USA > Georgia > Muscogee County > Columbus > Prominent incidents in the history of Columbus, Ga., from its first settlement in 1827 to Wilson's Raid, in 1865 > Part 1
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Ge 975.802 C72m
Gc 975.802 C72m 1149137
GENEALOGY COLLECTION -
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02299 3361
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PROMINENT INCIDENTS
IN THE
Festa, will sth leaf
History of Columbus, Ga.
FROM ITS
FIRST SETTLEMENT,
IN
1827. 1
-
TO
Wilson's Raid, in 1865.
COMPILED BY JOHN H. MARTIN.
PUBLISHED BY THOS. GILBERT, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, COLUMBUS, GA., 1874.
.
ЭТИМПРОЖЕ ТИЧИММОЯЧ
САМОЛЕТОВ Тая
1
...
COLUMBUS, GA.
·0
1827.
1149137
A "TRADING TOWN" ESTABLISHED.
The first step towards the establishment of a town no the. site on which the city of Columbus now stands, was taken by the Georgia Legislature of 1827. The act of that year was not one of incorporation. It was entitled "An act to lay out a trading town, and to dispose of all the lands reserved for the use of the State near the Coweta Falls, on the Chattahoochee river, and to name the same." This act was "assented to" Dec. 24, (one advertisement says Dec. 22,) 1827. It provided for the appointment by the Governor of five Commissioners to select the most eligible site on the reserve (known as the Coweta Reserve, near Coweta Falls on the Chattahoochee,) to appropriate a square or oblong square of twelve hundred acres for the commons and town, which was to be called and known by the name of COLUMBUS., They were to lay out not less than five hundred building lots of half an acre each, and to make a reservation of one square containing ten acres for the public buildings of the county of Muscogee, with the privilege to the county of selling what was not needed for this purpose.
.THE LOCALITY AT THAT TIME.
The present site of Columbus was at that time an almost
APPEARANCE OF THE LOCALITY.
unbroken lowland forest, in some places hardly penetrable through its thick undergrowth, and in others covered by swamps and ponds of water. Where some of the finest buildings now stand there were marshes or ponds. From one block north of where the "Perry House" now stands, all south and east was a muddy swamp, filled with briars and vines and small undergrowth among the large forest trees, so that in many places it was difficult to get through. Upon the present location of the "Perry House," and extending two blocks north, was a pond where wild ducks and geese were often shot. Fish of large size were for some time afterwards caught out of ponds of which no traces now remain. Be- tween Oglethorpe street and the river the land was generally high and dry, interspersed with pretty groves of fine shade trees. But east of Oglethorpe street and all south was mostly wet swamp land.
The few houses that had been erected prior to the first sale of lots by the Commissioners were along a road that crossed the river at a ferry near where the Hospital now is. It was a section of the old "Federal Road." Traces of this river crossing may still be seen on the Alabama bank. The hotel was there and three or four stores, whose principal trade was with the Indians. But when the town was laid off and the lots sold, these settlements, being out of town, eventually had to move up within the space laid out into lots. There were but few comfortable houses up to that time-some small log houses, some board houses or tents, and some Indian houses.
At that time there were a number of springs of excellent water running out of the bluff along the river. There were as many as ten or twelve of them from the "City Mills" loca- tion down to the wharf, and they afforded plenty of the best water. Gov. Forsyth, who attended the sale of the lots in 1828, preferred to camp out in a beautiful grove just below the present wharf, and pitched his tent beside one of these springs. With the march of civilization receded the beauties as well as the wildness of Nature, and these fine springs have long since ceased their refreshing flow.
SCENERY-INDIANS FISHING, ETC.
