ttl lNTEKPUSI IS READ BY
OVER I.OM MARTIN COUNTY
PAIULftS TWICE EACH WEEK
THE ENTERPRISE
THE ENTERPRISE IS READ HI
OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTS
FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEE!
VOLUME LI—NUMBER 99
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, Decrmber 14, 1948
ESTABLISHED 1895
Prominent Farmer
Died At His Home
In County Sunday
Fnneral Tuesday Afternoon
In Cross Roads Township
For Henry Daniel Peel
Henry Daniel Peel, prominent
citizen and a leading farmer of
this county, died at his h.'J^ne in
Cross Heads Township Sunday
morning at 12:30 o’clock of a heart
attack. He had been in declining
health for four or five years but
continued very active until the
early part of last week when he
suffered another attack. His con
dition had been critical since that
time and the end ,was expected.
He attended to business in Wil
liamston on Monday of last week
and was in his usual health at that
time, returning home to handle a
few duties on the farm. He was
stricken Tuesday morning.
The son of the late Stanley and
Marina Peel, he was born in Cross
Roads Township 73 years ago on
December 3, 1875, and lived and
farmed there all his life. He was
married on December 2, 1896, to
Miss Ida Harris who died twenty
years ago. One son, Lester, was
born to the union and he died six
years ago.
Surviving are one sister, Mrs.
Minnie Bowen of Williamston and
twenty-nine nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were conduct
ed at the home Monday afternoon
at 2:30 o'clock by Elder A. B. Ay
ers assisted by Elder E. C. Stev
enson and Rev. James I. Lowry.
Interment was in the family plot
in Williamston's Woodlawn Cem
etery.
In addition to his farming op
erations, Mr. Peel was active in
educational, governmental and
business fields. He served sever
al terms as a member of the Mar
tin County Board of Commission
ers and was a bank director at
Williamston and Everetts. He also
served as president of the old ^
Roanoke Tobacco Warehouse Co.,
for many years
Mr. Peel was best known prob
ably as a supporter of education.
When a special tax district was
created some years ago for the
.Bear Grass. School, Mr,. Pcc-’r.sl—
though he lived in another town
ship, asked that his land be in
cluded and made subject to the
special tax, explaining that while
he had no child of his own in
school he wanted to see other
children get the best advantages
possible. That and many other!
unselfish acts marked his charae- j
ter. Although he walked humbly I
and unpretentiously through life,!
his good deeds live on to honor
his memory. He was devoted to
his home and friends and was a
valued neighbor, one who always
acted in behalf of his fellowman.
and for the finer ideals in life.
CBfflHy Officer"
Wreck Four Stills
Raiding in two county town-1
ships last week, ABC Officer J. H.,
Roebuck and Deputy Roy Pee)
found and wrecked four liquor
stills and poured out several hun
dred gallons of beer.
In Robersonville Township, the
« "i •substituting
a 50-gallon capacity copper kettle
for an oil drum, and the officers
wrecked both along _ with three
fermenters and equipment. They
poured ' berr.
Not far from the first site, the
officers wrecked a third plant
equipped with an oil drum, oil
burner and two fermenters. They
poured out 100 gallons of beer.
Last Friday an oil drum and six
fermenters were destroyed at a
plant in Bear Grass Township, the
officers pouring out three hun
dred gallons of sugar beer.
) ROUND.UP
v
An even dozen persons
were arrested and detained in
the county Jail over the week
end. All the defendants were
involved in liquor law casis.
Six were charged with public
drunkenness, three with pos
session of illegal liquor and
three with drunken driving.
Three of the twelve were
white and the ages of the
group ranged from eighteen
to thirty-two years.
Five Generations
Pictured above are Mrs. Jessie Arm Brown, 91, holding her
great-great-granddaughter, Little Miss Elizabeth Gurganus, and
(left to right standing) her daughter, Mrs. H. A. Jackson, grand
daughter, Mrs. L. J. Beddard, and great-granddaughter, Mrs.
Henry C. Gurganus. Mrs. Brown was guest of honor at a family
reunion held at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. W. A Brown, in Bear Grass recently. All of her five
living children and most of her forty-one grandchildren, seventy
four great-grandchildren, and sixty great-great-grandchildren'
were present.
