Today in History for Jan. 2, 2019

Location of Cameron, Texas.

Jan. 2, 1805 – The Rev. Thomas Sydenham Witherspoon was born. He would go on to serve as one of the early pastors at Greensboro Presbyterian Church. He passed away on Oct. 19, 1845 and was also buried in Stokes Cemetery in Greensboro, Ala.

Jan. 2, 1832 - Benjamin Faneuil Porter was commissioned the Judge of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Ala. by Gov. John Gayle. A native of South Carolina and also a doctor, he lived in Claiborne for about six years, before becoming a state legislator, judge and Mayor of Greenville. In 1832, he was elected to the legislature from Monroe County, the first of three successive sessions.

  

Jan. 2, 1896 – In this day’s issue of The Monroe Journal, publisher Q. Salter reported that “With this issue, The Journal enters upon the 29^th year of its existence. The proprietor is profoundly grateful to the public for past liberal support and encouragement and hopes to merit a continuation of the same.”

Jan. 2, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Jeff and Fate Salter, two young white men wanted in Conecuh County for various offenses, and under indictment for the murder and robbery of Silas Hobley, a black mail carrier, near Belleville some months before, had been captured in Cameron, Texas.

Jan. 2, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that the “little son” of Uriah Crawford, living near Burnt Corn, had recently killed eight quail on the wing, with a single shot.

Jan. 2, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Julius Wiggins, who had lived in Texas for several years, had returned with his family to reside with his wife’s father, Capt. C.R. Broughton, to care for the “old gentleman in his declining years.”

Jan. 2, 1901 – The Evergreen Courant reported that “China” was the name of a new post office recently established in that community with J.E. Witherington, postmaster.

Jan. 2, 1901 – The Evergreen Courant reported that The People’s Bank of Conecuh County was now open and ready for business with C.P. Deming as president, W.B. Ivey as vice president and Arthur Cunningham as cashier. Before this, Conecuh County had had but one bank, which had been known as the Bank of Evergreen, and this institution had changed hands.

Jan. 2, 1901 – The Evergreen Courant reported that, during the holidays, “little Waddy McCreary was painfully wounded by the discharge of a 22-calibre flobert rifle. The ball took effect in his foot, producing a very painful wound. The physicians were unable to remove the ball.”

  

Jan. 2, 1905 – A dwelling belonging to J.M. Grimes on his plantation at Manistee, Ala. burned down and arson was suspected.

  

Jan. 2, 1913 – Norman A. Staples, owner of the ill-fated steamboat James T. Staples, committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a shotgun. He was buried in the (supposedly haunted) Bladon Springs Cemetery in Choctaw County.

Jan. 2, 1913 – Camp Capt. William Lee, United Confederate Veterans, met at the Conecuh County Courthouse in Evergreen, Ala., and the old officers were reelected for the ensuing year - G.R. Boulware, commander; J.T. Fincher, lieutenant commander; J.A. Jones, adjutant; M.B. Salter, sergeant major; and J.D. Wright, chaplain. Dr. Skinner was elected surgeon of the camp. Wm. J. Tomlinson, J.T. Fincher and J.W. Cook were elected as delegates to the national reunion at Chattanooga next June. The Conecuh Record reported that “there is said to be only about 100 Confederate veterans in this county at the present time, and the ranks are thinning rapidly.”

Jan. 2, 1916 – A “Sacred Harp” singing convention was scheduled to be held on this Sunday in Goodway, Ala. All “singing people of Monroe County” were cordially welcomed.

Jan. 2, 1918 – During World War I, Army Cpl. John D. Chapman of Grove Hill, Ala. “died from disease.”

Jan. 2, 1918 – The Evergreen Courant reported that John Burt killed a wild cat while hunting in Murder Creek swamp “a few days ago.”

