History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 51

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).

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Photo. by Armstrong, Nashville.

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RESIDENCE .

APPROACH FROM PIKE.

" CLIFF LAWN. " FORMER RESIDENCE OF MR FRANK MCGAVOCK. PRESENT RESIDENCE OF HIS DAUGHTER M& ARCHER CHEATHAM. 3 MILES WY OF NASHVILLE ON RICHLAND PIKE.

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

also distinguished lawyers, one afterwards a chancellor and the other judge of the Supreme Court. Andrew Hays, a talented lawyer, and attorney-general for this district. George W. Gibbs, a prominent land-lawyer from Sparta, became a partner of Mr. Grundy. John Catron, a rather rough-and-tumble lawyer, from Overton County, came here soon after Mr. Gibbs; he soon acquired a large practice in all cases verging upon scandal in the courts, and by dint of hard study he became judge of the Supreme Court, and was afterwards transferred to the United States Supreme Court. Thomas Washington began the practice of law with humble pretensions, and by hard study and application became one of the leading members of the bar, whose briefs before the Supreme Court, which I have often heard him read to Judge Robert Whyte, with whom he was a favorite, were the richest articles, replete with satire and criticisms of men and lawyers, and would be refreshing to the lawyers of the present day could they obtain possession of them.

The most important litigation was in the Federal Court, presided over by Judge McNairy and Judge Todd. The jurors attending that court were some of the most prom- inent and intelligent men throughout the State, and it was a grand sight to witness a lawsuit, where Haywood and Whiteside were opposing lawyers, before such a jury, which often occupied the space of ten days or more.

They were legal giants in body and mind. John Chil- dress was the marshal, and one of the most prominent and wealthy men at that day, and the devoted friend of Gen. Jackson. Robert Searcy, whose home has been mentioned before, was clerk of the United States Court at Nashville many years, clerk to the commissioners of land claims of North Carolina, United States paymaster, etc.

Edwin Hickman, the father of John P. Hickman and great-grandfather of young Hickman in the clerk's office, was killed on Duck River by the Indians, on his return from the Chickasaw bluffs, in 1785. Thomas Easton edited a newspaper called the Impartial Review in 1806 and 1807. Mr. Easton moved afterwards to Alabama, edited a paper in that State, and was brother-in-law to Governor Gayle, of Alabama .. He was also the brother of William . Easton, who married a Miss Donelson, and the grandfather of Mrs. George Purvis, of Nashville.

Among the prominent physicians of 1809 and before was Dr. Felix Robertson, who was the first white child born in Nashville. He studied medicine with Dr. Hennen, and had a fine practice as a physician. Dr. Hennen was the most prominent physician at that day. Dr. F. May, Dr. Wheaton, Dr. John Newnan, Dr. Boyd McNuiry, Dr. Roger B. Sap- pington, and Dr. John Shelby. They were all prominent physicians at that time (1810).

Among the prominent and substantial merchants of that day, 1809 and 1810, were Josiah Nichol, Thomas Ramsey, Alexander Porter, Thomas Kirkman, James Jackson, James Gordon, and William Tait. Some years afterwards Thomas Yeatman, an enterprising dry-goods merchant, came. Then Joseph and Robert Woods, who had been commission iner- chants at the mouth of the Cumberland, came to Nashville and established a commission-house on College Street, where the late James Woods had his office. The carly ex-

perience of these men as commission-merchants on the river, in receiving and forwarding goods of various kinds, gave them great advantage over all others, and they were very successful in their business, and held the confidence of the entire community. James Condon, a noted man, lived opposite their warehouse. He was a tailor by trade, and once mayor of the city of Nashville,-an honest and inde- pendent man in his expressions against the perpetrators of vice and immorality. After this, and after 1820, Thomas Yeatman and Joseph and Robert Woods formed a partner- ship in the commission business, and built a warehouse on Water Street near Broad, owned several steamboats, doing a large business in receiving quantities of cotton and to- bacco. About this time Mr. Yeatman happened to be in Philadelphia. News came from Europe of a heavy advance in cotton. Mr. Yeatman on horseback beat the mail and express to Nashville, and bought all the cotton there at twelve and a half cents. His brother, Preston Yeatman, living in Huntsville, bought all there. Cotton soon ad- vanced to twenty-five cents a pound, by which Yeatman & Woods made a large fortune. They then sold out their warehouse and steamboats to the firm of Gordon, Norvell & Co., composed of James Gordon, Moses and Joe Nor- vell, and Robert T. and James Walker. Yeatman & Woods retired from business and went to banking, and commenced building the Cumberland Iron-Works. Yeatman afterwards died on board of a steamboat going to Pittsburgh with cholera. Thus ended the life of one of the boldest and most enterprising men that lived in Nashville, leaving an estate estimated to be worth five hundred thousand dollars.

