Today in History for Jan. 15, 2019

Jan. 15, 1814 – Lt. Joseph Morgan Wilcox engaged in a heroic fight with a Creek war party and was tomakawked and scalped on the banks of the Alabama River where it flows between Canton and Prairie Bluff. He was initially buried at Fort Claiborne in Monroe County, but, according to some sources, was later reburied in Camden in Wilcox County.

Jan. 15, 1825 – John Watkins became Burnt Corn, Alabama’s postmaster.

Jan. 15-18, 1861 – Lt. Adam J. Slemmer at Fort Pickens refused demands for surrender from Florida militia Colonel William Henry Chase, who had designed and constructed the fort while a captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Also on that day, Fort Pike, near present-day Slidell, La., was seized by Louisiana State Troops.

Jan. 15, 1867 – New Burial Ground cemetery in Mobile, Ala., which included Jewish Rest, Confederate Rest and the Mobile National Cemetery annex, was renamed Magnolia Cemetery.

Jan. 15, 1879 - The Alabama State Bar Association held its organizational meeting in the State Capitol with former Gov. Thomas H. Watts presiding. During its first year, 81 lawyers were admitted for membership.

Jan. 15, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Escambia High School of Pollard, Ala. began its second session on Jan. 4. with “flattering prospects.” Mrs. Louise D. Holmes was principal.

Jan. 15, 1896 – Former Monroe County Tax Collector and Monroeville merchant Luther R. Wiggins passed away at the age of 70 at the home of his son, Dr. J.M. Wiggins, on this Wednesday evening, “surrounded by his devoted family.” According to The Monroe Journal, “Mr. Luther Wiggins was one of Monroe’s oldest and most useful citizens and his demise will be universally mourned.” Wiggins was born near Monroeville on March 19, 1825.

Jan. 15, 1896 - A.C. Lambert of Manistee visited Monroeville, Ala. on this Wednesday and renewed his subscription to The Monroe Journal.

Jan. 15, 1906 – Braxton Bragg Comer was scheduled to deliver a speech at the Conecuh County (Ala.) Courthouse on this day, which was also “the first day of court, in the interest of his candidacy for governor.”

Jan. 15, 1906 - The regular meeting of Camp Capt. William Lee, United Confederate Veterans, was held on this Monday at 10 a.m. in Evergreen, Ala. At the meeting, Dr. P.M. Bruner was elected commander; Chas. G. Russell, first lieutenant commander; N.T. Dean, second lieutenant commander; N. Stallworth, adjutant; M.A. Gantt, sergeant major. H.M. King, G.R. Boulware, John P. Anderson were elected delegates to the reunion at New Orleans. W.L. Stallworth, Thos. S. Hagood and Jas. C. Travis were elected alternate delegates.

Jan. 15, 1908 - Married at Jones Mill on this Wednesday were Riley Kelly of Excel and Rosalie Nicholas. Rev. H.T. Strout officiated. “The bride is one of Monroe’s most attractive and amiable young women and is the favorite of a large circle of friends,” according to The Monroe Journal. Kelly was a prominent and successful merchant at Excel.

Jan. 15, 1906 - The special term of the circuit court in Conecuh County was scheduled to convene on this Monday at noon. The more important cases on the criminal docket set for trial at this term included the following: The two cases against Jack Thompson, charged with murder, set for trial on Monday, Jan. 22. The two cases against Dave Adams, charged with murder, set for trial on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The cases against Wade Oliver and Mack Knight, each charged with murder, set for trial on Jan. 24. The cases against Crawford Jackson and Henry Smith, each charged with murder, set for trial on Jan. 25.

Jan. 15, 1912 – The First Baptist Church of Frisco City (Ala.) was organized when four Baptist ministers met to organize a new church in the Jones Mill area. The Rev. E.B. Farrar served as the church’s first pastor.

  

Jan. 15, 1923 – A number of Conecuh County public officials took office on this day. Arthur Monroe Barfield began his term in office as Sheriff, and W.S. Dreaden began his term as Circuit Clerk. A.E. Johnson and C.C. Gaston began their terms as county commissioners. Judge Dunn began his second term as probate judge. W.A. Moore of Beat 8 was Barfield’s chief deputy.

Jan. 15, 1931 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Mr. E.G. Stacey of Skinnerton had brought a 14-pound beet to the newspaper office a few days before. This “monster vegetable” had attracted much attention from passersby in the window of The Courant office that week. Stacey said that the soil in this vicinity was capable of producing the best in all crops and he offered his large beet as conclusive evidence.

