Today in History for Jan. 9, 2019

Alabama Gov. Braxton Bragg Comer

Jan. 9, 1829 – Confederate officer William Joel Lee born in Conecuh County.

  

Jan. 9, 1836 – The Alabama State Legislature created Cherokee County, DeKalb County and Marshall County. Cherokee County was named for the Cherokee Indians who controlled the territory until the early 19th Century. DeKalb County was named for the Revolutionary War hero, General John B. DeKalb. Marshall County was named in honor of John Marshall, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835. The new counties were created from Cherokee land acquired in the 1835 Treaty of New Echota, which ceded all Cherokee Nation land east of the Mississippi and stated that the Cherokees would remove in two years.

Jan. 9, 1836 – Cherokee County, Ala. was created by act of the state general assembly. Bounded on the northwest by DeKalb County, on the east by Georgia, on the south by Calhoun County and Cleburne County, and on the west by Etowah County. The name, that of a powerful Iroquoian tribe, is probably derived from Creek “Tciloki” or “Chilokeee” ‘people of a different speech.’ The first county seat was Cedar Bluff, until 1844, when the present one, Centre, was chosen.

Jan. 9, 1836 – Former Claiborne, Ala. residents William Barrett Travis (commander of the ill-fated Alamo) and Rosanna Cato Travis were officially divorced by the Marion County, Ala. courts by Act No. 115.

Jan. 9, 1882 – Joseph Tarpley Peacock (Lewis Lavon Peacock’s father) was elected constable of Beat 12 (Red Level), a position he’d already been appointed to in November 1881 to fill a vacancy. His stepson William T. South and his neighbor John C. Gomillion were his securities for a $1,000 bond, and he took the constable’s oath of office on this same day.

Jan. 9, 1885 – George and Charlie Davis, who were brothers charged with the murder of D. Morris near Hunter’s Mill in Monroe County, Ala., escaped from the Wilcox County Jail with seven other prisoners. The Bell’s Landing postal carrier spotted the Davis brothers near River Ridge on Jan. 16 as they made “their way back to their families in South Monroe.” The Davis brothers were later recaptured and returned to the Wilcox County Jail. The murder they were charged with was described as “one of the most cowardly and brutal in the criminal annals of Monroe.”

Jan. 9, 1886 - Alabama author and theatrical manager Noah Ludlow died in St. Louis, Mo.

Jan. 9, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that “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 them to.”

Jan. 9, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that there was only one prisoner in the Monroe County Jail.

Jan. 9, 1886 - Several “Turks” were in Monroeville, Ala. on this Saturday and “amused the boys and negroes by ‘makes te b’ar dance.’”

  

Jan. 9, 1896 – In an affidavit in connection with the renewal of his Confederate pension, Noah Dallas Peacock (Lewis Lavon Peacock’s older brother), deposed that, besides the 100 acres of land in his wife’s name, his only assets were a wagon, a mule, a gun and a clock. The wagon and mule may have been used for hauling freight, as Ealie Diamond recalled that Noah had a freight business operating to and from Andalusia, where he encountered his long lost brother, Lewis Lavon Peacock, about this time.

Jan. 9, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Miss Lula Wills, “one of Pine Hill’s beautiful and accomplished young ladies,” had resumed the operation of her school at Manistee a few days before. “Miss Wills is an excellent teacher and has a flourishing little school at Manistee,” the newspaper reported. The Journal also let readers know that “the Bear Creek Mill Co. (was) running the mill regularly now. The railroad is also progressing finely. Hon. W.H. Louisell, the general manager, is a most capable business man.”

Jan. 9 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Dr. Yarbrough had “disposed of his entire stock of goods and retired from the mercantile business.” Elsewhere in that week’s paper, Postmaster Ricou has obtained permission from the Department and will remove the post office to the Yarbrough store building on southside.

Jan. 9, 1908 - The largest crowd that had assembled in Monroeville in many a day was that which greeted Governor B.B. Comer and State Auditor Brandon on the occasion of their visit to Monroeville on this Thursday in the capacity of the High School Locating Board. The announcement and invitations had gone out more than a week in advance and every nook and corner of Monroe County responded with a liberal representation of its citizenship. The people began assembling the evening before and by 10 o’clock on this Thursday morning private dwellings, stores, offices and the public streets were thronged with visitors. Gov. Comer and Auditor Brandon arrived on the noon train from Selma and were met at the railroad station by a committee of citizens with carriages and conveyed to the city.

  

Jan. 9, 1913 – Noah Dallas Peacock (Lewis Lavon Peacock’s older brother) renewed his Confederate pension in Crenshaw County, Ala. and deposed that he was entirely dependent on it.

  

Jan. 9, 1913 – On this Thursday morning, the “Big Jim” reached the Coffeeville landing in Clarke County, Ala. The boat needed wood to fire its boilers and to warm its passengers and there was freight to take on so the boat tied up. Later that day, shortly after noon, the “Big Jim,” while tied up a Powe’s Landing, would be rocked by a devastating explosion that killed 26 people and injured 21 others.

Jan. 9, 1918 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the last census report showed that Conecuh County produced in 1917 a total of 4,041 bales of cotton as compared with 2,236 in 1916.

Jan. 9, 1918 – The Evergreen Courant reported, in news out of Castleberry, it was reported that two local boys, Sergeants John Barron and Talmage Neely, were among those selected to take a course in the officers training camp at Leon Springs, Texas.

  

Jan. 9, 1931 - Conecuh County High School’s boys and girls basketball teams won both games of a doubleheader against Repton High School in Castleberry. CCHS’s girls won, 19-11, and the boys won, 20-9. These games were Castleberry’s first games of the season and were witnessed by a large crowd of interested persons.

