Railroad Projects---Political Excitement---Military Organizations

The following was the result of the municipal election on the second Saturday in December:
Mayor, Willis S. Holstead
Aldermen:
1st Ward, E. Barnett, J. H. Merry
2d, Edward Croft, J. W. King
3d, James M. Bivins, W. L. Wornum
4th, John Ligon, W. L. Salisbury
5th, John Quin, D. B. Thompson
6th, James T. Daniel, John Durkin
The opponents of Mr. Holstead for Mayor were Wm. Perry and W. A. Tennille.
Marshal, Jas. M. Hughes
Deputy Marshal, G. A. Huckeba
Clerk, Calvin Stratton
Treasurer, R. G. Mitchell
Sexton, Henry Harris

Council elected:
William Tilley, Clerk of the Market
John Peabody, City Attorney
F. C. Ellison, City Physician
Thomas Gilbert & Co., City Printers
Joseph E. Webster, Wharfinger
C. F. Neuffer, Magazine Keeper
Mrs. Isabella McGehee, Hospital Keeper
Port Wardens, Jas. M. Everett, T. O. Douglass, Van Marcus, S. Ogletree, A. M. Kimbrough.

The report of the Treasurer showed that the city was indebted for bonds to the Mobile and Girard Railroad $300,000, bonds to Opelika Branch Road $50,000, bonds to City Gas Light Company $10,000, Muscogee Railroad stock $1,200, stock for Opelika Railroad Depot $10,000, and stock for dividends in Gas Light Company $2,000.

Council made a contract, in February, with Messrs. Goetchius & Hodges for the building of a new Market House on Oglethorpe Street, near St. Clair. Some of the citizens filed an injunction a few days afterwards.

Messrs. J. A. Bradford, M. Barschall and S. R. Andrews, assessors of real estate in the city, reported in February that they had taken the census of Columbus, and gave the following statistics: White males 2,381, white females 2,394, total whites 4,755; colored males 1,013, colored females 1,328, total colored 2,341; total population 7,116. Value of real estate, $2,966,200. This enumeration included only the city proper, within the incorporated limits.

The Enquirer of the 10th of April announced that the Eagle Manufacturing Company had purchased the Howard Factory, and would run both establishments. It added: "We understand that these united Factories run 10,000 cotton and 1,300 woolen spindles; that they have 282 looms weaving cotton and woolen goods; that they consume nine bales of cotton and 1,000 pounds of wool per day, and employ 500 hands, at an expense of $240 per day for their labor. The capital employed is $375,000."

Work was commenced on the Mobile and Girard Railroad Bridge this year, but was suspended after the construction of two of the piers, and the bridge was not finished until after the war.

S. B. Warnock was on the 30th of June elected an Alderman of the 3d Ward, in the place of Alderman Bivins, resigned. The whole city voted, and the election aroused considerable interest, from the fact that the candidates ran as friends or opponents of the re-election of Maj. Howard as President of the Mobile and Girard Railroad. Mr. Warnock was opposed to Major Howard's re-election, and received 350 votes to 299 for Mr. T. O. Douglas. Council had instructed its delegates to the Convention of stockholders to vote for Major Howard, but after this election it re-considered that vote and instructed them to vote for Wm. H. Mitchel, Esq. At the meeting of stockholders, Mr. Mitchel was elected without opposition.

There were several projects of improvement in whose behalf aid from the city was this year asked. There were the Opelika and Talladega, the Opelika and Oxford, and the LaGrange Railroads, further aid to the Mobile and Girard Railroad, so as to extend it to Union Springs; and a system of Water Works for the city. Council adopted an ordinance submitting to a vote of the people, on the first Saturday in July, the question of subscribing not exceeding $150,000 for the introduction of water into the city, and $100,000 to the Opelika and Talladega Railroad (now known as the Savannah and Memphis.) The vote was taken on each proposition separately. The subscription to the Railroad was approved by a vote of 206 to 27. The vote on the Water Works question stood, yeas 38, nays 187. The proposition thus defeated was to bring water into the city from the river above, by means of an aqueduct.

