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 5
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October 3-William H. Hinson and Elizabeth A. Luker. Oct. 8, John G. Hortman and Frances Rees. Oct. 9, Abner H. Flewellen and Sarah E. Hard- away. Oct. 15, Henry Rees and Pallentine Ivey. Oct. 16, Isaac C. Chandler and Sarah M. Thomas, John Brittenham and Lucinda Dennis. Oct. 17, Richard Williams and Rachel A. Rodgers. Oct. 20, John Flynn and Sarepta Helms. Oct. 23, Richard H. Lockhart and Arabella J. Howard. Oct. 24, Christopher C. Morgan and Adaline Culpepper. Oct. 26, Thomas W. Peddy and Elizabeth Maynor. Oct. 31, John L. Parker and Nancy K. Edwards.
November 5-Mijamon Moon and Sarah A. G. Paul, Thomas M. Towler and Sarah E. Boland. Nov. 7, Joseph McCall and Mary Drenon. Nov. 10, George W. Cobb and Mary Berry. 13, William Welch and Catharine Nelson. 14, John Byard and Sarah Cooper. 23, Walter C. Manning and Rebecca M. Shellman. 27, James W. Warren and Sarah V. Howard, Wiley Adams and Sarah A. E. Tooke.
December 5-Presley Tillery and Lucinda Dukes, S. M. J. Wimberly and Mary A. Pickett. Dec. 11, Daniel B. Bird and Mary V. Butt. Dec. 12, Wm.
47
DEATHS.
B. Willis and Lucinda J. Mclendon. Dec. 13, Matthias Barringer and Sarah Pryor. Dec. 15, Samuel J. Flemming and Eliza Culpepper. Dec. 18, Grisham Scroggins and Mary A. E. Daukins, William P. Aubry and Rosa M. Forsyth, David H. Wynn and Mary F. Dennis. Dec. 23, George S. Cary and Margaret S. Thweatt. Dec. 24, Drewery Pate and Martha Ivey. Dec. 29, Jonathan Cordery and Angelina Wall. Dec. 30, Michael L. Walters and Haner A. M. Webb.
SEXTON'S REPORT OF DEATHS.
January 2-Mr. Benson, aged 40 years ; 4, child of John Kelly ; 4, Frances A. Duffie, aged, 40; 9, Sarah Ann Holt, aged 29; 10, Elizabeth Sanders, aged 62 ; 12, Wm. H. Ayer, aged 10; 15, Rudolph H. Ayer, 12; 15, child of Mr. Gammel ; 20, Patrick Gellen, aged 13; 31, George W. Turrentine ; 31, Hon. Wm. Griggs. Also 5 negroes in January.
(We find no report for February.)
March 6-Peggy Dodson, aged 50; 9, Ann Murdock, aged 30; 16, John Schaeffer, aged 40. Also 3 negroes in this month.
April 1-John Williams, aged 30 years ; 2, child of Mrs. Moore ; 6, Richard Tarborough, 43 ; 8, child of M. Stephens ; 9, Wm .. Tarbutton, aged 40; 10, child of Mr. Mariner ; 19, child of Mr. McElrath, aged 1; 25, Amanda Byard, aged 25; 29, Elizabeth Hall, aged 45. Also 6 negroes in this month.
May 5-Child of C. Wise, aged 5 months; 5, child of Mr. King, aged 1 year ; 6, Abraham Clark, aged 5; 6, child of Mrs. Hooper; 8, child of O. Anderson, aged 1; 9, Abram Curry, aged 67; 9, Benj. Sutton, aged 20; 22, Ellen Mobley, aged 20; 26, Susan Kent, aged 49; 30, child of Mrs. Hooper, aged 10. Also 4 negroes in this month.
DEATHS.
(FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.)
May 18-Mrs. M. F. Weems, wife of Locke Weems.
June 5-Mrs. Kimbrough, wife of Wm. H. Kimbrough. June 6, Mrs. E. A. Billups. June 24, Mary Jane, infant daughter of E. H. Musgrove. July 10-Mrs. Eleanor M. S. Ector. July 11, Mary Elizabeth, infant child of Peter K. Edgar. July 14, Thos. Bostwick, aged 30 years.
