This Week 150 Years Ago

This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – January 11, 1873

January 10, 2023

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from January 11, 1873

  • The municipal election held on January 6th reelected H. A. Tyler as mayor and Samuel Landrum, N. P. Harness, Thaddeus W. Thomas, John Troutweine, Jacob Frenz and H. S. Campbell as councilmen.
  • The Hickman City Council met on January 8th to pay W. L. Gardner for removing four dead hogs, reimbursing N. P. Harness & Company for nails, tools, etc. and settle the cost of the recent election for $6.00. The tax collector reported that he received delinquent taxes from 1871 ($247.27) and 1872 ($57.33), the Wharfmaster collected $615.25, the City Clerk collected $2,310.50, the Street Commissioner collected $77.90 for lumber and work done on city sidewalks, the Market Master collected $140, the City Marshall collected $1,351.70 in fines and fees, and the City Treasurer received the sum of $9,086.24.
  • The Temperance concerts held on January 8th and 9th were declared a “highly enjoyable affairs” and a “perfect success.”
  • The Hickman Library and Reading Room was reported as becoming a “popular resort” for both “ladies and gentlemen of our community.”
  • The Trustees of the School District announced that classes at the free school would commence on January 13th at the Beech Wood Seminary under the management of John W. Cowgill, T. M. French, and Emma Fuqua.
  • The Postmaster General advertised for proposals for a weekly carrier for the mail via Hickman, Cayce’s Station, Lodgeton, Water Valley, Linnville, Murray, Good Ridge, New Providence and Concord to Johnsonville, Tennessee.
  • The State Superintendent of Common School reported that only one-third of the children in Kentucky regularly attended school.
  • A practical joke played by some citizens of Cairo, Illinois upon the city of Columbus, Kentucky just prior to the Civil War was republished in Hickman Courier. A small toy brass cannon was located by a gentleman in Cairo and with the assistance of a few friends in the business community they began writing letters to fellow merchants in Columbus that donations were being sought in Cairo to present a brass cannon to their neighbors downriver. The Cairo papers picked up on the story and soon afterwards newspapers across the country widely spread the tall tale. A grand reception was organized in Columbus that included a large community dinner and parade followed by the cannon being pulled by “six of the finest horses in the county.” Local and State leaders were reported to have prepared speeches on the significance of the cannon to Columbus and Southern independence. Once the jokesters in Cairo found out about these elaborate plans, they concurred that the joke had gotten out-of-hand and one of them must travel to Columbus to “explain the joke.” A reluctant volunteer went to Columbus where he was met by a “throng of excited citizens” anxious to view the cannon. As he nervously explained the joke, he removed the cannon from his vest pocket and presented it to the crowd. He fortunately escaped and returned to Cairo where declared he had “no desire to go near [Columbus] again.”
  • The Iron Mountain and Mobile & Ohio Railroads spoke of bridging the Mississippi River at Columbus.
  • M. Norton leased the Columbus city ferry for five years at a $1.00 per month.
  • The depots at Columbus and Belmont were reported as being “blocked with freight.”
  • Smallpox appeared to be spreading amongst the black community in Columbus.
  • Mayfield rejoiced on account of a reduction in rents.
  • The Mayfield Democrat strongly supports the construction of the Cairo & Tennessee River Railroad which was planned to go through Graves County.
  • The editor of the Mayfield Democrat was presented two solid silver napkin rings by Sunday school scholars.
  • S. Hall & Company, contractors for building the Mississippi Central Railroad through Ballard and Hickman counties, reported the business failed.
  • Charles Gibbs, of Union City, declared himself a candidate for Secretary of State of Tennessee.
  • Pat Cusick, formerly of Hickman, established a tin and hardware store in Union City, Tennessee.
  • A drunken riot occurred in Jackson, Tennessee on Christmas Day. Black men were reported to have “took and held possession of the town during the entire day,” where they demolished property and assaulted citizens.
  • H. Southern of Dyersburg, Tennessee died at age 64.
  • A meeting was scheduled for January 11th at the Courthouse in Charleston, Missouri to discuss the railroad from Charleston to Hickman.
  • James M. Patterson of Charleston, Missouri died.