Win. J. Johnson
Dies In County
ml
William J. Johnson, well-known
county farmer, died at his home
near Oak City last Saturday night
at 11:00 o’clock. He suffered a
stroke of paralysis about three
weeks ago and little hope was
held for his recovery.
He was born in Goose Nest
Township 58 years ago, the son of
the late William J. Johnson and
wife. He lived and farmed.all.his
life on the old home farm.
Surviving are his widow, the
former Miss Carrie Hyman; three
daughters, Mrs. A. D. Beckstrom
of Oak Park, Illinois, Mrs. Jarvis
Whitefield of Robersonville, and
Miss Margaret Johnson of Fay
etteville; two sons, Ernest H.
Johnson of Robersonville, and
William J. Johnson, III, of Oak
City; one brother, Thomas H.
Johnson; three sisters, Mrs. W. A.
Praise of Charleston, S. C., Mrs.
S. E. Casper of Charlotte and Mrs.
James Rawls of Oak City.
Funeral services were conduct
ed at the home Monday after
noon at 2:30 o'clock by the Rev. C.
jyfcjne!!.. Rantist minister of.Qekj.
City and Hobgood, assisted by
Rev. J. P. Harris, Bethel Baptist
minister, and Rev. J. M. Perry,
pastor of the Robersonville Chris
tian Church. Burial was in the
Oak City Cemetery.
Former Resident
Dies Georgia
Mrs. L. A. Slade, former Wil
liamston resident, died at her
home in Roberta, Ga., yesterday
morning following a lingering Mi
ne's. Funeral servAe*?. will he
held there at 3:00 o'clock Wt-dncs
day afternoon, friends were advis
ed here today.
Mrs Slade came to North Caro-'
lina with her husband who was
engaged in the lumber business
in this section for several years!
during the early thirties. She was
a member of the Baptist Church
here.
Glee Clubs Plan
Special Program
The Williamston High School
Junior and Senior Glee Clubs will
present a program of Christmas
music in the high school auditor
ium Wednesday morning at 10:30.
The Semor Glee Club will sing
numbers from the Christmas can
tata “Chimes of the Holy Night.’’
Parents and other members of
the community are invited to hear j
the prog: am..
j VOTES FOR TKHIVUN~]
Following up the mandate
of the people advanced in the
November election, Presi
dential Elector Hugh G. Hor
ton, local man representing
the First Congressional Dis
trict, cast this district’s elec
toral vote for President Harry
S. Truman yesterday when
the State's fourteen electors
met in the hall of the house of
representatives in Raleigh.
Mr. Horton returned home
last night.
Christmas Story
Given at P.-T. A.
“The Story of the First Christ
mas” was presented by the com
bined first grades to a large audi
ence at the P.-T.A. meeting held
last night in the high school audi
torium at 7:30.
The program was opened with
the signing of "Silent Night” fol
lowed by the invocation led by
Rev. John L. Goff.
i^^yter the Christmas program
the business meeting was held.
Miss Baker’s first grade was
awarded the attendance prize.
Various committee chairmen
made their reports. President
Spivey expressed appreciation for
the cooperation evidenced in
planting shrubbery for the gram
mar school building The meeting
wa= then adjourned.
The following students took
part in the Christmas program
v; hie n sSeifLa -
mina Baker, Grace Talton and
Mrs. Rudolph Saunders' Herbert
Whitley, announcer; Cherry Gar
ris, poem, Hannah Jane Gk i.n,
Mary, Douglas KthencJge, Joseph;
Melvin Bowen, Lela Frances Har
rell, Joe Griffin and Caiolyn Col
train, readers; Jimmy Bullock,
Randy Allen, Griffin Ross, Easley
Pace, Burton Jenkins, Earl Umph
lett, shepherds; William Harrison,
Russell Bland, James Copeland,
kings; Polly Bunting, Barbara
Roberson, Andrea Edwards, Joyce
Moore, June Carroll Beecham,
Betty Moore, Barbara Harden,
Katherine Johnson, Sharon Harri
son, Frances Moore, Frances Peed,
Ann Edmundson, angels; Priscilla
Daigle, Lillie Mae Delamar, Wil
(Continued on page six)
Mrs. Roebuck (Juiie
III al llumillon Ilium*
Mrs. Dan Roebuck has been
quite ill at her home in Hamilton,
late reports stating that possibly
her condition is slightly improv
ed. She has been ill with pneu
monia.
jSuperior Court
Hears Few Cases
Here Yesterday
! Murder Charge Again*!
