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 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
At the same time, the west side of Broad, south of St. Clair, was fired, and every house was consumed save the Fontaine residence. Wm. P. Yonge's residence, west of this, was saved, owing to the direction of the wind. The fire passed Rankin's corner, (Broad and Crawford streets,) burnt the Democratic Liberty-Pole, consumed all of Battle Row, crossed over to the west side of Front street, and destroyed the residence of Mr. Rankin; Yonge, Garrard & Hooper's warehouse being saved after a hard fight; burned John Whitesides' stables near the river, but his tavern was saved. All that part of the square from Broad and Crawford, south to the bridge, was consumed, including several houses blown
11
THE SUFFERERS.
up. The fire was arrested just one-half square below the bridge, and one square from the steamboat landing.
The principal sufferers on the west side of Broad street were: Hill, Dawson & Co. (saved goods,) building $5,000; D. W. Orr & Co., clothing; Mrs. A. B. Davis, store-house, bank building and residence; J. S. Smith & Co., clothing ; A. M. Cox, grocer'; George Hargraves, building, $3,000; Luke Reid, shoe and saddle store; Messrs. Peabody ; A. Calhoun, grocer; S. & F. W. Sartwell, dry goods and groce- ries $10,000; J. N. Harris & Co., $5,000; E. Wells & Co., shoe store ; John Code, tailor, $800; James Sullivan, grocer, $11,000; L. J. Davies, dry goods ; Patillo's boarding house; Mrs. Davies, milliner, heavy loss; William Rankin, store and goods, and residence on Broad street, $15,000 ; B. Wells, sev- eral stores ; William Tarbutton, owner of old Columbus Hotel, (Jake Burrus' old corner;) William Tarbutton, $1,000; Wiley Adams ; Dr. Thornton, two tenements; Gunn, provi- sions ; Mrs. E. Webster, two stores, $800; J. W. Campbell, workshop; S. Hoffman, grocery and residence blown up, $800. On Bridge street-J. Code, residence; Dr. Rogan's house; N. L. Howard, two houses ; John Quin and Joseph Walton, stores.
On Front-Residences of Mrs. L. J. Davies, Mrs. James A. Shorter; William Owens, Colonel Jones' building, and all others down to a half square below the bridge on the west side of Front street. On Battle Row, or Crawford street- J. Boulter, Thomas McCarty, B. Weeks, P. Sullivan.
The heat was so intense on Broad street, that goods took fire after being removed from the stores. Fabulous sums were offered for drays to haul off goods. The only fire en- gine (No. 1) came near being burned.
Girard narrowly escaped from cinders.
Council appealed to the public for aid in behalf of the suf- ferers, and John Quin, acting Mayor, issued a proclamation in accordance. A committee was appointed to solicit aid.
12
INCIDENTS.
Committee, on October 12th, reported 80 persons had been supplied with food.
Savannah contributed $1,400 ; Macon, $505; Montgomery, $493 40; Columbus, in money and goods, $1,603 75. The Governor gave delay in the collection of taxes ; Astor House, New York, $50.
Relief was offered on this plan-entire losses not exceeding $100-75 cents on the dollar; not exceeding $200-50 per cent., and the balance of the fund equally divided among sufferers.
To replace the burned apparatus of Fire Company No. 1, $135 were appropriated.
INCIDENTS.
The initiatory steps towards the building of the Mobile and Girard Railroad were taken this year. The Alabama Legis- lature chartered a company styled "the Girard Railroad Com- pany," with James and Anderson Abercombie, Wm. Davis, S. M. Ingersoll, J. Godwin, W. B. Harris, J. Drummond, W. Bur- nett, R. S. Hardaway, B. Baker, E. Morfell, J. Allen, W. Luther, T. Kemp, B. S. Mangham, - Floyd and N. W. Long, as Commissioners. Capital not to exceed $5,000,000, in shares of $100 each. The road to extend from Girard to in- tersect or connect with the navigable waters of Mobile Bay, or with the railroad leading from Montgomery to West Point, at the nearest and most suitable point of said road.
