Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from July 29, 1871
• Governor Preston Leslie addressed a “very large audience” at the Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield on July 24th. He presented and answered the same questions as he had at four other speeches he gave in the district with an added outspoken attack on Republican radicalism. Lucien Anderson of Mayfield was given the opportunity to respond whereby he criticized the Democratic Party in the State Legislature and the funds appropriated to refurnish the Governor’s mansion. The debate between the two men lasted five hours.
• Three men robbed the Mobile & Ohio Railroad express car at Moscow on July 22nd. After forcing the guard to hand over the key to the safe, the men confiscated around $20,000, jumped from the train and ran into the nearby woods. A group of twenty-five men from Moscow searched for the thieves but their whereabouts were still unknown a week later.
• An ongoing quarrel between the Columbus Dispatch and Hickman Courier over the issue of allowing African-American testimony in State courts and favored politicians in the upcoming election played out in a long-winded editorial in the Courier, which condemned the Dispatch as prevaricating on the issues.
• The Paducah Kentuckian reports the Western Kentucky will produce the largest corn crop in its history and the tobacco crop looks very promising.
• The committee to build a levee and railroad from Hickman to Madrid Bend scheduled a meeting at the Lake County Courthouse in Tiptonville for August 10th.
• The Hickman Star Band organized a “Grand Tournament” to be held on the Hickman Fair Grounds on September 1st.
• The Rural Academy at Jordan Station planned to commence classes on September 4th under the charge of Professor F. F. Jones.
• Some citizens in Hickman complained of neglect and unhealthy conditions on Jackson Street and requested the removal of a shanty at the foot of the courthouse hill steps.
• A new temperance lodge was organized at the Kirk School House in Fulton County and named in honor of Captain H. A. Tyler.
• The candidates for State Legislature planned to canvass at Hall’s Bridge in Hickman County on July 29th.
• Reverend E. G. Sewell will preach at the Rural Academy on July 29th and July 30th.
• The Eagle Flouring Mills in Hickman was offered for sale to the highest bidder.
• The Pioneers of Western Kentucky met at the Graves County Courthouse in Mayfield and chose the date of September 22nd to have a “regular old fashioned barbeque.” Speakers identified with the Jackson Purchase, from as early as 1830, were to be invited to participate.
Jackson Purchase Historical Society