Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for MAY 1879 May 1879 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: C Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net September 10, 2006, 9:57 pm The Jacksonville Republican May 1879 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN", Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama for MAY 1879 NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, May 3, 1879 LOCAL News Jerry Gladden, an industrious negro man, lately living in Jacksonville, died last week of that species of consumption so fatal to the blacks in this section. --- Since the absence of Mr. Lafayette Mattison, Mr. Seab Cook has been performing the duties of town Marshall and he fills the place worthily and well. --- Mrs. Sarah Stewart has returned from Arkansas after an absence of many years. She still thinks her old home about Ball Play the garden spot of the world. --- Married, on the 21st of April by the Rev. J. Walker, J.W. McDaniel of Calhoun county to Miss Lucinda Denman of Cleburne county. --- Mr. R.D. Williams has gone to Louisville and Cloverport, Ky., for a few week stay. He will bring back a very fine Percheron horse with him when he comes. The Percheron breed are the best draught horses in the world. They are large and have muscle. --- Mr. Isaac Frank of Gadsden is in town for a few days visiting his worthy family. Mr. Frank is in business in Gadsden. --- Mr. W.P. Hollingsworth who died in Gadsden recently was one of the foremost citizens of that town. His loss is a loss to this whole section of country. The editor of this paper lost in him one of the best friends he ever had. He was a noble man. --- ALABAMA News A man by the name of Cleveland was shot and killed in Birmingham ten days ago. --- Jack Overstreet killed Chas. Wells near Coffeeville lately. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, May 10, 1879 The trial of Cox for killing Alston in Atlanta some time since has just been concluded, the jury bringing in a verdict of "guilty of murder" with a recommendation that he be imprisoned for life, and the sentence was passed accordingly. The scene at the close of the trial was highly dramatic. The wife of the prisoner, when she realized the verdict, so fatal to her hopes, sprang to a window nearby and attempted to throw herself to the ground below. Her husband sprang to her and attempted to soothe her, when she threw her arms around him, wildly exclaiming, "Oh, my God, oh, my poor darling." Her shrieks were heart rendering and drew tears to the eyes in the crowded court room. Who can measure the depth of the devoted wife! God pity her! --- THE FISH ON TALLAPOOSA We went about two weeks too soon and consequently caught but few fish but we had a most enjoyable time and made many acquaintances and we hope, friends. At least we on our part shall never forget the courteous, kind treatment that we received on every hand from the people whom we met on this delightful trip. All these things aside, though, it is worth the expense incurred, any time, to go to that region, if only to breathe the pure air and drink the ice fold freestone water of the country. During our stay we were with the interesting family of Mr. R.F. Pounds, a very extensive farmer and mill owner on the Tallapoosa. Mr. Pounds owns twelve hundred acres of land on the Tallapoosa and the creeks flowing into it, in great part rich bottom land, and supports thirteen families on his place, but he is richest in children. Of these he has ten, seven of whom are boys. God willing that they should all live, what a staff he has in those sturdy, honest hearted boys, to lean on in his declining years! The oldest, Newman, is a farmer and a good one, married. The second is unmarried and fitting himself for a mercantile life or a profession. He is quite handsome, and a good catch for the girls, and therefore we shall not tell his name, lest they trouble him with bouquets and billetdoux. Mrs. Pounds is one of the most motherly and kind hearted ladies we ever met. Mr. Pounds himself is a prominent citizen of Cleburne county, a just man, very highly respected. As proof of his sense of justice and fair dealing with his fellow man, we have only to state the fact that in all his dealings with the gentlemen living and working his lands on shares, he has never had any difficulty in his settlements with any of them. He says these constant difficulties and misunderstandings between landlord and tenant is perhaps as often the fault of one as the other. Where a landlord gives a tenant a living chance, he is generally satisfied. ---- ALABAMA News A difficulty occurred near Carrolton, Pickens county between Hood Taylor and Jos. Sturdevant in which the latter was stabbed to death. Taylor was arrested and committed to jail. --- On Wednesday night last, Mr. J.L. Lofton of Eutaw was assaulted while on his way home by a negro, and severaly bitten on the hand and knocked down with a club. --- Thursday night April 24th the following prisoners escaped from the Huntsville jail: James Caperton, Will