HAMILTON
All items transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney unless otherwise noted.
1887 - April 12 - Marion Herald
1887 - April 26 -
Marion Herald
1887 - May 5 - Marion Herald
1887 - May 12 - Marion
Herald
Marion Herald, April 12, 1887 - pg 4
April showers are now in order.
Capt. HAMILTON killed a fine buck on last Friday.
Well it is for Marion County that she now has good and true men for
Commissioners.
A good many people were in town on yesterday and our merchants serenely gathered
the Shekels in.
The Grand Jury was empanelled yesterday evening and are holding the present
session in the jail building.
Our lively old friend I. C. ELLIS, of Pearce's Mills, called in and gave
us a little pleasant chin music on yesterday morning.
Prayer meeting is now held every Thursday night at the school house. Judging
from the small number out on last Thursday night, one would suppose that
this fact is not generally known.
The cows have began lying out at nights and the voice of the whippoorwill
is heard in the land, both sure signs that spring has come gentle Annie,
even though over coats are still comfortable at times.
The County commissioners need the assistance and good will of everybody in
the county for they have a Herculean task before. They will have our hearty
support on any measure they may adopt, consistent with the public welfare,
for extricating the county from it s present difficulty.
Mr. WM. DOUGLASS, of Patterson, New Jersey, Ex-Sheriff of Passale Co., that
state is now at this place looking after real-estate which has been sold
for taxes. Mr. DOUGLASS is like a great many other men, he fails to look
closely enough after his property and consequently sometimes has to pay costs
for his negligence.
Any one can see now that it would have better, yes every much better for
the county to have purchased safes in which to have kept the records, and
if such a dreadful calamity as the burning of the Court House could have
been foreseen, of course it would have been done. As for that matter the
building could have been saved could it have been foreseen that it would
be burned. But then, foresight is rarely ever as good as hindsight, you know.
Last week the roads over the county were put in condition for the Grand Jury
to travel to Court over. That is the way the road business is managed in
this county, and perhaps all over the state. Just so the overseers save
themselves from being indicted is all they seem to care for, and but very
little work is required to save them. They let the roads remain almost impassable
the greater part of the year, and then get very industrious a few days before
Court and go over the roads and throw a few shovelfuls of dirt here and there.
And the Grand Jury - well that august body is easily satisfied.
The time draweth on apace when the ubiquitous small boy can hide himself
away from his allotted task and divest himself of his apparel, give himself
a thorough ablution in the limpid and placid waters of the gently flowing
rils far into the innermost recesses of the shady glens, where sweet singing
birds pour fourth their strains of delicious melody, and where every passing
breeze is laden with the delicate and subtle perfume of the luxuriant wild
flowers, and where an ant bed is always convenient upon which to hung his
raiment. In other words, the weather will soon be sufficiently warm for the
said small boy to slip off from his work and go in washing. "O would I were
a boy again."
It seems that Spring with its beautiful flowers and blithesome feathered
songsters has arrived.
MAT HALEY is now "riding the mail" on the route from this place to Haleys.
MAT is a very good mail boy.
From what we can learn the farmers of this county are unusually far advanced
in their preparations for another crop.
The Commissioners of roads and revenues are in session this week, and it
is hoped they will seriously consider the very important question to be met
at this term of their court.
Spring goods in great variety have been received by our merchants in the
past few weeks. You will find but few country towns where goods can be bought
cheaper than in Hamilton.
The county officers and lawyers are now snugly ensconced in the different
stores and offices around town, and the Court House seems to be missed by
none of them as much as it is by the pigeons, which were wont to have a high
old time upon the roof paying base and things. they can be seen occasionally
circling in the air above where the Court House once was, but they find no
rest of the sole of their foot.
