Thespians and Stage Coach Lines

From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:

Among the prominent business firms than in the town we mention those of Wm. Seaman, as a druggist, and rally the first regular drug store in the place, D. C. Russell, also as a druggist, Irvine & Cowles, Norwood & Goodwin, Walker & Kenon, John H. Crowley & Co., Manley & Montey, Donaldson & Rankin, as tailors, W. H. & T. S. Fellows, O’Connor & Philpot, T. W. & R. Walker, West & Bigelow, Thomas Linticum, a wagon maker and blacksmith, Jeremiah Pittman, who opened a market house of his own and supplied the people with beef. Douglas, King & Co., W. P. Swift, W. H. & J. Jordan, Thomas Hazard, Henry VanBibber, Dupree & Porelling; the legal profession was represented by such men as E. W. Marks, Robert L. Downman; dr. R. O. Shaw, as a dentist; the medical profession by Dr. A. P. Manley, Dr. T. B. Georghegan, Dr. Edward McNair, Dr. N. Childers. Shows of various kinds visited the town in the fall of 1837, among them a Mr. Kenneworth, as a ventriloquist, and mesmeriser, and Hobby’s big show and circus. The young men of the town formed a thespian company, and generally played such good old time pieces as "Mountaineer," and such farces as "John Jones." This effort on the part of the young men to afford amusement and pleasure was kept up for several years, the only drawback was that no ladies could be induced to take part in any of the plays or farces. On the 1st of September 1836, a bale of new cotton was received by John F. Conoly & Co., from the plantation of E. S. Jones, shipped to Mobile by then to James Douglass’ who sold it for the high price of 13 ½ cents. J. C. Caldwell established a line of tri-weekly stages between Selma and Greenville, January 10, 1836, and it became in a short time a great line of travel. P. McMullen was appointed postmaster, and a short time after was killed by James Hamilton, a painter, in the notorious Alhambra, after quarreling about a game of cards. Rev. W. H. Merideth, while attending the Cumberland Presbyterian, Synod, had his horse to die at the stables of E. Parkman. The citizens at once raised him a sum of money sufficient to buy another, Mr. Merideth returning his thanks in the following neat and chaste note:

To The Citizens of Selma:
It is a heathen maximum, that "a kindness always produces a kindness," or at least should do it. It is, I assure you, with no ordinary portion of frankness and gratitude that I acknowledge the reception of eighty-eight dollars, prompted by your liberal and hospitable feelings towards me, in commiseration of my misfortune in the loss of my beast, while in your community. Be assured that I am not a little obliged to you for this expression of your liberality.

Yours respectfully
W. H. MERIDEATH.   

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