HICKMAN COUNTY, TN - NEWSPAPERS - Columbia Herald, 19 Dec 1873 ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the Tennessee USGenWeb Archives by: Penny Boyer Pbgenealogy@aol.com Sarah Armisted Amr6007@aol.com ============================================================================ COLUMBIA HERALD OF DECEMBER 19, 1873 HICKMAN COUNTY ITEMS Vernon, once the capital of the State of Hickman, but now known throughout the county as the "Widow Vernon," is located in one of the best neighborhoods in Hickman. It is situated eight miles northwest from Centreville on Pine River, and surrounded by a good population of industrious, enterprising farmers. It was once the home of the Hon. W. K. Sebastian, for many years a United States Senator from Arkansas, and the place where the Hon. Elijah Walker, an eminent jurist, Wm T. Haskell, one of the most brilliant orators ever produced in America, and other distinguished men, first took their start in life. It certainly ought to be a better business place than it is, it now having but one store and four or five families residing within its corporate limits. Near Vernon resides Mrs. William Curl, whose husband was a commissioner that located the town, and she is upwards of one hundred and two years old, and in remarkably good health for one of her age. She was born Nov. 2st, 1771. Mr. Wash Shouse and family, and Mr. James McClanahan and family, who left Hickman county, with many others, on the 5th of October, for Texas, returned to their old homes a few days since, being considerably disgusted with Texas, and all other countries that did not have clear streams and good springs. Mr. F. B.Hornbeak and Mr. Quillin left for Obion county this week. They have gone to settle, having disposed of all their effects. Mr. William Hines, of Totty's Bend, was in Centreville the other day. Although in his eighty-fourth year, he is in the enjoyment of good health, and walks quite sprightly. He was having his pension papers fixed up, having served a number of years in the Indian wars under Gen. Jackson, and other officers. The small pittance received from the U. S. Government assists in keeping the old man up. On Thursday the 11th inst., Mr. Samuel T. Brown was married to the fascinating and accomplished Miss Amelia Gray, by the Rev. Mr. Bellamy. May the choicest blessings of heaven cluster around them; and may their heads never become grey, nor dust settle in their parlors for want of brooms. The following marriages have recently taken place: Mr. Wm B.Thornton and Mrs. Martha A. Jones; Mr. John R.Church and Miss Olivia Puckett, daughter of Dr. Mat H. Puckett of Shady Grove; Mr. Wm A. Adair and Miss Mary Jane Porter; Mr. John T. Gunter and Miss Susan A. Cagle. Mr. W. M. Shelby, the popular and well known clerk in the dry goods house of the Messrs. Clagett, says he fears his chances for marrying are growing less every day, and he is so much discouraged that he wishes publicly to notify the young ladies that he is in the matrimonial market. Nobody has yet caught that other Big Black Perch which was recently seen at the mouth of Blue Buck, in Swan. It is thought to be even larger than the famous one caught by Major Clint Douglas, who upon that occasion rose completely above the character of a "wheel-band' angler. A general battle royal and wool gathering, took place late Saturday evening at Centreville. Bob Charter, Wick Sebastian, Bob Hornbeak, Charley Hornbeak and Eli Hornbeak were the parties who were mostly interested. Charter, with a dangerous wound in the left side and a fractured skull at the hand of Charley Hornbeak, withdrew from the ring first; Eli was spluttering round generally, but was thrown over a wood pile in a scattered condition before his wounded Honor could be quited. During the time Sebastian and Bob Hornbeak were set to and closely engaged, regardless of manners and place where they performed their evolutions, bumping around over brickbats, wood piles, and against the side of Jim Brown's grocery until Hornbeak, with less wool than he had when he started in and an eye which Sebastian thought needed surgical attention at that particular time, slightly moved from its natural position with the marks of the scalpel on his fingers and hollowed out murder. Sebastian at this admonition threw down his scalpel, abandoned his subject and the fight ended. Upon a careful survey of the field next morning, a bunch of wool, a greasy spot and two ears, were all that was left. Whether Charley did the trimming, and left the ears as a trophy, or not, is not ascertained. He has departed for parts unknown. Doctors Norris and Thompson dressed the wounds of Charter, and he is now lying in a dangerous condition. J. H. Moore, Esq., is trying to raise a company to go to Cuba, and has three men enrolled - one Colonel, a major and one first lieutenant. Jack, of course, will rank as major general, if he gets his command off. The panic in Hickman has not yet subsided. The following is a pen picture drawn by a special artist of our correspondent, who was on the spot. A farmer who had carried off a wagon load of goobers to Nashville, returns home, tired, cold, wet, wagon broken down, mules scarred up, sick, drunk and - without any money. Panics of this kind count, and is what you might call a panic in earnest. Jay, Cooke & Co., are nowhere. The people of Hickman are getting very tired of raising goobers. It is washing away their lands, impoverishing their soil, suffering their children to grow up in ignorance, and they are getting no money for them. They are going to quit raising them - a good resolution. The people of Hickman want Maury to rouse up on the railroad, and if Maury will wake up between Columbia and the Hickman line, the road will be built.