This has been an unusually favorable spring for farm work, and, from what
we can learn, the farmers are far ahead of what they usually are at this
season with their work. On our sandy uplands the crops are generally ruined
by the drouth unless planted early so as to get their growth before the dry
season set in. We are glad to note that, as a general thing, cotton will
not be raised so extensively this year as formerly, while more attention
is being paid to the raising of corn and small grain corps. This is a reform
in the right direction, and indicates that our people are getting nearer
to a true realization of the situation. While we have no advice to offer
the farmer and consider that he does nor should understand his business better
than us, yet it is our opinion that it will be only by pursing such a course
that the farmer of North Alabama will ever be able to get his foot on solid
financial ground. The outlook for the future will ever appear dark for the
farmer that depends altogether on cotton, as it is and will ever be impossible
to rise cotton or anything else that costs from 9 to 11 cents to produce
and will bring only but 7 or 8 cents in market. That is a truism, and the
man that continues pursuing such a course will inevitably "come out at the
little end of the horn."
Marion Herald, April 26, 1887 - pg 4
The railroad surveyors when last heard from were coming in the direction
of Buttahatchie.
Dr. ABBOT of Fayette C. H. has been in town for several days past.
The Mason's held their regular meeting last week in the store house of Mr.
A. J. HAMILTON.
The constant ring of the black smith's hammer is a sure sign that the farmers
are doing their duty.
A heavy rain storm passed through this section on last Friday, but so far
as we have learned, no material damage was done.
Check boards are in constant use and the boys seem to enjoy the game splendidly.
The Probate Judge has just received a new blank cabinet which adds greatly
to the convenience of his office.
Mr. JAMES M. GAST left the city this morning for Isbell, where he will probably
remain for several weeks.
Yes! We suppose DR. KEY would have taken refuge in the storm house last week
if he could have overtaken his hat in time.
The authorities from Walker Co. came over into this county to escort JAMES
HANEY from the Hotel de WEATHERLY back to Walker, but learning that that
party was no longer a boarder at that hospitable Inn, they returned alone.
Rev. G. M. G. DUNCAN preached an interesting sermon at this place on last
Sunday, it also being the day for Church Conference meeting. Mr. W. R. WHITE,
the Sunday School Superintendent reported the school as being in a prosperous
condition, and said the only drawback to the school was the parents not taking
an interest.
Our deputy sheriff and highly esteemed from Mr. WEATHERLY informs us that
he is now engaged in the business of farming, he says, they needn't think
they will starve him out by burning of the court house. Guess CAL is hitting
it hard.
After a pretty hard struggle for some time in which the patience of young
spring were well nigh exhausted, she at last succeeded in knocking out old
dreary winter, and with such terrible force that it is now to be hoped that
the latter will not be able to stand up when time is called for the next
round.
Marion Herald, May 5, 1887
Let's go fishing
Farmers are generally up with their work.
One of the latest serenade songs is "O tell me love is the dog tied up."
They boys are now having a jolly old time fishing and getting mosquito bites.
Smart boys, they like to scratch for a living.
Mr. L. J. CLARK returned home on last Saturday from a trip to the Memphis
& Birmingham R. R. He says there's something like a boom at Guin's but
its not dangerous as it is closely watched.
Miss DIXIE KEY and Miss ELLA HAMILTON, two of Marion County's handsome and
accomplished young ladies gave us a pleasant call one day last week. We assure
the young ladies that their visit was highly appreciated, and hope they will
call again.
Didn't some one say we would have a picnic? We think they did. Picnic's are
so nice too. Have roast beef, mutton, pork, chickens- Of course we must have
chickens and plenty of them too. Seems that the latter end of May or the
front side of June would be a good time for the "pic" - Don't you think it
would?
Dr. THOMPSON left on a business trip for Milville on Monday last.
The boom's coming sure, and Mers. W. R. H. LODEN, W. H. KEY, Esq., J. P.
FORD, Dr. GUYTON and W. P. GAST were all aware of the fact. So not caring
to meet the terrible monster they fled to Aberdeen this week, thinking perhaps
he would be under control before they returned.
