Illicit Distillery Suppressed

The Marietta Register, April 11, 1872

On Friday last, April 5th, Messrs. Woodbridge and Barber, Government Revenue officers, took possession of a small distillery in Waterford Township, together with two stills, and from 25 to 50 gallons of whisky, manufactured and unmanufactured. The distillery belonged to a Mr. Hiram Beach, and he has been running it contrary to law since early last fall. 

The penalty for a violation of the revenue law in respect to the distillation of liquors is very severe, including the confiscation of the machinery, buildings and property on which the distillery is located, and in extreme cases confinement in the penitentiary. The still, liquor, &c. were stored with Devol & Bowen, Beverly, and the officers are awaiting instructions from Washington. The property will probably be sold.

Letter From Robert Oliver

Gazette of the United States, July 21, 1790

From the Hampshire Gazette -

Mr. Butler -  As every information from gentlemen of veracity relative to the Ohio Company is likely to be of public utility, I send you the following extract of a letter from Col. Robert Oliver, who has lived there almost two years, not doubting but it will be agreeably received by your customers in general, and in particular those interested in said Country - the public service being my only motive. I am yours, &c. William Sizer.

Wolf[creek], May 25, 1790.

Dear Sir, 

I shall endeavor to answer your letter methodically and, in the first place, do assure you the report that we were obliged to move to the city on account of the Indians, was every part thereof false and without the least foundation. The Indians have killed one man and stole some horses, which is all the mischief they have done on the purchase since my arrival. They appear to be very friendly and to bear a great regard for the Yankies, as they call us.

I lived at the city the first winter, and in the spring took up my land at this place, and undertook with three others to build mills, which we have completed and they are of the first rate.I raised last season about 100 bushels of corn, some potatoes, turnips, &c. &c. I moved my family here last September and have lived her ever since - have not been in the last disturbed. I have caught near two barrels of fish, some suckers, perch and pike; I have taken pike here of 24 lb. They appear to be of the same kind of the pickerel in New England.

I like my situation well, my land is exceeding good. You wish to know the summer season. It would not be worthwhile to give you a detail of every day. Let it suffice to say, the summer season appears to be well calculated to nourish the growth of the fruits of the earth. The weather in summer is not warmer, as I can perceive, than in New England, but of longer duration. 

The bottom land is as heavy timbered in general as the beech and maple land in Chester. The hills are oak and hickory, the most beautiful timber for building I ever saw. The face of the earth is not covered with stones as in New England, but they appear to be in quarries and are discovered upon the sides of hills and at the sides and bottom of creeks. They are almost, or entirely, either lime or free stone. The free stone makes as good grind stones as the Nova Scotia stone and are excellent for building. We have plenty of good clay. The boards the joiners use are yellow poplar, cherry and black walnut, of which there is great plenty.

The hills are about one mile from the Ohio at the mouth of the Muskingum. This is not all bottom land, part of it is what we call second bottom, and part an oak plain. The land at or near the point is flowed, I believe, once a year at least, occasioned by the water of the Ohio and Muskingum overflowing their banks, they being somewhat low. This is also the case with some part of the bottoms up the Muskingum. These bottoms will not bear wheat at present, for they are by far too rich, but the plains and hills appear to be excellent for wheat.

You request to know how many families there are at or near Marietta, but of this I am unable to inform you. There are three settlements here, one at Marietta, one down the Ohio and commences about twelve miles from Marietta and continues for near six miles. There is another at this place of about sixteen families, besides men who have not got their families and a number of single men. This settlement is about fourteen miles by land, but twenty-four by water, from Marietta. 

Provisions the last summer were very plenty. Flour sold at two dollars per hundred weight, bacon seven pence and eight pence per pound, whiskey three shillings and sixpence and four shillings per gallon, and almost every other necessary of life was sold at as low a rate. But provisions are now scarce and high. A vast quantity of flour is gone down to New Orleans (at the mouth of the Mississippi), but although provisions are scarce I believe we shall make a rub of it, and with a common blessing shall raise this year double the quantity of grain necessary for the support of the people on the ground. 

I must close my letter by giving you my real judgment (and it is founded partly on reason and partly on experience) on the difference between supporting a family here and with you. Take farms of a middling quality and equal improvements, I can raise three pounds of pork, two of beef, two of wool, two yards of common broad cloth, two pounds of butter, two and a half of bread, and two of all sorts of vegetables, as easy as you can one in New England. Believe me, Sir, I do not exaggerate.

.  

Letter From Colonel McIntosh

The Marietta Register, April 12, 1883

Fellow Citizens and Brother Pioneers:

Compelled by sickness I very reluctantly forgo the pleasure of being with you to-day.

You meet to commemorate one of the great historical events of this Nation.  The territory comprising the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin did not contain men enough until 1798 to entitle it to a Territorial legislature.  What gigantic strides have been made since that time the now millions of inhabitants attest.

