USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 58
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Ilon. John Sereven was elected mayor in 1869, together with alder- men Alfred Haywood. Samuel T. Scranton, John O .. Ferrill, Richard J. Davant, John Schwarz. Moses J. Solomons, Andrew M. Sloan, William H. Tison, Michael Lavin, George N. Nichols, James O'Byrne. William M. Davidson, and Augustus P. Wetter.
Col. John Sereven was again elected mayor in 1870, and was assisted by aldermen Robert HI. Footman, M. JJ. Solomons. G. N. Nichols, A. Haywood, J. O. Ferrill. M. Lavin, John Schwarz, Edward C. Anderson. Jr., M. H. Meyer, John T. Ronan, Christopher C. Casey and John R. Dillon.
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Col. John Sereven was elected for the third time in succession in 1871, as mayor, with a board of aldermen composed of A. Haywood. R. H. Footman. John Schwarz. J. O. Ferrill, Marmaduke Hamilton, George Cornwell, William Hunter, Francis J. Ruekort. William MeLeod, William S. Basinger. Christopher White and A. G. MeArthur. The term of that board did not expire until January, 1873, when they were succeeded by the following :
Mayor, Edward C. Anderson; and aldermen, John A. Donglass. John MeMahon, Edward Lovell. Thomas H. Harden. H. Brigham. A. P. Wetter, Jolm Cunningham. M. HI. Meyer. J. L. Villalonga. Francis Blair, Isaac Brummer. R. D. Arnold. G. Moxley Sorrel, S. Il. Eckman. and Thomas Ballantyne, who served until 1875, when the following took up the reins of government :
Edward C. Anderson, mayor : and aldermen, John McMahon. J. 1 .. Villalonga. F. Blair, M. Il. Meyer. E. Lovell, HI. Brigham, Thomas Ballantyne, John A. Douglass, R. D. Arnold (who died on the 10th of July, 1876. and whose funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the city), S. H. Eckman, John Cunningham, G. M. Sorrel, John M. Wil- liams, Fred. M. Hull and James F. Watkins.
Serving from 1877 to 1879, the board was composed of Jomm F. Wheaton, mayor ; and aldermen. Samuel P. Hamilton, John Schwarz. William H. Tison, Henry F. Willink, Daniel G. Purse, James II. Johns- ton, Edward Lovell. C. E. Groover, William Duncan, J. J. Waring. John R. Hamlet, J. K. Reilly, John C. Rowland and George C. Freeman.
From 1879 to 1881 the board stood as follows:
Jolin F. Wheaton, mayor: and aldermen. Elias A. Weil, H. F. Wil- link, J. R. Hamlet, John Schwarz, William Duncan, D. G. Purse, Daniel O'Connor. E. Lovell. Thomas Ballantyne, George C. Freeman, Henry Blun, and Louis H. de Montmollin.
For two years, beginning in January, 1881, the following served the city as members of council :
Mayor, John F. Wheaton ; and aldermen. S. P. Hamilton, Michael J. Doyle. G. C. Freeman, William Dunean, John Schwarz, Joseph 1. Roberts, William E. Gerard, Charles C. Hardwick, D. O'Connor, Simon E. Byck, Jacob J. Abrams and A. J. Aylesworth.
From 1883 to 1885: Mayor, Rufus E. Lester; aldermen. Joseph .I. Wilder. J. R. Hamlet. J. Florance Minis, William B. Mell, John Deist. Daniel R. Thomas, David Wells, Samuel P. Hamilton, George N. Nichols, Edward M. Green. Andrew Hanley and Patrick J. O 'Connor.
From 1885 to 1887: Mayor, Rufus E. Lester ; and aldermen, Robert D. Bogart, William Duncan. John Derst. S. P. Hamilton, J. R. Haut !! Herman Myers, George JJ. Mills. William B. Mell, George N. Nicho! P. J. O'Connor, D. R. Thomas, David Wells, and James R. Sheldon.
