Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Newspaper abstracts for JULY, AUG., SEPT., OCT. 1886 1886 ************************************************ 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 October 7, 2006, 11:16 pm The Jacksonville Republican 1886 NEWSPAPER ABSTRACTS FROM "THE JACKSONVILLE REPUBLICAN", Jacksonville, Calhoun County, Alabama for JULY 1886, AUGUST 1886, SEPTEMBER 1886, OCTOBER 1886 NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 3, 1886 ALABAMA State News CHEROKEE County News D.C. Russell, well known in Cherokee county, is dead. --- ETOWAH County News Hosea Griffin was killed by James Mehler near Attalla one night recently at a house of bad repute. Mehler was firing his pistol indiscriminately in the house when Griffin passed by. A ball pierced a looking glass and passing through a crack in the wall, buried itself in the head of Griffin. He was found dead a few moments afterwards. Mehler fled. --- Mr. Wm. C. Mayo and Miss Alice Fullenwider were recently married. --- Mr. W.P. Brock and Miss Dollie Gladden were maried in Gadsden on the 13th inst. --- Mr. A.W. Moore of Attalla was recently bitten by a rattlesnake. Copious draughts of whiskey soon set him right. --- Mr. John G. Means, aged 72 years, is dead. --- Mrs. Margaret Richards of Etowah is dead. --- TALLADEGA County News John Williams, colored, of near Childersburg, shot Amy Esseck last Thursday evening because she didn't spell "eggs" to suit him. Amy is lying at the point of death and Johnnie is boarding with Sheriff Wood. --- ST. CLAIR County News Dr. W.F. Vandergrift of Branchville shot and slightly wounded a negro at that place on Saturday. We learn the shooting was done in self defense. The negro was endeavoring to cut him with a knife and the doctor shot him, the ball hitting him near the eye and glancing around the skull bone and coming our near the ear. --- CLEBURNE County News S.C. Harris of Cicero had his house burned recently. --- Mr. Silas Pritchard of Stone Hill had his house burned recently. --- MOBILE County News John Mitchell Taylor who died a few days ago, was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Mobile. --- MARENGO County News Joe Mason, a colored man living on the Beverly place near Arcola, in Marengo county, while plowing in the field Monday morning, suddenly dropped dead between the plow handles, from heart disease. --- ST. CLAIR County News Mr. Ober, who lives near Branchville, was killed by a falling tree one day last week. He was in the wood alone cutting cord wood. A tree lodged and in his attempt to get it down, it fell on his head. His body was not found until twenty four hours after the accident. --- JEFFERSON County News I.C. Turner, arrested as a counterfeiter in Birmingham last week, has been put under a bond of $300. by U.S. Commissioner Samuel Thompson. --- At Coalburg, near Birmingham on the 16th, two negro women, Mandy Jackson and Adelaide Coleman, quarreled and fought. Mandy drew a knife with which she inflicted deadly wounds upon the person of Adelaide. The murderess has been jailed in Birmingham. --- LOWNDES County News Mr. James Meadows Sr. met with a very serious accident Monday night. In walking across the floor, he stumbled and fell across a chair, one of the posts of which penetrated his right side, breaking two of his ribs and producing internal injuries. Though in a critical condition, his friends hope that he may speedily recover. --- CALHOUN County Local News GRAYTON Community News A very serious difficulty occurred in our neighborhood last Saturday between R.M. Ingram and Geo. Countryman. After a slight tussell about who should work a certain mule, Countryman seized a pitch fork and coming up behind struck Ingram on the back of the head, inflicting a serious wound. A preliminary trial was held before Esq. M.N. Coker but not knowing how the wound would terminate, Countryman was sent to jail. ---- Mr. James Nunnelley and Miss Mary Plummer were married last Sunday. --- Robt. Ellis died of Consumption on the 15th inst. He leaves a wife to mourn his death. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday JULY 10, 1886 AFFRAY BETWEEN YOUNG MEN IN CALHOUN COUNTY Jacksonville, Ala., June 29th G.W. Countryman, a white man twenty-one years of age was brought here last Saturday and lodged in jail for assault and battery upon Richard M. Ingram. The defendant was working as a farm laborer on Ingram's plantation in the western part of the county and he and Ingram became involved in a quarrel about the stock with which Countryman was working the crop, and a fight ensued. It seems that in the fight which was "fist and skull", Ingram got the better of Countryman. At any rate they fought this kind of a fight until both parties seemed satisfied and Ingram was walking away, when Countryman struck him unawares on the back of the head with a pitchfork, using it as a club, and felled Ingram to the ground. Countryman had a preliminary trial before Justice Coker yesterday morning and was committed to jail to await the result, as Ingram's condition is most critical. Dr. Brothers was the first physician to visit Ingram and pronounced his condition serious. Maj. D.F. Constant who is Ingram's father-in-law, and John B. Ingram who is his brother, went from Oxford in company with Dr. A.F. Bullard to attend Mr. Ingram in his affliction. Ingram is a most excellent young man about thirty years old; sober, industrious and well connected. It would be most sad if his wound should terminate fatally and it is to be sincerely hoped that such will not be the case. ---- ALABAMA State News PIKE County News J.B. Jones of near Brundidge, Pike county, was severely cut by a negro on Saturday night in an affray about feeding stock. He is in a dying condition. --- MOBILE County News Freeman Lewis recently killed Joseph Fields at Mobile by stabbing him. --- ELMORE County News Jim Graham, colored, was shot and thrown into the river near Wetumpka last week. --- Bob Davis and B.C. Watson, convicts at the Pratt Mines, made their escape last week. --- DEKALB County News On Wednesday, a flash of lightning entered the chimney of the house of Walter Sears on Sand Mountain, crossing the room and killing two children, aged three and five years. Their mother nearby was knocked insensible. A child in her arms escaped unhurt. