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Gc 977.102 M34c 1911997
IVI. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02280 2299
GEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/centuryreviewofm00mari_0
MARIETTA,
OHIO.
Read the Summary, Pages 112-14.
Single Copy 50 cts. Index on Last Page.
Century Review
OF
MARIETTA, OHIO.
Early History, Natural Advantages, Schools, Churches, Secret and Social Societies, Surrounding Oil Fields, Banking Interests,- Transportation Facilities, Industrial and Corporate Concerns.
Commercial, Professional and other Interests. Future Prospects from a Conservative Standpoint.
Under Auspices of the MARIETTA BOARD OF TRADE 1900.
The Sender of This Pamphlet would respectfully call your attention to the "Summary" and Pages.
Muskingum Park in Winter, from Bridge.
This park was platted with the town in 1788 and is a handsome place, with a heavy green sward. a mat of willows growing on the river bank. a sol- diers monument, cannon, convenient band-stands, boat-house and other attrac- tions. Its stately elms and ashes are not so thick as to choke out the meadow, which is kept closely cropped. It is also known as City Park.
1911997
The Century IReview. (Board of Trade Edition.)
With the commencement of the Twentieth Century, January 1, 1901, Marietta will have completed 100 years of corporate existence and the Board of Trade deem it to be an opportune time to sum up the work of the past, record historical data in a convenient form for preservation and give a comprehensive sketch of the advan- tages and surroundings of this city, void of the usual excessive personal effusions which often characterize sketch editions. Five members of this board have been chosen to supervise its subject matter and we desire to say that it is not in the popu- lar sense a boom edition, which usually means highly colored articles, but is a plain matter-of-fact description of Marietta's past and present; the illustrations as far as possible having been made from recent photographs, which will prove her solid ar- chitectural advancement and show forth some of the beauties of nature.
The truth told. combined with its own natural advantages, are sufficient to secure the continued growth and prosperity of this city, especially as its material interests are now largely in the hands of astute pushing men. Up to the date of the organization of this board, in 1887, Marietta may have properly been termed a slow town; but its foundation stones of material wealth, solid agricultural resources, good educational and commercial facilities had been well laid. It is surrounded by a steadily productive oil field, with unsurpassed natural advantages, and only needed the real spirit of enterprise, to bring a great variety of diversified manufacturing, to assist in rearing the handsome superstructure of the fine industrial city which is now arising before us and which will continue to enlarge and beautify Mariettta's future so long as guided by the liberal and yet withal conservative spirit which now dominates our principal interests. Our committe believes it to be appropriate to here reproduce the statistics which were given for publication by this Board of Trade, Nov. 16, 1899, which are as follows:
"MARIETTA AS AN INDUSTRIAL CENTER-The growth of Marietta, industrially, has been from within and not from without. Only a few of her indus- tries are importations. They began small and gradually grew into good paying in- stitutions. We have had very few failures in the past ten years. During that period Marietta has grown from a city of 8,000 to one of 15,000 people. There are . more houses in this city built within that period than there are houses built before that, showing a strong contrast between old Marietta and the new. The class of houses for residence purposes that have been built are of good proportions and de- sirable homes, most of them containing bath rooms and having all the modern con- veniences, including natural gas, illuminating gas fixtures, and appliances for electric lighting. The city streets are nearly all paved with brick, and have the usual 2,000 candle power arc lights at all intersections, People who come here to live and once get interested in the social and municipal life of the city seldom leave. The insti- tutions of learning located here have a great deal to do with making it an attractive place. Marietta College, Academy, High School and Commercial College, supported by the fine common schools of lower grade, afford ail the educational advantages that anyone can want for their children and youth. All of Marietta's educational institutions are for boys and girls alike. Co-education has taken a strong hold here and has come to stay.
"What has all this to do with the industrial development of a city on the line of rivers and railways? Very much in every way. Better workmen come from the intelligent than from the ignorant classes; skilled labor is better for a community
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W,
e. 1-
View from Harmar Hill.
