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The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
                                                                    transcribed by Helen Rowland   

 Shelby County TN History (Cont)

Asbury Church stands on the corner of Hernando and Linden Streets.  It was first regularly organized in 1843 by Nathan Harcott and John Brown.  Previous to this time, however, there had been religious services in the vicinity in private houses, and in John Brown’s carpenter shop, standing on the corner of Hernando and Vance Streets, fitted up for such services by Mr. and Mrs. Brown.  Upon the advice of Rev. Moses Brock the lot upon which the present church stands was purchased.  The first house build upon this lot was exceedingly  primitive, and a description of it is worthy of preservation: “It was a shanty.  Holes were dug in the ground, posts set up, and rough planks nailed on the sides.  It was covered with planks.  Scantling laid on the ground and planks laid on them made the floor.”  Enlarged a little, the congregation continued to use it as a house of worship until 1847, when a plain frame building was erected which lasted until 1882.  This frame building then gave way to a one-story brick Gothic structure which will seat about 450 people and which cost $15,000.  Following is a list of the pastors of Asbury Chapel, named after Bishop Asbury, the founder of Methodism in America, as Wesley Chapel, now the First Methodist Episcopal Church South, was named after John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the world: Revs. Benjamin A. Hayes, commencing in 1843; D. W. Garrard, 1845; L. D. Mullins, 1846; W. C. Robb, 1847; A. H. Thomas, 1849; S. J. Henderson, 1850; Joseph H. Brooks, 1852; James W. McFarland, 1853, who died before his year had expired and was succeeded by B. M. Johnson; J. T. C. Collins, 1854; Philip Tuggle, 1856; W. H. Leigh, 1857; J. T. Meriwether, 1858; E. E. Hamilton, 1859; Robert Martin, 1860; Guilford Jones, 1861, who in 1862, not wishing to add to his experience at Paducah, Ky., with the Federal Army, left for Arkansas, D. J. Allen filling out his appointment; Guilford Jones, 1865; F. S. Petway, 1867; L. D. Mullins, 1869; J. H. Evans, 1871; E. E. Hamilton, 1873; J. C. Hooks, 1875; Guilford Jones, 1877; Warner Moore, 1879; David Leith, 1882; J. M. Spence, 1886.  In 1850 the membership of this church was 235 whites and 43 blacks; in 1854, 153 whites and 104 blacks; in 1865, owing to the war, the membership was very low.  Both church and Sunday-school are now in prosperous condition.

Central Methodist Episcopal Church South was started not long before the war, their small frame church edifice, at No. 187 Union Street, being dedicated in 1860.  This congregation was organized by the Rev. J. T. C. Collins, and the building dedicated by Bishop George F. Pierce.  For some time the church was served by temporary supplies.  The small frame church lasted until 1868, when the present brick building was begun.  It cost $40,000, will seat 750 people, and was finished in 1883.  Since 1869 the pastors have been Revs. W. M. Patterson, 1869; A. L. Pritchett, 1871; P. T. Scruggs, 1873; S. B. Suratt, 1873; E. C. Slater, D.D., 1874; J. A. Heard, 1875; W. T. Harris, 1877; S. W. Moore, 1879; S. B. Suratt, 1880; J. H. Evans, 1881; R. H. Mahon, 1882, and R. W. Erwin, 1886.

Besides the above Methodist Churches there are two small congregations, one called the Georgia Street Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the other the Saffarans Street Methodist Episcopal Church South.  All of the Methodist Churches in Memphis belong to the Southern connection.  The colored Methodists have Collins’ Chapel, on Washington and Orleans Streets, and Avery Chapel, on De Soto Street, the latter being one of the most elegantly finished edifices in Memphis.

The first Baptist Church was organized April 6, 1839, with eleven members, at McGeveney’s schoolhouse, standing near where the fountain now is in Court Square.  The first pastor was Rev. L. H. Milliken, who remained through the years 1839-41.  During 1842 Rev. Mr. Eager and Rev. B. F. Farnsworth served as pastor or supply, the latter gentleman resigning in September.  In 1843 Rev. S. S. Parr was pastor.  In 1845 a lot was purchased on Second Street, between Adams and Washington Streets, on which there was a small frame building which was fitted up as a temporary place of worship, and in February, 1846, Rev. P. S. Gayle was elected pastor, remaining three years.  During his pastorate a church costing $7,000 was erected, the membership being about 175.  February 14, 1849, Rev. John Finlay was elected pastor, remaining until 1852, when he was followed by the Rev. C. R. Hendrickson.  He was succeeded in 1857 by the Rev. T. J. Drane, who remained until 1862, when Rev. S. H. Ford began preaching and remained until the occupation of Memphis by the Union Army, June 6, when he left for the South, and the church building was taken possession of by the military authorities for hospital purposes, the damage to the church caused by such occupancy being afterward made good by the United States Government.  In the spring of 1863 the American Baptist Home Mission Society of Philadelphia advised the church that unless a minister were secured a preacher would be sent to take charge of the church, and in order to avoid having a foreign minister, not of their own choosing, a call was extended to Rev. A. B. Miller, of Owensboro, Ky., who became pastor in June, 1863, and remained until January, 1868.  The subsequent pastors have been the Rev. D. E. Burns, commencing in 1868; Rev. I. T. Tichnor, April, 1871; Rev. Dr. G. A. Lofton, May, 1872; Rev. R. B. Momack, 1876; Rev. Dr. W. A. Montgomery, 1878, and the present pastor, Rev. R. A. Venable, October 6, 1880.  The present membership of the church is about 350.  R. G. Craig has been the superintendent of the Sunday-school for twenty-one years.

The Central Baptist Church was organized December 3, 1865, at the First Church, standing at the corner of Adams and Second Streets.  Before the war the Beale Street Church and the mission at Fort Pickering were doing the work of the Baptists, but at its close the Beale Street Church had no pastor, no house of worship, no regular meetings, and to all appearances had gone to pieces, as was the case with the Mission at Fort Pickering.  South Memphis was thus without Baptist services, and the only Baptist Church was in the extreme northern end of the city.  A considerable number of members of the First Baptist Church, however, lived toward the south end of the city, and it was inconvenient for them to attend their own church.  After consulting with old members of the Beale Street Church, a new organization was effected and named the Central Church, composed of forty-three members of Beale Street Church and seventy-five of First Church.  The Beale Street Church conveyed their lot to the new organization, and the First Church allowed its retiring members $10,000 as their share of the property.  On December 3, 1865, at a meeting presided over by Rev. S. H. Ford, D.D., the Central Baptist Church was organized, and Dr. Ford immediately chosen pastor.  For six months the new church and the First Church used the building of the First Church on alternate Sundays, and in the meantime the Central Church leased a lot on Court Street, upon which they erected at a cost of $3,000 a frame building known as the Tabernacle.  The Tabernacle was used from June 24, 1866, to December, 1868.  In the fall of 1867, the Central Church bought the ground upon which the present church stands, paying therefore $22,500.  Times were then prosperous, everybody had plenty of money and was confident of the future.  An architect was employed whose plan was approved and accepted, and work on the building commenced, but on account of business depression which was felt throughout the country from 1868 to 1873, but little could be done except to complete the basement story of the building containing the lecture room.  This was used first on February 21, 1869, and continued to be used nearly seventeen years.  The walls of the second story, the roof and tower which is of the Swiss order of architecture, and designed when erected to be only of temporary utility, were all completed in 1876, and imposed upon the organization a debt of $10,000, most of it bearing ten per cent interest.  The existence of this debt made it impracticable for the organization to finish the structure until 1884, when work was resumed and the building completed by and dedicated on December 6, 1885.  At this time the membership was about 300, and at the present time (January 1, 1887) it is 369.  The building is a two-story brick, with lecture room in the basement seating 400, and the auditorium in the second story containing 600 opera chairs.  The extreme length of the building is 150 feet, and the extreme width 80 feet and the tower 150 feet in height.  The total cost of the building has been about $130,000.  The Sunday-school has about 150 scholars and twenty officers and teachers.  The Rev. Dr. S. H. Ford was pastor until July 1, 1871; the Rev. Sylvanus Landrum, D.D., from October 1, 1871, to July 1, 1879; the Rev. Thomas J. Rowan from January 1, 1880, to July 29, 1882, and the present pastor, Rev. A. W. Lamar, from Macon, Ga., commenced his pastorate November 1, 1882.

The colored Baptist have a very fine church on Beale Street, which is massive in construction and well attended.

St. Peter’s Church was organized in 1840, the building standing at the corner of Adams and Third Streets.  In 1841 the Rev. Michael McAleer was placed in charge and remained until 1845, when he resigned, when Bishop Miles placed the parish in charge of the Dominicans, whose mother house was then as now at St. Rose, near Springfield, Washington Co., Ky.  The first Dominicans in charge were the Rev. James S. Alemany, O.S.D., afterward archbishop of San Francisco, and the Rev. Thomas L. Grace, O.S.D., present bishop of St. Paul.  From 1845 to 1853 in addition to these two priests Fathers J. H. Clarkson, Anthony O’Brien, Aloysius Orengo, Francis Cubero, R. A. White, J. A. Boekel, Sr., and J. R. Cleary ministered in turn to the Catholics in West Tennessee and eastern Arkansas.  In 1853 the population of Memphis had reached 11,000, and the Catholics had so increased in numbers that the little brick church was far too small for their accommodation; hence in the beginning of this year the Rev. Father T. L. Grace with the aid of his assistant pastors began the work of building the present St. Peter’s Church edifice, which was completed in 1857.  It is a fine structure, 80x150 feet, cruciform in shape, of the Gothic style of architecture, capable of seating 1,500 people and cost $150,000.  As an ecclesiastical structure it stands unrivaled in the South, and the organ in this church procured through the exertions of the Rev. Father Clarkson, is also one of the remarkable instruments of the kind in the Southern States.  It was procured in 1864, having been originally built for a church in Atlanta, Ga., but the closing in of the lines of the Federal Army around that city prevented its being erected in its originally designed position.  Accordingly negotiations were entered into with Henry Erben, of New York, then the foremost organ builder in the United States, as the result of which the magnificent instrument was set up in St. Peter’s in the spring of the year mentioned.  Its original cost was to have been $13,000, but it was secured for St. Peter’s for $9,000.  It has three manuals and a pedal of twenty-nine keys.

In 1856 Rev. Father Grace established St. Peter’s Orphan Asylum, placing it in charge of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, and for the last thirty years this asylum has been sustained by the efforts of the Dominican Fathers.  During the last forty-one years forty different priests have been stationed at St. Peter's, those in charge at the present time being Pastor Very Rev. M. D. Lilly, O.S.D., and the Rev. R. M. Bloomer, O.S.D., and Rev. J. P. Moran, O.S.D.  During the yellow fever epidemics of 1873, 1878 and 1879 no more heroic sacrifices were made in attempting to relieve the sufferings of the sick than were made by the priests of this church.  As soon as one priest died another came from the North to take his place, when to do so was almost certain death.  At the close of terrible epidemics St. Peter’s had furnished eight victims as follows: In 1873—Rev. J. R. Daley, O.S.D; Rev. D. A. O’Brien, O.S.D.; Rev. B. V. Carey, O.S.D., and Rev. J. D. Sheehy, O.S.D; in 1878—Rev. J. A. Boekel, Jr., O.S.D.; Rev. J. R. McGarvey, O.S.D., and Rev. P. J. Seawell; in 1879—Rev. Dalmatius Reville, O.S.D.  All of these voluntary victims to the dread epidemic lie buried in Calvary Cemetery, where a fitting monument commemorates their heroic deeds.  About 400 families belong to the church.  A parish school was established soon after the church was built.  It is under the control of the pastor and taught by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic.  At present there are about 120 pupils in attendance.  Tuition is free.