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 17, 1886 ALABAMA State News MARION County News During the severe storm on Monday afternoon, Bill Heard, a negro boy about 16 years old, took refuge under an elm tree on the street near Mr. Davidson's residence and was immediately killed by lightning. His death was instantaneous. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, JULY 24, 1886 ALABAMA State News RUSSELL County News Henry Green, colored, a plantation hand on John McGough's place in Russell county, was struck by lightning last Saturday and killed while he was asleep in a cotton house. --- (NOTE: about half of JULY 1886 and most of AUGUST 1886 newspaper issues were nearly all political debates and ads for the elections for Calhoun county; also many pages poorly scanned and illegible. ) NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 21, 1886 ALABAMA State News CHILTON County News Mr. Frank Higgins, who had a difficulty with a negro just over the river in Coosa county last week, is getting better. Mr. Higgins was struck on the head with an axe by the negro and his life was almost despaired of for a time. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, AUGUST 28, 1886 ALABAMA State News BIBB County News Edgar Cottingham of Bibb county is seventeen years old and is six feet nine inches high. --- CALHOUN County Local News DEATH OF W.W. WOODWARD After a long illness, Mr. Wallace W. Woodward died at this place Thursday morning and was laid to rest on Friday. His death, though not unexpected, saddened our entire community. Rare mental gifts, open and generous nature, fidelity to friends and an affectionate and social disposition distinguished him as one among the many and would have secured high distinction, had it not been for the insidious and fatal malady which struck him down in the flush of his young manhood and frustrated every hope born of high and noble ambition. Realizing God's dispensation to cut short the career he had marked out for himself on earth, he turned his thoughts toward God and died in the full hope of a blessed immortality. --- DEATH OF AUNT DOCIA ESTILL We have received a late copy of the Belton Texas Journal newspaper, containing the following obituary notice of a lady well known to all the old citizens of Jacksonville, Calhoun county, Ala: ESTILL - - - At the residence of her son W.H. Estill in this city, Tuesday, August 17, 1886, Mrs. Eudocia Estill died. The deceased was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, September 7, 1794. She went to Tennessee at an early age and was married to James Estill in Franklin county, that state in 1812. They moved to Alabama in 1822 and aferwards resided in Calhoun and Talladega counties in Ala. Mrs. Estill came to Belton, Texas in 1883 and has since resided here. Her husband died in 1826. To them were born five children, three sons and two daughters, and all survive but one daughter, Col. W. H. Estill of this city, being the eldest child. Mrs. Estill joined the Methodist church in 1824 and has been a consistent member to the day of her death, being noted for her marked Christian zeal and benevolence. Her home was a great resort for christian ministers. Presidents Monroe and Jackson were warm personal friends of Mrs. Estill and they had the honor to be entertained by her on more than one occasion. Her life is so interwoven with the early history of North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee that a recital of the one would involve the other, and when Aunt Docia died, a remarkable character in many respects quit this world. Peace to her ashes and a blessed immortaility to her freed spirit. ----- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 4, 1886 ALABAMA State News DALLAS County News Col. Ben. Woolsey, a prominent citizen of Selma died on the 19th inst. --- WALKER County News Mrs. Pleas. Stone committed suicide by hanging near Jasper last week. --- COLBERT County News Maj. McClesky shot Jesse Simpson in the neck at Tuscumbia last week. --- MACON County News It now appears that the shooting of Sheriff Armstrong by Ben. Thompson at Tuskegee, was justifiable. --- Gov. O'Neal has appointed Lucius Pinkard as sheriff of Macon county, filling the vacancy caused by the killing of Sheriff Armstrong. The appointee was Colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment, Gen. Jackson's brigade and was known as the "boy Colonel." ---- DEKALB County News Wm. Fuller of DeKalb county has a hatchet which he brought home on his return from the Mexican War, nearly forty years ago. --- ST. CLAIR County News James Keith, living six miles southwest of Springville, is seventy-nine years old and shoots a rifle accurately without glasses. --- DALE County News "Uncle" Luke Thomas of Dale county, who will be a hundred years old on the 6th of October, rode horseback nine miles to vote on the 2nd. --- MONTGOMERY County News A white man in Montgomery is infatuated with a mulatto woman named Daisy Harris. She fled to Birmingham and he had her arrested on some trumped up charges. --- SHELBY County News Mr. Sol A Lyons, a much respected citizen of Calera, died last Friday from injuries received on Tuesday in a playful, scuffle with a friend across his counter. He leaves a wife and five children. --- ETOWAH County News Saturday night, Messrs. R.F. Strother and H.R. Campbell became involved in a difficulty in which Mr. Campbell received a severe flesh wound in his right hip. The difficulty arose about a debt Mr. Campbell owed Mr. Strother. The case will be tried on Friday. The defendant is under a three hundred dollar bond. ---- BUTLER County News The Atlanta Journal says: Judge John K. Henry who recently died in Greenville, Ala., at the ripe age of seventy-two years, was from Hancock county, Ga., and was one of several hundred talented young men that our state furnished to Alabama many years ago, who have won fame and fortune in their adopted state. ---- CALHOUN County Local News DEATH OF Mr. ROBT. ALEXANDER Mr. Robt. Alexander, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Calhoun county, died at his home in Jacksonville, Wednesday, after a long illness incident to his extreme age. His funeral occurred Thursday morning and was very largely attended by our people who wished thus to testify their respect for a man who had lived among them for half a century and who, by his deportment in life, had won not only the respect but the friendship of his fellow men. Mr. Alexander was at one time Sheriff of Calhoun county and discharged the duties of the office faithfully and well. He was a consistent christian, an honest man, a loyal friend, a kind and loving parent and husband. WIth him has passed away another of the old land marks. --- OBITUARY OF ELIZABETH ANN SPRINKLE Elizabeth Ann Sprinkle died in Calhoun county, Ala., June 14, 1886. She was born Jan. 17, 1808 in Spartanburg, Dist., South Carolina and moved from there to Calhoun County, Ala.. in October 1858. She joined the Baptist church in 1833 and lived a consistent member until her death. Her age was 78 years, 4 months, and for fifty-three years of that time, she was engaged in the service of her Lord, in which she delighted and found much happiness. The last year of her life she was a great sufferer, but she bore her afflictions with the meekness and patience of a saint of the most high God and was victorious in death. She leaves a devoted husband and two daughters to mourn her loss. May the God of all grace guide and comfort them that they may not sorrow as those that have no hope. J.F. Potter. ---- EARTHQUAKE AT JACKSONVILLE Tuesday night about ten minutes before nine o'clock, an earthquake shock was distinctly felt at this place, lasting some ten or fifteen seconds. It was accompanied by a faint rumbling sound. The vibration was both a swinging and rising and falling one, and quick and distinct, sufficient to rattle the glass in the windows. Those asleep in houses covered by tin roofs were awakened by the cracking sound and rattle of the roof. At the time of the shock a great many ladies and gentlemen were attending a night meeting at Mrs. Edwards'. The conversation was quite general at the time and the party was very animated. In a moment, a dead hush occurred and lasted until the shock ceased. Instantly, "earthquake" was shouted from all parts of the room. A few ladies left for their homes but the greater number remained. No one seemed to be frightened and thus the terrors of the earthquake are disproved. We guess it would have been different however if it had been sufficient to have toppled chimneys and shook houses from their foundations, as has been the case at other points on this continent in recent years. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 11, 1886 CALHOUN County Local News DEATH OF MR. J.H. PRIVETT Calhoun has lost another of her pioneers int he death of Mr. J.H. Privett, two miles south of Jacksonville. He died after a short illness Sunday last and was buried the following Monday morning, a very large number of people attending to testify their respect for the good man. Mr. Privett was a man of firm principles, an exceptionally pure life and of deep religious convictions. He was very highly respected in this community and elsewhere in the county where he was known. With him passes away another of the old landmarks, and his place will be hard to fill. --- ALABAMA State News TALLADEGA County Dispatches on Thursday brought the mournful intelligence of the death of Hon. F.W. Bowdon, one of the most prominent men in the state, at his home in Talladega, after an illness of some weeks. The immediate cause of his death was from blood poisoning, it is said, following a surgical operation. His untimely death will be mourned throughout the state. He was state senator elect from Talladega and Clay counties. --- FAYETTE County News Mr. Miles Harris was murdered in the southern part of Fayette last week while at work in his field. The murderer is unknown. --- DEKALB County News The Fort Payne Journal says that William Bynum died last week in his one hundredth year. He was not the victim of disease, but died simply of old age, the vital forces of nature having been exhausted. He was conscious to his death and just before it occurred he asked a visitor how the election had resulted. Five persons belonging to the fourth generation of his descendants witnessed his burial. ---- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 18, 1886 ALABAMA State News JEFFERSON County News P. Nolen of Birmingham has patented a new railroad switch. --- RANDOLPH County News Theodore Norris was accidentally shot in Randolph county recently, while out hunting. --- PERRY County News J.M. Farrell shot and fatally wounded Mr. Freeman at Girhan's mill in Perry county a few days ago. --- CHILTON County News An old lady named Nelson endeavored to hang herself at Verbena a few night ago. Her son cut her down before life was extinct. --- ST. CLAIR County News In an altercation at Springville, Frank Osborn struck a man named Butler with a rock, inflicting a dangerous and fatal wound. --- BULLOCK County News Burrell Jane, colored, killed his brother in Bullock county on Monday last and fled to Montgomery where he has since been arrested. --- BARBOUR County News Mr. Ambrose J. Wellbour of Barbour county, rising from his bed on Monday, fell to the floor and died instantly. --- HENRY County News Isam G. Jones, has been convicted of manslaughter in Henry county for the murder of Peter F. Thomas, and sentenced to the penitentiary for one year. --- ETOWAH County News Sept. 7th Gabe Watts, colored, has just been jailed for the commission of a horrible crime. He lived ten miles from town with his three small children, the oldest ten years of age. Recently he expressed a desire to get rid of his children and one night last week, just before day, he knocked all of them in the head with a strick, connected them with the fire by old quilts and left the house. The fire was soon discovered and the children saved. The oldest one is dead and the other two barely alive, as their skulls are seriously fractured. He confessed everything and says he killed them because he did not want the white people to have them. He talks insanely and he is believed to have been crazy. ---- TALLADEGA County News Col. A.G. Storey, one of the oldest and most successful merchants of Talladega, died on Sunday. --- CALHOUN County Local News SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. FOSTER Friday night when the family of Mr. G.W. Foster were through with supper, they assembled