In this day and age, newspapers rarely print fiction. Of course, there is the occasional magical story written by a third grade class that appears every once a week in the Arts and Entertainment section of the paper, but for the most part, fictional stories of real substance are not published in newspapers anymore. This was not the case in the 1800's. Appearing in The Valley Star each week was...
In Alabama's new capital of Tuscaloosa, the Alabama State Intelligencer was established on April 10th, 1829. This event was important not only for being the founding of a new paper, but this event also marked the growing role of Tuscaloosa in Alabama. In fact, the capital had recently been moved from Cahaba to Tuscaloosa and in 1829 the legislature met for the first time in the new capital (Alabama:...
The Creeks had begun to emigrate in larger numbers in 1829 largely due to the expiration of the annuities that had been paid their nation. In 1820, the Creeks were being paid 25,000, but 22,000 was set to expire in 1829. The Creeks that did emigrate settled in the area of Muskogee County, Oklahoma. In typical U.S. style, 300 US troops were positioned near the peaceful emigrants (Phoenix).<br...
On May 9th, a “wonderful phenomenon' occurred outside of Forsyth, Georgia. A rock of 36 pounds appeared out of a clear sky and crashed into the ground with “tremendous noise.' The “rock's' impact was heard up to 80 miles away and it sunk two feet into the ground. The rock smelled of sulphur and appeared to have “been in the fire.' The Cherokee Phoenix and...
Many prominent Nashvillians, including Phillip Lindsley, William Hume, and Robert Whyte, formed The Nashville and Davidson County Temperance Society. This society was formed as an auxiliary to the American Temperance Society. The American Temperance Society grew rapidly during this time period and many new auxiliaries appeared. The spread of a national temperance society reveals the growing importance...
When a memorial of the citizens of Albemarle County, Virginia asked Congress to reconsider James Monroe's claims to reimbursement a Select Committee was formed. The Select committee did indeed find that the U.S. Government was indeed indebted to Monroe for his considerable and patriotic loans to the government during the War of 1812. The bill (No. 436) resolved to give the late president the...
From 1800-1830 Patty Cannon and other members of her family ran the most notorious slave trading gang in Southern History. Cannon's house straddled the Maryland-Delaware border, and from this base she and her gang would look around for free or enslaved blacks, kidnap them, and then sell them into slavery to Deep South Plantations. This formidable woman, who was notorious for her strength and...
In January, the Cherokee Phoenix and Indians' Advocate reported the outcome of the Kentucky State Senate's Joint Resolution. There were only three dissenting votes against these two measures. The first measure urged Kentucky's statesmen in Washington to endeavor Congress to appropriate money and aid, “so far is consistent with the Constitution of the United States, in colonizing...
A well-prepared young man demonstrated ingenuity and intelligence when his father presented him with the threat of flogging. The boy's father was a lieutenant in the US Army, a native of Frederick County, Maryland. Being a lieutenant meant that he was somewhat strict, but all he wanted was the best for his son. When the boy displeased his father, the father examined the cause of his misconduct...
In 1829, a group of church goers and pastors from the Alabama Baptist Association pooled together 625 to purchase John Blackwell's slave Caesar. Caesar had become known around the Montgomery area as a magnificent preacher, and upon gaining his freedom went on to preach to numerous black, white, and mixed congregations. When his audiences became over excited he would reportedly say, When your...