Other railroad enterprises in which Columbus was then concerned, were the building of a projected road to Macon or Barnesville, to intersect the Central or Macon and Western, and the construction of a road to Atlanta. John G. Winter was President of the company having the last named project in charge.
On the 4th of April F. S. Wingate shot and killed John Conley' with a pistol. Wingate crossed the river and made his escape.
The Muscogee Riflemen were organized on the 4th of July, with M. N. Clarke, Captain; Wm. R. Jones 1st Lieu-
t 1
13
PERSONAL.
tenant; M. Reid, 2d; John B. Wells, Ensign; N. P. Foster, Ist Sergeant; Chas. Torrean, 2d; J. W. Frost, 3rd; J. B. Hicks, 4th; Levi Duck, 1st Corporal; I. Trawick, 2d ; E. L. Hall, 3rd; Peter McGar, 4th.
The first new bale of cotton of the season was brought in from the plantation of James Chapman, in Russell County, Alabama, and brought 10c., A. G. Lawrence being the pur- chaser.
On October 14th cotton was quoted at 7 to 8}c .; on the 21st, 8} to 8gc., from wagons; on November 3rd, 8 to 8gc.
PERSONAL.
The following were the county officers of Muscogee, elected in January: Sheriff- John M. Bethune over J. A. L. Lee ; Clerk Superior Court-Thad S. Sturgis over B. Beasley ; Clerk Inferior Court-R. G. Mitchell over John Johnson ; Tax Collector-F. A. Jepson over T. H. Kendall; Tax Re- ceiver-A. Stephens over D. Parkman ; County Surveyor- P. Lamar over T. J. Hand ; Coroner-T. O'Brien over G. B. Terry.
The Grand Jury for the January term consisted of J. S. Calhoun, foreman ; A. Levison, M. N. Clarke, K. Mckenzie, S. G. Wells, James Shaw, L. Cherry, B. F. Malone, H. Liv- ingstone, H. C. Dawson, O. P. Tillinghast, W. L. Wynn, Thos. J. Shivers, E. S. Greenwood, J. C. Cook, Davis Mulford, S. C. Lindsay, E. Dudley, P. McLaren, M. Woodruff, D. Ad- ams. They presented as a nuisance so many change bills ; also the trading and trafficing with negroes, and allowing negroes to keep bar-rooms. Judge Sturgis presided over the Court. Hon. R. B. Alexander was appointed Judge of the Circuit soon afterwards.
Rev. James A. Wiggins was presiding Elder of the Colum- bus M. E. District, and Rev. J. E. Evans stationed at Columbus.
R. Burt resigned the position of bridge-keeper in June, on account of the difficulty of enforcing the regulations, and Wm. W. Martin was elected in his stead.
14
BUSINESS MEN OF THE CITY.
The Grand Jury for the April term consisted of S. W. Flournoy, foreman ; E. C. Bandy, Wm. Amos, L. C. Allen, G. B. Terry, Jas. Sullivan, Calvin Stratton, S. Weems, M. Chisholm, R. W. Fox, A. Peabody, T. Howard, Wm. Ran- kin, James Kivlin, Van Leonard, G. S. McGehee, T. A. Brannon, T. J. Terry, and Leroy Holt.
James Kivlin was elected, in July, an Alderman of the 4th Ward, in the place of James H. Shorter, deceased.
Alderman Robinson having removed from the 5th Ward, S. R. Andrews was in September elected an Alderman for said Ward ..
Council, in December, adopted a resolution that Messrs. Echols & Howard had faithfully performed their contract for the improvement of the water lots.
The following boats arrived and departed during the win- ter of this year : Lotus, Allen master ; Champion, Cadwalla- der master; Peytona, Greer master; Viola, Van Vechten master ; Mary Ann Moore, Moore master ; Nation, McAlister master; Boston, Morton master; Emily, Hall master; Colum- bus, Stapler master; Eufaula, Thompson master ; Albany, master.
