Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Fatal Stabbing Affray

The Marietta Register, May 17, 1866

On Saturday last, after the circus exhibition, three citizens of West Virginia, opposite Marietta, when returning home, engaged in a drunken brawl on the ferry boat J. B. McMillan. During the fracas, one of the men, named Reed, stabbed one of the others named Kinnaird in the bowels, inflicting a wound from which he died the following Monday morning. The third man, named Ritchie, also received a severe, but not dangerous, stab in the side. Reed was then knocked down by one of the passengers and the knife taken from him. On reaching the Virginia shore, Reed was arrested by a Constable, but managed to escape, and has thus far eluded all efforts of the officers to re-capture him.

The case, carefully summed up, stands thus: Three neighbors start to town in the morning, warm friends; before they return home, one of them receives a death blow from his friend - another receives a fearful wound - and the third is made an exile from home and friends, a fugitive from justice, a vagabond on the face of the earth!

Truly the power of strong drink is fearful when it can thus make demons of men and blast their lives forever.


The Marietta Register, May 24, 1866:

Reed, who fatally stabbed Kinnaird, on the Williamsport ferry boat, was arrested at Athens on Wednesday, 16th inst., by Sheriff Johnson, and brought to Marietta and lodged in Jail, from whence he was removed to Parkersburg on Friday evening. He voluntarily went over the river with the Sheriff of Wood County, West Virginia, thereby avoiding the delay of a requisition from the Governor.


The Marietta Register, June 21, 1866:

 In order to correct the many misstatements and false rumors about the affray that occurred on the Ferry Boat between Williamstown and Marietta on the 12th of May, we publish the following testimony as given by State witnesses during the trial:

E. D. Geren, sworn - I saw the beginning of the affray; saw four persons only aft of the boiler on the ferry boat, when the affray took place, viz: Almstead [Armistead] Kinnaird, John Uhl, Russell Reed, and a man said to be Robert Ritchie; all seemed to be under the influence of liquor; heard some loud talk, and the first that I saw of the affray was that Kinnaird struck Reed, and then Kinnaird and Reed clinched; they were down; Reed rose up with Kinnaird; and then I saw John Uhl strike at Reed, and then Ritchie clinched Reed and they both fell over the stove together; and when they rose up, I saw a knife in Reed's hand; did not see him cut any person; all seemed to be fighting against Reed.

Robert Campbell, sworn - Did not see the commencement; Kinnaird, Reed and Uhl were in conflict; I went in to part them and Ritchie pulled me away; Kinnaird was on top; Reed turned him and got up; did not see Reed cut Kinnaird; at the time we had hold of Reed, he pulled out the knife; he did not say what he intended to do; he did strike at me; they all had the appearance of being intoxicated; the two were against Reed; when I first went in, Ritchie was there; I saw Kinnaird strike Reed when we were holding him; Reed was rather holding back; Reed's knife was visible when Kinnaird struck him; the room was five feet wide and twenty feet long.

George Metcalf, sworn - Was on my way over the river; when I went on the boat, Kinnaird and Reed were clinched; Kinnaird struck at Reed over my shoulders twice; Kinnaird kept pressing forward, and I slapped him; I went off and returned; Kinnaird had hold of Reed; did not see Reed strike Ritchie; when Kinnaird Went off the boat; he said he'd pay me for it; I was standing between Reed and him, when Kinnaird struck him twice; Ritchie said, "let him (K.) go, and whip the damn little rascal"; they were all drunk.

James W. Kinnaird, sworn - Was not in the cabin of the boat; Reed came down and said he was pretty tight, and I saw he was; John Uhl called A. Kinnaird back in the cabin; had a canteen with him; saw Kinnaird after the fracas was over, but did not know he was cut; he was pretty tight; they were all tight; when Reed went back, he was doing nothing; when Kinnaird had him down, he was choking him black; Kinnaird was a very strong man; when Reed left the boat, his hand was bleeding very freely.

L. C. Arbour, sworn - I came down to go over on the boat; saw there was a fuss; they had hold of Reed; I saw Kinnaird pushing to him, trying to strike him; Reed said, "give me my hat, and I'll go out"; I saw him make a motion, , but did not see him strike Kinnaird with the knife; I tried to push Kinnaird, but couldn't do it; I pushed Ritchie back; Uhl was cursing Reed; Ritchie, Kinnaird and Uhl were all making at Reed.

