S.O. Hege Foresaw His Own Death, Feb. 23, 1926

Told Sons of Death Approach and Died. . . S.O. Hege of Davidson County Commended Sons—Was Apparently in Good Health

Lexington, Feb. 22—News reached here today of the death Saturday afternoon under peculiar circumstances of S.O. Hege, well known farmer living about 15miles north of Lexington. Mr. Hege is said to have walked from his home to a spring a short distance away, then walked hurriedly to where his two sons were working near the house, informed them that he was about to depart life, commended them for their worth as sons, expressed the wish that they would do well in life, then sat down for a short while on his front porch. Shortly thereafter he lay down on a bed and expired in a few minutes, according to information received here.

Mr. Hege had just returned from Winston-Salem, where he went to sell a load of wheat, and is said to have been apparently in good health. He was in good financial circumstances, so far as learned, being a hard working and thrifty farmer. He was a son of the late Phillip Hege of Reed Creek township, and one of several heirs to large land holdings of his father.

Funeral services were conducted yesterday by Rev. R.F. Huneycutt of Arcadia community, and Rev. J. McCuiston of Friedberg Church. The deceased only 49 years old and leaves a widow, two sons and one daughter.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-02-23/ed-1/seq-1/

Robbers with Torch Take $50,000 from Bank of Stokes, Feb. 23, 1926

Bank at King Gives Up Cash to Robbers. . . Cash, Notes and Negotiable Securities Valued at $50,000 Taken by Band of Robbers During Night

Winston-Salem, Feb. 23 (AP)—The Bank of Stokes County, located at King, N.C., 15 miles from here, was robbed early this morning. Officials of the bank say the loss will exceed$50000. An acetylene torch was used to cut a hole in the back of a small safe, and from this the thieves lifted their loot. They left a part of the contents in the safe, being unable to handle some of the articles on account of heat created by the torch.

H.H. Leake, cashier, said the safe last night contained $7,000 in currency, $1,000 in gold, and $1,200 in silver. There were also stocks and bonds in considerable amount, all registered, and about $35,000 in negotiable notes. The entire loss is covered by insurance.

The robbers left no clue to their identify and although a finger print expert has made careful survey of the scene, he has not yet found much that will give a clue.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-02-23/ed-1/seq-1/

E.E. Eller Sells His Business to Risser & Rabinowitz, Feb. 23, 1926

E.E. Eller Sells Produce Business

Mr. E.E. Eller last Monday sold the E.E. Eller produce company to Risser & Rabinowitz of Philadelphia, Pa. This includes Mr. Eller’s produce business on Tenth Street but not the buildings.

Mr. Eller has been in the produce business for the past 30 years, and for the past several years has been one of the largest poultry dealers in the South. Mr. Eller, who has been in Florida this winter, has been elected secretary and treasurer of the Ridgeland Development Company at Winter Haven, Fla., owners of the Country Club Estate of that place, and one of the largest real estate companies in Florida. He will make Winter Haven his home during the winters and North Wilkesboro, N.C., his home during the summer months.

We are sorry indeed that Mr. Eller saw fit to sell his produce business at this place, but we are glad he is not leaving us entirely. No finer man has ever lived in North Wilkesboro than E.E. Eller. He is a man that all classes of people like.

Risser and Rabinowitz, Inc., is one of the largest poultry dealers in the United States today. They expect to enlarge, and continue the business at the present stand of E.E. Eller Co. on Tenth Street, and want the corporation of all citizens in an effort to make this the equal market of New York for poultry. Mr. B.H. Colvard will be manager of the business at this point. They expect to pay New York market prices for poultry and hope to have the cooperation of our business men and farmers. These same people have recently opened places of business a Hamlet and Goldsboro, N.C. Mr. James Foote, formerly of this place, is manager of the business at Goldsboro.

Risser & Rabinowitz, Inc., is a $3 million concern, and means much to North Wilkesboro—enough said.

From the front page of The North Wilkesboro Hustler, Feb. 23, 1926. To see a photo of E.E. Eller and to read the original article, go to:

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072938/1926-02-24/ed-1/seq-1/

Two Wilkes County Teachers Dismissed for Smoking Cigarettes, Feb. 23, 1926

Two Teachers Dismissed for Smoking Cigarettes

Two lady teachers in Wilkes County were discharged last week for smoking cigarettes. At the February meeting of the County Board of Education, a resolution was passed forbidding cigarette smoking by school teachers in the count, and if same was persisted in, they would be asked to resign. We are reliably informed that neither of the teachers were residents of Wilkes.

