USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 56
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City of Portsmouth, to-wit: This day personally appeared before me. James Gregory Hodges, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth. John Nash, Robert Dickson, William W. Davis. Arthur R. Smith, William H. Peters, William H. Morris, who were by the voters of said city at an election held on Thursday, the 2211d day of April, 1853. at the Town Hall the place of voting in Jackson Ward in said city, elected Aldermen of the said city in and for said ward, and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 1858. JAMES GREGORY HODGES, Mayor. City of Portsmouth, to-weit: This day personally appeared before me, James Gregory Hodges, Mayor of the City of Portsmouth. Samuel Watts. John S. White, Charles R. McAlpine, Edward Kearns, Robert H. Cuth- erell, Moss W. Armistead, who were, by the voters of the said city at an election held on Thursday, the 22nd day of April. 1858, at the Court House, the place of voting in Jefferson Ward in said city, duly elected Aldermen of the said city in and for said ward and took the several oaths prescribed by law.
Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 1858. JAMES GREGORY HODGES. Mayor.
Arthur Emmerson, who was duly elected clerk by the voters of the city, qualified. David J. Godwin, who was duly elected Common- wealth's attorney, qualified; the court fixed his salary at $300 per annum. Claudius W. Mur- daugh, Leopold C. P. Cowper and Virginius O. Cassell were elected commissioners in chan- cery. James Murdaugh. John S. Stubbs. Leo- pold C. P. Cowper, J. M. Brickhouse, James G. Holliday, James F. Crocker, David J. God- win, Claudius W. Murdaugh, Virginius O. Cassell, P. H. Daughtery and Abram S. Watts qualified to practice law in said court.
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. Joseph Hobday, who was duly elected com-
missioner of the revenue by the voters of the city, qualified. Herman Mathews, who was duly elected constable, qualified. David J. Godwin, Claudius W. Murdaugh, Abram S. Watts, John Emmerson, qualified as notaries public under commissions from His Excellency, Henry A. Wise, Governor of Virginia.
The court appointed Samuel Watts, David J. Godwin and Arthur Emmerson a committee to prepare rules and regulations for conducting business. William H. Bingley qualified as dep- uty clerk.
In April, 1858, George WV. Grice was elected first mayor of the city. On the 5th of July, 1860, a bill creating the office of judge of the Court of Hustings was enacted and Hon. Ed- ward W. Massenburg was elected the first judge.
CHANGING THE WARDS.
An Act to provide a new charter for the city of Portsmouth was approved March II, 1873 (Acts 1872-73, Ch. 152, Page 122) :
Section 3. The present Council of the City of Portsmouth shall. within 60 days after the passage of this Act, appoint five discreet and proper persons, resi- dents and voters in said city, any three of whom may act, who shall without delay proceed to lay off said city into wards, not less than two nor more than five. and to define the boundaries of said wards, and, where practicable, to use the streets and alleys of said city for boundaries. The said commissioners shall report to the Council the wards laid out, and the boundaries thereof. with a plat of the same, and. if approved by said Coun- cil. the same shall be confirmed by the Council. and each ward designated by names or numbers, and the wards so established and defined shall be the wards of said city until changed by Act of the General Assembly. Until such revision be made. the wards of said city shall remain as at present defined. Upon such revision the Council shall apportion the councilmen among the various wards established. * *
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Section 13. The Council of the City of Ports- mouth. after the revision of the wards of said city, as hereinbefore provided, shall be composed of 15 mem- bers, to be apportioned among the several wards in proportion to the number of inhabitants in each ward. The councilmen chosen shall, at the time of election and during their continuance in office, be residents of the ward for which they are chosen. They shall be elected by the voters qualified to vote for councilmen, as hereinbefore provided, who are residents of the respec- tive wards for which such councilmen are chosen. If
the revision of the wards of the city as hereinbefore provided shall not be made, the Council of the city shall remain as at present constituted. The qualifica- tions of any person or persons elected as councilmen shall be adjudged of by the whole number of council- men elected or a majority of them.