in the sitting room. Mrs. Foster arose and went into an adjoining room for a book to read, returning almost immediately. On entering the door, she stopped, seemed to gasp for breath, staggered into the arms of her affectionate husband, who had been attracted by her strange actions. He placed her gently on the bed and ran hastily for Dr. Huger. On his return,she had breathed her last, she was dead. Thus, died one of the most estimable women. She was a most affectionate wife and tender mother, highly esteemed by all who knew her. She was a shining light in Anniston society circles and her death is greatly deplored. Her remains were carried to Tuscaloosa last night for interment, accompanied by her husband and children and several of our citizens. Our sympathies are with the bereaved ones. The Anniston Watchman. ---- Mrs. Fannie Williams, wife of Mr. James E. Williams, an estimable gentleman of Alexandria valley, died on Friday night. The Anniston Watchman. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, SEPTEMBER 25, 1886 ALABAMA State News ETOWAH County News H.R. Campbell, painter, who was stabbed by Robt. Strother recently for refusing to pay 75 cents which he borrowed, is able to be up again. --- Mrs. Mary Evans, formerly Mrs. Salvo, died in Texas on Aug. 19th. --- Mrs. Ellis of Attalla, mother of T.J. Watkins is quite sick. --- Mrs. Nannie Edwards, daughter of P.J. Smith, of Attalla died recently. --- Recently, Sam West, a hand at the Gadsden Iron Company's iron mine, had a difficulty with Mr. Day, the superintendant and shot and killed him. He made his escape. --- Miss Jessie Thomas of Alexander city who is visiting her brother in Gadsden, while at the well, felt the curbing give way beneath her feet, and she was plunged head foremost into a well thirty feet deep and was rescued with much difficulty. --- TALLADEGA County News Mr. E.J. Swan of Plantersville died recently. --- Mr. J.A. Blackburn and Miss Nona Burr of Talladega were married recently. --- Rev. A.B. McCorkle of Talladega died recently. He was one of the oldest Presbyterian preachers in this state. --- Jim Blackburn in a row with a man named Morgan at Ironten, whipped out his knife and killed him. --- On Saturday the 4th inst., Mr. J.A. Morgan, a traveling painter who has been at Talladega for some time, mysteriously disappeared and since has not been heard from. He was known to have a large amount of money in his room and it is feared that there has been foul play somewhere. --- CHEROKEE County News At Rush's mill on the Cattooga river near Gaylesville, Cherokee county on Thursday, the 9th inst., three brothers by the name of Morgan were drowned, aged from ten to fifteen years. They were all in bathing and one of them got into deep water and was drowned when the other two attempted to rescue him. All three were drowned at once. Their bodies were covered and all buried in the same grave. --- Mr. T.C. Hampton, living near Thomas' mills died the 16th of measles. Henry WIlson and an infant of Mrs. Lou Wilson also died of the same disease at the same place. --- Mrs. J.W. Henderson of Cherokee county died suddenly recently of heart disease. --- Wm. Anderson of Pollard's Bend has found rocks on his place containing gold, silver and copper. William is about to strike it rich. --- ST. CLAIR County News Mrs. Duncan, aged 65, died near Ashville on Sept. 14th. --- Mrs. John Pearson of Branchville dropped dead recently. --- MARENGO County News Olla Washington, a negro woman said to be 115 years old, died in the Barton's Hills neighborhood, five miles below Old Spring Hill on the 8th. She had sixteen children, the youngest of whom a son is known to be fifty- six years old. The Marengo News --- MADISON County News Theo. Roach who was shot by Tom Mason in a difficulty at the Depot, died this morning between two and three o'clock. The preliminary trial of Mason is set for tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock before Judge William Richardson. --- COLBERT County News Mr. Robert Goodloe, Mr. R.M. Halsey and Mrs. Lester Walker, three highly respected residents of Tuscumbia, died in that city last week. --- MOBILE County News Wm. V. Hazen, an old citizen of Mobile, died recently at Houston, Texas. --- CHAMBERS County News Mrs. C.A. Hodnet of Chambers county died from apoplexy on Sunday last at her home near LaFayette. --- BARBOUR County News Four hundred and sixty Apache and Sioux Indians, a part of Geronimo's band, passed through Eufaula last week in the charge of two companies of U.S. Infantry on their way to the government reservation in Florida. --- A crazy white man named Jos. Dudley, who came here about a week ago, spends most of his time on Cotton avenue and over the Chewalia creek in Hoboken. He sleeps in out houses and begs for his food. He doffed all his clothing the other day and waded up and down the creek near the Chewalia bridge and seemed to greatly enjoy the sport. The Eufalia Mail. ---- LEE County News A negro woman about fifty years old, named Lennie Fight, dropped dead in the yard of Mr. H.M. Bush's residence on Savre street in Opelika on the 6th. She was in charge of the place during the absence of Mr. Bush's family. She was an unusually large woman weighing 300 pounds. --- WILCOX County News A white man by the name of Thos. H. Madden was arrested a few days ago at Selma on a warrant issued by J.W. Votz, justice of the peace, at Camden, which warrant charged Madden with living in adultery with a negro woman to which charge he was called to answer at the next regular term of Court of Wilcox County. Madden was returned to custody at once by Chief Rosser to Camden at which place he awaits trial. ---- MORGAN County News Monday evening, the 6th inst., an unknown negro went to Sam Oaks' dwelling, twelve miles southeast of Hartselle and demanded of Mrs. Oaks, who was alone, her money. On being refused, he knocked her down with a stick and beat her most cruelly, stopping now and then demanding the money, but she did not tell him where the money was. Fears are entertained that she will not recover. The entire neighborhood turned out in search of the negro, who was seen in the mountains in the evening and several shots were fired at him, but failed to get him. The men are pursuing him with great eagerness. ---- CALHOUN County Local News Notice of the death of Annie Hodges, on the 25th ult. at the home of her parents near Gadsden was crowded out last month. She was the daughter of Saml. Hodges and wife, formerly Kate Young. At the time of her death she was 9 years and 3 months old and was an exceptionally bright and promising child. Friends of the parents in this and Etowah counties will sympathize with them in their great loss. ---- MORRISVILLE Community News Mr. James Wingo died last Saturday with flux and there are others bad off with the same disease. --- Mr. H.P. Costly went out hunting a few mornings ago; he started about three o'clock and caught 28 possums before daylight. --- Reports say that Mr. T.J. Loyd has sold all his land to the Woodstock Iron Co. and that he will move to Arkansas some time next month. Mr. Loyd is one of our oldest men in this part of the county. He has been here a long time and will be badly missed when he is gone. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, OCTOBER 2, 1886 ALABAMA State News CHEROKEE County News A man named Rucker induced Miss Sallie Ogles of Tifton, Ga., a very popular young lady of the village, to elope with him. He carried her to various places, always making some excuse for not fulfulling his promise of marriage. He at last deserted her near Centre, where her father found her and took her home. She is a sadder but a much wiser young woman now. --- Pink Webster stabbed John Morrison twenty-one times near Key recently and strange to say inflicted no mortal wound. --- ST. CLAIR County News Mr. Dennis Trammel, aged 68, died in Ashville on the 19th. --- Mrs. John Pearson, residing at Branchville, dropped dead in her yard on Sept. 9th. Apoplexy is supposed to be the cause. ---- TALLADEGA County News On last Wednesday, three negro men, Henry Barclay, Robt. McCalister and Chambers Baker were engaged in digging a well on Chambers Baker's place in the western part of the city. Henry Barclay and Chambers Baker were drawing at the windlass while Robt. McAlister was going down into the well in a bucket, and when about 20 feet from the bottom, the windlass split and the handles flew loose from the hands of the two men who were using them, striking both of them on the head, killing Henry Barclay instantly, and seriously injuring Chambers Baker. Robert McAlister who was 20 feet from the bottom of the well in a bucket, had a quick journey down and the sudden jar received by him striking the botton considerably disabled him. Chambers Baker is in a very dangerous condition from the two wounds received on the head. ---- John R. Sampey of Louisville and Miss Annie E. Renfroe of Talladega were recently married. --- ETOWAH County News Mr. James Haines of near Gadsden died on the 22nd inst. --- The young man who killed Jack Day is still at large. The Gadsden Iron Company offers $100. for his arrest. --- Mr. Litner Littlefield and Miss Lou Burton were married the 16th. --- Mrs. Mary Patterson of Gadsden died in east Tennessee recently. --- CLEBURNE County News Mr. O.L. Rush of Chulafinnee has moved to Kissemmer, Florida. --- Mr. J.J. Alexander and Miss Susie E. Alexander of Borden Springs were married recently. --- JEFFERSON County News A BOY'S NERVE; Rather Than Lose his Life, James Eldridge tries to cut foot off Mr. Jonathan Eldridge, who lives near Oxmoor, brought to the city late yesterday afternoon his son James, aged fourteen years, to have a physician treat his right foot, which had been nearly severed from the ankle with a pocket knife in his own hands, the cause of which was a remarkable display of bravery and nerve on the part of the boy, who caught his foot between a rail and cross-tie, before a train passed and he deliberately took out his pocket knife and attempted to cut off his foot at the ankle. The boy was crossing the track when his foot became entangled in the place mentioned. He heard the train at Oxmoor, a mile off. He tried to get his shoe off, but could not and before being reached, he cut through the leather into his foot, making an incision nearly to the bone, when he fainted from the loss of blood after having nearly severed the skin from the bone. The engineer saw the boy soon after he fainted and stopped the train engine before he was run over. The young fellow lay in a pool of blood which had run from the severed veins of his ankle. His foot was extricated and he was revived and taken to his parents. The boy said he had no idea of dying, and rather than run the risk of being run over, he tried to cut his foot off. It is thought his foot can be saved. The Birmingham Chronicle ---- Devina Lovett was shot and mortally wounded by Jas. Head, an ex-convict, at Birmingham last week. --- Mr. Wm. Kirkland of Birmingham who was recently shot by a negro burglar, has sufficiently recovered to be out again, though his wound is still painful. --- MOBILE County News A colored woman named Bella Harris dropped dead in the streets of Mobile on Wednesday last. --- SHELBY County News On Tuesday last, Mr. Miller Faust, a promising young man of Shelby county died at his father's residence. --- LOWNDES County News Mr. Adolph Adams, a deaf mute employed on Mr. W.P. Thigpen's place in Lowndes county, had his right hand cut off in a gin on Tuesday of last week. --- LIMESTONE County News The people of Limestone county are excited over a report that several of the Apache Indians escaped from their guards when passing through that section recently and are now roaming at large over the country. --- WALKER County News Stephen Jenkins and wife were tried in Walker county last week for passing counterfeit nickles that they moulded. They confessed to $400 of them being in circulation. --- CRENSHAW County News James D. Stallings, 17 years old, of Honorville, Ala., recently picked 453 pounds of cotton from daylight to dark. --- LAUDERDALE County News Frank Walker was shot and dangerously hurt near Florence recently while resisting arrest and his horse was also killed under him. --- ELMORE County News Mr. Gilbert Yarbrough of Elmore county mysteriously disappeared from his home last Saturday and has not been heard of since. --- ESCAMBIA County News W.J. Jernigan of Brewton, accidentally discharged his gun and emptied 24 buckshot into his left leg. --- LEE County News A child sprang from the arms of his