The Old Folks Meet - 1897

 

Crittenden Press, July 22, 1897

The Old Folks Meet

The old folks meeting at Sugar Grove Saturday was one of the most unique and joyous events ever had in the county.

The young folks frequently have their gatherings, but it is not often that the line is drawn at sixty years, and all beyond that mark "especially invited." Such was the gathering in the beautiful grove at Sugar Grove church Saturday.

While others were there, and welcome, too, it was the old folks’ occasion, and never did the light heart of youth beat with as sincere pleasure as thrilled the souls of these our honored friends whose silvery locks tell us that they, have been with us "lo, these many years," as they shook hands with each other Saturday.

It was a favorable day for the occasion and everything possible was done to make it a day pleasant and profitable to the venerable sires and matrons who should gather to enjoy the day. A very large congregation assembled, many more than could be seated in the beautiful and commodious church house of Sugar Grove.

At 10:30 a prayer service was conducted by W. T. Oakley, and the prayers had the old time ring of the days past and gone – prayers full of fervency and of pleading for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

At 11:00 the congregation enjoyed a very able and comforting sermon preached to the old people by Rev. J. T. Barbee, pastor of the church.

At noon an excellent dinner was spread of sufficient variety and excellence to satisfy the appetite of all the most fastidious. The old people all ate together and were amply supplied with that greatest of luxuries, excellent hot coffee. The noontide hours were delightfully spent in social chat in which the old folks recounted many striking reminiscences of the past.

The afternoon hours were spent in an old fashioned prayer meeting, conducted by Uncle William Hill.

It was a very interesting meeting. Several of the gray haired veterans of the cross led in prayer, the old songs were sung, several earnest talks were made, and the services closed with an old fashioned hand shake and general rejoicing.

Doubtless there were more old people present than been together for a long time. Quite a number testified that they had been Christians forty eight or fifty years, and they were not tired of the way. The day will be crowned with sweet memories by those who were present.

The following is a list of the names, and the ages of the old people who attended the Sugar Grove Old Folks Day" Saturday, July 17, 1897.

E. H. Porter, 66 

Rev. W. B. Crowell, 77 

H. H. King, 70

W. D. Givens, 70 

W. M. Brown, 67 

W. H. Asher, 70

J. D. Boaz, 67 

J. A. Jacobs, 63 

A. D. Crider, 62

W. J. Brantley, 74 

Field Brantley, 72 

R. C. Lucas, 73

W. P. Lamb, 76 

W. B. Crider, 64 

Joe Newcom, 73

F. M. Stevenson, 65

 L. B. Hunt, 64 

H. C. Gilbert, 76

J. C. Brown, 70 

Elijan Hughes, 65 

R. L. Wilson, 61

I. N. Cain, 62 

Jas. Btler, 72 

W. J. Bruce, 73

H. B. Stembridge, 62 

P. H. Woodsides, 64

 B. A. Enoch, -

M. A. Lamb, - 

Sue Pickens, 68

 Huldah Lamb, 81

M. A. Newcom, 73 

M. A. Steward, 70 

Mrs. E. Hughes, 61

L. E. Redd, 71 

S. C. Nunn, 64

 M. V. Beard, 61

P. E. Williams, 67 

M. M. Campbell, 78 

N. E. Wheeler, 65

Mary Long, 71 

M. L. Jacobs, 61 

J. Bugg, 68

(P.S. I wish they had used their full names instead of just initials)

The Gold Rush - Reunion of "Fortyniners"

 On January 24, 1848, at Sutter's Mill in Coloma California, Jim Marshall saw a yellow object glistening in the mill race.  Picking it up he found it to be a small nugget of gold.  Thus began the California gold rush.  

Every color, nationality and class was represented in the Forty-Niners - young men of rich families shopkeepers, farmers, workman, including a large number of criminals of the worst type.

 Many who started for California in the gold rush died on the way, and all suffered extreme hardships.   

Word of this great find also reached Crittenden County and several from this area went to find their fortune.  There is very little to be found about who traveled from Crittenden County to California, we have a few names. Some of the men that traveled to the west were: Tom Robinson, George Boaz, George Adams, William Barnes, Jim Barnes and William H. Franklin.  We do not know if all the men that returned to Crittenden and Livingston counties struck it rich in the gold fields or not, but they were considered to be men of influence in the business world at their deaths.  I wish they had shared their adventures when they returned to Crittenden. 

To add some more history and information on this subject, from the Crittenden-Record Press – May 26, 1905 was the following article.