St. Mary’s Church is the only German Catholic Church in Memphis.  It was established as a mission of St. Boniface in 1852, the object being to build up a charge for the Germans, who had hitherto been members of St. Peter’s Church.  Among the Dominican Fathers at St. Peter’s were some German priests who had cared for the German Catholic members of the congregation.  The last of these was the Rev. Father J. A. Boekel, who with the German Catholics of St. Peter’s purchased a lot on Union Street, which they sold in 1856 and purchased one on the corner of Market and Third Streets for $9,000.  A small frame building on the lot was fitted up for a church and the Rt. Rev. James Whelan, bishop of Nashville, sent in 1860 a secular priest to take charge of the new congregation, the Rev. W. J. Repis, who died in 1885 at Feehanville, near Chicago.  In 1862 the Rev. Father Thoma took charge.  The war coming on then materially checked the growth of St. Mary’s, but in 1864 a new and substantial brick church was erected, having been begun by the Rev. Cornelius Thoma.  The Rev. L. Schneider succeeded Father Thoma in 1867, and nearly finished the church outwardly and purchased the adjoining lot at a cost of $9,000.  Petitions of the German Catholics of Memphis for the Franciscan Fathers were at length answered by the appointment of Father Eugenius Puers from Teutopolis, Effingham Co., Ill., in 1870, who on account of poor health was superseded in August of the same year by the Rev. Kilian Schlosser, at present rector of St. Peter’s in Chicago.  In September, 1871, Rev. Ambrosius Jansen built a fine new monastery near the church.  In 1873 Rev. Father Buchholz built a new entrance to the monastery on Market Street.  Being called back to Germany in 1879 Rev. Aloysius Wiener became rector and remained until 1885, when he was succeeded by Rev. Father Nemesius Rohde, who came here from St. Peter’s in Chicago.  During the epidemics in 1873, 1878 and 1879 the Franciscan Fathers were very much devoted to the sick, especially Father Aloysius Wiener, who lived and labored successfully through all the fever years, though three learned assistants fell victims to the scourge: Rev. Fathers Lee Rinklage, Maternus Mallmann and Chrysostom Reinke, and also the good Fathers Amandus and Erasmus.  Besides these four Franciscan Sisters died of the yellow fever, as also some sisters of St. Mary’s from St. Louis.  In connection with St. Mary’s Church is St. Mary’s School, which was kept by Franciscan Sisters from Joliet, Ill., until after the fever of 1873, when, having lost so many Sisters, the General Sister Superior gave up the school, and for six years the girls were taught by the Dominican Sisters of Memphis and the boys by male teachers secular and regular.  After the epidemic of 1879 the Ursuline Sisters from Louisville accepted the oft-repeated petition to take charge of the school at Memphis, and since that time the school has steadily improved.  Plans are now completed for the erection of a new school building.

The Very Rev. Martin Riordan, V.G., under Bishop Feehan, came from St. Louis to Tennessee with the Bishop in 1865, and also Father Martin Walsh, who built St. Brigid’s Church.  Rev. M. Riordan was appointed to labor among the Catholics in the northern part of Memphis, and he at first established a school in a rented building on Wellington Street.  Rev. M. Riordan also at this time attended the Catholic Missions throughout West Tennessee.  In 1866 he built the parsonage at St. Patrick’s, in which he held services on Sundays pending the erection of the brick church now used as a schoolhouse, which continued to be used as a school until 1869, when the present frame church building at the corner of De Soto and Linden Streets was erected, costing the enormous sum of $11,000, the parsonage having also cost $11,000, and the brick schoolhouse when up one story costing $5,000.  The explanations of this great cost is in the flush times in which they were built, carpenters and bricklayers then receiving $7 per day for their labor.  In 1867 a cemetery containing eighty acres was purchased at a cost of $500 per acre.  This purchase was made by Rev. M. Riordan, after consulting some of the best business men of Memphis, who pronounced the price not by any means too high.  The purchase was made wholly on credit, $5,000 to be paid annually at six per centum if paid at maturity, otherwise eight per centum was to be paid, and in some cases ten per centum.  While Rev. M. Riordan paid for all the buildings he erected and for the ground upon which they stand he found it impossible to meet the annual payments on the cemetery (Calvary) grounds as they came due, and there still remains to this parish as a legacy, including, however, the floating debts, about $30,000 of debt.  In 1877 Calvary Association was formed consisting of six laymen, with the bishop of the diocese an ex-officio member, and the pastors of St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s Churches, directors.  Rev. Mr. Riordan, a very excellent man, died of the yellow fever in 1878, and was succeeded by Father Edward Doyle, who died of the fever in 1879.  Father Quinn then took charge of the parish and remained until June, 1881, when the present pastor, Rev. Father J. Veale, commenced his labors here.  He has added the second story to the brick school building and has improved both the church building and the parsonage at a cost of from $5,000 to $6,000.  The present membership of the church is about 300 families and the school which is taught by Sisters of Charity from Nazareth, Ky., contains about 240 pupils.

St. Brigid’s Church, standing at the corner of Third and Overton Streets, was opened for worship December 25, 1870.  The building is about 103 feet long by 55 wide, and will seat 750 persons.  It has five altars.  Over the high altars is an artistic stained glass window representing the Crucifixion and Sts. John and Luke, the evangelists.  The other windows are adorned with the statues of the patrons of the church: St. Brigid, St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin and of the Sacred Heart of the Redeemer.  Attached to the church is a convent of the Sisters of Charity from Nazareth, Ky., and a two-story brick schoolhouse erected in 1873, the school having on an average 200 scholars in attendance.  At first this school was conducted by the Franciscan Sisters and subsequently by the Sisters of St. Dominic and lay teachers.  In 1879 it was taken charge of by the Sisters of St. Joseph and then by lay teachers until June, 1882.  Since September, 1882, it has been conducted by the Sisters of Charity.  From 1879 to 1883 it was a free school, but now, as at the beginning, it receives contributions toward its expenses by such pupils as are both able and willing to pay.  The priests in charge of this church have ever since its foundation been particular in the matter of education.  The first pastor was the Rev. Martin Walsh.  In 1873 the congregation suffered severely from the yellow fever.  About 800 of the Catholic population who died that year were attended chiefly by Rev. Fathers Walsh and Quinn.  But notwithstanding the great suffering of the church on account of this epidemic the congregation contributed liberally toward the upbuilding of the church, pastoral residence and brick school, all occupying a half-square of ground.  In 1878 Father Matthew Camp originated here, organized at the suggestion of the present rector by the Father Matthew, Total Abstinence Society attached to St. Brigid’s Church.  A camp of refuge was established for all persons worthy of relief who could be reached by the camp’s officers.  Both Father Martin Walsh and Michael Meagher died August 29, 1878.  Father Walsh was succeeded by Rev. William Walsh, who has been assisted by the Rev. Michael Ryan and Rev. John J. Walsh, the latter of whom died of small-pox in February, 1882.  In 1878 the pastors of this church received as contributions from various parts of the United States, $29,000 toward the relief of the distressed.  Father Matthew Camp was established in 1879 with similar success.

The Rt. Rev. Patrick Feehan, then bishop of Nashville, and the Very Rev. Martin Riordan, his vicar-general, were originators of the project of forming a new congregation in the southern part of Memphis, otherwise called Ft. Pickering.  It was entrusted to the care of Rev. Antonio Luiselli, then assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s, having served seven years in that capacity.  The corner-stone of St. Joseph’s Church was laid March 17, 1878, in the presence of a large concourse of people.  The address of the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Mayer of Nashville.  The church building was dedicated June 23, 1878, though yet unfinished.  A beautiful and exquisitely sweet-toned organ has recently been imported from Europe by the pastor, at a cost of $2,000.  The membership of this church is composed mostly of Italians, of whom there are about 1,000 in the parish, though some of the Italians belong to other parishes in Memphis.

The Stranger’s Church was organized as the First Congregational Church in 1863.  Meetings were held in various places, as in the Odd Fellows’ hall, Greenlaw’s Block on Union Street, etc., until 1864, when the church received from Massachusetts assistance toward the purchase of a lot, and from F. H. Clark a gift of $1,000 toward the same object.  The present church edifice on Union Street was erected at a cost of about $5,000, and was dedicated June 20, 1865, by the Rev. T. E. Bliss, the first pastor.  During the war there were very large congregations because of the large number of northern people in the city.  After the retirement in 1868 of the Rev. Mr. Bliss, the pastor was Rev. A. E. Baldwin, from Lincoln, Ill., who remained until 1875, and was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Millard, who was pastor two years and was succeeded by Rev. N. M. Long, who had been for some time pastor of the Lauderdale Street Church, but who was compelled to retire from the Presbyterian Church on account of a trial for heresy, in which, however, he was three times acquitted by the presbytery, synod and general assembly.  Rev. Mr. Long commenced his labors in the old First Congregational Church building in December, 1881, with eight members, the name Stranger’s Church being adopted.  One year afterward there were thirty-four members, and at the present time about 100.  The Ladies’ Aid Society is very active, having paid out $935 during the past year.

The Linden-Street Christian Church was organized in 1846 by Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Wooldridge, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Caldwell, Mary McIntosh and Ann McGuire.  A lot on the southeast corner of Linden and Mulberry Streets was purchased, on which stood a small frame dwelling which was immediately remodeled and fixed up for a church.  This church building was used until 1860, when the present large brick church edifice was erected, but which was finished after the war.  It is a two-story structure with Sunday-school room and pastor’s study below and auditorium above.  A massive tower stands on each front corner of the building, which is itself about 45x100 feet in dimensions, and which cost the remarkably low sum of about $20,000.  The parsonage, a two-story frame building at the rear of the church, was erected in 1877 and cost $4,000.  The organ used in the church is of Mason & Hamlin manufacture and cost $1,000.  The pastors of this church have been as follows: From its organization to 1853, Elder B. F. Hall, who in that year was succeeded by Elder R. E. Chew.  In 1855 Elder W. J. Barbee became the pastor and remained until the war, during the continuance of which there was no regular preaching.  Since the war the following elders have filled the pulpit: R. A. Cook, commencing in 1864; T. W. Caskey, in 1866; Curtis J. Smith, 1869; David Walk, 1870; J. M. Trible, 1879; G. W. Sweeney, 1882, and J. B. Briney, January, 1886.  The church organization was chartered about the year 1850.  The present members of the incorporation are Tom Gale, president; D. C. Jones, secretary; J. J. Lovin, W. H. Bates, T. J. Latham, W. C. Griswold, J. H. Smith, J. N. Jones and R. C. Lane.  S. C. Toof is the treasurer.  The policy of this organization is to avoid debt, which is one secret of its success, and its affairs are managed on strictly business principles.  The minister is relieved from all labors except those legitimately belonging to pastoral work and preaching.  The church thus has the benefit of his maximum efficiency, and its whole work, including business management and Sunday-school work, is accomplished with a minimum friction.  Its membership is now about 220, and the Sunday-school, of which S. C. Toof has been superintendent most of the time for the last twenty-three years, has about 110 scholars.

St. Mary’s Cathedral (Episcopal) is located on Poplar Street at the junction of Orleans Street.  The church was founded in 1857, during the episcopate of the Rt. Rev. James H. Otey, D.D.  It stands on a lot fronting 100 feet on Poplar Street and extends through to Alabama Street; this lot, together with the one on which stands the Episcopal residence, was donated by the late Robert C. Brinkley.  The church was originally built as a mission chapel by members of Calvary Parish, under the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. C. T. Quintard.  The late Rev. Richard Hines, D.D., held the rectorship fourteen years, and at the close of his rectorship the parish was made a cathedral or church of the bishop of the diocese.  The Rev. George C. Harris, S.T.D., was installed as dean in 1871, holding the position until 1881.  The Very Rev. William Klein was installed dean immediately after the resignation of Dean Harris, and is the present incumbent.  During the past year there were 109 baptisms and seventy-one persons presented for confirmation.  There are connected with the cathedral the following organizations: Sunday-school, teachers twelve, scholars 148; choir of men and boys; cathedral school for girls; St. Mary’s mission to the poor; the Cathedral Guild for women; St. Mary’s Guild for women; St. Timothy’s Guild for Sunday-school teachers; St. Martha’s Guild for the children of the cathedral school; the Ministering Children’s League; a Ward of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament for the deepening of spiritual life.

The parish school of the cathedral is in successful operation.  Adjoining the cathedral is St. Mary’s School, a boarding and day school for young ladies and children, in charge of the Sisters of St. Mary, containing about 150 pupils.  These Sisters also have charge of the church home, an orphanage located on the Old Raleigh Road, which provides for fifty or sixty orphans.

A part of the work of the cathedral is the parish of Emanuel Church for colored people.  The church edifice, located on Third Street between Jefferson and Court Streets, originally built for a German Lutheran congregation, was purchased in 1884.  Dean Klein has entire charge of the work, the Rev. D. R. Anderson, a colored deacon, serving under him.  Connected with this colored mission is a parish school of about 100 pupils, taught by the Rev. Mr. Anderson.

Calvary Parish was organized in 1835.  The first building was erected near Court Square, and the present structure standing on the corner of Adams and Second Streets, in 1841.  This building was enlarged and improved in 1880, and is now worth about $25,000.  It will seat 750 people.  The membership of the parish is about 900, and the communicants number 352.  The altar and the organ in the church cost about $6,000.  It is believed that the first rector of this parish was Dr. Page, who was followed by Dr. Philip Alston before the war.  Bishop Otey and the present bishop of Tennessee, Dr. C. T. Quintard, both served this church, and were followed by Rev. Dr. George White, who was rector nearly twenty years, is now rector emeritus, and was succeeded by Rev. Davis Sessums in 1883.  Rev. Mr. Sessums, in the latter part of 1886, resigned to accept a call to New Orleans.  Calvary Parish has been very liberal to the venerable Dr. White, having paid him during the three years and nine months prior to January 1, 1887, $7,300, while at the same time it has paid its rector, Rev. Mr. Sessums, $6,475.  This extreme liberality to its rector emeritus has militated seriously against the prosperity, and while it is creditable to the hearts of the parishioners, yet it reflects little credit upon their judgement.

The Congregation of the Children of Israel was formed in 1854 by a few Israelites, who obtained that year a charter for the congregation.  The incorporators were J. I. Andrews, Moses Simons, John Walker, D. Levy, Julius Sandac, T. Folz, M. Bamberger, M. Bloom, Joseph Strauss and Reinach.  From a large sum bequeathed by Judah Touro of New Orleans, toward assisting small congregations in building synagogues, $2,000 was set aside to this congregation.  A lot was purchased on Second Street, and a building at the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, formerly occupied by the Farmers and Merchants Bank, rented and dedicated as a house of worship in February, 1858, by the Rev. Dr. Wise.  Shortly afterward this property was purchased and used as a synagogue until January 18, 1884, when the present elegant building on Poplar Street was erected at a cost of $50,000.  At this dedication the Rev. Dr. J. M. Wise, H. Sonneshein and M. Samfield officiated.  The congregation at present numbers 176, and the Sunday-school, of which Rev. M. Samfield is superintendent, has 120 pupils, taught by a staff of eleven teachers.  A new cemetery was dedicated in 1885 and a mortuary chapel built on it in 1886.

July 1, 1860, the Rev. S. Tuska was elected rabbi of the congregation, and served until his death, December 30, 1870, when he was succeeded by the present learned rabbi, Rev. M. Samfield.  The Congregation of Beth El Emes was formed from members of this congregation about 1863, but it was reincorporated into this congregation in 1883, since which time it has been very strong in members and in means.

The German Lutheran Church of Memphis, was organized in 1855, and had religious services and preaching by Rev. W. Fick, of New Orleans, who also attended his own congregation in New Orleans.  Toward the latter part of the year Paul Beyer, a student of theology at St. Louis, was sent to Memphis and preached a short time.  In 1856 he was called to the ministry of this church and remained until 1858, when he was succeeded by Rev. G. M. Gotsch, D.D., who remained until his death in 1876.  He was succeeded by his pastor, Rev. H. Lieck, who remained until the breaking out of the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, when he left the city, and was followed by Rev. Thomas Bensen, who died in 1881.  In September of this year Rev. T. G. Plautz became pastor and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Wilhelm H. Th. Dau, in 1886.  The congregation now numbers thirty members.

The parochial school in connection with this church has always been under the direction of pastors of the congregation, who have been assisted by various teachers.  At the present time there are about forty pupils.  After worshiping and teaching at No. 110 Main for several years the congregation bought Lot No. 98, Washington St., in 1874, and upon it Mr. Stoltz of Washington, D.C., erected the first story of the present building.  The second story which is not yet finished inside was added in 1883.  The congregation have recently agreed upon the following name: “The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church and School.”

The city of Memphis is on the Mississippi River in north latitude 35 degrees 6’ and in 13 degrees west longitude from Washington and on the fourth Chickasaw bluff.  About the time of the treaty with the Chickasaws, by which the western district was opened up to settlement by white people, there were but a few white settlers at this point and none in the surrounding country.  These few were the families of Patrick Meagher, Joshua Fletcher, Quimby, John Grace, William Irvine, John B. Moore, Anderson B. Carr, Thomas D. Carr and Tillman Bettis.  All but the last three had lived here for a considerable number of years, trading with the Indians.  In the spring of 1819 M. B. Winchester, accompanied by William Lawrence, came down the Mississippi in a flatboat from Cairo, Ill., to the fourth Chickasaw bluff.  Upon their arrival, after a trip of twenty days, Mr. Winchester formed a copartnership with Anderson B. Carr and established a trading house, making the third house of this kind then at the Bluff, although the entire trade at this point at that time did not exceed $25,000 per annum.

The original proprietor of the town site of Memphis was John Rice, to whom North Carolina had granted 5,000 acres of land at this point by grant No. 283, as fully explained elsewhere in this sketch.  This grant was devised by him to his brother, Elisha Rice, and sold by Elisha Rice to John Overton in 1794 for $500.  This is a very remarkable thing, John Rice having paid 500 in specie to North Carolina for the same land.  John Overton conveyed one-half of the tract to his personal friend, Gen. Andrew Jackson, who at various times sold portions of his interest, until finally the ownership of this tract settled down as follows: John Overton, one-half; Gen. James Winchester, one-fourth; Gen. Andrew Jackson, one-eighth and William Winchester, one-eighth.  In 1819 Judge Overton and Gen. Winchester came to Memphis and laid out a town which they thus named, Front, Main, Second and Third Streets being laid out from Bayou Gayoso to Union Street, not being extended farther south because the proprietors did not know where the survey would locate the south line of the grant.  In 1820 it was thought by the most sanguine that Memphis was destined to become a populous city, and there were 362 lots laid off on the plat.  The streets were designated as running to the four cardinal points, which they do very nearly, and are wider than is customary in southern cities.  There were at first four public squares, Court Square being one of the four, and between the front lots and the river an ample promenade was reserved.  The place was described as being the only site for a town of any magnitude on the Mississippi River between the mouth of the Ohio and Natchez, no other place on either side being sufficiently high and dry, level and extensive and the country back of it was seen to be comparatively elevated, level and dry, of great extent and well drained, well adapted to the growth of blue and herd grass and clover and to cotton, corn, wheat and tobacco.  The superiority of the bluff on which Memphis stands, over the few other situations of high lands along the Mississippi, had not been overlooked by La Salle, who in 1736 selected it for a trading fort and garrison.  Spain also recognized the value of the position as a healthy and commanding place for a similar establishment.  A fort and garrison had been built by the latter many years previous to the surrender of the place in accordance with the treaty of St. Ildefonso.

At this time, 1820, Memphis had fifty inhabitants, the following being some of the principal heads of families besides those already named: Isaac Rawlings, who came here originally about 1813 as a sutler with Gen. Jackson.  He was also Indian agent up to the time of their removal.  For a number of years he had a large quantity of Indian and army stores in the block-houses at Fort Pickering.  He was in addition a kind of magistrate by popular consent, without the formality of an election or an official appointment, from which fact he was honored with the title of “Squire Rawlings,” and it is written of him in “Old Times Papers,” that “it is questionable whether justice was not more equally administered then than it has ever been since.”  It is also said that after the extinguishment of the Indian titles he was appointed by the Legislature one of the magistrates, but did not give the satisfaction when administering justice by a written system as when governed by the dictates of his own honest heart; somewhat on the principal probably that a violinist accustomed to play by rote cannot play equally well by note.  But he became a great student of law, especially of the decisions of the most distinguished judges, and if he were not one of the most learned men of the day, he was certainly one of the most mistaken men of the day.

John C. McLemore was another of those heads of families.  He purchased Gen. Jackson’s interest in the town site, and thus became one of the proprietors of the town, as also one of its most active and liberal friends.  It was through his exertions that a large number of settlers was induced to make the Bluff their home.  Isaac Rawlings, as has been before stated, was an Indian trader years before the establishment of the town of Memphis, and after its establishment he continued still in the commercial line, his principal competitor being Maj. Marcus B. Winchester, one of the handsomest and courtliest of men, whose stock of goods was far more extensive and valuable than anything that “Ike” had ever had.  Maj. Winchester’s place of business was on Front Street just south of Jackson Street, where he erected the finest house in the town.  Rawling’s establishment was at Anderson’s bridge, a favorite camping-ground, particularly with the Indians, in consequence of which he had carried on the most extensive trade; but after Winchester’s fine store was put up on the Bluff, the trade was gradually transferred to the latter place, and to change this condition of affairs, Rawlings determined to change the location of his store.  He selected a lot on the west side of Second Street, between Jackson and Winchester Streets, for which he paid some $10 or $15.  The selection of this position was considered by him a fine strategic movement, as the place was high, overlooking the camping-ground at the bridge and also Winchester’s store at the Bluff, and would, he thought, enable him to retain all of his trade at the former place and draw off a good deal of that of his rival, Maj. Winchester.  But in order to secure the full benefit of his new position it would be necessary to have the alley on which his new store stood widened, but this he could have done without going to Winchester, who represented the proprietors, and asking him to have it done.  Putting a bold face upon the matter, as is usually the better way, the haughty Rawlings made the proper request of the proper party, and much to his surprise the request was readily and politely granted and he himself given the privilege of conferring a name upon the widened street.  Rawlings, therefore, named it “Commerce Street.”  The new store, erected at greater expense than would have been the case had not Winchester had such a fine store, is still standing with a basement added on account of the grading down of the street.  A large stock of goods was put in, a portion of which remained on hand unsold in 1844, eighteen years later, because of his resolute resistance to marking down his prices in order to compete with his rivals.  The fact that everybody else was underselling him, and that his custom was for this reason steadily leaving him, was in his judgment no reason for taking the only practical method of retaining his trade.  His store therefore at length became little else than a magistrates office, in which he delighted to sit for hours every day arguing legal questions and giving advice upon all subjects pertaining to agriculture, commerce or law, while the simple principles upon which to conduct his own little business of merchandising, were either entirely ignored, or were as profound a mystery as was the origin of the pyramids or of the Sphinx.  It was thought then by some, and it must have been true, that the retrograding movement which Memphis then underwent was due in great part to “Ike” Rawlings’ persistent opposition to everything in the way of improvement, although it is also said that the general impression abroad that Memphis was a very unhealthy place very much retarded her growth.  Like all new towns in the South and West, her citizens were subject to malarious fevers, which nothing can prevent but the improvements gradually introduced by civilization.  The larger part of the sickness afflicting Memphis from her origin to the present time, except the special epidemics of yellow fever and small-pox, have doubtless been caused by the existence of large areas of unclaimed wild lands, ponds, and lakes across the Mississippi River in Arkansas.

