CLIPPINGS FROM THE CLIPPER - from the June 1 edition of the Woodford Sun

June 4, 1903… 
Nantura Farm has 10 foals listed for 1903 with the sires being Longfellow (4), Jils Johnson (2), Ten Broeck, Imp. Rossington, King Alfonso and Patton. 

Dr. W.E. Sleet and family of Paducah are visiting friends here. Doc says there’s no place like home. He and his family will return here to live in a short while.

Alex W. Offutt, 81, former resident of Midway, died last week in Shelby County. He was born in Fayette County in 1822 but had lived mostly in Shelby, except for the few years he lived here with his son, W.A. Offutt. He was the father of 10 children, but only three survive.

The music pupils of Miss Nancy Mitchell gave a recital at her home on Turner Street last Friday night.

Today is the birthday of Henry L. Martin Sr., Midway’s pride and Woodford’s grand old man first saw the light of the world 76 years ago in a little farmhouse in Midway on the north side of Railroad Street and now occupied by Tom May. He was the oldest son of Jesse and Margaret Thornton Martin. His father was engaged in the dry goods business in Midway from 1846 to 1851, when he moved to a farm a couple of miles out of Midway. He attended common schools until he was 14. General Bragg came through here about that time, and he enlisted around age 15 in Company A, 5th Kentucky Cavalry Confederate Army, and was for 18 months a scout under General Nelson. Only six men from this company survived the war. He was captured at Cynthiana in June 1864 and remained a prisoner until March 1865. After Lee’s surrender, he returned from Virginia to Midway on his 17th birthday. He raised tobacco until 1868 and then went into Midway and was engaged as a salesman for different merchants for about five years. He then embarked in the horse and mule business, forming a partnership in 1873 with Oliver P. Alford of Kentucky. This took him to New Orleans until he sold out in 1879, returned to his farm and in 1880 organized the company of Scoggan, Martin & Co. at Louisville, dealers in mules. This firm did a tremendous business all over the world. He finally engaged in the banking business and is now president of Citizens State Bank of Midway. In 1893, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate from the Scott-Woodford-Jessamine District. He was active in passing legislation, which implemented the state’s new constitution. In 1896 when the issue was between a single gold standard and the free coinage of silver at the ration of 16 to 1, Mr. Martin engaged himself with the Republicans for the first time. Mr. Martin is a millionaire, and he made his money himself. He lives in a palatial home (The Maples) surrounded by 1,400 acres of the best bluegrass land in one tract. J.P. Rigner provided the toast, “Heres to our sage, why mention his name, he’s sung of in song, he’s honored with fame. The sage of “The Maples” comes from a line of Kentucky’s soldiers and patriots fine. He’s been with us 76 of his time, let’s hope he’s still here when 90 and nine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime, let’s drink his good health in ruby red wine. Let’s drink it in claret, in Moselle and Rhine, and all of the juices that come from the vine. For the sage that I toast you is one, super fine. Let’s drink to his virtues, his virtues sublime.” [NOTE this item is for historical purposes only. We should remember that slavery and armed support of the Confederacy is a tragic part of Woodford County's history] 

The Clipper desires to make this correction in regard to the auto accident Sunday night, May 18. The car was driven by Luther Rambo, Jack Baker was in the car with him. Lyman Fisher was in his own car and came upon the scene after the accident occurred. There were no girls present when the accident occurred.

Fashion notes say that yellow shoes are again in style with that Panama hats are a thing of the past.

June 5, 2024

Mrs. William McCarthy, who has been conducting a notions stand at the interurban station for several months, has closed up her business.

Lee Beihn, B.F. Foraker, Kendrick Johnson, Bird Watts, James A. Agee, Eugene Wilson, Sam P. Dozier and George Caudill of Midway appeared before the board of education advocating a county high school at Millville. Their plea was granted by the board.

A two-horse team hitched to a wagon owned by Roy Blackburn, became rightened Monday at Farmers Union coal yard and ran down Main Street, colliding with a buggy occupied by Miss Howard, daughter of Brack Howard, near the Farmers Union Supply Store. Miss Howard was uninjured, but the buggy was damaged.

While playing Sunday afternoon in a vacant lot near the Midway Distillery, some small boys discovered two gallons of red whiskey hidden in a hole covered over with tin. It was evident that the booze had been in storage for some time as the weeds all around were quite high and bore no signs of being trampled recently. Chief Osborne took possession of the whiskey.

The Widow’s colt, Black Gold, won the $50,000 Kentucky Derby.