1857


Railroad Connections---Great Sixteen Mile Race

Col. F. G. Wilkins and Dr. John E. Bacon were the opposing candidates for Mayor at the election in December, 1856. The vote stood--Wilkins 498, Bacon 353. The following gentlemen were elected:
Aldermen:
1st Ward, William Y. Barden, W. C. Gray
2d, Wm. Perry, Roswell Ellis
3d, F. S. Chapman, Dr. T. Stewart
4th, A. K. Ayer, G. E. Gager
5th, John Quin, John T. Walker
6th, Scott Clark, John Durkin
Marshal, James M. Hughes
Deputy Marshal, Hugh P. Robinson
Clerk, Calvin Stratton
Treasurer, Isaac Mitchell
Sexton, Thos. Nix

Council elected:
Dr. George Davis, City Physician, salary $600;
Richard Robinson, Clerk of the Market, $150;
John G. Bunnell, Bridge-keeper, $700;
Isabella McGehee, Hospital-keeper, $300;
John Peabody, City Attorney, $150;
Jesse Bradford, Magazine-keeper, $75 and fees;
Jas. N. Bethune of the Corner Stone, City Printer, $300;
Port Wardens--J. M. Trawick, Edward Birdsong, J. M. Everett, James L. Hill and U. B. Frost;
Health Officers--W. H. Alston, Thos. B. Slade, M. Barringer, R. A. Ware, H. M. Cleckley, J. L. Howell, R. G. Mitchell, S. R. Andrews, J. L. Morton, W. W. Flewellen, T. V. Rutherford, John Seely.

The policy and convenience of making close railroad connections in Columbus, was a subject of interest this year. A meeting of citizens, held in Temperance Hall on the 10th of June, appointed a committee to confer with the officers of the railroads and ascertain "the ends to be attained by the proposed connections, and the means and terms of its accomplishment."

The projects of building railroads from Opelika to Oxford, Ala., and from Opelika to Talladega, first engaged the attention of the people of Columbus this year. The Times and Enquirer suggested the Oxford road, and the Sun the Talladega road.

The cars on the Mobile and Girard Railroad were this year running to Guerryton, a distance of thirty-eight miles. Two-thirds of the grading from Guerryton to Union Springs had been accomplished.

The three military companies of Columbus, Columbus Guards, Capt. Semmes; City Light Guards, Capt. Colquitt; and United Rifles, Capt. Wilkins, went to Milledgeville on the 2d of July, to participate in an encampment of the volunteer military companies of the State. They returned on the 7th.

Ald. Ellis, of the 2d Ward, having resigned, Peter Preer was in August elected to fill the vacancy.

The receipts of cotton for the year ending Sept. 1, amounted to 80,245 bales. Prices, in January, 11½@11⅝c.; in March, 11@13¼c.; in May, 13¼c. for middling; in September, 14½@15c.; in November, 11@11½c.; in December, 9¼@9¾c.

Incidents

There was snow enough on the ground for sleighing in Columbus on the 24th of January.

The "Wave," a new boat built on the banks of the river at Columbus, under the superintendence of Capt. Charles Blaine, made a successful trial trip on the afternoon of the 9th of February, and started on the 11th on her first trip to Apalachicola.

A fatal duel between two well-known and esteemed citizens of Columbus, on the 23d of February, created a great sensation, and the result was received with universal regret. The parties were Mr. J. P. Hendricks and O. S. Kimbrough. They fought with rifles, on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, distance forty paces, and Mr. Hendricks was mortally wounded at the second fire.

The new Masonic Hall, on Broad Street, was dedicated on the 26th of March. The address was delivered by W. Rockwell, Deputy Grand Master for the Second District of Georgia.

