Today in History for Jan. 18, 2019

Alabama Governor Arthur P. Bagby

Jan. 18, 1838 – Samuel White Oliver, who was around 41 years old, passed away at his residence on Pine Barren Creek in Dallas County, Ala. Born in Virginia around 1796, he moved to the Sparta area of Conecuh County, Ala. in 1819. He began serving in the state legislature in 1822 and represented Conecuh County there for 12 years and was elected speaker in 1834. He entered the state senate in 1836, representing Conecuh and Butler counties, but resigned the next year to move to Dallas County. He ran for governor in 1837 but was defeated by Arthur P. Bagby of Monroe County.

Jan. 18, 1843 – Steamboat pilot Charles Langdon Johnson was born at River Ridge (now called Franklin) in Monroe County, Ala. He fought in the Civil War as a private, and he was the nephew of Capt. “Andy” Andrew Harrison Johnson, the captain of the “Cremona.”

Jan. 18, 1845 – Confederate soldier James Kenard Kendall was born in Brooklyn, Ala. and on Sept. 13, 1863 at McGowin’s Bridge he enlisted as a private in Co. I of the 15th Confederate Cavalry, under the command of W.B. Amos. He passed away at the age of 74 in Conecuh County and was buried in the Brooklyn Baptist Cemetery.

  

Jan. 18, 1861 – U.S. Army Lt. Adam Slemmer refused the third demand for the surrender of Fort Pickens in Pensacola Harbor, Fla. Also on that day, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, off Key West, Fla., was garrisoned by Federal troops and used to hold political prisoners.

Jan. 18, 1876 – Samuel G. Forbes named postmaster at Burnt Corn, Ala.

Jan. 18, 1886 - On this Monday morning a negro woman living on Mr. James Andrews’ place in Monroe County, about eight miles south of Pine Apple, left her three small children in a room in which a fire was burning. The youngest, which was just beginning to crawl, was found with its feet and legs in the fire, where it had evidently been for some time. The skin peeled off up to its waist wherever touched, and its feet were burned to a crisp. Dr. J.B. Adams, who happened to be in the neighborhood at the time of the accident, was called in, but found the little sufferer beyond human aid, as it had fallen into a stupor from which a reaction was hardly possible, according to the Pine Apple Enterprise.

Jan. 18, 1907 – At the Monroeville, Ala. school house on this Friday, public exercises were planned to commemorate the birthday of General Robert E. Lee. The Hon. John M. Burns was to deliver the principal address on the subject of “Lee’s Place in History.”  Q. Salter was to talk on “Lee as a Model Citizen.” “The school will render several concert songs applicable to the occasion,” The Monroe Journal reported.

Jan. 18, 1915 – Charles Henderson of Troy was inaugurated as Alabama’s governor at noon at the state capitol in Montgomery, succeeding Emmet O’Neil of Florence. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John C. Anderson of the State Supreme Court.

Jan. 18, 1915 – On this Monday, the Conecuh County (Ala.) Circuit Court convened. A number of cases on the civil docket were heard with the criminal docket to be taken up the following week.

Jan. 18, 1915 - L.M. Sawyer assumed the duties of Monroe County, Ala. Sheriff on this Monday. Claude Kilpatrick and J.W. Urquhart were members of his official staff.

Jan. 18, 1915 – A.A. Williams began his term as Conecuh County, Ala. Sheriff, succeeding E.C. Hines. Williams named Conrad Davis as his chief deputy, replacing former Chief Deputy R.G. Kendall.

Jan. 18, 1929 – Evergreen High School’s boys basketball team beat Georgiana, 39-13.

Jan. 18, 1936 - Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and daughter, Nelle Harper, spent this Saturday in Mobile, Ala., according to The Monroe Journal.

Jan. 18, 1951 – Beatrice, Ala. native Butch Avinger was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jan. 18, 1951 – Fred Cone of Pine Apple became the 27^th overall pick in the 1951 NFL Draft when he was selected in the third round by the Green Bay Packers. Cone played fullback and placekicker for the Packers, and on Sept. 29, 1957 he actually played in the first ever game at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, a 21-17 win over their rivals, the Chicago Bears. Cone was one of Green Bay’s best players during his seven seasons with the team, and he was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1973.

