History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 62

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 62

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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The Infind Class, a two oce Mustr ater six cents per annum, was started by Mr. Ca : :

The Sunday School Quarterly, a thirty ;. zine. Sted by Mr. Cunnynghim. is d. ro: ) the Sunday school lessons of the quarter, at! . ... · i pages of music in each mutabor. The Quarterly Rear of the Mairie Church South .- In carrying out the purpose i eral Conference, da first volume of the Rivier in 1-79, mider the editorial mangement of li .. Hinton, D.D . one of the committee, and pastor .; . in Coluvias, Ga In October, 1879, R. A. Y ... elected publisher by the Conference committer. ...

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243

CITY OF NASHVILLE.

lishing house, was elected editor. The Review takes rank with the leading works of its kind, both in matter and in mechanical execution. It discusses theology, philosophy, science, literature, education, and all other matters appro- priate to such a publication. It is published under the au- spices of the General Conference, but without any pecuniary liability by the publishing house, the Conference, or the Church. It contains one hundred and ninety-two single- column pages in each number, seven by nine and a half inches, and is published at three dollars per annum.

The Methodist Episcopal Publishing House is incorpo- rated and is the property of the church. The building, which was erected in 1873 to replace the former one, which was bought in 1854 and burned in 1872, is situated on the northeast corner of the public square in Nashville. It is five stories in front, including the Mansard roof, and seven stories in the rear, which overlooks the river bluff. The material is cut stone, of the same quality as that used in the State Capitol. It fronts one hundred and sixteen feet, and is two hundred and twenty-seven feet deep to the river bluff. It is divided into four stores of twenty nine by two hundred and twenty-seven feet. The northeast floors with basements are occupied by the agent, where may be found the book-store, offices of the editors, missionary secretary, bishop's room, composing-rooms, stereotype foundry, bind- ery, press-rooms, mailing-room, engine-room, and vaults. The other rooms are occupied by wholesale merchants. There are employed in the house about one hundred per- sons. Their book catalogue contains over five hundred volumes, and includes all the books usually kept for the general demand, as Bibles, etc. Rev. J. B. McFerrin was book agent from the organization until 1866; then Dr. A. II. Redford until 1878, when he was relieved by Dr. Mc- Ferrin, who is the present agent or general manager of the concern.

This institution should command the respect and secure the co-operation of the friends of sound literature, and especially of the Methodists, as it is a mighty engine of power in God's hands in the interests of humanity. Who can calculate the extent of its influence ? During the past year about three hundred thousand copies of books and pamphlets have been published, four million copies of Sun- day-school papers, and sixteen thousand copies of the Christian Advocate weekly.

The Ladies' Pearl, S. P. Chesnut, D.D., editor and pro- prietor, was established in 1852, and publication recom- menced by Rev. J. L. Halsell, editor and proprietor, at the close of the war. It was purchased by John S. Ward, Esq., who began the present series with 1867. Rev. J. C. Bovine, D.D., succeeded as editor and publisher until 1873, when Messrs. Brown & Perrin purchased and removed it to Alton, Ill. Rev. S. P. Chesnut, D.D., the former pro- prietor of the Banner of Peace, purchased the Pearl in 1874 and commenced its republication in Nashville with the January number for 1875. In January, 1880, it was enlarged from sixty-four pages to a large octavo of eighty pages and its reading matter doubled, the subscription still remaining at the former price of two dollars and ten cents per annum. The Pearl is " devoted to the literary and moral culture of woman." A sanitary department designed

to counteract the evil influence of medical impostors is edited by Drs. S. P. Crawford, M.D., of Stockton, Cal., and J. B. Lindsley, M.D., of Nashville, Tenn.

Gospel Advocate .- The publication of this paper was resumed by the issue of vol. viii., No. 1, on Jan. 1, 1866, in the old form as a sixteen-page weekly, by Elder Tolbert Fanning and David Lipscomb, a brother of the former editor.

