The Marietta Register, January 15, 1864
"Old Marietta Papers" was a series of columns compiled and published in 1863 and 1864 by Rodney M. Stimson, editor of "The Marietta Register."
The Epidemics
It is now over three-quarters of a century since the first settlement at Marietta, and the town has been visited with only three epidemics - in the years 1807, 1822 and 1823 - the last just turned forty years ago. "Except in these three years," in the very truthful words of the late Dr. Hildreth, "it has been uniformly healthy, indeed remarkably so." At these times intermittent and remittent fevers were extensively epidemic. It may be remarked that it was quite sickly in Warren in the fall of 1821, when it was healthy in Marietta.
Dr. Hildreth - who died last summer at almost four-score, having lived among us fifty-seven years well spent, and who from his length of life, strict integrity, close observation and patient industry, putting the results of his labors on record for the future was, perhaps, the most useful citizen Marietta ever has had - has left us some history of these epidemics, from which to give this article completeness, we draw a few items.
The Epidemic of 1807
The spring of 1807 was uncommonly wet - according to Dr. Hildreth in the Medical Repository, New York, 1808 - and through the summer every fair day was preceded and followed by two or three wet ones; much corn and grass were destroyed by excessive moisture. Through the low grounds there was stagnant water in every direction, full of corrupting vegetable and some animal matter, exhaling putridity and disease, engendered by the summer sun, and put in motion by every breeze. By the middle of July intermittent and remittent fevers were common, and in August scarcely a family on the bottoms were free from the disorder in some form or other - extending up and down the Ohio River for several hundred miles. The fever was more malignant and fatal at Gallipolis than at Marietta. Cold weather put a stop to the disease, late in the fall. Of the number of deaths here we have no account, but it was not large in proportion to the number affected.
The Epidemics of 1822 and 1823
The sickness of 1822 - says Dr. Hildreth in the Philadelphia Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences, 1824 - was almost wholly confined to the neighborhood of the streams. The season, unlike that of 1807, was characterized by a severe drought, while 1823 was the opposite of 1822 and was very wet. As to the origin of the epidemics, some had it that the fever was brought up from the South on boats, others that southerly winds imported it, but the Doctor states: "The opinion of those who would take the trouble of thinking at all on the subject was that the fever of 1822 had its origin from the sand-bars and beaches of the Ohio river, laid bare by the great drought of that year; and that of 1823, from the standing water and low wet places in the bottoms, gradually becoming dry, and exhaling their poisonous vapors."
The summer of 1822 was hot, with little or not thunder or heavy wind to purify the atmosphere; hot winds came almost constantly from the south; and the Ohio was lower that ever before since the first settlement. The water was in long pools, nearly stagnant, and covered with a mucous scum, while the shores were lined with grass covered with green vegetable matter, which being exposed to the sun emitted miasma to poison the atmosphere. In the latter part of June fevers began to appear on the "Plain"; in July most of the cases were in Harmar; and by the 1st of August the fever appeared at the "Point."
There were the most cases in September. At one time, within a square mile, 400 were sick out of a population of 1,200 from "the mildest intermittent, and intermediate grads, up to the genuine yellow fever." The Doctor says he had about 600 cases under his care from the first of July to the last of November. The majority of the cases were comparatively mild, and the proportion of deaths was about one in sixteen. The heavy frosts of November stopped the epidemic.
There were several well authenticated cases of dogs being attacked with regular paroxysms of chill, or shake, followed with fever and thirst.
The spring of 1823 was pleasant, with every prospect of a salubrious summer. But how sad the disappointment! The sickness broke out anew in June and pervaded nearly all parts of the West. It was not, as in 1822, confined to the vicinity of the water courses, but infested the uplands. The country was deluged with rain in June and July, with very little thunder and lightning, and no heavy winds. Every spot that could hold water was filled with it. Fields of corn and wheat were ruined and grass rotted. The low land exhaled noxious vapors, so that people in passing were obliged to put their hands to their noses and hasten through some disgusting spots. In plowing in rich bottoms, instead of the pleasant odor that usually arises from freshly plowed land, a sickly smell would be sent forth.
