USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > Polk's Nashville (Davidson county, Tenn.) city directory 1865 > Part 5
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).
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It is almost an impossibility to estimate the amount of money expended on the Water-works, owing to the manner in which they were conducted, the looseness displayed in preserving the reports
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made to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, etc. We may remark, however, that they have cost, first and last, over half a million of dollars.
HISTORY OF THE NASHVILLE PRESS.
We can not, in the brief spaec here permitted us, give a history of the many newspapers that have flourished and faded in Nashville, from the birth of "The Tennessee Gazette," in 1797, down to the present time; nor can we even refer to all the innumerable changes to which the newspaper press here has been subject. We propose merely to glance at some of the changes in carly times-such as are not within the recollection of the young, and may have passed from the memory of the old.
A quarter of a century ago, the only daily paper in the city, after a profitless existence of three years, was discontinued, not from a want of enterprise on the part of the publishers, but from a want of appre- ciation and pay on the part of the public. At the present time we have four dailies, the smallest of which contains more matter than the largest of the weeklies of thirty years ago.
The first newspaper published in Nashville, of which we have any record, was "The Tennessee Gazette and Mero District Advertiser," the publication of which was commeneed in 1797, by a printer from Kentucky, named Henkle. The following year he sold the paper to Benjamin J. Bradford, who changed the name to " The Clarion," and soon after sold it to his cousin, Thomas G. Bradford. The Historical Society of Tennessee has a copy, No. 81, Vol. 2, bearing date Novem- ber 2d, 1801, of "The Clarion"-by no means in a good state of pres- ervation, having suffered much from the wear and tear of its three- score years. It is a folio sheet, fourteen by ten inches, has four columns to the page, and is printed on pica type. .. The Clarion " was afterward enlarged, and called "The Clarion and Tennessee Gazette." The only copy in existence, so far as we know, showing the change in size and name, is No. 295, of Vol. 5, which bears date July 20th, 1813- Thomas G. Bradford, printer. In 1807, as is shown by " The Impar- tial Review," of December 24th, of that year, there was a paper pub- lished here called "The Nashville Gazette," afterward called "The Tennessee Gazette," and merged into "The Clarion," from which the latter derived the addition to its name. The number of "The Clarion and Tennessee Gazette," for September, 1820-No. 1, Vol. 1-new series- shows a change in the proprietorship, being then published by Wilkins & McKeen. The number for March 21st, 1821, bears the
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name of " The Nashville Clarion "-John H. Wilkins, publisher. Its name was probably changed a few weeks previous to that date. The latest number of this paper, in the possession of the Historical Society, is that of July 9th, 1822, being No. 43, of Vol. 15, edited and published by the former proprictor, Thomas G. Bradford, and bearing its original name, " The Clarion." The subscription price of this paper varied, during its existence, from $2 to $3 per annum, in advance, and from $3 to $4 in three or six months. Some time prior to 1826, " The Clarion " was purchased by a Mr. Darby, a lawyer, who associ- ated with him Mr. Van Pelt, subsequently the editor and proprietor of "The Memphis Appeal." The establishment was afterward pur- chased by Abram P. Maury and Carey A. Harris, who discontinued "The Clarion," and started "The Nashville Republican."
In 1805 Thomas Eastin began the publication of "The Impartial Review and Cumberland Repository," the numbers, bound, from February 18th, 1806 (No. 8, Vol. 1), to December 8th, 1808 (No. 157, Vol. 3), are in possession of the Historical Society.
In 1812 " The Nashville Whig"-the first of that name-was established by Moses and Joseph Norvell, who continued its publica- tion up to July 16th, 1816. It was a sheet of 12 by 18 inches, with four columns to the page. The number for August 27th, of that year, contains the name of neither printer nor publisher, nor of the editor. That for September 3d, same year, bears the names of Norvell & McLean, publishers. Previous to the 25th of August, 1817, Norvell sold his interest in the concern to George Tunstall. At that date (No. 1, Vol. 6), the paper was called " The Nashville Whig and Ten- nessee Advertiser," and published by C. D. McLean and George Tunstall. In August, 1819, McLean sold his interest to Joseph Nor- vell, and Tunstall & Norvell continued the publication until the 12th of March, 1821, when the former retired, leaving the paper in the hands of the latter, who published it until January, 1826, when he sold it, but to whom is not stated. On the 19th of January, 1824, John P. Erwin became the editor, a position he held until the 1st of January, 1826, at which time he was appointed postmaster. "The Whig " and "The National Banner" were consolidated May 3d, 1826, the paper taking the name of " The National Banner and Nash- ville Whig."
