USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Polk's Nashville (Davidson county, Tenn.) city directory 1865 > Part 2
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
On the 6th of October, the members of the Court were qualified ; and, of course, elected Andrew Ewin, elerk, and as he had to give a bond in the sum of two thousand pounds for the faithful performance of his duties, he added a g to his name, and ever after spells his name Ewing.
A court-house and prison were ordered to be erected-the former to be eighteen feet square! with benches, bar and table for the use of the Court-court-house and prison to be of hewed logs! The con- traet for these buildings was let at publie vendue, October 14th, to the lowest bidder.
The Court was again convened in January, 1784, and were assisted by four Justices, appointed at the same time, but not previously pres- ent, to-wit: James Robertson, Thomas Mulloy, Anthony Bledsoe and David Smith.
By acts of the Assembly of North Carolina, in April and May, 1784, a town was established at the Bluff, called Nashville, ete., and from July 1st, of that year, it is never known as Nashboro', but Nash- ville. The Commissioners of the town were directed to lay off 200 acres of land near to, but not to include, the French Lick, in lots of one acre each, with convenient streets, lanes and alleys-reserving four acres for public buildings. Those who subscribed to lots should draw for choice, and were to receive deeds, with the condition that within three years thereafter they should build a "well-framed, log, brick or stone house, 16 feet square at least, (!) and eight feet clear in the pitch !" S. Barton, Thos. Mulloy and James Shaw were the Directors
CONE & TUNNELL, Booksellers, Stationers and News Dealers, 40 North Cherry Street.
30
SINGLETON'S NASHVILLE
appointed by North Carolina, and the deeds executed by them are among the first titles recorded in Davidson county.
A ferry was established by order of the Court, across the Cumber- land, at a point above the Sulphur Lick Branch, and rates of ferriage fixed. Notwithstanding the appearance of these buds of civilization, the Indians soon after became troublesome, instigated by Spanish agents.
At the session of the Legislature, Colonel Robertson obtained the passage of "An act for the promotion of learning in the county of Davidson," and named nine Trustees. This was the 29th of Decem- ber, 1785, and the school was called "Davidson Academy," and sub- sequently "Davidson College," and now the "University of Nashville."
Lardner Clark, "merchant and ordinary keeper," was the first man to open a dry-goods store in Nashville, which he did in 1786. His stock of goods was packed on ten horses, and came from Philadelphia, through the State of Virginia, East Tennessee, and part of Kentucky. Mr. Clark's goods consisted of cheap calicoes, unbleached linens and coarse woolens; and he combined liquor-selling and tavern-keeping with his dry-goods operations. Wearing apparel, until then, was composed almost entirely of dressed skins. Mr. Clark took peltries in exchange for his goods-in fact, there was very little money in cir- culation in those primitive times, and skins and furs answered very well as a circulating medium.
We must not omit to mention that in 1785, the first physician made his appearance, in the person of John Sappington, who compounded pills, covering them with mystery and a coat of sugar, and were exten -. sively known as "Sappington's Pills."
Edward Douglas and Thomas Mulloy announced that they would practice law in all the courts in Davidson county. They were men of sound practical sense, and of good business talent, but had never studied law as a science. A few pamphlet laws of North Carolina were all the law books which were in the county for several years. These gentlemen were good talkers, and soon had clients.
Another licensed tavern was soon opened, and in 1787 there were about half a dozen framed and log houses, and twenty or thirty cabins. Tavern rates were established by law, as follows: "One-half pint of whisky, such as will sink tallow, two shillings; bowl of toddy, made with loaf sugar and whisky, three shillings and sixpence; one quart bowl punch, with fruit, ten shillings; dinner and grog, four shillings and sixpence." Corn was ordered to be received for taxes at two
31
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
shillings and eightpence per bushel; good fat bear meat, if delivered where troops are stationed, fourpence per pound; fine buffalo beef, threepence; good venison, if delivered as aforesaid, ninepence; dried beef, sixpence ; salt, two shillings and fourpenee per pound.