Rufus Campbell, sworn - I run the ferry boat; Kinnaird and Reed clinched and fell over the stove; Kinnaird on top; Kinnaird shoved me over, and struck Reed; and Ritchie said, "let Kinnaird whip him"; Kinnaird, Ritchie, Reed and Uhl were engaged; did not see Kinnaird cut; it was 5-1/2 o'clock in the evening; Kinnaird could see the knife, and after he saw it, he pushed me one side and struck Reed; it was a pretty hard blow; Reed told the men not to crowd him; he seemed only to want to get the men away from him.

Taking into consideration the above testimony, the extreme youth of young Reed (18 years), who was defending himself against three (3) grown men, and as for the justness of the sentence passed upon him, we leave only for the loyal public to decide.



Thursday, January 19, 2017

An Important Law - Registry of Births and Deaths

The Marietta Register, April 18, 1867

By a recent act of the Ohio Legislature, the Probate Judges of the several counties of this State are required to keep a record of Births and Deaths within their respective counties.

Physicians and professional midwives are required to report to the Probate Judge quarterly, January, April, July and October, date and place of birth, name, sex and color of child, and names and residence of parents.

Physicians, Ministers and Sextons are required to report deaths, giving name, age and residence of deceased.

A fine of ten dollars is imposed for a violation of the act.

Blank reports will be furnished by Probate Judges. Let every person see to it that this record is complete, thereby saving much trouble in the future.

 

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Arrival and Reception of Mr. Adams

Marietta Intelligencer, November 23, 1843

Mr. Adams arrived at this place on Wednesday of last week, at 2 o'clock, P.M. He was immediately waited upon at the boat by the Committee, and by them escorted to the Congregational Church, where a large concourse of people had assembled upon the firing of the guns announcing Mr. Adams' approach.

William R. Putnam, Esq., welcomed the venerable guest as follows:

Honored Sir - In the name of this audience, I bid you welcome to Marietta.

We rejoice, Sir, at this opportunity of paying our respects to you, and thus personally testifying the high regard we entertain of your public services and private virtues. We do cordially approve of the untiring exertions, and uncompromising integrity, ever manifested by you in defence of the liberties and rights of the people, and assure you that they will ever be held in grateful remembrance by us.

To which Mr. Adams briefly replied:

Mr. Adams commenced by referring to a period, doubtless beyond the remembrance, if not before the birth, of a majority of the dense audience around him, while he was a student of law in the town of Newburyport, Massachusetts,when the name of Marietta first saluted his ears. It awakened a powerful interest in his then youthful bosom, as it led his mind to the anticipation of that wonderful progress in western emigration and improvement which has since been realized; and more than realized. 

It was during the year 1788, in Ipswich Hamlet, a village in the neighborhood of Newburyport, that the speaker visited the Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, when just returned from his first visit to the great west. He was exceedingly interested in the accounts which he received from the lips of that venerable man, in regard to the early prospects of a state which seems destined to become the first in this great confederacy. Since that time his eye had never left it, as it had advanced through the different stages of territorial government to the character of a respectable and powerful commonwealth, but he had continued an interested and delighted spectator of its progress.

Since that period his private fortunes had carried him over a considerable portion of the globe, but he had not expected the happiness of seeing with his own eyes the land - yea, the spot upon which he now was - which was thus associated with his early recollections, and on which his imagination had dwelt through the lapse of years with so much pleasure. But an incident recently occurred, which brought him to our State, and to the great city of the west; and as he had passed through the numerous corporations, so lately risen from the depths of the wilderness, in his way to that city, and on his return therefrom, his journey had been a continued repetition of enjoyment.

It would have been more gratifying to him, and doubtless would have been to the citizens, had the elements suffered them to manifest their respect for him without the exposure of this inclement day; but when, through the storm, so much of the light of human kindness as was here reflected, shone out upon him, he would say, that in return, through sunshine and through storm, the name of Marietta, and of her people, would ever dwell upon his heart. That name, so endeared to his memory by its connection with an incident which first awakened his mind to the future glories of Ohio, would be more deeply hallowed in his recollections from its recalling the occasion when, as now, he must discharge the painful but pleasing duty of bidding her his last farewell.

He was not at liberty to detain the audience longer with his remarks, for the vessel which had borne him hither was bearing others, anxious to reach the places of their destination. He would then close by invoking upon us the blessing of that heaven to which we are indebted for our liberties and our happiness.

The notes of Mr. Adams' remarks were not taken at the time, but subsequently written out from memory. 