Dave Brooks Being
Heard Today
Called for trial of both criminal
and civil cases, the Martin County
1 Superior Court cleared.only a lew
j cases from the docket yesterday,
: the first day of a one-week term.
| The court attracted comparatively
few spectators, the small group
including the civ'cs class from the
! Hear Grass School. ,
.Today, the court is workihg on
two capital cases, one charging
Iljuve Brooks with the fatal stab
bing of his son, George Brooks,
aid the other charging Clarence
Earl Stevenson with rape. Trial
of the criminal docket is'to be
completed possibly late today and
the court is expected to handle a
few civil matters, including three
or four divorces tomorrow.
No true bills were found by the
grand jury in the cases charging
R. H. Moore with breaking and
entering, and Martha Gray with
larceny.
Charged with drunken driving,
Wm. L. Hollis was found not guil
ty. The defendant admitted he
was guilty when arrested at his
home but maintained he was not
guilty when he wrecked his ear
forty-five minutes before his ar
rest.
Pleading guilty of breaking and
entering and larceny, Samuel
Gorham was sentenced to the
roads for twelve months
Lee Rollins, charged with lar
ceny, was found not- guiRy.
Charged with carnal knowledge
of a girl sixteen years of age or
under, James Wesley Ormond
failed to answer when called. The
court ordered that papers he issu
ed for his arrest and continued
the case until next March. It was
revealed that the defendant was
in the army.
The ease charging Loll if Wil
liams with drunken driving was
continued until next March for
the defendant.
Out of respect for the memory
of Mr. Henry "'Daniel Peel," Judge
Walter J. Bone, presiding, recess
ed the court Monday at i:00
o’clock.
Charged with the theft of an
overcoat from Jim Jenkins, Wan
namaker James was found not
guilty.
Open Short Term
Of Superior Court
Judge Walter J. Bone of Nash
ville, returning to the county aft
> r an absence of nearly five years,
opened the one-week term of the
Martin County Superior Court on
morning. WfihV"tT7f*
tribunal was off to a fairly early
start, it soon encountered a snag
in the trial’ of W. L. Hollis who
was charged with drunken driv
ing.
Commending the county for
maintaining a more or less perma
nent giand jury, Judge Bone told
the grand jury that he would
make no address or offer Irish ui
tions, that the court would be glad
to give ■r#utv'a',.v>my.s- if any were
needed and upon request.
Failing to appear for jury duty,
Ernest C. Jones, RED 1, Williams
ton, was fined $20. C. H. Beach
Wa.c eXi iii jilni .,s
in the family, and Mrs. John Eu
oanks and Mrs. Johnny Gurkin
were excused by the clerk. Other
excuses were offered, but none
was recognized by the court im
mediately.
County Man Will
Serve Road Term
Sentenced 10 serve twelve
months on the roads by Judge R.
Hunt Parker in the superior court
last March, Early May Boston
was placed on probation for five
ycuvs at tiial tune. Alleged t.> i
have violated the terms of proba- j
tion, Boston was arrested anc! he
is now starting the term, Proba
tion Officer Gay said.
Boston drew the road sentence
for beating his wife. Since ♦hat
time he has been in court twice
and, according to reports, has
been drunk several times.
| Food And Fanil Products Pour
in-For Tlir~Frirmiship Train
Sees Suffering
Among Europe’s
Needy Children
New tjftapvr Reporter De
clares Cliiltlrrit Are In
Desperate Need
/Returning from Europe a short
time ago, Gertrude Samuels wrote
in the New York Times the fol
lowing:
“For the past three months I
have toured countries on both
sides of the Iron Curtain and 1
have seen children suffering as
children were never meant to suf
fer. The aftermath of war against
the youngest generation is still
huge and terrifying. Three years
after the war, millions of children
are still on hunger rations. Many
hardly remember what a hot,
nourishing meal tastes like save as
a brief luxury of UNRRA-libera
tion days. Many have never
known what milk looks like.