In 1867 it was enlarged to thirty-two pages, and the subscription price reduced from two dollars and a half to two dollars. In January, 1877, it was changed to its pres- ent size and form. Elder Fanning withdrew from the paper in 1868, and Mr. Lipscomb became the sole proprie- tor. E. G. Sewell, an evangelist preacher from Williamson County, became associate editor with the commencement of 1870. Mr. Lipscomb at once increased his evangelical labors, and the management of the office has since devolved upon Elder Sewell and H. G. Lipscomb, who became man- aging editor in 1875. The Advocate is a vigorous ex- pounder of its doctrines and the acknowledged organ of the Christian Church. It has a circulation of two thousand three hundred.

The Cumberland Presbyterian, eight pages ; size thirty- two by forty-seven inches ; subscription two dollars and fif- teen cents per annum. Rev. J. R. Brown, editor. Estab- lished 1841. Publication resumed in 1868 by the Board of Publication of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Union Evangelist of Pittsburgh, Pa., became the Cum- berland Presbyterian by change of name, and, with the St. Louis, Mo., Cumberland Presbyterian, united to make the St. Louis Observer. In 1868 these papers were united under the general church management, and the Banner of Peace of Nashville was purchased in 1874, the wholo being then consolidated under the editorial management of Rev. J. R. Brown, D.D., for the Board of Publication. Rev. Dr. Brown was editor of the St. Louis paper previous to the consolidation. The new paper assumed the name of Banner Presbyterian, but after a few issues it was found unfavorable, and changed to Cumberland Presbyterian. The Banner of Peace was first published after the war by Rev. Isaac Shoup and Rev. J. C. Province, in 1865.

Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery, established in 1851, forty-eight pages octavo, three dollars per annum ; revived with the new series January, 1868, by W. K. Bow- ling, M D., editor and proprietor. W. T. Briggs, M.D., became joint proprietor, and continued until 1877, when C. S. Briggs, M.D., became sole proprietor and editor. The Journal is devoted to medicine, surgery, and reminis- cences of the profession.

The Southern Husbandman, a monthly twenty-page ag- ricultural magazine at seventy-five cents a year, was pub- lished by Dr. John H. Curry for the years 1877, 1878, and 1879, when it was consolidated with the St. Louis Journal of Agriculture.

The Theological Medium, a quarterly of one hundred and thirty-two pages octavo, was started by Rev. T. C. Blake, in January, 1870, to succeed the old Quarterly. The circulation attained eighteen hundred the first year. It was purchased by the Board of Publication in 1873, and edited by Rev. M. B. De Witt until January, 1880, when

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

it was transferred to the faculty of the Columbia Univer- sity.

Sunday Morning, a monthly juvenile periodical of eight pages, size nineteen by twenty-four, at sixty cents a year, was established by the Cumberland Board of Publication in 1874. Rev. M. B. De Witt, editor.

The Sunday-School Gem, Sunday-School Comments, Our Lambs, and Gem Lesson Leaf are published by this board, besides which there are a large number of denomi- national works. The Sunday-School Gem was started by Rev. Mr. Blake when editor of the Banner, in 1867, and was the first child's paper published by the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. The board bought it in 1873. Rev. S. P. Chesnut was editor of the Banner from 1873 until it ceased publication.

The Evening Telescrip was issued for a short time by J. W. Combs, 1870.

The Penny News was published for several months by the Penny News Publishing Company.

. The Odd-Fellows' Amulet and the Mosaic were two society journals published for a short time since the war.

The Headlight was established as a State Sons of Tem- perance magazine in October, 1870, by W. H. F. Ligon, to succeed the Southern Sun, published by him since 1866. The Progress was a thirty-two-page octavo magazine, edited by a committee of the order until January, 1877, when the name was changed to The Headlight. It continued to be regularly issued by that order after their change of name to the " United Friends of Temperance" in 1871, by Isaac Litton, Esq., Supremo Scribe of the order for the United States, and is the official organ of that order.

The Commercial Reporter was started by James Browne, present publisher of the Daily Herald, in November, 1871, as a weekly price current. The size was doubled after the first three months, and it was made a five-column news- paper at one dollar a year subscription. It was enlarged to seven columns in 1873, and to nine columns in 1874, when a legal department was added for the decisions of the Su- preme Court of Tennessee. This was an individual enter- prise of the editor, and highly successful. In June, 1878, Mr. Browne sold to Hooper, Harris & Co., who suspended after six months. The legal part was continued by Mr. Browne in magazine form, under the name of the Legal Reporter, passed into the hands of Jere. Baxter, Esq., and in 1879 was by him transferred to Tavel, Eastman & Co., law publishers and general printers, of Union Street.