On the extreme right-centre, the W. Va. shore is seen at Williamstown. to the left of which is the Ohio, divided by Marietta Island which shows in crescent form. In the foreground is the west side across the Muskingum, on the right is the R. R. bridge, and Phoenix Mill, burned May 1, 1900. The old bridge shown on the left, has given place to a better one.
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than unskilled. Education and refinement tend to make a better social atmosphere. It would hardly be necessary to mention these self-evident truths here if it were not incumbent on us to reiterate and insist on the pre-eminent advantages of this city in these respects. While Marietta's industrial growth has been from within it is also true that capital has come here to go into business. Certainly the doubling of the population within ten years implies that a great many people have moved to Marietta, and the fact that very few of them have moved away, shows that they are getting what they came for, better opportunities for making money, and satisfactory social conditions. We have helped several industries to come to Marietta, and these, as a rule, have been successful, not only for themselves, but are a help to the city by giving employment to our citizens and increased trade to our merchants. Marietta is in the midst of a bituminous coal region. The vein in the Federal Creek district is not excelled in thickness and quality for fuel, steam, or coke pur- poses. The quarries for grindstones are numerous in this vicinity. The famous Constitution stone needs no introduction to the business world. New quarries are being constantly opened. There are also a number of quarries for building stone in the immediate vicinity. The hills are full of fine clays and shales, out of which the finest building brick and street pavers are made. Along the Muskingum river are numerous fine banks of sand and gravel. Fine water power is right at the door of Marietta, afforded by the dam in the Muskingum river, and the supply of water is practically unlimited. Weare in the midst of a timber country, mostly second growth, the hardwoods predominating. The valleys that center at Marietta are the most productive and suitable for gardening or for any other farm purpose. (A list of about a hundred industrial concerns, showing thirty eight lines of manufac- ture, was here given, but as these are all mentioned in detail in the following pages we will not reprint them here.)
"PETROLEUM OIL AND NATURAL GAS .- In addition to many other favors that nature conferred on this region, not by any means the least, are the extensive fields of oil and gas territory that lie immediately around this city, some of the de- veloped, indeed being within the city limits. Standing on a high place in this city one can see oil derricks looming up on all sides and forming a complete circle around the place. Owing to the proximity of this fine oil producing territory, Marietta has been favored in many ways. New industries have sprung up and new calls for labor and material have been made. Manufactories requiring natural gas find here a supply that has every promise of lasting for many years to come, but considering the cheapness of steam coal at Marietta, the use of natural gas in steam furnaces is not a necessity; however, where the finer products of glass and porcelain depend on natural gas as a fuel, its use can be had.
"RAILROADS CENTERING HERE .- The question of transportation is one of great importance to any firm considering a new location or a change in business. We invite attention to the advantages that Marietta presents in this particular. The first railroad that came was the Marietta and Cincinnati, now known as the B. & O. S. W. R. R. That road was to have run from Cincinnati to Marietta, and so on up the Ohio valley to Wheeling. Over $250,000 was subscribed in and about Mari- etta to build this road. Interest and all, it has amounted to over $500,000. The road from here to Wheeling, although partly completed, was never finished, so that Marietta, after all her sacrifices, never got a through line, but still is at the terminal of four railroads and on the line of the Ohio River railroad, yet separated from it by the Ohio river. It is estimated that if the road from this city to Wheeling on this side of the river had been built and in operation during the past ten years of the oil developments on this side of the Ohio, that it would have paid for itself. No rail- road built along a great river like the Ohio will go into the hands of a receiver. Such roads pay from the word go, yet Marietta is still deprived of this much desired outlet. A railroad bridge across the Ohio at Marietta would place this city in more direct communication with the timber and oil fields of West Virginia and enable the railroads to deliver freight and passengers at the Union depot, in this city. It would enable the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. to cross at this point and take the route originally surveyed, reaching Grafton by a line several miles shorter and with fewer tunnels and much better grades than the present route east
"The next railroad was the product of Marietta enterprise. The Cleveland and
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SKATING IN THE LOCK
WEST END OF BRIDGE.
LOCK HOUSE AND SURROUNDINGS.
