Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-08
OLD TIMES.


The First C0aFt-heuse IN shelby County
l. appears that many Of our citiKsns,
even OF the Old Folks, were not aware
that Memphis was the original county
seat Of Shelby county until after hearing
or reading the able address Of MsjsE Win
chester, at the Old Folks Barbecue; and
a. the building in which the first judi
cisl body convened Is still standing, and
Is there are other historical events con-
nected with it, I have thought It Of suf-
Gcient impOrtsncs TO I'LL q place In your
paper, particularly "a you have svincsd q
lively interest Ia the early events Of oUF
city.
Immediately In the rear Of a large
brick building on the northeast cor
ner Of Main and Winchester streets,
on which, in large figures, 800 appears,
and In connection with which there is
also some history which might not prove
undressing, there stands an old two
story wooden house; It was originally but
one-stOry, and built OF logs, bat as the
logs were handsomely hsWed and put up
In neat style, IL presented q more tidy sp-
pesranee than most OF the neighboEing
structures; besides, being more than or
dinanly large, caused it to be used for
public and religious meetings, balls,
shows, etc. l. was the first building on
the bluh that acquired the sppellation Of
the Meeting House. The word church
49, 49, 80 ~ 80 aAAA1 ~ ~ ~
wish TO be understood as saying that the
first sermon was preached IN this house.
AS to who preached the first sermon,
that Is q question 1 undertook to solve
over forty years ago, not because / was
particularly interested in il. but because
there wore three claimants for the honor,
which, for the saks of morality, 70 say
nO5hiBg OF true Tis5Y, I should hope were
sll Incorrect. One 81 these I viii venture
TO mention, as ne ~ doubt will be remsm-
bered by some OF the Old Folks. His
name Wss 5puflOck. a blacksmith by
trade, and everything that was bad
by professional least such was his gen
eral character. He lived 81 GrGelOek, the
original coQnty-ssss OF CFittenden county,
Arkansas. There was quite q number Of
1tinersnt ~prescbers passing around, who
generally made up IN zeal what they
lsck6 IN knowledge, and occasionally a
hztOoatmau would play upon a harp of
a Thousand strings" TO the amusement, if
not to the edihcstiOn of a molly crowd &c
the landing. ] believe that a Methodist cir
cult rider took this point in his rounds at
q very early day. To the coIored popuIa-
ton belongs the honor Of having the first
resident preacher, in the person of Uncle
Harry Lawrence, whose location here
preceded that Of the Reverend Elijah
Cofsy.
have thus depressed because I have
been repeatedly called upon for informa-
ton in reference to the church hers in
early times, which, I am sorry to sSy I
know very little about. But to get back
to court, which, with due Differences to
Major Winchester, I don't think knew it
sell or Il never would have perpetrsted
that Outrage on my old friend Paddy
MahEr-shd we're il not too late 1 might
take al appeal. DO not think that more
than Ons session was over held in the
meeting house." as an idea prevailed
that q lawful court could not be held
other than On C~ourt-sqUsre, or at least.
that tins square would revert to the pro-
p~rietoTs If not used for the purposes indi-
Csted by its name-snd the MsiOr ought
to have known that the one hundred and
seventy-hVe dollar appropriation was
only for 2 temporary building, which was
erected on the square sufficiently remote
from the center 20 admit Of q proper and
becoming edifcs, for If the men Of Mem
phis we're few IN number they were not
entirely without public spirit. This old
building remained until g comparatively
recent date, and was used IS a church and
schOOl-houss.
But while OUr leading men were provid-
ing the means snd discussing the plsus
for the erection Of a permanent court
house, q secret movement was ct work
in g neighbOring and rival town to strip
Us OF the Ornsment-and I would remind
Raleigh friends who thought them |
selves 50 u~UjGstly dealt with IN the late
removal, thst they were, at most, only re-
PAID IN their own coin, as the first notice /
that the people of Memphis had, forty
i've years ago that such an act Was in
contemplation, was that the bill had al
ready passed declaring Raleigh the county
seat Of Shslby county.
But if Memphis had cause of sorrow for
the loss Of her court, she had, about the
same time, cause ofj0y in the establish
nent Of the nrst newspaper, the Western
edited and published by ThOs.
and in the same room where
the first ccurFof justice, snd in
sinners hsd alternately been called
to the dance and TO repentance, that re-
sounded at n time to the eloquenes of
cur early orators and statesmen, and
to the bOisteTOus laugh of the rabbls
the antics OF q buff)On, was set up the
first press that made its impression
In the District, and for which purpose ths
house vas ussd Ter several years. T. sp-
pears to nave been for some time in litigs-
Ion After its discOntinuance Is = print
.ng Office il became the property OF Seth
Whestly, who s6ded smother story to il.
weetherbOardsd the whole and converted
into sdweIling. VIM. r. Smith SITTER
purchased it, since which time I
lost its run. There are sons anee-
Totes connected with this sold nesting
house" thst might be worth telling were
hoy not too tedious.
OLD TINES