Notes on the Settlement of the West

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, September 19, 1827

On the 30th day of July, in the year 1782, Henry Smith, Hamilton Kerr and Thomas Mills, went out from Wheeling Fort on a fishing party; they ascended the river about four miles, and coming within about forty paces of the Ohio shore, they were fired upon by a large party of Indians who were concealed in the grass and willows, and at the first fire Mills received eight balls, which made sixteen or seventeen wounds - fortunately, he fell in the canoe - a part of the Indians leaving their guns on the shore, attempted to board the canoe by wading, but the water being shoulder deep, Kerr kept them off with his fish gig; the Indians finding it very difficult to board in such deep water, returned to shore and commenced firing, which they continued until the canoe had got near the Virginia shore, poured a heavy fire at them, but seeing armed men on the point of the island, they proceeded no farther.  Hamilton Kerr got into the fort unhurt; Smith received a small flesh wound; and Mills, to the astonishment of all who saw him at that time, recovered, and is now upwards of sixty years of age, living in Monroe county, Ohio, enjoying tolerably good health.

There is no doubt (says Mills), but it was the deliberate courage and activity of Hamilton Kerr that prevented their falling into the hands of the Indians.  The same party, the next day, killed Major Samuel McColloch, while reconnoitering.  The loss of Major McColloch was considered a public calamity to the frontier settlement.

In the month of April in the year 1784, two Indians came to the flats of Grave Creek, where Joseph Tomlinson had come on with part of his family for the purpose of raising a crop of corn; when they came to a fence near the door, one of them hailed, and out stepped an old woman; one of them accosted her (to use her own language), "good morning mother! (and threw his filthy arms about my neck, and hugged me all the way into the house); mother, said he, what is in that bag?  It is flour, said she.  I must have some of it, said the Indian."  The woman then told the children to go and tell Joe.  The Indian forbid it under the penalty of the tomahawk.  He then took one of the old woman's petticoats, for which she contended, and told him "the shame a bit of it he should have."  The Indian then took some of the flour, in his blanket, and went to his companions, who were watching not far off, and then went off without committing any further depredations.  So far goes the old woman's story, which was not doubted.  The same Indians went from thence perhaps ten or twelve miles, to an old farm, known as Crow's Old Place, where they killed two men, to wit, Nathaniel Redford and Randall Death.  Death was an amiable young man - he received six wounds in one day in the revolutionary war, five of them with the bayonet; the writer of this was well acquainted with him.

In September, in the year 1787, two boys, John Wetsil and Frederick Erlewine, perhaps about 16 or 17 years of age, went out from Wetsil's fort on Wheeling creek, to hunt their horses.  They had not gone far when they heard the horse-bell, and going to the place found the horses tied in a thicket, and a party of five Indians watching them, who made prisoners of both the boys, and went off towards the Ohio.  The young Erlewine continued crying - after travelling about a mile, they silenced him with the tomahawk, and pushed with the other prisoner and the two horses until they came to the river at the mouth of Big Grave Creek.  Two of the Indians undertook to cross the river with the horses, while the other three with the prisoner, got into a canoe they found in the creek, and were paddling into the river, when three men, viz. Isaac Williams, Hamilton Kerr, and James Salter, hearing the snorting of the horses, hastened to the mouth of the creek, where they arrived undiscovered, at the moment the Indians were passing into the river - Kerr and Williams instantly fired and killed two - Kerr dropped his gun, took Salter's out of his hand and shot the third.  Thus were three Indians killed, and a prisoner liberated with the firing of three guns.  The other Indians, with the horses, gained the opposite shore and made their escape.

Sometime in September, in the year 1787, a negro man, belonging to Philip Whitten, Esq., while hunting bees on the waters of Wheeling, was surprised and taken prisoner by two Indians; they immediately pinioned his arms - put a very heavy rifle gun on his shoulder, and went off towards the Ohio.  When within about a mile of the river (it was nearly dark), they heard a bell, and one of them went off towards it, saying "now I get a horse;" the other, and the negro, sat for some time, the Indian telling him he would furnish him with a wife, &c. until his comrade gave a signal, by making a noise resembling that of a screech-owl - he then said to the negro, "now we go."  They had to descend a very steep hill - the negro, walking behind the Indian, had the advantage of the ground, and gave him a blow on the head with the gun the Indian compelled him to carry, which brought him to the ground.  He then squatting seized the Indian's tomahawk and struck it several times into his brains, and escaped; he had to go about two miles to Williamson's Block House, where he was unshackled, told his story, and a party of men went with him to the place where the Indian lay dead, and found all he had stated to be true.

