Phillip D. O'Neal

The Marietta Register, June 10, 1869

Phillip D. O'Neal [Philip Duncan O'Neal], the subject of this sketch, died at his home in Belpre, May 26, 1869, aged 38 years, 1 month, and 18 days. His history is one of peculiar interest. Although not a member of any church, yet he was one of her strongest defenders and would never suffer an attack upon her without speaking in her defense. He contributed liberally of his means to benevolent purposes.

He was a son of Joseph and Emma [Eunice] O'Neal. Born April 8, 1831. Married December 6, 1858. One year previous to his marriage, he built a store-house in Belpre and commenced business, which continued for three years. Afterwards sold out and built the steamboat T. S. Conley during the summer and fall of 1859. From this time on he met with many difficulties which few men would endure, but being a man of great perseverance and strong nerve, he was able to withstand what few men could do. For four years and two months he was absent from his family.

Many instances might be related to show his power of endurance. On one occasion, when his boat was tied to shore in a bayou, two very large trees fell across it and came very near sinking it. During the war, he was conscripted by the Confederate authorities, but being of a quick and comprehensive mind, soon found favor with the officers and was placed in charge of the sick and wounded soldiers. After this he was placed in command of a steamboat, which position he held for some time, but on account of his Union proclivities, they thought it not safe to continue him in this position.

In February 1864, he received an appointment from the Confederate Government to buy supplies and pay for them in cotton. In this way he had more liberty and, taking advantage of it, came to Natchez, then in possession of the Union army. Here he got passes to come North, sold 1,000 dollars Confederate money for $100 in greenbacks; with this he came home, arriving there February 24, 1864, after an absence of over four years. He remained at home only one week and reported back again to his superior officer.

In 1865, the Confederate Government owed him $65,000, which he invested in cotton and sugar. During the Banks expedition, our Government destroyed 100 hogsheads of his sugar. He also lost during the war, 50 bales of cotton at Natchez. At one time he sent $20,000 worth of cotton to New York, which was burned up in a commission house.

In the spring of 1866, he came home again, and in the fall bought the steamboat Rattler, loaded her with produce and started for Red River. When on the Mississippi River, the boat was sunk with her entire cargo - less $8,000. Then he went to New Orleans, where he had another small boat; run her during the winter. He collected on some of his old claims $2,000, which he deposited in the First National Bank of New Orleans for safe keeping until he should start home.

On Tuesday he was to start home and intended to draw his money on Monday. Saturday the Bank broke, and he lost his $2,000. This was his hardest stroke, yet he stood it without a murmur. He came home again to his family and for one year he did no business, but in the fall of 1868, bought the store of E. E. Cunningham, which he prosecuted with all the vigor of his younger days, up to the time of his last sickness. He did a good business and was liked by everybody. On the morning of May 26, 1869, he closed the labor of life.

E. E. C.

 

Liberty Convention

 The Marietta Intelligencer, August 13, 1846

Pursuant to the call of the Central Committee, the Liberty Men of Washington County met at the Court House in Marietta on Saturday, August 1st, for the purpose of nominating candidates to be supported at the ensuing election. The Convention was organized by the election of Moses K. Soule, Esq., President, and Charles McCabe as Secretary. Their deliberations resulted in the following nominations and resolutions:

Representative - Joel Tuttle

Commissioner - Levi Heald

Sheriff - Benjamin Soule

Recorder - R. D. Hollister

Coroner - William Glessner

Director of Poor House - John C. McCoy

Resolved: That we recommend to the Liberty men of this Congressional District to hold a District Convention at McConnelsville on the 27th of August next for the purpose of nominating a suitable candidate for Congress, and that the delegates from this county are hereby instructed to present to that Convention the name of James Lawton of Washington County as a suitable person to receive such nomination.

Whereupon, David Putnam, Jr., Thomas Ridgeway, Joel Tuttle, A. G. Grubb, G. W. Richards, L. M. Parker, D. H. Pettie, J. C. McCoy, Levi Heald, Thomas Porter, S. W. Smith, Philo Mathews and Milton Smith were appointed delegates to attend the McConnelsville Convention, with power to fill any vacancies that may occur, or add to their numbers as they may see proper.