Under these provisions the Council took the matter up and at the meeting on April 6, 1873, Mr. Brown moved that five discreet citi- zens be appointed to redistrict the city and that the chair appoint the committee, which motion was carried. The chair appointed the follow- ing gentlemen: William T. Robinson, G. F. Edwards, R. E. Glassett, V. A. Haynes, G. W. Watts. On motion the chair was instructed to fill all vacancies. On motion of Mr. Maupin the wards were to be numbered instead of named. On motion of Mr. Smith the com- missioners were each allowed $25 for their services.
At a meeting of the Council, on April 28, 1873, the President stated that it was called to hear the report of the commissioners. Then followed the report of commissioners, which was adopted by a resolution, and the Council also fixed the number of councilmen for the city at 15, to-wit: Five each for the First and Second Wards. two for the Third Ward and three for the Fourth Ward.
The new charter of the city of Portsmouth. now in force. is provided by Acts of the Gen- eral Assembly, approved March 6, 1882, Jan- uary 28, 1884, and February 23, 1894. The latter Act extends the boundaries to embrace, in addition, the territory beginning in the western boundary line of the city at a point 113 feet south from the south side of Glasgow street ; and from thence running west. parallel with Glasgow street, to the center of the chan- nel of Scott's Creek : thence northwardly along the center of the channel of this creek to low- water mark of the Elizabeth River, thence east- wardly along the low-water-mark line of the river to the northwestern boundary line of the city : and thence southwardly along the western boundary line of the city to the point of be- ginning. This territory is known as the Fifth Ward.
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HISTORICAL EVENTS.
The will of Rev. Charles Smith, the first minister of Portsmouth Parish, is dated Jan- uary 24, 1771. After disposing of his estate including several small legacies he directs his manuscripts to be burned and his body to be buried decently in a plain pine coffin near a cherry tree "bearing about S. W. from this ; house and upon the Glebe," and a codicil dated October 30, 1772, says, "My will now is that after my within-mentioned inulatto woman Mary waits on my graddaughter Abegail Tay- lor one year after my decease thenceforward I emancipate and set her free with all her future issue forever."
Isaac Luke died October 31, 1784. in the 54th year of his age. He was one of the most prominent citizens of his time.
Rev. Richard Cave. Jones on December 17, 1792, produced his credentials as a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the Coun- ty Court, and qualified to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
The sugar house near Gosport Bridge was opened in 1802 and produced the best double- refined loaf sugar. It was burned down in 1831. The rum distillery in Gosport with a capacity of 600 gallons per day was opened in 1803.
Among the Portsmouth ships and captains in 1807 were: Ship "Flora," Capt. Robert Benthall; ship "Anacreon." Capt. Henry Pet- ers; ship "Elizabeth." Capt. Isaac Luke; ship "William & Mary," Capt. Henry Dickson : ship "Malvina," Capt. Robert Dickson; ship "Mo- doc," Capt. Robert Barclay: ship "Margaret Wright." Captain Rooke ; ship "Constitution," Captain McRea.
On April 16, 1811, the French privateer "Revanche de Cerf," Capt. John Jacques, that had been detained nine months by Commodore Rodgers and released by the Admiralty Court, while lying in the harbor opposite the U. S. Marine Hospital at Ferry Point (on Berkley Flats), was boarded by an armed force from the shore, set on fire, blown up and entirely de- stroyed.
On March 31, 1815, Francis Grice, of Phila- delphia, began building ships in Portsmouth. He was afterward naval constructor.
On October 25, 1824, the Marquis de La Fayette visited Portsmouth; he was met at the ferry landing, then at North street, and es- corted by the Portsmouth Rifles and Greys to the intersection of Crawford and High streets, where the welcome by the city was tendered.