An extraordinary and exciting race, which was run over the Chattahoochee Course on the 4th of April, engaged so much interest at the time and is still so often referred to, that we make particular mention of it here. There were three fine horses entered, all distinguished as among the best racers of the country. They were Puryear & Watson's b. c. Charleston, McDaniel's ch. h. Frankfort, and ____'s m. Sue Washington. The two first named had won well-contested "races on previous days of the same meeting, and Sue Washington was celebrated by her fine running and triumphs over many tracks. It was a four-mile race, purses and winnings $2,250. The Sun's account was as follows:

The weather was fine, attendance large, and the presence of ladies gave grace to the whole. Each entry had friends, and the wagers ran high. At the call of the bugle all three appeared. And now they are off. Sue has the track, but Charleston takes it the first mile, and leads gallantly off, close hugged by Sue, Frankfort following leisurely. Round they go at a killing pace, and run out in 7:39; Charleston 1st, Sue 2d, Frankfort dropping inside the distance.

Second Heat.--Charleston has the track, he sulks, but finally goes off merrily, closely followed by Sue, Frankfort still waiting. The third mile closes and they enter fourth in the same relative positions. Every eye is strained. See, now, they are coming home, Charleston must win. But lo! Frankfort awakes throws off his lethargy, and by a most masterly brush on the last quarter, takes the heat by half a head; Charleston 2d, Sue nearby. Time 7:40.

Third Heat.--'Clear the track!' Now they come up, Frankfort inside. They are gone. The race now seems to be narrowed down to Sue and Frankfort, Charleston was tired, the mare keeps ahead, and wins the heat in 8:00. Charleston is now withdrawn; he shows distress, but has done nobly, and in a two-handed contest would have won the day.

Fourth Heat.--The game was now considered sure. The mare took the start and ran through the heat without injury in 8:02.

Frankfort died shortly after the race. It is well for Sue that he lived to make his great brush with Charleston, else had she not won the honors of the day.

Recapitulation

  1st heat2d3d4th
Sue Washington, 2311
Frankfort, 3122
Charleston, 123withdr'n
TIME, 7:397:408:008:02

Charleston was afterwards carried by his owner (Mr. Ten Broeck, we believe) to England, to contend in the great races in that country. He ran well there, but was not successful in the chief races. It was said that he was too fat, and exhibited the same sulky disposition at times that he manifested on two occasions on our course.

Provisions were high this year, chiefly because of scant grain crops in the West. The quotations in Columbus on the 30th of May were as follows: Bacon, 15c. for clear sides; Corn $1.20@$1.25; Flour, $7.50@$12 per barrel.

A number of revival meetings held in the M. E. Church in June resulted in about fifty conversions. Rev. D. L. Pierce, Rev. J. E. Evans, and Bishop Pierce were among the ministers who conducted the exercises.

The first bale of new cotton was received on the 28th of August, from the plantation of Rivers Reese, of Chattahoochee County, and sold at 17c. Another bale of the new crop was received on the same day, from Stewart County, and sold for 17½c. On the 29th a third bale was received. It was from the plantation of James R. Jones, of Russell County, Ala., and was sold by auction at 17c.

An old man named David Gunn was found murdered, with his throat cut, on the night of the 11th of September, at his house in the suburbs of the city. The coroner's jury found that he was killed by John Dozier, who lived with him. The house in which they lived was set on fire and burned the next evening. It was regarded as a den of vice.

Jefferson Parks was killed by Van Ransel Hall, in a difficulty between them at the house of Patsey Daniel, in the lower part of the city, on the 25th of October. Hall was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in the penitentiary.

James Garrard stabbed and killed Susan Brown, on the night of the 2d of November, and then stabbed himself in several places so severely that he died in a few days.

Berry King, in attempting to get on a dray loaded with wood, fell and was run over, the load crushing and killing him in a few minutes.

John Dozier was in November convicted of the murder of David Gunn, and sentenced to be hung on the 8th of January.

The outbuildings on lots occupied by J. H. Harris and Mr. Speer, on Jackson street, were burned on the 27th of November.

An old man named McAllister, employed in one of the factories, was drowned in the river on the 6th of December.