The first number of the second "Nashville Gazette" was issued May 26th, 1819-George Wilson, editor and publisher. It was issued twice a week, at $5 a year, and " printed," as the publisher said, " on
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fine superroyal paper," with five columns to the page. Its publica- tion was continued by George Wilson, up to 1824-5, when he prob- ably sold it to the proprietors of " The Nashville Republican," as that paper took the name of "The Nashville Republican and Ten- nessee Gazette " about that time. The latest copy of " The Nashville Gazette," in possession of the Historical Society, is No. 1, of Vol. 3, dated July 7th, 1821.
" The National Banner" was established in 1822, by John S. Simp- son and William G. Hunt, who published it until May, 1826, when they united it with " The Nashville Whig," called it " The National Banner and Nashville Whig," and began the publication of a semi- weekly paper, with W. G. Hunt as editor. In May, 1830, the paper was purchased by W. Hassell Hunt, Peter Tardiff and Wm. G. Hunt the latter continuing its editorial management. They published a tri-weekly, and on the 23d of November, 1831, began the publication of a daily at $8 per annum, tri-weekly $5, weekly $3. The paper was then called " The National Banner and Nashville Advertiser." The firm of Hunt, Tardiff & Co. was dissolved on the 2d of May, 1833 ; Tardiff having sold out to W. Hassell Hunt. On the 7th of September of that year, S. H. Laughlin became one of the editors, a position he held until the 22d of September, 1834, when he retired, and was succeeded by Geo. C. Childress. On the 9th of November, 1835, Geo. C. Childress retired from the editorial chair, and was suc- ceeded by Allen A. Hall. W. Hassell Hunt and Peter Tardiff dis- solved their copartnership on the 31st of November, 1836, the former becoming the sole proprietor of the concern. Mr. Hall continued to edit the paper, and on the 17th of July, 1837, became its purchaser, and united it with " The Commercial Transcript," edited by C. C. Nor- vell, and published by W. F. Bang, now one of the publishers and proprietors of "The Republican Banner." C. C. Norvell became the associate editor. On the 22d of August, 1837, " The National Banner and Nashville Whig " and " The Nashville Republican and State Gazette " were consolidated, and issued daily, under the name of " The Republican Banner," by the editors and proprietors of the former papers, Allen A. Hall and S. Nye, with C. C. Norvell, asso- ciate editor. In January, 1838, the latter withdrew and started another " Nashville Whig."
In 1824, Abram P. Maury and Carey A. Harris started " The Nash- ville Republican," having purchased " The Clarion " of Darby & Van Pelt as a basis for the enterprise. Not long after they bought "The
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Nashville Gazette," and ealled their paper " The Nashville Republican and Tennessee Gazette." In 1826 they sold their establishment to Allen A. Hall and John Fitzgerald, printers to the State, who changed the name of their paper to " The Nashville Republican and State Gazette," and in 1828 began the publication of a semi-weekly. On the 12th of December of that year, Fitzgerald sold his interest to Mr. Hall, who published the paper (enlarging it 1st of May, 1828), weekly and tri-weekly, up to 1834, when he sold to S. Nye-and Washington Barrow became the editor. These parties conducted the paper until its consolidation with the " National Banner."
In 1831 Wilkins Tannehill started a paper called " The Nashville Herald," but meeting with indifferent success, he removed with it to Louisville, and subsequently merged it into one of the other papers there.
Previous to the 30th of January, 1839, " The Republican Banner" had been, for a number of years, a paper of five columns to the page, being 13 by 18 inches in size. At that time it was enlarged to six columns to the page, but was reduced to its former size on the 9th of the September following. On the 29th of March, 1841, the firm of Hall & Nye was dissolved. Mr. Hall withdrew from the paper, hav- ing been appointed Charge d'Affaires to Venezuela, South America ; and on the 4th of August, of the same year, Mr. Nye sold the estab- lishment to W. F. Bang and W. O. Harris, who had long been engaged in the office-the former as foreman, and the latter in the counting- room-Mr. Nye continuing to edit the paper until December 22d, 1841. John Roberts was, for some time thereafter, foreman in the office, and eventually became one of the proprietors. On the 3d of January, 1842, F. K. Zollicoffer assumed the editorial management of "The Banner," and continued to edit it until Angust 11, 1843, when he withdrew, and was succeeded by Donald McLeod, who retired from the position on the 24th of March, 1845, and Washington Barrow became the editor. At that date the paper was enlarged to seven columns to the page. General Barrow gave up the editorship in April, 1847, and was succeeded by Wm. Wales. On the 11th of January, 1851, Mr. Wales retired, when General Zollicoffer, having purchased an interest in the paper, again assumed the editorship, assisted by Wm. Hy. Smith. The former again withdrew from the concern on the 28th of April, 1853, and Allen A. Hall, Esq., took charge of the paper as editor. A new power-press was purchased for the estab- lishment in July, 1854. In 1856 Mr. Smith retired from the post of
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assistant editor, and became one of the editors and proprietors of " The Patriot." His successor was HI. K. Walker, who, in February of the following year, purchased the interest of W. O. Harris in the office. With this change, Mr. Hall's connection with " The Banner" ceased, and Mr. Walker became the principal editor. At that time the style of the firm was changed to Bang, Walker & Co. The paper was enlarged on the 15th of March, 1857, and during the summer of that year James E. Rains became connected with it editorially. He withdrew May 12th, 1858, and was succeeded, the 1st of July following, by Thomas W. Beaumont, of Clarksville, who retired from the posi- tion, March 20th, 1860, leaving H. K. Walker sole editor. On the 10th of July, 1861, George Baber became connected with the editorial department of " The Banner," and on the 31st of August, 1861, he purchased the interest of Mr. Walker in the establishment, and assumed exclusive control of the paper. Subsequently, Henry Wat- terson became connected with the editorial department of the paper. Albert C. Roberts was the local and commercial editor of " The Ban- ner " from the fall or winter of 1858 to the fall of 1861. "The Ban- ner" was suspended for a short time on the evacuation of Nashville by the rebels, but was afterward revived and published for two or three weeks, when it was again suspended.
" The Nashville Whig " was started June 1st, 1838, by C. C. Nor- vell and B. R. Mckennie. Its publication was continued by them until some time in 1845, when Allen A. Hall, Esq., purchased an interest in the establishment, and became the editor. A power-press was added to the office during the same year. In the copartnership between Messrs. Norvell & Mckennie, it seems the former owned the subscription list and the latter the printing material. Mr. Norvell sold the list to Mr. Hall, who, having been called to Washington City to assume the editorial control of " The Republic," the organ of Mr. Fillmore's administration, and failing to agree with Mr. Mckennie upon terms, sold the subscription list of " The Whig " to the proprie- tors of " The Republican Banner." Mr. Mckennie then started " The Nashville True Whig," securing the services of E. P. McGinty, of "The Clarksville Chronicle," and A. M. Roseborough, for several years with "The Columbia Observer," as editors. Mr. McGinty became also a partner in the establishment, Mr. Roseborough being the principal political editor. On the 1st of January, 1851, E. P. McGinty sold his interest of one-half in the establishment to George B. Brown, but continued to edit the paper. Mr. Roseborough with-
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drew at that date. In 1845, Anson Nelson, who had been foreman of this establishment since 1840, became one of the proprietors, and the style of the firm was changed to B. R. McKennie & Co. In 1847 Mr. Nelson withdrew from the concern, establishing a new office and publishing " The Christian Record." H. K. Walker became con- nected editorially with the paper in 1850. E. P. McGinty died of consumption in 1855, deeply regretted by his fellow-citizens, and espe- cially by his brethren of the press. Upon his death, Mr. Walker assumed the entire editorial control of the paper, which position he retained until the establishment changed hands. In 1856 McKennie & Brown sold " The True Whig " to Wm. Hy. Smith, John F. Morgan, Dr. Jno. H. Callender and Anthony S. Camp, who thereupon changed the name of the paper to " The Nashville Patriot," and Messrs. Smith and Callender became the editors. In May following, T. H. Glenn took charge of the city and commercial departments of the paper. Mr. Morgan withdrew from the establishment in 1857, and Dr. Cal- lender was succeeded by his brother, Thos. Callender, when the name of the firm was changed to Smith, Camp & Co. In 1857 Ira P. Jones purchased an interest in the paper, and became one of the editors. T. H. Glenn's connection with it ceased in 1857. Mr. Smith sold his interest in the establishment in month of September, 1859, but con- tinued to edit the paper in connection with Mr. Jones, and John E. Hatcher, associate editor. The latter was connected editorially with "The Patriot " from the 1st of June, 1859, though not formally announced as one of the editors until the March following. Upon Mr. Smith's withdrawal from the firm, its style was changed to A. S. Camp & Co. " The Patriot " was suspended on the evacuation of Nashville by the rebels, but was subsequently revived by an associa- tion of printers, who published it until the 9th of April, 1862, when it was finally suspended. .
