USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > The Book of Marietta : being a condensed, accurate and reliable record of the important events in the history of the city of Marietta, in the State of Ohio, from the time of its earliest settlement on April 7th, 1788, to the present > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
25
1
The Ohio Land Company's Office
POINTS OF INTEREST.
The Ohio Land Company's Office. This building, which stands on the south side of Washington street, between Front and Second streets, is the oldest building in Marietta and probably in Ohio. It was built in the summer of 1788 for use of the Ohio Land Co.'s surveyors and originally occupied a site on the plain near the corner of Washington and Third streets. In 1:90 General Putnam moved it to its present location in order that it might be under the protection of The "Stockade." The building was used in these early days by the Ohio Land Co.'s surveyors and by General Putnam as sur- veyor General of the United States, until 1803. when he was succeeded by Mr. Jared Mans- field. It was afterwards, for many years, the law office of Judge Arius Nye, who purchased It is now it with the other Putnam property.
the property of the Colonial Dames as a relic room, who have placed thereon a bronze tablet with this inscription: "Land Office of the Ohio Company, 1786-1787-1788. Purchased and res- tored in 1896 by the National Society of Col- onial Dames of America in the State of Ohio."
- The Rufus Putnam House. The house now stand- - ing near the northwest . corner of Washington and Second streets, was one of the Campus Martius houses, built in the summer and fall of 1788. It was built as a residence for Gen. Rufus Putnam, facing on Washington street and next adjoining the Southeast corner block house. After the Indian War, about the 1800 he enlarged and improved the residence to its present dimensions. Later he tore down the block house, using a portion of it to build a wing kitchen on the Second street side of his home. It was to this house he brought his family in 1790, and it was there he resided un. til his death in May, 1824. During his life in Marietta, General Putnam had no other resi- dence, except in the early summer of 1788, when he was domiciled in his Marquee, or tent, at "The Point." ("The Point" was the lower end of town, where the first landing of the pioneers was made. ) In 1826 Mr. Arius Nye (afterward Judge Arius Nye), moved with his family into the house, and in 1831 he pur. chased the property of the heirs of Rufus Put namn. It was his residence until his death.
July 1865. In 1847 Judge Nye removed the wing kitchen, which had been constructed of portions of the block house, and with its remov- al every vestige of the old block houses disap- peared. The other block houses and all the Campus Martius buildings hund long before been removed. The General Rufus Putnam House
26
was never a block house. It is now the Chap
ter House of the Daughters of the Revolution.
Campus Martius House. On the east side of Fifth
street, below Washington (known as No. 524 Fifth street) stands a house which was built in Campus Martius in 1788, and was in time removed to its present location. It is now
the property of Mrs. Millie Berry. This house stood on the St. Clair front of Campus Martius and was the property of Mr. Charles Greene, an early merchant of Marietta, who lived in it before and after the Indian war of 1791-5. At one time after the war it was oc. cupied by Herman and Mrs. Blennerhassett. This was during the winter of 1797-8.
The Relic Room-Located in the old Marietta Li- brary Building at No. 306 Front street, oppos ite City Park. Established by the Woman's Centennial Association shortly after the Centen nial Celebration in 1888. . Herein will be found a most interesting and valuable collection of historical relics of pioneer days. The Cus-
todian of the Relic Room is Miss Ella Chap- man. Any one may visit the Relic Room, on almost any week day, by applying to the cus- todian who dwells in the same building. A fee of ten cents, however, is charged to visitors.
Home of Governor Return Jonathan Meigs -- Built ini 1802. Located at No. 812- Putnam' street. Now the residence of Judge M. D. Follett. Soldiers Monument-Located in City Park. Erect -
ed to the memory of the brave soldiers of Washington County who lost their lives in the War against the Rebellion, by Washington County Soldiers Monument Association, May 31st, 1875. Dedicated September 17, 1875. The monument bears the names: "Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Shiloh, Corinthi, Antietam,' while upon a tablet is also inscribed the follow. lowing: "Erected in memory of the soldiers of Washington County, Ohio, who lost their lives in the United States service in the war for the suppression of the rebellion of 1861. Wash ington County was represented in the following and many other organizations : Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth, Sixty-third, Seventy-third, Eighty- seventh, Ninety-second, and One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry; First, Seventh and Ninth Ohio and Second West Virginia Cavalry, and First Ohio and First. West Virginia Light Artillery. Names of the fallen may be seen at the Recorder's office."
