The Home News, May 14, 1859
The most destructive fire with which Marietta has ever been visited broke out at five o’clock, on Thursday afternoon. It originated in a barn situated on the extreme rear of the lot on Green street, occupied by A. Bundschu, caused by the carelessness of some boys, who were melting lead in that dangerous locality.
The building, containing hay and other extremely combustible materials, was almost instantly in flames, which spread with great rapidity to the adjoining out-buildings in the rear of the Bank, on Front street in one direction, and toward Green street in the other. The alarm was instantly given, and people with buckets in their hands, hurried to the scene from all directions. Three engines were soon on the spot. All worked with an energy sufficient to have confined the flames to a small compass, had there been a proper head or sufficient authority.
The result was the destruction of about twenty-five buildings, extending from the Bank, on Front street, around and up Green street to Second, and up Second to L. M. Parker’s carriage factory – excepting the last named building, and the brick residence of J. M. Booth, on Green street, the brick store occupied by S. R. Turner, on the corner of Front and Green, and the store occupied by A. Allen, next door to it, on Front street. The following are the particulars, which are as near accurate as they can be made.
Front Street:
No. 16, Holden’s block, occupied by Buell & Bro. Druggists, and the Intelligencer office. Building slightly injured but saved by great exertions. Occupants little damaged, though the Intelligencer office was slightly disordered.
No. 14, owned and occupied by the Marietta Bank. Roof and upper floor destroyed. Loss about $1500. No insurance. All the Bank valuables were placed in the safe, and are uninjured. F. Buell, attorney at law, occupied an office on the 2nd floor, loss triflings. Also, an engineer’s office of the M. & C. R. R. whose loss in transit and other instruments is about $500.
Nos. 10 and 12, two-story brick, owned by James Holden, and occupied by Bosworth, Wells & Co. dry goods, groceries and hardware dealers. Building totally destroyed; loss $3000 – insured $1200 in Washington Co. Mutual. The contents of the stores were soon emptied into the street, but the heavy stock in the Warehouse in the rear was principally burned. Loss $10,000 – fully insured.
No. 8, three-story brick owned by A. T. Nye & Brother, and occupied by Nye & Huntington, hardware dealers, who saved most of their goods. Loss on building $1200 – insured for $600 in W. C. Mutual. Loss on goods $600 to $1000 – insured $2000 in Etna.
No. 6, three-story brick, occupied by A. Allen, dry goods and groceries – loss $100, no insurance.
Nos. 4 and 2, corner Green, three-story brick occupied by S. R. Turner, dry goods and groceries. No loss except by removal of goods. Insured $400 – in Etna, Hartford, Ct. The three last buildings are owned by Joseph Holden, Sr. and sustained but slight damage, the rear wall of the third story of No. 6 having fallen out. Insured in W. C. Mutual for $1600.
Green Street:
No. 2, three-story brick owned and occupied by C. & S. Shipman & Co. dry goods dealers. Building entirely destroyed; loss $2000, insured for $800 in W. C. Mutual and $800 in Hartford. Loss on goods $1000, insured $4000.
No. 3, three-story brick, owned by I. R. Waters and occupied by S. Slocomb & Co. boot and shoe manufacturers. Building entirely destroyed – loss $3000, insured for $1500 in W. C. Mutual Goods in the 1st story mostly saved – the heavy amount of stock and manufactured work for the fall trade on 2nd and 3rd floors, could not be got out. Loss $8000 or $9000, fully insured.
No. 4, three-story brick owned by J. M. Booth, and occupied as a Grocery on the first floor by J. J. Brenan, and above by Slocomb & Co. Brenan’s loss $1000, insured $800. Building insured for $900 in W. C. Mutual.
No. 5, four-story brick owned and occupied by H. Brenan as a liquor store, grocery and dwelling. Walls only standing. Loss $2000. No insurance.
No. 6, four-story brick owned by Mrs. E. Taylor and occupied by A. Bundschu as a lager beer and billiard saloon and dwelling. Walls standing – loss on building $1500. No insurance. Bundschu’s loss about $500 – no insurance.
Adjoining, on the corner of the alley, two-story brick owned by J. M. Booth, and occupied by him as a dwelling. Furniture removed. Damage slight. Insured for $1000 in W. C. Mutual.
From the alley to Second street was a range of not very valuable frame buildings, and two small brick ones, owned by Hugh Hill, Marietta Lodge No. 67, I.O.O.F., John Richards, J. Ebinger, and others, on which there was no insurance, excepting $300 on Ebinger’s in the W. C. Mutual. They were occupied by F. Conrath, lager beer saloon, another similar establishment adjoining, Kunz & Meagel, dry goods and groceries, Davis & Smith, Shoemakers, J. Coulter, residence and Saddlery, A. Leonhart, tailor shop and residence, J. & D. Miller, bakers, and J. Ebinger, saddler. Also, several buildings on the alley, small and not of much value, owned by J. Richards, who has some eight or nine houses burned, and is without insurance. Loss $3000 or $4000.
The entire space burned covers about a third of one of our immense squares – equal to about two New York squares. The entire loss of property will not exceed $45,000; and exclusive of insurance, not $20,000.
Accidents
In tearing down the ten-pin alley of J. Richards, on Second street, the roof fell on M. J. Morse, and very seriously injured him. He is in good hands and will recover. One or two boys were slightly injured. Next morning, J. B. Rothwell, at work on the sidewalk under the wall of the bank, was severely injured by the falling of a piece of cornice and several loose bricks, which hit him on the back of the head.
* The people labored untiringly in subduing the flames and saving property; yet special praise should be awarded to D. A. Belden, J. T. Hart, N. Bishop, jr, and one or two strangers for their well directed and persistent efforts.
* The Ladies – bless their noble hearts – were among the most active volunteers at the late fire, and did good service, and worked like heroes, while sundry of the male tribe calmly looked on and did – nothing.
* Marshal J. I. Goldsmith lost a Portemonaie at the late fire, containing $38 in gold, $50 in bills, and sundry notes, receipts, &c. The finder should be honest enough to return it.
Removals
Bosworth, Wells & Co. reopen their business in Lammott’s old stand, where they will remain until their new store is completed.
Nye & Huntington have removed their goods to Hall, Matthews & Co’s. warehouse, on Ohio street. Their store will be repaired immediately.
C. & S. Shipman & Co. will occupy the store of W. B. Thomas & Co. on Ohio street. They expect to have their late store rebuilt, with all the modern improvements, inside of two months.
S. Slocomb & Co. will occupy part of Dana, Rossiter & Co’s. store, as a sales room, for the present.
J. J. Brenan can be found hereafter at the old Exchange office, Green street, where he will be happy to see his customers and the public.
* A fraction of what was lost by the fire on Thursday would have fully equipped a well organized company for the Conqueror, given it and the Defiance each one thousand feet more of hose, and equipped a good and serviceable Hook and Ladder company. The condition the Hooks were in would disgrace a much smaller town than Marietta. Much valuable time was lost in hunting them up, and after they were found it was discovered that they were valueless. Cannot the Council do something to promote more efficiency in our fire department?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Old Printing Press Burned
The Home News, May 21, 1859
“Antiquary” informs us, that an old Ramage Press on which the first paper ever issued in Marietta was printed, was burned in Messrs. Shipman’s cellar in the late fire. Well, what of it? It wasn’t worth house room – wouldn’t make decent kindling wood. It met a just fate for the fibs it had doubtless been the means of promulgating to an innocent and confiding people. N.B. Couldn’t its ashes be gathered up carefully and presented to the Ohio Historical Society? Or perhaps the “Pioneer Association” would consent to take charge of them.
“Antiquary” informs us, that an old Ramage Press on which the first paper ever issued in Marietta was printed, was burned in Messrs. Shipman’s cellar in the late fire. Well, what of it? It wasn’t worth house room – wouldn’t make decent kindling wood. It met a just fate for the fibs it had doubtless been the means of promulgating to an innocent and confiding people. N.B. Couldn’t its ashes be gathered up carefully and presented to the Ohio Historical Society? Or perhaps the “Pioneer Association” would consent to take charge of them.
Improvements Following the Fire
The Home News, May 28, 1859
Mr. J. T. Hart has completed the stone foundation of the new stores of Bosworth, Wells & Co. They appear to be the most substantial. Mr. James Lewis, the contractor for the brick work, intends to have the walls up ready for the roof, inside of four weeks.
The Bank Building is roofed in, and will soon be ready for reoccupation. It is generally regretted that the directors of that institution did not think proper to put on a third story, uniform with the fine structure that Mr. James Holden is putting up on the ruins of the building recently occupied by Bosworth, Wells & Co.
Shipman & Co. and J. M. Booth have purchased the site of Slocomb’s late Shoe establishment of I. R. Waters, for $1000, and will erect there-on two fine structures, in place of the three which were burned.
Mr. J. T. Hart has completed the stone foundation of the new stores of Bosworth, Wells & Co. They appear to be the most substantial. Mr. James Lewis, the contractor for the brick work, intends to have the walls up ready for the roof, inside of four weeks.
The Bank Building is roofed in, and will soon be ready for reoccupation. It is generally regretted that the directors of that institution did not think proper to put on a third story, uniform with the fine structure that Mr. James Holden is putting up on the ruins of the building recently occupied by Bosworth, Wells & Co.
Shipman & Co. and J. M. Booth have purchased the site of Slocomb’s late Shoe establishment of I. R. Waters, for $1000, and will erect there-on two fine structures, in place of the three which were burned.
Council Proceedings
The Home News, June 4, 1859
At the meeting of the City Council, held May 24, resolutions were adopted continuing Councilman Needham as committee on draining lots in square 68, and authorizing him to ascertain the amount of private subscriptions which can be obtained from property owners on that square toward making a sewer to the river – instructing the Street Superintendent to use the rubbish in the burnt district for repairing the adjoining streets and the public landing – empowering Messrs. Hovey and Curtis to have the brakes on the “Conqueror” fire engine altered if necessary, and to inquire the price, kind and quantity of hose needed for the “Defiance” – authorizing Councilman Nye to procure a suitable carriage for hooks and ladders and a convenient place to keep them in – authorizing Fire Warden John Snyder to examine flues, chimneys and stove pipes in the first ward and require them to be made safe; James Dunn to do the same in the second and third wards – and authorizing the appointment of a committee to procure caps and badges for the members of Defiance Fire Company if thought expedient.
The Surveyor’s estimate of the expense of cutting and filling Wooster street, amounting to $2100, was referred to Councilman Hovey. The list of special watchmen appointed by the Mayor to guard the goods on the night of the fire, was referred to Councilman Buell, to report such as are entitled to pay, and issue orders accordingly.
A proposition from the wharf-master to have a float made to be used for unloading coal, was referred to Councilmen Hovey and Needham.
