USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 12
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The first survey of lots in the new town was made by Thomas Molloy,
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in 1784, according to the provisions of the act establishing the town. This act was amended in 1796, and Howell Tatum, Richard Cross, Will- iam Tate, and William Black were appointed additional trustees. A dis- trict jail and stocks for Mero District were authorized, and the trustees were empowered to " lay off a Water Street, to begin at the upper bound- ary line of the town, and extend down the river a direct course till it intersects the cross street leading through the lower part of the public square, and from the lower line of said town to the upper end of lot No. 8." The land between Water Street and the river was to be sold, and the proceeds devoted to the building of a jail and stocks for the District of Mero.
In the records of the County Court for 1783 the following may be found: " The court fixed on a place for building the court-house and prison, agreeing that in the present situation of the settlement they be at Nashborough; to be built at the public expense, of hewed logs. The court-house to be eighteen feet square, with a shade of twelve feet on one side of the house, with benches, bar, and table for the use of the court. The prison to be of square hewed logs, a foot square, both with loft and floor, except the same shall be built on a rock." This plan, however, was never carried out. A stone house on the square was used for a court-house, and also for a church and for public meetings. The first court-house was built in 1803, on the square, and two others have since then been built near the same place. The first jail was also on the square, a log house between twenty and thirty feet each way, and there was a pillory and a whipping-post near by.
An act was passed November 11, 1801, for the election of commission- ers for the town, seven in number, the election to be held on the first Saturday in April, 1802. These commissioners were to elect a suitable person to preside at their meetings, who should be known as the " Intend- ant," and they were also to have a clerk and treasurer. The commis- sioners were empowered to call upon the inhabitants of the town liable to work on the streets, to work on and keep the streets in repair, and to appoint an overseer of streets ; to prevent swine from running at large; to prevent negroes from hiring their time and keeping tippling-houses; to appoint a surveyor for the town, who should survey the lots and make a map of the town on a large scale; to cause to be built a market-house in some suitable part of the public square. In order to carry into effect the provisions of this act, the commissioners were authorized and empowered to levy a tax annually not to exceed fifty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of property, $1 on each black poll, and $5 on each billiard-table.
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August 3, 1804, the commissioners were authorized to levy a tax for the purpose of sinking a well on the public square, the tax not to exceed 1212 cents on each $100, 121/2 cents on each white poll, 25 cents on each black poll, $1 on each stud-horse, and $3 on each wholesale and retail store.
An act to incorporate the town was passed by the Legislature Septem- ber II, 1806. Section I of this act is as follows: "That the town of Nashville, in the County of Davidson, and the inhabitants thereof, are hereby constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name of the Mayor and Aldermen of the town of Nashville," etc. Section 2 gave the corporation power to pass all laws and ordinances necessary to pre- serve the health of the town; to prevent and remove nuisances; to estab- lish nightwatches and patrols; to restrain and prohibit gaming; and to license theatrical and other public amusements. It was made the duty of the sheriff of Davidson County to hold an election at the court-house on the Ist of October, in each and every year, for the purpose of electing a Mayor and six Aldermen for the town. On the 9th of October, 1806, the day of election was changed to the first Monday in October each year.
On October II, 18II, an act was passed providing that there should be elected thereafter, on the last Saturday of September of each year, seven Aldermen, and there were to be seven Aldermen until the division of the city into six wards, when there should be two Aldermen from each ward.
A jail notice was published in 1806, in substance as follows: Pursuant to an order from the worshipful court of Davidson County at their last session, the commissioners were to attend at the court-house on Saturday, November 22, of that year, at twelve o'clock; for the purpose of letting to the lowest bidder the building of a jail for the city of Nashville and the District of Mero, at which time a plan would be exhibited to those wishing to become contractors. The plan might be seen also by applica- tion to either of the commissioners previous to the day fixed as above mentioned. A bond with approved security was required for the faithful performance of the work. The commissioners in whose hands the build- ing of the jail had been placed were James Hennen, T. A. Claiborne, and Charles Carson. The officers elected at the first election under this charter were: Joseph Coleman, Mayor; John Anderson, Recorder; John Deatheredge, High Constable ;- and Aldermen as follows: James Hennen, George M. Deaderick, John Dickinson, Robert Searcy, Joseph T. El- liston, and James King.
From a letter published in the Nashville Whig, in January, 1821, it is
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evident that the warfare against Sunday tippling is not of recent origin: "Through the medium of your paper I beg leave to ask the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Nashville whether they are not authorized to prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors in numerous tippling-houses and grocery stores on the Sabbath; and if they have that power, whether it would contribute to the good order of the town to pass some law on the subject and enforce it thoroughly. These establishments are perfect nuisances during the week, but particularly so on the Sabbath."