- /
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Idle
R. R. SWING PIER.
Marietta was built early in the Seventies. It connects direc ly with the Cleve- land Terminal and Valley road at Valley Junction, and a passenger leaving here in the morning arrives at Cleveland at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. It is now under control of the Pennsylvania Company, and is becoming a fine piece of railroad prop- erty. Numerous small towns haye sprung up along the line and many industries that would not have come into existence but for the road have become feeders and sources of traffic and great profit to the Company.
"The Toledo and Ohio Central Extension gives Marietta a direct northwestern connection with Columbus and the northwest- It taps the Federal Creek coal region and at Palos connects with the Ohio Central line. The Zanesville & Ohio River railroad runs along the Muskingum valley north to Zanesville, and affords a pleasant and picturesque route north. The valley of the Muskingum river is at all times attractive and beautiful, thus rendering it a favorite passenger route, and the easy grades make it a desirable freight line, connecting at Zanesville with the B. & O. R. R. to all points east and west.
"RIVER TRANSPORTATION. - The Ohio River has always been a cheap and important means of transportation, but since the determination of the government to improve it, public attention bas been again drawn to its great importance and influence in commercial transactions. Congress, at its last session determined to build two dams in the Ohio river, one at Wheeling and one at Marietta. The influ- ence these two public works will have can not be estimated. The Marietta dam will create a harbor at this port, with ten to twelve feet of water all the year round. This depth gradually diminishing up stream will, for several miles up the Ohio and up the two creeks just above this city, create deep water and will lead to the location of new industries along the deep harbor line. Especially will this be true as to in- dustries needing barges for transportation of their product."
The design of the Board in promoting this issue is to present in a concise and reliable manner all the material features of progress and prospect, with a brief mention of the persons or firms who are really doing something worthy of note, that the natural and acquired advantages of Marietta may be made known to the world. Much time and labor has been spent in the endeavor to make this small volume a true chronicle of facts and figures. A perusal of these pages and a glance at the illustrations will give to even the casual reader some idea of the commercial and industrial interests now in operation, the beautiful homes and picturesque surround- ing scenery, the transportation facilities and the probabilities of greater develop- ments which are now projected and almost certain to materalize in the near future.
That this edition may accomplish the good sought by the Board of Trade, in advertising Marietta, the cordial co-operation of every business man is requested, so that a wide spread distribution of our advantages may be made known and it is be- lieyed that every progressive firm will heartily assist in the good work of letting the light of the city shine abroad, to bring many additional permanent industries.
The Board of Trade. - While it is not the purpose of this board to blow its own born, the fact stands out nevertheless that it was the leading spirit to advocate many of the various public improvements that have been put in operation within the past decade. It has also been the means of locating several manufactur- ing plants here and of keeping some firms that thought of leaving Marietta. In its membership today are found about 175 names many of whom are among our most progressive citizens and from the start it has had the influence of Marietta's best brain workers. J. H. Grafton was its tirst president and B. F. Strecker first secre- tary. C. L. Flanders has officiated as secretary for seven years, freely giving yalu- able time to this public interest, and S. J. Hathaway, the president for two years past, was former president of the council and is always anxious to promote the good of the city. He is a native of Wayne Co. N. Y. came to this place in 1853 and graduated from Marietta College in 1869.
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YTT
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IMC
Cemetery Mound.
Above truncated cone is 35 ft. in height. and a perfect specimen of th "Mound Builders" art. It is surrounded by a circular ditch and embankmer made with mathematical precision. This sacred relic of the pre-historic rac is zealously guarded by municipal ordinance and in the surrounding cemeter are the names of many noted dead. It is a picturesque spot where the dust the white man comingles with that of the ancient aborigines.
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Pre-Historic Times to Modern History.
The Ohio valley is full of interest for the student of American History, both present and remote. Long before the Indians of whom we have record roamed through this section it is believed to have been inhabited by a superior people, of whom not even a tradition remains, whose only monuments are earth-works and tumuli, scattered here and there, in some places containing bones from men of gi- gantic size. Whether these were a distinct people from the Indians or not, we may never know, but it is probable that they were a division of the half-civilized race from whom the Mexican Aztecs descended. Relics from these "Mound Builders" were formerly abundant throughout this valley, but when and by what agency they became extinct, so far remains as deep a mystery as that of the lost Island of "Atlantis."
