History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 76

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 76

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There comes another -- I wish 1 dare men- tion his name-a man of no pretensions, a mechanic of great merit, who, by his sober, toilsome life, set an example which I am glad to know is followed by his sons who live after him, whose homes, as well as his, indicate thrift and enterprise. I will speak of one other: much do I wish that he had continued to live butt Death took him in the prime of life, in the midst of his usefulness. For over 20 years he had been a resident among us, and during the last 15 years of his life had paid out from $20,000 to $50,000 each year to the working men of the country, in con- ducting his business.

Were it not that a newspaper article minst have its limits, the deeds and worth of others of our citizens, who have passed from life to death in the last few years, very properly could be spoken of. These men, and such as those described in the above article, controlled Marietta and its destinies, for at least its first 50 years, furnishing much of the means to the building of roads and bridges, school houses and churches, throughout the then sparsely settled country, beside the building in their own midst the Court House. Academy, a church to accommodate all the people (a building which still stands, a monument of the

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liberality and religious purposes of the early residents here ). They lent pecuniary aid to those who cleared the ground, and fitted it for cultivation; they built rope-walks, and fac- tories, and ships to navigate the ocean. Their enterprise was not bounded by the limits of State lines, but as far East as the Blue Ridge of the Alleghanies, and West as the Rockies, they pursued the purchase of peltries which were brought here, packed and shipped to for- eign countries.

Neither were the women of that day idle. for we find that in the year 1808 there were possessed and used, in Washington County alone, over 1,000 spinning-wheels. The early women not only spun the early flax. and tow, and wool, but wove and made nearly all the garments worn by the men, women, and chil- dren of that day. Nor did they lack in enter- prise, and the ability to accumulate. The writer has in mind the doings of one woman who, in 1789, landed here with her family from a canoe, in which she and they had navi- gated the Ohio. Soon engaging in business. she aided her husband in paying the debts which he had left behind. She lived and pros- pered until the year 1817, when, as the records of the Court House will show, she distributed among her children property worth $17.000.

DEFENSE OF TIIE PIONEERS AND THEIR SUC- CESSORS.

(Second Article.)

The array of testimony to controvert the statements of McMaster made upon the au- thority of his one-hour visitor, is so volumin- ous, and of so high a character, we are at much loss to know which to select : but in order to complete our work, we are compelled to leave unused much material of this character and be content with but a few of these tes- timonials.

George Washington wrote from Abouunt Vernon, on the 19th of June, 1788, to Rich- ard Henderson, an inquirer in regard to West- ern lands, the following enlegium of the Ohio Company's settlement : "No colony in Amer-

ica was ever settled under such favorable aus- pices as that which has just commenced at the mouth of the Muskingum. Information, property strength will be its characteristics. I know many of the settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to pro- mote the welfare of such a community. If 1 was a young man, just preparing to begin the world, or, if in advanced life and had a family to make a provision for, I know of no country where I should rather fix my habita- tion than in some part of the region for which the writer of the queries seems to have a pre- (leliction."

In speaking of Marietta, in 1795, Robert Schultz, an extensive traveler and intelligent man, said, "Her inhabitants are sober, honest. religious, and industrious, while dissipation and irrational amusements are not known in her friendly circle."

Williams, the historian, says: "Morally, Marietta was, for a pioneer settlement, far in advance of any other in the West. The peo- ple of Marietta, as a rule, were New England- ers, and fully abreast with the New England- ers' sentiment of the times."

