New Suburb of Walnut Hills

 The Daily Register, May 24, 1902

A Stock Company is Being Formed to Lay Out Another Addition

Marietta with its rapid growth is to have a new suburban addition and it will be second to none that have been laid out and placed before the public in recent years. What has hitherto been known as Scherer's Hill, a farm of fifty-five acres lying on top of the hill above the junction of Seventh and Greene streets, was some time ago optioned by a number of Marietta gentlemen, who have since been engaged in forming a company to handle the tract. 

The company is being perfected today and will be known as the Walnut Hills Land Company, with a capital stock of $20,000. The papers asking for articles of incorporation were forwarded to Columbus this afternoon, and the charter will probably be received in a very few days. Those who applied for articles are F. L. Alexander, W. S. Pattin, F. P. Morse, G. W. Strecker, and S. A. Palmer.

The tract is one of the finest for the purpose intended that has yet been taken up. The view is one of the prettiest in the Ohio valley, commanding as it does a view of the valley for miles up and down the stream. The land starts at the point of the hill above the junction of Seventh and Greene streets and runs along parallel to Greene street on the south, parallel to Seventh on the west, and following the natural curvature of the hill, extends beyond Norwood on the east.

The company, as soon as organized, will have the land platted and placed on the market. It is likely that the platting will be somewhat novel and that an experienced engineer, who makes a specialty of this line of work, will be brought here to do the work. It is the purpose of the company to at once lay out a new road of easy grade up the hill. We predict for Walnut Hills a success from the start.

Bridget Scherer's Land, from Cram's Atlas of Marietta (1902)

Forty Years of Meteorological Observations for Marietta

The Marietta Register, January 14, 1869

Editor Register: I observe in the Report of the Smithsonian Institute for 1867, a statement of the results of a careful reduction of the Meteorological Observations carried on for forty years at Marietta; first, from 1817 to 1823 by Judge Wood, and afterward from 1826 to 1859 by Dr. S. P. Hildreth. Some of these results are quite interesting.

The mean annual temperature of these forty years is found to be 52°.46. That of the warmest year, 1828, was 35°.38; and that of the coldest, 1856, was 49°.71, showing that the entire range from the coldest to the warmest is but 5°.67.

The years are neither growing warmer nor colder. The mean temperature of the first twenty years does not differ from that of the last twenty years. The same result is apparent if we compare the summers by themselves, and the winters by themselves; the summers and winters of the first twenty years showing the same mean temperature with those of the last twenty.

During all the forty years, the lowest point to which the mercury fell was 23° below zero, at 7 o'clock A.M., January 20, 1852. The highest point reached was 102° at 3 P.M., July 14, 1859. This gives as the extreme range of temperature, the startling amount of 125°.

The greatest fluctuation of temperature is shown to occur in February, and the least in July and August.

Throughout these forty years, the warmest day, on an average, has been July 23d, and the coldest January 15th; while the 14th of April and the 15th of October have had the same temperature as the mean of the whole year.

The average temperature of the 40 springs has been 52°.88; summers, 71°.51; autumns, 52°.78; winters 33°.01.

The winds that most prevail are the north and southwest, while the northeast and east winds are least frequent. In summer, the south wind is most frequent; in winter, the west and northwest.

It is the southwest winds in summer and the southeast in winter that bring rain and snow; while fair weather generally attends northerly winds throughout the year. In summer the easterly winds also bring fair weather, and in winter, the westerly winds.

The average annual quantity of rain and melted snow is 42-1/2 inches; the least amount being 32.46 inches, and the greatest 61.84 inches. June is the month in which most rain falls, and January furnishes the least, whether in the form of rain or snow.

The average number of rainy days in a year is 86. The greatest fall of rain in one day was 4.25 inches on July 3rd, 1844. The largest fall of snow was 15 inches on December 4th, 1833.

R.

Memories of Marietta

The Marietta Daily Times, November 18, 1933

W. G. Sibley, friend and acquaintance of many Marietta residents, writes interestingly of Marietta men of the 1870s in his column, "Along the Highway," in the Chicago Journal of Commerce. He says:

There is one place we can always write about, and that is beautiful old Marietta, where for seven years we were an academy boy and a college student. Our memory goes back to the men of Marietta in the 1870s, and of them we shall write. They were great men in our youthful eyes and (many of them) really superior individuals, whose sons and grandsons adorn great cities today. 

