Old Marietta Papers - Number 7

The Marietta Register, November 6, 1863

"Old Marietta Papers" was a series of columns compiled and published in 1863 and 1864 by Rodney M. Stimson, editor of "The Marietta Register."

Our notes from the "American Friend" are continued. In No. 2, May 1, 1813, appear four advertisements only. D. Woodbridge, Jr., advertises "a general assortment of merchandise"; H. W. Noble & Co., "English, India, and Domestic Goods"; R. Putnam, Capt., notifies the members of the "Washington Independent Military Company" to meet at the Court House; and Alexander Hill, Capt. 27th Reg., U. S. Infantry," advertises for raising a full company in the counties of Washington, Athens and Gallia - to fight in the war with Great Britain. We cannot get another item out of this paper, except that Timothy Buell, Sheriff, publishes a proclamation for an election of a Representative in Congress in place of Duncan McArthur, resigned.

May 8, 1813, new advertisers appear - Dodge & Co., (Capt. Nathaniel Dodge) "imported and domestic goods"; Daniel Greene & Col, a "New Store at Capt. T. Buell's house"; and E. B. Merwin & Co., "dry goods and groceries." Five stores were now advertised in Marietta. Two stores in Harmar are advertised, that of Augustus Stone, and that of James Whitney & Co. B. F. Stone, Adm'r. de bonis non, advertises "all the real estate of Jonathan Devol, late of Waterford," for sale. That was over half a century ago, yet Augustus Stone still lives in Harmar at the age of 83, and B. F. Stone in Marietta, 81.

The first marriages announced in the Friend are in No. 3 - D. H. Buell, married April 18, 1813, to Miss Phebe Ward of Belpre; and May 1st, Thomas Alcock to Miss Sally Wells of Virginia.

We cannot gain an item from the next six papers, except we learn the Anthony Sheets was then a Justice of the Peace in Grandview Township, and Amos Porter in Salem Township; and Wheelock, Fuller and Sadler advertise that "the Cat's Creek Mills in Adams are in operation." Russel Fuller, on of the partners, is still living in Marietta Township, aged 77.

In the Friend of June 26, 1813, is the first and only "local item" published in ten weeks (and none for ten weeks after), except three or four marriages and a few advertisements. It is: "His excellency Governor Meigs arrived in town on Thursday from his late journey to the westward."

Died, in Newport, May 27, 1813, John Greene, Esq., aged 69 years and 6 months, formerly of Warwick, Rhode Island; and married, June 13, Jasher Taylor and Elizabeth Hill, both of Newport.

July 21, 1813, J. B. Boon (as it is here spelt) advertises $40 reward for his "negro man Sam," who ran away from him in Greenup County, Kentucky. This was Judge Jesse B. Boone, who then lived a mile above Greenupsburg and was a son of the famous Col. Daniel Boone.

No item in reference to celebration on the 4th of July, except notice was given that David Everett, Esq., was appointed to deliver an oration, and the "Washington County Volunteers" were "requested to attend."

Daniel Goodno and Henry Jolly, Commissioners, publish an "Exhibit of the Receipts and Expenditures of the County for the year ending June 1, 1813" - total i$1571.35; expenditures the same.

Aug. 21, 1813, Jonathan Guitteau & Co. advertise "a fresh supply of family medicines."

From record of Court Martial in Marietta, we learn that James Mann was Colonel of Militia, D. H. Buell, Adjutant. Also Joseph Palmer was Justice of the Peace in Wesley.

No paper, except one half a sheet, was issued from Sept. 18, to Oct. 23, and the announcement of sickness of hands in the office is the second "local item" we have found, not an advertisement except a very few marriages and deaths.

Oct. 23, 1813, Robert Wells, Jr., advertises cabinet making in the shop lately occupied by Maj. Alexander Hill. Gen. Rufus Putnam was President of the "Ohio Bible Society."

October Election, 1813 - returns published, Oct. 30 - the first notice in the paper that there was any election at all; not a word of any description in regard to the election until these returns, two weeks and four days after the election, yet the Friend at that time was not a "neutral" paper, but advocated the principles of the Republican party of that day.

In electing members of the Legislature, Washington and Athens counties were then closed together. Stone and Hatch (what Stone and what Hatch the paper does not say) were elected Representatives. They were Republicans. The candidates for the Senate were Woodbridge and Putnam, the former Republican, the latter Federalist. It was William Woodbridge, who died a year or two ago in Michigan (U. S. Senator 1841-47) and the late Deacon William R. Putnam.

The vote stood for Woodbridge, in Washington 416, in Athens 228; for Putnam in Washington 303, in Athens 115. Majority in the district for Woodbridge, 226. In later years, both were Whigs. The vote in the townships of this county was as follows:

Adams - Woodbridge, 24; Putnam, 24.

Belpre - Woodbridge, 3; Putnam, 61.

Deerfield (now in Morgan) - Woodbridge, 11; Putnam, 3.

Fearing - Woodbridge, 33; Putnam, 25.

Grandview - Woodbridge, 32; Putnam, 1.

Marietta - Woodbridge, 114; Putnam, 39.

Newport - Woodbridge, 30; Putnam, 19.

Roxbury (Palmer &c.) - Woodbridge, 29; Putnam, 7.

Salem - Woodbridge, 12; Putnam, 18.

Union - Woodbridge, 28; Putnam, 28.

Waterford - Woodbridge, 34; Putnam, 42.

Warren - Woodbridge, 25; Putnam, 8.

Wesley - Woodbridge, 21; Putnam, 7.

Wooster (Watertown) - Woodbridge, 20; Putnam, 30.

Total - Woodbridge, 416; Putnam, 303.

Oct. 22, 1813, William Kelley, and Fanny Cady, both of Marietta, were married. S. Fuller and J. Taylor had a Fulling Mill on Little Muskingum, and Thomas Stanley, one on Duck Creek. Joseph Wood was Register of the Land Office in Marietta. William Woodbridge, Joseph Holden and S. P. Hildreth were Directors of the "Marietta Cotton Factory," old building still standing on Putnam Street, between Fourth and Fifth.

Dec. 1, 1813, Moses McFarland advertises salt "for sale at $200 per bushel," on commission; and Elisha Frost "once more takes up the tailoring business."

Dec. 18, third "local item" in eight months appears - the announcement of the sickness of the editor.

Capt. John Thorniley advertises from Fort Stephenson, Lower Sandusky, for two deserters, one from Capt. J. Ford's company of drafted militia, and one from Capt. E. B. Dana's company.

The above is all that we can glean from the "American Friend," for the first eight months of its publication, that can interest anyone at this day.