The Selma Rangers Are Honored

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

Jeffery, Lawley & Co., were among the new mercantile firms this fall; W. S. Ritchie, of Delaware, opened an office as a civil engineer and surveyor, and died August 16th, 1840, of billious fever; 1840 was a remarkable year in the annals of Selma. It was the most sickly and fatal of any ever experienced, and the excitement in regard to the Presidential and other elections, was never surpassed.

On July 14th, 1840, a little son of Dr. Thomas Smith, aged ten years, fell in a public well, and was drowned before aid could reach him. It was generally understood Gen. Andrew Jackson would reach Selma on the 17th of January 1840, on his way home on his annual visit to New Orleans on the 8th of January. All parties of the citizens joined in tendering the old hero a grand reception, but was disappointed when it was ascertained that he had changed his route, and would return home by the Mississippi.

The population of Selma in 1840, as shown by the u. S. census taken by A. H. Conoly, were 431 whites, 179 of which were female, 6 free negroes, and 616 slaves, both male and female, making a total population of 1053.

The 22nd of February was not overlooked or forgotten in 1840. A procession was formed in front of the Planter’s Hotel, on Water street precisely at 10 o’clock, in the following order; 1, Military: 2, Orator and Reader; 3, Clergy; 4, Judiciary; 5, Town Council; 6, Ladies; 7, Citizens.

The procession moved up Broad street, thence to the Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Col. D. A. Boyd as Marshal of the day, where a prayer was offered to the Throne of Grace by the Rev. W. F. McGee; the Declaration of Independence read by Capt. Jno. F. Conoley, followed by an Oration from Dr.. J. W. L. Childers.

An interesting feature in the exercise of the day, was presented in the delivery of a splendid Plume to the Rangers by Col. David A. Boyd, a gift from Capt. Philip DeLane, a retired member of the Rangers. It was but another evidence of the kindly feelings and patriotic regard of Capt. D., for the Company with which he had been so agreeably associated, and of which he was a highly esteemed and worthy member.

The Plume was delivered to the gallant Captain, in the presence of many of the peerless beauties of Selma and its neighborhood; bright and laughing eyes beemed approbation on the exhilarating scene, and bespoke the interest which the countrywomen of Washington ever feel in the perpetuity of the fame and the honor of their country.

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