Extractions from Digging Up The Past      February 2005

Choctaw Herald

May 26, 1898

Most of our farmers are harvesting oats this week.

 

Several of the Butler young men attended an entertainment at the home of Mrs. B. B. Braswell last night.

 

Died at his residence near Tompkinsville, Ala., on April 14, 1898, Mr. Wm. H. Simmons. Born in North Alabama, on the 6 day of December, 1827. He married Mrs. Martha Daily, who survives him. A brother and sister live in Rusk, Texas. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1852.

 

June 16, 1898

Mrs. Susan Phillips died May 2,  9 p.m., and was buried in the cemetery at old Concord.  94 years, 5 months and 3 days old. Born in Duplin County, N. C., the 29 of November, 1803.

Moved with her husband and 5 children to Choctaw County in 1839. When her husband died they had 8 children.

 

To The Public ---- I am prepared to do all kinds of shoe work.         W. W. Wallace

 

July 14, 1898

Mr. H. J. Bruister has been appointed by the Governor, Commissioner of the first district of this county, made vacant by the death of Mr. P. T. Dicks.

 

Mrs. Padget, who lives nine miles south of Butler on the "Ridge Road," to Bladon Springs, will be one hundred years old next Sunday, the 24th.

 

 

Choctaw County News

July 24, 1879

Married on the 16th, at the residence of Mr. J. W. Hurst, by the Rev. F. A. Freeman,  Mr. A. Rudder and Miss Lucinda C. Goree.

 

August 7, 1879

Good beef is sold in town almost every week at the very reasonable rate of 3 cents per pound for fore quarters and 4 cents for hind quarters.

 

Last week after we had finished "setting up" the so called Treasurer's report, it was carefully laid away in a dest drawer, to be delivered to Judge Warren who wanted to file it in the Probate Office. When he called for it on Thursday morning, it had disappeared and for some time could not be found "high nor low.' Finally, however, it was discovered behind a drawer, where it had been carried by the mice. We could not help but exclaim, "confound the mice, they are worse than the Commissioners."

 

August 14, 1879

A little child of Mr. Allen Manely died last Monday.

 

Mr. Jesse Taylor is building a water grist mill near Desotoville.

 

Mr. Belton Rudder brought a large wagon load of watermelons to town for sale last Monday.

 

October 1, 1879

J. D. Cook will return to Howard College.

 

William Tuttle, white, had his trial for failing to work on the public road, last Saturday, and was fined $2 and cost. The cost amounts to a bale of cotton.

 

Pay your taxes so you want lose your place.

 

Mr. F. A. Powe has accepted a situation as clerk in the store of Mr. Mills.

 

November 5, 1879

There has been less drunkenness in town this court than for several terms past.

 

Unclaimed letters at the post office -  Silas Allen - colored,  G. B. Chaney,  David Bozone,   W. H. Johnson,  Sol Kelly,  Mrs. Mary E. Land,  Miss Mattie Oslin,  Miss Clara Oslin,  J. B. Sanders,  Miss Mary L. Sikes,  Miss B. Watkins,  Warner Bailey.

 

November 19, 1879

Mr. Jesse Norwood, formerly of this county, died in Forncy, Texas, on the 31st.

 

November 26, 1879

Married on the 19, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. T. B. Woodward, Mr. Walter Ezell and Miss C. E. Lee.

 

December 17, 1879

Our little village can boast of five dry goods, one confectionery, one drug store, two hotels, one masonic lodge, one Church, two barrooms, one academy, a mill site and a live newspaper.

 

December 31, 1879

Mrs. D. J. Wright died near Forkland, Green County, a short time ago.

 

There have been fewer white persons in town during the holidays than we have ever known before. The colored people had all the fun without interference from "de white thrash."

 

Married on the 28th, by Eld. J. K. Ryan, at the bride's residence, G. L. Scarborough and Mary E. Adams.

 

On last Friday, in Mr. Walton's store, at Desotoville,  Ed. Ezell and Richard Spencer, both white, had a difficulty in which the former received two severe wounds with a knife.

 

Mr. Wild will preach in Butler Sunday and Mt. Sterling Sunday night.