About this time the question of lighting the streets began to engage the attention of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and on February 20, 1821, an ordinance was passed making the necessary provision for the purpose. The lamps and oil were brought up the Cumberland shortly afterward on the steam-boat " General Robertson."
It also became evident that the charter of the town did not accomplish the purpose for which it was designed. There had been a great deal of money expended for which so little benefit had been derived that many persons were anxious to surrender the charter, seeing no other way to avoid what they considered useless expense. Others were in favor of so amending the charter as to create a Mayor's Court, which should have jurisdiction of all petty offenses, which the Quorum Court then had jurisdiction over, appeals to be made to the Circuit Court.
With reference to the manner in which the Mayor and Aldermen were performing their duty, a certain writer suggested that it would be well for them to publish an account of their proceedings. "Therefore, gen- tlemen, do now unveil; put off the mantle of obscurity which has hereto- fore concealed all your doings, and exhibit all to the view of the public. Then the people will be satisfied with what is done, and then perhaps you will do more, for 'tis slightly suspected that men do not the worse for be- ing looked after. Perhaps some of you could then inform us why we have no fire companies, why some streets are improved to the exclusion of others, why some most abandoned characters are suffered to go at large and insult the better portion of our citizens with their gross immo- ralities ; why gambling-houses and tippling-shops, and all other nuisances are permitted to exist without restraint; why some of our public springs are allowed to become unfit for use for want of attention to them; why the negroes overrun the town on Sundays," etc.
The above call upon the Mayor and Aldermen for the publication of their proceedings was made on October 13, 1823, and on the 20th of the same month the proceedings of the council for October 4 appeared in the public prints. "At a meeting of the Aldermen elect to serve for the ensuing year, Robert B. Currey was chosen Mayor; Joseph K. Kane, 8
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Recorder; Joseph Norvell, Treasurer; and James Grizzard, High Con- stable. On October 7 John Job was employed to patrol the town on Sundays, and was required to keep the streets clear of all assemblages of negroes, and to prevent all noisy and riotous conduct. It was also re- solved that the Constable and Recorder proceed forthwith to make out a list of all the citizens of Nashville who were subject to perform duty in fire companies, in two companies, as designated by certain regulations adopted in 1822. It was also resolved that the citizens residing within the limits of the town north of Stout's Alley, thence along the south side of the square, not including any of the south side thereof, to College Street, thence down College Street to Bank Alley, and thence with that alley and with the line thereof to the extremity of the town, and all resi- dents north and west of that boundary line should constitute Company No. I, and all south and east of that boundary line should constitute Com- pany No. 2; the small engine being attached to Company No. I, and the large one to Company No. 2." Committees were then appointed as follows:
I. A committee to superintend the corporation school, and the proper regulation of the public springs-Erwin and Armstrong.
2. A committee to superintend the improvement of the public streets- Stout and Welsh.
3. A committee to superintend the collection of laws relative to fire companies-Woods and Seay.
4. A committee to inspect the water-works erecting by Mr. Stackers- Currey, Woods, and Welsh.
On October 29, 1829, the Mayor and Aldermen were authorized to make in August of each year such alterations in the boundaries of wards as they might consider proper and necessary, in order to equalize the representation thereof, giving to each ward as nearly as practicable an equal population.
On February 20, 1836, the Mayor's Court was established, and made to consist of the Mayor and six Aldermen, one Alderman from each ward. This court was to be held on the first Wednesday in each month, the Recorder to serve as clerk. The jurisdiction of the court extended to all crimes, offenses, and misdemeanors, not capital, committed in the corporation. The Circuit Court of Davidson County was given concur- rent jurisdiction. The Mayor's Court was abolished January 29, 1840.
For the sake of comparison with the present, the following table of receipts and expenditures for the year ending September 25, 1828, is in- troduced. This statement was signed by J. Norvell, Treasurer :
Receipts .- Balance on hand September 24, 1827, $6.35; taxes for
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1827, $929.89; State rents for 1827, $128; dray, store, and tavern licenses, $1, 123.45; dog tax for 1827, $15.75; tax for 1828, part, $1,583.30; subscriptions to repair streets, $30. Total, $3,816.74.
