This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – August 21, 1874

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from August 21, 1874

• The Hickman City Council met on August 17^th to discuss and settle city worker salaries and pay debts for services rendered by individuals to repair roads.
• The Hickman City Marshal warned visitors to the city not to bring their dogs as they may be mistaken as strays and killed.
• Reverend J. Bunyon Stephens, of the “Old School” Baptist Church, delivered a stirring sermon at the Hickman Baptist Church on August 18^th. He planned to return to Hickman in October to organize a Primitive Baptist Church.
• The new law firm of Crossland & Walker was established in Hickman and composed of Edward Crossland and B. R. Walker.
• Corn crops in the region were reported as ruined due to the draught and that in some localities forest trees were dying. Farmers were in such desperate need of water that they traveled miles to the Mississippi River to fill containers. Cisterns in the city were “generally empty” and most families were supplied solely by the river.
• The Fulton County Circuit Court adjourned on August 19^th.
• The Grand Jury of Fulton County signed a resolution expressing their appreciation for Judge A. R. Boon and Commonwealth Attorney C. L. Randle for their faithful service to the citizens of the county.
• Two men were sent to the State Penitentiary from Fulton County, Sanford Creed for “shooting with the intent to kill” for one year and two years for Joseph Rheamer for the theft of “sundry contents.”
• The Directors of the Fulton County Fair planned to meet on August 22nd.
• R. Boon spoke in Hickman stating would support a convention in the First Congressional District to select a Democratic candidate.
• John W. Cowgill, a Deputy Chief Templar at the Hickman Lodge, had his commission revoked on August 18^th when it was found he voted against prohibiting the sale of alcohol in Fulton County.
• Smith Taylor, who was recently elected Hickman County Court Clerk, was accused of apprehending “illegal votes” by his opponent James D. Moss. Moss sought to contest the election. Taylor hired former Congressman Ed Crossland as his attorney.
• A pig with a “half-human face and head … signs of a large tusk on one side of the mouth,” and an “elephant’s trunk extended from the forehead” was born in Columbus. Some believed that the pig’s mother was impregnated by an elephant that was with a touring circus that visited Columbus some months earlier.
• Thomas J. Pickett was reported to be “heartedly” endorsed by the Republican Party as the candidate for Congress in the First District.
• Complaints had been made by citizens of Fulton County that publicly supported schools were “not accomplishing the objects for which they were organized” and many blamed the superintendent and commissioners.
• The Beechwood Seminary in Hickman scheduled their fall session to begin on August 31^st. The tuition costs were between $10 and $25 depending on the subjects to be taught.
• A Teacher’s Institute for Fulton County was scheduled to be conducted on August 24^th at the Pleasant Hill School House near Cayce Station.
• The election for Circuit Court Clerk in Ballard County wound up a draw between William Jenkins and William Wray. Wray contested the vote.
• A man by the name of McNeil was shot and killed by Crittenden Rowan on the Blandville and Cairo road on August 19th. The two feuding men had met on the road where Rowan discharged both barrels of his shotgun at McNeil. Rowan escaped and had yet to be captured.
• Three men were killed in Lake County, Tennessee opposite Point Pleasant, Missouri on August 15th. The cause that led to the demise of the men was a rivalry over the ferrying business across the Mississippi River. Albert Nolle leased the privileges of a ferry boat from General Darnell, but shortly afterwards Darnell began another ferrying service that undercut Nolle. Nolle filed suit against Darnell and the trial was set for August 15^th beneath “some shade trees near the Darnell Ferry.” Before the trail was to begin, “harsh words passed” between an associate of Darnell named Coe and Nolle. A fight ensued whereby Coe was knocked down and Darnell later drew a pistol, and shots were fired. Darnell was struck twice in the abdomen, Nolle was shot and killed along with another man named Trentham. The captain of Darnell’s ferry was wounded in the shoulder. Darnell was taken to his home where he later died of his wounds.
• William McMahon had his shoes stolen from him while asleep on a bench in Union City, Tennessee.
• Cordie Osborne, daughter of William Osborne of Union City, broke her arm earlier in the week while playing see-saw with another girl.
• James D. Porter, of Henry County, Tennessee, was nominated for Governor of Tennessee in Nashville by the Democratic Party on August 19^th. Porter was a 35-year-old lawyer, Circuit Judge of the Paris District, and served as a Confederate officer during the Civil War.
• The Jackson Dispatch reported that black men were arming themselves throughout West Tennessee. Gunsmiths in the region were receiving frequent requests to repair guns and pistols from black men.
• The steamer Grand Tower sunk on August 17^th near Cairo, Illinois.
• Eliza J. Welch, age 29, died on August 6^th at the home of S. W. Lauderdale near Hickman. She was the wife of John H. Welch, former officer in the Confederate Army, that died on September 12, 1866.
• Emma Bell Kirkpatrick, youngest daughter of Joseph and Sarah Kirkpatrick, died on August 15^th in Hickman.
• Mattie A. Drewery, wife of Theodore W. Drewery, died of heart disease on August 17^th near Hickman.
• John (Winston) Hawkins died at Woodland Mills on the night of August 18^th.