Civil War Veteran Taken

The Marietta Daily Times, July 15, 1938

Samuel Ferguson Feldner, 92, one of the last Civil War veterans in Washington County, died at his home in Matamoras on Thursday. His death followed a collapse due to exhaustion which he suffered on June 30 while attending the reunion of Civil War veterans at Gettysburg, Pa., in the national encampment held on the site of the battlefield on the anniversary dates of the famous battle of the war. He was taken to Gettysburg Hospital and later brought to Matamoras.

Mr. Feldner was born at Lower Salem on August 6, 1845, and spent his earlier life on a farm in Salem Township. He enlisted in the Civil War and served in the famous old 63rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a member of Company G. Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Feldner went to the Middle West and lived for a number of years at Topeka, Kansas, where he served as a member of the police department. He also engaged in farming. He returned to Washington County in later years, and for the past nine years lived at Matamoras.

Mr. Feldner was twice married. His first wife, Mrs. Diana Lindamood Feldner, whom he married on November 28, 1868, died a number of years ago. Surviving this marriage are a son and a daughter, John W. Feldner of Topeka, Kansas, and Mrs. Grace D. Cook of Ogallala, Nebraska. Three children are deceased. There are four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

On August 14, 1926, Mr. Feldner married Miss Martha Loman of Matamoras and she survives. The deceased was a member of the Methodist Church of Matamoras.

Funeral services will be held at the Methodist Church in Matamoras on Sunday at 2 p.m. with Rev. H. D. Gilbert, Rev. A. H. Giuliano and Rev. I. T. Spencer, ministers of Matamoras, to conduct the services. Matamoras Post No. 378, American Legion, will pay military honors in Matamoras cemetery.

  

Shooting to Kill Charged

Marietta Daily Times, June 24, 1919

Charged with shooting with intent to kill, Mrs. Albert Hutchinson of near Beavertown is in the county jail awaiting arraignment before Justice C. T. O'Neill on a warrant sworn out against her by her husband, who was shot through the upper part of the right arm after an altercation with her on Saturday afternoon. The woman was brought to the city at midnight on Monday by Constables Devol and Willison of this city.

Hutchinson and his wife are said to have had trouble when he took her to task for improperly milking a cow. She resented the imputation and started for him with a butcher knife, which he took away from her, it is said. 

Going into another room and closing the door, the woman got a revolver and fired through the closed door, it is said. The bullet entered the husband's right arm just above the shoulder and lodged. Dr. Rowles of New Matamoras, who was summoned later, removed the bullet.

When the local constables received news of the affair, they started for the Hutchinson farm about noon on Monday. Arriving there they found the house deserted and, after a careful search around the premises, failed to locate Mrs. Hutchinson. It is thought that she had gone to New Matamoras to learn what steps had been taken to arrest her.

The officers decided to wait at the house, since she had not taken any extra clothing and they expected her back later in the evening. She returned home at 9 o'clock in the evening.

It is expected that her hearing will be held Tuesday afternoon. A. T. Williamson has been retained as counsel for the defendant.

Has Four Wives

Marietta Daily Leader, December 10, 1897

From Ravenswood, W.Va.

Some months ago, one C. W. Petty, a painter by trade, blew into this town from New Matamoras, Ohio. He was much gifted in the use of his tongue, so it is said, and could spin out yarns in a lively manner. 

Not many weeks ago, he married Florence Redden, daughter of U. Redden of this place. Last week a letter was received from a lady at Grandview, Ohio, signing her name "Mrs. Anna Belle Petty," and in this she claims to be his third wife, with one child, and says the other two women are living, his first wife having two children, second wife none.

Last week Petty's father-in-law, U. Redden, got onto the fellow's frequent marriages and made it so warm for him that on Saturday night, with his bundle of "duds" under his arm and tears as big as walnuts standing upon his cheeks, he bid farewell to his wife No. 4 and left for parts unknown, and probably to look for another woman to add to his list.

Notes from West Virginia Vital Records:   

Charles W. Petty of Washington County, Ohio, married Florence Leon Redin in Jackson County, West Virginia, September 25, 1897.

Charles W. Petty married Anna Belle Eddy in Pleasants County, West Virginia, June 14, 1896.

Charles W. Petty married Sarah Braden in Ritchie County, West Virginia, May 7, 1891.

Charles W. Petty appears to have been the son of Daniel and Aurelia Petty of New Matamoras, Grandview Township, Washington County, Ohio .