father into a well in Loachapoka and was drowned. The father Mr. Hagerman is nearly crazed with grief. --- CHAMBERS County News The LaFayette Democrat reports that Mrs. C.A. Hodnett died at her home a few miles east of LaFayette last Sunday morning about nine o'clock. She got up as usual and prepared breakfast and a short while afterwards complained of not feeling well and lay down and began reading a paper. Noticing that she was very quiet, her husband went to the bed and found her gasping. The neighbors were immediately notified and Dr. Davis of this place summoned, but she expired before the doctor arrived. Apoplexy is thought to have been the cause of her death. ---- PIKE County News The Troy Messenger reports that Uncle Billy Green who lives about six miles west of Perote is still very sanguine about the "mine" that he has discovered on his place. He thinks there is gold and silver in abundance and wants some good miner to visit him and inspect his rock and sand. He will board anybody as long as they wish to stay, that will get out and examine it. His address is Wm. E. Green, Troy, Ala., and says that he would be glad to hear from any miner on the subject. ---- BLOUNT County News Mr. John Brown, son of Mr. Wiley Brown, residing near Liberty in Blount county, while on his way to attend religious services at Antioch was taken with a fit and fell into Grave's Creek and was drowned. He was not discovered until Monday morning in the creek where he had fallen. He was about 21 years old and had been subject to fits for a long time. --- CALHOUN County Local News LETTER FROM J.V. JOLLY FROM STATE OF TEXAS To Editor of Republican, I think I promised to give your readers a few items from Texas. We boarded the cars at Cross Plains on the night of the 8th inst. and came via Montgomery, Mobile and New Orleans to Houston, Texas; there we boarded the Texas Central and traveled north through the center of the state, arriving at McKinney on Friday night having been on the road 48 hours and 8 minutes and traveled over one thousand miles without a single "stopover". Around Millwood, Collins county, is the richest country I ever saw, and the road, when I arrived, were as hard as a plank floor; but it rained the next day and I got "stuck" in Texas, or rather in the mud. I did not make a track, for the mud "sticketh closer than a brother". There is, however, one good thing about it; twenty four hours of sunshine and wind and the mud is all gone. It very rarely gets dry enough to injure crops to any great extent. The dry weather will cause cracks in the ground, over which it is absolutely dangerous to ride horseback, but I have seen cotton stalks, perfectly green, standing at the edge of these cracks. There is a greater stir among the people here than any place I ever saw. Everybody has something to do and does it in a hurry. Wages are good and no trouble to find work to do. Dry goods and groceries here are about the same as in Alabama. I am now at Winsborough in Wood county. This is a very pretty sandy country. It is what you might call a border prairie country, having the advantages of rich prairies near by and also having plenty of wood and good water. I say good water, it has generally a kind of acid taste but you soon get accustomed to it and you think it is good; it is very healthy. The water on the prairies is warm and not very good but with a little labor and care they can have good cistern water which is the best. I have not been here long enough for my opinions to be worth much; you may hear from me in the future. Now for fear I may incur the displeasure of the editor, I subscribe myself yours most obediently, J.V. Jolly, Winsborough, Wood Co. Texas, Sept. 27, 1886. ---- STATE OF ALABAMA, Calhoun County Probate Court, Special Term, Sept. 23, 1886 Estate of W.J. Casey, deceased Notice if hereby given that Mrs. M.E. Casey, (now Mrs. M.E. Witt) who heretofore failed to execute and file a new bond, and was therefore removed as Administratrix of the estate of W.J. Casey, deceased, and failing to appear and file her statement for settlement as required to law, the court makes up from the records and papers in court pertaining to her said administration of said estate an account against her for a settlement of her administration thereof. It is ordered that the 1st day of November 1886 be appointed the day on which to pass upon said account and to make such settlement and that notice thereof be given for three successive weeks in the Jacksonville Republican, a newspaper published in said county, as a notice to: Mrs. M.E. Witt, formerly Mrs. M.E. Casey J.L. Dodson And other persons interested in said estate; to appear in said court on the 1st day of November 1886 and contest said account and settlement if they think proper. A. Woods, Judge of Probate ---- LOCAL News A daughter of Mr. Jno. B. McCain of Oxford, a bright and lovely young lady, died at the home of her grandfather Mr. R. McCain, three miles north of Jacksonville last week. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, OCTOBER 9, 1886 ALABAMA State News MADISON County News Judge Thos. C. Barclay died in Huntsville, Ala., a few days since. --- HALE County News Phillipa Patton, colored, died in Hale county a few days ago at age 101. She had over one hundred descendants. --- CHAMBERS County News Jessie Witchell of Chambers county was dangerously hurt last week. His team ran away while he was hauling cotton. --- FAYETTE County News Wm. Sanders was arrested in Fayette county a few days ago, charged with the murder of Miles Harris. --- DEKALB County News Marion Noogan, the notorious wildcatter distiller of Sand Mountain is in meshes of the law and has been found guilty in the U.S. Court in Birmingham. --- LOWNDES County News C.L. Russell, a brakeman on the L. & N. was killed in Lowndes county on Sunday morning by his head striking a bridge and knocked him off the top of the car. --- MONTGOMERY County News Andrew Jones, colored, has just returned with his family to Mongtomery after a years stay in Liberia. He says it rains in that country six months out of the year and it is no place for an American negro. --- ELMORE County News Mr. Gilbert Yarbrough of Elmore county left his home last Saturday and has not been heard from since. Fears are entertained that some evil