History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 17

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 17

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For 20 years or more before the war the agitation of the slavery question had reached the ears of the slaves themselves and some of the more active and venturesome among them began to seek for liberty in Canada.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

Joseph Smith, of Vincent, estimated that there passed through Washington County on their way to liberty, between 1850 and 1860, about 600 fugitives. Some of these came from the Cotton States, but the majority were from Virginia and Kentucky. These fugitives went northward from the Ohio River by what was popularly known as the "Underground Rail- road"-a railway which future historians can never accurately trace, for its tracks were as devious and numerous as the by-roads of Washington County. The means of transpor- tation were as varied as the routes, but they were all used with the same end in view-the rescuing and concealment of the fugitives. the circumventing and discomfiture of the pursuers. Men yet live in our county who in their boy- hood took part in those exciting scenes, and they tell many amusing stories of their expe- riences.

Sometimes the fugitives passed from David

Putnam's house in Harmar to Mr. Ridgway's at Rainbow, and thence through Salem to the Paliners; but more frequently they crossed the river to Belpre township and thence north- ward through the western townships, where friends of the fugitives were very numerous. It is now impossible to name a tithe of those who were ready to receive the wanderers. In conveying the fugitives northward, no uniform method was followed. Sometimes it was found expedient to keep the fugitives in concealment for many days or even weeks near one place, while the pursuers were wasting their time and energy in going farther northward.

B. B. Stone relates that at one time some fugitives were concealed for a time on the Vir- ginia side, opposite Belpre, and that one of his sisters, since the crossing by one of the men might create suspicion, had crossed the river to Virginia and taken a supply of food to the fugitives. Sometimes the one who had received and concealed the fugitives would himself convey them to the next "station." but a safer way, and one probably more fre- quently followed, was to conceal the fugitives in some convenient place and then to send word to some friends 10 or 15 miles away, to come and get them by night. Mr. Stone says that he has been sent on such an errand in his boy- hood to tell Bert Ilibbert that some fugitives were concealed in a certain field belonging to Mr. McKay.

Maj. Jewett Palmer tells how he had been sent when a boy to feed a fugitive, concealed in the woods near his father's house and that this was his first sight of a negro.

The greater mass of the people regarded these escapades as something amusing with which they had little or no concern, but there were a few people in the county who fancied it was their duty to help the pursuers, and it was the great delight of the managers of the Un- derground Railroad to bring these spies, as they regarded them, to grief and mortification. A story is told of some boys in Salem town- ship, whose names can not be recalled at this late date, but Moses Blake and Thomas Porter are said to have been among them, who pre-

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pared a plan for the especial benefit of one of their neighbors, who had made himself ob- noxious by aiding the pursuers. Some of the boys went to this Southern sympathizer and told him that a reward had been offered for the apprehension of three negroes who had recently escaped from Virginia ; that these slaves were concealed in the township and that if he would take his team they would help him to catch them and take them to Marietta and share with him the reward. He readily assented and went with the boys who soon found the supposed fugitives, who happened to be three of their own companions with faces blackened for the occasion, and easily caught them, put them in the wagon and started to Marietta. Pretty soon one of the fugitives leaped from the wag- on and disappeared in the woods, then another followed his example. In his desperation the slave catcher called to his supposed helpers, "Hold on to the little one, he'll pay expenses." But even the little one with his captors soon lisappeared in the woods and the slave hun- ter was obliged to go home without his ex- pected reward. For a long time the saying. "Hold on to the little one, he'll pay expenses." was heard among the boys of Salem township.

At one time a Mr. Brown who lived not far from Amesville had some fugitives con- cealed on his farm. The pursuers came in the evening and were kindly received by Mr. Brown, and their horses well cared for in his commodious stable. Before the guests retired for the night, they were warned by Mr. Brown not to go out of the house at night without calling him, as a savage dog might attack them. Late at night the boys of the family took the horses of the pursuers out of the stable and used them to convey the fugitives 15 miles from the place. Before daylight they returned and left the horses in the stable. At another time, when one who had concealed a fugitive near his house learned that a spy was observing his movements, he took the fugitive in daylight from his place of concealment and took him to a tobacco house. The spy observed this and soon his horse could be heard galloping away to bear the news to the pursuers. At once the

negro was taken from his hiding place in the tobacco house and conveyed to another station. Soon the spy returned with the pursuers who went in the tobacco house but found nothing more than a volume of smoke, for the fires had again been lighted. The sequel to the story is that the pursuers after that regarded the spy as a traitor to their cause and unworthy of further confidence.

