Today in History for Jan. 11, 2019

Mary McNeil Fenollosa

Jan. 11, 1861 – At the Alabama Secession Convention, 61 representatives voted for immediate secession and 39 voted against, and Alabama became the fourth state to secede from the Union. Alabama had a much closer vote than other states, due to strong Unionist sentiment in the northern part of the state. The vote resulted in the passage of an Ordinance of Secession that declared Alabama a “Sovereign and Independent State.”

Jan. 11, 1861 - Pinckney D. Bowles first entered Confederate service on this day as a first lieutenant at Sparta in Conecuh County, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1862 - Alabama author Martha Young was born on her family's plantation near Newbern, in Hale County, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1863 – The Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama encountered and sunk the USS Hatteras off Galveston Lighthouse, off the coast of Galveston, Texas.

Jan. 11, 1864 – Gillchrist R. Boulware of the Conecuh Guards began working for the Confederate Secret Service Department and served with them until the end of the war in 1865. Boulware was born near Brooklyn on Aug. 15, 1842 and first entered Confederate service as a private at Sparta on April 1, 1861 with Co. E of the 4th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

Jan. 11, 1875 – William R. Sawyer named postmaster at Burnt Corn, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1888 - Alabama journalist Grover C. Hall was born in Heleburg, in Henry County, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1894 – The Crimson White student newspaper was established at the University of Alabama.

  

Jan. 11, 1903 – Former Union General Samuel Thomas, after whom Thomasville, Ala. takes its name, died at the age of 62 in New York and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York. After the Civil War, he became a railroad financier, and Thomasville, Ala. was named in his honor. He also donated $500 toward the construction of Thomasville’s first school. Born on April 27, 1840 in South Point, Lawrence County, Ohio, Thomas enlisted in July 1861 as a second lieutenant in the 27^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was rapidly promoted to captain, major, lieutenant colonel and colonel before being brevetted a brigadier general. He was engaged mostly in the south and west during the Civil War, including at the Battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Chattanooga and Vicksburg. He was in the rear with the reserve forces during Sherman's "March to the Sea." He was an Adjutant General on the staff of O.O. Howard until January 1867 when he was mustered out of the army. After the war, Thomas entered the industrial sector, first as a pig iron manufacturer and then in the coal mining business. He achieved greatest success as a manager of railroads later in his life.

Jan. 11, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that W.H. Tucker, “the obliging postmaster and merchant at Jones Mill,” had visited The Journal’s offices while in Monroeville last week.

Jan. 11, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that efforts were underway to establish a rural, free delivery mail from Snider’s Station on the Manistee & Repton Railroad to serve an “extensive circuit” in the vicinity of Jones Mill.

Jan. 11, 1906 – The Monroe Journal reported that L.W. Locklin of Perdue Hill had visited the newspaper office during the past week to announce that he had started a mercantile business, a firm that was incorporated under the name of The Claiborne Mercantile Co. Locklin expected to do a “general mercantile and advancing business.”

Jan. 11, 1906 – In this day’s edition of The Monroe Journal, editor and publisher Q. Salter put out a call, seeking correspondents from throughout the county. Salter sought a “correspondent at each post office in the county to report promptly and briefly the local happening in their respective communities.”

Jan. 11, 1906 – Eugene E. Henderson, who was about 40 years old, died at his home near Drewry on this Thursday night after an illness of about two weeks with pneumonia. “Henderson was an energetic and prosperous farmer and businessman and was generally esteemed for his many noble characteristics,” according to The Monroe Journal. “He leaves a wife and five or six children to whom we extend sympathy.”

Jan. 11, 1908 – On this Saturday morning, fire was discovered in the residence of T.A. Waller in Conecuh County, Ala. The household goods were saved, but the building was a total loss. The origin of the fire was unknown.

Jan. 11, 1916 – Prof. Dannelly of Montgomery visited Evergreen, Ala. on this Tuesday.