may have happened to him. He is thirty years old, has a family and is said to be an estimable man. --- BLOUNT County News While Mr. E.K. Head and his son-in-law Mr. Pass were going home from Blountsville on Saturday afternoon, the weagon turned over, throwing both out and a 750 pound sugar mill fell upon Mr. Pass, injuring him so severely that he is still confined to his bed. --- ETOWAH County News On Tuesday night the 28th ult., poor old Gabe Watts, the colored man who attempted to kill all of his children in Phillips' beat a few weeks ago, died at the jail at this place. He was insane and was greatly emaciated, having eaten nothing for several days. Poor old fellow, we trust he is at rest. The Gadsden News --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, OCTOBER 16, 1886 ALABAMA State News ETOWAH County News On last Saturday morning, Mr. J.S. Odum got his left hand mangled in the machinery at Gwin & Hix's planing mills. He is fearful that his fingers will have to be amputated. We sympathize very much with him. ---- Mrs. C. Dunn, formerly of Gadsden, died recently at Windsor, Florida. --- Will Denson, son of Col. W.H. Denson, was struck in the eye with a piece of wood that he was chopping with an axe one day last week, which came very near causing him to lose his sight. --- Milas Kyle, colored, came back from Birmingham last Friday with his head and shoulder fearfully bruised, which was caused by an explosion of rock on the Kansas City road, where he was working. --- HALE County News Mr. Stith Evans, a prominent citizen and wealthy planter who lives about eight miles from Greensboro, died very suddenly on Monday while sitting in his chair reading. --- MARION County News The accidental discharge of a pistol in the hands of Edwin Goree, came near costing the life of one of our most highly honored citizens, Judge Porter King last week. The ball passed through Judge King's vest and the waistband of his pants. --- SUMTER County News STEVE RENFROE, Noted Desperado and Jail Braker of Sumter County Hanged Steve Renfroe was born about 1839 in Sumter county and was the son of wealthy parents. At the beginning of the war he was just entering manhood and in common with all the men of the south, he took up arms in defense of its cause. After his return from the war he settled down in Sumter county as a farmer and was lost to sight until the dark days of radical rule when deputy marshalls rode around the state arresting citizens and parading them through the streets of Alabama cities handcuffed and loaded with chains, for the purpose of terrifying the people. Renfroe was arrested and with some others was brought from Livingston to this city enroute to Mobile. His firmness and fearlesness while under arrest caused him to be idolized by the peopole of his county and in 1880 they elected him as their sheriff. Shortly after his election, to this position he began a system of robbing the county and to destroy evidence he set fire to the clerk's office. He was indicted and lodged in jail but managed to escape. He was captured and lodged in the Tuscaloosa jail from which he escaped by burning a hole through the floor. After those escapes he was recaptured, tried and sentenced to Pratt Mines but he boasted that he would not remain there. After about five weeks confinement he managed to escape and for some time was hid out in western Alabama and eastern Mississippi. He preyed on the people about his old home, stealing horses and valuables of every description. Early in July he was located near Enterprise, Miss., and captured by two young men from whom he had stolen a mule. They notified the Pratt mines and authorities and Mr. Julius Collins went to Mississippi after him. On Collins return, Renfroe was taken from him at Livingston by the Sumter county sheriff on a warrant charging him with horse stealing. He was lodged in jail at Livingston and was on the evening of July 13th, taken out and hung by a mob. The scene of the hanging is thus described in a special to the Dispatch of July 16th: "When asked if he wanted to pray, he said he did not know a prayer but wished someone would pray for him. Then came a scene of picturesque solemnity. In a beautiful field, on the banks of a peaceful river, in the soft light of a brilliant moon, a disguised figure drew near him and raising his hands above the pale face of the doomed man, and lifting his face heavenward, said "Almighty Father have mercy on this miserable wretch." Thus ended the life of Steve Renfoe, the most noted desperado in Alabama. ---- MONTGOMERY County News John Howard Payne, the author of "Home Sweet Home", was a great friend of Major S.F. Belton who fought so gallantly in the Mexican War. The Major died and left among his many letters from distinguished men, one from John Howard Payne. The documents are in possession of the Major's granddaughter Mrs. Sallie Evans, wife of the humorist, Leo C. Evans. The handwriting of Payne is small but well rounded and beautiful. The letter is given in full as it is punctuated and spelled: " Montgomery, Ala., July 25, 1835 Maj. F.S. Belton, Fort Morgan, Mobile, Ala; My dear Belton, I can as well explain why your valued note of May 28th has so long remained unanswered, as I apologize for the omission. Both are to me equally impossible. I have sinned past forgiveness unless you have more mercy than justice. The fact is, the book and letter did not reach me till just as I was on the eve of quitting New Orleans. Then all was flurry and hurry. Every day that I remained in Mobile, I intended to visit your "Tartar Home" on the day following, and to thank you for the elegant contribution to my album and still more for your endearing recollections of "auld lang syne." Circumstances delayed me longer than I expected and circumstances hurried me off, with a party, sooner than I expected, after that, I thought I must not write until I could write a long letter, and I have put the long letter off so long that I am compelled now to throw myself upon your generosity by a frank confession in a short one. I have been very desirous here of seeing an Indian festival, and this has kept me some days. But so vague and contradictory is all the information I get upon the subject, that I must depart tomorrow and take my chance in the Nation, and if nothing