The tax returns of the county, made this year, showed 981 polls, number of slaves 6,164, free negroes 37, number of acres of land, first quality 1,983, second quality 2,568, third quality 27,926, pine land 176,883, value of land $1,800,474, value of city property $2,415,625, value of slaves $4,203,350, amount of money and solvent debts $3,076,128, amount of merchandise $1,078,905, amount of shipping or tonnage $17,920, all other capital invested in stock of any kind $548,115, value of household and kitchen furniture over $300--$139,200, value of other property not before enumerated $407,796--total $13,687,486. This being the year immediately preceding the war, these statistics are interesting for comparison.

The census taken this year by the Federal authorities showed a white population in Columbus proper (not taking in Wynnton, &c.) of 5,674, slaves 3,265, free Negroes 100--total 9,039. The total population of Muscogee County, by this census, was 17,039.

Party politics ran very high this year, particularly after the election of Abraham Lincoln as President in November. The question of secession engaged the attention of the people of Columbus, as of every other city of the South. The Secession party had a majority in the city, though the cooperationists were pretty strong and made a stout contest. An organization called the "Southern Guard" was formed in Columbus very soon after the November election. It partook of a military character, with a Captain, Lieutenants and other officers. The old military companies of the city joined it. On the night of the 23d of December the city was brilliantly illuminated in honor of the secession of South Carolina. Some of the devices displayed by the arrangement of lights were very pretty and brilliant. It was a beautiful and imposing pageant. There was at the same time a very large meeting in Temperance Hall, which the several military companies attended in uniform. Spirited speeches were delivered. A torch-light procession through the streets, with banners and emblems, was a magnificent sight. Bonfires blazed in the streets, fireworks sparkled and hissed, and altogether it was an extraordinary and most exciting and impressive spectacle. Of the papers of the city, the Times advocated secession, the Enquirer cooperation, and the Sun had two editors, one of whom was a cooperationist and the other a separate State secessionist.

Incidents

A curious spectacle was presented at the wharf in the early part of January, by the steamers Oswichee and Munnerlyn lying high and dry out of the water. The river fell so rapidly on the night of the 2d as to leave them in that fix. The Munnerlyn was extricated on the 10th of January, without much damage. The Oswichee was relieved on the 25th of January.

The residence of Joseph Rempert, on Troup Street, was burnt on the 18th of January. The house belonged to John Quin.

About one hundred bales of cotton from Macon, enroute for Apalachicola, arrived in Columbus on the 20th of January. The river trade was active, and Apalachicola flourishing then.

John H. Dorsett was fatally shot during a fight in the lower portion of the city, late in January. It was said that a man named McCollough shot him in self-defense.

Levi, son of John Rogers, was accidently shot and killed by another youth named George Odom, on the 20th of February, while they were shooting robins near the Muscogee Depot,

Mrs. Allen, wife of John Allen, of Girard, was badly burned by her dress taking fire on the 9th of March, and died two or three days afterwards.

The jail of Muscogee County caught fire, on the morning of the 19th of March, from a chimney, and was destroyed. There were several prisoners in it, but none were hurt. The fire started inside the building.

The extensive furniture factory of Mr. Walton K. Harris, known as the "Novelty Works," was destroyed by fire on the evening of the 7th of April, with a large quantity of furniture, finished and unfinished. The loss was $14,000 or $15,000, and insurance about $8,000. The stable, kitchen and smoke-house of Capt. McAlister, on the adjoining lot were also burnt.

A great bank robbery, discovered on the 10th of April, created no little astonishment and interest. It was found that about $45,500 had been stolen from the agency in Columbus of the Marine Bank of Savannah, of which Mr. L. G. Bowers was agent. Mr. Bowers offered a reward of $7,500 for the recovery of the money and the detection of the thief. Early on the morning of the 12th of April, a package containing $30,000 of the money was found on a little bridge in the outskirts of the city, near the Orphan Asylum; and later in the day $13,000 more of it was found secreted under the steps of a house in the same neighborhood. Mr. E. B. Holmes, the teller of the agency, was arrested and gave bond in the sum of $2,500, which was about the amount of the loss of the Bank.

