History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

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Mrs Emma Mellor, Marietta.

Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Scott, Marietta.

Mrs. Annie Dilley and daughter, Marietta.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Reynolds, Gravel Bank.

Miss Ester Reynolds, Gravel Bank.

Mrs. Fannie Baker and daughter, Gravel Bank.

Marietta, Saturday Morning, January 9, 1830 .--

"Our Town .- Marietta has had a singular fortune. The oldest town in Ohio-settled by an industrions and enterprising people-ex- ceedingly pleasant and healthful in situation- advantageously located for water-carriage- and having around it a good proportion of very good, and a great deal of tolerable quality of land-has fallen far behind many other places, in business, buildings and wealth. \ variety of causes have contributed to this result .- The first business in Marietta which caused any rapid increase of its buildings and population, was ship-building. This was prostrated, and with it, for the time being, the general busi-

ness of the town, in 1807 and 1808. In 1809 the town looked like a deserted village. The number engaged in mechanical and mercantile business was very small. A large number of the best dwellings were unoccupied. In this state of apparent decay the place remained for several years. The few persons engaged in mercantile business were successful. They had a fine portion of the custom within a circuit of 50 miles round-including parts of the val- leys and bottom lands of the Ohio, Muskin- gum, Kanawha, &c. In the ndeantime the products of this region were disposed of to em- igrants-to the salt makers of the Great Ka- nawha-or taken down the Ohio, or over the mountains-the merchants being seklom or never the exporters. Those engaged in mer- cantile business being, therefore, merely im- porters, did very little to enhance the business of the town. Little was done, or attempted, which had this tendency. The town plot, be- ing duly extended, was many times too large for the demand; lots were held at very low prices. There was no encouragement for building, because, as there was no apparent encouragement for the increase of business, there was no apparent encouragement for emmi- grants to settle in the town. We have said there was no apparent encouragement. But it is believed that, had the real capabilities of the place been fully known, the town would long ago have attained far greater than its present growth. But the symptoms of decay, so long apparent- the stillness of the place. owing partly to the scattered situation of the build- ings, and partly to the carriage being mainly done by water-craft instead of wagons-im- pressed on strangers the idea that Marietta was not, and could not be made, a place of exten- sive business. Possibly it may be, hereafter, deemed fortunate that the growth of the place has thus far been retarded. Within a few

years Marietta has become a place of Educa- tion. The beauty and healthiness of this loca- tion, and the great extent of pleasant and in- occupied building ground, render it a very eli- gille situation for those who would locate themselves in an advantageous situation for the education of their children. Building lots

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have risen within a few years-but are still to be had at a naich lower rate than at any other place of the same importance in the Western Country. The institutions for educa- tion have already had very considerable effect in carrying forward the improvements of the town, and we trust the course of all will be on- ward."

Marietta, Saturday Morning, March 26, 1830 .-

"Our Town .- Marietta is the oldest mu- nicipal corporation northwest of the Ohio. The first act of incorporation was in December, 1800, by the Legislature of the Northwest Territory. The act of incorporation was based on the democratic principles of the Eastern townships, or towns, as they are there called. And to some, who have been educated in these democratic communities, it is a matter of re- gret that similar institutions were not generally adopted in Ohio. They are founded on the principle that the people should be left, as far as practicable, to manage their own affairs in their own way. The people met together in town meeting to discuss, and decide on, all matters which concern only the little commun- ity thus assembled. Here is a school where young men learn the rudiments of legislation, and gain the confidence to address a public as- sembly. In these primary assemblies men learn to fcel their equal rights. If town meet- ings are sometimes noisy and disorderly, so are other assemblies. Should we reject the institutions of freedom because freedom is sometimes carried to excess? On similar prin- ciples we might reject every good thing. But to return .- The original incorporation in- cluded not only the fractional surveyed town- ships, now constituting the township of Mari- etta, but a great portion of several adjacent townships :- part of the territory of the pres- ent townships of Fearing. Union and Warren. The bounds, from time to time, were narrowed down to the two fractional townships. But the old charter remained in force for about a quar- ter of a century. It was superseded, in 1825. by the present charter, which confined the town to the town plot, and changed the corporation

from a democratic to a representative charac- ter. Some of our old Yankees regretted the change; but all now acknowledge the superior efficiency of a government by representation for borough purpose. The concerns of a city, or a village, require more promptness and de- cision than can well belong to a pure democra- cy. The latter may do very well for the more rural portions of the country, but the police and public improvements necessary for a town require greater decision and more rapid exe- cution. The advantages of the new form of government are well exemplified in the exper- ience of the last ro years. Previously the ro- mantic innd stories of the West were in some promising degree realized in Marietta, so that strangers were sometimes disposed to nick- name the place by substituting mud for the first syllable. The improvements in graveled ways for teams and paved walks for pedes- trians, have added most materially to the com- fort and advantages of this place, and exhibit, to those who recollect the days of mud, a con- trast highly gratifying. The erection of bridges and raised highways has also added greatly to convenience.

"It would be of great consequence to the town to repair the banks of the rivers, and add to the facilities of landing, particularly on the Ohio. It is singular that no effort has yet been made to open the channel between the island bar and that of the Muskingum. It is thought not to be a difficult undertaking. The steamboat custom is very important : but might be much more so if the facilities of landing were greater. If the channel above mentioned could be permanently deepened, and a few trees removed from the bed of the river near the month of Duck Creek, the channel next the town ould be far more preferable in low water. As general improvements of the Ohio River are to continue and progress, under the Fed- eral Government, it is hoped these particular improvements may shortly, in this way, be ac- complished."

TOWN OF HARMAR.

American Friend, January 13. 1837 .- "We know there was an attempt to set off

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the Second Ward of Marietta-Pt. Harmar- into an independent borough-and we were for it,-but we did not expect the divorce to be so sudden and unceremonious .- The act is passed. Marietta is disorganized -- and we have been legislated for without our consent. We can have no municipal government, under the present charter, without the concurrence of three wards. And so we are not only dis- membered but disorganized, without our being consulted. Our democracy would have deemed it necessary to submit to the people a matter in which the people are so much concerned. But the nature of the imported democracy may be quite of another cast."

MUSKINGUM TOWNSIIIP.

The territory embraced in Muskingum township was formerly embraced in Adams township as established by the Court of Quar- ter Sessions convened at Marietta in March. 1797. Ever since the formation of old Adams township, it has been crumbling away to es- tablish the several northern townships and prior to the year 1861 Muskingum township was included within the limits of Marietta, Fearing and Union townships. The name "Muskingum" is appropriately derived from the river which runs through the extent of the township.

On April 18, 1861, the Ohio Legislature passed the following bill :

TO ERECT THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKINGUM IN WASHING- TON COUNTY.

Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohu . That the territory now constitut- ing parts of the townships of Marietta, Union, and Fearing. in the county of Washington and bounded as follows, to-wit : Beginning at a point on the Muskingum River, where the same is intersected by the west line of a seventy-eight acre lot, num- bered sixteen. in Bear Creek allottment of dona- tion lands, running thence south on said line to the southwest corner of said lot numbered sixteen, thenee west to the northwest corner of an eighty-five acre lot, numbered twenty-two, in Rainbow Creek allottment of donation finds, thence south on the west line of said lot numbered twenty-two, to the north line of Wise- man's bottom allottment of the donation lands, thence east on said line to the Muskingum River, thence down said river on the west bank thereof until the same

is intersected by the west line of one hundred and sixty .cre lot, numbered four hundred, thence south on said line and its continuation to the south line of township numbered three. in range numbered eight, thence east on said line to the east bank of the Muskingum River, thence down said river to the south line of commons lot numbered twenty-eight, thence northeasterly along the corporation line of the city of Marietta to the south- west corner of commons lot numbered seventeen, thence easterly along the south line of commons lot . numbered seventeen. to the southwest corner of com- mons lot numbered twelve, thence easterly along the south line of commons lot numbered twelve, to the southwest corner of commons lot numbered fourteen, thence north on the line of original survey to the south line of Fearing township, thence east on said line to the east line of three acre lot numbered three hundred and two, thence north on the east line of a range of three acre lots numbered three hundred and eighty-nine, thence west to the cast line of section numbered twenty- five in township numbered three, of range eight, thence north on the section line to the south line of Salem township, thence west on said township line to Bear Creek, thence down said creek to the Muskingum River, thence up said river io a point due north of the place of beginning, thence south across the river to the place of beginning. be and the same is herehy erected and constituted into a new township to be designated as Muskingin township, and that the eastern boundary of Union town-hip, the western boundary of Fearing township, and the northern boundary of Marietta township be so changed as to conform to the lines of said Muskingum township.