" The Nashville Union " was established in 1835, by Medicus A. Long. Samuel II. Laughlin, of Warren county, soon became asso- ciated with Mr. Long in the management of the paper, but both of them disposed of it within a year or two from its commencement. They were succeeded by Joel M. Smith in the proprietorship of the establishment, and the paper was edited by Mr. "Cunningham, and then by Mr. Bradford, both, we believe, from Kentucky. In Febru- ary, 1839, Mr. Smith introduced to the readers of the paper, as its editor, Colonel J. Geo. Harris, who conducted it until some time in 1843. Some time during the four preceding years he seems to have
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become the proprietor, for it appears that he sold the paper to Messrs. Thomas Hogan and John P. Heiss. Hogan died of consumption early in 1844. In November of that year Mr. Heiss sold the paper to J. G. Shepard, who engaged as editor Hon. A. O. P. Nicholson. The latter retired from the paper in 1847, giving place to the late E. G. Eastman, who had founded, and for several years previously con- ducted, the " Knoxville Argus." In 1850 Hon. Harvey M. Watter- son purchased " The Union," and became its editor, and Mr. Eastman purchased half " The American " office, and became, with Colonel Thos. Boyers, joint editor and publisher of that paper. Mr. Watter- son soon tired of editorial life, and employed Charles Eams, Esq., as editor. His connection with the paper was a brief one, as he dis- posed of the establishment in 1851 to W. Weatherford, M. C. C. Church and John L. Marling, the latter gentleman acting as editor. Mr. Weatherford soon sold his interest to his remaining partners, who continued its publication until May 15th, 1853, the paper at that date being united with " The American," and " The Nashville Union and American " took the place of the two Democratic papers of Nashville.
" The Nashville American " was established in the spring of 1848, by James Thompson. He engaged, soon after its establishment, the services of Dr. W. P. Rowles as editor. He left the paper at the close of the year, and died a few years thereafter. Soon after estab- lishing the paper, Mr. Thompson took in, as a partner, Wm. M. Hut- ton. Mr. Thompson soon retired, and Colonel Thos. Boyers suc- ceeded him. As before noticed, Mr. Eastman took Mr. Hutton's place in 1850, and continued in the establishment until the union of the two papers in 1853. In September, 1852, Colonel G. C. Torbett, who was well known as a legislator and man of talents throughout the State, purchased half " The American " office, and became one of its editors.
" The Nashville Union and American " was established May 15th, 1853, by the union of the two Democratic papers of Nashville, the proprietors being John L. Marling, E. G. Eastman, G. C. Torbett and M. C. C. Church. About a year thereafter, Mr. Marling, having been appointed Minister to Guatamaula by President Pierce, disposed of his interest in the establishment to the remaining partners. Some two years after his appointment, being prostrated with the consumption, he returned home, and died shortly after, regretted and mourned by his fellow-citizens. Mr. Church sold his interest to F. C. Dunning- ton, Esq., of Maury county, early in 1856. On the 22d of May,
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1858, G. C. Torbett sold his interest in the paper to J. O. Griffith, of Columbia, and G. G. Poindexter purchased of F. C. Dunnington one-half of his interest, and became the principal politieal editor ; the firm took the style of E. G. Eastman & Co., which it retained until the 1st of January, 1860. John Miller McKee became con- nected with the paper, as eity and commercial editor, June 15th, 1858. In November, 1859, this establishment lost two of its editors and pro- prietors by death. That of G. G. Poindexter occurred on the 18th of that month, and Major Eastman's followed on the 23d. On the 1st of January, 1860, John C. Burch, Esq., became associated in the proprietorship and editorial conduct of " The Union and American," and the firm took the style of J. O. Griffith & Co. Subsequently, Leon Trousdale and Thos. S. Harr purchased the interest of Mrs. E. G. Eastman in "The Union and American," and Mr. Trousdale beeame one of the editors. The paper was suspended on the evacua- tion of Nashville by the rebels.
