Painting by Marietta Artist Given High Praise

Marietta Daily Times, January 4, 1917

Friends of August J. Weber, Marietta boy doing art work in Cincinnati, will be interested in the following clipping reproduced from "The Week in Art Circles" column of the Cincinnati Enquirer. It related to an over-mantle allegorical decoration, conceived and painted by Mr. Weber.  It was exhibited in the Queen City, and is to be shown in New York:

"Miss Elizabeth Fangmeyer pays August J. Weber the following charming tribute: 'Does the Princess live here? I paused and gazed at that creation of color.  Could any ordinary mortal have portrayed this airy bubble of fairyland upon a square of canvas? Was it true that a human hand had tinted those garden walls that brilliant sapphire hue and built that pearly crystal palace in the distance? To me this was art. Not alone the art of the brush and palette, but also a truer and nobler art, a vivid idealistic fancy that only a master might possess.'"

Fireman's Parade

Marietta Intelligencer, September 8, 1852

It is but a short time, we think not more than three or four months, since a Fire company was organized in the upper ward of this corporation, and we were not a little surprised at the "turn out' which it made on Saturday last. We confess that we look upon such a parade as that of Saturday with much greater pleasure than almost any other, for the reason that the services of these men, with their engine, are necessary to the protection of the property of our citizens.

The engine which this company has in charge, though of much less power than the one purchased last year for the 1st Ward, is really a fine one, and if it is kept in good order - as we doubt not it will be by the "Defiance Company" - it will be of great service, and may often entirely stop the progress of fires which would prove very destructive if no engine was nearer than the one in the 1st ward.

The Engine House of this company is near the "Sacra Via." A very good bell has been procured for it, of sufficient size to alarm the people of the upper ward before notice of a fire in that neighborhood could be given in the 1st ward.

The members of the company have adopted a very neat uniform, and we understand have regular and frequent meetings. They have taken hold of the business in the right spirit - with a determination to maintain a thorough organization, to keep up a full company, to have their engine and apparatus always in good working order, and to be always "on hand" when they are needed.

We hope our citizens, and our authorities, will give them substantial "aid and comfort," so that they may not only keep their engine and fixtures in good repair, but purchase such additional hose, buckets, etc. etc. as may from time to time be needed.

We also hope that this demonstration may "provoke to good works" the other fire companies in Marietta and Harmar, and lead to a more thorough and efficient organization of our entire fire department.

We learn that after the parade on Saturday, the members of the "Defiance Company" were addressed by N. Ward, H. A. Towne and Davis Green, Esqrs.

Registered as Girl, Marietta Man Must Prove "She Is Me"

Marietta Daily Times, September 11, 1917

Down in El Paso, Texas, there's a former Marietta resident named Henry S. Stephenson who has been protesting since last Tuesday that he is not a woman. He convinced Probate Judge A. A. Schramm and Clerk of Courts A. L. Savage. But it cost him $5.25 in telegraph tolls.

And now, in his efforts to get a passport, he's facing a task even more difficult. When he goes before customs officials with evidence tending to show that a nice little pink and white baby girl born here on June 9, 1868, in less than 50 years evoluted into a coarse, bewhiskered man, 'tis then he will need to be rid of the conversation handicap prevailing between Marietta and El Paso. No one of sound judgment would volunteer to support a contention such as that, with words costing a nickel each. 

This man Stephenson telegraphed a week ago to Clerk of Courts Savage:  "Need birth certificate to secure passport. I was born at Marietta on June 9, 1868. Please advise if I am registered, answer collect here."  The telegram was turned over to Judge Schramm. He investigated records in the probate court and found that on the date specified a baby named Stephenson had been registered. But it was listed under the head of "females." The child's name did not appear, though names of its father and mother, Henry Stephenson and Rebecca Sheets Stephenson, were appended. 

In a reply to his wire the interesting news was conveyed to Stephenson at El Paso. Next day there came another telegram from Stephenson. "She is me," he said in effort. "I am Henry Stephenson to whom reference is made. Am certain there has been a mistake. Please prepare certificate acknowledging same under your seal and forward to me here, care Toltec club, with bill attached. I will remit immediately. Urgent."

Judge Schramm couldn't send the original certificate. Likewise he couldn't change the record showing that Stephenson was at one time a nice little baby girl. There was a delay of a day or two, and into the court house came another telegram from Stephenson. "Have you mailed birth certificate? Very important. Please answer," it said.

Late Monday Judge Schramm mailed him a transcript from the record. There was no alteration made. It shows him to be a female, and it's up to him to prove it if he isn't. A letter accompanying the transcript, in which the judge calls attention to the probability of the entry's having been an error, may help the El Paso man.

The error in the entry was made during the incumbency of Luman W. Chamberlain as probate judge. He served from 1864 until 1870.

Milk Wagon Hit By Auto, Upset

The Register-Leader, July 5, 1916

Much milk was spilled and dozens of bottles were broken at 11:30 this morning when an automobile driven by Miss Kathryn Alexander struck the rear end of the Jersey Heights dairy delivery wagon, owned by J. S. Devol and driven by Donovan Williamson, upsetting the wagon at the corner of Second and Putnam streets. The wagon had just turned the corner and Miss Alexander followed.

Williamson was in the wagon when it was turned over, but he was not injured. The shafts of the wagon were broken and this probably saved the horse from injury. The accident was witnessed by a large crowd. The right fender of the Alexander car was bent in the collision.