James Lawton, William S. Heald, Jonathan Lee, Thomas B. Hibbard and many of the families of the Smiths took part in helping away the fugitives.

On Putnam street in Marietta lives Mrs. John Eells, who many years ago in Oberlin entertained Lewis Clark, the original of Mrs. Stowe's George Harris in her celebrated novel. "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Mr. Clark's sister was also the original of Eliza. Mrs. Eells relates that she and her husband supplied Lewis Clark with provisions for a trip to Kentucky, whence he conducted his brother to freedom. Mrs. Stowe afterward met Lewis near Boston and there gathered from his lips many of the inci- (lents which were woven into her story. His stormy life is now ended, but before its close he had an opportunity to greet in Marietta his two friends, Mr, and Mrs. Eells, and to thank them for their kindness to a needy wan- derer. He lived to see the day when the slave- driver's whip was no longer feared on the banks of the Ohio.

The old homestead of Mr. Ridgway, a con- venient station for fugitives coming into Ohio by way of Harmar or Marietta, stood near the Rainbow Ferry. It was torn down five or six years ago. In this house there was a large basement and back of it a "blind" cellar which served as a very useful place of concealment for fugitives when the pursuers were close at hand, since the opening to this cellar could be closed in such a way as easily to escape discov- ery. There is a tradition that at one time five fugitives were here concealed, one of them be- ing a very young child. and Mr. Ridgway feared that its crying might reveal the hiding place. In the early evening, by design or ac- cident, some of the neighbors had gathered in

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the basement for a prayer meeting ; while they were thus assembled, the pursuers came and asked permission to search for fugitives, a per- mission which Mr. Ridgway promptly gave, but requested then not to disturb the prayer meeting. It is said that while the pursuers were thus searching, the singing was very loud ' and demonstrative, but it was wholly unneces- sary, for the child did not reveal by any sound the place of concealment. Mr. Ridgway's neighbor, Benjamin F. Dyar, who lived on the east side of the Muskingum, often joined in the work of helping away the fugitives.

Between the Free Soiler who regarded lib- erty as the inalienable right of every man. whether black or white, and the Southern plan- ter who regarded the slave as his property as- sured to him by constitution and law, it was difficult to find any room for compromise. The conflict was indeed irrepressible.

Ohio River, a claim contradicted by the best authorities in international law, was in danger of being successfully disputed. The authori- ties in Virginia were unwilling to have the question of territorial jurisdiction again brought before the United States court. They were, therefore, glad to release the prisoners in January, 1846, on bail, the bondsman being a man from Ohio, and so the case never came up for final settlement. The details of the story are told in the extracts from the news- papers of the time, appearing at the end of this chapter.

CAMPAIGN OF 1840.

The contest between the Whig and Demo- cratic parties on the questions of tariff and cur- rency reached a picturesque climax in the great campaign of 1840-a campaign which elderly men still recall as one of the great events in their lives. It is said that on the 22nd of Feb- ruary, 1840, 20,000 people assembled at Co- lumbus, at the Whig Convention, when Harri- son and Tyler were accepted as the standard bearers of the Presidential ticket, and Thomas Corwin nominated as candidate for Governor. A delegation of more than 50 went to Colum- bus from Washington County. The whole summer and fall was busy with the excitement of the political campaign. There were great meetings, with speeches and singing, and free dinners at Marietta, at Beverly, on the Little Muskingum, at Newport, and probably at other places. Thomas Corwin, the "Wagoner Boy." as he was called, was the star orator of the Whigs, and John Brough, or "Jack," as he was familiarly styled, formerly of Marietta, was the leader on the Democratic side.