The following list includes the names of all the business and professional men advertising in the Enquirer this year :
Merchants .- E. & M. Meidner, J. Ennis & Co., George Durham, R. A. Ware, Greenwood & Ellis, J. M. Tarbot & Co., E. Barnard & Co., Hall & Moses, Pond & Willcox, Moody & Durr, A. H. McNeil, Bruno & Virgins, P. McLaren, Wesson & Booher, S. B. Hamilton, J. I. Ridgway, S. B. Purple, Ridgway & Barden, L. L. Cowdery, Winter & Epping, L. J. Davies, B. Wells & Co., Strong & Wood, H. H. Woodruff, Brokaw & Clemons, D. & J. Kyle, J. S. Smith & Co., Jas. F. Watson, Jas. Dwight, B. B. deGraffenried, J. & I. G. Strupper, Wynn & Chandler, Jos. B. Green, J. W. Pease, M. Pecare & Co., Wm. A. Redd & Co., G. B. Terry, G. W. Woodruff, Sammis & Rooney, Johnson & Frost, Mygatt & Hodges, Q. C. Terry, Hill, Dawson & Co., D. W. Orr & Co., Ives & Bro., Wade & Middlebrook, Aug. L. Grant, Birdsong & Sledge, A. J. Robison, J. H. Merry, Stanford & Ellis, A. A. Denslow, Hogan & Cooper, Robert Carter.
Teachers .- R. W. B. Munro, Miss O'Hara and Sister, Mr. O'Hara, Miss A.
15
MARRIAGES.
B. Alexander and Miss D. Pease, Mr. Boyden, J. H. Goodale, Thos. B. Slade, Mrs. Bethune, John G. Baker, Thos. G. Pond.
Restaurants .- Wm. B. Ferrell, E. A. White.
Cabinet Wareroom-Henry Willers.
Dentists-J. Fogle, O. P. Laird, C. T. Cushman.
Auction and Commission-N. McRobinson, A. K. Ayer.
Lawyers-John M. Bethune, C. S. Rockwell, A. G. Foster, Hines Holt, Wm. Dougherty, M. Johnston, L. T. Downing.
Book-Binder-R. Tanner.
Cotton Brokers-Hanserd & Morris.
Warehouses-Ruse, Patten & Co., Yonge, Garrard & Hooper, Greenwood & Co., Hooper & Ridgway, Ed. J. Hardin.
Doctors-E. M. deGraffenried, Boswell & Billing, Holt & Butt, Wildman & Craig, Thos. Hoxey, Dr. Goulding.
Iron Foundries-Israel H. Janney, Joseph Colwell & Co.
Carriage Repositories-H. C. McKee, J. B. Jaques.
Hotels-Oglethorpe House, by R. L. Bass; City Hotel, by Murry Reed and Isaac Mitchell ; Kentucky House, by W. Perry.
Ice Dealer-John Byrne.
Gin Makers-Templeton Reid, E. Y. Taylor & Co., (in Girard.)
Livery Stable-Jas. A. Bradford.
Boarding House-Mrs. Teasdale.
Millinery-Miss C. W. Alexander, Mrs. Dessau.
Gunsmith-F. Shaeffer.
Deguerreotype Gallery-Mr. Lovering.
MARRIAGES.
January 4-Greene S. Duke and Pyrene C. Webb. January 6, George W. Howard and Caroline E. Smith. Jan. 8, Jeremiah Massey and Frances Broadnax, John Jones and Elizabeth Emily Tilly. Jan. 11, David Magouirk and Margaret Duke. Jan. 14, George Thornton and Rebecca Thornton. Jan. 26, John Mosey and Martha Byus. Jan. 27, Simon P. Bickley and Martha A. Culver.
February 5-Peter Diffley and Jane Wade, Richard Ector and Eleanor M. S. Ector. Feb. 11, Wm. A. Shofner and Mary Ann Turnage. Feb. 12, Henry H. Epping and Barbary C. Cubbage. Feb. 13, John Houston and Martha J. McClure. Feb. 15, Morton Kelsey and Georgian V. Marcrum. Feb. 18, Lambert Spencer and Venona Mitchell. Feb. 22, Alexander C. Green and- Mary Burns.
