Sunday, March 15, 2015

110-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from March 1905

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of Editor and Proprietor Q. Salter, published five editions 110 years ago during the month of March 1905. Those editions were dated for March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23 and March 30 and can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville. What follows are a few news highlights from both of those editions. Enjoy.

MARCH 2, 1905

Capt. John Burns, one of ex-Confederate soldiers, whose mind is stored with reminiscences of the war, has been on the sick list lately.

Prof. J.A. Barnes of Jones Mill was in to see us Friday. Mr. Barnes is teaching a prosperous school at Excel.

Messrs. J.B. Barnett and H.C. DuBose, president and cashier of the Monroe County Bank, left Friday on a business trip to New York.

Mr. J.R. Foster, business manager of that excellent weekly, The Camden Banner, is assisting Mr. Mims in the management of the bank during the absence of Cashier Dubose. Mr. Foster favored The Journal with a fraternal call.

Hon. I.W. Hill, state superintendent of education, was a distinguished visitor to Monroeville last week and delivered an able address before the County Educational Association Friday in the interest of local taxation for the maintenance of public schools. Everyone who heard the address not only enjoyed the intellectual treat but endorsed the sentiments expressed.

Mr. Jabez J. Parker, one of the best known attorneys in Mobile, died suddenly at his home, 206 St. Emmanuel St., at nine o’clock last night. Heart failure was the cause of his death.

Miss Jennie Faulk left last week for Atlanta to select her stock of millinery and ladies goods. Miss Faulk’s store building has been recently remodeled and enlarged and the stock which she will purchase will be in keeping with the improvements provided for its attractive display.

MARCH 9, 1905

Mr. C.C. Griffin of Griffin Bros., merchants, Excel, was in town Tuesday on business.

Capt. T.A. Nettles of Tunnel Springs, attended a convocation of the Royal Arch Chapter.

Prof. J.M. Sowell is at home for a few weeks vacation, having closed his school at Local, Escambia County.

The Demopolis Express-Dispatch is succeeded by The Demopolis Times, published by a stock company of such men as Benj. F. Elmore, W.M. Tucker, E.B. McCarty and H.W. Hayden, which is sufficient guarantee that the new venture will prove a success. The Journal welcomes The Times to its table.

The farmers (at Dottel) are busy repairing fence, sowing oats and preparing for future crops. They are still holding their cotton for better price. They are not buying much fertilizers, but decreasing the acreage of their cotton, and looking toward planting more grain.

Commissioner W.S. Bowden was up from Nero last week on business.

Commissioner W.B. Green of Burnt Corn was at the county capital Tuesday.

Mr. B.H. Stallworth, our efficient deputy sheriff, attended Mardi Gras in Mobile.

Mr. Riley Kelly of Kelly Bros., Excel, was at the capital Monday and favored The Journal with a pleasant call.

MARCH 16, 1905

Passenger Service Established: The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co. will operate a new freight and passenger train over their road from Century to the end of the road in Monroe County.
It will be a mixed train of freight cars, sufficient in number and capacity to handle the freight, and a passenger coach partitioned for white and colored passengers. The train will leave Century every afternoon and return in the morning. This arrangement will allow passengers from Monroe County to visit Mobile or Pensacola in the morning and return to their homes in the afternoon. – Atmore Spectrum.

J.F. Hassell & Co. have opened a new livery and sale stable in Monroeville, occupying the Watson old stand on the west side of the square.

A shooting affray occurred near Ollie last Saturday. There had been some trouble between a Mr. Grantham and Mr. A.D. White about a cross-fence, and Saturday afternoon Grantham shot two boys of White’s, who he claims, were pulling down his fence. The children were not seriously injured. Grantham was bound over by the county court on Monday to await the action of the grand jury.

On Tuesday of last week, the Tucker old homestead, located two miles west of town, and for some years unoccupied, was consumed by fire together with all outbuildings and gin house nearby. The old home had been a familiar landmark for more than half a century.

MARCH 23, 1905

Deputy Sheriff B.H. Stallworth effected the capture, after a long chase last week, of a negro answering in many respects the description of one of the Negroes concerned in the shooting of Prof. Claude Hardy near Pine Apple. The negro has not yet been identified, and should he prove not to be the right party he will be held on another charge, that of carrying concealed weapons.

The flourishing town of Opp sustained serious fire on the night of the 15th inst. The hardware store of Mizelle & Benton was destroyed, causing a loss of $25,000. Property of adjoining firms was also damaged.

The Monroe County Medical Society will meet in Monroeville on Wed., April 7, 1905 at 10 o’clock a.m. A full attendance is urged. – C.E. Bizzelle, Sec.

A number of our sportsmen enjoyed the novel experience of shooting ducks inside the corporate limits Monday morning. The birds were attracted by the ponds of water collected after the rains Sunday and Sunday night. A dozen or more were bagged.

Miss Callie Faulk has returned home from Bay Minette where she has been teaching several months, and will be associated with her sister, Miss Jennie Faulk, in the millinery business.

Mr. J.C. Griffin of Excel was in to see us last week. He says his firm has been delivering large quantities of fertilizer during the last fortnight, their trade in that line being more than double that of former years.

MARCH 30, 1905

Mr. Conoly is doing a large business here (Excel) now with his saw mill. He will start to putting in his still soon.

The severe rain the 19th inst. (in the Glendale community) did considerable damage to the B.C. log road and farmers also, no logs were hauled in nearly a week, and the farmers fear that there corn will not come up that was planted before.

Entertainment: An entertainment will be given in the auditorium of the old court house on Wednesday night, April the 5th. The program will be presented by local talent and will consist of varied and entertaining selections. Admission, 35 cents; children, 25 cents.

The establishment of a post office (in the Puryear community) with Mr. A.J. Lee p.m. has added much to the convenience to the people of this place.

Hon. Geo. F. Sedberry, one of the State Examiners of public accounts, is here this week overhauling the books and accounts of county officers.

Mr. J.B. Barnett went to Mobile Sunday to accompany Col. and Mrs. Hibbard home. They arrived Tuesday. Col. Hibbard’s physical condition is reported some better.

The law firm of Wiggins, Hybart & Bayles has been dissolved and Bayles, Hybart & Burns succeeds. Mr. Jno. M. Burns, the new member, comes from Selma, where he has been a successful practitioner for eight years, during two of which he served as city attorney. He is cordially welcomed to Monroeville.

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