USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > History of Savannah, Ga.; from its settlement to the close of the eighteenth century > Part 16
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486
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
General G. M. Sorrel is general manager of the Ocean Steamship Company. The general officers of the system are as follows : President, E. P. Alexander ; cashier, T. M. Cunningham ; general manager, Cecil Gabbett ; general manager Ocean Steamship Company, G. M. Sorrel ; comptroller, Edward McIntyre ; traffic manager, W. F. Shellman ; gen- eral freight agent, G. A. Whitehead ; general passenger agent, E. T. Charlton ; general counsel, Pat Calhoun.
The Central Rail Road and Banking Company is the greatest single instrumentality of advancement in this section of the country, and its splendid ocean steamships, extensive wharves, elevators, compresses, ter- minal facilities and banking houses, are magnificent monuments to the wisdom of its founders. Savannah has a particular reason to be proud of the " old Central," through whose achievements in no little degree is due her present wealth and population.
Savannah, Florida and Western Railway, a worthy contemporary of the Central, was first known as the Savannah and Albany Railroad. Under this title a charter was secured and an organization effected in 1853. Dr. John P. Screven was the president of the company until his death, and to his foresight and energy the State of Georgia and the city of Savannah are in a great measure indebted for this enduring monument of his public skill and wisdom. With Dr. Screven were associated Col- onel Nelson Tift, the earliest projector of railroads in Northern Georgia, John Stoddard, Hiram Roberts, William Duncan, H. D. Weed, and Dr. R. D. Arnold.
In 1854 the name of the company was changed to the Savannah, Al- bany and Gulf Railroad Company. The importance of securing for the city of Savannah the business of southern Georgia and Florida was per- ceived by the citizens of Savannah, and a subscription of one million dol- . lars was obtained from the city toward building the road. About this time a charter was obtained by another company named the Atlanta and Gulf Railroad Company for the construction of the line west of Screven station, sixty-eight miles from Savannah, for which State aid was obtained amounting to one million dollars, while the city of Savannah also sub- scribed two hundred thousand dollars. The latter company, however, consolidated with the Savannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad Company in 1863.
487
RAILROADS.
The road was completed to Thomasville when the war began, when further progress was arrested until 1867 when it was opened to Bain- bridge. During the period of the war the company derived no profit from the property, and when the Confederacy terminated, the road was almost a ruin. For nearly one-third of its length the track was torn up and the depots and bridges burned. The work of re-construction, however, be- gan soon after the war closed, and the road was opened for business in March, 1866. In the same year it was connected with the Florida Rail- road at Lawton.
For some years after the war the road proved an unprofitable invest- ment. The impoverished condition of the territory through which it then passed as well as unwise management, threatened its very existence. ยท At this critical period Mr. H. B. Plant, with some other capitalists, bought the property, and under his management it has become a giant in the railroad world. After its purchase by its present owners its name was changed to the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railway Company, but is best known as the " Plant system."
The policy of its management has been comprehensive, far-seeing and sagacious, and it is now one of the best equipped railroads in the coun- try. It has made connections, opened up new industries, tapped fresh regions of trade and created remunerative business. The line runs from Charleston through Savannah to the Chattahoochee river, and to Jack- sonville, with branches to Albany, Bainbridge, Gainesville, Brunswick, Port Tampa, Thomasville and Monticello, with a steamship line from Tampa to Havana and Key West. Its own proprietary and leased lines make more than eight hundred miles under one management.
The business in naval stores was the creation of this company. A few years ago the State of Georgia did little in this line, and to-day it is the largest naval stores market in the world. In 18;3 the production of naval stores was 19,000 barrels. In 1884 it was 425.761 barrels, and in 1887 it was 787,337 barrels.
One of the most important enterprises of the company was to build a short line from Waycross to Jacksonville, seventy-six miles, which re-' duces the distance by rail from Savannah to Jacksonville, to 172 miles. This line is known as the Waycross and Florida Railroad Company, and is under separate management, but belongs to the " Plant System." H.
