CHAPTER
2
FORMATIVE YEARS IN
MURFREESBORO
1825 – 1839
During this era, it was invaluable to have a good partner in the
merchant business as it was necessary to travel to the big cities of the eastern
states, once a year, in order to procure new merchandise. One owner could
continue to operate the store, while the other owner would make the two to
three month round trip journey on horseback or stage to market. Most of their stock
was purchased in Maryland and Pennsylvania and then shipped across the county
by horse and wagon, as it was long before the availability of railroad
transport. It was the custom for patrons to carry store credit during the year,
of which was paid in-full by Christmas. The merchants then used this income during
their early spring trip to make all their purchases at market for the ensuing
year. While stagecoach and steamship were available in certain areas for
quicker travel, merchants often ventured to market using their own horses. A
rider averaged about 35 miles per day on horseback over the rough and narrow dirt
roads. Travel was extremely dangerous and unpredictable, and exposed the rider
to the elements, occasionally resulting in serious illness or death. Despite
the peril, the experience of visiting a big city would have been awe-inspiring
and alluring, as few people during this era were able to make such a venture. After
purchases were made, it generally took an additional two weeks for the goods to
be shipped by wagon and arrive in Murfreesboro. Merchant’s goods were generally
marked up double from their wholesale purchase price when sold to the public.
Shapard & Mitchell operated their business in a
modest one-story cedar log building of about 18 feet by 25 feet on the north
side of the Public Square. During this time, the east
side of the square was being paved, with compacted gravel, which greatly
decreased the effects of mud plaguing the businesses and daily traffic. Deep
ruts and mud pits frequently developed in the dirt roads around the square from
the persistent traffic of horses and wagon wheels. This was especially bad
during the winter time when quagmires would sink a horse up to its knees. To
improve the quality of life, the roads around the square were completely paved
by 1832. The approach to Shapard & Mitchell’s store had an 8 foot stone and
brick sidewalk, which ran the length of the square. On the outside of the store,
near the door, was a sign in painted letters, with the name, ‘Shapard &
Mitchell,’ along with an indication that they were merchants. In addition,
products were placed out in front of the business, in visible sight from the
sidewalk, to attract customers. Shapard & Mitchell packed the inside of their
small store with merchandise, using every possible space from the floor to the
ceiling. Sunlight dictated the hours of operation, except on Sunday when they
observed the Sabbath.
In 1830, Robert and James placed a newspaper advertisement describing their store; “The
subscribers are now receiving from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburg a
handsome assortment of Spring and Summer goods, consisting of the great variety
generally kept by Merchants of this place. Fancy and Staple Goods; Hardware and
Cutlery; Queens, Glass & China Wares; Groceries, Drugs, Medicines, &c.
Which they will sell low for cash, or on a credit to solvent purchasers. They
invite their friends and those wishing to buy to call and examine their Goods
and prices; which we flatter ourselves will be found of good quality and at
reduced prices.”
It is of particular interest to
note that Robert’s partnership with Mr. James Mitchell was not only a fruitful
business decision but also a fruitful life decision, as it allowed for his
acquaintance with Mr. Mitchell’s sister, Parthenia. Robert and Parthenia had numerous things in common; they were
both raised in or near Caswell County, North Carolina, had mutual acquaintances,
and both came out west to Murfreesboro, Tennessee about 1815. During the course
of their association, Robert
Paine Shapard began courting and eventually married Miss Parthenia Mitchell. The
wedding was held in Rutherford County, Tennessee, at her father’s plantation, on
November 12, 1829. Parthenia was 20 years old and Robert was 24 years old at
the time of their marriage. She was the daughter of William Mitchell (1763 –
1850) and Elizabeth Curry (1773 – 1828), and was born in Person County, North
Carolina on January 12, 1809. In her youth, Parthenia,
learned to card, spin and weave, and after her marriage to Mr. Shapard, dressed
her family in clothes woven and spun by her own hands. Unfortunately, Parthenia’s mother
had passed away on April 7, 1828, a year before her marriage to Robert Shapard.