The Council met again of Tuesday evening, and passed an ordinance vacating a portion of the alley through square 67, and another prohibiting the erection of wooden buildings on squares 59 and 60. Also, resolutions accepting the donation of a certain piece of land in square 67 from J. W. Stanley – levying taxes for 1859 – directing the city surveyor to estimate the amount of cutting and filling on Fourth street, between Putnam and Washington. A proposition from N. Ward to sell a tomb erected by him to the city for $125, was referred to Councilmen Cotton and Hovey. Supervisor Maloy was directed to work on Putnam street, between Fifth and Seventh, and to purchase a plow at the City’s expense. The graveyard fence is to be whitewashed and the sidewalk in front of it paved. The Councilmen of the 1st Ward were appointed a committee of instruction as to any work to be done to the landing in front of John Marshall’s property by the Street Supt. The following bills were passed:
J. M. Hook, Sup’t Streets, $54.02
E. W. T. Clark, $10.00
L. K. Dutton, $3.26
Skinner, Rolston & Co., $4.13
M. J. Morse, $2.50
A. L. Haskin, $1.50
T. L. Andrews, $16.00
A. J. Campbell, $9.50
Wm. Lorey, $2.00
Joseph Geren, $0.60
J. D. Cotton, $1.00
At the meeting of the City Council, held May 24, resolutions were adopted continuing Councilman Needham as committee on draining lots in square 68, and authorizing him to ascertain the amount of private subscriptions which can be obtained from property owners on that square toward making a sewer to the river – instructing the Street Superintendent to use the rubbish in the burnt district for repairing the adjoining streets and the public landing – empowering Messrs. Hovey and Curtis to have the brakes on the “Conqueror” fire engine altered if necessary, and to inquire the price, kind and quantity of hose needed for the “Defiance” – authorizing Councilman Nye to procure a suitable carriage for hooks and ladders and a convenient place to keep them in – authorizing Fire Warden John Snyder to examine flues, chimneys and stove pipes in the first ward and require them to be made safe; James Dunn to do the same in the second and third wards – and authorizing the appointment of a committee to procure caps and badges for the members of Defiance Fire Company if thought expedient.
The Surveyor’s estimate of the expense of cutting and filling Wooster street, amounting to $2100, was referred to Councilman Hovey. The list of special watchmen appointed by the Mayor to guard the goods on the night of the fire, was referred to Councilman Buell, to report such as are entitled to pay, and issue orders accordingly.
A proposition from the wharf-master to have a float made to be used for unloading coal, was referred to Councilmen Hovey and Needham.
The Council met again of Tuesday evening, and passed an ordinance vacating a portion of the alley through square 67, and another prohibiting the erection of wooden buildings on squares 59 and 60. Also, resolutions accepting the donation of a certain piece of land in square 67 from J. W. Stanley – levying taxes for 1859 – directing the city surveyor to estimate the amount of cutting and filling on Fourth street, between Putnam and Washington. A proposition from N. Ward to sell a tomb erected by him to the city for $125, was referred to Councilmen Cotton and Hovey. Supervisor Maloy was directed to work on Putnam street, between Fifth and Seventh, and to purchase a plow at the City’s expense. The graveyard fence is to be whitewashed and the sidewalk in front of it paved. The Councilmen of the 1st Ward were appointed a committee of instruction as to any work to be done to the landing in front of John Marshall’s property by the Street Supt. The following bills were passed:
J. M. Hook, Sup’t Streets, $54.02
E. W. T. Clark, $10.00
L. K. Dutton, $3.26
Skinner, Rolston & Co., $4.13
M. J. Morse, $2.50
A. L. Haskin, $1.50
T. L. Andrews, $16.00
A. J. Campbell, $9.50
Wm. Lorey, $2.00
Joseph Geren, $0.60
J. D. Cotton, $1.00
The Great June Frost
The Home News, June 11, 1859
Last Saturday was a remarkably cool day for the 4th of June. Fires, overcoats and shawls were in general requisition. The evening closed in still colder, and with the mercury at 38° at 9 o’clock, a visit from the frost king was looked for. It was an evil night for Washington county, for Sunday morning showed the severest frost that ever visited this latitude, so late in the season, since the first settlement of Ohio. Except along the margins of rivers and creeks, where a good fog shielded the crops and vegetation, the destruction has been very great. Wheat badly injured, corn considerably damaged, potatoes, beans, vines, &c. killed, the loss to the county has been estimated by shrewd observers as high as a hundred thousand dollars. The extent of the injury has not yet been fully developed; and we hope it is not quite as great as estimated. It is bad enough, and as it cannot be helped, let the farmers set about retrieving this hard “pull back” by planting more corn, beans, &c. Acres of corn planted after this time last year matured into splendid crops, and sells now at eighty cents a bushel. Never, despair – labor overcomes all obstacles. So plant, plant, plant.
At our request, Dr. Hildreth has prepared the following brief notes of all the late severe frosts which have occurred in this county since its settlement. It will be found specially interesting at this time.
Last Saturday was a remarkably cool day for the 4th of June. Fires, overcoats and shawls were in general requisition. The evening closed in still colder, and with the mercury at 38° at 9 o’clock, a visit from the frost king was looked for. It was an evil night for Washington county, for Sunday morning showed the severest frost that ever visited this latitude, so late in the season, since the first settlement of Ohio. Except along the margins of rivers and creeks, where a good fog shielded the crops and vegetation, the destruction has been very great. Wheat badly injured, corn considerably damaged, potatoes, beans, vines, &c. killed, the loss to the county has been estimated by shrewd observers as high as a hundred thousand dollars. The extent of the injury has not yet been fully developed; and we hope it is not quite as great as estimated. It is bad enough, and as it cannot be helped, let the farmers set about retrieving this hard “pull back” by planting more corn, beans, &c. Acres of corn planted after this time last year matured into splendid crops, and sells now at eighty cents a bushel. Never, despair – labor overcomes all obstacles. So plant, plant, plant.
At our request, Dr. Hildreth has prepared the following brief notes of all the late severe frosts which have occurred in this county since its settlement. It will be found specially interesting at this time.
Untimely Frosts in Washington County Since the First Settlement in 1788
The earliest frost there is any record was the 3d of May, 1805. It had been a very early spring, and the apples were of the size of musket balls, and every other kind of fruit and vegetation in the same proportion. On the 2d of May there fell three or four inches of snow. All the fruit was destroyed, and as the farmers then planted their corn by the middle of April, it was probably three or four inches high.
Judge Henry Jolly speaks of a frost the 3d of June 1774. He was then a boy, and living near the present town of Washington, Pa. It cut down all the corn, and destroyed the leaves of various kinds of forest trees.
The year 1816 was noted for its low temperature, there being more or less frosts every month during the spring and summer. The crops were very short.
But the most remarkable year for severe frosts was that of 1834. The month of April had been uncommonly warm, the mean for the month being 55°41. By the 25th the forest trees were in full leaf. After a cold rain in the night, on the morning of the 27th the mercury fell to 30°, killing all tender plants and the leaves of many trees. From this time to the 12th of May the weather was mild. On the 12th, it sunk to 32°, the 13th to 32°, 14th to 29°, 15th to 28°, 17th to 30° and 18th to 32°. On the 19th it rose to 47° at sunrise. This continued series of frosts destroyed all kinds of fruit and vegetation in the fields of the farmers and the gardens in town. There were no apples in this county, and but a few on Hutchinson’s island, two miles below Marietta. The wheat was nearly as forward as it was this year, but mostly in the blossom. The head turned white like a plant dried in the sun. A general consternation pervaded the community, thinking a famine must follow. Many farmers plowed their fields and planted them with corn; others let them alone and were rewarded for their forbearance by a tolerable yield of grain. The stools left unharmed in the ground threw up fresh shoots, more numerous, but not so tall as the first, and perfected the seed, but a month or two later than usual. The cornfields were replanted, and the warm weather and timely rains of June produced a fair crop of all such things as were committed to the earth.
Severe frosts often come in April, and early in May, destroying the fruit crops, but this is a small affair compared with the staples of life, such as wheat, corn, and potatoes. When these are taken away, or very materially lessened in quantity, they have caused man to feel anxiety, if not alarm.
On the 2d of June, 1843, the mercury fell to 34° in the morning, with a smart frost in the country, and making ice on a bowl of water, near half an inch thick – killing beans, corn, potatoes, &c. – but not materially injuring the wheat. Melons had to be replanted, and many other things. Indian corn is endowed with a vitality, when young, above that of all other grains. Even when the foliage is destroyed, if the root is uninjured, it springs up again with apparently new vigor, and perfects its seed in due season.
On the 30th and 31st of May, in the year 1845, the mercury fell to 34°, on each morning, cutting down all the corn, potatoes, &c., but not materially damaging the wheat.
The temperature at Marietta on the morning of the 5th of June, 1859, was 33° -- the freezing point is 32°; but being sheltered by buildings and town air, it was 4 or 5° above the temperature of the country out of the influence of the fog, which covered all the low grounds near to streams of water, and protected vegetation like a garment.
It is a well established rule that from 9 P.M. to sunrise next morning, in a clear, calm night, the temperature sinks 10° – at 9 o’clock last Saturday night, the thermometer was at 37°, and it should have been, but for the fog, at 29°, instead of 33°.
These are the most destructive frosts of which we have any authentic records – what will be the results of the terrible frost of June 5, 1859, remains to be seen. It is possible that the fields of wheat that were only in blossom, and had not formed the grains, may throw up new stems, as it did in 1834 and produce a crop worth the care and attention of the farmer.
S.P.H.
Public Schools
The Home News, June 24, 1859
The Union Schools of this city close for the summer vacation of nine weeks, with the “Commencement” at the High School this afternoon and evening. The following is the order of exercises:
Afternoon:
Music.
Salutatory – Harriet E. Pixler.
Essay – Uncultivated Fenius – Frances Dibble.
Essay – Beauty, Rank and Wealth as Passports in Society – Eunice E. Anderson.
Music.
Oration – Independence Day – W. W. Fuller.
Essay – Early Neglect of Mental Training – Kate R. Booth.
Essay – Color as an Element of Beauty – Sarah A. Booth.
Music.
Essay – Meditation – Lizzie A. McCarty.
Essay – Natural and Revealed Religion – Harriet Dye.
Essay – Instability of Royalty – Bell Storrs.
Music.
Essay – Foot-prints of the Creator – Susan Racer.
Essay – Dignity of Virtue amid Corrupt Examples – Harriet E. Pixler.
Music.
Oration – Public Opinion – Wm. L. Porterfield.
Essay – Esthetic Culture – Eliza F. Racer.
Essay – Failure not the Law of Human Institutions – N. J. Porterfield.
Music.
Evening Exercises:
Report of Principal of High School.
Music.
Valedictory – N. J. Porterfield.
Conferring Diplomas.
Music.
Remarks.
Music.
We learn that the number of children in the city between the ages of six and twenty-one, is about 1,425. The entire number of scholars enrolled in all the schools during the school year just closing, has been 1,099. The average number belonging to the schools has been 695. The average daily attendance 598. The per cent of daily attendance, 86.