August-Wm. B. Christian. August 9, Mrs. Harriet, wife of Peter K. Edgar.
September 7-Patrick Tiervey, aged 24. Sept. 10, John M. S. Brooks, aged 24. Sept. 10, (at Savannah) Nelson McLester, of Columbus. Sept. - David M. Clarke. Sept. 22, Mrs. Sarah A., wife of H. S. Smith. Sept. 23, Willis M. Reeves.
October. 11-Cosam Emir Bartlett, aged 57 years (formerly editor of a Co- lumbus paper.) Oct. 22, Mathew Brannon.
November 12-Miss Julia H. Pledge, in the 15th year of her age. Nov. 27, Mrs. E. A. Redd, wife of Wm. Redd, Sr.
December 13-Philip, infant son of Thos. Schley. Dec. - , John Neuffer, aged 79. Dec. 30, William Holtzclaw.
48
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
1851.
Water Works Agitated-Subscription to Mobile & Girard R. R.
The city officers elected on the first Saturday in January were Willis S. Holstead, Mayor ; Aldermen-1st Ward, Thomas B. Slade and Lewis M. Durr ; 2d, John A. Urqua- hart and R. A. Ware; 3rd, John H. Madden; 4th, Samuel R. Andrews and John M. Trawick; 5th, A. A. Lowther and Wm. Mahaffey ; 6th, A. A. Dill. Subsequently, Wm. Math- ewson was elected an Alderman of the 6th Ward, and J. W. King of the 3rd Ward. Calvin Stratton was elected Clerk ; Jordan L. Howell, Treasurer ; N. Mc. Robinson, Marshal ; George Gullen, Deputy Marshal.
Council elected Thos. Nix, Clerk of the Market ; Wm. W. Martin, Bridge Keeper ; Dr. F. A. Stanford, City Physician ; Burnet Ingram, Hospital Keeper ; Adam G. Foster, City At- torney ; Jere Terry, Sexton. Health officers-John Kyle, J. F. Bozeman, Mansfield Torrence, Thad. Sturgis, M. Wood- ruff, J. W. Frost, Wm. C. Cooper, J. L. Morton, John Munn, Michael N. Clark. Port Wardens-Thos. M. Hogan, F. G. Wilkins, R. C. Shorter, J. C. Brewer, James McGuire.
A. Porter was Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and J. L. Morton Assistant ; J. B. Strupper, Foreman, and Wm. Snow, Assistant of No. 1; H. T. Hall, Foreman, and J. Bar- renger, Assistant of No. 2; T. P. Larus, Foreman, and W. L. Salisbury, Assistant of No. 3. Fire Company No. 1 num- bered 61 men ; No. 2, 38 men ; No. 3, 24 men. Each had an engine.
The Finance Committee in April reported the total liabili- ties of the city, $25,175, and the probable revenue of the year, $23,475.
Reuben C. Shorter was in April elected an Alderman 'of the 4th Ward, in the place of Alderman Trawick, removed from the city; and Wm. Brooks elected in May an Alder- man of the 6th Ward, vice Alderman Dill, removed.
49
WATER WORKS.
At its meeting on the 12th of July, Council granted to the manufacturing companies and sundry citizens, petitioners, authority to erect a foot bridge across the river, opposite the Howard Factory, but reconsidered and rejected it at another meeting. This project was never consummated, and in a few years afterwards what is known as the "upper bridge" was built near the locality named.
The population of Columbus, according to the United States census taken this year, was-free 3,684, slave, 2,258- total, 5,942. The whole population of Muscogee county was 18,623, of which 10,447 were whites, and 8,176 slaves. The amount of capital then invested in manufactures was $841,- 517, of which there was invested in the manufacture of cot- ton and wool, $493,000.
On the 26th of July a committee of Council reported upon the practicability of supplying the city with a sufficiency of pure and wholesome water. They reported that they had, "for reasons deemed sufficient," abandoned all the plans pro- posed except one, which was the introduction of water from neighboring springs by pipes. They submitted a report from Engineer L. W. Dubois, to the effect that water enough, and of good quality, could be obtained from springs on the Sum- merville heights, on the Alabama side. But the committee did not recommend this, for the reason that the sources of the supply were in " another jurisdiction." Council appointed a committee to ascertain whether and on what terms the water on the Alabama side could be had for the use of the city.
