USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Nashville Business Directory, 1860-61 > Part 3
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The Union Bank of Tennessee was chartered in 1832, and went into
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operation in 1833. The Planters' Bank was chartered in 1833, and organized in 1834, with E. B. Littlefield as President, and Nicholas Hobson, as Cashier. The Tennessee Marine and Fire Insurance Company (of which Joseph Vaulx is now President and A. W Butier, Secretary,) was chartered by the Legislature in December 1833, and its capital stock was subscribed on'the 4th of that month, in twenty minutes -- no person being allowed to take more than $5,000 of stock in his own name. The Penitentiary was built in 1830-31, by David Morrison, under the direc- tion of the Governor and Commissioners. The Lunatic Asylum was built in 1888-34, on an elevated spot, south of Vaulxhall garden-which said Vaulxhall garden was, in that day, " the place" of public resort, and all the public dinners, political and social gatherings, &c., were at Vaulx- hall. It was kept by John Decker, afterwards of the firm of Decker & Dyer, and was a place of fashionable resort.
In 1829-30, our physicians commenced using for the first time, quinine in fevers, and our venerable friend, Dr. Felix Robertson, was the first to so use it, we believe.
The highest state of political excitement existed here in 1832, on the subject of nullification. Mr. Calhoun's position, backed by the State of South Carolina, where secession was openly avowed, created an excite- ment in Tennessee, as well as throughout the Union, seldom equalled. A great Union meeting was held here on the 29th of December, 1832. Hon. Ephraim H. Foster, called the meeting to order and nominated Gov. Wm. Carroll as chairman, which met the unanimous consent of the meeting. John P. Erwin and Allen A. Hall were appointed Secretaries. Dr. Samuel Hogg offered the preamble and resolutions, (strong and to the point) and they were enthusiastically adopted, after speeches from Wm. G. Hunt, O. B. Hayes, and others. (We think Allen A. Hall, Esq., wrote the preamble and resolutions, notwithstanding they were presented by Dr. Hogg, a man of ability and high standing in the community and a relative of Mr. Hall's.)
The steamboat " Lady Jackson," of 200 tons burthen, was built at our lower wharf, and launched on the 4th of August 1832.
The Water Works were established in 1832, an account of which we will embrace in another article.
The city received a wonderful impetus in the way of business and progress in every department in 1832-33. Substantial steps "forward" were made in trade and commerce, in literature and the fine arts.
In the early settlement of this place, the dead were buried on the open grounds near the Sulphur Spring, and at two or three country burial places in the neighborhood. In 1822, the present City Cemetery was commenced being used as a place for interments. And we avail ourselves of the labors of Prof. R. O. Currey, one of the editors of the "Southern Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences," for the fol-
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lowing interesting table, compiled by Dr. Currey in 1853; bringing up the list to 1860, from the official records.
RECORD OF BURIALS IN THE CITY CEMETERY.
Year.
White Malos
White Females
White Infants.
Black Males
Black Females
Black Infants
Total No.
1822
27
10
14
7
0
11
69
1823
22
5
23
5
5
14
74
1824
19
5
35
5
11
27
102
1825
18
12
13
6
7
15
71
1826
17
10
28
11
12
27
105
1827
24
9
37
11
13
35
129
1828
83
8
52
23
11
39
166
1829
84
16
70
17
21
50
208
1832*
14
19
41
5
12
24
115
1833
78
34
86
48
55
54
355
1834
42
19
52
13
16
33
175
1835
74
55
79
45
46
36
336
1836
83
28
76
20
14
54
225
1837
40
29
57
14
19
89
198
1838
29
22
60
15
18
41
185
1839
43
25
53
22
24
33
200
1840
42
26
63
21
21
48
221
1841
34
40
78
22
24
70
268
1842
42
28
49
20
26
47
212
1843
.42
43
72
22
44
42
265
1844
61
43
112
19
22
57
314
1845
44
41
67
20
19
47
238
1846
70
50
139
21
21
67
368
1847
70
65
198
3C
37
76
476
1848
82
64
179
24
21
74
446
1849
171
168
190
75
65
70
739
1850
190
155
231
77
92
93
838
1851
63
50
145
34
25
69
386
1852
85
63
221
35
46
98
548
1853
77
58
149
85
40
70
429
1854
120
102
178
60
46
92
598
1855
89
75
164
32
39
75
474
1856
62
62
161
27
41
74
427
1857
59
69
147
25
40
61
401
1858
68
55
166
33
37
55
414
1859
83
60
162
37
51
90
483
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It is proper to remark that all under ten years of age are included in the list of infants.
