Stories of Interest from the Hickman Courier from March 2, 1872
- A snowstorm struck Hickman on February 24th after days of “balmy spring-like weather.”
- A meeting of citizens was held on February 24th at the Hickman City Hall to express sympathy for the recent passing of John A. Lauderdale. A series of resolutions were adopted to recognize and commemorate the many positive contributions he had done for the community. His burial took place on the morning of February 27th at the Hickman City Cemetery.
- Gid Garrett and Dick Isler of Hickman were shot while hunting on February 28th. Both survived the incident.
- The Hickman Cornet Band planned to give a series of concerts at the City Hall in the upcoming weeks and months.
- Reverend N. N. Cowgill was scheduled to preach at the Hickman Methodist Church on March 3rd.
- The school of Roulhac & Cowgill commenced their spring term “with increased patronage” and that “large accessions” were expected after the adjournment of the Free School.
- The fish trade in Hickman employed between 25 and 30 men and reported sales of $25,000 to $30,000 annually.
- Hertweck, Baltzer & Company Steam Wagon and Plow Factory of Hickman was producing “from 500 to 1000 plows and as many wagons annually.”
- The Steam Furniture Factory of Oswald & Company had over twenty employees manufacturing all types of furniture, ornamental woodwork, brackets, etc. Sales of their products extended South into Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and other States.
- The Hickman Courier reported that an increase in population in the city had left no vacant homes for the newly employed workmen and their families.
- The chief engineer of the Nashville & Northwest Railroad visited Hickman to supervise the work of driving piles at the city wharf.
- The stave trade at Hickman over the past season was reported as having been “very large.”
- The Republicans of Hickman County met at Columbus and elected W. K. Hall as Chairman and W. F. Donaldson as Secretary. The meeting passed resolutions endorsing the Grant Administration and recommended his renomination as President. They also denounced the convention of the Liberal Republicans held in Cincinnati.
- M. Boyle proposed opening a private school at the Fulton Academy building on April 1st. Boyle was in charge of the Free School in the District during the past session.
- The Kentucky Legislature granted a charter for the extension of the Elizabethtown & Paducah Railroad from the Tennessee River to Hickman. A continuous track from Louisville to Little Rock and further South was proposed in the plan.
- The General Assembly of Kentucky enacted the new Congressional Districts under the results of the 1870 population census. The First District included the counties of Fulton, Hickman, Calloway, Marshall, McCracken, Ballard, Trigg, Lyon, Crittenden, Livingston, Graves, and Union.
- The Mayfield Democrat reported that sixteen hundred dollars was collected at Mount Olivet to build a schoolhouse at Lowe’s Crossroads, about midway between Mayfield and Lovelaceville.
- A libel suit was brought against the editor of the Murray Gazette by a music teacher by the name of Frost. The Gazette published that Frost was a “drunk,” “worthless,” and a “scamp.” He sought $10,000 from the newspaper for ruining his reputation.
- The Paducah Kentuckian changed its name to The Youthful Leader to better “describe its aims and aspirations.”
- The Paducah Daily News began publication earlier in the week. The newspaper claimed to be “independent in all things and neutral in none.”
- An article published in the Hickman Courier recalled, from a firsthand account, the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 which was written on March 22, 1816.
- The Dyersburg Gazette reported the mail route between Dyersburg and Hickman would be in operation soon. The route would include Bomer, Beech Point, Kelley’s, Obion City and Wilsonville in Tennessee.