In 1787 the twenty-six one-acre lots, which had been sold for four pounds each, North Carolina currency, were taxed at one dollar- total, twenty-six dollars. The first assessment of real estate was in this year.
Among those who subscribed for town lots in Nashville, was one James C. Montflorence, a French spy; but to cover his operations, he subscribed for town lots, bought and sold tracts of land, gave dinners and wine parties generously, talked politics knowingly, gallanted ladies handsomely, circulated extensively, and flourished grandly. His residence in Europe, and the position he occupied near the American Commissioners, his connection with Governor Davie, of South Carolina, and his extensive general information and fine con- versational powers, made him a welcome guest at the houses of Rob- ertson, Smith, Bledsoe, Mences, Prince, Montgomery, and others. He was a decided character, and attracted a good deal of attention in this "lodge in the wilderness."
In 1788 the Constitution of the United States, which had been adopted by ten States, was voted upon by this settlement, and almost unanimously rejected.
We have no space to record the organization of Sumner county, taken off of Davidson, the establishment of Tennessee county, the District of Mero, the Indian depredations in the neighborhood, the opening of roads, or the plots and counterplots of various kinds, as to what was best for the settlers in a political point of view.
Black Bobb (a negro, of course,) opened a tavern, and for several years kept the most aristocratic hotel in the place. Several others opened ordinances, or houses of entertainment.
Andrew Jackson was admitted as an attorney at law January 12th, 1789.
In 1789 North Carolina adopted the Constitution. The State of Franklin arose in East Tennessee, and then expired ; and all hands wheeled into line as members of the confederacy of States. But, in 1790, North Carolina ceded to the United States all their claims to lands west of the line beginning on the extreme hight of Stone Mountain, where Virginia intersects it, etc .; and the country goes into a territorial form of government, with the express provision, however,
CONE & TUNNELL, Booksellers, Stationers and News Dealers, 40 North Cherry Street.
32
SINGLETON'S NASHVILLE
that Congress should not intermeddle with the institution of slavery. President Washington appointed William Blount Governor of the Territory, and he took up his residence near Washington Court-house, between the Holston and French Broad Rivers, in East Tennessee. He entered on his duties with energy, and made excellent appoint- ments, and among them, John Donelson as Justice of the Peace for Davidson county. Mero District extended up and down the Cumber- land, from east to west, about 85 miles, and the extreme width, from north to south, did not exceed 25 miles; and the population of the entire district, at this period, was about 7,000, all told, men, women and children, white and black. The number of men able to bear arms, numbered only 1,000 or 1,200.
In 1790 President Washington signed the commission appointing Donelson a Major-General of the United States for the District of Mero, in the territory south of the Ohio. The office of District At- torney was intrusted to Andrew Jackson, Esq.
1791-92-93 were noted for Indian murders, horse-stealing, etc., and the retaliation on the part of the whites. A good crop of corn was raised in '92, especially by the McGavocks, at Freeland's Station, north of the city, and it sold for a handsome price. About 50 whites were killed in the settlement in '93, among whom were some of the best settlers. In 1794 the Territorial Legislature convened at Knox- ville, and the State of Tennessee went into operation two years after, having its headquarters at the same place, its admittance into the Union occurring in June, 1796.
In 1796 the first church was erected in Nashville, on the Public Square, near the Court-house, jail and stocks. It was known as the Methodist Church, but was torn down or removed in 1807 or 1808. A few business houses, and one small one of brick, went up in 1796 ; and the first fire occurred in this year, and the flames destroyed Captain Williams' and Black's store, in which were many papers, public and private.
In 1796, or '97, Thomas Bailey, an Englishman, reached Nashville from Natchez, passing through these Western wilds on a tour of observation, as we learn from the first volume of Parton's Life of Jackson, just published. Mr. Bailey became an astronomer of note, and was the founder and first President of the Royal Astronomical Society, at London.