In 1833, when the bill of mortality ran up to 355, the Cholera pre- vailed here to an alarming extent. It was its first visit to this country, and every section of the Union experienced its ravages. The deaths in *There is no official record for the years 1880 and 1881, nor till May 1882, and the last named year only contains eight months.
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this year numbered 174 from this disease. And in 1835, 66 persons were carried away by it. In 1849-50, it again made its appearance, sweeping off 311 in the first named year, and 316 in 1850, in which year also, 19 deaths by Small-pox occurred. The measles destroyed 61 chil- dren in 1852.
Duncan Robertson, who came to Nashville in 1806, died May 1st, 1833, aged 63 years. He was, perhaps, the most generous, philanthrophic and benevolent man that ever lived here. We know this is an assertion which will be deemed incredible by those who did not live here in his day, but we believe it to be true. The citizens erected a monument .over his grave, from which we copy this sentence from a lengthy inscrip- tion :- " In the dungeon of the forsaken prisoner, at the bedside of the wretched and friendless, and in the abode of povery and distress, was he almost constantly found. In imitation of his Divine Master, he literally went about doing good."
The people of Tennessee having by vote decided to call a convention to revise the Constitution of the State, the convention convened in this city on the 19th of May, 1834-Francis B. Fogg and Robert Weakley being the members for this county. While the convention was in session, Gen. Jackson visited the city and accepted a public dinner which was tendered him. A good deal of partisan feeling was exhibited at this meeting-the exciting question being " Bank or no Bank."
In 1836, Hon. John McLean, of the Supreme bench, being here to hold the U. S. Court, sat for his portrait, which was painted by. our own artist, Wm. B. Cooper.
The steamer, John Randolph, was burnt at our wharf on the 16th o March 1836, by which three lives were lost, all slaves, one of whom was a pilot, and he remained at his post till the rope burnt, and the boat became unmanageable. The Randolph took fire before landing, the flames spread rapidly, but the boat touched the wharf, and afterwards swung out into the stream, and burnt to the water's edge, in sight of nearly the entire population of the place. The amount of freight lost was valued at over two hundred thousand dollars. The boat was owned by J. & R. Yeatman & Co., and was the largest boat on our waters, and the pride of our port.
Early in 1836, Gen. S. F. Austin, Dr. B. T. Archer and Wm. H. Wharton, commissioners for Texas, were here, endeavoring to raise money and men for the purpose of securing the independence of Texas ; and they succeeded. H. R. W. Hill made them a donation of $5,000.
Gen. Armstrong's brigade were cordially welcomed home from the Florida campaign, on the 4th of February 1837. Capt. John Williams was chief Marshal, assisted by Maj. Robert H. McEwen, Maj. John K. Rayburn, Thomas T. Smiley, George Crockett, James Woods and Col. Samuel B. Marshall. The committee of arrangements were C. C. Trabue,
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Joel M. Smith, O. Loving, Samuel D. Morgan, and H. Petway. Col. E. H. Foster delivered the address of welcome, to which Gen. Armstrong replied. On the 22d of February, a public dinner was given the returned volunteers, at whieb speeches were made by Edwin H. Ewing, Esq. Gen. Washington Barrow, Col. Terry H. Cabal, Maj. Upshaw, Capta' Wilson, Chandler and others. It was a joyous occasion.
The House of Industry for Females, was established in 1887, Mrs. M. R. Fogg, Mrs. R. H. McEwen, Mrs. Dickinson, Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Grundy, and other ladies being on the board of managers. This institu- tion has been in exi tence ever since, and is now as heretofore,one of our most important public charities.
The Sisters of Charity, established a Hospital about this time, attached to the Catholic Church, which has been successfully carried on. We do not know the date of its establishment.
Our people were " great"' on public meetings and dinners, and hence we are not surprised to find that a public dinner was given to Robert Y. Hayne, of South Carolina, who came here to attend the session of the Legislature, in the fall of 1837, in behalf of the interests of the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Railroad.
The great financial revulsion of 1837 caused a suspension of specie payments by our Banks, and a considerable depreciation in the price of real estate. A number of citizens left the city and State, a few for the North-western States, but the larger number for Texas, which was then the "grand attraction" for every body in the country, who was dissatis- filed with his home. Nashville suffered considerably this year, in wealth and population. A majority of those who removed were in debt, some of them hopelessly insolvent, whilst a few simply desired to better their condition.
The Hon. John Catron, received his appointment as one of the Supreme Judges of the United States in '37.
A public meeting was held on the 15th of April, 1840, to testify the respect of our people to the memory of the Hon. Hugh Lawson White, who died at Knoxville, on the 10th of that month, and who had received the electoral vote of Tennessee in 1836 for President. Among politicians, his friends put him down as " the noblest Roman of them all."
Soon after the tornado at Natchez, in May, 1840, the citizens made contributions to the sufferers, and Mayor 'I'rabue forwarded them $1,500 .
The I. O. O. F. made their first public parade in Nashville, on the 1st June, 1840.
The Whig Convention here on the 17th of August, 1840, was very largely attended. 'I'he political campaign of that year is known as the "log cabin and hard cider campaign," and excitement ran high. Henry Clay and John J. Crittenden were here, and Mr. Clay partook of the hospitalities of Dr. Boyd McNairy, whilst here. During the summer
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and autumn, the " Harrison Guards," the "Nashville Blues," and the "Straightouts," were constantly on the streets.
The Hon. Felix Grundy died at his residence in this city on the 19th of December, 1840. He had occupied various positions of honor, and was once U. S. Senator from this State, and Attorney General of the United States, in Mr. Van Buren's Cabinet. He was buried with Masonic honors, and an immense concourse of citizens followed his remains to the tomb. He was noted as the best criminal lawver in the South. Out of 165 individuals whom he defended on charge of capital offences, only one was finally condemned and executed. His practice extended over several States.
A series of popular lectures were delivered at the Masonic Hall, in the winter of 1840-41, under the auspices of a Literary Society then in existence. Rev. Dr. P. Lindsley, the Rev. Dr. R. B. C. Howell, Prof. G. Troot, Dr. Thomas R. Jennings, Profs. Nathaniel Cross and J. Hamilton, Rev. Dr. Edgar, Hon. Abram P. Maury and others, were the lecturers, and the course was remarkably successful.
In 1840, the Mayor's Court, which had been established in 1836, was abolished, by act of the Assembly.
The depredations on the Union Bank, by Thomas L. Budd, one of its clerks, were developed in March, 1841.
A public meeting was held in April, 1841, in relation to the death of President Harrison. C. C. Trabue was chairman, and Andrew Ewing, Esq., Secretary. Thomas Wash ngton, Esq., reported the resolutions. Funeral honors were performed by the " Harrison Guards," Capt. R. C. McNairy, and the citizens generally.
Ex Governor Newton Cannon died in 1841, and his death was an- nounced in appropriate terms in the United States Court, by R. J. Meigs, Esq., and in the Circuit Court of the State, by Thomas Washington, Esq., and a meeting of citizens was held, and appropriate resolutions passed. The Legislature adjourned to attend the funeral, and Masonic services were performed at the Methodist Episcopal Church. The remains were conveyed to Williamson county.
The Mechanics' Library Association was organized in 1841. A dinner was given to Gov. Polk, this year, at the Nashville Inn, at which a num- ber of speeches were made.