On the night of the 12th of April, the extensive livery stable of Mr. A. Gamell, on Jackson Street, was destroyed by fire, with several small buildings in the rear of the stable. Six mules and fifteen horses perished in the flames. The buggies and other vehicles were mostly saved, but 225 bales of hay and a large quantity of corn and fodder were burnt. The loss was not less than $15,000, only partly covered by insurance. The fire was believed to have been the work of an incendiary.

The steamer Oswichee was sunk at Francis Bend, on the 14th of April, while on her way from Columbus to Apalachicola. The passengers and crew all escaped. Most of the cotton floated off and was afterwards picked up.

The kitchens of Mr. F. S. Chapman and Mr. Tillman, on adjoining lots, were burnt by a fire on the night of the 29th of April, with two other small outbuildings.

John O'Brian, who lived in Girard and worked in Columbus, was killed on the Girard end of the bridge, on the 6th of May, by William B. Martin, of Girard. They had a difficulty, O'Brian used brick-bats, and Martin a pistol. The later was bound over in the sum of $2,500, but was never tried.

A young woman named Georgiana Daniel, living on Bridge Street, committed suicide by taking laudanum on the 8th of July.

A young man named Louis Keistner, a shoemaker, was drowned in the river, between the falls and the lower bridge, on the 11th of July, while he was bathing.

The first bale of new cotton was received on the 26th of July. It was from the plantation of Col. C. B. Taliaferro, near Girard, and was sold at auction at 12� cents per pound.

A stranger calling himself John Sley, drew money on a check presented to the agency of the Marine Bank, on the 31st of July, and the genuineness of the check being suspected, he was pursued, when he ran into the river, intending, no doubt, to swim across, but the strong current bore him down and he was drowned. His name was afterwards ascertained to be J. C. Adair.

Mrs. Melvina Morris, a young married lady, committed suicide by plunging into the river on the 4th of August. She had previously exhibited signs of mental derangement.

On the 29th of September, F. C. Johnson for the 2d, and John Hazelton for the 3rd, were elected Aldermen, to succeed Aldermen Croft and Warnock, resigned.

On the morning of the 1st of October, the residence of Mr. E. S. Greenwood, on upper Broad Street, was burnt.

The brick building on the west side of Broad street, occupied by Hatcher & McGehee, Harrison & Pitts, and Mims & Perry, was burnt on the morning of the 1st of December.

The new Baptist Church, fronting on Randolph Street, was dedicated on the 9th of December, the dedication sermon by Rev. Basil Manly.

Personal

C. R. Jewett was Presiding Elder of the Columbus District; A. T. Mann, stationed at St. Luke; J. S. Key at St. Paul; W. J. Wardlaw, Factory Mission; L. Pierce and A. G. Haygood, Girard and Pierce Chapel.

The County Officers were:
John Hazelton, Sheriff
A. S. Rutherford, Clerk of the Superior Court
John Johnson, Ordinary
A. P. Jones, Clerk of the Inferior Court
Jordan Howell, Tax Collector
I. T. Brooks, Tax Receiver
J. A. Bradford, County Treasurer
William Jordan, Coroner
J. E. Lamar, County Surveyor.

M. G. Watson, Lemuel Lockhart, James Lloyd and ____ Brock were constables of the two districts including the city.

Messrs. J. W. Warren and P. H. Colquitt were announced in June as editors and proprietors of the Times, Mr. Roswell Ellis having disposed of his interest to Capt. Colquitt, who was the principal editor at the time.

