History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 78

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 78

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).

" GENTLEMEN,-Five years ago to-day, in the revival and reorganization of this, the Nashville Board of Health, the City Council paid me the compliment of electing me one of the four physicians to compose the board, and again with re-election for the long term in June, 1875. To-day as I look around me, I find things changed ; new faces now occupy the places of those who began this work with me (with but one exception), and the query naturally arises, Where are they ? To this the records make answer that the energetic, charitable Compton, while in the active dis- charge of duty, went down with harness on, and now sleeps the untroubled sleep of death, and that the sincere and noble-hearted Morton, full of years and experience as an active member of our profession, too, has laid down the thread of life and passed to his reward; while the philan- thropic Christian physician, Winston, who, possessed of such grace and dignity, either in debate or in the discharge of a duty, has gone from among us, yet he still lives, though practically his soul has passed beyond, and now, amid the dreary desolation of a clouded intellect, patiently awaits the final summons to rest.

" The retrospect, though containing much that is sad and disheartening, yet also embraces much that is gratifying and

encouraging. For from an indifferent, if not ignorant, public sentiment regarding sanitary science, we have seen an active, enlightened public interest develop under the leadership of the Board of Health, until to-day it is ques- tionable if there be a reading adult in the entire commu- nity who has not received instruction in some measure upon the fundamental principles of that all-important subject, hygiene, and who are in many instances adopting the same in a greater or less degree in their every-day concerns. The past has mainly been an cra of education, as, indeed, also must the future largely be, and the Board of Health has stood before the community in relation to this great ques- tion of public health as its schoolmaster, to furnish facts in regard thereto, with such deductions as were justifiable, leaving the application largely to the heads of households or to individuals, as circumstances might require. Again, latterly, the press, that great factor in human progress, has come most generously to the rescue, publishing now columns on hygiene where but a few years since it gave only short paragraphs, thereby throwing a flood of light and informa- tion upon this vital subject, which, in the nature of things, cannot fail to accomplish, at no very distant day, the most gratifying results, for is it not alone through the application of these daily lessons upon hygiene that the race is to be redeemed from that deterioration and ultimate extinction which indifference to and ignorance of the laws of health must inevitably produce ?

" As pioneers in this service in Nashville, it was proposed that the Board of Health should early develop a fixedness of purpose to execute the legitimate objects of its creation, and not yield an iota to ignorance, though it should confront in formidable array, and through prejudice strive to circum- vent or entirely defeat the operations of the board in its unselfish endeavors to improve the condition of all in the removal or abatement of such influences as are silently but forever at work in and around our homes, producing disease, and, not unfrequently, death."

" These early struggles were prolonged and discouraging, as defeat, at least for the time being, attended some of the best efforts of the board, encouraging thereby the friends of filth and discase to such an extent that they were embold- ened more than once to make the attempt to have the City Council abolish entirely the Board of Health. In this they failed, be it said to the credit of the city authorities. It is now believed that the darkest hour of the night has been passed, and henceforward the light will become stronger and stronger ; and in this connection it is gratifying to be able to state that but a few days ago the chief executive of the city government of Nashville, in an official communi- cation to the City Council, remarked, in substan.e, that after much observation and reflection he was firmly of the opinion that the health department was the most important of any in the city. This, while it is the emphatic opinion of sanitarians over the world, could, if time and occasion would admit, be greatly strengthened by the citation of many facts which, if they did not carry conviction to the minds of all, viewed as the subject may be from the stand- point of each, would at least give an importance and consequent prominence to the subject which reading and thinking men and women would no longer ignore, and the

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

result would be to require of the public functionary an in- terest and a liberality of support to measures looking in this direction which in that respect must contrast most strikingly with the past.

