Evans County, Georgia Genealogy and History News - Presented by Genealogy Trails History Group

Marriage of Miss Mamie Perdue to Mr. W.W. Kennedy
Claxton Feb. 13.—(Special.)—Among the visitors.in Claxton last week was Mrs. T. E. Getzen of Alachna Fla.
Last Wednesday night Miss Mamie Jones Perdue and Mr. W. W. Kennedy were united in marriage the presence of quite a number of friends, Rev. K. Reid of Macon officiating.
Date: 1896-02-13; Paper: Macon Telegraph

NO EVANS COUNTY FOR GEORGIA NOW
Atlanta. Ga., July 21—A delegation, one hundred strong, from Early and Decatar counties, appeared this afternoon before the committed of the house to advocate and to oppose the bill creating Evans county to be named after General Clement Evans, and to be taken from these two counties. The debate was long and it was night fall before a vote was reached.
The vote was to report that it do not pass
Date: 1911-07-21; Paper: Columbus Daily Enquirer

Evans County Bill is Passed by the Senate Amended, it Won't Take Much from Bulloch Territory
Atlanta, Aug,10
Making the 152nd county in the state, the bill creating the new county of Evans was passed this morning in the senate by a vote of 34 to 6.
The bill was amended so as to reduce the area to be taken from Bulloch county, where the opposition to the new county was strongest. The original bill provided that ninety square miles should be taken from Bulloch, but this was amended upon motion of Senator Parris of the Seventeenth, so as to take only about sixty square miles. The bill will now go to the house for concurrence in this amendment.
Evans county will be cut from the counties of Bulloch and Tattnall, with Claxton as the county seat, The new county will have approximately two million dollars of taxable property, The Evans county proposition, along with the creation of Barrow; Bacon and Candler, will have to be ratified by the voters of the state In the fall election before they become full fledged counties
Vote on the New County,
The following was the vote on the bill;
Ayes—Allen, Brown, Bulloch, Burtz, Bush, Chennault, Converse, Dickey, DuBose, Elkins, Ford, Harreli, Hixon, Huie, Irwin, Jones S. E., Jones W. W., Johnson Kea, Kelly, Longino, McGregor, Miller, Parrish, Perry, Peyton, Richardson, Rushin, Searcy, Sweat, Taylor, Turner, Tyson and Watts—31.
Nays—Moore Killff, Pope, Spinks, Stark, Tarver—6.
The public health bill, revising the health laws of the state of Georgia, Introduced by Representative Ellis, of Tift, passed the senate as amended yesterday morning by a vote of 34 to 6.
Provisions of Bill,
This bill provides for the appointment of a state board of health; provides for the creation of county boards of health; provides for sanitary districts, and provides for district commissioners of health.
The state board of health shall consist of fifteen members, three of whom, the secretary of the stale board of health, the, state school superintendent and. the state veterinarian, shall be members by virtue of their office, and twelve who shall be appointed by the governor, one from each congressional district, a majority of whom shall be physicians. The present members of the state board of health shall serve until the expiration of their terms before this act goes into effect.
This act also provides that in each county there shall be created a county board of health to consist of three members, the superintendent of schools, the chairman of the board of roads and revenues of the county, and a physician.
The following is the vote;
Ayes— Bulloch, Burtz, Converse, Chennault, Dickey, DuBose, Elkins, Ford, Foster, Harrell, Hixon, Hule, Irwin, Jones S. E., Jones W. W., Johnson, Kea, Kelly, Longino, Miller, Parrish, Perry, Peyton, Pope, Richardson, Rushin, Bearcy, Spinks, Stark, Sweat, Carver, Taylor, Turner and Watts—34.
Nays—Brown, Bush, McGregor, Moore, Olliff and Tyson—6,
A motion by Senator Harrell to reconsider the action or the senate In passing the bill of Senator Turner creating a state highway commission was lost by a vote of 20 to 13.
Upon motion of Senator W, W, Stark, the senate rescinded its action In making Tuesday sins die and will adjourn from 11:50 to 12 tomorrow in respect to Mr. Woodrow Wilson. The reason for making the motion to rescind the action of the body in adjourning was that President Wilson had requested congress and other organizations not to discontinue their business on the day of Mrs, Wilson's funeral for the entire day.
The appropriations committee of the senate reported favorably the bill giving $5,000 to the State Normal School at Athene for repairs on buildings. This committee also voted a $5,000 Increase for the years 1314 and 1916, for the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium at Alto,
Bills Passing Senate,
The following bills were passed in the senate Monday;
By Mr. Johnson, of Montgomery—To create a board of commissioners of roads and revenues for Montgomery county,
By Mr. Johnson, of Montgomery—To repeal an act to create a board of commissioners for Montgomery county.
By Messrs. Blackburn and Cochran, of Fulton—To fix the salaries of all bailiffs of the city courts of all cities of more than 150,000 population at $125 a month.
By Messrs. Smith, Blackburn and Cochran, of Fulton—To raise the salaries of special bailiffs from 1100 to 1125 a month In Fulton county.
By Senator Bush, of the Eighth—To create a system of parole or conditional pardons for persons convicted of crime.
By Mr. Middleton, of Dade—To create a board of commissioners of roads and revenues for Dade county.
By Mr. Crawley, of Ware—To relieve M. J. Dolan and J. W. Seals, of Ware, from paying $200 On a forfeited bond signed by them.
By Mr. Ellis, of Tift - To create county boards of health.
By Messrs. Parker, of Liberty and Nevil of Bulloch—To create Evans county,
By Mr. Hammock, of Randolph—To appropriate $15,000 to stale department of entomology for the extermination of black root and the prevention of the boll weevil
Date: August 11, 1914 Paper: Macon Telegraph

