With The Colored
Articles from the Lawrence
Democrat Union
Lawrence County, Tennessee
compiled by Donna Niedergeses Davis
The information below was taken from local newspaper articles written by Alice Smith of the Long Branch Community about the African-American people who lived in the area - their health, deaths, weather, crops, community events, and other happenings. The only articles found so far are for 1939-early 1941. If others are found, they will be added to this web page.
21 April 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, April 16th – Health is this community is fine at present.
Those that visited in the Richard Collier home Sunday were William, John, and Sherman, Jr., Kennedy, all of Lawrenceburg.
Mrs. Lois Collier of Spring community, visited in the home of the writer, one day last week.
Sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Roy Buford, of near Lawrenceburg. The writer and family extends sympathy to the bereaved.
We sure had a wind and rain storm here last night.
The wet weather sure is throwing the farmers here behind with their work.
28 April 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, April 24th – My, what a beautiful, spring morning. The farmers here are preparing and planting corn.
Richard Collier and daughter, Gladys, attended church services at Lawrenceburg, Sunday, April 23.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Roberson, Jr., and Miss Margaret Roberson, of Gandy, were down on the Branch, one day last week.
Those that visited in the home of the writer Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sowell and daughters, Eddie Sowell and nephews, all of Lawrenceburg, and Mrs. Florence Whitlow of Detroit, Mich. Mrs. Whitlow is the daughter of Melvin Smith, of this place.
John Kennedy, of Lawrenceburg, spent a while with his mother and family, one night recently.
5 May 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, May 1 – The farmers here are very busy after a few days delay. Most every one seems to be in very good health.
Mrs. Andrew Frierson, who recently underwent an operation at the Lawrenceburg Hospital, is reported doing nicely at this writing. We hope for a speedy recovery for Mrs. Frierson. Mrs. Frierson will be remembers as Miss Elizabeth Collier.
Richard Collier of this place attended church service at Lawrenceburg, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Collier and children of the Spring Creek community were the dinner guests in the home of the writer Sun.
26 May 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, May 22 – My! we sure are having some rain here, which was greatly appreciated.
Mrs. Lura Kennedy and grandson, of Gandy, were down on the Branch, one day last week.
William and John Kennedy, of Lawrenceburg, spent a while Sunday night with their mothers and family, Mr. and Mrs. Pickard Collier.
Mrs. And Mrs. Marvin Collier and children of Spring Creek community, spent a while in the home of the writer, Sunday.
9 June 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, June 5 – We certainly hope that the rains are over with for a while so the farmers may do some work in their crops.
Health of this community is very good at present.
William and John Kennedy, of Lawrenceburg, spent a while Sunday evening with their mother and family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier.
Mrs. Laura Kennedy and Milliard Collier of Gandy, are down on the Branch today, (Monday).
7 July 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, July 3 – All in this community are quite busy with their farm work.
Those who spent a while in the Richard Collier home Sunday were Walter Collier, Mrs. Cora Roberson, Lewis Roberson and Horace Collier, of Knob Creek, also Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Collier and children of Spring Creek.
Those who were dinner guests in the home of the writer Sunday were Frank Collier and son, Mrs. Lois Collier and children and Lewis Roberson.
Quite a few house wives in this community are engaged in canning berries and vegetables. Guess you all are looking forward to a big fourth.
14 July 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, July 10 – We are still having a few showers of rain every few days. Everyone in this community is very busy.
Miss Annie Eva Morris of Chicago, Ill., if visiting relatives and friends here.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier and daughter, of this place, spend Sunday night with Mr. and Mrs. Will Roberson of Knob Creek.
William and John Kennedy of Lawrenceburg, spent a while in the home of the writer, recently.
Sorry to hear of the sudden illness of Miss Margaret Esthers. We hope for her a speedy recovery.
Millard Collier and Miss Anne Eva Morris spent a while Sunday evening in the Ferd Roberson home.
1 September 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, August 21 – Everyone in this community is quite busy canning and drying fruit.
William and John Kennedy, of Lawrenceburg, spent a while Sunday evening with their mother, Mrs. Richard Collins.
Miss Annie Eva Morris has returned to Sheffield, Ala., after spending several weeks with relatives here.
News has been received here that Miss Annie Laura Roberson of Gandy is quite ill. We hope she soon recovers.
Milliard Collier and sister, Miss Louise Collier, of Nashville, were down on the Branch, recently.
Richard Collier, of this place, attended church services at Lawrenceburg, Sunday.
29 September 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, September 25. Several here are suffering with colds.
Cotton picking and hay bailing seem to be the order of the day.
Mrs. Delpha Roberson, of Gandy, spent a while Saturday morning with Mrs. Mayme Collier.
Miss Annie Laura Roberson, of Gandy, is reported improving after an extended illness.
Mrs. Alice Yarbrough, of Tuscumbia, Ala., is here visiting her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier.
Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Smith and children, of Lawrenceburg, spent Sunday with is father and family, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Smith.
William and John Kennedy, of Lawrenceburg, spent a while Sunday in the Richard Collier home.
6 October 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, October 2 – Cotton picking and molasses making seems to be the go here at present.
Those that visited in the Richard Collier home Sunday, were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collier and children, Mr. and Mrs. John Duglass and brother and Mrs. Cora Roberson, all of Knob Creek.
John and Sherman Kennedy Jr., of Lawrenceburg, called in the home of the writer, Sunday morning.
