The Courier
Only SI.OO
Per Year
VOL. IX—No. 13
DEATH CLAIMS SPLENDID YOUNG
EXECUTIVE OF FLORENCE MILLS
Mr. J. M. Edwards Died
At the Charlotte Hospital
Monday, at 5:35 P. M.
Hemorrhage of The Brain
Proves Fatal to Promi
nent Young Forest City
Business Man.
Stricken suddenly at a local drug
store about 5:30 p. m. Tuesday, De
cember 28, with what physicians at
that time diagnosed as sinus trouble,
Mr. J. M. Edwards lost ground
steadily until death relieved his suf
ferings at the Eye, Ear and Throat
Hospital at Charlotte at 5:35 p. m
Monday, January 3.
Mr. Edwards had been complain
ing of a cold, but had been at his of
fice at Florence Mills until about 5
o'clock last Tuesday, when he went
into the drug store. Talking with
friends, he suddenly staggered and
threw his hands to his head. Loving
hands seized him before he fell and
he was immediately hurried to his
home on East Main street and physi
cians hastily summoned. By this
time he was suffering intensely and
became unconscious, rallying at times,
but was a very sick man. From that
time until Friday, he at times rallied,
but gradually grew worse until at
tending physicians deemed it neces
sary to send him to the Eye, Ear and
Throat Hospital at Charlotte.
A desperate effort was made to
save his life, but when hemorrhage
of the brain developed, hope was al
most abandoned. He became uncon
scious at 2 p. m. Saturday and' never
rallied, gradually sinking until death
relieved his sufferings at 5:35 Mon
-%iy afternoon.
His/ devoted wife and many friend's
were constantly in attendance from
the time he was taken to the Char
lotte hospital, and every effort was
made to save his life. The best pro
fessional skill and loving hearts were
unable to save the life of one of For
est City's foremost young business
men, and all were bowed down with
grief when the final summons came.
Nothing in years has so shocked
the city and the county as the sud
den passing of this fine young man.
He had endeared himself to hundreds
and there are none but called him
friend. Devoted- to family and
friends, a man of sterling character
and amiable disposition, high in the
councils of the M. E. Church and a
Mason of high rank, Mr. Edwards
*had reached an eminence in the af
fairs of the county seldom attained
by a man of his youthful age.
In another column a short biog
raphical sketch relates some of the
activities of this splendid young man,
who was always active in every move
ment for the welfare of his fellow
man or the upbuilding of his town or
county.
Besides his wife, he leaves four
children and his devoted parents, to
mourn the passing of a devoted hus
band and father and dutiful and lov
ing son. The deepest sympathy goes
*ut to them in their bereavement.
SCHOOLS RE-OPEN
FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS
The Cool Springs schools opened
Monday, January 3, after a vacation
of twelve days. It seemed that most
of the students were for
work, as a large number were at the
different schools earlier than usual.
The interest of the students in their
school work is more noticeable this
year than usual.
All the teachers were back raady
for work Monday. This is very good,
considering the number; of teachers
in the Cool Springs Township sys
tem. Also Miss Jeffries, the new
teacher, who will take Mrs. J. W.
Morgan's work, reported for work.
Mrs. Morgan is giving up her work,
since her mother's health isn t very
good.
. Ladies, - don't forgetthose new
satin hats, $5 values, are now going
at $3.75. Mrs. E. E. McCurry-
FOREST CITY COURIER
Funeral Services Held
At Methodist Church
Wednesday Morning
Banks and Many Business
Houses Closed as Mark
of Respect to Deceased —
Burial at Marion.
Funeral services for Mr. J. M. Ed
wards were held at the Methodist
Church at 10 o'clock Wednesday
morning. The edifice was inadequate
to house the immense throng that
gathered to pay homage to one of
Forest City's best beloved and most
popular young men.
Rev, M. F. Moores, pastor, had
charge of the services, and in well
chosen words paid tribute to one of
his leading members. Dr. John S.
Wood and Capt. B. L. Smith made
short talks. Miss Lillie Maude Bell
and Harry Kendrick sang beautiful
solos and the choir sang "It Is Well
With My Soul." The floral offerings
were beautiful and expressive of the
love and esteem held for the de
ceased.
The funeral cortege left this city
for Marion, following the services
here, a large number going from here
to be present at the interment. Short
services will be held at the church at
Marion, after which the interment
will take place there., Marion and
Forest City Masonic lodges will have
charge of the rites at the grave.
Active pallbearers were M. H.