Jan. 9, 1932 – Conecuh County, Ala. teachers were called to a meeting at the Conecuh County Courthouse by Superintendent M.A. Hanks for the purpose of starting an educational survey of the county for the State Department of Education.

Jan. 9, 1934 – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr was born in Montgomery, Ala. After starring at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, he went on to play for the University of Alabama from 1952 to 1956. He went on to play for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971. He was the head coach of the Packers from 1975 to 1983.

Jan. 9, 1936 – Alabama author Anne Rivers Siddons was born in Atlanta, Ga.

Jan. 9, 1936 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the advertising for bids on the construction of an overpass where U.S. Highway 31 crossed the L&N Railroad in Evergreen was being held up, “pending the adjustment of right-of-way matters.” The City of Evergreen had been called upon by the state highway department for more right-of-way than had previously been obtained and steps to obtain it, some of which may require condemnation, had to be undertaken.

  

Jan. 9, 1941 - Alabama journalist Grover C. Hall died in Montgomery, Ala.

  

Jan. 9, 1951 - Conecuh County High School’s boys basketball team, led by head coach M.C. Thomasson, handed Evergreen High School their second loss to county competition in a decade on this Tuesday night in Evergreen, beating the Aggies, 40-38. William Bradley led CCHS with 13 points, and out outstanding players on that team included Ralph Graddy, Hart, William Reeves, Palmer, Norris and Reed. In his first varsity start, Shirley Frazier led Evergreen with 15 points, and other top players on Evergreen’s team included Gwyn Daniels, Ed Hooks, Jeff Moorer and Gillis Morgan. Wendell Hart was Evergreen’s head coach.

  

Jan. 9, 1953 – During their annual meeting at the Evergreen (Ala.) Community House, the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association elected M.M. “Bill” Cardwell as its new president, succeeding Howard Dees. Cardwell had previously served as vice president during 1952 before becoming the association’s third president. C.E. Robinson was the first president. Other officers elected include the following Vice-President Carl M. Stacey, Secretary M.H. Huggins and Treasurer Rutland Rowe (re-elected) and members of the board of directors, Howard Dees (State Association Director), H.S. Barrow, Melvin Johnson, C.E. Robinson and Hugh Brown.

Jan. 9, 1953 – Holtville High School’s boys basketball team beat Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Ala. Shirley Frazier led Evergreen with 23 points.

Jan. 9, 1957 - A radio version of Alabama author Ambrose Bierce's story, "The Man and the Snake," was broadcast as part of the “Sleep No More” series.

Jan. 9, 1958 – The Monroe Journal reported that 10 Monroe County players had been named to the 1957 All-Pine Belt Conference football team. The conference was comprised of teams from Monroe, Clarke, Washington and Conecuh counties. Monroe representatives on the team are Lee Roy Jordan of Excel; Billy Pugh, Reggie Dunn, Borris Brogden and Alto Smith, all of Frisco City; Herbert Adams, Carl McMillan and Wendel Middleton, all of Uriah; and Wayne Tait and Mickey Kennedy, both of Monroeville.

Jan. 9, 1958 - The Repton High School Bulldogs placed two men on the 1957 All-Star Football Team for the Pine Belt Conference. The all-star selections were announced on this day by conference officials. Grove Hill with five men and Frisco City with four dominated the selections. Named from the Repton club were Cleveland Morris, center, and Franklin Baggett, halfback.

Jan. 9, 1958 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Weldon L. Anthony, electrician’s mate third class, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Anthony of Evergreen, had arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon, Jan. 1, aboard the support aircraft carrier USS Princeton on a mission of mercy with the Ceylonese Relief Force. The Ceylon emergency followed continual rains for many weeks, and torrential downpours, described as cyclones, during the past few days. Reports indicated that 100,000 homes were destroyed by floods, leaving approximately 300,000 homeless flood victims.

  

Jan. 9, 1965 – Battleship Park, which featured the USS Alabama, in Mobile, Ala. officially opened. The battleship USS Alabama was dedicated in Mobile as a World War II memorial. Commissioned in August 1942, the Alabama served primarily in the Pacific, earning nine battle stars. She was awarded to the state in 1964 through the efforts of the USS Alabama Battleship Commission, and since her dedication has become a primary Mobile tourist attraction.

Jan. 9, 1975 - The 7-4 Evergreen High School Aggies, under head coach Charles Branum, were scheduled to play the Monroe County High School Tigers at Jeff Davis Jr. College gymnasium in Brewton on this Thursday night at 6:45 p.m. That game was to be followed by the Jeff Davis v. Patrick Henry game. Admission was $1 for students and $2 for adults. The Aggies previous two wins were most impressive as they beat the T.R. Miller Tigers, 97-43, and also beat the W.S. Neal Eagles, 75-48. Chuck Jones and Ronald Fantroy combined to score 51 of the Aggies 75 points.

Jan. 9, 1979 – Conecuh County High School’s varsity boys basketball team beat Southern Normal, 65-64. William Griffin led CCHS with 26 points and three rebounds. Paige Stokes had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Jan. 9, 1992 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Sparta Academy senior Steven Gall had been named the Most Valuable Player during the AISA All-State Football Game in Selma, Ala. Gall was chosen MVP for the West Squad after catching four passes for 65 yards, completing a pass and scoring his team’s only touchdown.

Jan. 9, 2004 - A movie version of Alabama author Daniel Wallace's book “Big Fish” was released.

Jan. 9, 2012 - No. 2-ranked University of Alabama defeated No. 1-ranked Louisiana State University, 21-0, to earn the BCS National Championship in New Orleans, making it the third national championship won by Coach Nick Saban.