Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from June 9, 1876

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from June 9, 1876 

• A second meeting of citizens to plan for the 4th of July celebrations was held at the Hickman City Hall on June 7th. The Money Subscription Committee, chaired by H. Buchanan, reported $154.50 had been collected from local businesses and individuals. A Committee on Arrangements was elected as well as subcommittees to schedule music, select locations, prepare locations, find tables, seats, stands, etc., organize ice, water for events, food stands, and police security. Other subcommittees included a pioneer recognition committee, special events committee, and a committee of ladies to superintend the setting of tables. The next meeting was to meet on June 14th.  

• On June 3rd, a meeting was held to discuss organizing a county fair at Hickman City Hall. J. W. Mayes was called to Chair the meeting and A. D. Kingman was appointed Secretary. Articles for the purchase of stock were drawn up and to be secured by the Fulton County Agricultural Society at $10 a year for ten years. The next meeting was to be held on July 1st.   

• The City Council met on June 6th where the special committee for investigating charges against City Marshal John W. Cole was dismissed and that the City Clerk collect licensing fees for shows, exhibitions, theatricals, etc., which previously was collected by the City Marshal. Wharfboats were to be granted licenses within the corporate limits of the city at a cost of $100 per year. Coffee house licenses were granted to Joseph Stegala and J. T. Bynum for six months. John W. Cole was paid $30 for one month salary as City Marshal and James Warner $50 for serving as Night Policeman for two months.  

• Bids were being received for “grading and graveling the walks and drives of Hickman Cemetery.”  

• The ball at Miller’s Garden on June 5th was “decidedly a nice affair and largely attended.” The attendees enjoyed “music, and dance, and refreshments.”  

• The Hickman Baseball Club defeated the Debating Club, 30 to 21, at the grounds in West Hickman. The Hickman team consisted of M. F. Millet, Joseph Deitch, William Frenz, D. Berry, G. Wolf, Joseph Kirkpatrick, William Flack, Charles Meacham, and F. Berendes. The Debating team fielded William Steele, F. S. Marrs, S. Landrum, D. Meacham, H. Berger, Charles Wilson, Charles Hackett, D. Freeman, and William Plummer. The umpires were R. M. Isler and George B. Prather.  

• Jacob Plaut and family departed on June 5th for an extended tour of the Eastern United States to attend the centennial celebrations and visit the seashore. 

• A young man by the name of Harris, from Gibson County, Tennessee, was caught attempting to steal a “bag of shot” at the store of Matheny & Debow in Hickman. [Solomon] Debow captured the thief before he could exit the store and turned him over to the local police. The man escaped from custody.  

• The farm residence of H. C. Bailey was broken into the week prior when the family was visiting Hickman. One of the accused was housed in the county jail.  

• A. R. Boone, of Graves County, announced his candidacy for reelection to Congress of the United States. 

• B. R. Walker announced his candidacy for Fulton County Sheriff. 

• The Hickman Courier was encouraged by some Fulton County Democrats to support a Congressional convention in the First District. The editor disagreed and declared they “wouldn’t need the suggestion because they were partial to this or that candidate and feared it would endanger their favorite’s chances.” 

• The benefit dinner for the Poplar Grove Baptist Church on June 1st was defined as an “elegant affair” but not largely attended. Julia Powell, along with her young lady assistants, were given the “highest commendation for the taste and management” of the event. The funds from the benefit dinner were to be used for church repairs from the damage received during the tornado of December 26, 1875.  

• Two plows and a harrow were found in the woods near Lodgton. They are believed to be those that were stolen from Matson’s Station a few weeks prior.  

• Mayfield merchants met and discussed “excessive freight rates” charged by the Paducah & Mobile Railroad and resolved to “establish a line of wagons from here to some point on the Ohio or Mississippi rivers, or the Mississippi Central Railroad,” if the railroad would not incorporate “just and equitable rates.”  

• Randolph J. Beaumont, editor of the Mayfield Democrat, was arrested for “robbing the mail” and was under indictment for the theft of Express money.  

• A forty-pound turkey was killed by a Graves County hunter. 

• C. T. Allen, of Caldwell and editor of the Princeton Banner, was appointed as Elector of the First Congressional District on the Democratic ticket.  

• Hunters from Nashville were subscribing stock to build a hotel on Reelfoot Lake.  

• A boat “trafficking in the honor of a lot of low-down women” set up business at Point Pleasant, Missouri on June 2nd. Outraged citizens gave notice to the proprietor, a man named Hutchcraft, and requested he leave. He refused to comply and in response a squad of men from the town came to the shore and fired upon the boat with rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Hutchcraft and another man jumped from the boat and swam to the Kentucky side of the river, leaving the “ill-fated women to the mercy of the assailants.” The boat was cut from its moorings where it drifted down river to Tiptonville, Tennessee without loss of life.      

• A. T. Jones died at his family residence in East Hickman on June 4th. He served as a clerk at W. B. Benny, Plaut & Brothers for many years.    

• Charles Laugnmare of Tiptonville, Tennessee, married Polly Dalton, also of Tiptonville, on May 31st.  

• Sam Cary of Union City, Tennessee was reported to marry Lou Campbell of Jackson, Tennessee. 

• The mill of D. P. Shoffner Mill at Obion Station exploded killing three and wounding two on May 31st. Those killed were Clem Davis, Nep Crittenden and the sawyer. The two injured men were Jake Jenkins and Charles Anderson. All were reported to be near the boiler when it burst. Davis’s body was found “some 150 feet from the mill.” The building was “completely wrecked with the exception of the saw works which were uninjured.”