two car boxes...Maj. Speer thrown to the ground very near the car wheels, and the buggy crushed under him, and horse carried over him with his heels in the air...The horse was carried thirty feet...Rev. Mr. Branch and Maj. Speer were terribly frightened, and the Major barely escaped with his life." Nov. 16,1888 "A Happy Marriage - At the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. J.A. Daniel, at 8 o'clock P.M., MR. C.F. GIDDINGS, and MISS NANNIE SUE DANIEL, both of this city, were united in marriage last night, Rev. A.B. Campbell, officiating...Miss Nannie Sue is an accompllshed young lady, loved and admired by all who know her, while Mr. Giddings is one of the best boys that ever pulled type metal. He has been foreman of the RECORDER composing rooms for more than four years..." Jan. 17,1889 "A Good Fall - One night last week Mr. Jimmie God- win, who is clerking in the city and lives out in East Americus, was going home leading a Texas pony. He met with Mr. Chas. Giddings, foreman of the RE- CORDER, who was going the same way. Mr. Giddings proposed to ride the pony. There was no objection because Mr. Godwin wanted him broke in. Mr. Gid- dings rode down by the court house and jail very well, but at the hill just below the jail, the pony commenced "bucking", and finally threw Mr. Giddings clear out of his overcoat and shoes, which he found next morning. He don't need any Texas pony in his, he is willing to walk home." July 8,1890 letter signed "Delegate", written by Maj. Moses Speer, described trip to Pittsburgh, Pa., for In- ternational Sunday School Convention Oct. 11,1891 M. Speer's letter, "The Moss Back", re opposition to electric street railway Feb. 23,1892 "Gone to Washington - Charles F. Giddings, a popu- lar typo in THE TIMES-RECORDER office, left yester- day for Washington to accept a position in the gov- ernment printing office secured for him by Speaker Crisp. Charlie is a nonpareil. Thoroughly compe- tent as a printer, he is thoroughly reliable as a man. He is bound to get on well at the national capital. His many friends wish for him the success he deserves in his new field of labor." Dec. 3,1897 "THIS ASSAULT AN OUTRAGE - A Little Boy Stabbed by an Angry Negro Girl - One of the most unprovoked and outrageous assaults ever committed here was that of a negro girl, Sadie Payne, upon the little 10-year-old son of Mr. Charles L. Ansley yesterday afternoon. The negress wielded a sharp knife and stabbed the child in the back. The little fellow, with one or two companions, were coming from school at 2 o'clock when they met the girl and, it is said brushed near or against her. This maddened the girl and, it is said, she kicked the boy off the sidewalk. He attempted to resent the insult in his feeble way, when the negress whipped out a knife and stabbed him. The girl ran away, but subsequen- tly was arrested by Officers Smith and Ragan and locked up. The little boy was taken home and the wound, which was not deep or dangerous, dressed. The girl will be vigorously prosecuted for the out- rageous assault." Dec. 4,1897 "STABBER GETS A THRASHING - Negro Girl Who Wielded a Knife Is Severely Whipped - Sadie Payne...will have cause to remember her outrageous act. The girl's mother interceded for her and it was finally agreed to allow the prosecution to drop provided she would give the girl a sound thrashing in the presence of Chief Wheeler. The old lady was only too glad to square accounts this way, and yesterday morning laid the lash on her erring daughter until the chief was satisfied and called the game. The little boy who was cut is getting along all right." Aug. 9,1898 "Yesterday morning about ten o'clock, little Laura, the pretty four year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Ansley, fell from a counter on the second floor of her father's store on Jackson...and cut a deep gash on her head. Several stitches were ne- cessary to close the wound, which bled profusely. The little girl was playfully running up and down the counter when she missed her footing and fell.." May 27,1904 "Among the first cases considered by the grand jury ...was that charging Mr. G.T. Sullivan, Dr. G.W. Barrow and a negro woman, Amanda Wilson, with the crime of assault with intent to murder, and the three parties are thus indicted. The evidence... was given by Miss Olivia McLane, a young girl of this city, formerly employed by Sullivan...(who) told the story of the alleged wrong done her and of the subsequent abortion in which, she charged, the three defendants took part..." June 3,1904 "SULLIVAN'S CASE IS PROGRESSING - J.H. Lumpkin, W.A. Dodson, Blalock & Cobb, Williams & Harper rep- resented G.T. Sullivan; jury: Leonard Jennings, T.J. Baisden, W.S. Hagerson, J.M. Oliver, H.B. Bat- tle, J.R. Baty, T.M. Etheridge, Cicero Braswell, R.E. Pilcher, A. Pantone, B.R. Bradley and R.A. Slappey June 10,1904 "Shortly after the convening of the court yester- day morning Judge Littlejohn passed sentence upon Mr. G.T. Sullivan...Four years in the state peni- tentiary..." Sept 22,1907 "SCRAP A LIVELY ONE FOR A BRIEF TIME - Triangular Fight Occurs Here Yesterday - Messrs. Charles A. Schneider, his son, Herman Schneider and Herbert Johnson, who is employed at the marble works when Mr. Schneider has charge, were the principals in a lively fisticuff yesterday. Herman Schneider and young Johnson first "mixed it up" at the marble plant, and soon thereafter Mr. Johnson and Mr. C.A. Schneider got into a fight at the postoffice. Sev- eral blows passed ere the combatants were separa- ted, although neither of the three men were hurt to any extent." May 15,1914 SGP - "ANSLEY-HALE - Miss Laura Ansley and Mr. Charles M. Hale were married Tuesday evening (May 12th) at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Ansley...Rev. J.A. Thomas officia- ting..." Dec. 31,1914 "FUNERAL SERVICES OF MRS. E.A. SPEER - Mrs. Arman- tine Thomas Speer, wife of Eustace A. Speer, died, Monday night (Dec. 28th) after a lingering illness of two years' duration. Pneumonia was the immedi- ate cause of her death...She is survived by her husband, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Thomas, one sister, Miss Isabelle Thomas and six children, James, Robert, William, Eustace, Francis and Eliza- beth Speer." Sept 10,1919 "Miss Carrie Speer, who has sold her old home at the corner of Jackson and Church...to Dr. Taylor Lewis, announced today that she had bought the old Smith property at the northeast corner of Lee and Church...will remodel it for a home for herself and her aged aunt, Miss Rebecca Cowles, who lives with her..." Feb. 18,1928 "Edgar Shipp has purchased the Speer property at the corner of Jackson and Church...paying...$12,500 for the entire lot which fronts 140 feet on Jackson ...130 feet on Church...said Miss Speer...,"My fa- ther built the house in 1868, the first brick house in Americus. In it I was born...My father was Mos- es Speer, a pioneer of this section...in that... house...every bishop and every visiting preacher of the Methodist church made his home...we once enter- tained there as our guest Alexander Stephens..." Mar. 31,1928 "E.A. SPEER DIES IN ATLANTA - Americus friends of Mr. Eustace Asbury Speer will regret to hear of his death Saturday morning (Mar. 31st) at the Davis- Fischer Sanitarium in Atlanta. Mr. Speer had just passed his sixtieth birthday and had been in ill health for several months..."