Monroe County has changed a lot in the past 125 years and
you’ll really notice the big changes if you ever take a look at the pages of
old editions of The Monroe Journal newspaper. Earlier today, I took advantage
of the archives at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville and looked closely
at the five editions of The Journal printed 125 years ago this month, way back
in March 1889. Here are some of the news highlights from those papers.
MARCH 1, 1889
“The Monroeville Academy continues to flourish. There were
two additions to the roll of the Monroeville Academy Monday.”
“Cholera is getting in its deadly work among the hogs. A
number have died within the past few weeks.”
“There is some talk of organizing a temperance society in
Monroeville. Talk alone availeth nothing.”
“The work of erecting the Baptist church belfry is
progressing steadily.”
“Ab McMillan’s blacksmith shop caught fire Monday, but the
flames were extinguished before much damage was done.”
“Robert Horton made his escape from jail again Monday night.
This makes the third time he has broke jail in as many weeks. He has not been
captured at this writing.”
“CHANGE OF SCHEDULE: Commencing Mon., Dec. 10, trains will
run daily except Sunday on the Lower
Division P&S R.R. as follows: No. 9 leave Repton at 8:30
a.m., arrive Flomaton 11 a.m.; No. 10 leave Flomaton 3:10, arrive at Repton
5:30 p.m. (Signed) F.C. Shepard, D.P.A.”
MARCH 8, 1889
“The best friend is the one who gives the best advice –
subscribe for The Journal.”
“A number of teachers were in town last Saturday to receive
their quarterly pay.”
“Enough rain fell during the months of January and February
to make two corn crops – if properly distributed.”
“The Monroeville Academy continues to receive accessions,
notwithstanding the advanced stage of the session. Two new pupils greeted Prof.
Simmons on Monday of last week and another caused a smile of gratification to
illumine his handsome countenance on Monday of this week. The total scholarship
is now about 54 or 55.”
“Mr. T.W. Russell, who left early last week for Lynchburg,
Va., to accept a situation with a prominent tobacco firm, writes to his sisters
here that he arrived safely in that city and is pleased with his surroundings.”
“The regular term of county court convened Monday. Several
cases of small importance were up before his Honor.”
“Several mad dogs were killed last week in a radius of a
mile on the line of Crenshaw and Pike counties. Muzzle your worthless dogs.”
“Miss Mamie Neville returned last week from a prolonged
visit to relatives at Pollard.”
MARCH 15, 1889
“Mr. H.E. Hudson, proprietor of the ‘Hudson Hotel’ has a
card in this issue. Persons visiting court will find this an excellent place to
stop. Rates reasonable.”
“Messrs. T.S. Wiggins, A.M. Leslie, W.G. McCorvey and E.J.
Ricoa returned from Mobile last week where they spent several days witnessing
the Mardi Gras carnival.”
“The Evergreen correspondent of the Montgomery Dispatch
gives the following particulars of the defalcation of the confidential clerk of
the Evergreen post office:
“Egbert Stearns has for a long time been clerk in the post
office here. He had the full run of the business, and knew everything about it.
Here was here last Friday (March 1), but has not been seen since. His shortage
is about $1,000. Various theories are advanced as to what disposition he made
of the money, but no one seems to know just how it was done or why. Numerous
complaints of lost money through the mails came to this office. Tracers for
registered packages came continually, which never came to the hands of the post
master, as Stearns was the confidential clerk and had full control of
everything. Many different theories, as I have already said, are advanced, as
to the disposition he made of the money; that he gambled is conceded, because
he confessed it, but some hold the opinion that he was caught at this, and that
some enterprising villain practiced a scheme of blackmail as the price of
silence. One mystery connected with the affair is the conduct of the defaulter
and his manner of treating his friends. When the deficit was known, there were
men here who went to him and told him they were his friends, and that they
wished to favor him. They told him they knew he was in trouble and asked him
how much he was behind, telling him that they would replace the money. He would
give them no information, but made his arrangements to depart clandestinely,
which he has since done.”
MARCH 22, 1889
“Our apology for the poverty of this issue is the illness of
the editor (Q. Salter). He has been confined to his bed since Sunday, and while
he is much improved, will not be able to be in the office before we go to
press. Catarrhal fever, of which the editor if suffering, is quite prevalent in
the community.”
“Guy Taylor escaped from the county jail Tuesday night after
sufficiently burning the facing of two doors, so that the lock could be
removed.”
“The young men of Monroeville have organized a Debating
Club.”
“EDITOR, MONROE JOURNAL – I desire to give notice through
your paper that a competitive examination will be held at the office of Z.M.P.
Inge, Esq., in this city on Saturday, the 13th of April next, for the selection
of a first and of an alternate candidate for the appointment as cadet from this
district to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
“Each candidate must have been a bona fide resident of this
district, for not less than one year; must be between 17 and 22 years of age,
not less than five feet in height and free from any physical disease or
infirmity which may render him unfit for military service.
“He must be well versed in reading, in writing, including
orthography, and in arithmetic and have a knowledge of the elements of English
grammar, of descriptive geography (particularly of our own country) and of the
history of the United States.
“Candidates for the competitive examination should report at
Mr. Inge’s office by 10 o’clock a.m. of the day fixed for it.
“I shall be pleased to furnish any further information
desired.
“Yours truly,
“R.H. Clark
“Mobile, Ala.”
MARCH 29, 1889
“Tax Assessor Jones completed his second and last round of
sittings for this year. He will start out soon to look up delinquents.”
“Mr. T.J. Stevens is at work repairing the breaks made by
the prisoners who recently escaped from the county jail.”
“The attractive new belfry to the Baptist church has been
completed and the bell, which we learn is a gift to the church from Col. B.L.
Hibbard of Birmingham, placed in position.”
“LOCKLIN HOUSE: PERDUE HILL, ALABAMA: J.S. Hines,
Proprietor: This is the best hotel in this section of the state, the home of
the commercial tourist – complete in all of its appointments. Rates very
reasonable.”
“Lower Warehouse: Claiborne, Ala., J. Hope Moore,
Proprietor: Consignments of cotton or merchandise will receive the most careful
attention and charges will be most reasonable. I thank my friends for past
favors and solicit a continuation of the same.”
Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for today.
Next month, I’ll take a look at the events of April 1889 in Monroe County.
Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s history yourself, take
advantage of the Monroe County Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers
on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will
be more than happy to get your started.
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