 

 

 

Up the River

The Marietta Register, June 17, 1875

Thursday morning last, ye Local having a little leisure time, paid a pastoral visit to the Register family in the "East End."  Taking the steamer Science, at 7 A.M., we arrived in Newport about 10 o'clock.  There, under direction of our good friend E. A. Jones, we were soon on the rounds; found collecting on foot in the blazing sun a warm business; but we visited all, not intentionally slighting any. 

Newport we found rather dull - business flattened out - everybody waiting for the "good time coming."  At the stores of E. A. Jones and J. M. Gano (the latter keeping the Post Office) considerable trading was going on, but nothing like it used to be.  The tobacco house of N. Little is in operation, employing about a dozen men, manufacturing tobacco and cigars.  The large flouring mill is in operation, a part of the time.  In addition to the above, a few small stores, groceries, shoe shops, &c., comprise the business of the place.  James White keeps the only hotel in the village - a nice, quiet, orderly place to stop. 

The farmers about Newport were very busy with their crops, hoping to make up for the failure of the fruit crop and other recent disasters by a large crop of other products.  The only product we saw brought in was tanbark.  This seems to have escaped the frost, if other things did suffer.  There were cords of it piled upon the bank awaiting shipment.  The strawberry crop is not a failure about Newport.  We assisted in stowing away a great many nice ones at the farm of I. H. Bosworth.  Afterwards visited the fruit and vegetable farm of Mr. A. B. Little.  Here everybody seemed on the go, preparing the ground, watering plants, and shipping berries and vegetables.  Mr. Little has shipped hundreds of gallons of strawberries this spring, the principal markets being Wheeling and Pittsburgh.  We were indebted to E. A. Jones, J. M. Gano, and Ebenezer Battelle, and several of the Bosworth family, for favors received.  We then took the steamer for

Matamoras.

Here we were surprised, astonished, had the scales knocked off our eyes.  Why, if we in Marietta don't quit going under, Matamoras will overtaken and outstrip us in a business way.  We thought Matamoras was small red potatoes, and only a few to the hill!  And here we found a little town - not so very little either - all bustling with business, stores full of customers, three good hotels, two drays busy, streets lighted with lamps, and everybody as busy and happy as though there had never been a panic in America.  There has not been a failure - except the failure of the tobacco crop - in that vicinity for a long time. 

The dry goods stores of S. Hutchinson & Sons, and of Miller & Hanschumaker, will compare favorably with any we have in Marietta.  These both have very large grocery and provision stores connected with them, and are doing a heavy business.  There are others of lesser dimensions that are doing a flourishing business; there is a large flouring mill owned by Mr. Shannon & Son; a full furniture store, kept by Mr. Hansel; a number of clothing stores, tailor shops, shoe stores, &c., the owners of which were busy.  It was Saturday, and a great many people were "in from the country." 

The coopering business is the leading trade pursued in Matamoras and vicinity.  There are several extensive shops in Matamoras and vicinity; also two or more in Grandview, a mile below.  W. T. Stedman is the proprietor of one in the latter place, and we mention it to say that he is the liveliest man we met in our rounds.  He will make business, whether there is any business or not.  He is a good Democrat, and times are hard, but we talked 50 cents out of him in a twinkling; we happened to be in a good humor, too.  He mistook his calling - he ought to be the funny man on some city paper.

The people of Matamoras, Grandview, and all that region say if crops are good this season, they will be prosperous as usual, and Matamoras will continue to flourish.  The wheat crop promises well, much better than is reported from other portions of the county.  The first setting of tobacco plants, the main hold of farmers up there, were eaten by bugs or killed by frosts; but, as the crops can be made if the plants are set before the 1st of August, the farmers are yet hopeful.

We must not omit to mention a trip to the Yellow House, three miles back of Matamoras, where Democrats spring up like mushrooms, and where hundreds of the faithful can be called together in fifteen minutes by a blast from Way, McMillen, Collett, or any other orator.  The Yellow House is owned by Mr. George West, a jolly, fat, good-natured "king of the manor," and is situated on an elevation, overlooking all creation, and part of Monroe county.  The cross roads there made us think of Nasby's "Confederate cross roads, which is in the State of Kentucky."  Besides a fine mansion, Mr. West keeps a tip-top country store, grocery, tobacco packing house, cooper shop, blacksmith shop &c., and weighs 260.  He ought to be active.  We never felt our littleness - 222 lbs. - so much as when in his presence.

But we must stop.  We want to go to Matamoras again, they treat a good looking fellow so kindly.  We picked up subscribers fast - being assisted by Will Lamping, Rev. Mr. Stewart, S. H. Riggs, and others.  They, as well as all others, have our thanks.