Birthday of Andrew Twiggs

The Marietta Times, November 23, 1882

Lower Salem, Ohio, November 9, 1882. Today we had the privilege of meeting at the residence of Mr. Andrew Twiggs, Sr., for the purpose of celebrating his 77th birthday. When the morning dawned, he felt rejoiced to think that he had been spared to see another birthday, and by 10 o'clock he rejoiced greatly to see his sons, daughters, grandchildren and other relatives gathering in for the purpose of having a good time. They continued to come until there were 51 in all. 

After they had all gathered the women set to work preparing dinner for the happy family. Many hands make quick work, so dinner was soon prepared and as soon dispatched. The afternoon was passed in playing croquet, cracking nuts, passing jokes, etc. After they had all enjoyed themselves enough for one day they departed to their respective homes, leaving the old gentleman feeling younger than some of his boys. Thinking the history of Mr. Twiggs might be interesting to some who know him, we will endeavor to produce it.

He was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and came to Ohio when only two years old in a wagon, stopping at what is now known as Whipple Station. He lived with Asa Perkins, near Bonn, until he was 18 years of age and from there he went to Newport, where he worked two years with Mr. Newman to learn the carpenter's trade, and he became an accomplished workman. 

He was married to Miss Maria Miller in the year 1827. At this time his circumstances were such that he had to make rails at 15 cents per hundred to get his license, he then being able to cut and split 200 per day. After he was married and expenses paid for the same, he had not one cent left to commence with, and having a determination to accomplish something, he went to work with a will. 

When they moved to themselves, a little one-horse sled carried their stock of goods to a little old log house farm now known as the Moses Blake farm. Here he resided for two years; from thence he removed to the place where he now lives. The place at that time was a perfect wilderness, but by hard work he succeeded in clearing up his farm, making an honest and respectable living. 

He has also raised a family of eleven children, all of which are living yet, save one daughter that died about six years ago. The family consists of seven sons and four daughters. His oldest child is 54 years of age and his youngest is 28. He also has 46 grandchildren, all of which are living but seven, and he had three great-grandchildren. He has lived to see the commencement of the fourth generation and is still able to do considerable work yet. 

We now leave the subject, hoping that his remaining days may be spent happily.

Gilbert

 

Dawes Home Robbed

The Marietta Times, November 9, 1882

The residence of Gen. Rufus R. Dawes on Fourth Street was visited by a burglar on Saturday night. An entrance was effected through a side window. The thief then made his way to the General's bedroom and took his watch off the mantle piece, his sleeve buttons off the bureau and carried out his coat, pants, and vest. The exit was made through the kitchen. 

The first alarm was given by the servant girl in the morning, on finding the kitchen door unlocked, and on opening it, finding the General's clothing in the yard. 

The watch, which was highly prized because it had belonged to the General's brother Henry, who died in 1860, was gold, the cases being worth probably $50. The sleeve buttons were worth $10 and the pocket book which was taken contained about nine dollars.

The robber took the precaution to cut the guard off the watch and also to take all papers out of the pocket book. He also left the pocket knife. There is no clue to the perpetrator, but the general impression is that it was no stranger.

New Catholic Churches

The Marietta Register, July 5, 1866

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Rosecrans of Cincinnati laid the cornerstones of two Catholic Churches in Union Township, this county, last Sunday, July 1st. It was the pleasure of the editor of this paper to be present at one of them.

The first was near the old church on the Watertown road, about seven miles from Marietta - the church of "St. John the Baptist." The ceremonies began at 3 P.M., Mr. Mayrose of Cincinnati being the Master. The procession was preceded by two acolytes (lads) dressed in white, trimmed with red, bearing the cross, followed by Father Ryan of Marietta, Father Curley of Parkersburg, and Father Eppink of the church now honored in Union, each in cassock and surplice, also Mr. Egan of Cincinnati, a student for the priesthood; and the Bishop in a blue cassock, white lace crochet, the pectoral cross (gold suspended from a gold chain) upon his neck, the stole, embroidered and trimmed with gold, hanging from his shoulders, the mitre upon his head and bearing in his hands the crosier. 

The national flag floated over the stand from which the Bishop addressed the congregation for thirty-five minutes. He spoke in a full and clear voice, in deliberate and sincere tones, without the slightest affectation. The point of his entire discourse was that the bread and the wine of the mass (Protestant communion) during the administering by the proper officers of the church becomes "the living body and blood of Christ," that at the consecration, the change is made from "bread" and "wine" to "the actual presence of Jesus." To prove it, he rested on the words of Christ in the Gospel of St. John, chapter VI. That man cannot "understand" this is nothing, for he cannot understand how the grass grows, nor why the plant springs from the rotting seed - yet all know the facts. The practical words by the Bishop were that the church makes men better, is the salvation of society; destroy the faith, all would be ruin. Protestants should rejoice at the buildings of Catholic churches, which exercise a good influence over a large class of our citizens.

After the conclusion of the discourse came certain ceremonies at the cross; the laying of the cornerstone; the sprinkling and blessing of the foundation of the building by the Bishop, and singing the "Miserere" - all in Latin.

This church edifice is to be brick, 44 feet front by 78 deep.

A very large number of people were in attendance, and the order preserved was most excellent.

Subsequently, the same evening, the Bishop laid the cornerstone of a new church called "Ave Maria" on Rainbow Creek in the northern part of Union Township, an offshoot from the parish of St. John the Baptist, the congregation of the latter having become overflowing and the distance inconvenient for those who will attend at the new church. Father Curley preached a sermon after the cornerstone was laid.

 

 

Navigation of Duck Creek

The Marietta Register, November 30, 1923

It is not generally known that way back there in the yesteryears when the people who were in the harness in building up Washington County were looking into the future as they made every effort to solve the transportation problem to such a depth that they attempted to harness the waters of Duck Creek and to this end a company was formed and the work begun.

Some headway was made and at a session of the Ohio Legislature, an act was passed incorporating the "Duck Creek Navigation Company," authorizing said company to improve the navigation of said creek by slack water; in pursuance thereof a meeting of the Commissioners appointed by said act was held in Salem Township on the 4th day of May, 1837, to take into consideration the expediency of opening books to receive subscriptions to the stock of said company. A majority of said commissioners being present, a meeting was organized by calling Harry Hill to the chair and appointing Joel Tuttle secretary. The following resolution was then offered and unanimously adopted by the meeting: 

Resolved, That we deem it expedient that books shall be opened, agreeably to the act entitled, "An act to incorporate the Duck Creek navigation Company," for subscriptions to the stock of said company at Marietta, Fearing, Salem and Aurelius in the County of Washington and State of Ohio.

On motion it was moved that six of said commissioners be appointed to open the books to receive subscriptions to the stock of said company at such time and place as they may deem expedient. Whereupon, the following persons were appointed for that purpose, viz: William W. McIntosh, Selden N. Merriam, James Dutton, James M. Amlin, Harry Hill, Silas Hobby. 

It is hereby given that one hundred shares have been subscribed to the stock of the "Duck Creek Navigation Company," agreeably to the requisition of the 4th section of the act of the Ohio Legislature incorporating said company, and that a meeting of the stockholders will be held at the school house in Salem Township near the house of Rufus Payne on the 3rd day of June, 1837, at 6 o'clock a.m., for the purpose of electing five directors to manage the concerns of said company.

By order of the Commissioners.

May 6, 1837. Joel Tuttle, Secretary.