March 1-Shadrack Walls and Nancy Cordry. March 2, Salathal N. Crop- man and Caroline Crandall, Gregory Ortagus and Mrs. Stacy Ann Lee, Martin Castello and Permelia Gouter. Feb. 4, James W. Johnson and Sarah Garri- son. March 5, Alanson M. Cox and Georgiana M. Affleck. March 10, Lester L. Cowdery and Eveline Rule. March 18, Thos. M. Clowers and Louisa Warren. March 23, William C. Swann and Delila E, Brown. March 24, Hiram Hooker
16
MARRIAGES.
and Mary Bell. March 25, Stephen Z. Harnesberger and Susan Norris. March 26, George C. Benton and Frances M. Stallings, Wm. L. O'Stein and Harriet S. Adams.
April 2-Jonathan Cordry and Elizabeth Tomlinson. April 12, James M. Baggett and Mary Ann Pike. April 26, Thomas Cransby and Mary Simpson. April 30, Doctor H. Sanders and Martha Walters.
May 12-Nelson McLester, Esq., and Mary C. Redd. May 17, Jno. M. Jones and Elizabeth J. Rogers, Charles King and Caroline Ligon. May 23, Ichabod B. Hoxie and Euphemia Allen.
June 2-Josiah Pranglin and Jane Ann Giddings. June 3, Jas. H. Edmund- son and Susan Ramsay. June 4, James P. Duck and Caroline E. Dimon, Jas. Francis and Louisa F. Perryman. June 11, James Slaughter and Eleanor Williams. June 16, Cary C. Willis and Mary F. Huff. June 21, Wiley Size- more and Mary Askew.
July 5-Jesse Clay and Nancy Caroline Bryan. July 7, Edward W. Nix and Ann Harvell. July 9, Brady F. Warner and Matilda M. Brown. July 23, David Culpepper and Caroline Hays. July 29, Edward S. Ott and Ann A. Alston, Richard L. Butt and Elizabeth C. Leonard.
August 2-John Kingsbury and Missouri Ann Grey, Thomas W. Ballard and Jane Hawthorn. Aug. 10, James Johnson and Nancy Amanda Roach. Aug. 12, John F. Bosworth and Augusta F. Reeves.
September 6-William A. Livingston and Mary A. Cooper. Sept. 10, Matthew Knight and Martha Ann Bryley. Sept. 18, Jacob Williams and Eliza Adams. Sept. 22, Edwin N. Hyatt and Mary Jane Lee. Sept. 24, Caleb Gallops and Sarah Palmer. Sept. 27, George W. Smith and Sarah Mann.
October 1-Wm. A. Beach and Caroline L. Neuffer. Oct. 5, John Crosby and Sarah Rawl. Oct. 6, Wiley L. Day and Sarah Ann Elizabeth Andrews, William H. Smith and Nancy Ann Edwards. Oct. 7, Jas. Hall and Frances Ballard. Oct. 8, Jesse D. Hadley and Malinda R. Teel. Oct. 15, Benjamin W. Moon and Arabella T. Eldred. Oct. 18, Zachariah Gammel and Elizabeth Osborn. Oct. 22, Edward Christian and Rachel Witt. Oct. 28, Francis M. Gray and Mentoria E. Mead.
November 3-William Walker and Harriet E. Shay, Luke Crandall and Martha E. Rawson. Nov. 4, Wesley Gray and Emeline Jones. Nov. 12, Jas. W. McCullers and Lucinda Scroggins, Abraham Miller and Martha Morgan, Henry Hall and Mary A. Nisbett. Nov. 13, Wm. McConnell and Tabitha Olive Kent. Nov. 24, Jordan L. Howell and Elizabeth S. Johnson. Nov. 25, James H. Carter and Henrietta M. Harden. Nov. 26, James A. Redding and Caroline P. Davis, Vincent H. Harrison and Martha Roland, James Twilley and Catharine Davis. Nov. 29, Elijah Padgett and Axupershanee Johnson.