The following scholars deserve favorable notice for not having been absent a single half day throughout the year: At the High school, Andrew Montgomery; at the schools on Washington Street, Lizzie Dutton and Albert H. Slocomb; at the Greene Street Primary school, Kate Smith; at the Fourth Street Secondary, Mary Boyd, Ellen Gray and Sarah Green; at the Fourth Street Primary, Daniel Green, Ed. M. Slocomb and Martha E. Slocomb. That school whose percentage of attendance during the year has been the best, is the Fourth Street Secondary, taught two terms by Mary E. Woodruff, and one by Henrietta Medlicott.
The Union Schools of this city close for the summer vacation of nine weeks, with the “Commencement” at the High School this afternoon and evening. The following is the order of exercises:
Afternoon:
Music.
Salutatory – Harriet E. Pixler.
Essay – Uncultivated Fenius – Frances Dibble.
Essay – Beauty, Rank and Wealth as Passports in Society – Eunice E. Anderson.
Music.
Oration – Independence Day – W. W. Fuller.
Essay – Early Neglect of Mental Training – Kate R. Booth.
Essay – Color as an Element of Beauty – Sarah A. Booth.
Music.
Essay – Meditation – Lizzie A. McCarty.
Essay – Natural and Revealed Religion – Harriet Dye.
Essay – Instability of Royalty – Bell Storrs.
Music.
Essay – Foot-prints of the Creator – Susan Racer.
Essay – Dignity of Virtue amid Corrupt Examples – Harriet E. Pixler.
Music.
Oration – Public Opinion – Wm. L. Porterfield.
Essay – Esthetic Culture – Eliza F. Racer.
Essay – Failure not the Law of Human Institutions – N. J. Porterfield.
Music.
Evening Exercises:
Report of Principal of High School.
Music.
Valedictory – N. J. Porterfield.
Conferring Diplomas.
Music.
Remarks.
Music.
We learn that the number of children in the city between the ages of six and twenty-one, is about 1,425. The entire number of scholars enrolled in all the schools during the school year just closing, has been 1,099. The average number belonging to the schools has been 695. The average daily attendance 598. The per cent of daily attendance, 86.
The following scholars deserve favorable notice for not having been absent a single half day throughout the year: At the High school, Andrew Montgomery; at the schools on Washington Street, Lizzie Dutton and Albert H. Slocomb; at the Greene Street Primary school, Kate Smith; at the Fourth Street Secondary, Mary Boyd, Ellen Gray and Sarah Green; at the Fourth Street Primary, Daniel Green, Ed. M. Slocomb and Martha E. Slocomb. That school whose percentage of attendance during the year has been the best, is the Fourth Street Secondary, taught two terms by Mary E. Woodruff, and one by Henrietta Medlicott.
Pike's Peak Gold Hunters
The Home News, March 19, 1859
The John Buck
brought down the Muskingum on Wednesday night, the vanguard of the army
of Pike's Peak gold hunters. Their names are William Bisbee, J. H.
Preston, C. B. Haywood, James Cooney, H. M. Davis and Joseph Smith, from
Beverly and Waterford. Dr. J. O. Wright, Isaac Parker, William Bivins,
William Moore and R. Moore, from Unionville, Morgan County. These men
possess brave hearts and strong sinews, and with temperance and
industry, will be able to work their way. We hope that success may
crown their efforts. With their first remittance of dust, let each one
include fifty cents for the Home News, so that all may hear weekly from
the old folks at home.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Graves of the Unknown
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), June 14, 1887
Editor of the Register:
We have heard these words lately, and they will be heard at the return of every Memorial Day. They excite in us a feeling of sadness; for they suggest the idea of a man engaging in the service of his country, who, being killed or dying with disease, far from home, is buried in a grave unmarked and his name soon forgotten. How many such were there in the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, and the last war? If the graves of these are strewn with flowers, it is by the hand of strangers, who have no recollection of the person, and no tear to shed for the loss of a friend. Doubtless we owe them a debt of gratitude, for what they have purchased for us, by the sacrifice of their lives, and if a feeling of gratitude to them and a generous sentiment toward their comrades who survive is created when their graves are visited and decorated, then is the act commendable indeed.
Within the precincts of the Mound Cemetery are many of these graves of the unknown. A large number of them are of people who died in what was called the “sickly seasons” of 1822-23. These graves having never been marked with a headstone, and the little mound of earth that covered them having sunk in the lapse of time, there is now nothing to indicate that there was a grave. Hence, the sexton, sometimes, in digging on what he supposes unoccupied ground unexpectedly uncovers a skeleton.
One of these graves is that of Ephraim Foster, who emigrated first from Vermont to New York, thence to Marietta, in the year 1800 or 1801. He was a soldier of the Revolution, who endured great hardships with Arnold in his expedition to Canada, and was at the battle of Bennington, Monmouth and Brandywine; and as the records at Washington will testify, received an honorable discharge and a pension for meritorious conduct in the service of his country. He did not wear a cocked hat with waving plume, nor a military suit of fine clothes with bright buttons, and have on his shoulders a pair of gilded epaulets, and by his side a sword not much stained with blood; neither did he feel exceeding dignified with the title of General, Colonel, Major or Captain; for he belonged to the rank and file of the continental army. He died in the year 1823, at the advanced age of over eighty years. Though the exact place of burial cannot now be certainly known, and no monument can there be erected to his memory and invite the bearer of flowers on Memorial day to strew them on his grave, yet, so long as the records at the national Capital shall stand, there shall his monument be seen with thousands of others, who stood firmly through seven years of war, with “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor,” pledged for the acquisition of independence and liberty. But where is the monument erected to perpetuate the memory of any common soldier, in the shape of –
A marble shaft, exalted toward the sky;
That tells of noble deeds the passer by;
A grateful state should honor every name,
And write it down, upon the scroll of fame;
And all those names she sacredly should keep
Not let one fall in blank oblivion deep;;
If they could say, when at their post they fell,
Our duty known, we did our duty well.
Hiram A. Hill
Marietta, June 9, 1887
Editor of the Register:
We have heard these words lately, and they will be heard at the return of every Memorial Day. They excite in us a feeling of sadness; for they suggest the idea of a man engaging in the service of his country, who, being killed or dying with disease, far from home, is buried in a grave unmarked and his name soon forgotten. How many such were there in the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, and the last war? If the graves of these are strewn with flowers, it is by the hand of strangers, who have no recollection of the person, and no tear to shed for the loss of a friend. Doubtless we owe them a debt of gratitude, for what they have purchased for us, by the sacrifice of their lives, and if a feeling of gratitude to them and a generous sentiment toward their comrades who survive is created when their graves are visited and decorated, then is the act commendable indeed.
Within the precincts of the Mound Cemetery are many of these graves of the unknown. A large number of them are of people who died in what was called the “sickly seasons” of 1822-23. These graves having never been marked with a headstone, and the little mound of earth that covered them having sunk in the lapse of time, there is now nothing to indicate that there was a grave. Hence, the sexton, sometimes, in digging on what he supposes unoccupied ground unexpectedly uncovers a skeleton.
One of these graves is that of Ephraim Foster, who emigrated first from Vermont to New York, thence to Marietta, in the year 1800 or 1801. He was a soldier of the Revolution, who endured great hardships with Arnold in his expedition to Canada, and was at the battle of Bennington, Monmouth and Brandywine; and as the records at Washington will testify, received an honorable discharge and a pension for meritorious conduct in the service of his country. He did not wear a cocked hat with waving plume, nor a military suit of fine clothes with bright buttons, and have on his shoulders a pair of gilded epaulets, and by his side a sword not much stained with blood; neither did he feel exceeding dignified with the title of General, Colonel, Major or Captain; for he belonged to the rank and file of the continental army. He died in the year 1823, at the advanced age of over eighty years. Though the exact place of burial cannot now be certainly known, and no monument can there be erected to his memory and invite the bearer of flowers on Memorial day to strew them on his grave, yet, so long as the records at the national Capital shall stand, there shall his monument be seen with thousands of others, who stood firmly through seven years of war, with “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor,” pledged for the acquisition of independence and liberty. But where is the monument erected to perpetuate the memory of any common soldier, in the shape of –
A marble shaft, exalted toward the sky;
That tells of noble deeds the passer by;
A grateful state should honor every name,
And write it down, upon the scroll of fame;
And all those names she sacredly should keep
Not let one fall in blank oblivion deep;;
If they could say, when at their post they fell,
Our duty known, we did our duty well.
Hiram A. Hill
Marietta, June 9, 1887
Ephraim Foster
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), September 6, 1887
Editor Register: In a former paper, having mentioned the name of Ephraim Foster, it has been suggested that any information, additional to what I have given, would be of interest, I submit the following. The date of his birth is not certainly known, but, from what information I have I will place it in the year 1741. I think it probable that his native state was Massachusetts. That his ancestors were English, is indicated by the name; but at what time they came to this country is not known. At the commencement of the war of the Revolution, it appears he was living in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire; though he subsequently lived in Vermont, near Battleboro.
By the aid and through the kindness of Mr. Thomas R. Sheppard and General Coit, of Washington, I have obtained the following information from the records in the Pension Office, to-wit: “Ephriam Foster enlisted at New Ipswick, Hillsborough county, N. H., February 1st, 1777, for three years, in Capt. Fairwell’s Co. of the 1st N. H. Regiment, commanded by Col. Joseph Cilley. In consequence of being overheated at the battle of Monmouth, N. J., June 28th, 1778, (which is uniformly represented as an excessively warm day,) he was sick, from which he did not recover; and in November, 1778, his friends sent a horse for him to ride home, which he did after procuring a furlough from General Poor, commanding the brigade. He continued so unwell that he was unable to rejoin his regiment before his term of service expired. In July, 1820, (this was the year I suppose he received a pension) he was living in Fearing, Washington county, Ohio, and stated his age as being 71.” I think this statement in regard to his age an error. From the best information I have I think it should be 79 instead of 71; which would show that he was 82 years old in 1823, when he died. Mr. Sheppard says, “There is but one Ephraim Foster on the roll of Revolutionary pensions.”
I don’t know certainly what year the pension act for the relief of Revolutionary soldiers was passed; but it came too late to relieve many worthy men who had served well in the war and who had received but little compensation. Commodore Whipple died in 1819 and Gen’l St. Clair, I believe, in 1818, and I have not understood that either of them ever received a pension from Congress, though they were both in indigent circumstances in their old age. It is true, however, in regard to St. Clair, that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in consideration of his poverty and service he had rendered in the Revolution, voted him a generous yearly payment for some time previous to his death. It may have been that this generous act of the Pennsylvania Legislature shamed Congress into the enactment of the pension law, which, I think, could have been and should have been passed years before it was.
In regard to the battle of Monmouth, he (Mr. Foster) said the heat was almost intolerable; and, as the battle raged through the whole day they suffered greatly with thirst; and some of the men, when they came to where they could get water, laid down to drink, in their overheated state, and never rose again. That was a day when Washington showed the soldier as much as in any day during the war.
Joining the New Hampshire regiment must have been his second enlistment; for he was one of the men who went with Arnold on his expedition to Canada. He relates that many of the men of his regiment were sick with small pox and malignant typhus fever, he having the latter disease himself, and recovered as by a miracle. The men all endured great hardships and suffering on their march.