Jan. 2, 1918 – William Tomlinson died at his winter home on the Young place at 6 a.m. of pneumonia. Tomlinson left two sons to mourn his death. One son had enlisted in the United States army; and another son, William Tomlinson Jr., was with his father at the time of his death. Tomlinson’s wife and two daughters lived at Dover, Delaware. His body was shipped to Dover. Tomlinson had spent the past five winters in Gees Bend and had made many friends. 

Jan. 2, 1926 - The death of W.D. Bailey on this Saturday afternoon about two o’clock at the Simmons House brought sadness to the hearts of many citizens of Evergreen. Deceased had been confined to the fresh air camp at Montgomery for some time and had been discharged just a short while before Christmas.

Jan. 2, 1929 – The Monroeville Methodist Church building, located on the southeast corner of the square where Lee Motor Company is now, burned down.

  

Jan. 2, 1930 – The Evergreen Courant reported that farmer J.H. Ryland of Rt. E, Repton, recorded 151 rainy days on his farm during 1929. It also snowed on one day and sleeted on two others. September led with 19 rainy days; October and December had the fewest with only eight each. The record by months was as follows: January, 13; February, 13; March, 10; April, 12; May, 15; June, 15; July, 10; August, 12; September, 19; October, eight; November, 16; December, eight rain, one snow. Ryland kept no record of the amount of rainfall in inches.

Jan. 2, 1931 - The Physical Education Club and Senior Home Economics Department at Excel High School hosted a banquet for the school’s football players at the school on this Friday night. “The guests were led to the auditorium where games and contests were held,” The Monroe Journal reported. “The dining room was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Each of the boys was asked to make and three best ‘side-liners,’ Aletta Knight, Mattie Dee Faircloth and Minnie L. Mann gave their ideas of football boys.”

Jan. 2, 1931 – Two prisoners – Reed and Hendrix of Pensacola, escaped from the Monroe County Jail early on this Friday morning. “They are alleged to have made a key which fitted all doors between their cells and the street,” The Monroe Journal reported. The prisoners remained at large at of Jan. 8, 1931.

Jan. 2, 1941 – Future Conecuh County (Ala.) Sheriff Edwin L. Booker was born at Booker’s Mill to James Miller Booker and Ruth Grandeeze McPherson Booker. He would go on to be elected Conecuh County Sheriff in 1975 and would serve as sheriff for 28 total years.

Jan. 2, 1944 - The State of Alabama granted Hunt Oil Company a permit to drill the “First Oil Well in Alabama,” the A.R. Jackson Well No. 1 near Gilbertown in Choctaw County. Drilling commenced on Jan. 10, 1944 and was completed approximately one month later. The discovery of this well led to the creation of the State Oil and Gas Board of Alabama in 1945, and to the development and growth of the petroleum industry in the state. Alabama's major oil- and gas-producing regions are located in the western part of the state, along with a coalbed methane region underlying substantial portions of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties.

Jan. 2, 1956 – James Richard Merritt, 23, of Cincinnati, Ohio and three companions allegedly robbed the London Store near Castleberry, Ala. In all, they got $200 and Merritt would eventually be arrested. He would escape from the Conecuh County Jail on May 22.

  

Jan. 2, 1965 – The Southern Christian Leadership Conference held its first mass meeting in Selma, Ala. at Brown Chapel, the church that would become the headquarters for the Selma movement.

Jan. 2, 1975 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Chris Booker of Belleville, a 220-pound offensive guard and defensive end at Monroe Academy, had signed a four-year football grant-in-aid to Troy State University. He was a three-year starter for the Vols who during that time won two state championships and were runners-up the other year. Chris Booker was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Booker of Belleville, and Booker was recruited for Troy by Jim Thompkins, offensive line coach, who indicated that Chris would be playing on the offensive line.

Jan. 2-3, 2008 - Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported lows of 18 degrees on both of these days.

Jan. 2-3, 2008 - Travelers moving through Evergreen saw a rare sight on this Wednesday and Thursday when the fountains in downtown Evergreen froze as temperatures dipped into the teens in Conecuh County. According to longtime local weather watcher Harry Ellis of Evergreen, lows on both days reached 18 degrees.