130-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from Jan. 1886

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of manager Q. Salter, published five editions 130 years ago during the month of January 1886. Those issues, which were dated Jan. 1, Jan. 9, Jan. 15, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29, can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville, Ala. What follows are a few news highlights from those four editions. Enjoy.

JAN. 1, 1886

Justice Court – Will hereafter be held on the second Monday in each month instead of on Saturday, as heretofore. – G.W. Salter, J.P. Beat No. 3.

Brisk & Jacobson have won a name and fame in this section for keeping a fine and well selected stock of clothing made up in the latest styles, which they sell at prices to suite the times.

The Journal and The Greenville Advocate are now clubbed together for the sum of $3 and those subscribing for the two together will be entitled to a chance in The Advocate’s ninth annual drawing, or distribution of presents among its subscribers. Now is the time to subscribe.

Tax Notice – To all tax payers who are yet in arrears with taxes will remember that the first day of January is at hand. The law requires me to make the taxes at once, and I ask the people to come up and settle, or I will be compelled to carry out the law and levy upon and sell their property, which will be adding considerable cost and expense. – T.J. Stevens, T.C.

Nuts of all kinds cheap at the store of Capt. Wiggins.

D.W. DAVIS, Dealer In General Merchandise – TINELA, ALA. – Our Fall and Winter Stock of Dress Goods, Clothing: Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Pocket Cutlery, Cigars, Tobacco – And a full line of notions, just received from New York, and DEFY COMPETITION IN PRICES AND GOODS.

JAN. 9, 1886

The holidays just closed have been the most quiet, and we might add, the dullest, ever experienced in this place, reminding one more of so many Sundays than anything we can compare the to.

A cold wave struck Monroeville Tuesday evening.

Only one prisoner in the county jail.

The Presbyterian church has just been fitted up with new sash and blinds, new lamps and a chandelier with money raised by the lady  members of that church.

Buena Vista Items – A negro boy, Harry Thomas, secreted himself in Mr. M.V. Middleton’s store on Thursday night, the 31^st ult., and while the clerk was at supper, he took $7.50 from the cash drawer and made his escape through a window. He was arrested the next day, confessed the theft, was tried before Justice Burns, who fined him $17 and costs. He was hired by Mr. Burns and very unceremoniously took his departure that night and at last accounts had not been heard from.

County Court – Convened last Monday. There were only two cases on the docket and they were both continued.

Col. D.R. McMillan of Columbiana, Shelby County, spent several days with his many friends at Monroeville last week.

Cotton has about ceased to come into town.

Mr. J.H. Moore of Claiborne was in Monroeville this week.

JAN. 15, 1886

The cold wave is still upon us. Fire wood finds a ready sale in Monroeville since the cold wave struck it. The weather has been so exceedingly cold for several days that “Skip” has laid aside his musical horn.

Several Turks were in town Saturday and amused the boys and negroes by “makes te b’ar dance.”

Commissioners court will be held on the second Monday in February.

Mr. C.C. Yarbrough has purchased the house and lot opposite Mr. F. Metts’ dwelling and will open a wood and blacksmith shop in a short time.

Mr. T.J. Emmons has already added a grist mill to his new steam gin near town, and will soon add a saw also.

To the Members of the Monroe County Medical Society – The members decided during our last meeting in November last to hold our meetings in the future quarterly. First meeting, first Monday in February; second meeting, Wednesday of first week of spring term of circuit court; third meeting, first Monday in August; fourth meeting, Wednesday of first week of fall term of circuit court. A full attendance is desired. – W.W. McMillan, president; per, J.T. Packer, secretary.

The Escambia High School of Pollard began its second session on the 4^th inst. with flattering prospects. Mrs. Louise D. Holmes is principal and comes highly recommended.

JAN. 22, 1886

Horribly Burned – On Monday morning last 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. As long as people leave little children alone in rooms where fires are burning just so long will the newspapers of the country be called upon to chronicle such horrors as the above. – Pine Apple Enterprise.

Clarke County Democrat – Some time last month, Dr. Lee and Percy Driesbach, living near the mouth of Little River, captured an alligator nine and one-half feet in length. It was in a torpid state and entirely harmless. We understand they intend sending it to the New Orleans Exposition.

WILCOX COUNTY: Pine Apple Enterprise: The men with the trained bears were in town yesterday and drew a bigger crowd than a Sunday School convention would have done.

PHOTOGRAPHIC: I will take pictures at Perdue Hill on each Saturday in every week until March the first. Those desiring work can call on me there. Respectfully, W.T. Floyd.

JAN. 29, 1886

Mr. W.G. McCorvey brought to this office last Wednesday morning, a bullet taken from the centre of the trunk of a hickory tree measuring five feet in diameter. It had, doubtless, been there a hundred years or more, probably fired at a blood-thirsty Indian by some bold adventurer who had trespassed upon the hunting grounds of the Red Men of the Forest, who laid claim to this, then, wild and uninhabited region.

Drowned – A negro man was drowned at Hanter’s Mill, this county, last week, while floating saw logs into an aqueduct or canal made to convey them to the mill.

Frozen – Messrs. Wm. Smith, T.B. Baily and several others living on Flat Creek, while looking after some beaver traps last week, found the carcass of a catfish measuring four feet and two inches in length, and 13-1/2 inches across the head. The fish had swam out while the banks of the creek were overflowed, and when the water receded it was too shallow for the fish to return to the creek, it was frozen and died.

The severe cold and rainy weather prevented many from attending church last Sunday.

Singular Freak of Nature – In looking over the little museum of curiosities accumulated by Capt. W.S. Wiggins, our attention was attracted by a forked ear of corn. It has three distinct and perfectly developed prongs all growing from one stem. They were all filled out with well matured corn and were all three encased in one husk. The above monstrosity was grown by Capt. T.M. Riley of Riley, post office, this county.