In 1825 the schooner "Ranger," com- manded by Captain Seward, whose family lived on Water street, was captured by the pirates off the coast of South America.
On May 19, 1827. the steamer "Fredericks- burg," built by Joseph Porter, was launched, 136 tons burden. She was to run between Washington and Potomac Creek.
On April 16, 1829, the Virginia & North Carolina Transportation Company contracted for and had completed in 30 days Io vessels for the canal trade at the following shipyards : Joseph Porter's Portsmouth; John Overton's, Portsmouth ; Miles Chambers & Hathaway's, Portsmouth; Ryan & Gayles', Portsmouth ; Oney S. Dameron's, Norfolk: Isaac Talbot's, Nofolk : John G. Colley's, Norfolk.
On July 30, 1830. the new steamboat "Lady of the Lake," was built by Capt. Guy C. Wheel- er at his shipyard in Portsmouth. moved by her own steam.
The Fourth of July, 1833, was celebrated with a grand military parade of Norfolk Coun- ty, Norfolk and Portsmouth soldiers :
Norfolk County Horse Guard-Capt. Doughty. St. Bride's Patrict :- Capt. Tatem. Norfolk L. I. Blue -- Capt. King. Norfolk Juniors-Capt. Forniquet. Norfolk Independents-Capt. Tonkin.
Portsmouth Light Dragoons-Capt. Murdaugh.
Portsmouth L. I. Greys-Capt. Watts. Portsmouth Artillery-Capt. Cassell. Portsmouth Riffe -- Capt. Gayle.
Portsmouth Grenadiers-Capt. Darden.
The Globe Tavern, afterward "The High Street Hotel," was kept by Captain Reynolds. It was situated on the north side of High street. about 100 feet east of Court street, now the site of the Commercial Building. Invitations
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to a ball were sent out, with a picture of an eagle holding in his talons a scroll with "E Pluribus Unum" :
The pleasure of your company is solicited at a Ball to be given at the Globe Tavern, in Portsmouth, on Friday evening. the 21st inst.
Arthur Emmerson,
Dempsey Nash, John L. King,
Mordecai Cooke.
Robert B. Butt,
Levin Gayle,
John B. Levy,
John K. Cooke.
Benjamin Spratley,
Albert G. Nash.
Isaac R. Bayley. .
Columbus C. Robertson,
James H. Langhorne,
Henry V. Niemeyer,
Henry C. Bell, Tapley Portlock,
Joseph A. Bilisoly, George Blow,
Managers.
Ioth Feb. 1834.
On April 24, 1844, Henry Clay visited the city and Capt. Samuel Watts gave a reception at his mansion, where a large number of ladies and gentlemen were introduced to the dis- tinguished gentleman. On July 24, 1847, the U. S. S. "Pennsylvania" arrived from Phila- delphia,-+-the only voyage she ever made; she was receiving ship at Gosport until burned by the Federals in 1861.
Liberia was founded by free colored people. sent out in 1822 by the American Colonization Society, of which Henry Clay was president. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of the republic, was elected October 5, 1847,-he was a native of Portsmouth, and was carried out on a ship commanded by Capt. Henry Peters.
On April 17, 1854, the ship "Gosport." 900 tons, was launched from Page & Allen's yard. Gosport.
On August 27. 1854, the brig "St. Julien" was launched from the shipyard of S. Herbert in Portsmouth. She was an unfortunate ves- sel: she stuck on the ways: her commanding officer, Captain Pleasants. died from cholera morbus four days after : she was capsized and lost at sea on her first voyage.
On August 28. 1854, the ship "James Guthrie, 1,200 tons, was launched from Page & Allen's yard, Gosport.
