Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-04-07
OLD MEMPHIS.
What Our city Was In Iss7-An Historic
sketch.

Ineighteen hundred and twenty-seven,
forty-fve wears ago, Memphis, says the
Real Estate Bulletin, was but few
wears old, having started into life some
where about the year 1920, on what was
known as the John Rice five-thOusand-
acre grant. In 1927 a few hundred set
tiers hibernated on the bluffs. Not a
single brick house was in eXlstencei Wild
turkeys and smaller game hOpped ana
skinned about In the forest around that
part of our beautiful city now known as
Court Square. Not a house was built
lower than Exchange street, and the
business part of the village lay between
Exchange and Jackson streets, along
Front. At the foot of Jackson street.
which now butts up against the wall OF
the promenade, or navy-yard, a steep,
sliDpery bluff sloped down to the river
which ran at its base. Wolf river de-
bouched into the Father of Waters at
the foot of Jackson street, and here was
the brOadhon and steamboat landing.
since that day the Mississippi, turning
and twisting in its bed, by eonstant
series of abrasions on the right bank
and by alluvial deposits ON the LEFT be
low The mouth Of Wolf river formed
the batture, and slowly pushed the
bed of Wolf river HoTthward until ITS
mouth rested where K now enters the
Mississippi. Then the navy-yard ground
was formed, but in the course OF years
the great river took another twist, and
commenced a back-sliding movement,
washing away the batture gradually up
Ia the Dresent time. The batture is now
slowly falling back into the arms Of the
great Father of Waters that threatens
TO again wash the bluff at the foot of
Jackson street. But from 1877 to 1882
the village gradually increased in size
and Importance. On the corners of Tx
change, Market, Winchester, Com
mer,2e and Jackson streets, ON Front
a number of old dilapidated houses
that were built in 1927 and 1882 still
stand i'm defiance of remOrseless
Old Time. These buildings, now old
frame groceries and clearinghouse,
were then the business houses OF the
town, where the old citizens, now dead
and gone. laid the foundation OF the
large fortunes that their worthy de-
scendants are to-day enjoying. Here
Il old Memphis, but what change!
In these now dilspidated houses, IN
olden times, an immense trade was
carried on with the Indians who
canned on the bluff IN front and IN the
,voo3v suburbs. 1t was not unusual
fov these old-time merchants TO visit
yearly the Indian agency at Pontotoe,
Mississippi, 70 receive the silver dollars
Ohich the Government agent PAID 70
the Indian tribes. A long horseback rlde
throuOh the wilderness was INDUCED
In bY these merchants, and the 4aT
diaps al the PontOtOe agency PAID them
the silver dollars, each party keeping
an account of the years TRANSACTIONS tue
merchant on his books, and 14le ltlslihh
on a notched stick. A horse soad Vi
bags of silver had 10 be brought back 70
/ Memphis. On his way the traveller had
! to stop At Indian huts. The bags OF sll-
y,sr were caIf essly thrown i'm a corner,
and the tired merchant laid down to
rest. The Indian never robbed. 1t was
left to civilization to introduce this Gus
tom into society. The old Farmers and
Merchants Bank, now the Jewish syna-
qogue, on the corner Of Main and Ex-
ehsnge streets, was built by Kentuck-
ian. about the year 1885, after the model
of the United States Bank. Ia the
course of time this became a wealthy
and sterling institution. Under the
north pillar Of the portico OF eolonede
were deposited number Of silver coins
| by the bank officials. These coins are
! there vet, almost forgotten, and when
/ the piilar Is torn down, the discovery Of
these old-time relics viii give rise TO
4 speculation, and puzzle the brain OF
some local antiquarian. The taYsrns OF
/ old Memphis have long since been torn
down. and the laughter that once rang
through the buildings is silent forever