In October the committee reported other surveys and esti- mates made by Mr. Dubois-one for bringing the water of the river from Lover's Leap, the other for bringing it from Wynn's Hill. The cost of bringing the water to the city from Lover's Leap was estimated at $28,282 06, from Wynn's Hill $32,668 75; works at the city for the former $25,842 92, for the latter $30,937 35.
Wm. Mahaffey was elected Marshal in October.
At a public meeting held on the 4th of November, the citi-
50
INCIDENTS.
zens voted authority to the Council to subscribe $150,000 to the stock of the Girard Railroad Co., on the assurance that with this subscription to buy rails, &c., the road would be promptly put into running order as far as Chunnenuggee; and on the 5th of November Council appointed a committee to confer with the Directors of the road and arrange all the details of the subscription. On the 25th of November, the committee reported an agreement with the Directors of the road which Council unanimously ratified. The Council reserved the right to connect with the road by means of a bridge across the river, and to have the trains of the road run across it.
Theopholis Stewart of the 3rd, and John Lloyd of the 5th Ward, were elected Aldermen in November.
Large private subscriptions for plank roads to Greenville and to Lumpkin were made by citizens this fall. But Coun- cil, while admitting the importance of these roads, declined ' to take stock, on account of existing indebtedness.
On the 9th of December, Council resolved to loan the Mus- cogee Railroad $75,000 of the city's bonds, taking a mortgage on the road as security.
On the 31st of December, trains commenced running over twenty miles of the Muscogee Railroad, then finished, from the Columbus terminus. Connecting stages ran to Ogle- thorpe and to Barnesville.
INCIDENTS.
Temperance Hall was "dedicated" on the night of the 8th of January, with interesting ceremonies. "Uncle Dabney Jones," the great apostle of Temperance, delivered an ad- dress.
Milton Robbins this year established a ropewalk in Girard.
The postoffice was this year removed to the large brick building corner of Randolph and Oglethorpe streets, where it remained until the building was destroyed by fire.
An engine was placed on the Columbus end of the Musco- gee Railroad in April, but the road had not then been finish-
51
MARRIAGES.
ed to Fort Valley. The ladies aided, but we have not found to what extent, in raising the money for the purchase of this engine, by a fair held in March.
A great revival of religion was manifested in the city this year. Meetings were continued for a month or six weeks at the Methodist church, and more than two hundred persons professed religion.
An Agricultural Fair held in Temperance Hall in Novem- ber was pronounced quite a success.
The receipts of cotton to the 21st of June amounted to 55,- 659 bales. Prices-in January, 11 to 12} c .; in April, 7 to 10c .; in October, 6 to 6}c .; in December, 6} to 7gc.
PERSONAL.
H. Noble was Tax Collector, and James Fergurson Tax Receiver of Muscogee county.
The Georgia M. E. Conference, which met in Savannah, sent Rev. W. M. Crumley to Columbus, and appointed Rev. S. Anthony, Presiding Elder of the Columbus District. Rev. T. Bermingham was the Catholic Priest at Columbus.
The following persons rented stalls in the Market this year: Wm. R. Jones, P. Gittinger, Arnold & Robertson, E. B. W. Spivey, Richard Robertson, Charles Bize, Alex. W. Robert- son. The aggregate amount which they rented for was $237 50.
MARRIAGES.
January 1-Leonard R. Cooley and Julia A. Henly. Jan. 2, Wesley P. Williams and Mary A. Chapman, George S. Martin and Elizabeth Gammell. Jan. 3, James P. Russell and Margaret Rowell, William Wilkinson and Mary A. Cordery. Jan. 7, Pleasant Odom and Elizabeth Mckenzie. Jan. 8, Jesse H. Wyatt and Emily Rentfroe. Jan. 9, Elisha A. Jackson and Frances E. Morris, John W. Watkins and Eliza A. Massey. Jan. 11, Daniel Wilkinson and Elizabeth Browning, Jesse T. Sutton and Caroline Osteen. Jan. 23, Ed- ward H. Bernhard and Ann E. Hemphill, Wright McCook and Ruhama Harp. Jan. 29, William M. Maxley and Emily M. Beck. Jan. 30, David Jones and Rebecca A. Newberry.