The Legal Reporter is a fifty-two-page octavo monthly, published at three dollars and fifty cents per annum, and devoted to the interests of the bench and bar of Tennessee.

In January, 1872, Elder Tolbert Fanning began the publication of The Religious Historian, a thirty-two-page monthly, devoted to religious instruction and a history of the principles of the Christian religion. The contents were nearly all from his own pen. The publication ceased after the issue of the May number, with his death, which oc- curred at his residence, near Franklin College, May 3, 1874. As an educator and religious teacher, Elder Fanning was remarkably successful. He was born in Cannon County, May 10, 1810, became a Christian in 1827, and soon after began studying the Scriptures and preaching. He gradu.

ated at the University of Nashville in 1835. During his studies he traveled with Alexander Campbell, and became distinguished by his success in public argument upon his chosen faith. In 1836 he opened a female school at Frank- lin, Tenn., and continued to teach and travel until 1840, when he settled five miles east of Nashville, in District No. 2. In October, 1844, he was elected president of Franklin College, and continued to fill that position until 1861. At Hope Institute, in the same district, he opened a female institute at the close of the war, which he con- tinued until his death.

The Dixie Farmer is an outgrowth of the Rural Sun, a sixteen-page weekly agricultural paper. It was issued first on Oct. 3, 1872, by Hord & Griffith, publishers; B. M. Hord, editor. In 1875, Griffith, Hord & Cunningham became the publishers, and the paper was continued under the same editorial management until January, 1880, when it was consolidated with the Planter and Grange of At- lanta, Ga., under the name of the Dixie Farmer and Live Stock Record, and published at Nashville by Frank Gor- don and S. A. Cunningham, editors and publishers. The Farmer is an eight-page, six-column paper, devoted to the rural interests, and receives a liberal patronage.

The Baptist Watchman, the only weekly Primitive Baptist paper on the continent; issued Saturdays; eight pages ; size twenty-two by thirty ; subscription two dollars. Established in Jasper, Ala., and moved to Murfreesboro' in August, 1869; moved to Nashville in 1872, by B. E. Mullens and R. W. Fain. J. Bunyan Stevens became asso- ciate editor. Mr. Mullens resigned, and in 1874, on the death of Mr. Fain, Mr. Stevens became sole editor. It was then a four-column, eight-page paper. In 1879 it was en- larged, and the year 1880 was commenced with a West Tennessee department, edited by Dr. Mead H. Jackson, of Covington, Teun.

Mayfield's Happy Home, a literary monthly of sixty- eight pages, octavo, at three dollars per annum, and estab- lished by Rev. W. D. and Mrs. L. E. Mayfield in 1875, and attained a circulation of more than thirteen hundred. It was discontinued in June, 1879.

The Southern Reporter, a nineteen by twenty-six, eight- page monthly, was established in 1875 by D. B. Galley, editor, and George B. Staddan, publisher, for the Knights of Honor, as an official organ of the order for the Southern States. Publication ceased with December, 1878.

The Southern Industries, an eight-page quarto thirty- two-column weekly, was established in November, 1875, by Rev. W. T. Hatch, editor and publisher. Its columns are devoted to immigration and the development of the re- sources of the State. The office was burned in June, 1879, and the Industries has since been issued at irregular periods.

The Baptist Reflector was established at Morristown, Tenn., in December, 1875, by O. C. Pope, as an organ of the East Teunessee Baptists. Rev. W. D. Mayfield became joint editor and proprietor, the paper was removed to Nash- ville, and in February, 1876, Mr. Pope retired to become editor of the Baptist Herald. Mr. Mayfield was sole ed- itor and proprietor until January, 1879, when Rev. J. B. Chevis, of Macon, Ga., purchased the office. Rev. B. R.

