Jackson Purchase Historical Society

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from May 11, 1872

• A drought was reported in Fulton County and the “whole county [was] suffering for rain.”
• The fruit crop in the region was forecasted to be “almost a total failure” as caterpillars have stripped the trees bare.
• The young ladies and gentlemen of Hickman arranged to have a moonlight picnic and dance on May 14^th in the woods near Chalybeate Springs. The Hickman Cornet Band volunteered to play that evening and that the Paducah Silver Band was invited to attend.
• The authorities of Hickman requested that citizens not burn their trash in public streets after nightfall.
• The piling and fascine work along the Mississippi River at Hickman proved to be providing satisfactory protection to the riverbanks. The placing of fascines continued and “will be pushed steadily to completion.”
• Jo Sohm planned to construct a two-story brick business building on Clinton Street. Jack Mitcham was hired as contractor for the brick and W. T. Lineback for the woodwork.
• Contractors commenced work on a 66×120-foot warehouse for the Plaut Brothers Company.
• The International Organization of Good Templars held a convention at Jordan Station on May 4^th and boasted a membership of 568. The attendees were welcomed by the Golden Star Lodge and the Hickman Cornet Band. The next meeting was to be held at Fulton Station on August 3^rd.
• The Fulton County Bible Society held their annual meeting at the Hickman Methodist Church on May 5^th. H. C. Bailey was elected president of the Society and $204.28 was collected in donations.
• Reverends Trimble and Nash planned a series of lectures at the Christian Church in Hickman the following week.
• Members of the Altar Society were called to meet at the Hickman Catholic Church on May 12^th.
• The Fulton County Board of Tax Revisers raised the assessment of the county $50,000 over the State Assessors list.
• Ben F. Thomason announced himself as candidate for Fulton County Sheriff.
• State Legislator A. S. Arnold planned to address his constituents at the Fulton County Court House at 1 o’clock on May 13^th.
• The extension of the Nashville & Northwestern Railroad from Hickman to Charleston, Missouri and the continuation of the Brownsville and Holly Springs Railroad to the city was “attracting lively and favorable discussion.”
• James Snow, who killed Dan Lacewell opposite Hickman last summer, was convicted of murder in the first degree.
• Samuel O. Higgason of Union City, Tennessee patented an invention for beehives.
• Trains traveling to Memphis were detained due to the immense number of caterpillars greasing the tracks.
• The Spring Fair of the McKenzie Agricultural Association was scheduled to be held on May 17^th and 18^th.