After this address was concluded, and those who desired it had been personally introduced to him, Mr. Adams was accompanied by the Committee to the "Sacra Via" - "The Mound" - and other ancient works which he expressed a desire to visit, and thence to the Boat - upon which he immediately departed.

A committee of the committee, consisting of Hon. Ephraim Cutler, Caleb Emerson and Joseph Barker, Esqrs., left on the boat with him and accompanied him as far as Pittsburgh. A brief notice of the journey to that City and of his reception there is given by our correspondent Q.

His visit to this place will be a day long remembered. Old age will love to speak of it, and the family circle will repeat the story of his visit with feelings of gratitude and pleasure, one to the other. And those now in the happy days of innocent childhood will tell to another generation that they have seen and shaken hands with the great defender of the rights of man.

Blessings be upon this Patriot, Statesman, Sage, and may He who holds in His hands the destiny of men and of nations, vouchsafe to him many years of health and strength.

John Quincy Adams

Pittsburgh, Friday evening, Nov. 17, 1843.

The parade, the show, the external respect paid to distinguished persons in possession or pursuit of power, may pass for what it is worth. It may be sincere and hearty - or it may not. But the voluntary regard of a people bestowed on such men as John Quincy Adams, or Lafayette, when the recipients have no patronage, no favors, no offices to give in return, are truly honorable, as well to the givers as to the objects of such manifestations.

The honors bestowed on Mr. Adams at this place, though not such in appearance as the Pittsburghers would have wished, were amply sufficient to testify their deep respect and hearty good will. Arrangements were made in expectation that his arrival would happen, or might be timed so that his public entree should be at ten o'clock, A.M. to-day. But the noted Ben Franklin steamer was "too spry" for them. A respectable committee - Messrs. Harmar Denny, William Eichbaum, Thomas Bakewell, C. Darrah, and E. Stevens, met the Ben Franklin at Wheeling on Wednesday night and endeavored to prepare for these arrangements. Mr. Adams signified his entire readiness to acquiesce. But the captain, having delayed so much already, would delay no longer, and the personal friends who accompany him in his tour thought it not prudent to tax his exertions beyond what had been originally contemplated. The Ben Franklin drew near the city on yesterday, firing frequent salutes; passed up towards the Monongahela Bridge, and cam ashore in fine style. 

Swarming multitudes thronged the beach and "The Old Man Eloquent" was conducted ashore and to the "Exchange," by Mr. Hay, Mayor of Pittsburgh, and the Committee; and Wilson McCandless informed the people that Mr. Adams was not able, at that time, to undergo the fatigues of introduction.

To-day, though the weather was not favorable, there was a very large turn out to see Mr. Adams. A large number of Firemen and some militia made a very good display. It was contemplated to extend the march of the procession through the principal streets of the city, but heavy rain induced them to curtail it.

Mr. Adams rode in a carriage with the Mayor of Pittsburgh and Alleghany, and his friend and travelling companion, Mr. Grenell. Four or five other carriages followed, with the Committee and gentlemen from abroad. In the first of these was the delegation from Marietta, with Mr. Denney.

A platform was raised beside the Exchange and here Mr. McCandless made an eloquent and stirring address to Mr. Adams. There was a heavy mass of hearers - or spectators - in the streets. It rained heavily. Mr. Adams looked well and in spirits; amply able to have gone through a regular built speech, had the assemblage been in pleasant circumstances to hear. But here - as I understand he did at Marietta - he made a very pleasant apology for a speech, worth, as I think, some half dozen of your regular-built elaborations. He noticed here, with marked satisfaction, that he had been invited by all parties.

I think Mr. Adams was well pleased with his reception at Marietta, such a spontaneous rush, on so very short notice, testified most earnestly and unequivocally the affectionate regard of your citizens.

The conversations which took place on board the Ben Franklin after his visit to the "Old Settlement," are understood to have been of a very interesting character.

Fifty five years ago, it seems - while John Quincy Adams was a student in the Law Office of the celebrated Theophilus Parsons - he visited Dr. Manasseh Cutler at Ipswich Hamlet, just after the Doctor's return from the infant settlement on the Muskingum (in the promotion whereof he had been one of the main instruments) and there obtained a most interesting account of that settlement; from which time the progress and prospects of the Northwest - especially Ohio - have been the objects of high and never ceasing interest in the mind of Mr. Adams. One of the Marietta delegation to accompany him up the Ohio, was Judge Cutler, son of the Doctor, and of the same age with Mr. Adams. Another was Joseph Barker, the oldest Anglo American Native of Ohio now living. 