From 1887 to 1889: Mayor, Rufus E. Lester; and aldermen. R. I Bogart, William Duncan. George S. Haines, Herman Myers. John J MeDonough. G. J. Mills. W. B. Mell. G. N. Nichols, William F. R. ; . John Schwarz. D. R. Thomas, David Wells and Charles S. Ellis.
From 1889 to 1891: Mayor. John Schwarz; aldermen. Williatt P Bailey, William G. Cann, Lonis A. Falligant, Richard F. Har! ! Raymond B. Harris, John J. MeDonough. G. J. Mills, Herman Mais.
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G. N. Nichols, W. F. Reid, Elton A. Smith, David Wells, George S. Haines and John A. G. Carson.
After one term of successful serviee, John Schwarz retired in 1891, and John J. MeDonongh succeeded him with a board of aldermen com- prising William P. Bailey, W. G. Cann, J. A. G. Carson, G. S. Haines, R. F. Harmon, R. B. Ilarris, Peter W. Meldrim, G. J. Mills. Herman Myers, James McGuire, William I. O'Brien, W. F. Reid, Walter G. Charlton and Merritt W. Dixon.
Re-elected in 1893, Hon. John J. MeDonough had an aldermanic board named as follows: William M. Bohan, W. G. Cann, M. W. Dixon, William Dunean, G. S. Haines, R. B. Harris, Thomas HI. MeMillan, G. J. Mills, Herman Myers, W. I. O'Brien, Thomas Sereven, David Wells, Thomas A. Folliard, Walter G. Charlton, Charles D. Baldwin and George II. Remshart.
Hon. Herman Myers succeeded John J. McDonough as mayor in 1895, and he was ably supported by a board of aldermen comprised of IIal HI. Bacon, J. J. Carolan, Louis A. Falligant, William Garrard, Edward C. Gleason. George A. IIndson, Henry Kolshorn, C. A. Lamotte, Thomas Sereven, George W. Tiedeman, W. J. Watson, Harry Willink, Daniel B. Lester and Adolph Leffler.
In 1897, Hon. Peter W. Meldrim was elected head of city council, with the following aldermanic board: Samuel P. Hamilton, William W. Owens, Thomas J. Davis. Thomas S. Wylly, Jr., Robert M. Hull, John W. Smith, A. S. Guckenheimer. S. Krouskoff, Arthur L. Weil, W. F. Reid, Thomas F. O'Connell, Walter G. Charlton, William Dunean, J. B. Johnson and D. R. Thomas.
Herman Myers became mayor again in 1899, and the aldermanic board contained the names of George W. Tiedeman, Thomas Sereven, J. P. Williams, David Wells, John Schwarz, James M. Dixon, II. H. Bacon, Joseph G. Jarrell, G. J. Mills, D. R. Thomas, Isaac G. Haas, St. J. B. Graham, Michael J. Doyle and John J. Horrigan.
Re-elected in 1901, Herman Myers had as his board of aldermen for two years James M. Dixon, HIal H. Bacon, W. C. Fripp, John J. Horrigan, Edwin M. Frank, E. A. M. Schroder, Francis Fitch -Jones, John F. Canty, Robert L. Holland, W. J. Watson. Daniel D. Thomas and Robert L. Colding, but Alderman Fripp did not serve out his term and A. J. Garfunkel was elected in his place.
For the next two years, 1903-1905, the board stood thus: Mayor, Ilerman Myers; and aldermen, JJ. M. Dixon. A. J. Garfunkel, E. A. M. Schroder, J. F. Canty, J. II. McKenna, William L. Grayson, George L. Harmon, D. R. Thomas, J. F. Glatigny, W. H. Wright, Richard J. Davant and F. M. Oliver; and the same board served two years more, by re-election, until 1907. when the following were elected :
1907-1909: Mayor, George W. Tiedeman: aldermen. Richard J. Davant, Frank C. Battey, Albert II. Entelman, J. D. Epps. G. Arthur Gorgon, A. S. Guckenheimer. J. D. Gandry. M. J. Kavanaugh, J. F. Perritt, C. G. Wilkinson, IL. E. Wilson and W. F. MeCauley.