O'Keefe and James Lemly, charged with larceny; Dudley Warton of Franklin, Jno. Evens of Jackson and Thos. Robertson of DeKalb, all under sentence for thirty days imprisonment, and Thos. C. Wilkerson of Cleburne who was held by the government on a charge of perjury. Caperton and O'Keefe were recaptured. --- CLEBURNE News We regret to announce the death of John Buttram, who came to his death a few days ago by falling from a tree. Our information is that he had climbed a tree for the purpose of destroying a hawk's nest and by some means lost his hold and fell about forty feet, causing death instantly. He leaves a young family to mourn his loss. He is a son of Rev. Jeff Buttram of Oak Level, Ala. His bereaved family and friends have our sympathy. --- LOCAL News Mr. J.D. Hammond, Mayor, has had the streets put in good condition. --- Mr. R.H. Couper is having a tram road bult from the depot to the ore bed. The prospects are that it will be completed in a few days. --- Mr. J.J.B. McElrath has cotton with 7 leaves. He also has corn 3 or 4 feet high. He says that corn and cotton both look better than it has for years. He also states that the wheat is extra. It is all nicely headed out and looks as if it would make 25 bushels to the acre. --- Mr. John Vessel, we are informed, died last Monday week. --- Jos. H. Francis Jr., son of Dr. J.C. Francis of this place and who is traveling for a large New York house, has been visiting here the past week. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, May 17, 1879 OXFORD News Items Green Striplin, a worthy colored man living about three miles from town, lost his wife on the night of the 5th inst. She died of gastric and intestinal congestion. --- MARTIN'S CROSS ROADS News Rev. T.P. Gwin preached the funeral of the late Aaron Wilkins at Post Oak Baptist church last Sabbath, to a very large audience. --- ALABAMA News A son of Col. Thos. Smith of Coosa county joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and has not been heard of since that time until last week, when he returned to his father's home. --- LOCAL News Si Crow, an old negro man, formerly belonging to Mr. James Crow, died last week. Si, in slavery time, was a blacksmith and very valuable to his master. --- With pain, we learn of the death of Mrs. Clark, mother of Mrs. A. Woods of this place, after a brief illness. She was quite an old lady. Mrs. Clark was a thorough Christian woman, greatly beloved in her circle of acquaintance; and she leaves many sorrowing friends behind. The aged partner of her life and other relatives have our deepest sympathy. --- Some days ago during a rainstorm, lightning struck two china trees in the yard of Mr. Warren Harris and completely shattered them. One large piece was thrown fifty yards and splinters were driven through the heavy plank of a corn crib near. He was sitting within two feet of the window, near the trees, and the lightning passed directly through it, making a hole in a pane of glass as if a rifle ball had passed through, yet he did not in the least feel the shock. He says it made the loudest noise he ever heard. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, May 24, 1879 IN MEMORIAM OF CATHERINE C. (ECHOLS) McPHERSON Catherine C. (Echols) McPherson was born in Jasper county, Ga., April 4, 1816; was married to John McPherson Esq. April 1, 1857 ; was baptized unto the fellowship of the Christian church Nov. 9, 1875 and died May 17, 1879. Few persons possessed in so eminent a degree as the deceased, all those excellencies of head and heart which compose and color the noblest character. Mrs. M. was endowed with a strong well balanced intellect, superior judgment, warm affections and happiest social qualities. She was a lady of great energy, industry, firmness of purpose and decision of character.... It takes no extended eulogy to perpetuate the memory of this excellent Christian lady in the hearts of the virtuous. The memory of her presence will linger long in our midst, like the soft summer twilight of some bright departed day. Loving brothers and sisters, several step-children, one devoted and promising grandson whom she raised from infancy, the devoted husband and many friends, mourn her loss. J.C.W., Oxford, Ala. --- ALABAMA News Another homicide has been committed in Wayne County, Miss. On the evening of the 11th, Mr. James Sullivan and a young man named Steward were riding along when several shots were fired at them, killing Sullivan dead and wounding Steward, but the latter made his escape; both of their horses were killed. The young man that was wounded did not see the parties sufficiently to recognize them. Sullivan was a citizen of Washington county, Ala., and after the inquest, was taken home by his family and friends for burial, which was but a few miles from where the murder was committed. He was a man about sixty years old. --- A lad by the name of Boyd was shot last week by John Henon of Marshall county. The ball passed through the lungs and will probably prove fatal. --- Mr. Walter Bruce of DeKalb who was hurt some time