From the front page of The North Wilkesboro Hustler, Feb. 23, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072938/1926-02-24/ed-1/seq-1/

5-Year-Old Virginia Coleman Killed After Running into Road, February 22, 1926

Little Girl Killed by Car in Salisbury. . . Virginia Coleman Struck by an Auto Driven by John Gullett—Accident Called Unavoidable

Salisbury, Feb. 22—Virigina Coleman, 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Coleman of 429 North Ellis Street, was run over by an automobile this evening about 6 o’clock and almost instantly killed. The little girl, with some neighbor children, had crossed Ellis Street near her home, and Virginia, for some reason, darted back across the street. One of her companions tried to stop her, but she got far enough in the street to run in front of a car driven by John Gullett of Rowan County. Mr. Gullett ran his car on the sidewalk in trying to miss the child.

The little one was rushed to the hospital by Mr. Gullett, but she lived only a few minutes. Coroner Sommerset investigated the accident and pronounced it unavoidable. The police also believe it unavoidable, but placed Mr. Gullett under a $300 bond for a hearing Thursday.

Virginia was an unusually bright little girl for her age and was a general favorite in the neighborhood. Her father conducts a U-Drive-It Car service, and the family have lived here about a year.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1926

The headline, as seen in the original article, states that the father was driving the car, but the article clearly says that John Gullett of Rowan County was driving the car. I have changed the headline here, but you can see the original one at:

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-02-23/ed-1/seq-1/

News Briefs in The Hustler, Feb. 23, 1926

Town and Country News. . . Local Items of Interest

Monday was George Washingon’s birthday, the 22nd day of February.

Dr. W.R. Wilkins’ mother died Friday evening at 6 o’clock at Rutherfordton following a stroke of paralysis during the first part of February. She is survived by eight grown children. She was 74 years of age.

Attorney F.B. Hendren made the memorial address Sunday at Hiddenite on the life and character of Rev. Parks Gwaltney, deceased. A large number of people were present from Alexander County.

Representatives of the U.S. Internal Revenue Department will be in Wilkesboro on February 26th and March 1st to assist taxpayers in filing Federal Income Tax Returns.

The District Forest Wardens of Wilkes County had a very profitable conference at the court house Saturday. The following were present: J.L. Eller, G.E. Blevins, E.F. Brown, J.T. Byrd, Rev. Grant Cothren, J.H. Davis, G.A. Eller, P.D. Emerson, L.M. Jarvis, Archie Ogelvie, W.A. Payne, J.W. Robbins, Camie Roberson, W.C. Triplett and Vance Wright. H.M. Sebring represented the State at the conference.

A considerable number of gardens were plowed before the rain of last Thursday though early in the season. We know of one person or two in fact who planted small amounts of Irish potatoes. Onin sets were not grown in this country because of the drought last year and first were shipped in and put on sale at the retail stores here Feb. 8th. The Miller Grocery Co. and others put on sale the cabbage plants first for early spring last Friday.

Uncle Maryland Hickerson, an old-time colored citizen who lived near Roaring River, died Saturday, February 13th. He was a good citizen and commanded the respect and esteem of the citizens of that vicinity, white and colored. Uncle Maryland was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. He was 86 years old. The burial and funeral services were at Jonesvilles, being conducted by Rev. J.C. Hunter of Straw, the pastor of the colored people’s Methodist church.

From the front page of The North Wilkesboro Hustler, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072938/1926-02-24/ed-1/seq-1/

Plane Tangled With Power Lines, Pilot Escapes, Feb. 21, 1926

Aeroplane Wrecked Near Winston-Salem. . . Machine of R.J. Reynolds Jr. Fails to Clear String of Power Wires

Winston-Salem, Feb. 21—A standard aeroplane, owned by R.J. Reyolds Jr. of this city and piloted by Ernest Smith of New York, was completely wrecked about 2 o’clock this afternoon when it fell while an attempt was being made to take off from a field near the Country Club. Smith, who is mechanician for Reynolds, was the only occupant and he escaped injury.

The ship was unable to gain enough altitude to clear a strong of power lines along the highway and as the tail of the machine struck them it was hurled to the ground. The wires were torn loose for some distance, and the plane buried its nose in the dirt across the road.

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-02-23/ed-1/seq-1/