February 6-James F. Bozeman and Evaline A. Chambers. Feb. 11, John W. Payne and Lurany Jones. Feb. 16, Walton Doles and Sarah Buckler. Feb. 18, John Bunnell and Louisiana J. Osteen.
52
MARRIAGES.
March 6-William J. Wright and Martha Simmons. March 13, Elijah Morgan and Sophy A. F. Lanier. March 20, Amos R. Nelson and Sarah J. Willett, Green J. Mann and Susan Ann Kite, James Bonner and Martha A. Smith. March 25, George W. Lovett and Sarah Brassill, Clark P. Lanier and Sarah F. Chapman. March 26, Jacob Hydrick and Martha Bugg.
April 1-Gilbert Kent and Sarah Lawrence. April 15, William J. Harrell and Harriet Cordery. April 16, John T. Pry and Epsy A. Bush. April 20, James M. Cobb and Isabella Lee. April 24, Benjamin Brown and Janet Stephens. April 29, Thomas E. Motley and Harriet Moore.
May 4-Jacob H. Faulkenbury and Artamesia A. Stephens. May 6, Ly- curgus Madox and Sarah A. Kent. May 8, William Jones and Martha A. Stephens, John H. Glanton and Elizabeth Welch. May 13, Barney Barnes
and Sarah E. Mitchell. May 14, Milledge G. Mckennie and Louisiana F. Warren. May 22, Elijah Vickers and Ariadna A. Evans. May 25, Milton A. Smith and Henrietta H. Goulding. £ May 27, Everard H. Abercombie and Pauline Lewis. May 28, Robert H. Sullivan and Mahulda Jordan. May 31, William M. Hale and Harriet Welch.
June 1-John Clark and Mary A. Alford, Edward F. Rogers and Isabella Mann. June 5, George W. Fisher and Frances A. Wimberly. June 11, James Caulfield and Elizabeth Locklier. June 12, Thomas Summergill and Mary McCallister .. June 19, Thomas J. Brown and Frances Bowen. June 22, Alexander Hall and Lucinda George. June 25, Lyman B. Townsley and Mary J. Peabody. June 26, James R. McDonald and Mary J. McNeal.
July 1-Jeremiah Gammell and Arabella A. A. Reynolds. July 3, Neil McMillen and Rhoda A. Moon, George Stein and Mary Blankenship, Simeon Weldon and Nancy J. Taylor. July 5, John J. Ingram and Julia A. Perry. July 8, Jacob Neagle and Mary Madden. July 12, Eli Frost and Frances Goen. July 15, Benjamin F. Graves and Sarah H. Sauls. July 21, James H. McMicken and Nancy Copeland. July 22, Edwin G. Thornton and Martha F. B. Jones.
Angust 6-Henry W. Verstille and Ellen J. Lockhart, Anthony Martin and Frances Allum, Andrew Gaskey and Julia Algood, August 7, John W. King and Mary J. Kimbrough. August 14, John J. Collins and Rebecca Kerbo. August 17, William W. Stewart and Susan J. Roberts. August 21, Isham Turner and Mary J. Jemison. August 24, William M. Taylor and Sarah J. Robinson.
September 7-Seaborn Bryant and Frances Garrett. Sept. 11, Samuel P. Leggett and Martha A. Johnson, Washington Watkins and Mary A. Whitton. Sept. 16, Eugene A. Smith and Frances A. Reese. Sept. 17, H. H. McQueen and Mary E. Rudledge. Sept. 22, James D. Britt and Mary A. Pomeroy. Sept. 25, William H. Harris and Sarah A. King, William C. Daniel and Cor- nelia M. Phelps. Sept. 30, Joseph J. Jones and Caroline E. Lloyd, Thomas D. Fortson and Georgia E. Mealing.
October 2-James T. Norman and Mary E. Dean. October 8, William R. Brown and Mariah E. Broadnax. Oct. 9, Adolphus D. Metts and Mary Ball.
53
DEATHS.
