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Murder of Bart Johns by Tom Bass
THE FORT MYERS PRESS - July 25, 1889
From the Orlando Reporter: Last Thursday, 11th inst., the news came to Orlando that Tom Bass had killed Bart Johns in Osceola county, the day before. Lewis Johns, a son of the murdered man, was in Orlando yesterday, and from him our reporter gained the following version of the sad affair: About sunset on Wednesday, July 10th, Bart Johns, his sons and some other men were at work separating cattle, on Johns' place about forty miles Southwest of Kissimmee. Tom Bass rode up accompanied by Henry Rowan and Abe Rauberson. Tom at once began to accuse Johns of having unlawfully taken possession of some of his cattle, but Johns explained that these cattle, consisting of three steers, which bore Tom Bass' mark and brand, had been sold to him by Jack Scarborough, who had bought them from Raulerson before Tom had bought out that mark and brand. Rowan, who was Raulerson's agent testifed to the truth of this. Bass, however, was not satisfied with this explanation, and declared his intention of taking the cattle. Johns told him he would have to do it by law, and Bass said that was the way he was going to do it. Bass and a man named Will Aultman then withdrew together and had a second talk. After this, Bass was seen to get in a worse mood than before and he talked more threateningly. Johns went up to him, patted him on the knee and said: 'Now, Tom, its foolishness for you and me to fall out, we have been friends too long for that. Come on home with me, and stay all night.' Tom's reply was that he could not afford to do that, he would camp out in the woods first. He than jumped on his horse and called out to his friends; "Come on, boys, we'll get them cattle,' referring to the three steers that were in dispute. Johns again reminded him that he must proceed according to law, when Bass cursed him and called him a liar. A similar oath from Johns caused Bass to draw his revolver. Johns rushed forward and tried to catch the pistol, but Bass pounded him over the head with it, cutting the scalp to the bone and then shot Johns in the left breast, the bullet striking his heart. Lewis Johns says he ran forward and caught his father, who exclaimed, 'Boys, I am gone. Lewis, go and get Reub and Hardy,' (his sons) He did not live more than a minute after the shooting. Aultman brandished his pistol and warned the men not to touch Tom Bass, who, soon after firing the fatal shot, rode rapidly away. Aultman waved his hand after the retreating murderer, yelling, 'Go on, Tom. You are a free man and always will be.' No attempt was made to catch Bass. A warrant is out for Aultman who is looked upon as an accessory. It is thought that he is at Fort Bassenger. Tom Bass is thought to be hiding in the Canoe Creek islands, about fifteen miles south of Kissimmee. There is talk of organizing a posse of fifteen or twenty men and capturing him. Tom's brother, John, is sheriff of Osceola county. The report is that John is going to resign rather than take his brother. Tom and his brother John once kept a grocery store in Orlando. It was located on Central avenue, near the corner of the court house yard. Tom is of a jovial nature, but of late has been going to the bad pretty fast. Public opinion seems pretty solidly against him in Kissimmee. Bart Johns, the murdered man, has a great many friends, and his loss will be sorely felt among the people of lower Osceola county. He was about forty-six years old.
(submitted by Nickey Neel)
Early St. Cloud Wedding
St. Cloud Tribune
16 Dec 1915
Six Years Ago Today
The first wedding of the new colony occurred Wednesday evening, Dec. 8, the
groom being one of the guides of the Seminole Land & Investment Co., Mr. Everett
E. Bass, and the bride Miss Ella Fry, daughter of a colonist who came from West
Virginia. The ceremony was performed by Mr. William G. King, the company's
superintendent, who is a notary public, and it was his first marriage ceremony.
Only the immediate families of the bride and bridegroom were present. They will
reside with the bride's parents for the time being. Mr. Bass is a native of
Florida. The coming of northern families to this state means union in more ways
than one.
Church Erected West of City in Day's Time
St. Cloud Tribune
28 Sep 1916, pg 1
Energy of Citizens in All Walks of Life Prove What Co-operation Means -- Everybody Helped
The church has proven again that "in union there is strength." On Wednesday of last week a very determined band of St. Cloud citizens accomplished a feat in church building never before recorded in this section, and but only in a few isolated instances in the United States, when about fifty men, in all walks of life, assisted in building a new church on the county road one and one-half miles west of town, the structure assuming definite shape within a very short time after hammers and saws got on the job.
The new church is 28x44 feet, and Comrade Burtner was chiefly responsible for what was being done. Although Comrade Burtner is seventy-three years old, and had served in the 123rd? Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, he made all plans and in addition was right there with the strong arm when it came to driving spikes The Tribune man will vouch for there being no better "hitter" in all these environs when it is a question spotting a nail on the bean. And let us say, by way of parenthesis, that every time he hit the nail it went down a surprising distance. That is why we say he is such a good knocker.