First Memorial Stone-Located on north side of Washington street, between Front and Second streets. Erected by the New Century His. torical Society, January 9th, 1891, and bearing
28 3267 2Du Plex
The Rufus Putnam House
-
this inscription: "S. W. Corner Campus Mar- tius, the "Stockade" occupied by the first Gov- ernor of the Northwest Territory and by Pion- eers of Ohio during the Indian War -- 1791-95."
Second Memorial Stone-Located in school ground in Harmar on the West Side. Erected by the New Centmy Historical Society, April 7th, 1892. Inscribed thereon is the following : "Site of the United States Fort Harmar, built 1785, ganisoned by U. S. Troops 1785-1790. Headquarters 1786-1788 of Gen. Josiah Harmar of Pa., Genl. in Chief of the U. S. Army."
Third Memorial Stone-Located in City Park, cor.
Front and Putnam streets. Erected by the New Century Historical Society, July 15th, 1892. This is a bronze tablet set in granite. bearing the inscription: "Near this spot, July 15th, 1788, General Arthur St. Clair, of the Revolutionary Army, and President of Con- gress, 1787, was inaugurated First Governor of the Territory of the United States North- west of the River Ohio. On this ground stood Centennial Hall of the celebration July 15, 1888."
Fourth Memorial Stone -- Located at foot of Monroe street, on eastern bank of Muskingum river. Erected by the New Century Historical Society, April 7th, 1893. This stone has inscribed thereon the names of the first pioneers, besides the following: "To Record the Names of the Forty-eight Pioneers, who landed near this spot April 7th, 1788." Following are the names : "Riverside-Rufus Putnam, Ebenezer Sproat, Return J. Meigs, Anselm Tupper, John Mathews, Peregrine Foster, Joseph Lincoln, Earl Sproat, Joseph Wells, Jabez Barlow, Phineas Coburn, Samuel Felshaw, Theophilus Learned, Israel Danton, Josiah White, Daniel Bushnell. Left Side-Jonathan Devol, Josiah Monroe, William Gray, Daniel Davis, William Mason, William Moulton, Edmond Moulton, Gilbert Devol, Jr., Allen Devol, Ebenezer Corey, Hezekiah Flint, Hezekiah Flint, Jr., Josiah Whitridge, Elizur Kirtland, William Miller, Benjamin Griswold Right Side-Haffield White, Jethro Putnam, Ezekial Cooper, Amos Porter, Allen Putnam. Jervis , Cutler, Benjamin Shaw, Oliver Dodge Henry Maxon, Peletialı White, Jonas Davis, John Gardner, Samuel Cushing, David Wallis, Simeon Martin, Isaac Dodge.
Fifth Memorial Stone-Located at foot of Washing- ton street, erected by the New Century His- torical Society, July 15th, 1895, and having inscribed thereon the following: "To record the names and commemorate the landing of the Pioneer Families of the Ohio Company, Aug.
i
.
The Soldiers' Monument
30
19, 1788. Their homes were established in
Campus Martius." Also the names: "Benja- min 'Tupper, Huldah Tupper; Nathaniel Cush. ing, Elizabeth Cushing; Nathan Goodale, Eliza- beth Goodale; Asa Coburn, *++++Coburn; Iea- bod Nye, Minerva Nye; Andrew Webster. Al. so their children."
*The name Mary should appear where dash is, before the second name of Coburn. Through an error when the inscription was cut in the stone the name "Rhoda" is given but this has . been ordered effaced.
Sixth Memorial Stone .- Located in Bellevue Park, at corner Front and Greene streets. Erected by The Woman's Centennial Association in 1903 to permanently mark the Southern boundary of the "Picketed Point," bearing the inscrip- tion: "This stone is placed to keep in remem- brance the historic Point where dwelt during 4 years of Indian War, 1791-1795, early settlers of Ohio."
Memorial Tablet and Banner-In Washington Coun ty Court House at Marietta, designed for an,1 placed in the Ohio Building at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, by The Woman's Colum. bian Association. This Tablet was designed by a Marietta artist, Charles Ward Rhodes, who presented it to the Associaton. It is now in - the permanent keeping of the Commissioners of Washington County. Inscribed as follows: "Marietta, Ohio, The Portal of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, July 13, 1787. . Passage of the United States Congress of the Ordinance of 1787. Erecting the Territory with an Organic Law Based upon Religion, Morality and Knowledge, the Equal Rights of Men, the Exclusion Forever of Slav- ery and the Abrogation of Primogeniture as lim- iting the Descent of Property. Events at Ma- rietta, Ohio, 1788, April 7th. Landing and Permanent Settlement of the Forty-eight Pion- eers of the Ohio Company. July 15, Inaugur ation of the First Territoral Governor under the Ordinance, followed the same year by the En- actment of the First Territorial Laws and the Opening of First Court of Justice. August 19, the First Arrival of Families. From these be- ginnings arose Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin."
