USA > Tennessee > Old times in Tennessee, with historical, personal, and political scraps and sketches > Part 44
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Gen. Robert Armstrong, who had been postmaster here from
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
1829, continuously, resigned that position in 1845, having been appointed Consul to Liverpool by President Polk .*
The progress of the city in buildings and improvements was marked and general in 1845. About one hundred houses were erected, including two churches and one hotel.
John Somerville, who came to Nashville in 1799, and who had occupied various positions in the banks of the city, and especially as cashier of the Union Bank, died in April, 1846.
The war with Mexico commenced in 1846, and the "Nashville Blues," " Harrison Guards," and "Texas Volunteers," promptly tendered their services to the Governor, in response to the call by the President for volunteers from this State. The "Guards" had previously disbanded, but Capt. R. C. Foster, 3d, reorgan- ized his company in an hour, and immediately reported to the Governor for duty. Military companies all over the State did the same thing, and it soon became apparent that not the half of those offering their services would be needed to fill up the quota from Tennessee, as the call from the War Department at Wash- ington was for only fifty thousand men in the whole Union. In Nashville, the "Harrison Guards" and "Nashville Blues " con- sidered themselves highly favored on being accepted. These companies embraced some 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 ten days previously. Twelve companies assem- bled here, and effected the organization of the First Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. Gen. Wm. B. Campbell, of Smith county was elected Colonel; Gen. Samuel R. Anderson, of Sum- ner county, Lieutenant-Colonel; and R. B. Alexander, of Sum- ner, and Maj. Farquharson, of Lincoln, first and second Majors.
# It has passed from the memory of the oldest inhabitant who was the first postmaster at this place. Robert B. Currey was appointed by President Jeffer- son in 1801, and held the office for twenty-four years. In 1825, John Quincy Adams appointed John P. Erwin. In 1829, Gen. Jackson appointed Gen. Rob- ert Armstrong, who retained the office for sixteen years. In 1845, Col. L. P. Cheatham was appointed by President Polk. In 1849. Dr. John Shelby was appointed by Gen. Taylor. In 1855, Gen. Samuel R. Anderson was appointed by President Pierce, and held the office eight years. In 1861, President Lincoln appointed W. D. McNish (and he was subsequently appointed by Jeff. Davis under Confederate rule), who held the office until the evacuation of Nashville by the Confederates in February, 1862.
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
The senior class of the Nashville Female Academy presented a splendid flag to the regiment, in the presence of an immense con- course of citizens in front of the Academy. The principal of the institution, Rev. Dr. C. D. Elliott, made an address on be- half of the senior class, after which Miss Laura M. Taylor pre- sented 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, came back after the war, having been riddled with the bullets of the enemy, and was returned as a trophy of the war to the Female Academy. Some years subsequent Rev. Dr. Elliott presented this flag to the Historical Society of Tennessee, in the presence of an immense assemblage at Watkins' Grove, and it is now in the possession of_ that society, among its relies in the capitol. The first regiment fought so bravely and sustained such heavy losses in battle, that it has ever since been known as the "Bloody First." The sur- vivors of this regiment returned in June, 1847.
Maj. Joseph Norvell, who founded the Nashville Whig in 1812 (in connection with his brother Moses Norvell), and who was for several years City Treasurer, and also Past Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Tennessee, died January 7, 1847.
A mecting for the relief of the starving people of Ireland, was held in the spring of 1847, and upwards of $3,600 was con- tributed for that purpose.
A freshet occurred in March, 1847, and another in December of the same year, which caused a great deal of suffering among the poor who lived in the lower portions of the city which were inundated. A great freshet occurred here in 1808, and another in 1826. A vast amount of wood, fencing, and produce was swept away by that of 1826. There was another great freshet in 1842, which did considerable damage. The freshet of March, 1847, was two feet higher than that of 1842, and five feet three inches lower than that of 1826. The freshet of December, 1847, was the greatest that had occurred here since the settlement of the country by white meu. The river rose that time fifty feet above low-water mark, and was twenty inches higher than in the freshet of 1826. The water commenced rising on the 17th, and continued to rise for upwards of a week, the weather being cold
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and snow falling alternately with rain. The water extended a considerable distance into Broad street, the front lower floor of the warehouse on the south-east corner of Broad and Market streets being ten inches under water. It was during this freshet that a steamboat, in ascending the river, passed over the Gallatin pike beyond the old bridge. After the river commenced falling three men, in attempting to pass over what is now Edgefield, were washed on the pike fully a hundred yards from the bridge, and two of them were drowned. An immense quantity of corn along the Cumberland bottoms was swept away, together with stock, fences, and out-houses. When it is stated that more than one hundred families in Nashville were compelled to leave their homes and seek refuge wherever it was to be found, some idea may be formed of the suffering resulting from this memorable freshet. There was a high rise in the river in February, 1862, immediately succeeding the fall of Fort Donelson, which enabled the largest class of boats navigating the Ohio to come up here in safety with troops to occupy Nashville.
The corner-stone of Odd Fellows' Hall (now the Olympic Theatre) was laid with imposing ceremonies June 1, 1847.
The year 1847 was noted for an unusually large number of in- cendiary fires, and the firemen were kept almost constantly on duty during the spring and fall.
On the 12th of October, 1847, a powder magazine, situated West of Capitol Hill, was struck by lightning and exploded, by which four persons were killed and twenty wounded. Fifty houses were demolished, or rendered unfit for use, and the de- struction of window glass in the city and in the suburbs was im- mense.
The first telegraphic dispatch received in Tennessee was in March, 1848, on Henry O'Reilly's line from Louisville to Nash- ville, and. Mr. O'Reilly sent his compliments to the people of Tennessee, among the first dispatches.
On the 14th of September, 1848, the First Presbyterian Church was a second time destroyed by fire, on the site of the present large and elegant church edifice. The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid April 28, 1849.
The Tennessee Historical Society was re-organized in May,
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1849; Prof. N. Cross, President, and Col. A. W. Putnam, Vice President.
The Hon. James K. Polk, tenth President of the United States, died at his residence in this city on the 15th of June, 1849, and was placed in a vault at the Cemetery with Masonic honors. The cholera prevailed here at the time, but nevertheless a very large assemblage attended to pay a tribute of respect to their dis- tinguished deceased fellow-citizen. On the 22d of May, 1850, his remains were deposited in the elegant mausoleum prepared for the purpose, on his own grounds, on the eastern front of Polk Place, with solemn and impressive ceremonies. The Masonic fraternity, Governor and staff, Mayor and City Council, Fire Department, Judges of Courts and members of the bar, and an immense number of citizens, attended in procession. Minute guns were fired, and at the tomb the Rev. John B. McFerrin offered an impressive prayer, an original dirge was sung, an ap- propriate discourse delivered by Rt. Rev. Bishop Otey, and the Masonic funeral rites performed, conducted by Charles A. Fuller. Every demonstration possible was made to testify to the public grief.
The Nashville Gas Light Company was chartered November 14, 1849, and the city was lighted by gas on the night of Feb- ruary 13, 1851. The city has now over six hundred lamps to light the streets.
The steamer " James Dick" was burned May 7, 1850.
May 22, 1850, the first wire was stretched across the river for the present suspension bridge, and on the 28th of June the first horse and buggy crossed over. The bridge was soon afterwards completed. The architect was Col. A. Heiman, of this city, and the contractor was M. D. Field, brother of Cyrus W. Field, who superintended the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable.
The Southern Convention met on the 3d of June, 1850, and was in session eight days.
The Adelphi Theatre was opened July 1, 1850, under the man- agement of John Green.
On the 15th of Angust, the celebrated geologist and mineralo- gist, Dr. Gerard Troost, died, universally respected in this coun- try and in Europe for his great attainments in geology. His col- lection of specimens amounted to over twenty thousand in num-
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OLD TIMES IN TENEESSEE.
ber, and some years after his death was sold to an institution in Louisville.
The first Hoe power printing press was introduced by B. R. Mckennie, publisher of the Nashville Whig, in 1845. The first cylinder Hoe printing press was by the Christian Advocate office, in 1850.
Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, gave two concerts and a matinee, March 31 and April 2, 1851, under the management of P. T. Barnum. Such a musical treat had never been expe- rienced here, and none since. Immense preparations had been made to pack people into the Adelphi by building new galleries and utilizing space generally. Choice seats were sold at auction, the highest bringing $200. Tickets $6, standing room $3, etc. The house was packed to overflowing, and every one seemed wild with enthusiasm. Her singing was the best ever heard in Nashville.
The first passenger train on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad was run out as far as Antioch April 13, 1851, and the first through train to Chattanooga January 18, 1853. This road was chartered in 1845, and some of the oldest and ablest citizens of Nashville labored zealously to secure its construction. Among those foremost in the work, were Dr. James Overton, John M. Bass, John M. Hill, Francis B. Fogg, Andrew Ewing, A. O. P. Nicholson, V. K. Stevenson, John Bell, Willoughby Williams, Wm. Nichol, S. D. Morgan, Joseph T. Elliston, and Dr. John Shelby. The press also gave a wonderful impetus to the enter- prise. But the city and country are chiefly indebted for the suc- cessful and speedy construction of this important work to the un- tiring energy of its President, Col. V. K. Stevenson. He aroused by his ingenious eloquence the people along the line of the road to the great necessity of this improvement. He pushed the work forward with unusual vigor, and by the close of the fifth year from the commencement of work on the road had it completed. The road now runs to Chattanooga, South, and to Hickman, Ky., Northwest, the company having leased the Nash- ville and Northwestern Railroad.
On April 22, 1851, the corner-stone of the first public school was laid in South Nashville, with Masonic rites, conducted by the venerable Wilkins Tannehill.
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
A post office was established in South Nashville Apri! 26, 1851, W. W. Parks, Postmaster. South Nashville had a separate cor- porate existence for several years, but finally united with the old city, 16th July, 1854, by a popular vote.
The old bridge fell at 6 o'clock, November 14, just after the workmen who were tearing it down had left off work.
A coal famine existed from January Ist to the 16th, in 1852.
The fire bell, weighing 2,100 pounds, was hung in the court- house March 16. On the 28th of July impressive funeral obse- quies, in honor of Henry Clay, were held; Col. Ephraim H. Fos- ter was the orator of the day. The demonstration was unusually large, and the ceremonies impressive.
The fight (really a private duel) between John L. Marling, editor of the Union, and Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer, editor of the Banner, took place on the 20th of August, 1852. The first named gentleman was seriously wounded, the latter slightly.
The Presidential campaign of 1852 was very spirited, and party excitement ran high. Processions, the marching of military cam- paign companies, etc., were constantly going on, and a number of street fights occurred. One man was killed. After the elec- tion, a large torchlight procession moved through the streets, in honor of the election of Gen. Pierce.
In 1850-51, a few citizens agitated the question of establishing a system of genteel and elevated free schools, which finally aroused the Board of Aldermen, who, in the spring of 1852, selected Al- fred Hume, long an eminent private teacher in Nashville, to visit various cities in which public schools were in operation, to see how they worked. He did so, and made a report to the Alder- men and the public on the 26th of August. The city then bought the lot on the corner of Spruce and Broad streets, to erect a building. The corner-stone was laid on the 19th of May, 1853, Dr. W. K. Bowling being the orator of the day. The house then and now known as the Hume building, was completed in 1854, and formally opened for pupils on the 26th of February, 1855. M. H. Howard, Esq .. long a resident here, bat now living in New York city, gave the lot on which the Hynes' building now stands, in 1859. The lot on which the Howard building now stands was purchased with the proceeds of the sale of lots donated to the city by Col. Andrew Hynes. The Hon. John
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
Trimble donated the lot on which is erected the Trimble School building. The city now has eight school houses, with an average attendance of nearly three thousand. Joshua F. Pearl was the first Superintendent ; S. Y. Caldwell is the present Superintend- ent. Both were very happy selections. There are not over five hundred scholars in Nashville that attend other than the public schools-so well conducted and popular are they in every char- acteristic that makes up a good school. They are maintained by taxation, at a cost of $55,000 to $60,000 per annum. Some sta- tistics in regard to the Public Schools, gathered from the report of the Board of Education for the session of 1877-78, made pub- lic as these sheets are going through the press, will be found inter- esting :
Enumeration from 6 to 18
9,219
Different pupils enrolled ( none re-entered).
4,235
Average monthly enrollment.
3,459
Average number belonging
3,258
Average number attending.
3,118
Probable number in private schools.
400
Number of special teachers
3
Number of regular teachers
75
Number of pupils to the teacher
43
Cost of tuition per pupil enrolled.