The negro, after liberating himself from the Indians, thought proper to continue no longer a slave, and to effect his purpose, ran away from his master.  He was said to be living at Malden, Upper Canada, at the time of the last war.

Samuel Dye Obituary

The Marietta Register - Semi-Weekly, June 24, 1884

Died in Warren, Washington County, Ohio, on the 3rd Inst., Dea. Samuel Dye, in his 78th year.  He was born in this county in 1806, the year his father, John Dye, removed from Virginia, to Lawrence, Ohio.  In 1830 he was joined in wedlock with Lucinda, daughter of Ezekiel Dye, of Morgan County, Ohio.  Of their sixteen children, all born in Lawrence, nine with the wife and mother preceded him to the better land.  Three of his sons graduated from Marietta College.  Of the three, Arius Newton, the oldest of the three, finished his Theological course at Rochester, N.Y.  His health failing, he gradually sunk into the silent tomb, never having fully entered upon his chosen life work.

Daniel Wayland, the next in age, pursued his theological course at Crozier, Penn.  When through he entered the pastorate and preached with very marked acceptance and promise for only a few years, when in the midst of his usefullness he was cut down and borne from the field a lifeless corpse.  But few parents have been more sadly crossed in their anticipations, or more sorely bereft, yet under all his faith triumphed.  In the darkest hour he was wont to say "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him," and, "the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

Bro. Dye was baptised into the fellowship of the Little Muskingum Baptist Church by Rev. A. Darrow, in 1843, and in 1847 was ordained to the deaconship of same church, where he retained his membership up to the time of his death.

He will be long remembered as a kind husband and an affectionate father, and faithful friend.  His many excellent qualities secured to him the esteem and confidence of a large circle of friends.  He will be greatly missed.

The funeral services were held in the German church of Lawrence and were largely attended.  A short discourse was delivered by Elder J. D. Riley, from Rev. 14 chap. 13 verse followed by Rev. G. R. Gear of Marietta, when the remains were laid in the family grave yard, beside his wife and children, to await the final resurrection.

J.D.R.

A Murderous Assault!

The Marietta Register - Semi-Weekly, August 5, 1884

John B. Waters makes an unprovoked attack on Edward Meisenhelder with a hatchet - Cutting a fearful gash on the back of the skull and exposing the brain to view - Other licks on the arm - A mad pursuit for a fancied revenge which terminates in a wanton destruction of property.

Marietta never was charged up with a more unprovoked and wanton crime than that of John B. Waters, the grocer on Putnam street last Saturday morning on Edward Meisenhelder, the marble cutter who occupied the adjoining building.

The affair began without warning to any one that morning.  No words had passed between Waters and Meisenhelder.  Both had returned to business early and neither had knowledge that the sun had gone down on the wrath of the other the night before.  It was yet an early hour, about 7 o'clock, and only a few men had yet got to their places of business.

Meisenhelder had opened out and was at work cutting an inscription unconscious of danger.  His apprentice, a lad about 17 years makes this statement about the beginning of the assault:

"We had just opened the shop and Ed. was cutting some letters with his back toward the door, when John Waters ran in and cried out, "now I've got you, you s___ of ____," which was followed by two licks with the hatchet before Ed. could protect himself." 

One lick was lodged on the back of the head and took out a piece of the skull the size of a half dollar exposing the brain but not disturbing it and severing three small arteries.  The second lick was on the left arm above the elbow and though a gaping wound is not dangerous.

Meisenhelder ran out at the back door and Waters after throwing the hatchet at him went out the front door and met him at the corner of Putnam and Second, where he stood swearing, and as he met him coming around the corner he made at him again.  His blow was not effective and Meisenhelder ran slowly toward Dr. Walters to have his wounds dressed.

Waters soon went back to the store and wrapped the hatchet up in a cloth and started down to kill Charlie, Ed's brother, who is working on the ice harbor.  Waters went down to the harbor accompanied by "Chick" Buell.  When he got near Charlie Meisenhelder he raised the hatchet to strike when little "Chick" grabbed hold of his arm and yelled to Charlie to look out as John was going to kill him.  After flourishing his hatchet and bantering the whole harbor to come out John went back to the Marble shop on Putnam street, and commenced a work of destruction.  He broke every window pane out of the front, hacked the letters on the marble monuments, smashed the fine moulding on top of the tombstones and tipped monuments and slabs over.  He was interrupted by officer Latanner who wrenched the hatchet out of Waters' hand and hustled him off to jail, or rather to the city jug.  By this time there were a great many people around the scene of the tragedy.