A Gathering of Veterans of the Plains

Wednesday was a bright pleasant day and with the beginning of the day there was clustered around the entrance to the New Marion Hotel a small bunch of men with snow white hair and frosty beard. There were ten in all and it represented almost all of those who survived of the many who crossed the western plains from 1849 to 1852 to seek a fortune in the California gold fields, and who at this time reside within fifty miles of Marion. They have a little organization, which they call "The Forty-Niners", and they had gathered here to hold their annual reunion. 

 

After spending the forenoon in making inquiries, one of the other, of some friend of the plains, and calling up incidents that happened on the plains, they then followed their chairman and historian John Montgomery of Providence in the dining room of the New Marion Hotel where with a few invited guests they partook of a bountiful repast.

 

After the noon hour they met in session to reorganize and Montgomery was re-elected chairman. Time was then devoted to the calling up of events of the plains, and Rev. James F. Price of this city, one of the guests, was called upon to read Montgomery's history of the trip across the plains. The various parties that crossed the great plains and the great mountains from the Mississippi Valley to California from 1849 to 1852, made the trip in about six months. The parties making this journey consisted of from ten to twenty-five in each party. 

 

The names of pioneers attending this meeting, together with their age and place of residence, is as follows:

John Montgomery, 72, Providence 

Judge J. F. Ingram, 70, Princeton

Robert B. Nunn, 73, Owensboro

 D. L. Bryan, 72, Marion

James R. Stalion, 79, Carrsville

 James A. Trimble, 70, Carrsville

George M. Cash, 78, Kuttawa 

 Thomas Robinson, 75, Lola

B. J. Spratt, 81, Princeton 

Marcus Dunkerson, Lisman

After the meeting, the "Forty-Niners" thanked the citizens of Marion for their interest and the many courtesies shown them, and hoped to meet them in Marion again soon.

AMERICAN LEGION, Ellis B. Ordway Post 111

 

The American Legion Formed

Crittenden Press, November 7, 1919

It is well known by our readers that early this year a movement was set on foot by some of our soldiers returned from overseas service to organize into some kind of an association, to preserve the military traditions, and lessons learned from the great war.

 

This movement has met with approval of the majority of our soldiers, sailors and marines, and in many states chapters have already been formed, with local county organizations.

 

Here in Crittenden County this movement was started at the dinner given our boys by the Good Road Association early in June, and it is a matter of much regret that no further action was taken by the officers elected at that dinner, which would have resulted in a permanent organization.

 

The Press believes in Crittenden County, and stands ready to aid, in every way, to the limit of its power, in the up-building of this county. We believe that a county organization of our boys would be a mighty good thing – good for the boys and good for the county.

***

November 1921 – American Legion Post Organized

Several ex-service men met at the Marion Barber Shop Monday evening to organize an American Legion Post for the men of this county who served in the late war.

 

A large representation was present and much enthusiasm was manifested. preparations were placed on foot to get a permanent chapter.

 

The name selected for the local post is the Ellis B. Ordway Post No. 111, being named in honor of the first of Crittenden young man who lost his life on foreign fields. He died of wounds received in action, on July 26, 1918 in France. His body was returned to the United States in March 1921, and buried with military honors at Crayne Cemetery. 

 

Twenty-one ex-service men have already signed up as members of this Post and others have signified their intention of doing so. Temporary officers were elected to act till the charter is granted. Rooms have been selected and arrangements are now under way to furnish them for the use of the members. These rooms will be open at all times and money for this purpose is now being raised. (The first American Legion location was in the upstairs rooms over Wheeler’s Antiques on East Carlisle Street.)

 

There will be another meeting of ex-service men at the Marion Barber Shop Monday evening at 7:00 o’clock and all ex-service men who served between April 1917 and November 11, 1918 are urged to be present at this meeting.

 

The Post will open their permanent quarters and club rooms the first of the month.

***

The charter for Ellis B. Ordway Post 111, Marion, Kentucky, was granted on March 28, 1924.

***

Total membership of this post on March 1, 1991 was: Two World War I members; Forty-one World War II members; and Ten Vietnam members. Total: 57

***

Due to lack of membership and interest in the organization by local veterans the Ellis B. Ordway Post 111 was disbanded in April of 2016.

Singing School at Hood's School house and Shady Grove

Hoods Singing School - 1911 

Singing Schools in Crittenden County

In the 1900s, singing schools were a significant part of American communities. These were essentially short, intensive courses in music instruction, usually lasting for a few weeks led by itinerant "singing masters." 

 

Singing school was a brief course of musical instruction devoted to the teaching of note-reading and sight-singing, with a focus on sacred music. The primary purpose was to improve congregational singing. Printed manuals, or tunebooks, containing instructions, scales, etudes and sacred choral music were used as teaching materials.

