Sunday, July 31, 2022

Old Marietta Papers - Number 31

 The Marietta Register, April 29, 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."

Jan. 1, 1835, a prospectus of the "Young Men's Western Magazine," to be published at Marietta, was issued by C. C. Preston at $2.50 per year.

Jan. 3, 1835, a public meeting was held at the Court House in favor of improving the Muskingum river; and a memorial (not the first one) was sent to the Legislature in order to secure the aid of the State in accomplishing the work. A meeting was held at Zanesville on Jan. 7th for the same purpose; also at McConnelsville, about the same time.

Jan. 8, 1835, a lad named Parker, aged 14, was drowned in the Ohio, opposite Harmar, while skating.

Jan. 15, 1835, three Tailors advertised their business in Marietta, John Cunningham, James Kirby, M. A. Chappell.

Feb. 9, 1835, the mercury in Marietta stood at 16 degrees below zero.

May 23, 1835, Solomon Maxwell, student and a nephew of Prof. Samuel Maxwell, was drowned in the Muskingum while in bathing; he was in his 17th year.

June 6, 1835, the steamer Rufus Putnam, built by James Whitney, left Marietta on her first trip.

Aug. 1, 1835, Pazzi Lapham retired from the Gazette, having sold out to Edward W. Nye. Mr. Lapham edited the paper eight months and a half and did it well.

Oct. 1, 1835, D. H. Buell, Esq., opened a Bookstore in Marietta. Dr. W. B. Farrell had a Drug store in town at this date.

Oct. 7, 1835, Lionel Tenney, first took charge of the English School connected with Marietta College. He was afterwards a teacher here for about twenty-five years.

Election in 1835:

The Whigs in this county let the election go by default and di not poll one-half their strength. The county voted - For Senator, Andrew Donally of Meigs Co. (elected) 416; William Wall of Athens, 534; Nahum Ward of Marietta, 430. For Representative, William Pitt Putnam, 581; Isaac Humphreys, 785. For Auditor, Robert Crawford, 426; William A. Whittlesey, 890. For Treasurer, Amos Dunham, 499; Ebenezer Gates, 816. For Commissioner, Ebenezer Battelle, 606; Robert K. Ewart, 689. For Assessor, John Brown, 594; James Ewings, 600. For surveyor, Benjamin F. Stone, 720. For Prosecuting Attorney, Arius Nye, 780.

Marietta voted - Donally, 99; Wall, 74; Ward, 167. Putnam, 157; Humphreys, 180. Crawford, 171; Whittlesey, 136. Dunham, 155; Gates 167. Battelle, 194; Ewart, 117. Brown, 176; Ewings, 111. Stone, 219. Nye, 205.

Marriages:

Dec. 25, 1834, B. F. Pixley of Marietta and Lydia B. Corner of Belpre.
Dec. 25, 1834, Charles Foster and Mary Ann Cherry, both of Fearing.
Jan. 11, 1835, Theodore Shreiner and Maria Tuttle, both of Fearing.
Jan. 18, A. H. Durfee of Belpre and Frances Carlisle of Marietta.
Feb. 8, Samuel S. Brown of Waterford and Harriet N. Lagrange of Adams.
March 24, John Hemphill and Marian Gage, both of Waterford.
March 26, George Greenwood and Elizabeth Edgerton, both of Newport.
March 26, Ezekiel Hoskinson and Susan Riley, both of Marietta.
March 19, Josiah Morgan and Mary Ann Chapman.
April 10, Charles G. Culver of Watertown and Harriet Brown of Waterford.
April 19, Dr. John Allen of Cincinnati and Charlotte Dana of Waterford.
May 14, James H. Guthrie of Gallia County and Charlotte Oaks of this county.
May 21, Christopher C. Smith and Orilla Davis, both of Union.
June 24, John Gidley and Elizabeth Athey.
July 2, Samuel Rightmire and Harriet Nixon.
July 23, Thomas Sinnamen and Orilla Alcock.
July 23, in Aurelius, Dr. Benjamin Brown and Content A. Rayley.
July 28, in Salem, Madison R. Morse and Mary Porter.
Aug. 6, Spencer T. Bukey and Eliza Hill.
Aug. 6, Isaac Shook of Alabama and Maria Shipman.
Aug. 27, Thomas H. Sanford and Mary Ann Harris.
Sept. 24, Dr. F. Regnier and Elizabeth Barber.
Oct 21, Arthur Kelley of Marietta and Harriet Neal of Parkersburg.
Oct. 14, Thomas Hays of Newport and Abigail Jones of Marietta.
Oct. 29, Jesse Whiston of Marietta and Esther Richardson of Newport.
Oct. 29, John Williams and Royana J. Lewis.
Nov. 4, James M. Palmer (of Palmer) and Sophia Gard.
Nov. 17, John Johnson and Nancy Fulcher, both of Warren.
Nov. 25, John M. Proctor and Rowena Green.
Nov. 26, Alpha Brown and Lavina McAtee, both of Waterford.
Dec. 9, in Warren, James Pratt and Catharine Van Pelt.

