USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Polk's Nashville (Davidson county, Tenn.) city directory 1865 > Part 3
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The IIon. John Catron received his appointment as one of the Supreme Judges of the United States, in 1837.
The I. O. O. F. made their first public parade in Nashville, on the 1st of June, 1840.
The Whig Convention here on the 17th of August, 1840, was very largely attended. The 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, while here. During the summer 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 eity on the 19th of December, 1840. He had occupied various positions of honor, and was once United States 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. IIe was noted as the best criminal lawyer in the South. Out of one hundred and sixty-five individuals whom he defended on charge of capital offenses, only one was finally condemned and executed. His practice extended over several States.
In 1840 the Mayor's Court, which had been established in 1836, was abolished by act of the Assembly.
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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 Washington, Esq., reported the resolutions. Funeral honors were performed by the "Harrison Guards," Captain R. C. McNairy, and the citizens generally.
Ex-Governor Newton Cannon died in 1841, and his death was announced in appropriate terms in the United States Court, by R. J. Meigs, Esq., and in the Circuit Court of the State, by Thomas Wash- ington, 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 Governor Polk, this year, at the Nashville Inn, at which a number 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 aeronaut, made a successful balloon ascension 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. Bostick was appointed General Assignee. The first day of the Court, thirty cases were disposed of, as many persons being declared bankrupts.
The Criminal Court of Davidson county went into operation in 1842, Wm. K. Turner, Esq., having been elected Judge thereof in February.
For several years the St. Andrew's Society and Hibernian Benevo- lent 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.
Ex-President Van Buren arrived here on Monday night, April 25th, 1842, on the steamer " Nashville," Captain Miller, and went out to the Hermitage the next day. On Thursday, in company with James K. Paulding (his traveling companion), and General Jackson, Mr. Van Buren came into the city, escorted by the " Nashville Blues " and a procession of citizens. A public dinner was tendered, and declined.
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The Ex-President remained at the Hermitage a few days, and went out to Columbia, to visit Ex-Governor Polk-came back, and took his departure for Lexington, 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, 1843. Another shock was experienced on the night of the 16th.
Payne, Carroll and Kirby, for the crime of murder, were hung on the commons, south of the city (now about the center of the Eighth Ward), February 10th, 1843. 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 1843 ; among them Major General Edmund P. Gaines, who stopped at the City Hotel; General Robert Patterson, of Philadelphia, who accepted the hospitalities of his old friend, Colonel R. H. McEwen; Hon. Alex. Porter, United States Senator from Louisiana, who stopped with his friend, Major Alex. Allison. F. P. Blair was at the Her- mitage, on a visit. Generals Gaines and Patterson reviewed the mil- itary (the "Guards " and " Blues "), and then went out to General Harding's, six miles from the city, where they were hospitably entertained.
The Fourth of July was celebrated this year with unusual anima- tion ; 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 : General Harding, Commander-in-chief; Major McNairy, Aid-de-camp ; Captain Haynes, Adjutant General ; Major Barnes, Adjutant. Major; and Dr. W. D. Dorris, Surgeon.
In the autumn of 1843, 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 Governor Jones, General Carroll and General Armstrong. 4
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The new Constitution, adopted in 1834, provided that the seat of government 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, Octo- ber 1st, and on Thursday the Senate voted to locate the seat of gov- ernment at Kingston, and the House voted to fix it at Murfreesboro'. But finally, on Saturday, October 7th, 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.
Major 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, Franeis B. Fogg, Esq., January 20th, 1844. The Legislature, and all the courts of law in session, adjourned to attend his funeral. Thomas Cruteher, who had been a citizen here for half a century, died on the Sth 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. McNeil, also a resident here for more than half a een- tury, died on the 21st of the same month. And the next day Gen- eral Wm. Carroll expired. He had lived here thirty-four years, twelve of which he was Governor of the State. His military ser- vices are well known to the country. A publie meeting was held, and resolutions adopted expressive of the feelings of his fellow-citizens. Testimonies of respeet were adopted by the Circuit Court, then in session, by the trustees of the University, the directors and officers of the Insurance Companies, etc. The demise of these old and esteemed citizens, following so closely one upon another, caused a profound and melancholy sensation among our people, and the writer well remem- bers that the morning after the death of Governor Carroll, he went to Capitol Hill at daylight, for purposes of meditation, where he was soon joined by the venerable Robert Farquharson (himself an old resident), who spoke affeetingly of the rapidity of death's doings, and lamented the departure of friends who had been so long familiar to himself and to the people of the eity. 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
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of April, the mortal remains of Senator Porter, of Louisiana, arrived here on the steamer " Westwood," for interment in our Cemetery.
The Institution for the instruction of the Blind went into opera- tion early in 1844, the Rev. Dr. Edgar, the Rev. 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 campaign of 1844 was characterized by an excite- ment little inferior to the campaign of 1840. Each party had a mass convention here that year. Hon. Cave Johnson was the President of the Democratic convention, and General Lewis Cass, of Michigan, Mr. Mellville, of New York, Messrs. Wise and John A. McCalla, of Ken- tucky, 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 Missis- sippi, Clingman and Rayner, of North Carolina, Marshall and Under- wood, of Kentucky, Albert Pike, of Arkansas, Randal Hunt, of New Orleans, and Judge Hopkins, of Alabama, the principal speakers. Each party erected liberty poles, and their military companies 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.
On the 21st of January, 1845, a fire occurred on the corner of Broad and Market streets, destroying a block of stores belonging to General Zollicoffer.
Thomas H. Fletcher, who had lived here from 1809, died of apo- plexy, alone in his office, on Sunday, January 12th, 1845. He had been a successful lawyer, and only the day before his death had exerted himself to an unusual degree in a speech of two hours and a half, in the case of the State rs. Merchant. All the courts passed resolutions of condolence. Colonel Robert Weakley, who had occu- pied 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 Feb- ruary, 1845.
Hon. James K. Polk, the President elect, on his way to Washing- ton to be inaugurated, stopped a few days here, to interchange civili- ties with many old friends.
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The great fire in Pittsburg occurred in April, 1845, and our citi- zens contributed the sum of $1,162 85 to relieve the sufferers.
The artist, Heally, sent here by the King of France (Louis Phil- ippe), to paint the portrait of General Jackson, completed his work at the Hermitage in May, 1845, and the picture was on exhibition for several days at the residence of one of our prominent citizens.
General Andrew Jackson died on Sunday evening, the 8th of June, 1845, and various meetings were held on the subject. General Sam Houston, of Texas, arrived here the same day, but reached the Her- mitage after the death of his distinguished friend. A large number of our citizens attended the burial at the Hermitage.
The corner-stone of the Capitol was laid on the 4th of July, 1845, with imposing ceremonies.
The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad was " on the stocks " this year, and engrossed considerable attention. The progress of the city in buildings and improvements was marked and general-about one hundred houses were erected, including two churches and one hotel.
General Robert Armstrong, who had been postmaster here from 1829 to 1845, gave up the office, having been appointed consul at Liv- erpool by President Polk.
The war with Mexico commeneed 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 Captain R. C. Foster, 3d, reorganized his company 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 ser- vices could be accepted, as the War Department at Washington only called for 50,000 men in the whole Union. In Nashville, the " Har- rison Guards " and the "Blues " considered themselves highly favored by being accepted. These companies embraced many of the noblest young men of the city. General 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 assembled here, and at an election for regimental officers of this First Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, General Wm. B. Campbell, of Smith county, was elected Colonel Commandant, Captain Samuel R. Ander- son was elected Lieutenant Colonel, being then of Sumner county. R. B. Alexander, of Sumner, and Major Farquharson, of Lincoln, were elected first and second Majors. The senior class of the Nash-
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ville Female Academy presented a splendid flag to the regiment, in the presence of the whole regiment and an immense eoncourse of citi- zens, 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 General Campbell responded, on behalf of the vol- unteers. This flag went through the war, was the first American flag hoisted as a signal of vietory on the hights of Monterey, and came back, after the war, " tattered and torn by bullets," and returned to the Academy. Two years since, Rev. C. D. Elliott presented this flag to the Historical Society of Tennessee, in the presence of an immense assemblage at Watkin's Grove. It is now in possession of the Society at the Capitol. The additional luster shed upon the military charac- ter 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."
