Jewett Palmer, Sr. - Another Veteran of 1812 Gone

The Marietta Register, October 2, 1873

The subject of this sketch, whose death was announced in the Register of September 18th, was born in the county of Grafton, in the State of New Hampshire, on the 18th day of May, A.D. 1797, and was consequently in the 77th year of his age at the time of his death.

Such education as he possessed was obtained while assisting his father to wrest a living for a very large family from the reluctant surface of a New Hampshire farm. It consisted of such of the rudiments of learning as were supplied by most New England families of the time within themselves, one of the most important features of which was the habits of industry, temperance, and perseverance, instilled by those early and severe struggles.

On the breaking out of the War of 1812, he enlisted, at the age of sixteen, for one year, and served the time in the First New Hampshire Volunteers. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted for "three years, or during the war," in the 45th United States Infantry. In common with those who re-enlisted, he was granted a furlough. He traveled home on foot to Grafton County from Plattsburg and, joining his regiment at Concord, marched with it to the northern frontier Although not in any general engagement, he was constantly employed in arduous service against the Indians, and in guarding and forwarding supplies to the forces to the westward. His term of service closed with the termination of the war, and he returned to the farm. In 1817 the family started for Ohio, spending one winter in Butler County, Pa., and arriving in Marietta in the fall of 1818.

They settled in Fearing Township, near its northern line, on Whipple's Run; and though not one of the pioneers, probably few men in the county have done more effective work than he toward reclaiming the wilderness. In 1823 he married Rachel Campbell, who survives him at the age of 83 years, and with whom he lived over fifty years, rearing a family of eight children. In 1851 he removed to Salem Township, where he resided up to the time of his death.

Though he never held official position outside of his township, he wielded an extended influence in the community. He was a man of general intelligence, a constant reader of the best newspapers, as well as of all valuable books that fell in his way, industrious and upright, of unerring judgment, a fearless adherent of principle, and a firm friend of the needy and of the slave. A well-known station on the Underground Railroad was kept by him, and many an anxious fugitive has blessed him as he stepped aboard the train for the next station.

In politics his quiet influence was perhaps greatest. Many young men of the neighborhood, whose fathers were bitterly opposed to him politically, side by side with "Uncle Jewett" at the polls, cast their first ballot for his candidates, at a time, too,  when it required not a little courage to do so, for his were the Abolition candidates, whenever that party had a ticket in the field.

Voting for John P. Hale in 1852, a young and enthusiastic admirer of Scott and his military exploits (who was unable to realize that the Whig party was even then dying from an "attempt to swallow the Fugitive Slave Bill") asked him, why, as an old soldier, he did not vote for Scott. To which he replied, "You may not now understand my vote, but, should you live an ordinary lifetime, you will witness the triumph of the principle for which I contend," little thinking that his own eyes should behold the triumph which he prophesied in the removal of his country's curse.

The blood of the old soldier was fired as he read of the insult to the flag at Sumter and, at the close of the three months service, when it seemed that the government might need the help of every man able to do duty, he again tendered his services to the flag and country he had defended in his boyhood. He went to Camp Putnam, at this place, as a recruit for the 36th Regiment, then forming, but was persuaded that the time had not arrived when the service of men of his age was required, and reluctantly consented to return home to await with other anxious patriots the issue of the terrible, dark years which succeeded.

Entertaining habitually feelings of the broadest charity for all men his faith in the everlasting goodness and mercy of God was of the most unquestioning character. He early became a firm believer in the ultimate salvation of all, and it was largely through his influence and means that the substantial church from which he was buried, was erected. His earnest wish, often expressed, that, when his work on earth was finished, God would take him quickly home without sickness or suffering, was literally fulfilled at noon of the 12th day of September 1873.

Coming in from the field, where he had been busily at work during the forenoon, he sat down and read his paper until dinner was announced; he declined to eat, saying he would wait a little while; a few minutes later his arms dropped by his side and his breathing ceased. Thus quietly as he had lived, he passed from his finished work on earth, prepared by his pure, unassuming life here, to begin what God has appointed him to do in a higher and broader sphere.