Deaths in 1835:

Jan. 3, in Salem, Eben Spears, aged 60.
Feb. 2, Miss Maria, wife of Henry Sutton, 28.
March 2, Hannah, daughter of Roger Toothaker, in her 21st year.
March 17, in Union, Solomon Dickey, Esq.
March 27, Mrs. Betsey, wife of Thomas Vinton.
Jue 5, Theodosia, wife of Oliver Dodge, 35.
Aug. 16, Chauncey Reed, 25.
Nov. 10, in Union, Mrs. Rosanna Devol, 34.
Dec. 9, Sarah O., wife of D. P. Bosworth.


Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Information Wanted and Furnished

Cleveland Herald, January 5, 1832:

Information Wanted

My Husband, by the name of Joseph G. Fuller, a Painter by Trade, came to this place in Oct. last; the latter part of Nov. he wrote to have me come to Cleaveland; I accordingly done so, and arrived here about three weeks ago and found to my sad disappointment that he had gone south on the Canal Boat Liberty, destined for Chillicothe. The Boat has not returned in consequence of the ice, and it is possible he has gone to Cincinnati; be he where he may I am extremely desirous to learn his residence and also to have him know that I am in Cleaveland, Ohio, among strangers, and in a poor state of health; bitterly lamenting his absence, and anxiously hoping e'er long to enjoy his presence.

Now, all those (especially Editors) who will use their endeavors to circulate this note and accomplish the object expressed will not only confer a signal favor; but shall receive the grateful acknowledgements of a disconsolate "wife in search of a husband." Lydia Fuller.

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, February 25, 1832:

Information Furnished

Joseph G. Fuller, who is advertised in the Cleaveland Herald by his wife Lydia Fuller, to be informed of his residence, &c. has called at this office and requested us to publish that he has for a short time past been in Marietta - that he is mate of the Steam Boat Whale, built at this place, and that he shall go to Cincinnati, and from thence return to Cleveland to his wife.

 

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Old Marietta Papers - Number 30

The Marietta Register, April 22, 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."

March 15, 1834, wheat 44 cents a bushel in Marietta.

Nahum Ward was President of the Washington County Agricultural Society, in 1834; Dr. Jonas Moore, Vice President; George M. Woodbridge, Recording Secretary; Dr. S. P. Hildreth, Corresponding Secretary; Samuel Shipman, Treasurer.

June 28, Delafield & Nye dissolved partnership in the Gazette, after a year's continuance, E. W. Nye withdrawing. J. Delafield, Jr. continued the paper.

July 4, 1834. Celebration - Declaration of Independence read by William A. Whittlesey, Esq., Oration by Levi H. Goddard, Esq.

July 16, 1834, the card of Dr. E. H. Allen, Dentist, first appears in the Marietta Gazette; on the 26th, we first observe an advertisement by Dr. H. Trevor; and on August 15, Dr. F. Regnier gave notice that he had permanently located in Harmar.

