Today in History for Jan. 12, 2019

Jan. 12, 1856 – James W. Roper, the original owner and builder of Oakleigh Mansion in Mobile, passed away on this day at the age of 55 (or possibly 54). He was buried in the Church Street Cemetery in Mobile.

Jan. 12, 1861 - Barrancas Barracks, Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee and the Navy yard located at Pensacola, Fla. were seized by Florida state troops. The surrender of Fort Pickens was demanded by Florida state troops after the above facilities are occupied, but was refused.

Jan. 12, 1885 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Monroe County Commission had awarded the contract for repairing the Monroe County Jail to low bidder Hillary Hudson. Hudson bid $1,189 to repair the jail, which had recently burned in Monroeville, Ala.

Jan. 12, 1918 - Prof. J.B. Sellers of the McWilliams public school was visited Camden on this Saturday.

Jan. 12, 1921 - Alabama author Aubrey Carney was born in Dayton, Ohio.

Jan. 12, 1921 – The Evergreen Courant reported that during a recent meeting of Camp Capt. William Lee, United Confederate Veterans, the following officers were elected: J.T. Fincher, commander; Jas. Alexander, Lt. Com.; Geo. W. Northcutt, adjutant; and W.J. Tomlinson, ensign. W.L. Stallworth was elected chaplain to fill vacancy caused by the death of Rev. D.J. Wright.

Jan. 12, 1921 – The Evergreen Courant reported that “an airplane was with us again last week for several days, but airplanes are coming to be so common about Evergreen that folk have ceased to suspend business as they formerly did and run out to see them.”

Jan. 12, 1922 - Mrs. Oscar Green was fatally burned at her home at McCullough on this Thursday and died from her injuries the next day, Jan. 13. Mrs. Green was a daughter of Mr. Wiley Sawyer of Jones Mill and a sister of Mr. L.M. Sawyer of Monroeville. The funeral took place at Shiloh cemetery on Sat., Jan. 14.

Jan. 12, 1932 – Ida Virginia Smith Wright, 71, of Evergreen, a “widely known and greatly beloved lady,” passed away from influenza. Born on May 31, 1859 at Fredonia in Chambers County, Ala., she was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Jan. 12, 1932 – Despite stormy weather, a good crowd was on hand to see members of Future Farmers of America from the State Secondary Agricultural School in Evergreen, Ala. present, in court form, the “Trial of the Soil Robber” at the school at Mt. Union.

Jan. 12, 1933 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from Uriah, that on Jan. 3, J.U. Blacksher High School organized its student body, and the following officers were elected: President, Lawrence Quimby; Vice President, Keith Ferrell; Secretary, Mary Scott; Reporter, Fred Hayles. Coach Booker also planned to present 14 football lettermen their letters the latter part of the week, and the boys at the school were planning to have a successful baseball team that season.

Jan. 12, 1933 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Barrett lumber mill of Beatrice had been purchased by McDuffie Stallworth and T.T. Ivey had become manager of the same. Ivey was a well-known mill man and it was expected larger plans and larger operations would be put into effect at the mill.

Jan. 12, 1933 – The Monroe Journal reported that Rebecca “Becky” Boyles Riley, a longtime resident of Beatrice, died during the previous week at Mobile at the home of her daughter, Willie Maye Riley Kilpatrick. The body was brought back to Beatrice for funeral services and burial in the Pineville cemetery. A large number of friends attended the occasion. Riley married Wilkins Welman Riley on Dec. 15, 1878 in Monroe County, Ala.

Jan. 12, 1938 – In Conecuh County, Ala., Brooklyn’s boys basketball team beat Evergreen High School, 17-14.

Jan. 12, 1939 - William Lee Golden was born in Brewton, Ala. He would go on to sing baritone in the country music group The Oak Ridge Boys. Golden is widely known for his waist-length beard and hair, and has become one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry.

  

Jan. 12, 1951 - Annie Lola Price of Cullman became the first woman to serve on the Alabama Court of Appeals when she was appointed to the court by Gov. Jim Folsom. The appointment was especially significant because state law at the time prevented women from serving on juries. In 1952, Price was elected to the three-person court and served the state as an appeals judge until her death in 1972.

Jan. 12, 1951 - Harper’s Furniture Co. was scheduled to hold its grand opening on this Friday morning at nine o’clock, according to an announcement made by Coy L. Harper, owner of the new home furnishing establishment. The store succeeded Travis Furniture Co. and was to be located at the same location in the Moorer Building. It was also announced that J.O. (Joe) Brooks would be with this new firm as manager and outside contact man.

  

Jan. 12, 1960 – Lyeffion High School’s boys basketball team, under head coach Dale Brown, beat Repton High School, 51-37, at Lyeffion, Ala. Willard Walls scored 15 points, and Larry Pate 12 to lead Lyeffion. Also scoring for Lyeffion were Joe Morrison, nine; Harley Hamrac, six; Jimmy Jones and Mac McInnis, four each; and William Carter, one. Raybon Nall scored nine to lead Repton. Benny Bell had eight; George Dees, seven; Wayne Baggett, four; and McCoy Baggett, one.

Jan. 12, 1961 – The Monroe Journal reported that Frisco City High School’s football team had elected permanent captains for the coming football season. Jimmy Weatherford was selected as captain. W.D. Vice and James Evans were elected to serve as co-captains.

Jan. 12, 1962 – The Evergreen City School held an open house from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to give the public the chance to tour the school’s new addition, which was to be used for first, second and third grade classrooms, according to Principal Marcus O’Gwynn.

Jan. 12-13, 1962 - The Conecuh County (Ala.) Basketball Tournament was scheduled to be played.

   

Jan. 12-13, 1980 – Edgar Tatum and his championship white and liver pointer, “Bob,” won first place in the Northwest Florida Pointer and Setter Club’s Field Trials held in Munson, Fla. “Bob” was braced against 45 other dogs and had four perfect finds in winning first place.

Jan. 12, 2006 J.U. Blacksher defeated Millry for the second time in two weeks on this Thursday in Uriah, posting a 78-48 win over the Wildcats. Four Bulldogs scored in double figures with Tevin McClain and Kendrick Graves leading the effort with 17 points each. McClain also dominated the boards, grabbing 14 rebounds. Graves got six rebounds and converted four of five free-throw attempts. Other top Blacksher players in that game included Colton Bowen, Tervois Graves, Derrick Jenkins, Rowdy Manning, Isaac Nichols and Darius Parker.

Jan. 12, 2012 - An Alabama judge declared Natalee Holloway of Mountain Brook legally dead in absentia. She disappeared during a high school graduation trip to Aruba on May 30, 2005.

Jan. 12, 2013 – Former Major League Baseball pitcher Charles “Bubba” Harris, a native of Sulligent, Ala., passed away at the age of 86 in Nobleton, Fla. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians.