Читать книгу History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity, 1513 to 1924 - T. Frederick Davis - Страница 12

CHAPTER VIII. IN THE FORTIES

With the ending of the Seminole war and the recovery of the country from the hard times following the panic Jacksonville's growth became more pronounced. In 1842 the population was 450 and in 1847 it was 750, an increase in five years of 67%. Though much smaller in population than St. Augustine, Jacksonville had by this time come to be considered the most important town in East Florida, on account of its location with respect to marketing the principal revenue-producing commodity of the time – cotton. Cotton was grown extensively on the plantations of this section and it was brought to Jacksonville and shipped from this point by sailing vessel. A considerable amount of timber was also shipped from here. Thus Jacksonville grew to be the trading point for a large surrounding territory. Steamer communication with Savannah was more or less regular on a weekly schedule bringing the mail, and a steamboat made weekly trips up the river as far as Enterprise. These boats were small, but they marked the beginning of a most important transportation facility for Jacksonville, which later on contributed largely to its growth.

Local Conditions in the Early 1840s

The dwellings here were mostly one story wooden structures of rough boards as there were no planing mills then. Many of them were unplastered. Stoves had not come into use; the fireplace was the only means of heating and this was looked upon as a luxury for the well-to-do. The stores were rough buildings with rude fittings. The ordinary necessities could be purchased in the town; most of the stores carried general stocks, and from the rear of many of them came that unmistakable odor that permeates the air where whiskey kegs are kept. The stores usually closed at dusk; the stillness of the town at night after 9 o'clock, the curfew hour, signified that Jacksonville had gone to bed.

There was an event known to have occurred in the early 1840s that must have shaken the community with excitement.

The Pelot-Babcock Duel

This was a fatal duel between two citizens that had been the best of friends. They had been drinking and during a game of billiards a controversy arose and the lie was passed. In that day to call a man a liar was equivalent to a challenge, and this case was not an exception. The principals were Dr. Pelot and Mr. Babcock, both residents of Jacksonville. Rifles were agreed upon as the weapons, the duel to be fought at 100 paces. Amelia Island was chosen as the place. For ten days the principals practiced for the affair. They met at the appointed time and place. The day was raw and very cold. The paces were stepped off and each principal received his instructions. At the word both fired simultaneously. Pelot fell, shot through the stomach, the ball severing the spine; he died shortly afterward. Dr. Henry D. Holland of Jacksonville was Dr. Pelot's second. Babcock went to New Orleans where, in utter grief, he drank himself to death.

The code of ethics under which men lived in those days was undoubtedly wrong in some respects, but certainly not in all. Much of it was founded upon the principle of morality in the truest sense. It was an honor system backed by public sentiment, without which no law is effective. Drinking was their sin.

This incident in the life of the early town was of the nature to be perpetuated in the memory of the citizens, and the succeeding generation became familiar with the circumstances through hearsay. The account here given was written by a citizen of Jacksonville at the time.

First Bulkhead

During a gale in October, 1846, the water from the river was backed up by the wind until it reached across Forsyth Street; water stood in the stores on Bay Street two feet deep. The brig "Virginia", owned by Capt. Willey, dragged her anchors and was driven from the foot of Market Street into Ocean Street, her bowsprit extending across Bay. This led two years later to the bulkheading and straightening of the river front from Ocean to what is now Main Street. Hewn logs were laid one upon the other and fastened together by staples and chains. It was called a "buttment"' and served the purpose for a long time.

The map of Jacksonville of 1847 was drawn by N. R. Child, probably early in that year. The original was in the possession of Dr. A. S. Baldwin and a reproduction of it was published in the Times-Union; the copy here published is based on the reproduction. The names of some of Jacksonville's residents appear on the map and are here represented by the numbers corresponding to the following:

8 Judge Daniel 17 I. O. 0. F. Lodge 26 Col. Hart 35 Burritt

9 Poinsett 18 Hart's Office 27 Reed 86 Burt

10 Col. Lancaster 19 Holmes 28 Anderson 37 Capt. L'Engle

11 McQuen 20 Kipp 29 Douglas 38 Holmes' store

12 Capt. Congar 21 Barbee 30 M. R. C. 39 Capt. Willey

13 Duval 22 Holland 31 Judge Crabtree 40 Wharf

14 Livingston 23 Goff 32 Dorman 41 Kipp's shop

15 Fennimore 24 Court House 33 Dr. Baldwin

16 Mr. Jack 25 Davida 84 Frazer

Newspapers and Politics

With the exception of 1841-2, Jacksonville had a weekly newspaper during nearly all of this period, and after 1848, there were two here. In the winter of 1842-3, George M. Grouard, of Washington, D. C., established the Tropical Plant; he published the paper until 1845. I. D. Hart, who was running for (probably a State) office at the time, started what he called the "Florida Whig and People's Advocate" in the interest of his candidacy – he was a Whig. This paper became defunct in about 30 days. In the fall of 1845, the News was moved from St. Augustine to Jacksonville and published by A. C. Gillett and A. B. Hazzard; it was Democratic in politics. In 1848, the Florida Republican was established with Columbus Drew as editor. At this time national politics and policies were undergoing an upheaval and the two local papers were frequently engaged in a spicy newspaper war in the interest of their respective parties. They did not print much local news and often used a considerable amount of "clipped" matter; yet it is remarkable that Jacksonville with a population less than a thousand should offer inducements for the support of two good newspapers.

First Epidemic

In 1849, an epidemic of what was called "Broken-bone Fever" started in Jacksonville. It was so general that in many families all members of the household were sick at the same time. Fortunately the epidemic was of short duration and no deaths occurred as a result of the visitation. This was probably a mild form of what is now called dengue.

Jacksonville passed through this period 1840 ...1850 without any serious set-backs to its growth and advanced its position from a village to that of a small town. In the latter half of the decade the timber business began to come forward as a large industry, which developed into a relatively enormous lumber business in the 1850s.

Between Duval and Church Streets near Pine (now Main) was a pond where the sportsmen of Jacksonville used to shoot ducks. The drainage was down Pine Street to the river, and south of Adams Street was a quagmire. Wooden bridges were built across Pine Street at Forsyth and at Bay.

The business district was Bay Street between Newnan and Ocean. It was a pastime to stand in the rear doors of the stores on the south side of Bay Street and practice markmanship with rifle and pistol upon the alligators that came out to sun themselves on the banks of the St. Johns.