THE INDIANS-The Algonquin Indians are the earliest aborigines here of whom we have record and of them but meagre sketches. They were succeeded by the Eries, who laid claim to all the region south of Lake Erie, which remains as a monument to their name, the signification of which is stealthy or cat-like, and the tribe was a large and powerful one in the first half of the seventeenth century. It is related that their chief was envious of the Iroquois but challenged them to a game of friendly ball, which culminated in wrestling and racing by the athletes of the opposing tribes, in all of which the Iroquois came off victorious. Chagrined by their defeat, a few weeks later the Eries mustered their entire force of warriors and started for the home of the Iroquois. The latter having been apprised of the de- sign of their enemies rallied their allies and gave battle to the Eries. As there were no reporters present we are without details, but it suffice to say that the Eries were finally so completely exterminated as to leave no remnant of the tribe. The Iroquois by an alliance of five tribes had formed a semblance of civil government and after the Tuscarawas united with this confederacy it was known as the Six Nations. Subsequent to the defeat of the Eries, which occurred near Sandusky about 1655, the Iroquois claimed by conquest the whole county from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi river and from Lake Erie to the Gulf of Mexico, which they held in nearly undisputed possession till 1750. The tribe known as Hurons by the Eng- lish and called Wyandotts by the French, roamed the region now Canada, Michigan and New England, and later the south shore of Erie, near Sandusky. The Iroquois were inclined to be peacable with the weaker tribes and allowed the Miamas, An- dastes and other small clans to range in their Ohio hunting grounds. About 1740 the Miamas squatted along the rivers which still retain their name; the Maumees were found along the stream which has that title, the Shawnees on the Scioto, the Ottawas from the Sandusky to the Maumee, the Chippewas in N. E. Ohio, the Min- goes on the Upper Ohio, while the Delawares and Tuscarawas inhabited the Mus- kingum valley.
WHITE AGGRESSION .- The French Jesuit Fathers were first to attempt to Christianize the Indians, La Roche Daillon having visited the Neutral Nation of Canada and preached among the tribes as early as 1626. He crossed the Niagara and came west of Buffalo but on account of the hostile Eries was deterred from fur- ther explorations. Father Marquette was subsequently in missionary work but the first authentic record of explorations in this vicinity was by the cavalier, Robt. de La Salle, who in 1669, crossed through a trackless wilderness from the south shore
9
ac tery st of
th
3 1833 02ZOU ZZJJ
Library, Science Hall, Dormitory, Andrews Hall.
Commenced in 1830, chartered as Marietta College in 1835, the above in- stitution has graduated 817 students of whom about 612 are alive Sept. 1, 1900. Full description of its working will be found in educationa, pages.
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of Lake Erie down the Allegheny and descended the entire length of the Ohio. From his time there were numerous bloody encounters between the French and Indians, intil a treaty of peace was effected in 1715, through the influence of Chabert Joncare , young Frenchman who had been reared by the Indians. In 1752-3, the French rected forts at Erie, Waterford, Franklin, and Pittsburg Pa. and claimed by right f discovery the entire country west and south of these.
