Our City Marshal

January 4, 1900

Mr. J. Frank Loyd is the only man that has ever succeeded himself as city marshal of Marion. He was first elected and served four years, and then was chosen by the city council for one year. At the first meeting of the new city council this hear he was again elected by unanimous vote on the first ballot for two years. His choice three times is the best of evidence that he is a faithful, efficient officer.

The new city council organized Tuesday night, Mr. J. C. Bourland was elected city clerk, J. W. Wilson city treasurer, and J. Frank Loyd as city marshal. Immediately after the organization there were two applications for saloon license - C. E. Doss & Co., and J. H. Orme. Both were granted. For the first time in four years, Marion has saloons. They began business yesterday. There are two to start with and we understand there will soon be another applicant for license.

News Items from January 1900

This picture is the Eli L. Nunn residense located near the community of Bells Mines. On the porch seated is Mr. Nunn, daughters, Nell, Mable, Eva, and wife Maria. Made about 1899.

Janaury 4, 1900 - Destructive Fire.

The handsome residence of Mr. Eli L. Nunn, of Bells Mines, was destroyed by fire Sunday morning. The fire originated in the second story and had gained such a headway when discovered, that a fight against it was useless. Some of the household goods were saved. The house was practically a new one, it was built just a few years ago at a cost of more than $2,000 and was one of the best, if not the best, in that section of the country. Mr. Nunn carried only $700 insurance, and his loss consequently is very heavy.

GAR of Crittenden County

After the Civil War had ended, the men who had lived together, fought together, foraged together and survived, had developed a bond that could not be broken. As time went by the memories of the filthy and vile environment of camp life began to be remembered less harshly. Friendships forged in battle survived the separation and the warriors missed the warmth of trusting companionship that they had formed.

With this as background, groups of men began joining together for camaraderie and then for political power. Emerging most powerful among the various organizations would be the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

For Memorial Day in Crittenden County in May 1905, their G.A.R. No. 31 met at Piney Fork Church and cemetery for the Memorial Day program. From the archives of The Crittenden Press June 2, 1905, we can learn and share their program.

The crowd was large and filled the church. The house was called to order by the Captain, J. M. Walker, after a short but very appropriate address, he called for a song. R. M. Franks and W. A. Woodall led and the congregation joined in the hymn, "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The captain then called on J. Frank Conger to deliver the welcome address. He responded to by saying he felt it a great honor for him to be called on to give the welcome address on an occasion like that as this is a day recognized by our go government as a legal holiday. A day that the people meet at the last resting place of their dead comrades and friends and show respect to them by strewing flowers on their graves. He said we could not do the dead any good by this, but the living might be benefitted and we should not only attempt to show respect tot he dead, but to the living.

At the conclusion Mr. Conger say why we had an obligation to reverence our old soldiers and our flag. He then called for a song and the audience joined in singing "God be with you till we meet again," and the old comrades joined in a farewell hand shake and were dismissed by the chaplain, Eld. W. F. Paris.

Our Military History On Display

I am proud to be on the board of directors of the Crittenden County Historical Society. We are the care keepers of the Historical Museum located at 124 East Bellville St. Our Museum is housed in the oldest church in Marion, built in 1881. The Museum has many history displays of items from our past history. We have a large Military collection. Several large display cases show military uniforms and items that families have donated, all these items are from Crittenden County families. There are many pictures and items from World War I and World War II.

With Memorial Day being this coming Monday, May 26th, if you are in the area, you should stop by the Museum and take a look at our Military collection and remember the men that gave their best, freely, that all which our Flag represents might be kept true and secure. The Museum hours are: Tues.-Sat. 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

News Items from June 30, 1880

News items from The Crittenden Press in June 30, 1880. Lots of interesting things going on in the city and in the neighboring communities.

• County Court Items - Land Sales
• On Monday, 12th day of July, the Master Commissioner of the Crittenden Circuit Court will expose to public sale at the courthouse door in marion, the following property: 98 acres of landing lying about three miles souteast of Marion and is known as the Susan C. Rice tract. On the same day and at the same place, the town lot in mairon known as the Tyler Elliot livery stable will be exposed to public sale on credit of six months. The personal property of Tyler Elliot consisting of two horses, two buggies, two sets of buggy harness will be sold to the highest bidder.
• The personal property of Thomas Linley, deceased, will be sold at public auction at the Linley farm one mile west of Salem on 15th of July.
• The residence of M. T. Worley at this place will be rented to the highest bidder on July 3rd.
• The Union Local speaks in the highest terms, in praise of our sherriff, Mr. J. P. Pierce, who captured Williams, the murderer of Mr. Chris Smith. Pierce will "em" in every time they come in his reach.