Hewitt, N. H. Welch, J. A. Wilkie,
E. G. Abernethy, Ernest Roberson,
E. O. Thomas.
Honorary pa'llDearers were Ernest
House, W. Lester Morris, Leon Neal,
H. F. Little, Will Pless, Jr., Oscar
Adkins, Marion; J. H. Thomas, F. I.
Barber, T. G. Stone, J. W. Dalton, G.
C. King, B. B Doggett, Clyde A. Er
win, Dr. J. S. Wood, R. L. Reinhardt,
Dr. A. C. Duncan, Capt. B. L. Smith.
* # * * £ * • * * *
* HIGHWAY 20 NOW *
KNOWN AS No. 74 *
* • *
* Highway 20, Touted through *
* Shelby and one of the best *
* known highways in the state, *
* is now to be known as High- *
* way No. 74, it is learned. *
* Back in November road' of- *
* ficials decided on a re-routing *
* and i*enumbering of the North *
* Carolina highways to blend *
* with the national routes. *
* Through the medium of the *
* Charlotte Observer it is learn- *
* ed that the new markers are *
* being erected and that old No. *
* 20 will soon be history. No. *
* 20, or No. 74, runs from Wil- *
* mington to Asheville by way of *
* Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby *
* and Rutherfordton. A new sy- *
* stem of markers is being used, *
* it is said. *
* No. 10 the other cross-state *
* highway, is now to be known *
* as No. 70 and will be a part of *
* a highway that practically tra- *
* verses the continent. *
DR. CARL H. VERNER
LOCATES IN FOREST CITY
Dr. Carl H. Verner, of Stanley, has
arrived in Forest City and will be as
sociated with Dr. A. C. Duncan in the
practice of medicine and surgery. He
and his family have moved into the
former residence of Mr. B. B. Dog
gett in the West End.
Dr. Verner is a graduate of the
University of Georgia and in 1912
graduated from the College of Phy
sicians and Surgeons, He
served 1 his internship at Grady Hos
pital, Atlanta, after which he was
with the Rockefeller Foundation for
three years. Since then he has been
engaged in the general practice of his
profession and has met with marked
success. He is a man of highest
character, proficient in his profes
sion, and will be welcomed to this
city.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JAN. 6, 1927
MXFXI'\ WEMBBHBBBBBBSM
as ' '' I !'*- '/"■' - i
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Mr. J. M. Edwards, Secretary of
the Florence Mills, was born in Syl
lacauga, Aia., in iB'J4. He is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. R-. D. Edward'u,
who yet live in Syllacauga. He was
graduated from the University of
Alabama at an early age and accepted
a position with the Little Corpora
tion. His first position was with the
Clinchiield Mills, at Marion, N. C.,
where he served for seven years.
While there he married Miss Annie
Baber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
E. B. Baber.
He was transferred to the Flor
ence Mills in 1019, as secretary of
that institution. For seven years
the responsibility of the daily routine
of operations of this major industry
has rested upon the able shoulders
of Mr. Edwards, who was one of For
est City's most progressive and suc
cessful young business men.
Mr. Edward was prominently iden
tified with the commercial and civic
life of Forest City and Rutherford
county,, being director and president
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during the entire month of January.
As stated before, this offer applies
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It has been thought best to ex
tend this offer because so many have
been so busy with the preparation for
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time to attend to the matter of re
newing for their county paper, and
will be disappointed in not getting
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a year. Many county papers, not
printing as much local news as The
Courier, charge $2 per year for their
newspapers. We feel that there is
no one but will appreciate the re
markable holiday offer of One Dol
lar. Be sure to be prompt in renew
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positively go into effect Feb. Ist.
Printing twelve or more pages
weekly, The Courier must maintain
the $1.50 subscription price, or lose
money. Therefore, we will positively
go back to this regular price Feb.
Ist. Every subscriber should avail
themselves of our holiday offer—
Now. Don't delay. Send in your dpl
lar and let us renew your subscrip
tion for one year.
All new satin hats, worth $6, now
selling at $3.75. Mrs. E. E. Mc-
Curry.
PARDS
J. M. ED
o A tho Forest City Building- & Loan
Association, president of the local
Kiwanis Club, a member of the Board
of Aldermen of the Town of Forest
City, and Director in the Industrial
Bank. Mr. Edwards was also active
in church circles, being deeply in
terested in the moral advancement
of the community and ever ready to
join in any efforts for its cause. He
was chairman of the Board of Stew
ards of the Methodist church. He also
held high position in Masonic cir
cles, being District Deputy Grand
Master of this district. Although
a young man, insofar as actual years
were concerned, Mr. Edwards was,
nevertheless, a veteran in service for
his community and has had a mo3t
active and constructive career. He
was public spirited and an advocate
of progress. He was found at all
times ready to join in with any a
gencies or institutions, giving liber
ally of his time and investing his
means in efforts to make a bigger and
better Forest City and a greater
Rutherford county.