Section II. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date of its passage.

The boundaries of the newly-established Muskingum township, as thus defined, still exist and the township, then as now, is bound- ed on the north by Adams and Salem, on the east by Fearing and Marietta, on the south by Marietta city and township and Warren, and on the west by Watertown.

The elections are now held at Unionville, on the Muskingum River.

A petition was presented to the Board of County Commissioners at the June session in 1877, praying for the dissolution of Union township. At the commissioners' December session of the same year the following was ordered :

The petitioners having made application at the June session of 1877 for the partition of Union township among the townships of Adams, Muskingum, Warren and Watertown, and the board being of the opinion that it is necessary andl expedient that the prayer of said petitioners be granted. hereby order that said Union township be divided, and annexed to the adjoining townships-Watertown. Adams and Muskingum.

To Muskingum the territory beginning at the

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northeast ruke of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 302. West for the northwest corner of said lot No. 302, thence north to Wiseman's Bottom, thence east to the Ntu-kingum River, thence following the course of the Muskingum to the northeast corner of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 413, thence south to the place of beginning, containing section eight, one hundred and sixty cere let No. 413, part of Donation line (lot No. 418) and all of Wiseman's Bottom allottment that lie; in Union township.

Naturally the fertile bottoms of the "dona- tion" land were the centers of the first settle- ments, and so we find that the first settlements in Muskingum township were made in Rain- bow and Wiseman's bottoms. These bottoms were named for the backwoodsman, Wiseman. who entered about 400 acres of bottom land lying along the Muskingum while Virginia still claimed the right to the Northwest Terri- tory. Wiseman disappeared after remaining long enough to give his name to the neigh- borhood. The Rainbow settlement was be- gun April 29, 1795, by a company of several families from Marietta, who had drawn land located on the western shore of the Muskingum River. On the farm now owned by J. E. and A. R. Stacy, a block-house was erected. This was centrally located and served as a shelter and protecting roof until the cabins could be built.

The first settlers in Rainbow were Israel Stone and family. Ile located on the farm now owned by the S. S. Stowe heirs. Other early settlers were Stephen Smith, Ebenezer Nve and sons, Simon Wright, Archibald and Mary Lake, Captain and Mrs. Abel Mathews and family, William Stacy and Joseph Stacy. sons of Col. William Stacy, Preserved Sea- mon, Cogswell Olney, John Dyar, Sr.

The first settlers in Wiseman's Bottom were: Col. Joseph Barker, Israel Putnam, Capt. J. Devol and John Russell.

The territory forming the eastern bound- ary of the township and known as "the ridge." because it divides the waters of Duck Creek from the Muskingum, was not generally set- tled until a comparatively recent date.

The first school in Wiseman's Bottom was located on the Muskingum River, on the land then owned by Israel Putnam.

ascertained was Miss Esther Levings. Abigail Poole was in all probability the next. She was followed by Theophilus Cotton. Not long after the erection of the school house on the river it was found that the building was too near the water and liable to be surrounded during a heavy rise in the river. On this account it was deemed advisable to remove the school house farther back on higher ground. . Ve- cordingly this was done, the building being located on Israel Putnam's farm, where, in 1816, through Mr. Putnam's instrumentality, a commodious brick school house was erected. which served the double purpose of school house and church. In this building the people of the neighborhood continued to worship for a number of years. The people were of va- rious denominations, but in those early days they worshiped in common. Rev. Joseph Will- ard, an Episcopal clergyman of talent, is re- membered to have been the first minister who preached in the school house. When the school house was first moved back from the river the teachers were Colonel Stone, Mr. Brown, of New England, a Mr. Allen, and perhaps oth- ers. Whipple Spooner was the first teacher in the brick house.