Whereas, the African Slave trade is by the government of the United States declared piracy, and the American slave trade too delicate a subject for public discussion, except by slave holders and slave traders, who hold it as a Bible institution,

Resolved: Therefore, as the deliberate sense of this meeting, that if the African slave trade is justly declared piracy on account of the horrors unavoidable connected with it, that the American slave trade, having all the horrible features of the African, should be in like manner considered a system of piracy against the best interests of the human race - and in its tendencies destructive of the great interests of humanity and religion, both to master and slave.

Resolved: That in view of the interpretation of scripture in the slave states of this Union, many are finding authority for enslaving their brethren, and sons and daughters, by the expression heathen that are around them, it becomes a grave question of great importance to us in the free states to know whether they are not beginning to consider us the heathen that are around them, and accordingly catching (at least every colored man) and making slaves of them, under their interpretation of the Jewish statute.

Resolved: That we rejoice in the evident extension of Anti-Slavery sentiments among the people of our State, and the country at large, and that this fact induces us to hold on the "even tenor" of our way, regardless of tramels of the old parties, who are afraid to vote and speak for the oppressed and down-trodden in our midst.

Resolved: That among the many helps to the cause of liberty, we view the circumstances connected with the "Parkersburg outrage" as very efficient; and among the individuals engaged in that affair, John J. Jackson, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney for Wood County, stands preeminent, whose aid to the cause of Anti-Slavery, however unintentional on his part, we cheerfully acknowledge.

Formation of the Ohio Company

The Marietta Intelligencer, April 9, 1859

Colonel Joseph Barker, in a note to Dr. Hildreth, says: In responding to your questions relative to the first settlement of this County, I shall have to state many occurrences not coming under my immediate notice, but which, from information on the spot, attended by such corroborating circumstances as were sufficient to produce in my mind a conviction of their correctness and truth.

In pursuance of a notice in the public prints of an address from Generals Putnam and Tupper to the officers and soldiers of the American Army, dated January 25, 1786, a meeting was held in Boston, March 1, 1786, who formed an association by the name of the Ohio Company, who appointed five Directors, a Treasurer and Secretary. Another meeting was held the 29th of August, which adjourned to the 21st of November, at which time they met at Brackett's Tavern in Boston. At this meeting the Directors and agents of the Company 

Resolved, that they would send out to the Muskingum four Surveyors and twenty-two men, six boat builders, four house carpenters, one blacksmith, and nine common workmen.

That the boat builders and men with the Surveyors be proprietors of the company; that their tools, one axe and one hoe to each man, and thirty pounds weight of baggage, be carried in the company's wagons, and their subsistence on the journey be furnished by the company.

That each furnish himself with a good small arm, bayonet, 6 flints, a powder horn and pouch, priming wipe and brush, half a pound of powder, one pound of balls and one pound of buckshot, be subject to the orders of the Superintendent, and in case of interruption from an enemy, to military command or forfeit their wages.

That Colonel Ebenezer Sproat, from Rhode Island, Anselm Tupper and John Mathews, from Massachusetts, and Colonel R. J. Meigs, from Connecticut, be Surveyors, and General Rufus Putnam be the Superintendent of all the business aforesaid, and he is to be obeyed and respected accordingly.

That the boat builders shall proceed next Monday, and the Surveyors rendezvous at Hartford the first day of January 1788, on their way to the Muskingum.

That this meeting of Directors and agents of the Ohio Company be hereby adjourned to the first Monday of March, 1788, to be held at Rives' tavern in the town of Providence, State of Rhode Island.

When the men and materials were collected, General Putnam moved on for the Muskingum. When near the mountains he sent Major White forward to Sumrill's Ferry, thirty miles above Pittsburgh, on the Youghiogeny with some boat builders to procure timber and commence building a boat. The company arrived about three weeks afterwards, but found nothing in forwardness for the boat. General Putnam employed Captain Jonathan Devol, who had been engaged in ship building in Rhode Island, to take the charge of constructing a boat forty-five feet long and twelve feet wide. The bow was curved, strongly knee'd at the corners, and otherwise substantially built and covered with a roof-like house.

On the 7th of April, 1788, as the boat was floating down alongside of Kerr's Island in the morning, Captain Devol said to General Putnam, "I think it time to take an observation; we must be not far from the mouth of the Muskingum, and directly they came in sight of Fort Harmar, but as the banks were thickly covered with trees, the mouth of the river was but dimly seen; they were too far advanced to make the upper point, so they floated on and landed a little below Fort Harmar, and sent the boat back across the river and raised their markee and tents off the uppwer point.