The Dresden Enterprise, We Like the Depression

We Like the Depression
Compliments of--
      The Dresden Enterprise
           
            It Covers the County Like
                   the Dew of Heaven

I like the Depression.

No more prosperity for me.

I have had more fun since the Depression started than I ever had in my life.  I had forgotten how to live, what it meant to have real friends, what it was like to eat common everyday food.  Fact is, I was getting just a little high-hat.  

Six years ago, only one man of the Office Equipment Organization could be out of town at the same time and had to leave at the last minute and get back as soon as possible.  many times I have driven 100 miles to a banquet, sat through three hours of bunk in order to make a five-minute speech, then drive the 100 miles back as to be ready for work the next morning.

Nowadays, as many Office Equipment employees as are invited make these trips and we stay as long as we want to.  Most of the out fit could leave the office and it wouldn't make any difference.

I like the Depression.  I have time to visit my friends, to make new ones.  Six years ago when I went to a neighboring town, i always stayed at the hotel.  now I go home with my friends, stay all night and enjoy home cooking.  I have even spent the week-end with some of the boys who have been kind enough to invite me.

It's great to drop into a store and feel that you can spend an hour or two or three or a half day just visiting and not feel that you are wasting valuable time.  I like the depression.

I am getting acquainted with my neighbors.  In the last six months I have become acquainted with folks who have been living next door to me for three years.  I am following the biblical admonition "Love Your neighbor."  One of my neighbors has one of the best looking wives I have ever seen.  She is a dandy.

I haven't been out on a party in 18 months.  I am getting acquainted with my neighbors and learning to love them.

Six years ago I ordered my clothes from a merchant tailor, two or three suits at a time.  All my clothes were good ones.  I always dressed up.  But now I haven't bought a suit in two years.  i am mighty proud of my Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.  When i dress up, I am dressed up and don't mean maybe.  I like the depression.

Six years ago I was so busy and my wife was so busy that we didn't see much of each other, consequently, we sort of lost interest in each other.  I never went home to lunch.  About twice a week I went home for dinner at 6:30 o'clock.  I never had time to go anywhere with her.  If I did go on a party, I could never locate her, since there was always a "blond" or a "red-headed" available.  I didn't worry much about it.

My wife belonged to all the clubs in town.  She even joined the young mothers' club.  We didn't have any children, but she was studying and between playing bridge and going to clubs, she was never at home.  We got stuck up and high-faluting.  We even took down the old family bed and bought a set of twin beds on the installments.

When I would come home at night, if my was at home, she would already be in her bed and I would crawl in mine.  If I came in first it was vice versa.

We like the Depression.  We have come down off our pedestal and are living at my house now.  the twin beds are stored in the garage and the old family affair is being used.  We are enjoying life.  Instead of taking a hot water bottle to bed cold nights, she sticks her heels in my back, just like she did before Hoover was elected.

I have lost my book of telephone numbers.  My wife has dropped all the clubs.  I believe we are falling in love all over again.  I am pretty well satisfied with my wife.  think I will keep her, at least until she is 40, and then if i feel like I do  now, I may trade her for two twenties.

I am feeling better since the Depression.  I take more exercise.   I walk to town and a lot of folks who used to drive Cadillacs are walking with me.  I like the Depression.

My digestion is better.  I haven't been to see a doctor in a year.  I can eat anything I want.

I am getting real, honest-to-goodness food.  Six years ago, we had a filet mignon once a week, now we have round steak with flour and gravy.  Then we had roast breast of guinea hen, now we are glad to get sow-bossom with the buttons on it.

I like the Depression.  My salary has been cut to where I can't afford to buy lettuce and spinach and parsley and we can't afford to have sandwiches and frozen desserts and all that damfoolishness which has killed more good men than the World War.

I like the Depression.  Six years ago I never had time to go to Church.  I played golf all day Sunday and besides I was so darned smart that there wasn't a preacher in south Florida who could tell me anything. Now I am going to Church regularly--never miss a Sunday. 

And if this Depression keeps on, I am going to prayer meetings before long.

I like the Depression.

Apologies to Henry Ashley, Amarillo News Globe, killed in auto wreck after this article was written.

A Chieftain Has Fallen...Obit of J.W. Moran from The Martin Mail Apr 16 1912

In April I posted the obituary from the Dresden Enterprise and the funeral notice for John W. Moran.  Today I came across a copy of The Martin Mail dated April 16, 1912.   I knew right away that it could mean just one thing, it contained an obituary for John W.   I would correct only one thing about it.  Near the end it says he left behind two sons and two daughters, he actually had three daughters.  

Capt. J.W. Moran, aged 73, died Friday night at St. Thomas Hospital, at Nashville, after an illness of some two years' duration.  He was a son of James H. Moran, an early settler of Weakley County, and had been a prominent and leading citizen in the social, financial and religious affairs of the county for many years.  In the first days of the Civil War he joined Company "I," Thirty-first Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A.  He remained in service during the entire war and participated in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, finally surrendering with Johnston at Greenville, N.C. Returning home from the war he entered the mercantile business, and was soon the leading financial citizen of the county.  Upon the organization of the Dresden Bank in 1889 he was elected its first President, and continued to occupy that position until the time of his death.

