Thursday, 7 May 1925 Lawrence County Chieftain: Jonathan Wiseman HUNT was born April 15, 1856, died April 28, 1925, age 69 years and 8 days. He was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, and most of his life was spent in this county. He accepted the Christian’s faith at the age of 11 years and was a faithful follower of Christ all the rest of his life. He was married to Miss Belle CANNADY, Sept. 15, 1881. To this union 9 children were born, 3 of whom preceeded [sic] him in death. “The Birth of a Nation” is a D. W. Griffith production which has a big reputation. It is a picture that has only recently been released to smaller towns and one that is costing the management of the Strand a large sum of money to present. [Of the 31 criminal cases on the docket for the May term of court, 22 were prohibition related cases.] CONDENSERY’S FIRST YEAR: Thursday, April 30, the Mt. Vernon Milk Condensery closed its first year of operation, during which time 16,103,740 pounds of milk were bought for which it is estimated exceeding exceeding [sic] $322,000 was paid, or an average of over $880 for each of the 365 days, which is considered pretty good for the first year. It fell to the lot of the Aurora Advertiser to find that the cool spell that generally occurs around the first of May, when blackberries are in bloom, is known as “blackberry winter” or “blackberry storm.” Out of a dozen of so Mt. Vernon people asked if they had ever heard it so called, only two or three had. If we are to believe our “light of the moon” friends, the “blackberry storm” last week would have killed the fruit and all other tender vegetation, if the moon hadn’t shone. There you have it. The “blackberry storm” is only harmful when it occurs in the dark of the moon. Thursday, 14 May 1925 Lawrence County Chieftain: Mt. Vernon High School Graduating Class: Mary ADAMS, Joe CHERRY, Donald HOGUE, Francis HORSTMAN, Edward JONES, Rena MOSBY, Jewell PATTON, Percy PIERCE, Irma SMITH, Mary SCHENERT, Jeffords WISE, Beauford BAUGH, Lee CATTS, Jewell COOK, Grace PARKER, John MORRIS, Lydia SCHMIDTKE, Charline DOWDY, Lemuel ALLEN, Letha HUNTER, Evelyn HEWLETT, James HEWLETT, Alta JONES, Mary Frances ORR, Mildred PATTON, Paul SMITH, Laura S. SIFFERMAN, Pauline WILLIAMS, Belva WOODS, Ira BARNES, Adelia BRINKMAN, Mayme JOHNSON, Walter MOORE, Wilma SMITH, Reathal JOHNSON, Ira JONES, Allan MARSH. Mt. Vernon Eighth Grade Graduating Class: Loma BERRY, Ross BREEDEN, Doris CHERRY, Floyd GALLAWAY, Homer GIST, Carroll GUTHRIE, Charles HUNT, Evert JOHNSON, Pauline LYONS, Ruth NEIMEYER, Newton PATTON, William RIGSBY, Vivian SMITH, Eula STARBUCK, Geo. H. WILLIAMSON, Freda MOODY, Albert BOUCHER, Carl CAMERON, Dorothy FORD, Lloyd GARRINGER, Harroll GUTHRIE, Mary E. HICKMAN, Beatrice JOHNSON, Agnes KAZE, Fern MOSBY, Marie NELSON, Lois PRUITT, Marshall SHELTON, Lydia SMITH, Lois SWEARINGEN, Louis OTT, Georgia FOSSETT, James Harvey RAWLINGS. Mrs. Carl CHAMBERS who has been ill for some time at her home near Dudenville passed away May 9. The deceased was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Walter RUARK of Miller. Thursday, 21 May 1925 Lawrence County Chieftain. PASSING OF AL MCKINNEY. Albert McKinney was born near LaFayette, Ind., in the early forties. His mother died when he was two years old and at the age of ten he with his father moved to Danville, Ills. His father died two years later leaving the son to the tender mercies of the world. When the civil war broke out he joined the 188 [183?] Illinois Infantry from which he was honorably discharged on account of disability after one year’s service. After his recovery he again inlisted [sic] and was in Sherman’s march to the sea. He came to Lawrence county in 1867 and married Miss Margaret GLASSCOCK. Two sons, James H. and Felix, who both died in youth, and two daughters, Ada and Nora, were born to them. Few people appreciated the the [sic] real worth and character of Al McKinney. There is probably not a man yet living who has played his part toward the development of this community any better than the subject of this sketch. He was here when the railroad was built, was on the ground when the town [Miller] was laid out and helped to fight its battles from the beginning. When Miller required a stock of general merchandise it was Al McKinney who put it in and extended credit liberally, and that, to many who never paid him. Naturally a stock man he bought, fed and shipped stock for years and during the money panic of 1907, when the banks refused to loan money to any one Al McKinney issued checks to the farmers with the understanding that they would hold them until he shipped and received returns from the sale of the stock. People wondered when he slept for he rode many a night buying stock and worked on the farm during the day. He was always too busy for lodges or societies of any kind and never joined any of them. He was not a member of any church but very often dropped in on Sunday morning, listened to a sermon and quietly went his way. Within the last year he expressed his faith in God and desired to be baptized into the church but he was too feeble to permit it being done. He was a staunch Republican and having been raised at Danville, Illinois, knew and admired Uncle Joe CANNON. He was honest and no one ever lost a dime because Al McKinney did not pay him his just due. He played his part well in the drama of life and who can say that the world is not better for his having lived in it. -- XX. Alexander CAMPBELL MCNATT was born in Lawrence county, about five [miles] northeast of Aurora on the homestead of his pioneer father, Wm. H. McNatt, December 22, 1844. He grew to manhood surrounded with the simple and rugged conditions of the early settlers. He served three years as a private in the Union army from which he was discharged as a corporal. He was united in marriage to Celia J. CUMMINGS, July 19, 1866, and to this union nine children were born, two of whom, Nancy and Lee, died in infancy. Later, Sara J., grown to womanhood, passed away in 1914, the mother having preceeded [sic] her 7 years. Those remaining who were able to be at his bedside are Lida J., a teacher in the schools here; John V., who lives northeast of town; Ora R., a teacher; Wm. C., Mary E., and Minnie F., who live just west of Aurora: four grand children, Celia, Willie, Lucile and Lawrence McNatt. His surviving brothers and sisters are J. A. McNatt, Rush Springs, Ark.; J. W. McNatt of Aurora; L. A. McNatt of Brookline; Mrs. Wm. NORMAN of Aurora and Mrs. W. C. COX of Turoh, Kansas. Uncle Campbell had a rugged exterior but a warm heart. He lived true to his ideals of honor and justice to mankind and obedience to his God. He was a pioneer merchant of this section before Aurora was founded. He confessed his Lord and Master and obeyed in early manhood. --Aurora Advertiser. Thursday, 4 June 1925 Lawrence County Chieftain: Mrs. John M. SCHMIDT died at her home in Marionville at 6:30 o’clock Saturday morning. Her death was caused by lockjaw. On the previous Sunday the deceased stepped on a nail which entered her foot. The injury was promptly attended and the wound was apparently healing properly until Thursday afternoon, when tetanus developed and her condition at once became alarming. Her condition rapidly grew worse until Saturday morning when she passed from this life. P. J. WEAVER, a professional berry picker in Matt DURBIN’s strawberry patch on Will M. DAVIS’ farm, north of Monett, has made a remarkable record in berry picking this season. One day last week he picked 14 crates and 16 quarts of berries. At 3 cents a quart his wages amounted to $10.56 for the day. On Thursday of this week he picked 320 quarts or 13 crates and 8 quarts, for which he received $9.60. The swiftness of this berry picker is remarkable and he has berry picking down to a science.