May 28th Edition

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." -- Romans 12:15

Happy birthday to: Janelle Briant (May 31), Bobby Thompson (May 27), Joe Bryant (May 31). Happy anniversary to Bro. Billy and Glenda Wilson (June 2).

Here's hoping everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.

West Saline Water Users Association will hold its annual meeting Thursday, June 13 at its office on Main Street. The main business is to elect two new board members to serve on the board of directors. Two $50 bill credits will be awarded from a drawing from the ballots cast by members. Be sure to check out their new website at www.westsalinewater.ruralwaterusa.com where you can make online payments.

An extract from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas, Chapter 25, page 619: James Edgar Martin is a stock-dealer and merchant of New Edinburg, Ark., and was born in Bradley County, Ark., on May 27, 1852, being a son of Dr. John W. and Mary E. (Franklin) Martin, who were born in Virginia and Arkansas respectively. Both are residents of Warren, Bradley County, Ark., and Dr. Martin is now seventy-one years of age... a family of twelve children was born to himself and wife, eight of whom are now living, James Edgar Martin being the second child. In his youth he attended the Warren High School, and in 1873 left his home to embark in the mercantile business, first as salesman at Collins Station, in his uncle's employ, then for the firm of Martin and Goodwin of Warren. In 1876 he came to New Edinburg and became an associate of Martin and Goodwin in the firm of T. M. Goodwin & Co., but in 1883 he became sole proprietor and has since been successfully engaged in business alone. In connection with managing his store he also deals extensively in stock, and is the owner of some very fine registered Holstein and Jersey cattle. He has been grading his stock for four years past, and now has one of the finest herds in the county. He is also the owner of 1,500 acres of land in Bradley and Cleveland Counties, a goodly portion of which is under cultivation, and is accounted not only a successful farmer and stockman also. Like his father, he is a Mason and a Democrat, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Word, and whom he married on March 5, 1884, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a daughter of James Word of New Edinburg. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, Anna May and John Ernest.

Feel free to share with this column.  Go Eagles.

May 21 Edition

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." - 1 Corinthians 1:10

Prayers go out to the families who suffered incredible losses in Oklahoma this past week due to savage tornadoes.

Birthdays this week include: James Norris (May 21), Princess Warner (May 26).  Happy belated birthday to Termedia Jackson (May 15) and Marnell Parker (May 19).

Harold Dean Sims donated a class picture of the NEHS class of 1950 to the West Saline Community Center.  Thanks go to him for this.  Our recollection of class photos is slowly growing.

West Saline Community Center's board will have a work day this Saturday starting at 7:30 or 8:00am to the effect of cleaning off the bushes in front of the building and around the gymnasium plus assorted other jobs.  Please join us if the spirit of the Eagle moves you.

West Saline Water Users Association will hold its annual meeting Thursday, June 13 at its office on Main Street. The main business is to elect two new board members to serve on the board of directors. Two $50 bill credits will be awarded from a drawing from the ballots cast by members. Be sure to check out their new website at www.westsalinewater.ruralwaterusa.com where you can make online payments.

Feel free to share items of interest with this column.  To get it in for a particular week, I need to see it before that Monday.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

May 17th Edition

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 KJV
Happy birthday this week to: Patsy Spears (May 12), James McClellan (May 18), Ronnie McClellan (May 18), Jerry Don Langford (May 19).
Here's hoping all mothers here and abroad had an excellent Mother's Day last Sunday.
Ruth Broughton was honored by her family with a Mother's Day celebration Sunday at the West Saline Community Center.
Visiting me this weekend: Jessie Noble and John Sanchez of Little Rock.
Emmaus Baptist Church will celebrate its 130th anniversary this May 19.
Another excerpt from Goodspeed's History of Arkansas, Chapter 25: "