$11 09
Cost of tuition per pupil belonging
14 42
Cost of tuition per pupil attending 15 07
Average salary paid teachers
602 00
Total paid special teachers
2,630 00
Total paid regular teachers
44,358 00
Total cost of tuition
46,988 00
Total annual expenditures
58,000 00
Number of school-houses
8
Number of school-rooms
36
Number of recitation-rooms
45
Number of seats.
3,750
Value of school buildings
116,000 00.
Value of school lots.
45,000 00
Value of school furniture
7,000 00
Total value of property
$168,000 00
The annual cost of tuition per pupil has been reduced from . $18.14 in 1874 to $13.42 for last session. The total number of seats is three thousand in white, and seven hundred and fifty in
Total incidental expenses
11,012 00
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
colored schools, while the average monthly enrollment was in the former 2,712, and in the latter 747.
The numbering of the houses was completed February 1, 1853.
March 24, 1853, the city and county voted a subscription of $1,000,000 to aid four railroads coming into Nashville, as follows : To the Tennessee and Alabama (now known as the Decatur), $200,000; to the Louisville and Nashville, $300,000; to the Henderson and Nashville (now the' St. Louis and Southeastern), $200,000; and to the Nashville and Northwestern, $300,000.
April 7, 1853, Ole Bull and Adelina Patti gave their first concert here. Nashville had, this year, six daily newspapers. Hon. Morgan W. Brown died March 7; Judge Alfred Balch on the 22nd of June. July 16, young Watkins jumped into the river from the suspension bridge, in the presence of a large crowd of sightseers, and was picked up by some fishermen not much in- jured. W. M. Paulding made a balloon ascension on the 15th of October, and landed four miles from the city. Col. Wm. Walker, of Nashville, was declared President of Lower California on the 16th of October, 1853.
Ex-President Fillmore arrived in Nashville, May 4, 1854, and was handsomely entertained. W. S. Whiteman, who had been en- gaged in the manufacture of paper for several years in Nashville, completed a large new mill October 1, 1854. The steamer " Rock City," built in Nashville, departed for Paducah Octo- ber 15.
The funeral services of Gen. Robert Armstrong occurred on the 8th of January, 1855. On the 10th of March, an unsuccess- ful attempt was made to burn the Penitentiary. June 18, the South Nashville Furniture Factory was destroyed by fire. Oc- tober 1, the State Fair was held, and the Mechanics' exhibition of wares, fabrics, and handicraft took place at Odd Fellows' Hall. Mount Olivet Cemetery was laid off into burying lots in October, 1855.
A large fire occurred on the Public Square March 16, 1856, by which thirteen houses were destroyed, inchaling the old Nash- ville Inn and the court-house. Another destructive fire broke out on the corner of Church and Cherry streets, where the Max- well House now stands, on the 9th of July, by which eight build- ings were burned, including the Masonic Hall. August 15, the
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
Grand Union Association of Steamboat and Ship Engineers met in Nashville. The Hon. John L. Marling, United States Minis- ter at Gautemala, died October 16.
In May, 1857, the Hon. Randal W. McGavock presented the Historical Society with a life-size portrait of Hon. Felix Grundy, in the presence of a large audience. May 10, the American Medical Association met here, being its tenth annual session .. The Siamese Twins were on exhibition October 9, 1857.
The talented and venerable Wilkins Tannehill died on the 2d of June, 1858. He was a great Masonic light, and a literary writer of more than ordinary brilliancy. The corner-stone of the new Masonic Hall was laid October 6, 1858.
The steamer " Quaker City " was burned at our levee February 17, 1859. On the 4th of March the funeral obsequies of ex- Governor Aaron V. Brown took place. He had been a promi- nent politician for many years, Postmaster General, Gover- nor, etc.
Gen. Wm. T. Haskell, the finest orator in all this region of country, died March 13, 1859, in Kentucky. Dr. John Shelby died at his residence in Edgefield May 17. By a popular vote the City Council was instructed to levy a tax of $270,000 to aid the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, June 4. The first sermon in the new Central Baptist Church, South Nashville, was preached by Rev. Dr. W. H. Bayless, July 3. The Mulberry Street Methodist Church was dedicated July 22. The first pas- senger train from Nashville to Bowling Green went through August 13. August 24 a meeting was called of the subscribers to the new hotel project, when Maj. R. C. McNairy offered a res- olution appointing John Kirkman and Sam. D. Morgan Commis- sioners to act for the subscribers to the hotel, to be erected by John Overton, Esq., on the corner of Cherry and Church streets, which was adopted; and the first spade pierced the soil for the present Maxwell House August 17. The presentation of Gen. Jackson's gold snuff box to Gen. Ward B. Burnett, of New York, took place on the 19th of August. The celebration of the opening of the Winchester and Alabama Railroad to Fay- etteville took place the same day. A great "Opposition " meet- ing was held in Watkins' Grove August 30, and ten thousand people were said to be present. The remains of Lieut. Chandler,
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
who died in 1801, were removed, under the auspices of the His- torical Society, from the Sulphur Spring bottom to Mount Oli- vet; an immense procession escorted the remains; Hon. E. H. East was orator of the day.