Richard Collier made a business trip to Lawrenceburg, today (Monday).
The colored Junior High School at Lawrenceburg is reported to be getting along nicely under the efficient management of Prof. Joe Thomas.
20 October 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, October 16 – Health in this community is fine at present.
Mrs. Laura Kennedy and granddaughters and Charity Roberson of Gandy, were down on the Branch, one day recently.
Mrs. Alice Yarbrough has returned to her home at Tuscumbia, Alabama, after spending several weeks with her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier of this place.
William and Sherman Kennedy, Jr., of Lawrenceburg, spent a while in the home of the writer, Sunday.
Richard Collier of this place attended church services at Lawrenceburg, Sunday.
3 November 1939
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, October 30 – My! we sure had a big frost Sunday morning. Health in this community is fine. Corn gathering is the order of the day.
Ferd Roberson, of Gandy, was down on the Branch, yesterday, (Sunday).
Quite a few young people, of Lawrenceburg, called in the home of the writer, Sunday.
Mrs. Laura Kennedy, of Gandy, was down on the Branch, one day last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier and daughter, Gladys, were in Lawrenceburg, Saturday.
News has been received here that Miss Louise Collier, of Nashville, was expected here Friday, to spend the week end with her grandmother, Mrs. Laura Kennedy of Gandy.
19 January 1940
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, January 15 – Since I have been absent for a few weeks will send in a few items.
Health in this community is fine at present.
The snow is gone and rain is taking its place.
Part of the rural school children have been absent from school on account of the bad weather.
Quite a few people of this community were in town Saturday.
Those visiting in the Richard Collier home Sunday night were William Rhodes, Alvyn Tucker, Samual Buckhanan and John and William Kennedy, all of Lawrenceburg.
The wedding bells did ring for Rufus Jobes and Miss Annie Laura Robison. Miss Robison is the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Robison of Gandy. Mr. Jobes and Miss Robison were united in marriage December 26. Their many friends in this community wish them much happiness in the coming years. Mr. and Mrs. Jobes have gone to Virginia, where they expect to make their home.
19 March 1940
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, March 25 – Hello everybody. Guess you all enjoyed Easter. Quite a shock to arise early Easter morning and find the ground covered with snow.
Farmers of this community are getting along slowly with their farm work.
Mrs. Laura Kennedy and granddaughter, Margaret Roberson of gandy, were down on the Branch one day last week.
Mrs. John Douglas, who recently underwent an operation at the local hospital, is reported to be improving nicely. Mrs. Duglass will be remembered as Miss Georgia Hogue.
Mrs. Marvin Collier of Spring Creek community spent one day recently with Mrs. Richard Collier of this place.
Since news is scarce, will ring off. Be seeing you next week.
26 April 1940
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, April 22nd – Health in this community if fine at present.
Mr. and Mrs. William Waddy and daughter, Miss Louise Collier of Nashville visited Mrs. Waddy’s mother, Mrs. Laura Kennedy of Gandy, Sunday.
Mrs. Marvin Collier and children of Spring Creek community visited Mrs. Richard Collier, Sunday.
Those who spent the day in the Smith home Sunday were Mrs. Mahlon Hickman and children Martha Francis Wilkerson and Margaret Stevenson all of Lawrenceburg.
News has been received that Mrs. Ferd Roberson, Jr., of Columbia, who has been quite ill, is much improved now. We hope for Mrs. Roberson a speedy recovery.
Ferd Roberson of Gandy was down on the Branch one day last week.
The cold weather killed most of the people’s gardens and peaches in this community. Some few of the farmers have planted corn.
See you next week.
8 November 1940
(Alice Smith)
LONG BRANCH, November 4 – Since I have been absent for quite a while, will try and send in a few items.
Cotton picking and corn gathering is the order of the day here. Sure had a nice rain here Friday.
Those that spent a while in the Richard Collier home Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collier and children, Mrs. Cora Roberson and Walter Collier, all of Knob Creek.
Sherman Wallace and children of Killen, Ala., spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Roberson.
The marriage of Louise Collier a student of A&I State College to Roy V. Ashworth, a graduate of the same College, took place at a quite ceremony, October 9. Bro. White officiated. The people in this community join me in wishing this young couple much happiness.
Those that spent a while in the home of the writer Sunday were J. W. Looper, Carl Blair, Sam Clegget and John Kennedy.
Mrs. Laura Kennedy and grandson, John H. Roberson, spent a while Friday with Mrs. Richard Collier.
I suppose the Hallowe’en spooks had quite a difficult time getting around Thursday night, as it rained so much.
10 January 1941
(Alice Smith)
ROUTE TWO, Jan. 6 – Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ashworth of Nashville spent the Christmas holidays with Mrs. Ashworth’s grandmother, Mrs. Laura Kennedy.
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Joobe of Starrat, W. Va., spent Christmas holidays with Mrs. Jobe’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Robison.
A wedding of much interest to the people of this section was that Miss Margaret Roberson and Lawrence Webster. Miss Roberson is the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Roberson. This community joins in wishing this young couple much happiness thru the years together.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Collier and daughter spent one day recently with Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Collier of Spring Creek.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Collier and children of Spring Creek spent Christmas in the home of the writer.
Mrs. Dick Collier and daughter, Gladys, spent Saturday afternoon in the home of the writer.
Updated Feburary 10, 2013 by Kathy Niedergeses