The Great Freeze .- In January, 1857, a snow-storm of great violence burst upon the
coast and invaded the tidewater counties, ac- companied by a strong wind and high tides. On Monday, the 19th, the snow lay six feet deep, and the river was frozen over from shore to shore. A few days later the whole harbor was blockaded with ice, and all communication by water was cut off. At one time the mercury registered nine degrees below zero,-an un- heard-of event in this latitude, but common enough in the North and Northwest where "blizzards" 'are mere incidents of every win- ter's experience. Thousands of people swarm- ed upon the ice and availed themselves of this opportunity,-the first within the memory of living men, and probably the last for many gen- erations to come, --- of disporting themselves upon the congealed bosom of the Elizabeth.
On the 20th of May, 1873, the Seaboard Club of Portsmouth defeated the Chesapeake Boat Club of Norfolk, over a three-mile course down the harbor. The race was intensely ex- citing, witnessed by thousands of people on either shore, and the victory was complete, --- 18 minutes and 55 seconds to 19 minutes and 25 seconds ; the victorious boat was called the "Ripple," and the defeated, the "Vesta." -
"RIPPLE'S" CREW.
(Trained by William Webber, U. S. Navy.)
Boyer Lemosy-Bow, age 17. Weight 133
J. W. Brown, Jr .- No. 2. age 17 Weight 128
C. H. Niemeyer-No. 3. age 19. Weight 140
Herman C. Niemeyer-No. 4, age 17 Weight 146
James T. Burton-No. 5, age 23. Weight 140
W. F. Lemosy-Stroke, age 19. Weight 141
N. E. White-Coxwain, age 19. Weight IOS
Total Weight 936
"VESTA'S" CREW.
W. A. Graves, Jr .- Bow. Weight 137
F. B. Dornin-No. 5 ... Weight 128
W. C. Dickson-No. 4. . Weight 151
L. W. Tazewell-No. 3. Weight 144
J. C. Baker-No. 2. . Weight 146.
Fred Hardy-Stroke .. Weight 145
William Walier -- Coxwain. Weight 106
Total Weight 957
On August 30, 1875, the Third Georgia Regiment returned to Portsmouth to hold their annual reunion. They were enthusiastically re- ceived by the people and royally entertained.
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Capt. Samuel Watts, a distinguished citi- zen, died May 18, 1876. He was born Novem- ber 28, 1799.
"The August Storm."-On August 18, 1879, the city was surprised by the unwelcome visit of something very nearly akin to a hurri- cane-or so, at least, it seemed to the unac- customed eyes of the population, although it would probably have aroused neither surprise nor aların in our brethren who dwell in the prairie-home of the cyclone and tornado. It began about 9 o'clock, A. M., with a furious easterly wind and driving rain, which lasted several hours, inflicting considerable damage upon the shade-trees, fences and lightly-con- structed buildings of the city. The wharves and gardens near the river were submerged. vessels were driven ashore, and the bark "Day- id Dudley" was capsized and drifted, bottom upwards; to the Berkley Flats. An occasional more-than-usually impetuous blast would tear the branches from the trees, palings from the fences and shingles from the houses, in a man- ner equally unceremonious and impartial, and hurl them about in all directions. Trees were uprooted, houses damaged. and woe to the merchants whose sign-boards were not firmly secured ! The surrounding country also suf- fered severely, chiefly in the matter of fences and barns. Numerous slight accidents and "hair breadth escapes" were reported, but for- tunately the city escaped without any loss of life. For several days afterward the local newspapers enlarged upon the destruction wrought by this unwonted visitor, which is still commonly referred to as "The August Storm," although more than 21 years have passed since its passage.
On April 2. 1885, occurred the suspension of the Exchange National Bank, followed by the closing of the Franklin Savings Bank and Bain Brothers Bank, of Portsmouth,-the greatest financial disaster that ever occurred in Norfolk and Portsmouth. The failure was estimated to cover nearly $4,000,000 and created intense excitement.
Capt. Osmond Peters died February 15,
1886, aged 72 years. He entered the United States Revenue Marine service as 3rd lieutenant in 1837 and continued in the service until his State seceded from the Union, when he re- signed and entered the service of the Confed- erate States. During the Seminole troubles he served in the mosquito fleet against the Indians. He was a Mexican war veteran. Captain Peters was a man of noble impulses, and an efficient and able officer, upright in all his transactions.