In May, 1797, three young Frenchmen arrived in Nashville, who attracted a good deal of attention, and afforded the greatest joy to old
33
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Monsieur De MonBreun. They were brothers, and sons of the Duke of Orleans, and the eldest was subsequently known as Louis Philippe, King of France. They left here in a canoe, proceeding down the Cumberland.
In 1801 the town was placed under the government of an Intendant and six Commissioners, and a law was passed by the General Assembly to authorize them to levy a tax to build a market-house. Water street was laid off and opened in this year. In 1804 the population was 400; and the Legislature authorized the authorities to sink a well on the Public Square, and also to draw a lottery for the extension of the north-eastern boundary of the lots on Water street to the Cum- berland river. The Legislature authorized the Commissioners to make certain deeds, etc., and specified land taxes were to be levied, collected, etc.
Aaron Burr arrived in Nashville on the 20th of May, 1805, and was the guest of General Jackson. . A public dinner was given him, and he was caressed and toasted by every one. He came again on the 16th of August of the same year, and had great honor and atten- tion paid him, and was again the guest of General Jackson. But when his schemes began to be developed, his name became odious, and he was burnt in effigy by the citizens, in the fall of 1806.
In 1806 the town was incorporated, with a Mayor and six Alder- men, and Joseph Coleman was elected the first Mayor. A newspaper was printed here, called the "Impartial Review and Cumberland Re- pository," which, we believe, was the first paper printed at this place. The Legislature passed an act of incorporation, specifying what the town might do, and repealing all acts heretofore passed in relation to Commissioners, etc.
A fierce war was going on this year between General Jackson and his friends, and Charles Dickinson and others; which led to a duel between these two gentlemen, who went across the Kentucky line, beyond Red river, to fight. Mr. Dickinson was killed, and General Jackson wounded. Great excitement prevailed.
In 1810 the population was about 1,100. At the call of the War Department, thousands of people in this State volunteered for the war against Great Britain in 1812. The second session of the Legislature assembled here. Its previous sessions had been at Knoxville, where the Constitution was framed.
In 1813 the celebrated fight between Jackson and Hays and the Bentons (Thomas and Jesse) took place, at the City Hotel, which was
CONE & TUNNELL, Booksellers, Stationers and News Dealers, 40 North Cherry Street.
34
SINGLETON'S NASHVILLE
then on the same spot it now occupies. The Post-office was then a little south of the hotel, on the square, and the Nashville Inn occu- pied the site now used by Evans & Co., and others, as wholesale dry- goods houses.
General James Robertson, the founder of Nashville, died on the 1st of September, 1814, universally regretted.
A campaign against the Creek Indians had been going on, and of course Tennessee volunteers were numerous, and in fact, when soldiers were wanted, the Secretary of War had only to say the word, and Tennesseeans flocked to their country's standard in large numbers. Frequently one-third of her whole military force was in the field. The volunteers returned from a campaign in May, 1814, and a dinner was given to them at the Bell Tavern, and Felix Grundy delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by General Jackson, on behalf of the volunteers. The subsequent march to New Orleans, and its Sth of January battle, are matters of history well known to every reader.
The Nashville Female Academy was incorporated in 1816.
Clark's Miscellany, in prose and verse, was the first book printed in Nashville.
The General Assembly removed their sittings from Nashville to Knoxville in 1816, and subsequently to Murfreesboro' in 1819.
In the spring of 1818, the people of Nashville hailed the arrival of the first steamboat at this port. She was 110 tuns burden, and was built at Pittsburg, for General William Carroll, and was named " General Jackson." General Carroll sold his boat for $33,000, to Messrs. Fletcher, Young & Marr. Freight from here to New Orleans was then five cents.
