HICKMAN COUNTY, TN - NEWSPAPERS - Hickman Pioneer, 1880 ----¤¤¤---- THESE ARE ARTICLES TAKEN FROM THE "HICKMAN PIONEER" NEWSPAPERS FOR THE YEAR 1880. DURING THIS TIME, SOMEONE FROM THE COMMUNITIES WOULD WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE WRITERS NAMES WERE FICTITIOUS. THE ARTICLES INCLUDED ARE FROM THE COMMUNITIES OF SWAN CREEK; "SUNRISE", "SWAN", "SWAN BLUFF", ETC. Prepared by Ova Lee Sawyer OLSawyer@aol.com JANUARY 16, 1880 "BLUE BUCK" Miss Malinda Peery has been very sick, but is now convalesing. JANUARY 23, 1880 "SWAN" The hot weather continues, but some of our old people say we will have cold weather next month. Some of our neighbors have been to Pinewood, recently, and report cotton a good price, and plenty of mud on the way. One of the boys said he seen a hat lying as he thought in the road and picked it up, and the owner of it looked up and politely said: "That's my hat! I'm coming out of here just as soon as I get my hamestring tied." W. D. Aydelotte has moved to the Harrison residence, near the "old Peery farm." Put plenty of black pepper on your ham-meat when frying it, it will kill that offensive smell that the most of it has. The mule trade is brisk now, and from the way buyers are driving them off work, stock for the coming season will be scarce. Some of our people say that the cause of so much meat spoiling is impure air, but I think is warm weather. Mr. Editor, you have been telling everybody that you did not intend to be an old batchelor, but I think you are gone up; you know this is leap year and the ladies have to do the proposing, and next year we will have a railroad and you won't have time to see after the affairs of your "better half." Died on the 5th. inst., Mrs. Franklin Gilmore. Mr. Gilmore is left in a bad condition; four small children, one boy and three girls. Prof. Hill's young mare has become very hard to control. He rides only of a Sunday; gets on her very early and she invariably runs away with him no chance to stop her until she runs 2 miles, and then he can't get her back till night. The matrimonial market played out Christmas week. Will some one tell us how and when we will have to pay our bridge tax? Some of the citizens, of this community, think if the bridge tax and railroad tax have to be paid all at once, it will ruin us, and that was why they were opposed to the proposition. Our farmers have commenced talking about the coming crop as to which will pay best; cotton or peanuts. I think they will both pay better this year than last, but corn is the surest crop yet. D. W. Peery and family have been visiting relatives at Hurricane Mills, recently. Dock King is very badly afflicted with rheumatism. The Sunrise post-office has been moved from Squire Whiteside's to M. G. Peery's J. F. Peery is postmaster. CASABIANCA APRIL 16, 1880 "SWAN" Farmers are on a boom. Spring is here already. Fishing tackles are getting ripe. Rev. Wm. Wright and Mr. Jesse Wright were visiting relatives on Swan lately. Brother Wright preached for us as he came in; we would like for him to call again, as he is a splendid speaker. Roff Hill aims to have his fun this Spring killing turkeys. He has got up lots of blinds all on a sand-bar. Some one tells a good plan to keep hogs out of the fields. When you see hogs about the fence give them four ears of corn, and they will soon leave. W. D. Aydelott broke a mule, a mare, a plow and several rounds, on a small tract of land, all in one day. I call that business. The "Gas Works' of Humphreys county was on our creek not long since "Goober John." He was the man that ate fruit that grew on that peculiar tree which grew on Piney river. We are sorry to note that Archabald Brown is very sick at this time. It is feared that he will never recover. Some of our farmers are very much troubled about something to work, as there has been so many mules sold. Does any person know how to count kin? If so, let's hear from you. My first cousin married my wife's second cousin; now what kin is our children to each other? Our young folks have a "Leap Year Party" every Saturday night. They succeed in getting nearly every one to dance that attend them. Your correspondent paid Columbia a visit not long since with a party of wagoners. As I started through the Booker lane I fell in with Mr. Samuel C. and Wm. Nickels, who politely asked me to go in front as I was not heavy loaded; I did so, and with terrible serges and almost death struggles we made through. When at the far end of the lane, I found that we only had four or five changes, one wheel, and Mr. C. only was thrown from the top of three cotton bales twice. Such fears will be done away with when we get our iron pony, won't it? Thomas Duncan gives a road working first Friday and Saturday in every week. Jas. Kilrol says that he wouldn't have a Chill plow, for says he "they have to be tied up every night, and I'd be afraid the devilish thing would get loose some night and plow up all my corn. Miss Hellen Crawford's school closed last week. We hope she will come back again. Dr. Stephens gave a mill working and a half gallon of alcohol not long since. CASABIANCA MAY 21, 1880 "SWAN" As I have not seen anything in the PIONEER from this vicinity for sometime, I will pen a few lines. Crops are looking very well, except wheat some complaint of the rust. What don't some one go bird hunting? they are very numerous, and are taking up all of Mr. Houston Harder's corn. Several of the neighbors have gone