The scenery on the bank of the river was very beautiful, including some of the finest natural groves. The river, too, presented quite a different appearance from the muddy Chat- tahoochee of this time, with its high water-bed extended by caving to twice its original extent, its banks on both sides precipitous and bare, and those on the Alabama side still fall- ing in with every freshet. The waters were clear and rip- pling, and the rocks that presented themselves for some distance above the steamboat landing or head of navigation nearly extended across the river in places, with channels or pools between, from which nearly all the varieties of fresh- water fish were taken in abundance. It was interesting and amusing to see the Indians catching shad in the spring of the year. They used dip-nets, made of wahoo bark split up in small strips.' The net was fastened to the ends of two large canes, about fifteen feet long. They would arrange them- selves in a row, five to fifteen in number, on the edge of the - place where they wished to dip. They would then dip their nets in regular order, one net following right after the other. When one caught a fish he would throw it out of his net behind him, and never lose more than one dip. The whole party would yell every time there was a fish caught. "But the shad, like the springs, have long since disappeared from our river, and some can hardly believe that they were ever caught here. The clear, fresh water of the Chattahoochee must then have been much more congenial and inviting to these dainty fish than the turbid stream' of the present time, muddied by its passage through hundreds of thousands of acres of culti- vated ground and polluted by the sewerage filth of the towns and factories on its banks.
An old writer describes the natural beauties of the locality at that time as follows :
"The most fertile imagination could not conceive a place" more :enchanting than this is in reality. Neither is it deficient in the various natural capacities for the convenient transaction of business. Standing at the centre, the eye can feast the mind with contemplating the most delightful scenery, which raises a thousand romantic and poetic associations. The river on each side is adorned with forest, as beautiful as nature could make it ; and the channel is made rugged
/
EARLY COMMERCE.
and firm by the deposit* of immense heaps of solid rock. The rapids continue for a great distance, sometimes forcing the river down into a narrow channel of great depth and inconceivable swiftness. In the course of the descent of the river through some of these places, the torrent is opposed by rocks of immovable fixture, which throw it up into mountain waves, or dash it away in a wide expanse of beautiful white caps, counter currents, and eddies."
NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
It was apparent that these were great, and though the results that might reasonably have been contemplated have not yet been fully attained, the causes of the failure or delay® are also evident, and there is good reason to hope that all the anticipations of the past will yet be fully realized, if not by the agencies originally had in view, by others now progres- sively at work. The location being at the permanent head of navigation of a fine boatable stream, on the outskirts of continuous white settlement-with a strip of Indian territory sixty miles in width separating it from white civilization and commerce in Alabama, and this Indian country one of known fertility and beauty, whose opening to white settlement was only a question of time-there was good reason to anticipate for Columbus a rapid growth and far-reaching trade. For some time its trade by wagon and by the river was extensive, reaching from Apalachicola to the section of country now' including Heard, Carroll and Fulton counties, and embracing nearly all the region between the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. But railroads came from the east westward, and their general effect has been to carry trade to the east. The river trade has been nearly broken up, and railroads connecting with more eastern cities now traverse nearly all the country from which Columbus formerly derived her distant wagon trade. We may confidently hope for a considerable extension of trade from railroads now in course of construction, which will give us more direct communication with the great West; but unquestionably the safest reliance of Columbus for a steady advance in business and a permanent prosperity are
* Either this word does not exactly express the writer's meaning, or the river must then have moved rocks in its course as it moves sand now.
MANUFACTURING ADVANTAGES.
her great advantages for manufacturing. Her princely cotton mills, already finding all over the Union a ready sale for their superior fabrics, are her "jewels," of which she may well be . as proud as the Roman matron of her sons; and when we consider that not one-twentieth part of her great water power is yet appropriated, that she is in the very heart of the cotton growing region, with superior facilities both for obtaining the raw material and shipping the fabrics, and that the profits of the factories now in operation are sufficient to satisfy the cupidity of the most exacting capitalist, we cannot fail to see that this is the citadel of our strength-the firm foundation of a progress and prosperity that will yet realize all the expecta- tions ever indulged concerning Columbus. It is not probable that the utilization of this great water power was one of the objects contemplated in the selection of the site of Columbus, and good fortune rather than human sagacity favored the city in this respect.
WOTY.
W
PROSPECTUS.
The undersigned proposes to publish, in a volume of 150 or more pages, a History of Columbus, covering the period from the selection of the locality for a "trading town," in 1827, to the capture and partial destruction of the city by the Wilson Raid in 1865. The incidents will be derived mainly from its newspapers, which will be gleaned for this purpose with much care. It is believed that most of our citizens would like to have such incidents in this compact and conve- nient form, and will encourage the undertaking to the extent of the small amount asked for the work.
