Jackson Purchase Historical Society

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from August 24, 1872

• A widespread drought remained in the region that caused major concerns on the harvest of the corn crop.
• A gunfight occurred on August 19^th in Hickman when a drunk and belligerent Mr. McFarland of James Bayou, Missouri attempted to evade arrest by Officer John Cole. Prior to his capture between 15 and 20 shots were fired as McFarland fled through the city streets. No injuries were reported. He was fined $100 and released the next day by the City Court.
• The Beech Wood Seminary in Hickman planned to commence classes on September 2^nd.
• The Beulah Baptist Association planned to convene at Poplar Grove Church on August 31^st for three days.
• The Fulton County Fair was to begin on the week of September 24^th. Permits for refreshment stands were to be issued at the Hickman City Hall.
• William B. Plummer planned to construct a two-story livery stable in Hickman.
• Efforts were being made to organize another brass band in Hickman.
• A fifty-year-old black man by the name of Henry Wilson in Columbus was, according to the Hickman Courier, gradually turning white.
• A sickness at Woodland Mills had cause the death of a few children.
• A large temperance barbeque was to be given by the Tyler Lodge in Fulton County.
• The Democratic candidates for Congress, Ed Crossland and John Martin Sr., planned to speak at Woodville on August 24^th and Murray on August 26^th.
• The words of Democratic candidate of Congress, John Martin, that his newspaper the Paducah Kentuckian never published claims to injure his opponent, Ed Crossland, was denounced by the editor of the Hickman Courier as false and misleading.
• Mayfield was reported to have the tallest Greeley and Brown pole in Kentucky.
• A farmer in Graves County claimed to have produced a ten-pound tomato.
• The Paducah Tobacco Plant reported that Lucien Anderson, of Mayfield, was canvassing the Jackson Purchase for Grant’s reelection by making “radical speeches.”
• Judge G. H. Morrow, of McCracken County, received a $8,940 judgement claim against the Federal Government for the use of the Courthouse for hospital purposes during the Civil War.
• Former Governor John Q. A. King declined to serve as Elector for the First Congressional District. He declined due to a sickness in his family.
• The citizens of Lake County met on August 18^th to establish a permanent organization of the Hickman and Madrid Bend Levee & Railroad Company. A “considerable amount of stock was subscribed” at the meeting and afterwards.
• Two men were captured in Madrid Bend for stealing a horse and mule in Tiptonville, Tennessee. The men were placed in the Lake County jail and await trial.
• George W. Martin was selected as the candidate for County Representative of Weakley County, Tennessee.
• A mass meeting of all the Methodist Sunday Schools in the District was to be held in Gardner Station, Tennessee on August 24^th.
• The Gibson County Agricultural & Mechanical Association announced their 4^th Annual Fair would be held during the week of October 8^th.
• The West Tennessee Association of Jackson scheduled their 2^nd Annual Fair for the week of October 22^nd.
• The Steamer Helen Brooks was assaulted by pirates upriver from Memphis on August 17^th. The captain of the steamer, William Patt, his brother, and their families were murdered and thrown into the river along with two other travelers. The perpetrators were still at large at the time of publication.
• Brown Stoe of Sassafras Ridge married Sallie Smith of Hickman on August 19^th.