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JAMES THOMAS BELL was born in Scotland, in the city of Glasgow, May 14, 1830. He was the son of James Bell and Miss Jane Colvill. His father emigrated to this State, and found business at once in the employ of the I'nited States Bank in Nashville, and sent for his family to follow him when the son James was quite young,-less than five years of age. As a boy James had the advantages of the best schools in this city and vicinity. He was sent first to the noted Master Wand ; later to Master Gould, of great repute as a classical teacher; and subsequently to an excellent school in the Hermitage district.

His father had left his position in the bank and engaged in the commis- sion business. In the great panic of 1837 he had met with disaster in common with the country at large; he had not recovered financial strength in 1842, when he died.

Deprived of his father's help, the education of the son was interrupted, and it became necessary that he should in turn do what he could for self- support, and aid as he might his mother and sister. Therefore in 1843 he apprenticed himself to learn the printers' trade at the office of the Banner, where he served till twenty-one years of age.

By extra work he did something to aid his mother, and through the kind friendship of Mr. John Roberts he was rapidly advanced, and at eighteen years of age was assistant foreman of the printing-office. On the day he reached his majority he was made foreman.

During his service in this office many men of note were associated with the paper, some as editors and others as practical printers. The late Gen. Zollicoffer was at one time editor, and, being a practical type-setter as well, it came about that one night, after the men had left, important news arrived by mail, and Zollicoffer with Bell set to work and had the important news all ready for the morning's paper.

Mr. Bell set up the first telegraphic despatch received in Nashville; this occurred in March, 1848. In 1853 he with others bought an interest in the Nashville Gazette, which he retained about two years, sold out, and bought back again in 1856. In connection with this paper he continued until the war. This event caused a general suspension of all the news-

papers published in Nashville. Near the close of the war he resumed the publication of the Gazette. In 1868 this paper was consolidated with the Union and Dispatch : subsequently came another union of papers, and the Union and American was the result. With this paper Mr. Bell remained as local and commercial editor until 1874, when he resigned his connection to canvass the county for the office of clerk of the County Court, in which he was successful; this office he filled for four years. In March, 1878, he naturally returned to newspaper work, and bought an interest in the Nash- ville Bunner. He has been the managing editor of that paper since the date last given.

Mr. Bell was first elected a member of the city council in 1860. In 1861 he entered the board of aldermen, and occupied that office when Governor Andrew Johnson cleared out of office the entire city government, and filled the several offices by appointment. Lately Mr. Bell was chosen a member of the city council once more.

In politics he was formerly a Whig, but since the war has identified him- self with the Democratic party. In the days of the volunteer fire de- partment, when public-spirited citizens took pride in this useful branch of public service, Mr. Bell was an active and enthusiastic member.

He was christened in infancy by the celebrated Dr. Chalmers, of the Es- tablished Church of Scotland, and has ever been in connection with the Presbyterian Church. The baptismal robes worn on this interesting occa- sion are still in possession of the family, and have done the same service for his children.

Mr. Bell married, Sept. 26, 1855, Miss Helen M. Haile, daughter of Col. Thomas J. Haile, of Nashville. Of seven children born to them, two sons and two daughters are now living.

Mr. Bell is a man of modest character, of high integrity, always to be found at the post of duty, indefatigable, and close in application to his work. He has hosts of friends throughout the community in which he resides. In his official trust he was faithful. As clerk of the court he handled the people's money honestly. No discrepancy ever appeared in his accounts.

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WILLIAM MARTIN CLARK was born May 27, 1826, in Rutherford Co., Tenn. He had a liberal education at Prof. Crocker's celebrated academy in Williamson County, and subsequently at Clinton College, Smith County. After graduation he studied the theory and practice of medicine under Dr. B. M. Hughes, of Franklin, and commenced practice as a physician in Rutherford Co., Tenn.

In 1849 he married Miss Mary E. Blackman, of David- son County, daughter of Hays Blackman, Esq., a wealthy planter and well-known gentleman.

Dr. Clark enjoyed an extensive practice in the four counties contiguous to his home until the breaking out of the civil war; he entered the Confederate army, and was elected captain of Co. B, in the famous Twentieth Ten- nessee Regiment. After secing considerable active service, his assistance as physician and surgeon was called for, and he entered the surgeons' department, in which he served for the balance of the war.

