444 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO

CHAPTER XXXVII.

MARIETTA—MORAL AND MATERIAL ADVANCEMENT.

History of Temperance Reform—The Beginning at Newport in 1828— Subsequent Movements Down to 1881—institutions for the Advancement of Knowledge—Marietta Library—Lyceums—Appearance of the Town—Modern Public 1mprovements and Ornamentation—The Park Tree Association—Boat House--Business Spirit—Centennial Celebration.

COULD all the causes that combine to advance the moral and material well being of a community be discovered and grouped together the result would be a perfect history of the bright side of that community's life and growth. It is not our purpose in this chapter to sum up or review those topics which have already been dwelt upon, but to introduce a number of important subjects which have not heretofore been considered. The development of mercantile business, manufacturing and navigation has already been set forth, and the history of the three great institutions of civilization—the church, the school, and the press—which have been in part the cause and in part the effect of the religious, moral and intellectual advancement of the people, has been given at length. A considerable space has also been given to a description of the state of society in Marietta in pioneer times, and the reader is supposed to be already familiar with the virtues and vices of those days. We have (in the first chapter of the history of Marietta) stated that in the infant settlement, notwithstanding the generally high standard of morals and the intellectual culture of a majority of the pioneers, intemperance was a very serious evil. It was an evil not confined to the settlements of the frontier, nor in such a degree, as at present, to the baser elements of society, but existed among all classes, and probably had more victims in the upper than in the lower. The use of liquor was a universal custom, and drunkenness was proportionally more common then than now, as the number of drunkards in every hundred or thousand persons was larger. As no moral sentiment had been created against the use of liquor, there was but little odium attached to inordinate indulgence. A gradual change has been worked in the public mind upon the subject of temperance, which we propose to follow from its beginning down to to the present, as it has been the greatest moral improvement that the people have known.

Temperance reform may be said to have had its origin in Washington county early in 1828. A number of good Methodists were assembled some time during thay tear at a quarterly meeting held at Ebenezer Battelle's, in Newport, which was one of the best settlements in this part of the country. Any host or hostess who did not offer his or her guests liquor, in those days, was regarded

MR AND MRS JAMES H. DYE.

The father of James H. Dye, Samuel Dye, familiarly known among the early settlers as "Esquire Dye," was born in Prinoe William county, Virginia, in 1779. At the age of twenty-six years he came to Lawrence township, this county. His wife, Susan Hoff, was the second daughter and sixth child of Rev. Daniel Hoff, a farmer near Alexandria, Virginia, where she was born in 1776. She died in Lawrence township at the age of seventy-one years. She was an excellent housewife. Esquire Dye was a very large, corpulent man, and quite sympathetic in his nature. He served as magistrate in Lawrence township for thirty-one years. He died at his residence on the Woodsfield road, nine miles from Marietta, in 1860, in his eightieth year.

James Hoff Dye, third son of Samuel Dye, was born on the Little Muskingum in Lawrenoe township, in 1815. The family residence was on the farm just below the present residence of A. J. Dye, esq. At the age of fourteen he engaged in the tanning business at Marietta. In 1837 he married Clarissa Jackson. In 1862 he disposed of his tanning interests, and became sutler for the Seventh Ohio cavalry. In 1864 he purchased a livery stable in Marietta, which he continued to manage until his death in 1880. Mr. Dye was very social in his habits, and sympathetic in his disposition. He was a sharp trader withal.

Mr. Dye's family consisted of nine children, one of whom, Catharine, is dead. Harriet lives with Mrs. Dye, who still survives, in Marietta; George married Sarah Snider, and lives on Cow Run, Lawrence township; Mary is married to Madison Holmes, and lives in Marshfield, Athens county. William and Marcillus manage the livery business at Marietta; Louisa, wife of Wallace Scott, lives in Warren township; Henry is a practicing physician at Logan, Hocking county, and Fannie at home in Marietta.