The climax in the strife between the slave hunters and the Free Soilers came on the night of July 9. 1845, when three citizens of De- catur township, Peter M. Garner. Creighton J. Loraine and Mordecai E. Thomas, were seized on the Ohio side of the river near Hall's Land- ing for the crime of assisting some fugitive slaves, who had escaped from Virginia. The three prisoners were taken to Parkersburg and lodged in jail. Bail was refused them. They were tried in Virginia for an alleged offense committed in Ohio. It was natural that the people of Washington County of every politi- cal faith should be indignant at this outrage committed upon citizens of Ohio, within her own boundaries. At one time, it is said, that the Governor of Ohio actually contemplated an armed rescue of the prisoners, but better coun- sels prevailed. Samuel F. Vinton was sent from Ohio to argue the question of jurisdiction- A canvas ball 13 feet in diameter, carried on a four-horse wagon, came through Mari- etta from Dresden, where it had been built, and was sent on its journey to Nashville, Tennes- see, in charge of Capt. Horatio Booth, George M. Woodbridge and Joseph Hunter, who were appointed a committee on the part of the Wash- ington County Whigs to take the ball to Cin- His argument,reported in Volume 4 of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society, proves beyond reasonable doubt, not only that the ar- rest of the prisoners on the north bank of the Ohio was a high-handed outrage, but also es- tablishes the right of Ohio to the territory as i far as the middle of the channel of the river. Virginia's absurd claim to the whole of the ! cinnati by river. The water being very low.

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they mounted the ball on the "Ferry Flat" and starting at daylight succeeded in reaching Par. kersburg by noon. Here they found the side- wheel steamboat "Boston," which being una- ble to get farther up the river because of the low water was about returning down the river. The captain, being an ardent Whig, begged the privilege of towing them to Cincinnati. His proposition they gladly accepted and they were treated royally by the captain and crew. Every- thing was free to them that the boat could furnish.

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On their arrival at Cincinnati, they were met by what seemed to be the whole popula- tion of the city. The levee was black with peo- ple. A committee was on hand to receive the ball and also one to meet and entertain thent. They were taken to the Broadway Hotel, then the chief hostelry of the city, and were enter- tained there free of charge during their stay. They were taken to General Harrison's rooms and introduced to him. He seemed very cor- dial but seemed weak and almost sick from the worry and work of the campaign.

A crowd of enthusiastic Whigs embarked on a steamboat to attend a meeting at Chester in Meigs County. It is said that the boat stuck on a bar, but the passengers leaped out into the shallow water and helped the boat over the obstruction.

The campaign resulted as we know in a vic- tory for the Whigs, but a barren victory it proved, since General Harrison died a few weeks after his inauguration and Vice-Presi- dent Tyler succeeded to his place. In a county history it is unnecessary to pursue further the history of the struggle between these two great parties. About the middle of the decade before the Civil War, Washington County in common with all other parts of the country had her grotesque experience with the "Native Americans," or, as they were more commonly called. "Know Nothing's," or the "Dark Lan- tern" party. Its short-lived existence, which for a little while seemed to threaten us with a renewal of the old-time conflicts between churches and races, fortunately lasted for so short a time, that its whole history partakes

more of the grotesque and comic than of the tragic.

The writer distinctly remembers an inci- dent which shows how easy it is to be fright- ened about nothing. At a little Catholic cem- etery, the Irish laborers had recently buried one of their comrades : somehow, the story was whispered about that the burial was a humbug and that the real errand of the supposed mourn- ers was to convey a lot of arms and conceal them at the chapel. It required the interference of some of the cooler heads to prevent the ex- cited neighbors from making a raid to dis- cover the concealed arsenal. On the other side, the excitement was equally as great and quite as unreasonable. A quiet, industrious German farmer, a Catholic from Bavaria, was so fright- ened by the reports of the Know Nothing's that he procured from a blacksmith huge bars of iron to barricade his doors and protect him- self and his family from the midnight attacks of the Know Nothing lodge. The unreasoning hates and fears of those times very quickly passed away and German and American Cath- olics and Protestant boys of Washington Coun- ty were found enlisted under the same banner in defense of a common country. From that time onward, the political history of Washing- ton County has little in it that is peculiar or local. It is blended with the great stream of national life.

NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS PERTAINING TO THE POLITICS OF THE PERIOD.

(Chiefly from the American Friend, Marietta Gazette and Marietta Intelligencer.)

CIRCULAR.

August 7. 1820.