John J. Calhoun was cut in several places and killed by James Thompson, in a difficulty between them on the night of the 4th of December. Both were young men. Thompson was found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be hung on the 15th of January. James Guilford, convicted as accessory, was sentenced to be hung on the same day. But both these cases, as well as that of Dozier, were appealed to the Supreme Court.

L. P. Rush was this year Presiding Elder of the Columbus District, and A. M. Wynn and G. N. McDonald Methodist preachers for Columbus.

William A. Lawes and Wiley N. Hutchins were Magistrates of the upper district, and John T. Walker and John Quin of the lower; James Lloyd and Wm. Hale Bailiffs of the upper district, and Jacob W. Shoup and Lemuel Lockhart of the lower.

E. Birdsong was County Treasurer
J, G. Cook, Tax Col lector;
J. B. Hicks, Tax Receiver
S. A. Wales, B. F. Coleman, T. D. West, J. J. McKendree and W. L. Wornum, Justices of the Inferior Court.

Thomas Curry committed suicide on the 6th of January, by taking arsenic.

By a run-off of the train going out of Columbus on the Muscogee Railroad, on the 2d of August, John Bryant, fireman, and Patrick Sullivan, wood hander, were killed. George Smith, the engineer, had a leg and an arm broken.

In October, P. H. Colquitt was elected Senator by a majority of two votes over S. A. Wales, and N. L. Howard and R. L. Mott were elected Representatives of Muscogee County.

James M. Russell was in October elected Judge of the City Court, vice P. H. Colquitt, resigned.

Marriages

January 1, John C. Reedy and Georgia A. Willis
Jan. 8, Bartly King and Mary Garrett
Jan. 27, James Clem and Eugenia Simpson
Jan. 27, Daniel Cordery and Malvina L. Williams
Jan. 27, Thomas J. Kimbrough and Frances A. L. Biggers
Jan. 20, Thomas R. Hall and Ann E. Braughton

February 2, Richard R. Briggs and Martha F. P. Wright
Feb. 4, Bolin S. Jeffries and Jane Carrington
Feb. 8, Peter K. Edgar and Lucinda Hight
Feb. 8, William K. Smith and Martha J. Forsyth
Feb. 8, Robert Gibson and Elizabeth Howard
Feb. 11, Edmund S. Roberts and Mary T. Whiteside
Feb. 19, Hiram P. Dowdy and Louisa K. McLeroy
Feb. 22, John W. Gammell and Nancy Barfield
Feb. 22, George A. Camrom and Ann V. Sauls
Feb. 24, Simeon Perry and Sarah A. M. Farmer
Feb. 24, William C. Wells and Mary E. Beers
Feb. 24, Francis M. Pendleton and Sarah V. Ingmire

March 20, Elijah Couch and Malinda Ratliff
March 24, James M. Harris and Mary Y. Levy
March 29, William Garris and Sarah Bailey
March 31, Joseph S. Tinney and Lydia A. Stowe
March 31, John T. Walker and Cynthia M. Tilley

April 5, William Webster and Winney I. Almons
April 8, Richard A. Dykes and Permelia V. Byrd
April 10, Jeremiah Taylor and Martha Gammell
April 10, John A. Ansley and Missouri Chambers
April 22, Nelson Brittingham and Merilda Youngblood
April 28, Amos C. Ward and Lucy A. Redding
April 26, David P. Russell and Mary E. Slaughter
April 28, William Ratliff and Elizabeth Salter

May 10, George W. Horne and Catharine W. Bartlett
May 10, John F. C. Senn and Josaphine E. Phillips
May 22, James L. Willis and Frances Biggers
May 25, Benjamin F. Gardner and Martha A. E. Gilstrap
May 31, James M. McCay and Mary A. L. Harris

June 2, James M. Williams and Martha E. Seymour
June 7, Charles W. Hewson and Sophronia McAlister
June 14, LeRoy J. Hudson and Martha A. Caldwell