We issue and circulate these pages, containing the first chapter of the publication, as a sample of its form and style. Each chapter will contain short biographical sketches or notices of the principal citizens mentioned in it, who have since died. The volume will also embrace full information concerning the churches, factories, &c., now existing.
.
We do not propose to publish this compilation with a view to making money, as the small price asked for it will show. But at the same time we do not want to lose money by its pub- lication, and therefore we wish to limit the number of copies printed to the demand for the work. With this object in view, we send out this prospectus, inviting those who desire copies of the volume to send in their names. The price will be only one dollar per copy for a pamphlet bound volume, printed on paper like this specimen sheet. A small number of copies will also be issued on a superior article of paper for $1 30 per copy. Payable when the work is delivered, which will be some time next Fall.
THOS. GILBERT.
,
Columbus, Geo.,
FROM ITS
Selection as a "Trading Town' "
IN
1827,
TO ITS
/ Partial Destruction by Wilson's Raid,
IN
1865.
HISTORY-INCIDENT-PERSONALITY.
PART II-1846 TO 1865.
COMPILED BY JOHN H. MARTIN.
COLUMBUS, GA. PUBLISHED BY THOS. GILBERT, PRINTER AND BOOK-BINDER.
1875.
INDEX.
1846.
The Lower Bridge, page 5; Orphan Asylum, 6; Organization of City Light Guards, 6; Columbus Military Companies which served in Mexico, 6; City election, 7; "The Great Fire," 9, 10, 11; Incidents, 12; Personal, 13, 14, 15; Marriages, 15; Deaths, 15.
1847.
City Election, 17, 18; Destructive Fires, 18, 19; Location of Muscogee Railroad Depot, 20; City Subscription and the Muscogee Railroad, 21, 22; Howard Manufacturing Co., 22; Incidents, 22, 23; Personal, 23, 24 ; Marriages and Deaths, 24, 25, 26.
1848.
Election and Salaries, 26, 27; Organization of Fire Co. No. 2, 27; City sub- scription to Muscogee Railroad, 27, 28; City census, &c., 28, 29; Livery Stables burnt, 29 ; Cotton and grocery quotations, 30 ; Incidents, personal, marriages and deaths, 30, 31, 32, 33.
1849.
City's Prospects, 34 ; Election; 34, 35; Finances, 35; Fires, 35, 36 ; Columbus Factory, 36; Winter's Flouring (Palace) Mills, Temperance Hall, 36 ; Re- ceipts of Cotton, 37; Incidents, personal, &c., 37, 38, 39, 40, 41.
1850.
City election and salaries, 41, 42; Municipal taxes, 43; Mobile and Girard Railroad, 43; Incidents, personal, &c., 43, 44, 45, 46, 47.
1851.
Municipal election and city's finances, 48; Population, 49 ; Water Works and estimates, 49 ; Subscription to Mobile and Girard Railroad, 49, 50; Plank Roads, 50; Incidents, personal, &c., 50 to 54.
1852.
City election, 55; Value of real estate, 56; Opelika Branch Railroad, 56, 57; An Artesian Well, 57; Gas Company, 57, 58; Incidents, personal, &c., 58 to 62.
1853.
City Officials, 63; Water Works question, 63, 64, 65; Status of Railroad Subscriptions, 65, 66; Incidents, personal, &c., 66 to 71.
1854.
Change in city election, 71; A deputy sheriff killed, 72, 73 ; Opelika Branch Railroad Depot, 73, 74; Additional subscriptions to Mobile and Girard Railroad and Opelika Branch Railroad, 74; Visit of ex-President Fillmore, 74; Incidents, &c., 75 to 80.
IV
INDEX.
1855.
City Finances, 81 ; Sale of city stock in Muscogee Railroad, Opelika Branch Railroad finished, 81; Incidents, 82; Personal, &c., 83 to 86.
1856.
The annual city election, 86; Assets and liabilities of the city, 87 ; Up-town bridge, 88; Incidents, &c., 88 to 93.
1857.
