Monday, June 27, 2011

Death of Isaac Lackey

The Marietta Times, May 6, 1869

In Marietta, April 22, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Abenaid Mann, of old age, Isaac Lackey, aged 92 years and 7 months.

Let me go, my soul is weary
     Of the chains which bind it here;
Let my spirit bend it pinions
     To a brighter, holier sphere.
Earth, 'tis true, hath friends who bless me
     With their fond and faithful love,
But the hands of angels beckon
     Onward to the realms above.

Let me go, for earth hath sorrow,
     Sin, and pain, and bitter tears;
All its paths are dark and dreary,
     All its hopes are fraught with tears;
Short lived are its brightest flowers,
     Soon its cherished joys decay,
Let me go, I fain would leave it
     For the realms of endless day.

Let me go, my heart hath tasted
     Of my Saviour's wondrous grace;
Let me go, where I shall ever
     See and know Him face to face;
Let me go, the tree of heaven
     Rise before me waving bright,
And the distant crystal waters
     Flash upon my raptured sight.

Let me go, for songs seraphic
     Now seem calling from the sky;
'Tis the welcome of the angels
     Which e'en now are hovering nigh;
Let me go, they wait to bear me
     To the mansions of the blest,
Where the spirit worn and weary
     Finds at last its long-sought rest.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Varnum

Marietta Register, December 28, 1871

Some weeks ago, in noticing the removal of the remains of twenty-seven persons from the original cemetery in Marietta, abandoned seventy years ago, to Oak Grove, we gave some account of Gen. James M. Varnum, who was a distinguished man, and whose remains were then identified.  This paper was sent by Mrs. Beman Gates, to Dracut, Mass., the native place of Gen. Varnum, and drew forth the following reply:

Dracut, Mass., Nov. 21, 1871.

Dear Sir:

The paper which you sent "To any of the name of Varnum," was passed to me on Saturday last.  Please accept my thanks, for nothing could have been more acceptable.  I have made myself acquainted with some part of the history of Gen. James Mitchell Varnum, but the article in your paper poke of some things which I never knew before.  I first became interested in his history by seeing his portrait hung in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, among the Generals of Revolutionary fame.  I found a record of his birth in our town books, traced him to Rhode Island, through the war of the Revolution, and finally to Marietta, where he died.

The Marietta Register that you sent me, says he was born in Dracut, Mass., in 1749.  The town record is that he was born Dec. 17, 1748, and was the son of Samuel and Hannah Varnum.

It is true that the farm on which his great-grandfather settled is still in the family.  The name of his great-grandfather was Samuel, and he came from Wales, settled in Ipswich first, and afterwards removed to Chelmsford, on Merrimack river, opposite of what is now Dracut.  He purchased land of the Indians, in Dracut, and was the first settler.  He named the town Dracut from the name of his native town in Wales.  His son Thomas remained on the parental farm, and the sons that have remained on that farm have all been named Thomas, although the name of Samuel has always been preserved.

The Thomas who is the present owner is a prosperous farmer, and I think the sixth of that name who has owned the farm.  Samuel Varnum, his uncle, resides with him, is a bachelor, and now some 79 years of age.

You will not probably care to read much about the family, but as you took the trouble to send me the paper, I thought you might be interested to know some further facts.  I have for some time been collecting facts, thinking that some time I might publish a history of Dracut.  Thanking you again for your favor, allow me to subscribe myself.

Atkinson C. Varnum.

[To] Beman Gates, Esq.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Western Liberal Institute Is Remembered

Sunday Morning Observer, February 2, 1918

The Boys And Girls Played Pranks As They Do In The Present Days.

In a recent letter from E. B. Clark, an old Marietta boy, now of Athens, that gentleman writes at some length of the old Western Liberal Institute here at Marietta and which many of the old time folks will remember.

Mr. Clarke says that the students of that seat of learning were very much the same as those at Marietta College in playing pranks.

One evening there was a party at the residence of Warren Wilcox, in the Southeast part of town.  Some of the students told one of their number about the party and proposed attending although none were invited.  They told him to ring the door bell, which he did, and the others made a hasty retreat.  The ringer of the bell was invited in and gave the names of the others.

Upon another occasion an unsophisticated student was sent into a book store to inquire for eggs.

