Jan. 2, 1916: “Mr. and Mrs. M. Speer and daughter, Miss Lillie Morrison, of Jacksonville, Fla., arrived last night on a visit of several days to relatives in Americus.”; “Mr. Irving Giddings, who holds a position as prescription clerk at Blackmon's Pharmacy in Columbus, will arrive tonight to spend Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Giddings.”; “Walt Furlow is dead! … For over thirty years John Walter Furlow was connected with the Americus Times-Recorder in the local news department … city editor … was fifty-five … born in Americus on December 28th, 1860. Through the years … he lived in the home of his birth … in early manhood … connected with the old Americus Recorder … “I have enjoyed living this life,” were the words which the great man spoke to the writer as he told him of his desperate condition Thursday evening … … It was not Furlow’s wish that any extraordinary attention be given his demise in the newspaper which he loved. For over three decades he had recounted the happenings of Americus and vicinity; writing the death of every person almost without exception, who has passed away in Americus and Sumter county during his term of service with the paper … Walt Furlow will be missed, but not forgotten. We would not attempt to fill his place – there is no other … pallbearers … Frank Harrold, G.R. Ellis, Cranston Williams, W.L. Dupree, I.J. Kalmon, W.J. Thornton, Arthur Rylander, Quimby Melton.” (also published condolences from the Savannah Morning News, the Atlanta Constitution, Thos. Gamble, of Savannah, L.G. Council and an editorial)

Jan. 3, 1916: SGP – “Mr. and Mrs. James H. Cobb and children returned yesterday to their home in Savannah after a visit of some length to Mr. Cobb's mother on Forsyth street.”

Jan. 4, 1916: SGP – “Mrs. H.A. Tatum, who was the guest of her sisters, Mrs. M.E. and J.H. Purvis, during the past week, returned home Monday.”; “Mr. H.S. Schneider has recently returned from Augusta, where he delivered a carload of monumental work.”; “Mr. J.W. Lindley has gone to Quitman on a business trip for the Schneider Marble Company.”

Jan. 6, 1916: “Leslie - Mrs. H.L. Speer returned Monday from New Point, where she was the guest of Mrs. Arin Robinson.”; SGP – “Mr. and Mrs. Callie Speer are rejoicing over the arrival of a wee daughter, who has been named Lillian.”

Jan. 7, 1916: “The friends of W.C. Wheeler of the Seaboard Air Line here, will be interested to know that he will not accept the position of master mechanic offered him by the Atlanta and St. Andrews' Bay railway at Dothan, Ala. .... he will continue as inspector of pumps of the Seaboard, with headquarters in Americus.”

Jan. 9, 1916: “Mrs. S.K. Rhine, of Blakely, who has been visiting Mrs. W.C. Sullivan on Church street, returned to her home in Blakely yesterday.”

Jan. 11, 1916: “Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Weeks entertained Monday with a most delightful dinner party in celebration of the eighty-sixth birthday of their aunt, Mrs. A.C. Speer. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, Mrs. J.W. Harris, Sr., Mrs. W.F. Livingston, Mrs. Morehead, Mrs. J.L. Peel, Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Tillman.”

Jan. 12, 1916: “Mrs. Earl Speer and children have returned from a visit to her parents, at Hillsboro, Ga.”; “G.C. Purvis, who has been with the Buchanan Grocery company during the holidays, has secured a position with P. Lorrilard & Co., of New York, and will go on the road for that firm. He left today for Macon to receive an assignment territory.”; SGP – “Miss Mollie Cobb left yesterday for Portsmouth, Va., where she will visit her brother, Mr. R.E. Marsh.”

Jan. 16, 1916: “Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Sullivan, Jr., announce the birth of a little daughter, Vivian Evelyn.”

Feb. 1, 1916: SGP – “Mrs. Freling Scarborough, of DeSoto, is visiting in Americus, called here by the illness of her daughter, Mrs. Chesley Wheeler.”

Feb. 2, 1916: “R.W. Speer, of Senoia, is a business visitor in Americus Wednesday. Mr. Speer is quite interested in the Sumter county farm lands, and in all probability will move here in the fall with his family.”; “Anthony Chapel - Among those attending the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Harpe in Leslie last Sunday were Mrs. Ella Bass, Mr. Thomas Simpson and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Robinson and children.; Mrs. Ella Bass is visiting Mrs. A.B. Howard in Americus.”

Feb. 4, 1916: “Mr. T.L. Speer has been confined to his home on Forsyth street for several days, to the regret of his many friends.”; “An addition to Americus' business was announced late yesterday afternoon by the formation of the electrical contracting firm of Turner & Giddings. The offices of the new concern will be in the Bell building, opposite the post office [now Wachovia Bank] ... L.M. Turner and C.D. Giddings are ... both well known as good business men in this city.”