ENGLISH OCCUPANCY .- At Lancaster, Pa. in 1744, and by subsequent reaties, the English purchased an indefinite tract of country from the Iroquois. Virginia claimed all that was subsequently made the Northwest Territory and pro- laimed the same as the county of Botetort but failed to establish a civil government herein. The Colonial Ohio Company was formed by twelve Virginians, among whom vere Lawrence and Augustine Washington, brothers of the coming George. This ompany secured a grant of half a million acres, now Allegheny county, Pa. and jade plans for active developments where Pittsburg now stands. In 1753, George Vashington, but little past his majority, received a commission from Gov. Dinwid- ie to proceed to the French forts. in what is now N. W. Pa., and warn the com- mandants to evacuate the same as being in English territory. With a trapper guide nd French interpreter he came to the Indian village Logstown, now known as Iingo. near Steubenville, O, where he secured an Indian guide and the party re- urning up the Ohio, followed the Allegheny to Franklin, thence via of French 'reek to Ft. LeBeouf at Waterford where he delivered his message to the command- nt but received an unsatisfactory reply. The dispute regarding title to this erritory culminated in the French and Indian War of 1753-4, France continuing to esist the claims of the English until the treaty of Paris was consummated in 1763. 'he Ohio region was explored by Col. Boquet in 1764, when the arrangement of the ndian tribes was largely as given in a former paragraph, but in 1790 it had greatly hanged, the Delawares then residing in eastern Pa., the Shawnees on the Little Iiama and other removals had been made as they often migrated from place to lace. In 1744 the British Parliament made this region a part of Canada by what ras known as the Quebec bill, but it was only nominally so as there were no white ettlers here until seventeen years later. After the brilliant military exploits of teu. Geo. Rogers Clarke, Virginia by act of Oct. 1778, made this region the county f Illinois and appointed John Tod as militiary governor of the same. He was illed at the battle of Blue Licks, Aug. 18th, 1782, and Tim de Montburn named as is successor; but although Ohio has been called county Botetort, Va., a part of 'anada, and the county of Illinois there was no practical civil government here un- il Gen Putnam and his colony landed at Marietta in 1788.
THE OHIO COMPANY .- Shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war 'en. Benj. Tupper visited the Ohio Valley and was particularly impressed with the egion around the mouth of the Muskingum. On his return to Ruthford, Mass. he terested Gen. Rufus Putnam and Dr. Manasseh Cutler in his effort to secure from ongress concessions of bounty lands due to the Revolutionary soldiers, As a result f their labors a meeting of citizens was called at Boston, March 3d 1787, when the hio Company was formed; Gen. Putnam chairman and Winthrop Sargent clerk. 'n Aug. 30th it was agreed that 5,750 acres at the mouth of the Muskingum "be eserved for a city and commons," which was reduced in Nov. to 4,000 acres. The ontract to purchase 1,500,000 acres at $1 per acre from the U. S. was made Oct. 27, 187, signed on the part of the Government by Samuel Osgood and Arthur Lec, and
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in-
CHAIR CO.
MARIETTA
fr w
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It is proper that early in an industrial edition, the largest manufactory't the place should appear. Marietta feels a just pride in the prosperity of th concern which has been prominent since 1856. Its lumber yards and buildin ; cover 11 acres, floor space 168,500 sq. ft., capacity 10,500 chairs per week er- ploys 400 to 500 persons. 12
Marietta Chair Company.
y Dr. Cutler and Winthrop Sargent for the Ohio company. The price to be paid in 'specie, loan office certificates, or certificates of liquidated debt of the U. S." Reg- ilar townships were to be 36 sections, number 16 to be reserved for school purposes, 9 for the support of religion, 8, 11 and 26 to be for future sale by Congress. Two ownships in the tract to be set apart for founding a university.
A paper map was made from the preliminary survey and the town platted es- entially as it stands at present, with Washington street 150 feet in width intersect- ng the cen re, a park along the Muskingum, etc. The lots were drawn by chance s none knew which would prove most desirable and as the Indians were then peac- ble; but few realized the hardships and dangers which must be encountered before evelopments of a substantial character could be made.
During the winter of 1787-8, a colony was organized under Gen. Putnam and 8 brave men, the majority of whom had been officers in the patriot army, traveled ver the mountains of Conn. to the head waters of the Youghiogheny in Pa., which hey reached about the middle of Feb 1788. Here they spent six weeks in building flat-boat which they named the Mayflower. OG this and accompanying rafts they baded their provender and equipage and started without river chart on the hazar- .ous journey to the mouth of the Muskingum where they landed safely on April 7th. Within the following season fifteen families and 85 men were added to the colony, )n arriving here, Gen. Putnam proclaimed the code of laws which had been formu - ated by the Ohio Company to hold until a territorial government should succeed t. This allowed the acting governor $40 per month and all other officials $1 per lay when in actual service.
"Rule 8. Be it ordained that all members of the Emigrant Association must entertain emigrants, visit the sick, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, attend fun- ;rals, cabin-raisings, log-rollings, huskings, and have their latch-strings always but."
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