A reporter of the Register making a trip to Dr. Walters found young Ed. Meisenhelder lying on the pavement with his head on a hassock,while the doctors were sewing up an ugly cut in his left arm below the elbow.  A pool of blood lay at his feet while his clothes and hands were smeared with gore.  A wagon was brought in and filled with hay; as soon as his wounds were cared for the wounded boy was lifted in and taken to his home on 5th street, where he now lies in a critical condition.  A talk with one of the doctors revealed the following:  The blow in the back of the head severed three small arteries all of which were tied; the doctors subsequently cut out a piece of the skull through the mastoid process, and the lining or covering of the brain was bare enough for them to see it pulsate.  The young man retained his consciousness all the time.

The facts prompting the deed are difficult to ascertain with certainty since Waters refused to talk after his arrest.

John B. Waters is a man 32 years of age, usually very agreeable in manner, industrious and anxious to do his part towards the support of his widowed mother and family.  His mother married for her second husband the late Judge C. F. Buell.  John was known to be drinking pretty hard but to be his own worst enemy.  He knew this well and frequently talked about it leaning on the lame excuse that he had inherited an appetite that was his master.  But this was not so strong but that he could swear off for a season which he frequently did though only to relapse into the old habit.

As to his condition at the time, the facts are hard to obtain.  The hatchet that was used belonged to Gus. Wagoner, a carpenter, who left it at the store the night before and by accident thus was unhappily too near when the murderous impulse took possession of him.

What It Was All About

What grievance, or supposed grievance, Waters had, if any, it would be hard to tell.  It is said by the apprentice that when Whithead went out of the business he owed Waters, and that Meisenhelders assumed the debt and were to make a tombstone for it.  This they did, but it did not please him and they sold it for him and were to pay him when the same was collected.  Waters recently demanded the money but was put off until the money came in.  Some angry words grew out of this transaction but still they were on apparently good terms and spoke to each other when they met that morning.

There had also been some little chaffing by the Meisenhelder boys over a little upset Waters had experienced with a young lady at Matamoras to whom he had been paying attentions.  It is possible that Waters was under the impression that they had been instrumental in prejudicing his case with her, but inquiry leads to the conclusion that this was not true.

But putting it all together, fancied and real, there was no cause why he should assault the Meisenhelder boys in any way, and much less with the murderous hatchet.  It must have been the impulse of a mad man driven to the extreme of jealousy by the maddening influences of drink.

The passion of a moment following angry words would not pursue the victim even to the destruction of property.

The Meisenhelder boys are not quarrelsome.  They have the reputation of fair dealing and would be considered the last persons to provoke an assault of this kind.

The sad feature of the case is that it brings sorrow to two quiet unoffending families.

As we write, Monday, young Meisenhelder is doing well and may recover.  Waters is in jail and will have a hearing Tuesday morning.

Rainbow Cemetery

The Marietta Register - Semi-Weekly, June 13, 1884

Reading in a late issue of the Register, the number of octogenarians living in Marietta, suggested to me the idea of looking over the record of those buried in our cemetery.

There are two hundred and thirty names and twenty of those are eighty years and upward, the average age being nearly eighty-five.  This, I think, must be an unusually large proportion of old persons.

The first person buried was Mrs. Ruth Wright, who died March 12th, 1796, aged 20 years and 9 months.  She had two children - one of them, William Wright, who edited and published a newspaper in New Orleans about the year 1820.  I remember of seeing several numbers of his paper which he sent to his father, and my recollection of it is that it was of quite good size and ably conducted.

A little more than a month afterward was buried Mrs. Mary Lake, who died April 27, 1796, aged 68 years.  She was the first person who taught a Sunday school northwest of the Ohio river.

And what is quite remarkable, one of her pupils, Mrs. Nancy Frost, is still living, now in her 100th year.  A few months ago I visited "Grandma" Frost, who recollects as distinctly as though it was but yesterday, of being at the weekly gathering of the children who were taught by Mrs. Lake at the garrison, as it was then generally termed, and also called the stockade fort, on the plain in Marietta.

She taught, some of the time, a sort of an Irish Sunday school, that is, it was taught on Saturday whenever there was to be preaching on the following Sabbath.  Perhaps the exercises were longer then than now and did not leave much time for anything else.

When there was to be no preaching she gathered her little flock of pupils on the Sabbath, and read and explained to them the scriptures much after the fashion of teaching now-a-days.

Mrs. Frost is, without doubt, the oldest Sabbath school scholar now living in the United States.  She and others represent Mrs. Lake to have been a very amiable woman of a quiet, gentle disposition, and desirous of doing all the good she could.