 

Singing masters taught basic musical literacy and the mechanics of singing. This often involved the use of shape notes, a simplified system of musical notation where different shapes represented different pitches, making it easier for those with limited musical training to read music. (This sounds difficult to me, but I never was able to carry a tune, even with music. I can’t imagine trying to sing a song by just looking at the shaped notes.)

 

Generally these schools lasted two weeks. The opening night would see the school divided into two groups. The beginner's group would be instructed in note reading, singing the scale and then singing by note. The advanced group would be composed of those who could do the above. They would be instructed in harmony and in "singing by parts", tenor, bass, alto and soprano in their individual classifications. The results accomplished were amazing. 

 

Singing masters went out to train people how to sing and to encourage young people to further their education. What these persons learned by the end of the school remained with them and enriched them for the rest of their lives. They knew the rudiments of singing. They taught others. The elementary training continued to bear fruit and help church singing wherever they went. They could get a few people together, select those with a little talent and soon had them singing as a choir.

 

Singing schools were more than just music lessons. They were important social gatherings that brought communities together, providing opportunities for interaction and even courtship.

 

From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can re-visit some of these musical affairs from the past.

***

August 9, 1917 A Big Time At Shady Grove

The singing school convention at Shady Grove, Sun. July 29, under the management of Guthrie Travis was a grand success.

Although the weather was uncomfortably warm there was a large crowd gathered early in the day. there were six choirs present, Shady Grove, Blackburn, Cave Springs, Enon, Crewswell and Beckner’s Chapel.

Dennie Hubbard leader of the Shady Grove Choir, in his welcome address, made us feel like we had come to the right place. And James Canada, from Walnut Grove in a few well chosen words, made responses to Mr. Hubbard’s hearty welcome.

Then we had singing by the different choirs, and at the noon hour after we had refreshed ourselves by eating dinner, we spent the remainder of our intermission in having a good time speaking with our friends.

In the afternoon we had more singing by the different choirs interspersed with some special singing and then general discussion of the singing convention. After this all the choirs joined in singing that grand old song, "Sweet By and By," then we were dismissed and all went home with gratitude to Mr. Travis and the good people of Shady Grove for the nice time we had enjoyed.

***

Guthrie Travis

Guthrie Wynn Travis, the leader of these Singing School Conventions was the 3^rd child of W. C. M. and Georgiana Travis. He was born at Bells Mines in the year 1871. In his later years he and his family lived at Blackford and Providence, KY.

He taught how to read music and also trained many choirs in Crittenden and adjoining counties. He also wrote music for several songs, some of which found their way into books used in Sunday schools and church work. Guthrie Wynn Travis died Nov. 22, 1963 at the age of 92. He is buried at the Blackford Cemetery in Webster Co. KY.

A Visit to Dycusburg in 1880

 

 The Press advertising man, makes a visit to Dycusburg in 1880, he shares his visit with the paper.

Dycusburg, the most business town in our county.  They have four immense warehouses, dealing largely in grain, bacon, etc., but chiefly in tobacco, which they stem and prize for the Liverpool market.

The employee twenty-five hands, pay8ing them on an average of two dollars per day.  One firm paying out $300 per week to hired help in the town among the hills.

The firm of Gallatly, Martin & Co., is perhaps the largest store in Crittenden County, they deal in all kinds of produce and in general merchandise.  

J. H. Clifton does a general merchandise business and keeps a good hotel, so does T. T. Martin.

The Yancy Bros. sells groceries and liquors.

Frank Bennett runs a grocery and liquor store.

Mr. Cole Bennett runs the post office and sells liquors.

Edgie Gregory runs the drug business.

Edgar Bozeman teaches the young idea.

Bob Clifton does the smithing.

The hotel is kept by Mr. Martin, it is a well-kept house, where your wants are anticipated and well supplied. 

W. F. Hogard Remember's Marion

This interesting article was from The Crittenden Press, May 27, 1921, and titled "Marion".  It doesn't say the year that Mr. Hogard was speaking of in his article, but it had to be in the very early days. 

I have known Marion all of my life. My father J. P. Hogard came here on horse back to the old horse mill when Marion was not a town, not even a village, only the old mill and one residence. the first time that I can remember coming to Marion was on an ox cart with four bags of corn across the front bolster.

Some of the men I learned to know were David Stinson, Judge Wager, Cub Bigham, William Carnahan, and Mr. Douglas who kept the tavern on the corner where Douglas Carnahan now sells goods, Robert Fulton Haynes, J. W. Blue Sr., Nathan R. Black, J. N. Woods who sold goods on the corner where the Farmers Bank is located, Charlie Higginbottham, who ran a saloon where the Marion Bank is, W. N. Rochester, Hick and R. N. Walker and other whose names I can not recall. Most all these men were highly respected.