Some time after the conclusion of the war, he moved from Vermont to the vicinity of Troy, in the State of New York. In the year 1800 or 1801 he came to Marietta and bought the lot on the north corner of Third and Montgomery streets, where he lived for a time, and then moved to land on Mill creek, a mile North-east of town. Commodore Whipple lived at the mouth of Mill creek, so that he and the Commodore were neighbors, and they had frequent opportunities of seeing each other and relating incidents of the war. The Commodore, like all sailors, was fond, in his old age, of telling of his exploits; or as some would say, telling “yarns.” Many a time would he come to my father’s tavern, which was kept on Greene street, and entertain his friends with tales of what he had passed through on the ocean during the Revolution.
Commodore Whipple died when I was but one year old, and I have no remembrance of him, or knowledge, except what I have received from others. There is one story he used to tell, which I heard repeated years after his death, and which shows that besides courage he possessed also shrewdness and wit. At one time, somewhere on the Atlantic, he was overtaken by an armed vessel of the enemy, much larger than his own, and one with which it would have been folly for him to engage in combat. He was hailed with a demand to surrender, when he struck his colors and bore down toward his antagonist, apparently with the intention of yielding to their demands. Armed vessels need to have (and I suppose they do yet, if not laid aside for some new invention) stoppers for the muzzles of their guns, called tompions; or, as the sailors would say, Tompkins. About the first thing seen done, when two ships are about to engage in battle, is the removal of the “Tompkins.” The Commodore managed to bring his vessel across the stern of the large ship, and when he got his guns to bear on her steering apparatus, said he gave an order to “let drive, Tompkins and all!” This crippled the large ship so that she was unmanageable, and not being in range of her guns, he made his escape without injury. Pardon our digression.
His Family.
The family of Ephraim Foster consisted of himself, wife, and five children; two sons and three daughters. Ephraim Foster, Jr., moved away at an early date and his history is not known. Leonard Foster lived on the farm with his father and died with the epidemic fever in 1822, leaving a widow with five children, the oldest only 14 years old. She lived a widow during the remainder of life, and died when she was over eighty years of age. Hannah Foster married William Colby, by whom she had five children, three daughters and two sons. Demie Foster died young – and unmarried. Sarah Foster married Alexander Hill and had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. One daughter and one son died in childhood.
His Character and Habits.
He was a man of plain manners and temperate habits; not ostentatious, not covetous nor given to avaricious scheming to obtain wealth. He seemed to possess the sentiment of him who said, “Give me neither poverty nor riches,” and a belief that a competence is the most conducive to a man’s happiness in this life. Besides an ardent love of liberty, he possessed an integrity that could not be shaken by the allurements of money. A man who suffered destitution with Washington in the darkest days of the Revolution,; when gold was freely offered by British emissaries, as an inducement for soldiers to abandon the cause of liberty, would not, we judge, be influenced by a bribe under any circumstances.
His Grandchildren.
Of Leonard Foster’s family there is but one living, Charles Foster, who is now eighty years of age. Of Hannah Foster’s daughters, Lucy married Isaac Monckton, of Watertown. She died recently at the age, I think, of eighty-four or five. Sarah married Jas. W. Stenson, and after his death, John Moore, of Athens county, and died some years ago at the age of seventy-two. She was the mother of Mrs. Dr. Bean of this place, and the grandmother of Mrs. Capt. S. Davis and Mrs. Bastable Evely. Parmela married first, Joseph Devol, of Waterford, and after his death Mr. ____ Roland. She is now living a widow in Newport Tp., aged eighty-one. Of Sarah Foster Hill’s children, only four are living. Of the children of Mrs. Lucy Colby Monckton, Enoch is in Texas, Dr. George Monckton died in California not long since. Mrs. Mina Monckton McNiel, wife of the late Dr. McNiel, lives at the old homestead in Watertown, and I believe draws a pension, for service rendered by her husband in the late war. The grandchildren of Mrs. Sarah Foster Hill, and great-grandchildren of Ephraim Foster, who served in the late war, were Wallace and Alexander Hill, sons of John Hill, Ephraim Hill, son of Daniel Y. Hill, Van B., Alexander H., John and Joseph S. Bukey, sons of Eliza Hill Bukey, and Spencer L. Bukey, Frank W. Hill, son of Hiram A. Hill, born in 1847.
Wallace Hill was Lieutenant in Co. B., 18th Regiment O. V. M., for three months service. Alexander H. Bukey was private in the same company. Subsequently Wallace Hill was made Lieutenant in Co. C., 1st West Va. Light Artillery. Capt. Frank Buell was commander of this company and was killed at the battle of Freeman’s Ford, Aug. 22, 1862. Wallace Hill succeeded him as Captain of the company, and so continued during the war. This company was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes: Battle of Crosskeys, June 8, 1862; Freeman’s Ford, Aug. 22, 1862; Sulphur Springs, Aug. 24, 1862; Bull Run, Aug. 29 and 30, Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and 3. It was in the skirmish at Strasburg, June 1st, 1862; Woodstock, June 24; Tombrook same date; Mt. Jackson, June 3d; Luray, July 14th; Waterloo, Aug. 25, Leesburg, Sept. 18; Catlett’s Station, Sept. 23d; Mitchel’s Ford, Oct. 15, 1863.
Alexander H. Bukey was line sergeant of this company. Frank H. Hill was appointed 3d Sergeant in Co. A, 148th Regiment Ohio National Guards; Samuel S. Knowles, Captain, and T. W. Moore, Colonel. On the 23d day of July, 1864, was appointed Commissary Sergeant. Ephraim Hill served three months in Co. A, 87th O. V. I., was taken prisoner and exchanged. Subsequently served in Co. K, 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and died at Knoxville, Tenn., April 15th, 1865. Alexander Hill served in same Co.
Van H. Bukey enlisted in the 11th West Va. Infantry, Oct. 16, 1861. Was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 1862; Captain, Aug. 1862; Major, March 1863; Lieutenant Colonel, Aug. 1862. Col. Frost having been killed, he succeeded him as Colonel, Nov. 1864. Made Brig. General by brevet, May 1865. He was with Gen. Crook in the raid through Southwest Va. Was in the battles of Cloyd Mountain and New River Bridge. Joining Gen. Hunter’s command, was in the skirmish at Lexington and the battle of Lynchburg. At the battle of Snicker’s Ferry Col. Frost was killed, and taking command of the regiment, his horse was killed under him, June 1864. He was subsequently in the following engagements: At Berryville, Opequan, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek.
John Bukey enlisted in Co. D, 11th West Va. Infantry, May 12, 1862. Appointed Sergeant Aug. 1863. Orderly Oct. 1854. Commissioned 2d Lieutenant Nov. 1814; 1st Lieutenant Jan. 1865. He was in all the engagements with Van H. Bukey. He was also with Gen. Grant in the Spring of 1865, in the battles of Hatcher’s Run and Petersburg; and was at Appomattox C. H. at the time of Lee’s surrender, April 1865.
Joseph S. Bukey enlisted in the same regiment as musician; was made Drum Major in 11864, discharged in 1865. In 1866 enlisted in Co. A, 1st U. S. Dragoons, and served his term on the Pacific coast. After about a year, he again enlisted in the 22d U. S. infantry, and was made hospital steward at Fort Hall, Idaho. From this place he was transferred to the port of Sitka, Alaska, where he was accidently drowned from a sail boat, May 12, 1872.
Spencer P. Moore, brother of Mrs. Dr. Bean, served in the 92d O. V. I. Enoch Moncton, and a son of Wm. Colby, Jr., of Belmont Co., great grandsons, also served in the war, but the number of their regiments is not known.
Ephraim Foster was buried in the Mound Cemetery in 1823, southeast of the mound and about midway between the circular parapet and the street, and near the burial lot of J. W. L. Brown.
Hiram A. Hill
July 27th, 1887
Editor Register: In a former paper, having mentioned the name of Ephraim Foster, it has been suggested that any information, additional to what I have given, would be of interest, I submit the following. The date of his birth is not certainly known, but, from what information I have I will place it in the year 1741. I think it probable that his native state was Massachusetts. That his ancestors were English, is indicated by the name; but at what time they came to this country is not known. At the commencement of the war of the Revolution, it appears he was living in Hillsboro county, New Hampshire; though he subsequently lived in Vermont, near Battleboro.
By the aid and through the kindness of Mr. Thomas R. Sheppard and General Coit, of Washington, I have obtained the following information from the records in the Pension Office, to-wit: “Ephriam Foster enlisted at New Ipswick, Hillsborough county, N. H., February 1st, 1777, for three years, in Capt. Fairwell’s Co. of the 1st N. H. Regiment, commanded by Col. Joseph Cilley. In consequence of being overheated at the battle of Monmouth, N. J., June 28th, 1778, (which is uniformly represented as an excessively warm day,) he was sick, from which he did not recover; and in November, 1778, his friends sent a horse for him to ride home, which he did after procuring a furlough from General Poor, commanding the brigade. He continued so unwell that he was unable to rejoin his regiment before his term of service expired. In July, 1820, (this was the year I suppose he received a pension) he was living in Fearing, Washington county, Ohio, and stated his age as being 71.” I think this statement in regard to his age an error. From the best information I have I think it should be 79 instead of 71; which would show that he was 82 years old in 1823, when he died. Mr. Sheppard says, “There is but one Ephraim Foster on the roll of Revolutionary pensions.”
I don’t know certainly what year the pension act for the relief of Revolutionary soldiers was passed; but it came too late to relieve many worthy men who had served well in the war and who had received but little compensation. Commodore Whipple died in 1819 and Gen’l St. Clair, I believe, in 1818, and I have not understood that either of them ever received a pension from Congress, though they were both in indigent circumstances in their old age. It is true, however, in regard to St. Clair, that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in consideration of his poverty and service he had rendered in the Revolution, voted him a generous yearly payment for some time previous to his death. It may have been that this generous act of the Pennsylvania Legislature shamed Congress into the enactment of the pension law, which, I think, could have been and should have been passed years before it was.
In regard to the battle of Monmouth, he (Mr. Foster) said the heat was almost intolerable; and, as the battle raged through the whole day they suffered greatly with thirst; and some of the men, when they came to where they could get water, laid down to drink, in their overheated state, and never rose again. That was a day when Washington showed the soldier as much as in any day during the war.
Joining the New Hampshire regiment must have been his second enlistment; for he was one of the men who went with Arnold on his expedition to Canada. He relates that many of the men of his regiment were sick with small pox and malignant typhus fever, he having the latter disease himself, and recovered as by a miracle. The men all endured great hardships and suffering on their march.
Some time after the conclusion of the war, he moved from Vermont to the vicinity of Troy, in the State of New York. In the year 1800 or 1801 he came to Marietta and bought the lot on the north corner of Third and Montgomery streets, where he lived for a time, and then moved to land on Mill creek, a mile North-east of town. Commodore Whipple lived at the mouth of Mill creek, so that he and the Commodore were neighbors, and they had frequent opportunities of seeing each other and relating incidents of the war. The Commodore, like all sailors, was fond, in his old age, of telling of his exploits; or as some would say, telling “yarns.” Many a time would he come to my father’s tavern, which was kept on Greene street, and entertain his friends with tales of what he had passed through on the ocean during the Revolution.