At that day there were no steamboats running, and " Ra- pier's barges" were the principal mode of transportation from Nashville to New Orleans. It required ninety days to make the trip, carrying the produce of the country to New Or- leans and returning with coffee, sugar, and other groceries. There was also a line of keel-boats running from Nashville to the mouth of the Cumberland, which brought salt from . the Ohio River, with goods purchased North. As this was the only method of transporting goods, save a land-route from Louisville, the cost of transportation from Philadelphia and Baltimore was ten dollars per hundred.

PROGRESS OF THE CITY.

The first book published in Nashville was entitled " Ten- nessee Justice ; the Duty and Authority of Justices of the Peace in the State of Tennessee. Compiled by John Hay- wood, Esq., Attorney-at-Law, Nashville, Tenn. Printed and sold by Thomas G. Bradford, 1810." The book con- tained three hundred and thirty duodecimo pages. In this book an advertisement is inserted saying that Thomas G. Bradford had lately published and had for sale at his print- ing-office a new edition of " Haywood's Revisal of the Constitution and Public Laws of Tennessee," a large vol- ume which was probably printed in 1809. A copy of this book was in the hands of Judge Nathaniel Baxter, which he received from his father, Jeremiah Baxter. Judge Baxter bequeathed the book to his son, Samuel Baxter, with the request to give it to his son, Perkins Baxter, in order to transmit it down through the Baxter family.

In 1810 the population was eleven hundred. The Legis-

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

lature assembled here for the first time. It subsequently met in Murfreesboro', Kingston, Knoxville, etc., until its final location in Nashville.

In 1811 and 1812 a great many men volunteered for the war against Great Britain. Thomas G. Bradford printed in 1812 a book entitled " The Military Instructor," containing Baron Steuben's tactics. Four years afterwards " Clark's Miscellany, in Prose and Verse," was printed.

In 1813 the celebrated fight between Jackson and Hays and the Bentons took place at the City Hotel.

Gen. James Robertson, the old pioneer, died on the 1st of September, 1814, universally regretted.

The volunteers from the Creek campaign returned in May, 1814, and a public dinner was given them at the Bell Tavern. Felix Grundy delivered an address of wel- come, which was responded to by Gen. Jackson on be- half of the volunteers.

The Nashville Female Academy was incorporated in 1816, and had a successful career from that period until 1861, when the operations of the late war destroyed it. The Rev. Dr. C. D. Elliott was its honored conductor for many years previous to its cessation. Thousands of the best ladies in the South were graduates of this excellent institution.

President Monroe arrived in Nashville on the 6th of June, 1819, and was the guest of Gen. Jackson, as was also Maj .- Gen. Edmund P. Gaines at that time. A public reception was given to the distinguished visitors, addresses of welcome, a public dinner, a ball, etc. Wilkins Tanne- hill made the address of welcome on behalf of the Masonic fraternity, Hon. John H. Eaton on behalf of the city, and Col. Williamson on behalf of the military. The President took his departure on the 11th, through Kentucky, accom- panied by Gen. Jackson as far as the residence of Col. Richard M. Johnson, in that State.

The financial panic of 1819-20 caused the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank to suspend specie payments on the 18th of June, 1819, which example was followed by the Nash- . ville Bank on the 22d, and the Bank of the State of Ten- nessce on the 29th. The Legislature was convened at Murfreesboro' by Gov. McMinn, and the Bank of the State of Tennessee was chartered, with a capital of one million of dollars, with a branch at Knoxville.

A substantial and elegant bridge was built across the river from the northeast end of the square to the Gallatin Turnpike in 1822, at a cost of eighty-five thousand dollars. It was taken down in 1855 because it obstructed naviga- tion. It is said to have been the best bridge that ever spanned the Cumberland.

In 1822 the city cemetery, on South Cherry Street, was opened for interments. The Sulphur Spring bottoms had been previously used as a burying-ground.

In 1823 the population was three thousand four hundred and sixty, and in 1830 five thousand five hundred and sixty-six.

In 1825 there were from fifteen to twenty steamboats running from Nashville to New Orleans, Louisville, and Pittsburgh.

Gen. La Fayette, son, and suite arrived here on the 4th of May, 1825, and were received with the greatest demon-

strations of joy. An immense procession was formed, the streets were decorated with arches of evergreens, and patriotic mottoes were inscribed upon them. The general landed on the grounds of Maj. William B. Lewis, above the water-works, where Gen. Jackson and a number of citi- zens received him, and Governor Carroll addressed him in behalf of the State, tendering him a welcome to Tennessee. The procession, with the military, escorted him into the city, where Robert B. Currey, Esq., the mayor, addressed him in behalf of the city, and tendered him its freedom and hospitality. The joy of the people knew no bounds, and Gen. La Fayette ever after spoke of his reception in Nashville as one of the most pleasant events of his life. He was taken to the residence of Dr. Boyd McNairy, who threw open his doors to the distinguished visitor and his suite. The next day the general went to the Masonic Hall, where he received the ladies of Nashville in that polite and cordial manner for which he was remarkable. A public dinner was given him at the Nashville Inn, at which Gen. Jackson acted as president, assisted by George W. Campbell, Henry M. Rutledge, John Somerville, and Felix Grundy as vice-presidents. Our old friend, Timothy Demonbreun, was at this dinner, and was toasted by Col. Andrew Hynes as the patriarch of Tennessee and the first white man that settled in the country. Gen. La Fayette visited the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, the Royal Arch Chapter, and the Ma- sonic fraternity generally, and was welcomed by Wilkins Tan- nehill, Esq., as a friend and a brother. A collation was fur- nished on the occasion, and all hands had a " good time" generally. Before his departure the general called on Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Littlefield (the daughter of his old com- panion and friend, Gen. Greene, of Revolutionary memory), Governor Carroll, Rev. Dr. Philip Lindsley, and others.

La Fayette's whole stay at Nashville was a continued ovation. The military was drawn up in two lines, and Gen. Jackson took the arm of La Fayette and walked from one end of the line to the other, La Fayette shaking hands and receiving the congratulations of the citizens. Among them was one of his old comrades in arms, Maj. Blackman, who had fought with him at the battle of the Brandywine, where both were wounded. They met and embraced, and many a tear was shed at the affecting scene. La Fayette then be- came the guest at the Hermitage during his stay, and upon his departure he presented Gen. Jackson with the pistols given him by Gen. Washington as the most worthy man in America to bear them. A splendid ball was given him, at which the elite of the city, headed by Jackson and Carroll, and prominent citizens participated. We subjoin one of the invitation cards. . It is a very creditable piece of work for that day. The ornamental design, artistically engraved, consists of an arch and columns. On one of the latter are the names of the following battles, in which Gen. La Fayette distinguished himself : Fort Moultrie, Chadd's Ford, James- town, Brandywine, Monmouth, Yorktown. The other column bears the names of Gen. Jackson's most famous victories : Talladega, Emuckfaw, Ecatichopko, Horse-Shoe, l'ensacola, and New Orleans. Above these are busts of the generals. Arranged along the arch are thirteen stars, rep- resenting the thirteen original States, and at the top of the arch the figures 76. Beneath this is the American eagle,

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY. TENNESSEE.

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Photo bn Armstrong

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

holding in his beak a wreath of laurel over a bust of Wash- ington. The wording of the invitation is :

" WELCOME, LA FAYETTE. In honor of

Gen. La Fayette.

You are respectfully invited to attend a ball in Nashville, on the third evening after the arrival of Gen. La Fayette, or on the second, should the arrival be on Friday.

MANAGERS.

E. HI. Foster.

A. McCall.

S. B. Marshall.

J. Waters.

J. Parrish.

J. W. Overton.

J. Somerville.

J. Phillips.

B. McNairy.

J. Vaulx.

J. Stewart.

A. Latapie."

All the managers of this ball have passed away, Mr. Vaulx, the survivor, dying some months ago.

