This Week in Canton History Van Zandt County Genealogical & History Library
CANTON HERALD: May 24, 1962-several cases were disposed of last Thursday in District Judge Thomas Crofts court and 20 cases are set for trial for July 9, according to Criminal District Attorney James S. Grisham Wednesday.
Following cases were heard by the court last Thursday upon pleas of guilty resulting in penitentiary sentences for a number of defendants as follows: robbery with firearms 20 years; robbery with firearms 6 years; three cases of theft over $50, 5 years; theft over $50, 3 years; two burglary received 5 years, suspended probated sentence: two cases armed robbery charges.
The regular criminal docket for this term in District Court is set for July 9, according to James S. Grisham, criminal district attorney, with approximately 20 cases set for trial in the District Court at that time.
Grisham stated that very likely, of the cases set for trial on July 9, many of them would be disposed of by pleas of guilty with agreed number of years in the penitentiary as punishment since the criminal element in this county is finally observing that the trial juries are not assessing more than substantial punishment and also it is becoming more difficult to avoid punishment at the hands of a petit jury.
Last rites were held Monday for William Merton Smith with interment in the Edom Cemetery. Mr. Smith passed away May 19 in Lisbon Veterans hospital. He was 64 years of age at the time of his death. He was born at Edom on April 25, 1898, and was married to Emma Dykes on February 28, 1936. Rev. Talmidge Carr officiated at the last rites and interment was under the direction of Eubank Funeral
Home,
Funeral services were held Monday for Dan Neil Ayres at the China Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Ayres was born March 11, 1936 at Martins Mill and passed away May 19 in a Dallas hospital at the age of 26. He was married to Maryrelan Mann on August 7, 1959, and was a member of the Calvary Baptist Temple at Lancaster. Rev. Irby Mack Williams, Rev. Louie Barron and Rev. Bobby Adams officiated at the last rites. Interment was in Haven of Memories under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home.
This and That in this week’s Canton high school paper the following was submitted and we thought that since his graduation week it might be nice to pass it on to our readers: These are some of the replies from this year’s seniors to the question, “What do you want to be doing 10 years from today?” Larry Roberts, I want to be the mayor of Myrtle Springs. Barbara Rhame, I want to be riding around in a blue and white “55 Oldsmobile... Larry Davis, I just don’t want to see anymore bright lights suddenly. Susie Brown I just want to be sales manager for More Chevrolet. Roger Pinson, making money and dragging. Sammy Joe Knox, I want to be mayor of Edgewood. Jimmy Strickland, I want to be a photographer for Playboy. Jerry Bateman, I want to be Strickland’s assistant. Cois Carter, I want to be retired. Doris Douthit, I want to be relaxing on Miami Beach.
Funeral services for Mrs. W. P Wallace were held at 10:30 o’clock Saturday morning in Eubank Funeral Chapel. Interment was in Old Bethel Cemetery. Mrs. Wallace was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Sullivan, pioneer residents of this county. She grew up in the Mill Creek community. She was an accomplished vocalist. She was married to William Penn Wallace on August 20, 1899, and went to live in the Wallace community which was named for her husband’s family. She was a former member of the Methodist Church there, serving as organist and also singing in the choir.
Don Slaughter gathered the most Grand Champion awards in the junior Livestock Show held Saturday with the Grand Champion steer, the Grand Champion female and the Herdsman Award.
Gerald Mitchell was runner-up with Grand Champion stocker calf and the FFA Showmanship award.
Other Grand Champion awards went to Wayne Littrell for beef female, to Gary Baker for barrow, Jeffrey Woolverton for guilt; Charles Knowles for dairy female and Carol Lee doubt that for dairy bull.
Wayne Littrell was top money winner, with $17. Fifty boys from the local FHA chapter and Local 4-H clubs entered 90 animals in the show approximately $250 was awarded in cash.
Services were held Tuesday for Lemuel Jacob Meckler who passed away Monday in a Tyler hospital. Mr. Meckler was born Nov. 30, 1881 in Fort Payne, Alabama and passed away March 21 at the age of 80 years. He was married to Era Gilliam on June 16, 1909 was a businessman in Tyler for a number of years. He was a member of the West Irwin Church in of Christ in Tyler Dean Brookshire was in charge of the service held at Eubank Funeral Chapel, burial was in Haven of Memories, under direction of Eubank Funeral Home.
Summer school will be taught in Kaufman at the Kaufman Elementary School, beginning on June 4 at 8 a.m. It will last 6 weeks. Registration will begin Friday, June 1, from 8 to 11 a.m. At the Kaufman Elementary School.
Rev. and Mrs. L. L. Griffin of Grand Saline announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Shirley, to Edward Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Bailey of Grand Saline. The wedding is planned for June 9 at the First Baptist Church of Grand Saline. Friends and relatives are invited.
Women in Service News of Men--San Diego, Cali. Private Jerry R. Nix, USMC, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Nix of Route 1, Wills Point completed recruit training on April 18 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.
Howard Fitzgerald, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Fitzgerald now stationed in Clinton-
Sherman in Air Force Base, Okla...he spent the weekend visiting family and friends in Canton.
Fort Riley, Kansas Army Staff Sergeant Darrell L. Lide, 29 son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Lide, Route 1, Canton recently participated with other personnel from the 1st Infantry Divisions 4th Artillery in exercise Red Arrow, a 31 day series of tactical field training maneuvers at Fort Riley, Kansas.
These articles have been extracted from the Canton Herald and may be viewed on microfilm at the Van Zandt County Genealogy and Local History Library at the Courthouse Annex in Canton.
