100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from January 1915

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of Editor and Propriety Q. Salter, published four editions 100 years ago during the month of January 1915. Those papers were dated Jan. 7, Jan. 14, Jan. 21 and Jan. 28. What follows are a few news highlights from each of those newspapers. Enjoy.

JAN. 7, 1915

DEATH OF JUDGE LACKLAND: Judge John T. Lackland, judge of the first judicial circuit, died in Selma Dec. 25, following an operation at one of the sanitariums.

Judge Lackland was a native of Virginia but came to Alabama when a young man and had been identified with the progress of his adopted state for more than 30 years. He was elected to the bench in 1903 and re-elected in 1910, and his record marks him as one of the ablest in the state.

Judge McCorvey and Messrs. F.W. Hare, L.J. Bugg, John McDuffie, J.D. Ratcliffe of the local bar and other friends went to Montgomery last week to press upon the governor the claims of our townsman Mr. J.B. Barnett for appointment to fill the vacancy on the circuit bench caused by the death of Judge Lackland.

Governor O’Neal has appointed Ben D. Turner of Washington County, judge of the first judicial circuit to succeed Judge John T. Lackland, who died Dec. 25. The appointment was made on Jan. 1, after the executive had considered the applications of W.F. Herbert of Demopolis and J.B. Barnett of Monroeville and others. Mr. Barnett’s endorsement was one of the strongest that was presented but unfortunately for the success of his undertaking he chanced to have been a supporter of another gentleman for the governorship four years ago.

Mr. Turner is about 28 years old and one of the youngest judges on the bench in Alabama. He was educated at the Marion Institute and the University of Alabama, and will serve about two years under the appointment.

Mayor W.A. Giddens of Roy was in the city Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and little daughter spent Christmas with relatives at Perdue Hill.

Riley Kelly, one of Excel’s leading merchants, was a business visitor to the county capital a few days ago.

Prisoners Break For Liberty: Two negro prisoners made a bold break for liberty one morning last week when Jailor Urquhart detailed them to carry fuel into the building for heating purposes.

One of them was recaptured after a race of a few hundred yards and the other returned voluntarily and surrendered after spending one night in the cold.

Dedicatory services will be held in the Presbyterian church on Sabbath, 17th of January. Sermons morning and evening will be preached by Rev. D.A. Planck, pastor of Central Presbyterian church, Mobile, Ala. A special Thanksgiving offering will be taken at both services. All are cordially invited to attend these services.

Bank Officers Elected: The annual meeting of stockholders of the Monroe County Bank was held on Monday last and the following officers and directors elected for the ensuing year: President, J.B. Barnett; Vice President, D.J. Hatter, Cashier, D.D. Mims; Directors, C.J. Jackson, Q. Salter, J.M. Coxwell, B.H. Stallworth and M.M. Fountain.

JAN. 14, 1915

L.J. Bugg, Esq., went up to the state capital Monday to see that the legislature started off right.

The Journal is requested to state that the dedicatory service at the Presbyterian church has been postponed until further announcement in consequence of the inability of Dr. Planck to be present on the date previously named.

A Mrs. Watson, who formerly lived in the Bermuda neighborhood and who was arrested on a vagrancy charge, died in the county jail Thursday night. It appears that the unfortunate woman was addicted to some narcotic drug habit and that confinement hastened her demise. She is survived by two children who are now under the care of relatives.

U.D.C Program: The following program will be rendered at the next meeting of the local Chapter U.D.C.:

Personal traits of Robert E. Lee – Mrs. Finklea.

Lee’s Remarkable Generalship – Mrs. Turner.

Lee’s Tribute to the Fighting Ability of his Men – Mrs. Slaughter.

Chorus, “Bonnie Blue Flag” – Mrs. Eppes.

Rank of General – Mrs. Hare.

Battle of Gettysburg – Miss Boroughs.

Arlington, the Home of Lee – Mrs. Ratcliffe.

The Surrender – Mrs. Bizzelle.

Robert E. Lee, as College President – Mrs. Lee.

I will attend at the Snell Bridge on Flat Creek on Fri., Jan. 29, at 11 o’clock a.m. for the purpose of contracting for the building of a new bridge. Specifications furnished on the ground. – A. HOLLOMAN, Commissioner.

JAN. 21, 1915

GOV. HENDERSON IS INAUGURATED: Inaugural Address Deals With General State Topics Only, Urges Harmony and Retrenchment: Charles Henderson was inaugurated governor of Alabama at noon on Monday, taking the oath of office on the verandah of the capitol and swearing allegiance on the same Bible which Jefferson Davis used to swear fidelity to the Confederacy. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John C. Anderson, of the state supreme court, who was authorized by special act to officiate in this capacity.

