During the late nineteenth century, urbanization prompted mass migrations of
southerners to cities. This caused crowding within the cities and soon sanitation became
an issue. Despite the problems, it was not until the last two decades of the 1800's that
cities started addressing this problem. However, once it started in one city, others started
following suit....
The passing of Mrs. Lucinda Todd was not a surprise to her family, after all her health had been suffering for sometime. Though Mrs. Todd's passing initially appeared peaceful, the true happenings behind her death were revealed in the subsequent battle for ownership of Mrs. Todd's will. On July 31, 1897 Judge Burroughs resided over the court that was set to declare the official executer...
In the spring of 1898, the United States stood on the verge of war with Spain. One of the greatest concerns of American defense planners was that Spanish ships would attack the prosperous port cities of the Southeast that were in close proximity to Cuba. As a result of this concern, a number of these cities were reinforced to repel a potential Spanish naval attack. Along with Savannah, GA; Mobile,...
On March 30, 1898, Elizabeth Nobles prepared to live her last day on earth. The State had found Nobles guilty of murdering her husband three years prior, and sentenced her to death by hanging the following day. Yet the Twiggs County facility where Nobles was being held received a last minute notice to cancel her execution. Georgia Governor William Atkinson, the only body left with the power to pardon...
It was Christmas Eve in 1896. Two African American brothers, James Grubb and Bud Grubb were making preparations for the holidays in Wytheville, Virginia. The two brothers had been heavily drinking while they were in town. Bud was described as being full up when they eventually returned home. Upon their arrival to their home, Bud began physically abusing his sister at which point James tried to intervene....
On the seventh day, Dr. Edson said, Let there be light and there was for the blind man John Martin in 1897. Dr. Edson administered X-rays to Martin every day for a week as a treatment for blindness. He based his hypothesis on the improvement patients with atrophied muscles had when they received massages. Dr. Edson believed X-rays would accomplish the same for an atrophied optic nerve. Before the...
On April 25, 1898, the United States officially entered into War with Spain. In the early months of 1898, tensions in Cuba involving Cuban revolutionaries and the Spanish government began to escalate. Following the explosion of the USS Maine, which the Spanish claimed was merely an accident; US President William McKinley was hesitant to begin war and waited on the Naval Court's reports. Questions...
For the first time, William Cabell voted Republican and broke his loyalty to the
Democrats. 1896 was a major year for presidential elections, and silver was the major
political issue of the election year. At the time there were three political parties:
Republicans, Democrats, and Populists. In a letter to his wife, William D. Cabell wrote
about a conversation he had...
On January 7, 1897 the Rockbridge County News released its weekly edition in the town of Lexington. One specific article presented the news of a new tariff bill to be passed by the United States House of Representatives. This bill was designed to protect young American manufacturers and the economy from competing foreign markets. The article also gave insight into the fact that many...
1897 was an important year for the educational system of Maryland, and subsequently, the South as a whole. Mayor Hooper of Baltimore, Maryland was becoming upset with the members of the school board. He strongly felt that the board of school commissioners were becoming too political in their decisions and straying from the board's intent to deliver the best quality of education to all public...