For the two years from 1909 to 1911 the same board served, except that during that period changes were made whereby J. II. H. Entelman, Robert M. Hull, Abram Vetsburg, Craig Barrow, and H. S. Meinhard
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took the places of the same number of aldermen who retired, and served for a portion of the time; and it should be borne in mind that in the lists of this sort printed in this work wherever more than twelve names occur in the board of aldermen during any year the reason therefor is that some of those regularly elected retired before the expiration of the term and others were chosen to fill the vacancies oceurring in that way.
The board elected in 1911 was composed of mayor, George W. Tiede- man; and aldermen, F. C. Battey, Craig Barrow. J. H. H. Entelman, J. B. Gaudry, H. B. Grimshaw, R. M. Hull, HI. L. Kayton, W. F. McCauley, II. S. Meinhard, M. J. O'Leary, J. F. Sullivan, and C. G. Wilkinson.
In January of the present year. 1913. Richard J. Davant was elected mayor, with the following board of aldermen: W. J. Pierpont, W. H. Wright, E. A. M. Schroder. John W. Daniel, John E. Foy, Henry H. Livingston, William W. Williamson, J. C. Slater. George B. Elton, William A. Pigman. H. L. Kayton, and II. B. Grimshaw ; and they will serve the city until Jannary, 1915.
We will now devote our attention to some facts which do not require any special and extended notice, but which are worthy of reeord.
The present market house, begun in 1870, was finished in 1872. We have given a history of the market places from the incorporation of Sa- vannah to that time; but the first Savannah market was built in Wright Square. Acts were passed in the Provincial Assembly in relation to the market in 1755, 1758. 1759, 1763 and 1764. The act of 1763 authorized the removal of "the buildings and stalls now ereeted and used for a market in the centre of a Square of the said town of Savannah, ealled Wright's Square," and commissioners were "authorized to lay out a proper spaee or quantity of ground in a square # *
* called Ellis's Square." De Brahm, before the Revolution, recorded the fact that there were six market places in Savannah.
VISIT OF GENERAL GRANT
It was considered the proper thing to extend a special invitation to Gen. U. S. Grant to include this eity in his southern tour in the winter of 1879-80, and council formally invited him on the 24th of Deeember to stop over in Savannah, which he did, and he was cordially received.
So intensely shocked were the people on the occasion of the attack on the life of President James A. Garfield that on July 6, 1881, conneil adopted a resolution declaring that "the mayor and aldermen, speaking for all classes of citizens, have heard with intense horror of the attempt to assassinate the president of the United States," and "hoping that the life and services of the distinguished victim will be spared to the country and his family, " and, on his death, resolutions of regret were adopted and it was ordered that the council chamber be draped in black for thirty days, a meeting of citizens was held for the purpose of taking action expressive of their feelings, at which the the business places were closed.
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SAVANNAII'S SESQUI-CENTENNIAL
In February, 1883, the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the colony of Georgia was celebrated in a proper way, and the occasion was much more elaborately observed than was the one hundredth anniversary in 1833. Governor Alexander H. Stephens was present, and made an impressive address, his very last, in the Savannah Theater, and during his stay in the city he was taken ill and diedl shortly after his return to Atlanta, where the funeral services were attended by the mayor and aldermen of Savannah on the 8th of March. Four days before, that body adopted resolutions feelingly expressive of the loss of such a man to the state and to the world.
In April, 1883, President Chester A. Arthur visited Savannah, but was entertained privately.
On the 27th of November, 1885, the citizens met and did honor to the memory of Vice-President Thomas A. Hendricks, and Mayor Rufus E. Lester issued a proclamation requesting the suspension of business generally on the 1st of December, "during the hours of the funeral services of the illustrious dead, that proper respect might be paid to the memory of one whose life and character commended him to the esteen and affection of his countrymen."
On the 14th of September, 1886, an earthquake did considerable damage to many buildings in the city; but the effects were far less disastrous here than in Charleston.
The occasion of the visit of Postmaster-General Walter Q. Gresham in 1884 was considered of such importance that he was the guest of the city, and council gave him a reception which was arranged by a committee consisting of Aldermen Edward M. Green, George N. Nichols and Daniel R. Thomas.
The following year, on the 24th of January, the Hon. Carl Schurz was likewise honored, and Aldermen John Derst, S. P. Hamilton and Andrew Hanley made all the preparations for his entertainment.
JASPER MONUMENT
On the 22d of February, 1888, the monument to Sergt. William Jasper, erected through the exertions of the Jasper Momment Asso- ciation, was unveiled, and the oration of the day was delivered by Gen. John B. Gordon. At that time President Cleveland visited Savan- nah. On learning of the contemplated tour of the president, city council, on the 6th of Angust, 1887, adopted a resolution inviting him, Mrs. Cleveland, and the members of the cabinet, to visit the city, and the invitation was sent on the 14th of February. 1888. The time of the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland happened to be the same day as the nuveiling of the monument, which was designed by the distinguished sculptor, Alexander Doyle.
In the same year Gen. Robert H. Anderson, an ex-officer of the Confederate army and then the chief of police of the city, died, on the Sth of February. So popular was that gallant soklier and efficient city officer that his funeral was made a publie event and the whole city was in mourning. All offices were closed, and the police barracks was
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elad in sable for thirty days. Council adopted resolutions of "grateful appreciation of his merit and efficiency as a public servant who lived without stain and died without fear and without reproach," and his work as head of the police force is thus mentioned in the report of the committee appointed to draft the resolutions:
"General Anderson was eminently fitted by education, experience, and inclination for the high duty assigned. He formed and managed his department upon the basis of military discipline. He introduced a spirit of soldierly cohesion. He cultivated respect for rank, and imbued his force with a true esprit de corps. The members soon recog- nized and approved a discipline which. if exact. was just and impartial and maintained the integrity of the body. The dignity of the com- mander pursued its cahn and even tenor without degenerating into the familiarity of the companion, but it yielded always on occasion to the sympathy and kindness of the friend. Not only the efficiency of the body was sedulously sought, but the rights and comforts of the members were steadily maintained. The result was the attainment of a force equal if not superior to any in the land." In the beautiful cemetery of Bonaventure a monument was erected by the force which he had so successfully commanded, and its dedieation on the 22d of February, 1894, was attended by city council and by nearly the whole population of Savannah.
Because of his great labor in behalf of the improvement of the harbor, council, on the 16th of May, 1888, tendered a vote of thanks to United States Senator Joseph E. Brown.
By invitation of the same body the legislature of the state visited the city in October, 1889, and the members were entertained at the public expense. In December of the same year the citizens met at the call of Mayor John Schwarz. to take action on the death of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate states, and the resolution calling the meeting contained this language: "The exalted and representative character of the distinguished dead, his eminent public services, and the affection felt for him by our people, all recommend a public recognition of the sad event."
In June, 1890, council appropriated $1.000 for the entertainment of the Alabama Press Association which visited the city on the 17th of that month ; and in January. 1896, the city took steps to entertain the newspaper men of Rhode Island and others in the party stopping in their passage through Savannah to pay tribute to the memory of Gen. Nathanial Greene. Mayor Herman Myers invited the Georgia Society of Sons of the Revolution, and the Savannah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to co-operate with him in entertaining the. visitors, when ceremonies suitable to the occasion were observed at the monument to that hero of the Revolution.