In the course of two or three years, the steamboat business increased considerably, wharves were built, commission and forwarding houses opened, and the place began to put on " city airs." The pioneer boat " General Jackson " was snagged and sunk in Harpeth Shoals, June 20th, 1821. The steamers "General Robertson," "Riflemen," "James Ross," "Fayette," "Feliciana," and "Cumberland," were plying the river, but the latter boat exploded near Eddyville, May 3d, 1821, by which six or seven lives were lost.
President Monroe arrived in Nashville on Sunday evening, the 6th of June, 1819, and was the guest of General Jackson, as was also Major-General E. P. Gaines at that time. The President came to town on Wednesday following, in company with Jackson and Gaines,
35
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
and a large company of citizens and military met them on College Hill (now part of South Nashville), where addresses of welcome were delivered by Wilkins Tannehill, Esq., on the part of the Masonic fraternity, and by Colonel Williamson, on behalf of the military. He was escorted to the residence of Ephraim H. Foster, Esq. (then Mayor of the city), where Hon. John H. Eaton welcomed the distin- guished guest on behalf of the city of Nashville-to all of which Mr. Monroe replied. A publie dinner was given, and a ball at night. The President took his departure on the 11th, through Kentucky, accompanied by General Jackson, as far as the residence of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, in that State.
The store of Thomas Deaderick (for whom Deaderick street is named), was robbed of several thousand dollars worth of goods in May, 1820.
The financial panic of 1819-20 caused the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank to suspend specie payment on the 18th of June, 1819, which example was followed by the Nashville Bank, on the 22d, and the Bank of the State of Tennessee on the 29th. The troubles continued, and to such an extent, that Governor MeMinn convened the Legislature at Murfreesboro', then the seat of government, in 1820, at which called session the Bank of the State of Tennessee was chartered, with a capital of one million of dollars, with a branch at Knoxville. The Bank went into operation on the 14th of October, 1820, but it met with considerable opposition, its opponents declaring that it was a swindling concern, and made matters worse, instead of better. A twenty dollar note of the new Bank was put up at auction in the town of Carthage, to be sold for silver, and was knocked down at five per cent. premium -- some ardent friend of the Bank probably being the purehaser.
The steamboat "Rifleman " arrived at this port on the 15th of May, from New Orleans, in the short space of thirty days !
The substantial and elegant Bridge across the river, from the south end of the square to Gallatin turnpike, was built in 1822, at a cost of $85,000. It was taken down a few years since, but is said to have been the best bridge that ever spanned the Cumberland.
In 1823 the population of the place was 3,460, and in 1830 5,566, of which 1,108 were slaves, and 204 free negroes.
In 1825 there were from fifteen to twenty steamboats running from Nashville to New Orleans, Louisville and Pittsburg. They were small boats, ranging from thirty-five to two hundred tuns burden, and
CONE & TUNNELL, Booksellers, Stationers and News Dealers, 40 North Cherry Street.
36
SINGLETON'S NASHVILLE
several keel-boats were coming here, of almost the same carrying capacity.
General Lafayette, son and suite, arrived here on the 4th of May, 1825, and were received with the greatest demonstrations of joy. An immense procession was formed, the streets were decorated with arches of evergreens, and patriotic mottoes were inscribed upon them. The General landed on the grounds of Major William B. Lewis, above the Water-works, where General Jackson and a number of citizens received him, and Governor Carroll addressed him in behalf of the State, tendering him a welcome to Tennessee. The procession, with the military, escorted him into the city, where Robert B. Curry, Esq., the Mayor, addressed him in behalf of the city, and tendered him its freedom and hospitality. The joy of the people knew no bounds, and General Lafayette ever after spoke of his reception in Nashville as one of the most pleasant events in his life. He was taken to the residence of Dr. Boyd MeNairy, who threw open his doors to the distinguished Frenchman and his suite. The next day, the General went to the Masonic Hall, where he received the ladies of Nashville in that polite and cordial manner for which he was remarkable. A public dinner was given him at the Nashville Inn, at which General Jackson acted as President, assisted by George W. Campbell, Henry M. Rutledge, John Somerville, and Felix Grundy, as Vice Presidents. Our old friend Timothy De MonBreun was at this dinner, and was toasted by Colonel Andrew Hynes, as the patriarch of Tennessee, and the first white man that settled in the country. General Lafayette visited the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, the Royal Arch Chapter, and the Masonic fraternity generally, and welcomed by Wilkins Tannehill, Esq., as a friend and a brother. A collation was furnished on the occasion, and all hands had a "good time generally." Before his departure, the General called on Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Littlefield (the daughter of his old companion and friend, General Greene, of Revo- Intionary memory), Governor Wm. Carroll, Rev. Dr. Philip Lindsley, and others.
