ADAIR COUNTY NEWS

 

Siblings Asure (Azure, Asia) B. Damron and Annie Damron Frazer were two of the children of Elzy & Ameila (Permelia, Melie) Jones Damron. The following articles, transcribed from the Adair County News, chronicle some of the events in the lives of siblings Azure & Annie from late 1900 to late 1901. Adair County News, December 12, 1900 INSTANTLY KILLED _______ Irvine Bottom Visits The Home of Asure Damron, Raises a Difficulty, _______ And Meets Death at the Hands of the Latter, Who Was Forced to Shoot in Self Defense. _______ SURRENDERS TO AUTHORITIES. _______ Last Monday afternoon  Irvine Bottom, a well-known character of this county, and who was considered a dangerous man, visited the home of Mr. Asure Damron, who resides on Green river, twelve miles from Columbia. He stated that he was from Russell Springs and was in fine spirits, but was not drinking. The afternoon was passed pleasantly, and Mr. Damron had no thought of trouble, as he and Bottom were friends. Just at dark Shelby Cowen, who is employed on the farm, and who was feeding stock, was attacked by Bottom, who threatened to whip him. Mr. Damron interfered and asked Bottom not to raise a noise; that his wife was sick abed and he did not want her disturbed. At this juncture Bottom drew a knife, went up to Asure, saying, "I'll fix you." A Mr. Grant who was present undertook to carry Bottom off, but before he could start Bottom wiped his knife several times across Damron's face.  Mr. Matthew Burton came up and took  hold of Ausure, and at the same time Mrs. Damron put in her appearance, and taking her husband's arm, the three started toward the house. They had gotten but a few steps when Bottom jerked loose from Grant, and with knife open, was advancing rapidly upon Damron, who seeing his danger, pulled from his wife and Mr. Burton and shot three times in rapid succession. The balls entered Bottom's body and he died instantly. In a short time after the shooting the body of the dead man was hauled to his late home, and Mr. Damron came to Columbia and gave himself up. The examining trial will probably be held next Saturday. * * * Adair County News, December 19, 1900 JUSTIFIABLE _______ Azure Damron Promptly Acquitted for Killing Irvine Bottoms. _______ Azure Damron, who killed Irvine Bottoms last Monday night week was given an examining trial before Judge J.W. Butler Saturday, the 15th inst. The trial commenced at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, consuming the remainder of the day. Eight witnesses were introduced, six for the State and two for the defendant. The testimony differed but little from the statement published in the News of last week, the whole of it showing conclusively that Mr. Damron was perfectly justified in shooting, and he was promptly acquitted.  At the time the defendant shot, Bottoms was advancing rapidly upon him, open knife in hand which remained tightly clinched by his fingers after death came. There were only three witnesses present when the shots, three in number, were fired, and strange to say no one of the three saw the shooting, though there was no questions as to who fired. Only one of the shots took effect--in the breast a little right of the heart. Death followed in a few minutes. The prosecution was conducted by County Attorney James Garnett, Jr., and Baker & Winfrey; the defense by Messrs. J.F. Montgomery and Rollin Hurt. * * * Adair County News, January 9, 1901 Mr. Azure Damron, wife and child left Columbia last Monday morning for Wakenda [Carroll Co.], Mo., where they expect to reside. Mr. Damron was born and reared on Green river, Adair county, and is well-known to all the citizens of this place. he is a farmer and trader and his social disposition will soon make him many friends at his new home. We trust that he will be successful in all his undertakings. * * * Adair County News, January 30, 1901 Mr. Azure Damron, who left Adair county for Carroll county Missouri, several weeks ago, has rented a fine farm and is now turning over corn ground. He writes that he is well pleased with his new location and will remain for some time. Mr. W.E. Frazer and family who are in the same county, are also doing well. We are glad to learn that the lines of our Adair county people have been thrown in pleasant places. * * * Adair County News, October 9, 1901 (in the Watson community newsletter) We are informed that Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Frazer, and family, who have been in Missouri for several months, will return to Kentucky in a few days. * * * Adair County News, October 30, 1901 Published by Request MISSOURI LETTER Martinsburg, Mo., Oct. 11 Mr. and Mrs. E. Damron,      Purdy, Ky. Dear Old Darlings: We are wending our way back to our loved ones, something I never dreamed--back to my loved ones, to live. But thanks be to God for the glorious opportunity. There I will be with the dearest and best old darlings until death do us part. Just test me and try me and see if there will ever be too great a sacrifice for me to make for your precious, dear old lives. Well, we had to give up our sweet little baby, Mary Damron*, but don't grieve after her; she had as much good care and attention as President McKinley and in his sickness, the best medical aid, etc., but she is far better off than any of us left behind. I think truly her death will be a blessing to brother* and Maud. They both knelt by her side when she was dying and gave themselves to God, saying they would strive to meet her by and by. Brother says that if he is ever attempted to do anything wrong through life that he will think of that precious little bright face, looking down and calling him, Asia.