Ephraim Palmer was at this time Colonel of the militia in Washington County; Hiel Dunsmoor, Adjutant.

August 23, 1834, we first find the term "Whig" used in the Gazette as applied to a political party. About this time the National Republicans took that name; and not long before the Democratic Republicans took the simple name of "Democrat."

About this date the Nimrod, a small steamboat from Marietta, burst a steam pipe some distance above Maysville, and it was reported that seven persons were killed and several others scalded.

Sept. 13, 1834, Jason R. Curtis, for many years a well known citizen of Marietta, died after a short illness. He was the father of Hon. W. F. Curtis.

Oct. 18, 1834, John Delafield, Jr., gave notice that he should within a short time withdraw from the Gazette, as he had been elected Cashier of the Clinton Bank, then soon to go into operation at Columbus.

Capt. Zebulon Jennings raised 292 bushels of corn on four acres of upland, measured and certified - 73 per acre.

Nov. 14, 1834, Hon. Sardine Stone, long a leading citizen, died in Union, at the age of 66.

Nov. 15, 1834, Pazzi Lapham, who had been publishing the Patriot at London, Madison County, succeeded Mr. Delafield as editor and publisher of the Marietta Gazette.

Nov. 22, 1834, the Episcopal Church, corner of Fourth and Scammel streets (now a German church) was first opened for public worship.

Election in 1864 - The Whig Ticket succeeded in Washington County, 292 majority. The county voted - For Governor, James Findlay, 907; Robert Lucas, 615. For Congress, Samuel F. Vinton, 916; A. V. D. Joline, 393; Dr. Thomas M. Drake, of Athens, 140. For Representative, Joseph Barker, Jr., 906; Isaac Humphreys, 597. For Sheriff, Benjamin M. Brown, 808; Joseph P. Wightman, 695. For Recorder, James M. Booth, 881; Silas Cook, 578. For Commissioner, John D. Chamberlain, 865; Solomon Dickey, 591. For Coroner, Francis Devol, 890.

Marietta voted - Findlay, 256; Luas, 90. Vinton, 256; Joline, 44; Drake, 34. Barker, 252 Humphreys, 91. Brown, 245; Wightman, 100. Booth, 243; Cook, 89. Chamberlain, 243; Dickey, 85. Devol, 246.

Marriages:

March 4, 1834, James Bowen of Waterford, and Catharine Ann Wheeler of Watertown.
March 6, William Thorniley and Eliza Jane Rowland of Newport.
March 6, Armstrong Wilson and Louisa Travis, both of Roxbury.
May 15, Adonis Carver and Anna Phillips, both of Newport.
June 5, George Lee and Susan Bartlett, both of Marietta.
June 26, Jacob Rardin and Samantha Travis, both of Roxbury.
July 17, Daniel G. Wilson and Margaret A. Palmer, both of Waterford. 
August 3, John McAllister and Olive F. Owen, both of Marietta.
August 21, Benjamin Rutter and Mary Leget, both of Watertown.
August 27, Dr. E. H. Allen and Irena Benedict of Belpre.
August 30, Allen Devol, Jr., of Waterford and Edith La Grange of Adams.
November 13, Benjamin Racer and Mrs. Abigail Churchill.
November 20, Joseph E. Hall and Miss Susannah E. Roe.
November 14, Argalus Pixley, Jr., and Sally Watkins.
November 14, William Mervin and Nancy Kennedy.
November 14, Amos Knowles and Jane Miller of Belpre.
December 18, Erastus W. Stacy and Amy Gates, both of Union.
December 21, George W. Tyler, Printer, and Mary Allen, both of Marietta.

Deaths:

September 29, 1834, in Adams, Mrs. Parthenia Judd, in her 55th year.
October 12, in Cincinnati, Alfred Proctor of Watertown in his 26th year.
November 7, Mrs. Sophia, wife of L. G. Converse, in her 34th year.


Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Klan Members Stage Parade

 The Marietta Register, October 20, 1924

[The following article contains information regarding discriminatory practices of the past.]

More than 800 Knights of the Ku Klux Klan garbed in the white robes of the order participated in the parade and open air meeting held in Marietta Saturday night.

The parade formed at Camp Tupper and headed by a local band marched down Third Street to Putnam, down Putnam to Second, down Second to Greene, turned right to Front and proceeded up Front Street to the Muskingum Park where the evening program was held.

Rev. F. E. Wilson, northern Ohio minister, in the main address of the evening, outlined the principles of the Klan organization while a fiery cross erected on the river bank at the foot of Lancaster Street blazed forth, casting its reddish hue over the large crowd that stood at the speaker's platform.


Sunday, July 17, 2022

Old Marietta Papers - Number 29

Marietta Register, April 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."

Our venerable friend Sampson Cole has kindly furnished us some old Marietta papers which give us facts in reference to the transient Democratic papers published here, that had not previously come to our knowledge.

A copy of the "Marietta Democrat" is before us. It bears date October 22, 1836, Vol. 2, No. 10. Printed and published by Charles B. Flood. Mr. Flood, who has since been a somewhat notorious Democratic editor, connected with the Ohio Statesman and other papers, left Marietta within a few months after the date of the paper under consideration. The field here, it is to be presumed, was not very promising to him. The copy of his paper which we have contains the "Delinquent Tax List," signed by William A. Whittlesey, Auditor, but nothing else worth mentioning.

Next we have "The Democrat." Marietta, October 21, 1837, Vol. 2, No. 31. By J. Baughey. This appears to have been a continuation of Mr. Flood's paper, after a suspension of about six months.

And here comes the "Washington County Democrat." Vol. 1, No. 31. Marietta, November 14, 1840. By Daniel Radebaugh, Jr. Office in the brick building on the corner of Hart and Fourth streets, over N. Bishop's shop. The Presidential election of 1840 was just over, and its party had been defeated in the Nation, State, County and Town; and the issue before us contains a loud call for assistance from its friends, "or the paper must be discontinued." It was discontinued within a short time thereafter.

Our notes from the "Old Marietta Papers' have now been brought down to May, 1833, the files of the American Friend for twenty years - 1813-33 - being complete. For the next six years, until the Intelligencer was started, in August 1839, there is no complete file in existence. The Register Office owns about ninety copies between July 1834 and April 1836. James Dunn has favored us with about two-thirds of the numbers in 1837, and we have most of the latter part of 1833, and other numbers, from Mrs. Emerson's. We have not now in our possession but a single copy of a Marietta paper between October 1837 and and August 1839.

June 29, 1833, Messrs. Delafield & Nye - John Delafield, Jr., and Edward W. Nye - issued their first paper, "The Marietta Gazette." It was larger than any paper before published in Marietta, having six columns to a page. The salutatory speaks of the "brightening prospects which has opened on this town and vicinity," and "We gladly hail the ascent of the star of increasing promise which has beamed upon this beautiful (if not the most beautiful) spot of the West, seen, as it is in the increasing enterprise, the active and productive industry, and the advancing prosperity of our citizens, crowned as these are, by Providence, with health and a general climate." And "the recent establishment of a promising literary institution in this place" (the College) is given as one of the matters of "good cheer."

June 20, 1833, a son of Sampson Cole was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun.

July 1, 1833, the house of Eli Iams was destroyed by fire in the afternoon.

August 17, 1833, Professors Henry Smith, D. H. Allen, Milo P. Jewett, and Samuel Maxwell, were all here in the "Marietta Collegiate Institute." Miss D. T. Wells had charge of the Young Ladies Seminary, and Mons. G. M. Martin was the teacher of French.

August 20, 1833, the cornerstone of the (former) Episcopal Church, at the corner of Fourth and Scammel streets, was laid; address by Rev. J. T. Wheat.

September 7, 1833, Levi H. Goddard swung out his "shingle" as a lawyer in the Library Hall building.