488
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
S. Haines is president of the road, and William P. Hardee is secretary and treasurer. Another bold and progressive step of this company was the extension of the road from Bainbridge Junction to Chattahoochee, linking it to the great west by a connection at Chattahoochee with the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, making a shorter route from the sea coast cities to Pensacola, Macon and New Orleans.
It will be seen that the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway has done a wonderful work. Aside from its local traffic in the orange Eldor- ado of the world, that wonderful sanitarium of the invalid, it is now the vital part of a great trunk line and the channel for foreign travel. Its officers are : H. B. Plant, president ; W. S. Chisholm, vice-president ; R. B. Smith, secretary ; H. S. Haines, general manager ; R. G. Fleming, superintendent ; A. A. Aveilhe, assistant superintendent ; W. B. McKee, comptroller ; W. P. Hardee, general freight and passenger agent ; J. M. Lee, treasurer ; W. W. Dowell, cashier ; O. W. Jackson, master trans- portation ; C. D. Owens, traffic manager.
The Savannah and Tybee Railroad Company was incorporated in No- vember, 1885. The construction of the road from Savannah to Tybee Beach, a distance of nineteen miles, was commenced in August, 1886, and completed in April, 1887. To Captain D. G. Purse, the president of the company, must be given principal credit for the accomplishment of this long desired road. Mr. Purse's grandfather Thomas Purse, was prominently identified with the construction of the first railroad in Geor- gia. Since the construction of the Tybee Railroad, Tybee Island has be- come easy of access, and is now the most popular resort of Savannahians.
BANKS.
Savannah passed through the monetary troubles incident to the disas- ters of the War of 1812, the bankruptcies of 1837, the monetary troubles of 1842, and the national panic of 1857 with unusual credit. But during the late civil war all of the Savannah banks invested in Confederate bonds and currency, and when the war ended all except the Central Railroad Bank were obliged to suspend. Besides the Central there were in success- ful operation previous to, and during the war, the Bank of the State of Georgia, Planters, Farmers and Mechanic's, Marine, Bank of Commerce, and the Bank of Savannah.
Enzy FG Kran & CINY
D.G. Runde
489
BANKS.
The oldest bank in Savannah is that of the Central Rail Road and Banking Company. It was incorporated in 1836. It, in connection with the railroad has had a most prosperous career. The policy of the bank has always been a conservative one, and it has thus been enabled to withstand the storms of severe crises and panics. The capital of the company is $7,500,000. The officers of the bank are : E. P. Alexander, president; T. M. Cunningham, cashier ; A. G. Ulmer, assistant cashier; directors, E. P. Alexander, S. M. Inman, C. H. Phinizy, E. M. Greene, J. C. Calhoun, A. Vetsburg, H. T. Inman, P. Calhoun, J. K. Garnett, Joe Hull, Evan P. Howell and James Swan. The bank building is located at No. 115 Bay street.
The Merchants National Bank was incorporated in 1866. Its present capital is $500,000. This was one of the first banks of Savannah to re- sume business after the war. It is located on the northeast corner of Drayton and St. Julian streets. The officers are: J. L. Hammond, pres- ident; S. P. Hamilton, vice-president; Thomas Gadsden, cashier; direct- ors, M. Maclean, F. M. Bloodworth, G. L. Cope, S. P. Hamilton, S. Guckenheimer, S. Herman and J. L. Hammond.
The Savannah Bank and Trust Company was organized in 1869, and has a capital of $400,000, Its officers are : J. D. Weed, president : J. C. Rowland, vice-president ; James H. Hunter, cashier ; directors, J. L. Hardee, R. G. Irwin, J. D. Weed, C. A. Reitze, D. C. Bacon, J. C. Row- land, J. Lyons, M. Y. MacIntyre, W. Conly, Isaac G. Haas, Edward Ka- row, of Savannah, and W. Walter Phelps, of New York.
The Southern Bank of the State of Georgia was organized in 1870. Its capital is $500,000. The present officers are: John Flannery, presi- dent ; Horace A. Crane, vice-president; James Sullivan, cashier; direct- ors, Eugene Kelly, of New York, E. A. Weil, John Flannery, J. B. Duck- worth, S. B. Palmer, Lee Roy Myers, Horace A. Crane.
