Old Marietta Papers - Number 9

The Marietta Register, November 20, 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." 

March 15, 1816, the "American Friend" first issued under the sole charge of the late Royal Prentiss, he having bought out his late partners T. & D. H. Buell. He announced that the paper would continue Republican, with "Truth its guide, Liberty its object." In its second issue Mr. Prentiss declared himself decidedly in favor of James Monroe for "the next President."

The year 1816 has been distinguished as "the cold year." April 19, the Friend says: "On Sunday last we were visited by a severe snow storm, and the night following by a severe frost. The prospects of fruit are entirely cut off. The weather still continues very cold."

May 17, 1816, it was announced that the Ohio Penitentiary was "filling up very fast," and contained 16 convicts! Think of the 800 today! There were none from Washington County.

A visit to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, in April, 1816, is related in a long letter published in the Friend by the late Nahum Ward. 

July 20, 1816, Nathan Cole of Warren, in a state of insanity, committed suicide by throwing himself into a well.

Sept. 2, 1816, William Reece was killed in Newport by a stick of timber falling on him at the raising of a barn.

Sept. 20, 1816, the store of Joseph Holden was broken open and robbed of between $100 and $200 in cash.

"David Putnam, Esq., raised in his garden this season a radish weighing 21 lbs., and 32 inches in circumference."

Levi Davis was tried for the murder of a stranger who was found floating down the river about a mile and a half below town. On the night of Aug. 8, 1816, Davis had started down the river in a canoe with this stranger; both had been drinking freely. Davis was sentenced to the Penitentiary for 21 years.

HORRID ACCIDENT - Under this head is related the explosion of the steamboat Washington, opposite Harmar, on the morning of June 5, 1816. It was a new boat, commanded by Capt. Shreve; left Wheeling Monday morning; "safely came to anchor opposite Point Harmar about 7 o'clock Tuesday evening"; the fires were kindled Wednesday morning, preparatory to starting, and soon it exploded and "spread death and torture in every direction"; seven persons lost their lives and ten others were scalded, some of them very badly; the town was alarmed by the explosion; six or eight of the victims "were nearly skinned from head to feet"; six died Wednesday night and were buried on Thursday, attended by a large concourse of citizens.

Among the badly scalded was Notley Drown; but he recovered to meet his death in a similar manner nearly fifteen years afterwards. He was killed by the explosion of the steamboat Tri-Color, April 19, 1831, at Wheeling, aged 35. Mr. Drown was Captain of the Tri-Color and was a resident of Harmar. His son, Capt. H. H. Drown, is the present well known and highly popular commander of the Marietta and Cincinnati packet, Bostona No. 2. 

Capt. Shreve was but slightly injured. The boat remained nearly three weeks for repairs, then left for the Mississippi.

ELECTION 1816 - Very light vote in this county. For Governor, Thomas Worthington, 360; James Dunlap, 225. For Congress, Levi Barber, 521; Edward W. Tupper, 47; Henry Brush, 17; John A. Fulton, 7. For Representatives, Sardine Stone, 535; and Robert Sinzee, 536, both elected without opposition. For Sheriff, Timothy Buell, 526; John Clark, 43; Alexander Hill, 28. For Commissioner, Titan Kimble, 441; Nathaniel Hamilton, 168. For Coroner, Sampson Cole, 525; A. Hamilton, 27. The district elected Levi Barber to Congress.

The Presidential Election took place November 1, 1816. The Friend of the week before contained no allusion to the fact, except the Sheriff's proclamation; and that published the week after contains no returns whatever. Two weeks after, the statement is made that but 42 votes were given in Marietta Township for Electors for President and Vice President, and but very few in the county. At previous elections Marietta had polled 170 votes. No public interest was felt in this election. The Federalist party was dead, and there was but slight opposition to the election of Mr. Monroe. Only 24 votes were given at Cincinnati, as the Friend learns. Ross County did not give 300 votes in all.

MARRIAGES in 1816:

January 21, Michael Gard and Clarissa Baker, both of Union.

April 7, Solomon Lewis and Miss Sarah White, both of Wooster (Watertown).

May 1, Joseph L. Reckard to Miss Delila Jennings, both of Marietta.

August 21, Henry Clark and Patty Herrington, both of Marietta.

August 15, John P. Mayberry, Attorney at Law, of Parkersburg, and Miss Lucy Fearing, of Harmar. 

August 27, John Corp and Elizabeth Dodd, both of Marietta.

September 22, George Dana and Deborah Fisher, in Belpre.

November 21, Zebulon Jennings and Betsey Maxon.

November 26, E. S. McIntosh of Marietta and Elizabeth Seeley of Waterford.

DEATHS in 1816:

Gen. Joseph M. Wilcox died in the beginning of the year, date not given.

May 10, H. W. Noble, Esq., formerly of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a highly esteemed merchant.

October 1, in Adams, Joshua Sprague, Sen., in his 89th year.

October 4, in Union, Sprague's granddaughter, Mrs. Cynthia Olney, in her 20th year.

ADVERTISERS in 1816 - Some notes from the advertisements in 1816, as follows: March 20, Nahum Ward offers "prime Ohio Bottom," opposite Guyandotte, at $15 per acre; land now worth $100 or more. John Platt, choice fruit trees for sale in Marietta. April 10, Bank of Marietta, A. Henderson, Cashier. April 25, Nathaniel Dodge "has put the rope-walk on Point Harmar in motion"; also Henry L. Prentiss "has put the old rope-walk (formerly occupied by Giles Hempstead) in motion." Elias Colby, blacksmith, at Harmar. June 11, J. & A. Cunningham, tailors, Marietta; and June 21, A. Fuller, sadler.