Fall Quarterly Meeting held in Martin, Tennessee
JPHS President Bill Mulligan called the meeting to order at 10:30 am at the Weldon Public Library, bringing together members of the JPHS, the West Tennessee Historical Society, and other guests. In a short business meeting for the members of the JPHS, minutes from the July 23rd meeting were approved, the treasurer’s report through October 31st was approved, an update was given by the essay committee led by Bob Lochte, and the JPHS Journal, edited by Jim Humphreys, was made available to members and to those who wanted to purchase a copy.
The first JPHS essay contest is well under way. Information has been sent by email and by postal mail to eligible schools and teachers in the Jackson Purchase. The deadline for entries is February 1st, 2018. Winners will be notified by the end of March with plans being made for the winners to present their work at the April meeting of the JPHS. The Office of University Advancement of Murray State University is co-sponsoring the contest and is providing the prize money, so thank you, MSU!
The JPHS Journal was presented in a new format. The volume is a much larger size and with professional binding and the use of color! If interested, copies can be purchased – simply go to the JPHS Journal link above and contact the JPHS treasurer by email. Digitization of the Journal is underway. Past editions are being converted and will eventually be accessible through MSU. Again, MSU is partnering with JPHS to have this completed and the project is considered a regional outreach program of MSU. A celebration for the completion of the project is being anticipated at the July meeting of the society.
President Mulligan noted that 2018 would be the 60th anniversary of the Jackson Purchase Historical Society as well as the 200th anniversary of the Jackson Purchase which was completed in 1818-1819. The next quarterly meeting of the JPHS will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Hotel Metropolitan, 724 Oscar Cross Blvd., Paducah, KY, at 10:30 am. The topic will be “Mary Wheeler and African American Folk Songs of the Ohio River Valley,” presented by Nathan Blake Lynn of the McCracken County Public Library.
Plans are being made for the July 2018 meeting in Mayfield with Tom Jones as the guest speaker and the November 2018 meeting with David Hayes as the guest speaker. Jones is the author of “On a Burning Deck: The Road to Akron” which is an oral history of the great migration of families from rural Kentucky to Ohio to work in the rubber factories. As always, the public is invited to attend any of the JPHS meetings and to become a member.
JPHS Treasurer Marvin Downing introduced the guest speaker for the meeting, Judge Tommy Moore, a Dresden, Tennessee native. His talk, entitled “Moore Musings about Local History,” was delightful and very informational. Moore gave his personal history, noting how he became interested in local history and the people of Weakley County. As a real estate and land title research lawyer, Moore learned a great deal about the area over the years. He said he spent many lunch hours reading through deeds and newspapers and learning about historical times like the garbage workers strike and the Civil Rights era. He mentioned the ongoing project to have portraits of prominent citizens and judges installed in the courthouse. He also talked about the cemetery walks that began in 2000 and continue to this day, highlighting specific themes each year. Perhaps the most interesting story he told was of Lieutenant Herbert L. Jones, a hometown hero of World War I. Jones was part of the Big Red One, First Division, American Expeditionary Force. He was killed on July 4, 1918, saving the life of a comrade. Following his life story, Moore learned of his initial internment in a church in France, but with a “homecoming” of sorts back to Tennessee when his remains were returned in 1921.
Judge Moore also spoke of the Civil War battle of Lochridge Mill in 1862. He told a fascinating story about Major Carl Schaeffer von Boernstein, a German descendant from Dubuque, Iowa, who was part of 130 Union solders sent to the area to fight the Confederates. (Note: He is also referred to as Karl Schaefer von Bernstein.) The final battle was a sword fight on horseback on a bridge between von Boernstein and Captain John Goff Ballentine of Pulaski, Tennessee. He ended his talk with some stories about discoveries made during his research and offering time for the audience to ask questions.
The JPHS always has interesting speakers and topics for its quarterly meetings. Come join us at a future meeting!