" When we recall the fact that ' the first law of nature is self-preservation,' is it not a little surprising that we do not find the genius of health inspiring the every act of our offi- cials, since the prime object of the several offices they hold is to secure the greatest good to the greatest number ? Especially it would seem that this should apply with pecu- liar force to our law-makers, and we would find their best intellectual efforts spent in securing such wise legislation as would give to all in its largest measure that grand desider- atum, health,-health in our homes-health to the tecthing babe as well as to mitigate the sufferings of the aged- health to the poor as well as the rich. The rich are enabled to select desirable localities to construct the most approved character of houses and surround them with every comfort that judgment or fancy can dictate, while the habitations of the poor are provided for them. They rent, and from necessity are often compelled to take refuge in, those nurseries of disease the tenement houses, there to be sub- jected to the deteriorating influences of defective ventilation, defective lighting, defective surroundings; to which if you add the meagre supplies of food and raiment that they in their dire distress are enabled to obtain, you have a combination of morbific influences which are mind-distracting, soul-des- troying, and at last find their final expression in intemper- ance, crime, and death.

" Wise legislation it is believed would modify greatly this condition of things. Though the authority has been very limited with which the Board of Health has been clothed, and the means which have been placed at their com- mand exceedingly sparse and irregular, often amounting to nothing whatever, as in the first annual report of the Board of Health is described by Health Officer Morton as being the situation in the fall of 1874. He says, ' All the facili- tics offered the Board of Health to keep the city in a good sanitary condition were taken away from it, leaving that department to take care of itself.' Notwithstanding all this and more as evidence of the capabilities of an active Board of Health, I point you to that dial-plate which practically is the summing up in a word of all the doings of such a board. I refer to the death-rate, as in those two words is to be seen at a glance the character of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the soil saturation we allow, the houses we live in ; in short, the influences under which we live and under which we die. Upon that dial- plate the index-finger points to Nashville's death rate for-

Total deatlı-rate.

White

Colored

1875

34.55

23.78

44.69

1876

.....

.33.25

26.31

45.55

1877 ..

.27.80

21.82

38.72

1878

.23.11

17.43

33.50

" Thus, you will observe that the figures grow smaller year by year, and while this decrease may not be due wholly to the work of the Board of Health, yet that it is largely due to its efforts no fair-minded person can doubt. If then this be true, is it not the most criminal fully to deny longer to this department the most ample means and such powers

as will make the board most effective in accomplishing the end of better health to all, and at the same time redeeming the fair fame of our city from that shadow which she her. self has voluntarily permitted to be cast over her, in being . ranked among the unhealthy cities of America ?

" Before leaving this subject, perhaps it is but proper that I should emphasize the fact that the above figures are accurate, as recently they have been brought in question somewhat. The mortuary register is kept with the most scrupulous care, and all deaths occurring in the suburbs, or rual districts surrounding the city, and who are brought into Nashville for interment, are excluded from the pub- lished death-rate, and therefore it embraces only the deaths occurring within the corporate limits proper of the city, with the single exception possibly of occasionally here and there an infanticide is perpetrated, and the victim's remains are clandestinely disposed of,-with this single exception, let me repeat, it is believed that every death is accurately recorded. This, with a reliable census, makes it but a simple mathematical calculation to tell the exact death-rate. Four years ago (1875), at the suggestion of the Board of Health, the mayor had the census of the city taken, but as the death rate under it was unexpectedly large, the board ordered the census retaken, which was done with the greatest care again in 1877, this differing from the former census by only eighty-five,-an increase. Now, much (especially of late) has been said in the public prints upon the death-rate of Nashville, some going so far as to condemn the publica- tion of such information, fearing, as they would say, its effect upon the outer world, ignoring in toto that phase of the subject, which is as fifty to one more important, its effects upon our own people at home, for, as is remarked above, the death-rate of a city is a perfect mirror, in its minutest detail, of its sanitary condition. If that be bad the death-rate will be large, and vice versa : therefore, by the publication of such facts, you but give notice to the people of the dangers which surround them, and enable them thereby to arouse themselves, and, as one man, de- mand of the rulers of the city such reforms as a complete system of sewers, an ample supply of pure water, a thor- ough inspection by competent experts of the food that is brought to our city for consumption; these together with other similar and much-needed reforms realized, you will find the death-rate go down, and Nashville be recognized at home and abroad as one of the healthiest, if not the health- iest city on the continent. Prompted therefore by a sincere desire to promote what was conceived to be the best inter- ests of Nashville, the Board of Health has made such pub- lications as facts and the future good of our own people would justify. If such publications are unpleasant to see and hear of, it is suggested that if the City Council and the people will co operate fully with the Board of Health in its legitimate work, and practically adopt such measures as it from time to time may recommend, the day will be not far distant when the large figures complained of will be no more.

