Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from March 11, 1871
• The Hickman Courier declares that it favors an amendment to the State law allowing people of color as “competent witnesses” in State courts. However, the newspaper does not agree with the “radical amendments to the Constitution” or the “validity of the 14th and 15th amendments” which are “subversive” to local government.
• F. M. Usher of Lodgeton declines to run for the State Legislature.
• Major John Clay Horne of Columbus, Kentucky died on February 25th. Horne was a prominent citizen of Western Kentucky and former Confederate officer in the 22nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment.
• Major Thomas E. Moss, former member of the 2nd Kentucky Mounted Infantry of the Confederate Army and State Representative from McCracken County, married Margaret A. Bright on February 28th in Covington, Kentucky.
• The firm of McCutchen & Co., grocery merchants in Hickman, dissolved by mutual consent as N. P. Harness retired.
• Mrs. Jesse Edmonson, one of the oldest residents in Hickman, died on March 7th.
• Under the Common School Law a census of all white children from the ages of six to twenty in the county will begin in the month of April.
• Dr. Alex Faris plans to begin a practice in Hickman soon.
• George Conant, a railroad brakeman, was killed in Union City after slipping and falling from the engine upon the track and being ran over by the tender.
• Archie Davis of Weakley County was shot and killed by unknown party or parties near Millersburg and left on the side of the road.
• City Tax Collector, John P. Hall, informs the press that businesses engaged in tobacco and whiskey are liable to recent special taxes enacted by the U. S. Congress.
• The State Legislature passed a concealed weapons law that “any person shall hereafter carry any deadly weapon, other than a pocket knife” would be convicted and fined $25 the first time and $100 thereafter, or imprisonment of no less than thirty days nor more than three months.
• Thorton H. Newhouse was granted a license to keep a tavern at Fulton Station.
• A committee was established to make plans and define probable costs for building a Market House in Hickman.
• Judge Cissell, Judge Boon, and Judge Pryor were arrested by the United States Marshal for refusing to admit the testimony of African-Americans.
• The contract for clearing the roadway of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad between the Mississippi and Charleston was granted to Colonel H. J. Deihl.
• L. S. Trimble has returned to Paducah after four years of service in Congress.
• Hickman owes $27,000 in railroad debt. Paducah and McCracken County owe $800,000.
• Edward Crossland, a member of Congress from the First District, was sworn in earlier in the week.
• A 10 cent fee and $1.00 poll tax were granted by the State Legislature to build a new jail in Hickman.
• J. N. Hawkins, of Madrid Bend, declines to run for State office.
• The Mayfield Democrat began its second year of publishing a local newspaper.
• The Beech Wood Seminary will commence classes on March 13th under Principals J. H. Roulhac and John W. Cowgill. The school can accommodate up to one hundred students. “With liberal encouragement” the school plans to expand into a “regular and permanent college.” Tuition for a four month session ranged from $10 to $24 depending upon the type of lessons taught.
Jackson Purchase Historical Society