July 1, John N. Gunn and Flora E. Thompson
July 1, Roswell Ellis and Ann L. Slade
July 2, Henry Drakeford and Mary A. Terry
July 6, James D. Ferrill and Sarah Hutson
July 15, Thomas S. Tuggle and Sarah E. O'Bannon
July 16, Andrew B. Lawson and Julia I. Bourguine
July 26, Thomas I. A. J. Duffee and Susan S. Henly
July 28, Joseph B. Aguero and Eliza I. Abbott

August 2, Mayberry Hitt and Arena Crouch
Aug. 4, George W. Langford and Mary J. Giddings
Aug. 6, David Gunn and Nancy Dees
Aug. 11, William G. Wiley and Mary J. Carnes
Aug. 13, Daniel T. Looney and Martha E. Kirkland
Aug. 18, Harrison Merrill and Olive T. Smith
Aug. 26, John T. Moye and Margaret McGuirk
Aug. 27, George W. Haynes and Victoria E. Broadnax

September 5, Jackson Rouland and Permelia Lewis
Sept. 6, John I. Bigles and Martha Blakeley
Sept. 7, William K. Jones and Julia A. Goodwin
Sept. 10, John W. Davis and Frances A. McKennell
Sept. 24, Andrew Slagle and Mary Bullock

October 4, James W. Tillman and Mary A. Senn
Oct. 5, William D. Edwards and Martha E. Hood
Oct. 8, Thomas M. Bryant and Martha Clay
Oct. 11, Darius Cox and Roxanna M. Evans
Oct. 29, Adolphus Wittich and Catharine Albrecht

November 3, Andrew J. Hudson and Nancy M. Perkins
Nov. 7, Charles Markham and Mary J. Wiggins
Nov. 8, Daniel Huff and Eusebia A. Blanchard
Nov. 9, James S. H. Menifee and Rachel M. Hooks
Nov. 11, Henry A. Chapman and Martha G. Wales
Nov. 12, Jack D. Clarke and Mary D. Williams
Nov. 12, John S. Smith and Anna Brassill
Nov. 14, John W. Orun and Harriet E. Hoyde
Nov. 15, David Jones and Elmira Rowe
Nov. 19, Charles B. Mims and Leonora H. Bonner
Nov. 19, George Gullen and Mary E. Smith
Nov. 22, Robert I. Smith and Clarissa A. Tidwell
Nov. 25, George A. Kindon and Martha R. Clarke

December 2, Franklin H. Clark and Martha I. Britt
Dec. 3, Abner A. Evans and Mary E. Lyons
Dec. 3, Thomas G. Perry and Eliza J. Wilson
Dec. 3, Milton J. Glaze and Frances Frazier
Dec. 6, Sylvanus Cherry and Delilah Brassill
Dec. 12, Neal McCary and Martha E. Augle
Dec. 15, Andrew I. Harris and Martha F. Snellings
Dec. 16, Elisha M. Gram and Nancy Thompson
Dec. 16, Edward W. Beers and Sophia V. King
Dec. 16, Alexander L. Smith and Sallie L. Levy
Dec. 17, Eucratus Roland and Mary V. Durr
Dec. 20, Thomas H. Whitby and Emily M. Gunn
Dec. 22, John McGuire and Nancy Brannon
Dec. 22, Joseph D. Trammell and Mattie C. Sapp
Dec. 23, Daniel Hood and Nancy Edwards
Dec. 24, William Oates and Nancy Newsom
Dec. 27, William Jordan and Mary A. George
Dec. 30, John Stringfield and Abigail Hendricks
Dec. 31, Joseph Teal and Frances Patrick

Deaths

(From the Sexton's Reports)

January 7, Thomas Curry
Jan. 8, John Woods
Jan. 11, child of Mr. Foley
Jan. 21, child of Mr. Cadman,
Jan. 21, Miss Tapper
Jan. 24, child of Mrs. Summergill
Jan. 25, William B. Bacon
Jan. 27, Joseph Wise