ago since by a moving train, has since died. --- A man by the name of Foundren in Marshall county shot at a Mr. Skillman while plowing, a distance of 252 yards and broke his leg. --- Mr. Decatur Davis of this county, raises a kind of cabbage collard that is fine flavored and grows to enormous proportions. He has one now four feet across. The leaves are mostly white but sometimes many colored. He plants seed in September and the plant grows throughout the winter. He got the seed from Mrs. Dr. Pelham of Alexandria. --- CLEBURNE News We learn there was a squad of Revenue men in the upper part of the county last week and that they had some trouble in the neighborhood of James L. Roberts. Some shots were fired but no one hurt. --- OBITUARY OF Mrs. Mary A. Williams Died, at Oxford, Ala., the 16th. inst., Mrs. Mary A., wife of Dr. S.C. Williams. She was born in Ruthford, North Carolina, Aug. 6, 1828; was married to Dr. S.C. Williams at Rabbit Town, Ala., Tuesday, Jan. 1st, 1850. She joined the Baptist church Aug. 15, 1849 and lived a consistent and zealous member to her death. She leaves a husband and seven children, together with her aged parents and three brothers to mourn her loss. She was perfectly resigned to death; and a short while previous to her departure, called her children one by one to her; embraced, counselled and blessed them, then kissed them and said "goodbye". In like manner she did her parents, relatives who were in the room, impressed upon the latter the counseling and instructions of her children. Then folding her arms across her heaving breast, she said "blessed Jesus" and in a few moments was dead. Thus, a dutiful, affectionate daughter, an only sister, gentle and pure; a devoted wife, a dear, sweet darling mother has gone to her reward beyond the river; gone to be robed and crowned a princess of heaven. " The night she left us weeping round her bed, so loving, mild, She prayed His mercies on each throbbing head, "God bless my child!" And then she kissed me, oh! that last sweet kiss, This side the deep, "Goodbye!" she struggling said, blest Jesus this! And fell asleep. Oh! t' was hard to kiss thee darling one, and say goodbye, To see thee journey through the vale alone, To see thee die. No, not alone, O blessed Word of God, Jesus was there. How oft the path of shadows he had trod, To soothe despair. Sad heart week not the patient sufferer, Hath gone to rest, Gone hence to greet her great Deliverer, Among the blest. Tis not for e'er we'll meet again, again, Yes, meet again. Where Benlah hill smiles on the Olympic plain We'll meet again. Oh! Sainted spirit of our mother dear, We long to be free, From these blinding tears, these heartaches here, With thee, with thee. Dudley. --- LOCAL News A dreadful and fatal affray is reported at Clark's mill near Deatsville and about 18 miles from this city on the S & N Raolroad yesterday. It seems that Mr. John Clark, a young man, son of Mr. H.W. Clark of this city, is in charge of his father's mill at the point above mentioned. About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon a man named Tatum attempted to strike him with an axe or hatchet. Mr. Clark quickly fired upon him with a pistol. The ball struck him in the head causing death. Very soon after this Mr. Clark was fired upon by a brother of Tatum with a shot gun and wounded. This, however did not thoroughly disable young Clark, for he fired upon Tatum and wounded him twice; the balls entering the stomach and it was reported yesterday that the wounds would probably prove fatal. We have no further particulars of the dreadful affray and cannot state any of the causes leading to the bloody tragedy. The Tatums involved are no relations of Mr. Berry Tatum and family of this city. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, May 31, 1879 LOCAL News To come nearer home, such a state of things partially existed in St. Clair county, next door to us. We remember poor Frank Harrison, a gallant soldier of the Tenth Alaama regiment who survived the perils of a hundred battles to fall at last at the hands of a vile tory assasin in the suburbs of Ashville. The murderer is still at large, his whereabouts is known, and yet the Governor of Alabama, a fellow soldier of the slain man, moved by a consideration we cannot conceive, offers no reward fo his apprehension, upon application. The Jacksonville Republican " The spirit of fault finding is not to be discouraged, at least as to men in public service. It is well enough for those in official station to understand that every act they do is subjected to scrutiny and criticism. It is far better they should be unjustly critisised than not criticised at all. In this sense, the Jacksonville Republican has perhaps done better than it intended. In the case to which the Republican alludes, the Governor, in the exercise of the discretion vested in him by law, did, on the 27th of January last, offer a reward of $200. for the apprehension and delivery to the sheriff of St. Clair county of each or either of the persons indicted for the murder, not, we