On November 16, 1829, only four
days after his marriage to Miss Parthenia Mitchell, Robert Shapard joined the
104th Regiment of the Rutherford County Militia as an Ensign. His
brother-in-law and business partner, James Mitchell, also joined the 104th
Regiment, this same day, as Captain. Throughout this year, the 104th
Regiment held a membership of about 55 volunteers, which was further divided
into Companies, each headed by a Captain. James was the Captain of the militia
company to which Robert belonged.
During this era of early America,
the regular United States army was too small to be effective for defense, so state
militias became vital to the security of the country. The Tennessee militia was
reserved for healthy white males, between the ages of 18 to 45 years. Each volunteer
was only required to participate in drills a few times each year, generally held
at the Public Square or court house lawn. The regiments were also required to
collectively participate in one large annual muster drill. Each company had its
own style of uniforms. The officers, in their highly decorated outfits with
swords clanking at their sides, rode horses, while their company of men marched
behind them to the sound of drums and fifes, proudly displaying their Company banners.
Non-officers were required to attend the drills with a rifle. If they did not
possess a firearm, a substitute was acceptable, often being a cornstalk or a
long stick. The event helped to keep the men sharp and inspire patriotism in
the participants and the observing crowd. After the drill and parade, the sizable
crowd of men, women and children would eat, play music, and seek amusements in
contests and games. The annual muster drill for the regiments of the Rutherford
County militia was set for the second Thursday and day following, after the
first Monday in September of every year. Collectively all the militia regiments
of Rutherford County formed the 9th Brigade, which was part of the 2nd
Division.
Interestingly, on February 22,
1830, Robert P. Shapard was appointed by the County Court as a Constable of
Rutherford County. The office of Constable was established by the Tennessee
Constitution of 1796, establishing that the Quarterly Court elect one Constable
for every Captains District (Military District), except the county seat
district which received two constables. In 1834 the new Constitution made the
office of Constable to be elected by popular vote for each civil district. Constables
were required to take an oath to keep the peace of the state, arrest all persons
that were armed offensively, commit riot, affray or other breaches of peace.
They were also required to apprehend felons, rioters, and pursue them if they
fled.
The day after Robert was
appointed as a Constable of Rutherford County, he appeared in court as a
plaintiff. As early as April of 1826, Robert had been attending court as a jury
member; however this was the first time he had taken the stand as either a
plaintiff or defendant during a trial. Robert had filed suit against Frank N.
W. Burton and Henry D. Jamison for failure to pay a debt in the amount of
$115.50. After deliberation, the jury found in favor of Robert P. Shapard for
the full amount of the debt, plus $9.48 in interest.
During the early 1830s, Robert
Paine Shapard was working as a merchant and prospering in the town of
Murfreesboro. With a population of about 900 inhabitants, the town was thriving
and was able to accommodate an educational academy, two schools, three
churches, four clergymen, ten lawyers, four physicians, a printing office, two
cotton gins, one carding machine, one gristmill, four blacksmiths, four
bricklayers, three haters, one painter, three saddlers, five shoemakers, one
silversmith, four tailors, one tinner, two taverns and ten stores. The town was
improving as the population continued to grow. In 1832, the town square was fully
paved which greatly decreased the affects of mud and ruts. In addition, that
same year, ground was broke a half mile from Murfreesboro for a turnpike leading
to Nashville. This ‘pike’, which became known as the ‘Nashville, Murfreesboro
& Shelbyville Pike’, was one of the first paved roads in Middle Tennessee
and a major engineering undertaking. The original narrow road was widened to 20
feet and paved with compacted gravel, nine inches deep. Once finished it
allowed for much faster and safer travel; however many residents complained
because now they had to pay tolls every five miles; whereas, before, the road
was in terrible condition but free.
In January of 1831, Robert began
to diversify and invest in real estate by purchasing a town lot on the Southeast
corner of the Public Square for the sum of $200 from Mr. L.P.
Yandell, of Davidson County Tennessee, and Mr. John James of Rutherford County
Tennessee. Robert would sell this same lot a year later, in March of 1832, for
$350 to Mr. James Read, of Rutherford County, for a profit of $150.