Reminiscences of Slavery

The Marietta Register, March 29, 1894

A writer has said that "Volumes filled with hair-breadth escapes, thrilling adventures and heroic deeds might be written concerning runaway slaves. Humanity and letters have both suffered loss for lack of a pen adequately to record the feats of noble daring achieved by the African in pursuit of freedom. All things considered, there is nothing in our revolutionary annals that surpasses such heroism. Our fathers sought liberty in company. They fought an enemy three thousand miles distant. The solitary fugitive sought freedom with an empire for his foe and himself in its midst. The very attempt has in it all the elements of the great and sublime.

I am indebted to Mr. Kean of Macksburg for the particulars of the following narrative. I shall mention no names, as the parties, or some of them, are still alive and it was known to but few until after the war.

A man whom I shall call Mr. B. lived four miles south of Stafford. While at work upon his farm, he saw a colored man running toward him, but who did not see Mr. B. until he had come within a few steps of him. The colored man was carrying a fine gun. He told Mr. B. that he was a runaway slave, that he had crossed the Ohio River near Newport the night before, that he had traveled without a guide and without food or rest, and that he was pursued by men who had been pressed into service and that his owner, or the man who had purchased him from his master, was urging on the pursuers.

He told B. that the rifle he carried was the property of his former master, that when he learned that he had been sold to a trader, he took the rifle and succeeded in making his escape. He was discovered crossing the river in a skiff that he found tied to the willows. Since he landed upon the Ohio side he had been so closely pressed that he could not stop for a moment. He offered B. his gun if he would direct him as to the best route to take to elude his pursuers. B. directed him in the direction of Summerfield and advised him to follow through large tracts of woodland and avoid certain houses, the homes of men who were not friendly to his race.

The slave took to the woods and was scarcely out of sight before two of B.'s neighbors came on the hunt, telling B. that the man who captured the runaway was to get ten dollars reward. B. was ready to join in the pursuit. He suggested that they each take a different direction, reserving for himself the one taken by the slave. He knew if the slave followed the woods as directed, he could cut him off at a certain point, which he could reach by traveling over much smoother ground. 

When B. reached the place he waited but a few minutes and the slave came to him, as he was hid behind a tree. The gun was pointed at him and he commanded him to follow or be shot. The slave told him to shoot if he wished, as he could not take him alive. Before B. was aware of it, his prize had bounded away and was lost to sight.

The fugitive losing sight of B., changed his course and hid in a brush fence. He remained there until dark. After lying upon the cold ground, he became so stiff that he could not walk He worked his way to a house in which he saw a light. Nothing was left him now but power to plead for help. This power he used so effectually that he secured the sympathy of the man who was known as a most ultra pro-slavery man. The part of the story which affected him most was that of the treachery of B. He told the slave that he should have his help. He assisted him to his barn, covered him over well with hay and told him to remain there until his return. 

This man had promised the use of his horse to a neighbor to go to Barnesville. He was to start before daylight and was to return the next day with a friend. Our man lost no time in seeing his friend and telling him of the meanness of B. and proposed to him that if they saw the slave they would assist him to escape. Having secured this promise, he told the story of the slave and arranged plans for his neighbor to start at midnight and take the slave as far as he could toward Guinea.

Years after, those men would tell to their most intimate friends that at midnight one of them was seated upon a very restless horse while the other was down upon his knees rubbing the stiff limbs of a slave until he could stand alone and have use of himself to enable him to ride the horse, saddled ready for his use.  While the horse's hoofs were clattering away, the gate posts, trees and other objects seemed to be whispering "negro thief, woolly-head," such words as those men used when referring to Cleveland, Steele, Hughes, Markey, and others.

The next day the hunt was renewed, but no trace of the runaway could be found.  B. said the ground must have swallowed him. The roads leading from certain houses were watched for several days and nights. The woods and barns were searched. No one but a well known pro-slavery man had been away from the neighborhood. He would not even allow a colored man to be in his company, so he was not suspected. B. could not understand how two men that had not even seen the slave had found out how he came in possession of the gun.

Mr. Tuttle wishes to know the name of my father. His name was Joseph H. Markey. He was a minister of the M. E. church, which he left and joined the Wesleyan Church after its organization. Many fugitives found shelter in our house. The tales of suffering told by those oppressed people deepened the impressions made upon my mind by reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which was published in The National Era.