The Bronze Tablet on the College Campus .- This tablet was presented to the city of Marietta, and Marietta college, by the Ohio Company of As- sociates, of New York City. The site selected was the Campus of Marietta College, which is the custodian of the original records and cor- respondence of General Rufus Putnam and the Ohio Company. The tablet is a beautiful work
32
of art and occupies a place directly in front of the magnificent new library building. The week of the unveiling marks a period in the history of the city that will long be remember. ed. The unveiling of the tablet and its ac- ceptance by Mayor Charles F. Leeper on be- half of the city of Marietta, and President Al- fred T. Perry, on behalf of Marietta College, occurred on Thursday, October 18th, 1906. Homer Lee, Esq., vice president of the Ohio Company of Associates, made the formal pres. entation speech. Immediately following, Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, daughter of the President
Theodore of the United States, Honorable Roosevelt, lifted the flag from the face of the tablet, the act being greeted by the cheers of the thousands which had assembled to witness the ceremonies. Addresses were made by Honorable Charles W. Fairbanks, Vice Presi- dent of the United States; Hon. Andrew L Harris, Governor of Ohio; Honorable Charles S Dana, of Marietta; Professor Albert Bushnell Hart, of Harvard University. Following is the inscription on the tablet :
"This tablet commemorates the first perma- nent settlement in the Territory Northwest of the Ohio, consecrated to Freedom by the Or- dinance of 1787, and the first organization of its free institutions. Manasseh Cutler, rep- resenting soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, organized as "The Ohio Company of Associ- ates," purchased from the Board of Treasury of the United States on authority granted by the Continental Congress, July 27th, 1787, a million and a half acres of these waste and vacant lands. The first body of settlers, for- ty-eight in number, headed by General Rufus Putnam, landed at the mouth of the Musking- um on April 7th, 1788. General Arthur St. Clair, first Governor, reached Fort Harmar on July 9th, 1788, and upon his official entry into Marietta on July 15th, civil government in the Territory was established."
Marietta Island. This island, sometimes known as Kerr's island, located in the Ohio river, its southern end lying about opposite the foot of Second street and stretching up the river fo. about three and a half miles, is the scene of many happy and joyous gatherings during the summer months, when excursions and pieniey are common occurrences at "The Head." The island was originally owned by the Columbia N. Bland estate. In 1897 the employes of the Eureka and Buckeye Pipe Line Companies leas. ed about eight acres at the head of the island and erected a fine dancing pavilion, bowling al. ley, and other buildings, converting the place
33
1961903
-
into an ideal picnic grounds. In 1903 Capt. E. W. Webster, of the Str. Sonoma, purchased the lease for the grounds, which have become known as Buckeye-Eureka Park.
Blennerhassett Island. This historic island home of the Blennerhassetts is situated in the Ohio riv. er, about 14 miles below Marietta, opposite Belpre. Many stories s of the romantic and melancholy career of Herman Blennerhassett have been published. While born in 1767 in Hampshire, England, he was the son of one of the best families of Ireland, and resided almost all his nfe before coming to America at Castle Conway, the family home in County Kerry, Ire- land. He married Miss Margaret Agnew, a Beautiful and accomplished English rady, the daughter of the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle
of Man. He came to this country in 1797 and
that same year reached Marietta. In March. 1798, he purchased the upper end of the island and lived in a block house thereon for two years while the famous Blennerhassett mansion was being built. This was completed in 1800. It was here that Aaron Burr visited Blennerhassett in 1806, which visit as history tells us eventually caused the rain of the Blen- nerhassett family and fortune and the breaking
up of the happy island home. Herman Blen- nerhassett afterwards died at the age of 63, on Feb. 1st, 1831, at Port Pierre, on the Island of Guernsey, in the English channel, off the coast of France, where he had gone owing to the ill health of his wife. Mrs. Blennerhassett after- wards returned to the United States and died in poverty in an humble abode in New York City about 1842-3.
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES
The first historical society ever organized in Ma rietta had for its officers: Ephriam Cutler, presi dent; Arius Nye, vice-president; Caleb Emerson, corresponding secretary ; Arius S. Nye, recording secretary ; William R. Putnam, John Mills, A. T. Nye, curators. It was named the "Marietta His. torical Association" and was organized on Novem ber 24, 1842. As far as known no other meeting after that at which the organization was perfected, was ever held.
