Shooting the Town Bull at Parkersburg in 1845

The Marietta Register, January 2, 1868

The Parkersburg Gazette has been publishing some historical sketches of that place - written, we judge, by J. E. Wharton, Esq. The following is his account of an affair which caused much laughter at the time. It was, if we are not in error, in 1845, when Garner, Lorraine and Thomas of Decatur Township, this county, lay in Parkersburg jail, having been seized by Virginians, at the Ohio shore, just below Blennerhassett, for aiding in the escape of slaves. He says:

"The town bull story is one of the institutions of our place. In 1840 or about that time, there were numerous slaves run across the Ohio, as was supposed by the Ohio abolitionists. A company was raised to defend the 'peculiar institution' from the Bohemians - Capt. Daggs commanded. The boys were kept on qui vive every night with the guns, pistols and sabres in good condition, and they had fun at wholesale, on night there was an extra alarm. All were called to duty. 

"The Captain came up street with sword drawn and pistols cocked and called his men to order, and they were drawn up in line on Ann Street about Court. Some had just come from visiting the girls, some from the whisky shops and some from a sound nap. They listened. There was a stir in the bushes that embellished the borders of Pond run. The soldiers listened with all their ears and watched with all their eyes. 

"The word went out that the abolitionists had landed and were forcing their way up to the very muzzles of their guns. The bushes cracked, the Captain trembled in his boots, some ran for safer points, and something dark parted the bushes, and Captain thundered out, fi-fi-fire. About twenty guns rang out upon the midnight air. 

"The sound was followed by another, more dreadful still. It was 'boo-bo-baugh,' a cross between the sound of a steam whistle, thunder and an ungreased car wheel - the bushes cracked again. There was a heavy thud and all was still. A part of the soldiers looked and kited for their homes.

"The next morning there was a crowd of boys examining the corpse of the town bull in those bushes. His skin was so full of holes that it was unfit to tan, and they buried him in the run from which his ghost sometimes arose, in low water, and glared with solemn anger across the river toward the abolitionists who had been the primary cause of his untimely death.

"The escape of slaves through some means, either by the aid of abolitionists in Ohio, or of their own motion, was so great that it is not surprising that deep and general feeling pervaded our people, and mistakes or follies were committed in the defence of what was then regarded everywhere as a property peculiarly valuable and sacred, as it was not only the money value of slaves that was lost, but valuable house servants that could not be replaced, were lost."

In place here we print the lines below, written at the time by A. Winchester, the clever old gentleman who now resides in Harmar. We have had the manuscript in our hands for a long time:

The Mighty Battle

Listen, ye brave of every land and clime,

While I relate strange prodigies in rhyme,

Such deeds of valor never done before,

Were acted near the great Ohio shore.

Let bards no more attempt to tune the lyre

To sing the praises of the ancient Tyre;

No ancient city, though of great renown,

Could e'er compare with our great modern town.

Let old Athens boast not of laurels won,

Nor Spartan warriors of the deeds they've done;

Let learned men no more their pens employ

To celebrate the deeds of ancient Troy.

And mighty Rome with all her pomp and pride,

Compared with us, I'm sure would step aside;

Her fair fained laurels at our feet would yield

And own us mighty in the battle field.

Behold! our men are not afraid to die,

They cross the river and in ambush lie,

With dirks and pistols there, in dreadful fight,

Three Buckeyes captured in the dead of night.

Our valiant soldiers of the best renown,

Were now enrolled throughout our famous town,

To guard the prison and secure the place,

Against the onsets from the Buckeye race.

But lo! one dark and solitary night,

An abolition host appear'd in sight;

Our brave and warlike men reserved their fire,

Until the foe advanced a little higher.

Fired with the thoughts of victory and fame,

They raise their muskets, take deliberate aim,

The word was fire, and oh! what showers of lead!

The day was gained; THE OLD TOWN BULL WAS DEAD!