September 22, 1833, Sunday, the steamer Statesman exploded six miles above Marietta, killing three men.

A "puff" is made on a calf raised by Benjamin Dana of Waterford, that weighed alive 238 pounds when only forty-three days old.

October Election. Strange as it may seem the Marietta Gazette published no returns of the election in October 1833, neither of Marietta, nor of Washington County - except we learn that Calvary Morris of Athens was elected to the Senate from this district, and that Silas Cook,  Jackson man, was elected Representative of Washington County; the vote on Senator in this county, only being given, to wit: C. Morris 295, E. Cutler 182, I Humphreys 641. It appears that the opposition to the Jackson men let the election go by default.

Marriages:

June 17, 1833, in Cincinnati, John Delafield, Jr., and Miss Edith, daughter of Rev. M. G. Wallace.
July 4, Benjamin Ward and Nancy Burns, both of Newport.
Sept. 19, George W. Hoskinson of Newport and Lucy Bosworth.
Sept. 19, Aaron Howe and Mary Thornily, both of Marietta.
Sept. 19, Henry Posey and Susan McKibben.
November 6, William Cole and Elizabeth Pattin, both of Warren.
November 14, Theodore Gerry of Marietta and Jane Smithson of Aurelius.
November 14, Charles Doane of Chester, Meigs Co., and Abigail S. Lund of Aurelius.
November 13, Simeon F. Seeley of Waterford and Maria Adelaide Curtis of Gallia Co.

Deaths:

June 17, 1833, Miss Adaline, daughter of Capt. John Greene (at Covington, Ky.).
July 30, Alfred Poole.
September 7, Rev. James Callahan, M. E. Church.
October 12, at Alton, Ill., Benjamin Ives Gilman, Esq., formerly of Marietta, aged 68.
October 27, at Charleston, Va., Rev. James McAboy.
November 4, Mrs. Susanah Stone, in Belpre, aged 78.


Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Unfortunate Killing of Mr. Jacob Cram

The Marietta Republican, August 6, 1863

We deeply regret to announce the unfortunate killing of Mr. Jacob Cram, a well known and worthy citizen of this place, by a Sergeant of the 8th Michigan Cavalry, near the late battle field at Buffington's Island, on Monday, the 20th ult.

Mr. Cram went from here as Captain of an Independent Cavalry Squad, his company being a part of the first expedition sent from here in pursuit of Morgan. The battle of Sunday morning at Buffington, coming on, he became very much excited and at length exhibited plainly signs of partial derangement, to which he has at times been subject. In the condition he then was, it was found impossible to persuade him to retreat with the rest of the forces; and he was consequently taken prisoner by the rebels. His unfortunate condition being evident, the rebels are supposed to have released him, first taking his arms and horse. He remained in the vicinity until the next day (Monday), when the Union forces, probably suspecting him to be a spy, who was feigning craziness, also took him prisoner.

The efforts made by the Union soldiers to confine Mr. Cram were naturally resisted by him. He was accordingly mounted on a horse, behind the Sergeant who afterwards shot him. Watching his opportunity, Mr. Cram hit this man on the head with a club, knocking him senseless. Upon recovering, the Sergeant instantly drew his revolver and shot Mr. Cram through the breast, the ball passing, as is supposed, between the lobes of the lungs. The startled horse ran away, but after going a short distance Mr. Cram fell to the ground and died. After being stripped of his money, watch, and a portion of his clothes, his remained were wrapped in a blanket and buried.

For some days his family and friends here were in a state of uncertainty as to his fate. Search was at length made, and on Saturday last his grave was found, the body disinterred and brought home. On Sunday afternoon last he was buried from the residence of his brother-in-law, Mr. A. T. Nye, in this place. Mr. Cram leaves a widow and three children, with many relations and friends, to mourn his loss.

We have no hesitation in saying that the killing of Mr. Cram was an outrageous murder, which should be officially investigated.

  

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Old Marietta Papers - Number 28

 The Marietta Register, April 8, 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."