Expenditures .- Attorneys' fees and costs, $81.75; labor on streets, $666.33; salaries of watchmen, $897.94; keeping horse, boarding hands, and overseer's salary, $658.40; printing and stationary, $188.93; pur- chase of horse, $90; lamps and springs, $36.50; public celebration, $109.87 ; physicians' charges, $60; water-works, $540; coffins for pau- pers, $60.50; work on public landing, $40; making list of lot-owners, $50; blacksmiths' work, $189.20; purchase of Broad Street, $190.45; assistant clerk of market, $53; miscellaneous, $148.50. Total, $4,- 061.37.
Almost immediately afterward the question of the improvement of the streets came before the Board of Aldermen. John P. Erwin had in charge a bill for the creation of a Board of Public Works. The object of the bill was the permanent and general improvement of the town, in- cluding the public square, streets, and alleys; and in the absence of means from ordinary sources it was necessary to resort to other means. A loan of an adequate sum was the only plan within the reach of the Council, and the bill provided that six citizens, all property-owners, should have the management of the business, and be known as the Board of Public Works. Thomas Yeatman and H. R. W. Hill were named as. representing the upper end of town; Josiah Nichol and Joseph Woods, the middle portion; and Ephraim H. Foster and Andrew Hynes, the lower end. The bill permitted the Board to hire or purchase laborers, and the suggestion was made in the Council that the plan of purchasing them possessed advantages that hiring them could not have. It was estimated that $18,000 would purchase fifty hands, including two or three females to serve as cooks, and that for $2,000 suitable houses could be provided for the accommodation of the hands. The corporation would have to supply overseers, food, and clothing to the hands. The corpo- ration was then expending $4,500 per annum on the streets, and it was thought this sum would pay the interest on the $20,000 it was proposed to borrow, besides paying all incidental expenses, such as one overseer, at $500 per annum; feeding and clothing fifty hands, $2,000; physicians' bills, $100; four horses for carts, feed, etc., $200; and leave quite a little margin. At the expiration of ten years, the period of the proposed loan, the corporation would have received the ten years' labor of the fifty hands, whose hire would have cost only the interest on the $20,000, be- sides the incidentals of food, clothing, and physicians' bills; and they would be worth at the expiration of the period more, perhaps, than they
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were at the beginning. The citizens would thus get the benefit of a most valuable public work, adding many thousands to the value of their prop- erty, without one cent of additional tax, and without interfering with any portion of their public property. On the 5th of January, 1831, the agreement with William Ramsey, Jr., for the purchase of twelve thou- sand dollars' worth of negro men for the corporation was ratified.
Another public improvement undertaken about this time was the build- ing of a market-house. This market-house was built mostly in 1828, and completed in January, 1829. It was described, when completed, as be- ing unequaled in extent, convenience, and elegance by any similar build- ing in the United States, except that in Boston, Mass., which cost $500-, 000. The market-house in Nashville was two hundred and seventy feet long and sixty-two feet wide. In the center there were two elegant ellip- tical arches, each seventeen feet span in the clear, supported by a row of pillars, each two feet thick, extending the entire length of the building. At each end there were two stories, and in the second story two rooms, forty by twenty-eight feet each, besides four smaller rooms. The rooms at the north end were devoted to the uses of the city corporation and the office of the City Recorder. The principal room was occupied by the Su- preme Court of the State, and the rooms at the south end were occupied by the museum of Dr. Troost. The edifice contained about three hun- dred and seventy thousand brick, and cost $14,000.
A new market-house was opened on Broad Street, on Monday, June 15, 1829. After this house was opened, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were market-days on Broad Street, and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on the public square.
An act was passed by the Legislature of the State, December 9, 1826, providing that the corporation of Nashville should be divided into six wards, the division to be made by the Mayor and Aldermen of the town. In accordance with this act, the Mayor and Aldermen, on December 20, 1827, made the authorized division, as follows:
First Ward .- Beginning at the corner of the public square and Col- lege Street, at Wells's corner; running thence with the center of College Street to Broad Street; thence with the center of Broad Street to the Cumberland River; thence with the river to Loaf Alley; thence with Loaf Alley to the public square; and thence with the public square to the beginning.
Second Ward .- Beginning where Loaf Alley intersects Cumberland River; running on the north side of said alley to the public square; thence along the east side of said square to the north side of said square ; thence along the north side of said square to College Street; thence with
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the center of College Street to the northern line of the corporation ; thence with the northern boundary line to the river; and thence with the river to the beginning.
Third Ward .- Beginning at the corner of the public square and Cedar Street, at Mrs. Kirkman's corner; thence with the center of Cedar Street to Summer Street; thence with the center of Summer Street to Broad Street; thence with the center of Broad Street, toward the river, to the intersection of College Street; and thence with the center of College Street to the beginning.
