The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-10

| Is enough In the exploits OF the pioneers
OF the past TO merit praise without painting
fancy pictures or distorting history.
Mr. Phelan, in his history, endeavors TO
make Gov. Sewer the leading historic
character OF the State. We cannot, how
ever, indorse his estimate. II is true he
made an excellent pioneer Governor. lie
was one OF the people aud always stood
high in their esteem. lie had clear con-
ception OF the future OF Tennessee, and
the measures ho recommended were wise
aud discreet. But lac was avaricious, and
while holding office, speculated in land
warrants. This may not in itself have
been wrong, but an ollense similar in kind
prevented James G.. Blaine from attaining
the Presidency. Mr.. Heating does not
make an idol OF Sewer, aud we think he Is
right.
Memphis received her charter as a town
in 1927 from the Legislature. NJ. II. Win
chester was elected her first Mayor. David
Crockett was the then representative OF the
district in Congress. She had Il popula-
ton Of 800, rapid increase from the CEN
sus OF 1919, which gave her only fifty
three inhabitants. Tho founders OF Mem
phis foresaw its future greatness. The
sagacious eye OF Gen. jackson perceived
the commercial importance OF the bluffs,
purchased the surrounding lands,
enlisted cntcrprising capitalists and
favored Us growth by tongue and pen.
There Ia no mystery, like tabled Rome,
about is origin We have the cold, naked
facts II was the FIRST place in the United
States located with tho specific aim Of
building a city. The propretOr5 were
shrcwd, practical men. They laid ont the
1
AIDE, parks, streets, alleys aud sidewalks on
q scale sufficient b. satisfy the most
! laslidOus resident. hut land WIS cheap,
inusmuch as they owned It all aud had
! bought Il at low figures. They held on to
their principal lots, would not allow the
promenade "a be- cut through so that nc.
ccss Ia the river could be reached easily,
and under no consideration would they
part with ferry privileges. "For on the
honor OF man" writes Judge Oyerton,
81 always before the purchase Of the Rice
heirs, in 1895, considered that at some day
the water privileges attached 10 the banks
would be worth more than all the lots aud
lands about the place "An ordinary
man OF business aud knowledge Of man
kind. and know ledge ol the geography Of
the United States with the Mississippi, |
could easily iOnscc such n state OF thing"
P. 1872 Mayor Winchester was the rep. |
rcscntativo Of the propriclos, ana always |
on the alert for their Interests. lie wrote |
glowing accounts in the papers. Some |
times he placa,cd the cilizens by yielding l
To their demands, at other times he forced /
obedience 30 his will by appeal 10 the |
courts. lie was in constant friction with /
the rival town OF South Memphis; he was |
Of Fort Pickering aud de- |
yised ways aud means Ia handicap Mcle- |
more. lie was waichlul guardian, full |
OF enthusiasm, and finally made Mem |
phis. Under his management Memphis |
rapidly grew ia population, iino buildings |
were erected. aud the founders antcpi-
ton realized. The growth Of Memphis |
has not been phenomenal like the West.
crn cities But "a has been steady aud /
excepting during times Of war
and fever. This increase has been due Ia |
natural causes IL Is in response 10 the |
demands OF trade. II has no fictitious |
popularity Ii IL solid aud substantial. |
Trade centcrs nrc essential 20 commerce,
and the condition oi Memphis but marks
the development of the agricultural sec
lions tributary 10 H. Independent Of its
favorable locality ipr manufacturing pur-
passes, Memphis h bound, ON account II
her commercial advantages, 10 become a
very large and prosperous city.
This Tact h clearly demonstrated In this
work Of Mr.. Heating. lie has noted the
history Of events from year Ia year with a
most painslakiug fidelity. Nothing g.
cnpcs his investigation. and hc tells every
thing In a readable manner lie points
out tho old landmarks OF the towi.
he tells the history OF every worthy or
unworthy enterprise affecting Memphis,
aud bee marks the influence Of men upon
/ events
"ln lSad, n meoling-housc, 22x32 feet,
was erected In Court square, men aud
women Of all denominations contributing
to pay lOr IL; the preachers, who, unlike
| Coffee, could not make q living by q trade.
being content with such remuneration ne
free board, a suit of clothes Of homemade
| jeans, or u pair Of socks or gl0slcrs, the
handiwork oi the religious young ladies'"
1.-THE first houses erected were most Of
them u the cabin orlcr oi architecture,
with clnpboari roofs punchcon ilnou aud
mud chimncya, with courses ot rough
splitboarl pinned 10 hold thcm together.
These wore followed by smoothly hrwn
log houses, ono aud a half stories high,
with brick chimncyA After these came
two-stOry frames, with shingles fastened
with nails instead uf poles Then came
two aud thpc-slory brick houses, the iirt
Of which was erected hy Mir Joseph L.
AndwwS' Them were Indian women
aud black girls In abundance; not a rc-
spectacle white woman MS IN be seen
once q month. Thcv wcrc somc here,
but they seldom put their feet beyond
their own premises The fiddle aud the
banjo wcrc tho only musical instruments
In use, aud the music WIS simple aud
easily mcmouEcd. Whisky was cheap"
Herr u the origin Of Pinch;
Catfish Hay was Immediately north Of
whcrc the old Mobile 4 Ohio depot now
u, where there Is bond In the bayou,
which once constituted considerable lake.
H. original beauty has been destroyed and
the bel 30 some cxient fillcd mp by the
building Of the heavy cmbankmont on
Second street through H. This lake babe
fair TO become place Of no small Import
nncc.
Tho landing was then quite contracted
aud not very safe Tor ilAlhOais. The Hat
boaimcn, therefore, who wished 10 clos,
out and break up-as also, family boat
ipund q very convenient 20 haul up Int
J Catfish BAY, which as the name indicates
was noted for iis abundance Of fish. Thi
fact, aud the chcapncs OF old rubbish lum
J Der with which 10 build uhantiee, induce,
number Of poor families 10 settle upon II
J banks. Il vls place ircqucnicd Tor ca
rousnls. Morc distant ncighbora dubbc,
, Il Pnch.Gut or Pinch Hay, q wide disiric
, now known NJ Pinch. But Catfish Ba!
] bad q short existence. Two nights ate
: Mhcailcy's election ne Mayor n pcrfcc
! | slime OF tan ouza aud flth from Cars tan