I never did like the business of the Higginbothams and never had much admiration for Judge Wager.

For the first time that I came to church here was in the old brick out by the old grave yard, so called then. The house was well filled and I sat by Judge Wager. While H. M. Ford was preaching Judge Wager turned and spat on me. A thing I have not forgotten to this day. Then I was sure that town people looked down on country people.

Some way country people get to believe that people in town think themselves about them. But this is a mistaken idea. They may be a few now and then who really think so but they are few only and these few are rather to be pitied than blamed. For the salvation of this county, socially, religiously and politically depends largely on the great common people, most of whom live in the country.

Marion is the county seat of Crittenden County, the only town of any size in the county. It is here that all litigation's etc., have to be settled, the great common center.  The town people can not get along without the country people, nor can the country people get along so well without the town people. It must be mutual, we must live to benefit each other.

I have lived in several counties in the state and none of these counties have a better citizenship than Crittenden. Take the families like the Hunt, Paris, Wheeler, Travis, Crider, Dowell, Rankin, Baker, Hughes, Adams, Walker, Hill, Minner Hodges, Asher, Sullenger, Pickens, Deboe, Lamb, Wilson, Crayne, Guess, Gass, Cook, Daughtrey, Conger, Dean, Gahagen, Postlethweight, Franklin, Wilborn, Carter, Conger, Harpending, Ordway Pogues, and space will not allow me to call the names of families whose names stand for good citizenship.

Then we have in Marion a citizenship equal to the best. The Marion bar is made up of good citizenship, the Moores, Henderson, Bennett, Rochester, Blue, Nunn, Deboe.

Marion merchants are all good citizens as well as good business men. In fact in all walks of life no town will excel Marion for citizenship.

Marion can be made one of the most beautiful town in Western Kentucky. Let our motto be United we stand, divided we fall. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and push.

W. F. Hogard

Crittenden Press Marion's Oldest Business now at 146 yrs.

 The article first appeared in The Crittenden Press on October 11, 2001, it was for Marion's Sesquicentennial Guide.  At the time the Press was 122 years old.

A chronological history

The City of Marion's oldest business wasn't around when the city was created in 1851, but if it were, you can bet the city's incorporation would have been on the front page of The Crittenden Press.

Its establishment in 1879 makes The Crittenden Press the oldest, continuously operated Marion business.  A close second is Henry and Henry Monuments, which began two years later. 

The Crittenden Press was founded by R. C. Walker. In those first days, it's hard to imagine the long, painstaking process required to produce even a few lines of type, not to mention several pages eight columns wide.

History of the business has been passed down to each of the eight owners, including the descendants of Evers Mick, whose family continues to publish the weekly newspaper and The Early Bird Shopper's Guide.

According to history, the newspaper was distributed to as few as 200 subscribers in 1879.  Growth was rapid, as subscriptions reached 500 the first few years and 1,800 by 1894.

Like the county's growth in the last 50 years, The Crittenden Press' growth has been steady.  Circulation today in 4,300.

Walter Walker succeeded his father, R. C. Walker, as publisher of The Crittenden Pr ess.  He was followed by S. M. Jenkins and W. F. Hogard and his son Wilson Hogard.

 The Hogards sold the newspaper to J. Brown, who owned it until 1955 when it was purchased by Charles Pepper.

Current ownership by the Mick family started in 1960, when Evers Mick branched out of his role as a radio announcer in Madisonville to embark on a career in print media.

Evers Mick, was editor and publisher for nearly 10 years, with assistance from his wife, Lucille, and high school-age son - a 1969 graduate of Murray State University - took the reins.

While Lucille Mick was not involved in the day-to-day operation of The Crittenden Press between 1969 and her death in 1989, she maintained close ties to the family business helping out in the newspaper office from time to time. 

 Through the 1970's and 1980s, a third generation of Micks, Allison, was introduced to the newspaper.  As a teenager, she took photographs, worked in the darkroom and delivered newspapers.

Paul Mick published the newspaper until his tragic murder in 1990.  At that time, John Lucas, a long-time Press editor, took over daily operations.  Mick's wife, Nancy, remained as the company president and eventually took over as publisher in 1993.

Also in 1993, Ms. Mick hired Chris Evans to become just the second editor in more than 20 years at the newspaper. Evans had worked at The Press in the late 1980s as a reporter before joining the Paducah Sun staff.  He returned to Crittenden County and married Paul and Nancy Mick's oldest daughter, Allison.   

A strong commitment to community news and professional reporting is testament to The Crittenden Press' longevity. 

Early Pictures of The Crittenden Press office when it was in the basement on East Carlisle St.