Major Joseph Norvell, who established the "Nashville Whig " in 1812, in connection with his brother, Moses Norvell, and who was for several years City Treasurer, and P. G. M. of the Masonic Grand Lodge, died the 7th of January, 1847.
A meeting for the relief of the starving population of Ireland, was held in the spring of 1847, and upward of $3,600 contributed.
A freshet occurred in March, 1847, and another in December of the same year, which caused a good deal of suffering among the poor who lived on inundated territory. The March rise was two feet higher than the freshet of 1842, and almost as high as that of 1826. The December freshet was twenty inches higher than in 1826.
In May, 1847, about twenty tenements were destroyed by fire on the corner of Spring and Market streets and vicinity.
The corner-stone of Odd Fellows' Hall was laid with imposing cer- emonies, on the 1st of June, 1847.
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 about twenty wounded. Fifty houses were demolished or rendered unfit for use, and the destruction of window glass throughout the eity and in the suburbs was immense.
A large number of stables and out-houses were burnt by ineen- diaries in 1847, and the firemen were almost constantly on duty during the spring and autumn.
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The first telegraphic dispatch received in Tennessee was in March, 1848, on Henry O'Reilly's line from Louisville to Nashville, and Mr. O'R. sent his respects 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 ; and, on this occasion, two dwell- ing-houses adjoining were burnt.
POST-OFFICE .- We do not know who was the first postmaster at this place; but we do know that Robert B. Currey, Esq., was appointed by President Jefferson in 1801, and that he served through Mr. Jefferson's administration of eight years. He was retained by President Madison as postmaster here through his two terms of the Presidency, and also by President Monroe for eight years more ; making in all twenty-four consecutive years-a compliment rarely bestowed in an office of such labor and responsibility, and it is gratifying to know that it was worthily bestowed. In 1825, upon the incoming of J. Q. Adams as President, John P. Erwin, Esq., was appointed, who served during that administration, and soon after the inauguration of Gen- eral Jackson, as President in 1829, General Robert Armstrong was appointed, who retained the office for sixteen years. In 1845 Colonel L. P. Cheatham was appointed by President Polk; and in 1849 President Taylor appointed Dr. John Shelby, and in 1852 President Pierce appointed General Samuel R. Anderson as postmaster, who was retained by President Buchanan. President Lincoln appointed W. D. McNish, who held the position until the evacuation of the city by the rebel army in February, 1862. Since the occupation of the city by the Federal authorities-with the exception of a few months, by John Lellyett, Esq .- the office has been in charge of our present efficient postmaster, A. V. S. Lindsley.
The Historical Society of Tennessee was established May 1st, 1849, and is now a regular depository of public documents, by an act of Con- gress. By the action of our General Assembly, the room in the Cap- itol at present occupied by the Supreme Court, is to be appropriated to the use of the Society, after being vacated by the Court, which will be done when the Custom-house is erected. The effects of the Soci- ety, in case of its dissolution, go to the State of Tennessee.
The corner-stone of the present First Presbyterian Church was laid April 28th, 1849.
Hon. James K. Polk, the tenth President of the United States, died at his residence, in this city, on the 15th of June, 1849, and was
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placed in the vault at the cemetery, with Masonic ceremonies. The cholera prevailed here at that time; but, nevertheless, a very large assemblage attended to pay a tribute of respect to their deceased fel- low-citizen. Subsequently. in November (we believe), his remains were interred on his own grounds, at Polk Place, in front of his mansion, Vine street, with solemn and impressive ceremonies. Vari- ous meetings and testimonies of respect were held and adopted.