At a meeting of the citizens of the county, friendly to Internal Improvements and Domestic Industry, at the Court House in Marietta, on the 4th of August instant, the undersigned were appointed a committee to correspond with the several townships in the county on the subject of the approaching election, and to re- quest those citizens who are friendly to Internal Im- provements, &c., to convene at an early period, and appoint two delegates to meet in convention at the Court House in Marietta, on the 28th day of August, at one o'clock. P. M., to nominate sultable persons for candidates at the next October election. The officers to be selected are one governor. one representative in

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Congress, one representative in the State Legislature, one sheriff. one commissioner, and one coroner.

ROYAL PRENTISS, S P. HILDRETH, LEVI BARBER.

P. S .- The committee would suggest to the several townships that Saturday, preceding the meeting of the convention, will be a suitable time for the choice of delegates.

ADMINISTRATION MEETING.

November 23, 1827 .-

At a meeting of the citizens of Washington county, Ohio, friendly to the present Administration, held at the Court House in Marietta, agreeably to present no- tice, on Thursday the 22d. instant. for the purpose of electing delegates to a convention to be held at Co- lumbus. for the formation of an electoral ticket for the State, &c, David Putnam, Esq., was appointed chair- man. and A. T. Nye, secretary.

Whereupon William R. Putnam, Arius Nye, Samuel P. Hildreth, David Putnam, John Cotton and Joseph Barker, Jr., were appointed delegates to represent the friends of the administration in this county, in the proposed convention.

By order of the meeting, A. T. NYE, Secretary.

CELEBRATION OF THE VICTORY OF NEW ORLEANS, IN MARIETT.1.

1828 .-

The Jacksonian Committee of Arrangements give this general invitation to all persons in Washington and the adjoining counties, who are friendly to General Jackson, and the 'victory gained by him over the British at New Orleans, and who may please to assem- ble at the New Court House, on the 8th day of Jan- uary next, at 10 o'clock A. M. for the purpose of cele- brating said day. An address will be delivered on the occasion by Doct. Morris German, and a Dinner pro- vided; with the necessary seasoning, &c .- Free of Ex- pense.

Silas Cook, Lewis Anderson, A. V. D. Joline. Notley Drown, Sampson Cole. Moses MeFarland. Timothy Buell. Committee of Arrangements.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN MARIETTA. 1828 .-

"The anniversary of our National Inde- pendence was yesterday celebrated in this town in a spirited and patriotic manner. The day was ushered in by the discharge of cannon, ringing of the bell, etc. At half past II, a pro- cession was formed near the Court House, un-

der the direction of Capt. Billy Todd, and moved to the First Society's Meeting House. The religious exercises were performed by the Rev. Mr. Sweet. The Declaration of Independ- ence was read by William P. Skinner, and an excellent oration was delivered by David Bar- ber. Songs and odes were sung by a choir of singers. After the exercises were over. the procession was again formed as before, and proceeded to a bower where a large number partook of a dinner prepared for the occasion. During the day the spirit of party seemed to be forgotten, and our citizens, among whom were a few survivors of the Revolution, ap- peared to enjoy themselves with a full sense of the great and glorious achievements that the day is calculated to recall to mind.

"After the cloth was removed the following toasts were drank :

I. The day we celebrate :- May it acquire adili- tional lustre with every revolving year. 2. The Constitution of the United States :- The ark of our political safety :- May it endure forever. 3. The memory of Washington (Drank standing). 4. The President of the United States.

Our Fathers of the Revolution :- May they never be forgotten.

6. The head of Department.

7. The Governor of the State of Ohio.

8. Domestic Manufactures and Internal Improve- ments :- The guaranty of national wealth, prosperity and independence.

9. The Great and Good Lafayette.

IO. The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road :- May the wisdom of its Directors so lay down this national belt, as to clasp the mouth of the Muskingum.

11. The Navy :- The bon t and pride of our country, and the admiration of the world.

12. The Army :- Efficient but not headless.

13. The American Fair :- "Our hearts' joy, what'er our sorrows be, They ecase and vanish on beholding thee "

14. Volunteers :- By Dr. S. P. Hildreth :- The memory of Hon. R. J. Meigs :- Among-t the first in changing the wilderness into a fruitful field, so was he also the first to defend it from its enemies :- Ohio will long remember him, as one who has reflected lustre on her name, and added not a little to her character and dignity as a State.