"The time having now expired for which I was elected a member of this board, and my other duties being such as to make it impossible for me longer to give my time gratui- tously to this service, permit me, before taking final leave

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

of the members of this board, to express my kindest personal feelings for each and all of you; though we have differed widely in debate upon many important points, yet it is gratifying to recall that upon no single occasion has the even flow of friendly feeling between us been disturbed ; and especially do I desire to express my many thanks for and my high appreciation of the honor you have conferred upon me in selecting me twice as your president. In what manner I have discharged the duties of that responsible office, and such other duties as the board time and again in the past has called me to perform, I will not speak, but leave the records of the board, which are open to the in- spection of the public no less than yourselves, to say.

" And now, wishing you as an organization godspeed in this work,-grand, self-sacrificing, and sublime,-and as individuals, including the subordinates of the board, health and success, I bid you adicu."

TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY .*

Many years ago a society for the collection and preser- vation of historical papers, relics, antiquities, etc., existed in Nashville. It did not accomplish much, but its very organization showed the tendency of the minds in the city noted for scholarly attainments to endeavor to rescue from oblivion the history of a people remarkable for patriotism, chivalry, and intelligence. After it ceased to exist for a considerable time several public-spirited citizens met in the library-rooms of the Merchants' Association to reorganize a historical society. This was in May, 1849, and the organization was effected by the election of Nathaniel Cross as President; Col. A. W. Putnam, Vice-President; William A. Eichbaum, Treasurer ; Jolin R. Eakin, Corresponding Secretary ; and W. F. Cooper, Recording Secretary. This society did not exist many years, but was again brought to life in 1857, and at the May meeting elected the following officers : A. W. Putnam, President ; Thomas Washington, Vice- President; W. A. Eichbaum, Treasurer ; R. J. Meigs, Jr., Corresponding Secretary ; Anson Nelson, Recording Secretary ; John Meigs, Librarian. Contributions of valu- able manuscripts, newspapers, relics, etc., poured in from all parts of the State, as well as a few from other States.

A public anniversary meeting took place on the 1st of May, 1858, in Watkins' Grove. An immense procession of old soldiers of the war of 1812, the Creek war, the Mexican war, the officers and cadets of the Western Mili- tary Institute, the Shelby Guards, the Nashville Typo- graphical Union, the Philomathean Society, the teachers and pupils of the Nashville Female Academy, the super- intendent, teachers, and pupils of the public schools of Nashville, citizens on horseback, in carriages, buggies, etc., and citizens on foot, marched from the public square to Watkins' Grove, where a collation was served in excellent style to all present. The Hon. James M. Davidson, of Fayetteville, was the orator of the day. Judge T. T. Smiley read a historical account of the services of the Third Tennessee Regiment in the war with Mexico. Gov- ernor William B. Campbell and Rev. Dr. C. D. Elliott delivered eloquent addresses. Bands of music were dis-

tributed along the line of the procession, and the whole city made it a holiday occasion to commemorate the organ- ization of the "provisional government" at Robertson's Station, now Nashville, May 1, 1780, and the formation of this society, May 1, 1849.

At the annual celebration, May 1, 1859, Randal W. McGavock, Esq., mayor of Nashville, and a grandson of Hon. Felix Grundy, presented a full-length portrait of Judge Grundy, painted by Dury, in a neat little speech, to which Col. A. W. Putnam, president of the society, re- sponded. The Hon. John M. Bright, of Lincoln, deliv- ered an eloquent oration on the life, character, and public services of Hon. Felix Grundy, the best criminal lawyer in the South. The exercises took place in the hall of the House of Representatives, in the presence of as many people as could obtain admittance. An excellent band of music enlivened the ceremonies. Several companies, mili- tary and civic, were present. The portrait of the deceased jurist was elegantly framed, and is now in one of the library- rooms in the Capitol.

In September, 1859, "a committee, consisting of Hon. Thomas Washington, Col. A. W. Putnam, and Rev. Dr. R. B. C. Howell, was appointed to urge the council of the city of Nashville to adopt suitable measures for the removal of the remains of Lieut. Chandler, formerly paymaster in the United States army, from their place of interment in the Sulphur Spring bottom, to Mount Olivet Cemetery. The committee accomplished their purpose, and on the 23d of September the remains were exhumed, and a procession, accompanied by a band of music, large numbers of citizens, the mayor and City Council, the Historical Society, and others, marched to the Mckendree church, where an ap- propriate and patriotic address was delivered by the Hon. E. H. East. Lieut. Chandler died here in 1801, and his remains were found in a good state of preservation.

In October, 1859, at the request of the society, Lieut. M. F. Maury, the distinguished scientist, delivered his celebrated lecture on the geography of the sea.

In January, 1860, the society received from Egypt the fine Egyptian mummy now in the Capitol, sent by Col. J. G. Harris, of the United States navy. After the meet- ing in September, 1860, the society ceased active operations until several years after the war. Many articles, papers, books, etc., were lost during the war, but the small collec- tion of coins was all preserved by being taken away from the Capitol and placed in a private house, free from the dangers of war.

In 1874 the society elected the following officers : Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, President; Dr. R. C. Foster, Vice- President; Dr. John H. Currey, Treasurer; Gen. G. P. Thruston, Corresponding Secretary ; Anson Nelson, Re- cording Secretary ; Mrs. P. Haskell, Librarian.

On the 16th of June, 1874, the society held a called session at Knoxville, Tenn., the home of the president, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, who presided on that interesting occasion. The recording secretary exhibited the original commission of Maj .- Gen. Israel Putnam, on parchment, issued on the 19th of June, 1775, signed by John Hancock, president, and Charles Thompson, secretary, of the Continental Con- gress. The society has also in its possession a vest worn

· Prepared by Anson Nelson, Esq., Recording Secretary.

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by " Old Put" in the Revolutionary war, donated to it by Miss Julia C. Putnam, a lincal descendant, then living on Park Street. An invitation was received and accepted to partake of the hospitalities of Perez Dickinson, Esq., and of Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Humes, president of the faculty of East Tennessee University.

In October, 1874, the society decided to participate in the fourth annual exposition of Nashville, and on the even- ing of the 6th of October, the anniversary of the battle of King's Mountain, the Rev. Dr. T. A. Hoyt delivered an address, giving the history of that important battle. The reverend gentleman subsequently repeated the oration in Staub's Opera-House, Knoxville, to the largest and most intellectual audience that ever assembled in that city. The venerable Dr. Ramsey presided on the occasion.

At one of the regular meetings in 1874, Prof. W. A. Smith, A.M., M.D., read an interesting paper on the anni- versary celebration of the Icelandic government when that government was one thousand years old. The paper was published in the Union and American on the 2d of Sep- tember, 1874.

The centennial anniversary of the signing of the Meck- lenburg (N. C.) Declaration of Independence, May 20, 1775, was celebrated by the society at the Nashville Fair Grounds. The mayor of Nashville, Morton B. Howell, read the declaration, Ex-Gov. Neill S. Brown delivered the oration, while Gen. Thruston and others participated in the exercises.

At the May meeting in 1875 several delegates were appointed to attend the Centennial of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in Charlottesville, N. C., only one of whom attended,-Hon. Hugh Lawson Davidson, of Shelbyville. It was a grand success.

Prof. W. A. Smith, of Columbia, read an elegant anni- versary address on the labors of the society and kindred topics.

At the annual meeting in May, 1876, the following offi- cers were elected, to wit : Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, President; Hon. John M. Lea, Vice-President; Anson Nelson, Record- ing Secretary and Treasurer; Gen. G. P. Thruston, Cor- responding Secretary; Dr. John Berrien Lindsley, Librarian.

The National Centennial was duly celebrated by the so- ciety in the hall of the House of Representatives, Dr. John H. Callender reading the Declaration of Independence. Rev. Dr. T. A. Hoyt read an elegant historical centennial address, written by Dr. Ramsey, president of the society. An address was delivered by Rev. Dr. D. C. Kelly, etc. Excellent music interspersed the proceedings.