NO SUCCESSOR TO MR. SEGO HAS BEEN FOUND
Mr. Lawton B. Evans, county superintendent of education stated yesterday that Mr. C. T. Sego, principal of Monte Sano School, who was recently elected principal of Central Grammar School to succeed the late Prof. W. F. Parks, would remain at the Richmond Academy until a teacher can be found to succeed him. . The Monte Sano School will be in charge of the assistant principal until Mr. Sego can be relieved.
Date: 1916-11-12; Paper: Augusta Chronicle

EVANS WILL ELECT JUDGE
SAVANNAH, Sept. 2,—An advertisement has appeared in the Evans county papers calling an election for a Judge and solicitor for the newly created city court of Claxton. E. C. Elmore has announced as a candidate for Judge: Wade H Brewton has announced for solicitor.
Date: 1919-09-03; Paper: Macon Telegraph

Moonshine Still is Stolen from Sheriff
Savannah, April 9 Sheriff Walton Rogers, of Evans County, was in Savannah today to report the theft from his house of a brand new, modern, well equipped "still:. He had just captured the outfit and locked it up pending delivery to the federal officers. Someone broke into his house and stole the still.
Date: 1919-04-10; Paper: Macon Telegraph

Aged Negro is Rescued after Mob Shoots out Windows of Courthouse. Evans County Sheriff Succeeds in Carrying Prisoner to Savannah
Black Accused of Wounding White Man Who Beat Him for Informing
SAVANNAH, Feb. 13.—After a threatened lynching in Claxton, Ga. early this morning, when twenty-five or thirty angry men stormed the Evans county courthouse and shot out many window panes, Andrew Jones, an aged negro, who was saved from the mob through the efforts of Sheriff T. W. Rogers, was brought to Savannah this morning in an automobile.
The negro had been taken into the courthouse by the sheriff for safe keeping, as there is no jail in that county. The troubled started about midnight, when the men demanded that the officers release the negro into their custody. When the sheriff refused they opened fire, but none of the shots look effect, J. G. Rogers, brother of the sheriff; T. L. Nevils, N. H. Hodges and H. N. Lavis assisted the sheriff in trying to disperse the crowd.
According to the story told by the sheriff, John Horton a young man, rind a companion named Kemp approached the negro on one of the principal streets of Claxton and began beating him. They accused him of turning up a party of moonshiners and knocked him down when he denied this. As a result of the row Horton received a wound In the right side. It is believed he will recover.
Later the sheriff placed the negro under arrest and took him to the courthouse about 10 o'clock Saturday night. Two hours later the mob attempted to force an entrance at the door. Early Sunday morning the sheriff succeeded in getting the negro into an automobile, arriving here a few hours later. The negro Is being held at the county Jail.
Date: 1920-02-16; Paper: Macon Telegraph

Evans County High School Is Overcrowded
Claxton, Ga. —The second week of school closed Friday with every room overcrowded and with fifty without desks. There are many more to come in and the problem is, where to put them. This is the Evans County high school and every high school student in the county will find his: way to this school. This can be done easily as any point in the county can be reached In thirty minutes drive from Claxton.
The new school building will be begun within a short time and we hope to move Into it by January the first. It will be one of the best buildings and most, completely equipped found in the state.
The Parent-Teacher Club meets Friday afternoon and had talks by County Superintendent Theodore Brewton and City Superintendent R. O. Powell. Mr. Brewton's subject was "How Can Parents Aid the School," while the subject Mr. Powell was "How Can Parents Hinder the Progress of the School." Col. P. M. Anderson also made a talk on "The Appreciation of Our Teachers,"
Date: 1921-09-20; Paper: Augusta Chronicle

NEW COURTHOUSE AND JAIL
Evans County Wilt Erect New Building At Cost of $50,000.
CLAXTON Ga., May 20.—Contract for a courthouse and Jail for the county of Evans is to be let June 15, according to an advertisement of the county commissioners of roads and revenues. Plans for the new building are now In hands and the commissioners are requiring that bids be submitted with the condition that the building be begun not later than July 15 and he completed not later than March 15.
The cost of the building will be in the neighborhood of $50,000. Bonds were some time ago voted and several months ago sold. It is understood that a goodly number of contractors will offer bids.
Date: 1922-05-21; Paper: Macon Telegraph

A Second Attempt to Suicide Not Success. W. J. Blalock, of Evans County Will Recover
Savannah, Ga. Sept. 7- W. J. Blalock, of Claxton, Evans County, 23 years old, will recover
from his second attempt at suicide, according to a statement this afternoon from a local hospital where he is lying. He fired a
pistol ball into his body yesterday. The bullet lodged beneath the heart.
Reports that a love affair caused his act were denied today by Blalock, as also were reports that drink Induced the attempt.
In a note written before his attempt he said; "The cause I cannot express." Three months ago he tried the poison route and failed. He was a soldier with experience in fighting in France.
Date: 1922-09-08; Paper: Macon Telegraph

Seven Convicts Hunted in State
Escapes From Evans County Steal Car, Clothes, shoot at Motorist
Swainsboro, Ga. July 14 Seven escaped convicts from the Evans county chain gang and an Emanuel county trusty were hunted by central Georgia peace officers tonight.
Deputy Sheriff - Walter Lamb restored to C. J. Jerrell of Collins a motor car which the Evans convicts, four white men and three Negroes, had seized for their flight.
Lamb found the car abandoned while en route to the state farm with a prisoner.
Officers lost trade of the fugitives In Lyons.
Sheriff A. W. Smith of Sandersville, Ga.. said seven men believed to be the Evans fugitives
fired at a Covington man named W. Shreptine who refused to stop his motor car near Sandersville this morning.
Curtis Dukes, 26, a, trusty serving a 3 to 5 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Ben L. Conner Dec. 20,1936, escaped yesterday while working with a gang building a new highway near Graymont.
Guards with dogs were unable to pick up his trail.
Date: 1937-07-15; Paper: Augusta Chronicle