The earthquake of August 31, 1886. which filled Charleston, South Carolina, with mourn- ing and desolation, was felt here also, and with sufficient force to shake everything else except the confidence of the Portsmouth people in themselves and in the future prosperity of their city; but the shock was not repeated and no evil consequences ensued. So extremely in- frequent, indeed, are atmospheric or seismic disturbances of any kind in this placid and de- lectable latitude that their visitations assume almost historical importance, being regarded by our people as epochs whence succeeding time is measured, and are consequently entitled to be placed on record.
Joe Sam Brown, the most popular citizen in the city, died September 20, 1887. Dr. George W. O. Maupin, an eminent physician, died June 26,.18SS.
Mrs. Fanny Murdaugh Downing, of Ports- mouth, was one of the sweetest singers of the South. Most of her poems breathed the spirit of love and devotion for the Confederate heroes. Unfortunately her poems have never been col- lected in book form. "After once writing them she seemed to think little about them. It was as if a bird might sing to express its feelings and then go on to the enjoyment of all the other delights of nature without seeming to realize that its own sweet warbles had added so greatly to them." She was born October 19, 1831, and died May 6, 1894.
On May 22, 1895, the Third Battalion under command of Maj. R. E. Warren left for Poca- hontas on account of the mine riots, and re- turned June Ist.
On July 8, 1895. Mrs. Eliza Ann Bilisoly,
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
widow of Joseph A. Bilisoly, died in the gIst year of her age. She was the first president of the Ladies Memorial Association. She left eight children, 33 grandchildren, 41 great- grandchildren,-total 84 and five generations. She had lost by death three children, 22 grand- children and nine great-grandchildren,-total 34 dead. Descendants living and dead at the time of her death, IIS.
On July 15, 1895, the Union Depot of the Seaboard Air Line was occupied. On July 23. 1895, the workingmen of the Navy Yard passed resolutions, in high tribute to Naval Constructor Francis T. Bowles, who had been ordered to New York.
On October 20, 1898, R. E. Glassett, a dis- tinguished journalist. died. On November II, 1898, Virginius Butt, one of the most ef- ficient commissioners of the revenue in the State died from the effects of a carbuncle. On November 25, 1898, Owen D. Ball, one of the oldest railroad officials of the Seaboard Air Line, died.
On October 16. 1899. the U. S. S. "Texas" returned to the Navy Yard from a mission destroying derelicts.
Patriotic services were held in the public schools on the 14th of December, 1899, in com- memoration of the death of George Washing- ton. In the district schools the observance took the form of readings, recitations and sing- ing of patriotic songs, but in the high school the order of exercises was more ambitious.
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The second and third grammar grades as- sembled with the junior, intermediate and sen- ior high school classes at the time of the mid- day recess, and the scholars joined with gusto in the singing of "Hail Columbia," with which the exercise opened. Then followed an ad- dress on "Washington, the Patriot Under Two Flags." The exercises were under the aus- pices of Fort Nelson Chapter, D. A. R.
By October 1, 1900, Portsmouth had con- . tributed $3, 174.62 to the relief fund for Gal- veston, Texas. On October 1, 1900. the corn- er-stone of the Y. M. C. A. Building was laid with Masonic ceremonies. Rev. H. W. Battle
of Petersburg was the orator. On October 9, 1900, Dr. H. F. Butt, a distinguished physi- cian, died. He had been an eminent surgeon in the Confederate Army.
THE YELLOW FEVER
Prevailed in Portsmouth during the months of June, July, August, September and October, 1855.