Council, in 1890, assented to measures put on foot to honor the memory of two distinguished Confederate officers. On the 7th of Feb- ruary, as recorded in their minutes. "in recognition of the distinguished character of Gen. Lafayette MeLaws," it agreed to "tender to those charged with the duty of erecting a tablet or monument to his memory any site in the public domain or reservations that may be mitnally agreed upon, the site to be conferred by ordinance"; and during the same year the same action was taken in regard to a memorial of Gen.
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Francis S. Bartow. The memorials, through the great efforts of Capt. Daniel G. Purse, were provided for and were executed in the form of bronze busts on stone pedestals, and were first placed in Chippewa square-that of General MeLaws facing north at the Hull street side of the square and that of General Bartow facing south at the Perry street side of the square. These monuments have since been removed to the positions they now occupy in the lot in which the Confederate monu- ment stands in the parade ground south of Forsyth park.
In November, 1899, the state division of United Confederate Vet- erans was held in Savannah, and council appropriated $500 towards paying the expenses of the. entertainment of them.
DEATH OF HON. JOHN SCREVEN
On the occasion of the death of Col. John Sereven, who had been thriee mayor of the city, council ordered his portrait in the mayor's office draped in black for thirty days, and appointed a committe to draft resolutions. That committee reported on the 24th of January. 1900, in which it was said "Savannah has lost a distinguished son whose life was characterized by pure principles, exceptional attainments and rare culture. As a citizen he was ever public-spirited. Of liberal education, he was broad in his views and unrestrained in his actions by narrow prejudices or petty ambitions. Governed by a high sense of duty, in his public career he exemplified the wishes and accomplishments that marked him in private life. He carried to every post of activity a scrupulous regard for what he conceived to be to the highest interests of the community with which his entire life had been identified. His three elections to an office (mayor) held in high honor demonstrated the esteem and approbation of his fellow-citizens."
The Lawton Memorial building. on the southwest corner of Bull and Anderson streets, was begun in July, 1897, and was opened to the public on the 2nd of Mareh, 1899. It was erected in response to the wish of Mrs. Sarah A. Lawton, widow of Gen. Alexander Lawton, as expressed in her will, as a memorial of her husband and her daughter. It is in- tended for public use, and is in constant demand for leetures, concerts, and other entertainments. For a long time it has been used on Sundays as a place of worship by the Westminster Presbyterian congregation.
SAVANNAH AND SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Admiral George Dewey was the guest of the city from March 20th to the 22d, 1900. The city gave many of its young men to the army during the trouble of the United States with Spain at this period, and on the 28th of May, 1898. couneil adopted a resolution naming Mayor Peter W. Meldrim as chairman of a committee, the others to be appointed by him, to go to Washington and negotiate for the securing, if possible, of a United States military camp here. For that purpose the sum of $5,000 was appropriated. and on the 27th of October the amount was increased to the extent of $1,500. In the late summer troops began to move tlwough the city, and in the fall the Seventh Army Corps, under Maj .- Gen: Fitzhugh Lee, camped in the city. The ladies determined to provide for the troops a substantial dinner on Thanksgiving day
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when they bountifully fed with choice food all the troops quartered here, estimated to be not less than fifteen thousand. President MeKinley, his eabinet, Generals Wheeler, Shafter. Lawton, and many army officers besides were gathered within the city's limits during the month of Deeember, and on the 17th a review of the troops was held in the park extension, or parade ground, all the soldiers, over twelve thousand, passing before the president and the other distinguished visitors. A banquet was given that night at the De Soto hotel.
SOUTH BOUND RAILROAD
Of recent years mueh has been done by the eity to encourage the building of railroads intending to bring trade hither. In March, 1890, eouneil provided for the transfer of certain lots to the South Bound Railroad Company at a reasonable price, on condition that the railroad be built and in aetual operation between Savannah and Columbia, South Carolina, within two years. The condition named was complied with, and on the 21st of January, 1891, all the lands in question passed by title to the company. The South Bound railroad was opened for busi- ness in 1892, when the merchants of Columbia and stations between that eity and Savannah were invited to this place and were entertained as our guests, the eonnnittee of council appointed to look after their comfort being Aldermen John A. G. Carson, George S. Haines and William I. O'Brien. That road is now a part of the extensive Seaboard Air Line System.