When the town of Memphis was laid out the proprietors of the original plat were John Overton, Andrew Jackson, Gen. James Winchester, of Tennessee, and the devisees George and William Winchester, of William Winchester (deceased), of the city of Baltimore.  In the sale of lots which went on from time to time in Memphis from 1819 to 1829, John Overton and Andrew Jackson were represented by their attorney, John Overton; James Winchester acted for himself, and M. B. Winchester was attorney for the devisees of Winchester.  The first sale of lots by the proprietors through their attorneys was made in March, 1822.  Lots No. 1 and No. 2 were sold to Patrick Meagher, the following being the form of deed in each case:

     WHEREAS John Overton, Andrew Jackson, James Winchester, of Tennessee, and the devisees of William Winchester, deceased, of the city of Baltimore, owners of a 5,000-acre tract of land upon the Chickasaw Bluff at the mouth of Wolf River, have laid off said tract into a town known by the name of Memphis, and

     WHEREAS the aforesaid John Overton and Andrew Jackson, by John Overton, their attorney, and James Winchester, for himself and the devisees of William Winchester, deceased, by their several powers of attorney, dated the 22d day of April, 1822, and registered in the office of the register of Shelby County, Tenn., did authorize and appoint William Lawrence and Marcus B. Winchester, their respective and joint attorneys, for them and in their names, to execute conveyances to purchasers of lots in said town of Memphis, which have been or may hereafter be sold by direction of the aforesaid attorneys, therefore

     Know ye that we, William Lawrence and Marcus B. Winchester, as aforesaid, by virtue of the powers and authority aforesaid, in consideration of valuable improvements put upon Lot No. 1, in said town, by Patrick Meagher, citizen of said town, etc., do give, grant, enfeoff and convey unto the said Patrick Meagher, all the right, title and interest of the aforesaid owners of Lot No. 1, lying at the intersection of Jackson and Chickasaw Streets, beginning at a stake marked N. 1, the southeast corner of said lot, at the intersection of said streets; thence running north 9 ½ degrees east, with the west line of said Chickasaw Street 37 feet 1 ½ inches to a stake, the south corner of Lot No. 2; thence north 80 ½ degrees west with the south boundary of Lot No. 2, 148 ½ feet to a stake the southwest corner of Lot No. 2; thence south 9 ½ degrees west 37 feet 1 ½ inches to a stake; thence south 80 ½ degrees east, fronting on the public promenade, 148 ½ feet to the beginning.

Lot No. 2 was also sold to Patrick Meagher for $140, the deed to both being dated February 6, 1823, and signed by William Lawrence and M. B. Winchester for John Overton and Andrew Jackson, and by James Winchester for himself and the devisees of William Winchester.  Lot No. 53 was sold to Benjamin Fooy (Foy) of the Territory of Arkansas.  This lot was at the intersection of Winchester Street and Mississippi Row, and the consideration was valuable improvements made upon the lot, the deed being dated October 13, 1823.  Lots Nos. 50, 185 and 186 were sold to Anderson B. Carr, Februay 13, 1825, the consideration for the three lots being $612.  Lot No. 50 was on the corner of Mississippi Row and an alley, and Lot No. 186 at the corner of Main and Jackson Streets.  Lot No. 49 was sold to Marcus B. Winchester June 30, 1824, for valuable improvements made thereon, services as agent and $1 in hand paid, at the corner of Jackson Street and Mississippi Row.  Lot No. 148 was sold January 5, 1825, to John R. Kent, in consideration that he erect a good frame or brick house with two comfortable rooms, each room to be at least fifteen feet square, within eighteen months.  One-half of Lot No. 40 was sold September 3, 1825, to Charlotte Fordan for $94, and the other half of the same lot was sold to Anderson B. Carr, on the same day for the same amount.  Lot No. 32 was sold January 6, 1826, to E. Coffee for $25, and Lot No. 147 was sold May 3, 1826, to S. Rosebrough for $140.50.

The sale of lots went on slowly in this way until 1829 when the attorneys for the proprietors made application to the county court for a division of their different undivided interests in sundry unsold lots in Memphis and a tract of 1,200 acres of land.  In this petition which was dated April 20, 1829, the petitioners state their respective interests to be as follows: John Overton’s one-half; John C. McLemore’s, one-eighth; the heirs of Gen. James Winchester, one-fourth, and the devisees of William Winchester, one-eighth.  It was signed by William Lawrence, attorney in fact for John Overton and John C. McLemore, and by M. B. Winchester, attorney in fact for George and William Winchester.  The court in accordance with this petition ordered that Anderson B. Carr, Nathaniel Anderson, John Ralston, David Dunn, Tilman Bettis, James H. Lawrence and William Lawrence, or any five of them, be appointed commissioners to set apart to the petitioners their several portions in severalty of said town lots and land and report to the next court.  The next court of pleas and quarter sessions was held at the courthouse at Raleigh July 20, 1829, to which the commissioners reported that they had made a particular examination of the unsold lots and of the 1,200-acre tract, lying northeast and south of the town of Memphis and usually known as the town reserve, and had parcelled the said lots, etc., into eight divisions as nearly equal in value as they could make them, and that John Overton was entitled to four of said eight divisions, John C. McLemore to one, George and William Winchester, together, to one, and that the estate of the late Gen. James Winchester was entitled to two of the said eight divisions.  The particular division which should belong to each interest was determined by ballot, and the entire proceedings of the commissioners signed by Tilman Bettis, John Ralston, William Lawrence, Anderson B. Carr and James H. Lawrence.

In December, 1826, as is elsewhere stated, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the town of Memphis.  This took the citizens generally by surprise.  Some were pleased, others were indifferent, and still others were very much opposed to having to support an incorporation.  At a public meeting at which “Ike” Rawlings presided, the incorporation was denounced as a trick of the proprietors, and the chairman of the meeting himself made a strong speech against it, showing how severe it would be on several of the poor people living in the outskirts of the proposed town.  Speakers on the other side as strongly favored the incorporation as being a necessity and proposed, in order to satisfy Rawlings’ temporary prejudices, to leave out te poor people in the outskirts.  Notwithstanding the opposition to the incorporation it was a success.  After two years of charter life, Memphis having experienced meantime considerable improvement, the charter was amended so as to give to the town all the powers of Nashville, and providing that the mayor should not hold any office under the Government of the United States.  This without anything else in his favor would have elected Isaac Rawlings mayor of the town, M. B. Winchester being at the time both mayor and postmaster, and he was elected and re-elected a number of times, serving in all many years.

For the first few years of the town’s existence its growth was quite slow.  From the nature of the soil on which it was built the streets were very muddy, at times almost impassable.  Trade was light and confined almost exclusively to river craft.  The first receipts of cotton in this market were in 1826, when 300 bales were sent in from Fayette and Henderson Counties.  In four years the growth of this business was so rapid that in 1830 the receipts were 10,000 bales.  In 1836 they were 50,000 bales; in 1845, 75,000 bales; in 1850, 150,000 bales; and in 1854, 180,000 bales.  The population of the place which in 1820 was 50, was in 1830, 704; in 1840, 1,700; in 1850, 6,427; in 1854, 12,687.  The increase of population during these earlier years was so steady and great that enthusiastic prophets ventured to predict in 1854 that a the end of the next thirty-five years, the population would be over 800,000.  In 1845 proper measures were taken to improve the streets, and since then large sums have been expended, especially since the yellow fever epidemic of 1878-79, and as a consequence the streets are at this time (1887) in a better condition than are those of most other southern cities.  In 1834, when W. A. Bickford came to Memphis, there were but two physicians, M. B. Sappington and Wyatt Christian.  In 1838 Mr. Bickford made a list of the adult male white citizens, containing 209 names, which was thus the first directory of Memphis.  Not more than nine of this number are now living.

After the failure of numerous special projects to build up the city, the navy yard project came up in 1843.  In 1841 Congress had appointed commissioners to locate a navy yard somewhere in the Mississippi Valley, and after a careful examination of the Mississippi River throughout its entire length, from the mouth of the Ohio to New Orleans, these commissioners reported that at the mouth of Wolf River was the best location.  When this subject was first broached it was regarded by many as a huge joke; but it was as necessary then as now for congressmen to do something for their constituents.  Helena, Ark., had a Government Hospital, and Vicksburg had a lighthouse, which was, it is believed, actually lighted up during one entire month, and Memphis, to stand on a par with her sister cities of the valley, must have a navy yard, though hundreds of miles from the sea.  It was however a much more easy matter to get through Congress the bill providing for its establishment, than it was afterward to secure appropriations for its support.  In 1843 three young officers of the navy visited Memphis for the purpose of examining into its adaptability for a naval depot and dock yard.  The space of ground devoted to the navy yard was bounded on the north by Auction Street; on the east by Front Street; on the south by Market Street and on the west by the Mississippi River.

This tract of land was in part or wholly donated to the United States Government for the purpose of securing the location of the navy yard.  The first action taken by the board of mayor and aldermen looking to this end was on September 23, 1841, when the following preamble and resolutions were adopted.

     WHEREAS the Government of the United States has passed an act promising the establishment of an armory on the western waters, and believing the local situation of Memphis is advantageously situated for such an establishment, therefore

     Resolved, That the mayor be authorized to appoint a committee of five citizens to draw up a memorial to the President of the United States setting forth the claims of Memphis and the advantages she possesses for such an establishment.

On May 1, 1843, the board received from the commissioners of the General Government a plat of a survey made by them with a view of reporting to Congress on the practicability of establishing a naval dock yard and depot.  The plan included a part of the Promenade and Batture, lying north of Market Street, and also town lots belonging to private individuals from No. 1 to No. 24 inclusive.  A committee was appointed to act with the mayor to obtain from the owners of said lots by purchase or otherwise the right and title to the same with a view to transferring them to the General Government if the national works should be located at this point.  On the 4^th of May succeeding an act was passed by the board of mayor and aldermen enacting that for and in consideration of the sum of $20,000, when paid, the mayor would under the authority of the act they were then passing make a deed conveying to the General Government of the United States the ground surveyed by the committee for a navy yard and depot, if the same should be required within three years, for the establishment of such navy yard and depot.  After some difficulty over the title to the property, on the 23d of December, 1844, the committee appointed to close up the titles to the property was instructed to take the deed of Seth Wheatley for twenty-three lots, and the corporation would then make a deed for the whole, including streets and Batture, to the General Government, and that the committee should go on to perfect the titles excluding the twenty-four lots west of Chickasaw Street.  After the completion of the transfer to the Government, a wall was erected, twelve feet thick a the base as also a rope walk, a large store, a commandant’s house, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s shop, a sawmill, an office building resembling the Coliseum at Rome, with columns all around.  Commodore Shields and Commodore Lavalette were the successive commandants at this famous naval depot.  After struggling along for a number of years with increasing difficulty to secure the necessary appropriations for its support, the navy yard and its buildings were abandoned, the amount of money spent thereon having been from $1,200,000 to $1,500,000.  The only creditable piece of work turned out of this novel navy yard, was the great iron steamship of war, “Alleghany,” which was entirely built and equipped here with the exception of her hull.  This was a most wonderful war vessel!  Her speed is said to have been four miles per hour down stream, that being about the ordinary rapidity of the current, and four hours to the mile up stream, and after a brief but entirely unsatisfactory history, having cost the Government nearly $500,000, she was totally condemned.  The navy yard itself was overtaken by a similar fate.  In 1853 Senator (ex-Gov.) James C. Jones, incensed at the parsimony with which Congress made appropriations for the support of the Memphis navy yard, made a demand that the property be returned to the city.  The Senate, as if hoping some such way would present itself to get the elephant off its hands, instantly took the senator at his word, and thus ended one of the greatest failures in the shape of a navy yard this country has known.

In 1841 the city extended but little below Poplar Street, and there was but one brick house in town.  It was not until 1844 that much business was transacted below Madison Street.  In 1842 and 1843 the Gayoso House was built, and in 1844 a store was erected at the corner of Front and Union Streets, and South Memphis was built up after 1840.  In 1847 W. A. Bickford erected at the corner of Front and Poplar Streets, extending to Exchange Street, a large business and office block, known then and ever since as the Exchange building.  It contained the City Hall, 52x106 feet, besides a number of smaller halls for various public purposes, such as the mayor’s office, the council’s office, and a lecture hall.  In 1849 the large building on the corner of Main and North Court Streets was commenced, and completed in 1850.  In 1853 the city contained the following numbers of business houses: nineteen groceries; four hat, cap, boot and shoe stores; thirty-seven dry goods stores; fifteen clothing merchants; four auction and commission merchants; two book stores, one musical instrument store, two dentists, five merchant tailors, three millinery establishments, three saddleries, seventeen foundries, plumbers, etc.; one flouring-mill, five hardware stores, eight drug stores, two real estate agents, nine hotels, among them the Gayoso kept by J. M. Fletcher, three factories, two daguerreotypists, three printing offices, six painters, ten furniture stores, etc., three banks, forty law firms, thirty-two physicians, three livery stables, three jewelers, Memphis Medical College with eight professors, and four newspapers.  The population, as has been seen, was 12,687 in 1854.      