The National Bank of Savannah was incorporated in October, 1885, and commenced business with a capital of $250,000. It is located at 120 Bryan street. The officers are: Herman Myers, president; Will- iam Garrard, vice-president; T. F. Thompson, cashier ; A. L. Rees, assistant cashier ; directors, Herman Myers, William Garrard, Joseph J. Dale, A. A. Einstein, William E. Guerard, Henry Bendheim, George J. Baldwin, Jesse P. Williams, Frank X. Douglass, S. A. Woods, and A. Backer.
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490
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
The Oglethorpe Savings and Trust Company was organized in 1887, and has a paid up capital of $125,000 and an authorized capital of $500,- 000. The officers are : J. J. Dale, president; Herman Myers, vice- president ; James Sullivan, cashier ; directors, J. J. Dale, W. Garrard, H. Myers, J. Lyons, W. E. Guerard, A. Hanley, S. Meinhard, J. P. Will- iams, G. J. Baldwin, I .. Kayton, C. C. Schley.
The Citizens Bank on the corner of Drayton and Bryan streets, was opened January 3, 1888. It has an authorized capital of $500,000, but the present working capital is $200,000. The officers are: William Rogers, president; C. H. Dorsett, vice-president; G. C. Freeman, cashier ; directors, William Rogers, C. H. Dorsett, G. N. Nichols, J. H. Estill, D. Wells, J. R. Young, H. C. Cunningham, D. R. Thomas.
The Title Guarantee and Loan Company of Savannah has by its charter banking priviliges. Its authorized capital is $500,000. George H. Stone, is president; Isaac Beckett, secretary ; E. L. Hackett, cashier, and M. J. Solomons, treasurer.
The private bankers are Charles H. Olmstead & Co., (Charles H. Olmstead, Henry Hull and Francis S. Lathrop) and Henry Blun.
Savannah has several loan, savings and building associations which have had a most salutary bearing on the financial history of the city for the last few years. They have been the means of encouraging small sav- ings and the excellent manner in which they have been managed has made them profitable to all interested in them.
Among the oldest of these associations is the Jasper Mutual Loan Association which was organized in 1882. P. W. Meldrim, is president and secretary. The directors are, J. C. Rowland, H. Myers, Thomas Daniel, J. S. Wood, George Turner, R. B. Reppard.
The Railroad Loan Association was organized in 1883. The officers are, William Rogers, president ; R. E. Mimms, treasurer ; H. C. Cunning- ham, secretary and solicitor ; the directors are, A. R. Lawton, jr., George N. Nichols, H. C. Cunningham, H. F. Train, E. McIntyre, W. S. King, W. W. Rogers, William Kelioe.
The Chatham Real Estate and Improvement Company was organized in June, 1885. Its present capital is $300,000 but its authorized capital is $500,000. The officers of the company are, J. H. Estill, president ; C. H. Dorsett, vice-president ; M. J. Solomons, secretary and treasurer ;
491
LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
A. R. Lawton jr., attorney; directors, C. H. Dorsett, Lee Roy Myers, M. J. Solomons, W. P. Schirm, H. P. Smart, H. C. Cunningham, C. S. Connerat, William Kehoe, W. G. Cooper, F. H. Thompson.
The Catholic Library Hall Association was organized in 1887. The capital stock is $20,000. The officers are, John Flannery, president; P. F. Gleason, vice-president; William Kehoe, treasurer; directors, A. Hanley, P. F. Gleason, J. F. McCarthy, W. J. Harty, A. Fernandez, M. A. O'Bryne, P. J. O'Connor, J. F. Harty, J. Flannery.