The cedars in the cemetery cast their morning and evening shadows across the green turf over her grave, but there is no memorial stone save the small, rude piece of sandstone placed there by friendly hands eighty-eight years ago.

Would it not be well enough for the Sunday schools to take this matter in hand and contribute enough to put up a plain and suitable monument at her grave?  If all the Sabbath school scholars, of Ohio, even, would contribute the fractional part of a cent it would be all sufficient.

Here is also buried George W. Ridgway, who enlisted in the three months service - the first call made for troops.  He died May 18th, 1861.  He was the first enlisted soldier of the late war to die from this county.  Many of the citizens of Marietta will remember of being at his funeral.

Near by is the grave of Desire Nye, whose tombstone is supposed to be the oldest in Ohio.  It was put there by her husband, Deacon Nye, a brother, I think, of the late col. Ichabod Nye, of Marietta.  He fashioned the sandstone, and chiseled upon it in quaint lettering the following inscription which is yet easy to read:

In Memory of

Desire Nye, the

wife of Ebenezer Nye,

who departed this

life October 9th, A.D.,

1800.  Aged 49 years.

It is not easy to prove the exact time of placing the tombstones at these old grave, but it was the recollection of old people, with whom I used to converse, that it was done within a year or two of her death, making the date of erection in 1800 or 1802.

At any time, when at home, I shall be glad to go with any person who feels disposed to make a visit to the pleasant grounds where sleep our dead.

Joseph Wood.

The Union Meeting At Marietta

Marietta Intelligencer, January 30, 1861

Mr. Editor:

I am amazed at the course of the Democratic paper of this place in regard to the late Union meeting.  The object of that meeting was, to show to our Southern brethren that there was no hostility of feeling toward them, but a willingness to do all in our power to bring about a state of peace.  The call was for a meeting of citizens, without reference to party.  In this capacity the people met.  The Mayor was the chairman.  After a number of Union speeches, a large Committee was appointed to report resolutions at an adjourned meeting.

At this second meeting, the resolutions agreed on by the Committee of nine, were reported.  While these were under consideration, the publisher of the Democratic paper, and the editor, tried to change them.  But the meeting refused to make the substitution these gentlemen wished, and the original resolutions, as reported by the Committee, were adopted.  The resolutions were good, even in the opinions of these men, for one of them was on the Committee that reported them; but on the day of the meeting they thought something better might be substituted.  But the people thought the resolutions of the Committee were better than the substitutes proposed, and so rejected the latter.  What, now, is the course of that paper?  It admits into its columns, from the Cincinnati Enquirer, an account of that meeting, which is an insult to the people of Marietta and Washington county.  The loss of the resolutions referred to, is attributed to Abolition influence.  The idea of its being a Union meeting is hooted at.

This is the way some people take to restore quiet to the country!  They get up meetings "without reference to party," and then, if the people do not adopt all their recommendations, they turn about and abuse those who attended by calling them Abolitionists, &c., &c.  If the people in attendance on the meeting in the Court House, Saturday, January 12, were under Abolition influence, then the whole North is under such influence.

It is such wretched caricatures of Northern people, as this article in the Enquirer copied into the Republican, that has made the trouble between the North and the South.  The writer of this signed that call at the request of Mr. McCormick, and he did it supposing a fair account of the meeting would be given to the public in the Demicratic paper.  He acknowledges himself disappointed.

X.

Union Meeting in Marietta - Republican Impudence

The Marietta Republican, January 25, 1861

Marietta, O. Jan. 14.

To the Editor of the Enquirer:

Below I give you the proceedings of what purports to have been a Union meeting but came about as near that as South Carolina does to being loyal.  It having been announced through the papers that such a meeting would be held on Tuesday last, the Court house was crowded to its utmost capacity by our citizens and those of Wood County, Virginia.

A Committee on Resolutions having been appointed, the meeting adjourned to meet at ten o'clock on Saturday, having first ordered that an invitation be extended to the citizens of Wood County, and also one to General Jackson, of Parkersburg, to be present and address the meeting.

The appointed day came, and with it our neighbors from the opposite side of the Ohio, when the first object that met their astonished gaze was a Lincoln and Hamlin flag, suspended from the joint offices of the collector and Resident Engineer of the Muskingum improvements.  Such an exhibition on such an occasion was a deliberate insult to our Virginia brethren, and was undoubtedly intended as such.  Excuse the digression.  The meeting having been called to order by His Honor the Mayor, the Committee on Resolutions reported the following, which Davis Green moved be adopted serivatim:

[The preamble and the first seven resolutions here follow: but as we gave them last week, we omit them.  We give the balance of the communication.]