                                                            Satireacilus

Marriage License Record Indicates Much Perjury

The Marietta Daily Times, January 1, 1930

A new high record was hung up by the Washington County marriage license bureau at the probate court for 1929 when a total of 508 licenses to wed were issued. The previous high mark, 418, was made in 1928. The increase in marriage licenses issued here is plainly out of proportion to population figures of Washington County and persons interested may ask that the grand jury investigate with reference to breaking up perjury that is believed to be frequently committed by applicants.

The latest instance of this sort occurred on Tuesday, closing day of the year, when Frank H. Flaig and Miss Thelma E. Dulin, both of Parkersburg, W. Va., procured licenses. Both gave their sworn residence as Belpre. Flaig swore he was 22 years of age and Miss Dulin swore that she is 21.

An hour after the license was issued, Frank F. Flaig, the father of the bridegroom, appealed to the Marietta police to help find the couple, declaring that his son had stolen the family automobile in which to make a runaway marriage trip.

 The father not only exploded the idea that the couple were residents of Belpre, but he declared his boy is 20 years old and his bride is only 19. He said they never had resided in Washington County. He returned to Parkersburg declaring he would take steps to have the marriage annulled.

Dozens of West Virginia couples are believed to have sworn falsely in probate court in the past year. The majority of them have given Belpre as the bride's home. Within the last few years more "Belpre girls" than ever lived in that town have procured licenses in Washington County.

June and August vied for high honors at the marriage license bureau, with the Augustus Caesar month excelling by one. August brought 71 couples and June 70. The monthly record for the year follows: January, 21; February, 36; March, 29; April, 37; May, 30; June, 70; July, 30; August, 71; September, 41; October, 50; November, 43; December, 50.

 

New Bridge Dedicated

The Marietta Daily Times, May 1, 1916

Formal dedication of the Parkersburg-Belpre bridge, which has been open for travel since a week ago, drew an enormous throng of people to the Wood County seat on Saturday afternoon. The weather was ideal for the occasion, and a number of speakers made addresses during the ceremonies.

President E. M. Gilkinson of the Parkersburg Board of Commerce, who presided at the affair, introduced H. P. Camden, president of the Parkersburg-Ohio Bridge company, who spoke on behalf of the Parkersburg Board of Commerce. J. Mentor Caldwell, former president of the Parkersburg Board of Commerce and the man to whom is given credit of first conceiving the practicability of a bridge between the two towns, was introduced by A. E. Kennedy and gave an interesting talk. Former Governor White of West Virginia also made a brief address, as did also Dr. F. B. Ames.

An automobile parade, the largest ever witnessed in Parkersburg, was a pleasing feature of the affair. Many of the cars were gorgeously decorated.

Another charming feature of the ceremonies was the march across the bridge of little Misses Dorothy McGrew of Belpre and Mary Camden of Parkersburg, hand in hand, each carrying banners bearing the mottoes and coats of arms of Ohio and West Virginia.

More than 400 were present at the "Dollar Dinner," which was given at 6 o'clock Saturday evening, and at which many speakers, including Mayor Allen C. Murdoch of Parkersburg, U.S. Senator William E. Chilton of Charleston, former Governor White and Hon. James A. Wakefield of Pittsburgh, made addresses.

Stop Thief!

American Friend, May 8, 1818

Twenty Dollars Reward.

Ran away from the subscriber, on Sunday March the 29th, a black man named HARRY, formerly owned by Capt. Compton, and Mr. Higgs of Wood county, Va. Said Harry is about fifty years of age, stout made, about five feet five or six inches high, generally wears a bushy grey beard, and is of a silent, sullen disposition, unless he has been drinking liquor.

He had on a dark linsey woolsey round jacket, buckskin pantaloons and very large shoes: he has likewise a bundle of summer clothing. When he went off, he stole a black mare, a brown surtout coat, an English musket with double eights, and several smaller articles. The mare has since been recovered.

