Sunday, January 18, 2015

120-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from Jan. 1895

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of Editor and Proprietor Q. Salter, published five editions 120 years ago during the month of January 1895. However, only four of those editions (Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31) can be found in the microfilm collection at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville. What follows are a few news highlights from each of the January 1895 editions that can be found on microfilm. Enjoy.

JAN. 3, 1895

Tax collector F.E. Robison is proving a most capable and efficient officer. His genial and gentlemanly manners render him universally popular.
Tax-gatherer Robison reports a very good collection during the past month, about $4,000.

Prof. Marsh reopened school at the Academy on Monday after the holiday recess with an increased attendance.

Mr. J.A Grace, the popular proprietor of the Claiborne Upper Warehouse, dropped in to see us on Wednesday. He reports the shipments of cotton through his warehouse this season about 2,500 bales, which is several hundred in excess of last year. The total shipments through the two warehouses at Claiborne during the season will reach nearly or qnite (sic) 6,000 bales.

A riot occurred at a negro fair near Pine Apple on Saturday, Dec. 22, in which five are reported killed and 13 mortally wounded. Those killed were the three Vanmetten brothers and Alex and Ed Kayer. Whiskey was the cause.

A little colored child about five years old, living in the Clausell Quarter, two miles west of town, caught fire accidentally and was severely burned on last Monday.

Mr. W.L. Pritchett of the Bear Creek Mill Co. was in town this week on business connected with the land office.

Mr. H.J. Coxwell of Perdue Hill was in Monroeville on Monday. He reports an uneventful Christmas at the Hill.

JAN. 10, 1895

We had a pleasant call on Saturday from Hon. W.B. Kemp, State Senator from this district. The Captain is in excellent health and seems to be enjoying his holiday vacation.

The County Board of Education met in Monroeville on last Saturday and a number of teachers from various parts of the county were in attendance. All returned home disappointed however in the matter of drawing their quarterly pay, the funds for that purpose having failed to arrive.

Work on the interior improvement of the courthouse was resumed on Monday after several days’ suspension. The walls will be ready in a few days for plasterers to begin work.

County court was in session Monday and a part of Tuesday. The docket was heavier than usual.

Messrs. W.F. Garrett and M.D. Lambert, two of Monroe’s best citizens, left on Monday on prospecting tours, the former for Texas and the latter for Florida, with a view to locating. The Journal contemplates with regret the loss of such valued citizens.

The Monroeville Academy continues to grow and flourish. Several new pupils were enrolled Monday. The talented Miss Ida Russell is in charge of the music department.

Capt. Thomas A. Nettles of Longstreet dropped in for a few moments on Monday.

JAN. 17, 1895

Unfortunately, this issue of The Monroe Journal is missing from the microfilm records at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville.

JAN. 24, 1895

Notes from Nero: We had a snowfall here last night of about half an inch in depth and have had one of the hardest freezes we have experienced in several years.

A New Railroad: It is understood that application will be made to the legislature to grant a charter for a new railroad from Searight, Covington County, via Brooklyn in Conecuh County, crossing the Louisville and Nashville railroad at Evergreen, thence westward via Belleville, Monroeville, Monroe County, Grove Hill and intermediate points intersecting the Mobile and Ohio railroad at State Line, Miss.
We understand that there are quite a number of wealthy and enterprising gentlemen interested in the project, which strengthens the hope that the enterprise will be urged to speedy accomplishment.
The building of the road above mentioned, traversing the entire breadth of the county from East to West, and the construction of the great Pensacola and Northwestern, extending from North to South forming a junction at this place, would signalize the dawn of a new era for Monroeville and Monroe County. With either of these roads we should in a few months take our place in the front rank of live, progressive towns; with both of them we should surpass them all.

A Mite party was given at the residence of Capt. Thos. S. Wiggins on Monday night for the benefit of the Presbyterian minister. The attendance was fair and contributions liberal.

Hon. W.G. McCorvey, Monroe’s representative in the lower house of the General assembly, returned to Montgomery last Saturday. The legislature reconvened on Tuesday.

Mr. C.M. Simmons is erecting a large residence in the southern part of town. When completed it will be occupied by Prof. J.F. Marsh.

Masonic Notice: Monroe Chapter No. 4 will hold a regular convocation Thurs., Feb. 7, 1895 at 7:30 p.m. at Perdue Hill, Ala. Companions are requested to be present. A good time may be expected. W.J. McCants, River Ridge, Jan. 10.

Work on the courthouse is progressing rapidly. A few days more and Monroe will have the largest, neatest and most conveniently arranged courthouse of any interior county in Alabama.

The large oak trees surrounding the courthouse have been topped and trimmed adding greatly to the appearance of court square.

The Journal received a call on last Saturday morning from Mr. Frank C. Carpenter, who was walking from Cincinnati to Mobile on a wager. He left Cincinnati on Dec. 1 and under the conditions of the wager was required to accomplish the journey on foot and without other pecuniary assistance than that he should earn while en route by the 30th of January. We found Mr. Carpenter, who is a native of San Francisco, a very intelligent and agreeable gentleman, and apparently none the worse for his long tramp. We presume that ere this he has reached his destination.

JAN. 31, 1895

Attention, Monroe County Corps! General Order No. 1 – Every member of the Monroe County Corps, Co. M, 1st Reg. A.S.T., will appear in uniform at Monroeville the 2nd Monday in February for the regular monthly drill and to attend to other matters of importance. The Co. will meet at 9:30 a.m. All equipments must be on hand and in good order. T.B. NETTLES, Captain, Co. M.

Two Negroes were killed by lightning near Suggsville last Monday – a man and a woman. Ten of them had taken shelter from the rain in a small house and it is said that electricity came down the chimney and passed out at the door knocking all 10 of the Negroes down and killing two.

Mr. Lafayette Riley of Burnt Corn was in Monroeville on Tuesday and gave The Journal a pleasant call.

Col. W.G. McCorvey, Monroe’s distinguished representative in the legislature, has introduced a bill in the house empowering the counties of the state to issue bonds for the building of jails, courthouses, bridges, etc. We suggest that the Colonel amend his bill so as to include public roads and other internal improvements.


Rev. N.B. Keahey and family arrived at Monroeville last week and are occupying the Thompson residence. They are cordially welcomed to our community.

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