Their thin, undersized bodies and
pale, patient faces reflect the
cruel logic of the occupation and
war years. For these are the
youngsters who suffered first
from systematic malnutrition for
at least six years before peace
came; then, after the war, took the
same pot-luck as their families,
living where anti how they could.
Thus thousands of children, rag
ged and barefoot, still live, in
wartime bunkers, bombed-out
houses, and dank cellars. . . .
Hundreds of thousands are or
phans who live m make shift in
stitutions, little old wise people.
. . . Uncounted thousai ds wait in
special centers for artificial limbs
which have never come to replace
arms, hands and legs. Others are
perhaps worse off. . . . the home
less and abandoned who travel a
dozen kilometers a day to wher
ever they hear of food or a bed.
. . . The obvious needs are food,
milk, c'ad4iver oil, clothes,-shoes,
the basic necessities — but who
will supply them adequately?”
Dr. Albert li. Coe, noted church
man of Illinois, returned from
Europe a few days ago. He de
clared that millions are still de
pendent upon church relief for a
bare existence. He added, “It is a
tragedy to find American people
getting tired of helping when mil
lions of refugees, needy orphans
and sick are facing acute starva
tion over there.”
It has been said that we in Mar
tin County will all better enjoy
Christmas here when we’ve sent
food over there. If you have not
contributed to the Friendship
Train, see yi'ur chairman today or
Kitt to Hit centei de
pot in Williamston.
Car Turns Over
Near Oak City
Damage estimated at $350 re
sulted, according to ari estimate
b> Patrolman R. P. Nar
run, resulted when Arthur Mor
;; (rrfvv;! iy. v,
near the hall park in Oak City
last Friday about 11:30 o’clock p.
m. No one was hurt and no
charges were preferred.
Morgan, driving toward 'OffiT
City from the direction of Hamil
ton, started to make a left turn
just as William Johnson, driving
a 1940 DeSoto, stai ted to pass. The
Johnson car struck the rear fend
er of the Morgan car, causing the
Mercury to turn over on its side.
Fronts On Local
Stores Improved
——®-• ■ "WW*
Williamston’s main street got
its face lifted in two spots recent
ly, the improvements adding
greatly to the appearance of the
thoroughfare.
Dr. John D. Biggs, flic owner,
recently modernized the front of
the Virginia Electric and Power
Company building, and R. Edwin
Peel is completing the moderniza
tion of Peele’s Jewelers' front
1 he Peele store front is equipped!
with an all-glass door, the first of;
its kind installed here.
l it SEAL SALE
The annual sale of Christ
inas TB seals is progressing
very well in this countw, ac
cording to a prelimina/v re
port released this week by
Seal Sale Chairman Chas. II.
Manning.
No reports have been re
ceived as yet from the town
ship chairman, but Manning
said that the sale of TB bonds
and seals in Williatnston
Township had exceeded $1,
000. He expressed the belief
that the county would reach
and possibly pass its $2,000
quota without any trouble.
Answers to the direct mail
appeals are cordially asked.
Fanners Elected
Committeemen In
County on Friday
County Croup Ki-lniiii-J;
Few dinners Mailt* In Dia
triil Committeemen
In a rather listless election held
in the various townships early
this month, Martin County farm
ers elected their Triple A com
munity committeemen, making
few changes in the personnel
The duly elected delegates to
the county convention, re elected
the Triple A county committee,
including Elmer Modlin of James
villc, Geo. C. Griffin of Griffins,
and J T. Moore of Goose Nest.
D. R. Edmondson of Hassell is
first alternate and H. L. Roebuck
of Corss Roads is second alternate
of the county committee.
The district election attracted
comparatively few farmers to the
polls, the small vote being recog
nized as endorsement of the lend,
ership. One or two community
committee had tendered their re
signations and others willingly
withdrew.
For the past several years, the
committees have had compara
tively little to do in establishing
quotas, but with a reduction in the
peanut acreage promised, the
work is certain to increase next
year.
Names of the community com
mittees follows, the name of the
chairman, vice chairman, regulai
member, first alternate and sec
ond alternate, appearing in that
order:
Bear Grass: H. U. Peel, E. C.