Feb. 6, 1916: new city directory work begun; “Miss Teance Espy, of Savannah, is the guest of her aunt, Mrs. J.W.L. Daniel.”; “Lawson Speer's host of friends will regret to hear of his illness at his home on Church street.”; “The newly organized firm of Turner & Giddings ... has ... already signed up contracts for the complete wiring of four residences on Jackson avenue ... ”

Feb. 7, 1916: SGP – “It is announced that Mr. Claude Schneider will erect on Furlow street a modern 5-room bungalow ... $2,500 when completed. Construction ... will be begun within a short time ... ”

Feb. 9, 1916: “Miss Nannie Lou Speer, who has been in Macon for some time, returned home Tuesday afternoon.”; “Master Carroll Purvis, aged seven years, who has been in Macon at the hospital there for treatment for a nervous trouble under Dr. A.B. Jamison, returned home Tuesday after a stay of several weeks. His condition is very much improved, much to the gratification of his parents and friends.”

Feb. 11, 1916: “The many friends of Lawson Speer will learn with pleasure that he is fast recovering from recent very serious illness.”; “H.R. Johnson, W.E. Brown and W.C. Sullivan went up to Macon this morning to witness the production of “The Birth of a Nation”. The party made the trip in Mr. Johnson's car.”; “Mrs. W.D. Bailey, Miss Annie Bailey, Eugene A. Bailey, Willie Bailey, Mrs. Charles L. Ansley, Charles S. Ansley and Miss Carrie Speer motored to Macon today to witness “The Birth of a Nation”.”; “J.W.L. Daniel, the well known broker ... has been very busy for the past two months having the building he is now occupying put in necessary shape ... Mr. Daniel's warehouse is situated on College street, right on the Seaboard Air Line railroad ... ”

Feb. 13, 1916: “ ... V. Petropol ... purchased from Thomas B. Hooks, ninety acres ... part of the old Sieg place ... W.L. English and Hammond Purvis handled the deal.”

Feb. 14, 1916: SGP – “Miss Louise Gunn, formerly of this city but now of Savannah, is seriously ill and slowly recovering from an operation for throat trouble.”

Feb. 15, 1916: “Omer Bass, of near Leslie, was in the city Tuesday on an important business mission.”; “Omer S. Bass, prominent citizen of Sumter county, has announced his candidacy for tax receiver. He was born and reared in Sumter county, and is well known. He will be warmly supported by his friends at the polls.”

Feb. 18, 1916: “L.J. Blalock, a prominent Americus attorney, announces his candidacy for Judge of the City Court ... He is a well known member of the bar, and will be strongly supported by many friends.”; SGP “Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Sullivan, Jr., have an apartment with Mrs. J.H. Poole having moved to their new residence yesterday.”

Feb. 26, 1916: SGP - Wilbur Giddings, et. al., debate representatives for the High School at congressional district competition in Cordele; “Mr. E.M. Viquesney of Spencer, Ind., arrived last night to accept the position of head of the designing department and sales manager of the Schneider Marble Company of this city. Mr. Viquesney is a man of long experience in this particular line of business and his connection ... will undoubtedly have a tendency to increase the already well known afficiency [sic] of that concern.”; “Mr. Rufus Mathews of this city was called to Savannah yesterday by the serious illness of his father, Mr. L.F. Mathews.”

Feb. 28, 1916: SGP – “Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Viquesney have returned to Americus to reside and are at home with Miss Jo McKay on Church street.”

March 3, 1916: SGP – “Mr. J.W.L. Daniel has installed a new twenty horsepower engine in his plant at the Seaboard crossing on Furlow ... , and will soon be getting his mill in condition to run. This, together with his produce and fruit business will make Mr. Daniel one busy man.”

March 6, 1916: SGP – “SARAH BERNHARDT IS COMING HERE TUESDAY” [Mar. 7th, at Dudley's Opera House on Forsyth]

March 10, 1916: “Little Miss Waller came this morning to make her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Waller, on Church street.”

March 12, 1916: “Eustace A. Speer, of Atlanta, is in the city, visiting relatives.”; “ … Mrs. Frank Coker, the widow of the late Frank M. Coker, a pioneer citizen of Americus, died at her home in Atlanta … March 11. Mrs. Coker, at that time Miss Sallie Johnson, came to Americus from Putnam in 1855. After teaching one term, she married Frank M. Coker, and they made their home in Americus until 1873, when they removed to Atlanta … survived by three children, Mrs. W.W. Turner, of Cornelia, Mrs. George Hodgson, of Atlanta, and Frank Coker, a well-known banker of Atlanta.”

March 13, 1916: SGP – “Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Cole and Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Purvis and family spent Sunday with friends in New Point.”

March 16, 1916: Omer S. Bass came in second to Geo. D. Jones, 241 to 293, in a crowded race for tax receiver

March 20, 1916: SGP - Harry Sullivan, et. al., guests at Samuel H. Hooks' surprise birthday party; “The friends of Mrs. C.F. Giddings are gratified to know that she is improving at the hospital.”

March 22, 1916: “Anthony Chapel - The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Omer Bass regret the illness of their little daughter, Nellie Maude.”

March 26, 1916: “The condition of T.L. Speer is much improved, which delights his many friends. He has been confined to his home for some time.”; “Mrs. G.C. Scott and young brother John D. Sullivan, of Augusta, arrived Friday night, and are visiting at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Sullivan.”

