Sunday, December 7, 2014

125-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from December 1889

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of Editor and Proprietor Q. Salter, published only three editions 125 years ago during the month of December 1889. Those papers were dated Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. What follows are a few news highlights from each of those newspapers. Enjoy.

DEC. 6, 1889

Mr. Q. Salter left last Friday for Montgomery to attend the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge which convened at that place on the 2nd, inst. We wish him a pleasant visit and an early return.

There has been exceptionally fine weather for several days past.

Tax Collector Robison has been in town for several days, engaged in making his monthly settlement with the Treasurer. Mr. Robison reports as having made a good collection.

Thanksgiving services were conducted at the Methodist church Thursday by Rev. Mr. Fontaine, and with few exceptions every place of business was closed in observance of that day.

ONE MORE MONTH TO LIVE: Fred Kidd has one more month to live. The old fellow sits alone in his cell in jail and when any mention is made of his execution, breaks down and cries. He has yet refused to talk about the murder of Walker, and will probably make no confession. The execution will take place on the 3rd of January in the jail yard. The public will not be invited to attend. Nobody will be present except the sheriff, his deputies and guards, the probate, the circuit clerk, three justices of the peace, the convict, his relations, minister, counsel and physicians. Behind this prison walls, in presence of the few persons Fred will expiate his crime and satisfy an outraged law on the gallows. – Jackson South Alabamian.

Geo. D. Whitson, Special Agent of The National Life-Maturity Insurance Company, will remain in Monroeville for several weeks. All parties desiring insurance can call on him at the Hudson Hotel.

DEC. 13, 1889

Capt. T.S. Wiggins, Col. W.G. McCorvey, Mr. E.J. Ricon and others have been on a gaming expedition this week. They report “good luck.”

Farmers have finished gathering their crops for 1889 and are busily engaged preparing their grounds for another, and looking forward with eager anticipation to a better crop than they have ever made before.

On Thursday evening, Dec. 12 at six o’clock, Mr. Charles W. Garrett of Greenwood, Fla. was united in marriage to Miss Emma Metts, daughter of F. Metts of Monroeville.

OYSTER SUPPER – The Oyster Supper given at the residence of Mr. A.H. Johnson of River Ridge on the night of the 5th inst. was in every way a success.

Last Friday morning, between the hours of 12 and one o’clock, the Hon. Jefferson Davis breathed his last, age 81 years.

Mr. Geo. W. Caldwell of Evergreen has an advertisement in this week’s issue for a quantity of mistletoe, and it may be to the interest of some of our readers to call and see him. Beginning in a small way Mr. C. has worked up an immense trade in supplying our native Evergreen ferns, shrubs, etc. and is now employing much extra help for the Christmas trade. Several boys 10 to 12 years old make from $1 to $1.25 per day picking winter flowers. Some of the Monroe boys could get pleasant, profitable employment by calling on Mr. Caldwell.

DEC. 20, 1889

“Moving Day” is approaching, when numerous exchanges of homes will be made.

A Christmas Tree party will be given in the Masonic Hall at Perdue Hill on Christmas Eve.

A Mr. Lambert, aged 90 years, was married to a Mrs. Dunn, aged 33, near Nero, this county, recently.

Speaking of the remarkable yield of the crop year now closing, an old gentleman of fifty-odd years’ experience and a close observer, remarked to a Journal reporter that he has never witnessed a more favorable year in all his experience. The farmer who has made a failure this year may attribute it to the fault of his own judgement or neglect, but not to wind or weather.

One of Rube Burrows’ gang, presumably his lieutenant, in company with another of the band, were captured by four detectives at Amory, Miss. Sunday night.

No paper will be issued from this office next week, as we desire to give our small office force a few days much needed rest during the holidays. This, we believe, our patrons will be generously willing to concede as The Journal has been regularly issued from the office each week during the year.


Before another issue of The Journal reaches its readers, the Christmas holidays with their attendant festivities will be over. To one and all, The Journal wishes a “Merry Christmas” and a “Happy New Year” – merry, not in excess of wine or happy in the forgetfulness inebriation, but merry because of the event the occasion celebrates and happy in the knowledge of good deeds done.

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