Pages of your paper might be filled with testimonials such as these but forbearance sometimes is a virtue. For the first fifty years of its existence, Marietta had to contend with many adverse circumstances. The Indian war continuing almost five years, the many trials to which the inhabitants were subjected, several years of marked. malignant sickness, and other canses too numerous to mention in an article such as this, much retarded the onward march of improvement, and increased population. During many of those years the men of the town were drawn upon heavily to aid improve- ments; roads had to be made, bridges built. school houses and churches erected, and in ad- dition to all this the settlers upon farm lands had to be aided. During all those years from $30,000 to $50,000 of credit annually extended by the business men of Marietta to the culti- vators of the soil. Your readers may ask how was this? In these days of "pay as you go" it may seem almost incredible to be believedl that nearly all the business of the country, in

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early times, was transacted by barter or on credit. Almost the first act of the early settler after he had selected a piece of land on which to dwell, upon which he had made a small payment, was to arrange for a credit with the merchants. The laborer who had helped to clear his land, build his fences, erect his log cabin in which to dwell, was to be paid in whole or in part in store goods. Perhaps it here should be said, that the early merchant kept in their early store-houses almost every- thing. They sold fish-hooks, pen-knives, bar- iron, iron kettles, bake-ovens, shovels and tongs, and-irons, plows, gun-flints, powder. shot and lead, salts, British oil, wool hats, country-made shoes, ax-handles, hoes, hatchets. hammers, saws, whip-saws, boat-cables, grocer- ies of every kind, drugs, medicines, meats of all descriptions, butter, eggs, and lard, as well as every variety of dry-goods.

Thus, it may be seen, that with a store order could be obtained all the necessities of life. Accounts thus contracted, sometimes small, faut more generally large, were for the most part closed at the end of the year. The debtor received credit for the bear, wolf, or (leer skins which he may have delivered, and the ginseng, snakeroot, hay, country linen or jeans, which the family may have supplied the merchant with. Notes given for balances, thus contracted, at times might remain on file for years. Don't suppose for a moment that transactions of this kind were only of advant- age to the debtor ; on the contrary, the creditor was becoming more and more independent each year as the records of the Marietta merchants will show. their Eastern creditors, not losing a dollar in the first 50 years of the settlement. I must here be allowed to say that in these latter years the tables have been turned ; farm- ers being the money-lenders, the business men advantaged thereby.

The sale of a large tract of land to the Ohio Company of Associates naturally followed. The veterans of the Revolution were anxious- ly waiting an opportunity to take possession "of the promised bounty land. When Gen. Rufus Putnam, with the first New England emigrants to Ohio, landed at the mouth of the Muskingum River, he carried in his pocket a commission from the national government "to establish an University" in this wilderness. The contract between the Associates and the goverment contained a clause reserving two townships of land as an endowment for an institution of that sort. If Harvard is justi- fied as fixing as its birth-year the date wlien it received John Harvard's library, Chio Uni- versity can claim 1787 as its natal year.

Little progress was made in the enterprise until after the Indian war, but as early as 1795 the townships of Athens and Alexander. Ath- ens County, had been named the university townships. General Putnam remained the man in authority among the colonists. As surveyor- general, he usually led all reconnoitering ex- peditions.

The Ohio University was the first insti- tution of its kind in the Northwest, but it long maintained supremacy over the colleges founded at a later date. For the first 30 years in its history, a large majority of its trustees were Marietta men, notably: Judge Elijah Backus, Gen. Rufus Putnam, Judge Dudley Woodbridge, Rev. Daniel Story. Dr. S. P. Hil- dreth, Joseph Duell, Gov. R. J. Meigs, and Ben- jamin lves Gilman. General Putnam was well known as the champion of the institution, and with others above named contributed time and money to the furthering of the cause of the institution. It may with truth be said that this institution was cared for and fostered by Marietta men. Here was educated Thomas Ewing, one among America's greatest states- men. John Brough was for a time a student at this university: afterward an orator of great power and Governor of the State of Ohio, Rev. Joseph M. Trimble received his degree as B. A. in this institution, became financial

But I must hasten on and briefly speak of the educational history of this region of coun- try, in which the citizens of this town bore a leading as well as a prominent part. The cele- brated ordinance of 1787 paved the way for the colonization of the Northwest Territory. . secretary and collector of furds of Delaware

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College, which institution now numbers 1,200 students. Edmund Sehon, one of the most elo- quent of pulpit oraters, was of the graduat- ing class of 1827. He soon took hold of Augusta College, "which under his individual management soon arose from the ashes to bless the world. His eloquence gave him access to the pulpits of all denominations, Here also was educated Bishop Edward R. Ames, the oft-called-in advisor and confidential friend of the lamented Lincoln. This institution gave training to some of the best pulpit orators. Richmond, Virginia, ever felt proud of the lamented Hogne. Pittsburg, Columbus, Cin- cinnati. Louisville. Nashville, as also many other cities were b'est with the intellectual services of the graduates of this institution. Today. at the head of the Ohio State Univer- sity, is one who claims that institution as his alma mater. I might go on enumerating college presidents, professors and distin- guished divines who, under instructions re- ceived, went forth to bless the world, and add an armament to this institution, but I forbear.