Weston Community Items: ( A busy river port town, with the arrival and departure of many boats on the Ohio River. During this time, before the railroads in the county, the Ohio River was the main mode of transportation for everything that was needed in Crittenden County and also the way of transporting goods from our area to other ports North.)

• The boat Wyoming from Pittsburgh was engaged Friday night to secure J. N. Lambs load of lumber.
• S. O. Nunn came back from Cincinnati Saturday evening on the James W. Gaff.
• The Rose Rain was sent to Caseyville to bring sheriff Pierce down to this place Tuesday night.
• Mrs. Mary Kemp, 81 years old, accompanied her son T. A. Kemp to Weston on horseback Saturday morning, having ridden five miles from home.
• Wife of M. D. Coffield of Fords Ferry, gave birth to an infant son, Saturday evening June 19th, 1880.
• John Fowler delivered 3 wagon loads of tobacco at the Clement factory in Marion last week.
• Ed Hubbard was in town last week on his electioneering tour and could hardly find a greenbacker in the whole vicinity.
• Otha Nunn is very sick.

Sept. 15, 1880 - Iron Hill Items (today known as Deanwood)

• Thomas McConnell has been very sick, but is getting better now.
• Sim Vernon is the teacher at Lamb's school house.
• T. J. Woolf, who took the contract to build the bridge at the mouth of Piney, will soon have the work completed.
• The heirs of Samuel Phillips divided their land last week. Aaron Towery did t he surveying.
• Our excellent County School Commissioner has been visiting the school in this section. Mr. Price has made a good commissioner and we think justice would give him another term.
• J. M. Walker is glad that it's a girl; but Mack, that isn't' building up the Greenback party much.

Visit to Chapel Hill Community

A group of people enjoying the fellowship at the old Chapel Hill School House.

Continuing with our visits to the little communities in our County, here are the Chapel Hill community items for the week of April 11, 1895. Maybe you will see a familiar family name.

• Born to the wife of Wm. Lewis, April 5, a girl.
• Col. E. W. Hill went to Carrsville last Saturday.
• Pray meeting at this place every Wednesday night.


• Mr. E. P. Hill has under construction one of the largest poultry houses in Western Kentucky; for architecture and convenience it is unsurpassed.


• Mr. T. S. C. Elder has the contract to do the brick work of Wm. Freeman's house at Marion.


• Tom Waddell's buggy is still in a very critical condition; no hopes of recovery.


• Mrs. A. P. Elder is on the sick list this week.


• A political petition has been passed to ascertain where the people stand on the whisky question; this community is almost solid for local option.

Visit to Greens Chapel

Greens Chapel was located between the community of Bells Mines and Weston in the Northern part of Crittenden County. Not much is known about the history of this small neighborhood. At one time it had a wooden structure that served as a school during the week and a house of worship on Sunday. Today all that is left is the cemetery, that is well kept, and is a reminder that there was a neighborhood with families living close by. From the April 11, 1895 Crittenden Press we will learn some history of this place and the people that lived there, through the community news items submitted by a local neighbor.

• Wheat crops in this section are in a flourishing condition.
• It has been feared by some that the peach crop in this locality would be an entire failure; no doubt the fruit crop may have been injured to some extent, but at present the prospects are promising.
• J. R. Daughtry was in our midst this week.
• H. L. Culley was around this week in search of beef cattle.
• No wonder that Gardner Walker smiles when he speaks, it is a fine boy at his house and completed the half dozen.
• W. D. Cain spent Sunday in Salem.
• F. B. Heath returned home Tuesday from Paducah.
• Miss Georgie Truitt, after a three or four months stay with relatives at Heightsville, returned home Sunday.
• The entertainment at W. M. Asher's Saturday night was largely attended and enjoyed.
• Misses Gertrude and Valeria Nunn after a visit of two weeks to relatives near here, returned home on Sunday last.
• Mr. Silas Phelps visited Mr. R. N. Grady's Sunday.