He will probably tarry at some of the towns on the Ohio, or proceed further back. The above reward will be paid for securing him, by

                                               C. Schultz, Wood Co.

                                                           Near Marietta, Ohio.

May 7th, 1818.

Abner Lord - Early Businessman of Marietta

The Marietta Register July 17, 1873

Among the prominent business men of Marietta at the beginning of this century was Col. Abner Lord. Co. Lord emigrated from North Lynn Connecticut, to Vienna, Wood County, Virginia, soon after the close of the Indian War of 1795. Vienna was a small village, situated on the Ohio, just above  the farm owned by Dr. Joseph Spencer, and nearly opposite the residence of the late Judge Cutler. It contained some twenty or thirty houses, all of which have since been removed. The place, though very handsomely situated on beautiful ground, was not favorable to the growth of a town. 

The exact time when Col. Lord removed to Marietta, I am not able to give, probably about 1800. He engaged in merchandizing, and also in ship building. His place of business was in a building at the foot of Front Street, on the Ohio riverbank. His shipyard was on the ground now occupied by the Phoenix Mills. His dwelling house, which he erected for his own use, was the house now occupied by Charles Biszantz, known as the "Biszantz House," on Butler Street.

His master builder in the shipyard was Whittington W. McGrath. He continued ship building from 1802 to 1807 inclusive, when the business was suspended by the embargo. During that period, he built the following named vessels:

1802 - Brig "Marietta" 150 tons.

1803 - Schooner "Whitney," 75 tons.

1803 - Schooner "McGrath," 75 tons.

1804 - Ship "Temperance," 230 tons.

1805 - Ship "John Atkinson," 320 tons.

1807 - Ship "Rufus Putnam," 300 tons.

1807 - Brig "Collotta," 140 tons.

Col. Lord's wife was Miss Mary Selden, sister of Mrs. Dr. Spencer of Wood County, Virginia.

Their children were Sophia, Polly, Betsy, Temperance, Eliza, and Abner R. Sophia married George Cass of Muskingum County, and Polly married Jonathan Guitteau, Marietta. These marriages were on the 18th of May 1809. Betsy married Capt. Eliphalet Fraser, November 28, 1809;Temperance married Thomas Backus of Franklin County; Eliza married Major A. J. McDowell of Columbus, the father of Gen. Irvin McDowell, U.S. Army.

Abner R. Lord was a successful merchant in the city of New York, but was never married. He died many years since.

Capt. Fraser was killed by the explosion of a steamboat on the Mississippi River. He left two sons, James A. Fraser and Abner L. Fraser, both well known business men of Cincinnati, who are now living. Mrs. Fraser afterwards married Hon. Benjamin Tappen of Steubenville, some time U.S. Senator from Ohio.

Col. Lord was married a second time, to Miss Ely of New York. They had three daughters: Phebe D. was married to Dr. Andrews of Steubenville; Sarah C. was married to John Ely of New York; and Mary S. who died without marrying, at the age of 20.

Col. Lord removed from Marietta about 1811, to Franklin County, Ohio, where he died in 1821.

A.T.N.

Henderson Trust Sale

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, November 7, 1827

Under the authority of a deed of trust made to the subscribers by Alexander Henderson of Wood County and his wife for the benefit of Richard H. Henderson & others, dated the 11th of December 1825 and recorded in the Clerk's office of said County court of Wood, Deed Book No. 6, page 651, will be offered for sale for cash before the front door of the court house in Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia, on the 26th day of January, 1828, the tract of land in said deed described.

This is one of the finest farms in all Western Virginia, & take it altogether, none is known more attractive. It is situated in the county of Wood, immediately on the Ohio, and consists of upwards of 400 acres of rich bottom, beside the hill land adjoining. The bottom is all cleared and in cultivation, and yields the most abundant crops, it is about half a mile wide and never overflows.

The improvements are excellent, a large, new and commodious dwelling, a spacious barn, still-house, &c. &c. extensive orchards of choice fruits, and first rate meadows.