The rains ceased the last of August, but the systems of the people had become charged with miasma. In September and October dysenteries were prevalent; the fevers the same as in 1822. The disease was more malignant and fatal in the country than in town, especially in rich bottoms, where weeds grew in many places to the enormous height of fifteen or eighteen feet. In spite of the drawback on corn in the earlier part of summer the crop was heavy from its luxuriant growth, and almost without cultivation, otherwise a famine would have followed, for there were not well persons enough to take care of the sick, much less to cultivate their farms.
Those who escaped attack in 1822 were attacked with the fever in 1823, while those who had severe attacks in the first generally escaped in the next year.
Notes from the "Friend" on the Epidemic of 1822
The first mention in the "Friend" that there was any unusual sickness in Marietta or vicinity was on Sept. 13th, although the "Epidemic of 1822" had then prevailed over two months. It speaks of the Ohio and Muskingum as being at that time mere brooks in comparison to their usual size," and says: "Fevers, agues, cholera morbus, dysentery, &c. have prevailed to a melancholy degree, along with the margin of the streams and in low grounds, and many deaths have occurred." It attributes the cause to dying vegetation in places formerly plentifully supplied with water on the shores of the streams and low grounds.
Sept. 15, a public meeting was held, the town divided into districts, and committees appointed to visit the sick and supply them with attendants or whatever might be required, and make a daily report.
Sept. 18, at a meeting of the Committees - Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., being the Chairman, and William A. Whittlesey, Secretary, about 300 were reported sick in town. The same proportion to population at this day, would give about 1,100!
Resolutions were adopted that "the distressed situation of our fellow citizens and friends, calls for the utmost exertions and deepest humiliation," that "we will exhort and encourage each other in visiting the sick," &c.; that "looking beyond the sword of pestilence to Him who wields it," and so on, "we humble ourselves before Almighty God and recommend to our fellow citizens to observe a day of public fasting, humiliation and prayer, imploring the pardon of our sins, individually and as a people, the arrest of the pestilence which ravages our town, and grace to receive and do all things, as those who have hope in the Lord," and that Henry Dana Ward and William R. Putnam be a committee to wait upon Rev. S. P. Robbins (Congregational) and Rev. Cornelius Springer (Methodist), and request them to agree upon a day of fasting and, if agreeable, to unite their congregations in its solemn service.
Mr. Robbins and Mr. Springer gave public notice that Saturday, Sept. 21st, would be observed as a day of fasting, in accordance with the resolution of the meeting, service to commence at 11 o'clock A.M. at the Congregational Church.
Sept. 27, the Friend stated, "that, with the exception of fifteen or twenty who are quite low, the citizens are on the recovery and but very few new cases have occurred within the last two or three days." yet 28 deaths occurred in the township within the next 21 days.
Oct. 4, the editor complained of "indisposition" on his part and issued only a half sheet, which he continued to do for five weeks.
Oct. 18, the number of deaths in Marietta township [including the city of Marietta], which then had a population of a little over 2,000, was published as follows:
January - 2February - 1
March - 4
April - 6
May - 1
June - 7
July - 10
August - 21
September - 34
October to 17th - 21
The "Friend" labored all the time to make the best of it, and in December made this statement: "The number who were sick or ill in the village during this season was probably about 400; about 40 died of fever."
Notes from the "Friend" on the Epidemic of 1823
July 17 - Thursday - observed in Marietta as a day of special fasting and prayer, "that God would be pleased in his infinite mercy to preserve us as a people from epidemic diseases," &c., with services at the Congregational Church.
July 31, the Friend speaks of "some cases of intermitting fever within the town plat, but none attended with the malignancy of last year."
The Friend was issued on a half sheet for three weeks in August, apologizing that all hands of the office were sick, except one boy; and after Aug. 28, no paper was issued until Oct. 9, every person connected with the concern being sick with the prevailing fever.
Oct. 16, the Friend argues that the sickness had been no worse in Marietta or the Ohio Valley than elsewhere, and instances Zanesville, Lancaster, Chillicothe, Circleville and Columbus as having been "very sickly."
Oct. 30, the list of those buried in the "Mound Cemetery" between July 5th and Oct. 29th - three months and twenty-four days - was published. The number were as follows:
July - 31
August 46
September - 45
October - 19
August 46
September - 45
October - 19
Total - 141
Of these there died within the corporation, 72; in Marietta township, outside the corporation, 55; brought from other townships, 14.
At Harmar, the deaths during the epidemic of 1823 numbered ten or eleven.