The Metropolitan Savings and Loan Company was organized in 1887 and has a capital stock of $100,000. The officers are : W. B. Stillwell, president ; A. P. Solomon, vice-president ; W. L. Gignilliat, secretary ; W. L. Wilson, treasurer; directors, W. B. Stillwell, B. A. Denmark, J. P. Williams, M. Y. MacIntyre, G. W. Allen, C. H. Wilson, J. R. Young, A. P. Solomon, E. F. Bryan, W. J. Lindsey, H. M. Hutton, I. G. Haas. The remaining associations of this character are :
The Equitable Building and Loan Association .- J. S. Collins, presi- dent; W. K. Wilkinson, treasurer ; J. L. Whatley, secretary.
Excelsior Loan and Savings Company .- R. F. Harmon, president ; W. A. Walker, treasurer; S. L. Lazaron, secretary ; directors, R. F. Harmon, W. F. Chaplin. W. A. Walker, S. L. Lazaron, W. T. Leopold, J. T. Wells, B. C. Wright, H. S. Dreese, C. E. Broughton, G. M. Ryals, W. F. Hogan.
Franklin Savings and Security Company .- C. P. Miller, president ; G. H. Miller, vice-president and secretary ; directors, Levi Hege, R. S. Mell, A. J. Miller, J. O. Morse, C. F. Snedeker.
Pulaski Loan Association .- R. D. Walker, president; G. Bourquin, treasurer ; William Garrard, secretary ; directors, A. L. Hartridge, A. B. La Roche, G. S. Haines, N. O. Tilton, I. A. Solomon, R. F. Harmon.
Southern Mutual Loan Association .- M. J. Solomon, president; C. S. Hardee, treasurer , W. D. Harden, secretary and attorney ; directors, R. B. Reppard, A. S. Bacon, J. H. Estill, J. C. Rowland, C. H. Dorsett, J. W. Fretwell.
The Merchants and Mechanics Loan Association .- D. G. Purse, presi- dent ; A. Wylly, treasurer ; J. Lawton Whatley, secretary; directors, J. C. Rowland, B. H. Levy, S. J. Wheaton, H. J. Reiser, G. F. Byrnes, M. Helmken. 1
492
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
The Workman's and Traders' Loan and Building Association .- George W. Lamar, president; W. L. Wilson, treasurer; J. L. Whatley, secretary ; directors, V. S. Studer, S. J. Wheaton, C. A. Fleming, J. Asendorf, William Scheihing, L. Alexander.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHURCHES OF SAVANNAH.
First Religious Instructors-Careers of the Wesleys in Savannah-Work of George Whitefield-Christ Church-St. John's Church-Congregation Mickva Israel-B'Nai B'reth Jacob Synagogue-Lutheran Church-Independent Presbyterian-First Pres- byterian-Methodist Churches-Baptist Churches-Roman Catholic Churches-Col- ored Churches.
A MONG the one hundred and twenty-five persons who, in 1733, ac- companied Oglethorpe and assisted him in founding Savannah, was a minister of the Church of England, by the name of Henry Herbert, to whom was entrusted the spiritual guidance of this little flock, all of whom were believers in the Christian religion, as one of the conditions of their becoming colonists was that they should take the oath against the doc- trine of transubstantiation. Catholics, consequently were excluded, and were not admitted in Georgia until it became a royal province in 1752. Henry Herbert organized the first Episcopal congregation in Georgia, and for one hundred and fifty-six years Christ Church, which he founded, has had an existence in Savannah Services were held in Oglethorpe's tent, or in open air, as the weather permitted, until late in 1733, when a court-house was erected on Bull street, at what is now the northeast corner of Bay lane, in which services were held until 1750.
In 1736 the little hamlet of Savannah was increased in population by the arrival of three hundred settlers, among whom were two remarkable men, Charles and John Wesley, whose subsequent careers have influ- enced the theologies of England and America in a wonderful manner. The vessel carrying them cast anchor off Tybee Island on the 5th of Feb-
493
CHURCHES.
ruary, and early in the morning of the following day the voyagers landed on Coxspur Island, where, surrounded by his fellow-passengers, John Wesley, the father of Methodism, first lifted his voice in prayer, in a land where the present generation sees his followers exceeding in numbers those of any other Christian denomination.