Recalling the names of some of the old Pioneers of this neighborhood, or rather more properly speaking, near Olive Green, who lived in that vicinity, perhaps from 1790 to 1810, I am reminded of Robert Philander and Jared Andrews, Gen. Eli Cogswell and his brother Salmon, Aaron Delong, Henry Delong, Jesse and Ezekiel Davis, Stephen Clark, Nathaniel Chapman, Phineas and Nicholas Coburn, Josiah and Ezra Sherman, Thomas Seely, Jesse Gibbs, Peter Keith and his sons, Peter and Benjamin.

These Keiths were quite extensive manufacturers of bells for horses, cows and sheep, which with the aid of hammer and anvil they wrought from Juniata Iron.  When they had accumulated sufficient stock they loaded their horses with the same and traveled about the country selling them; having disposed of their stock, with the money so procured they entered U. S. lands.  Continuing their ventures until they became well-to-do farmers.  Their sons are now among the wealthy men of the west.

Wolf Creek has a history not to be forgotten at this time, and I trust some one more conversant with the early history of that locality will have prepared some incidents of early settlement for this meeting.

Referring to this meeting and her early recollections of this neighborhood, "Mrs. Fanny Gage" (well known to all of you as the daughter of Colonel Barker), in writing to my wife, says, "Born and brought up in the early days of Ohio, the State being but six years old at the time of my birth, its people were few and far between and the enemies of new settlements in the wilderness, the Indians, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and perhaps more than all, the mighty giants of the forests that overshadowed the place where they lived, gave admonition to the Pioneers of the fortitude necessary to that success.

"These early settlers were truly a band of brothers and sisters with open hands and loving hearts; the needs of one were the needs of all.

"My father's house on the great thoroughfare from the first settled town - Marietta - was called the 'free tavern,' the first stopping place - and the old barrel spring gushing from the nose of the hill, whose pure sweet water, always a luxury, made us acquainted with all the goers and comers of nearly all the Pioneers of Ohio - there was scarcely a family I did not know from Zanesville to Marietta.  Never was there a grander or more determined set of men than those old Pioneers of Ohio - what a state it has grown, how its records of good, and wise and valiant men looms up among the Nations of the earth."  And she adds, "How I wish I could be with you."

Realizing the necessity of brevity when so many of you will have much to say in so limited a time.  Yet I cannot refrain from relating an incident connected with the "Old Red House" in which I was born.  It was after the Battle of New Orleans which occurred on the 8th of January and, owing to the primitive manner of transmitting intelligence the news, did not reach Marietta until February 22nd, on which day the citizens assembled in the hall of the "Old Red House" to hold a meeting of rejoicing.

Col. Joseph Barker was chairman of the meeting, the excitement running so high that while he was speaking he mounted a table, seized and raised a split bottom chair upon which he had been sitting and in his wild gesticulations thrust the legs through the ceiling, dislodging the plastering which came down upon the heads of the astonished audience, much to their merriment.

Wishing you all a continued and prosperous existence, and many returns of this anniversary, I am fraternally Your Brother Pioneer,

E. S. McIntosh

Beverly and Waterford Awake!

Marietta Intelligencer, May 1, 1861

Ed. Intelligencer:

The fire is up in Old Waterford!  Saturday evening a call was made to form a company of Home Guards, and 104 enrolled their names immediately, and to-day the number has been increased to nearly 200.  Our town is literally covered with flags.  Yesterday (Sunday) it was suggested that a pole and flag be put up near the locks before the boat came up with Captain Buell's company.  The plan was immediately put into operation, and this morning at 9 o'cl'k, we raised a pole 150 feet high, and run up the stars and stripes, amid the shouts of the assembled multitude.

The ladies volunteered to make the flag, and they did it in double quick time.  The flag is 17 by 56 feet, and was carried down to the pole by a number of ladies, headed by the fife and drum.  All honor the patriotic ladies of Beverly.

About 600 people assembled at the lock to-day to give Captain Buell's company a reception.  As the boat entered the lock the Home Guards, under command of Captain C. R. Barclay, fired a salute, and the Beverly Brass Band struck up Hail Columbia.  As soon as the band ceased playing, the Beverly Vocal Band sung that patriotic and soul stirring son, "My Native Land," in a style that was loudly applauded by the crowd.  After this C. R. Barclay, Esq., made a brief, pertinent, and patriotic address to the company, which was briefly responded to by George P. Buell, Esq., in behalf of the company.  Four young men from Beverly, volunteered to go with Captain Buell's company.  Our old fellow citizen, Col. E. S. McIntosh, bought up all the undershirts and drawers in town, for the use of those who went from here, and Captain Buell's company.  The purse strings of all are open.  There is no party feeling here, but all feel alike for the Union and Liberty.

Old Waterford is waked up, and will do her duty.

P.

Beverly, April 22d, 1861.