Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 18

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 18

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at the Monongahela house and " other small

From the village of Beverly, some 200 yards fry " found comfortable quarters on Fourth below, and, in fact, from all sections of the strect at a boarding house kept by the mother country, came running fathers, mothers, sisters, of Mrs. Capt. James Boyd. The ice broke in relatives, friends and strangers, to render all February and there was hurrying to get ready the aid within their power, and by whose aid for the trade. In a few days the Pittsburg many barely escaped an untimely grave. Every wharf was thronged with busy men; boats were possible assistance was instantly rendered to loading for nearly every town having direct the unfortunate sufferers. Out of the number trade with the city. Boxes, barrels and bales on board, some forty-five, including passengers of merchandise, iron, nails and glass and the and crew, only about eight or ten escaped un- other articles, shipped from that port, were injured. The names of several of the killed and hauled to the " Empress." Two hundred and missing were not known. Killed-Franklin fifty tons of freight were soon loaded, then the Hamrick, of Duncan Falls, tavern keeper; old slow boat was ready for a rapid trip with Henry Mitchell, deck hand, McConnelsvillc; the current to Marrietta. The "Empress" John Barbour, Pittsburg, Pa .; William Stull, always made good time when floating with the second clerk; Butler, first steward, col- strong current. The captain purchased corn, ored; Johnson, Roxberry; - Wheeler, Ports- fresh beef, clover seed, in fact any kind of pro- mouth, Ohio; John West, Coal Run, Ohio; first (luce along the river that had a good margin at clerk, Milton Whissere, McConnelsville, Ohio. Pittsburg. Business during the spring trade Among the injured were: Hon. C. C. Coney, was very brisk and the profits satisfactory.

leg broken (he was a State senator; he died);

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY

Capt. James Hahn; A. M. Dillon, Zanesville; time of the loss. John Brown had been the Mate Sullivan, severely, arm since amputated; head engineer, but at this time he and his wife Pilot Calvin Stull, leg broken; - Daniels, were passengers on the boat.

engineer, severely wounded; David Munrey, In 1838 the locks at Dresden and Simm's engineer, slightly injured; Thomas F. Nevett, creek were completed and navigation for small Zanesville, severely scalded and head injured; steamboats was opened to the entrance of the Pool, New Orleans, badly scalded; Pius Ohio canal at Dresden. The shipment of flour Padgitt, badly scalded; Selon Murrey, Beverly, to New York began by that route, as the im- severely injured.

provement on the lower Muskingum kept nav-

In all about twenty dead bodies were found igation closed from 1837 to 1842. Warehouses and six or eight missing. A number of the were built on the river bank near Market street. injured were crippled for life. Twenty persons Canal boats could be seen unloading merchan- were killed instantly and six others died from dise brought from Cleveland, and then carried injuries in the course of a few days, making a on their return trip flour for New York. It total of twenty-six killed. About forty recov- was the major part of their cargoes with salt ered from their wounds. Two of the most and other articles for distant markets. The seriously injured of the survivors were the late canal boats were towed by small steamers from Thomas I. Nevitt and Pius Padgitt. The es- Zanesville to Dresden.

cape from instant death of Mr. Padgitt was

The "Hope" was the first steamboat to almost miraculous. The bodies of thirteen ascend the Muskingum river above Zanesville. unknown persons were picked up and buried It was built by Richard Reeves, an enterprising side by side in the cemetery at Beverly. In man who was well known in this part of Ohio. addition a large wooden box was filled with At the April, 1892, meeting of the Muskingum various sized fragments of human flesh and County Pioneer and Historical Society there interred at the same time.