The friends of slavery asserted that the condition of the colored race was better in slavery than it would be if they were emancipated. I have often heard my father referred to in a way that caused me much trouble. I was often told that while he was preaching, he was violating the laws of the land by breaking the Fugitive Slave Law.

Since I have heard some of the messages sent to him by those fugitives after reaching a land of freedom, and learning the prosperity of many of them, I was then able to understand the words, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in." As Christ promised this blessing to all those "who have done it to one of the least of these His brethren," I know he has been rewarded for all his labors in behalf of the despised race.

M. A. W.
[Mary A. Wolfe?]

 

The Colored Settlements in Washington County

The Register-Leader, October 7, 1913

To the Editor of the Register-Leader:

Dear Sir - Being called to Cutler last year to deliver the Memorial Day address, I was deeply interested to find certain racial conditions whose like I had never seen before. Side by side with an excellent class of white citizens there were an almost equal number of self-respecting, well-dressed, intelligent colored citizens who seemed to be received on terms of social equality by the white people, at least as far as they would have been received had they possessed the same personal qualities without their dark complexion. 

Of the excellent band which furnished music for the occasion, the leader and ten of the fifteen players were negroes. An elderly colored gentleman was called upon for a brief address, which he made admirably. I found that he had been a teacher for more than a generation, now retired in good circumstances upon his farm. In conversation he was of quiet voice and thoughtful, interesting speech, and he evidently had the deep respect of all.  One or two colored people sang in the choir, and in a general conversation with a group of men at the railway station it was a negro who made off hand, the remark showing widest information. 

A tall, young colored man, Mr. Esau Harris, a highly respected teacher in that district, agreed, at my request, to furnish me some account of the origin of these interesting settlements of his people.  He has just done so, and I am sure many of your readers will be glad of this interesting and important piece of history.

Very truly yours,

Augustine S. Carman.

Cutler, O., Oct. 1, 1913.

S. Carman, Marietta, Ohio.

My Dear Sir - As you know, some time ago I promised you I would write you a short sketch concerning the history of the colored population in the west end of Washington county. I will begin by saying that the history of the different settlements is much the same. Some of the settlers were slaves that had been set free by their Virginia and West Virginia masters and emigrated to Ohio. Some were free colored persons who lived in the hills of West Virginia and came also to Ohio. It is a fact that the freeborn persons and those who had been slaves were somewhat antagonistic to each other at first. In all probability this was caused by the conditions that they had been subject to while still in West Virginia.

The free persons, by having their liberty and the freedom of their hills, had come to look down upon their less fortunate brethren who were slaves.  The free persons always pointed with pride to the fact that some of their ancestors had fought under General George Washington and that none of them or their ancestors were slaves. Now this may seem strange, nevertheless they spoke the truth, for although they were of mixed blood and undoubtedly were part negro, they were free and their slave ancestry was so far removed that the fact had been forgotten.

They had mixed with Indians and after the war of the Revolution, two or three British soldiers had settled and married among them, so as a natural consequence they had come to consider themselves as something distinct and apart from the slaves around them. And this is what caused the slow fusion of the two factions after emigrating to Ohio.

A case worthy of attention among the "Hill People" concerning the uncertainty of their ancestry was brought by one of them who presented himself at an election in West Virginia for the purpose of voting. He was refused and brought suit in court. He won his case, as the only ancestor of his whose blood could be proven was an Englishman by birth and a naturalized citizen of the United States. Always after this he voted and was "white." His brothers and sisters were "colored."  He also emigrated to Ohio and was known as colored, but a brother of his was pressed into a white regiment during the Civil War, regardless of his protests.

The colored population today that is here are descendants of former slaves and those "Hill People" that I have above mentioned. And the spirit of independence that you see manifested today is no more noticeable than that which marked the demeanor of the early pioneers. Indeed, I do not believe that the colored people here are as assertive as their ancestors were. I do not believe that they would now willingly violate a law, no difference how unjust, but all of those early settlers were active workers for the "Underground Railroad," and most of them would not have hesitated to sacrifice a slave hunter's life had they thought it necessary for their or a slave's safety.  As an example, two slave owners barely escaped being burned to death in a tobacco drying house two miles west of Cutler. While they were searching above, the entrance was fired below, and they only escaped by breaking through the roof. One of them was injured by a fall in reaching the ground. 

