Jackson Purchase Historical Society

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from July 18, 1874

• C. Catlett took charge of the Eagle Flouring Mills at Hickman and declared that he would pay the highest market price for wheat.
• The Steam Mill of Harrison & Frick near Hickman was destroyed by fire on July 13^th. The total loss was estimated at $2,500.
• The Dry Goods Store of Rice & Brother offered ten percent off on all cash purchases, which was considered a “new feature in trade.”
• W. Bain, a well-known temperance lecturer, was scheduled to speak at Ebenezer Church on the 22^nd, Fulton on the 23^rd, and Hickman on the 24^th.
• The Fulton County Court met earlier in the week in Hickman to address legal claims, appoint county road overseers, accept the resignation of Robert N. Cobb as County Coroner, order the rerouting and widening of the Dresden Road, grant a tavern license for twelve months to Wes Childers, and appointed district officers to manage the election scheduled for July 25^th. W. T. Lineback was appointed sheriff of the regular election planned for August 3^rd.
• The Fulton County Grangers planned to have a picnic with speakers on August 1^st near Fulton.
• The 8^th Annual Fulton County Fair was to be held from September 29^th to October 4^th at the Fulton County Fair Grounds near Hickman.
• Howard Smith declared himself a candidate for the office of State Auditor.
• Two men were killed and five wounded in Fulton after an explosion at the Paschall & Bro. Flour Mill on July 13^th. Dr. Gideon W. Paschall, a prominent citizen of Fulton, was falsely reported as being killed in the explosion. However, it was his brother Perry Paschall and his teenage son James S. Paschall that died following the explosion. Those listed as injured were Dr. Paschall, Walter Robbins, two men by the name of Murrell and Phillips, and an unidentified black man. The cause of the explosion was believed to be a lack of water in the boiler.
• The Paducah Kentuckian published personal attacks on the editor of the Hickman Courier by declaring the newspaper was not the “leading organ” of the Democratic Party in the First Congressional District. The Courier mocked the claims and replied, “we do want peace”.
• The Hickman Courier noted that the paper had lost subscribers in the past few weeks over their stance on the “Local Option” Temperance Act that was to come to a vote later in the month.
• Mark Twain announced that he and a man named Barnum had leased the comet and would offer rides at $2.00 for every ten million miles. The round trip would conclude on December 14, 1991. Travel accommodations for “candidates” was expected to pass Hickman wharf on August 3^rd.
• The Odd Fellows held a celebration and barbeque at Mount Olive in Obion County, Tennessee on July 16^th. The James Cornet Band played to a large crowd along with speeches by Ed Edwards and Reverend Burton.
• Rachel Hamby died on July 8^th of a “cancerous infection” at the age of 73 at her residence in Fulton County “at the head of No. 8 Island.” She was a native of Fayette County, Tennessee, but had resided in Fulton County since 1826.