In early times Rainbow had two neighbor- hood school houses, which, in this modern day, have been consolidated into one. These were what were known as the "upper" and "lower" school houses, the former being located on the Muskingum, not far from Stephen Smith's place, and the latter being on the site of the present school house of the neighborhood, im- mediately in the low of the river.

Nathaniel Dodge is said to have been the first teacher in the "lower" school. The first teacher in the "upper" school was Mr. Wal- bridge.

An interesting document testifying to the Christian fidelity of the carly pioneers in Mus- kingum township is an old subscription paper drawn up in 18to, which appears to be in the handwriting of Col. Joseph Barker. The ob- ject of the subscription was to establish di- vine worship in Rainbow and Wiseman's But- tom. None of those whose names apppear be-

The earliest teacher whose name can be @low are now living. It reads thus :

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Please pay in money or produce to MMr. Thomas Lake, on or before the fifteenth day of December next, for the purpose of introducing the regular preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for inculcating and introducing habits of good order, morality and piety, by holding up to public view examples worthy the imi- tation and practice of the rising generation.

The subscription paper provided for a cash subscription, but there was none made of that kind.

Then comes a list of subscribers :

Adams, April 2. 1810. Produce.

Subscribers' Names.

Joseph Barker $5 00

Jasper Stone 3 00

Joseph Stacy 4 00

Sylvanus Newton 6, 00

Sardine Stone 2 00

Joseph Stacy. Jr.

1 00

Stephen Smith 1 00

Thomas Lake 6 00

John Russell

3 00

Simeon Wright

2 00

Isaac Walbridge I 00

Beniamin F. Stone 3 00

William Stacy, Jr I 00

John Deem 1 00

William Stacy 3 00

Ephraim Mathews, thirty cents for each day's preaching.

Squire Prouty 2 00

Joseph Wood 4 00

Resolved Fuller I 00

Preaching services were regularly held in the several school houses from time to time when a minister could be found.

The only churches in the township are the German Church on "the Ridge" and the Colored M. E. Church on Rainbow Creek. "The Putnam-Rainbow branch" of the First Congregational Church at Marietta holds serv- ices in the Putnam and Rainbow school houses on alternate Sundays.

In 1807 Captain Devol erected a very large frame flouring mill near where the present mill now stands. Its large under-shot wheel is said to have been more than 40 feet in diameter. it being the largest mill-wheel ever seen in the West. In 1866 Major Putnam erected the mill at Devol's Dam, which was considered the best mill on the river.

The community in Wiseman's Bottom was fortunate in having among its members two men of such marked mechanical skill as Col. Jo-

seph Barker and Capt. Jonathan Devol. Both of them were skilled architects, Captain Devol being a shipwright by trade, and Colonel Bark- er a house-builder. About the year 1800, ship- building having become an important indns- try at Marietta and on the Muskingum, these men readily took part in the work for which they were so well adapted by previous educa- tion and natural skill. The dense forests on either side of the river furnished excellent ma- terial for the work. Giant oaks were felled, and under the skillful hands of these men were joined together and moukled into syn- metrical shape. Noting first the work of Colonel Barker, we find that his shipyard was on his farm on the east bank of the Muskin- gumi. In 1802 he constructed two ocean ves- sels. One was a brig, built for Messis. Blen- nerhassett and Woodbridge, and named the "Dominic." after the name of Mr. Blennerhas- sett's oldest son. The other was a schooner called the "Indiana." This last-named vessel, together with the "Louisa," built in 1803, were ter E. W. Tupper of Marietta. During the fall of 1806 he was employed by Harman Blennerhassett to construct 15 large bateaux for the use of the expedition of Aaron Burr to Mexico. The fate of these boats and this in- tended expedition is more fully described else- where in this work.

Captain Devol's ship-building was quite ex- tensive. He also worked along the Muskin- gun upon his farm. In 1801 he built a sloop of 200 tons for B. I. Gihan, a merchant of Marietta. The vessel was wholly constructed of black walnut, and was named after the riv- er by whose side it was built. In 1802 he built two brigs of 200 tons each, the "Eliza Greene" and the "Ohio." In 1804 the schoon- er "Nonpareil" was built. The passage of the "Embargo Act." in 1807, suspended all fur- ther operations on this line.

THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME.

Is beautifully situated near the Muskingum River in Muskingum township. The Home is situated on the east bank of the Muskingum River, about one mile north of the corporation

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line of the city of Marietta. It is the first Home in the State established under the act of the Legislature passed March 20, 1866, the act itself being a response to petitions from this county.

The farm contains about 100 acres favor- ably located, and from the buildings and grounds is presented a beautiful and picturesque view of the Muskingum Valley.

The object, as carried out, has been to af- ford an asylum to indigent children of the county under the age of 16 years, until suita- ble homes can be provided for them with kind- ly disposed persons, and all reasonable efforts are made for their improvement in industrious habits and morals while they remain in the Honte. Children from other counties may also be admitted on terms approved by the trustees.

At the June session of 1866, following the passage of the act authorizing Children's Homes, the Board of County Commissioners --- Messrs. J. J. Hollister, Dr. James Little and George Benedict -- initiated proceedings for the selection of suitable premises for the per- manent location of the Home which resulted in the selection of the present site and a con- tract was made for its purchase. . At the same session Col. W. R. Putnam, W. S. Ward and F. A. Wheeler, Elsqs., were appointed the first Board of Trustees. Prior to this time, Miss Catherine A. Fay had about 30 children at her "Home" in Lawrence township under an arrangement made with her by the directors of the County Infirmary, who were ready to be transferred to the new Home as soon as the buildings could be made ready for occupation, which occurred April 1, 1867.

The first matron, with many of the respon- sibilities of superintendent, was Mrs. .. G. Brown, who discharged her duties successfully one year.

Mrs. Brown was succeeded by Rev. Ira M. Preston and wife, who resigned at the close of their year, and were followed by Dr. S. D. Hart and wife, who were continued superin- tendent and matron from April 1, 1869, until the lantented death of Mrs. Hart, August 27, 1884. Immediately afterward Dr. Hart was asked to continue as superintendent, and Miss

E. A. Nixon, who had been teacher since 1870, was promoted to be matron, a place her long experience in the Home greatly aided her to fill to the entire satisfaction of the trustees. Dr. Hart was succeeded by S. L. Grosvenor, and he in turn by J. N. Bell. After the death of Mr. Bell, Principal J. L. Jordan of the Har- mar public schools, was elected superintendent and is still in charge. Mrs. Jordan is ma- tron. In the present Board of Trustees are S. J. Hathaway, president ; L. W. Ellenwood, W. F. Robertson, and W. A. Sniffen. Mr. Hathaway is the senior member in years of service. About 1889 the system of assigning children to homes was revolutionized. Since that time instead of waiting for people to come and select children, homes have been sought through the aid of the Cincinnati Children's Home, a private institution under strong Christian influence. The Cincinnati institution employs an agent and visitors to seek homes for children. He follows up the children thus placed, visits them at least once a year until they are 21, and reports to the trustees of the Home in Washington County. The result has been, that while the number passing through the Home every year has increased, he number of inmates at any one time has been much smaller. The County Children's Home is made a stopping place until another home can be found in a good family.

The first building used as a Home was a large two story brick, originally constructed by Prof. Samuel Maxwell as an advanced school for boys, the cost of the farm and buildings being at the time $18,000. Subsequent addi- tions and buildings have been made so that the value of the premises now is estimated at $30,- 000. One large building of three stories has been erected, the first floor being used as a school room, and the second and third as a dormitory for the boys. A view of the Home is presented on a preceding page, in connection with a more extended notice of the origin of the Ilome.

NEWPORT TOWNSHIP. 1

In 1798 all territory lying east of the west-

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

ern boundary of the seventh range was erected into Newport township. From this great terri- tory Grandview was established in 1802, Law- rence in 1815, Ludlow in 1819, Liberty in 1832, and Independence in 1840. This, the carly history of Newport, is the early history of several townships already sketched. espe- cially of Independence.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

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