An interesting incident is said to have occurred soon after the Ben Franklin left Marietta. Judge Cutler remarked to Mr. Adams that he remembered with the strongest feelings of interest the fact that the firmness and sagacity of John Adams and John Jay, in negotiating the Peace of '83 secured us this great and growing and all important west. Mr. Adams replied in a subdued by touching tone and manner that he supposed certain things (my information was not certain what) would be remembered, but he had feared people had forgotten his father.

After supper Mr. Adams, having retired for a short time, came and sat down in the Gentlemen's Cabin and conversed with great freedom on quite a variety of topics. As he spoke without any reserve, as a man speaks among his intimate friends, it would hardly be proper to attempt any report of his expressions in detail. But of the group that listened around there is probably not one but would be exceedingly gratified could a truly graphic sketch he made of that scene.

Members of the Washington County delegation sat beside him. When a subject was suggested by the elder one, he would branch forth directly in a discourse, full of pith and interest, and in a very few minutes you would feel more entertainingly instructed than ordinarily by a dissertation of regular length, breadth and thickness. When a pause permitted the suggestion of a new topic, the same readiness was manifested in opening the rich store house of his mind, and handing forth from its well assorted treasures.

It was most interesting to note the attitudes of the listeners. Nearly every head and neck was turned and bent, that the ear might not miss its office in catching and reporting every word, every syllable that fell from the lips of John Quincy Adams.

Q.

   

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

New Theatre To Replace Hippodrome

The Register-Leader, January 13, 1917

Marietta is to have a new motion picture house. It will be built to take the place of the Hippodrome theatre on Second Street.

This step on the part of the C. & M. Amusement Company, owners of the theatre, made possible by the increasing of the capitalization of the company from $35,000 to $50,000 at Columbus on Saturday.

When seen by a Register-Leader representative regarding the new theatre, Saturday, Manager Sybert stated that the plans have already been drawn up for the new house, which will be undoubtedly one of the very finest temples of amusement in the Ohio valley.

Just as soon as the weather permits, work on the new Hippodrome will commence. 

 

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Home Made Candles

Sunday Morning Observer, April 14, 1918

In these days, when oil, gas and electricity take so large a place in the lighting of the world, there is danger that the tallow dips of our grandmothers may be forgotten.  Candle-making was the great housekeeping event of the fall of the year. The light and cheer of the long winter evening in every home in Marietta depended upon the candles which the frugal housewives made and stored away in boxes for the use of the family.

What a day it was for the children when the great brass kettle was brought out and hung upon the crane in the huge fireplace, where the great logs were crackling and the blaze was ascending through a chimney as large as some modern rooms. Before the dawn of the day, the whole family was astir. The great fire was lighted, the frugal breakfast was eaten, and the children were all excitement.

The kettle was first partly filled with water, and when this was hot, cakes of tallow were broken up and thrown into the water to melt and float upon the top. It was never settled to the satisfaction of the candle-makers, which which was better for giving hardness and consistency to the candles - beeswax or bayberry tallow. 

The wicks had been cut the evening before, dipped in saltpeter, and twisted over wooden rods, which were kept from year to year, tied in bunches and laid above the great beams in the kitchen. These rods were place on two poles, supported by chairs, and were few or many, according to the number of candles to be made.  Each rod held six or eight wicks, and the wicks were two or three inches apart.

The kettle was taken from the crane and set down near the poles. Now all was ready. Mrs. Jones, wearing a scant gown covered with a blue-checkered apron and looking very happy, took her seat on a flag-bottomed, high-backed chair beside the rods and began to work.

Beginning with the rod at her right hand, she dips the wicks deftly into the kettle and watched carefully to see that each wick hung straight and clear of the others; and so she went down the line. By the time the last rod was reached, the wicks on the first rod were cool and ready for another dipping.

The process was repeated until the slow growing candles had attained the proper size. Meanwhile the kettle had been refilled with boiling water and freshly melted tallow.

Toward the end of the pole there were always several rods filled with tiny candles to be given to the children as rewards of merit. When the children had been especially good, they were given a little candle to light them to bed. As long as it lasted they could tell stories.

It took a whole day to finish the candles. They were then left undisturbed until the next morning, when they were taken from the rods and packed away, hard and white, ready for use.

W.S.S.