to Nashville this week. Dr. J. D. Cooper is visiting his father's family in Perry county this week. He talked of going to Lindan and subscribing for the Linden Times a wise thought, for he could not subscribe for a better paper. Times are improving some. We have a Temporance Lodge organized at Palestine by Prof. R. W. Grimes. Quite a number of young folks gathered at Center Church the other Sunday with the expectation of hearing preaching but, were sadly disappointed, there being preaching at New Hope. I guess S. Q. wasn't much disappointed, as he got to see his heart's delight who is one of Swan's fairest, which is just a little lower than the Angels. Two of Mt. Zion's gallant gents was in this vicinity the other Sunday. Guess there will be a happening before long. Boys what do you think of letting boys from another county come and take the girls out. If I was a single man, I would let that be done. Miss Lizzie Garrett has been visiting friends and relatives in this neighborhood this week. Mr. George Harder was visiting relatives on Cane creek last week. Singing the other Sunday at Palestine by Prof. E. M. Beal; quite a large crowd in attendance. SUPERSTITION MAY 28, 1880 "SWAN" I learn that Mr. Johnny Johnson, on his return from Nashville, met with a very sad misfortune. His team got frightened at a yoke of oxen, and after running some distance they ran against a tree, killing one of the mules, bursting a cooking stove and damaging several other things. The farmers are looking very sad over the present crops. They have to quit planting on the account of the ground being so dry and hard. The rust has overpowered the wheat, and the troublesome little nuts are eating the goober-peas. I learn by a letter from Jr. Jones Vincent, who is in Texas, that there is a worm that is eating the wheat and corn in his section. I also learn that Mrs. Sophronia Vincent, who went to Texas for her health is in very delicate health. Mr. Luther Whitesides, one of our prominent farmers, has fenced him in a large wood lot, since it has been too dry to farm. Mr. J. M. Harder has a milk cow that gives so much milk that it takes two maids to mik her. I hope the "Frost" may visit your valuable paper often, as it makes it very pleasant this warm weather. For fear of wearying your readers, I will close for the present. SUPERSTITION JUNE 11, 1880 "SWAN" Mr. Editor, I will pen you a few items, though they may not be interesting to the President or even the Justice of Peace; but, I do not suppose they will spend many weary hours in reading what I have written. We have had several pleasant rains during the last week or two. The ploughmen are light-hearted. Youths are again to be heard in the field by the time morning begins to show her first golden rays of light. And the birds sends forth an ode of welcome that whispers God is ever good. Died, at his residence, in Lewis county, after a protracted illness, Mr. Willis Vincent, aged 54 years. Died, in Dallas county, Texas, of consumption, Mrs. Sophronia Vincent, aged 29 years. She leaves a kind husband and four children to mourn her loss. She was a daughter of Esqr. J. M. Harder. The beautiful and accomplished Misses Lizzie Garrett and Sallie Coble are spending a few days in this vicinity. Dr. Parker is spending his leisure hours in this neighborhood. Miss Leonard Harder is visiting the family of Mr. Pinkney Prince this week. An excellent peach crop and no wheat. What is to be done? Can't have any peach pies. Mr. Cap Norman killed a very large rattle-snake last Monday; Mrs. Martha Baker also killed a very large one, and her husband on going into his crib one evening about dark killed a large copper-head. Snakes seem to be very plentiful. I believe it would be very advisable for all us farmers to cut the weeds out of the fence corners, don't you? Mr. Thomas Clayton's mule jumped the fence the other day and got it's leg hung in the fence, and broke it. It is thought that the mule will not recover. Since the times has been improving there has been quite a new and cheap way of traveling. It is a carriage that works but three horses, and they work to the hinder part. If any one wants to know the name of this new vehicle, just ask some of the young men of this creek. SUPERSTITION JUNE 19, 1980 "SWAN" Quite a sultry evening, still I'll try to write a few items for the PIONEER; although they will be but few and not very interesting, some of your readers may chance to cast an eye on them. Mr. Fulam Thetaner killed a very large snake lately, which he said was a bull snake and that it was seven feet long. Who can beat that for a snake? Death has visited our vicinity again and taken the infant of Mr. Milton Cambell. Much sympathy is extended to the grieved parents. Why is it that there is such a difference in the wheat crops? Some say "I broke up my ground good with a turning plow, and then harrowed it good, and then sowed my wheat and brushed it in." Now, last fall, one of my neighbors Esqr. Harder sowed his wheat, and then taking two horses and his turning plow he plowed it in very deep and nice. Mr. Jack Sisco put his in with a double-shovel, and he thinks that he will make fifteen bushels per acre. SUPERSTITION JUNE 19, 1880 "LOCAL" Mr. D. W. Peery, of Swan, has our thanks for a valuable relic sent to us on last Saturday an Indian pipe, roughly carved of rock. We very highly appreciate anything in the way of relics, as we are making a collection. We ask our many friends to please