John Wesley had been appointed by the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts. On the 7th of March, 1736, he preached his first sermon in America upon the text from the Thirteenth Chapter of St. Paul, First Epistle to the Corinthians, " Christian charity," the service be- ing held, so tradition says, on the site of Andrew Hanley's paint store on Whitaker street. Thus, through the Wesleys, is Savannah inseparably linked with the rise of Methodism in America, which is further proved by Wesley himself who says: "The first rise to Methodism was in 1729, when four of us met together in Oxford. The second was in Savannah in 1736, when twenty or thirty met at my house."
Another instance in the religious history of Savannah which gives peculiar prominence to the place was the establishment of a Sunday- school in the parish of Christ Church by Rev. John Wesley, which was without doubt the first attempt in this manner to instruct the young in biblical truths in the world. This occurred nearly fifty years before Rob- ert Raikes began this form of Sunday instruction in Gloucester, Eng., and eighty years before the first school was established in New York. The Sunday-school started by Wesley was continued by Whitefield at Bethesda, and is still carried on, being the oldest Sunday-school in the world. Nor does this finish the identification of John Wesley with Sa- vannah. Here his first book of hymns was written, which was printed in Charleston in 1737. But one volume has survived. It is a small book of some seventy- four pages, bearing a title page as follows : " A collec- tion of psalms and hymns, Charleston, printed by Timothy Lewis, 1737."
The mission of the Wesleys proved, however, unfortunate and brief. Their religious zeal outran their discretion, and they were soon embroiled in conflicts with the authorities and the people whom they did not un- derstand. There were faults on both sides. In the summer of 1736 Charles was sent back to England with dispatches by Oglethorpe, who followed him soon after, and on the evening of the 2nd of December, 1737, John Wesley "Shook off," as he said, " the dust off my feet and
494
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
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left Georgia, after having preached the gospel there (not as I might, but as I was able) one year and nearly nine months." Embarking from Charleston about the 15th of December, John Wesley arrived in the Downs in February, 1738, passing his friend and brother Methodist of Oxford, George Whitefield, outward bound for Georgia, neither knowing the other's proximity.
Whitefield arrived in Savannah May 7, 1738, and having more tact and worldly wisdom than the Wesleys, and from his parentage and early associations better adapted to cope with the rude minds of which the colony was chiefly composed, he succeeded where they had failed and laid in Savannah the foundation of his subsequent American reputation as an earnest pastor, teacher, and eloquent pulpit orator. The announce- ment of his death in Newburyport, Mass , in July, 1770, was received in Savannah with profound sorrow. A clergyman of that day writing to a brother clergyman in England, said : "You can have no conception of the effect of Mr. Whitefield's death upon the inhabitants of the province of Georgia. All the black cloth in the stores was bought up. The pul- pit and desks of the church, the benches, the organ-loft, the pews of the governor and council, were covered with black. The governor and coun- cil, in deep mourning, convened at the State house, and went in proces- sion to church, and were received by the organ playing a funeral dirge. The Presbyterian church was also draped in mourning, and its pastor, Rev. Dr. Zubley, preached an appropriate sermon on his death, from the third verse of the twelfth chapter of Daniel, 'They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.'"
Much relating to the early religious history of Savannah and the State of Georgia, has been recorded in the preceding chapters of this volume, and " It furnishes," says William B. Stevens, in his History of Georgia " a striking group of facts, that John Wesley, the leader of the greatest reli- gious movement of the eighteenth century ; that Charles Wesley, the purest and most popular hymnist of the age; that George Whitefield, whom Christian and infidel pronounced the greatest preacher of his gen- eration ; that James Oglethorpe, one of the noblest philanthropists of his country ; that Christian Gottlieb Spangenburg, the first Moravian bishop in America, and David Nitschman, the founder of the settlement of Beth-
495
CHURCHES.
lehem, in Pennsylvania, were all personally and intimately connected with Georgia, and contributed to shape its character and its institutions."
In the following pages we have attempted to give as full a history of each religious denomination of Savannah as is possible in a work of this kind.
