This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – June 17, 1871
Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from June 17, 1871
• The editor of the Hickman Courier complains that many dwellings out in country are left unpainted and an eyesore.
• The Murray Gazette accused the Paducah Herald of interfering with the reelection of Colonel G. A. C. Holt, a candidate from the Third Senatorial District, by using its power of influence to discredit the Senator.
• State Senatorial candidates, Henry S. Hale and William C. Clark, met and spoke on June 12th at the Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield. They discussed the issue of African-American testimony in State courts. Both candidates claimed to be gallant soldiers in the Confederate Army.
• The four candidates for the State Legislature addressed a large audience at the Fulton County Court House in Hickman on June 12th. They discussed the issues of African-American testimony in State courts, the Cincinnati Southern Railroad Charter, the repeal of the Common School Tax, the selling of stocks of the Sinking Fund for the payment of State debt, the jurisdiction of Magistrates, and State aid for internal improvements. All the candidates shared the same opinion in regards to not supporting legislation allowing the testimony of Black citizens and repealing the school tax if black children were admitted to free public schools.
• George W. Silvertooth planned to address the people of the Lodgton precinct on June 24th.
• The Fulton County Court convened on June 12th and made an appropriation of $1,000 for the purpose of building a bridge across the Bayou de Chien River. A committee to build the bridge, compose of John C. Steele, James W. Mayes and James Bushart, were appointed to raise an additional $600 to complete the funding required to complete the project.
• Thomas Kirkpatrick has commenced building a new residence in East Hickman.
• The Good Templars planned a picnic in Mayfield for July 4th.
• Bondurant & Drewry have contracted with Hardin & Wilburn for the construction of a new warehouse.
• A request was made in Hickman Courier by the Fulton County Assessor that the Assessor’s Books taken by Confederate soldiers in August of 1864 be returned as a favor to the people of Fulton County needing the information contained in its ledgers.
• George Terry and Albertine Winston were married by J. H. Roulhac on June 14th.
• Luella Corbett, daughter of Dr. W. D. Corbett, died in Hickman on June 13th after a long and protracted illness.
• Reverend Steele planned to deliver a series of lectures on the doctrines and polity of the Methodism at the Hickman Methodist Church on June 21st.
• The editor of the Hickman Courier attempts to quell a “false alarm” that Fulton County has an impending financial crisis forthcoming. He does confirm the tumbling prices of farm products but that these “hard times” are purely imaginary.
• The Fulton County authorities began to levy a ten cent ad valorem and $1.00 poll tax to build the new jail in Hickman.
• The Temperance Celebration in Hickman was held on June 17th with several distinguished speakers, including W. R. Bradley and the Reverend Willis R. White. The Good Templars congregated at the lodge on the Whitting Block and marched in procession to the picnic ground led by John C. Steele, Marshal of the Day.
• Charley Brown, of Blandville, shot and killed Alex Coats after Brown’s wife received improper advances from Coats. Brown turned himself in to local officials.
• A Sunday school picnic was held in Woodland Mills, Tennessee near Union City on June 16th. The picnic goers were addressed by Reverends Frost and McGowan
• The Huntingdon Courier reports the wheat crop of Carroll County, Tennessee will not be more than half a crop but the grain will be of superior quality.