Morgan County Firsts

[DANGLANGLEY]

This is the county that I live in. Some of if is funny, no matter who you are!

FIRST HAPPENINGS IN MORGAN COUNTY

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A FLYING MACHINE
For the first time, perhaps in its history, Wartburg was favored with a visit by an aeroplane Tuesday
Morning. The plane landed in Mr. Edd Heidel's. The gasoline gave out and it had to come to earth.
The owner of the machine left Lexington, Ky. early Tuesday morning and passed over Wartburg
about 10:45 a.m. It was a great sight for the people of Wartburg and surrounding Country.
[Morgan County News dated January 20, 1920]



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FIRST OIL WELL
"First Well Brought in Oct. 6 At Sunbright, Another Last Week. "

"The first well was brought in October 6th 1924 at a depth of 1441 feet. This
well is a fine gas producer and it is estimated to produce according to the test
of 6 hours pumping of 42 barrels, at this rate would produce 168 barrels in 24 hours.
This well is piped to Huffman Switch, the first siding north of Sunbright
for loading. The pipe line is laid and in the next few days will be in operation.
Development is being done by Russell Producing Company."
[An excerpt from MORGAN COUNTY PRESS, March 13, 1925]




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*FROM THE MORGAN COUNTY PRESS DATED AUGUST 1926*

"The Petersen family of Chicago passed thru Wartburg Friday on their way out
to visit the Ritters near Annadale."
" It will be remembered that Mr. Petersen was the first to bring a car into Morgan
County. It was used out at the Fair at Deer Lodge one year to carry passengers for
their first ride. Charges was 25 cents for about a mile. Down the road and back.
This caused as much excitement at the Fair as any other thing. Now we have hundreds
of them out there and very little excitement that they cause to-day, unless they wreck."
[Excerpt from MORGAN COUNTY PRESS, dated, August 16, 1926]



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FIRST DEATH VERDICT IN MORGAN'S HISTORY


Paul Rockford, negro inmate of Brushy mountain penitentiary, was convicted this week for the murder of a fellow prisoner by the name of Otis Peters, also a negro. Rockford was sentenced to death.
The negros had been at outs for some time. The evidence showed that a near fight ensued over the possession of a pillow the night before the murder and that the defendant, who claimed that he stabbed Peters in self-defense, laid in wait for the murdered negro at the opening of the mines and killed him with a dirk about fourteen inches long, confessed to have been made from a file. The jury returned a verdict Wednesday morning of murder in the first degree, the penalty being fixed as death in the electric chair. The defence asked for a new trial, which was over ruled and August 23rd was the date set for the execution.
This is the first time in the history of Morgan County that a jury has returned a verdict of death. The defening lawyers were D. W. Byrge, of Oakdale, and S.H. Justice of Wartburg, while the state is represented by States Atty, Jesse L. Rogers and J. M. Davis.
[Excerpt from Morgan County Press - dated June, 1926]



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Oakdale, Tenn., Jan 15.--
Pictures that talk like living people will be the feature attraction at the
Lyric Theatre at Oakdale on Saturday, Jan. 26th, one day only, which will
be shown in connection with the regular silent picture. The Talking Picture
-that miracle of the movies, and yesterday only a dream, has been crystallized
into reality in the new movietone to be shown here.
The program will consist of six all talking vaudeville acts, on the screen, featuring
Helen Harrell, for three years with Al Jolsons stage successes; Arthur Nealy,
the night-in-gale tenor, featured as a soloist and master of ceremonies in the
Public Houses; Marguerite Brandon, of the famous singing Brandon Vaudeville
team, chosen by Edison for the nationwide tone test comparisons and Jerry
Krone, staff night club entertainer at "The Tenth" with his famous guitar in
an interesting "Bum Song" number.
The admission is twenty and forty cents.
(From THE MORGAN COUNTY NEWS, dated, Jan. 17. 1929)





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DISTINGUISHED TRIO VISITS WARTBURG
McAlister, McKellar and Bachman Greeted by Large Crowd

"For the first time in political history
a Govenor and two United States Senators visited
Wartburg and they were greeted by an enthusiastic
and responsive crowd. Arriving in Wartbirg at 1:39 p.m.
last Wednesday over 900 people crowded the court yard
and street to greet the visitors who were accompanied
bya number of friends. Among which were Burgin Dossett,
Campaign Manager for Pope and now Assistant campaign
manager for McAlister, Harold Wimberly, Judge Bob
Williams, Alex Shell, Dave Quinn, R.B. Cassell, Chas
Donagy and many others.
They were accompanied to Scott Co. by C. W. Wright
and Carlisle Coe of Oneida. The Govenor and Senators
were delighted at the reception given them in Morgan
County."
{An excerpt Morgan County News, Nov. 1, 1934}