December 3-Q. Carlyle Terry and Elizabeth G. Goulding. Dec. 10, Thos. J. Tipper and Emily Vickers, Abner Buchanan and Ninetta L. Chisolm. Dec. 11, Jno. E. Renfroe and Martha Ann Daniel. Dec. 13, Anda McNeel and Martha Weathers. Dec. 16, William J. McBride and Mary Ann Wall.
ยท
17
DEATHS.
Dec. 17, Charnel Hightower and Amanda Henry. Dec. 20, Jasper Harris and Judith Ann Buckner. Dec. 21, William C. Owens and Catharine Simpson. Dec. 22, Wade H. T. Powell and Mary E. Dade, Jno J. Rockmore and Sarah Jane Edwards. Dec. 24, Sampson D. Helms and Missouri Parker, Simeon Perry and Emily Kilpatrick. Dec. 30, William H. Spurgers and Ann Prick- ett. Dec. 31, Israel H. Jamsey and Mary Jane O'Hara, Jourdan Hightower and Jane Henry, Slakely Lamberth and Mary Ann Fincher.
DEATHS.
January 23-Arthur B. Davis. Jan. 28-Dr. A. S. Clifton. Jan. 29, Jeremiah Mullens.
March 5-Francis N. Ruse. March 7, Mrs. Martha T. Redd.
April 4-Mrs. Harriet A. Wildman.
June 7-Mrs. Caroline Crossman. June 11, John Logan. June 29, Mrs.
Martha W. Harris. .
July 3-Eugene, infant child of John A. Jones. July 10, Wm. B. Chan- dler, of Sumter county.
August 11-Mrs. Mary Emma Bronson. Aug. 16, Mrs. Frances Eliza Rutherford. Aug. 18, Mrs. Mary Hodges. Aug. 27, Anna Lewis, infant daughter of L. D. Minter.
September - Stephen D. Pepper. Sept. 7, Mrs. Barbara Catherine Epping. Sept. 14, Jared Irwin, infant son of Elisha F. Kirksey.
October 16-Jonathan Niles, of Providence, R. I.
1847.
Two Destructive Fires-Land Donated and City Subscription to Muscogee Railroad Company.
The following was the result of the election held on the first Saturday in January for Mayor and Aldermen: Mayor, Wiley Williams; Aldermen-1st Ward, J. J. McKendree, Willis T. Holstead; 2d Ward, no election; 3d Ward, R. N. R. Bardwell, George Pitts; 4th Ward, H. J. Smith, and no . choice for one; 5th Ward, James Kivlin, J. L. Morton; 6th Ward, Benj. F. Coleman, J. R. Green.
18
EESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Subsequently, John G. Winter and Davenport Ellis were elected Aldermen of the 2d Ward, and John Quin of the 4th Ward.
Calvin Stratton was re-elected Clerk; George W. Turren- tine, Treasurer ; William Brooks, Marshal; Jas. M. Hughes, Deputy Marshal; Wm. W. Martin, Bridge-keeper ; M. Wood- ruff, City Physician ; James Johnson, City Attorney; Chas. Kendall, Clerk of the Market; R. T. Simons, Sexton ; C. A. McGehee, Hospital Keeper.
The first omnibus appears to have been licensed this year. H. W. Van Veighten and others were authorized to run an omnibus from the post-office to the wharf and other points in the city, for the purpose of conveying passengers.
The Fire Wardens elected in January were John C. Ruse, Henry T. Hall, John Strupper, R. R. Goetchius, L. W. Wells, Peter Crichton.
Board of Health-Dr. Thos. Hoxey, J. B. Hoxey, S. A. Billing, John S. Allen, Mansfield Torrence, Joseph Kyle, E. Birdsong, Benj. Wells, Joseph Wiggins, R. S. Stockton.
Port Wardens-Lewis C. Allen, Frederick Toby, T. M. Hogan, Wm. H. Praden, V. S. Cady.