George Meriwether Marks has been a resident of Cleveland County, Ark., for fifty-four years, although his birth occurred in Montgomery County, Ala., June 19, 1833, he being a son of Hastings
and Sivility (Powell) Marks, a short history of whom is given is the sketch of James N. Marks, their son.
George M. obtained a fair education in the common schools of Georgia, and in the Masonic Institute at Clarksville, Tenn., but after leaving the latter institution in 1855, he commenced merchandising at Mark's Mill, but at the end of two years he settled on his present farm in Cleveland County, Ark.
In the month of October, 1863, he joined the Second Arkansas Confederate Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Poison Springs, Mount Elba and many skirmishes. On leaving the army he still possessed his old war-horse, and he returned home and resumed the cultivation of his farm, which has received his attention ever since. His home plantation consists of 690 acres of valuable land, but he has 810 acres in another tract.
November 22, 1857, was the date of his marriage to Miss Catherine E. Tolefree, a daughter of Dr. Robert Tolefree. The latter was born in New York City, was a graduate of Yale College, and was a physician of prominence, being also a practitioner of law.
He died at Monticello, Ga., February 1, 1850. To Mr. and Mrs. Marks a family of ten children have been born: Fannie D. (wife of Frank McGehee, an attorney of Varner, Ark.), Amelia M., Anna L. (who was born June 20, 1864, and died January 21, 1887, the wife of J. S. Moseley), Mattie H. (wife of E. B. Atwood, a farmer of the county), Deborah C., Robert T., George E., Clara W., Barbara T., and Ruth (who was born March 30, 1883, and died August 23, 1887).
Mrs. Marks is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in his religious views Mr. Mark is a Unitarian. He is a Mason and is a Democrat."
Feel free to share items you want to see here.  Look for us on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

May 8 Edition

" Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  --- James 5:16 KJV

Prayer list this week includes the family of Martha Jean Morgan... especially Larry Morgan who has lost both his mother and daughter in the last two weeks.

Birthdays this week: Tina Sanders (May 7), ME! (May 7), Daniel Bryant (May 9), Kim Emerson (May 10), Kayla Herring (May 10), Michael Rawls (May 11), Devlyn Moring (May 11).
About 70 family and friends attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Rex and Pam Trammell held at the New Edinburg Community Center.  I saw some excellent footage taken in 1969 with a Super 8 camera and transferred to DVD... especially a quick trip down main street of New Edinburg.
This is a short column for this week, but please feel free to help me fill it up next week!  Go Eagles.

April 29th Edition

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" --- Job 19:25

Happy birthday this week to: Morgan Searcy and Norma Thompson - April 28, Jackie Shafer-Huddleston - May 1. Happy belated birthday to Daisy Blackmon - April 23.

Lori Morgan Nichols, daughter of Larry Morgan, passed away April 25, so please remember her family in prayer.

Tully and Norma McCoy were visited last week by his niece Ruth McCoy Barnett from Washington State. They took advantage of the decent weather to give Ruth a good tour of the countryside and attractions.

Visitors to the New Edinburg Museum last week were: Norma McCoy, Martha Cook, Ruth McCoy Barnett, Ollie Faye (Rice) Harris, Mongolia (Erwin) Beck, Rex Trammell, Pam Trammell, Lyslie Trammell, and Barbie Trammell.  We had a great time and learned a lot from each other.  Pam has saved me an incredible amount of time on my cemetery research project by providing me with a recent list of names and dates from Shady Grove... 871 graves, in case you're curious.  Thanks to her for doing the hard work there.  The New Edinburg Museum is dedicated to preserving and teaching local area history.

There will be a massive yard sale at the home of Jerry Langford on Mt. Elba Road starting May 1st and finishing up May 4.

Rex and Pam Trammell will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 5 from 1-3pm at the New Edinburg Community Center.

If you have items of interest for this column... birthdays, anniversaries, events, or whatever... then please send them to me before Monday in order to get them in that week's column.  Go Eagles.