Jan. 18, 1951 – Frisco City High School’s boys basketball team beat Uriah, 55-43, on this Friday night in Frisco City, Ala. Standout Frisco City players that season included B.B. Barnes, Jerry Gulsby, Keith King, Charles Pugh and LaRue Rumbley. Evins McGhee led Blacksher with 14 points against FCHS.

Jan. 18, 1971 – George C. Wallace began serving his second term as Alabama’s governor. He would later be re-elected and would remain for a third term that would eventually end on Jan. 15, 1979.

Jan. 18, 1973 – Sturdivant Hall in Selma, Ala. was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

Jan. 18, 1976 - The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, in Super Bowl X. The CBS telecast was viewed by an estimated 80 million people. Excel, Ala. native Lee Roy Jordan started for Dallas at middle linebacker. Jordan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jordan of Excel, was a 13-year NFL veteran at the time.

Jan. 18, 1979 – The Wilcox County Courthouse Historic District in Camden, Ala. was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Jan. 18, 1980 - The Conecuh County Cattlemen and CowBelles were scheduled to hold their annual banquet this on this Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Evergreen, Ala. Gerald and Kathy Salter were presidents of the organizations. The featured speaker was to be Robert Vaughn of Ozark, a highly sought after humorous speaker.

Jan. 18, 1985 - Sparta Academy’s three basketball teams swept three games from Greenville Academy in Greenville, according to Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr. In the boys varsity game, Al Etheridge pumped in 30 points to lead the Warriors to a 84-57 rout. Jim Wagstaff had 17 points; Jim Marino, nine; Danny Reed, Tim Brantley and Mark Rigsby, six each; Jason West, four; Scott Salter, three; and Chris Vonderau, two points. Sparta’s girls won, 59-39. Tracy Holmes had 17 points; Carol Kendrick, 10; Tina Bybee, nine; Kim Searcy, 10; Susan Ward, seven; Ray Ann Gall, four; Lynn Williams and Abigail Maddox, two each; and Angela Sellers, one. The Sparta junior varsity boys won, 42-33. Dean Peavey had 14 points; Brad Watts, seven; Ken Wagstaff, six; Jeff Carrier and Lee Wild, four each; Chris Weaver, Craig Blackburn and Matthew Ansley, two each; and Richard Melton, one.

Jan. 18, 1991 – On this Friday night, Sparta Academy’s varsity boys basketball team defeated Jackson Academy, 88-66. Leading scorers were Tim Salter, 31 points; Wayne Cook, 18; Steven Gall, 17; Scott Brown, 12; and Mark Watts had 11 points.

Jan. 18, 1994 – Conecuh County Probate Judge Rogene Booker administered the oath of office to newly appointed Evergreen Police Chief Thomas Booker at Evergreen City Hall in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 18-19, 1994 – On both of these days, weather reporter Harry Ellis reported low temperatures of 16 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 18, 1996 - J.F. Shields High School’s varsity boys basketball team earned a share of first place in the 2A, Area 2 race on this Thursday in Beatrice when the team upended Excel High School, 64-58. Alfred Hale scored 15 points to lead Shields’ offense. Stephen Pharr scored 16 points to lead Excel. Other standout Shields players in that game included Derek Booker and Damien Payne. Standout Excel players included Shane Moore, Mark Moore, Stacey McPhaul and Chris Lint.

Jan. 18, 2001 - Special Education Coordinator for Conecuh County Schools, Harriet Hubbard, was awarded the Margaret Vann Award for Outstanding Special Education Coordinator in the State of Alabama in Birmingham during the Alabama Federation Council for Exceptional Children Super Conference 2001. Since Hubbard’s employment with Conecuh County Schools in 1997, tremendous strides had been taken in the field of special education. Hubbard had written grants totaling over $70,000, which enabled the county to purchase a new and much needed school bus for transporting multi-handicapped students.

Jan. 18, 2006 – Heather Walton, Director of Conecuh County E911-EMA received the Advanced Level Emergency Manager certification at the 2006 Association of Alabama Emergency Managers Mid-Year Conference in Birmingham.

Jan. 18, 2010 – Anne Crook Hines Farish passed away in Monroeville, Ala. at the age of 83. She was Monroeville’s first female council member and served as Monroeville’s mayor for 16 years.

Jan. 18, 2015 – Around 6 p.m. in Alabaster in Shelby County, Ala., a UFO witness was on his back patio when he saw two star-like objects. The witness watched these objects for about five minutes before they flew off to the north and faded from sight. The witness said “it was obvious it was not an aircraft, star, satellite, etc.”