Commodore Whipple died when I was but one year old, and I have no remembrance of him, or knowledge, except what I have received from others. There is one story he used to tell, which I heard repeated years after his death, and which shows that besides courage he possessed also shrewdness and wit. At one time, somewhere on the Atlantic, he was overtaken by an armed vessel of the enemy, much larger than his own, and one with which it would have been folly for him to engage in combat. He was hailed with a demand to surrender, when he struck his colors and bore down toward his antagonist, apparently with the intention of yielding to their demands. Armed vessels need to have (and I suppose they do yet, if not laid aside for some new invention) stoppers for the muzzles of their guns, called tompions; or, as the sailors would say, Tompkins. About the first thing seen done, when two ships are about to engage in battle, is the removal of the “Tompkins.” The Commodore managed to bring his vessel across the stern of the large ship, and when he got his guns to bear on her steering apparatus, said he gave an order to “let drive, Tompkins and all!” This crippled the large ship so that she was unmanageable, and not being in range of her guns, he made his escape without injury. Pardon our digression.
His Family.
The family of Ephraim Foster consisted of himself, wife, and five children; two sons and three daughters. Ephraim Foster, Jr., moved away at an early date and his history is not known. Leonard Foster lived on the farm with his father and died with the epidemic fever in 1822, leaving a widow with five children, the oldest only 14 years old. She lived a widow during the remainder of life, and died when she was over eighty years of age. Hannah Foster married William Colby, by whom she had five children, three daughters and two sons. Demie Foster died young – and unmarried. Sarah Foster married Alexander Hill and had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. One daughter and one son died in childhood.
His Character and Habits.
He was a man of plain manners and temperate habits; not ostentatious, not covetous nor given to avaricious scheming to obtain wealth. He seemed to possess the sentiment of him who said, “Give me neither poverty nor riches,” and a belief that a competence is the most conducive to a man’s happiness in this life. Besides an ardent love of liberty, he possessed an integrity that could not be shaken by the allurements of money. A man who suffered destitution with Washington in the darkest days of the Revolution,; when gold was freely offered by British emissaries, as an inducement for soldiers to abandon the cause of liberty, would not, we judge, be influenced by a bribe under any circumstances.
His Grandchildren.
Of Leonard Foster’s family there is but one living, Charles Foster, who is now eighty years of age. Of Hannah Foster’s daughters, Lucy married Isaac Monckton, of Watertown. She died recently at the age, I think, of eighty-four or five. Sarah married Jas. W. Stenson, and after his death, John Moore, of Athens county, and died some years ago at the age of seventy-two. She was the mother of Mrs. Dr. Bean of this place, and the grandmother of Mrs. Capt. S. Davis and Mrs. Bastable Evely. Parmela married first, Joseph Devol, of Waterford, and after his death Mr. ____ Roland. She is now living a widow in Newport Tp., aged eighty-one. Of Sarah Foster Hill’s children, only four are living. Of the children of Mrs. Lucy Colby Monckton, Enoch is in Texas, Dr. George Monckton died in California not long since. Mrs. Mina Monckton McNiel, wife of the late Dr. McNiel, lives at the old homestead in Watertown, and I believe draws a pension, for service rendered by her husband in the late war. The grandchildren of Mrs. Sarah Foster Hill, and great-grandchildren of Ephraim Foster, who served in the late war, were Wallace and Alexander Hill, sons of John Hill, Ephraim Hill, son of Daniel Y. Hill, Van B., Alexander H., John and Joseph S. Bukey, sons of Eliza Hill Bukey, and Spencer L. Bukey, Frank W. Hill, son of Hiram A. Hill, born in 1847.
Wallace Hill was Lieutenant in Co. B., 18th Regiment O. V. M., for three months service. Alexander H. Bukey was private in the same company. Subsequently Wallace Hill was made Lieutenant in Co. C., 1st West Va. Light Artillery. Capt. Frank Buell was commander of this company and was killed at the battle of Freeman’s Ford, Aug. 22, 1862. Wallace Hill succeeded him as Captain of the company, and so continued during the war. This company was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes: Battle of Crosskeys, June 8, 1862; Freeman’s Ford, Aug. 22, 1862; Sulphur Springs, Aug. 24, 1862; Bull Run, Aug. 29 and 30, Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and 3. It was in the skirmish at Strasburg, June 1st, 1862; Woodstock, June 24; Tombrook same date; Mt. Jackson, June 3d; Luray, July 14th; Waterloo, Aug. 25, Leesburg, Sept. 18; Catlett’s Station, Sept. 23d; Mitchel’s Ford, Oct. 15, 1863.
Alexander H. Bukey was line sergeant of this company. Frank H. Hill was appointed 3d Sergeant in Co. A, 148th Regiment Ohio National Guards; Samuel S. Knowles, Captain, and T. W. Moore, Colonel. On the 23d day of July, 1864, was appointed Commissary Sergeant. Ephraim Hill served three months in Co. A, 87th O. V. I., was taken prisoner and exchanged. Subsequently served in Co. K, 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery, and died at Knoxville, Tenn., April 15th, 1865. Alexander Hill served in same Co.
Van H. Bukey enlisted in the 11th West Va. Infantry, Oct. 16, 1861. Was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 1862; Captain, Aug. 1862; Major, March 1863; Lieutenant Colonel, Aug. 1862. Col. Frost having been killed, he succeeded him as Colonel, Nov. 1864. Made Brig. General by brevet, May 1865. He was with Gen. Crook in the raid through Southwest Va. Was in the battles of Cloyd Mountain and New River Bridge. Joining Gen. Hunter’s command, was in the skirmish at Lexington and the battle of Lynchburg. At the battle of Snicker’s Ferry Col. Frost was killed, and taking command of the regiment, his horse was killed under him, June 1864. He was subsequently in the following engagements: At Berryville, Opequan, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek.
John Bukey enlisted in Co. D, 11th West Va. Infantry, May 12, 1862. Appointed Sergeant Aug. 1863. Orderly Oct. 1854. Commissioned 2d Lieutenant Nov. 1814; 1st Lieutenant Jan. 1865. He was in all the engagements with Van H. Bukey. He was also with Gen. Grant in the Spring of 1865, in the battles of Hatcher’s Run and Petersburg; and was at Appomattox C. H. at the time of Lee’s surrender, April 1865.
Joseph S. Bukey enlisted in the same regiment as musician; was made Drum Major in 11864, discharged in 1865. In 1866 enlisted in Co. A, 1st U. S. Dragoons, and served his term on the Pacific coast. After about a year, he again enlisted in the 22d U. S. infantry, and was made hospital steward at Fort Hall, Idaho. From this place he was transferred to the port of Sitka, Alaska, where he was accidently drowned from a sail boat, May 12, 1872.
Spencer P. Moore, brother of Mrs. Dr. Bean, served in the 92d O. V. I. Enoch Moncton, and a son of Wm. Colby, Jr., of Belmont Co., great grandsons, also served in the war, but the number of their regiments is not known.
Ephraim Foster was buried in the Mound Cemetery in 1823, southeast of the mound and about midway between the circular parapet and the street, and near the burial lot of J. W. L. Brown.
Hiram A. Hill
July 27th, 1887
Soldier Burials
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), June 7, 1887
At Yankeeburg Graveyard, Newport Township:
Revolutionary War
Oliver Woodward
War of 1812
Isaac Lackey
Jotham Wright
Austin Peckens
Joseph Johnson
Daniel Dick
War of the Rebellion
John Mahoney
Taylor Mahoney
Alfred Hemeger
Lower Newport:
Stephen Osborn - War of 1812
Newell's Run:
William Vanway - War of the Rebellion
Union Chapel, Lawrence Township:
Jacob Newland - War of 1812
Henry Newland - War of the Rebellion
Valley Graveyard, Marietta Township:
Col. Van West - War of 1812
John Stephenson - War of 1812
John Miller
Sereno Dye
Joseph Snider
Mathew Thorniley
John McCloskey
Thos. Alcock
James Bean
John Stucky
Owen Miller
At Yankeeburg Graveyard, Newport Township:
Revolutionary War
Oliver Woodward
War of 1812
Isaac Lackey
Jotham Wright
Austin Peckens
Joseph Johnson
Daniel Dick
War of the Rebellion
John Mahoney
Taylor Mahoney
Alfred Hemeger
Lower Newport:
Stephen Osborn - War of 1812
Newell's Run:
William Vanway - War of the Rebellion
Union Chapel, Lawrence Township:
Jacob Newland - War of 1812
Henry Newland - War of the Rebellion
Valley Graveyard, Marietta Township:
Col. Van West - War of 1812
John Stephenson - War of 1812
John Miller
Sereno Dye
Joseph Snider
Mathew Thorniley
John McCloskey
Thos. Alcock
James Bean
John Stucky
Owen Miller
Old Soldiers
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), June 14, 1887
In our list of Newport, the names of Van West should have been Wm. West, and Matthew, should be Nathan Thorniley. David L. Dye was also of the war of 1812 from that place.
In our list of Newport, the names of Van West should have been Wm. West, and Matthew, should be Nathan Thorniley. David L. Dye was also of the war of 1812 from that place.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Captain Hill’s Company 1812
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), June 14, 1887
Mr. Editor: If the readers of your paper have not been “surfeited,” with reminiscences of the past, you can publish the following, which is a copy of the muster-roll of Capt. Alexander Hill’s Company of Infantry, recruited in Washington County, in 1813. The Company, including officers and privates, numbered ninety-five men, probably not one of whom, who once marched through the streets of Marietta, with elastic step, to martial music, is now living.
Perhaps the history of the operations of the company would be as interesting, at least, to many of your readers, as much of the newspaper matter generally published; yet, we will not publish that now, but will offer a few words in relation to the 96th man of the company, who was an African of herculean fame, named Towne. This man went out with the company as a servant, and was at one time a slave, and what he earned had to be paid to his master. But, asks some one, was Ohio ever a slave-state? Yes; Ohio was once, in a certain sense, a slave-state. The law that existed, at the time Ohio was admitted into the Union, provided, that owners of slaves in the slave-states, could come into the state with them and hold them as such, for a limited time.
Towne belonged to a Virginian named Taylor, and this man was in the habit of coming over with him, and hiring him out wherever and whenever he could; and, just before the expiration of the time specified in the law, taking him back into Virginia. After the time had expired, he would come over again, and renew the same business. Towne came back to Marietta, after the war, staid here a short time and then moved to Athens County, where he died, probably between the years 1825 and 1836. He must have obtained his freedom, but, whether he bought it, or whether it was given to him by Taylor, I am not informed.