The first Daguerreotype likenesses taken in the city were by an artist named Moore, who stopped at Union Hall, in 1841, and had quite a run of custom for a short time.
Mr. Clayton, the celebrated æronaut,made a successful balloon ascon- sion on the 13th of November, 1841.
The Bankrupt Law went into operation in the spring of 1842, Judge Morgan W. Brown, presiding, and Jacob McGavock being clerk of the District Court of the United States for Middle Tennessee. Hardin P. 2
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Bastiok was appointed General Assignee. The first day of the Court, thirty cases were disposed of, as many persons being declared bankrupta.
The Criminal Court of Davidson county went into operation in 1842, Wm. K. Turner, Esq., having been elected Judge thereof in February -- & position he has ever since occupied, with satisfaction to the people and credit to himself.
For several years the St. Andrew's Society and Hibernian Benevolent Society, kept up an organization and had an annual festival, usually attended by the Governor and other dignitaries, as invited guests. The Calliopean and other societies flourished also, but we have not space for details.
The Morus Multicaulis excitement raged in this section in 1840-41-42 &c., and a Silk Manufacturing Company was established here ; but did not succeed, we believe, for want of capital.
Ex-President Van Buren arrived here on Monday night, April 25th, 1842, on the stesmer Nashville, Capt. Miller, and went out to the Her- mitage the next day. On Thursday, in company with James K. Pauld- ing. (his traveling companion.) and Gen. Jackson, Mr. Van Buren came into the city, escorted by the "Nashville Blues" and a procession of citizens. A public dianer was tendered, and declined. The Ex-Presi- dent remained at the Hermitage a few days, and went out to Columbia, to visit Ex-Governor Polk-came back, and took his departure for Lex- ington, to pay a visit to Henry Clay.
The Banks which had been in a state of suspension since 1837, resumed specie payments in August, 1842.
A shock of an earthquake was felt on Wednesday night, January 4th, 1848. Another shock was experienced on the night of the 16th.
Payne, Carroll and Kirby, for the orime of murder, were hung on the commons, south of the city, (now about the centre of the 8th Ward,) February 10th, 1848. Payne was convicted in Franklin county, Carroll in White, and Kirby in Sumner county.
The steamer Nashville made the trip up from New Orleans in May 1843, in six days and thirteen hours. The Talleyrand made the trip a week or two after, in five days and twenty-three hours, and the Nashville putting forth all her energies, made the upward trip in five days and nineteen hours. This was in June.
Several gentlemen of distinction were here in the spring of '43 ; among them Major General Edmund P. Gaines, who stopped at the City Hotel ; Gon. Robert Patterson, of Philadelphia, who accepted the hospitalities of his old friend Col. R. H. MeEwer ; Hon. Alex. Porter, U. S. Senator from Louisiana, who stopped with his friend, Maj. Alex. Allison. F. P. Blair was at the Hermitage, on a visit. Generals Gaines and Patterson reviewed the military' (the " Guarda" and " Blues,") and then went out 3
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to Gen. Harding's, six miles from the city, where they were hospitably entertained.
The fourth of July was celebrated this year with unusual animation, and among other modes, the military had an encampment from the first to the fifth, and invited the military from neighboring towns. The Clarksville and Franklin companies accepted the invitation, and the encampment (which was at Walnut Grove) was named Camp Gaines, and the following officers were appointed : . Gen. Harding, Commander- in-Chief; Maj. McNairy, Aid-de-Camp ; Capt. Haynes, Adjutant Gen- oral ; Maj. Barnes, Adjutant Major ; and Dr. W. D. Dorris, Surgeon.
Hon. Alex. Barrow, of Louisiana, visited his relations here, in the autumn of 1843. About the same time, Marshal Bertrand, of France, accompanied by his son Napoleon Bertrand, and his Aid, M. Mansoe arrived, and partook of the hospitalities of Chief Justice Catron, after visiting the Hermitage. Marshal B. returned the visits of Gov. Jones, Gen. Carroll and Gen. Armstrong.
