Increasing Business, A New Bank and a Fire Company, Presbyterian Church Built,
A Year of Sickness, &c.

The year 1831 was one of considerable progress in Columbus, and all that we find on record denotes increasing trade and a steady advance towards the settled social status and public conveniences of older towns.

On the 8th of January the following gentlemen were elected to constitute the municipal government for the year:
Intendant-Sowell Woolfolk.
Commissioners-Fitzgerald Bird, Abraham T. Moore, Win. D. Hargrove, James Hitchcock, Asa Bates, and Joseph T. Camp.

On Tuesday following the Board was organized, and elected the officers named below:
Clerk, Edm'd Bugg;
Treasurer, C. E. Mims;
Marshal, Ephraim Bundy;
Auctioneers, T. S. Cook and E. E. Bissell;
Clerk of Market, Patrick W. Flynn.

In June books were opened for subscription to the capital stock of a Bank, to be called the "Farmers' Bank of Chattahoochee." On the 7th of November this Bank was organized by the election of the following gentlemen as Directors: E. S. Shorter, M. Butt, A. Iverson, G. W. Dillingham, and Joel Branham. At a subsequent meeting of directors, E. S. Shorter was elected President, and Edward Carey Cashier.

A fire which occurred at an early hour of the morning of the 21st of May, appears to have fanned the feeling in favor of a fire company to a striking heat, and before the sun went down that day the company was formed and the following gentlemen were elected officers: G. E. Thomas, Chief Engineer; Asa Bates, Captain of the Engine; Robt. Jones, Captain Fire Hook Department; James Daniel, Captain Ladder Department; Joseph T. Camp, Captain Bucket Department; M. W. Thweatte, Captain Safety Department; L. C. Allen, Marshal. At a subsequent meeting of the company held on Tuesday evening following these appointments were made; George Smith, Treasurer; E. Bugg, Secretary.

The house burned was a large dwelling nearly completed for Mr. Stewart, near the river in the upper part of the town. As the building had not been delivered, the loss was divided between Mr. Stewart and the builders�Messrs. Bates and Dibble.

This was a hard year with the Indians across the river, and increased vigilance to prevent them committing depredations was found to be necessary. They suffered greatly for the want of food--which was ascribed in part to the failure of their corn crops and in part to the scarcity of game, and they were terribly afflicted with the small pox. They were constantly begging at every house, and subsisted in great part on roots and the bark of trees. During this year Dr. DeGraffenried visited the Nation, and on his return advised general vaccination as a preventive of small pox in Columbus. There were one or two cases in the town, and alarm on the subject extended to the surrounding country.

On the 15th of October, the building committee of the Presbyterian Church announced that the house would be dedicated on the following Sunday, when a collection would be taken up to assist in paying the sum due on the building. They also returned thanks to the citizens for liberal contributions towards this church. Mr. J. S. Norman was Secretary.

The local causes of sickness in some parts of the town, mentioned in the first chapter of this compilation, seem to have found, during this year, fit conditions for their develop ment. "On the 20th of October, the Enquirer said:

"Our town has suffered much in comparison with other years. Sickness has been confined almost exclusively to sections of the town where there are large quantities of standing water, collected by excessive rains which fell in August and September. On Broad Street and some other portions of the town there has been almost perfect health. The local causes which have produced disease the present season will be entirely removed before the return of another summer."

November 19, Number of deaths that have occurred in the town of Columbus from the first day of June, 1831, to this date, taken by order of the Commissioners: White adults 20; white children 20; black adults 8; black children 9; total 57.

Out of the above number forty have died of fever, three in child bed, and two from intemperance. .

Columbus then had a Northern mail daily, via Augusta, Milledgeville and Macon, and a daily Southern mail via Montgomery and Mobile. There was also a stage line from Columbus to Macon, run via Thomaston and Forsyth, and the fare was $8.50 to Macon. The stage left Columbus every Friday at 7 a. m., and arrived at Macon about noon on Sunday, traveling only in the day time. There were several other weekly mails, but we are not informed as to their modes of conveyance.

Incidents

The steamboats, whose arrivals and departures during the year we find noticed were the following: Herald, Plaquemine, Marion, Baltimore, Jenkins, Georgian.

There was great rejoicing over the arrival of the Georgian on the 12th of January, not only because she was owned by a Columbus company, but because she was intended to inaugurate competition in boating. A large crowd met her at the wharf, and hailed her arrival by a salute from a cannon, &c. She had on her own decks over 1,000 barrels of freight, and towed the barge Mary Jones with 700 barrels.

The Muscogee Bible Society was in active operation, supplying Bibles to the destitute. There was also a circulating library.

In February, H. W. Hilliard retired from the editorial management of the Enquirer.

A new ferry, about one mile below the town, was established in June, by S. M. Ingersoll and Seaborn Jones.

Columbian Lodge celebrated the 24th of June, Garrett Hallenbeck orator.

The 4th of July was again celebrated with cannon, the reading of the Declaration, an address by N. B. Bond, Esq., and a dinner.

The pioneer military company, the "Frontier Guards," disbanded, and in September; the "Columbus Volunteers" were organized, with A. S. Rutherford Captain.

A volunteer military company for temporary service, if needed, in quelling an apprehended outbreak commenced by the slaves belonging to the Indians, was formed in October. It was in command of Jas. C. Hall and E. B. W. Spivey. The outbreak did not occur, or did not reach Columbus.

Cotton came in quite freely in the fall, and was quoted in November 6 1/2 to 7 1/4c.; in December 6 1/4 to 8c.

In October, Sowell Woolfolk was elected Senator, and Willis P. Baker Representative of Muscogee County.

Personal

Rev. J. Boring was the Methodist Minister in charge this year, and Rev. A. Hamill P. E. of Columbus District.

The following were grand jurors for Muscogee, at the Spring term, 1831:
John McClusky
Geo. W. Elliott
W. H. Alston
J. T. Kilgore
W. D. Lucas
Harvey Hall
Girard Birde
J. Hitchcock
A. E. Mershon
S. M. Ingersoll
J. B. Kennedy
A. F. Moore
J. P. Jackson
G. W. Dillard
H. C. Phelps
H. C. Dawson
B. G. G. A. Lucas

George W. Dillard was announced in April as the proprietor of the "Globe Tavern."

John G. Prince, a late comer and a merchant of Columbus, was drowned in the river, while bathing, on __th of July. He was from Salem, Mass.

John and Frances Love took charge of the McIntosh Hall, a new hotel, in October.

M. M. Hinch had charge of the Jackson Hotel.

The Columbus Democrat was published this year, but we find no reference to the time when it was started.

Latest quotations, Dec. 31st: Bacon 12c.; Bagging 21 to 25c.; Corn 37c.; Cotton 5 to 7 1/4 c.; Coffee 17 to 20c.; Flour $8 to $9; Molasses 50c.; Sugar 9 to l0 1/2 c.

We find the following names of business and professional men, not included in previous notices: