Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-27
EARLY REMlNlsc ENcEs.
a Chapter for me OLD rolha

"SH - Ho remember, 10 d physical
boundaries OF what is now known by the
e%uphonlons title of Pinch, where so msnv
OF the sons OF Erin do love to cOngregate.
lfeny eorrobOrating evidence is wanting
10 connrm d antiquity, We can only say
We remember when Johnson gave hospi-
taple entertainment TO the weary traveller;
When F1nney and White smiled bonig-
nantIy on the bibulous; when the Blue
Rum nourished like a green bay tree:
when the Mississippi burst the base of
oQng's old s~torehOuse; when our vensr-
ated friend, John Lawrence, mounted on
a dlminutive steed, aroused the citizens
70 arms, in the affair of the hstboatmen.
on which occasion q b~elligerent owner of
a boat received a mortal wound, OF which
he died ut the City Hospital.
Yes, we remember when Fort Picker
ing threatened 70 extinguish Memphis.
on account OF the unaccSmmodating spirit
OF her merchants. To which end q rail-
o a was resolved upon, n a costly
tavern erected by the interchangeable Yates,
OF Adlp0se notOriety. IL was q solemn
time IN lie affairs OF Memphis. Her
destiny swung on an attenuated thread
the gods favored her, however, and sine
now proudly points to tho innumerable
trophies of her success.
In The comparatively brief period of
time, since We landed ON his bluff, almost
an entire generation has disappeared, and
Ia the language of q former editor OF the
APPEAL, on a melancholy occasion, "We
feel almost alone" A new generation
has k the places of those who have
passed the Lethea1 stream. And thus It
will be until the end Of time. IL may be
Interesting, st least, to some who are LEFT.
II we make mention of a few of the promi-
nent citiZsns who lived in Memphis
during the early period of which we
write, There are some, we doubt not,
nh ~
man OF universal genius and various call
ings. Thelsstti time we saw him hewas alone
IN his little back room, giving the finish
ing touches TO s mechanism of brass, by
which Ito use his w langusge) he was
able to measure distances, irrespective of
the inequalities OF surface. He informed |
US he had applied for a patent, but as he
died shortly after, and as our youthful
comprehension failed to catch the idea he |
wished to convey, the world doubtless
lost, in his death, q valuable invention. |
Near the northern extremity of Main
street, he erected a brick church for the
benefit of thec olored population, which
still remains as q u of his
b~enevOlence and Christian charity.
About the same time lived Joseph
Cooper, a thrifty merchant, who by great
patience, frugslity and well directed
energy amsssed z considerable fortune.
There was a method In all he did, which
OF his contemporaries might have
probably initiated. Deprived of sight In
the latter part of life, the social enjoy
ment OF pleasant company afforded him a
peculiar qualification. 1t was a bad omen
Pinch when he emigrsted to the cor
ner of Monroe snd Front streets. He was
of listening to the church bells. Their
music reminded him, 10 said, OF frail
mortality, and in one of his prodigal
moods he contributed fifty dollars to pur-
chase the bell that every Sunday morning
its solemn warning from the stee-
pie of Wesley Chapel. .
Prominent among the medical men of
hist day was DR.. Wyatt Christian, an eX-
,ellent physician, a high-toned gentle
nan, sincere in his attachments, and ever
lsetully employed in relieving the all
nents of suffering humanity. he was
highly respected and esteemed by q large
ircle of friends, professionally and social
y Joseph Bohannon is still remembered
" q few. To the skill of the druggist, he
ombined the most desirable qusli6cs- {
ions ofthe merchant. He was, perhaps, {
he best business man On the bluff. Ru- I
1q1tDl est eTTGTe. We should remember
My his good qualities. His
Familiarity called Dick, remark
bic for occasional errstic manifestations,
Tas 8 popular individual with all classes, l
constituted an important integral q
lAAnAlbhblL "a no GALAE EOflBLY OI Albul- / 1
ms. Like a true patriot, he fell at CerrO /
lordo, fighting for his eOuntry's flag. /
Among the early Inhabitants of Mem I
his was Captain William n. Seawall. 4
10 still lives. and c~ultivates Il small farm c
6sr Yorktown, Va IN the hard fought I
sttles between Vera Cruz and the city of L
he was the only commissioned 5
iicer in the United States army who =
presented Memphis. He Was a gallant u
I'd efficient officer. At C~herubusco his '
)mpany was almost annihilated by a u
battery. After the termination
the war he returned to Memphis, but
'mainad only a few months. He is IA 81
2rably remembered by his few surviving u
o
There are q few still living who may .
i've in their recollection an old druggist v
amsd Justus Smith, who lived on the n
Irner of Winchester and Main. If dog 81
1873 had passed that Wsy with his Ian "
m, he might have terminated his psre- 81
inatiOns with the old doctor. In him cs
would have found that rare species of
o genus " homO,' IN honest man. Like
rue philosopher, he bore the inhlctions Y
outrageous fortune, and divided bis M
between his Bible and the Ma Oh
nat IlteLsgeaeer. He was ever rumi- ~
mt or fumsnt.
The memory of Jesse Williamson is
.sasantly cherished by a few surviving
ends. He was, with Z little eecentricity
manner, a pleasing companion, and
at all times with an amusing Rnec- n
te to Tegsle q SOLICIT crowd. 1t was a al
culiarity with him to speak in broken a.
eDch, or English, / forget which.
IA this panoramic view many familiar
might be enumerated, which were ~
with the early development Of y
3mphis, if we were not restricted by the O.
ssclibe1 limits of this communication.
may be a senile imbecility, but it is ~,
sssant to contemplate the past, not W
t~hstsnding many dark clouds over
adow the view, and the melancholy fact
remembered that so many of those who
ed and moved among us az that early 20
y have acted their brief part in the "a
of life, snd disappeared forever. 1t ~
delightful to think of those good old nv
les-"the best in the worldn-when the ~
tom rail was content to lie on the Iol
,und; when but few signets could have ~
N found with the inscription, "QR6. ~
.da pec1RiG PTiaaaBi est, VirtstS post ~
Hm0S ;" when & large amount of social -
ling existed, h usual characteristic of ~
sll towns. With an amusing illustra- 80
a of the latter we will terminate for .TEo
present our early "reminiscences. a.
n the summer OF 1888 the monotony of w
mphis was relieved by the sudden ap-
rance of Monsieur Duksy, an individ- n
VI A4AgEkA eNE0Ae RO14AA1AA1 III -
accent and the color of his cutiele. He Sill
in pursuit of health, aud to escape V
heat and malaria OF q more Southern 9 q
nate. Agreeable in conversation and Bel
possessing in manner, he was not long Riv
making himself the center of a social L
le. The ladies' smiled delightfully."- in sbo
presence, and through the long sum- Gnu
months no p8Tty.or fashionable as The
.blRgo was complete without Monsieur to-I
ray. He sung charmingly in French. the
his greatest attraction was the posses. ord
of v sugar plantations in Louisi- of c
On the upper plantation he claimed on
production of four hundred leg
and six hundred hogsheads on the
lower plantation. This was enough yest
Heeten his society, and give a saccha- hos
tingo to his general conversation. 81
merchants, too, were happy to Cali
% his acquaintance. He talked leaH
u6ntly OF finances. But all Mar
Is have an end, and it became st. a.,
isssry in the course of events, tor rive
Isieur Dukay TO depart, and on the SLOW
It of this interesting occasion he de- nigt
With fearful eyes the necessity that PI
PEELED him to return to his plsnts- with
3. he was consoled however with the hela
ctlon that he would shortly return. risiu
n q friend in the grocery line he pur- Ca
ed a bill of supplies for the upper New
giving in payment q draft on Jasp
)rleans merchant. From q old Bisn
d' he obtsined in q similar manner \ am.
riding horse, saddle, and bride; and 10 a
a bosom friend and companion he Men
consented to receive a dia- ST. L
d ring Tor his "0nly sister" Moo
'nths passed away u notidingscame Rive
elegant Frenchmsn. The drafts were ourv
returned for non-scceptsncs, and -,
? a hearty laugh was enjoyed at the ~
nss of these who were vietimized, iD
Iteration of four hundred ~hogsheads pto
10 upper plantation and six hundred H
heads On the lower plantation. LII
ring the ensuing winter a gentleman elout
whom he had been intimate. and river
had suffered a little from his saeha- Is Hu!