This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – April 25, 1874

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from April 25, 1874

• No issue was published for April 18, 1874.
• A major flood struck the region late last week with a severity had “not been witnessed in the memory of the oldest inhabitant.” The Mississippi River was reported to have risen two inches in the past 24 hours. The West Hickman levee was submerged and in great danger of being washed away. Some eight or ten families were reported to have been driven from their homes from the rising river. “There will certainly be more water, but how much depends altogether upon the Missouri and Mississippi rises which at present is somewhat alarming,” reported the Hickman Courier.
• The publisher of the Hickman Courier apologized for the delay in distributing the latest issue due to the “breakage in the railroad, mails, and other inconveniences.” He also reported that “loafers” were stealing newspapers from some of the local businesses.
• The steamship Lone Star, a reputed “bawdy dance” boat, was anchored across from Hickman on the Missouri shore and some residents of the city wished to “cut the thing loose” and put the crew adrift.
• A man by the name of W. S. Martin was arrested for stealing the watch and other items from John Hines of Hickman. Martin awaits trial in the city jail.
• Dan Rice’s Circus was scheduled to be in Hickman on April 16^th but failed to appear. The sheriff in at Memphis closed the show down due to some business “attachments.”
• The young members of the Hickman Odd Fellows announced a grand ball to celebrate the anniversary of the order’s establishment.
• The Board of Directors of the Fulton Agricultural Society organized a committee to obtain additional stock to finance the Fulton County Annual Fair.
• Several businesses were expected to open in Hickman by the fall season.
• William Frenz’s Circulating Library on Clinton Street announced they would be open every day except Sundays. The library contained nearly 400 volumes, and more were being added. Memberships were $3.00 a year.
• Religious services were to be held at the Hickman Episcopal Church on April 26^th at 10:30 a.m.
• The lecture by Reverend Edward F. Berkley held at the new Episcopal Church in Hickman on April 20^th was “slimly attended” but “highly entertaining.”
• Mayor William M. Hubbard of Columbus, after serving the city for a year, resigned.
• Thomas Allen, President of the Iron Mountain Railroad, stated that he considered the best crossing of the Mississippi River to be at Columbus and he would do his best to bring another railroad to the city.
• Some farmers in Fulton were receiving circulars from a fraudulent business titled C. O. D. Supply Company which proposed to “sell everything and any kind of merchandise at 25 and 50 percent lower than home dealers.” The company required farmers to send $20 in cash with the promise to send the articles ordered.
• A destructive fire occurred at Union City, Tennessee on the night of April 22nd. Several businesses were affected, and the losses were expected to exceed $15,000.
• Martin Green was shot and dangerously wounded at Newbern, Tennessee.
• The farmers in the vicinity of Dyer Station prepared to plant more corn and less cotton in the upcoming season.
• The Cairo Gazette reported the two girls, age 12 and 14, from Tennessee were molested by J. E. Parks and Tom Black near the Little Kentuckian Saloon on April 21st. The two men were captured at New Madrid, Missouri and returned to Cairo, Illinois on April 25^th.