April 4, 1916: “Mrs. Russell Speer has as her guest her mother, Mrs. J.T. Bickell, of Andersonville.”

April 5, 1916: “Mrs. Will Conner Sullivan has returned from a visit to relatives in Blakely.”

April 6, 1916: “Another real estate deal ... was the purchase of a lot on Lee street on the north side of the lot recently purchased by Cloyd Buchanan, by Dr. H.H. Glover, from V. Petropol ... This deal was handled by J.H. Purvis, a local real estate dealer ... ”; “Mrs. Jesse Gunn accompanied by her little boy, Sam Cobb Gunn, of Savannah, are in the city, the guests of their cousin, Mrs. George S. Cobb, on East Oglethorpe avenue.”

April 7, 1916: “Mr. J.E. Cannon, a former citizen of Americus, but now of Albany, has just recently had his screen and novelty plant overhauled and modern machinery installed in same. Mr. Cannon it will be remembered was in business in Americus for several years ... ”; “J.C. Speer spent Thursday at Plains on business.”

April 9, 1916: “A party consisting of Prof. C.G. Clements, Gustavus Anderson and Wilbur Giddings visited Fitzgerald Friday.”; “Gust Anderson and Wilbur Giddings, the speakers representing the Americus High school in the Fitzgerald debate Friday evening, returned to Americus Saturday.”; “ ... Charles Schneider has purchased a building lot on [Harrold], and will erect a handsome residence on the same in the near future.”

April 21, 1916: “About June 1st, Miss Hortense Tinsley, a missionary in Korea, will arrive in the city ... ”

April 24, 1916: “G.C. Scott, of Augusta, spent the weekend with his family and other relatives in the city.”

April 25, 1916: “Tobe Cobb, of Savannah, is visiting relatives in Americus.”

April 26, 1916: “Leslie - H.L. Speer fell from a scaffold Monday afternoon and sustained very painful injuries. His collarbone was fractured and two ribs broken in the fall. He is resting as well as could be expected today in view of the serious nature of his injuries.”

May 4, 1916: Gilbert Purvis on honor roll, Third Grade, Section Three, Furlow School

May 5, 1916: “Green Bass returned from Florida Thursday, after a stay of several months there. He is much improved in health ... ”

May 7, 1916: “Dr. James Irving Giddings, “Doc” as he is familiarly called by his friends, will forsake single blessedness. He is to be married on Thursday June 11, to Miss Lockie Withers, of Memphis, Tenn .... The happy couple ... will be at home ... with the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Giddings, on Church street.”

May 10, 1916: “A real estate deal today of interest was that made between W.H.R. Schroeder and John T. Israel, Mr. Schroeder buying two residences [present site on east side of Gammage Print Shop] from Mr. Israel located on Lamar street in front of Lockett & Sons stables ... deal was handled through the firm of English & Purvis.”

May 11, 1916: “Mr. Ed Purvis is quite ill at his home here in the city ... ”

May 14, 1916: “J.C. Speer returned home Saturday afternoon from a business trip to Marshallville.”; “Ed Purvis is reported to be quite ill with typhoid fever at his residence on Church street ... ”; “J.I. Giddings left Saturday for Blakely, where he will spend some time with his daughter, Mrs. E.C. Brooks.”

May 17, 1916: “Leslie - Mrs. Ella Bass, of Anthony, has been the guest of Mrs. H.A. Stewart for the past week.”; “Attorneys have appealed the case of the Commercial City Bank vs. W.C. Sullivan and Roberts Brothers, from the City Court of Americus. The case arose over garnishment proceedings ... W.A. Dodson, E.A. Nisbet and Wallis & Fort represent Sullivan ... ”

May 31, 1916: “Jessie Gunn, of Savannah, arrived Wednesday afternoon, being called her by the death of his aunt, Mrs. Peed.”

June 13, 1916: “Ed Purvis, whose condition has not been so favorable for the past several days, is now considered to be out of danger and on the road to recovery.”

June 14, 1916: “George Cobb, one of the Times-Recorder's carrier boys, is at Tybee for several days enjoying the ocean breezes ... ”; “Charles S. Ansley returned Tuesday afternoon from Oxford, where he attended the Emory commencement.”

June 21, 1916: “Leslie … The wedding of Alva E. Speer, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer, of Leslie, and Miss Anderson, a sister of W.T. Anderson, cashier of the Bank of Leslie, occurs today at the home of the bride in Ochlochnee, Ga. Those in attendance from Leslie are Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer, Miss Lota Speer, John S. Speer, W.T. Anderson and Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Sims.”

June 22, 1916: “ ... Two new recruits [for the ALI] are William C. Sullivan, Jr., and Stephen Pace ... ”

June 25, 1916: “E.A. Speer and son, Robert, with J.A. Granberry, of Atlanta, are on a short visit to Miss Carrie Speer ... ”

Alan Anderson, archivist of the Sumter Historic Trust, lives and works in Americus.