Jan. 11, 1916 – A state bond election was held and “passed off quietly” in Conecuh County, with cold weather keeping a “good many” voters from the polls, according to The Conecuh Record. The newspaper reported that the state bond issue was defeated with 384 voters in Conecuh voting in favor of the measure and 367 voting against.

Jan. 11, 1916 - V.J. Reinke, proprietor of the Claiborne Ranch, visited Monroeville on this Tuesday, accompanied by his farm manager, George Seaback. Reinke to The Monroe Journal that he “expects to locate a colony of some 50 Polish families on his extensive property in the vicinity of Perdue Hill.”

  

Jan. 11, 1918 - Earnest J. Baggette, 53, died on this Friday around 8:30 a.m. at his family home at No. 424 South Hull St. in Montgomery following a brief illness. He had been a resident of Montgomery for the previous few years and was held in the highest esteem. Baggette was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias and a number of other prominent fraternal orders. Funeral services were to be conducted from the home on South Hull Street the following Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. S.W. Williams of the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church officiating. Interment followed in the Greenwood Cemetery. Modern Woodmen of America were to conduct services at the grave. Baggette formerly lived in Wilcox County in Pine Hill. He was an esteemed citizen and many friends in Wilcox County regretted to learn of his death.

Jan. 11, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Andrew E. Snow of Uriah, Ala. “died from disease” at the age of 22 at Fort Logan H. Roots, Ark. Born on Aug. 19, 1896 to Andrew James and Nancy Cumbie Snow, he is buried at Poplar Springs Cemetery near Uriah.

  

Jan. 11, 1924 - Alabama author H. E. Francis was born in Bristol, R.I.

Jan. 11, 1931 – Mrs. G.O. Dickey returned to Evergreen on this Sunday after spending the previous two weeks in Luverne on account of the illness of her father, Mr. R.R. Pace.

Jan. 11, 1931 – James Finch McKinley, 12-year-old son of Dr. and Mrs. C.F. McKinley of Atmore, died at his home on this Sunday morning, following a brief illness. His sudden death was a shock to the community for his illness was not considered serious, according to The Monroe Journal. His passing leaves a sorrow in the hearts of many for “Jim Boy,” as he was called by his many friends, had already shown a capacity for real leadership and was loved by all with whom he came in contact.

Jan. 11, 1933 - The dead body of an unidentified black man was found early on this Wednesday morning near the railroad two miles north of the Wilcox community in Conecuh County by J.C. Barron, L&N Supervisor. Barron reported the matter to Sheriff J.G. Moore, who formed a coroner’s jury to investigate. The jury reported that the man came to his death from causes unknown. According to reports, the body was so badly decomposed that it was beyond identification. Apparently, the man was a large man wearing about a size No. 12 shoe. He had on a practically brand new pair of overalls and a brown coat. Those who went to the scene and saw the body were of the opinion that the man was killed by a southbound train, but the jury could not render a verdict to that effect with the evidence at hand.

  

Jan. 11, 1941 - Zack T. Jones, 72, died at his home in Brooklyn, Ala. on this Saturday morning. He was a member of the Brooklyn Masonic Lodge and a lifelong resident of Conecuh. Born in 1869, he was buried in the Garwin Cemetery at Loango in Covington County, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1952 – Beatrice High School’s varsity boys basketball team, led by head coach Hubert Finlayson, improved to 6-3 on the season with a 61-43 win over J.U. Blacksher. Dale Brown led Beatrice with 22 points, and Bob Grissette led Blacksher with 15 points.

Jan. 11, 1954 - Alabama author Mary McNeil Fenollosa, who was born in Wilcox County, died in Montrose, Ala.

