THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES - 

VOL. 123.  (TWIGGS COUNTY) 

 

A WILD HIGH SCHOOL REUNION - There are often high school reunions far,  far from home.  They come at weddings, funerals, and meetings.  When  Sgt. Howard H. Hill, Sgt. Edward C. Maddox, Corp. John S. Bagganly, and PFC Earl F. Sims met on the 4th of July 1948, they were astonished.   The four graduates of Danville Georgia High School met far, far away at Yakota Air Force Base, some fifty miles away from Tokyo, Japan. Atlanta Journal, July 5, 1948.

HE IS A HUMAN BEING - In Middle Georgia during the early decades of the 20th Century, a newspaper reader would not normally read stories like this one.  When it came to stories of black and white people, they were stories of lynching, killing, and other unspeakable acts.  This story is an exception to the rule and, more importantly, more common that one might think.

The story begins on Big Sandy Creek near Danville, Georgia. On May 9, 1933, a black farm worker fell into a swollen stream.  One, twice, and then three times the drowning man went down into the freshet.    On the banks of the creek stood State Representative Allen W. Daughtry.

Daughtry knew the victim and was not just going to stand by and watch the impending tragedy.  Rep. Daughtry dove into the rushing waters.  The third time as they say, “was the charm.”  Daughtry brought the man up.  Daughtry’s farm foreman, Ben F. Holton, aided the rescuer and rescuee to the creek bank.   Atlanta Constitution May 10, 1933.

A NOBLE LIEUTENANT - Lt. George J. Nobles, Jr. was a member of the ubiquitous Nobles family of Danville, Ga., and Twiggs County, Ga.  During World War II in Italy, Lt. Nobles found himself in a brutal combat battle.  Nobles led his men through an intense barrage as they crawled toward a bridge to cross a river.  Several men were wounded.  The lieutenant came to the aid of as many of his men as he could.  Nobles continued to push his command across an icy bridge in the face of intense machine gun fire.  During the battle, Lt. Nobles was seriously wounded and taken from the battlefield.  For his distinguished and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest medal for heroism. Atlanta Constitution, August 13, 1944.  

THE QUEEN OF QUILT - Jeffersonville’s “Aunt” Mary Liza Hand love quilting more than freezing sleeper loves quilts.  Mrs. Hand started at a young age.  In 1919, Mary Liza lost more than 150 homemade and hand-pierced quilts when her home was burned.  Fifteen quilts, stored in a bedroom In Christmas of 1938, Mrs. Hand had built her inventory back to the 150 level.  Oh, by the way, “Aunt” Mary Liza Hand was seventy years old and not ready to stop.  The Atlanta Constitution, January 19, 1939.

COOKIE TO THE RESCUE - The battle of Anzio, Italy, was no easy wade into the shorelines of Italy.  One Jeffersonville man, Armour Floyd, Cook Second Class, United States Navy, jumped into action.  When fires started aboard Floyd’s ship, the U.S.S. Plunkett, it was Floyd who abandoned his post in the galley and ran through the blazing infernos caused by intense enemy fire.  Floyd’s gallantry was cited by the Navy in the face of grave peril and his tenacious devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.  In addition to being a kitchen cook, Floyd’s commendation was a somewhat rare commendation for an African - American naval cook during World War II.  Macon Telegraph, July 18, 1944.

THE FOUR COUNTY BANK - On the 16th of September 1941, a new bank opened in Allentown, named the Four County Bank. The new bank was designed to serve four counties, Laurens, Wilkinson, Twiggs, and Bleckley.  At the time, there was no bank between Dudley and Macon.  A.W. Daughtry was the first president, aided by vice-president T.E. Lee. The Board of Directors was composed of Hembree Carroll, Assistant Cashier; Homer Chance, director; Grady Toney, director; and A.T. Land, director.  Macon Telegraph, Sept. 16, 1941.