Another Revolutionary Patriot Gone

The Marietta Intelligencer, August 22, 1850

Died at his residence in Watertown, on Tuesday, the 30th July, Col. Simeon Deming, in the 88th year of his age.  He was a native of Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and emigrated with his family in the fall and winter of 1796 and 1797, to the then Northwest Territory, and with two others, opened the first Wagon Road West from Marietta.

Nurtured in the school of the revolution, he early imbibed the spirit of those times, and when a youth, participated in the trials and dangers of a campaign on the Northern frontier of New York, and was led into an ambuscade of Tories and Indians, when Col. Brown and others of the Massachusetts volunteers were killed.

Particularly fond in early life of Martial display, he devoted considerable attention to the subject - and held commissions from Gov. Hancock of Massachusetts - and also from acting Gov. Sargent of the Territory, older than any man living at this time.  Arden in his sympathies, he was sincere and confiding in his principles, of diffident and unobtrusive manners, he rather shunned than courted the attentions of others.  Domestic in his feelings he always sought and found his greatest enjoyment in the endearments of home - rendered doubly endearing by the enchanting melody of his own sweet musical powers, which were of a highly cultivated order and for many years, the favorite exercise of his leisure hours.

Strictly puritan in his education, the high moral standard of that age, marked all his conduct through life, but he renounced all confidence in the efficacy of his own moral goodness, by a public profession of faith in the atoning merits of one whose Righteousness is perfect.  Temperate and uniform in all his habits, he enjoyed almost uninterrupted good health, and though for the last twenty years, he lived secluded from the world (by reason of deafness) and had wholly resigned all its cares, still it was his pleasure to be diligent in business, with no other object or motive than the luxury of doing good.  He seemed to live a relic of other days, and could say, "all the days of my appointed time will I wait," till my change comes.  And when the summons came, he understood its meaning, and without moving a muscle he quietly fell asleep in about twelve hours after its announcement.

H.

Watertown, Aug. 14.

A False Report

Marietta Intelligencer, March 9, 1853

We have noticed the following article in two or three of our exchanges.  It now turns up in the Pittsburg Gazette:

"The Sacrifice of a Medium.  A man whose name is Samuel Cole, residing in Washington county, Ohio, who was made insane from the workings of the spirit-rappings delusion became possessed of the idea that he must offer, like Abraham of old, a sacrifice to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.  He accordingly proceeded to carry his object into execution, by taking off one of his feet, which he succeeded in doing some days since, in a very scientific manner, and with a heroic determination that it should compare with the self-sacrificing deeds done in the earlier ages.  His family, fearing that some other of his limbs might be demanded in a like cause, had him conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum at Columbus, where he is now in the enjoyment of as much liberty as the nature of his disease will warrant the superintendent of that institution in granting him."

Such an occurrence may have taken place somewhere, but we think not in "Washington county, Ohio."  At least we never heard of it until we saw it in some remote newspaper, and we do not think there is, or has been, such a man as "Samuel Cole" residing in this county.

 

Lewis Mixer, Tinner

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, May 9, 1829

Lewis Mixer, Tinner, respectfully informs the public that he has recently established the Tinning Business in Marietta, at the dwelling house of Mr. Isaac Mixer, at the corner of Ohio and Third streets, where he will have on hand a general assortment of Tin Ware, at the lowest prices.  He will be ready, at all times, to accommodate his customers with Job Work of any description, who may be pleased to favor him; and hopes by his attention to business to merit the encouragement of the public.

Old Copper and Pewter will be received in payment.

Marietta, April 8, 1829.

Local Oil Field Holds Place of Pre-Eminence

Sunday Morning Observer, January 20, 1917

Discovery of "Spring Oil" Brought Much Attention.

In looking back over some old records the other day to find some data on the oil production in this section we came across some facts and figures that brought us to the conclusion that there is one product in which Washington County is and has for many years held decided preeminence - petroleum.

For the years 1873-1874, the Secretary of State's report for Washington County shows and aggregate of 2,209,928 gallons of oil produced and for the rest of the state 185,280 gallons.  Thus this county produced about twelve times as much petroleum as all the other counties combined.

In another statement we found that the production came from the following: Cow Run, 510,000 barrels; Macksburg, 104,000; Newell's Run, Pawpaw and Fifteen, 6,000; a total of 620,000 barrels.  At three dollars a barrel, which was the probable average price at that time, there was a value of $1,860,000.

In a brief account of this county published in New York, in 1834, by John Delafield, Jr., mention is made of petroleum - called "spring oil," or "seneca oil" - as having been known to the hunters and early inhabitants of the country since the first settlement.  "It can be used," he says, "in lamps as it affords a brilliant light. It is very useful and therefore much employed in curing the diseases of and injuries done to horses.  It is perhaps the best substance known for the prevention of friction in machinery."

Most of the oil used by druggists through the states was sold through a Marietta concern - Bosworth, Wells & Co.  This was a heavy oil and came principally from the neighborhood of Hughes river in West Virginia.

Mute From Obstinacy

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, April 11, 1829

Robert Bruce, the person who broke into the shop of Mr. David B. Anderson, in December last, took therefrom a large number of watches, &c., had his trial before the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, held in this town this week.  When brought to the bar to answer to the indictment, he remained mute, and for sometime previous thereto, he endeavored to induce a belief that he was insane; but his artfulness was too evident to confirm that belief in any person.

It was, however, deemed expedient to empanel a jury to examine him before he should be put on trial, who after hearing all the evidence of the case, after a few minutes retirement, returned a verdict of "mute from obstinacy."  He was then tried, found guilty, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for seven years.