is going on there, go on myself, so as to get to Athens for the commencement and thence to Charleston, S.C. Did you not say you might aid my views there? If you can give me any letters, either there or on my route, I shall feel much indebted to you, and the more the better. The establishment of my work is of great interest and importance to me; so is the knowledge which an extensive may give me of our country. Do not forget such notes and sketches as from all you have heard me explain, you must be aware it will be awful. The Indian sketches and descriptions you mentioned, the Havana sketches with such comments as may explain them; indeed, anything and everything of the nature which has engaged your lecture will be to me most acceptable material. Could you not put your New York Bay Panorama into form? I mean into such form as would give you little trouble and enable me readily to get it finished up to the time present? Let me not alarm you with my catalogue of my wishes. In return, wherever I may be, always command me for whatever I can do, or rather tell me what you wish from any point where I may chance be, and it can be done by me, it shall. I am very mad; no opportunity of seeing Mrs. Belton, but that must not exclude me from the pleasure of requesting my compliments to my friend's wife, even though to me an "invisible lady". Packaged or letters sent to the care of my brother Matthew T. Payne, Esq., Councellor, New York, will always reach me. Letters to Charleston, S.C. will hit me within three weeks or a month. Adieu, mon ami, and believe me faithfully yours, John Howard Payne. " ----- BIBB County News The state has lost another of its brilliant and promising young men by the death of Hon. N.J. Suttle. He died a few days ago at his home in Bibb county of yellow disease, said to be very fatal. --- CALHOUN County Local News Col. John B. Peck and wife and Mr. E. Peck their son of Charleston, and Miss Maggie Lawshe of Atlanta were visiting friends here several days this week. Col. Peck was some years ago a citizen of Jacksonville and both he and his estimable family made a great many friends during the time of their residence in the town. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, OCTOBER 23, 1886 ALABAMA State News CLEBURNE County News Mr. W.W. Holmes and Miss Ella Hardin were married in Cleburne county the 6th. --- Mr. J.W.M. Teague and Mrs. E.C. Johnson were married on the 3rd. --- Mr. L.N. Wood and Miss E.C. Watkins were married the 28th of last month. --- Mr. W.G. Williams and Miss M.L. Wilkes were married recently. --- The youngest child of A.J. Wright died recently. --- The youngest child of Wm. Petty died recently. --- James H. Ray died of measles recently. --- ETOWAH County News Dr. Thos. Edward died at Attalla on the 7th inst. --- Geo. Tucker, son of C.W.C. Tucker, died of typhoid fever in Littlte Wills Valley the 7th inst. --- NEWSPAPER Issue of Saturday, OCTOBER 30, 1886 ALABAMA State News PICKENS County News Mr. Elijah Whatley of Reform is perhaps the oldest white man in Pickins county. If he lives till next April he will be 93 years of age. He is the hero of three wars, viz: War of 1812, The Seminole and Mexican Wars. He is a pensioner of the War of 1812. ---- ETOWAH County News On Saturday night, Euclid Able, in company with a friend John Henry, visited the widow Cannon's house and when they arrived Mrs. Cannon informed Able, who had been drinking, that if he could not come there sober he had better stay away, and he was put out of the house. He returned through the window and while Mrs. Cannon was kindling a fire, he pulled out his pistol and shot her in the back of the head and then turned upon her daughter and told her if she did not hush, he would shoot her. His friend caught the pistol and Able made his escape. Mrs. Cannon died instantly. She lived about eight miles from town. Euclid is the son of Mr. Bill Able, one of the best and most highly respected citizens of Etowah. ---- On Friday last, an altercation occurred at Bristo's Cove in Etowah county between J.H. Waits and R.G. Gilbert about a small amount of money claimed by one of the parties during which the latter was cut, causing his death almost instantly. --- BARBOUR County News Mrs. Flora McNeil, an aged lady in Barbour county, died on Tuesday last near White Oak. --- Robert Alston who recently committed suicide in Washington city was a nephew of Judge Alston of Barbour county. --- LEE County News Mrs. Dan Frazer, daughter of Hon. W.A. Barnes, died at her father's residence in Opelika on Thursday night last. --- The Opelika Times chronicles the deaths of Maj. H.H. Armstrong and also of Mrs. W.A. Shaw, both of Notasulga on Friday last. --- CHEROKEE County News Abram West of Cherokee county has been sentenced to two years in the penitentiary for bigamy and has been carried to the Pratt Coal Mines. --- JEFFERSON County News Harry Stokes, alias Harry Watkins, alias Henry Woods, who pretended to hire a horse and buggy in Birmingham and sold them afterward, has been captured by Detective Sullivan in Washington county, Miss., and brought back to Birmingham. --- MONTGOMERY County News Sunday last, the body of a dead woman was found on the Harrison plantation near Montgomery whose appearance indicated that she had been strangled to death by violent means. The woman's name was Sallie Haines and she is supposed to have been murdered by her stepdaughter Fannie Haines who is now under arrest. ---- Mrs. R.G. Burnett of Montgomery, aged forty-three years, died in that city Sunday last. --- Mrs. M.A. Dulaney died very suddenly from apoplexy at the Exchange Hotel in Montgomery on Monday evening last. The remains were carried to Benton for interment. --- PIKE County News Mrs. McLendon, an aged lady of Pike county, and wife of Rev. G.C. McLendon, died on Saturday last. --- MOBILE County News Rev. Father John B. Serra, a Catholic priest of the Jesuit order died at Spring Hill college, in Mobile, on Friday night last, aged 70 years. --- MADISON County News William Hussey who shot his brother-in-law Matt Strong near Huntsville recently had a preliminary hearing last week and was held for murder without bail. --- File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/newspape1137gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 51.6 Kb