I never heard any complaints against Towne, of a nonfulfillment of the duties of his station. When we see a man, who is an employe, scrupulously try to serve his employer, he at once excites our admiration and esteem. His conduct might be emulated by a great many that don’t feel inclined to do that. When the company arrived at Fort Erie, the British commenced throwing shells, which caused the officers to order the men, when they saw danger from them, to lie down. But shells came so frequently that the men got tired of that kind of exercise and did not obey the order except when the danger seemed imminent. Not so with Towne, whose frequent prostrations and peculiar gesticulations, which it would be difficult for any one but a colored man to imitate, excited something like a smile in the men, who did not attempt, however, to interfere with his strict obedience to orders. We don’t know what Towne’s feelings, outside of an idea of personal safety, were; but, doubtless, he thought no one ought to find fault with him for obeying orders.
It will be noticed that the majority of the men on the roll have readily recognized English names, which shows that the war of 1812 was antedated by the advent, to this place, of many men of other nations.
The first name of the privates on the roll is Armstrong, which is also the name of the first enrolled volunteer of the first company raised in Marietta for the war of the rebellion, if I am not mistaken.
Hiram A. Hill
Marietta, June 8th, 1887.
A copy of the muster roll of Capt. Alexander Hill’s Company, 19th Regiment U. S. Infantry, War of 1812:
Officers
Captain Alexander Hill
1st Lieut. Charles L. Cass
2d Lieut. John Carrel
3d Lieut. Alexander Patterson
Ensign, Nathan Reeves
1st Serg't. John Elliot
2d Serg’t. Stephen Worthington
3d Serg’t. Allen Lowry
4th Serg’t. Elijah Adams
5th Serg’t. Ambrose A. Ford
1st Corp. Manna Root
2d Corp. John Franks
3d Corp. William Wallace
4th Corp. Daniel Moore
5th Corp. Cyrus Baily
6th Corp. John L. Gordon
Christian B. Smith, musician
William Spurgon, musician
Privates
James Armstrong
William Arnold
Abraham Badgly
Nicholas Bumgarner
James Brooks
John Barker
Adam Bair
John Bowman
Ebenezer Buckly
Jacob Brosins
Thomas Clark
Nathan Cross
Israell Cross
John Cox
Lewis Clapper
Shirly Callogg
Samuel Cooper
Henry Crown
Joseph Dean
Jehu Dealy
Noah Demster
William Elliott
John Fishback
Samuel Fisher
Ira L. Foster
Joseph Fisher
Matthias Gates
John Gates
Jesse Graham
Thomas Grey
James Garner
Joseph Heaton
John Hill
Elisha Hiett
James Hillyard
Samuel Higby
Samuel Hemming
John Johnson
David Johnston
W. M. Lockhart
William Lyons
John Lyons
John Loveland
Ephraim Lucas
Jacob Montieth
Samuel Morfoot
William Morgan
John McCombs
Nehemiah Morse
John McMullin
John Mowry
George Osborn
Benjamin Patrick
Hira Pettie
James Prichet
John Potts
Daniel Paine
John Ridingour
William Reynolds
Gabriel Root
John Swiler
Oliver Stockings
John D. Smith
John W. Smith
JohnStanly
John Silvus
Christian Standsbury
Philip Swagert
Benjamin Snyder
William Snyder
William A. Strong
Jesse Spalding
Nicholas Seel
John Taylor
Daniel Trimble
Mr. Editor: If the readers of your paper have not been “surfeited,” with reminiscences of the past, you can publish the following, which is a copy of the muster-roll of Capt. Alexander Hill’s Company of Infantry, recruited in Washington County, in 1813. The Company, including officers and privates, numbered ninety-five men, probably not one of whom, who once marched through the streets of Marietta, with elastic step, to martial music, is now living.
Perhaps the history of the operations of the company would be as interesting, at least, to many of your readers, as much of the newspaper matter generally published; yet, we will not publish that now, but will offer a few words in relation to the 96th man of the company, who was an African of herculean fame, named Towne. This man went out with the company as a servant, and was at one time a slave, and what he earned had to be paid to his master. But, asks some one, was Ohio ever a slave-state? Yes; Ohio was once, in a certain sense, a slave-state. The law that existed, at the time Ohio was admitted into the Union, provided, that owners of slaves in the slave-states, could come into the state with them and hold them as such, for a limited time.
Towne belonged to a Virginian named Taylor, and this man was in the habit of coming over with him, and hiring him out wherever and whenever he could; and, just before the expiration of the time specified in the law, taking him back into Virginia. After the time had expired, he would come over again, and renew the same business. Towne came back to Marietta, after the war, staid here a short time and then moved to Athens County, where he died, probably between the years 1825 and 1836. He must have obtained his freedom, but, whether he bought it, or whether it was given to him by Taylor, I am not informed.
I never heard any complaints against Towne, of a nonfulfillment of the duties of his station. When we see a man, who is an employe, scrupulously try to serve his employer, he at once excites our admiration and esteem. His conduct might be emulated by a great many that don’t feel inclined to do that. When the company arrived at Fort Erie, the British commenced throwing shells, which caused the officers to order the men, when they saw danger from them, to lie down. But shells came so frequently that the men got tired of that kind of exercise and did not obey the order except when the danger seemed imminent. Not so with Towne, whose frequent prostrations and peculiar gesticulations, which it would be difficult for any one but a colored man to imitate, excited something like a smile in the men, who did not attempt, however, to interfere with his strict obedience to orders. We don’t know what Towne’s feelings, outside of an idea of personal safety, were; but, doubtless, he thought no one ought to find fault with him for obeying orders.
It will be noticed that the majority of the men on the roll have readily recognized English names, which shows that the war of 1812 was antedated by the advent, to this place, of many men of other nations.
The first name of the privates on the roll is Armstrong, which is also the name of the first enrolled volunteer of the first company raised in Marietta for the war of the rebellion, if I am not mistaken.
Hiram A. Hill
Marietta, June 8th, 1887.
A copy of the muster roll of Capt. Alexander Hill’s Company, 19th Regiment U. S. Infantry, War of 1812:
Officers
Captain Alexander Hill
1st Lieut. Charles L. Cass
2d Lieut. John Carrel
3d Lieut. Alexander Patterson
Ensign, Nathan Reeves
1st Serg't. John Elliot
2d Serg’t. Stephen Worthington
3d Serg’t. Allen Lowry
4th Serg’t. Elijah Adams
5th Serg’t. Ambrose A. Ford
1st Corp. Manna Root
2d Corp. John Franks
3d Corp. William Wallace
4th Corp. Daniel Moore
5th Corp. Cyrus Baily
6th Corp. John L. Gordon
Christian B. Smith, musician
William Spurgon, musician
Privates
James Armstrong
William Arnold
Abraham Badgly
Nicholas Bumgarner
James Brooks
John Barker
Adam Bair
John Bowman
Ebenezer Buckly
Jacob Brosins
Thomas Clark
Nathan Cross
Israell Cross
John Cox
Lewis Clapper
Shirly Callogg
Samuel Cooper
Henry Crown
Joseph Dean
Jehu Dealy
Noah Demster
William Elliott
John Fishback
Samuel Fisher
Ira L. Foster
Joseph Fisher
Matthias Gates
John Gates
Jesse Graham
Thomas Grey
James Garner
Joseph Heaton
John Hill
Elisha Hiett
James Hillyard
Samuel Higby
Samuel Hemming
John Johnson
David Johnston
W. M. Lockhart
William Lyons
John Lyons
John Loveland
Ephraim Lucas
Jacob Montieth
Samuel Morfoot
William Morgan
John McCombs
Nehemiah Morse
John McMullin
John Mowry
George Osborn
Benjamin Patrick
Hira Pettie
James Prichet
John Potts
Daniel Paine
John Ridingour
William Reynolds
Gabriel Root
John Swiler
Oliver Stockings
John D. Smith
John W. Smith
JohnStanly
John Silvus
Christian Standsbury
Philip Swagert
Benjamin Snyder
William Snyder
William A. Strong
Jesse Spalding
Nicholas Seel
John Taylor
Daniel Trimble
Marietta’s Cows
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), July 8, 1887
We print a list of the cow owners by wards in this impression. It will appear that 204 different persons own 265 cows. It is impossible to state just how many are at large but probably 140. At one cow to the acre there is not a living for more than 10 cows in Marietta. There are not more than 15 acres, of what might be called grass, if one measures every foot of it. Half o this is weeds or a thin sickly shaded growth that has no substance in it. The result is there are more than 10 cows to the acre of this stuff in Marietta and to say that it is a kindness to any poor family to permit the cows at large is to talk without reason, to talk nonsense. Besides, the list will show that most of the cow owners are also owners of homes. The only advantage, if any, to the cow is the exercise and shade of the streets, but this is at the expense of making her a common scavenger and common thief. For the rest of the summer, if permitted, the cows will be restless tramps, chasing after every wagon, grocery stand, dooryard and garden, with a constant bawling and suffering much of the time for water.
The council takes the only justifiable view of it, and we are glad that it has decided to take the cow by the horns and lead her out of the streets. It is another indication that Marietta is advancing.
The following is the list of cow owners by wards. Where more than one is kept the number is stated. It will be seen that several own two, some three and one five.
First Ward (32)
D. B. Anderson
George Bachman
Frank D. Booth
Anthony Brown
J. J. Brenan
N. A. Creighbaum (two)
Jacob Conrath
F. R. Decker
Davis Bros., mother and sister (two)
John Gorman (two)
R. Merydith
J. W. McMaster (three)
L. R. Moore (two)
Kate McMaster
A. G. Martin (two)
Wm. W. Marvin
Jochien Otto
Jesse Pugh (two)
Jacob Rech
B. F. Sprague
Henry Van Bergen
A. Winsor
T. K. Wells (two)
Second Ward (44)
E. R. Alderman
M. B. Buell
Thos. C. Bay
A. H. Brown
Cynthia Bradford
R. L. Curtis
Jonathan Cline
Jacob Dye, trustee (two)
Ross Dye
Clarissa Dye
Henry Groves
Gross & Blohm (two)
Anthony Garry (three)
John Hill (two)
Thos. Highland (two)
James B. Haight
John Highland
S. S. Knowles
Peter Kline
J. L. Mills
Pape Bros. (two)
I. R. Rose
Wm. P. Racer
J. L. Reckard
Jacob Shimmel
J. H. and Mary E. Scott
Libbie D. Snodgrass (two)
John L. Smith
R. K. Shaw (two)
Geo. M. Woodbridge
Frank Weber (two)
A. J. Warner (three)
Third Ward (88)
E. M. Booth (two)
W. H. Buck (two)
Jacob Bast
Wm. D. Bailey
John H. Best, Jr.