February 1, Child of J. A. Bradford
Feb. 2, child of Mr. Cadman
Feb. 3, Harvill Kent
Feb. 8, Mrs. V. B. Tommy
Feb. 11, child of Mr. Gayle
Feb. 14, Margaret Hudgins
Feb. 14, Miss Spencer
Feb. 16, child of Mr. Persons
Feb. 18, child of Mr. Renfroe
Feb. 19, Mrs. Cynthia Cooper
Feb. 20, Miss Pettis
Feb. 22, child of Mr. Bussey
Feb. 24, child of Mr. Garrison
Feb. 24, child of Mr. Barden
Feb. 27, Mrs. Robinson
Feb. 28, Miss Blankenship
Feb. 28, Mr. Upton, Jr.

March 1, Child of F. C. Johnson
March 4, Master Upton
March 4, child of Mr. Darling
March 6, Mrs. Brown
March 9, Mr. Crook
March 11, child of Mr. Flynn
March 15, child of Mr. Frank
March 19, Mr. White
March 20, child of Mr. Smith
March 20, J. T. Thompson
March 21, Mr. Hemphill
March 22, child of Mr. McGibbins
March 25, Child of Elijah Williams
March 28, Mr. Cherry
March 29, Mr. Knight
March 30, Mrs. Buran
March 30, Mrs. Dennis

April 4, Child of Eliza Garven
April 5, child of John Vanzant
April 7, Mr. McDowall
April 13, child of Josephine Champion
April 14, William Pride
April 16, child of Mr. Lawrence
April 18. Mrs. Sheridan
April 21, child of Jacob Moore
April 22, Caroline McGibbins
April 22, Mrs. Louisa Jane Ware
April 22, George Murphey

May 1, Child of John Dunahoe
May 1, child of Mr. Sharpe
May 2, child of Mr. Brown
May 3, child of Mr. Harrington
May 7, Jacob Moore
May 7, James Moore
May 8, Mrs. Sarah McCarty
May 9, Hugh Dolan
May 10, child of Amanda Rodgers
May 10, C. B. Dudley
May 12, child of Francis McGehee
May 17, child of Thomas King
May 20, James M. Mitchell
May 21, child of John Dunahoe
May 22, child of John Dunahoe
May 22, child of A. Dukes,
May 22, child of ____ Hammock
May 22, Mrs. David Cropp
May 29, Joseph Midway

June 3, Child of James Caulfield
June 3, child of ____ Thomas
June 4, child of ____ Hastings
June 4, child of Henry Harris
June 5, child of Elizabeth Meredith
June 5, Elizabeth Hammock
June 8, child of E. Dudley
June 9, child of O. Connor
June 12, John Allen
June 12, Elvira Hopkins
June 15, Mrs. Narcissa Boykin
June 18, child of Mrs. Porter
June 21, Martha Moman
June 22, child of Mrs. Ware
June 24, Ann Kelly
June 25, William Gibson
June 25, child of George W. Martin
June 26, child of Bryant Duncan
June 26, child of Mr. Black
June 29, Miss Jones
June 29, child of F. G. Wilkins

From July 1st to October 1st (no other date given):

Child of J. K. Maddox
Louisa Adcock
Mrs. Maria Brown
Hugh Farish
Child of Dr. Cushman
John Brady
Charles B. Frederick
Child of Wm. Davidson
Sarah Brazell
Elvira Williams
Mrs. Hugh Dolan
Child of Mr. Collins
Child from Hospital
Richard Robinson.
Child of George Jones
Child of Mrs. Shepherd
Child of T. Simson
Child of W. Barrington
Child of John Avery
George Spellman
Child of W. Powers
George D. Moss
Child of Mrs. Mix
Child of Charles Davenport
Child of Mr. Smith
Martha Hartz
Mrs. Richard Jones
Child of Mr. Ridley
George M. Dickson
Child of Mrs. Porter
Child of John Avery
Child of Dr. Cushman
John Mitchell
Child of Wm. Brooks
William Cauley
Child of William Getsinger
_____ Hyneman
Child of Mrs. Griffin
Child of Mrs. Garrett
Child of Mr. Mix
Miss McGurt
Child of Mrs. Upton
Child of P. Finnegan
Child of William Jones
Child of Mr. Stewart
John Code, Sr.
Child of William Pruden
David Gunn
Child of W. H. Hill
Child of R. B. Murdock
Child of F. M. Gray
Michael Moran
Child of A. P. Welsh
Child of _____ Leggett
Child of William Edward
Mrs. George A. Norris
Mr. Manson
Child of Mr. Watkins
Mrs. Torrey
Mrs. R. C. Shorter
Child of Mr. Brazill
Mrs. Mary Wiseman