On the restoration of peace he resumed the profession he had abandoned for the army, and located at Nolensville, Wil- liamson Co., where he resided till 1873, when he removed to Franklin, and still engaged in the practice of medicine.

He commenced at this time contributing from time to time to the columns of the old Republican Banner, and kept up correspondence even after the union of that paper with the American.

In this service his abilities attracted the notice of Col.

Killebrew, State commissioner of agriculture and mines, and he was invited to fill the position of assistant in this department of the State government. He also fills the office of secretary of the State Board of Health, and during the prevalence of the yellow fever was active in the dis- charge of his official duties in establishing quarantine at Memphis and elsewhere.

In 1879 he received and accepted the appointment of editor-in-chief of the Nashville Banner, soon after which he purchased an interest in the paper, being associated with Col. J. T. Bell and George Purvis, Esq. In February, 1880, he purchased the interest of the latter, and is now the principal proprietor of that newspaper.

Mrs. Clark died in January, 1879, leaving a family of ten children; in the following year Dr. Clark married the maiden sister of his first wife, Miss Susan Blackman.

Dr. Clark was an old-line Whig, but after the war the conservative qualities of this old party were better repre- sented by the Democratic party in this State, and he found himself in sympathy with it; he is a national man in all his instincts, and earnest in all measures calculated to destroy sectional animosities. He cheerfully accepts the results of the war, and accords to the negro all rights se- cured to him by legislation thence resulting.

He stands strongly in favor of maintaining the credit of the State. His religious associations are with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

Womack is associate editor. The Reflector is a four-page, thirty-two column paper, devoted to the interests of the Regular Baptist Church.

In 1876 several printers who had been thrown out of employment by the union of the Republican Banner and Union and American started the Evening Mail. Its ex- istence was limited to less than four months.

The Nashville Banner was established April 10, 1876, by John J. Carter, William E. Eastman, C. P. Bledsoe, Humes Carothers, Pleasant J. Wright, and Robert J. Mil- ler, as a Democratic daily paper, with a capital stock of twenty-five one hundred dollar shares. The paper was twenty-four by thirty-six ; twenty-eight columns brevier and nonpariel ; with a subscription price of eight dollars per annum, and graduated to twenty cents per single week. Mr. Eastman was elected first president, and Mr. Carter secretary and treasurer of the concern.

The editorial staff consisted of John J. Carter, Robert J. Miller, and Church A. Robinson. Mr. Carter had not pre- viously been connected with journalism. Mr. Miller had served on the Republican Banner and the American as a reporter. Mr. Robinson had occasionally contributed to the local columns of these papers. June 15th the initial num- ber of the Weekly Banner, a twenty-eight by forty-four nine- column newspaper, devoted to commercial, industrial, and literary matters, was issued, with a subscription price of one dollar and a half per annum; carly in 1880 the price was reduced to one dollar singly or seventy-five cents in clubs. The old officers were re-elected in 1877. Mr. Robinson retired because of failing health in 1876, and soon after died at his home in Lebanon, Tenn. He had already ac- quired a reputation as an able and popular young journalist, and by his death the profession sustained a severe loss.

In 1877 the price of composition was reduced from fifty to forty cents per thousand ems, resulting in a strike among the printers who belonged to the " Nashville Typographical Union, No. 20," of which Mr. Carothers was a member, and he withdrew from the paper. Mr. Wright, also a mem- ber of the union, retired soon after. Mr. Carothers' stock was purchased by Napoleon B. Buck, who succeeded him as foreman of the composing-room. Hermon W. Hasslock bought the stock of Mr. Wright. Mr. Bledsoe retired from ill health the same year. Mr. Hasslock sold to Tavel, East- man & Howell carly in 1878, and A. B. Tavel was elected president. Mr. Carter was chosen president in April, 1878, and Mr. Miller secretary. Dr. W. M. Clark,* of Frank- lin, Tenn., bought the interests of Mr. Carter and Mr. Buck in February, 1879, and sold a part to James T. Bell and George E. Purvis in March ensuing. Mr. Bell had been identified with Nashville journalism for more than twenty-five years previous. Mr. Purvis had been engaged in the business for a decade.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 62

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