The colored people were aided and abetted in their violation of the fugitive slave law by most of their white neighbors. The most noted family of white people who were active in running slaves through to Canada were emigrants from Ireland. Their home was an underground railway station through which scores of slaves passed to liberty. They were the family of Smith and were the ancestors of several prominent persons of that name now living in Washington county. Another prominent underground worker was one William Heald, who was daring as well as active, he having on occasions taken slaves in broad daylight.

The early pioneers were by family names as follows:  Carr, Cook, Cousins, Dalton, Dickinson, Evans, Field, Kennedy, Sawyer, Simpson, Singer, Tate, Male, Norris, Tucker, Wilkinson, Still, Harris, Ramsey, Goins.  There are possibly other names that I cannot recall at the present time. The first settlement was to the south of what is now Cutler village. The families were Cook, Dalton, Kennedy, Tucker and others.

The second settlement was west and southwest from Cutler, in fact making two settlements, although they were settled about the same time. Probably persons coming at the same time would settle at different points.

Now there was a reason for these colored persons settling here; the reason was this:  Douglas Putnam owned or controlled large tracts of land at this place and he was always a firm friend to the colored people.  He was willing to and did sell land to every colored man that applied to him. His terms were always liberal and he was just in all his dealings with them, and for two generations Douglas Putnam's name was a familiar one among the colored people of the west end of Washington county. 

The early colored pioneer were mostly farmers, although some were mechanics. The Simpson family were noted for their skill in wagon building. They were a family of carpenters, generally speaking, but building wagons was their specialty. The Carrs were also carpenters. Aside from a few blacksmiths and shoemakers, the balance of the men were farmers. If they did not own farms of their own, they either rented or worked for others (generally white people) as farm hands.

There were some champion workers among them whose ability to accomplish a large amount of work in one day has been recounted by the people up to the present day. A prominent name among them was Azariah Norman, who was noted for his great strength and his ability to cut as much wheat with a cradle in one day as two men could bind up. I was told personally by an old gentleman, James King by name, that he always bound as much wheat as any man could cut until he bound after Mr. Norman. Mr. King was the father of C. C. King, lately of this county, now of Oklahoma. In those days they put one dozen sheaves together for a shock. Mr. King said Norman could cut 160 shocks from sunrise to sunset. 

It seems that the farm hands of that day were quite willing to work a full day. Another man, Edmund Coursey, was a noted corn cutter. There was a settlement of Friends (Quakers) near, that always made it a point, if possible, to have "Ed" cut corn for them, and so great was his prowess in cutting and shocking that they were quite willing to pay him one-third more per day than anyone else, either colored or white.

Thus you see, even in this early day the white and colored people here were beginning to understand one another and to have a mutual understanding as to their relations toward each other.  When the whites hired colored men to work for them, they never objected to eating at the same table with them and worked side by side as if they had both belonged to the same race. By so doing the whites showed by their actions that they respected the colored people and in turn they were respected and loved by the colored people, and be it said to the everlasting credit of both, as two different races they have never had any trouble.  While both races have had trouble among themselves, the two races have always had peace between themselves.

While the Civil War was in progress the enlistment among the colored people was as large in proportion to numbers as among the whites. Some few colored men were enlisted in white regiments at the early stage of the war. The balance enlisted in colored regiments later in the struggle.  Edmund Coursey, whom I have before mentioned, died in the service; also Azariah Norman received wounds from which he never fully recovered, dying soon after his term of enlistment had expired after the close of the war. There were several who left for the front who never came back, among them being an uncle of mine. 

This, I believe, is as near the history of our people here as I can give. The older generations are all gone. The only one now left is Thomas Still, living near Vincent, Ohio. He is now eighty-seven years of age and a veteran of the Civil War. He could have furnished you with more of our history than I can, but I have been unable to see him in regards to it. I thank you for your kindly interest in my people very much and only wish that others of your race felt the same toward us, then I am sure we would be rid of the vexing Race Problem. Trusting this may prove satisfactory, I am as ever,

Yours truly,

Esau Harris.

Cutler, O.

