News headlines from Monroe County, Ala. from 125 years ago this month

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 this week, I took advantage of the archives at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville and looked closely at the four editions of The Journal printed 125 years ago this month, way back in June 1889. Here are some of the news highlights from those papers, which were edited by Q. Salter.

JUNE 7, 1889

“Some of the farmers report a light frost during the cold snap last week.”

“COTTON BLOOM – The earliest cotton bloom of the season has been sent us from River Ridge by Peter Johnson, an industrious colored man farming on Mr. A.H. Johnson’s plantation, near that place. It was discovered June 1st.”

“TALLACHY: The boys is got up a baseball club at this place with Dan McMurphy as cap’n. Dan’ll make a good cap’n if there is any sine in sise, sho.”

“MASONIC – The Masonic funeral of Bro. Joel P. Rawls will be preached at the Methodist church at Monroeville on the fourth Sabbath in June. The Masonic fraternity is cordially invited to attend. F.M. Jones, Sec’y.”

“MONROEVILLE’S NEW POSTMISTRESS – Mrs. M.C. McLean has been appointed postmistress at this place. This information was as much a surprise to Mrs. McLean as to the people; she having no knowledge of her recommendation, nor were they any wiser. The mystery was cleared up a few days later, however, by the receipt of a letter from a relative of Mrs. McLean living in Wilcox County, who is a republican with some influence with the administration, and who recommended her for the position, but did not advise her of the fact until her appointment had been procured.

“Mrs. McLean is a widow lady with two orphaned children entirely dependent upon her for support. The appointment was worthily bestowed and will meet with the approbation of the people.

“Vice F.A. Seymour has held the position for seven years and has been a faithful, efficient and painstaking officer. He will retire as soon as the bond of his successor is approved and her commissions issued.”

“Capt. W.B. Kemp, Monroe’s distinguished and able representative in the legislature, was in town Monday.”

“The closing exercises of the Monroeville Academy will begin Thursday night, June 13th and close with concert on Friday night 14th. All the friends and patrons of the school are invited to attend.”

“The last issue of the Evergreen Star came to us greatly improved, typographically and otherwise. It is now all home print, filled with interesting matter and is liberally patronized by the enterprising merchants and businessmen of the town. We congratulate Bro. Lee upon this evidence of deserved prosperity.”

“Mr. L. Pugh, a well to do farmer, was murdered and his home robbed at Pine Level last week. Investigations were immediately instituted and up to this writing several arrests have been made on suspicion.”

JUNE 14, 1889

“Mr. W.S. Nash of Burnt Corn, who has been attending the Perdue Hill High School, passed through town last week on his return home.”

“Gov. Seay has appointed Mr. J.F. Fore, Justice of the Peace at Monroeville.”

“CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE MONROEVILLE ACADEMY: Probably the largest and most attentive audience which has ever assembled at Monroeville on any similar occasion, packed itself into the spacious hall of the Monroeville Academy on Thursday evening the 13th inst. to witness the closing exercises of the school.

“Scarcely had the last reverberations of the silvery chimes of the school clock, proclaiming the hour of eight, died away in the distance or been drowned in the hum of voices when the curtains were drawn back, disclosing a tastefully decorated stage, and a beautiful tableau of the school, numbering 22 rosy cheeked maidens and 20 ruddy cheeked boys, who bowed a graceful welcome, and greeted the audience with a charming song.

“The exercises will close this Friday evening, of which we will have somewhat to say in our next issue.”

“The examination exercises of the Monroeville Academy began Tuesday morning, at which a large number of patrons and friends of the school were present.

“The examinations were rigid and interesting and there is great reason for gratification at the thorough knowledge attained and rapid progress made by the students in the various branches of study, under the skillful tutorship of Prof. Simmons.”

“The commencement exercises of the Perdue Hill High School closed last Friday night with a celebration of the literary society, debates and orations, etc. The exercises were very entertaining, from beginning to end, and the attendance of the patrons and friends was larger than ever before, which was a most gratifying evidence of the growing interest in this most popular institution.”

“THE TEACHER’S INSTITUTE: At a meeting held at Perdue Hill, June 7, 1889, a Teacher’s Institute was organized, composed of the following teachers: Prof’s Webb and Simmons, Messrs. Wm. Tomlinson, John Sowell, J.I. McGill, J.F. Busey, G.L. Lambert, J.S. Lambert and Misses C. Carter and Tennie Newberry.

“Mr. John Thames was made president and J.S. Lambert secretary of the Institute.

“A committee of three, viz: Messrs. W.M. Webb, John Sowell and Miss C. Carter was appointed to arrange the program and decide upon the time and place for the next meeting.

“The purpose of the institute, as explained by Prof. Webb, is for the members of the institute to meet and interchange ideas concerning the best methods of teaching; to secure uniformity in the principles of teaching. As the world progresses, the modes of teaching are constantly being changed; the old ones are laid aside, while new and better ones are put forth by which the principles of ‘mind training’ of education, are made less laborious and more effective.”

JUNE 21, 1889

“Quite a number of the students of the Monroeville Academy have been licensed to teach and several have, we learn, already secured schools for the summer months.”