A motion to strike out the seventh resolution and insert the Crittenden or border States resolutions was strongly opposed by Davis Green, Melvin Clarke, D. C. Skinner and Douglas Putnam, and advocated by Hon. Arius Nye and Hon. C. F. Buell, but was finally lost, because the Republican element in the meeting was determined that nothing which was opposed by Green should pass affirmatively.  Several conservitive amendments were also negatived from the same cause.

VIII.  "We cordially approve the resolution passed by the House of Representatives indorsing the conduct of Major Anderson in Charleston Harbor and the present course of the Administration toward the Seceders."

This resolution Green moved the House to take special attention, but, finding it getting too warm, concluded to quietly withdraw it.

IX.  "It is our deliberate and abiding opinion that our greatest prosperity and success as a nation, and our hopes of happiness and security in the future, depend upon the preservation of the Union as it is."

This, then, embodies the action of the so-called Union meeting.

The following, offered by Colonel McCormick, was opposed by Green, and defeated:

"Resolved, If the Territories be divided on the line of the Missouri Compromise, that the provision ought to be incorporated in the Constitution."

From the foregoing it will be seen that Davis Green occupied the most prominent part in the meeting, and that, too, after having once refused to sign the call, hooted at the idea of such a demonstration, and finally signing it under an implied protest.

May the day be far distant when our city shall be again disgraced by such a Union meeting.

G.

P.S.  I have just learned that the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad Company, who so eagerly run half-fare trains for Republican Conventions during the campaign, refused to extend the same courtesy to the aforesaid so-called Union meeting.

The Adjourned Union Meeting

The Marietta Republican, January 18, 1861

A brief abstract of the proceedings of this meeting may be found in another column.  The resolutions do not come up to the expectations of many of the friends of the Union, but they were the best that could be passed through the meeting, at the time the vote was taken.  Some members of the committee reluctantly consented to have two or three of them reported to the meeting, with the hope that by harmony and concession something might be done which would have a good effect in the alarming crisis now upon us.  It was with the hope that the people of this section were willing to concede what the Union men of the border slave States declare is the least that will keep their States with us, that several amendments were offered in the meeting.

Wm. Scott, Esq., moved to substitute the following for the 6th resolution:

Resolved.  That the mere election of Abraham Lincoln in a constitutional manner is not a sufficient cause for dissolution.

The same gentleman moved to substitute the Crittenden compromise for the 7th resolution.

Capt. Geo. Bennedict moved to add the following to the 7th resolution, but withdrew it, to allow Mr. Putnam to make amendment:

Or, We are willing to accept the proposition of creating them into States, as proposed by Mr. Sherman of Ohio, or, as equitable division of the Territories, substantially on the basis proposed by the committee of Congressmen from the Border States.

Douglas Putnam, Esq., moved to add the following to the 7th resolution, as a substitute for Capt. Benedict's amendment:

Or, such constitutional amendments, within the purview of the Border State Propositions, as may become necessary, in the last extremity, to preserve the peace & the Union.

These were voted down by the more radical anti-slavery men, after being supported in brief speeches by Judge Nye, Capt. Benedict, Wm. Scott, Esq., Judge Buell, and others, and opposed by Judge Green.

After the adoption of the series of resolutions, A. W. McCormick offered the following:

Resolved, That, if the territories be divided on the line of the Missouri Compromise, , the provision should be incorporated into the Constitution.

This is desired by those who wish to have the question removed from the halls of Congress, and finally settled and the agitation terminated.  This, too, was voted down, by the same parties who killed the other resolutions.  If the meeting had not been adjourned on Tuesday night, and had a vote been then taken when the Court House was filled with the masses really anxious to settle the question, and restore peace, the result we are confident, would have been quite different.

As the meeting had been twice adjourned many had gone home, and could not or did not care to be present.  We are well satisfied that a very large majority of our citizens are decidedly in favor of accepting the Border State compromise, referred to in the resolutions of Capt. Benedict and Douglas Putnam, Esq.  The propositions can be found on our first page, accompanied by the comments of leading papers of all parties.

We think all should accept them - whether they are just their views or not - as about the only thing which will induce a single Southern State to remain in the Union.  Those who prefer disunion, and all the horrors of civil war - no very pleasant thing for us on the border to contemplate - will of course oppose this plan of settlement.  But we hope there is yet good sense and patriotism enough in this people to rise above petty jealousies and party dogmas, and save our government - acknowledged to be the best on the face of the globe.