The Pioneer Association of Washington County --- This society was organized as the result of @ call issued by William Pitt Putnam, A. T. Nye and William R. Putnam, on Nov. 19, 1869. The organization was perfected carly in the fol lowing year, (1870), with the following of. ficers : Wiliam R. Putnam, prest .; E. S. McIn- tosh. vice-prest .; Samuel Shipman, Treasurer ;
34
John M. Woodbridge, recording secretary ; A. T. Nye, corresponding secretary; August.s Stone, Sumner Oakes, George W. Barker, Henry
Fearing ard William Pitt Putnam, executi e committee. The object of the society was the col- lection and preservation of narratives of per- sons and events connected with the early his- tory of Washington County and the state. The Society is still alive and usually celebrates the anniversary of the first arrival of families on April 7th, and August 19th, by holding a pub- lic meeting. The present officers are: R. L. Curtis, president; Jas. S. Devol, vice president : Winfield S. Hancock, secretary and treasurer: Chas. HI. Newton, corresponding secretary The executive committee is composed of the of ficers and the following gentlemen: Col. T. W. Moore, W. D. Devol, Captain J. Gage Barker and Captain C. H. Miller.
The Woman's Centennial Association of Washington County, Ohio-Organized November 20, 1886, for the purpose of preparing for and promot- ing the Centennial Celebration held at Mariet- ta on April 7th, 1888. The total amount of money Taised by the society for this celebra- tion was $2,935.07. The original officers were: Mrs. M. N. Buell, prest .; Mrs. Geo. Irish, vice-prest .; Mrs. J. B. West, treasurer; Mrs. Thomas Hancock, Sec'y .; Miss Mary C. Nye, cor. sec'y. The society has since been reorganized and given the name "The Woman's Centennial Association of Marietta." The pres- ent officers are: Mrs. S. S. Potter, prest .; Mrs. Mary Ogle, vice-prest .; Mrs. G. N. Hunter, of Williamstown, W. Va., secretary ; Miss Alice Ho - gan treasurer. In continuance of its histori- cal work this society under the direction of a committee of its membership of which Mrs. Sarah Nye Lovell was chairman, established the Relic Room on Front street. It also erected the memorial stone making the southern bonn- dary of the "Picketed Point."
The New Century Historical Society .- This Society was organized at the home of George M. Wood- bridge on the evening of December 31, 1888. for the purpose of keeping alive patrotie inter- est in and promoting the preservation of his- torical matter pertaining to the Northwest Ter- ritory. The original organizers were: George M. Woodbridge, J. D). Cotton, Anselm Tupper Nye, W. H. Buell, W. B. Loomis, Theo. F. Davis, J. B. West, S. J. Hathaway, M. M. Rose, Jas W. Nye. The society has erected five memorial stones in the city and has ac. complished much of real value in carrying Fit the original plan and purpose of the organization The Society was incorporated in 1891. It Who
20
35
at the present time a membership of over 150. M. M. Rose is the president and Mis. S. J. Hathaway, secretary.
The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Ohio --- Organized April 30, 1896. £ Incorporated July 1st, 1896. Mrs. Herman J. Groesbeck, 2211 Grandin Road, Cincinnati, president; Mrs. M. Morris White, 2343 Auburn avenue, Mt. An- burn, Cincinnati, Treasurer: Mrs. Davis C. An- derson, Wildwood, Bond Hill, Cincinnati, cor. . secretary. This society is custodian of the Historic Land Company's office in this city, which is in charge of the following local com. mittee: Mrs. Sarah Nye Lovell, chairman : Mrs. Theodore D. Dale, Miss Maria P. Wood- bridge, Miss Elizabeth E. Putnam, Mrs.
Dan'l. H. Buell, Miss Rowena W. Buell.
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of
America in
the State of Ohio are also the publishers of "The Mem- oirs of Rufus Putnam," compiled and annotat- ed by Miss Rowena Buell, of Marietta, Ohio, Colonial Dame of Massachusetts and member of Ohio Society.
Daughters of the American Revolution-The Ma-
nietta Chapter Daughters the Ameri-
can Revolution was founded by Mrs. Charles S. Dana, the charter being received in
1904. The present officers of the society are: Regent, Mrs. Charles S. Dana; Vice Regent, Mrs. Tasker B. Bosworth: Secretary, Miss
Agnes Cadwallader; Treasurer, Mrs. Charles R. Turner ; Registrar, Miss Willia D. Cotton ; Historian, Miss Laura Devol. The Rufus Put -
nam Honse, on the corner of Second and Washington streets, is the chapter house of the Society at Marietta. The National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution was organized in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, on Oct. 11th, 1890, eighteen char- ter members signing the constitution. The society was incorporated by an act of Con- gress, December 2nd, 1895; approved February 20th, 1896. The objects of the society are: "To perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American In- dependence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots, and the erection of monn- ments; by the encouragement of historical re- search in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary sol- diers and patriots, and by the promotion and celebration of all patriotic anniversaries." Al- so, "to carry out the injunction of Washing- ton in his farewell address to the American
36
People. To promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffus- ion of knowledge," etc. Any woman may be eligible for membership who is of the age of eighteen years, and who is descended from a man or- woman who, with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid to the cause of Independ- ence; from a recognized patriot, a soldier or sailor or civil officer, in one of the several Col- onies or States, or of the United Colonies or States; provided that the applicant be accept- able to the Society. The headquarters of The Daughters of the American Revolution are located at Washington. The National Presi- dent General is Mrs. Donald McLean, of New York City; Ohio Vice President General, Mrs. O. J. Hodge, of Cleveland, O.