remember us when they find anything from an Indian flint up. Mr. H. C. Prince, of Swan, a few days since, sent us in the most diminutive specimen of the land tortoise we ever saw before. It is in perfect shape, almost, and about the size of a silver quarter. This is a splendid companion to the mammoth turtle shell sent us by Messrs. James M. and John T. Fowlkes, from Horse-shoe bend. JUNE 25, 1880 "SWAN" As the correspondents from this section of the country are but few, I thought I would give a few more items about how times are moving off.. Health in this section is distressingly healthy---to the Doctors. Mr. Willis Quillian, of this county, while working in his corn field a few days ago, captured a huge rattlesnake, which measured five feet long and had nine rattles. Three days later he killed another at the same place almost as large as the first. Mr. J. H. Dean, of this county, also killed one in the house, a short time since. It seems that Lewis county is quite snakey. We don't have as many candidates as there are in your county they tell me there is one for every fork of the road. Messrs. R. L. Peery and W. Y. Lindsey will return home from the Lawrenceburg School this week. David Harder is visiting friends and relatives down on Swan. SUPERSTITION JUNE 25, 1880 "LOCAL" "Superstition" said something about snakes. C. P. Peery, the other day, killed four rattle-snakes around one stump and didn't look much for them, either. JULY 9, 1880 "SWAN" As it has been a long time since I attempted to write a few items for the PIONEEER or for the waste-basket I will attempt to write a few facts from this section. We have had a fine rain, and yet it is raining. Too wet to do anything now, only fish, and rather wet for that. I hear some of the farmers say they have plenty of cotton blooms. Oh! I like to have forgotten. I heard there was a happening down the creek the other night. Eli Simmons got married. (Who would have thought it?) He married Miss Eliza A. Baker. He's that little low man the Mr. Editor told you about some time since. Health is very good at this time, though Mr. Dan Baker and Mr. Edward Anderson have been very sick. Both on the "look up" I'm told. Ask D.W.P. whether he has got that patent on that mule affair or not. I will advise the Parson to cut bee-trees on other days, and see if he has any better luck. Croquet has swam so high up the creek it takes almost half of a day to overtake it. There are sixteen school-teachers on Swan creek from Esqr. Harder's to the mouth of the creek, and only five places (school-houses) to teach. That averages 3 1/3 teachers to the school-house and yet teachers will come to Swan to get employment. What's the matter, that they will come here when we have so many teachers of our own? The boys still keep darkening Mrs. M.'s parlor door on Sundays, to see Miss Willie. Look out, boys, some of you will not be elected, if you don't watch. The fair belles of Swan wish that the N.& T.R.R. would hurry and come, so they could have car-load of beaux shiped on as Eli and the "Bud," two of the choice ones, have married. Mr. -----, well, I won't say who, has worn out two pair of pantaloons siting on the bluff watching to get to shoot that old big trout, but hasn't got him yet. Let's kill the fat hogs this election, and elect the poor ones? What say, you? When one gets fat then it is the time to kill 'em. This is the beautiful month of July, The weather is warm and sultry; Now and then a cloud comes by, And we hear the sound of heaven's artillery. Now the farmers are all happy and gay, While the crops look beautiful and green; We are all done laying-by, they say, This is pleasant to be seen. Then, we are all done plowing, we say, And as happy as heart can wish; Now let's have a game of croquet, And then we'll take a nice fish. Now, Mr. Editor, when you read this, About the fishing and croquet; Come out and see the girls, if you wish, And help us enjoy the play. If this is not worthy of being printed, Get rid of it any way for the fastest; If it will not do for the PIONEER, It will do for the waste basket. GUESS WHO OCTOBER 1, 1880 "SWAN" Our crops are better on our creek this season than last except peanuts. D. W. P. says that he has that mule patent and says he is reeady for your Swan correspondent who spoke of it sometime ago. W. E. McClenahan left last week for Humphreys county, where he- together with his brother, Dick,--will work for Messrs. Jones. Mr. H. C. Prince, the other day, received a love-letter from Mr. Willie A. Stanfill. One of your best correspondents of this creek has been sick but is about well again. M. B. Peery is on a visit here from Arkansas. The latest plan to catch racoons is bore a hole in a log with an inch augur, bait the hole and drive 4 sharpened 6- penny nails around and pointing to the hole. George Grimmitt and Dock King have returned from a visit to Humphreys county. George says that Goober John has sent the master clock of the world besides keeping the hours, minutes, days of week and month, months, years, movements of the sun and moon, it tells when Christmas comes and every morning at 4, it strikes 100 times and lights a match which burns till day. John says he is bound to have one. Jas. S. Warren and M. M. Briggs of Humphreys county were visiting relatives on our creek last week. CASABIANCA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ova Lee Sawyer OLSawyer@aol.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------