He was a member of the M.E. Church South, and of Dresden Lodge, No. 90, F & A. M.  The following children survive him:  James H. Moran, Dresden; Harrell Moran, Newsom Station, Mrs. W.G. Timberlake, Jackson; Mrs. James B. Ezzell, Newsom Station; Mrs. Chas. H. Cobb, Union City.  The remains were interred at the family cemetery, near Dresden, on Sunday.

In the death of John Moran the county has lost one of its very best, most wide awake citizens, a Christian gentleman; a gentleman of the old school, with that hospitality that Southern people are so noted for. Dresden loses a fine citizen, a good man, and his children a devoted and lovable father.  John Moran will be missed by a large number of people all over Weakley County who loved him for his many noble traits of character.

In speaking of the death of Mr. Moran, our Dresden correspondent says: His remains were brought home Saturday evening, and a large crowd of citizens of Dresden were at the depot when the train arrived, who expressed their sympathy and sorrow. The funeral services were had Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. R.C. Douglas and assisted by Revs. J.W. Irion and G.,T. Mayo.  Mr. George Martin, of Martin, gave a short eulogy on the life of Mr. Moran, and Judge Jones read an appropriate poem, which was one of Mr. Moran's favorites in his lifetime.  Not near all the people who attended these funeral services were able to get in the church.  Many of Mr. Moran's friends from Martin, Greenfield and Sharon were present, and many others from a distance paid their last respects with their presence. Interment was had at the old family graveyard about a mile north of Dresden.  Mr. Moran leaves two sons and two daughters, to whom we express our sympathy, and with whom we share their sorrow. Every citizen of Dresden and all who knew him can truly say that a good and noble man has departed from among us--that a chieftain has fallen.  He was aged seventy-two years, was a member of the Methodist church, and died in the triumphs of the faith of a devoted Christian.

Dresden Enterprise Apr 24 1896 - The Illustrated Edition Part 15 "W.L. Tugwell"

This is the fifteenth in a multi-part series featuring the April 24 1896 edition of the Dresden Enterprise.  If you missed the previous posts you can find them here: part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen.

Mr. Tugwell was born on a farm near Brownsville, where he remained until he came to Dresden in 1890 to clerk in the drug store of W.R. Bobbitt, which position he has since held to the entire satisfaction of his employer and a large number of patrons of this house.  

Mr. Tugwell is a member of the Methodist church here, and was superintendent of the Sunday school for one year, but declined a re-election.  He has always been active in church work, and is now one of the stewards.  he is a young man of much promise of a useful life, and will no doubt be eminently successful, if punctuality to business, and a strict moral character, embellished by a bright intellect will bring their reward.  

He is not married, but is old enough to vote.  We gently hint to the young ladies that this is leap year.

~~~~~~~~

William L. Tugwell was a son of Robert Rufus Tugwell (born in Haywood County) and Benanna Alice Finch (born in Weakley County).  He was born August 19, 1870 in Haywood County, Tennessee. His siblings were 

Luella Tugwell (1868-1944), 

John Tugwell (1869-?)

Robert Bruce Tugwell (1873-1936), 

Albert Sidney Tugwell (1875-1945), 

Stella May Tugwell (1879-1955), 

Benanna Alice Tugwell (1881-1962) and 

Edna Gertrude Tugwell (1885-1953). 

With the exception of his brother Robert, it seems the entire Tugwell family moved to Texas sometime after 1900.  Robert stayed in Brownsville.  Benanna Alice and Edna Gertrude married and moved to Louisiana.

A search of the Tugwell family showed that William's sister Stella was in Weakley county as well.  From the Dresden Enterprise, April 10 1903:  "Grove Hill Doings Column- Miss Stella Tugwell closed out one of the best schools last Friday we have ever had in the 29th school district, and to show their appreciation, the directors closed a contract with her to teach our school next fall."

  

In regards to William the following appeared in the Dresden Enterprise May 27, 1904:

"We know of nothing that could have grieved this community more than the news of the deaqth of Will Tugwell which occurred at his home in Dallas, Texas, last week.  Will left here in 1900 for Texas for the benefit of his health, which was fast failing him, but almost weekly letters from him brought the good news of his improvement and friends here had hoped and prayed to see him return some day fully restored to health. Only a few weeks ago it was rumored that Will would be here this summer on a visit, and many hearts were gladdened at the proposed meeting.  but alas, the cruel disease, consumption, sapped his young life away. Truly, in the midst of life we are in death.  Will Tugwell was just in the prime of young manhood when the destroying disease gathered him home to his maker.  No man ever stood higher in the esteem or estimation of many people than he; a devout christian, a true friend, a perfect gentleman with whom he came in contact, Too much could not be said in praise of this noble young man, whom to know was to admire, he made friends of those with whom he made contact.  Surely, the world is better because he inhabited it and, surely heaven is made brighter because he is there.

William died  May 21 1904 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Dallas Texas.  He shares a headstone with his father.

For more information about the Tugwell family check out The Tugwell and Finch families of Tennessee and allied families of Virginia and North Carolina by Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins.  It's a part of the Open Library program.

The complete list of links in this multi-part series:
part one, part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven, part eight, part nine, part ten, part eleven, part twelve, part thirteen, part fourteen, part fifteen, part sixteen, part seventeen, part eighteen, part nineteen, part twenty, part twenty-one, part twenty-two, part twenty-three.