THE OHIO LAND COMPANY.
The following notice appeared in the public prints of New England on January 25th, 1786. The ori- gin of the Ohio Company may be said to date from that time. As the result of this "Information" and the subsequent action by delegates assembled in Bos- ton, the Ohio Company, which made its first settle- ment at Marietta in 1788, was formed.
"Information."
"The subscribers take this method to inform all officers and soldiers, who have served in the late war, and who are by an ordinance of the honorable Congress to receive certain tracts of land in the Ohio country, and also all other good citizens who wish to become adventurers in that delightful region; that from personal inspection, together with other incontestible evidences, they are fully satisfied that the lands in that quarter are of a much better qual- ity than any other known to New England people. That the climate, seasons, produce, &c., are, infact equal to the most flattering accounts which have ever been published of them. That being determined to become purchasers, and to prosecute a settlement in this country ; and desirous of forming a general as- sociation with those who entertain the same ideas, they have to propose the following plan, viz: That an association by the name of the Ohio Company be formed of all such as wish to become purchasers. &c, in that country (who reside in the common- wealth of Massachusetts only, or to extend to the inhabitants of other states, as shall be agreed upon.)
"That in order to bring such a company into ex- istence, the subscribers propose, that all persons who wish to promote the scheme should meet within their respective counties (except in two instances, herein- after mentioned, ) at ten o'clock, A. M., on Wed- nesday the 15th day of February next; and that each county or meeting, there assembled, choose a
37
delegate or delegates, to meet at
the Bunch of Grapes tavern, in Boston, Essex. At Captain Webb's, in Salem, Middlesex; at Bradish's in Cam. bridge, Hampshire; at Pomeroy's in North Hamp ton, Plymouth ; at Bartlett's in Plymouth, Barnsta- ble, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; at Howland's in Barnstable, Bristol; at Crocker's, in Tauntor. York; at Woodbridge's, in York, Worcester; at Patch's in Worcester, Cumberland, and Lincoln; at Shattuck's, in Fahnouth, Berkshire; at Dibble's, in Lenox.
"RUFUS PUTNAM, . "BENJAMIN TUPPER.
"Rutland, January 10, 1786."
The directors of the original Ohio Company were: General Rufus Putnam, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, General Samuel Holden Parsons, General James MOtehell Varmm, Major Winthrop Sargent, Secre. fary, and Colonel Richard Platt, Treasurer.
THE OHIO COMPANY OF ASSOCIATES.
On November 29th, 1902, was incorporated a nen Ohio Company, at New York City, under the laws of the State of New York. This new organization is composed of a small group of Ohio's sons, men who have achieved both success and fame. The name of the new company is "The Ohio Company of
Associates." Its object is to perpetuate the mem- o) and the achievements of those early pioneers wiose deeds and influence had so important a part in the development of the great Northwest Territory. The company has also undertaken the work of ereet ing a chain of memorial tablets commemorating the simning events of historic interest from the time when: Ohio was a "vacant territory," to the time when she became n "new state northwest of the Chio " The first of these tablets which are of im. perishable bronze, was placed upon the walls of the sub-Treasury in New York City, which stands upon the site of the old Federal Hall, on November 29th, 1905. The second tablet is the oue placed on the campus of Marietta College in this city, and unveiled Oct. 18, 1906. (See Points of Interest.)
The directors of the Ohio Company of Associates are as follows :- Whitelaw Reid, president; Homer Lee, John D. Archbold, A. D. Juilliard, William W Mills, vice presidents; Verne M. Bovie, Secretary , William S. Hawk, Treasurer. Marietta College, custodian of archives.
HOW TO PURIFY YOUR CISTERN.
Nothing can equal the purifying effect of a bag full of pulverized charcoal thrown into a well and let swim about. Knowledge of this kind used at the proper time saves both labor and money.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.