On Friday afternoons we had rhetorical exercises.  There were two papers "published" and read on these occasions, some read "essays," others declaimed a speech.  The papers took opposite sides on all questions like political newspapers of that day.  Some would have Latin or Greek orations, translated to English, reading like this:  "The farmer plows the land, cultivates the growing crops and harvests the corn and wheat, etc."  Brother Lewis fixed up a bravesty on these which was delivered by Ridgeway, of Rainbow.  I remember two words of the closing:  "Et broadaxe."  It created considerable merriment.  I think Lewis was an adept at things humorous.

We of the smaller boys were afraid of Friday afternoons and would desert and kick football out in Butler street.  But finally Nathan Kendall issued an order that all must attend.

After the Kendalls left, the Institute was placed under the management of a Baptist but was still nonsectarian.  Mrs. Booth would have none other than Universalist teachers and proceeded to wreck the school and Theodore Scott used the building for his private school.  The site is now occupied by a wholesale grocery.

The old Universalist church is still standing.  An addition has been built to its front and the church is now a part of a carriage factory.

The years are much shorter than in the Institute times, and each succeeding year shorter than its immediate predecessor.

Remember the length of a three months' term in the district school?  A Winter term then equaled an entire year at the present time.

This school was established for boys and girls in the Fall of 1849 on Second street, below Butler, and Prof. Paul Kendall was the first principal.  The trustees of the school were Joseph Holden, Owen Franks, William Devol and L. J. P. Putnam.

Among the teachers were Paul R. Kendall, principal; Nathan Kendall, chemistry.  A Universalist preacher was also a teacher and O. L. Clarke taught English grammar.

Among the students were:  W. S. Ridgeway, Rainbow; A. L. Thornton, Shrewsbury, N.Y.; Bernard Peters, J. P. Devol, G. W. Mesenger, Universalist minister's son; Gates, (S. H. and Eben?), F. H. Loring, Austin B. Reginier, Austin L. Curtis, member Ohio Legislature; Charles E. Gard, Ralph g. Graham, West of Columbus; Julius Pollock, Timothy S. Matthews, merchant and banker; Wolcott, Watertown; James L. Gage, J. C. Clarke, O. L. Clarke, E. B. Clarke, Aaron T. Marshall, Achsah Weaver, Helen Weaver, Fanny Chappell, widow of T. S. Matthews lives at Jackson, Ohio; Maria L. Franks, Ferguson, Rowena Putnam, Huldah Putnam, Steadman, Stedman; Camella W. Pollock, Phebe E. Dalano, Miss Vincent, Eastern girl; Nan Mixer, Samuel Hammontree, Woodlands, W. Va.; Frank Seeley, Beverly, Ohio.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ten Cents Reward

The Marietta Gazette, May 23, 1835

Ranaway from the subscriber, on the 15th inst. Jacob Springer, (an idiot,) spiced with a good portion of knavery and hypocracy, - for whom I will pay the above reward, but no charges.  I also hereby forbid any person from employing the said Jacob.

Wm. Pitt Putnam,
Guardian of Jacob Springer, (an Idiot.)
Belpre, May 16, 1835.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Indicted Arraigned in Court

The Register-Leader, June 24, 1918

Charged with abandoning legitimate children, James Turner appeared before Judge Edw. B. Follett in Common Pleas court, Monday morning, an indictment having been returned by the last grand jury.  He entered a plea of not guilty and was sentenced by the court to serve from one to three years in the Ohio State Penitentiary at hard labor.  It was the recommendation of the court that the prisoner be released at the end of one year.

Barbara Warren faced charges of keeping a house of ill-fame, inducing one Anna Poole to immoral conduct and harboring a girl under the age of 18, for immoral purposes.  A plea of not guilty was entered to all of the charges and her bond was fixed at $1,500.  As this amount is secured by property owned by Mrs. Warren she was released.

Charles Laughlin, a railroad man who lives near Belpre, was arraigned on a charge of assault and battery.  He pleaded guilty and was fined $10 and costs, which he paid and was released.  The charges resulted from a dispute over the ownership of a dog.  Laughlin pleaded guilty to the same charge before a justice at Belpre but as charges were not brought by the assaulted man the procedure was not according to law and the man was again arrested on an affidavit sworn out by the man whom he assaulted.  In Squire C. T. O'Neill's court he pleaded guilty and was bound over to the grand jury.

Lawrence Singer, colored, was charged with burglary and larceny.  He pleaded guilty and was fined $30 and costs.  Singer opened the cash register at the Blume and Hauck barber shop, where he had been working, and took about $15.