was quite an argument about the location

In February, 1847, the steamer May Queen where the "Hope" was built. Three different was purchased by Captain Kelley and others. localities were claimed by different men. The The boat was loaded with flour for New preponderance of evidence was in favor of the Orleans. When she 'arrived at Marietta, a locality now given by an old-time engineer, who stop was made by the boat for the night, at the was on the river for more than sixty years. He lower end of Hall's wharf boat. Early the says: "The 'Hope' was built by Dickey Reeves next morning passengers in their rooms in the about the year 1825 on the high bank below the cabin heard the cry, "Fire! fire! the boat is on present canning factory. There was not a tim- fire!" Mr. John T. Brown and his wife were ber put in it as are now put in boats. The hull occupying a berth in the ladies' cabin. Mrs. was made entirely of inch planks. There were Brown heard the cry and she informed her four thicknesses of the plank crossing diag- husband, who said, "Don't be alarmed." She onally and at right angles. They made solid quickly arose and dressed; their door was sides and a bottom for the boat. Four inches broken in and she was grabbed by a strong of good plank battened together gave great man and carried onto the wharf boat across strength. When the hull was completed it was two tiers of salt barrels. The boat by this time taken on rollers to near Blue's tan-yard where was ablaze, every one trying to save his bag- the bank was low and there it was launched. gage. Mr. Brown came off the boat and The 'tiller' was a long, crooked piece of a tree then he thought of his purse containing near with a board on the end, resting like the tillers $200 in gold. The thought of his money caused or steering oars on the flat boats. It had its him to return to his room, facing the danger of rest at the stern of the boat, on deck, the water the fire. He got it barely in time to save him- end passing over the wheel. The boat was a self. The boat was loaded down with flour, and novelty, and if she were to be seen at this time to save that part of the cargo she was scuttled she would be a curiosity. She made a trip to and sunk. By this time the stanchions which Dresden, then was taken to Pittsburg where a supported the cabin were burned, so the cabin purchaser was found who took the 'Hope' to fell over the side of the boat into the river, and some small river in the south. William Parker, when it was falling the large bell sounded one afterward called 'Old Bill' Parker, went out stroke. Captain Kelley, the owner of the boat, carpenter on the Pittsburg trip.'

The Mary Ann, a remodeled canal boat, was

£ was on board. The fire was accidental and he at last recovered the full amount of the insur- one of the curiosities on the river. It was ance on the boat. David Hahn and "Doc" owned by Jacob Sperry, a prominent Main Brown were the engineers on the boat at the street merchant. A horse was taken along

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

with some of the early steamboats to assist at tion was made at Dresden with the Ohio canal the riffles, especially Capt. Dickey Reeves' than on the river in later years and at present. old gray horse became part of the machinery The trade on this part of the river required the for propelling the craft. The owner of one services ofa number of small steamboats. The of the first boats found fault with the captain most prominent were the "Tuscarawas," "Zanes- because the horse was only given eight ears of ville," "Mink," "Mink No. 2," and the "Olivette." corn when the captain took twelve roasting The "Tuscarawas" was the first regular packet ears for his meal.

from Dresden to McConnelsville, commanded

The following are the names of the steam- by Capt. Cogswell, with Engineer William boats between Zanesville and Dresden, as given Davis. In 1852 Capt. William Davis built by three gentlemen who were engaged in that the "Zanesville," which for some time was a reg- trade. They are given alphabetically: "Adri- ular packet from Zanesville to McConnelsville. atic"-Captain David Pitman; "Brown Dick"- The "Mink," Capt. Morgan, was the successor Captain James Darling; "Hope"-Capt. Dickey of the "Zanesville" in 1871, Capt. C. C. Mor- Reeves. Before the improvement of naviga- tion. "Humming Bird," "McIntire"- gan, and in 1877, the "Mink No. 2" took its place in the trade. The "Olivette," Capt. E. Capt. Billy Scales; "Muskingum"-Capt. Billy Martin's favorite boat, was also in the McCon- Scales; "Newman G. L."-Wm. Davis; "Relief" -Frank Cogswell; "Siren"-J. R. "Martin;" nelsville trade, Capt. William Davis was born in Bedford county, Pa., December 14, 1817, "Smith Perry"-Capt. J. R. Martin; "Shepherd and came to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1835. At the C. F."-Capt. Tom Martin; "Tuscarawas"- age of twenty years his career commenced on a Capt. W. Scales; "Walhonding"-Capt. W. steamboat and he filled during the time he was Scales; "Ohio"-Capt. Billy Scales. She was a steamboatman every position from deck hand capsized at Simm's Creek lock. "Ohio"-Capt. on a Zanesville and Dresden packet to a com- Wm. Davis; "Zanesville"-this boat was form- mander. In 1838, he was registered second erly the "Relief," Captains Davis and Neff cook on the famous "Tuscarawas." He filledat Thompson were commanders at different times; different times the positions of cook, pilot, fore- "The Zanesville Packet." There were a number man and engineer on that boat. When the "Tus- of commanders on the boat.

carawas" became incapacitated with old age, he

The "Dart," Captain Bryant, undertook to became the engineer of the "John McIntyre." run opposition to the railroad, but after a short By industry and frugality he saved money, and trial, he was satisfied. The railroad carried by the assistance of a friend he built the little the passengers, and there was no more oppo- "Ohio." This boat was Capt. Davis' first suc- sition by the "Dart." The majority of the cess in steamboating, and he made money. boats in the Dresden trade were only used for When the "Ohio" was no longer fit for service, towing boats to and from the Ohio canal. he took an interest in the steamer "Zanesville," The commanders were very accommodating acting as captain, clerk, pilot or engineer and they did many favors for their patrons. when such service was needed.