A lady of this city who remembers Gen. La Fayette's visit says that flags and banners were hung across the street for the first time in Nashville.

Over one million of dollars' worth of cotton' was ex- ported from this port in 1825. The Branch Bank of the United States was established in 1827.

The city was divided off into six wards in 1826.

In 1829-30 the physicians commenced using quinine in fevers, and Dr. Felix Robertson has the credit of intro- ducing it here.

The highest state of political excitement existed here in 1832, on the subject of nullification.

The city received a wonderful impetus in the way of business and progress in every department in 1830-32 and part of 1833, checked then by the first visit of cholera to this city.

Christ church was built in 1831-32, at a cost of only sixteen thousand dollars. The McKendree church was built in 1832-33, and dedicated the last Sunday in 1833. The Cumberland Presbyterian church was dedicated in May, 1832. The first Catholic church, on the north side of Capitol Square, was built in 1830-31. Rev. Dr. Edgar was installed as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Dec. 25, 1833, and was its pastor for nearly twenty-eight years. A Baptist Association was formed here in 1820.

The Union Bank of Tennessee was chartered in 1832, and went into operation in 1833. The Planters' Bank was chartered in 1833, and went into operation in 1834. The Tennessee Marine and Fire Insurance Company was char- tered by the Legislature in 1833, and its capital stock sub- scribed in twenty minutes, no person being allowed to subscribe over five thousand dollars of stock in his own Dame. The steamboat " Lady Jackson," of two hundred tons burthen, was built at the lower wharf and launched Aug. 4, 1832. The penitentiary was built by the State in 1830-31. The lunatic asylum was built in 1833-34, south of Vauxhall Garden. Vauxhall Garden was a place of considerable resort for political meetings, social gatherings, etc., of the most respectable character.

The First Baptist church was built in 1837. Rev. Dr. R. B. C. Howell was its pastor, and occupied that position over a quarter of a century.

Duncan Robertson, who came to Nashville in 1806, died

May 1, 1833, aged sixty-three years. He has the reputa- tion of having been the best man that ever lived in Nash- ville. " In imitation of his Divine Master, he literally went about doing good."

The convention to revise the constitution of the State met in Nashville on May 19, 1834. W. B. Cooper, the artist, painted the portrait of Hon. John McLean, of the United States Supreme Court, who was holding court here at the time.

The steamer " John Randolph" was burnt at the wharf on the 16th of March, 1836. Three lives were lost and over two hundred thousand dollars' worth of goods was destroyed. This was one of the largest and finest boats in the trade, and was owned by J. and R. Yeatman & Co.

Gen. Armstrong's brigade met an enthusiastic welcome on their return from the Florida campaign, Feb. 4, 1837.

The House of Industry for Females was established in 1837. About this time (date not known) the Sisters of Charity founded their hospital.

The great financial revulsion of 1837 caused the banks to suspend specie payments, and a considerable depreciation in the price of real estate took place. A great many per- sons left the State, the majority for Texas, bankrupt.

The Hon. John Catron received his appointment as one of the supreme judges of the United States in 1837.

The Hon. Hugh Lawson White died at Knoxville on the 10th of April, 1840, and a public meeting was held here on the 15th to testify the respect of our people for his memory. He received the electoral vote of Tennessee in 1836 for President. He was one of the purest states- men this country has produced.

Soon after the tornado at Natchez, in May, 1840, the citizens made contributions to the sufferers, and C. C. Tra- bue, mayor, forwarded them fifteen hundred dollars.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows made their first public parade on the 1st of June, 1840. .

The great Whig Convention was held on the 17th of August, 1840. Henry Clay was present, as well as many other distinguished visitors.

The Hon. Felix Grundy, the best criminal lawyer in the Southwest, once United States senator, and attorney-gen- eral in Mr. Van Buren's cabinet, died at his residence in Nashville, on the 19th of December, 1840.

A series of popular lectures was delivered in the Masonic Hall in the winter of 1840-41, under the auspices of a library society then in existence. The Rev. Dr. Philip Lindsley, the Rev. Dr. R. B. C. Howell, Prof. Gerard Troost, Dr. Thomas R. Jennings, Prof. Nathaniel Cross, Prof. J. Hamilton, Rev. Dr. John T. Edgar, Hon. Abram P. Maury, and others were the lecturers, and the course was remarkably successful.