Marriages

January 1, Wm. M. Allen and Samantha I. Philips
Jan. 3, Joseph Mossman and Willhelmina Welding
Jan. 3, Robert M. Sacro and Jane Oswalt
Jan. 5, James A. Gun and Eliza Ann Brooks
Jan. 5, James T. Code and Mary E. Casey
Jan. 5, Mitchell Blanton and Mary J. Sharp
Jan. 7, Robert C. Miller and Ann M. Osborn
Jan. 8, Thomas Key and Louisa A. Carr
Jan. 12, Haywood L. Spann and Sarah A. Baldwin
Jan. 14, William Clegg and Margaret Shavers
Jan. 16, James Holt and Elizabeth Sanders
Jan. 17, John A. G. Myers and Sarah C. West
Jan. 17, Jesse J. Bradford and Mary A. McAlister
Jan. 19, William J. Pittman and Sarah U. Thomas
Jan. 19, David Gibson and Sarah Taylor
Jan. 23, George Cane and Malinda Fittz
Jan. 26, Thomas C. C. McEachren and Louisa Hackney
Jan. 30, James Osborn and Rebecca Rentfroe

February 2. Wm. F. Kelly and Elizabeth Brittain
Feb. 2, Thomas Dillard and Frances M. Collins
Feb. 9, James F. Lewis and Louisa J. Foster
Feb. 9, Edwin W. Jackson and Mary A. L. Nobles
Feb. 9, Levi S. Blake and Mary Megea
Feb. 12, John Mills and Jane M. Glaze
Feb. 13, James P. Blount and Priscilla Chessan
Feb. 14, Alexander Aids and Laura McGraston
Feb. 14, Mathew F. Wilson and Temperance Burkes
Feb. 25, George W. Snowden and Susan Maples

March 4, Norman R. Williams and Mary Barfield
March 10, Geo. W. F. Newsom and Cynthia A. R. Bryan
March 19, George Scroggins and Sarah Yearty
March 24, Augustus L. Forman and Martha V. Hubbart
March 29, Wm. J. Edwards and Mary M. Moore

April 1, Philo Johnson and Frances Ruse
April 3, Wm. F. Snelling and Bettie A. Lofton
April 4, John B. Scott and Virginia A. Howard
April 5, Samuel W. Fail and Mary A. E. Milton
April 11, Esau Pike and Rebecca Thompson
April 17, Jeremiah B. Broadaway and Elizabeth M. E. Lindley
April 19, George W. Pike and Lucinda Brock
April 22, George Clover and Frances Glaze
April 23, Frederick Franchand and Rosalia A. Sagnet
April 28, Joseph Phillips and Madora Comer
April 29, Isaac Lewis and Mary Lewis

May 1, Wm. Darden and Mahulda Chadwick
May 2, Samuel Blair and Emily E. Harris
May 10, Anthony Clegg and Mary P. Long
May 12, Benjamin R. Wilson and Margaret Willis
May 12, Oliver S. Bennett and Lucy C. Marable
May 13, Nathan Watson and Rebecca Mote
May 15, William L. Tillman and Hattie E. Clements
May 17, Thos. L. Tinnan and Mary L. Hoffman
May 21, William W. Flewellen and Caroline L. Love
May 26, Thos. J. Darden and Mary L. Echols
May 31, Whitford Smith and Jane Allen
May 31, John S. Jenkins and Mary Baldwin

June 4, Thos. Naftel and E. O'Donnell
June 7, Gilbert Watson and Mary C. Blake
June 7, James Brooks and Catharine Bryant
June 10, James Price and Harriet Mitchell
June 10, John H. Kimbrough and Frances H. Isler
June 10, August Michael and Margaret Merkel
June 12, Patrick Foran and Elizabeth McElrath
June 14, George W. Buttan and Louisa Rice
June 15, John T. Stubbs and Emily L. Gerke
June 19, John D. Lewis and Lucinda Thomas
June 25, Moses G. Morris and Melvina Olive
June 25, Joseph Williamson and Adaline M. Boyd
June 26, Alex. D. Brown and Mary J. Silva
June 27, Henry H. A. Gabriel and Sarah E. Bankston
June 27, Charles W. Stewart and Sarah C. Brown
June 27, George R. Flournoy and Julia A. Brown
June 28, James Britton and Lurania Morris

July 4, Calvin S. Bryant and Mary A. Swetman
July 10, Daniel F. Booton and Martha B. McGruder
July 10, Benjamin A. Clark and Virginia S. Kimbrough
July 12, James Story and Queen Victoria Philips
July 22, Jesse Barnes and Mary Fletcher
July 26, Simeon D. Pope and Minerva A. Davie
July 26, Benjamin Brock and Malissa Thompson
July 31, John C. Parr and Georgia S. Evans