Fourth Ward .- Beginning at the corner of Cedar Street and the pub- lic square, at Watson's corner; thence with the center of Cedar Street to the western line of the corporation; thence with the western line of the corporation to the northern line; thence with the northern limits of the corporation to College Street; and thence with the center of College Street to the beginning.
Fifth Ward .- Beginning at the corner of Summer Street and Broad Street; running thence along the center of Summer Street to Cedar Street; thence with the center of Cedar Street to the western limits of the corporation; thence with the western limits of the corporation to Broad Street; and thence with the center of Broad Street to the begin- ning.
Sixth Ward .- That part of the corporation lying south-east of Broad Street.
On August 20, 1830, the Mayor and Aldermen extended the bounds of the second, fourth, and fifth wards, so as to include the new territory in appropriate wards, as follows:
" That the bounds of the second ward be and the same are hereby ex- tended so as to include the following limits: Beginning at where the old north boundary line extended, strikes the Cumberland River; thence down said river to the mouth of Lick Branch; thence up the center of said branch to College Street; thence with the center of College Street to where the old north boundary line crosses said street.
" That the bounds of the fourth ward be and the same are hereby ex- tended so as to include the following limits: Beginning at where the old north boundary line crosses College Street; thence with the center of College Street to Lick Branch; thence up the center of said branch to Summer Street; thence with the center of Summer Street to Hamilton Street; thence with the center of Hamilton Street to John McNairy's line; thence with his line to a point opposite the south-west corner of Balch and Whiteside's purchase; thence with Line Street continued westwardly four hundred feet; thence at right angles, so as to strike Ce-
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dar Street extended four hundred feet west of the old west boundary; and thence with the center of Cedar Street to the old west boundary line.
"That the bounds of the fifth ward be and the same are hereby ex- tended so as to include the following limits: Beginning at where the old west boundary line crosses Cedar Street; thence with the center of Ce- dar Street extended four hundred feet; thence at right angles to Spring Street, extended so as to strike said street four hundred feet west of the old boundary line; thence with the center of Spring Street to the said boundary line."
Following are lists of the various city officers of Nashville, from the time of its incorporation, in 1806, to the present :
Mayors .- Joseph Coleman, 1806-08; Benjamin J. Bradford, 1809-10; William Tait, 1811-13; Joseph T. Elliston, 1814-16; Stephen Cantrell, Jr., 1817; Felix Robertson, 1818; Thomas Crutcher, 1819; James Con- don, 1820; John P. Endin, 1821; Robert B. Currey, 1822-23; Randal McGavock, 1824; Wilkins Tannehill, 1825-26; Felix Robertson, 1827- 28; William Armstrong, 1829-32; John M. Bass, 1833; John P. Erwin, 1834; William Nichol, 1835-36; Henry Hollingsworth, 1837-38; Charles C. Trabue, 1839-40; Samuel V. D. Stout, 1841; Thomas B. Coleman, 1842; Powhatan W. Maxey, 1843-44; John Hugh Smith, 1845; John A. Goodlett, 1846; Alexander Allison, 1847-48; John M. Lea, 1849; John Hugh Smith, 1850-52; Williamson H. Horn, 1853; Robert B. Castleman, 1854-55; Andrew Anderson, 1856; John A. McEwen, 1857; Randal W. McGavock, 1858; S. N. Hollingsworth, 1859; Richard B. Cheatham, 1860-61; John Hugh Smith, 1862-64; W. Matt Brown, 1865-66; A. E. Alden, 1867-68; John M. Bass, 1869; Kindred J. Morris, 1870-71; Thomas A. Kercheval, 1872-73; Morton B. Howell, 1874; Thomas A. Kercheval, 1875-83; C. H. Phillips, 1884-86; Thomas A. Kercheval, 1886-88; C. P. McCarver, 1888-90.
Recorders .- John Anderson, 1806-16; Moses Norvell, 1817-18; Jo- seph Norvell, 1819-23; J. K. Kane, 1824-25; Eli Talbot, 1826-27; E. Dibrell, 1828-38; William Garrett, 1839-49; William H. Woodward, 1850; Egbert A. Raworth, 1851-56; William A. Glenn, 1857-60; Charles M. Hays, October, 1861, to April, 1862 ; William Shane, April, 1862-64; W. H. Wilkinson, 1865; Robert C. Foster, 1866; William Mills, 1867- 68; Thomas J. Haile, 1869-71; Sinnett A. Duling, 1872-83; James T. Bell, 1884-90.