A resolution was adopted in eouneil on the 22d of September, 1890, to sell the eity's interets in lands on Hutchinson's Island to the Middle Georgia & Atlantie Railroad Company for the small sum of $2,500. The land was estimated to contain five hundred and sixty aeres, and is on the eastern side of the island. Certain requirements had to be aecepted by the company before title should pass from the eity, and they were not complied with; but an agreement was made between the city and the Georgia & Alabama Terminal Company on the 19th of Oeto- ber, 1898, on precisely the same terms, the title to be made whenever the company should lay on said island the terminal traek from the ter- minals proposed to be built to the point of crossing over the Savannah river, and other evidenees of a determination to improve the property. The deal was made effective, and the extensive structures now known as the Seaboard Air Line terminal resulted from it, the amount ex- pended on the same being far in excess of one million dollars.
In 1892 and 1893, sales on most reasonable terms were made by the eity to the Maeon, Dublin & Savannah Railroad Company, and to the Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad Company of lots in Springfield plantation.
The eity sold to the Savannah Union Station Company, on the 27th of September, 1900, for the purchase price of $9.822.50, a lot on the northwest corner of Gwinnett and West Boundary streets, on which the substantial and well-arranged Union depot was ereeted.
PUBLIC LIBRARY ESTABLISHED AND CITY HALL BUILT
About this time the Hon. Herman Myers, who was one of the most progressive and publie-spirited mayors Savannah has ever had, put
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forth efforts to provide the city with a suitable city hall and a public library-both of which he felt were demanded without delay. In his annual report for the year 1903 he refers to these important matters in such a clear and distinct manner that his words may with the greatest propriety be used here in describing the successful conclusion of his efforts in those directions: "The need of a new, modern, prop- erly-equipped and large enough publie building to meet the requirements of the municipal government of a growing city has long been aeknowl- edged. * In Savannah no one carries a visitor to the city hall withont an apology for its appearance. * Feeling that the time has at last arrived in the onward march of Savannah, when the spirit of its citizens should approve, and its financial condition permit, of the erection of a hall that would be an ornament to the city and a satisfaction to its people, and which would meet the increasing neces- sities of the government for a century to come, I recommended in my last annual address that council take steps to this end. The suggestion met with an immediate favorable response from this board and with general approval from the public. A special committee of five was appointed. Plans were advertised for. A number were received, which, after thorough examination by the committee, were rejected. Architect H. W. Witcover of this city was then engaged to prepare plans under the direction of the committee. As a result of his work, suitable plans were adopted, and bids advertised for, which will be submitted to couneil at an early date. with the recommendation of the committee.
"The hall it is proposed to ereet will eost about $150.000. Its gen- eral appearance is well known to the publie, and it is unnecessary to refer at length to its beautiful exterior or the admirable arrangement of the interior. The building will be one in which all citizens will feel a direet personal pride. It will typify the twentieth century Savannalı, the Savannah of indomitable energy, of pushing progressiveness, guided by an invincible determination to place the city on a parity with its sisters of all sections in everything that contributes to the material well-being of its people-that spirit which has developed here so rap- idly in the past few years and which, we confidently believe. is destined to insure a future of unparelleled development." The building was finished and the final payment of $63,484 paid on the contraet in 1906, in which year Mayor Meyer said: "Of the new city hall, it is neces- sary to make more than a passing reference. We can justly regard it as one of the monuments of this administration. Visitors from all parts of the country have, during the past twelve months, praised it. Not only has it given the innnicipal government a home worthy of a city of Savannah's importance, but the building of the hall out of the city's regular funds has been an excellent advertisement for the eity's financial condition and has indicated to the world Savannah's spirit of determination to advance at least in keeping with the progress of its sister eities, if not to exeel them in many ways."
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