August 1, James Covey and Elizabeth Till
August 1, James S. Paullin and Sarah E. Borders
August 1, James Clegg and Martha R. Layfield
August 2, Anglet Seal and Elizabeth Taylor
August 2, James M. Bussey and Mary A. Brannon
August 5, Thos. M. Ross and Catharine D. Halley
August 15, Tyra Ramsey and Susan Broadnax
August 21, James Patillo and Sarah Fletcher
August 29, James W. Stanfield and Martha Baird

September 4, John L. Duffee and Henrietta A. Blackmar
Sept. 4, Ellison Conway and Sarah A. Jeffries,
Sept. 4, Wm. Thompson and Emily Mylan
Sept. 9, James T. Osborn and Laura E. House
Sept. 9, David Smith and Celia Smith,
Sept. 9, Wm. Jackson and Mary Marler
Sept. 10, Frederick Stewart and Fannie J. Guthrie
Sept. 13, Edward W. Blau and Leonora Parish
Sept. 13, Thomas Hunt and Mary M. Simpson
Sept. 16, David R. Cox and Mary Sutton
Sept. 20, Benjamin F. Hopkins and Sarah B. Davis
Sept. 20, Joseph Raily and Josaphine Bellflower
Sept. 22, Ephraim H. Skinner and Mary F. E. Perryman
Sept. 24, Colquitt M. Holland and Frances A. Culverson
Sept. 25, Wm. M. Kelly and Elizabeth Jones
Sept. 30, Andrew J. Edwards and Matilda L. Alford

October 1, Irvin C. Mabry and Margaret Read
Oct. 2, John S. Bryant and Martha J. Johnson
Oct. 5, Zachariah T. Howard and Martha A. E. Green
Oct. 8, Elijah F. Pasey and Elizabeth Coulter
Oct. 10, John R. Young and Rebecca E. Knight
Oct. 13, John J. McKendree, Jr., and Samantha A. E. Folds
Oct. 18, Dr. E. F. Colzey and Mary Hudson
Oct. 21, James M. Frazier and Missouri Smith
Oct. 23, Charles J. Farber and Salina Kendall
Oct. 28, John Milton and Elizabeth S. Simpson
Oct. 28, Felix G. Lloyd and Caroline Hackney
Oct. 30, Francis M. Jeter and Julia Lindsey

November 1, Daniel R. Bize and Mary L. Harris
Nov. 15, Bassil M. Conway and Mary Tillery
Nov. 17, John H. Clegg and Martha A. Smith
Nov. 22, Rolf. S. Sanders and Martha C. Billing
Nov. 22, Eli S. Langford and Dorcas A. Gilpin
Nov. 27, William B. Screws and Mary P. Culbertson

December 4, Thos. J. Hammock and Maria J. Spurlin
Dec. 4, Aaron C. Trotman and Anna E. Birdsong
Dec. 6, Aaron Land and Angia Lokey
Dec. 12, Isaac A. Mooney and Hattie M. Jackson
Dec. 13, James M. Crockett and Elizabeth Hill
Dec. 17, Levi D. Philips and Margaret S. Williams
Dec. 20, Giles T. Williams and Anna A. Brown
Dec. 24, Abel Smith and Thirza B. Kirvin
Dec. 25, John Kelly and Frances Page,
Dec. 25, Wm. H. D. Cram and Emily C. Giddings
Dec. 28, John L. Pickett and Mary Crockett
Dec. 30, Joseph Land and Frances Lokey
Dec. 31, Calvin Duffield and Henrietta Russell