High Constables .- John Deatheredge, 1806-07; David Moore, 1808- 13; James Condon, 1814-15; Edmund Cooper, 1816-17; R. Garrett, 1818-19; Alexander McDean, 1820; J. Grizzard, 1821-23; C. Brooks, 1824-27; William L. Willis, 1828; George S. Gross, 1829-31 ; Jefferson
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Cartwright, 1832; E. B. Bigley, 1833-39; M. E. DeGrove, 1840; E. B. Bigley, 1841-43; James Morgan, 1844-45; R. A. Cole, 1846; Spencer Chandler, 1847-49.
City Marshals .- Spencer Chandler, 1850-54; J. L. Ryan, 1854-57 ; W. Matt Brown, 1857-62; John Chumbley, 1862-65; James H. Brant- ley, 1865-67; John Chumbley, 1867-68; A. A. Carter, 1868-69; James HI. Brantley, 1869-71 ; D. H. Pitman, 1871-81; W. E. Hinton, 1881-84; W. Matt Brown, 1884-86; C. P. McCarver, 1886-88; George M. Can- field, 1888-90.
Following is a list of the Aldermen of Nashville from the incorporation, in 1806, down to the present time:
1806 .- James Hennen, George M. Deaderick, John Dickinson, Rob- crt Searcy, Joseph T. Elliston, and James King.
1807 .- Robert Searcy, Joseph T. Elliston, Robert B. Currey, John Dickinson, George M. Deaderick, and Duncan Robertson.
1808 .- Robert Searcy, William Eastin, Joseph T. Elliston, John Dick- inson, William Tate, and Alexander Porter.
1809 .- Robert Searcy, William Eastin, Joseph T. Elliston, John Dick- inson, William Tate, and Alexander Porter.
1810 .- Felix Robertson, William Eastin, Alexander Porter, John Dick- inson, Joseph T. Elliston, and Robert B. Currey.
1811 .- John Dickinson, Thomas Masterson, R. McGavock, Josiah Nichol, William Lientz, and Joseph T. Elliston.
1812 .- William Lientz, John Dickinson, Joseph T. Elliston, R. Mc- Gavock, Josiah Nichol, and E. S. Hall.
1813 .- Wilkins Tannehill, Joseph T. Elliston, R. McGavock, James Trimble, John Nichol, and Lemuel T. Turner.
1814 .- R. McGavock, E. S. Hall, Wilkins Tannehill, Stephen Can- trell, Jr., John Nichol, and James Trimble.
1815 .- Stephen Cantrell, Jr., David Irwin, Joseph Woods, James Trimble, Wilkins Tannehill, and William Tate.
1816. - James Trimble, Wilkins Tannehill, B. McKeirnan, Joseph Woods, Stephen Cantrell, Jr., and David Irwin.
1817 .- James Trimble, Felix Robertson, William Lientz, Thomas H. Fletcher, John P. Erwin, and M. Norvell.
1818 .- C. Stump, William Lytle, W. L. Hannum, Ephraim H. Foster, Joseph T. Elliston, and D. Moore.
1819 .- Joseph T. Elliston, Andrew Hynes, Thomas Claiborne, Will- iam Lytle, Ephraim H. Foster, and Duncan Robertson.
1820 .- Nathan Ewing, Ephraim H. Foster, James Irwin, Duncan Rob- ertson, James Stewart, and John Elliston.
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1821 .- Nathan Ewing, John B. West, Edmund Cooper, Duncan Rob- ertson, Robert B. Currey, and John Elliston.
1822 .- Nathan Ewing, James Stewart, Robert Woods, Duncan Rob- ertson, James Irwin, and Jacob McGavock.
1823 .- John P. Erwin, Samuel Seay, Robert Armstrong, Thomas Welch, S. V. D. Stout, Robert Woods.
1824 .- Thomas Welch, S. V. D. Stout, Josiah Nichol, John P. Erwin, James Irwin, and Robert Farquharson.
1825 .- John P. Erwin, Hugh Roland, John B. West, Brent Spence, S. V. D. Stout, and Robert Woods.
1826 .- S. V. D. Stout, Brent Spence, Hugh Roland, Robert Woods, John B. West, and Andrew Hynes.
From this time the city was divided into wards.
1827 .- Samuel McManus and Addison East, N. B. Pryor and F. Mc- Gavock, John Nichol and Thomas Welch, John P. Erwin and William B. Ament, Joel M. Smith and A. W. Johnson, Jacob Brazier and Joseph Shaw.
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