Daniel Baker
W. H. Buell
Adam Brown (two)
August Brown
W. P. Bennett (three)
Fred Blume (three)
James Block
John Block
J. H. F. Browning
T. J. Connor
Wm. W. Caldwell (two)
J. D. Cadwallader
Harlow Chapin
L. W. Chamberlain
K. L. Dye
T. D. Dale
George R. Gear
Wm. Gerken
Wm. Geyer
J. Gorrell (two)
Samuel Hart
Mrs. Sallie Hart (two)
James Holden
R. G. Kinkead
Wm. Hoffman
E. O. L. Jett
Charles Jones (two)
Henry Kestermeier, Sr. (two)
C. Ketter
W. W. Lucas
John E. Leonhart
Fred Lohssee
Henry Lawrence
W. C. McCarty
Peter Moser (two)
Samuel Maloney
Samuel Marvin
Murray McMillin (two)
Mrs. Phebe Morse
Lucetta Mason
Craven Nixon
James W. Nye (two)
John D. Pape
Daniel Pfaff
Wallace A. Payne
Chas. R. Rhodes
Geo. Rice
M. M. Rose
J. W. Stanley
Catharine Schmidt
John D. Strauss
C. L. Schlaymaker (three)
W. A. Sniffen
Mrs. Carrie Tresch
Anton Uhnhann
Jacob Volkwein
S. C. Wilhelm
Chas. L. Weber
Stephen Weidner, Sr.
August Weber
M. P. Wells
John Wilking
Z. D. Walter
Louis Wendleken
M. K. Wendleken
Herman Weber
J. H. Young
Fourth Ward (101)
Frank Ackerman
Chas. Baker, 2d
Margaret Benhart (five)
W. W. Babcock, Jr. (two)
Wm. Beck
Peter Backes
John Clogston
George Cisler
Corwin Chamberlain
Mrs. John Carius (two)
James H. Devol
Johnathan Dye
C. C. Davis, Sr.
L. W. Ellenwood
Jacob Gerhart
Wm. Gluff
Mrs. Philip Gephart
Christ. Haag (two)
J. C. Holdren
John W. Hopp
R. A. Henthorn
John Holz
Peter Hartwig (two)
Amon Huff
James Jackson (two)
Harriet Kuntz
Gustus Kaiser
Wm. Kerns
Caroline Kirchner
Wm. Ketter
Wm. A. Lancaster
J. A. Lapham
Charles Lorentz
John Leonhardt, 2d
Fred Mahnken
Peter Maloy (two)
N. C. Morris
Mary Maloy
Adam Morganstern
John Mahnken, 2d
Wm. Meuser
Pearl Nott
Joseph O’Neal
Pitt Putnam
J. A. Plumer
Julia Peters (two)
H. C. Posey
L. W. Phillips
Fred Petre
Charles Pfaff
Rittenhouse Bros.
Adam Reiter (two)
Mrs. Elizabeth Schneider
Peter Steward
R. M. Sheets
Lucy S. Slocomb
Henry Schweitzer
John Scott
Peter Schlicher
Philip Severance
Matthew Strecker
D. F. Sayre
Catharine Spies
B. E. Stoahr
George Trier
Lee Williams
Henry Wendelken
Jacob Weber
James B. Wilson
Aaron Walker (two)
John Weber
Mrs. Michael Wagner (two)
John Weiser (three)
Adam Weber (three)
Jacob Young
Simon Zoller
We print a list of the cow owners by wards in this impression. It will appear that 204 different persons own 265 cows. It is impossible to state just how many are at large but probably 140. At one cow to the acre there is not a living for more than 10 cows in Marietta. There are not more than 15 acres, of what might be called grass, if one measures every foot of it. Half o this is weeds or a thin sickly shaded growth that has no substance in it. The result is there are more than 10 cows to the acre of this stuff in Marietta and to say that it is a kindness to any poor family to permit the cows at large is to talk without reason, to talk nonsense. Besides, the list will show that most of the cow owners are also owners of homes. The only advantage, if any, to the cow is the exercise and shade of the streets, but this is at the expense of making her a common scavenger and common thief. For the rest of the summer, if permitted, the cows will be restless tramps, chasing after every wagon, grocery stand, dooryard and garden, with a constant bawling and suffering much of the time for water.
The council takes the only justifiable view of it, and we are glad that it has decided to take the cow by the horns and lead her out of the streets. It is another indication that Marietta is advancing.
The following is the list of cow owners by wards. Where more than one is kept the number is stated. It will be seen that several own two, some three and one five.
First Ward (32)
D. B. Anderson
George Bachman
Frank D. Booth
Anthony Brown
J. J. Brenan
N. A. Creighbaum (two)
Jacob Conrath
F. R. Decker
Davis Bros., mother and sister (two)
John Gorman (two)
R. Merydith
J. W. McMaster (three)
L. R. Moore (two)
Kate McMaster
A. G. Martin (two)
Wm. W. Marvin
Jochien Otto
Jesse Pugh (two)
Jacob Rech
B. F. Sprague
Henry Van Bergen
A. Winsor
T. K. Wells (two)
Second Ward (44)
E. R. Alderman
M. B. Buell
Thos. C. Bay
A. H. Brown
Cynthia Bradford
R. L. Curtis
Jonathan Cline
Jacob Dye, trustee (two)
Ross Dye
Clarissa Dye
Henry Groves
Gross & Blohm (two)
Anthony Garry (three)
John Hill (two)
Thos. Highland (two)
James B. Haight
John Highland
S. S. Knowles
Peter Kline
J. L. Mills
Pape Bros. (two)
I. R. Rose
Wm. P. Racer
J. L. Reckard
Jacob Shimmel
J. H. and Mary E. Scott
Libbie D. Snodgrass (two)
John L. Smith
R. K. Shaw (two)
Geo. M. Woodbridge
Frank Weber (two)
A. J. Warner (three)
Third Ward (88)
E. M. Booth (two)
W. H. Buck (two)
Jacob Bast
Wm. D. Bailey
John H. Best, Jr.
Daniel Baker
W. H. Buell
Adam Brown (two)
August Brown
W. P. Bennett (three)
Fred Blume (three)
James Block
John Block
J. H. F. Browning
T. J. Connor
Wm. W. Caldwell (two)
J. D. Cadwallader
Harlow Chapin
L. W. Chamberlain
K. L. Dye
T. D. Dale
George R. Gear
Wm. Gerken
Wm. Geyer
J. Gorrell (two)
Samuel Hart
Mrs. Sallie Hart (two)
James Holden
R. G. Kinkead
Wm. Hoffman
E. O. L. Jett
Charles Jones (two)
Henry Kestermeier, Sr. (two)
C. Ketter
W. W. Lucas
John E. Leonhart
Fred Lohssee
Henry Lawrence
W. C. McCarty
Peter Moser (two)
Samuel Maloney
Samuel Marvin
Murray McMillin (two)
Mrs. Phebe Morse
Lucetta Mason
Craven Nixon
James W. Nye (two)
John D. Pape
Daniel Pfaff
Wallace A. Payne
Chas. R. Rhodes
Geo. Rice
M. M. Rose
J. W. Stanley
Catharine Schmidt
John D. Strauss
C. L. Schlaymaker (three)
W. A. Sniffen
Mrs. Carrie Tresch
Anton Uhnhann
Jacob Volkwein
S. C. Wilhelm
Chas. L. Weber
Stephen Weidner, Sr.
August Weber
M. P. Wells
John Wilking
Z. D. Walter
Louis Wendleken
M. K. Wendleken
Herman Weber
J. H. Young
Fourth Ward (101)
Frank Ackerman
Chas. Baker, 2d
Margaret Benhart (five)
W. W. Babcock, Jr. (two)
Wm. Beck
Peter Backes
John Clogston
George Cisler
Corwin Chamberlain
Mrs. John Carius (two)
James H. Devol
Johnathan Dye
C. C. Davis, Sr.
L. W. Ellenwood
Jacob Gerhart
Wm. Gluff
Mrs. Philip Gephart
Christ. Haag (two)
J. C. Holdren
John W. Hopp
R. A. Henthorn
John Holz
Peter Hartwig (two)
Amon Huff
James Jackson (two)
Harriet Kuntz
Gustus Kaiser
Wm. Kerns
Caroline Kirchner
Wm. Ketter
Wm. A. Lancaster
J. A. Lapham
Charles Lorentz
John Leonhardt, 2d
Fred Mahnken
Peter Maloy (two)
N. C. Morris
Mary Maloy
Adam Morganstern
John Mahnken, 2d
Wm. Meuser
Pearl Nott
Joseph O’Neal
Pitt Putnam
J. A. Plumer
Julia Peters (two)
H. C. Posey
L. W. Phillips
Fred Petre
Charles Pfaff
Rittenhouse Bros.
Adam Reiter (two)
Mrs. Elizabeth Schneider
Peter Steward
R. M. Sheets
Lucy S. Slocomb
Henry Schweitzer
John Scott
Peter Schlicher
Philip Severance
Matthew Strecker
D. F. Sayre
Catharine Spies
B. E. Stoahr
George Trier
Lee Williams
Henry Wendelken
Jacob Weber
James B. Wilson
Aaron Walker (two)
John Weber
Mrs. Michael Wagner (two)
John Weiser (three)
Adam Weber (three)
Jacob Young
Simon Zoller
The Cow Protest
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), July 15, 1887
Editors Register: My attention has just been called to the fact that a few cowardly men, destitute of the milk of kindness, are conspiring to keep us poor cows off the street. Mr. Editor, we cows propose to kick. I want to say here and now, that we don’t care a snap about the grass along the sides of the street. It is so poor, so dusty, and so unfit for eating that all decent and well bred cows turn up their noses at such stuff; but our rights lie in entirely different directions. Let me enumerate some of them. Whenever a load of hay drives into town, a number of us cows follow, and steal a big nip every few moments; and listen to the driver perched overhead, violating the law in regard to profane language. Does any good man desire to deprive us of this pleasure? The petition our friends are getting up for the council answers this question.
Again, for the sake of exercise, and health, we are on the go most of the time. We often find gates leading into front yards and gardens open, left in that condition by thoughtless people. We always step in to inhale the perfume of the flowers and sample the sweet corn. My experience is, that I have never been in a yard or garden over fifteen minutes before the lady of the house is out, screaming “shoo” at the top of her voice, and telling the hired girl to “drive out that nasty cow,” and the girl, with a broom, attempts to hit me, but she never does. Such conduct on the part of people is far from dignified, and I very naturally resent it by nipping a few of the choicest flowers, and tramping down the garden. We didn’t leave the gate open, and why should we be shut up for people’s forgetfulness? Can anyone answer that argument?
And, thirdly, as the preachers say, our chief pleasure is snatching vegetables from in front of groceries. My, but that is fun. We do it this way: Stand and look innocent when the “truck” is placed on the sidewalk, and until the clerk goes in, then rush up, seize a turnip, roasting ear, squash or whatever it may be, and rush off. Out comes the clerk, yells “sick ‘em,” sick ‘em,” throws a decayed lettuce at us, and goes in again, when you can repeat the job until he has to take the vegetables into the store. The idea of not permitting cows to enjoy such entertainments would be too cruel. Anyway, as I said before, the grass on the streets is not fit to eat, our owners are all too poor to buy hay, or hire pasture for us, and many of us would go hungry if it wasn’t for the groceries. Who then, would want us shut up without food, when the groceries are so convenient?
We are told that other cities refuse to let cows run at large. That may be, but I venture the guess that it is in cities where there are no colleges or high schools. We have too much culture here to shut up the cows. Again, we are to have the Centennial next year, and there isn’t a cow in Marietta that don’t want to mingle with our visitors on that occasion. The cows will shortly hold a mass meeting to protest against being shut up as unconstitutional and void. Due notice will be given of the meeting.