Union Meeting

Marietta Intelligencer, January 16, 1861

Pursuant to a call for a Union meeting, the citizens of Marietta and vicinity, including a number of the citizens of Wood County, Virginia, filled the Court House, in Marietta on the evening of January 8, 1861.

The meeting was organized by the appointment of the Mayor, Hon. Wm. A. Whittlesey, Chairman, T. W. Ewart and C. F. Buell, Secretaries.

On motion of M. Clarke, Esq., the chairman appointed M. Clarke, Arius Nye, R. E. Harte, A. W. M'Cormick, Davis Green, Douglas Putnam, William West, David C. Skinner and C. F. Buell a committee to report resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting.

On motion of Judge Nye; it was resolved that when the meeting adjourn, it adjourn to meet at this place on Saturday next at one o'clock, P.M. and that the Committee on resolutions report at that time.

On motion of A. W. M'Cormick, Esq., it was resolved that the citizens of this County and of Wood county, Virginia, and especially the citizens of Parkersburg, be invited to attend and participate in the meeting.

On motion of Judge Green, it was resolved that Gen. John J. Jackson, of Parkersburg, be requested to address the meeting on Saturday.

On motion of M. Clarke, Esq., the Chair appointed Levi Barber, John Hall, J. J. Brenan, Franklin Buell and E. Corey, a committee of arrangements for the adjourned meeting.

Brief addresses were made by Judge Nye, Judge Green, Hon. Wm. Stephenson, of Va., C. F. Buell, Esq., and M. Clarke, Esq.

On motion of D. Towsley, Esq., it was resolved that meetings be held in the several wards of this city, on Thursday evening, the 10th inst. to pass resolutions expressive of their views, to be reported to the committee on resolutions.

After a vote of thanks to the Young American Band for their music, the meeting adjourned with three cheers for the Union, and three for Western Virginia.

W. A. Whittlesey, President.

T. W. Ewart, C. F. Buell, Secretaries.

Adjourned Union Meeting

On the 12th day of January, 1861, a large number of the citizens of Washington county, Ohio, and of the adjoining county of Wood, in Virginia, assembled at the Court House in Marietta, Hon. Wm. A. Whittlesey, Mayor of the city, in the Chair.

A letter was read from Gen. J. J. Jackson, of Parkersburg, regretting his inability to be present and address the meeting as requested by a former meeting, and expressing briefly his views of the existing difficulties, and the remedy.

The Committee heretofore appointed, reported through M. Clarke, Esq., Chairman, the following preamble and resolutions, which, after a full and free discussion of the same, were adopted:

The People of Marietta and vicinity, without distinction of party, being assembled to consider the present threatning aspect of affairs, and especially the attempt of South Carolina and other States, to disrupt the Union, do after solemn and mature deliberation, declare and affirm as their settled judgements and conviction, the following propositions:

I.  The Government of the United States, is not a mere compact nor confederation, but is in the full and proper import of the term, a Government of the people.

II.  The doctrine of the secession of a State, has no warrant in the Constitution, but on the contrary, is in its effects, fatal to the Union, and subversive of all the ends of its creation; and in our judgement secession is revolution, and while we fully admit the right of revolution for the causes set forth in the Declaration of Independence, or for others of equal force, and while we are grieved to say that the Government and citizens of several of the States, both North and South, have been guilty of acts of great injustice towards others; yet facts do not exist which warrant a resort to that last and final remedy, revolution, and we have still an abiding faith in the capacity and adaptation of the General Government, to redress all grievances, suffered by its citizens, whatever their origin.

III.  We believe it to be the duty of the President, to uphold and enforce the laws by all the power of the Government, and in so doing he is entitled to the sympathy and support of every good citizen.

IV.  All State enactments conflicting with the Constitution of the United States, or calculated only to produce irritation or exasperation of feeling on the part of the people of sister States, ought to be a once repealed.

V.  It is not true that there is in the Northern States an organized party, nor any respectable number of citizens, who either avow or entertain any purpose or desire, to destroy, or in any way whatever to interfere with slavery in the States when it exists by law.  The great body of the people of the Northern States, believe that Congress has no power over the domestic institutions of a State - that the Constitution of the United States does recognize the fact of the existence in several of the States, under the laws thereof, of the relation of master and slave, as a domestic institution, over which the State is absolute sovereign; that such relation is not dissolved by the escape of the person so held to service, into another State, and that the right to reclaim such person is fully guaranteed by the Constitution.