15. By Arius Nye, Esq .- A government of laws :-- As we enjoy these, may we know how to preserve then.

16. By George Dana, Esq .- Honest differences in political opinions :- May they never, in this happy coun- try, be thought incompatible with private friendship. 17. By Maj. Alexander Ilill-Henry Clay. Secretary of State :- A patriot and statesman :- His elevated

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mind scorus bribery, disdains flattery, and spurns the invective threats of his enemies :- He is entitled to the confidence of the American people.

18. By Royal Prentiss-Education :- The surest pledge of national virtute and independence.

19. By Nahum Ward, Esq .- The Presidential con- test -- South.

"The air's too hot ;

It steams, it scalds, we can not bear this furnace! Stand off, and let the Northern wind have way."

20. By Col. Ichabod Nye-The rising generation :- May they protect what the patriots of the Revolution have wou.

21. By John Brown-Henry Clay :- The firm pa- triot and generous Republican -- though misrepresented. slandered, persecuted. posterity, at least, will do him justice, and place his name on the brightest page in the list of the immortal worthies of this great Republic.

22. By William Hall-Health to the President, pros- perity to the people, and may our Congress direct their endeavors to the public good rather than indulge in party distinctions.

23. By Maj. Jesse Hildebrand-General Washing- ton :- He who changed the name of General Corn- walis to that of Cob-Wallace by shelling the corn off him.

"Several other volunteer toasts were drank which have not been handed in for publication. "On the evening previous to the 4th, the cannon, which was intended to be used at the celebration, was spiked by a ruffian under the hope that it would be rendered useless for the day-during the night, however, the hole was drilled out-again in the fore part of the day the same villian again spiked the cannon, which was after much labor again drilled out-and due precaution used to prevent another at- tempt. .

"The name of the person who has com- mitted this outrage will hereafter be presented to the public, that he may receive the reward such conduct merits."

ROTATION IN OFFICE.

1820 .-

republican freedom of opinion and speech. We know both gentlemen-they are both respected, rich and men of integrity-both could do very well without the office, and both, of course, could do well with it-but the vast difference between them is, that Mr. Skinner advocated the election of Jackson, and Mr. Mayberry op- posed it. There is no other ground of com- plaint. The doctrine of 'rotation in office' will not sound consistently here-for there is also in this place a Register of the Land Office who has held that office for fifteen years or up- wards, and he has been re-appointed by Jack- son.

"We notice these things to show the con- sistency of the Jackson hue-and-cry of 'reform,' 'rotation in office,' etc. The gentlemen who formerly held these offices have done well- one has been removed, the other retained, with- out any cause of complaint against the one -- or any extraordinary meritorious acts in the others, save and except that of being a favorite of Jackson.

Saturday, November 21, 1828.

"More Reform! Dr. Morris German, a 'whole hog' Jacksonian, a resident of Point Harmar, Marietta, has been appointed Post Master at Point Harmar, in the place of Col. Levi Barber, punished.

"The cause of this removal is the same as that of other removals that have taken place since the reign of terror commenced. Colonel Barber was a friend to the former administra- tion, on republican principles-of course op- posed to the elevation of the General ; he was a substantial and consistent Jeffersonian Republi- can, and therefore did not change his princi- ples. The office which he filled, it is true, was of little consequence to him, but he was faith- ful in the performance of his duties-no fault had been found by those of his neighbors, in his vicinity, or at a distance-all were satis- fied. But he did not throw up his hat and 'huzza for Jackson,' nor did he deliver an ora- tion on the 8th of January-and this is cause sufficient why he should be punished.

"In our paper to-day will be seen a long list of appointments and removals by the Pres- ident ; among them is one in our own town- David C. Skinner, Receiver of Public Monies, in the place of John P. Mayberry, removed. This, under the Jackson definition of the term is 'reform,' but we conceive, in this instance, that it is simply a change, as a reward for a "Since the reign of terror commenced, there friend, and a punishment for exercising the ' have been three removals within this small

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town, and we believe that these are all, except- ing the Register of the Land Office, that comes within the power of the General Government. viz. :

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 17

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490