April 22 Edition

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." --- Romans 1:20 KJV
Birthday wishes: Kim Allen - April 22,  Erwin Dyer - April 24, Cecil Sanders - April 26, Geraldine Sanders - April 27, Jeanette Thompson and Robert Dyer - April 27, Morgan Searcy and Norma Thompson - April 28.

Happy Anniversary: Bill and Judy Perry - April 24.

Homecoming is this coming Sunday at Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church starting at 10:30am. There will be special singing in the afternoon.
The New Edinburg Museum will be open this Saturday afternoon from noon until 4pm.  It's located in the old school building.  Please feel free to drop by; admission is free.

There will be a business meeting for the St. John Cemetery at Sweet Union COGIC on Broughton Road on April 27 at 10:00 am to elect new officers and discuss old business.  Anyone with business or concerns with St. John Cemetery is invited to attend.

If you have items of interest for this column, please feel free to share with me before Monday in order to get it in that week's paper.  Go Eagles.

April 15 Edition

^"11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." -- Romans 8:11-12

Birthdays this week include: Johnnie Green & Ella Green April 15.

The Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church's annual homecoming is on April 28th at 10:30 am. They will have potluck lunch & special singing in the afternoon.

New Edinburg Fire Department responded to a log truck fire on the Tower Road Sunday afternoon.

There will be a business meeting for the St. John Cemetery at Sweet Union COGIC on Broughton Road on April 27 at 10:00 am to elect new officers and discuss old business.  Anyone with business or concerns with St. John Cemetery is invited to attend.

If you have items of interest for this column, please feel free to share with me before Monday in order to get it in that week's paper.  Go Eagles.

April 8 Edition

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." --- Roman 5:10

Birthdays this week: Tommy Green - April 10, Melinda Huddleston & Dustin Briant - April 12, Sheila Currier - April 13, Blake Spears and Bobbie Moseley - April 14.

Weekly rains are keeping the ground soft and the loggers idle.  More heavy rains are expected here later this week.

I heard two... not one, but TWO whippoorwills last night, so Spring is officially here.

Some local history about the First Baptist Church courtesy of The Eagle Democrat,  Wednesday, October 25, 1967:  "The First Baptist Church of New Edinburg has a distinction of having been built and located in three counties without moving more than 100 yards and without ever crossing a county line.
At the time of the erection of the church, the town of New Edinburg was in Bradley County. Some years later, a new county was formed from parts of adjoining counties and New Edinburg and the Baptist Church found themselves in Dorsey County. Still later, the name of the county was changed, honoring President Grover Cleveland.
The church was organized almost 100 years ago in 1868 with Elders Solomon Gardner and John T. Craig consitituting the Presbytery. The church was in the Judson Baptist Association. After 1901, the church agreed that it could no longer see eye to eye on ecclesiastical matters with its present larger connection and joined the General Association, the American Baptist Association, and later the North American Baptist Association.
The first building was completed in September of 1869, after which the church adopted a resolution to the Methodist of the community expressing appreciation for being allowed to use the Methodist house of worship for its services for a season.
In early years, at almost every monthly conference, some-Brother or Sister was excluded from worship for some kind of unbecoming conduct: the men usually for imbibing too freely of alcoholic beverages and the women for "tipping light fantastic toe..." [Note: that's archaic language for dancing...]
In those days, revivals were popular, and one mighty one was conducted under the persuasive preaching of Rev. W. E. Penn in 1890. Results, fifty church additions and 122 professions of faith.
A new church was erected in 1936 and it was dedicated in 1937. The building, at the time of completions, consisted of an auditorium and six Sabbath School rooms. The Sunday School is first mentioned in church records of 1883. The church has had three buildings, the current one replacing one that was put up in 1890. This one replaced the orginal church structure. The middle building had an 84-foot steeple."
If you have items of interest for this column, please get them to me before Monday of each week.  Go Eagles.