Deaths

January 4, Child of Mr. Garrard
Jan. 4, Powell Robinson
Jan. 4, Mr. McArdle
Jan. 11, Mr. McGee
Jan. 12, child of Mr. Matheson
Jan. 12, child of Mr. Horn
Jan. 12, child of Mr. Duffy
Jan. 15, Mrs. Brith
Jan. 15, Mr. Storckel
Jan. 15, Isaac M. Ralls
Jan. 15, child of Mr. Wynne
Jan. 15, child of Mr. Needham
Jan. 15, child of Mr. Horn
Jan. 16, Mr.Watts
Jan. 18, child of Mr. Duffy
Jan. 18, Mrs. V. Grice
Jan. 18, Mr. Dixon
Jan. 18, child of Mr. Booher
Jan. 18, Mr. Bright
Jan. 24, child of Mr. Treadwell
Jan. 27, Blake Kobinson
Jan. 29, Hampton Horton
Jan. 29, child of Mr. Grant

February 2, James Ligon
Feb. 2, Samuel Hall
Feb. 2, child of Mr. Brice
Feb. 18, child of Mr. Copeland
Feb. 18, H. Hurd
Feb. 18, William Daniel
Feb. 18, Amanda V. Williford
Feb. 18, child of Mr. Silver
Feb. 18, Patrick Murphy
Feb. 18, child of Mr. Sherly
Feb. 18, child of A. Picket
Feb. 25, child of J. B. Starker
Feb. 25, child of Mr. Sherman
Feb. 25, Mr. Kennedy
Feb. 25, child of Mrs. McArdel

March 6, Child of A. Brannon
Mar. 6, child of Mr. Matheson
Mar. 6, Mr Britten
Mar. 6, child of Mr. Hunt
Mar. 6, child of H. Nance
Mar. 10, child of Mr. Martin.
Mar. 10, Mrs. B. Walker
Mar. 10, William Connor
Mar. 10, child of Mr. Hicks
Mar. 13, child of Mr. Cadman
Mar. 13, Mr. McCairn
Mar. 13, Mrs. Thomas
Mar. 16, child of Mrs. Bonds
Mar. 16, Miss Peabody
Mar. 17, Lucinda Britt
Mar. 17, Wm. McMichael
Mar. 18, Emily Coursey
Mar. 18, Mr. Mattox.

No reports published for the months intervening between above and the following months:

October 12, Child of Mr. Boyd
Oct. 12, child of Mr. Preer
Oct. 14, child of Mrs. Delonaugh
Oct. 19, child of Mr. Bailey
Oct. 20, Leonard Black
Oct. 20, Mr. Raiford
Oct. 20, Jasper Preer
Oct. 25, Mr. Talbot
Oct. 25, child of John O'Bryan
Oct. 28, child of Jesse Bradford
Oct. 28, child of Mr. Bivin

November 1, Child of Mrs. Emily Moottey
Nov. 6, Neil Fulgham
Nov. 6, child of Mr. Hall
Nov. 7, Harvy Nance
Nov. 14, Mr. Paine
Nov. 14, child of Mrs. Cooper
Nov. 18, Henrietta Wood
Nov. 18, Mrs. Moore
Nov. 18, Mrs. Murphy
Nov. 18, Mr. Bumbush
Nov. 19, child of James Smith
Nov. 19, child of Mrs. Robison

(From The Newspapers)

April 30, Henry Epping, infant son of S. H. Hill

May 4, Carolina Lucy, child of L. T. Downing
May 7, Victoria Core, infant child of J. W. King; �
May __, James Redd, Jr.
May __, Rev. Wm. H. Grace

June 19, Yelverton, son of John W. King
June 27, Mrs. Sarah Ann, wife of Thomas Ragland
June 28, Mrs. Martha Irene Abbott

July 4, Sallie Georgia, daughter of Van Marcus;
July 9, Mrs. Juliana Hulen
July 11, Mrs. Nian W. Chalfant
July __, Samuel J. Hicks
July __, Isaac T. Cary
July 26, Dr. Gilbert Reese

August 1, Eula, infant daughter of Hatch Cook
August 24, L. W. Pryor

September 5, (near Pine Knot Springs) Thomas, son of Thomas DeWolf
Sept. 15, George Van Doren, infant son of James A. Girdner
Sept. 24, Charles Henry, infant son of J. H. Weeks

October 11, Mrs. Mary Lamar

November 30, Benjamin H. Hurt
Nov. __, H. Bishop.

December 18, B. Y. Martin