presume because the assasins were "tories" nor because the victim of their crime was an ex-Confederate soldier, but because it seemed the ends of justice could not be reached without this pecuniary appeal to those whose patriotism was not intense enough to prompt them to the discharge of their duty. Rewards for the arrests of criminals have heretofore we think been too highly and too liberally offered and the good people of the state have been taxed from $8000. to $12000. a year to pay for services that should have been rendered without other compensation than official fees or the consciousness of duty discharged. We have an army of sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers armed with the power and charged with the duty of arresting felons and crime doers, and these prohibited by law from receiving extra pay in the shape of rewards should be sufficient to bring offenders to the bar of justice. In addition, every citizen owes it to the state, to the community and to his family, to assist int he enforcement of the criminal laws, at least so far as he can so do without cost or serious inconvenience to himself. It is the duty, for instance of anyone having the knowledge of the whereabouts of B.F. Springfield or Thomas Springfield, the murderers of Harrison, to communicate the information in his possession to the sheriff of any county in the state where they may be, and then it will be the duty of the sheriff to make the arrest without either cost to the state than his fees therefor.... ---- LOCAL News Seab Crook is the champion marble shooter of the state. We challenge the entire state. --- Mr. John M. Caldwell is visiting relatives in Memphis. --- The little daughter of Mr. Kennedy on Sand Mountain was attacked by an enraged jack, and had her arm broken besides being badly bitten. --- Billie Dean, after a violent attack of billious fever has again resumed his position behind the counter. Billie is one of our most popular salesmen and was sadly missed during his illness. --- A splendid bridge has lately been constructed over the Choccolocco Creek beyond White Plains. Mr. J. Floyd Smith was largely instrumental in the prosecution of this work. The bridge was constructed by Mr. Anthony Dickerson and is a model of workmanship, as to finish, strength and durability. --- Mrs. A.W. Cawthorn, nee Laura Keith, chaperoned by our genial friend Mrs. John Wyly, paid our sanctum a pleasant visit Monday evening. Mrs. Cawthorn spent the days of her girlhood here and will be remembered as one of the most accomplished young ladies of that period. --- Our young townsman Walter E. Hammond, who is absent on a business trip through south Ala., met with a serious and well nigh fatal accident some days since. In crossing a very deep and dangerous ford through a creek with which he was totally unacquainted, his horse stumbled and threw him headlong into the water. Encumbered with clothes, he sank to the bottom. With admirable presence of mind he rapidly disengaged himself from his heavier garments and as he arose to the surface in a half drowned condition, grasped with the energy of despair, a piece of drift wood and clung to it until he weas thrown upon a bank, at a considerable distance down the creek, in a state of complete physical prostration. We heartily congratulate him upon his fortunate escape. --- On last Monday, a most terrible accident happened to the son of Mr. G.W. Burns of this county, by which he was instantaneously killed. While returning from Oxford in a buggy, the horse ran away and struck the wheels against a stump, throwing the lad with such violence against a tree as to fracture the skull and dislocate the neck, causing death instantly. He was a bright intelligent boy of sixteen and possessed all those noble traits of character for which his half-brother Frank Maddox who recently died in this place, was so esteemed. An aged grandmother upon viewing his mangled remains was hopelessly stricken down at his bedside by paralysis. We tender our deepest sympathy to the grief stricken relatives in this sad hour of a double bereavement. --- Our townsman Mr. J.L. Mattison has been appointed Southern Passenger Agent at the Blue Mountain Route, Selma, Rome & Dalton Railroad, at Montgomery, Ala. We hope to see again, throught he efforts of Mr. Mattison, this old and favorite route crowded with summer travels or the various summer resorts East and North; but at the same time we would not have our friends more from Southern latitudes forget that immediately on the line of this Road are many pleasant and economical summer retreats just as healthy as those in Virginia and Tennessee and very convenient for our Montgomery and Mobile friends. Send them here to us friend Mattison and we will extend to them the hearty hand of welcome. Here in the Blue mountains at a very great elevation we have a cool atmosphere, many mineral springs and beautiful mountain scenery... --- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/newspape1091gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 20.7 Kb