Last week we completed our notes from the American Friend. To go back, three papers had successively had an existence in Marietta, and ceased to exist, during the last ten years Mr. Prentiss published the Friend.

The "Marietta Minerva" was started in October, 1823, by John K. and A. V. D. Joline. We possess only a single number, Vol. 1, No. 21, Friday, March 5, 1824. It supported Henry Clay for the Presidency in that year. Not an item can be derived from the number before us, of the slightest interest to our readers. The Minerva died December 3, 1824, at the age of one year and six weeks.

The "Marietta and Washington County Pilot" was started by George Dunlevy and A. V. D. Joline, April 7, 1826. The office was over the Post Office on Front Street at the corner of Putnam. Mr. Dunlevy's name remained in the concern a year, after which the paper was continued by Mr. Joline. It was a Jackson paper, and in May, 1829, Mr. Joline became Postmaster in place of D. H. Buell, Esq., removed by reason of his not being a Jackson man. The Pilot was discontinued in May, 1830, after an existence of about four years. Six copies only of the Pilot are owned by the Register Office; but not an item of present interest is contained in them, which we have not already published. They bear dates October 26 and November 23, 1826, August 9, November 8 and December 6, 1828, and January 31, 1829.

In January, 1831, was started in Marietta the "Western Republican and Marietta Advertiser, edited, printed and published by John Brough." The motto of the paper was: "Freedom of speech is man's inalienable birthright - the liberty of the press his impregnable safeguard."

Gov. Brough was at this time not quite twenty years of age. In the epidemic year of 1823 his father, John Brough, Esq., died upon the "Cleona Farm" at the mouth of Duck Creek; his mother had previously died; and the "orphan boy," at the age of twelve, entered the printing office of the American Friend to learn the printing business of Royal Prentiss. He subsequently went to Athens, where he maintained himself for a time in one of the departments of the Ohio University. His wife (Miss Pruden) was from Athens. Mr. Brough is often spoken of now-a-days by the friends of his youth as having excelled all in kicking foot-ball.

He continued the Western Republican a little over two years, when in April, 1833, he removed the printing office from Marietta to Parkersburg, where he sold out the next fall. He then went to Lancaster and became editor and publisher of the Lancaster Eagle. He was elected Representative to the Legislature from Fairfield and Hocking in October 1838. By that Legislature he was chosen Auditor of State, when 28 years of age, which office he filled with great ability, as acknowledged by all political opponents, for six years until 1845. He then removed to Cincinnati to practice law.

In 1841, he had bought the "Phoenix" from Moses Dawson and started the Cincinnati Enquirer, in company with his brother, the late Judge Charles H. Brough. He was editor-in-chief of the Enquirer in 1846-7, his brother Charles having gone to the Mexican War, where he served as Colonel of one of the Ohio Regiments in 1847. In 1848, John Brough, having bid farewell to the printing office, engaged as President of the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad; and he remained a most successful railroad manager until elected Governor of the great State of Ohio in 1863, by over one hundred thousand majority, after a vigorous and bitter canvass.

Nine copies only of the Western Republican are now in the possession of the Register Office - eight of dates early in 1832, and one January 19, 1833. It was a five column paper, and only a trifle more than one-half as large as the Register of today - it did not contain over one-third as much printed matter - and the advance price was $2 a year, the price of all Marietta papers down to within a recent date.

January 14, 1832, the Republican published an oration delivered by its editor, John Brough, at the 8th of January Jackson celebration at the Court House. Col. Joseph Barker was President of the day; Isaac Humphreys, Esq., Vice President.

Judging from the numbers of the Western Republican before us, it was a paper edited with decided ability, and with an independence that the Jackson party leaders did not always relish. Mr. Brough did not like Martin Van Buren and did not hesitate to say to in his paper. He had his own views of public policy, and having them, dared maintain them. 


Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Curfew Whistle to Sound Again

 The Register-Leader, July 16, 1920

After a silence of several years the hills surrounding the city are again to reverberate at 9 o'clock each evening the sounds of the city curfew, for following action taken by council Thursday evening at their regular meeting, the safety director will get the old whistle used for several years to warn small boys and girls from the streets at an early hour, in shape for further service.

