Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from April 22, 1871
• The primary elections for the Democratic Party were held in Columbus, Kentucky on April 15th and nominated A. J. Hess for mayor and a Mr. Samuels for City Clerk.
• The State Legislature passed a law whereby selling or giving a drink to an inebriated person, after being notified in writing, is liable to a fine of $20 recoverable by the wife or any relative of the inebriate.
• Some citizens in Hickman consider the frequent robberies in this vicinity as an index of prosperity. Thieves are too smart to stay around “dead towns.”
• Workmen have commenced construction in Hickman on the new residences of C. L. Randle and G. Rice and the business house of W. L. McCutchen.
• The milliners and dressmakers in Hickman are reported as being very busy.
• Thomas G. Poore and J. H. Smith have declared to be candidates for Circuit Court Clerk in Hickman County following the death of S. W. Rennick.
• The members of the Good Templars Lodge of Hickman have called a meeting for April 25th.
• Caterpillars have taken possession of the orchards in this section. The trees are covered from top to bottom.
• The annual meeting of the Fulton County Bible Society will meet in Hickman on May 14th.
• The Board of Magistrates plan to consider a proposition for the building a new jail in Fulton County on June 12th. The election for magistrates will occur on May 6th.
• A young man by the name of Charlie McMurtry, also known as Wes Warren of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, robbed the Planters Hotel in Hickman of between $75 and $100 on April 16th.
• The Independent Order of Odd Fellows will hold a formal ball at the Planter’s Hotel on April 26th.
• The Hickman Courier reports “the past year has been blessed beyond expectation in largely increased trade and prosperity and with a little railroad encouragement just now would spring forward to a bright success.”
• The Hickman City Council voted to levy a special license of $50 on all tavern keepers in the city.
• The Circuit Court concluded that William Craig, Pete Moxley and O. P. Graham were unlawfully arrested. James Spaulding, Mary Couville and Mary Adams were convicted of robbing John Henry Meyer of money on the steamer Belle Memphis. Robert Johnson was sentenced for one year in the penitentiary for stealing a skiff.
• The Market House Committee of Hickman City Council had plans and specifications drawn up for the new market house. J. H. Dodds was contracted to furnish the lumber for $17.50 per 1000 feet and W. L. Linebeck to begin construction at the cost $550.00. W. J. Cole was awarded $75 to do the brick work.
• The Hickman City Treasurer reported a balance of $264.86 in the city treasury.
• The Hickman City Marshal was directed to enforce the ordinance preventing hogs from running large in the city.
• Paducah was reported as being busy with arrangements for a grand May Day celebration.
Jackson Purchase Historical Society