The way he moved wasn't slow - a young man not living a great distance from
this place came to town one day last week, and was passing the time at Mr.
WEAVER'S shop. Mr. LODEN the county sheriff chanced to be passing up that
way, the young gentleman thinking he had some particular business with him
concluded that he had remained in town long enough. So he lit and that every
sudden, and the way he moved when once fairly out and well coupled up, would
have put M and S. to shame the best day she ever saw. He hasn't been seen
about town since, and it is thought by some that he may be running yet.
The railroad surveyors were on Yellow Creek last week, and who knows but
that Hamilton will yet have a railroad. We can boast of coal and iron ore
that can't be surpassed by any other county in the state. Our mountains contain
vast treasures and only awaits the incoming of capital and live energetic
men to develop them. Only a few years ago mineral land in this county was
selling for fifty cents per acre, a great deal of which cannot now be bout
for $3.00 an acre. So you may begin looking out for the boom for she is coming,
it may be a little slow as considerable by some, but she will reach us "bye
and bye."
Columbus Miss voted on the 27th inst $100,000 to aid in the building of the
Tombigbee R. R. The law required that two-thirds of the registered voters
should vote for the donation in order to secure it, and Columbus took so
much interest in the measure that only six votes was polled against it
Marion Herald, May 12, 1887 - pg 4
The Commissioner's Court met on last Monday.
Some one asks how to make a girls room attractive? By putting the girl in
it of course.
The Bible Class wasn't very well represented on last Sunday. What's the matter
with the old folks?
Our friend W. F. GREEN informs us that he intends leaving town for the country,
where he will engage in the business of farming.
Four of Hamilton's young men took a pleasant tramp to Lovejoy on last Sunday.
The boys say they had glorious time and all are in favor of going again.
Mr. HIB HULSEY, a gentleman living in this city accompanied DAVE GLEN, a
deputy Marshall on a trip to Fayette C. H. last week. The charge against
him is"dealing in Wild Cat."
From cats that fight from the attack of a dog with hydrophobia, from the
nauseating stench of a decaying carcass, and from an offensive revenue office,
good Lord deliver us.
The matter is settled at last, and the picnic we are going to have on Saturday
21st day of May. All are invited to come, and as many as can conveniently
do so are requested to bring a well filled basket with them.
The time is now at hand for the small boy to assume the much dreaded occupation
of cultivating the garden. If there's anything in the wide world that a boy
has a greater distaste for than anything else it is hoeing the garden. He
will contrive a thousand and more schemes to avoid one half day's work. But,
he can run ten hours trying to corner a loose horse for a ride, and never
complain feeling tired, and will almost faint if his sister wants him to
drive the calves home. Or he can dig up an acre lot looking for angle worms
to go fishing and wish for the voiceless tomb when the garden demands his
attention.
A new US deputy marshal in the person of Mr. BAILUS MORTON, who we learned
was from Tuscumbia, Ala. paid the county a visit the first of the week, and,
in company with Mr. DAVE GLEN, carried two of our good citizens to Huntsville,
before Commissioner BONE, charged with violations of the U.S. laws. While
here, the gay and festive BAILUS took occasion to give some of the citizens
gratis advice from this Solon head as to how they should set in regard to
parties charged with violations of the revenue, and took particular pains
to air an idea of his that "good citizens" in this county are like angels
visits, few and far between. Without saying a word in defense of our citizens
the people who compose the bulk of the inhabitants of the county of Marion
need no defense - We would pay our respects to Sir BAILUS, and inform him
that we don't'need any of this chin music, so far as dictating to our people
is concerned, and we hope that Marion will never be improved by the immigration
of such "would be terrors" as little BAILUS
In short any person who goes into a strange place and tells the people to
their faces that there are few good citizens in their county, only take a
circuitous route to show them he is a fool, is lavish of incivility, and
economical of all that is required to constitute a gentleman.