 

Frances Harper Speaks

Home News, December 22, 1860

Frances Ellen Watkins, a semi-daughter of Ethiopia, delivered a lecture in the kitchen of the Centennary Methodist Episcopal Church on Monday evening last, on the subject of the wrongs of her race. There was a room full of hearers, many of whom think she is rather smart. Her discourse was of the intense abolition order, as might be expected. She held forth again last night at the Court House as Mrs. Harper.

 

Anti-Abolition Meeting

Marietta Gazette, November 28, 1835

At a large and highly respectable meeting of the citizens of Washington county, convened agreeably to public notice at the Court House, in Marietta, on Monday evening, the 23d inst., A. V. D. Joline, Esq. was called to the chair, and L. Chamberlin was appointed secretary.  After the objects of the meeting had been stated by the chairman, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted.

Whereas the time has arrived when it becomes the moral duty of the people of Marietta, for the purpose of freeing their good name from the stigma of interfering with the property of our neighbors of the slave-holding States, to let their sentiments on the question of immediate and unconditional abolition of slavery be known.

And whereas, it is a duty we owe to our neighbors of the South, to the preservation of our Union, and to ourselves, that we should lend our feeble aid in putting down those incendiaries who are now using all their efforts in arraying a portion of this Union against the West, and in disturbing the peace and quiet of this once happy community.

And whereas, believing that the Anti-Slavery Society, in agitating the question of slavery, and in filling the minds of the black population or our country with notions of liberty and equality with the whites, which can never come to pass, are doing the negroes an essential injury.  Therefore

1st.  Resolved, That we deprecate any intermeddling, on the part of our citizens, with the slaves and slave-holders of the South, as unjust, unwise, and impolitic; as dangerous in its tendency, and incendiary in its character.

2d.  Resolved, That the citizens of a free State have no right to interfere with the property of the slave-holders, and much as we deprecate the evils of slavery, we yet dislike the doctrine of speedy and unconditional abolition more, and that of the two evils we will choose the least.

3d.  Resolved, That we view with indignation the efforts of those fanatics calling themselves abolitionists, whose doctrines, if carried into effect, would have a direct tendency to dissolve the Union.

4th.  Resolved, That the great mass of the people are, and we trust, ever will be, opposed to the fanatical doctrines of the abolitionists.

5th.  Resolved, That the Professors and Trustees of the Marietta College be requested to discountenance the students from imbibing the doctrines of the Anti-Slavery Society, by expelling the refractory, or otherwise, as to them may seem most proper.

6th.  Resolved, That the members of this meeting pledge themselves, individually and collectively, to oppose all abolitionists, in promulgating their dangerous doctrines, by every means which to them may seem lawful and just.

7th.  Resolved, That neither Congress nor the non-slave-holding States have a right to interfere, directly or indirectly, with the slaves and slave-holders of the South; and that any such interference would be at variance with the spirit of our Constitution, and ought not to be tolerated.

8th.  Resolved, That the efforts of the abolitionists, in this State, will have a direct tendency to encourage the migration and settlement here, of swarms of free blacks and runaway slaves, from other States, thus evading the laws of Ohio, passed for the sole purpose of preventing their emigration and settlement in this State.

9th.  Resolved, That it has become the duty of the northern and western States to let their sentiments on this all absorbing subject be known, and that we recommend to the citizens of other counties in Ohio, to hold meetings, so as to give a firm and decided expression of public opinion against the doctrine of immediate and unconditional emancipation of all the slaves.

10th.  Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and be published in the Democrat and Gazette, Marietta; and that the editors of the Enquirer and Whig, Richmond, the Banner, Charleston, the Globe and Telegraph, Washington City, and Republican, Parkersburg, and other papers in Virginia, be requested to copy the same.

On motion, Resolved, That Messrs. A. V. D. Joline, Silas Cook and Wm. A. Whittlesey, Esqs. be appointed a committee to prepare and publish an address (on the subject of abolition) to the citizens of this county.