VI.  The apprehensions which seem to exist in portions of the country, that the election of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, is but the prelude to an attack by the General Government, through all its departments, upon the domestic institutions of some of the States, with a view to their ultimate overthrow, are wholly unfounded.

VII.  Notwithstanding former differences of opinion on this subject, for the purpose of making a final adjustment of the unfortunate controversy now raging in our country, we are willing to accept as the basis of a compromise, the re-enactment of the Eighth Section of the Missouri Compromise act;  or we are willing to adopt the principle, that the whole subject of Slavery in the Territories, shall be left to be determined by the will of the bona fide residents of such territory; provided they be also left free to elect their own officers - Executive and Judicial, as well as Legislative.

VIII.  We cordially approve the resolution passed by the House of Representatives, endorsing the conduct of Major Anderson in Charleston Harbor, and the present course of the Administration towards the Seceders.

IX.  It is our deliberate and abiding conviction, that our greatest prosperity and success as a Nation, and our hopes of happiness and security in the future, depend upon the preservation of the Union as it is.

X.  Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the papers of the city; and that copies of the Resolutions be sent to our Senators and the Representative from this District in Congress.

Adjourned.

Wm. A. Whittlesey, Chairman.

T. W. Ewart, C. F. Buell, Secretaries.

Mrs. Rachel Palmer

The Marietta Register, June 14, 1877

Deaths.

Palmer - In Bonn, June 7, Rachel Palmer, aged 86 years.

Mrs. Rachel Palmer, whose death, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, is announced in the Register of this week, was born in Butler County, Penn., on the 27th of March, A.D. 1791. About 1817, she removed to Washington County, O., where she was married to Jewett Palmer, March 13th, 1822.

Coming here when the wilderness was almost wholly unreclaimed, Mrs. Palmer worked with untiring zeal to make a home for her large family, and to give them the best advantages of education circumstances would permit.

She was a woman of remarkable character, resolute, energetic, conscientious and courageous, abounding in good works.  A faithful mother to her own large family, neglecting no duty, but doing with her might whatever her hands found to do.  She was ever ready to respond to the call of a neighbor for aid, and as nurse, and counsellor, gave valuable assistance to others less fortunate than herself.

Fifteen years ago she united with the Universalist Church, at Salem, O., and was a consistent member, till the time of her death.

Common Pleas Court

Marietta Intelligencer, March 13, 1861

This Court, which commenced its sitting on Monday, the 25th ult., adjourned last Wednesday.  The Grand Jury found only seven indictments.

The following cases have been disposed of:

State of Ohio vs. John Murphy, for assault and battery committed on his mother - fined $10 and costs.

State of Ohio vs. Stanton L. Brabham, indicted for manslaughter - verdict not guilty.

State of Ohio vs. Henry Meade, for assault and battery - fined $25 and costs.

State of Ohio vs. John Ingraham and Adam Davis, stabbing with intent to kill. Ingraham forfeited his recognizance; Adam Davis plead guilty as to assault and was fined $10 and costs.  Case continued with Ingraham.

State of Ohio vs. Harrison Smith, for horse stealing - found guilty and sentenced to the Penitentiary for three years.

State of Ohio vs. Josiah Henderson, for keeping ferry without license - nolle entered and costs thrown upon the county.

In the case of James W. Hurdle vs. George Hall, for malicious prosecution, the jury found a verdict for plaintiff for $333 damages.  Notice was given of a second trial.

Salary of the Prosecuting Attorney.  The Court fixed the salary of the Prosecuting Attorney at $450.

State of Ohio vs. William Luke, for assault with intent to commit murder.  Found guilty, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for three years.

Harvey Martina vs. Owen Hale

Marietta Intelligencer, February 27, 1861

In the case of Harvey Martina vs. Owen Hale, et al. (parties living in Warren township) for refusing to admit the plaintiff's child into the Public Schools, on the ground that she was a colored child, the Court founds a verdict on the following facts:

That Amanda Martina, the plaintiff's child was turned out of the school of which the defendants were directors, by said defendants; that the said child is of such complexion and features that among a group of white children she might not be distinguished as a colored child or of African descent; and the Court do further find that the plaintiff's said child Amanda is a child of one-fourth African or negro blood and descent; and the Court is of opinion that by reason of the child's being one-fourth negro blood and descent, she is excluded from and has no right to attend a Public School established for white children.

Judgment for defendant's costs.

Plaintiff excepts to the ruling and finding of the Court.