Oct. 15, George T. Hurt and Nancy J. Flewellen. Oct. 16, James O. A. Tucker and Martha E. Dyer. Oct. 23, Elisha F. Garrett and Elizabeth H. Robinson. Oct. 27, Daniel G. Watson and Evaline Keiner. Oct. 31, John W. Mardis and Susan J. Smith.
November 3-William Boyd and Mahulda McGowen. November 6, Benja- min A. Fussill and Sidney A. F. Osteen. November 9, Green S. Childs and Frances A. Napier, John H. Walsingham and Eliza A. O'Quin. November 16, John W. Whytal and Charlotte A. Kidder. November 25, Isaiah Willett and Sarah Clark. November 27, James N. Fussell and Zilpha L. Hall, Benjamin Ryans and Celia A. Tinnon. Nov. 30, Wentworth S. Marble and Hannah E. Chase.
December 2-Thos. Duffield and Amanda Johnson, James A. Bell and Car- oline E. Brown. December 3, Arnold Seals and Eleanor A. Reid. Decem- ber 4, William J. Chapman and Sarah J. Tinnon, Benjamin F. Wallace and Cynthia A. E. Morrell. December 7, John Ward and Mary S. Cary, William T. Webster and Sarah A. Wiggins. December 11, David Jones and Henri- etta Tarver, John B. Jones and Creecy A. Cobb, James Pierce and Eliza Gil- bert, Richard E. Jones and Elizabeth Jones. December 14, Francis J. Abbott and Martha G. Garrison. December 18, Sanders E. Echols and Martha E. Perry. December 19, Robert Johnson and Ann M. Sinclair. De- cember 21, William Waters and Margaret A. Hunter. December 23, James J. W. Biggers and Caroline E. Williams, Horace Mathews and Elizabeth Dennis. December 25, Robert Knowles and Martha J. Hammock, Thomas Reynolds and Nancy F. Reynolds.
SEXTON'S REPORT OF DEATHS.
January 3-Jesse King, aged 51 years. Jan. 3, James Welch, 49 years. Jan. 5, Alex. Flewellen, 8 years. Jan. 10, T. Smith's child, 1 year. Jan. 10, H. Hall's child, 1 year. Jan. 13, George Sherwood, 36 years. Jan. 18, Per- ry Robison, 21 years. Jan. 25, Thomas Lee, 26 years. Jan. 26, Mrs. Adou, 68 years. Jan. 30, Sarah Barringer, 28 years. Also 3 negroes in January.
February 4-Jane L. Marks, aged 64 years. Feb. 10, child of Mr. Harp, aged® 1 day. Feb. 12, child of Wm. F. Luckie, aged 8 months. Feb. 13, child of Mr. Newberry, 5 months. Feb. 15, Robert B. Alexander, 40 years. Feb. 21, Eliza Robinson, 31 years. Feb. 22, Wm. E. Robinson, 37 years. Feb. 28, Martha Mims, 74 years.
March 9-Mary Ann Corry, 62 years. March 9, Martin J. Kendrick, 22 years. March 11, Bridget Hudson, 41 years. March 14, Patrick Clark, 48 years. March 15, Wm. Brown, 52 years. March 16, Caroline Stein, 26 years. March 16, James Osborn, 56 years. March 22, Joseph Meredith, 51 years. March 24, Emeline Crews, 18 years. March 24, Thomas McCarty, 53 years.
April 1-Caroline Burton, 38 years ; -Chapman, 9 years ; George C. Hooper, 41 years. April 4, Wiley G. Roper, 41 years ; Sarah Willett, 17 years. April 5, John Winn, 51 years. April 7, child of Col. Wyley, 2 years. April 8, James Shaw, 52 years ; John Brooks, 6 years. April 12, Matilda Packman, 19 years. April 13, Mary Hammock. 19 years. April 18, John C.
5
54
DEATHS.
Leitner, 39 years ; child of Mrs. Packman, aged 7 days. April 22, child of John Brown, 1 year. April 24, child of Mr. King, 7 days. April 25, child o" Sterling F. Grimes, 10 days. April 28, child of Thos. Herendine, 2 years ; child of Samantha George, 8 years ; child of Mr. Bobitt, 1 year. April 29, child of Mr. Willett, 1 year. April 30, Solomon Curlee, 8 years. Also 7 soves in February, and 4 in March.