Close Railroad Connections, 94; Military Companies, 94; The great sixteen mile race, 95, 96; Incidents, &c., 94 to 101.
1858.
Prosperous Year, 101; Report of Finance Committee, 103; Great revival of religion, 105 ; Fatal Railroad Disaster, 106; Incidents, &c., 104 to 109,
1859.
The new mode of city election, 110; The new bridge question, 110, 111; New Railroad projects, 111, 112; The Market question, 112; Destructive Warehouse Fires, 113; Temporary Synagogue consecrated, 113 ; Incidents, 112 to 115.
1860.
Indebtedness of the city, 117; Eagle Factory purchases the Howard, 118; Subscription to the Opelika and Talledega Railroad, 119; Tax Returns of the County, 119 ; Political excitement, 119, 120; Incidents, &c., 120 to 126.
1861.
Lively municipal contest, 126, 127; Political excitement, 127; Companies and muster rolls of same for the war, 128 to 142; Industries of the city, 142, 143; "Confederate Prices," 143; Incidents, &c., 143 to 147.
1862.
City officials for the year, 148; Large meeting of citizens, 148; "Muscogee" and "Price Volunteers" and rolls of same, 149, 150; Home Military Com- pany, 150; Cavalry companies and regimental officers, 150; Columbus Rebels and roll of same, 151, 152; Minute Boys, 152; Mounted Partisan Rangers, 152, 153 ; Warehouse burnt, 153; Incidents, &c., 153 to 157.
1863.
Municipal officers, 157; Destructive fires, 158; Local defence, 159; Inde- pendent Home Guard, 160; Registration of voters, 160; Incidents, per- sonal, &c., 161 to 165.
1864.
Unusual business activity, 166; Gen. Rosseau's raid, 167, 168; Incidents, &c., 168 to 173.
1865.
Feverish excitement, 174; Prices in January, 174, in February, 176; Inci- dents, personal, &c., 175 to 177; The Wilson raid, 178 to 185.
COLUMBUS, GA.
1846.
The Bridge Troubles-Military-Organization of Regiment for Mexican War-"The Great Fire."
The dispute between the city authorities and the people of Russell county about the crossing of the bridge was renewed this year. Some citizens of Alabama erected a toll gate and demanded toll at the western abutment of the bridge. The City Council, on the 18th of March, passed an ordinance requiring of every foot passenger in Russell county 62 cents for passing over the city bridge; also, to charge citizens of said county for wood, lumber, or anything previously passed free; also requiring the said ordinance to remain in effect so long as tolls are demanded at the toll-gate erected at the abut- ment of the bridge in the town of Girard, and that proper counsel be employed to use legal measures to have such toll- gate removed.
On the 10th of July Council appointed a committee, com- posed of John Banks, John R. Dawson and Kenneth McKen- zie, to confer with a committee appointed by the Court of Roads and Revenue of Russell county, Alabama, in relation to the adjustment of the existing difficulties in regard to the bridge.
In September the Commissioners' Court of Russell county rescinded the order for establishing a toll-gate near the west-
8
6
ORGANIZATION CITY LIGHT GUARDS.
ern end of the bridge, in Girard. Whereupon the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the crossing of agricultural produce, wood, &c., free of toll.
The Orphan Asylum (an institution undertaken by some of the ladies in 1844) was this year open for the reception of the orphan poor.
The City Light Guards were organized June 28th. The officers were, A. H. Cooper, Captain; D. P. Ellis, First Lieut .; A. G. Redd, Second ; S. K. Hodges, Third; Wm. H. Pruden, First Sergeant ; F. C. Johnson, Second ; J. M. Hughes, Third ; R. B. Kyle, Fourth; A. C. Brown, First Corporal; R. R. Hudgins, Second ; John Wilmer, Third ; J. A. L. Lee, Fourth.
This was the first year of the war with Mexico, and Co- lumbus shared largely in the excitement which it occasioned. The Governor of Georgia in response to a call by the Presi- dent of the United States, invited the enrollment of volun- teers, and Columbus was selected as the place of rendezvous of a regiment of infantry. The volunteers arrived about the middle of June, and were reviewed by Gov. Crawford. The officers of the regiment were H. R. Jackson, of Savannah, Colonel ; Thos. Y. Redd, of Columbus, Lieut. Colonel; Chas. J. Williams, of Columbus, Major; John Forsyth, of Colum- bus, Adjutant ; Jas. Kellogg, Colonel's Private Secretary ; S. M. McConnel, of Cherokee, Sergeant Major; B. F. McDonald, of Marietta, Q. M. Sergeant ; Drs. J. J. B. Hoxey and W. E. Beall, of Columbus, Surgeon and Assistant; Rev. Mr. Cairnes, Chaplain.
Principal Musicians, Geo. Gatehouse and Dennis Holland, of Savannah.
The following ten companies composed the regiment: We give the Captain of each and the officers in full of the three Columbus companies : Columbus Guards, Columbus-John E. Davis, Captain; John Forsyth, First Lieutenant; C. P. Hervey, Second; Roswell Ellis, First Sergeant; Jos. King, Second ; W. C. Holt, Third; W. C. Hodges, Fourth; W. G.
e
S
S
J
7
THE CITY ELECTION.
Andrews, First Corporal; V. D. Tharpe, Second ; Jas. Ham- ilton, Third ; R. A. McGibony, Fourth.
Crawford Guards, Columbus-John Jones, Captain ; R. G. Mitchell, First Lieutenant ; J. S. Dismukes, Second; T. Shoe- maker, First Sergeant ; H. S. Teasdale, Second ; A. M. Sauls, Third; D. A. Winn, Fourth; John May, First Corporal; John Lochaby, Second ; James B. Wells, Third ; . N. J. Peabody, Fourth.
Georgia Light Infantry, Columbus-J. S. Calhoun, Cap- tain; E. R. Goulding, First Lieutenant ; H. C. Anderson, Sec- ond; W. B. Philips, First Sergeant ; A. B. Hoxey, Second ; W. T. Smith, Third ; M. H. Blandford, Fourth ; R. H. How- ard, First Corporal; A. Scott, Second ; Thos. Reynolds, Third; Geo. Lindsay, Fourth.
The other companies were Canton Volunteers, Cherokee county ; Richmond Blues, Augusta ; Macon Guards, Macon ; Fannin Avengers, Pike County ; Kennesaw Rangers, Cobb county ; Sumter County Volunteers; Jasper Greens, Savan- nah. Regiment numbered 893 men.
The regiment was presented with a United States Flag by Miss Mary Ann Howard (the late Mrs. Chas. J. Williams) which was received by Col. Jackson. The regiment left on Sunday, June 28th, crossed on the lower bridge, crowds of people looking on, and marched to Chehaw, and railroaded to Montgomery and were carried thence to Mexico, where they remained twelve months, but had no part in the many bat- tles, but were engaged in several skirmishes. City Council gave $300 to Columbus Guards.
The city election, on the first Saturday in January, result- ed in the choice of John G. Winter as Mayor, without oppo- sition, and the following gentlemen as Aldermen : 1st Ward, W. S. Holstead, J. C. Ruse; 2d Ward, Dr. M. Woodruff, Dr. S. A. Billing; 3rd Ward, R. N. R. Bardwell; 4th Ward, John Quin; 5th Ward, N. M. C. Robinson, J. L. Morton ; 6th Ward, B. F. Coleman, Jos. Wiggins. Dr. Stewart in the 3rd
-
1
2
8
HELP FOR THE POOR.
and J. H. Shorter in the 4th, were the next highest candi- dates in their respective Wards, but as the law required a clear majority to elect, and the votes were divided among several candidates in each of these Wards, only one was chosen in each. Col. Winter received 498 votes, and no candi- date receiving less than 400 was elected an Alderman. We compute the whole number of votes cast at about 620.
At a subsequent special election for Aldermen of the 3rd and 4th Wards, Dr. Stewart was elected for the 3rd, and J. H. Shorter for the 4th.
The following officers were elected by the City Council : Wm. Brooks, Marshal ; J. M. Hughes, Deputy Marshal ; C. Stratton, Clerk; G. W. Turrentine, Treasurer ; Richard Burt, Bridge Keeper ; W. Tilly, Clerk of the Market ; Mrs. McGehee, Hospital Keeper.