Over one million of dollars worth of cotton were exported from this port in 1825. The Branch Bank of the United States was established in 1827.
The city was divided off into six wards in 1826.
The Episcopal (Christ) Church, located on the corner of Church and High streets, was built in 1831-2, at a cost of only $16,000. The Methodist (McKendree) Church was dedicated to the worship of
37
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
God, on the last Sunday in October, 1833, by the venerable Bishop McKendree, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Douglass, McMahon and Maddin. The Presbyterian Church had no regular pastor till 1821, although Dr. Blackburn organized a church in 1813. Dr. Campbell was pastor from 1821 to 1826, when the Rev. Dr. O. Jennings took charge. He died in 1831, and there was a vacancy until the 25th of December, 1833, when the Rev. Dr. John T. Edgar was installed as pastor. A Baptist Association was formed here in 1820, but a divi- sion took place in 1825, those holding to the regular Baptist faith giving up their house and worshiping in the Masonic Hall, until the Rev. Dr. Howell came as pastor, by whose efforts the present hand- some edifice on Summer street was erected in 1837. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was dedicated in May, 1832, and was ready for the reception of their General Assembly which convened in that year. It is situated on Summer street. The old Catholic Church, formerly on the north side of Capitol Square, was built about the year 1830, if we mistake not.
The Union Bank of Tennessee was chartered in 1832, and went into 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 Penitentiary was built in 1830- 31, by David Morrison, under the direction of the Governor and Commissioners. The Lunatic Asylum was built in 1833-34, on an elevated spot, south of Vauxhall Garden-which, said Vauxhall Gar- den, was, in that day, "the place " of public resort, and all the public dinners, political and social gatherings, etc., were at Vauxhall. It was kept by John Decker, afterward 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 excitement in Tennessee, as well as throughout the Union, seldom equaled. A great Union meeting was held here on the 29th of December, 1832. Hon. Ephraim II. Foster called the meeting to order and nominated Governor William 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
CONE & TUNNELL, Booksellers, Stationers and News Dealers, 40 North Cherry Street.
38
SINGLETON'S NASHVILLE
the preamble and resolutions (strong and to the point), and they were enthusiastically adopted, after speeches from William G. Hunt, O. B. Hayes, and others.
The steamboat "Lady Jackson," of 200 tuns burden, 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 "for- ward " 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 Ceme- tery was commenced being used as a place for interments.
Duncan Robertson, who came to Nashville in 1806, died May 1st, 1833, aged 63 years. He was, perhaps, the most generous, philan- thropie 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 inscription: "In the dungeon of the forsaken prisoner, at the bedside of the wretched and friendless, and in the abode of pov- erty 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 Conven- tion 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, General 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."
The steamer "John Randolph " was burnt, at our wharf, on the 16th of 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 afterward 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
39
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
dollars. The boat was owned by J. & R. Yeatman & Co., and was the largest boat on our waters, and the pride of our port.
The House of Industry for Females, was established in 1837, Mrs. M. R. Fogg, Mrs. R. H. McEwen, Mrs. Dickinson, Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Grundy, and other ladies being on the board of managers.
The Sisters of Charity established a hospital about this time, attached to the Catholic Church, which has been successfully car- ried on.
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 dissatisfied 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, while a few simply desired to better their condition.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.