In his inaugural address Governor Henderson dealt in general topics of state interest only.

A parade in which the entire state militia participated was reviewed by both the incoming and outgoing governors previous to the inaugural ceremonies. Despite a driving rain, the streets of the capital city were crowded.

The city was decorated with flags and bunting, while at the capitol, near the spot where Jefferson Davis took the oath of office as president of the Confederacy, and at a point on Dexter Avenue reviewing stands were filled with persons of prominence in the social, political and business life of the state.

For the first time in 24 years, the chief justice of the supreme court was designated to administer the oath of office to an incoming governor.

Mr. L.M. Sawyer assumed the duties of Sheriff on Monday the 18th. Messrs. Claude Kilpatrick and J.W. Urquhart are members of his official staff.

Judge Sowell Owns Interesting Watch: Judge T.L. Sowell owns a handsome gold watch which he prizes very highly, and not without cause, for, besides being a splendid time keeper, this watch is an heirloom of the Sowell family with an interesting history.

The Judge’s father bought it while on a trip to New York City in 1847. During Wilson’s raid through Alabama in 1865, Judge Sowell’s father put the watch in a glass jar together with other valuables, and buried them in the woods near his home in Monroe County, Alabama, where they were safely kept for three months, notwithstanding the fact that the federal soldiers took possession of his home and made a thorough search of the premises while in Monroe County.

Judge Sowell was seven years old at the time, and tells of having seen the soldiers going about the place sticking their bayonets in the ground in search of valuables. While they failed to find the hidden watch and other valuables, Judge Sowell says they burned his father’s drug store and used his corn, amounting to 1,000 bushels.

On his 21st birthday, Judge Sowell was the recipient of the watch as a birthday present, and he has worn it ever since that day.

Until 15 or 20 years ago, the watch was wound up with a key, but Judge Sowell had it converted into a stem winder. Although the watch has been in use since 1847 the engravings on it are perfectly plain. It was made in Liverpool, England, and an eagle is engraved on one side of the case and an anchor and cornucopia on the other side representing English commerce.

Representative Kyser has been assigned to two important house committees, those on Local Legislation and Public Roads and Highways.

JAN. 28, 1915

Mr. W.H. Byrd of Midway was attendant upon the Law and Equity Court last week.

Dr. W.A. Mason of Excel killed an O.I.C. hog a few days ago that dressed 460 pounds.

Rev. D.F. Ellisor went to Montgomery Tuesday to attend the celebration of the Anti-Saloon League.

Mr. J.L. Crawford of Hadley was a visitor to the city this week. Mr. Crawford is keenly interested in the adoption of the Old Federal Road, which passes his place, as a link in the proposed system of state trunk highways.

Mr. W.C. Stinson, a prosperous farmer of South Monroe, was in to see us Monday. Mr. Stinson belongs to a happily increasing class of farmers that the prevailing hard times is not seriously affecting. He has a full corn crib, barn and smokehouse and is readily selling surplus property for hard cash.

DEATH OF LISTON A. HIXON: Mr. Liston A. Hixon died at his home in Monroeville on Tuesday night, Jan. 26, after an illness of several weeks, aged about 63 years.

“For many years, Mr. Hixon had been successfully engaged in planting and merchandising in conjunction with his brother, the late Alfred C. Hixon, at his farm home at Hixon. A few years ago, he removed to Monroeville to afford his children better school advantages and during his residence here he continued in the mercantile business.

Interment was made on Wednesday at Hamilton Hill cemetery.

Contract Let for Railroad Bridge: According to the New York Herald, a contract for the building of a bridge across the Alabama River has been awarded to the American Bridge Co. by the Gulf, Florida and Alabama Railroad. The Herald says:

The Gulf, Florida and Alabama railway company has placed an order with the American Bridge company for the bridge carrying their road over the Alabama River near Pine Hill, Ala. This bridge will complete the extension of the road to a connection with the Southern railway.

It is learned here on good authority that the work of construction of the road which was suspended several months ago in consequence of the financial depression resulting from the European war, will be resumed about March the 1st and pushed rapidly to completion. The construction camps located near Monroeville, together with teams and equipment, have been maintained throughout the long period of inactivity, hence it will only be necessary to reorganize the working crews when the company is ready to resume work. Offices for the supervisor of construction will be maintained here until the road is completed.

Dr. W.A. Stallworth and Mr. J.N. Andress of Beatrice were at the county capital Wednesday.

Rev. C.W. Henson attended the Baptist Ministers Institute at Repton last week.