The Marietta Intelligencer, April 3, 1861

To the Public Generally

Justice to myself demands that I should be heard by the public at large in justification of myself against the unjust accusation of James S. Stowe, as I have heard he has charged against me before boatmen at New Orleans, and all along the Mississippi, and in our own community it has been published in the newspapers, and James S. Stowe, in answer to my letter to him of the 15th of March, says that he charges me with being the cause of his being cut loose, fired upon, and driven away from the landing at Lake Providence and other places below.

Now to show that James S. Stowe, to screen himself from his long known difficulties at Lake Providence, has taken this methods of shifting it on to me, whom he calls his neighbor. But we will let the community who cut him loose and fired at him, speak for themselves below.

S. M. Devol

[Simeon Manchester Devol, 1800-1876]

To Whom It May Concern

This is to certify that the cause of Mr. James Stowe being moved from Providence Landing, was not in consequence of any report made by S. M. Devol, Esq. - but was caused by remarks made against the institution of Slavery, at this landing for a number of years past, all of which can be proved by various individuals, among whom is the Town Marshal. Mr. James Stowe was moved from this landing previous to Mr. Devol's arrival here.

Providence, La., Feb. 27, 1861.

A. C. Jamison, Constable

A. W. Green

H. Stein

J. P. Gentry

W. M. Shaw, Prop'r of Wharf Boat

John W. Graves

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James S. Stowe (1806-1895)

Note: James S. Stowe began flat-boating in 1829 and was very successful in the business, carrying a variety of goods including flour, meat, lard, beans, and butter. All along the river he had a reputation for being a “sharp but honest dealer.” His anti-slavery views were also well known. In the months leading up to the Civil War, Northerners were often threatened when traveling in the South. Stowe was a victim of this hostility while on the Mississippi River at Lake Providence, Louisiana, in 1860. His boat was tied up at the shore when news was received that South Carolina had seceded from the Union. That night Stowe, who did not carry a gun, was shot at and his tow line was cut. He was told by an angry mob that “no Lincoln abolitionists could land at their shores” and was given until four o’clock to leave. (Sources: History of Washington County, Ohio, H. Z. Williams & Bro, 1881; “Old Time Flatboatmen,” The Marietta Daily Leader, January 17, 1904)

Progress of Improvements

The Marietta Leader (Semi-Weekly), April 19, 1890

We never noticed before that people took any remarkable interest in shovelers, gravel-trains, dumps, fills, trestles, etc., but since the terminal company began the construction of the union depot and the approaches through the low ground, we find a great deal of interest manifested in all these things. Mr. Dale has at times had an efficient corps of citizens hovering around this improvement, watching with great interest the progress of the work.

It is safe to say that every stone in the depot foundation has gone to its place by unanimous consent. Mrs. Gross has also had a good audience at her hotel site where she is putting up the new St. Cloud. These are not mere idlers. They are as a rule, business men and others passing to and from places of business. It may safely be said that every man in Marietta capable of doing anything can find work. Numerous buildings are projected with plans more or less perfected. Never before in the history of this city was there anything like the impetus to business, building and improvement as there is now. Not even in oil times and the inflated period subsequent to the war was there anything like it.

In those days the price of real estate ran up to fabulous figures. All kinds of building material was high, labor was high, it cost more to live, but what came of it all. The collapse that followed left us worse off than before the boom struck us. The present forward movement is very different. It seems like the reserve strength of accumulated energy moving forward, steadily but surely. There is an active demand for good building sites and good dwelling houses, also a great demand for good tenements at good rentals.

The College also partakes of the general advance of the community, as is natural, and during the coming summer a fine new building [Andrews Hall] for the Marietta Academy will be built at a cost of about $25,000. Natural gas being an assured fact and the supply practically unlimited, we can offer inducements to manufacturers unequaled in any other city.

Efforts should be made at once to secure the location here of new manufacturing establishments. These we must have if we hope for growth with any expectation of realization.

*  *  *

It is rumored that the space above the new depot, formerly used by the Sheriff for a garden, will be thrown open for public use. The old barn will be moved back next to the Armory [on Putnam Street]. The Terminal Company will fill the lot to grade and lay it out in walks and flower beds. What will become of the "penitentiary" now on this lot, where the prisoners have been accustomed to pound stone, we have not learned.

Seventh of April

 The Marietta Intelligencer, April 6, 1848

Exercises appropriate to the Anniversary of the Settlement of Ohio will be held at the Court House on Friday, A.M., the seventh of April, at 10 o'clock. Addresses will be delivered by Caleb Emerson and D. E. Gardner, Esqs., and probably by others.

All the inhabitants of the town and vicinity are invited to attend.

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According to notice in the last Intelligencer there will be an Eulogy on the late Hon. John Quincy Adams, delivered by Rev. Henry Bates at the Methodist Episcopal Church, on Friday 7th April at 3 o'clock P.M.

The public generally are invited to assemble at one o'clock P.M. on the Common in front of the Congregational Church. At 1-1/2 P.M. the procession will form and march under the direction of Chief Marshall Asa B. Waters Esq. and assistants in the following order:

Martial Music

Marietta Guards

Orator

Officiating Clergymen

Clergy of Different Denominations

President and Professors of College

Washington County Officers

Mayor and Council of Marietta

Citizens of Marietta

Brass Band

Mayor and Council of Harmar

Citizens of Harmar

Strangers generally

Committee:

P. Howe

C. R. Rhodes

William S. Ward

S. E. Cross

E. D. Perkins

Davis Green

W. H. Gurley

A. Layman

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By the notices in another column it will be seen that exercises appropriate to the anniversary of the settlement of Ohio will be held at the Court House on the morning of the 7th, and that in the afternoon an Eulogy upon the lamented John Q. Adams will be delivered in the Methodist Church.

These exercises we cannot doubt will be attended by all our citizens and by very many from the neighboring towns.

It has been suggested to us, and we take pleasure in suggesting to others, that our merchants be requested to close their stores during the afternoon. Some of them have intimated a purpose to do so, and we presume that this suggestion may induce all of them to follow the example. Surely no man will hesitate to close his business establishment for three hours and occupy that time in paying respect to the memory of so good and great a man as John Quincy Adams.