May 16 -child of George W. Winter, aged 5 months. My 20, Benjamin N pier, 6 years. May 21, child of Henry Teasdale, 1 year. May 25, child of S. B. Harvill, 1 year ; child of W. T. Colquitt, 1 year. May 27, Jennette Von man, 6 y r .. May 30, Parm lia Wilk'ns, 36 years. Also 6 slaves in May.
June 3-Jane Busbee, aged 26 years. June 13, child of R. Hooper, 2 y ars. June 14, Isabella Holly, 17 years. June 15, - Hickey, 35 years. Jun: 23, Richard A. Long, 31 years. June 24, child of John Byard, 3 weeks. June 30, James Bishop, 26 years. Also 10 slives in June.
July 1-Miss Jackson, aged 51 years. July 4, child of Mr. Renfroe, 1 month. July 9, child of Mr. Burbee, 2 years. July 15, Sarah A. Riley, 26 years. July 18, James Bryant, 17 years. July 22, child of A. Backer, 1 year. July 23, Clara H mill, 15 years. July 26, Stephen Gilpin, 18 years. July 30, Henry Madden, 33 years. Also 6 slaves in July.
August 2-Templeton Rid, aged 65 years. Aug. 5, child of Mr. Robison, 1 year. Aug. &, H. C. Anderson, 35 years. Aug. 14, Sarah Nolen, 29 years. Aug. 19, child of Mr. Fairchild, 3 years. Aug. 20, Nancy McCarty, 57 years. Aug. 21, child of P. Adams, 3 months. Aug. 22, child of J. E. Webster, 1 year. Aug. 23, Jacob Seismund, 41 years. Aug. 24, Mary Long, 21 years. Aug. 25, P. N. Jernigan, 25 years. Aug. 29, Jere. Collins, 63 years. Aug. 31, child of Mr. Napier, -. Also 7 slaves in August.
September 6-Esau Pike, aged 60 years. Sept. 12, Joseph Frost, 24 years. Sept. 14, John Gunn, 4 years. Sept. 15, Sarah Holly, 52 years. Sept. 20, child of H. Smith, 2 years. Sept. 22, Charles Williams, 12 years; Gilbert Clark, 50 years. Sept. 23. N. McRobinson, 41 years. Sept. 26, James Den- nis, -. Sept. 27, Lovick Switzer, 21 years. Sept. 30, Emeline Jordan, 24 years. Also 3 slaves in September.
Here the official record ends, and we can only republish such obituary notices as we find in the newspapers :
Oct. 12-Samuel J. Crow, aged about 37 years.
I
Nov. 8-Mrs. Martha Ann Davis, wife of John H. Davis.
Nov. 24-Robert M., son of Thomas J. Shivers.
Nov. 27-Theobold Howard, aged 48 years.
Dec. 26-Richard T. Brice, aged 39 years.
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55
CITY COUNCIL AND NEGRO MARTS.
1852.
Opelika Branch Railroad-Gas Light Company Formed.
J. L. Morton, Wiley Williams, R. M. Gunby and M. N. Clark were candidates for Mayor at the January election, and the vote stood-Morton 235, Williams 188, Gunby 162, Clark 25. The Aldermen elect were: 1st Ward, Lewis M. Durr and Thos. B. Slade; 2d, Dr. A. I. Robison and Wm. Perry ; 3d, Dr. T. Stewart and Thos. M. Hogan; 4th, R. C. Shorter and John Quin; 5th, A. A. Lowther and H. H. Ep- ping; 6th, Wm. Matheson (and Thos. R. Herndine was afterwards elected.) James M. Hughes was elected Marshal; A. M. Robertson, Deputy Marshal; Calvin Stratton, Clerk ; and Jordan L. Howell, Treasurer.
