I had planned on writing my Sunday column on the devastating fire of 1854 that burned much of downtown Columbus. As I was researching it, I came across an 1854 Southern Business Directory and General Commercial Advertiser description of Columbus that I had copied years ago. It presented a window on Columbus’ downtown shortly before all was changed by the fire. It is an article worth republishing only slightly shortened due to length.
“Lowndes County is situated in the north-eastern portion of the State. The Tombigby River flows through it from N.E. to S.W. dividing it about equally. The Eastern, sandy land. The Eastern portion was settled first, and is the most populous. The town of Columbus is in the centere; Caledonia and Cork in the N.E.; Plymouth, Colbert, Barton., Waverly, and Westport on the West side of the Tombigby River, and Nashville on the East side of the river below Columbus. Crawfordsville is in the S.W. portion of the county.
The Tombigbee is the principal river of the county passing through it south-eastwardly into Alabama. It is navigable for steam-boats several months in the year, 160 miles above Columbus. Its largest tributaries in Lowndes on the east side are the Buttahatchie or “Pretty River” and Luxapalila or “Floating Turtle” both rising in Alabama, and flowing a south-western course about 75 miles.
The former for several miles in the northern boundary of the county, is a beautiful stream. The Luxapalia reaches the Tombigbee about three miles south of Columbus. The Oktibbeha, of nearly the same size, flows into the Tombigbee from the west. The two last mentioned rivers may easily be rendered navigable a considerable distance in time of high water. All these streams abound in fish. They have many tributary creeks, affording numerous sites for grist and saw-mills…
The “Military” in connection with the “Robinson Road” is the great highway through it from north-east to south-west; at certain seasons it is thronged with emigrants and travelers…It (Columbus) contains near 4000 inhabitants, has 6 churches, a fine County Court House, a large Town Hall … and two finely equipped Military Companies in the town, with their soul stirring music, enlivens the dull and piping times of peace.
The town is well supplied with Institutes and Schools, under the superintendence of able teachers for both sexes. Columbus being built upon the sixteenth section, the income arising from the leases of lots, amounting to some $3,000 annually, is appropriated to the support of the Franklin Academy, where tuition is free to all the children and youth of the township.
First settlement of Columbus
In the latter part of the year 1817, Thomas Thomas, a man who had been driven out by the agent, as an intruder in the Chickasaw nation, built a small split log hut upon the ground now known as the residence of C.D. Warren, Esq. (present site of Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau)
This was the first effort ever made by the white man to build at this place, but there were no signs of its ever having been occupied by any white person till 1819.
About the middle of June, Thomas Sampson (afterwards Judge of the Probate Court,) William Vizer, Spirus Roach, and William Port came to this place. Spirus Roach occupied and kept entertainment in the cabin built be Thomas Thomas, and from the peculiarities of himself and family, the Indians named the place Shook-huttah-tom-a hah, or Opossum Town which name it retained and was known by for several years. A short time after this, the citizens of the town and its vicinity had a meeting, and at the suggestion of Silas McBee, the place received the name of Columbus.
During the winter of 1819 and spring of 1820, the military road leading from Nashville to New Orleans, and passing through Columbus, was opened by the United States troops.
The following are the business men of Columbus:
DRY GOODS – Cozart, Humphries & Billups, A. Simpson & Co., Gay, Bro. & Co., Sherman & Harris, Lampkin & Taylor, Franklin & Bro., Oscar T. Keeler, Hamilton, Baskerville, & Co., Ottley & Travis, Griessman & Hoffman.
GROCERS – Parham & Mason, E.C. Eggleston, Danl. Baldwin, J.C. Saunders, James H. Eckford, Gaston & Bro., Alfred Thacher, Franklin & Bro., D.C. Richards.
DRUGGISTS – James Blair, James Jones & Co., A.N. Jones.
HATS, CLOTHING AND SHOES – George Van Hook, S.T. Sappington.