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as inhospitable, mean and niggardly. On this occasion the liquor happened to be a most excellent and powerful article of home-made peach brandy. The little company, among whom were several church dignitaries, drank their brandy to the health of Deacon Battelle, and followed with a health to some minister who was present. They drank copious draughts from large glasses, refilled from a great decanter, which was passed around with such rapidly increasing frequency that it had in turn soon to be refilled from the cask. The party became more merry, and with the recklessness born of incipient intoxication, drank oftener than before. All this was while Mrs. Battelle was making ready a substantial dinner for the assembled brethren. When dinner was announced they took one drink more, and at the table another. And now the effects of the potations began to appear. Several of the pious brothers who sat down to partake of the steaming dinner that Mrs. Battelle's skill in cooking had produced, were unable to eat, and left the table. Nearly all were visibly affected by the liquor, and several were decidedly drunk. Only a few being able to attend the meeting which had been arranged for in the afternoon, it was postponed. All were ashamed of their over-indulgence, but Mrs. Battelle was sorrowful and indignant. She was a woman of fine sensibrlities, great strength of character, and deep convictions. Seeing clearly the great evil to which the use of liquor led, and that it was a reproach to the cause of religion, she resolved that nevermore should the temptation be placed before her guests. Her husband agreed with her, and the next day, in meeting, speaking sorrowfully of what had occurred, expressed his conviction that the custom of drinking was unbecoming to a Christian people, and made known the decision that had been arrived at regarding the banishment of liquor from his board. The sentiment was endorsed by nearly or perhaps quite all of the people present, many of whom were smarting under their recent humiliation. Most of the brethren pledged themselves to discontinue the use of liquor, and to use their influenoe with others to do the same. There was much earnest talk upon the subject, and the feeling of which it was the expression did not die away when the meeting adjourned, but each man, going to his home, carried with him the determination to do all in his power to promote the principle of total abstinence among the people in his neighborhood.

The movement was taken up at Marietta, and in the month of March, 1828, there was drawn up and subscribed to the first temperance pledge whioh had an existence in the town. Previous to this whiskey had been kept upon the counters of all the stores, for the free use of customers, but now a number of the leading merchants resolved to discontinue the time-honored custom, and bound themselves so to do in the following compact, which was drawn up in the handwriting of John Mills, and is still in existence:

" MARIETTA, March 7, 1828.

"The undersigned do hereby agree tht they will not retail any kind of spirituous liquors, nor give any away in the stores, from and after the first day of May next. It is understood that we may retail French brandy and wines. This agreement remains in force as long as the majority shalt direct.

JOHN MILLS & CO.

AUGUSTUS STONE.

MORGAN & CO."

The "Co." with John Mills consisted of John and Luther Edgarton, and the unnamed partner of Mr. David Morgan was Dudley Woodbridge.

In 1829 the Skinners—David and William—and several other prominent merchants followed the example of Messrs. Mills, Morgan, Stone, Edgarton and Woodbridge. In the same year the shipbuilders announced that they would no longer furnish their employes with liquor as they had done for years, and the result -was a general strike. They remained firm, however, and after a few days the men went to work without their whiskey.

The temperance movement was vigorously carried on in Marietta for several years after the beginning, in 1828. Caleb Emerson was a leader in the reform. He made public speeches, and did perhaps more than any other one man to procure signers to the total abstinence pledge. Ephraim Cutler was another prominent worker in the caw. In the year 1830 the first Temperance society was organized, with Ephraim Cutler as president; Rev. Jacob Young and Robert Crawford as vice-presidents; Rev. L G. Bingham, secretary; Wyllys Hall, treasurer; and Caleb Emerson, Junia Jennings, Douglass Putnam and Samuel Shipman composing the executive committee.

The next important action in temperance reform occurred in 1840, and was called the "Washingtonian Movement." It differed from the movement of 1828 in that it was originated and carried on by reformed inebriates.

The movement of 1840 was one of great excitement, as might be judged from the character of its leaders. It began in Marietta, but soon spread over the whole of the surrounding country. Large meetings were held and addresses made by reformed drunkards. Although it was a movement of intense excitment, yet it was regularly organized. But its results are not generally considered to have been so beneficial as those of the calmer and more deliberate work of 1828. Its duration was very short. Among the most prominent men connected with this work were Warren Wilcox, John Greiner and James Clogstone.

The next important movement in temperance reform was made in 1844. It took the form of the organization of total abstinence societies. The first society was formed in Marietta, and others were soon started all over the county. This movement was originated and carried on entirely by men who had always been temperate.