Next we come to our own academy. estab- lished in 1800, employing the most competent teachers from the beginning. The oft-repeated history of Marietta College I do not propose to enlarge upon, but I do propose to speak of the liberality of two men whose acts in con- nection with this institution should be held in lasting remembrance. I refer to the oft- repeated munificent gifts of Douglas Putnam. Esq., and of Col. John Mills. I can in no way find out the exact sums thus contributed by each, but this I know full well,-but for the lileral gifts of these gentlemen, the success of the institution would not have been assured. The sums contributed by these parties I have unsuccessfully attempted to ascertain. When approached upon the subject Mr. Putnam, who was probably the largest contributor, courteous- ly evaded an answer, but I think it may safely be said that his contributions for this laudable purpose exceeded $50.000. As truthfully may it be said that the contributions of Colonel Mills exceeded the carnings of twenty of the most prosperous years of his successful

business life. The priceless value of this institution has recently been greatly enhanced by the liberal and large acts of its Board of Trustees, by including within their domain an institution in which to educate the daugh- ters of the land.

DEFENSE OF THE PIONEERS AND THEIR SUC- CESSORS.

(Third Article. )

In continuation of the remarks on echica- tion as found in the last article, should be added a brief history of the common schools of the town, which first were confined to three rooms and as many teachers : the rooms now occupied for the purpose numbering 21. with 23 teachers.

In looking back, it occurs to the writer that the attacks of McMaster and others have been fully met, and without going into a de- tailed history, will enumerate some of the evi- dences of enterprise, ability and resolve, which occur to me as I write, without paying special attention to chronology.

The first settlers here were chiefly of New England origin. They knew what slavery was, as its blighting effects had been seen by them in their own midst, and the severance of fami- lies which certainly followed its diffusion was not unknown to them. Most of them had been soldiers for freedom from a foreign yoke, and to this new world they came to enjoy the lang- est freedom. The sixth article of the ordi- nance of 1787 was their "Day Star." and its recognition they had resolved upon. In sup- port of this inalienable right, they had deter- mined to fight for every inch of grown 1. every biade of grass, and if need be that the last mi- trenchment of constitutional liberty should be their graves. No other resolves had a higher Heal in their hearts than that the largest liber- ty should be the birthright of every dweller. Manifestly was their purpose developed when called on to elect delegates for the fortifications of the first State Constitution. Those who were chosen to represent this population. strongly backed by others of like opinions,

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placed in that first declaration of sentiment , and home funds were exhausted, and the most those words which I pray God may ever gov- ern our population, the substance of which was that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should ever be known to our people.

The boldness and firmness of our little band impressed all and soon a barrier like the Rock of Gibraltar extended along the- border, say- ing to slavery, "Thus far shalt thon come, but no farther.'

A most interesting history of this whole subject might be written, but this is not the place for it: suffice it to say, the laws of our fathers never enslaved one human being.

I mny here add, what I believe to be true, that the firm anti-slavery stand taken by the handful of pioneers, shaped the destiny of the nation.

Churches of all denominations and creeds soon abounded, and every man had the right to worship under his own "vine and fig tree." with none to make him afraid.

Did it show lack of enterprise, when in the early years of the settlements, a road was surveyed and cut through the forests to the seaboard, and at a subsequent date, before there was a mile of railroad in the States, to raise the money for and complete the survey of a route from the mouth of the Muskingum across the Allegheny Mountains? ( See papers in the hands of Edward M. Booth, Esq .. Citi- zens National Bank. )

In later years go to the regions of North- ern Michigan, and find there conducting the exploration of the copper mines, bringing to its stockholders untold wealth, a Marietta man.