Jan. 15, 1931 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. G.W. Martin and Misses Octavia and Julia Long of Repton were visitors to Monroeville on the previous Saturday. Martin returned to Alabama early the previous fall after having spent 20 years in Texas as a special agent for the government.

Jan. 15, 1931 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mrs. Woodrow Watson had been visiting her son in Birmingham and was spending a few days with her sister, Mrs. Stewart, in Camden. She was to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Stewart to Montgomery in the Wilcox Motorcade to be present at the Miller inauguration.

Jan. 15, 1938 – Dr. Charles Edward Chapman, 60, a native of Evergreen, passed away at his home in Mobile, Ala. around 6:45 a.m. Chapman had lived in Mobile since 1896 when he entered the Mobile Medical College. After graduation, he continued to live in Mobile, where he practiced medicine. He was a member of Garland Lodge No. 684, A.F.&A.M. in Garland, Ala. Born in Evergreen on March 10, 1878, he was buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile. (Some sources say he died on Jan. 16.)

Jan. 15, 1948 – The theatre at Uriah, Ala. officially opened for business.

Jan. 15, 1951 - John H. Brock succeeded W.D. Lewis as Sheriff of Conecuh County (Ala.) on this Monday. Brock defeated Lewis in a close race in the Democratic Primary in May 1950. Nomination in the primary in Conecuh County was equivalent to election as there was no active Republican organization in the county at that time. Lewis was elected to the office of sheriff in 1946, actually taking office in January 1947. He was a veteran of both World Wars and was commanding officer of the local National Guard Battery “C” when it was mobilized for World War II. He held the rank of major when discharged. Brock was a Navy veteran of World War II. He had farmed and operated a cotton gin in Conecuh County and was for some time a lumberman. He served for some months as a deputy under Lewis.

Jan. 15, 1952 – Beatrice High School’s varsity boys basketball team, led by head coach Hubert Finlayson, improved to 7-3 on the season with a 57-51 win over Evergreen High School.

Jan. 15, 1953 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Conecuh County Training School’s boys basketball team had beaten Monroeville Rosenwald, 70-29; Georgiana, 54-40; and Mobile, 58-7. Leonard Goldsmith led CCTS with 23 points against Monroeville and 21 points against Mobile. Floyd Watts led CCTS with 21 points against Georgiana. CCTS’s girls basketball team, led by Coach Mike Cheatham, lost to Monroeville, 37-32, but had beaten Georgiana, 50-25, and Mobile County Training, 58-7. Clementine Dukes led CCTS with 25 points against Georgiana and 15 points against Mobile.

Jan. 15, 1956 - Following an illness of many months, Mrs. Emma Lavert Dickey, age 75, passed at 12:15 p.m. on this Sunday at her home on Main Street in Evergreen, Ala. Dickey was born and reared in Luverne. Before her marriage to the late G.O. Dickey, she was Miss Emma Lavert Pace, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Pace. G.O. Dickey passed away about four years before the death of Mrs. E.L. Dickey. Mrs. Dickey moved with her husband to Evergreen in 1919 and had lived there up to the time of her death. She had one daughter, Mrs. R.G. Bozeman Sr., who passed away in 1940. She was survived by five grandchildren: Mrs. Marshall Brittain of Evergreen; R.G. Bozeman Jr. of Dadeville; Dickey, Pace and Susan Bozeman, all of Evergreen; two sisters, Mrs. Eunice Rhodes of Montgomery and Mrs. Bessie Rhodes of Birmingham, also four great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held from Cope Chapel at 3 p.m. the following day, conducted by Rev. Sam Granade and Rev. F.H. Ellington. Born on Aug. 24, 1880, she was buried in Evergreen’s Magnolia Cemetery.

Jan. 15, 1957 – Former Alabama All-American defensive tackle Marty Lyons was born in Takoma Park, Md. Selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft, he played his entire 11-year professional career for the NFL's New York Jets. He was a member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange," the team's dominant front four in 1981 and 1982 that also featured Mark Gastineau, Abdul Salaam and Joe Klecko.

Jan. 15, 1962 – Wayne Frazier Day was held in Evergreen, Ala. in honor of 230-pound Auburn University senior center Wayne Frazier, a native of Evergreen, a Scholastic All-American and a member of the SEC scholastic team. Wayne Frazier Day included a special program at Evergreen High School, a parade through downtown Evergreen and a program in “No Man’s Land.” A banquet was also held that night at 7 p.m. at the Evergreen Recreation Center.

Jan. 15, 1969 – Army Spc. Larry Benjamin Thomas, 21, of Atmore, Ala. was killed in action in Quang Ngai, Vietnam. Born on Aug. 6, 1947, he was buried in the Old Town Cemetery in Conecuh County. At the time of his death, he was serving in Battery C, 29th Army, 108th Artillery.

Jan. 15, 1976 - Pam Brown was crowned Miss Lyeffion High School at the annual pageant held at the school on this Thursday night. Rosa Boggs was second runner-up and Diane Pate was first runner-up.

Jan. 15, 1979 – Weather reporter Earl Windham reported a low temperature of 19 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 15, 1980 – Evergreen High School’s varsity boys basketball team improved to 13-1 on the season by beating Greenville High School, 73-51, in Greenville, Ala. Top Evergreen players in that game included Johnny Allen, Russell Bozeman, Joe Mitchell, Sanford Moye, Perona Rankins, Philander Rodgers and Arturo Scott.

  

Jan. 15, 1981 - Installed on this Thursday as officers for 1981 for the Monroe County Rescue Squad were I.W. Williamson, captain; William H. Gibson, communications; Mrs. I.W. Williamson, secretary; Marcus Dean, sergeant; Mrs. Johnnie Rae Byrd, treasurer; James McKinley, second lieutenant; Lewis Lynam Sr., sergeant; D.C. Hutcherson, advisor to the captain; M.J. Beard, first lieutenant; Buddy Enzor, first lieutenant; Wayne Downs, second lieutenant; William L. Welch, communications; and Floyd Till, communications.

Jan. 15, 1981 – The Monroe Journal reported that members of Excel Church of the Nazarene were finishing the outside of a new church building, which was to be dedicated as Excel Enoch Johnson Memorial Church of the Nazarene. Enoch Johnson was the organizer and first pastor of Excel Nazarene Church, which was established in 1926. The church building in 1981, which is located across the street from the church under construction, was built in 1930. The Rev. Comer Johnson was the pastor in 1981 and had been at the church for the previous 18 months. “We’re building the new church as we get the money,” he said. The building began in October 1979, and members were just finishing up the outside.

Jan. 15, 1981 – The Monroe Journal reported that former Monroe Academy football star K.J. Lazenby had decided to enter into business in Slidell, La. and had resigned as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. Lazenby, who had moved to Slidell, planned to work in public relations for a seismographic company in that area. The Monroeville native coached under Paul “Bear” Bryant for several seasons and played at Bama in 1973-1976, making the All-Southeastern team as an offensive lineman one season.

Jan. 15, 1981 – The Monroe Journal announced that single copy and subscription prices for The Monroe Journal would increase soon. The per-copy price was to rise to 30 cents from 25 cents with the Jan. 29 issue, and subscription rates were to go up Feb. 17. The new charges for a year’s subscription in Monroe and adjacent counties would be $12 – up from the present $10. Elsewhere in Alabama, the rate would increase to $14.50 from $12, and the out-of-state rate would be $17 instead of the present $14.

Jan. 15, 1986 - William Thomas Lanier, 89, died on this Wednesday at his residence on Route One, McKenzie. “Mr. Will,” as he was familiarly known, was a member of a prominent, pioneer family and widely known and highly respected. His daughter, Mrs. Ruth Hester, was a published author and Courant columnist. Born on Jan. 7, 1897, he was buried in the Antioch Methodist Church Cemetery in Conecuh County.

  

Jan. 15, 1995 - Southern Alabama began using new area code 334.

Jan. 15, 2001 – Vredenburgh, Ala. native Mike Stewart’s second novel, “Dog Island,” was released for the first time.

  

Jan. 15, 2005 – At the Conecuh County Volunteer Fire Control Association’s Awards Banquet Jeppie Dees was awarded the Lois E. Reeves Award, which was presented by Clayton Cobb, 2004 President. Cobb stated that Dees was very deserving of the award and the Association wanted him to have it. At the 1997 banquet, Dees was awarded the award, but at the time, Dees felt that he was not deserving of this award and in turn gave the award to Sid Lambert.