Harrison, Elmer Griffin, Gphus
!-* ¥*‘•0 'mmi *' »il>
Cross Roads: H. I, Roebuck, G.
H. Forbes, J. F. Bailey, J Marion
Griffin, and G. W. Taylor.
Goose Nest 1: H. A. Early, M. E.
Hyman, Julian Miz.ell, Milton
Bennett, and R. E. Turner.
Goose Nest 2: Jack Smith, Min
ton Beach, Jr., II. H. Worsley, F.
B Worsley and N. L. Hyman,
Griffins: D. C. Ourkin, S. E.
Manning, Lester J. Griffin, John
-A Gr.'fjja.and James U
ton.
Hamilton. L. R. Beach, J. H. Lil
lard, 1) It Edmondson, J. D. Eth
eridge*, and John L. House.
Arthur Modlin, H. A. Sexton, G.
K. Martin and J. R. Williams.
Jamesville 2: ft. G. Coburn, R.
C. Sexton, Marvin Jones, Seth
Davis, and Murry C. Davis.
Kobersonville 1: S. T. Everett, J.
R. Daniels, R. S. Everett, T. L.
Roebuck and Hugh Roberson.
Robersonville 2: Clifton Keel,
R. H. Taylor, H. H. Roberson, J.
H. Ross and J. Perkins.
Williams: C. L. Daniel, R. J.
Hardison, Joe L, Coltruin, Floyd
Moore and Paul Harrington.
Williamston and Poplar Point:
Fisher Harris, V. Urnie Bunting,
Roy T Griffin, M. I„ Ped and
Mayo Hardison.
Breaks Three Itihs
In Bathtub lull Here
Dr. James S. Rhodes, Sr., suffer
ed three broken ribs when he slip
ped and fell in a bathtub at his
home here last Thursday night.
He is getting along very well.
Poplar Point Is
Promising 5,000
Pounds of Foods
Every District Kefiorliny; So
Far Very Encouraging,
Chairmen Declare
Food and farm produce for the
Friendship Train car are literally
pouring into the receiving center
at Williamston, and if the move
ment maintains its momentum for
a few more days this county will
pack a box car solid, Chairmen
Jesse Sumner and Mayo Little
said yesterday. Reports have
been meager but it is now certain
that the township chairmen and
their able volunteers have been
working and not talking.
Plans are all set for the carload
of food and food stuffs to move
out of the county next Monday.
But there is much work to be done
in making the food ready for ship
ment. Chairman Sumner is call
ing for volunteers to report to the
Coast Line Station in Williamston
Thursday evening about 7:30
o’clock and lend a hand in sorting
and packing the food and produce.
The chairman plans to call on the
Jaycecs to lend a hand the follow
ing night. Mr. Sumner said that
he was counting on. members of
the Lions Club to help Thursday
night' along with individual vol
unteers both nights.
The chairmen plan tc load the
last of the food Friday night,
meaning that the canvassers are
to make all deliveries to the coun
ty center not later than Friday of
this week.
Township reports are indeed
encouraging. Chairman V. B.
Main at Jamcsville announces
that over 1,200 pounds of food and
farm produce had already been
delivered, that his people could be
counted on to deliver another 500
pounds by Friday'.' Mr. HalrFah
nounced that food and produce is
being delivered to Sexton's store
in Jamcsville by those who could
Mot be reached by the canvassers.
The collection center for Wil
liams is being maintained at No.
90 Station, the leaders there stat
ing that they planned to come
through on Thursday and Friday
of this week.
"We are making good progress
in our section,” Rev. W. B. Har
rington said, speaking for Grif
fins. Mr. George Griffin, co
chairman in that district, could
not be reached for a report, but it
was reliably learned that the boys
in his side of the district are
working, that Griffins will meet
fhe cltsruemW^Mffilfiii.
Collection centers in Bear Grass
and at Macedonia are active, the
leaders there stating that if the
other sections of the county do as
well as Bear Grass, the box ear
(Continued on page six)
Issues Warning
_To His Friends
Declaring he was caught fair
and square for hunting within 500
yards of high water, Farmer Dr,n
.Johnson > csrerihi^PiMIMP:.
warning against the practice. "I
hereby warn all my relatives, in
terested parties and other friends
that I looked up the law and
found that it prohibits hunting
within that distance of highwater,
and that means creeks as well us
river,” Mr. Johnson said.