" The Nashville Gazette " was established in 1844, by E. R. Glas- cock and James Thompson. The latter withdrew from the coneern, January 1st, 1845, and was succeeded by W. Hy. Smith, who became the editor of the paper. It was published by the firm of E. R. Glas- cock & Co., until February 24th, 1849, when the establishment was purchased by A. Nelson. Mr. Smith occupied the editorial chair up to February 2d, 1850. In July following, Mr. Nelson sold the office to John L. Marling and Jas. L. Haynes-Jas. L. Haynes & Co., pub- lishers, and John L. Marling, editor. August 28th, 1851, Mr. Haynes sold his interest to M. C. C. Church, and the style of the firm was changed to M. C. C. Church & Co. November 26th, 1851, the office was bought by Wm. Cameron, A. Nelson and James L. Haynes, who employed John A. McEwen as editor. February 1st, 1853, A. Nelson & Co. sold to John H. Baptist, Jas. D. Maney, Jas. T. Bell and J. A. Laird, and Jas. D. Maney assumed the editorship, the duties of which he discharged until January 1st, 1854, when he sold his interest in the establishment to his brother, Henry Maney, who became the editor. At the same time, Jas. T. Bell took charge of the local department of the paper. In April of that year, Mr. Baptist sold his interest in the paper, and in April, 1855, Mr. Bell also sold. On the 22d of that month, T. H. Glenn assumed the duties of city and commercial editor of " The Gazette," though his name does not appear in that capacity until the 17th of June following. February 5th, 1856, W. N. Bilbo became connected editorially with the paper,
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which was soon after considerably enlarged. . May the 18th of that year, Jas. A. Laird & Co. sold the establishment to Mr. Bilbo. With this change, Mr. Glenn's connection with the paper ceased, he having made an engagement with " The Patriot." He was succeeded by Jas. R. Bruce. Mr. Maney continued as coeditor with Colonel Bilbo until September 14th, 1856. November 11th, of that year, Colonel Bilbo sold to Jo. V. Smith, Jas. T. Bell and M. V. B. Haile, and James R. Bruce became the principal, and Jas. T. Bell the local, editor. Feb- ruary 27th, 1857, Mr. Smith withdrew. "The Gazette" was sus- pended on the evacuation of Nashville by the rebels, but it was revived in November, 1863, and published until July, 1864, when it was again suspended.
" The Nashville Evening News " was started on Broad street by M. S. Combs, who had the entire control of its editorial department until the March following, when James R. Bruce became one of the editors. In January, 1853, Mr. Combs sold the paper to Logan Asheley and George R. McKee, and the former became the publisher- G. R. McKee and James R. Bruce, editors. May, 1854, James R. Bruee and James Z. Swan purchased the office. May 17th, 1855, they sold to M. V. B. Haile, who conducted the paper until the following August, when its publication was discontinued and the materials were removed to Tullahoma.
The "Nashville Daily News" was established in the fall of 1857. It was chiefly devoted to news, and the commercial interests of the eity and State. Being a joint stock company, its affairs were managed by a Board of Directors ; Allen A. Hall, editor. In the spring of 1858 the establishment passed into the hands of Don. Cameron, R. HI. Barry, Wm. Cameron, and Jas. A. Fisher ; Don. Cameron, princi- pal editor, and Wm. Lellyett, city and commercial editor. In the fall of 1859 the " News " became a political paper, espousing the opposi- tion cause, and Allen A. Hall resumed his connection with it as an editor. J. A. Fisher sold his interest to M. O. Brooks, in February, 1860. The "News" was discontinued a few months afterward.
The " Daily Orthopolitan " was started October the 4th, 1845, by Messrs. John S. Simpson and John T. S. Fall; edited by Wilkins Tannehill, Esq., author of The History of Literature, Manual of Free Masonry, ete. The paper had five columns to the page, each page 143 by 21 inches, in bourgeois type. Published daily, tri-weekly and weekly. Price per month for the daily, fifty cents. On April 1st, 1846, Messrs. B. F. Burton and H. A. Kidd took charge of the paper-
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Mr. Kidd being editor until April the 18th. May 21st, 1846, Mr. Tannehill resumed the editorial chair; May 13th, Messrs. Burton & Fall associating with them, Mr. James J. S. Billings resumed control of the paper; August 4th, 1846, Mr. Fall retired from the business. The last number at hand from which we can refer to No. 310, of Vol. 1, September 30th, 1846. The paper was soon after discontinued.
In 1849, or '50, H. Buckley published a daily paper called "The Evening Reporter," but it did not exist very long. It was a neutral paper.
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