Whitney Chapel

Marietta Intelligencer, February 6, 1861

The dedication of this new Methodist Church to the service of Almighty God, took place on Sunday, the 3d inst.  The church is located on Second St., nearly opposite the Universalist Church.  It is neatly built of brick, without cupola or tower.  Its length is 65 feet, width 44, exclusive of a vestibule 10-1/2 by 16.  The slips are of ash, varnished, and look very neat.  They are 76 in number, and will seat comfortably 400.  Crowded, the church will contain 500.  The pulpit is tasteful and neat, not gaudy.  M. H. Needham was the architect.  James Lewis had the contract for the brick and stone work, and Chapin & Bro., of Harmar, for the wood work.  They have all discharged their obligations very satisfactorily, and presented to the Second Charge a neat, well built and commodious house of worship.

It is heated by a furnace on an improved plan, furnished by Messr's. Weswell, Scott & Co., of Cincinnati.  It is so arranged, that while streams of heated air are thrown into the room at one end, streams of cold air pass out at the other end into the heater, so that there is a constant circulation of air through the room.  It is lighted with gas, the fitting for which are from the establishment of Cornelius & Baker, Phila.  The entire cost of the building and lot is $4,000.

After a very able sermon in the morning, Bishop Ames stated to the Audience that there was a debt of $1,400 on the building, which should be cancelled before it was dedicated.  He did not like to consecrate the building to the worship of God, when it was liable to be sold by the Sheriff for debt.  Under the influence of his appeal, a subscription was taken up amounting to the large sum of $1,300.  There were several subscriptions of $100 each, and quite a number of $50.  In the evening $200 more were subscribed.

The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Sehon.  It is stated by those who heard it, to have been a powerful discourse.  The attendance was quite large and all the exercises very interesting.

Bartlett

The Register-Leader, March 8, 1912

A Washington County Village in Rhyme, Written by a School Boy.

Did you ever in your life go strolling,
In the eve when your work was o'er,
When you knew there'd be something doing
On the corner by the store?

There is George and Bill and Reuben
On a store box sticking round;
And Sambo, Put and Emmor
To represent the town.

Then there's Nubbins, Slats and Sivers,
All generous and strong,
With their various selection
Of parodies and songs.

And there'll be Colonel Pattin
Of Oklahoma fame,
Who lives on Capitol avenue,
In the cottage by the lane.

And if perchance you walk along
To the office just next door,
You'll find our old friend, Kirby,
A man we all adore.

He looks the letters over
While we wait 'mid ache and sigh,
And then the excitement's over
Except the passers-by.

Next comes Charles E. Vincent,
The barber, tall and lank,
Who never to himself hath said:
"This is the Bartlett Bank."

Now don't forget 'bout Miller.
He owns the beefsteak store,
And runs the Arkansas Express
As 'twas never run before.

We next can speak of Maley,
Of whom we almost shout
As being 'bout the finest man
There ever was about.

And when the snow is flying
And all are chilled with ills,
We have E. A. Ross and Moody
To administer the pills.

Then just across the public square,
Apart from all the rest,
Stands the store of M. L. Perkins
Where we always get the best.

And there's the old "Coon Tavern,"
U. B. Church and public well,
And Putnam Phipps across the way
With pork and beef to sell.

The jewelry shop looms up, next door,
And fronts on old Broadway,
Where good old I. A. Morrow
Sells goggles day by day.

The old brick mansion still remains,
Of Morrow, Mills and Son.
It still remains the office
Although 'tis settling some.

Then there's the old phone office.
It's changed, and changed, and changed.
And now there's no use loafing, boys,
'Cause you can't get entertained.

And then we have a new feed mill
Of the twentieth century type;
But it's nothing like the old one
That stood down on the pike.

The blacksmith shop, you'll all agree,
We couldn't do without.
For Jim is always on the job
And you never need to doubt.

The old town hall still stands alone,
Just a little up the way.
But there's never much a-doing
Except on election day.

The church, in solitude, stands near,
Loved by young and old,
Who delight to hear the teachings
Of the Bible often told.

Then there's the old school building,
That stands upon the hill,
And gazes down upon the town
With features cold and still.

The girls and boys all gather 'round;
Of its knowledge some partake,
While some, perhaps, remain to laugh
And others fools to make.

There's Mr. Dunn, the teacher.
He's filling Shinn's old place,
And everybody likes him;
We think he's simply great.

I almost forgot about Cummings,
Hobson, Williams, Beazell, too.
There're all the finest fellows
That the country ever knew.

There's Cummings, famed for painting.
William, an oil man through and through.
And Hebson is a baseball fan
Of the McGillicuddy school.

And Beazell, dear old Uncle John,
Honest, grand and tall,
Known throughout the country
As the "Father of Baseball."