“MASONIC: At the last regular communication of the Monroeville Lodge No. 153, F.&A.M., the following officers were elected for the ensuing Masonic year: S.H. Daily, W.M.; G.W. Salter, S.W.; W.W. McMillan, J.W.; F.M. Jones, Secretary; D.J. Hatter, Treasurer; Q. Salter, S.D.; Jno. DeLoach, J.D.; Isaac Andress, Tyler; J.F. Fore, Steward; Jno. W. Broughton, Steward.”

“At the last regular communication of Bell’s Landing Lodge, No. 373, the following officers were elected for the ensuing Masonic year: W.M. Hestle, W.M.; S.M.C. Middleton, S.W.; W.R. Black, J.W.; Jos. Snell, Treas.; G.W. Lyon, Sec’y.; W.D. Brown, S.D.; W.T. Reaves, J.D.; G.C. Nettles, Tyler.”

“CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE MONROEVILLE ACADEMY: The exercises of the Monroeville Academy Friday evening were fully as interesting and entertaining as those of Thursday evening, and notwithstanding a considerable shower had fallen during afternoon, and the ominous sounds of thunder, portending another precipitation, umbrellas, wraps and rubbers were pressed into active service by the eager people, whose appetite had been too sharply whetted by the entertainment of the proceeding evening to forego the pleasure of another season of enjoyment and by the time the reporter arrived, the house was too much crowded to afford much choice of seats.”

“Quite a number of patrons of the Monroeville Academy met in the Court House on last Saturday morning to consider the future of the school.

“It appearing that the management of the school during the past session had been satisfactory, a resolution to that effect was unanimously adopted and Prof. Simmons was chosen as principal of the school for the next scholastic year.”

“The Buena Vista High School has been a success this session and with all the favorable surroundings, we expect to make it still better. We extend to the public a pressing invitation to the closing exercises of our school and if you will attend the whole you will see what we are doing.”

“A Baptist Sunday School has been organized recently at Bethany church of this place (Burnt Corn), conducted by Mr. B. Shirly, an experienced and qualified man in this work, with the following teachers and officers for third quarter: Mr. S.D. Nash, Supt.; Mr. W.I. Murdock, intermediate grade; Mr. J.P. Watkins, advanced quarterly; Miss Rozella Murdock, organist; W.S. Nash, Secretary.”

“Dr. Russell places us under obligations for a basket of very fine peaches of the hybrid variety. Dr. Russell has one of the finest orchards in this community.”

“Rev. S.P. Lindsay returned Tuesday from attending the commencement exercises of Howard College at East Lake.”

JUNE 28, 1889

“Mr. Elijah Broughton killed a dog last Sunday morning, showing every indication of hydrophobia.”

“The Clarke County Democrat asks: Can’t our next legislature enact a law for the suppression of Sunday baseball? It seems strangely inconsistent to us that a man is not allowed to plow even when his crop is badly in need of work, but is allowed to play baseball, a more fatiguing work, which is of no benefit to himself nor anyone else, and is producing a large crop of general demoralization.”

“Our colored brethren have purchased a new bell for their church on the east side of town.”

“From the Alabama Baptist we take the following complimentary notice of Prof. Webb: The life of Prof. W.M. Webb of Perdue Hill illustrates just how useful a Christian teacher can be when he tries. He aids in prayer meeting, Sabbath school, church work, temperance work, and then finds time to keep up a literary society and attend the Masonic lodge. No wonder these people are determined, if possible, not to lose him.”

“PERDUE HILL, ALA.: CLOSING EXERCISES OF PERDUE HILL HIGH SCHOOL: The closing exercises of this now well established and deservedly popular institution closed on the 6th inst., with a very large and appreciative audience and much éclat.”

“MASONIC: At the last convocation of Monroe Chapter No. 4 at Perdue Hill, Ala., the following officers were elected for the ensuing Masonic year: J.A. Savage, H.P.; J. DeLoach, K.; N.A. Agee, S.; I.D. Roberts, C. of H.; J.F. Gaillard, P.S.; P. Bradley, R.A.C.; W.J. McCants, Sect’y; C.L. Slaughter, Treasurer; I.B. Slaughter, M. 1st V.; J.L. Ballard, M. 2nd V.; A.B. Williams, M. 3rd V.; Wm. Tomlinson, Tyler.”

“A meeting has been called by Sheriff Hawthorn of Wilcox to assemble in Montgomery on July 10th for the purpose of organizing an association of the sheriffs of his state for their protection.”

“TEACHERS TAKE NOTICE: The Educational Board will meet to examine teachers the first Saturday in June. All who are to be examined must meet the Board promptly at that time. This includes both white and colored teachers. John Thames, Co. Supt. Education.”

“To the Primaries of Monroe County – Our county Alliance will convene on Tues., July 2, at 10 a.m. in the courthouse in Monroeville. We want the Primaries, throughout the county, fully represented by the very best business talent in them. Questions of vital importance to the order will be dealt with, hence we request the best you have. Instruct delegates to call on the county Secretary, and he will assign homes. W.J. Mason, Pres’t; Q. Salter, Sec’y.”

“Today, the New Life Lodge of Good Templars, of this place (Mt. Pleasant), gave a picnic to which had been invited sister societies of Perdue Hill and Montgomery Hill especially and the public generally.

“After a brief time for preliminary preparation within their Hall, the members repaired to the Methodist church for greater seating accommodations.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for today. Next month, I’ll take a look at the events of July 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.