This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – January 25, 1873

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from January 25, 1873

• A city election was held in Hickman on January 25^th to choose between one- or two-year terms for city officials.
• The “whole country is suffering with colds” and fevers.
• Smallpox patients in Columbus and Hickman are reported convalescing.
• Citizen concerned over the number of “idle, thriftless” individuals in Hickman encouraged city leaders to consider enacting the “vagrant law.”
• The low price of corn is “falling ruinously on our farmers” and many have decided to grow cotton this upcoming season.
• The “bottom” farmers anticipate an overflow like last year.
• A considerable amount of cotton expected to be sent to the Hickman market was held up on account of bad roads.
• The ice on the river obstructed pile driving construction on the Hickman wharf.
• Many parties in Hickman engaged in capturing rafts and other wrecks on the Mississippi River since the reopening of navigation on the river.
• A spokesman for the Railroad company in Hickman notified city leaders to keep a pass way to the wharf boat open for passage of private freights.
• N. White laid plans to build a large warehouse next to the Rowland Warehouse in Hickman in the spring.
• The Hickman Steam Wagon Works planned to expand their facilities to meet increased demands.
• The Hickman Library and Reading Room continued to advertise for more members to sustain the library.
• The Hickman Courier was selected as the public printer for the City of Hickman.
• The latest music publications were publicized to be located at the J. H. Davis Bookstore in Hickman.
• The Citizen’s Ball held on January 23^rd was “largely attended” despite the unfavorable weather. The dance hall was “brilliantly lighted and handsomely festooned with paper devices” and a “large collection of landscapes and other paintings adorned the walls.” Thirty-two couples were counted on the dance floor for each of the polkas or waltzes played during the event and the “music was excellent.”
• A grand carnival was planned in Hickman for February 25^th with a grand mardi gras ball that evening.
• The German Benevolent Society organized a ball for February 3^rd to benefit the German School in Hickman.
• N. Cowgill, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hickman, chose to rent out his farms and reside in the city.
• Judge A. R. Boon remarked that at the end of his present term he would resign and enter the profession of preacher.
• A new town was being built near Lodgton in Fulton County on the Mississippi Central Railroad halfway between Fulton and Clinton called Puncheon. A dry goods and grocery store were being constructed along with several houses.
• Common schoolteachers in some sections of the Jackson Purchase were alarmed at the reduction of pay in Kentucky.
• Nick Combs, of Fulton County, killed a pig that weighed 473 pounds at seven months old.
• A party of citizens from Hickman enjoyed an excursion on the Steamer Glasgow on January 24^th.
• The Fulton County Circuit Court was scheduled to convene on February 2^nd.
• Alice Samuels, of Clinton, died at age 27 the week prior.
• Jeff Crossland, the son of Ed Crossland, was seriously injured while riding on a large wheel at the woolen factory of Jefferson Carman in Mayfield.
• A sow broke into the home of a Mayfield resident where it pulled off all the “bedclothes off” and made itself a “comfortable pallet on the floor” and slept throughout the night.
• The Kentucky Legislature decided not to locate a “Third Lunatic Asylum” in the Jackson Purchase.
• Hugh Thomas and Rigs Overly escaped from the Blandville jail on January 8^th.
• A large audience attended a temperance lecture by Clint L. Randle at the Paducah Methodist Church on January 20^th according to the Paducah Tobacco Plant.
• The construction of a Paducah street-rail line was progressing quickly.
• Fulton Station began efforts for a joint corporation charter from both Kentucky and Tennessee.
• The editor of the Hickman Courier declared that Cairo, Illinois will soon be a “future great city.” The construction of Mississippi Central Railroad will bring “immense trade” to the hub city.
• A vote failed on the Railroad Tax in Union City, Tennessee on January 18^th.
• N. Gibbs, of Union City, was elected Secretary of State of Tennessee.
• The Chancery Court in Dyer County, Tennessee refused to grant an act of corporation to the Mississippi Levee & Railroad Company. The judge found that the levee would not extend to Dyer County and thus did not have the necessary jurisdiction to grant a corporation.
• John A. Stubbs and Nannie King were married at the residence of the bride’s father on January 21^st in Fulton County.
• The wife of John Boyer died at her residence near Hickman on January 21^st.