Previous to laying out the town of South Memphis there was considerable strife and hard feeling between the two sections, a complete history of which however is not deemed appropriate in this work.  The north part of the town or rather Memphis was known by the not very euphonious designation of “Pinch,” and South Memphis was in retaliation named Sodom.  The feeling went so far that the names of Sodom and Gomorrah were applied to the Methodist Churches in the two places.  In the north part there was a bend in the bayou, which constituted a considerable lake, one known by the name of Catfish Bay.  The abundance of fish in its waters and the cheapness of lumber in the vicinity induced a number of poor families to build shanties and settle upon its banks.  One group of very poor houses, noted for the destitution of its occupants, was named by Craven Peyton “Pinch Gut.”  This name was of course distasteful to the occupants of the row, and they insisted that it belonged to the other side of the bay.  The latter people were much displeased at the attempt to fasten upon their locality such an opprobrious epithet, and the feud thus created was much enjoyed by those living outside of both localities.  However, their enjoyment was to be only short-lived, as the application of the name continued to expand until it finally took in the entire north end of town.  But the extension of the name was of great value to those people as it served to bind them together with a common tie, and caused them all to work together for the advancement of the locality known as "Pinch."  The bitterness of feeling however had a lasting effect upon the destinies of South Memphis.  A glance at the map of Memphis as now incorporated shows that the most of the north and south streets in the city are not continuous below Union Street, the object of the people of South Memphis being to restrict as much as possible communication with the detested residents of Pinch.

During the early history of Memphis great trouble was experienced in collecting wharfage.  Wharfage could not, in fact, be collected previous to 1841.  There being no railroads the products of the Southern and Western States were carried down the Mississippi River in flatboats, which frequently came in fleets.  The managers of these flatboats were opposed to paying wharfage, and when they banded together in resistance to the wharf-master it was only discretion which he exhibited when he abandoned all attempts to collect it, and retreated with becoming celerity up the hill.  The income from wharfage for several years was out of all proportion to the trouble and annoyance of the wharf-master, who, together with some of the best citizens of the place, was frequently assaulted and shamefully abused by the boatmen.  But this state of things could not last forever.  In 1841 a reform board of mayor and aldermen was elected, William Spickernagle being elected mayor.  Mr. Spickernagle attempted a thorough reform in the kind of men elected to office.  Two voluntary military companies, known as the Guards and the Blues, were encouraged to organize and equip themselves; and upon the completion of their organization they offered their services to the mayor, to assist in the enforcement of the laws.  The board of mayor and aldermen was placed in a particularly trying situation.  The three towns of Memphis, South Memphis and Fort Pickering were doing what they could to injure each other, and in this way it was hoped to build up themselves.  The board was fully impressed with the necessity of selecting a good man for wharf-master, as they were well assured that some hard fighting must be done, and to encourage the wharf-master to do his work thoroughly they offered him twenty-five per cent on all collections.  His administration proved to be a success, but not without some severe tussles with the boatmen.  Since then wharfage has been a considerable item in the revenues of the city, but the victory was not won until May, 1842.  At this time—when the water in the river was low—about 500 boats were lying at the Memphis landing at one time.  Among them was one commanded by a noted desperado named Trester.  He was going to see whether the wharf-master at Memphis was to have his own way, and to test the matter armed himself with a big club, which he trimmed so that the limbs stuck out about one-half an inch from the stem.  When the wharf-master appeared before him in the regular performance of his duty Trester exclaimed: “Who are you?”  “The wharf-master,” was the reply.  Grasping his stick Trester exclaimed: “Do you see this?  I cut this on purpose for you and I am going to use it on you if you show yourself here while I remain, and if you don’t leave quickly I will give it to you now.  I am the master of this wharf.”  As Tester was cheered on by a considerable crowd, the wharf-master thought it prudent to withdraw.  Obtaining a warrant from the mayor, he got the town constable, G. B. Locke, to attempt to serve it.  “I have a warrant for you,” said the constable.  “And I have one for you,” said Trester, advancing with his big stick.  A crowd of boatmen soon collected, and the two officers thought it best to again withdraw.  They soon returned, however, with Capt. E. F. Ruth of the Guards with ten or twelve of his men, well armed.  Trester and his men now attempted to escape, but as his two boats were heavily loaded he could not keep out of the way of the small flat which carried the small company of Guards in pursuit.  An attempt was made to board Trester’s boat, but his heavy club came down with such force on the wharf-master as to lay him sprawling on the flat.  Capt. Ruth, Constable Locke and another man tried to board the boat, but were each knocked down, when some one called out to the Guards: “Fire! Fire!” which order was obeyed by four of the soldiers, and Trester fell dead upon the deck.  After this, though with considerable difficulty, the rest of the boatmen were taken prisoners.  In course of time a board of magistrates upon investigation fully justified everything that had been done to enforce the law, and this was the last resistance to the collection of wharfage.

The unhealthfulness of Memphis previous to 1880, or rather the frequent recurrence of severe epidemics previous to that time, and its comparative healthfulness since then, have attracted wide attention throughout the country.  So far as official records show, the first epidemic from which Memphis suffered was in 1851, when ninety-three deaths occurred from cholera.  Yellow fever visited the city in each of the four following years, but from 1856 to 1865 inclusive there are no official records.  In 1866 there were over 400 deaths from cholera.  In 1867 yellow fever and cholera both prevailed, the number of deaths from the former being 259.  In 1873 yellow fever was officially announced in Memphis on September 14, though a number of deaths had previously occurred from the disease, which was not recognized by the physicians until that date.  The last case occurred in November, and the entire number of deaths from the fever that year was officially reported as 1,244.

But the most terrible experience from this dread scourge was reserved for the city to undergo in 1878, when 17,600 persons suffered from the disease, of whom 5,150 died, the ratio of mortality to cases being one to three and three-tenths of those taken sick.  The population of the city was believed then by those best informed to be 19,600.  There were three patent cases for this great epidemic: First, the filthy condition of the city; second, the extreme heat of that summer; and third, the feverish excitement of the public mind which had existed through a period of twenty years because of the changing conditions of political life.  Notwithstanding the previous epidemics the controlling authorities of the city either had not learned wisdom, or were not in a position to render practical the wisdom they had learned.  The first case of yellow fever which occurred in 1878 was that of a colored man, on July 21.  A young man, Willie Darby, was taken sick July 25, but neither of these cases proved fatal.  The first case officially recognized was on August 2, and the first death appears to have been that of Mrs. Zack, on August 5.  The following cases were reported on August 12: A son of G. B. Clarke, Mattie L. Isaacs, Roger Jones, J. W. Kearnes, George Mitchell (colored), Katie Neighbors, Mrs. Jennie White and Jung  Yung Tah.  Twenty-two new cases were reported on the 15^th, and the fear of the plague, already great, received a new impetus, and caused large numbers to seek relief in flight.  Thirty-three new cases were reported on the 16^th, and the entire population was precipitated into an indescribable panic.  In numerous cases self preservation proved in reality to be the first law of nature.  In the first forty-eight hours fifty-five victims fell, and considering the experience of 1873, it is not to be wondered at that almost every one who could do so, by any and all means of conveyance, and even on foot, in all directions and to all conceivable points, sought safety in flight.  By the 24^th of August 25,000 people had left the city, and in two weeks more 5,000 additional ones were in camp in the vicinity.  But the panic was over by the last week in August.  All had gone who could get away, and there were in the city about 3,000 cases of fever.  The temperature during August averaged 82.2 degrees; in September, 72 degrees; in October, 60.8 degrees and in November 57.8 degrees, being from 1 degree to 8 degrees higher than during the same months in 1873.  This long continued heat, combined with the fearful strain upon the nervous system, drained the vital energies of the citizens to such an extent that it was next to impossible for any human being to escape the dread disease.

Not more than 200 white people escaped the fever, and most of the had had it before.  If there were, as there were, many cases of apparent and real selfishness, there were also many, and perhaps many more, cases of noble self-abnegation and devotion, in the face of almost certain death, every one of which is worthy of perpetual remembrance.  Of the resident physicians who died at the post of duty and of honor were the following: V. W. Avent, A. J. Armstrong, P. D. Beecher, S. R. Clarke, S. R. Dawson, P. M. Dickerson, John H. Erskine, W. R. Hodges, H. R. Hopson, Dr. Ingalls, W. R. Lowry, Paul H. Otey, J. M. Rogers, W. H. Robins, John C. Rogers, P. K. Watson and J. W. Woodward.  Volunteer physicians from abroad who died were the following: From Tennessee—T. W. Bond, Brownsville; O. D. Bartholonew and T. W. Menees, Nashville; John B. Hicks, Murfreesboro; T. H. McGregor, Tipton County; R. B. Montgomery, Chattanooga.  From Alabama—J. S. Stevenson, Bankson.  From Ohio—R. Burcham, Hiram M. Pierce, P. Tuerk and R. H. Tate, Cincinnati.  From Georgia—L. A. Chevis, Savannah.  From Arkansas—E. T. Easley, Little Rock; F. H. Force, Hot Springs, and L. B. Harlan.  From Texas—J. G. Forbes, Round Rock, and—Heady, Sherman.  From Indiana—J. O. G. Gorrell, Ft. Wayne, and J. G. Renner, Indianapolis.  From New York—M. T. Keating.  From St. Louis—J. W. McKim, Dr. Nelson and P. G. Nugent.  From Kentucky—W. C. Mead, Hopkinsville and R. B. Williams, Woodburn.  From Louisiana—Dr. Smith, Shreveport and R. B. Fort.

The priesthood, both Catholic and Protestant, was characterized by most admirable earnestness and devotion, as were likewise the sisters of the various orders.  The names of the Catholic clergy who died were the following: Revs. Martin Walsh, M. Meagher, Father Asinus, Father Maternus, J. R. McGarney from Harrodsburg, Ky.; J. A. Boekel, Baltimore; Rev. Vantroostenburg, Kentucky; J. P. Seawell, Louisville, Ky.; Rev. M. Riordan and Father Marley.  The nuns who died were Mother Alphonso; Sisters Rose, Josepha, Bernardine, Mary Dolora, Mary Veronica, Wilhelmina, Vincent, Stanislaus, Gertrude and Winkelmen, the latter of St. Louis.  The Protestant ministers who died were Revs. Mr. Parsons, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Moody, A. F. Bailey, E. C. Slater, David R. S. Rosebrough, P. T. Scruggs, Victor Bath and S. C. Arnold with his wife and child.

The Citizens’ Relief Committee, the Howard Association and the police all labored heroically in the performance of the most unpleasant but the most sacred duty—the nursing of the sick and the preservation of order and of life.  The Citizens’ Relief Committee was burdened with the greatest responsibility, in caring for and distributing the supplies sent with such a prodigal hand from all parts of the world.  As showing the magnitude of the work entrusted to their hands, which was performed with the most scrupulous honesty and fidelity, the following summary of donations to Memphis is introduced:

     Arkansas contributed $6,690.37; Arizona, $5; Alabama, $6,281.45; California, $29,047.30; Colorado, $3,950.95; Connecticut, $5,070.28; Dakota, $663.50; Delaware, $41.02; Florida $1,516.83; Georgia, $11,414.34; Illinois, $52,307.60; Indiana, $13,787.69; Indian Territory, $5; Iowa, $6,407.58; Kansas, $6,559.67; Kentucky, $8,810.52; Louisiana, $1,427.15; Maine, $817; Maryland, $495.98; Massachusetts, $3,964.28; Minnesota, $2,651.77; Mississippi, $727.65; Missouri, $16,891.37; Michigan, $11,200.43; Montana, $987; miscellaneous sources, $9,607.18; Nebraska, $4,509.41; Nevada, $1,374.94; New Hampshire, $1,607.50; New Jersey, $3,983.67; New Mexico, $134.30; New York, $56,804.16; North Carolina, $7,190.76; Ohio, $26,020.72; Oregon, $2,514; Pennsylvania, $11,770.33; Rhode Island, $6,513; South Carolina, $6,039.66; Texas, $11,400.30; Tennessee, $23,847.97; Utah Territory, $2,774.70; Virginia, $9,524.55; Vermont, $829.31; Washington, D.C., $1,775.30; West Virginia, $2,990.55; Wisconsin, $10,592.57; Wyoming, $875.75; a grand total of $400,412.54.  The entire amount received by the South in 1878 from all parts of the world on account of the yellow fever was $4,548,703. 

