Family Notes From The Baylor County Banner, Baylor County, Texas - 1918

This photo is labeled "Millard Ray, Deray, Joe." DeRay Bryan was my father's sister. Millard Ray Latta was her first cousin on her father's side. Joe Noah was her second cousin from her mother's side. Millard Ray, born in Erath County, was known to have lived with the Bryans and taught school in Baylor County. Joe was also born in Erath County and taught school in Baylor County. 

Extracts in this post were found in Baylor County Banner issues on a microfilm reel labeled "Baylor County Banner Mar 01 1917 thru Dec 19, 1918." 

These were recorded on my web pages almost twenty years ago. Those web pages have not been updated since about 2012 but can still be found at my Rootsweb Freepages site. However, Ancestry, who now owns Rootsweb, is retiring the pages in 2024, and when returned, they will be static (I will not be able to make changes). In case the pages get lost, I am adding the content to this blog.

I recorded only a small amount of information from the issues dated 19 September to 5 December for 1918. Most of what you see below involves my family. This is a project I want to revisit as, with the war and flu epidemic, there was much going on in 1918. 

Two previous blog posts show a little more of 1918. Read Get Your Flu Shot! to see how the flu tragically affected this small community in such a short period. 

Two letters from Europe during WWI were found in November 1918 issues. Monday's News: WWI and Family Letters reveal letters written by Joe Noah to fellow Baylor County teacher Millard Ray Latta.

September 19, 1918

Mr. S. H. Post and children left last week in their car for Corpus Christie where they will spend the winter for the benefit of the children’s health.  They have been getting better the past winter or so, since they have been to the northwest, and Mr. Post is anxious to keep them on the road to being entirely well again.  The work at the county clerk’s office will be in the hands of Mr. Judson Post, assisted by Mr. R. E. Bryan a deputy whenever the work of the office piles up.  Mr. Bryan accompanied the party to Corpus.  He says he left them well pleased.  Mr. Post will work with an abstract firm there. 

September 26, 1918 

Mr. S. H. Post resigned  by wire.  L. O. Wharton was appointed to fill the unexpired term.  

October 3, 1918

A liberal reward will be paid to the finder of a $50 Liberty Bond which I lost on the street on Tuesday afternoon.  I need the bond badly.  R. E. Bryan 

October 17, 1918

For Rent:  100 acres of land to sow wheat on.  R. E. Bryan 

October 31, 1918

From the subscribers:  Mr. Al McFarland of Richland says they are putting in 200 acres of wheat, most of it already up. Mr. R. E. Bryan is also going long on wheat.

Nov. 21, 1918

A letter from France to Millard Ray Latta from J. O. Noah was published in this issue.

Nov. 28, 1918

A letter from England to Millard Latta from Joseph O. Noah was published in this issue.

Mr. F. W. Thompson of the star route says he and his family have so far gotten by the war, the drouth, and the flu and are hoping that fortune has changed. 

Dec. 5, 1918

News that Frank Watts was wounded in the war 

Note that there are no 1918 Baylor County Banner issues at the free Portal for Texas History.  You can view most Baylor County Banner issues for the year 1918 with a subscription at NewspaperArchive by Storied. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2024 

"Millard Ray, Deray, Joe," photograph, before 1918; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Carla Noah Stutsman, TX, 2014.

The Baylor County Banner issues from the year 1918, microfilm images, The Baylor County Banner (Seymour, Texas), 1918. Microfilm titled "Baylor County Banner Mar 01 1917 thru Dec 19, 1918" accessed from the privately held collection of D.B. Quinn, VA.