Present among the alleged carpenters were of course a few real carpenters, some contractors, a few butchers, an isolated preacher, "one consecutive" printer (who looked wise and otherwise), one rather useful furniture man who was chiefly conspicuous for his ability to crack jokes and otherwise contribute to the delight of the entire aggregation, together with the comrades of advanced years who worked side by side in the building of the structure. The original idea, and by the way, originating in that massive and fertile brain of one certain --- McKay, was to build the church in a single day. Lynn Daughterty was on the job, said to have been conscripted for water boy, but we can vouch for the fact that we saw him with a board up against his left ear and stooping rather lowly.
It was a pleasing sight to see such men as E. E. Scranton, Rev. Northrop, Comrade Burtner, John Palgett, and fifty more who names were not obtainable, wielding the saw like veterans. Although some thumbs assumed huge proportions with a roseate hue early in the game, the work progressed with despatch [sic]. One critic on the grounds suggested that some needed mallets to better hit the nails, but we ignored the brute and went on in the "even tenor of our way."
The noon hour saw the building with the walls nearly completed and the flooring fairly under way, and then came the opportunity for the women workers (there were thirty of them) to demonstrate their interest in the undertaking, and the spread provided was one which would have encouraged most any man to be a carpenter for a day, or even a week. We have seen "big eats" before, but this was the "biggest eats," to eat, that we have ever eaten. After fifty ravenous men had partaken to their fullest capacity it was hardly noticeable that any food had disappeared - all but the chicken, this same viand developing the fact hat that were others besides Methodist preachers who had a weakness for chicken. We perceived several nicely browned pullet hams disappearing down cavernous maws in the latest approved manner. Our friend McKay, who it is reported migrated from Ireland recently, to avoid service in the King's own regiment, was a regular Hobson with the ladies, and it was intimated that there was evidence of favoritism. Anyway, he inherited the several bouquets that had previously garnered the table.
There seemed to be a real contest among the workers to demonstrate their ability as builders. George S. Burtner, architect and designer of the structure, was decided to be the best nail driver, while Brother McKay, aside from being a favorite with the ladies, as aforesaid, proved he could "square" flooring without a square.
The Rev. Brown, who presides over the destinies of church affairs in that locality, furnished the funds with which to procure material. It was the intention at first, to employ only a few carpenter and proceed with the building in the usual manner, but acting upon the happy thought of Mr. McKay, the entire structure was almost completed in a single day, with no cost of labor. This fact will be a great surprise to Brother Brown, as he has not been apprised of what has been done.
Services will be held regularly by the congregation, although no announcement has been made and no information is at present obtainable as to just when and how they will be conducted.
The ladies of the church expressed their deep appreciation for the assistance
given by the citizens of St. Cloud for the assistance thus rendered, and also to
Mr. C. g. Somers for the privilege of using his little cottage in which to
spread the noonday meal.
Lodge Directory
St. Cloud Tribune
27 Feb 1919, pg 7
Odd Fellows
St. Cloud Lodge No. 66, I.O.O.F.,
meets every Tuesday evening in the G. A. R. Hall. Fred B. Kenney, Secretary.
Visiting brothers always welcome.
Loyal Order of Moose, No. 1577, meets every first and second Wednesday, in the Moose Home, Miles Building. G. C. Outlaw, Secretary. Visiting members welcome to home at any time and will be given hand of fellowship at all meetings.
Woodmen of the World
Lynn Camp, No. 127, Woodmen of the
World, meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month. G. C. Outlaw, Clerk.
Visiting members are always welcome.
Daughters of Rebekah
Benevolent Lodge No. 23, Daughters of
Rebekah, meet in G. A. R. Hall every second and fourth Mondays, at 7:30 p.m.
Mrs. Clara Sims, Secretary. All visiting Rebekahs cordially invited to attend
our meetings.
Daughters of Veterans
Mother Bickerdyke Tent No. 1,
Daughters of Veterans, meet the first and third Tuesdays, at 2 p.m., in the G.
A. R. Hall. Mrs. Jennie Reinhart, President, Jane R. Warner, Secretary.
Woman's Relief Corps.
L. L. Mitchell Relief Corps meets at
2 p.m. the second and forth Thursday of each month in the G. A. R. hall. Post
and corps visitors are cordially invited to attend. Julia French, president.
Peghorn
Kissimmee Valley Gazette
1 Sep 1905
Mr. D. N. Floyd went to Kissimmee
on business Monday.