April 2 Edition

^"5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.⁶ And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.⁷ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."  Revelation 21: 5-7
Prayer list this week includes: Nancy Clary

Birthdays this week include: Robert Boney - April 1, Brian Chancellor - April 5.  Happy Anniversary to: Tammy & Don Pennington - April 4, Judy & Delbert Moring - April 5.
Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church started their Easter service at 10:30 this Sunday. They were fortunate to have several special songs. Brother Billy Wilson preached a wonderful service. "The message of Easter is that Jesus has risen!" (Colin Smith). "The entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection". (Billy Graham).
New Edinburg First Baptist Church held Easter Sunrise services at 7am that day.  Brother Tony Atkins preached the promise of all things being made new through the resurrection of Christ in Revelation 21:5.  Afterwards, we enjoyed breakfast and fellowship.
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas lists three famous residents from our area: "Elisha Lawley McMurtrey was a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate army during the Civil War. He was involved in twenty-two battles and was elected to the Arkansas General Assembly in 1878. Kermit C. Moss served in World War II and received two bronze stars; he was also one of the guards for Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Paul “Bear” Bryant, the legendary University of Alabama football coach, was born and raised a few miles from New Edinburg."
Please feel free to share items of interest for this column before Monday.  My phone is 870-250-9103 and my email is JamesCBoney@gmail.com  This will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

March 26 Edition

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." --- Lamentations 3:22-23

Prayers for: Lori Nichols, Raymond Wagnon and the family of Leland Bryant.

Birthdays this week: Major McClellan - March 28.

I hope everyone has a great Easter this weekend.

First Missionary Baptist Church reports it will have sunrise services on March 31 at 7am. After services there will be fellowship with coffee and a light breakfast. All are welcome.


Grom the Eagle Democrat in 1939: "Since State Highway No. 8 between Warren and Fordyce has been constructed those who motor that way are usually impressed with two things at New Edinburg - the old tree which stands in the middle of the road in front of Attwood’s Store, and the number of comfortable homes which are covered with corrugated tin roofing.

We have a tendency to “cuss” the presence of the tree when the traffic is heavy, but when we think of those ten roofs topping those comfortable homes, there arises that boyish feeling, “Gee, wouldn’t it be great to go to sleep on an old fashioned feather bed while hearing the musical rain drops on that roof.”

For our purpose here, the tree and the tin-tops explain the character and sturdiness of the present New Edinburg.  While modern highways have led other rural villages to fold up and pass away, this unusually progressive community has kept pace with the present, and continually moves forward.  The tree
represents a sentimental connection with a great ancestry, the tin-roofs, the permanency with which the place was built."

Please feel free to share with this column what you would like to see. Go Eagles.

March 19 Edition

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever." (I Chronicles 28:9 KJV)

Birthdays this week include: Jason Hall and Jerry Langford - March 20, Christine Thompson and David Harper - March 21, Melody Spears - March 23, Lila Benson - March 25.

Spring is here, officially, this week... though we have seen it for a couple of weeks now.

First Missionary Baptist Church reports it will have sunrise services on March 31 at 7am. After services there will be fellowship with coffee and a light breakfast. All are welcome.

Visitors to my home last weekend were: Meigs Brainard of Pine Bluff, Robert and Ruth Boney of Fordyce, Will Parham, and Clyde and Bobbie Moseley.

The New Edinburg Museum holds the complete muster rolls of all units of both sides that fought at Marks' Mills. Historical excerpts for this column are proving to be a big hit.

My phone number is 870-250-9103 if you have items you would like to see here. This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

March 11 Edition

“Know therefore that the Lord they God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” --- Deuteronomy 7:9

Birthdays this week: Dorothy Shepherd and Memory Sanders – March 11, James McIntyre Jr. - March 12, Joye Splawn – March 13, Sue Sanders – March 14, Jarrod Langford, James Herring and Jackie  Harton – March 15, Tonya Sanders and Andrew Grider – March 17.

Robert Boney, my uncle, is doing better and visited me last Saturday.  His heart stent problems stemmed from being allergic to the medicine provided for him and some dehydration. He's doing fine now.  Norma McCoy, and not Martha as I mistakenly printed last week, is home from her knee rehab and is in excellent shape.