LIBERTY ST. MEWS
Forest City, Jan. 4. —Rev. and
Mrs. J. N. Randall and two children,
Lenora and Miriam, of South* Gas
tonia, and Mrs. J. M. K. Randall, of
the Oak Grove community, spent
Wednesday night with Mr. and Mrs.
Dorsey Randall.
Misses Carrie Selvey, Marie Holli
field and little Margaret Selvey
spent the week-end with Mrs. Mamie
Leigh Wood, of Avondale.
Mrs. Dorsey Randall and two little
daughters, Mrs. Stella Hollifield,
Marie Hollifield, Carrie and Mar
garet Selvey and Mr. Robert Tow
ery and little Gertrude Towery took
(Sinner with Mr. and Mrs. G. G.
Frasier last Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Smart and two
children spent Wednesday of last
week with Mrs. Dorsey Randall.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Towery and 1
children, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kiser
and children spent Sunday afternoon
with Mr. and Mrs. Furman Toney.
Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Frasier spent
Sunday with Mr and Mrs. Dorsey
Randall.
Messrs. Welch, Burnette, Hamrick
and Smart motored to Charlotte
Monday night to see Mr. Edwards,
who was there for treatment. When
they got there Mr. Edwards was
dead.
Friday night, January 8, at 7:30
p. m., the fast Fallston High School
basketball team will invade Forest
City. This will be one of the best
games of the season. This game is
not, mentioned on the season tickets
but persons who hold season tickets
will be admitted to this game, too.
The Cool Springs basketball team
has new uniforms ordered and it is
expected that they will be ready for
this game. The uniforms are old
gold trimmed in black.
FUNERAL SERVICES
FRIDAY FOR MR.
CLYDE HOLLAND
Victim of Automobile Acci
dent Dies Thursday in Ruth
erford Hospital. Funeral
Services Was Well
Attended.
Funeral services .for Mr. Clyde
Holland were held Friday afternoon
at Mt. Pleasant Baptist church, with
Rev. W. L. Buchanan in charge. Mr.
Holland died! Thursday at the Ruth
erford Hospital from injuries re
ceived in an automobile accident
near Forest City late Monday after
noon, December 27th.
Mr. Holland was the son of Mr.
and Mrs. C. M. Holland, of near For
est City. He was about twenty-five
years of age, and unmarried. He is
survived by his parents, four broth
ers, Messrs. R. B. Holland?, of At
lanta, W. D. Holland, Alexander
Mills, S. H. Holland, of near Forest
City and C. M. Holland, Jr., of Hen
rietta; four sisters, Mrs. Lula Ham
rick, Mrs. Myrtle Robbins, of Forest
City, R. 1, Mrs. Leona Tate and
Miss Mary Sue Holland, who reside
with their parents.
Mr. Holland had been an employee
of the Forest City Oil Mill for nearly
two years and has been a faithful
and diligent worker and had repeat
edly been commended for attention to
duty. He was a yong man of excel
lent character and his many fine
qualities won him numerous friends
in Forest City and the community in
which he lived.
The funeral services were well at
tended Friday, hundreds coming
from all parts of the county to be
present at the ceremony.
Mr. Holland was injured late Mon
day afternoon, December 27, near
the Forest City Oil Mill, when the
car which he was driving ran into
a wood wagon. A friend, Mr. Frank
Adams, who was in the car with Mr.
Holland,, received a broken arm. At j
latest reports he is convalescing nice- I
iy- !
PLAN OF FARM
DIVERSIFICATION
GETS APPROVAL
Farmers and Business Men of
County Met Tuesday and
Discussed Farm Prob
lems.
A mass meeting of the farmers and
business men of Rutherford county,
about one hundred and fifty in num
ber, was held in the Kiwanis Hall,
Forest City, Tuesday morning: at
10:30. The object was to launch a
plan of diversified farming through
out Rutherford county.
Mr. E. S. Millsaps, district agent,
Farm Demonstration Work, of States
ville, was present and addressed the
gathering. He discussed the plan a
dopted by the state for the reduction
of acreage of cotton. The plan of
this reduction is to accomplish same
by an additional acreage of feed and
food crops and more livestock raised
to consume these crops. This will
necessarily mean a smaller acreage
to cotton.
Mr. Millsaps also discussed the need
of farmers growing food and feed
crops as means of accumulating
wealth. He stated that Rutherford
county was peculiarly situated in
that the Farmers Federation was pre
pared to take all diversified crops
and pay cash for them at Spindale
or other points. Rutherford county
is fortunate in that respect, as many
other counties, not having these fa
cilities, cannot market those crops
so successfully.
The county committee held a short
meeting following Mr. Millsaps ad
dress and adopted the six points of
the state agricultural farming pro
gram. They are:
I:—Grow ~mple food to feed the
family.
2 —Grow all the feed needed.
3—Keep up the fertility of the
soli 
4—Plant high-yielding quality cet-
SI.OO Per Year During the Month of January
MR. CHAMP GEER
KILLED IN AUTO
WRECK IN CEORCIA
Wreck Near Albany, Ga. Fatal
to Rutherfordton Contrac
tor. Mr. W. G. Wilson
Injured.
Albany, Ga., Jan. 2.—Mr. C. D.
Geer, of Rutherfordton, N. C., was
instantly killed and Mr. Frank E.
Haines, of Asheville, and Mr. W. G.
Wilson, of Rutherfordton, were seri
ously injured late today when their
automobile overturned in a collision
with a machine occupied by negroes
seven miles south of here. The
negroes, none of whom appeared to
have been hurt seriously, fled.
The accident was said to have
occurred/ when the negroes' auto
mobile turned from a side road into
the Dixie Highway without warning
directly in the path of the other
car. Both machines were demolish
ed.
Mr. Geer was dashed to the pave
ment on his head and pinned under
the automobile. Mr. Haines, who was
driving, and Mr. Wilson, were thrown
clear, the former suffering internal
injuries and the latter a broken jaw
bone and severe bruises.
Papers found in Geer's pockets in
dicate he was connected with the Wil
son Construction Company, of Ruth
erfordton, andi it is understood the
three were en route to Tallahassee,
Fla., to enter competitive bids on a
paving contract.
m + *
Mr. Geer was senior member of the
Geer, Wilson and Keeter grading
contractors, and is also a member
of the firm of Wilson Construction
Company, of RuCherfordton. Mr.
Geer was one of Rutherford county's
big, broad-minded and progressive
itizens; loved, appreciated and recog
nized for his loyal support in any
public or civic campaign or move
ment designed for the upbuilding of
the town, county or section. He was
a director of the Citizens Bank &
Trust Co., of Rutherfordton. For
fourteen years he was a member of
the board of trustees of the Ruther
fordton schools. He was one of the
leading and most active figures in
the Methodist church, being a stew
ard, a trustee and president of the
Men's! Tlible Cl&ss; * He was also
prominent in civic and fraternal cir
cles, holding membership in both the
Rutherford County Club and Ruther
fordton Kiwanis Club, and was a Ma
son of High rank, and K. of P. and
a Junior. He was a native of Ruth
erford county and has been engaged
in contracting work here for the past
twenty-six years, having begun in
1900.
Funeral services were conducted
from the Rutherfordlon Methodist
church Wednesday afternoon, the
pastor, Dr. W. R. Ware being in
charge. Interment followed' in the
Rutherfordton cemetery, One of
the largest crowds ever attending
a funeral in Rutherfordton was pre
sent, showing the high esteem in
which Mr. Geer was held. Other pas
tors of the city were present and as
sisted with the service. Western Star
Lodge, A. F. & A. M. were in charge
of the burial service.
Mr. Geer is survived by his wife,
three children, Mrs. Arthur Harriil,
Mr. Glenn Geer and Miss Neal Geer,
of Rutherfordton, and one brother,
Mr. Hamp Geer, of Rutherfordton.
Two sisters, Mrs. Burgin, of Greer,
S. C., and Mrs. A. E. Keeter, of Okla
homa.
ton and care for it well.
s—One-fourth less cotton acreage
in 192/, with average yields and pre
sent surplus would more than supply
average requirements.
6 'Grow at least two cash crops
per year.
This program is one adopted by
the state of North Carolina and every
cotton growing county in the state
who follows the above plan will have
a good living, keep out of debt, and
have something left over at the end
of each year.
Follow-up meetings will be held
over the county in each township, be
ginning at an early date, in the in
terests of this movement.
10 Pages
60 COLUMNS