Christ Church .- The history of this church dates from July 7, 1733, when the lot upon which the present edifice stands was laid out, but no attempt was made to build upon it until in 1740 when a frame building was commenced. Six years later it was still in an unfinished condition as President Stephens at that time wrote of it: "The roof of the church is covered with shingles, but as to the sides and ends of it, it remains a skeleton." It was not completed until 1750 when on the 7th of July of that year, it was formerly dedicated. The great fire of 1796 reduced it to ashes, after which it was rebuilt but was greatly damaged by the gale of 1804. The present church built after the Grecian Ionic order of arch- itecture was commenced in 1838, the corner-stone being laid on the 26th of February, of that year. Upon the stone the following inscription was placed.
I. H. S. Glory to God. Christ Church. Founded in 1743. Destroyed by fire 1796. Refounded on an enlarged plan in 1803. Partially destroyed in the hurricane of 1804. Rebuilt in 1810. Taken down in 1838.
The corner-stone laid (February 26, 1838) of a new edifice to be erected (according to a plan furnished by James Hamilton Crouper, esq., of Georgia) by Amos Scudder, mason, and Gilbert Butler, carpenter, under the direction of William Scarborough, William Thorne Williams, Robert Habersham, William P. Hunter, Dr. F. Bartow, building committee.
Rev. Edward Neufville, pastor.
George Jones, M.D., William Thorne Williams, Robert Habersham, William Scar- borough, R. R. Cuyler, William P. Hunter, and P. M. Kallock, M.D., vestrymen.
Rev. Henry Herbert was the first pastor of the congregation who as previously stated came to Georgia with Oglethorpe in 1733. He was however soon succeeded by Rev. Samuel Quincy who remained until 1735 when Rev. John Wesley became pastor. The latter's pastorate was brief, as in 1736 Rev. William Norris succeeded him, Rev. William Metcalf
496
HISTORY OF SAVANNAH.
was next appointed, but he died before he entered upon his duties, and his place was filled by Rev. Mr. Orton who died in 1742. The next pastor was the renowned Rev. George Whitefield under whose pastorate the church greatly flourished, and he may be almost regarded as the founder of the church as under him the parish was regularly ordained in 1843 and the first church building erected. Rev. T. Bosomworth who succeeded Whitefield was displaced and Rev. Bartholomew Zouberbuhler was ap. pointed. The latter remained in charge until 1763, and during his rec- torship Colonel Barnard presented the church with the first organ ever seen in Georgia. From 1763 to 1768 and from 1775 to 1810, and from 18.15 to 1820 there is no record to show who were the rectors in charge. Rev. Hadden Smith was rector in 1774. He was a pronounced loyalist and his views gave great offense to the Liberty party. In July, 1775, he was forbidden to officiate in Georgia and the doors of Christ Church were closed against him. The Savannah Gazette declared him an enemy to America, and so excited was the popular feeling against him that he was forced to flee from the city with his family. Services were discon- tinued during the early period of the war but were resumed after the capture of the city by the British.
From 1810 to 1814 Rev. John V. Bartow, officiated as rector. Dur ing his pastorate the church was rebuilt. In 1815 the first confirmation services in Georgia were held in this church by Bishop O'Hara of South Carolina, sixty persons being presented by the pastor Rev. Mr. Cranston. Rev. A. Carter who succeeded Mr. Cranston, died in 1827. He was followed by Rev. Edward Neufville who died in 1851, after having filled his responsible position for nearly a quarter of a century. "He was," says Bishop William Bacon Stevens, " a charming man, a loving, tender pastor and was respected by the entire community. Never have I heard our litany read with more unction and effectiveness than by him, while his reading of the Bible was like an illuminated exposition of it, so ex- quisite were his modulations and so sweet and musical his voice." He was succeeded by Rev. A. B. Carter who remained only a short time, when Right Rev. Bishop Stephen Elliott became pastor. The latter re- signed charge of the church temporarily in November, 1859, and Rev. Dr. J. Easter was in charge for a short time prior to the arrival of Rev. Dr. Batch in February, 1860. Bishop Elliott resumed the rectorship in
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