A. V. D. Joline, Chairman.

L. Chamberlin, Secretary.

Newbury Correspondence

The Marietta Register, August 22, 1872

Mr. Editor:

An incident, related at the Newbury Harvest Home Picnic, by Mr. A. L. Curtis, ought to be preserved from oblivion.  As near as I can remember, these are his words:

"Some fifty years ago, when slaves were owned on the other side of the river, an energetic colored man named Harry, purchased his freedom from his master, and came over here to work for my father, in order to obtain the balance of the purchase money.  Harry left a wife in bondage, and, as he was still in debt, there was little prospect of obtaining freedom for his wife.  They concluded, as have many since that time, that there was a shorter road to liberty; so one night Harry quietly paddled his canoe across the river, and brought his wife to this side, and made a camp among the rocks just on the other bank of that ravine, not a stone's throw from where we are now standing, hoping to get her to a place of greater security during the coming night.  the owner of the chattel, very naturally supposing that Harry had been instrumental in getting her away, came over to get her if possible.

"The woman had built a fire to keep herself warm, and the smoke betrayed her hiding place.  Stealthily creeping through the forest, they came upon the camp, and made a rush to catch her.  She saw them coming, and with a terrible scream for help, tried to escape, but was soon overtaken, and with her hands tied, was started as fast as she could run for the river.  Harry, driving a team to the plow, just on the other side of that strip of timber, heard the scream, and, divining at once that his wife was captured, seized a long hickory club, and ran to cut off their retreat to the river.  With the speed of a deer, he rushed across the field and halted the slave catchers.  With an open knife he cut the cord which bound his wife, and she fled to the woods.  One of the men raised a gun to shoot Harry.  At one bound, he caught the gun with his left hand, and with his right drew the club, at the same time telling the man that if he moved a muscle he would dash his brains out.  The club in the hands of a powerful man, drive to desperation, cowed the man, and he begged for his life.  Still keeping it drawn, he then told them that if they did not give their word not to pursue his wife again, he would slay them as he would a dog.  They gave the required promise, and the wife gained her freedom."

Abduction of Ohio Citizens

Marietta Intelligencer, July 24, 1845

The gentleman who kindly consented to fill the editor’s chair during his absence, last week, made no announcement of the late outrage committed upon 3 citizens of this county, by a body of Virginians, for the reason, we suppose, that the reports of the matter were so contradictory that the truth could not be sell ascertained.

Whatever dispute there may be as to minor details of the offence, the following particulars are doubtless correct:

On the night of the 9th inst. Mr. Craton Loraine, Mr. Peter M. Garner, and Mr. Mordecai Thomas, all citizens of Decatur, in this county, were seized on the Ohio Shore, by a body of men from Virginia, taken by force, and without process of law, to Parkersburg, where they were committed to jail. On the 18th inst. They were examined before a called County Court, and committed for trial before the Supreme Court to be held in September next – bail for their appearance having been refused. The facts that led to the abduction of these men are these:

On the evening of the 9th, six negroes, claimed as slaves of Jno. H. Harwood, living twelve miles below Parkersburg, made their escape into Ohio. Mr. H. having knowledge of their purpose, secured the services of some of his neighbors, who came over in advance of the negroes, and concealed themselves near the bank. Soon after midnight the negroes came over, and were met on the bank by Loraine, Garner, Thomas, and four others, who were aiding them in the removal of their baggage from the canoe, when the three above named were seized, as above stated, and taken to Virginia, together with five of the negroes.

With the defence of these captured men, or of those who may aid slaves when escaping, we have nothing to do. If offences are committed against the laws of Virginia, within her jurisdiction, let the offenders be legally demanded of the Governor of Ohio, the criminals removed by legal process, and the penalty of the violated law inflicted.

The claim that Virginia sets up is, that citizens of Ohio, living here, and who have never set foot on Virginia soil, are amenable to her laws! That is bad enough – too bad – so bad that a Kentucky jury upon their oaths would not, and we trust a Virginia jury will not, sanction it. But in this case, Ohio citizens are seized upon their own soil, and without process of law removed by people of another State from our territory by violence, under a pretence that they have committed a crime – where? Not in Virginia, but in their own State, to whose laws alone they are amenable, and where alone they can have a constitutional trial – viz: by a jury in the county where the act was done.

And will the citizens of Ohio, will the authorities of the State, quietly submit to such indignities? They will merit the scorn of all MEN if they do. If our laws will permit a foreign mob to seize freemen, citizens of Ohio, and violently carry them as felons into a foreign jurisdiction, let it not henceforth be said that they are made for our protection.

“Ah, but these were fanatics, meddling with what was none of their business – incendiaries, negro stealers!” Tell us not that; for if they were, and we care not what beside, the right to kidnap them confers the right to kidnap the best citizens in the State, and whoever would himself be safe must repel the principle as unjust, unholy, and full of wrong.

Early Settlers

Marietta Weekly Leader, March 9, 1886

There are few sections of our country in which the historic and the picturesque are more intimately associated than is that portion of the State of Ohio which lies along the Ohio River from the city of Marietta to a point opposite Buffington Island inclusive, a distance of perhaps 65 miles. The strip of territory mentioned is not over two miles wide at its broadest, and in some places the width is but a few hundred yards. The land lies in beautiful wide plains, which rise, one above the other, like great steps, from the river brink to the lofty, rocky and forest-crowned hills. Within the bounds referred to, the first white settlement in Ohio was made in 1788, by old soldiers of the Revolutionary War under the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam. Here to-day, may be met Israel Waldo Putnam, great grandson of General Israel Putnam, and the Stones, Tuppers, Curtises, Ames, Oakes – all descendants of Revolutionary heroes. There the Indian raided, plundered and massacred the whites. The Burr-Blennerhassett scheme was hatched here, and from these parts an ill-starred crew started in flat boats for – who knows where? Through this region John Morgan of Confederate notoriety passed on his memorable raid, and at the mouth of Little Hocking river, breastworks are yet to be seen behind which a crowd of honest yeomen of the vicinity tremblingly, they admit, awaited the raider’s approach. Mounds and earth works of some pre-historic race are to be seen in a fine state of preservation in many parts of this section.

About twenty miles down this strip of land, in an uncultivated field lying back from the river perhaps three hundred yards, is a high hill which is termed by the people living near “Mount Observation.” From the top of this hill on a clear day in spring or summer a person may obtain a fine view of Ohio river scenery. Looking in a northeasterly direction he beholds rich plains on either side of the river, dotted here and there by handsome dwelling houses, large barns, orchards and vineyards, the distant forests on the steep hillsides serving well as a background to the beautiful picture. The water shimmering in the sunlight as it moves on in gentle waves between its curved banks, old Blennerhassett Island looms up nearly four miles distant, and just beyond the island is seen the busy little city of Parkersburg, W. Va. Now and then packet boats and “tows” are seen puffing their way to or from Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans and intermediate points. Looking directly across and down the river, the Virginia bottom-lands are seen, running back to hills that rise, almost perpendicularly to great height. These lands were presented by the Government to Gen. Washington, and were surveyed by him in person. “Washington’s Bottom” was the name given to the entire tract. He cut up this tract into large farms, some of which he sold, and the remainder he gave to favorite kinsmen. The last descendant of Washington moved away shortly after the close of the late “unpleasantness” between the States.

An ordinary country road leading to Athens, O., has been cut around the south side of the “Mt. Observation” hill, and just below this hill runs the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore railroad, one of the main branches of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The railroad has been built through this part of Washington county within a comparatively few years, and runs on the bed of what was the first wagon road made by the early settlers, which will explain to a stranger why so many dwelling houses appear close to the railroad. Just south of this railroad, and perhaps a hundred yards from the foot of the hill mentioned, are the ruins of an old two-story frame dwelling-house, painted red, and a small barn, which was always well filled with hay and straw. In ante bellum days the tenants of this place were comparatively little known in the community. They would move in, stay a short time, and depart; soon another family from some place up the river would take possession, stay awhile, then go as had their predecessors. Such changes were frequent. The fact was, these tenants were engaged in what was unlawful work – running off slaves from their masters; helping slave negroes to reach Canada. The tenants were wise in not making acquaintances, and in not staying very long in that place, for had it become known around what occupation they followed, they would have found that river-side residence a very unhealthy location from other causes than malaria.