Under the new form of government called the “Taxing District,” the board of health was organized in February, 1879, which as soon as practicable commenced the work of sanitation, though for various reasons much valuable time was consumed without accomplishing much for the city’s good.  Upon the subsidence of the epidemic of 1878 the sanitary condition of the city was worse than it had ever been, and as six months had been suffered to pass without anything being done, the new board found its hands more than full, though in five weeks from the time of commencing the work the surface cleaning of all the streets, alleys and public grounds had been completed at a cost of $2,449 and a garbage service instituted to prevent similar accumulations.  The citizens themselves also accomplished more sanitary work than they had ever done before, impressed with the necessity of doing something to prevent the return of the plague.  But in July, 1879, the fever reappeared in spite of all that had been done, which seemed to demonstrate the possibility of its holding over from one summer to another despite the cold of the intervening winter.  The first case occurred on the 9^th of the month, known as the Mulbraden case, and the Ray and Tobin cases occurred very soon afterward.  The exodus of the people for the next few days was very large, not more than about 1,500 unacclimated remaining; and when the Hester cases were reported the flight began again.  It was considered with apparently the best of reason, by Dr. T. J. Tyner of Memphis, in a paper read by him at Nashville, on the “Etiology of Yellow Fever,” that the chief causes for its appearance in Memphis were the privy vault system, many of which, dug to the depth of forty feet, had not been emptied of their accumulated excreta for from ten to forty years; and he also said that the cistern water was contaminated by seepage from these vaults.  The work of emptying the vaults went on very slowly.  There were 6,000 of them in use, 3,668 of which were in a very foul condition, and a very large number of unused vaults, the contents of which only imperfectly covered with a thin layer of ashes.  Three thousand five hundred and eight cisterns were within contaminating distance of these vaults, and the cisterns furnished the most of the water consumed.

The first death in 1879 occurred July 9, at No. 204 De Soto Street.  Three cases occurred at one house, No. 425 Wellington Street, and two at No. 55 Bradford Street, the latter being about a mile from either of the other two.  One death occurred at each place about the same time.  At the outbreak of this epidemic the population of the city was estimated at 40,000, and at the close of the month of July there were living in the city but 16,110 persons.  Two thousand two hundred and fifty-four went to the various camps in the vicinity, and the rest to various points at a distance by rail, river and other means of transportation.  In order to prevent the spreading of the disease, every article of baggage was fumigated with sulphuric acid gas for three hours in a close room, and the mails were subjected to a similar treatment.  In this work, including the infected houses, rooms, etc., there were consumed thirty-four barrels of sulphur, and about 1,200 pounds of sulphate of zinc.  Nine thousand privy vaults were disinfected during the continuance of the epidemic, one or more times, 19,581 visits being made.  In this work, 9,343 barrels of lime, 135,250 gallons of zinc solution, and 212,000 pounds of sulphate of iron were used.  Of the sixty or more laborers, mostly colored, employed in this disinfecting process, but few had had the fever, not one was attacked with the disease.  The disinfection of infected houses, bedding and wearing apparel was also pursued to such an extent that 2,383 articles, embracing one flatboat, three houses, two bedsteads, and every description of bed clothing and wearing apparel, were consumed by fire.  On the 29^th of July a census of the people showed 4,283 white people, and 11,287 colored people, of whom 9,743 had had the fever before.  An important feature of sanitation was the emptying and filling up of privy vaults, 1,644 of which were thus treated, and the destruction of houses and other buildings which were in an unsanitary condition, 138 of these being destroyed in 1879.  The expense of this work was $21,584.62.  The deaths from yellow fever in 1879 were as follows: whites 391, colored 106, total 497.  The number of cases was 860 whites, 680 colored, total number of cases 1,540.

Commencing in 1875 the death rate for five years for Memphis, excluding mortality from yellow fever, was 34 per 1,000, estimating the population at 35,000.  In 1880 the death rate for the whites was 20.38, and for the colored people was 32.55.  In 1881 the death for the whites was 30.22 and for the colored 44.77.  In 1882 it was for the whites 14.85, and for the blacks 39.45.  In 1883, estimating the population at 62,335, the death rate for the whites was 15.19 and for the blacks, 35.83.  In 1884 it was for the whites 18.80; for the blacks, 41.66; and for 1885, it was for the whites 16.56, and for the blacks, 36.96.  But this excessive negro mortality is not peculiar to Memphis.  The same general facts are noticeable in Nashville, Chattanooga and other southern cities.  Investigation by the best physicians into the causes for this excessive mortality among the negro population, shows that consumption and pneumonia play an important part toward the production of this high death rate as do debility, marasmus, dentition, inanition and premature births.  Lung diseases are accounted for by the exposed and improvident life led by the colored people.  And it is further noticeable that both the young and old among them are more liable to die than the same classes among the whites.  This is fully accounted for by the general poverty of the race as yet, and the want of care in many cases where such proper care might be given, but is not, because of the looseness of family ties among them.  The wonderful improvement made since 1879, in the sanitary condition of Memphis, is summarized under the head “Taxing District,” elsewhere.

South Memphis was incorporated January 6, 1846, and an election for mayor and eight aldermen was held on the third Saturday of the same month, resulting in the election of Sylvester Bailey, mayor, and A. B. Shaw, H. H. Menus, George W. Davis, W. Howard, J. E. Merriman, John Brown, J. P. Keiser and James Kennedy, aldermen.  The boundaries of South Memphis were defined as follows: On the east, south and west the boundaries are the same as the South Memphis tract, and on the north the boundary line commences in the center of the Mississippi River, opposite the rise of Union Street; thence east with the center of Union Street, as at present laid off until the same intersects with the Pigeon Roost road; thence with the south side of Pigeon Roost road to the east line of the South Memphis tract of land.  On September 4, South Memphis was divided into four wards.  The treasurer for the first corporate year made a report showing that the revenue amounted to $6,266.17, and licenses, etc., to $3,750.50.  John T. Trezevant was mayor in 1847-48 and A. B. Taylor in 1849.  The last meeting of the mayor and aldermen of South Memphis took place December 31, 1849.

Memphis was incorporated by act of the Legislature of Tennessee, December 9, 1826, as the town of Memphis.  The substance of this charter was as follows: Section 1 incorporated the town and conferred upon it its name as above.  Section 2 gave the town authorities power to pass all kinds of needful legislation for the government of and the preservation of the health of the town.  Section 3 required the sheriff of the county to hold an election on the first Saturday of March, 1827, and on the same day in every subsequent year, for members of the board of aldermen; at which election any person holding a freehold in the town, who was entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly, should be qualified to vote for mayor and aldermen.  Section 4 is rather curious in its grammatical construction.  It reads “that the seven persons having the highest number of votes at any election shall be taken to be elected, and the sheriff of said county shall within two days thereafter, and a majority being present, shall proceed to elect a mayor from their own body for said corporation for the time the aldermen were elected.”

This charter did not reach Memphis until after the first Saturday of March, 1827, and the election for aldermen, which according to its provisions should have been held on that day, was not held until April 26 following.  The members of this first board, elected on April 26, were Joseph L. Davis, John Hooke, N. B. Atwood, John R. Dougherty, George F. Graham, William D. Neely and M. B. Winchester.  The first meeting of this body was held May 9.  The certificate of election was presented as follows:

     We, the undersigned, being judges of an election, opened and held at the old courthouse in the town of Memphis, on the 26^th day of April, 1827, for the purpose of electing seven persons to serve as aldermen for the said town of Memphis, do certify that upon counting out the votes M. B. Winchester, Joseph L. Davis, John Hooke, N. B. Atwood, George F. Graham, John R. Dougherty and William D. Neely were duly elected.

                                                                      Nathan Anderson.

                                                                      Isaac Rawlings.

S. R. Brown, Sheriff.                                    A. Rapel.

At this first meeting M. B. Winchester was elected mayor by the board in accordance with the requirements of the charter, and the first resolution passed was that it was important to the interests of Memphis that ordinances be passed.  Notice was given that on May 12 an election would be held for treasurer, recorder and town constable, the election when held resulting in the choice of Isaac Rawlings for treasurer; Joseph L. Davis, recorder and John K. Balch, town constable.

On the 30^th of May the Board of Mayor and Aldermen had some difficulty over the question of the legality of their organization.  They had been elected on the 26^th of April, instead of on the first Saturday of March, as required by he charter.  But after a sufficient amount of discussion and subtle logic had been brought to bear upon the question, the board themselves finally decided the question in their own favor, by the following process of reasoning: That the charter did not reach Memphis until after the first Saturday of March; it was evidently the intention of the Legislature that the corporation should be organized during the current year; that the judges held the election legal and the sheriff had so certified; hence it was declared proper on the part of the board that they consider themselves a legal body and proceed to business to pass the ordinances needed by the new town.

The first ordinances passed related to the classification of property, into taxable and non-taxable, the following being ordained to bear their proper share of the public burdens: All town lots; all free males between the ages of twenty-one and fifty; all slaves between the ages of twelve and fifty; wholesale and retail stores, including medicine stores; peddlers and hawkers; tavern-keepers; retailers of spirits; stud horses and jacks.  Taxes were levied in the following proportions: improved lots with buildings, 10 cents on the $100; unimproved lots, 10 cents; each free male inhabitant, 25 cents; each slave, 25 cents; each wholesale and retail store, $8; each trading boat, peddler, or hawker, $10; each lawyer or doctor practicing for profit, $2; each tavern-keeper $3; each retailer of spirits without tavern license, $10.

The limits of the corporation were fixed by the ordinance as follows: “Beginning at the intersection of Wolf River with the Mississippi River; thence with Wolf River to the mouth of Bayou Gayoso; thence with said bayou to the county bridge; thence with the line of the second alley east of and parallel with Second Street to Union Street; thence at right angles to Second Street to the western boundary of the tract of land entered to John Rice by grant No. 283, dated April 25, 1789; thence with the said western boundary up the Mississippi River to the Wolf River.”

The editor of the Memphis Advocate was then chosen public printer and the recorder elect was required to give bonds in the sum of $500 and the treasurer in double the sum liable to come into his hands during the current year.  Other ordinances were passed which the curious may find in the public records, and all were signed by all the members of the board, including M. B. Winchester, mayor.

On October 17, $80 was set apart for the improvement of Chickasaw Street and $120 for a wharf from high to low water mark at the lowest steamboat landing.  On May 19, 1828, David Banks was elected constable, and the office of town surveyor established.  January 16, 1829, a superintendent of the graveyard was provided for.  At the second election for mayor, M. B. Winchester was again selected, the other aldermen being Samuel Douglass, William A. Hardy, John D. Graham, Augustus L. Humphrey, Joseph L. Davis and Robert Fearn.  On the 4^th of March, 1829, Isaac Rawlings was elected mayor, by a vote of four to three of the board, and he was again elected in March, 1830.  On the 16^th of August following, the town was divided into three wards as follows: Ward No. 1 comprised all that part of Memphis northeast of a direct line from the Mississippi River to Overton Street, thence with said street to the Bayou Gayoso; Ward No. 2, all that part of Memphis south of the aforementioned line to Overton Street, to Bayou Gayoso, and northeast of a direct line from the Mississippi to Winchester Street and thence with Winchester Street to the eastern boundary of the town; Ward No. 3, all that part of Memphis south of the last mentioned line.