From the Treasurer's report we learn that the receipts of the city for the year 1845 were $24,696, including cash on hand at the beginning of the year $1,956. The expenditures were $24,696, including $24 cash on hand. The revenue from the bridge was $9,717. The city debt at that time was $56,655, of which $30,000 was due to John G. Winter on account of a loan.
The Enquirer of the 24th of January congratulated the city on the prospect of the construction of the Southwestern Railroad at an early day. It announced the opening of books of subscription at Macon, Columbus, and intermediate places.
Messrs. B. Beasly, F. Toby and M. N. Clark, who had been appointed to assess the cash valuation of the real estate in the city, reported in March that they made the total valuation $1,233,245, being $40,950 more than that of the previous year.
The city authorities this year manifested much concern for the proper care of the poor within its limits. Alderman Woodruff was active and zealous in this behalf. Council requested the Superior Court of Muscogee county to levy 10
9
THE GREAT FIRE.
per cent. upon the State tax upon persons and property in the city for the support of the poor. In April an ordinance was adopted providing for the election annually of a Board of Commissioners of the Poor, whose duty it should be to ascer- tain the necessities of the poor and distribute the fund raised for their relief. Asa Pond, Wm. Amos, Lewis C. Allen, Theobold Howard and M. Woodruff were elected Com- missioners.
The first Mayor's Court of the city was organized this year, under authority of an act of the Legislature, and a code of ordinances defining the offences coming within the juris- diction of the Court was adopted.
The bridge tolls this year were appropriated exclusively to the payment of the debt due to the State of Georgia.
The most disastrous fire the city ever sustained occurred on the morning of October 9th, this year. The fire origina- ted in the wood and blacksmith shops of Marcus D. Jones, on Oglethorpe street, northwest of the court-house, and burnt the two blocks between St. Clair and Crawford and Ogle- thorpe and Front streets except the Fontaine House, most of the two blocks south of these, and the flames thence went westward to the river. The fire was arrested one-half square below the bridge, and one square above the boat landing. The loss in houses, goods, furniture, &c., was estimated at $250,000. The number of sufferers about 700-400 of whom were greatly injured. No loss of life. Mr. Mariner received a lick and fell from the second story of the City Hotel. The fire swept down the most of five squares, and a few houses of the sixth square. It consumed the livery stable of James Bradford & Co., and all the houses between that and Janny's foundry (the latter was saved). The shop on the corner north (where Muscogee Home now is) occupied by T. and E. Reid, gin makers, was consumed, also the large wooden building known as City Hotel, owned by D. McDougald (Georgia Home Bank building is now on the site). The wind
10
THE GREAT FIRE.
blew briskly south west. The market-house, then at the in- tersection of Broad and St. Clair streets, caught and was consumed, and then the flames took down southward on both sides of Broad street. On the east side were consumed the goods of Reuben Shorter; James Ligon, groceries and provisions ; Lesterget's do .; Charles Kendall's do .; T. Sanders' cabinet shop; Dr. Thos. Hoxey's shop and medi- cines ; I. B. Hoxey's grocery ; I. G. & J. B. Strupper's goods and residence ; Hamilton & Co's clothing and $300 in cash ; J. Kivlin's Sans Souci and residence, worth $15,000, insur- ance $5,000; John Ligon & Tilley's grocery; Shaeffer's gun shop; Thomas Treadwell's residence ; Turean's grocery ; J. S. Norman's saddle shop and one story house; Dr. Young's office ; Chas. Fuch's bakery; Phil. Reynolds and J. Rowe's bar-room; McIntosh Row, occupied by Theobold Howard and others, as residences; Dillingham's corner, owned by Wells & Toby ; Henry Matthew's residence; Rev. W. D. Cairnes' building ; W. P. Baker's and Mrs. Tichnor's resi- dences and Miss Edmundson's school room. Here the fire on the east side of Broad was stopped. It had swept two squares south, consuming every house on the first from St. Clair street, except Janny's foundry, the old theatre, a small grocery, and on the square south of Crawford everything except a few houses on the side west of the court-house.
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