Excerpts for April:
APRIL 1 1783, Cumberland settlements.
According to the Minutes of the Committee of the Cumberland Association, the local government decided to promote the manufacture and sale of local liquor rather than "Liquors Brought from Foreign parts; And Sold...here...." The purchase of "foreign liquor" caused a drain of money from the Cumberland settlements. With that in mind the Committee of the Cumberland Association imposed a stiff fee for a license to sell all but domestic spirits. The price of the latter-day liquor license was prohibitive in the extreme, being set at "Two Hundred pounds Specie." There was no fee required for selling domestic spirits, the price of which was set at no more than a silver dollar "for one Quart of good sound Merchantable Liquor." Failure to obtain a license would result in confiscation of all stock. The founding fathers of Nashville were not prohibitionists, only protectionists.
APRIL 2 1936, Crossville.
The Crossville Chronicle carried the following story: �At a meeting of the Socialist Party in
Nashville, Mrs. Kate Bradford Stockton was chosen as the gubernatorial candidate for Tennessee. The home of Mrs. Stockton was in Allardt, Fentress County. She enjoys the distinction of being the first woman ever to be nominated for governor of the Volunteer State by any
political party." The choice of Kate Stockton as the Socialist gubernatorial candidate was determined not so much out a feeling for gender equality as the fact that there was no one else willing to run. No doubt any
other socialist candidate would not have done much better than her 1% showing in the polls.
APRIL 3 1828, Nashville.
The "ATLAS" was the first steamboat to stop at Nashville heralding the arrival of the age of steam power to the City of Rocks.
APRIL 4 1875, Knoxville.
In a baseball game between the "Riversides" and the Cedar Bluff Baseball Club, the Riversides won 19 to
10. The Cedar Bluff team's uniform consisted of a white hat with a blueband, white shirts and red pants.
The Riversides wore cadet uniforms. "[T]heir appearance and good playing," claimed the Knoxville
Chronicle, "won the hearts of many of the young damsels."
APRIL 5 1865, occupied Memphis.
A battle over turf between Memphis and (apparently displaced) New Orleans newsboys took place. The
Memphis boys won but expected another attack to occur shortly.
APRIL 6 1793, Greeneville.
Methodist circuit rider Francis Asbury wrote in his journal that after fording the Nolachucky he made his way to Greeneville. At the courthouse he saw a "corpse...in a covered carriage drawn by four horses. Solemn sight! A whiskey toper [drunkard] gave me a cheer of success [cheered him] as one of John Wesley's congregation....If reports be true, there is danger in journeying through the wilderness; but I do not fear - we go armed. If God suffer Satan to drive the Indians on us; if it be His will, He will teach our hands to war, and our fingers to fight and conquer."
APRIL 7 1854, Nashville.
Architect William Strickland died before his design for the capitol was completed. He was 64. He was buried in a vault which was a space hewn out of solid stone on the northeast corner of the first floor. The funeral was held on the 8th.
APRIL 8, 1862
Federal forces capture Island No. 10. Covered by Federal gun boats, Major General John Pope landed part of his army of 25,000 men on Island No. 10's western shore of Madrid Bend, thus outflanking the Confederate defenders. C.S.A. General W. W. Mackall�s attempt at retreating was thwarted by high tides. Mackall surrendered to the U.S. Army near Tiptonville.
APRIL 9, 1876, Memphis.
"Hugh McConnell, a former inmate of the county poor house made complaints before the County Court about the management of that institution. The matter was referred to the Shelby County Grand Jury, which after thorough examination reports that McConnell had no ground for complaint; that Dr. Duncan was doing all he can and was the right man in the right place at the right time. The investigation developed that punishment had been inflicted on McConnell on occasion for breach of regulations, which the grand jury thinks was right and just."
APRIL 10, 1856, Nashville.
Municipal authorities sent the police to raid the red light district to crack down on "Bawdy Houses" in an effort to expel prostitutes from the city limits. The raid was meant to be a final solution, once and for all to rid the city of a red light district. Most of the prostitutes left town for other cities.
APRIL 11, 1885, Memphis.
The hated ordinance that outlawed the playing of baseball on Sunday was repealed. Angry workers demanded some diversion after working six days a week.
APRIL 12, 1833, near Nashville.
John Overton, judge, friend of Andrew Jackson, family man, master of Traveller's Rest, land speculator ands lave trader, passed away.
APRIL 13, 1826, Washington, D.C.
Ohio Congressman William Stanbery made unflattering remarks about Tennessee Congressman Sam Houston, who challenged Stanbery to a duel. The two met on Pennsylvania Avenue. As Stanbery bowed Houston hit the Buckeye on his head with a stout cane. Stanbery recovered quickly and drew a pistol which he held against Houston's chest. When the pistol misfired Houston hit Stanbery a few more times and then ended the row by kicking the Ohioan in the groin. Houston was mildly reprimanded by the House of Representatives.
APRIL 14, 1880, Memphis.
Ex-President U.S. Grant visited Memphis. A large crowd of dignitaries and municipal employees attended the welcoming ceremonies. However, there was little enthusiasm registered for Grant. "The people came out to see Grant as they would to see Barnum's Elephants," claimed a Memphis newspaper writer, " and they manifested as much enthusiasm...that I think the elephants would have had the advantage�.
APRIL 15, 1894, Chattanooga.