Go to the Pacific Coast, and find there a graduate of our shipyards, having laid down his adze here, the widely-known and able con- (litctor of the then largest steam navigation company in California. This is Capt. James Whitney, a Marietta man.

A recent map of our city and surroundings speaks of six railroads centering here. Who projected, who built them?

After the projection and partial comple- tion of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad,

hopeful of its friends almost hopeless, we see in the city of Berlin a man who in full con- fidence of the value of the bonds which he proposes to sell, satisfying the money lenders of Europe of the value of the offered security, bringing back to this country millions of dol- lars, which enabled the directors to tunnel the hills and trestle the gaps, and lay the rails, and thus complete an enterprise, which has given us connection with the outer world. This man was no other than Noah L. Wilson, who spent most of his days in the midst of us.

General Warner, it is admitted on all hands. I believe, gave us the Cleveland & Ma- rietta Railroad, the value of which to our city and county cannot be estimated. This rail- road supplanted to a great degree another en- terprise, which has not by any means lost its value to the country through which it passes, and the business prosperity of our city. This road was projected and built, and called the Marietta & Duck Creek Plank Road. John O. Cram, one of the live men of Marietta, was the father of this enterprise.

. Today we find ourselves connected with the North and West by the Toledo & Ohio Central Extension, an enterprise bringing de- servedly much credit to our fellow citizen, T. D. Dale, for its construction and completion. It is said that this road brings more trade to Marietta than any other.

An end I must reach, fully convinced that a volume could be written filled with the nar- ration of commendable acts of those who lived before us. I shall necessarily pass over much of the history of the past.

The building and conduction of our man- ufacturing establishments, notably the chair factory, which, in the past, as I am creditably informed, fed and clothed, and gave good homes to 1,500 souls. Grafton, Mills and Stanley should write this history.

William, L. Rolston, Esq., better than any one I know, can give a history of other years ; the tannery, where hundreds of thousands of dollars were probably used and many hands

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Employed. He also can tell you, better than anyone living, of the woolen factory, where much real capital was lost in an attempt to build up the manufacturing interests of Mari- etta.

In this connection, allow me to say that A. T. Nye should write up the history of iron manufacturing in this region. I know of no one so competent to do it.

Wonder not that I have come to the front

in speaking of the deeds of those who have lived and who are no more.

In my boyhood days I used to look with veneration upon the faces and forms of those who planted our institutions here; their names were household words, their deeds were re- corded in memory; their children were my playmates and schoolmates and after compan- ions. 1 feel exultant to have had such a com- panionship.

CHAPTER XXIV.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF MARIETTA IN THE PAST TWO DECADES.

COMMERCIAL GROWTH PRIOR TO ISSO-THE AWAKENING-ANNEXATION OF HARMAR-WATER WORKS-PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT -- ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT-STREET PAVING AND SANITARY SEWERS-ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY-TELEPHONE COMPANIES-RAILROADS -NATURAL GAS-INCREASED ACTIVITY IN THE OIL INDUSTRY-BUILDING OPERA- TIONS ENLIVENED-GROWTH IN THE CITY'S BUSINESS -- SUBURBS -- NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS-BRIDGE ACROSS THE OHIO -- NEW PROJECTS-IMPROVEMENT OF THE OHIO-TAX LEVIES AND VALUATIONS IN MARIETTA FOR THE PAST DECADE-ROSTER OF CITY OFFICIALS.

COMMERCIAL GROWTII PRIOR TO 1880.

Prior to 1880 the commercial growth and industrial development of Marietta, while maintaining a gradual and unbroken rate of progress during the century which the city was even then rounding out, had yet been along such conservative and undemonstrative lines that the strenuous business world was prone to accord her a much less important place than she in reality occupied. The historical signifi- cance of the founding of the settlement by the sturdy empire-builders from New England, the enduring works of a prehistoric and little- understood race which had obligingly rendered itself extinct so as to offer no impediment to the onward rush of civilization, the high mor- al and intellectual plane of the people who had come after them, with the best of schools and churches and colleges-the fame of these had gone abroad and given to Marietta a peculiar and not unpleasant niche in the mind of the outside world.