First, there were the lawyers, always interesting to us because our father was one of them. There were Judges Loomis and Knowles, General Richardson, who refused an election as attorney general during the Civil War; T. W. Ewart, Brigham, Alban Davies, Judge M. D. Follett and Colonel R. L. Nye, W. G. Way and Fred J. Cutter.

Then there were the newspaper publishers - R. M. Stimson and E. R. Alderman of the old Register, Theodore Davis of the Leader, and S. M. McMillan father of the violinist - all conspicuous men, the last proprietor of The Times, the only newspaper survivor after nearly sixty years.

Among the business men of that period we knew Cadwallader and Bennett, the photographers; M. P. Wells of Bosworth, Wells and Company, the senior Turner and his clever sons, Charles and Fred. Mr. Wells made himself historical by building Marietta's wonderful system of shade trees. One ornament to the town was General Edward Benjamin Dana Fearing, a gallant soldier, General Dawes and General Warner were both business men and congressmen in turn. Down Front Street were the Glines bookstore, the Sniffens, with Jake Pfaff, the caterer, on Putnam whose escalloped oysters, chocolate cake and ice cream were famous; McCaskey, the druggist, who brought the "cigars of our daddies" to town; George Eels, the shoe man and postmaster; Asa Waters, the banker; Fred Wehrs, a capable grocer, who had everything good to eat.

The town was fortunate in its preachers. There were Doctor Boyd, the Episcopal rector; Doctor Addy, the Presbyterian; Mr. Lusk, the Unitarian, and Doctor Hawkes, who presided over the Congregational Church - all gifted and pious leaders in intellectual affairs.

One man who stands out in our memory is Ben McKinney. Father told us once he was the cleverest Democratic politician in southern Ohio. His political office was the sidewalk in front of the court house where his plans and stratagems were discussed and determined. With George Wieser we thought that what McKinney did not know about politics was not worth knowing. Now his capable sons control the destinies of The Times, since the redoubtable Sam McMillan moved away from Marietta. Their daily compares with the Cincinnati papers of the 1870s in interest and volume.

There was another group of men we knew in our college years. They were, for the most part, clustered around Flat Iron Square, facing the levee, and so convenient to river travelers. There was "Windy" Wood, "Billy" Smith, the National House bar, and sundry saloons up Front Street with which we were familiar. One of them was the Philharmonic Hall, in which students liked to imbibe beer and music together, run by the Becker boys.

Physically Marietta, excepting street improvements and the court house, has not changed so very much. The old city hall stands, an example of ugliness in public buildings, to remind one of the scandal in its erection. The one marked change to us is the disappearance of the Ward home on the lower block of Putnam Street. Fronted by a row of stately and magnificently great sycamore trees, its large lawn, filled with flower bushes, was a lovely asset to the city. Diagonally across Second and Putnam by the old jail stood a huge forest monarch whose kindly shade protected the chain gang that broke rock for street repairs long before brick and concrete streets were dreamed of.

Marietta's old city hall, "an example of ugliness in public buildings."

We must not omit from our business acquaintances Eugene Warner, James Nye, A. T. Nye, the gifted Mrs. Peddinghaus who conducted a successful jewelry store, nor W. F. Curtis, the Reckards, the Browns, the elder Mills and his son John, nor S. A. Cooper of the chair factory - nor George M. Woodbridge and Doctor Hildreth, who kept records of physical phenomena.

The college families - Andrews, Rosseter, Beach, Manatt, Biscoe and Gear - were, of course, social leaders in the community, and made Marietta famous for culture. And there was the elder Oldham, a pillar of Democracy in his time.

Chewing Tobacco Has Been "Staff of Life" for 108 Year Old John B. Bane

The Marietta Daily Times, April 12, 1948

By Roberta S. Burson, Times Staff Writer

Chewing tobacco may be considered a bad habit, but for John B. Bane of Wade, Ohio, it has been a "staff of life" for about 108 years.

The Civil War veteran, Washington County's oldest resident and one of the country's few remaining Civil War veterans, chuckled about his life-long habit during an interview Friday.

"I've been chewin' since I was just a small lad," he said, a puckish smile crossing his silver-bearded face.

"My grandfather held me on his knee and let me such his plug tobacco to make me puke," he went on in a strong voice. "Why, I was such a poor, sickly child I could hardly stand alone."

He wagged his white head and a half-smile tugged at his mouth, half hidden by a white mustache. "I have used tobacco ever since."

Lives With Daughter

Fully clothed, lying propped up on an old-type brass bed in the living room of the small cottage overlooking the Ohio River which he occupies with his daughter, Mrs. Lilly Hess, the kindly-faced old gentleman presented a character study which might have fit a prophet.

Blue eyes, dimmed by age yet possessing an amazing keenness, peered out from beetling eyebrows and from beneath a dark, heavy melton cap. Light and dark shadows, playing from windows on either side of the bed, touched his cheeks which were a little hollow, lending mysterious beauty to the almost ageless qualities of his handsome, well-preserved features.

"Yes, I was in the Civil War," he said slowly. "I was a blacksmith by trade, but since last November I've been in bed mostly. Legs played out on me."

Recalls Old, Old Memories

His kindly face mirrored a thousand memories that occurred more than 86 years ago. "I went out as a substitute during the Civil War for my stepdaddy and foreman, Jim Connor. I was about 17-18 years old. Was with the 38th regiment here at Newell's Run, working as a hostler. Took care of 12 head of horses."

He spread his hands, made huge by years of blacksmithing. "I didn't have much time to fool around. Had to be ready so's I could take hay anytime it was wanted to the horses. I had to carry the hay in my arms."

He rubbed his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Daggone. I believe I've forgot the name of my commanding officer entirely," he said regretfully. "I was 21 years old when I got out of the war. After that I went home and took up blacksmithing again." His face lighted. "I did blacksmithing ever since I was big enough and strong enough to life a hammer to an anvil. His voice seemed to swell with pride as he added, "I expect I've been as good a blacksmith as ever worked. Made hundreds of pounds of horseshoe nails."

His voice softening, he spoke of his mother, Lucy Tice Weaver Bane Connor, who bore him three months after the death of her husband, Dr. Jim Bane, which occurred on a ferry boat as he was en route home from a medical case.

Born in Virginia

"I was born in Virginia," he continued. "When I was about two months old I was brought to Noble County by my grandfather, George Tice, a farmer and trader. We lived on what was known as Demmy's Run, near Lebanon. Lived there 19 years. The rest of the time I've lived here in this county."

A wistful note crept into his voice. "I never was out of the county to do a day's work that I know of. Hobbies? Play?" He scoffed. "I never had a chance to learn to play. I never got to go to school, but I learned a lot in the war. If I had the chance I would have been a doctor or a preacher - I don't know which." He sighed and added in a low tone, "I never got away from home to learn anything in the world. I never go to any elections. Voted about once."

Referring to World Wars I and II, and to the general strife prevailing throughout the world today, the old blacksmith voiced his opinion of the situation brought about by the actions of people in six short words: "I call it just plain hoggishness."

Has Thirty-Four Grandchildren

In reference to his own life, Mr. Bane spoke briefly of his first wife, Sarah Catherine Bowersock, who has been dead 44 years, and of his second wife, who is also dead. With the aid of his daughter he counted 34 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a number of great-great grandchildren - descendants of his four daughters and one son.

As for his philosophy of life and reasons for his longevity, the old smithy who was born the year Martin Van Buren was defeated for the office of presidency of the U.S. by William Henry Harrison, Whig candidate from Ohio, and his running mate, John Tyler, both of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too" fame, gave a thoughtful and sincere reply. "I always charged myself to live as near right as I could," he said slowly. "Christian ways and everything else. I don't know that I've told anyone a lie, or done any mean act of any kind." A reverent note tinged his voice. "My mother raised me like that."

Has Never Worn Glasses

Healthy to an unbelievable degree, the more-than-a-century-old man can boast of having never worn glasses and to having four of his own teeth. He chuckled as he displayed them. "I can eat pretty near anything that comes before me, and I drink lots of coffee," he said.

Looking ahead to the future and to his birthday which comes on July 1, the Civil War veteran who has outlived 25 presidents of the United States, who has seen the abolition of slavery, the annexation of Texas and Oregon, the advent of the railway, automobile, and airplane, and who has lived through the Civil War, the War with Mexico, World Wars I and II and other conflicts - offers a challenge to the months and years ahead.

"I feel fine down to my legs," he said. "There are so many things I want to do, if my legs would just let me."

He sat up in bed and gave a hearty handshake. "One of these days they may be stronger. I'll be 109 years old come July 1. come around and visit me then, and," he smiled slyly, "you can bring me a new pair of trousers for my birthday - size 32-34."

The Marietta Daily Times, November 1, 1948:

Oldest Resident In This Section Dies at Home

John B. Bane, Civil War Veteran and oldest resident of this section of Ohio, died early Monday morning at his home at Wade at the age of 109.

Mr. Bane was born July 1, 1839, in Virginia and was brought to Ohio when he was quite young. He lived in Noble County in his early life. He had also lived in Pennsylvania and in West Virginia before moving to Beverly where he lived until about 12 years ago when he moved to Wade. He was a blacksmith in his active life.

Mr. Bane's wife, Mrs. Mary Bowersock Bane, died in 1904. Son and daughter are Edward Bane of St. Clairsville and Mrs. Lillie Hess of Wade. There are 34 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a number of great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Doudna and McClure's. Burial will be in Beverly cemetery.

Jewett Palmer, Sr. - Another Veteran of 1812 Gone

The Marietta Register, October 2, 1873

The subject of this sketch, whose death was announced in the Register of September 18th, was born in the county of Grafton, in the State of New Hampshire, on the 18th day of May, A.D. 1797, and was consequently in the 77th year of his age at the time of his death.

Such education as he possessed was obtained while assisting his father to wrest a living for a very large family from the reluctant surface of a New Hampshire farm. It consisted of such of the rudiments of learning as were supplied by most New England families of the time within themselves, one of the most important features of which was the habits of industry, temperance, and perseverance, instilled by those early and severe struggles.

On the breaking out of the War of 1812, he enlisted, at the age of sixteen, for one year, and served the time in the First New Hampshire Volunteers. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted for "three years, or during the war," in the 45th United States Infantry. In common with those who re-enlisted, he was granted a furlough. He traveled home on foot to Grafton County from Plattsburg and, joining his regiment at Concord, marched with it to the northern frontier Although not in any general engagement, he was constantly employed in arduous service against the Indians, and in guarding and forwarding supplies to the forces to the westward. His term of service closed with the termination of the war, and he returned to the farm. In 1817 the family started for Ohio, spending one winter in Butler County, Pa., and arriving in Marietta in the fall of 1818.

They settled in Fearing Township, near its northern line, on Whipple's Run; and though not one of the pioneers, probably few men in the county have done more effective work than he toward reclaiming the wilderness. In 1823 he married Rachel Campbell, who survives him at the age of 83 years, and with whom he lived over fifty years, rearing a family of eight children. In 1851 he removed to Salem Township, where he resided up to the time of his death.

Though he never held official position outside of his township, he wielded an extended influence in the community. He was a man of general intelligence, a constant reader of the best newspapers, as well as of all valuable books that fell in his way, industrious and upright, of unerring judgment, a fearless adherent of principle, and a firm friend of the needy and of the slave. A well-known station on the Underground Railroad was kept by him, and many an anxious fugitive has blessed him as he stepped aboard the train for the next station.

In politics his quiet influence was perhaps greatest. Many young men of the neighborhood, whose fathers were bitterly opposed to him politically, side by side with "Uncle Jewett" at the polls, cast their first ballot for his candidates, at a time, too,  when it required not a little courage to do so, for his were the Abolition candidates, whenever that party had a ticket in the field.

Voting for John P. Hale in 1852, a young and enthusiastic admirer of Scott and his military exploits (who was unable to realize that the Whig party was even then dying from an "attempt to swallow the Fugitive Slave Bill") asked him, why, as an old soldier, he did not vote for Scott. To which he replied, "You may not now understand my vote, but, should you live an ordinary lifetime, you will witness the triumph of the principle for which I contend," little thinking that his own eyes should behold the triumph which he prophesied in the removal of his country's curse.

The blood of the old soldier was fired as he read of the insult to the flag at Sumter and, at the close of the three months service, when it seemed that the government might need the help of every man able to do duty, he again tendered his services to the flag and country he had defended in his boyhood. He went to Camp Putnam, at this place, as a recruit for the 36th Regiment, then forming, but was persuaded that the time had not arrived when the service of men of his age was required, and reluctantly consented to return home to await with other anxious patriots the issue of the terrible, dark years which succeeded.

Entertaining habitually feelings of the broadest charity for all men his faith in the everlasting goodness and mercy of God was of the most unquestioning character. He early became a firm believer in the ultimate salvation of all, and it was largely through his influence and means that the substantial church from which he was buried, was erected. His earnest wish, often expressed, that, when his work on earth was finished, God would take him quickly home without sickness or suffering, was literally fulfilled at noon of the 12th day of September 1873.

Coming in from the field, where he had been busily at work during the forenoon, he sat down and read his paper until dinner was announced; he declined to eat, saying he would wait a little while; a few minutes later his arms dropped by his side and his breathing ceased. Thus quietly as he had lived, he passed from his finished work on earth, prepared by his pure, unassuming life here, to begin what God has appointed him to do in a higher and broader sphere.