Bessie Smith, blues singer extraordinaire, was born. Her early career consisted of touring with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels where she was the featured child singer. From 1913-1916, she came into contact with Gertrude Pridgett Rainey who many insist taught Bessie to sing the blues. Smith recorded extensively from 1923-1926 and had many of the leading jazzmen accompany her songs, men such as Louis Armstrong and Clarence Williams. She regularly toured the vaudeville circuit with her own companies, the Midnight Stoppers and the Harlem Frolic company. She was featured in the film "St. Louis Blues" and her voice was used for several soundtracks. She died in Clarksville, Mississippi, after an automobile accident on September 26, 1937.
APRIL 16, 1965, Memphis.
High school track star William Hurd, Negro, broke Jesse Owens' 100 yard dash record for Manassas High School.
APRIL 17, 1861, Memphis.
A letter "From the Ladies of Memphis" to the editor of a local paper read in part: "Though we cannot bear arms, yet our hearts are with you and our hands are at your service to make clothing, flags, or anything that a patriotic woman can do for the Southern men and Southern independence."
APRIL 18, 1847 Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
The 2d Tennessee Regiment advanced against Mexican forces at the Battle of Cerro Gordo but the Mexicans forced the Tennesseans to retreat. And no wonder, the Mexicans numbered some 3,000 while the 2d Tennessee mustered only 375 strong. There was no shame in it.
APRIL 19 1902, Greeneville.
Carnival week ended today with visitors from Jonesborough to Morristown attending.
APRIL 20, 1835, Memphis.
Shelby County's first recorded marriage between two free African-Americans, Joe and Fannie Harris, occurred.
APRIL 21, 1918, Trenton.
The African-American community in Trenton held a "big patriotic rally at the courthouse...in the interest of
the Third Liberty Loan. Prominent negroes [sic] from Jackson addressed the meeting and approximately $7,000 was raised." This put Gibson County "over the top" on its war bond quota.
APRIL 22, 1886, Memphis.
Car drivers of the Memphis City Railway Company went out on strike demanding an hourly pay raise of 13.5 cents an hour.
APRIL 23, 1886, Clarksville.
The city concluded its first contract to light the town with electricity. The generator was to be run by "the engines of the Anchor Mills, located on the rear of the city." Talk abounded that "a plant will be fixed at Dunbar's Cave with sufficient power to brilliantly illuminate this great cavern, three miles underground, presenting a curious scene of the wondrous beauty of nature, unsurpassed in the world.�
APRIL 24, 1906, Huntingdon, Carroll County.
Mildred Louella Jolly Lashlee, Senator in the 74th General Assembly (1945-1947) was born. She filled the unexpired term of her husband who died in 1945. She represented Benton, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, and McNairy counties. After 1960 she was closely associated with the Tennessee Department of Employment in Nashville. She died on February 23, 1966, in Nashville. She was the eighth woman to serve in the Tennessee General Assembly.
APRIL 25, 1861, Nashville.
A second special secret session of the state legislature was called by Governor Isham Harris after efforts in February failed to lead Tennessee out of the Union. Eventually the session would produce the "Declaration of Independence and Ordinance Dissolving the Federal Relations Between the State of Tennessee and the United States of America." The Declaration was not made public until May 6, with an added provision that a special referendum was to be held to ratify the document.
APRIL 26, 1884, Chattanooga.
The Almira S. Steele Home for Needy Children opened in Chattanooga. Ms. Steele, a widow and Boston native, was the guiding force behind the facility. She said that she "came south to found a school....I constantly saw destitute colored orphans compelled to beg or steal. I saw...the precious souls of these helpless blacks." Within three years of her death on June 6, 1925, the building ceased to function as an orphanage and was leased to the Chattanooga school board. It has long since been demolished.
APRIL 27, 1888, Knoxville.
A mass political meeting was held for all Knoxville voters, white and black, of all religions, to gain approval for the public expenditure of $75,000 by the Common Council to build sewers in the city. The only opposition was voiced by Dr. Kearney, who believed that it was not enough funding.
APRIL 28, 1864, occupied Nashville.
The Nashville Daily Press reported that many "ready made houses...are springing up...in...our city...a striking commentary on the fast age in which we live....We are glad to see them here, especially when houses are so scarce and rent so enormous."
APRIL 29, 1874, Nashville.
The State Convention of Colored Men convened. Delegates came from twenty counties. Edward Shaw was chosen chairman. The Convention protested anti-miscegenation laws, denounced Senator William G. Brownlow for opposing supplemental civil rights legislation and urged black women to become teachers. The convention also recommended that blacks in Tennessee back political candidates who support the right of blacks to serve on juries.
APRIL 30, 1900, Vaughn, Mississippi.
John Luther "Casey" Jones sealed his fate and met his maker when, as engineer aboard Illinois Central Railroad Engine "Old 382," he had a head on collision with another train, the ICs New Orleans Special (a.k.a.
"Cannonball") at Vaughn, Mississippi. According to a ballad composed by Wallace Saunders, an African-American engine wiper in Jackson: "All the switchmen knew by the engine's moans/That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones/The fireman jumped but Casey stayed on/He was a good engineer but he's dead and gone." He lived in Jackson. In 1950 a commemorative stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The Casey Jones Home and Museum is located just off Interstate 40 in Jackson, Tennessee. Some sources, notably Joe Hill, indicate Casey was scabbing.
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