FEMALE SHERIFF OF EVANS COUNTY PURCHASES BADGE
Atlanta, Sept 11. (JP)—Sheriff V. A. Rogers of Evans county came to Atlanta today to check up on a Burglary suspect and buy herself sheriff's badge.
Sheriff Rogers said that crime at as pretty low in Evans county and that her only full time deputy is her husband. She declined to discuss her meet interesting arrest, but displayed a keen knowledge of fingerprinting and an interest in the Atlanta police camera.
"We have an identification department," said Mrs. Rogers, who was appointed in June to fill the unexpired term of her father, who prior to his death had served as sheriff of Evans county for almost 12 years:
"But we only fingerprint our prisoners. We haven't gotten around to taking their pictures yet.:
After obtaining the address of the burglary suspect, she left to buy her badge and to do a little investigating of her own before returning to her duties in Claxton.
Asked if she would take the suspect back if she apprehends him, she said she would.
"But If I do it might make my husband think I'm smarter than be is and that would not be so good,"she added.
Date: September 17, 1940 Paper: Augusta Chronicle

CLAXTON. Ga., April 29 A weekly newspaper editor who charged that the sheriff of Evans County beat him severely about the head, said today he was at a loss to "understand the motive."
Milton Beckerman. 37, editor of the Claxton Enterprise, charged that Sheriff Candler Rogers. 50. beat him yesterday with a "slap-jack," a leather covered object about the size of a black-jack but flat on the end
He said he was stuck half a dozen times and a cut on the back of his head required six stitches
Rogers reported he struck the editor only after Beckerman called him a "crook" and kicked him in the shin.
Both men were charged with disorderly conduct by the Claxton police chief and placed under $100 bonds. They will be given a hearing in City Court here next Monday
Beckerman's Story
Beckerman said he visited the sheriffs office to obtain additional Information on the arrest last February of John C. Bentley of New, York on charges of speeding. He said Bentley was editor of an auto racing magazine and had written an "inaccurate" article which gave the Impression Claxton and Evans
County were speed traps.
The editor said he called on the sheriff to get Information for a newspaper story that, would counteract unfavorable publicity that had reflected on the sheriff, the city and county.
"As soon as I entered his office." Beckerman said, "I told him I'd like to discuss the magazine article with him. He said information about Bentley's arrest was on the record and I had already looked at the record."
Beckerman said the officer then made an unexplained reference about two women who "got in touch with you and sent you to Savannah." and came at him with the slap jack
I do not know what provoked the attack and I have no knowledge of any women that might have met me or sent me to Savannah for any purpose. I, am at complete loss to understand me motive."
He denied kicking the sheriff and said he was struck with the slap-jack while still seated in a chair

Rogers gave the following account:"
"He came lo yesterday to talk about the case of Bentley who wrote an article In his magazine advising motorists to avoid Route 301.
"I told him the court clerk's records told the story—that I didn't know anything about what happened out on the road. He told me I was trying to hide something. He called me a crook, pulled his glasses off and started around the table to me. He kicked me on the shin. I hit him with the slap-jack. He still tried to get bold of me and tried to throw something in my eyes. I hit him again and he began whooping and hollering like a billy goat and ran out of the office."
Sheriff Rogers weighs 180 and stands 5 feet. 8 Inches. Rogers is about the same height and weighs 140. The sheriff said be figured the slap-jack made up for the difference in their ages.
The editor said he had been out of town, attending the Mrs. America contest in Daytona Beach "and something may have happened during my absence which I know nothing about. He said he had not had any disagreements with the sheriff and "if you can find out what this Is all about. I'd be greatly obliged."
Date: 1954-04-30; Paper: Augusta Chronicle

Evans County created in 1914 by combining parts of Bulloch
and Tuttnall Counties, was named for Confederate General Clement A. Evans. Its county seat is Claxton, home of the "World-famous fruit cake" sold at Christmastime by Civitan and other civic groups to raise funds for community projects.
Evans County is noted for tobacco, cotton, corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, tomato plants, livestock, poultry, naval stores, dairy cattle and swine. One of Georgia's smallest and youngest counties, the county is noted for its well-kept farmlands, lovely homes and fine lakes.
In energetic Evans County, and throughout Georgia, the United States Brewers Foundation works constantly to assure the sale of beer and ale under pleasant, orderly conditions. Believing that strict law enforcement serves the best interest of the people of Georgia, the Foundation stresses close cooperation with the Annea Forces, law enforcement and governing officials in its continuing "self-regulation" program.
Date: 1958-10-07; Paper: Marietta Journal