The "Friend" remarked: "The late sickness has made great, we had almost said irreparable, breaches in society, not only as it respects the numbers, but the characters also, of those taken away. In many instances children are left without father or mother."
Thursday, May 20, 1824, in view of the "afflicting dispensations of Divine Providence" in the two years preceding, and the "fearful apprehension that the people may in like manner be visited again," was observed by the religious societies of Marietta as a day of fasting and prayer - services at the Congregational Church - upon the recommendation of Rev. Daniel Limerick, M. E. Church, Elder James "McAboy, Baptist, and Dea. William r. Putnam, Congregational. But the season turned out to be one of good health, and no like epidemic has since visited Marietta.
It remains to give as far as is now in our power, a list of the deaths in the years 1822 and 1823 - not only during the epidemic months, but in the whole of each year - the epidemics beginning in June and ending in November.
Deaths in 1822:
Feb. 21, John McIntosh, aged 70.
March 23, Lewis, son of William Skinner.
Apr. 2, Susan, infant dau. of Capt. L. Edgerton.
Apr. 4, Josiah Buck.
Apr. 19, Bridget, wife of John Brough, Esq., four weeks and one day after marriage.
Apr. 20, Mrs. Algeo.
June 27, Charles F., son of Ephraim Ranger.
June 30, Frances, wife of Col. George Turner.
July 10, Humphrey Hook, in Wood Co., Va., 56.
Aug. 1, Mary, wife of Elder John Gates, 52.
Aug. 1, Abram Seevers, in Fearing, 74.
Aug. 21, Hon. Paul Fearing, in Harmar, 60.
Aug. 21, Cynthia, his wife, within 6 hours, 45.
Aug. 26, John Cornell.
Aug. 27, The wife of Capt. Nathan Bowen.
Aug. 30, Mrs. Catharine McClintick, 47.
Sept. 9, Joanna Lincoln, 20.
Sept. 9, Janna R. Bowers.
Sept. 9, Mrs. Merriam, in Adams.
Sept. 10, Reuben Merriam, in Adams.
Sept. 16, Mrs. Persis Howe.
Sept. 19, Charlotte, wife of A. W. Putnam, 49.
Sept. 21, A. W. Putnam, 55, in Belpre.
Sept. 16, Mrs. Solinger, in Union.
Sept. 19, Christiana Ulmer.
Sept. 20, John Miller.
Sept. 20, Ann Eliza, dau. of Levi Cole.
Sept. 21, Justus Morse.
Sept. 21, Silas Barter.
Sept. 24, Jacob Schachtelin.
Sept. 25, Elder John Gates, 55.
Sept. 25, Mrs. Mills.
Sept. 25, John Drown, on the Island, 19.
Sept. 26, Capt. Obadiah Lincoln, 53.
Sept. 26, John Clark, 61.
Sept. 26, Sarah, his wife, 50.
Sept. 27, Mrs. Deborah Erwin, 81.
Sept. 27, Hugh Dixon, 40.
Sept. 27, Tiffany Adams, in Warren.
Sept. 28, Angelina Lincoln, 17.
Sept. 28, Harriet, dau. of Wyllys Hall.
Sept. 28, Caroline, dau. of James Bliss, 7.
Sept. 28, Mary Ann, dau. of Jasher Taylor.
Sept. 28, Lucy, a woman of color.
Sept. 30, Clarissa, wife of Capt. Timothy Buell.
Oct. 1, Jefferson Lincoln, 12.
Oct. 1, Wealthy A., dau. of Richard Alcock, 6.
Oct. 1, Infant son of John Kelly.
Oct. 1, Mary, dau. of S. D. W. Drown, on Island.
Oct. 1, Solomon Jarvis, 56, in Wood Co., Va.
Oct. 2, Titus Buck, 48.
Oct. 2, James Knight, 31.
Oct. 2, Manasseh, son of Ephraim Cutler, 12, Warren.
Oct. 4, Col. Jacob Ulmer.
Oct. 5, Mark Anderson.
Oct. 5, Mrs. Polly White, 73, in Fearing.
Oct. 6, Henry Winum, 46.
Oct. 7, Mrs. Mees.
Oct. 8, Philip Cunningham, 23.
Oct. 8, William Judson, 37.