The new Constitution, adopted in 1834, provided that the seat of gov- ernment should be permanently fixed during the first week of the session of the General Assembly in 1843, and a good deal of interest was felt on the subject. The Legislature convened on Monday, 1st October, and on Thursday the Senate voted to locate the seat of government at King- ston, and the House voted to fix it at Murfreesboro'. But finally on Sat- urday, 7th October, the city of Nashville was agreed upon by both Houses, and became the seat of government. . The corporation bought Campbell's Hill, for the State-house, at a cost of $30,000, which they gave to the State.
Maj. Henry M. Rutledge, only son of Hon. Edward Rutledge, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Francis B. Fogg, Esq., 20th January, 1844. The Legis- lature and all the Courts of law in session adjourned to attend his fu- neral. Thomas Crutcher, who had been a citizen here for half a century, died on the 8th of March, 1844, and had the largest funeral procession that had ever been seen in Nashville. He was a good and benevolent man, the best friend the Nashville Female Academy ever had, and in life had occupied positions of trust and honor. . Wm. NcNeil, also & resident here for more than half a century, died on the 21st of the same month: And the next day, Gen. Wm. 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. A public meeting was held,and resolutions adopted expressive of the feelings of his fellow- citizens. Testimonies of respect were adopted by the Circuit Court then in session, by the Trustees of the University, the Directors and officers of the Insurance Companies, &c. The demise of these old and esteemed citizens, following so closely one upon, another, caused.a profound and
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melancholy sensation among our people, and the writer well remembers that the morning after the death of Gov. Carroll, he went to Capitol Hill at day-light, for purposes of meditation, where he was soon joined by the venerable Robert Farquharson, (himself an old resident,) who spoke affectingly of the rapidity of Death's doings, and lamented the de- parture of friends who had been so long familiar to himself and to the people of the city. He mentioned many, many changes on these streets since he first came here, and said that "you young men will see greater changes than these in half the time, but whether for the better or not, may be doubtful." The conversation, though brief, was one which made a strong impression. On the 6th of April, the mortal remains of Senator Porter, of Louisiana, arrived here on the steamer Westwood, for inter- ment in our Cemetery.,
The institution for the instruction of the Blind, went into operation early in 1844, the Rev. Dr. Edgar, the Bev. John T. Wheat and the Rev. Dr. Howell, acting as Trustees under an appointment from the Governor.
The corner-stone of the second Presbyterian Church was laid April 25th, 1844.
The Presidential compaign of 1844 was characterized by an excitement little inferior to the campaign of 1840. Each party had a mass conven- tion here that year. Hon. Cave Johnson was the President of the Demo- cratic convention, and Gen. Lewis Cass, of Michigan ; Mr. Mellville, of New York, Messrs. Wise and John A. McCalla, of Kentucky, were the principal speakers. This convention was held in August, and the Whig convention was held the week following, of which Hon. John Bell was President, and S. S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, Clingman, and Rayner of N. C., Marshall, and Underwood of Kentucky, Albert Pike, of Ark., Ran- dal Hunt, of New Orleans, and Judge Hopkins, of Alabama, the princi- pal speakers. Each party erected liberty poles, and their military com- panies were parading the streets almost daily. The contest was between Mr. Clay and Mr. Polk. Notwithstanding the great excitement, the election passed off in quietness and with good order, in November.
The steamer Belle of Clarksville, Capt. R. Graham, a Nashville boat running in the New Orleans trade, was sunk by colliding with the steam- er Louisiana, in December 1844, by which thirty-three lives were lost, principally deck hands and slaves. The collision took place near Old Town landing, on the Mississippi river.
On the 21st of January 1845, a fire occurred on the corner of Broad and Market streets, destroying a block of stores belonging to Gen. Zollicoffer.