It was a long time before white persons, except those engaged in the work, suspected the character of the place, but the negroes just across the river, through some subtle means, had learned much concerning it, and often looked toward the spot with longing yet cautious eyes. Hundreds of negroes living many miles away had heard of its existence. It was the first “Underground Railway” station established in Ohio. The main stem of this railway in the West ran from the ruins above mentioned to the village of Belpre, O., directly opposite Parkersburg, W. Va. The watchful, but ever appearing innocent manager of the road in this section was Col. “Jack” Stone, a man of ample means and well known, who resided in Belpre. He died about a year since, aged nearly ninety years. He was never caught secreting slaves, but so much was he suspicioned, that at one time he was warned not to come to Parkersburg under the penalty of being shot. The line of freedom was so near to the negroes of this section of slavery that ultra measures were resorted to in order to keep the slaves, and harsh means sometimes used on those who expressed much opposition to established institutions.

Many negroes succeeded in reaching the Ohio shores despite the watchfulness of their masters. Usually they crossed the river by night and down by the somewhat secluded station, now in ruins. Once over, they cautiously made their way to the station, where, in some manner, they made the agent aware of their presence. If it were not too near morning they were conducted at once to Belpre. In other cases they were put under the hay or straw in the barn, or taken to some caves which were in the not distant woods and there kept, being fed from the agent’s table until an opportunity offered for a move forward.

Some years ago, when they were building the C. W. & B. R. R. a contractor needed a large stone for some purpose, and seeing such an one on the hillside partly hidden by trees, he concluded to remove it. He did so, and a cave was disclosed in which were the skeletons of a man, woman and child. It was supposed they were of runaway negroes who had been concealed there and either starved or froze to death. At one time a man lived at the station who proved recreant to his trust. On several occasions he, instead of assisting the slaves to escape, awaited the coming of their masters which usually followed in quick order after any were received, and for good compensation agreed to search for the missing ones. He generally found them. Sometimes, however, this same fellow took the money and did not find the negroes. He would, too, on hearing that certain slaves from a distance were on their way toward Ohio, and that a large reward was offered for their capture, take the first negroes arriving thereafter that appeared to answer the description of the runaways, send them to the caves, and there keep them until called for by the owners. It has been thought that the skeletons mentioned were of slaves intended to return, but they freezing to death on his hands, he let them remain, said nothing, and closed up the cave.

Col. Stone’s assistant at Belpre was a Mr. Neal of Virginia, the owner of Neal’s Island, in the Ohio river. He is now a merchant in Parkersburg. Although his family were slave-owners, he was a fearless, loud-spoken Abolitionist. His wife was an aunt of “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jackson was reared by Neal. The taciturnity and temperance principles of Jackson, however, were – must have been – inherent. Neal was a much more daring man than Stone, and, though small in person, often openly defied parties that would threaten him. He never acknowledged in the past, however, that he was a conductor on the “Underground Railway.” On one occasion, when a lot of slaves mysteriously disappeared from the vicinity, Neal was seen putting out in a boat from Belpre. A crowd soon gathered at the Parkersburg wharf, expecting Neal to land there. When about half way across, he turned his boat up stream, much to the chagrin of the lookers-on. “Stop, stop!” the latter shouted; “stop, or we will fire,” several drawing pistols. “Fire and be ----,” replied Neal, as he paddled on to his home. Several shots were fired at him, but he was not struck.

There were various means tried to catch Col. Stone napping. Could it have been proved that either he or any of the others were instrumental in getting slaves into freedom they would have received, according to the law then in existence, severe punishment. On one occasion several men from Virginia, disguised as negroes, went over to Stone’s late at night, and knocking apparently in a timid way, awoke him. Col. Stone asked him from his bed what they wanted. “Slaves, massa, slaves; we’s dun runned away.” “Then get out you black rascals! How dare you come near my house?” and jumping from his bed he seized a gun standing in the corner of his room, threw open his door and raised a window, when he saw several men making a hasty retreat for the river. “If I catch you I’ll carry you to Parkersburg,” he shouted loud enough to be heard by them. He then closed the window and went to bed. They had not given the proper signal. From Stone’s place the negroes were conducted to Pennsville, O., a Quaker settlement about twenty miles north of Belpre, and then on through obscure places to Canada. The slavery question in this country is settled forever; the citizens of Parkersburg have built up an extensive trade with their Ohio neighbors; good feeling prevails on both sides of the Ohio river at these points, and the “Underground Railway” has long been numbered with the many other interesting incidents and events of this historic region. The most material things left of the railway are the ruins of its first station in Ohio.

M. L. H.