Flu Deaths, Suffering, Leads Feb. 17, 1920 Monroe Column

From the Monroe Journal, February 17, 1920. Named spelled Rev. Haigier and Haigler in different entries. Don't know which is correct.

Latest Happenings In and Around Monroe

Rev. R.M. Haigier and family are ill with influenza.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Limerick returned home yesterday from Shelby where they attended the funeral services over the remains of Mr. A.Y. Patterson, father of Mrs. Limerick, who died Saturday from influenza. He was 66 years old, and was one of Cleveland county’s most prominent citizens. A sister of Mrs. Limerick’s died Thursday from influenza, and everyone else in the home, including the faithful negro servant, who has been with the family for 40 years, are down with the disease.

Jesse M. Deese, a brother of Melvin Deese, the first Union county man killed in action in France, died Monday morning at the home of his brother, Clayton Deese, near Smyrna church, from the effects of influenza and pneumonia. He was a widower, and about 30 years old. Funeral services were held today at the Wolf Pond Baptist church, of which he was a member. Mr. Deese was an industrious, law-abiding citizen.

Prof. R.W. Allen, head of the local Red Cross chapter, says few new cases of influenza have been reported during the last two days, but many distress cases have been found. He was unable to secure nurses at Atlanta, Washington, Raleigh or Chester, and is depending upon volunteers to go to the aid of the stricken ones. A number of Monroe women have already offered their services.

Terrible tales of suffering have been coming into the influenza relief association headquarters at the Chamber of Commerce rooms. One family of seven on the Mr. Frank Bigger’s place in Sandy Ridge township are down with the disease, and Mrs. F.B. Ashcraft and Miss Emma Hunter, who went to their rescue, found four patients in one bed. One of them, the mother of the family, died the other day, leaving a two week’s old child. This family receive scant attention until the Monroe relief workers arrived. Mr. Biggers was unable to do no more than prepare their food for them as his own family is suffering from influenza. The living room of this family is so crowded that Mrs. Ashcraft and Miss Hunter were forced to pack the baby snugly in a bureau drawer. There are other families in distress and volunteer nurses are in great demand.

Mr. Fred Helms has sold his home on east Windsor street, near the oil mill, to Mrs. Alice Billingsby. The consideration is $5,750.

County Demonstrator T.J.W. Broom has received 200 bushels of Lespedeza seed, which he will distribute among those who placed orders with him several days ago.

Mrs. Elizabeth Simpson has sold a lot on the corner of Windos and Jackson streets to Messrs. D.L. Middleton and N.M. Readfearn for a consideration of $1,200.

Mr. Robert May is the proud possessor of a leather overcoat made from the hide of his favorite horse, which went by the name of “Peter Arant,” and which died several weeks ago. Bob was so fond of the horse that he shipped its hide to a manufacturer, who made it up into a good overcoat.

Mr. Wriston Presley, son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Presley of Monroe township, and Miss Cathline Thomas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Thomas of Marshville township, were married Sunday afternoon at the residence of Rev. R.M. Haigler, the officiating minister. This is a splendid young couple and have the best wishes of their many friends.

The story in the morning paper about a Georgia farmer having discovered cotton seed that would produce a green-colored stable reminds a local cotton buyer of a lot of blue cotton once offered him by a man who lives near Wingate. The staple was almost indigo blue, and was not of the kind usually classed as “stains.” The man was unable to account for what he then considered a phenomena. He had bought a new variety of seed, but was unable to recall the name of the dealer. He received no bid for his colored cotton.

Mr. J.J. Crow, back from a four week’s tour through the boll weevil infected sections of southern Georgia, is convinced the weevil will soon appear in this county, and he advocates the raising of hogs and cattle as an emergency measure. He went down there to appraise land, being an agent of the Columbia farm loan bank, of which Mr. D.A. Houston is president. The farmers in the infected sections are raising hogs, and are meeting with much success. They plant pasturage in corn and soy beans and the hogs fatten themselves without any attention form their owners. Mr. Crow also found that the wet weather had causes as much damage in some sections as the weevil. One man’s field of 10 acres became so wet during the growing season that it produced only 40 pounds of seed cotton. Many farmers are making money on sugar cane, while others are securing a good income from turpentine trees. Mr. Crow found corn in one county selling for only $1.40 a bushel.

The “Calcot Farm” on Monroe, route 2, has had some beautiful stationery printed. Messrs R.J. and Henry W. Dempster and A.G. Hemby are the proprietors of this farm.

A home, either temporary or permanent, is desired for a two week’s old baby, whose mother died Saturday. The child has no relatives. Dr. H.D. Stewart will be glad to give full particulars.

The following assistant supervisors have been appointed by Esq. M.L. Flow to assist in taking personal property returns in their respective townships: New Salem, Davidson Nance; Goose Creek, I.C. Clontz; Vance, J.E. Broom; Sandy Ridge, J.N. Price; Jackson, H.D. Clark; Buford, T.L. Hinson; Lanes Creek, Fred Horton; and Marshville, Fred Ashcraft.

Relatives here were notified last Saturday of the death of Mrs. Lena R. Winchester, wife of Mr. Henry Winchester, at her home in Tarboro. She was a daughter of Mr. J.H. Pettaway and formerly lived here and has many friends in Monroe. She leaves her husband and six children. Pneumonia was the cause of her death. Funeral was held in Tarboro. She was a member of the Methodist church.

Monroe’s new mill project may be held up a few months on account of Mr. Robinson’s inability to secure the necessary machinery. He wrote to this effect to Mr. J.E. Stack, one of the leading promoters of the mill, Saturday. However, Mr. Robinson plans to come here next Saturday to confer with the stockholders in the proposed mill. By that time he may find some machinery, and work will start at once. At any odds, an organization may be perfected, the mill to be erected at some future time when the machinery can be procured.

The following Confederate soldiers and widows have not claimed their pensions: Mesdames Rachael E. Alexander, M.A. Bass, Elizabeth Carriker, S.E. Leonard, M.A. Lingle; A.E. Meigs, Elizabeth McCleland, S.J. Norwood, E.J. Gordon, T.L. Fincher, Sarah A. Griffin, T.C. Griffin, John W. Eason and M.A. Rountree. Many of them have passed away during the past year, but if any of them died since the 15^th of September, their children are entitled to receive their pensions. Any information about these parties will be appreciated by Mr. R.W. Lemmon, clerk of court.