Officers Ben James and Cecil
Bullock in performing their duty,
were very courteous and fair, Far
mer Johnson said, adding that he
wanted to thank them publicly.
lias Major Operation
In Richmond Hospital
Mr. Jesse Ambers, for many
years city mail carrier here, un
derwent a major operation in Mc
Quire’s Veterans Hospital in Rich
mond yesterday.
Visiting him there Sunday,
Messrs, Clyde D. Anderson, H. H.
Cowen, Harry Jones and Robt
Cowen were advised that one of
his lur.gs was to be removed.
Funeral Serv iee
Here A eclnesday
~ For Col. Martin
Grav«*»nl«* Kiles In Wood
lawn Cemetery for Loral
Young Man
s Funeral services will be con
ducted at the graveside in Wood
lawn Cemetery here tomorrow af-.
tcryoon for Lt. Colonel Wheeler
Martin, Jr., who was killed in ac
tion over Tokyo, Jauan, on March
9, 1945 Rev. Stewart B. Simms,
pastor of the Memorial Baptist
Church, and Rev. John W. Hardy,
Episcopal ministitr will officiate,
The family Requests 'that no
flowers be serJV
Colonel M^: tin was born in
Williamston dn April 5, 1917, the
son of Whet ler and Louie Poteat
Martin. A,s a youth he showed
much interest in scouting and be
came the, county’s first Eagle
Scout. Following his graduation
from the local high school he at
tended the Stanton Preparatory
School in New York and earned
his bachelor of arts degree at
Wake Forest College, graduating
with the class of 1938. He was a
member of Kappa Alpha frater
nity. He was associated with the
tobacco firm of Cunningham and
Staples in Smithfield until March
1. 1939, when he volunteered for
service in the U. S. Army Air
Corps. His training completed in
Texas, he was transferred to the
Canal Zone in November of that
year, participating in the defense
of tht> Canal until July, 1943.
While there he met and married
Miss Joanna Cory, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Char ter E. Cory Ot.
Lafayette, Indiana, on April 4,
1942.
Returning to the States in July,
1943, he was stationed in Kansas
where he trained for participa
tion in the massive air i.ttack
against Japan. He left the States
for the Pacific Theater in Febru
ary, 1945, and was stationed on
Guam in the Marianas. His B 29
was one of 300 ships that partici
pated in the first low-level fire
raid on Tokyo March 9, 1945.
Col. Martin attained the highest
rank ever held by a Martin Coun
ty young man in the Army Air
Corps, his interest in progressive
air power gaining for him rapid
promotions in the service.
Surviving are his widow, two
daughters, Caroline and Victoria
Martin; and his parents. Col.
Martin was a grandson of the late
W. L. Poteat, noted educator in
the South for many years, and of
the late Wheeler Martin, noted
lawyer of this county and Collec
tor of Internal Revenue.
County Young Man
Goes To Germany
Pf< MaeCv 5? - ■ •
and Mrs. Dan Griffin of Williams
ton, Route 2, is home for 5 days
before going overseas.
Discharged at Fort Warren,
Wvo , on Feb. 11, 1947, Pfc. Grif
fin re-enlisted on July 7, 1948, and
Was sent to Langley Field, Va.
Later he was sent to Kelly
Field, San Antonio, Texas, to at
tend welding school Having suc
cessfully completed his course he
ifwmhis wav to ('amp Kilmer, N.
J , and from there ^ie will go 1.0
Rhine-Main A. F. Base, Frank
furt, Germany.
When asked what he thinks of
♦, \ v r>f p. {', jt,
thinks he will be a 20 year man.
SOU, PAYMENTS
The office of the county
agent is preparing applica
tions for 1948 soil conserva
tion payments, and are for
warding cards to farmers di
recting them to report to the
office and sign the claims
without delay. Quite a few
farmers in the county did not
qualify for any payments this
year, it was explained. Those
farmers receiving cards, di
recting them to report and
sign the claims, arc asked not
to delay since little Hme is al
lowed for getting the claims
into the state office.
No estimate of the amount
earned under the program In
the county *this year could be
learned.