Father’s Day
June 19, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chapter 172: The Gambler
June 2, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Here’s the thing that has puzzled me ever since I started research on Emmett Wilson’s life story: What was the main reason Frank Mayes (and The Pensacola Journal) endorsed Emmett for U.S. Congress? Frank was no dummy; he was a prescient newsman who kept close […]
Reflections on Emmett’s Funeral
May 31, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Every year, on the anniversary of Emmett Wilson’s death, I like to go back to the old notes, check in on research sources and database updates, in case there’s fresh information I didn’t have at the start of Emmett’s story. And every year, I’m always […]
Another Emmett Anniversary
Emmett’s obituary, 114 years ago tomorrow. The haste in which the obituary was set during paste-up is obvious — Emmett died shortly after midnight as the paper was put to be; the front page had to be reset in a matter of minutes — because there are errors in the […]
Chapter 171: Emmett’s Platform
May 13, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland On February 4, 1912, Emmett announced to the public his official candidacy in several West Florida newspapers, but his actual platform was not published until March 17, 1912. It’s a big piece, and was expensive to run in several of the state’s newspapers, therefore, Emmett […]
Chapter 170: Emmett Wilson, Candidate
May 3, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Between January 7 and 11, 1912, Emmett said he was unsure about throwing his hat into the contest for U.S. Congressman from the third district; at least, that was the official story he told reporters for the Pensacola Evening News in the January 11, 1912 […]
Chapter 169: The Difference A Day Makes
April 17, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Now, this was interesting. Just one day after Judge Charles B. Parkhill announced in the same newspaper that he was running for U.S. Congress, he changed his mind? According to the information in The Pensacola Journal, Parkhill issued a written statement to the same paper, […]
Chapter 168: A Candidate is Chosen
April 9, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Emmett’s command performance for Whit Kelly in Columbus, Georgia on October 24, 1911 wasn’t solely to placate Kelly. Someone else was watching this play out for a good reason, and it wasn’t Byrd Kelly. It was Frank Mayes. Mayes and the Florida Democratic Executive Committee […]
Chapter 167: Command Performance
March 31, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Emmett didn’t get away with the ‘engagement’ announcement without consequences. Oh no. Emmett was summoned to Columbus, Georgia, by Whit Kelly. I doubt it was by cordial letter. I also doubt Whit would have telephoned Emmett; a telephone call would have been costly. Also, Emmett […]
Chapter 166: Byrd Farmer Kelly
March 27, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Byrd Farmer Kelly, questionable fiancé of Emmett Wilson and oldest daughter of Matthew Whitfield Kelly and Mary Jane (Also known as Maidie Jane) Farmer Kelly, was born July 18, 1887 in Columbus, Georgia. She lived in the family home at Talbotton Avenue, in the Rose […]
Tell my story. 