Happenings in the year 1895

Some more items of interest from the year 1895. From the archives of The Crittenden Press.

• April 11, 1895 - Tuesday afternoon while at work assisting to build a small bridge near Mr. S. M. Asher's in the Piney Campground neighborhood, Alfred Canady met with an accident that may cost him is life. In the construction of the bridge it became necessary to place a heavy sill on posts some distance from the round; after it had been placed on the posts if fell from its position to the ground and hit Canady with great force across the head. He was unconscious for hours but afterward roused up and was hauled to his home in Caldwell County.
• One of the neatest, if not the neatest business places in town is F. E. Robertson's grocery store near the depot. The house is as cozy and clean as a bandbox and he has just put in a stock of the best staple and fancy groceries he could find on the market. Nothing is second class, everything is A1. The coffees, the sugars, the canned goods, the cheese the breakfast bacon, the hams, the candies, the spices, the teas, the fruits and everything is clean, fresh brand new and of the very best goods.
• Sixty Years Old. H. R. Stembridge celebrated the 60th anniversary of his life March 29. He was born in Tennessee on Sunday, March 29, 1835. Emigrated to Kentucky November, 1871. Religiously he is a Primitive Baptist; plictically, a Democrat; socially an honest, upright gentleman, honored and respected by all who know him. He is the father of thirteen children. There were about one hundred and twenty persons present, children, grandchildren and friends. At 11 o'clock, he called the crowd together and gave an appropriate talk, after which Rev. Sampson Vanhooser led in an earnet prayer. Then all went into the dining room and partook of a magnificent dinner, prepared by Miss Beckie Vanhooser. Taken all together it was a brilliant affair and will be long remembered by those who were present.

1897 News Items

Many genealogy researchers have become frustrated once they began searching for the 1890 US Federal Census. They soon learn the 1890 Schedules were destroyed by a fire in the National Archives in 1921. A lot can happened during the time of the 1880 Census to the next published 1900 Census. By being able to read the old local newspaper during that missing time you can find marriages, deaths and other items that might help you with your research. In this posting of some items in the 1897 Crittenden Press, there are some items of interests from the County Court and a couple of obituaries.

Dec. 16, 1897 - County Court Items.

A. R. Hughes & Co. made application to the court for druggists' license to see liquor at Weston. A remonstrance signed by 61 legal voters, 47 ladies and 7 young men not voters, was filed with the court. The remonstrance reads as follows: We the undersigned citizens of Weston and Vicinity, Crittenden County, Ky., do petition your honor to not grant license to Roe Hughes and Frank Burton to sell whisky in our town, either by the quart or druggists license, as we are opposed to the selling of whiskey in any form tin the town of Weston, Ky. The court held that, under the law a remonstrance could not affect the matter, and that the only question to be considered by the court was as to whether or not the applicants were druggist in good faith. The case was continued until the next term.

The will of the late W. S. Perkins was probated. The instrument bears date of July 11, 1896, and is attested by M. F. Pogue, J. A. Lewis, W. W. Pogue. The testator bequeaths to his grandchildren Ella Heator, Henry Moore, Wm. Moore, Eva King, Fred Moore, Rona Moore, Kate Woodring, William Wright, Olive Wright, Fred Wright, five dollars each. To his son, F. D. Perkins, he bequeaths one half of the remainder of his estate and the other half to his grandchildren, Ona and Eva Perkins. T. P. Hard is named as executor of the will, and requested to act as guardian of the minor children.

Dec. 16, 1897 - Mr. A. M. Paris, one of the best citizens of the Sheridan neighborhood died at his home Friday, after ten days illness. The interment took place at the Love Cemetery. Rev. J. J. Franks officiating. "Uncle Arch," as he was familiarly called, has been in ill health several years, and when the end came he was anxious to depart and be at rest. He was an honest man and a good citizen.

Covington, Ky. Dec. 13, 1897. Francis Ford, a native of Crittenden County, Ky., died at his home here today, aged seventy one. He accumulated a large fortune in the wholesale grocery business in Cincinnati. One month ago his daughter, Miss Cannie, married William Trimble, formerly of Covington, but now of Seattle, Wash. Last Thursday Mr. Ford went to the First National Bank of Covington, of which he was a director, and certified to a check for $10,000 and mailed it to his daughter as a Christmas gift. A telegram announcing his death will reach her before the letter arrives.