Robert also purchased two parcels of land along the East Fork of the
Stones River near Murfreesboro, each containing 120 acres from Mr. Armistead
Cartwell on November 3, 1834. Robert invested $1,400 for the acreages, and sold
them to Mr. Samuel Black in 1837, for the same amount he purchased them.
In
June of 1831, Robert’s brother-in-law, Joshua W. McCown, was living with his
wife and children in Williamson County, Tennessee. Mr. McCown had become
heavily indebted and was forced to sell everything they owned in order to
satisfy his creditors. Upon hearing of their troubles, Robert traveled to
Williamson County and re-purchased most of their belongings, placing them in a
trust for his sister, Martha Shapard McCown, and her children. Items included;
a slave, horses, furniture, beds, kitchenware, maps and books, etc. Mr. and
Mrs. McCown were forever grateful for Robert’s generosity, and brotherly love.
From Williamson County, they moved to Rutherford County, near Murfreesboro, for
two years, where Joshua taught as a school teacher and farmed. The McCown
family eventually left Tennessee and moved to Washington County, Texas, in
1837, settling in the same area as Martha’s younger brother, Thomas Paine
Shapard.
Robert
continued to grow his family, and on October 17, 1832, his son, James Hodge
Shapard was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. His first name honored Mrs.
Shapard’s brother and Robert’s business-partner, James Mitchell. His middle
name of ‘Hodge’ was given in honor of Rev. Samuel H. Hodge who had married
Parthenia’s sister, Sarah Curry Mitchell, in 1820. Rev. Hodge was a well-known Presbyterian
minister in Tennessee, who founded the Smyrna Presbyterian Church near the town
of old Jefferson in 1820, and died in Murfreesboro in 1846. Although Robert was
a Methodist and Parthenia had grown up Presbyterian, the Methodist and the Presbyterian
congregations had a kind association with each other and often partook in the
Lords’ Supper together on the Sabbath.
Religion was
a means of togetherness among families and the community. Though this part of
Tennessee was gaining religion through the efforts of the pioneer ministers and
circuit riders, they were hardly united in a common theology. Of the many
religious denominations, the Methodists and Presbyterians, early on, had established
sound congregations in Murfreesboro. Robert and Parthenia eventually developed
strong ties to the Methodist church; Robert found religion in 1820 and
Parthenia joined the church in 1831, shortly after their marriage.
During their
time in Murfreesboro, they attended the Methodist church of Murfreesboro, which
was chartered in 1821 and was built in 1823. It was a one-story brick building,
40 feet wide and 60 feet long, with six windows, a bell and two front doors. The
men entered through one door and the ladies through the other. The interior
walls were painted plaster, housing two rows of pews and an elevated pulpit. The
men sat on one side of the church and the women on the other; as such was the
custom. There was a gallery in back of the pews where the neighborhood slaves
worshiped. The congregation remained relatively small until 1828, when the
Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held its annual meeting in
Murfreesboro. The event, which included a delegation of Cherokee and Choctaw
Indians promoting missionary work, enlivened the community and resulted in many
new members to the church. By 1830, the congregation had grown large enough for
Murfreesboro to become its own Station in the Tennessee Conference. Eventually,
the trustees decided to build a larger church which was completed and dedicated
on June 23, 1843.
Interestingly, Robert Paine
Shapard was elected to the office of Rutherford County Coroner on August 19,
1831 until August 20, 1832. The office required him to hold
inquests over the deceased to determine the cause of death. During the month of
May, Robert was called to investigate the death of Simeon Slack, whereupon the
County Clerk issued him $5 for his inquest over the body. Another interesting
facet of his office was that when the County Sheriff was away, the Coroner
became acting Sheriff.