The "Freighter" was built by Capt. Davis,

These were halcyon days for the enter- prising young along the Ohio canal and the and she was a Zanesville, Pittsburg and Cincin- Muskingum river. The canal boats loaded nati packet. This boat was taken up the Mis- flour at the mills as far down the river as Stock- sissippi river, where it was sold. Returning port. Even farmers owned canal boats, which home, his next venture was an interest in the did business during the summer on the canal. "Zanesville No 2." He was the commander, There was a large salt trade at the towns from and he could fill any position on the boat. The Cleveland to Portsmouth. Many young men "Zanesville No. 2" was a tri-weekly between and boys who earned money by work on the Dresden and McConnelsville. This boat had a canal boats, to pass through college, occupied good trade.

high positions in the different professions,

The "Mink No. I" was built by three of the while the sons of the owners of some of the successful steamboat owners on the Muskin- boats, too good to associate with a boy who gum, Captains Edward Martin, C. C. Morgan worked, have changed positions; the working and William Davis. This boat was the regular boy is now the employer and the aristocratic packet between Zanesville and McConnells- boy is now the menial.

ville, making trips daily. For six years Capt.

It is now in order to give a short account of Davis commanded this boat, when his partner, steamboating from McConnelsville to Zanes- Capt. C. C. Morgan, took charge. Capt. ville and Dresden. There was more freight Davis was interested in the steamer, "J. H. carried on that part of the river when connec- Best" and the "Lizzie Cassell." In December,

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

1884, he retired. He was then commander of in which he afterward was so successful. the "Cassell," and he sold his interest in the Two years later he commanded a canal boat. "Muskingum Packet Company" to Capts. His perseverance brought success for a time, Morgan and Martin. The captain was one of but through the rascality of an associate in the two men who held government license for business, the result of patient industry and the office of captain, pilot and engineer. frugality was lost. After his loss he came

Capt. C. C. Morgan, one of the most pop- to Zanesville and was emoloyed by Allen, ular steamboatmen and business men in the Cadwallader & Co. His desire for information Muskingum valley, was born at Preston, Che- occupied his leisure hours perfecting his busi- nango county, N. Y., July 17, 1810. His par- ness education. Industry and strict attention ents were of Welsh descent, and they settled at to all the details of business soon made him a Johnstown, Licking county, in 1825. At the reputation which gave him prominence and age of fifteen years he was at work on the Ohio promotion, an'd in a short time he was inter- canal, excavating at Newark at $8 per month. ested in two or three small boats in the Zanes- In a letter to a friend he wrote, "I am cold, ville and Dresden trade.

wet and sleepy. My head aches so that I am

Capt. Morgan resided many years in Dres- almost insensible to everything around me. den. When the upper trade was abandoned, My clothes are worn, and I have no money to he became a resident of McConnelsville. obtain more." The Ohio canal was the train- Capts. Davis, Morgan and Martin had the ing school for many of our best young men, reputation of being honest men, whose words who in after years, had national reputation in were equal to any person's bond. Many of scholarship, business and statesmanship. He their old hands are yet living and the rever- worked on his father's farm, assisting his par- ence they have for the dead captains and the ents in keeping "the wolf from the door" for living one is evidence of the worth of the own- several years, training himself for the success- ers and managers of the boats engaged in the ful business career, which made the name of trade between Zanesville and McConnelsville. C. C. Morgan known as success wherever he Capt. Cal. Smith, the pilot; Bart Roney, the was acquainted.

clerk; Ben Ramsey, the mate; George Cobb,

In 1836 he was employed in driving stage the engineer; John Humphrey, the fireman; from Sunberry to Delaware, and the latter part and Aunt Eliza, the famous stewardess of the of the year he was engaged on a canal boat. boat were known for years as fixtures on Capt. This was his first experience on the water, Morgan's boats.

Chapter VIII.

MEDICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, ETC.

G ENERATION after generation of pioneers

As a class, no order of men have done more I have gradually carried the star of empire to promote the good of mankind and develop westward, until it would seem as if the the resources and natural history of our coun- work of the pioneer was nearly done. As try than physicians, and wherever the well-edu- these hardy and adventurous men and women cated in that profession are found they are uni- have gradually opened up the new world to formly seen on the side of order, morality, sci- civilization, they have been closely followed or ence and religion.

accompanied by members of the medical pro-

It is impossible for us to fully appreciate fession. These physicians have shared the the primitive manner in which these men prac- hardships and privations of the early settlers, ticed medicine. They had to be, in a degree, joined in their joys and sorrows, helped them pharmacists and practical botanists. Roots to build their rude homes and to defend them and herbs were an important part of their ar- against the natives of the forest.

mamentarium. Infusions and decoctions wer e

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

the order of the day. The sugar-coated pill visit, Dr. Mathews went back East, and married was then unknown. In fact the life of the mod- (April 25, 1799) Abigail Willis, of Oakham, ern physician is sugar-coated when compared Mass. In the fall of 1800, with his wife and with that of the pioneers. These men were baby, he again came to Marietta, arriving there obliged to be fertile in resources, apt in expe- October 4. The winter was spent in Marietta, dients, and ingenious in improvising. Com- and the other half of the house in which they pare, if you can, the log-cabin office of one lived was occupied by the father of the late hundred years ago with the physician's office Gov. Brough. In the spring of 1801 the of to-day. Think of the progress made in med- Mathews family moved to Zanesville, Ohio. ical science since the days of these men. This same year Gen. Rufus Putnam, his nephew, Chloroform, cocaine, the hypodermic syringe, Dr. Mathews, and Levi Whipple purchased the the fever thermometer, and hundreds of other land now composing the Seventh and Ninth things were unknown to them. Notwithstand- wards in that city, and laid it out into a town, ing all the new ideas and inventions the rate which they called Springfield, afterward Put- of mortality, from the ordinary aches and ills nam. Dr. Mathews, after about one years' stay of life, was about the same then as now. in Zanesville, moved across the river to the

In looking over the lives of these men we newly laid out town, and lived there the re- find general characteristics that are worthy of mainder of his life. He was the first physician thought. They were interested and active in to permanently settle on the Muskingum river educational and religious matters. They were above Marietta. In 1802 (June 14) the Doc- energetic and progressive beyond their times. tor's wife died, and in 1803 ( March 23) he mar- They took an active part in politics and ques- ried for his second wife, Betsey, daughter of tions of state. If they were alive now they Capt. John Leavems. They were married in would probably let politics alone. They were Marietta, at Maj. Lincoln's, who had married brave men, for on their lonely travels in the Betsy's sister, Fanny. Possessing large landed earlier years, they had to face the treachery of interests, and having a taste for agriculture, Dr. the Indian and the hunger of wolves. The Mathews retired from practice, as other physi- more the lives of these men are held up to view cians settled around him. He was a man of the more sterling qualities we find in them to many accomplishments, with more than the admire.

usual amount of energy and push, so character-

Dr. Increase Mathews was born in New istic of the pioneers. He established the first Braintree, Mass., December 22, 1772. He was drug store, and was one of the five original the son of Gen. Rufus Putnam's older sister, members of the first church organized in Musk- Hulda, and Daniel Mathews. John Mathews, ingum county. Dr. Mathews sent to Spain for who came out to Ohio with the original forty- the first full-blooded Merino sheep brought to eight, was a brother. In 1798 Dr. Mathews came Ohio. These sheep were delivered in Wash- to Marietta on a prospecting tour and to visit ington, D. C., and hauled in a wagon through relatives. His diary of this journey is in the to Putnam by a man sent to Washington for possession of his descendants, and is a very in- that purpose. In 1801, when Dr. Mathews went teresting document. Under date of August 13, to Marietta to buy the land above mentioned, 1798, I P. M,, is found the following note: he had part of the way as his companion, John "Went with Mr. Edward Tupper to call on Mr. McIntire. These young men rode together, Blennerhasset and his lady, by whom we were camped together the night out on the road, but politely received. Met Miss Sallie Loudon, neither mentioned his business. When they there on a visit. She is on the whole an amiable they arrived at Marietta, Dr. Mathews turned girl and possessed of many of those qualities up Washington street to go to his uncle's (Gen. which make a good companion, kind, obliging, Putnam's) office, whilst John McIntire went on ever in good spirits and free from affectation." to the tavern. The next day the two men found The young Doctor seems to have been im- themselves bidding against each other for the pressed, and human nature seems to have been same tract of land. John McIntire already the same then as now. Under date of August owned a large tract where Zanesville proper 31, 1798, is the following: "Attended a ball at now stands, but Dr. Mathews bid on the tract

Col. Putnam's in Belpre. We had a large col- in question at $4.05 an acre. Many years after lection of ladies, some from Marietta and the it became blended with McIntire's tract, in the Island, who made a brilliant appearance. Spent City of Natural Advantages. The Doctor en- the evening very agrecably." The ladies from joyed telling his grandchildren that the earliest the Island were no doubt Mrs. Blennerhasset distinct recollection of his childhood was the and her guest, Miss Loudon. After a pleasant ringing of the bells to celebrate the Declaration

IO8

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

of Independence. He was a cultivated gentle- tended into what are now Guernsey, Noble and man of the old school, and a man whose energy Morgan counties. The doctor kept his farm and character were felt in his day, and are still well stocked with good horses. He always exemplified in his descendants. He was an rode horseback and traveled fast. It was a accomplished performer on the violoncello, and good horse and rider that could keep up with an entertaining and instructive conversational- him on his rounds. As a physician, Dr. Bliss ist. His life was characterized by its simplicity was successful and popular. He was a man of and purity. He died June 6, 1856, full of years strong opinions, and fearless in expressing and with the high esteem of all his fellow them. He dared to do right, and take the con- townsmen, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, sequences. In religious belief he was a Con- and is buried in Woodlawn cemetery, which gregationalist. Dr. Bliss died March 17, 1842, was part of his original purchase from the gov- aged eighty-one years. At a ripe age he sur- ernment in 1801.

rendered to the great reaper, and with a heavy

In 1796, Dr. Jenner's great discovery of credit on the Lamb's book of life he went to vaccination was announced to the medical his reward.

world. When small-pox broke out in the Put-

Dr. Robert Mitchell was born in Westmore-

nam in the fall of 1809, Dr. Matthews procured land county, Penn., in 1778. He studied medi- vaccine virus and vaccinated himself and cine there, and in 1808 married Catharine family. People in general had no confidence McCulloch. For a wedding trip the young in vacination, and would not consent to it. In couple came to Zanesville, Ohio, on horseback. order to prove its efficacy Dr. Matthews took When they settled in that place there were but his two little daughters, Abigail and Sarah twelve shingle roofed houses in it. The In- aged six and seven years, who had been vac- dians were still there, but friendly, and used to cinated, into a house and up to the bedside of come to the doctor's house to see the white a patient very ill with virulent small pox. The papooses. Dr. Mitchell served in the war of children did not take the disease, and the 1812, and was afterward a general in the Ohio doctor triumphantly proclaimed the protect- militia. In 1833 he was elected to congress, ing powers of vaccination. The rest of the but in 1835 was defeated for re-election by his villagers were inoculated but Dr. Matthews' Whig opponent. It is said that the rejoicing family was the only one that depended upon of the Whigs over their success, caused more vaccination. So far as can be learned the drunkenness in Zanesville, than ever was known doctor's family was among the first, if not the there in one night. Dr. Mitchell died Novem- first in Ohio, to be vaccinated. ber 13, 1848.

Dr. Richard Hillier came to Zanesville

Dr. Jessie Chandler was the second (then Zanestown), in the spring of 1805, and physician to settle in Putnam. He was born entered upon his professional career here. in Vermont in 1764, and studied medicine in Four years later he removed to " Beech Bot- his native state. After practicing a few years, tom," fifteen m les from Mount Vernon, Ohio, he came with his family to Ohio and located and there died in 1815. Before coming to in the village of Putnam, across the river from Zanesville he had been a surgeon in the English Zanesville and now, as stated, a part of that army.

city. At that time there was but little differ-

Dr. Daniel Bliss, son of Deacon Isaac Bliss, ence in the population of the two rival villages, was born in Warren, Mass., April 10, 1761. He both being quite small, But in the year 1804 was educated in medicine in Springfield, Mass., Zanesville was made the permanent county and June 6, 1789, married Prudence, a sister of seat, with a fair prospect of being made the Dr. Jesse Chandler. They came out to Ohio in State capital, and took the lead. In order to 1804, with (or about the same time) as Dr. look after his land, Dr. Mathews gladly re- Chandler. Dr. Bliss settled in Waterford (on linquished his practice, upon the arrival of the side of the river where Beverly now stands), Dr. Chandler. No other physician settled but continued sickness led him to seek another in Putnam while Dr. Chandler lived. His location, and he removed to Chandler's Salt practice. like Dr. Mathews', extended over Works ( now Chandlersville), a place twelve all the western part of the county, and into miles east of Zanesville. Settling on a farm, the adjoining counties. Traveling, was of the doctor intended retiring from practice, but course, done on horseback, and in the earlier there being no other physician in that section, years without roads. Trails, or bridle paths, the inhabitants kept him busy. For over led from house to house, or from neighborhood twenty years he was the first and only physi- to neighborhood. Dr. Chandler spent £

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 18

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642