MERCHANT TAILOR – Harrison Johnston, George Frazee.
BOOKS AND STATIONERY – D.C. Richards & Son,
JEWELERS – Isaac M. Knapp, Elias B. Ward.
CABINET MAKERS – J. Womelsdorff, Gaston & Miller
SADDLERS – Jos. W. Edwards, Wm. J. Smith, E.J. Munger.
BOOTS AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS – Hale & Murdock, E.J. Munger, John M.T. Reid, James L Kelly, John Kelly.
MILLINER – Mrs. C. Tufft.
AUCTIONEERS – Hale & Murdock, Oscar T. Keeler, E.C. Eggleston, A.C. Gilbert & Co.
GUNSMITHS – Johns S. Krecker, George B. Tucker.
ARCHITECT – James S. Lull.
BUILDERS – James S. Shaw, John Smith, Hardy Stevens, Wm. C. Worrell, Lewis Greene, J. Kirk.
DENTISTS – S.A. Saltonstall, W.J. Blackman, James W. Hopkins.
TIN MANUFACTORIES – John N. Spears, Dulany & Harper.
CARRIAGE MANUFACTORIES – Thomas W. Carter, Samuel Kline, George B. Tucker, Miles Wolfington.
WAGGON MANUFACTORIES OR WHEELWRIGHTS – Richard Wood, Samuel Kline.
COTTON GIN MANUFACTORIES – Hayden & McCraw, Campbell & Brown.
IRON FOUNDRY – George Gunn.
STEAM SAW MILL – John M. Symons.
MARBLE CUTTER – Richard Miller.
BRICK YARDS – James S. Shaw, George W. Marquis.
SCHOOLS – I.O.O.F. High School, Columbus Female Institute, Franklin Academy (free); and numerous private schools.
NEWSPAPERS – Southern Standard; Columbus Democrat; Columbus Argus.
CONFECTIONERS – John Francis, M.W. Peterson.
LIVERY STABLES – William Cady & Co., John Stringer
FLORISTS & GARDENERS – W.C. Tucker, A.J. Rabb
MUSIC STORE – S. Markstein.
DAGUERROTYPE – Hiram T. Sherrill.
WAREHOUSES – Union Warehouse, by B.S. Long; Planters Warehouse, by J.N. Dickson.
HOTELS – Blewett House, by W. Pope, Sr.; Phoenix Hotel, by James Jones & Son; Columbus Hotel, by M.J. Howard.
CHURCHES – Episcopal; Methodist; Baptist; Presbyterian; Cumberland Presbyterian; Christian.
Columbus Lodge, No. 5, Masonic, S.A. Brown, Sec’ry.
Lowndes Lodge, No. 114, “O.T. Keeler,”
Columbus Chapter, No. 4, Masonic, O.T. Keeler, Secretary
Covenant Lodge No. 20, I.O.O.F.
McKendree “32”
Tombigbee Encampment, No. 6, I.O.O.F.
Columbus Division No. 9 Sons of Temperance.
1 United States Land Office; 1 Telegraph Office; 1 Court House; 1 County Jail; 1 Board of Trade; 1 Town Hall; 1 Masonic and Odd Fellow’s Hall; 6 Churches; 1 Tan Yard; 1 Market; 3 Hotels; Columbus Riflemen; Lowndes Dragoons; 2 Fire Engine Companies; 1 Hook and Ladder Company.
INSURANCE AGENCIES – Columbus Life and General Insurance Company, W.J. Anderson, Secretary.
Columbus Mutual, Abraham Murdock, Sec’ry.
Mississippi Mutual (Aberdeenville) A.W. Lampkin, Agent.
Tennessee Fire and Marine, (Nashville) A. Simpson, Agent.
Hartford Protection, (Hartford, Ct.) R.D. Haden, Agent.”
Thanks to Carolyn Kaye for transcribing.
Rufus Ward is a Columbus native a local historian. E-mail your questions about local history to Rufus at [email protected].
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