Council, at its first meeting, elected Beverly A. Thornton City Attorney ; Jere Terry, Sexton; Thos. Nix, Clerk of the Market; Wm. W. Martin, Bridge-keeper ; B. Ingram, Hospi- tal keeper. The following gentlemen were elected Health Officers : Dr. Thos. Hoxey, J. L. Barringer, Jos. Kyle, Jas. M. Everett, Wm. Danerly, George Pitts, Charles Wise, Wm. C. Cooper, Isaac Mitchell, Wm. Brooks.
Dr. J. B. Hoxey was elected City Physician; and the fol- lowing gentlemen Port Wardens: F. G. Wilkins, John C. Calhoun, A. K. Ayer, Edward Birdsong, James McGuire.
The Fire Wardens for this year were-J. A. Deblois, H. T. Hall, John H. Madden, J. B. Strupper, P. Adams, Ezekiel Davis.
Quite a flurry was created in Council, in January, on the subject of repealing the ordinance of 1851 which located and regulated the negro marts of the city." Council refused to lay on the table an ordinance amending the ordinance of 1851; whereupon Aldermen Slade, Durr, Lowther, Stewart and Slaughter tendered their resignations, which Council refused to accept. But these Aldermen retired, and at an election
56
OPELIKA BRANCH ROAD.
held on the 4th of February, Messrs. Wm. C. Gray, Wm. Y. Barden, Richard P. Spencer, George W. Lively and Wm. Williamson were elected in their places. [The fair presump- tion is that the amendatory ordinance was passed, but the record does not show it. It allowed the negro traders to bring their slaves into the city for sale in the day-time, but required them to be kept on the South Common at night.]
Wm. Brooks was in February elected an Alderman of the 6th ward, in the place of Ald. Matheson, resigned.
The appraisers appointed by Council reported the valuation of real estate $1,516,970, showing a small but steady increase for several years. The city debt at that time amounted to $3,200, besides some unpaid railroad subscriptions. The receipts from all sources were about $27,500, and the ex- penses, with Muscogee Railroad interest, about $24,000.
The Enquirer of April 20th indulged in fond anticipations of the growth and prosperity of Columbus as soon as the pro- gressing railroads afforded better facilities for commerce. The article stated that almost all the dry goods then consumed in this section were wagoned from Macon at heavy expense ; but that when the Muscogee Railroad was finished, such goods could be sold in Columbus as cheap as at Macon or Savannah. It looked also for a great increase of trade from the Girard Railroad, and urged the importance of construct- ing plank roads or some other improvements to facilitate trade with the counties north and south of Columbus.
Col. John G. Winter's Bank of St. Marys suspended specie payments on the 23d of April. The circulation was stated to be about $350,000.
The cars on the Muscogee Railroad commenced running 25 miles on the 18th of May.
The first substantial movement towards the building of the Opelika Branch Road, of which we find any mention, was a proposition by the city of Savannah, in May of this year, to loan the credit of that city to the amount of $100,000 in aid of the enterprise. Curiously, the Enquirer regarded it
57
GAS COMPANY ORGANIZED.
with suspicion-as a move in opposition to the Girard road. This subject was warmly discussed on both sides through the columns of the city press. Several meetings of citizens were held to consider the policy of a city subscription of $50,000, and finally a poll was opened, when the citizens, on the 12th of June, voted in favor of a conditional subscription. The vote stood-for a subscription, provided other parties sub- scribe a like amount of $50,000, and that the road cross the river, 192 ; for subscription unconditionally, 52; no subscrip- tion, 85. The Times advocated the road and the subscription.
Jos. S. Pruden was in July elected an Alderman of the 4th Ward, vice Alderman Epping, resigned.
The total population of Muscogee county this year was 18,750.
A committee of Council this summer made a contract with Jonathan Bridges for boring an artesian well, but Council did not ratify the contract. The Times of November 9th said of the water supply of the city :
We do not know a community that is so poorly supplied with this first necessity for health, comfort and cleanliness (water) as Columbus. There are many families in the city who have no regular and certain source from which to derive their daily supplies of this precious element, and whose servants are actually obliged, at every turn of the water-bucket, to go forth on a foraging expedition in search of it. The water works are as good as used up. No attention is paid to the pipes furnishing the supply, and it is only occasionly that some half a dozen hydrants in very low localities, run. Those in more elevated positions are as dry as the miraculous rock before Moses touched it with his rod.
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