This Week 150 Years Ago in Hickman – January 13, 1872

Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from January 13, 1872
• The Hickman City Council met on January 8th and addressed improving the riverbank from erosion and repairing streets in town. The City Marshal reported to the Financial Committee that $414.45 was collected from fines; the Market Master declared $18.40 was collected from rent and the Wharf Master stated the $42.00 in fees was collected. The City Judge collected $514.55 in fines and costs assessed in the City Court. The City Clerk’s salary was set at $100 and 5 percent of all monies collected. The Tax Collector was to receive no fixed salary but a 5 percent compensation for all taxes collected. The City Treasurer would receive a salary of $50 and the Market Master would get 20 percent on all rent collected from the Market House and City Hall. The City Attorney would receive 30 percent of all fines collected in which the attorney attended and prosecuted. The City Printer would receive the sum of $75 semi-annually in advance to publish the proceedings of the City Council.
• The new City Council elected following officers to serve: W. A. Brevard as City Clerk, John W. Wingate as Assessor, George B. Prather as Tax Collector and City Attorney, and William L. Gardner as Wharf Master and Market Master.
• No formal inauguration for the newly elected mayor of Hickman was planned due to the “unflattering financial prospect of the year.”
• A series of social parties and balls continued after the holidays in Hickman and “pleasant little marriage ceremonies characterized these occasions.”
• A delegation of citizens from Hickman planned to visit Frankfort to promote interest in the Hickman and Tiptonville Levee Company.
• Former Kentucky Grand Master Elisha S. Fitch was scheduled to address the Masonic Order and citizens of Hickman on January 19th on the subject of Free Masonry.
• John Trenbath of Mobile, Alabama was contracted for the piling of the riverfront and trestling of the railroad at Hickman. The contract stipulated that the project begin on January 15th and be completed by March 1st. Rock for the wharf was to come from the Johnsonville quarry in Tennessee.
• Galloway’s mill, adjoining completion Oswald’s Furniture Factory, was rapidly approaching completion.
• Construction began on McCutchen’s new storehouse on Clinton Street in Hickman.
• R. A. Coleman preached at the Hickman Baptist Church on January 13th and 14th.
• James B. Haines of Obion County, Tennessee and Henrietta Wearn of Hickman were married by Reverend J. H. Roulhac on January 10th.
• The Hickman Courier, along with the Paducah Kentuckian, boldly opposed of the “Passive Policy” which advocated the Democratic Party withdraw from the upcoming Presidential campaign and let the Liberal Republicans nominate the candidates and frame a platform.
• The January term of the County Court began earlier in the week. A tavern license was issued to W. H. Childers and H. W. Dustlebrink was released from paying $450 in taxes for two town lots. Jacob Stoehr was assigned to work on the Kirk road under Levy Heath and T. D. Barnes was appointed as overseer for the State road from Mud Creek to McGehee crossroads. James N. Hawkins took the oath as Justice of the Peace in Civil District No. 4.
• The Mayfield Democrat reported that the Anti-Whiskey Party carried the vote in Mayfield and that liquor licenses would no longer be granted in the city. The saloon owners and their supporters met at a mass meeting on January 10th where they organized protests. During the following days, businesses in town were draped in mourning, men tied black cloth to their hats and a brass band played “Dead March” upon a wagon with the inscription “Banner of Peace.” A keg was later buried at the “old fort” and church bells rang out for the death and burial of “King Alcohol.” “It was a perfect burlesque and created considerable laughter,” the newspaper recounted.
• A few cases of Small-Pox were reported in Paducah and those infected have been confined to the “Pest House.”
• Congressman Ed Crossland planned to propose an appropriation bill to construct a government building in Paducah during the first session of Congress.