Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-30

We present to the public this morning
a history of the Merchants Exchange
and Chamber of Commerce, and of the
recently established Cotton Exchange,
compiled from data in possession of
both bodies, and to which we were very
kindly permitted access by the secre-
tary, Mr.. John S. ToOf We need hard
IL say that both these institutions are
largely composed of the best busi-
ness men Of Memphis-the lat
ter especially embracing the lead
ing buyers and sellers of the staple
and that in them there centers al the
hope We have Of the future of our city.
We publish this history at this time for
the double purpose Of enabling our mer-
chants to realize what the city was in
the heyday Of her promise, when Mem
phis bid fair to rival Chicago in growth
and to become the leading city of the
Mississippi valley, and TO stimulate
them to come up to the support of the
chamber of commerce and make
it what it was in the first two
years of its existence and what
1t never has been since. The
gentlemen who urged and labored
for its establishment labored wisely and
well, and accomplished their task in
time, just as the young city was putting
DIOUllS6
afterwATd fully sustained, and that only
the war between the States could have
prevented US from realizing the full
frul'ion. 1t is well to retrospect their
efforts. As they appear to-day in the
APPEAL they will serve as lesson, and
We hope will be the means Of reviving
for the chamber the old-time feeling Of
pride and generous support. With
this we introduce our history:
DATE OF ORGANIZATION.
The Memphis chamber of commerce
was organized March II, 1850, under a
charter granted by the legislature Feb
ruary 26, 1850, in an act granting usual
powers and privileges to the Memphis
chamber Of commerce and merchants
exchange. Thecbartered members were
}. L. STattOn, w. S. Pickett, r. A.
Moore, A. o. Harris, S. Mosby, T. A.
Nelson, w, b. Miller, +. Lane, w. A.
GoodWyD, Z. p. BOwles, w. Howard,
Il. ID: hpperson, John H. Speed and T.
II. Alien.
THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
Of these members Messrs. J. 7. STRAIT
ton, w. S. Pickett, s. Mosby, T. A.
Nelson, w. B. Miller, F. Lane, w. A.
GOODWIN, Z. NJ. Apperson and T. II.
Allen are living; Messrs. r. A. Moore,
a. o. Harris, u. p. BOwles, w. Howard
and John II. Speed are dead, but they
are not yet forgotten in the memory OF
the many friends who knew their vir-
tues well and learned to esteem and ad-
mire their excellent qualities.
THE FIRST MEETING
was held in the Odd Fellews' hall,
March u, 1860, and Messrs. George
Winchester, John II. Stratton and Ben
May were appointed judges, to hold an
election for president and other officers.
On the twenty-seventh day of March,
1850, the election was held in the office
of the Memphis insurance company,
which, at that time, was the only local
company in existence. AT present,
Memphis has three life, and ten fire and
marine insurance companies. This in
crease, in fourteen years, demonstrates
the fact that Memphis has advanced
her prosperity, despite an unusual sue
cession of calamities, from an earth
quake down to the cerebrO-spiaGL men-
ingitis.
IRA NJ. HILL, THE FIRST CHAIRMAN.
Atthe sbeve meeting Mr.. L. NJ. Hill, ST.,
then a member of the well-knoWn firm
of COssitt, Hill & Talmadge, was called
to the chair, and stated the objects of
the meeting. Mr.. Hill has the honor
of having been the first presiding
officer of the chamber, and it must yet
be a recollection of pride with him, for
the position demanded a clear head
and a just heart. Mr.. HIPS fortunes
have kept pace with the growth of the
city, and his prosperity has been, per-
baps, greater than that of the majority
of those who were his cotemp0raries in
business. He is now a member of the
firm of Hill, Terry, Mitchell & Co., one
Of tie largest and most reliable whole
sale boot, shoe and hat houses in the
southwest.
THOMAS W. HUNT, THE FIRST PREsI-
DENT.
Mr.. Thomas w. Hunt was then elect
ed president, and the selection was both
judicious ON the part of the chamber
and meTited by this gentleman, who,
in every relation of life, whether as a
thorough business man, an enterprising
citizen or an humble christian, enjoyed
the respect and won the esteem OF all
who knew him. The young man who
shared the friendship of Thomas w.
Hunt had indeed the friendship Of a
heart as kind, as true and as noble as
ever throbbed in human breast; affable
and genial, diligent and industrious,
sincere in disposition and honest in
every purpose, Hhis life was gentle, and
the elements so mixed in him, that
Nature might stand up before all the
world and say, this is a manu-
FIRST VICE PRESIDENTS.
Messrs. Anthony Street, w. B. Miller,
John T. Stratton, ID. r. Cook and John
H. Speed, all gentlemen of excellent
ability, and occupying prominent posi-
tions in business, were elected viee-pres-
idents. These officers were men of re-
cognized influence and energy, and dis
charged their duties in manner no less
commendsble than prompt.
VIM. RossELLE, THE FIRST ACTING SEC
RETARY.
Mr.. VIM. Rosselle, the present COM
mercial editor of the APPEAL, was
elected secretary pro tenn, as an ac-
acknowledgement of the appreciation the
chamter had of his untiring efforts to
effect its organization. Mr.. Rosselle, at
that time a member Of the Memphis
press, was not only the first to advocate
the establishment of a chamber of COM
merce, but was also most active and as
siduous in its behalf.
FIRST STANDING COMMITTEES.
On the twelfth of April the first COM
mittee Of arbitration was appointed and
consistet Of s. NJ. Gates, James Elder,
Ben May, G. w. Goyer, Z. p. Bowles
J. d. Elliott, all Of whom are yet living
except Mr.. Bowles.
At the same meeting committee on
appeals, composed of the following gen.
tlemen, wss sppointed: T. A. Nelson,
3, B. williamson, Ira N. Hill, ST., J. NJ.