The Franklin Fire Company
From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:
A communication appeared in the
Free Press,
As to the negligence of the Council in relation to a grand nuisance existing between the residences of Dr. Gantt and Cooper’s Hotel.
A committee of the council had raised a fund by private subscription and purchased a Fire Engine (which had arrived), and put it in charge of the Franklin Fire Company, of which John W. Jones was Foreman.
At the annual election on the first Monday in January, 1840, David Cooper, John M. Strong, Wiley P. Swift, Jeremiah Pittman, and Wm. Walker, were elected Councilmen, and organized by electing Wiley P. Swift, Intendant; D. C. Russel, Clerk and Treasurer, and P. A. Berry, Marshal and overseer of roads and streets, at a salary of two hundred dollars per year.
This council held but one or two meetings during the year.
The Legislature extended the limits of the town by continuing Franklin street to the public road, now North street, to where the Summerfield road comes into the public road or North street, and from there, south to the Alabama River, thence up the river to the foot of Church street.
At the annual election in 1841, David A. Boyd, Giles M. Ormond, Thomas J. Rice, Jeremiah Pittman, and William Waddill, were chosen Councilmen, who elected William Waddill, Intendant; Henry Traun, Clerk, at fifty dollars a year and fees; Abner Jones, Marshal and Overseer of roads and streets, whose compensation was fixed at one hundred and fifty dollars, and all fees, and who gave a bond for the faithful performance of ths duties, of one thousand dollars, with William G. Hale and Aquilla M. Goodwin as securities; and David A. Boyd, Treasurer.
This council went to work in good earnest, completed the market place, at the corner of Water and Washington streets, for the use of everybody who wanted to sell any kinds of fresh meats, poultry, vegetables, and marketable articles generally, and built a guard house at the rear rend of the market house, opened and extended the streets throughout the addition in corporate limits, and was beyond all doubt, the most working council the town had for years. A house was rented for taking care of the fire engine, which had for some time stood exposed to all kinds of weather, contracted with Maj. Frow to publish all thee ordinances passed during the year, in the
Free Press, For forty-five dollars, and to execute all job printing for thirty dollars. Much credit is due Dr. Giles M. Ormond for the industry and energy shown by this council.
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