Commissioners of the Poor-John Johnson, M. Woodruff, William Amos, Theo. Howard, Lewis C. Allen.
Messrs. John Bethune, Frederick Toby and Joseph E. Webster, assessors, reported the aggregate value of real estate in the city $1,333,825.
The newspapers of Columbus, this year, were the Enquirer, Times, and Democrat.
On Wednesday, at 7 o'clock P. M., March 1st, a fire broke out in J. M. Tarbox's book-store, located on the east side of Broad street, midway between Randolph and St. Clair streets. Fronting Broad street were destroyed Tarbox's book-store, Wade & Middlebrook's saddlery-store, Hall & Moses, hard- ware; E. & M. Meidner, dry goods ; Sammis & Rooney, furni- ture ; Meinhem & Co., dry goods; A. H. McNeil, shoes ; Holden's oyster house and confectionery ; Geo. H. Betz, tailor ;
19
SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL
Fogle & Cushman, dentist rooms; the clothing and millinery store of Mr. and Mrs. Dessau. The fire passed thence to Ogle- thorpe street, destroying Hatcher & Pitts' livery stable The Episcopal church building was several times on fire. Several wooden houses on Oglethorpe were cut down, and the build- ing occupied by the Enquirer as a press room was blown up. The fire engine did all it could. Mr. George H. Peabody was seriously injured by a fall from the vestry of the Episcopal Church. The heaviest losers were Sammis & Rooney, Kyle & Barnett, G. W. Woodruff, Wade & Middlebrook (fully insured,) A. K. Ayer, Hall & Moses ($13,000 above insu- rance,) P. A. Clayton, and others. Total loss about $80,000; insurance $40,000.
On March 20th, at 5 A. M., Harden's large wooden ware- house, occupied by Hall & DeBlois, agents for the Lowell factory companies, and owned by the Milledgeville Bank, was burned with 1,281 bales of cotton, owned by various parties ; and 900 sacks salt, 125 barrels of molasses and 75 of whiskey, owned by Barnard & Schley (insured.) The rear building of Redd & Co.'s store, with 200 sacks of salt, bacon, etc., was also burned. Loss $60,000. The warehouse was located where the Planters' Warehouse now is. This fire was believed to have been the work of an incendiary.
On the 23d of March, Council held a special meeting to take action in regard to the supposed incendiary origin of the late fires. A resolution was adopted authorizing the Mayor to offer a reward of $1,000 for the apprehension and convic- tion of any such incendiary.
On the 25th of March, Wm. Brooks resigned the office of Marshal, and James M. Hughes, Deputy, was elected Marshal. George Gullen was elected Deputy Marshal.
We find the names of the following boats that were ply- ing the river in the early part of this year: Lotus, Champi- on, Peytona, Viola, Mary Ann Moore, Nation, Boston, Eufau- la, Emily, Charleston, Albany, Apalachicola, Cadwallader.
Notwithstanding heavy losses by three destructive fires
20
THE BRIDGES-LAND GRANT.
within a few months, the citizens of Columbus contributed $789 40 for the relief of the people of Ireland, then suffering from famine.
A new Market House, near the intersection of Oglethorpe and Crawford streets, having been completed by Messrs. P. Adams and J. L. Morton, the stalls were rented in May. We find that some of the stalls were rented by Richard Roberson, Barshall & Gittenger, Charles G. Bize, Amos & Jones.
J. J. McKendree having resigned as Alderman of the 1st Ward, A. B. Ragan was elected in his stead.
The following decree of Chancellor Ligon of Alabama, in the case of the Mayor and Council of Columbus vs. Lewis Davis and others, was laid before Council on the 17th of June, and spread upon its minutes : "It is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the injunction heretofore awarded in this case be made perpetual, and that the said defendants and each and every of them and their successors in office of those of them which constituted the Court of Commissioners of Reve- nue and Roads for the county of Russell, be forever enjoined from obstructing in any way the streets and highways in the bill mentioned to the injury of the franchise of complainant."