Respectfully, Fourth Street Cow.
Editors Register: My attention has just been called to the fact that a few cowardly men, destitute of the milk of kindness, are conspiring to keep us poor cows off the street. Mr. Editor, we cows propose to kick. I want to say here and now, that we don’t care a snap about the grass along the sides of the street. It is so poor, so dusty, and so unfit for eating that all decent and well bred cows turn up their noses at such stuff; but our rights lie in entirely different directions. Let me enumerate some of them. Whenever a load of hay drives into town, a number of us cows follow, and steal a big nip every few moments; and listen to the driver perched overhead, violating the law in regard to profane language. Does any good man desire to deprive us of this pleasure? The petition our friends are getting up for the council answers this question.
Again, for the sake of exercise, and health, we are on the go most of the time. We often find gates leading into front yards and gardens open, left in that condition by thoughtless people. We always step in to inhale the perfume of the flowers and sample the sweet corn. My experience is, that I have never been in a yard or garden over fifteen minutes before the lady of the house is out, screaming “shoo” at the top of her voice, and telling the hired girl to “drive out that nasty cow,” and the girl, with a broom, attempts to hit me, but she never does. Such conduct on the part of people is far from dignified, and I very naturally resent it by nipping a few of the choicest flowers, and tramping down the garden. We didn’t leave the gate open, and why should we be shut up for people’s forgetfulness? Can anyone answer that argument?
And, thirdly, as the preachers say, our chief pleasure is snatching vegetables from in front of groceries. My, but that is fun. We do it this way: Stand and look innocent when the “truck” is placed on the sidewalk, and until the clerk goes in, then rush up, seize a turnip, roasting ear, squash or whatever it may be, and rush off. Out comes the clerk, yells “sick ‘em,” sick ‘em,” throws a decayed lettuce at us, and goes in again, when you can repeat the job until he has to take the vegetables into the store. The idea of not permitting cows to enjoy such entertainments would be too cruel. Anyway, as I said before, the grass on the streets is not fit to eat, our owners are all too poor to buy hay, or hire pasture for us, and many of us would go hungry if it wasn’t for the groceries. Who then, would want us shut up without food, when the groceries are so convenient?
We are told that other cities refuse to let cows run at large. That may be, but I venture the guess that it is in cities where there are no colleges or high schools. We have too much culture here to shut up the cows. Again, we are to have the Centennial next year, and there isn’t a cow in Marietta that don’t want to mingle with our visitors on that occasion. The cows will shortly hold a mass meeting to protest against being shut up as unconstitutional and void. Due notice will be given of the meeting.
Respectfully, Fourth Street Cow.
Cow Owners
The Marietta Register (Semi-Weekly), July 12, 1887
The list of cow owners published Friday did not look like a “poor” lot. Indeed, it provoked a smile among our readers who had been drummed on the cry of helping the poor cow owner. The 204 cow owners in Marietta pay tax on personal property to the amount of $110,000 or on an average on $425 and most of them on real estate besides. There are a number who pay on less than $100, but for every family owning a cow and paying on less than $100 there are five others equally poor who are compelled to fence and maintain a standing army to keep the cow out of the garden and door-yard.
The list of cow owners published Friday did not look like a “poor” lot. Indeed, it provoked a smile among our readers who had been drummed on the cry of helping the poor cow owner. The 204 cow owners in Marietta pay tax on personal property to the amount of $110,000 or on an average on $425 and most of them on real estate besides. There are a number who pay on less than $100, but for every family owning a cow and paying on less than $100 there are five others equally poor who are compelled to fence and maintain a standing army to keep the cow out of the garden and door-yard.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Shocking Affray
The Home News, May 26, 1860
On last Sunday evening between sundown and dark, an altercation arose between David Quimby and S. L. Brabham, relative to some business matters between them, their relations being that of landlord and tenant. Quimby wished to ride over a farm of his, occupied by Brabham, which the latter refused to permit. The dispute was carried on until both parties became enraged, whereupon Brabham struck Quimby on the forehead with an old fashioned hoe, breaking the skull, making a triangular aperture of one and a half to two inches. Dr. Wm. F. Clarke, of Lowell, was immediately called to the spot, and extracted eleven pieces of the skull, varying in size from a ten cent piece to ¼ inch in diameter. After the wound was dressed, Quimby got up and walked across the house, and it is supposed by his physician that if he can be kept quiet, he will recover. Brabham is acting as his nurse, and had he been half as kind before as since, the difficulty would not have occurred.
On last Sunday evening between sundown and dark, an altercation arose between David Quimby and S. L. Brabham, relative to some business matters between them, their relations being that of landlord and tenant. Quimby wished to ride over a farm of his, occupied by Brabham, which the latter refused to permit. The dispute was carried on until both parties became enraged, whereupon Brabham struck Quimby on the forehead with an old fashioned hoe, breaking the skull, making a triangular aperture of one and a half to two inches. Dr. Wm. F. Clarke, of Lowell, was immediately called to the spot, and extracted eleven pieces of the skull, varying in size from a ten cent piece to ¼ inch in diameter. After the wound was dressed, Quimby got up and walked across the house, and it is supposed by his physician that if he can be kept quiet, he will recover. Brabham is acting as his nurse, and had he been half as kind before as since, the difficulty would not have occurred.
David Quimby Dead
The Home News, June 2, 1860
David Quimby, of Waterford township, whose skull was so severely fractured last week, by S. L. Brabham, an account of which appeared in the Home News, died on Tuesday morning. Brabham has fled, and cannot be found. Another warning of the evil effects of an uncontrolled temper. The Grand Jury have indicted him for manslaughter.
David Quimby, of Waterford township, whose skull was so severely fractured last week, by S. L. Brabham, an account of which appeared in the Home News, died on Tuesday morning. Brabham has fled, and cannot be found. Another warning of the evil effects of an uncontrolled temper. The Grand Jury have indicted him for manslaughter.
The Cemetery Question
The Home News, June 16, 1860
Mr. Editor – By a notice in a Marietta paper some time since, I learned that the Council of the city of Marietta contemplates making a purchase of land for a new cemetery. Is it true, that the “city fathers” have refused to permit any further use of the unoccupied front on Fifth street, of the burying ground in this city, for burial purposes? I hear it reported, and from good authority, that it is so. Is it a fixed fact?
It is said that this front will be reserved and probably at no distant period of time, will be sold out by the town authorities, for building lots? Oh shame, where is thy blush! Can it be possible, that the Town Council of Marietta, if they had the necessary legal authority, would attempt to divert to any other purpose, those beautiful grounds which were given to the town many years ago, by gen. Rufus Putnam, not for speculation, but expressly for a burying place, and for no other purpose? Would a measure of this character be in accordance with the intention of the donor? Would such a sordid act, for greed of gain, on the part of the town, be in good faith, were he living? Why should the recipients of his bounty undertake to thwart his benevolent purpose, now he is dead, by the perversion of his sacred trust? Can the city oracles answer satisfactorily? Will they?
I deny the legal right of the town to convert those grounds to any other use than a burial place. And had the Council the right, many of the better class of citizens would be exceedingly annoyed at seeing the front of this sacred spot, for such I hold it to be, flanked up to the line now occupied by family burying lots, with stables and other back buildings necessarily connected with dwellings. If they have the power, legally, or otherwise, to sell any part of these grounds, then they have the power (after providing another place for burying the dead,) to sell out the whole, and the citizens may, if they choose, remove the remains of their departed friends, or leave them to sink into oblivion beneath the unhallowed tread of the thoughtless or ambitious occupant.
Yes, Mr. Editor, “the land would be valuable for building lots,” and that beautiful mound, Conus, would at least be as valuable as Sacra via, the covert way, which I understand is being sold at five cents per yard. Is it so? Strangers who visit Marietta admire these ancient works, and often describe them in a public way, as monuments of an ancient race whose history has long since been buried with their homes. But I fear curious mementoes of their greatness will also soon have departed, leaving history only to tell of their former existence.
The question before the people is, the expediency of the preservation or destruction, of those interesting ancient works, generally, and particularly the mound and cemetery grounds, the gift of one of our most honored and illustrious pioneers. Citizens of Marietta, who are not so selfish as to be entirely under the power of the “almighty dollar,” and who are disposed to preserve, should awake to their duty, and frown down the spirit of domination of the destructives, at the ballot box, by the election of Councilmen who are ready and willing, to commit themselves on this important question – men who will faithfully carry out their principles. Will they do it? We shall see.
M.
Mr. Editor – By a notice in a Marietta paper some time since, I learned that the Council of the city of Marietta contemplates making a purchase of land for a new cemetery. Is it true, that the “city fathers” have refused to permit any further use of the unoccupied front on Fifth street, of the burying ground in this city, for burial purposes? I hear it reported, and from good authority, that it is so. Is it a fixed fact?
It is said that this front will be reserved and probably at no distant period of time, will be sold out by the town authorities, for building lots? Oh shame, where is thy blush! Can it be possible, that the Town Council of Marietta, if they had the necessary legal authority, would attempt to divert to any other purpose, those beautiful grounds which were given to the town many years ago, by gen. Rufus Putnam, not for speculation, but expressly for a burying place, and for no other purpose? Would a measure of this character be in accordance with the intention of the donor? Would such a sordid act, for greed of gain, on the part of the town, be in good faith, were he living? Why should the recipients of his bounty undertake to thwart his benevolent purpose, now he is dead, by the perversion of his sacred trust? Can the city oracles answer satisfactorily? Will they?
I deny the legal right of the town to convert those grounds to any other use than a burial place. And had the Council the right, many of the better class of citizens would be exceedingly annoyed at seeing the front of this sacred spot, for such I hold it to be, flanked up to the line now occupied by family burying lots, with stables and other back buildings necessarily connected with dwellings. If they have the power, legally, or otherwise, to sell any part of these grounds, then they have the power (after providing another place for burying the dead,) to sell out the whole, and the citizens may, if they choose, remove the remains of their departed friends, or leave them to sink into oblivion beneath the unhallowed tread of the thoughtless or ambitious occupant.
Yes, Mr. Editor, “the land would be valuable for building lots,” and that beautiful mound, Conus, would at least be as valuable as Sacra via, the covert way, which I understand is being sold at five cents per yard. Is it so? Strangers who visit Marietta admire these ancient works, and often describe them in a public way, as monuments of an ancient race whose history has long since been buried with their homes. But I fear curious mementoes of their greatness will also soon have departed, leaving history only to tell of their former existence.
The question before the people is, the expediency of the preservation or destruction, of those interesting ancient works, generally, and particularly the mound and cemetery grounds, the gift of one of our most honored and illustrious pioneers. Citizens of Marietta, who are not so selfish as to be entirely under the power of the “almighty dollar,” and who are disposed to preserve, should awake to their duty, and frown down the spirit of domination of the destructives, at the ballot box, by the election of Councilmen who are ready and willing, to commit themselves on this important question – men who will faithfully carry out their principles. Will they do it? We shall see.
M.
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