Oct. 9, Mrs. Lyon.
Oct. 9, Eliza Anderson, 13.
Oct. 10, Abraham Sharp, 38.
Oct. 10, Mrs. Schachtelin.
Oct. 10, Mrs. Lucretia Hampstead, 52.
Oct. 12, Jonas Livermore, 56.
Oct. 14, Charles Lincoln, 4.
Oct. 16, John Brough, Esq., 75.
Oct. 18, Dudley Dodge.
Oct. 21, Henry Murphy, 9.
Nov. 4, Lydia, wife of William White, 29, Fearing.
Nov. 27, John Dye, Sen., 88.
Dec. 14, Mary, wife of Benjamin P. Putnam.
For the following who died in this year [1822], we have no month or day:
Amos Morris, of Adams.
Benjamin Nott, of Adams.
Obadiah Morris, of Adams.
Richard Talbot, of Grandview.
Jotham Wright, of Newport.
John Stewart, of Warren.
Benedict E. Rathbone, of Belpre.
Elisha Woodward, of Marietta.
Richard Waterman, of Marietta.
Joseph Babcock, of Marietta.
Jonathan Guitteau, of Marietta.
Deaths in 1823:
Jan. 30, Casper Smith, 46.
Feb. 22, Mrs. Sally Cain, 48, in Fearing.
Apr. 7, Samuel Brooks, 70, in Union.
Apr. 25, Mrs. Abigail Dye, 69, in Lawrence.
May 6, Capt. Phineas Dunsmoor, 50, in Wesley.
May 12, Joel Oaks, in Belpre.
June 10, Robert McCabe, 43.
July 12, Capt. Benjamin Blake, 40, in Fearing.
Sept. 8, Jonathan Dunham, 70, in Warren.
Sept. 15, William Ford, Jr., in Watertown.
Oct. 3, Rufus Humphreys, 25, in Newport.
Oct. 31, John Chamber, in Lawrence.
Nov. 1, Hon. John Sharp, in Lawrence.
Nov. 6, Davidson Murray.
Nov. 12, Adoniram J. Guitteau, 30, in Fearing.
Dec. 30, Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Nathaniel Clark, 28.
The following is the list of burials in "Mound Cemetery" during July, August, September and October, 1823, the figures denoting the day:
July
5 - George Howe.
8 - Jacob Drake.
11 - Son of Briggs.
13 - Mrs. Dempsey.
14 - Joseph Bartlett.
14 - T. J. H. Sanford.
14 - Mrs. Hill.
18 - Mary A. Cunningham.
18 - William Taylor.
19 - Mrs. Bacon.
21 - John Locker.
22 - Dau. of George Corner.
22 - Mrs. Livermore.
23 - Caleb Thornily.
23 - Mathew Miner.
23 - Son of Samuel Stone.
23 - Child of Mr. Bacon.
24 - Harriet Hartshorn.
24 - Harriet Hearn.
24 - Mrs. Miner.
25 - Mrs. Miller.
25 - Mrs. Thorniley.
26 - Pamelia Rood.
26 - Son of A. Daniels.
28 - Rachel Howe.
28 - Mrs. Hoff.
28 - Levi Benjamin.
29 - Leonard Foster.
29 - William Fulton.
29 - Anna Roger.
30 - Jonathan Carnes.
August
1 - Mr. Borwn.
2 - Mr. Follett.
3 - Son of Jacob Brown.
5 - Eliza Stanley.
5 - Dau. of Broadhurst.
5 - James Lincoln.
6 - Child of W. Holyoke.
6 - Mrs. Merrill.
6 - Mrs. Rood.
6 - D. Woodbridge, Sen.
6 - Child of D. Protsman.
8 - Child of Pratt.
9 - Pearce Morse.
9 - William McAllister.
11 - Child of A. Daniels.
12 - Child of D. Murray.
13 - Joseph Harris.
13 - Harriet Goodwin.
14 - Sally Druse.
14 - Child of C. Thorniley.
14 - Mrs. Ezekiel Deming.
15 - Mrs. Dr. Jett.
16 - Mrs. Duncan.
16 - Mrs. Pratt.
17 - Mrs. Morse.
17 - Child of T. Buell.
17 - Child of R. McCabe.
18 - Child of Mr. Wheeler.
18 - Mrs. Goodwin.