* So, don't grieve. please, for I think it is a blessing to him and and he and Maud believe it too. [The daughter of Asure and Maud V. Damron. The 1900 Adair County census indicates baby Mary was born in February, 1900.] We are having a fine time, never enjoying any thing half so much in my life. We just simply nearly kill ourselves eating. The little girls are just wild over their trip. Oh, the beautiful , interesting sights we see, one hundred times more beautiful than we would have seen on the train. They talk so much around the campfire about dear old grandpa and wish that he was with us. When we stop as evening the little girls wear the roadside slick, running and skipping like deer. They just eat like puppies. Mary said to Dorothy, the first meal we ate on the road, "Oh, sister! Don't the dub taste good?" They sing Old Kentucky Home every day and talk about what grandma and grandpa will say when they go singing "Home Sweet Home" over the dear old hill; and I won't tell you my thoughts; they are too good to reveal, Glory to God! I trust He will safely deliver us in the arms of our loved ones, never to part again in this way. We came very near losing old pretty "Bet" last night. She was sick all night and we worked with her till day and spent quite a bit at a drug-store, and we thought die she would. She was finally relieved by a veterinary surgeon. We hope to be home by the 25th. Will write you again soon. Your loving daughter,      Annie D. Frazer. * * * Adair County News, November 13, 1901 Mrs. Amelia Damron Dead Last Friday morning the citizens of this community were surprised to learn that Mrs. Amelia Damron, wife of Mr. Elzy Damron, was dead. She was one of the best known women in Adair county, and the sympathy of every body goes out to the aged husband and surviving children. Mrs. Damron had been sick for several weeks, but her illness was not generally known, and only a short time before she died was her condition considered serious. She was daughter of Mr. "Clever" Jones, deceased, and was the mother of Mrs. W.E. Frazer, Mrs. L.T. Neat and Mr. Asure Damron. She was about sixty years old. Mrs. Neat was with her mother when the end came, but Asure and Mrs. Frazer were absent, the former being in Missouri and the latter en route home from that State. No death ever occurred on Green river, where the deceased so long resided, that created more profound sorrow. She was kind to every body and every body was her friend. Religious services were held Friday and the interment was in the Damron cemetery, many friends being present. [The Watson community newsletter in the September 10, 1902 News mentioned another child: "Mrs. L.T. Neat and Mrs. W.E. Frazer visited their sister, Mrs. J.H. Young, Sunday and Monday." Mr. Elzy Damron died in 1919 and his remains were interred in the Columbia City Cemetery.] * * * Adair County News, November 20, 1901 (in the "Personal Mention"  column) Mr. W.E. Frazer, wife and children, reached Adair county from Missouri last Saturday afternoon. It was a mistake about them losing one of their children on the road, as reported in town last week. They lost a mule by death. Mr. and Mrs. Frazer and also their children are in fine health, and report that they had delightful weather for traveling for their trip through the country. * * * EPILOGUE: This curious item appeared in the December 6, 1905 edition of the News, stating, apparently, in the oblique fashion of the day, that Asure & Maud had divorced and then remarried: Mr. Asure Damron, who recently returned from the West, was, last week reunited to the lady of his choice, Elder Tobias Huffaker tying the nuptial knot. Mr. Damron and wife will spend the Winter in Adair with his father, Mr. Elzy Damron, and next Spring they expect to again locate in the West. Adair County News, September 12, 1906 W.E. Frazer transferred to Lee Durham, last Monday, the farm where he now lives, containing 290 acres, for $2,150. Mr. Frazer and family will remove to Kansas about the 15th of October. [Mr. Asure Damron, age 83, died in his native Adair County in 1959. his wife, Maud, died in 1910; their remains were interred in the Columbia City Cem. next to Asure's father. Maud Damron's obituary (Adair County News, June 8, 1910), noted the family -- Asure, Maud, and "a little daughter" -- had resided in Columbia about five years.]