The New Edinburg Community Center will be having the band “Hwy 13” there to perform this March 16. Concessions will be sold.   There will be no cover charge, but donations to help pay utilities and to help the band are appreciated.

Old phone met the floor once too often and broke... new phone bought with the number remaining the same.  It's 870-250-9103 and please use it to share with me any events or news you would like to see in this column before any given Monday morning.  If email is your scene, then contact me at JamesCBoney@gmail.com, on Facebook or hit me up me in person.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

March 5 Edition

^"6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." -- Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Prayer list this week includes: Agnes McClellan and Robert Boney.

Birthdays this week include: Angela Wagnon (March 4) Meta Wright (March 9) and Casey Cargile (March 11).

March is here, with Spring right around the corner, and it's really windy out there... as it should be.

The change to daylight savings time is this weekend, so be sure to set your clocks forward.

My uncle, Robert Boney, is having on and off complications from a stent put in last week but should be okay in time.

Mr. Tully McCoy reports Martha as still rehabilitating from a knee replacement but is doing well.

Here's a bit of local history, again from Goodspeed's History of Southern Arkansas: "Joseph J. T. Kendrick, merchant of New Edinburg, Ark. The degree of success which has been achieved by Mr. Kendrick since the establishment of his mercantile house, fully warrants the assertion that it is firmly established in public favor and has become a worthy representative of trade. He established his business in, 1872, and his trade has gradually but surely increased until it has assumed extensive proportions.
Mr. Kendrick was born in Franklin, Heard County, Ga., December 23, 1838, and is a son of Hezekiah and Nancy (Cook) Kendrick, natives respectively of Virginia and Georgia, who died in Calhoun County, Ark., the former's death occurring in 1853 at the age of sixty years, and the latter when about fifty five years of age. When a young man the father removed from the Old Dominion to Georgia, which State was his home until 1847, at which time he came to Calhoun County, Ark., and here made his permanent home. He was a successful farmer, and he and his wife were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in his political views he was a Democrat.
Joseph J. T. Kendrick was the fifth of their six children; five sons and one daughter and his school days were spent at Chambersville, Calhoun County, Ark.
After he had reached manhood his parents passed from life, and he then commenced the battle of life for himself as a merchant's clerk at Hopeville, but in 1861 gave up this work to join the Confederate army, enlisting in the month of June in the Third Arkansas Cavalry, with which he remained until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Corinth, the celebrated retreat through Georgia, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Knoxville. He was taken prisoner near where the battle of Franklin was fought, but he was soon released.
After the war he began working at the tanner's trade in Calhoun County, continuing until the latter part of 1866, when he came to Cleveland County and tilled the soil until 1871. The following year, as above stated, he engaged in his present business, and the property he has accumulated has all been earned since the war:
He was married in 1868 to Miss Martha Vance, a daughter of J. J. Vance, of Bradley County (now Cleveland County), and their union has resulted in the birth of a daughter named Annie. Mrs. Kendrick is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Kendrick is a Democrat in his political views, and has always supported the men and measures of that party."

Please feel free to share items of interest for this column before Monday.   Go Eagles.

Feb. 25 Edition

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." -- 1st Peter 3:15

Prayer list this week includes: Agnes McClellan and Norma McCoy.

Happy Birthday to: Hayden Cathey - Feb. 22,  Matt Cathey and Barbara Reaves - Feb. 25

Happy anniversary to Michael and Christi Russell (March 1).

"Come Morning", a motion picture shot locally by area residents Derrick Sims and Alaina (McClellan Sims) was screened at the Oxford Film Festival and won the Jury Award for Best Cinematography in Mississippi this Monday.  Congratulations to the Sims for their success with their work.

Please feel free to share items of interest for this column: birthdays, anniversaries, events, historical items of note, pictures, or whatever you feel moved to send.   Go Eagles.