As an industrial center, however, the city had fallen short of others which had had a

later and less favorable start, although it al- ready contained many valuable and prosperous manufactories to supply the bone and sinew of business activity. The mistaken impression that Marietta was a city of no commercial importance was most largely due, probably, to the erroneous idea, all too prevalent about that time, that only "boom" towns, the mushroom communities which were springing up in a night throughout all the West, and toppling to disaster almost as speedily, were to be placed in the catalogue which as a whole con- stituted the popular idea of American progress. The error soon became apparent, however, and the solid, substantial, conservative work of pre- ceding generations of careful and thrifty busi- ness men was seen to be the only safe and sure foundation upon which to build an edifice of progress that would endure. It was then that Marietta forged to the front with accelerated pace and assumed her proper place in indus- trial circles.

THE AWAKENING.

The people of the city are pleased to enter-

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tain the sentiment that, like a "Sleeping Beau- ty," after a century of repose, gathering strength and vitality for the future, she awoke suddenly in the full prime of her existence, garbed by nature in a thousand beauties, strong, calm, and confident of her destiny.

Neither is this figurative illustration un- mixed with fact. Undoubtedly the most im- portant incident of the decade from 1880 to 1890 was the celebration of the city's centen- nial anniversary in the year 1888. On April 7th. of that year, exercises were held commem- orating the settlement of the Northwest Terri- tory, at which addresses of world-wide inter- est were delivered by numerous orators of na- tional reputation. Again, on July 15th to 19th of the same year, was held a second celebra- tion commemorative of the establishment of civil government. Numbers of the country's most famous men were present on this date, also, and for a week Marietta was crowded with thousands of distinguished visitors from every section. It was upon this occasion that the city awoke to her own importance, and here that the outside world first gained a true im- pression of her beauty, her commercial capa- bilities, her great natural advantages and her certain prospect for a noteworthy future.

In 1880 the population of Marietta proper was 5,444, and of Harmar, the neighboring village on the western bank of the Muskingum, 1,571,-a total for the two municipalities, which have since become one, of 7.015. The early "eighties" were not distinguished by any unusual features of growth, the city hav- ing in fact been severely handicapped by two disastrous floods in 1883 and 1884. On Feb- ruary 9th of the latter year the water reached a stage of 52 feet six inches, the highest ever known. Following the centennial celebration, a very perceptible growth of population and increased activity in business circles was noted, and thus we find the commercial awakening of the city practically coincident with the close of the first 100 years of existence and the start upon a new century.

ANNEXATION OF HARMAR.

On May 14, 1890, the annexation of the village of Harmar was accomplished after a period of enthusiastic agitation on the part of the citizens of both towns, and since that time the portion annexed has been designated West Marietta, constituting two of the six wards of the city.

WATER WORKS.

The first of the more important steps to- ward modern municipal improvement was taken in 1801, when the system of public water works was put in operation on September Ist. This improvement came primarily as a result of a universal demand for better fire protec- tion, following a number of costly conflagra- tions which threatened the entire business dis- trict. The great utility of the system for sup- plying water to private consumers was at once recognized, and the plant was improved to meet the demands made upon it by the gen- eral public. New and larger pumps and ma- chinery have been added, many miles of addi- tional mains laid and the service extended un- til it covers practically every portion of the city and its flourishing suburbs. In 1902 the demand has so increased that improvements are under way which contemplate the erection of large settling reservoirs to provide purer water and a great increase in the supply. The money is appropriated for these extensions which will be made during the next year.

PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Following the water works came the paid fire department, which on December 1, 1894. supplanted the old volunteer department that had been in existence for 40 years. Two splen- didly organized and completely equipped de- partments, one on the east side, and the other on the west side of the Muskingum River, now give the city almost perfect protection against the destroying element.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 76

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