   

Jan. 11, 1964 – Monroe Journal employee Bruce Allen White passed away from a heart attack at the age of 39. A Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was critically wounded in World War II and was cited for gallantry in action on Saipan in June 1944, he began working as a printer’s apprentice at The Journal in 1946. He went on to become an accomplished pressman and later the main make up man for the newspaper. Most of the ads that appeared in The Journal from 1955 through 1963 were his handiwork. The Monroe Journal’s 1966 Centennial Edition was dedicated in his memory. Born on Aug. 8, 1924, he was buried in the Excel Cemetery in Excel, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1964 – Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Luther Terry of Red Level, Ala. published the landmark report “Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General of the United States,” saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking national and worldwide anti-smoking efforts.

  

Jan. 11, 1968 – Estelle Bryant Cobb of Evergreen, Ala. celebrated her 102nd birthday. Cobb married the Dr. William Foster Cobb in 1895 in Barlow Bend. They lived there until they moved to Frisco City in 1916. Dr. Cobb practiced medicine in Clarke and Monroe counties for 50 years. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and graduated from Alabama Conference Female College (now Huntingdon College, Montgomery) in 1888 when it was located at Tuskegee.

Jan. 11, 1972 – Gene Tuney Mixon, 44, of Old Texas killed a 247-pound buck with an “unbelievable 39-point rack,” shoot the deer in north Monroe County. Others say that the deer was killed in Wilcox County. Mixon was born on Sept. 27, 1927 and passed away on Jan. 16, 2005. He was buried in the Asbury Methodist Church Cemetery in Conecuh County.

  

Jan. 11, 1977 – Former Alabama split end Shamari Buchanan was born in Atlanta, Ga.

Jan. 11, 1979 – Evergreen, Ala. native Naomi Rabb Winston, who is said to have designed the Great Seal of Alabama, died at the age of 84 in Virginia City Beach, Va. Born in Evergreen on April 17, 1894, she went on to study at the Art Students League in New York City and painted many oil paintings. She is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Franklinton, N.C.

Jan. 11, 1980 - State Trooper Major James L. Fuqua was the featured speaker at a banquet honoring Taylor Davis on the occasion of his retirement after 35 years of service with the Troopers. The banquet was held on this Friday night at the Holiday Inn in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1980 – Weather observer Earl Windham reported 1.00 inches of rain in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 11, 1980  - Hugh M. Brown, director of Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Brewton, was elected to the Alabama Rural Electric Association (AREA) board of directors at the association’s 33^rd annual meeting in Montgomery. Brown was to serve on AREA’s General Affairs Committee. Brown became a board member of Southern Pine Co-op in 1958 and had served as president, secretary-treasurer and vice-president of the board, and was also president of AREA in 1970-71. He was a member of the Olive Branch Baptist Church and had served as president of the Conecuh County Farm Bureau in the past and president of the Conecuh County Exchange for the past three years.

Jan. 11, 1983 – Sparta Academy’s varsity boys basketball team beat Fort Dale, 63-61, in Evergreen, Ala. Sparta’s girls beat Fort Dale, 40-32. Russ Brown led Sparta’s boys with 23 points, and Cheri Johnson led Sparta’s girls with 16 points.

Jan. 11, 1983 - The Repton Town Council appointed the town’s first black councilman during its regular meeting on this Tuesday night. Town Clerk Mrs. Billy Mims reported that Sam Nicholson, an employee of Vanity Fair Mills, had been appointed to serve the unexpired term of Ronnie Williams, who moved out of town. Nicholson was the first black to serve on the council, according to Mrs. Mims.

  

Jan. 11, 1996 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Hillcrest High School’s Kelvin Rudolph and Ryan Meeks were both named to all-state football honors this past season. Rudolph was named to the first team in the sports writers poll and honorable mention in The Birmingham News, and Ryan was named to honorable mention by the sports writers poll and Birmingham News. Meeks was the brother of former Denver Bronco’s player and Evergreen native Bob Meeks.

  

Jan. 11, 2010 – Weather observer Harry Ellis reported a low of 11 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 11, 2012 - Jordan van der Sloot, a longtime suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway in Aruba, pleaded guilty to the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores, in Lima, Peru. Flores was killed on May 30, 2010, exactly five years to the day after Holloway went missing while on a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean island.