And now, having reached the notch of "threescore and ten," in our brief and imperfect notes, we call a halt for the present, with the remark, that our sole object has been to gather up a few of the "odds and ends " of local history, in the briefest possible manner, for the purpose of saving them from forgetfulness; and it is hoped that abler and more competent hands will "write up " the history of our beautiful CITY OF ROCKS.
NASHVILLE, at present, covers an area of about six square miles, and is about three miles long by two wide. The city and suburbs (including Edgefield) contained, before the war, about 37,000 inhabitants. It now contains, including Government employes (not soldiers), toward 75,000 inhabitants. Before the war there was, perhaps, no city in the Union, of the size and importance of Nash- ville, about which so little was known abroad. The fact of its exist- ence, and that it was the capital of Tennessee, was about all the information that a stranger, outside of the State, or beyond contiguous portions of border States, possessed in relation to it. Millions of dollars would be invested in lots and other property here if the city was better known. If it would prosper to the extent that it should, its eligible location, its facilities, as a great point for trade, for manu- factures, for education, for health, etc., must become familiar to people at a distance. Situated in the interior valley of the continent, the geographical and climatical position of Nashville furnish ample security against various forms of disease, which are common both to more northern and southern latitudes; while the distance at which it stands from the sea-coast, renders it comparatively safe from the rav- ages of those fearful epidemics which are frequently the scourge of sca-board towns and lower countries. The bills of mortality, as shown by the report of the City Sexton, prove that, in a sanitary point of view, Nashville is, indeed, highly favored. Compared with the vital statistics of other cities, those of Nashville show that none of whom we have any record, will compare with it in health.
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The fact was first discovered by Forster, the Naturalist, that the interior valley of this continent was very singularly free from the extremes of temperature that prevail along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is this, doubtless, that exempts us from the yellow fever, which has repeatedly prevailed in New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, etc. We are also far below the line which marks the limit of the typhus fever zone. Cases of consumption, or any form of tubercular disease, are very rare here, while the diseases of children are as unfrequent and not more fatal, in proportion, than those of adults. In view of the general health of the city the conclusion is irresistible, that the climatical conditions that produce disastrous sickness in vari- ous forms elsewhere are not present in this latitude.
Previous to the breaking out of the war, Nashville enjoyed an unexampled prosperity, and the merchants and business men of the city were building up an immense trade, and Nashville had already become one of the first, if not the first market in the interior of the South. The importance of the trade enjoyed by Nashville merchants, may be learned from the following facts, stated in the City Directory of 1860-61 :
WHOLESALE DRY GOODS.
The wholesale dry goods trade of Nashville is one of its most important interests, and is in the hands of men who, in point of busi- ness capacity, are not surpassed by any to be found elsewhere.
The manner in which Nashville stood the financial shock of 1857, is sufficient to show what sort of material our commercial men are made of. There was not a single failure or suspension, and it was stated at the time that no business men of any place stood higher at the East than the wholesale merchants of Nashville. As a class, they are men of clear heads, good judgment, comprehensive ideas, shrewd- ness and fine talents, fully conversant with their business. Adopt- ing the language of one of our daily papers: "In commending them to those who may come among us for the purposes of trade, we can proudly point to their proverbial fairness and integrity in all their dealings, and to their high credit. An elevated aim prevails among them, as a class, dishonesty finds no favor, and the tricks of trade are scouted from their midst. Their customers know what they are buy- ing, and that the representations of the seller can be relied upon. Long experience in the business, and an intimate knowledge of the wants of the trade, enable them to buy and sell to the best advantage to their customers." The skill and judgment of Nashville buyers are
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evident, when it is recollected that, with the carriage added, they sell goods as cheap as they can be bought in the New York market. Any country merchant may get his orders for a stock of goods filled here at the figures he would have to pay at the East, with the cost of transportation added. Some of our houses, in fact, import goods from the same places that Eastern importers purchase from, and as the duties and custom-house charges here are no more than in New York, it follows that goods may be purchased as cheap here as there, thus making a difference in favor of this point, of the amount it costs for transportation from that city to this.
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