Councilman Lorentz started the discussion which brought action. He asked if there weren't a curfew ordinance in existence. "If there is," he said, "I would like to see it enforced."

Mr. Lorentz was informed by the city solicitor that there is such an ordinance. Nearly all of the councilmen seemed in favor of the blowing of the curfew.

The curfew was done away with before, said one councilman, because it kept the people in Williamstown awake. Another councilman told the story of a West Side family. Every evening, just as they got the baby to sleep, the whistle blew, woke him up and it took another two hours to quiet him again. The man of the house thought that the whistle was sounded by a steamboat and was about to make a complaint.

Safety Director Bedillion told council that he would have the big whistle working again in short order. 

The blowing of the curfew was stopped some years back because it was said sentiment seemed to be against it and because of the difficulty experienced in enforcing the ordinance.


Sunday, July 3, 2022

Old Marietta Papers - Number 27

The Marietta Register, April 1, 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."

Three weeks ago we printed that Rev. J. T. Wheat, Episcopal, conducted services in the forms of that church at Library Hall, July 15, 1832; and stated that it was "the first notice we have seen of preaching by that denomination in Marietta." But we since discover that on Sunday, March 25, 1832, Rev. Mr. Robinson, Episcopal, preached at the Old Court House.

Rev. Joseph Willard, who lived in the house were Dr. John Cotton died, on Butler Street, near the present Post Office, and who died during the epidemic of 1823, was an Episcopal clergyman. Whether he ever conducted religious services in Marietta, in the Episcopal form, we are not advised.

Lyceum. We wish here to refer to the "Marietta Lyceum," which was organized on Monday evening, Feb. 28, 1831. The first officers were President, John Cotton; Vice President, Caleb Emerson; Corresponding Secretary, Arius Nye; Recording Secretary, James M. Booth; Treasurer, John Mills; Curators, Arius Nye, S. P. Hildreth, Billy Todd.

April 12, a lecture on Astronomy was delivered by Dr. John Cotton, the President. He read many papers before the Lyceum, in course of time, on astronomical subjects.

The first discussion was upon the question, "Has the discovery of the art of Printing been more beneficial to the world than the Magnetic Needle?"

Four lectures before the Lyceum were announced for January, 1833, to wit: By Dr. S. P. Hildreth, "On the saliferous rock formation of the valley of the Ohio." John Delafield, Jr., "Egyptian Hieroglyphics." William A. Whittlesey, "Lyceums." John Brough, "The discovery and progress of the art of printing."

The Lyceum was sustained some years, doubtless with much profit to many.

Jan. 7, 1833, Samuel Hall began a singing school in Marietta. Many will recollect Mr. Hall. This was his beginning here - laboring to obtain an education. He was one of the four graduates of Marietta College in 1838 - its first class.

Apr. 8, 1833, the annual meeting of the Marietta Temperance Society was held. Elected officers for the ensuing year, to wit: William A. Whittlesey, President; Mansfield French and J. C. McCoy, Vice Presidents; Samuel Hall, Secretary; Robert Crawford, Treasurer; D. T. Morgan, E. Emerson, J. Way and D. Putnam, Jr., Executive Committee.

Apr. 20, 1833, Mr. Prentiss announced that he had sold the "Friend & Gazette" to Delafield & Nye, to be delivered on May 11th; and John Delafield, Jr., and Edward W. Nye published their prospectus for the "Marietta Gazette," in an enlarged form.

"Died in this town, after a short illness, on Tuesday, the 23d instant, Col. Levi Barber."

Col. Barber lived in Harmar; had been for many years a leading citizen of Washington County, and one of the most prominent in this part of Ohio; previous to 1817 he was for years Clerk of the Court; was a member of the State Senate in 1819-21; was Representative in Congress in 1817-19 and in 1821-23; yet the above simple announcement is all the notice of his death that appears in the "Friend."