It was landed at our wharves from the ship "Ben Franklin." Capt. Bynum, which ar- rived here direct from the Island of St. Thom- as, in the West Indies, about the middle of June, and was placed in quarantine by order of the health officer of the port, under sus- picion of being infected. After being detained for some days she was granted permission to proceed to Gosport for the purpose of being overhauled. Here her bilge-water was pumped out and a portion of her ballast was discharged upon the wharf. No . apprehensions at her presence were entertained until Sunday, July Sth, when a young man, who had been em- ployed on board her five days previously, de- veloped unmistakable symptoms of yellow fever and died in the afternoon of the same day. The case created intense excitement, and the Town Council, having been convened in extra- ordinary session, ordered the immediate return of the steamer to the quarantine ground.
But the precaution was taken too late. The mischief had been done and the pestilence had gained a firm foothold and spread with fearful rapidity, although the authorities took all possible steps to arrest its progress. A re- lief association was promptly organized to at- tend to the necessities of the sick and suffer- ing, and to superintend the expenditures of the contributions which soon began to pour in liberally from all parts of the country.
The epidemic had seized upon the com- munity when totally unprepared for it, and the citizens were almost paralyzed by panie. All mercantile pursuits and mechanical operations were suspended, the wages of labor stopped and stores closed. The government gave up
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the Naval Hospital for the use of fever pa- tients, and provision stores were opened. whence food and other comforts were issued to those in need.
Physicians, apothecaries and nurses came irom distant points to minister to the sick and dying, when the local staff had become ex- hausted with the incessant call upon their ex- crtions, and many of these noble volunteers fell victims to their own self-sacrificing hero- ism. Three of the four successive keepers of the provision store died of the pestilence, as did also 10 apothecaries and nurses and 12 physicians, of whom four,-Drs. Parker, Tru- gien, Lovett and Nicholson, -- were regular practitioners of the city. Rev. James Chis- holm, rector of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church; Rev. Francis Devlin, priest in charge of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, and Rev. Vernon Eskridge, of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, remaining faithful to their holy mission, were constantly to be found at the bed- side of the plague-stricken until themselves at- tacked by the devouring pestilence were called
The assets of the Asylum now are about $36,000. The first trustees were D. D. Fiske, James G. Holladay, George W. Peete, J. N. Schoolfield, Holt Wilson, W. Watts, Joseph A. Bilisoly, Samuel T. Hartt, Joseph Bourke, John K. Cooke. John L. Porter and Moss W. Armistead. The vacancies in the board are supplied by the remaining trustces. The pres- ent members of the board are E. C. Brooks, president ; Legh R. Watts, vice-president ; George L. Neville, treasurer; William H. Stewart, secretary; E. L. Lash, James HI. upon to swell the number of its martyr-victims. : Toomer, James T. Borum, John T. King, F.
Among the other prominent citizens of .D. Gill, Dr. Joseph Grice, John A. Morris and Portsmouth who succumbed to the yellow fever ; B. F. Howell.
during this dark, sad season were Capt. George Chambers and Robert T. Scott, members of the Common Council; Dr. William Collins, president of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, and a host of other good true men and woinen.
The disease existed here as an epidemic for nearly four months, the last fatal cases oc- curring on the 10th of November; during that period nearly 1,000 human beings perished by its ravages.
Thousands of inhabitants had fled from the presence of the plague to seek refuge beyond reach of its fatal breath, but most of the city authorities, following the noble example of the mayor, D. D. Fiske, and true to their own in- stincts of duty and humanity, remained here while the epidemic lasted, and thus rendered an incalculable service to the community.
If this dire calamity can be said to have pos -!
sessed any one cheering element, it was surely to be discerned in the spontaneous outpouring of sympathy and generosity which it evoked from every section of the country on behalf of the stricken and bereaved. So liberally had money been subscribed, that, out of the funds remaining in hand, the treasurer was able to appropriate the sum of $25,000 toward the establishment and maintenance of an Orphan Asylum,-an institution which still lives and flourishes, -- a fitting monument to the charity and benevolence to which it owes its existence.
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