This would prove to be a trying time for Robert as the Coroner, due to an approaching
outbreak of deadly cholera that eventually decimated the local population in
the summer of 1833, being the first widespread epidemic of cholera ever in the
United States. As early as 1832, Murfreesboro town officials passed ordinances
to keep the town clean due to the threat of cholera. When the disease fully arrived
in Murfreesboro, Robert closed his store to business, as did the other
merchants, and attempted to remain away from others, as a means to decrease the
transmission of the illness. Unfortunately, the Shapard family was hit hard by the
disease, and in June of 1833, it was reported that Robert’s father, Lewis
Shapard, at about 60 years of age, died of cholera at the house of his son,
James Paine Shapard, in Middleton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.
As the Cholera outbreak spread to
the surrounding communities, Booker Shapard, then living in Shelbyville,
Tennessee, lost his wife, Mary, to the disease on July 2, 1833
and then lost his infant son, Joshua, on August 18,1833. Shelbyville was hit
hardest from June 29 through July 16, reporting the deaths of 76 whites and 33
slaves. After the death of his wife, Booker
was left with four
small children, the eldest being only 7 years of age. His faithful slave,
Delphia, known as “Black Mammy”, cared for the children during this time of
need. Booker married Sarah Broyles on December 31, 1833 in Mulberry, Lincoln
County, Tennessee. Sarah was the sister of his deceased wife, Mary. In
1835, he moved to the village of Mulberry in Lincoln County, Tennessee,
which was a small community located about 6 miles northeast of Fayetteville,
Tennessee, and was where his wife’s family resided. It was here where he
constructed “Mulberry;” the first substantial
house ever built in the town of Mulberry on a one and a half acre tract of land
he purchased from Mr. Charles Bright. After
October in 1840, he moved to Pulaski, Giles County, Tennessee. He resided
briefly in Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tennessee from the late 1840s until
1851, and then returned to Pulaski, Tennessee, for the remainder of his life. Booker,
like his younger brother Robert, was a store owner and merchant throughout his
life. He also invested in real estate, often buying and selling town lots on
the Public Squares wherever he lived. He remained a devout Methodist and was
one of the Stewards for the Lincoln Circuit in 1839. Booker would greatly
assist his younger brother Robert during his financial hardship in the late
1830s.
On April 20, 1835, Parthenia Shapard
gave birth to their third child, a daughter. The baby died only a few months
later, on July 13, 1835. As if a means to soothe their grief,
they were blessed with the birth of a healthy girl a year later, on June 15,
1836. She was named Avarilla Elizabeth Shapard. Sadly, only a
month later, death again visited the Shapard family, and on July
16, 1836, Robert’s three year-old son, James Hodge Shapard, died in the town of
Jefferson, Rutherford County, Tennessee. After an episode of sorrow, Robert and
Parthenia were once again blessed with a period of joy, through the birth of
their son Edwin Ruthven Shapard on December 16, 1838 in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. Ones heart can only ache for the emotional anguish these pioneer
families endured through the frequent loss of their children.
The
political climate of the 1830s called Robert Paine Shapard into action on the
side of the Whig Party, which offers us a glimpse of his viewpoint on the
issues of the day. Prior to the mid-1830s, few people in Tennessee cared about
politics. It was a distant concept that had little bearing or affect on their
daily lives. However, with the rise of local newspapers, politics first became
a topic of fervent conversation in Murfreesboro in 1836. Andrew Jackson, a
Tennessee native, who had been elected to the House of Representatives and
Senate as well as been a hero in the War of 1812, had been elected President from
1829 until 1837. President Jackson developed a habit of using his presidential
veto powers to force his agenda into policy, completely by-passing the opinion
of Congress. To oppose the abuse of Federal power by
President Jackson the Whig Party in America
was established in 1834. Most Whig supporters protested against strong Federal
government and executive encroachment, yet desired to preserve the Union of the
United States, through peaceable means, and perpetuate its republican nature of
government. Murfreesboro became a political battleground between the
Whigs and the Democrats, each publically voicing their opinions.