A large public meeting was held in April, 1841, in rela- tion to the death of Gen. Harrison.

Ex-Governor Newton Cannon died in 1841, and his death was appropriately announced in all the courts, and a public meeting held, which fittingly expressed the sorrow of the community.

The first daguerreotype likenesses taken in the city were by an artist named Moore, who stopped at the Union Hall Hotel, in 1841, and had quite a run of custom.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

Mr. Clayton, the celebrated aeronaut, made a successful balloon ascension on the 13th of November, 1841.

The Morus multicaulis excitement raged in this section in 1840-42, and a silk-manufacturing company was estab- lished here, but subsequently failed.

Ex-President Van Buren arrived here April 25, 1842, and the next day, in company with his traveling compan- ion, James K. Paulding, went out to the Hermitage to see Gen. Jackson. They all came into the city two days after- wards, and had a grand reception. A public dinner was offered and declined. Mr. Van Buren went from here to Columbia to visit ex-Governor Polk. He returned and took his departure for Lexington to pay a visit to Henry Clay.

The banks, which had suspended specie payments in 1837, resumed in August, 1842.

A shock of earthquake was felt on Wednesday night, Jan. 4, 1843, and another on the night of the 16th.

Payne, Carroll, and Kirby, for the crime of murder, were hung on the commons, then south of the city (now in the Eighth Ward), Feb. 10, 1843.

The 4th of July, 1843, was celebrated with unusual vigor and animation.

Marshal Bertrand, of France, arrived on the 29th of Sep- tember, 1843. He was accompanied by his son, Napoleon Bertrand, and his aid, M. Mansoe. After visiting the Hermitage, the party partook of the hospitalities of Chief Justice Catron. They returned the visits of Governor Jones, Gen. Carroll, Gen. Armstrong, and C. C. Norvell, editor of the Nashville Whig.

The seat of government was permanently fixed at Nash- ville on the 7th of October, 1843, after a severe struggle in the Legislature. The city bought Campbell's Hill for the State-House, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, and gave it to the State.

Maj. Henry M. Rutledge, only son of Hon. Edward Rutledge, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Hon. Francis B. Fogg, Jan. 20, 1844. The Legislature and all the courts then in session adjourned and participated in the funeral obsequies.

" Thomas Crutcher, who had been a citizen here for half a century, died on the 8th of March, 1844, and had the largest funcral procession that had ever been seen in Nash- ville. He was a benevolent, good man, the best friend the Nashville Female Academy ever had, and in life had occu- pied several positions of trust and honor. William Mc- Neill, who had been a resident here for more than half a century, died on the 21st of the same month ; and on the next day Gen. William Carroll expired. He had lived here thirty-four years, twelve of which he was Governor of the State. His military services are well known to the country. The death of these old and esteemed citizens, following so closely one upon another, caused a profound sensation among the people, and the writer* well remembers that the morning after the death of Governor Carroll he went to Capitol Hill at daylight, for purposes of medita- tiou, where he was soon joined by the memorable Robert

Farquharson (himself an old resident), who spoke feel- ingly of the rapidity of Death's doings, and lamented the departure of friends who had been so long familiar to him- self and the people of the city. He mentioned many, many changes on these streets since he first came here, and remarked that ' You young men will see greater changes than those in half the time, but whether for the better or not is doubtful.' The conversation, though brief, made a strong impression. On the 6th of April the mortal re- mains of Senator Porter, of Louisiana, arrived here for interment among his relatives."

The Institution for the Instruction of the Blind went into operation early in 1844, the Rev. Dr. Edgar, the Rev. Dr. Howell, and the Rev. John T. Wheat acting as trustees under an appointment from the Governor.

The corner-stone of the Second Presbyterian church was laid April 25, 1844.

The Presidential campaign of 1844 was characterized by an excitement little less than that prevailing in 1840. Large meetings by both political parties were held, and most of the distinguished political speakers in the United States were here at one time or another during the cam- paign.

The steamer " Belle of Clarksville," a Nashville boat, was suuk in December, 1844, by which thirty-three lives were lost, principally deck-hands. The accident occurred near Old Town Landing, on the Mississippi River. For several years the merchants and business men of Nashville owned the largest and finest boats that floated on the bosom of the Mississippi.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 51

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013