Frank Lemon, charged with burglary and larcenty, pleaded guilty.  His case was continued for sentence and bond was placed at $400.  Lemon broke into the Cottle grocery at the corner of Seventh and Greene and took a number of articles, among them being a flashlight, some gum and candy and a small amount in money.

Charged with assault and battery, Friend T. Dye entered a plea of not guilty and bond was fixed at $300.  He furnished this and was released.

Cora Young faced an indictment charging conducting a house of ill-fame.  She pleaded guilty and was assessed a fine of $100 and costs and sentenced to serve six months in jail.  The jail sentence was suspended during good behavior and on condition that the woman secure and retain honest employment.

Mary Wright pleaded guilty to the same charge and was fined $100 and costs.  The fine was suspended on condition that she leave Marietta and stay away.

Marie West also faced a charge of conducting a house of ill-fame.  She was released on condition that she immediately leave town and stay away.

Ella Smith entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of conducting a house of ill-fame. Her bond was fixed at $300.  Leeper and Leeper are her attorneys.



Friday, June 3, 2011

Death of John Waterman

The Marietta Gazette, September 6, 1834

We regret to say that a most unhappy occurence took place in Watertown on Monday last.  While Mr. John Waterman, an aged gentleman, was stooping down near his fire, his son, Sherman Waterman 2d, who had been some time previous confined for lunacy, but was then at large, came behind him, and by a single blow with a piece of board, taken from the fire, laid him dead upon the floor.  The blows were repeated three or four times afterwards.  The young man is now in confinement, at this town.  His mind, we are told, is completely unstrung.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Washington County, Ohio - World War I Draftees

Marietta Daily Journal, June 19, 1918

Complete List of Draft Contingent Announced Today By Local Board.

One Hundred and Fifty-One Selects, Comprising The County's Next Quota, Will Entrain For Camp Sherman On Wednesday Morning, June 26.

The complete list of the 151 selects, who will comprise Washington County's next quota in the selective draft, was announced today by the local draft and exemption board and is printed herewith.  The men will leave on next Wednesday, June 26, for Chillicothe, O., where they will enter Camp Sherman for training in the National Army.  The contingent is the largest single quota yet furnished by Washington County.

The men will report at the office of the local board on Tuesday afternoon, June 25, and will receive final instructions at that time.  Leaders for the group will also be selected.  The selects will leave early Wednesday morning for Camp Sherman and will report there some time Wednesday afternoon.

Following is the complete list of those who will comprise the quota together with the names of ten alternates:

Arthur Herman Abbott, Belpre.
William Edward Abbott, Marietta.
Raymond Charles Abicht, Newport.
John Adams, Rinards Mills.
Jesse Raymond Allison, Wade.
Raymond Henry Altvater, Marietta.
Ralph H. Angert, Marietta.
Francis Sebastian Archer, Marietta.
Dow Athey, Dell.
Joseph Barnhart, Lowell.
Louis Henry Baum, Marietta.
Otheal L. Beebe, Waterford.
Noah R. Best, Lowell.
Fred Berga, Newport.
Clarence Jacob Best, Lowell.
Walter W. Berry, New Matamoras, R.D. 5.
Herbert W. Beidel, Watertown.
Clyde Ellsworth Blair, Marietta.
Charles Brown, New Matamoras.
D. R. Bradfield, New Matamoras.
Ottis Butts, Marietta.
Leroy Ivan Buck, Belpre.
Leonard Burkhart, New Matamoras.
John S. Carpenter, Marietta.
Wallace Carpenter, Marietta.
Robert R. Carle, Wingett's Run.
Walter Julius Chamberlain, Marietta.
Allie Chamberlain, Belpre.
Clyde Thorpe Clark, Marietta.
Lewis Franklin Clark, Glass.
Fred H. Cook, Rockland.
Wylie Cochran, Grandview.
Jay Devol Cober, Marietta.
Chester Dean Cooke, Marietta.
Edward Williamson Collins, New Matamoras.
Earl Craig, Marietta.
Darrell Vernon Cutshaw, Marietta.
Jesse Carl Davis, Marietta.
Jeff H. Davis, Marietta.
Roy Davis, Marietta.
John Dexter, Belpre.
Wilber F. Delong, Macksburg.
David Dunn, New Matamoras.
John Coggsshall Dutton, Little Hocking.
Herbert Edwards, Rinards Mills.
Roy Richard Engle, Lowell.
Karl William Epple, Marietta.
David Allen Epler, Whipple.
William B. Farnsworth, Leith.
John J. Farnsworth, Deucher.
James Leroy Farley, Marietta.
John Henry Farrell, Waterford.
Forest Thurman Felock, Swift.
Winona Forshey, Rinards Mills.
Ralph Foster, Marietta.
Raymond Tilton Gorham, Qualey.
J. Wesley Gray, Marietta.
William Joseph Griffith, Marietta.
Robert Arthur Grimes, Marietta.
Arthur Leo Hasley, Newport.
George Washington Haynes, Newport.
Albert Herman Hart, Marietta.
William Raymond Hart, Marietta.
Melvin J. Haire, Marietta.
Hugh Charles Haynes, Newport.
Lonnie Beach Hesson, Marietta.
Earl Hickman, Roxbury.
Edgar Dean Holdren, Lower Salem.
John William Hughey, Macksburg.
Vernon Winfield Hull, Belpre.
Orville Hunter, Marietta.
Lawrence William Jacobs, Warner.
Russell Lewis Jockson, Belpre.
Howard Johnson, Marietta.
Yewis A. Koon, Dalzell.
Carl F. Lee, Marietta.
Heber W. Leak, Lowell.
Harvey Lee, New Matamoras.
Roy Linza Lee, Parkersburg, W. Va.
Delva Lightfritz, Marietta.
Orville Franklin Longley, Little Hocking.
Wilfred Long, Lowell.
Earl Clifford Mars, Little Hocking.
Clyde Malone, Marietta.
Earl DeWitt Marquis, Marietta.
Lewis L. Malone, Deucher.
John H. Merrow, Marietta.
Lorentz Frederic Meister, Marietta.
Karl R. Meredith, Marietta.
Herman F. Miller, Stanleyville.
Benjamin Frank Milton, Belpre.
Charles M. Mulligan, Belpre.
Earl Fred Mueller, Marietta.
Harry McAtee, Cutler.
Walter W. McClure, Marietta.
Holly McCoy, Marietta.
Rollie E. McFarland, Lowell.
Peter Terrence McGillian, Leith.
Frank Newman, New Matamoras.
Marcus Jefferson Newell, Cutler.
Lemuel A. Newlen, Lowell.
Frederic Noland, Marietta.
Thomas O'Brien, Marietta.
Fred H. Ogle, Elba.
Roy B. Parsons, Broadwell.
Randall Girlie Peters, Marietta.
Harold Orton Perkins, Marietta.
Ben P. Pinkerton, Marietta.
George Washington Pickens, Marietta.
Joseph L. Reed, Marietta.
Obed S. Ripley, Warner.
Arthur Lee Robinson, Marietta.
Chas. Lafayette Robinson, Fifteen.
Albert Reno Rowland, Marietta.
U. T. Rowland, Newport.
Edward Raymond Schmidt, Marietta.
Robert Scott, Shay.
Greggory J. Schwenderman, Waterford.
Wallace Wolfram Schau, Whipple.
George Sersian, Marietta.
Pearl Victor Shafer, Marietta.
James G. Shapely, Grandview.
Walter Sheppard, Archers Fork.
Lewis Shears, Marietta.
Eugene Bruce Shuster, Wade.
Filmore Simpson, Marietta.
A. G. Sleek, Roxbury.
Reece Smith, Vincent.
Perry Leland Snow, Waterford.
Thomas H. Starkey, Marietta.
Roland Frederic Stewart, Marietta.
Philip Stengel, Coal Run.
Homer G. Stephens, Center Belpre.
Herman Strickler, Marietta.
Elmer Louis Suder, Marietta.
A. W. Templeton, Murphy.
Lyman Jackson Thomas, Marietta.
Jimmie Thomas, Marietta.
Con Gale Thomas, Dell.
David Valentine, Murphy.
Wheeler Voshel, Coal Run.
Charles Ferguson Wall, Marietta.
Clarence John Wenzel, Whipple.
Arthur Jacob Weber, Marietta.
Pearl Whitehair, Marietta.
Henry Nesbit Wilkin, Hillsboro, O.
William Wulfert, Marietta.
Harry S. Zoller, Marietta.

Alternates:

Herbert Stanley Beird, Marietta.
Ralph Bernard Schlicher, Marietta.
Joseph Powell, Marietta.
Paul Schwenderman, Lowell.
John A. Shears, Marietta.
George F. Hanes, Marietta.
Floyd Fred Law, Cutler.
Guy Marshall Mendenhall, Dell.
Leo Andrew Weber, Marietta.
Herman Beren, Marietta.