Robert Paine Shapard was an active and respected member of the
Whig Party as early as 1839, whereby, he attended the Rutherford County Whig
meetings and was elected to committees in support of their cause. By the mid
1840s, he was one of the Lincoln County Delegates of the Whig Party and traveled
to Nashville, Tennessee, on February 22, 1844, to cast his vote for the Presidential
electorate of the Party. He was listed
as a delegate in March of 1853, to attend the Whigs Convention for the
nomination of the Party’s candidate for the Governor of Tennessee. The Whig
Party would eventually split and dissolve over the issue of slavery in 1850;
the Northern Whigs sided with the abolitionist Republican Party, and the
Southern Whigs, also known as ‘Cotton Whigs’, favored Slavery, siding with the
Democratic Party.
The
economic climate of the 1830s had a significant impact on the Shapard family. During
the mid to late 1830s, Robert Paine Shapard was fully engaged in the business of
being a merchant. Robert’s business partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr.
James Mitchell, dissolved in 1833. Although Robert was thrust into a sole
proprietorship of his business, he quickly acquired apprentices to help him
operate his business. Robert traveled to secure new merchandise for his store
in Murfreesboro and, in early spring, made his annual ventures to the eastern
states for market. Travel was extremely difficult and perilous during this
time, as it was before the time of the railroads, and long ventures were made by
stage or on horseback over questionable roads in all kinds of weather. Mr.
Shapard obtained numerous Merchant Bonds during this time, which was a means of insurance to guarantee payment and good
transaction between two distant parties. Robert also tapped into the
local markets to obtain goods. During the winter months, ladies would pass the
day spinning thread and yarn and making cloth and clothing, which they would
sell or barter to Mr. Shapard in the spring. In addition, local produce, maple
syrup, honey, beeswax, feathers for writing, furs, etc., were also acquired
through these means, and able to fill the shelves of the store. Robert showed great promise as a businessman, growing his
firm, and acquiring property during this time. Despite his best efforts, however,
the economic Panic of 1837 hit the United States and caused the downfall of
many businessmen, including Robert Paine Shapard.
In 1837, fear had been mounting that the paper currency printed
and dispersed by the Second Bank of the United States did not have the financial
backing of the Federal government. On May 10, 1837, banks in New York no longer
accepted paper currency and would only accept gold or silver currency. This
created a financial panic that spread from bank to bank and from state to
state, ultimately resulting in a five-year economic depression. The South was
hit hard, especially the Cotton Belt, where the lack of demand for southern
goods forced many planters into bankruptcy. This depression was felt by every
merchant as unemployment reached record numbers. Banks continued to fail across
the South and currency became scarce. The economy would not fully recover until
1842.
At the start of the Depression of 1837, Robert Shapard’s debt was
rising. By 1839, the Robert’s debt was insurmountable and his credit notes drew
the attention of collection agents, known as ‘shavers;’ who purchased delinquent
notes at substantial discount. Shavers forced the collection of the notes, with
the authority of the sheriff, by levying and selling all of the debtor’s
property. During this time there were no exemption laws, thus all possessions
were subject to be sold to satisfy the debt, generally causing total ruin to
the owner. At this time, Robert reported
that he was delinquent in his obligations of payment to the minor Harrison heirs
by sum of $6,000.00. He was also grossly indebted to other individuals via his
business by the staggering sum of over $14,000.00. Robert was bankrupt and surrendered
his guardianship of William and Mary to his sister Sophia Harrison. The court
assigned his brother, James Shapard, as his Trustee to sell, through public or
private sale, all of his belongings both personal and business, to satisfy his
debts.
Included in the list of inventory to be sold was; “one Lot or
parcel of land lying in the town of Murfreesboro and known and designated in
the plan of said town as number 56, one negro woman named Sally about 45 years
of age, one negro girl named Abby, one sorrel horse, three beds and furniture,
three bedsteads, one dining table, one work stand, one work table, one bureau,
chinaware, six Windsor chairs, six split bottom chairs, one mantel clock, one
saddle, two looking glasses, tableware, one writing desk, and all the stack of
goods, wares and merchandise which Robert P. Shapard has now on hand in his
store in the town of Murfreesboro and also all notes and accounts due or to
become due to the said Robert P. Shapard…”
No comments:
Post a Comment