In March, 1831, Seth Wheatley was elected mayor, and Robert Lawrence in 1832.  Isaac Rawlings was then elected mayor for three consecutive years.  Enoch Banks was elected in 1836 and 1838, John H. Morgan intervening in 1837.  On August 6, 1838, a board of health was appointed as follows: Drs. Christian, Sappington, Frazier, Hickman, Dewitt, Mabry and Shanks.  The extent of the business transacted by the corporation at this time is indicated by the receipts and disbursements of the treasurer for 1838, the former being $5,957.48, and the latter $5,452.95.  In March, 1839, Thomas Dixon was elected mayor, and on the 4^th of March, that year, a list of the taxable property of the town and the taxes thereon was as follows: 471 town lots, valued at $587,400, taxes thereon $2,950; 152 slaves, value $91,800, taxes $223.50; five carriages, taxes $20, and 231 white polls, taxes $231.  The reader of the general history will remember that the constitution of 1834 disfranchised the free colored men, hence at this time there was no poll tax except upon white polls.  Thomas Dixon was again elected mayor in March, 1840, and on the 25^th of April the Legislature passed an act changing the title of the place from the town of Memphis to the city of Memphis.  The tax list for this year was as follows: 499 lots, value $552,425, taxes $4,143.18 ¾; 221 slaves, value $107,500, taxes, $268.75; 324 white polls, $324; 6 carriages, $24.  In March, 1841, William Spickernagle was elected mayor.  All the previous incumbents of this office appear to have served their city without a salary, but now the town having become a city, the aldermen at last began to think that his duties had become sufficiently valuable and onerous to deserve a pecuniary compensation, and to learn whether this sentiment was also entertained by the people, it was resolved on the 15^th of September, that the recorder be required to ascertain as nearly as possible the sense of the people on the subject of giving the mayor a salary and to inform the board at the next meeting.  The sense of the people appears also to have been in favor of the salary, for on the 12^th of November, 1841, it was resolved that the mayor be paid a salary of $500 per annum, “from the 15^th of September last.”

On the 5^th of February, 1842, an act was passed to amend the charter of the city of Memphis, by which the city was divided into five wards and each ward entitled to elect two aldermen, who, with the mayor, were required to prescribe the limits of the wards.  The power to elect the mayor was now conferred upon the people.  In March, 1842, Edwin Hickman was elected mayor, and also in 1843 and 1844; in 1845, J. J. Finley; in 1846, Edwin Hickman; in 1847 Enoch Banks, and in 1848, Gardner B. Locke.  At the popular election held on March 4, the candidates and votes for the office of mayor were Enoch Banks, 356; Gardner B. Locke, 356; E. Hickman, 87; James Seawell, 80, and W. F. Fannehill, 61.  On the 11^th of March, Mayor Banks still presiding, the salary of the mayor for the twenty-second corporate year was fixed at $1,000, and on the 13^th the board went into an election for mayor on account of the tie in the popular vote, on the second ballot electing Gardner B. Locke, he receiving six votes, a majority of the entire board.

An act was passed January 21, 1848, reducing all the charters of Memphis into one act or charter.  By this charter the limits of the city were thus defined: Beginning at a point in the middle of the Mississippi River opposite to the center of Union Street; thence eastwardly with a line passing through the center of Union Street, to the western bank of Bayou Gayoso; thence down said bayou with the western bank of the same to the point of its intersection with Wolf River; thence down Wolf River with its northwesterly bank to its intersection with the Mississippi River; thence down the Mississippi River to a point opposite the north side of Market Street; thence to a point in the main channel of the Mississippi River opposite to the said north side of Market Street, and thence down the said main channel of the said river to the beginning.”  The mayor and aldermen, two from each ward, were to constitute a city council, each alderman to be a bona fide resident of Memphis, and all to be elected by the qualified voters of the city.  The tax levy was limited to three-fourths of one per cent upon all property taxable for State purposes, and the city council was given authority to borrow money to the amount of the annual revenue of the city, and no more in any one year, to establish hospitals, to establish a system of free schools and to regulate the same in such manner as to avoid sectarian influence, and to create an annual fund not exceeding one-eighth part of the annual revenue of the city for their support.

On the 21^st of February, 1849, the ward boundaries were rearranged as follows, because the city was growing more toward the south, and the southern portion was not adequately represented: Ward one—all north of Jackson Street; Ward two—all between Jackson and Market Streets; Ward three—all between Market Street and Market Place alley; Ward four—all between Market Place alley and Carr’s alley; Ward five—all between the Fourth Ward and Finley alley; Ward six—all the remainder of the city north.

An election for mayor and twelve aldermen was held March 5, 1849, at which Enoch Banks received 462 votes, “more than was received by any other candidate.”  The corporate year lasted from March, 1849, to July, 1850.  On May 22, the city council passed an ordinance defining taxable property and levying taxes as follows: Taxable property—real estate, slaves, pleasure carriages, piano fortes, gold and silver plate, watches and jewelry, and capital loaned or deposited at interest; taxes to be three-fourths of one per cent for general purposes, and an additional annual tax of one-eighth of three-fourths of one per cent for the support of schools; upon all free white males qualified to vote in the city of Memphis a poll tax of $1.50 for general purposes, and an additional tax of 19 cents for school purposes.  Exemptions were as follows: property used for religious, educational or hospital purposes; that belonging to the United States, to Tennessee, to Shelby County and to Memphis, to any regular organized fire company, all slaves under twelve and over fifty years of age, and all others incapable of rendering service to their masters.  Ministers of the Gospel and free white persons in the army of the United States were exempt from poll tax.  Privilege taxes were provided in various sums according to the business followed, and an additional tax of one-eighth of the privilege tax was levied in each case for the benefit of the free schools.

E. Hickman was elected mayor in 1850 and 1851, and A. B. Taylor in 1852, 1853 and 1854.  In 1855 A. H. Douglas was elected over James Wickersham by 745 votes to 607.  In 1856 Thomas B. Carroll was elected, receiving 973 votes to 583 for A. H. Douglas.  In 1857 R. D. Baugh was elected, receiving 827 votes to 619 for Samuel F. Magen.  In 1858 Mr. Baugh was again elected by 1,187 votes to 843 cast for George Dixon and 307 for John Martin.  In 1859, R. D. Baugh received 1,139 votes, John Park 1,039, and J. B. R. _______ 563.  Mr. Baugh was again elected in 1860, but the record of the vote is missing.  John Park was chosen mayor in 1861, 1862, and 1863, receiving in the latter year 1,553 votes to Charles Kortrecht’s 670, but previous to the time for the qualification of officers chosen at an election in 1864 the city was placed under martial law.  Following are the several orders under which the civil government was for the time being set aside

                          HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE.

                                     MEMPHIS, TENN., July 2, 1864

Special Order No. 70:

I. The utter failure of the municipal government of Memphis for the past two years to discharge its proper functions, the disloyal character of that government, its want of sympathy for the Government of the United States, and its indisposition to co-operate with the military authorities have long been felt as evils which the public welfare required to be abated. They have grown from bad to worse, until a further toleration of them will not comport with the sense of duty of the commanding general. The city of Memphis is under martial law, and the municipal government existing since the armed traitors were driven from the city has been only by sufferance of the military authorities of the United States. Therefore, under the authority of General Orders, No. 100, dated War Department, Adjutant-General’s office, April 24, 1863.

     It is ordered, that the functions of the municipal government of Memphis be and they are hereby suspended until further orders.

     The present incumbents are forbidden to perform any official acts or exercise any authority whatever; and persons supposed to be elected officers of the city at an election held on June 30, 1864, will not qualify. That the interests and business of the city may not be interrupted, the following appointments of officers are made:

     Acting mayor, Lieut.-Col. Thomas H. Harris, assistant adjutant-general United States Volunteers; recorder, F. W. Buttinghaus; treasurer, James D. Davis, comptroller, W. O. Lofland; tax-collector, F. L. Warner; tax-collector on privileges, John Logue; chief of police, P. M. Winters, and wharf-master, J. J. Butler, who will be fully respected in the exercise of the duties assigned them; and all records, papers, moneys, and property in any manner pertaining to the offices, government and interests of the city of Memphis, will be immediately turned over by the present holders thereof to the officers appointed to succeed them, etc.

     The officers herein named and appointed will constitute a board, which shall discharge the duties heretofore devolving upon the board of aldermen, and the acting mayor shall be chairman thereof, and their acts, resolutions and ordinances shall be valid and of full force and effect until revoked by the commanding general of the district of West Tennessee, or superior military authority.

     By order of                                          Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn.

                                                                 W. H. Morgan, Asst. Adj.-Gen.

     Official: W. H. Morgan, Asst. Adj.-Gen.

     XIII. L. R. Richards is hereby appointed register of the city of Memphis and a member of the board, constituted by Special Order No. 70, part I, of this date from these headquarters.

     By order of                                         Maj.-Gen. C. C. Washburn.

                                                                W. H. Morgan, Asst. Adj.-Gen.

To Lieut.-Col. Harris, A.A. Gen. and Acting Mayor.

On the 16^th of July, 1864, Special Order No. 83 were issued, so far modifying Special Order No. 70, as to constitute a council to discharge the duties of the board of mayor and aldermen.  They were to be known as the Provisional Mayor and Council of the city of Memphis.  Following are their names:

     First Ward—J. P. Foster, Andrew Renkert.

     Second Ward—G. D. Johnson, S. T. Morgan.

     Third Ward—B. F. C. Brooks, A. J. Miller.

     Fourth Ward—I. M. Hill, J. G. Owen.

     Fifth Ward—W. S. Bruce, William W. Jones.

     Sixth Ward—J. E. Merriman, C. C. Smith.

     Seventh Ward—G. P. Ware, Joseph Tagg.

     Eighth Ward—Patrick Sherry, H. T. Hulbert.

On the 28^th of July, E. T. Morgan was appointed city attorney for the city of Memphis, and on the 12^th of August, J. P. Foster was appointed chief of police, vice P. M. Winters, relieved; Henry G. Smith was appointed councilman, vice J. P. Foster, and J. B. Wetherill was appointed councilman, vice W. S. Bruce, resigned; on the 6^th of September W. M. Farrington was appointed alderman in place of A. J. Miller, deceased.  This was the last order issued here by Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn, and on the 4^th of October, Brig.-Gen. Morgan L. Smith issued Special Order No. 159, by which W. R. Moore was appointed councilman vice H. G. Smith, resigned.  On the 19^th of October Lieut.-Col. Harris was relieved as acting mayor, and Capt. Channing Richards, of the Twenty-second Ohio Volunteers appointed, and on July 3, 1865, Special Order No. 70 and Special Order No 83, were revoked, the officers appointed by them were commanded to cease to exercise their functions, and to turn over to the officers elect all books and papers pertaining to their several offices.  This revoking order was signed by Maj.-Gen. John E. Smith.

The officers elect referred to above were in part as follows: mayor, John Park, who had received 1,356 votes to W. O. Lofland’s 835; recorder, John C. Creighton, 1,049, to Sam Tighe’s 368, and chief of police, B. G. Garrett, 1,021 to Dan McMahon’s 920.  By default of an election John Park continued to serve as mayor until October 15, 1866, when W. O. Lofland, elected October 13, 1866, was qualified and served until January 1868.  John W. Leftwich was then elected and served until 1870, when John Johnson was elected and served through the years 1870-73.  John Logue was elected in 1874 and served two year, when he was succeeded by John R. Flippin, who was elected in 1876 by 5,909 votes to John Logue’s 1,564, and was the last mayor Memphis has had.