At the annual meeting in 1877 all the old officers were re-elected, with Joseph S. Carels as treasurer, that office being disconnected with the office of secretary.

Every attention possible was shown to the members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which met here in the latter part of August, 1878. An elegant reception was given them by the society at the Max- well House, through the liberality of the acting president, Hon. John M. Lea.

In 1878 the society commenced agitating the subject of celebrating the centennial of Nashville, and appointed a committee on that subject, who afterwards reported a pro-

gramme for the exercises. Subsequently the idea expanded, and finally the society appointed a committee to wait upon the mayor and urge him to request the City Council to call a public meeting to take action in the matter. This was done, and the citizens took hold of the matter with alacrity. Various committees were appointed, an exposition was in- augurated, the orators chosen by the Historical Society were approved, a grand civic procession for the 24th of April provided for, and many other matters arranged to give éclat to the occasion. All of which was most successfully carried out, and the most sanguine expectations of the Historical Society were more than realized. Before the exposition, the purchase of the Jackson equestrian statue from Clark Mills had engaged the attention of many persons as well as the society for many years. Maj. John L. Brown went to work obtaining subscriptions for the statue, and finally the purchase was made and the statue unveiled on the 20th of May, 1880, under the superintendence of Clark Mills, the artist. The Hon. John M. Bright was the orator of the day, an original ode, written by Rev. F. W. E. Paschau, was sung, prayer offered by Rev. Dr. T. A. Hoyt, a prize poem, by Mrs. Bowser, was read by Dr. G. S. Blackie, etc. A grand military procession had paraded the streets, in which several United States officers, including Gen. Buell, Gen. Pennypacker and others, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Gen. Cheatham and others, of the old Confederate army, participated. More people were in Nashville on the 20th of May, at the unveiling of the statue, than on any other occasion.

RELICS.

Among the relics of the society may be mentioned the musket of Daniel Boone, the veritable " Old Betsey ;" the sword of Governor John Sevier, and one of the pistols pre- sented to him by the State of North Carolina ; the sword of Col. Dupuyser, of the British army, taken from him at the battle of King's Mountain ; the red silk sash worn by Gen. Ferguson when he was killed at King's Mountain ; one of the chairs of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolu- tionary fame; one of the chairs of ex-President Fillmore ; sword, coat, and cpaulette of Capt. Samuel Price, worn in the battle of Frenchtown, Raisin River, Mich .; the pitcher used at the treaty of Hopewell, given to President Polk and by his wife to the society ; three canes formerly be- longing to President Polk,-one in the form of a serpent, one containing the electoral vote cast for him for President, the other a hickory cane from the Hermitage; the first greenback five-dollar note issued by the United States ; the portfolio owned and used by Hon. Henry Clay in the United States Senate ; over thirty battle-flags used by Ten- nessee soldiers in different wars, from 1812 to 1865, etc.

Among the manuscripts of the society are an old book in an excellent state of preservation, kept in Nashville by a merchant in 1795, presented by our venerable fellow- citizen, Col. Samuel D. Morgan ; the journals of Governor William Blount from 1790 to 1796,-Governor Blount was Governor of the territory south of the Ohio River ; the proceedings of the courts-martial during Jackson's campaign in 1813, kept by Col. William White, acting judge-advocate; journal of Capt. John Donelson and com- panions from Holston River down the Tennessee, up the

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

Ohio and Cumberland to French Salt Lick, now Nashville, 1779-80, etc.

The society possesses a large number of portraits, to wit : Governor William Blount, John Sevier, Willie Blount, William Carroll, Sam Houston, Newton Cannon, James C. Jones, James K. Polk, Aaron V. Brown, Neill S. Brown, William Trousdale, William B. Campbell, Andrew John- son and one or two other ex-Governors, Prof. Priestly, Dr. Gerard Troost, Dr. Philip Lindsley, Hon. Felix Grundy, Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, Henry Clay, Dr. Felix Robertson (the first male child born in Nashville), Davy Crockett, etc.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 78

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