The estate is about 12 miles above Marietta and 24 above Parkersburg. A good market for its small productions is afforded by the boats which continually ply before it, and one of the routes examined for the projected Baltimore Railroad strikes the Ohio at this estate. The islands in front of the tract, as described in the deed, will be sold with it. A farmer, grazier, or active man of business would find this place every way worth his enquiry; and for picturesque beauty of situation and prospect, it is almost unrivaled. The undersigned convey the title vested in them, which is believed to be sound.

Erasmus G. Hamilton

James McIlhany

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 .

 

 

 

Parkersburg Florists to Put Agency in Marietta

Marietta Daily Journal, September 1, 1915

J. W. Dudley Sons, prominent florists of Parkersburg, have taken over the retail store of the Marietta Floral Company at 290 Front Street, and beginning today, will operate it as a branch of their Parkersburg establishment.

The Marietta concern will turn its large hot houses in Rathbone Addition over to the raising of vegetables under glass and will confine its activities in the future to this profitable branch of the business. Only the retail end of the Marietta business was sold.

 

Supernatural Knocking

The Marietta Intelligencer, February 14, 1850:

Some time since we were requested to publish a detailed account of a mysterious "Knocking at the Door," at nights which alarmed the people of Rochester, N.Y., who attributed it to spiritual agency. Not having much faith, we declined inserting the report of a Committee appointed to investigate the matter, or to notice particularly the statements of the press. The mystery was explained by a learned professor in the American Journal of Science as the effect of the vibration of a dam over which water falls. It turns out, however, to have been a trick played upon the wise ones by some mischievous girls. It was a piece with the mysterious ghost-talkings of some Pugh family in Wood County, Virginia, a few years ago - which most of our readers here-abouts well remember.

Brother Jonathan, Vol. 4, No. 5, Feb. 4, 1843:

The Last Ghost Story - A Mr. Pugh, formerly of Wood county, Va., who died some years ago, is said to have revisited this wicked world within the last two weeks, and every night holds a conversation with his children. We are prepared for any exhibition of credulity and superstition which may be offered us. The success of Mormonism and Millerism makes every thing in that way possible.

Marietta Intelligencer, January 19, 1843:

Ghosts. We have a strange account of the appearance of ghosts to the people across the Ohio in Wood County, Virginia. A Mr. Pugh, who deceased some years since, has come back to this sinful world and every night holds conversation with his children. So goes the story. Our correspondent "Nimshy" thinks it strange that"Pugh should rise first," as indeed do all the old gentleman's acquaintances.

 

On the Day Before Her Death Came Word of a Fortune

The Daily Register, January 23, 1899

Parkersburg, West Virginia, January 20 - Mrs. J. P. Eddy died suddenly in Ritchie County, yesterday. The life of Mrs. Eddy was a very romantic one.

She was raised in luxury in Pennsylvania and was married to Eddy against the wishes of her parents. She accompanied her husband to a small cabin on a rented farm in Ritchie County. She adapted herself to the surroundings and the couple were supremely happy amid hardships. They were frugal and industrious and were soon able to purchase the farm, and additions were made until the farm became a large estate and the cabin gave way to a more comfortable home.

Later if was found that the Eddy farm was splendid oil territory, and riches poured in upon them, but happiness departed. Troubles ensued, engendered by jealousy, and both parties sued for divorce. Several weeks ago Mrs. Eddy went to Harrisville where depositions were taken in her case. On her way home she was taken with a chill, and the next day she was suffering with pneumonia.

During all these years she had not heard from her girlhood home in Pennsylvania, but on the day before her death, a letter bearing the postmark of her native town was handed her. It was from a prominent attorney, a friend of her youth. He wrote that her father and mother were both dead, and in the settlement of the vast estate, her share was $80,000. Her death occurred the next day.

[Phebe Stackpole Eddy, died 27 Dec 1898?]