October 1, Mrs. Stahs
Oct. 2, child of Mrs. Edwards
Oct. 2, child of Benj. Dellans
Oct. 2, child of Ezra Mershon
Oct. 3, child of Mrs. Wells
Oct. 3, child of P. Hollihan
Oct. 7, child of Henry Simmons
Oct. 7, child of Mrs. O'Tagus
Oct. 7, child of Mr. Harris
Oct. 8, Mr. Bankston
Oct. 8, Ann Hamilton
Oct. 9, child of Mr. Jordan
Oct. 9, Mary Miller
Oct. 10, Josiah Pranglin
Oct. 11, Mrs. Davis
Oct. 12, child of Mr. Stewart
Oct. 13, Mrs. Geo. W. Dillingham
Oct. 14, Mrs. Paradine
Oct. 16, child of Mrs. Brassill
Oct. 16, Mrs. Bray
Oct. 16, Miss Parish
Oct. 20, Mrs. Seaborn
Oct. 20, child of Mr. Browning
Oct. 20, Mrs. Josiah Prangle
Oct. 21, Mrs. Brady
Oct. 22, child of Perry Spencer
Oct. 22, Mrs. Brannon
Oct. 23, child of Mr. Babbitt
Oct. 23, child of Mrs. Meigs
Oct. 25, Wm. Fincher
Oct. 29, Mrs. McKinnie
Oct. 30, Jefferson Parks
Oct. 31, Isaac Williams

November 1, Mrs. Watson
Nov. 1, child of Perry Spencer
Nov. 2, Mrs. Jas. Kimbrough
Nov. 3, Henry Champion
Nov. 3, Susan Brown
Nov. 4, Mrs. Moman
Nov. 6, James L. Garrard
Nov. 7, John Riley
Nov. 9, child of Mr. Pullams
Nov. 11, Miss Holly
Nov. 13, Miss Ball
Nov. 13, child of James Burem
Nov. 15, Thomas Carter
Nov. 18, child of Martha Gammon
Nov. 19, child of Wm. E. Brooks
Nov. 19, Louisa Gilmore
Nov. 21, Berry King
Nov. 22, child of Martha Ivey
Nov. 25, Martha Gunn
Nov. 25, Hugh Kirkpatrick

December 7, John Calhoun
Dec. 7, Mrs. Mary McAlister
Dec. 8, child of James Bussey
Dec. 10, child of John Harney
Dec. 13, Mrs. Bussey
Dec. 13, Mrs. J. T. Flewellen
Dec. 13, child of Jesse Harbuck
Dec. 18, Emeline Phole
Dec. 20, child of John Kavanaugh
Dec. 22, Mrs. Jenny Holtzclaw
Dec. 23, James Foley
Dec. 25, child of John Hamilton
Dec. 27, James Wagner
Dec. 28, Mrs. Adams
Dec. 30, two children of William Jones

NOTE.--Both measles and scarlet fever prevailed among the children during this year, and many of them died of those diseases.






Source: Columbus, Georgia from its Selection as a Trading town in 1827 to its Partial Destruction by Wilson's Raid in 1865, compiled by John H. Martin, Published by Thos. Gilbert, Book Printer and Binder, Columbus, GA, 1874

Transcribed by Judy White 2014©