A few marriages in the early part of 1833:
Jan. 13, Chad A. Phillips and Sarah M. Morse.
Jan 22, Samuel Shipman and Lucina Bingham, of Cornwall, Vermont.
Feb. 7, John Riley and Mrs. Tabitha Thorniley.
Feb. 28, John M. Gates of Waterford and Eleanor Walker of Rosbury.
Apr. 2, Junia Jennings and Eliza Reckard.
Apr. 10, Martin Sinclair and Naomi J. Baldwin of Zanesville.
Apr. 14, Lewis Anderson Jr., and Louisa Hildreth.
Apr. 25th, Otis Wheeler and Nancy F. Foster.
Apr. 25th, Jonathan Caywood and Eliza Henton in Fearing.
Apr. 25th, Luther Leonard of Waterford and Caroline Adams of Watertown.

The Valedictory of Mr. Prentiss appears May 11, 1833. After that the title "American Friend" was dropped from the paper, and it was published as the "Marietta Gazette" for about eight years.

Mr. Prentiss had been a proprietor of the paper for nineteen years, most of the time sole proprietor, "during which time," he says, "the principal part of the mechanical labor has been performed by myself, without which, and close application to business, too, it could not have survived to the present day." He gives as one of his reasons for selling, "that the profit of the business is not sufficient to remunerate me for the labor and money actually expended in carrying it on."

That the "Friend" was not remunerative to Mr. Prentiss is undoubtedly true. Of all the newspapers yet published in Marietta during a period of over sixty-two years, probably the only one that ever afforded a profit, worth naming, to the publisher, was the Intelligencer, while published by Beman Gates, Esq. Mr. Gates was a first-rate newspaper man - none better for his time - was an industrious, active and energetic business man, and he succeeded. The "Hoe News," published by Mr. Winchester for two or three years, was a capital little paper of its kind, but could not have afforded, probably, a revenue worth talking about.

Mr. Prentiss struggled industriously to keep his paper alive; and in twenty years by close economy, getting a little from the office of Town Clerk, some from the office of County Treasurer, which he held two years, and some from four years in the County Auditor's office, he managed to save a small property, just enough to keep him from actual want - not what is usually called a competency.

Evidence of the hard struggles of Mr. Prentiss is to be found in the files of the "Friend." A call upon "my patrons for money to enable me to buy paper," is common during the whole nineteen years from 1814 to 1833. Almost every year, if not every one, half sheets or small sheets were published for one, two, three or four weeks, as well as issues missed altogether, several times for four or five weeks in succession. And he could not help this - his income was insufficient.

Two remarks are in place here:

First, down to this date - May 1833 - Marietta papers, as was then the custom in like towns, were published with very little editorial matter, very little of a local nature, almost all the reading being selected from exchanges, from Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other places. Many a paper was published without a line of a local nature, unless in an advertisement, but with two or three columns from Europe and Asia. The only editors in thirty-two years who wrote articles that could be dignified by the name of "leaders," were Caleb Emerson, in the Spectator, 1811-12; David Everett, in the Friend, 1813; and John Brough in the Western Republican, 1831-32; and they did not often write a "leader."

Second, no pro-slavery paper was published in Marietta until subsequent to the date to which we have now arrived - May, 1833. The Spectator, published by Caleb Emerson in 1811-12, was decidedly anti-slavery, and so always was the Friend, from 1813 to 1833. They on many occasions published articles, such as we have been accustomed to hear called "abolition," "nigger-head," and "incendiary," during these latter years of new ideas. Everybody hereabouts, in those days, seemed to regard slavery as an "evil" not to be extended, and not a "blessing" to be forced upon the whole country; and that the papers here should publish anti-slavery articles was deemed a matter-of-course - although there was no violent discussion on the subject save at the time of the admission of Missouri in 1820. What Northern paper then - in 1820 - took the slavery side of the question! and how quick were the Northern people to drive into obliion the few of their representatives who then proved false to Freedom!