Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from August 17, 1872
- Ed Crossland and John Martin Sr. addressed a large audience at the Fulton County Courthouse in Hickman. In sweltering heat, the candidates both spoke of their support of Greeley for President, their disappointment with the press’ coverage of the election, and other political matters of the day. The Hickman Courier favored the incumbent, Crossland, as the better of the two speakers. The candidates next went to Moscow.
- On August 12th a “comet” was seen in the night skies.
- One thousand feet of piling was to be done on the Hickman wharf next month.
- The Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Company discussed adding a rail line extension from Hickman to Charleston, Missouri or Columbus Kentucky during their annual meeting in Nashville.
- P. Harness purchased interest in the Steam Furniture Factory of Charles Oswald in Hickman.
- The Fulton County Court met earlier in the week and appointed John Bushart as overseer of the Lodgeton, Rock Spring, and Fulton Station Road, Mat Kimberlin as overseer of the Shuck Road to Moscow Road, J. H. Craig as overseer of State Line Road, G. S. Campbell overseer of the Troy to Moscow Road and Stephen Beard the overseer of the Fulton Station and Wesley Road.
- The Fulton Circuit Court was in session with Judge A. R. Boon presiding.
- A black man was whipped by the Fulton County Sheriff in Hickman by order of the Circuit Court Judge for stealing a pair of shoes.
- John Seymore was found guilty on the charge of mule theft and sentenced to the State Penitentiary for six years on August 16th.
- The Beech Wood Seminary was scheduled to commence classes on September 2nd, under management of John W. Cowgill as principal and his wife Mary as assistant.
- The Maggie May Troupe, an amateur minstrel group from Hickman, performed at the Hickman City Hall on August 16th.
- Father Maher was to hold services at the Catholic Church in Hickman on August 19th.
- George W. Silvertooth was to attend the Fulton County Circuit Court later in the week.
- Austin Tyler, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Fulton County, announced a that a Teachers Institute would be conducted at the Rural Academy during the week of August 27th.
- Many farmers in the region were holding back their wheat for better prices.
- A group of young men from Moscow formed a musical group called the “Fontanelle Troupe.”
- The Mayfield Democrat reported that the State Executive Republican Committee issued a circular to leading Radicals to send lists of undecided voters to the Louisville Commercial so free issues of the paper could be mailed to them.
- John Rudolph shot and killed Charles Stringer at a church in Lovelaceville. Rudolph claimed Stringer verbally insulted his sister after the shooting. He was arrested and brought to the County Jail in Blandville.
- The Paducah Fair was scheduled from October 15th to the 19th.
- W. Best took charge of the Paducah Post Office on August 5th.
- George W. Woolfolk of Paducah attempted suicide by drinking morphine at the Elmo Saloon on Market Street last week. Quick medical attention prevented his death.
- J. Jenkins, a farmer across the Mississippi River in Missouri, claimed to have pumpkin vine 120 feet long.
- The radical Republicans were rumored to begin publishing a newspaper in Columbus.
- The Paducah & Memphis Railroad between Troy Station and Dyersburg was rapidly being constructed.
- Donaldson of Lake County, Tennessee has been active in promoting the Hickman and Lake County Levee and Railroad.
- Heavy rains fell in Union County, Tennessee causing great damage to crops.
- Ruffin Allen of Dyersburg shot himself a few weeks ago.