18 - Mrs. Keating.
19 - Child of Cherry.
19 - Mr. Goodwin.
20 - John Phelps.
23 - Child of J. Brown.
23 - Child of J. Clark.
24 - Child of William Talbot.
26 - Mrs. Guitteau.
27 - Ruth Johnson.
28 - Mrs. Browning.
28 - Mary Stone.
29 - Eliza Palmer.
29 - Son of Jedidiah Chase.
30 - Mrs. Stephen Hildreth.
30 - Emily Hoff.
30 - Andrew Webster.
30 - Child of G. Gilbert.
September
1 - Judson Guitteau.
1 - Mrs. Spencer.
1 - Mr. Food.
2 - Son of Jedidiah Chase.
2 - Mrs. Pearce Morse.
3 - Rev. S. P. Robbins.
3 - Mrs. Garnet.
5 - Dr. N. McIntosh.
6 - Dr. Jabez True.
6 - Mary Stone, Sr.
11 - N. Needham.
11 - Child of Mercer.
12 - John Gibson.
12 - Mr. Shoemaker.
12 - A. Shay.
12 - Mrs. Tucker.
13 - Child of Mr. Brown.
14 - Luther Edgerton, Sr.
15 - Ephraim Foster.
16 - Child of Mrs. Harley.
17 - Child of J. Graham.
18 - Child of Jedidiah Chase.
19 - Elizabeth T. Willard.
19 - Child of Crandall.
20 - Ephraim Hill.
20 - Child of J. Graham.
20 - Child of J. J. Preston.
22 - Child of Crandall.
22 - Robert G. Duncan.
22 - Woman from Fearing.
22 - Child of S. Lee.
22 - Child of R. Mills.
24 - Rev. Joseph Willard.
24 - Caleb Barstow.
24 - Allen McNeil.
24 - Child of William Alcock.
25 - Mrs. Deem.
26 - Child of Mr. Locker.
27 - James Gilbert.
28 - Henry Gibson.
28 - Child of Mr. Rich.
28 - Child of Jedidiah Chase.
29 - Julia A. Geren.
30 - Child of D. Gilbert.
30 - Mrs. McCabe.
October
1 - Mrs. Evans.
1 - Child of C. D. Bonney.
3 - Hopkins Greene.
3 - Joshua Shipman.
3 - Mrs. William M. Case.
6 - Child of William Alcock.
12 - Lorenzo Protsman.
14 - Child of E. Ryan.
15 - Child of T. Buell.
17 - Child of Wyllys Hall.
18 - Mrs. Crandall.
20 - Child of Jedidiah Chase.
21 - Mrs. Bodwell.
21 - Mrs. Ryan.
22 - Child of Mr. Bacon.
28 - Mrs. McCune.
28 - Mrs. Nathaniel Dodge.
29 - Edward Guitteau.
Of the above, 72 belonged to the corporation of Marietta; 55 to the township outside the corporation; 14 to other townships. Children, 51, five those of Jedidiah Chase. Among the more prominent men were Dudley Woodbridge Sen., Rev. Samuel P. Robbins, Dr. Jabez True, Dr. Nathan McIntosh, Luther Edgerton, Sen.
The following died about this time, but we have no day or month:
Ezra Crane, of Marietta.
Lucretia Saltonstall, of Marietta.
Amzi Stanley, of Marietta.
Elizur Carver, of Marietta.
Lydia McKawen, of Marietta.
Anna Shepard, of Marietta.
Margaret Morse, of Marietta.
Amos Fairchild, of Decatur.
Sarah Wiseman, of Harmar.
Orgilous Doan, of Salem.
Joseph Cook, Jr., of Belpre.
Samuel H. Dunbar, of Union.
Jonathan Thomas, of Warren.
David Blauset, of Fearing.
Joel Tuttle, Sen., of Fearing.
Mary Greene, of Newport.
Jacob Churchill, of Newport.
William Ford, Sen., of Watertown.
Thomas Wilson, of Watertown.
Robert Andrews, of Watertown.
Rev. William Boles, of Waterford.
Alexander McCoy, of Waterford.
Samuel Cushing, of Waterford.
Joshua Sprague, Esq., of Adams.
Theophilus Ransom, of Adams.
Nathaniel Patterson, of Adams.
Nancy Green, of Adams.
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