On the 30th of June a special meeting of Council was held to consider a proposition of the Muscogee Railroad Company in regard to obtaining a lot of ground on the east commons for the purpose of locating a depot. The following resolu- tion was adopted :
Resolved, That this body authorize the Muscogee Railroad Company to locate their depot on the east common, between Randolph and Bryan streets, and to occupy a space of ground for said depot, and for no other than railroad purposes, not exceeding the breadth between the two streets, and not over 1200 feet long, leaving a street on the east and another on the west end of said depot-which said streets shall be as much as 200 feet wide; and with the amendment that the title shall revert to the city when the road shall cross the river at any point above St. Clair street.
In August, P. A. Clayton was elected Alderman of the 4th Ward, vice H. J. Smith, resigned.
Council appropriated $300 to aid in buying a new engine.
21
RAILROAD SUBSCRIPTION.
On the 16th of September the Telegraph Company peti- tioned for permission to erect poles and extend their line through the city, and on the 7th of October Council granted the company the right to cross the commons, the streets, and the river, by attaching the wires to the bridge.
There was considerable feeling in Council and among the citizens, in October, on the subject of renting a portion of the commons for a race track. Council at first resolved to rent it for that purpose for a term of years, but afterwards reconsidered the resolution, and on the 28th of October, after receiving a numerously signed protest by citizens against any such appropriation of the commons, the whole subject was laid on the table.
Col. J. L. Mustian having made a proposition to Council to complete twenty miles of the Muscogee Railroad, commencing at Columbus, if the city would give him a bonus of $20,000, and it being represented that a project was on foot to build a road from the Georgia Western Railroad to West Point, which would materially interfere with the trade of Colum- bus, Council called a meeting of citizens on the 29th of Octo- ber, to consider the question. This meeting adopted a reso- lution requesting the Council to subscribe for 1500 shares of the Muscogee Railroad, payable in bonds. At its meeting on the 2d of November, Council adopted an ordinance "to au- thorize and require the Mayor of the city of Columbus to subscribe in the name and for the benefit of the Mayor and Council of the city of Columbus for fifteen hundred shares in the stock of the Muscogee Railroad Company, to authorize the issue of city bonds for $150,000 in payment of the same, and to provide for the representation of said stock in all meetings and elections which may be held by the stockhold- ers of said company." The ordinance provided that $15,000 of said bonds should become due and payable each year, commencing on the 1st day of January, 1853, until the whole should be paid by the 1st of January, 1863. At a meeting
3
22
MOUNTED COMPANIES FOR MEXICO.
on the 11th of November, Council adopted an amendment to this ordinance, asking the Legislature to grant authority to levy an additional tax sufficient to pay the annual interest on these bonds.
Subsequently, on motion of Alderman Morton, Council adopted a resolution appointing a committee to ascertain and report what arrangements could be made, by means of a county subscription, to expedite the building of a railroad connecting the Muscogee Railroad with a railroad at Barnes- ville.
The Finance Committee reported in December that the in- ' come of the city Treasury for the year, ordinary and extra- ordinary, had been $24,280 69, against $21,400 the previous year, and the amount of city debt paid off during the year a little less than $10,000, besides $3,000 of extraordinary ex- penses, leaving the current expenses of the city about $10,500. The debt of the city at that time was $42,466.
The city sexton reported 12 interments, of both whites and blacks, for the first quarter of this year, and 22 for the second quarter. We have been unable to find any report for the last two quarters.
INCIDENTS.
Mary Ann Coursey, a white girl, aged 13 years, was fatally shot in the head with a pistol, by Jones Butler, on March 1st. He was arrested in Girard, and lodged in the Columbus jail.
The Howard Manufacturing Company was organized for the purpose of building a cotton factory-building to be 125x48 feet, five stories high, and run 5,000 spindles. Direc- tors-Van Leonard, J. C. Cook, E. T. Taylor, Harvey Hall and J. I. Ridgway. President, Van Leonard; Superin- tendent, Jonathan Bridges. The corner stone was laid on Aug. 28th. There were two factories in active operation in Co- lumbus at that time-the Coweta and the Columbus.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.