Miss Laura Long who has been home on
a visit to her parents for the past week, left for Tampa, Saturday.
Mrs. John L. Deeson has been quite
sick for the past few days, but glad to say she is improving at present.
If anyone sees or hears anything of
our Sunday school superintendent, we would be pleased if they would kindly let
us know where he is.
Messrs. Charlie Donegan, Pat Johnson
and Willie Makinson, took dinner with Mr. Floyd, Saturday and Sunday.
Prof. Hubbard, of Center Park school,
was in Peghorn on business Saturday.
Mr. Luther Warren's mother was
visiting in Peghorn, Friday and Saturday, and returned home Sunday accompanied
by her daughter Mrs. Warren.
Mr. Davis who was sent to the poor
farm some time ago is very sick and at present date, hasn't his right mind.
Our protracted meeting begins here on
the first Saturday in September, conducted by Rev. Guy.
Am glad to say the Peghorn school is
progressing fine and has twenty pupils on roll.
We are still having plenty of rain
and most too many mosquitoes.
- Daisy
To Manufacture Brick.
Kissimmee Valley Gazette
1 Sep 1905
Kissimmee is to have a new
enterprise at an early date. While in the North a few weeks ago T. W. Ellis
purchased the necessary machinery for manufacturing cement brick, and will begin
operations as soon as his outfit arrives.
Mr. Ellis is as yet undecided as to
his location, but will get as near where the Midland railroad joines the main
line as possible, as he expects to get his sand from up the Midland road, and
will ship his product over the main line.
More About Narcoossee Homes
Kissimmee Valley Gazette
8 Sep 1905
Splendid Descriptions of Col.
Cadman's Bungalow and Jas. Tison's Farm, with a Fragrant Boquet for the Editor.
Peerless narcooossee has many
visitors. The beautiful homes of Col. Cadman, the Fell place and others, with
the general hospitality of our citizens attracts pleasure seekers, scientists,
sportsmen and invalids in numbers every month in the year. It is safe to say the
visit of Editor Harris was a pleasure to all who met him and our only regret is
that it was so brief. To the majority of the citizens of this county, the Valley
Gazette is the medium of touch, not only with our local affairs, but with the
great world outside. From its birth it has been a remarkably clean, newsy family
paper, free from scandal or any matter not admitable in refined circles. It has
always been generous with those who differ with it on politics, religion or
civic affairs, hence has few enemies - many friends. Probably no visitor ever
received as much attention from our citizens and the men who control the great
interests here as did Editor Harris. A special car and new engine was at his
disposal. One of the oldest officials of the great A. C. L. Ry accompanied him
with instructions to see every wish supplied. One of our many automobules was at
his disposal day and night. It was somewhat disappointing he could not use but
one.
One days visit hardly gives a glimpse
of Narcoossee. Among our show places not visited was the Bungalow of Col.
Cadman. here the visitor will see a great live oak that would be an object of
beauty and of great value in any of the noted worlds parks, a collection of
palms, shrubs and plants not found in any other place in this section. The
careful attention to lawn, orchard, animals and buildings, the perfect order
manifested in every thing on the grounds renders this place pleasing to every
visitor.
Then there's the farm of James Tyson,
Esq., well worthy of inspection, by any one interested in agriculture. This
place combines an orange grove, a stock farm, with the raising of the usual farm
products and vegetables. With its neat cottages, surrounded by shrubs and
flowers, its fences and buildings in perfect order. The place is a credit to our
county and State. If a thousand men should say Florida was no agricultural
state, this model farm, laid out on one of our poorest tracts of land would
disprove the assertion.
The Best farm and grove - the Burnam,
Woodham and Butler orange groves would each form a subject for a long letter.
Its beginning now to be known that
Narcoossee with all its many other advantages such as health, cultured society,
schools, beautiful location and morality of its citizens is specially adapted
for orange and peach growing. We not only grow fruit not surpassed for quality,
but the New York papers invariably announces "first arrival of oranges in our
market came today from Narcoossee, Fla."
The man who buys land and makes a
home in Narcooossee or indeed in most any part of Osceola or contiguous counties
will find he has used good judgement, and will in the end prove a good
investment, Narcoossee.
Bryan - Carson marriage
St. Cloud Tribune
10 Jun 1920
Miss Anne Bryan Carson, daughter of Hon. C. A. Carson and Mrs. C. A. Carson, and Dr. C. E. Dunaway were married on May 27, in Lake City at the home of the bride's sister [Elizabeth], the Home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Chalker.
[Note: C. A. Carson, President of the State Bank of Kissimmee organized in 1901. C. A. Carson is in personals on 10 Jun 1920, but is dead by 11 Oct 1920.]