The excavation of the foundation of the Church'of the Advent was commenced September 3. The Hon. M. F. Maury deliv- ered his celebrated lecture on the Geography of the Sea, before the Historical Society, September 8.
The railroad bridge was completed in October, 1859, and the first passenger train, through from Louisville, passed over it the 28th of that month. It was regarded as one of the finest draw- bridges in the country, and was built for the joint use of the Louisville and Nashville and Edgefield and Kentucky Railroads, at a cost of about $250,000. The funds to build it were loaned the two companies by the State of Tennessee under the general internal improvement laws. The bridge was built under the su- pervision and direction of A. Anderson, Chief Engineer of the Edgefield and Kentucky Railroad Company.
On the 18th of November, 1859, George G. Poindexter, one of the editors of the Union and American, was shot and killed by Allen A. Hall, editor of the News, the result of a newspaper quarrel. On the 23d of the same month Maj. Elbridge G. East- man, principal editor of the Union and American, and one of the most influential political writers in the State, died suddenly at his residence in this city. Thus within five days that paper lost both of its editors.
Street sprinklers were introduced March 24, 1860. Dr. Henry Carow was killed by a young man named Truett, from Sparta, Tenn., who was intoxicated at the time. April 9 a large fire oc- curred.on Union street, the loss amounting to $30,000. The National Typographical Union was held in the Capitol May 7. A grand parade of firemen occurred on the 17th. St. Cloud Hotel was burned May 21; loss $10,000. Corner-stone of the Church of the Advent laid May 21, by Righi Rev. Bishop Otey. It was opened for sevices on the 17th of April, 1870. The great National Temperance Association met here on the 22d of May, 1869. On the 24th of July the Board of Aldermen passed the ordinance to establish a paid steam fire department, which was promptly signed by the Mayor. Capt. John S. Dashiell was the
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OLD TIMES IN TENNESSEE.
first Chief. November 13 the Rev. John Todd Edgar, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, died suddenly, universally be- loved.
On the 30th of December, 1860, a large meeting of citizens. was held at the Court House, and great excitement prevailed in consequence of the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presi- dency, and the secession of South Carolina. Great excitement prevailed in the early part of 1861 in regard to the secession of South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia, and the election of Jeffer- son Davis as President of the Confederate States. Military com- panies were organized for home protection, the courts were sus- pended, and every thing was in confusion, even the United States Post Office being discontinued on the 6th of June. August 13. W. D. McNish was appointed Postmaster for the Confederate Government.
It is simply impossible, in a brief paper like this, to go into- detail in regard to the war commenced in 1861. The State, as well as the city of Nashville, was decidedly opposed to separating from the other States, as expressed by a popular vote, as well as in other ways, until the firing on Fort Sumpter took place, which forced the people to take the Confederate side. A volume would be necessary to give the history of the struggle in this State, and of legislative action prior thereto. We can give only a few meagre items, simply to preserve dates of important events. In- telligence of the capture of Fort Donelson reached Nashville on Sunday morning, February 16, 1862, and produced the utmost con- sternation. The Legislature was convened, but speedily adjourned to Memphis, whither the public archives and money were also removed. Gen. A. S. Johnston's army, concentrated at Bowling Green, commenced passing through the city, and continued until the entire force went through. Gen. Floyd was left to cover the retreat. It was a real panic. On the 18th, at night, the troops destroyed the suspension bridge and the railroad bridge, against the earnest protest of the leading citizens .* On the 23d the rear guard of the Confederate army left, and Gen. D. C. Buel occu- pied Edgefield with Federal troops. On the 25th Mayor Cheat- ham and a committee of citizens, consisting of Messrs. James
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