Tennessee Gossip and News
C A M D E N TN
July 7, 1819- William Hubbs established a ferry just north of Eagle Creek in the southern portion of what is now Benton Count. Hubbs was one of the earliest settlers in this area.
July 30, 1882- The Camden Herald published he daily railroad time table of trains leaving he Camden Depot. A passenger train going east departed 5:50 a.m.; passenger train going west departed 10:15 a.m.; mail train going west departed at 10:30 a.m. and a mail train going east departed at 2:50 p.m.
July 6, 1883- Made mention of the Pleasant Ridge School which would open for classes the second week of Sept. of that year. The 40 x 30 ft building was located on a high postoak ridge some three miles northeast of Big Sandy. Classes would be taught by Prof. and also Rev. H.W. Mannon. Room and board with a private family was $6 per month. Tuition was $1 to $1.75 per month.
June 2, 1884- The south Camden residence of J.F. Presson burned shortly after noon. The loss was estimated at $5,000 and there was no insurance.
July 3, 1889- Sidney L. Peeler began his law practice in Camden
July 1, 1892 - The Holladay Independent Normal College held commencement exercides. Listed as graduates were: G.G. Baker, Benie Holladay, S.W. Parker, J.A. Spence, Wildred Jones, A.M. Tucker, Cora Wood, W.P. Digs and J.R. Holladay
June 2, 1893- B.F. Chambers of Hollow Rock was awarded a contract to construct a bridge on the Big Sandy River. The bridge would be 350 ft. long and a cost of $950.
Martin Quinn bought the City Barber Shop owned by G.W.Arnold. The shop is located on the 2nd floor of the McDaniel and Fry Bldg. on the southwest corner of the square. Quinn had been a barber in Alabama and MS.
June 22, 1896- Burglars broke into A.W. Presson's saloon on the court square. Aobut $8 of whiskey was stolen. The thieves left behind an axe which they used to break the back door with.
July 12, 1901 - H.C. Pafford had purchased the grocery stand of C.V. Hawley. The grocery was on the west side of the square. Pafford ran an opening sale with flour @ 3.90 per barrel. Bacon was 10 cents per pound.
June 27, 1902: The new tobacco Factory in south Camden would soon be completed and in operation. It was owned by A. H. Gibson and G. B. Holladay, son of Col. J. M. Holladay of Holladay.
June 24, 1909: The old Stigall Hotel on the north side of the Camden square burned in the early morning hours.
June 23, 1913: Mrs. W. C. (Sophia) Rushing of Wyly died at the age of 85. She was a native of Benton County and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley. In 1855 she married W. C. Rushing who was the son of Willis and Mary Rushing. (This was the early pioneer family in Benton County for whom Rushing's Creek was named.) Mrs. Rushing was survived by her husband and 12 children: Dora, Robert W., Lee, Walter, John, Ida, Etta, Sophia, Rachel, Holden, Nat and Finis. Burial was in Rushing's Creek cemetery.
June 29, 1923: Minnie Clayton, 14 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Clayton, was killed by lightning. The tragedy occurred north of Camden near the Liberty community.
June 8, 1928: Old landmark buildings on the east side of the court square were being torn down to make way for the construction of brick business buildings. The largest of the old buildings being removed was the Arcade Bldg., owned by Allie V. Bowles. Another building, probably the oldest, was the small frame building which had been occupied by "Uncle" Billy Hill before and after the Civil War period. At one time it had been used by Postmaster E. M. Carnell who also had a drug store there. Later it became known as the Bivens & Me Auley Saloon. When saloons were closed down in Camden in 1903, the building was used again as a drug store by owner W. C. Hatley and then by B. C. Rushing. On the adjoining lot was the Hubbs Bldg., owned by George R. Bain. At one time this building housed the A. J. Saunders Saloon. Later the building was used by the Tenn. River divers, a dry goods mart, a restaurant and then as a boarding house.
June 26, 1931: N. H. (Red) Wismer's old auto-service garage had been razed and a new brick garage was being built off the southwest corner of the Camden Square
Dec. 30, 1908:
The trial of 8 night riders at Union City, TN got under way. They were charged with the hanging and shooting murder of Capt. Quentin Rankin and the attack of Col. Zack Taylor on Oct 20, 1908 at Walnut Log on Reelfoot Lake One of the main suspects was U. Morris.
May 20, 1912:
Five men broke into the First National Bank in Camden and blew open the vault and safe with nitroglycerin. The first blast occurred shortly after midnight followed by five other blasts. Merchants who lived in their places of business on the square were awakened and ran out into the streets, but two of the robbers were standing guard at the bank entrance and ordered everyone to stay back. The men cut the telephone cables before escaping with $6413.78. It was later reported that two suspicious looking characters were seen earlier in the day getting off train No 54 at the Eva depot and then walking toward Camden. Then just before dark that same day, three other strangers were seen a few miles west of Camden, headed for town Law officers concluded the robbery was a well prepared crime Fortunately the loss was fully covered by insurance.
Aug. 5, 1912:
A late night fire destroyed the Post Oak Methodist Church building.
June 8, 1928:
Old landmark buildings on the east side of the court square were being town down to make way for the construction of brick business buildings. The largest of the old buildings being removed was the arcade building owned by Allie V. Bowles Another building, probably the oldest, was the small frame building which had been occupied by "Uncle" Billy Hill before and after the Civil War period. At one time it had been used by postmaster E. M. Carnell who also had a drug store thee. Later it became known as the Bivens & McAuley Saloon. When saloons were closed down in Camden in 1903, the building was used again for a drug store by owners W. H. Hatley and then by B. C. Rushing. On the adjoining lot was the Hubbs building owned by Geo. R. Bain. At one time this building housed the A. J. Saunders Saloon. Later the building was used by the Tennessee divers, a dry goods mart, a restaurant, and then as a boarding house.
Dec. 23, 1932:
Lyndell Presson was brutally murdered in Humphreys County. Presson's body was found by G. G. Gould, a farmer in the Trace Creek bottoms between Denver and Johnsonville Waverly police officers said that Presson had been shot in the back at close range He had been beaten on the head and face, and his throat had been slashed
Dec. 17, 1937:
Radiators to heat the auditorium of the First Methodist Church in Camden were being installed Church officials said the new radiators would heat the entire church by vapor which was considered to be the finest method of heating at that time
June 6, 1944:
D-Day in World War II took place as the United States and Allied forces landed on Normandy Beach, France and began to destroy the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan
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