In 1879 Memphis was in very bad shape financially as well as otherwise.  Her credit was entirely gone and she was bankrupt.  This state of things had been brought about in part by very bad management on the part of her municipal government, and in part by the terrible scourges to which she had been subjected.  By the yellow fever epidemic of 1878, following close on the heels of that of 1873, the city had been almost depopulated of its white citizens, and she was encumbered by an enormous debt, a statement of which is here introduced: 6 per cent Post Bonds, $2,426,000; 6 per cent Paving Bonds, $743,500; 6 per cent School Bonds, $95,000; 6 per cent Mississippi River Railroad Bonds, $80,000; 6 per cent Funding Bonds, $341,000; 10 per cent School Bonds, $20,000; other 10 per cent bonds, $5,000; total bonded debt, $3,710,500; floating debt, embracing innumerable items, $2,074,872.67; total debt, $5,785,372.67.  The assets of the city at the same time amounted to $2,194,639.07, leaving the city’s net indebtedness, supposing the entire assets to be available, $3,590,733.60.  Most of the citizens felt sure, and in fact knew, that much of this enormous indebtedness had been unjustly created, and were desirous of devising some means by which they could be relieved of its payment.  The idea of a “taxing district” was conceived and put into operation as an experiment.  It was not because of anything intrinsically corrupt in the old form of municipal government, that a change was sought and effected.  No form of government can be in and of itself corrupt.  But one form of government may furnish opportunities for corruption and be of necessity more expensive and burdensome than another, and this is really the difference between the old form of government of Memphis and the taxing district.  The taxing district has no authority to levy taxes, this authority being vested in the Legislature.  Then under the charter granted in 1869, a council was created, consisting of ten aldermen and twenty councilmen, a form of government almost cumbersome enough for a State.  The act creating the taxing district was passed January 29, 1879, and approved January 31.  It consists of twenty-five sections, providing that cities might form taxing districts in certain cases.  It said that the several communities embraced in the territorial limits of all the municipal corporations in this State, which had or might have their charters abolished, or such as might surrender them, under the provisions of that act were by it created taxing districts, in order to provide local government for the peace, safety and general welfare of such districts, and that the necessary taxes for the support of such local government should be imposed by the General Assembly of the State and not otherwise.  This act provided for:

     1. A board of fire and police commissioners.  2. A legislative council of the taxing district, consisting of the commissioners of the fire and police board, and the supervisors of the board of public works.  3. A board of health to consist of the chief of police, a health officer, and a physician.  4. A board of public works.

The board of fire and police commissioners was to consist of three commissioners at least thirty years of age, and tax-paying citizens of the district, for at least five years.  One of these was to be appointed by the governor of the State, and to be president of the taxing district, and was to devote his entire time to the duties of his office at a salary of $2,000 per year.  In the act a wharfage tax was provided for as follows: All steamboats, barges, and hulls used as barges, were to pay 5 cents per ton, which should entitle them to the privilege of the wharf and landing for six days, and 2 cents per ton per day for each day they remain after the expiration of the six days, the county trustee to collect the tax.

The first government of the taxing district was composed of D. T. Porter, president, John Overton, Jr., and W. W. Gay, until the death of Mr. Gay, when M. Burke was appointed to fill the vacancy which lasted from 1879 until the end of the first half of 1881.  From this time until January, 1882, the government was composed of John Overton, Jr., president, M. Burke and R. C. Graves.  In January, 1882, the officers of the taxing district were all elected as they have been ever since, being David P. Hadden, president, M. Burke and R. C. Graves.  In 1883 they were David P. Hadden, president, M. Burke and James Lee, Jr.  The third government consisted of David P. Hadden, president, James Lee, Jr., and H. A. Montgomery, and the fourth elected in January, 1866, was the same.

The first board of public works of the taxing district was composed of C. W. Goyer, John Gunn, R. Galloway, J. M. Goodbar and M. Burke, until Mr. Burke was appointed to the city government, when W. N. Brown was appointed to this board.  The present board is as follows: R. F. Patterson, J. E. Randle, Q. J. Graham, Charles Kuey and Symmes Wallace.

The president of the board of health has been G. B. Thornton, M.D., ever since the organization of the district.  P. R. Athy was chief of police up to 1880, when he was elected sheriff; since then W. C. Davis has been chief of police.  M. McFadden was chief of the fire department until his death in 1882, since when J. E. Cleary has filled the position.  The city attorneys have been C. W. Heiskell, 1879-84, and S. P. Walker, 1884-1887.  Niles Meriwether has been city engineer from 1879 to the present time, and P. Kallaher, wharf-master.  The registers have been W. A. McCloy, 1879; A. P. Tack, 1880; B. K. Pullen, 1881 to September, 1886, and B. K. Pullen, Jr., from September, 1886, to the present time.  The inspectors of weights and measures have been G. J. Mallory, S. B. De Groat and J. C. Mhoon, from 1884 to the present time, and as hospital physicians have served A. A. Lawrence, 1879 to February, 1883, and J. E. Black from February, 1883, to the present time.

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The first bank organized in Memphis was the Farmers and Merchants Bank, in 1834.  It was located on the corner of Main and Winchester Streets.  About 1840 this institution erected the building on the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, afterward used as a synagogue, and about 1850 the same bank erected another building on Jefferson Street nearly opposite the present Priddy Hotel.

The Branch Union Bank was started in 1839, in a brick building on the northwest corner of Exchange Square.  In 1852 it removed to the northeast corner of Madison Street and Front Alley, and in 1853-54 it erected a building on the opposite corner of the alley, at present occupied by the First National Bank.

The Branch Planters Bank occupied the building south of Cochran Block on Main Street, about 1842.  It afterward moved into a building on the southwest corner of Main and Jefferson Streets.  There were also other banks here prior to the war: the Southern Bank of Tennessee, established September 1, 1853; the Mechanics Bank, started December 1, 1853; the Branch Bank of Tennessee, the Bank of West Tennessee, the Bank of Memphis, established September 1, 1853; the Commercial Bank, established March 1, 1844, and the Citizens Bank, started December 1, 1853.

The First National Bank was organized in April, 1864, with a capital of $100,000.  F. A. Davis was the first president and C. P. Norris  the first cashier.  The capital now is $150,000, and surplus $50,000.  Since it commenced business it has declared $556,000, in dividends.  At different times it has carried accounts with all the business men of the city.  Up to 1872 its deposits generally averaged over $1,000,000.  Since then they have been about $500,000, and now they are $800,000.  The bank has always been at its present location, No. 14 Madison Street.  N. M. Jones succeeded F. A. Davis as president in 1882; N. W. Thatcher became cashier in 1869, and C. W. Schulte in 1882.  One remarkable fact about banks in Memphis is that since this bank was started nineteen other banks have failed, three of them national banks.  The strength of this bank is accounted for by the fact that such firms as the following are stockholders: Brown & Jones, Brooks, Neely & Co., Hill, Fontaine & Co., and Oliver, Finnie & Co.

The German National Bank was organized under national charter in 1864, John A. Ainsley being the first president, succeeded by T. M. Apperson, Louis Hanauer, Horace E. Gorth and Thomas H. Milburn.  The bank was reorganized in 1885 under the State law, and its name became the German Bank of Memphis.  Its officers at present are John W. Cochran, president; W. C. McClure, vice-president; Edward Goldsmith, cashier; Louis Hanauer, J. T. Pettit, R. C. Graves, J. J. Jenny, George Arnold, D. P. Hadden, Jacob Weller, J. T. Frost, J. S. Robinson, R. H. Vance and William Katzenberger.  The capital stock of the bank is $250,000 and surplus $140,000.  The deposits amount to $872,144.28 and the undivided profits $28,253.56.

The Union and Planters Bank was organized and commenced business September 1, 1869, with the following directors and officers: William M. Farrington, president; William A. Williamson, vice-president; S. P. Read, cashier; J. J. Rawlings, C. B. Church, John Johnson, C. W. Goyer, W. B. Greenlaw, W. B. Galbreath, Napoleon Hill, A. Vaccaro, Joseph Bruce, Z. N. Estes, M. L. Meacham, James A. Rogers and Nathan Adams.  The present directors and officers are Napoleon Hill, president; William A. Williamson, vice-president; S. P. Read, cashier; A. Vaccaro, Joseph Bruce, R. Dudley, John R. Pepper, E. Ensley, Benjamin Barr, Isaac N. Snowden and James H. McDonald.  The paid up capital stock is $600,000, dividend on hand $121,377, deposits, October 26, 1886, $1,074,125.15.

The State National Bank was organized August 27, 1873, with the following directors and officers: R. C. Daniel, president; I. B. Kirtland, vice-president; J. J. Freeman, cashier; T. N. Nelson, J. J. Busby, H. T. Lemmon, H. Cloth, A. J. White, Hugh Stewart, John P. Hoffman, B. Lowenstein and N. Malatesta.  The present directors and officers are W. B. Bethel, president; A. B. Gwynn, vice-president; M. S. Buckingham, cashier; W. J. Chase, R. H. Vance, H. T. Lemmon, Thomas J. Latham, W. M. Sneed, Gen. Colton Greene, John K. Speed, R. L. Coffin and Z. N. Estes.  The capital stock of the bank is $250,000, and surplus $80,000.

The Mercantile Bank commenced business May 21, 1883, with a cash capital of $200,000.  It has eighty stockholders, all of them representative business men of Memphis.  In selecting stockholders it was careful not to place itself outside of those who had business to give it, hoping in this way to make its stock self-supporting, and the success of the institution is a sufficient justification of the wisdom of this policy.  During the entire period of its existence it has distributed to its stockholders each six months a five per cent cash dividend, and has besides accumulated a surplus of $30,000.  The bank is a depository of the State of Tennessee.  Following are the names of its directors and officers: J. R. Godwin, president; J. M. Goodbar, vice-president; C. H. Raine, cashier; D. T. Porter, A. W. Newson, F. M. Nelson, C. B. Bryan, J. M. Smith, W. S. Bruce, W. N. Wilkerson, T. B. Sim, John Armistead, H. E. Coffin, R. T. Cooper, J. W. Falls, M. Gavin, R. J. Black, W. P. Dunavent and Charles Kuey.

Manhatten Savings Bank and Trust Company was organized in July, 1885, with the following officers: David P. Hadden, president; Edward Goldsmith, vice-president; James Nathan, cashier.  The present board of trustees are L. Hanauer, M. Gavin, L. Levy, Napoleon Hill, A. Kenkert, J. A. Omberg, J. G. Handwerker, Thomas Boyle, David P. Hadden, J. S. Robinson, John W. Cochran, Sol. Coleman, Hardwig Peres, Edward Goldsmith.  This bank receives sums of $1 and upward, and allows interest at stated periods, executes orders in stocks, bonds and securities, sells drafts on all parts of Europe, and executes cable transfers.  The capital stock is $20,000, and surplus $5,000.

The Mechanics Bank was first organized in 1856, with F. M. White, president.  The charter having been kept alive the bank was reorganized in 1886 with $100,000 capital.  The present directors and officers are M. H. Katzenberger, president; Napoleon Hill, vice-president; J. Katzenberger, cashier; W. H. Carrol, J. H. Biscoe, A. S. Myers, A. Cohn, J. M. Schorr, A. F. Tobin and John A. Denie.

The Security Bank of Memphis was organized February 1, 1886.  It is a safe deposit trust company and savings bank, located at No. 42 Madison Street.  The first directors and officers were C. C. Graham, president; W. M. Wilkerson, vice-president; R. J. Black, cashier; W. D. Bethell, Thomas H. Allen, S. I. McDowell, J. R. Godwin, John Overton, Jr., R. Dudley Frayser, S. P. Read, W. F. Taylor, William A. Williamson and R. B. Snowden.  With the exception of the president, who is now R. Dudley Frayser, the officers are the same.  This bank does a general banking business, pays interest on deposits, has a safe deposit vault, and is a depository of the State.

The Bank of Commerce was established in 1873 with a capital of $200,000, at No. 12 Madison Street.  The presidents of this bank have been E. McDavitt, from 1873 to 1876; J. T. Parkerson, 1876 to 1880; S. H. Dunscomb, 1880 to present time.  Vice-president, John Overton, Jr., for one or two years at first, and then from 1886 to the present time.  Cashiers, R. A. Parker, 1873 to 1879; J. A. Omberg, 1879 to the present time.  The capital of the bank is at present $200,000 with a surplus of $80,000.

The Hernando Insurance Company, 22 Madison Street, was incorporated in 1850.  It does a fire and marine insurance business, and has a paid up capital of $150,000.  Its assets, including capital, amount to $182,000.  S. H. Dunscomb is president; Joseph Bruce, vice-president; J. S. Dunscomb, secretary, and its other directors are R. L. Cochran, J. H. McDavitt, F. M. Nelson, L. Hanauer, A. Vaccaro, J. R. Pepper, W. B. Mallory, N. Fontaine and J. T. Willins.  Originally only ten per cent was paid in.  After the war the company reorganized and ten per cent more was paid in, and the stock was all paid up by July 1, 1874, since which time it has paid from eight to twenty-four per cent to the stockholders annually.

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