Thomas H. Fletcher, who had lived here from 1809, died of apoplexy, alone in his office, on Sunday, Jan. 12th, 1845. He had been a successful lawyer, and only the day before his death, had exerted himself to an un- usual degree in a speech of two hours and a half, in the case of the State
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vs. Merchant. All the Courts passed resolutions of condolence. Col. Robert Weakley, who had occupied many posts of favor in military and civil life, and who was one of the earliest settlers here (having arrived before a single house was built in Nashville,) died at his residence in the country, 3d of February, 1845.
Hon. James K. Polk, the President elect, on his way to Washington to be inaugurated, stopped a few days here, to interchange civilities with many old friends.
The great fire in Pittsburgh occurred in April, 1845, and our citizens contributed the sum of $1162 85, to relieve the sufferers.
A Texas and Oregon meeting was held in May, of which Maj. Robert B. Turner, was chairman.
The artist Heally, sent here by the king of France (Louis Philippe,) to paint the portrait of Gen. Jackson, completed his work at the Hermi- tage in May, 1845, and the picture was on exhibition for several days at the residence of one of our prominent citizens.
Gen. Andrew Jackson died on Sunday evening, the 8th of June, 1845, and various meetings were held on the subject. Gen. Sam Houston, of Texas, arrived here the same day, but reached the Hermitage after the death of his distinguished friend. A large number of our citizens atten- ded the burial at the Hermitage.,
The corner-stone of the Capitol was laid on the 4th of July, 1845, with imposing ceremonies.
The Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad was " on the stocks" this year, and engrossed considerable attention. The progress of the city in build- ings and improvements was marked and general-about one hundred houses were erected, including two churches and one hotel.
Gen. Robert Armstrong, who had been Postmaster here, from 1829 to 1845, gave up the office, having been appointed Consul at Liverpool, by President Polk.
The order of the Sons of Temperance commenced operations here in 1846, and had a " successful run"for several years, and are yet in exis- tence in this city. Its rapid progress and extension throughout the State, was unprecedented.
John Somerville, Esq,, who came to Nashville in 1799, and who had occupied various positions in the Banks of this city (especially as Cash- ier of the Union Bank,) died in April, 1846.
The war with Mexico commenced in 1846, and the Nashville Blues, the Harrison Guards, and Texas Volunteers, (military companies,) promptly tendered their services to the Governor. The Guards had . previously disbanded, but Capt. R. C. Foster, 3d, re-organised his com- pany in an hour, and immediately reported themselves to the Governor. Military companies all over the State did the same thing, and it soon became apparent that not half of those offering their services could be
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accepted, as the War Department at Washington only called for 50,000 men in the whole Union. In Nashville, the "Harrison Guards" and the "Blues" considered themselves highly favored by being accepted. These companies embraced many of the noblest young men of the city. Gen. B. F. Cheatham was captain of the Blues. They were mustered into service on the 28th of May, their services having been tendered ton days previously.
Twelve companies assembled here, and at an election for Regimental officers of this First Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, Gen. Wm. B. Campbell, of Smith county, was elected Cononel Commandant, Capt. Samuel R. Anderson, (our present Postmaster,) was elected Lieutenant Colonel, being then of Sumner county. R. B. Alexander, of Sumner, and Maj. Farquharson, of Lincoln, were elected first and second Majors. The senior class of the Nashville Female Academy presented a splendid flag to the Regiment in the presence of the whole Regiment and an im- mense concourse of citizens, in front of the Academy. The President of the institution, Rev. Dr. Elliott, made an address on behalf of the Senior class, after which Miss Laura M. Taylor presented the flag, accompanied by an address,, to which Gen. Campbell responded, on behalf of the Volunteers. This flag went through the war, was the first American flag hoisted as a signal of victory on the heights of Monterey, and came back after the war, " tattered and torn by bullets," and returned to the Acad- emy. Two years since, Rev. C. D. Elliott, presented this flag to the Historical Society of Tennessee, in the presence of an immense assem- blage at Watkin's Grove. It is now in possession of the Society at the Capitol. The additional lustre shed upon the military character of Tennessee by their chivalrous conduct in the Mexican war, is well known to every one. The First Regiment sustained such losses in battle, and fought so bravely, that it was ever after known as the " Bloody First."
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