In 1832 there was another period of temperance work. Lodges of the order of "Sons and Daughters of Temperance" were organized throughout the county. In these, many of the most prominent citizens were interested, and worked faithfully.

In 1869—May 24th—was organized the Marietta Lodge No. 289, of the Independent Order of Good Templars, with the following charter members, viz: Richard Richardson, Mary J. Morse, Rufus B. Battelle,

446 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

Lewis C. Haddox, Susie Vinton, M. H. Booth, A. W. Williams, Sarah Dutton, A. E. Warnet, James L. Adams, Anna Booth, Sarah E. Hudson, Maggie Vinton, J. L Guiton, Henrietta Geisen, James Gesien, Lizzie Dutton, Eliza Calvert, J. Radenbaugh, Sarah Johnson, Dudley Gesien, George Pixley, Joseph Fenn, A. M. Lenhart, and Thomas Morse. Starting with twenty six members the lodge grew in six months to a membership of one hundred and twenty-eight. It remained in active existence until the time of the women's crusade.

The women's crusade reached Marietta in February, 1874. On the sixteenth of that month a general meeting of the ladies of Harmar and Marietta was held in the Centenary Methodist church, and a woman's league organized. Mrs. J. M. Woodbridge was the first president of this league. Meetings for prayer and consultation were held as often as every three days until March 3d, when the first band started out to visit the saloons. But before this committees had been appointed who visited all the physicians and druggists and obtained promises from them all that they would not sell, give, or prescribe liquors, except for strictly medicinal or mechanical purposes.

On March 3, 1874, the first band of ladies visited the saloons; it consisted of seven ladies, as follows: Mrs. George M. Woodbridge, Mrs. S. S. Knowles, Mrs. William A. Whittlesey, Mrs. J. W. Stanley, Miss Lillie W. Stone, Mrs. Thomas W. Ewart, and Mrs. Z. D. Walter. The band visited six saloons on Front street, and were received in a very polite manner; and as a rule, were so treated throughout the whole movement. After this date large bands went out every day until about the tenth of May, when this phase of the work was discontinued.

In connection with the regular work of the crusade, meetings of children were held and addresses were made before them.

The visible results of this crusade in Marietta were not great, only three out of the forty saloons having been closed by its agency.

The Womans' Christian Temperance Union, of Marietta, Ohio, was a direct offspring of this crusade movement. It was organized June 14, 1877. This union has a membership of about a hundred. Its work consists in distributing temperance literature, keeping up a reading- room, juvenile meetings, and raising money for temperance lectures. The present officers are as follows: Mrs. S. S. Knowles, president; Mrs. E. A. Tenney, vice- president; Mrs. W. B. Thomas, corresponding secretary; Mrs. W. P. Bennet, recording secretary; Miss H. Hobby, treasurer.

The people of Marietta have ever exhibited a regard for mental improvement, which is very appropriate to the first settlement made under an ordinance which declared that as knowledge in common with religion and morality were necessary to good government, "schools and the means of education should ever be encouraged." Such institutions arose naturally upon the soil settled by a colony of cultured men from Massachusetts. We have seen that a literary society was in existence as early as 1790. From time to time various other institutions have come into being and exerted an influenoe for good. The Marietta Library was founded as early as 1829, and its free use has ever since been enjoyed by the people of the town. The corporators were John Mills, A. T. Nye, John Cotton, Samuel P. Hildreth and Daniel H. Buell. In 1832 John Mills, Arius Nye and William Slocomb were appointed as a building committee, and erected the brick edifice on Front street, near the corner of Putnam, in which the library is now, and most of the time has been kept. At the time this institution was chartered by the State, there were many precautions taken in granting acts of incorporation for any purpose, lest the charters should be made to cover a banking business. Hence this corporation was restricted in clear annual income to two thousand dollars per year, and it was stipulated that none of the funds should "ever be applied to the purpose of banking." The library contains over three thousand books judiciously selected, and representing all of the principal departments of literature.

In 1831, a lyceum was formed which remained in existence for a term of ten years, and was productive of an unusually large benefit. John Cotton was the first president of this literary organization; Cale)) Emerson, vice- president; Arius Nye, corresponding secretary; James M. Booth, recording secretary; John Mills, treasurer ; Arius Nye and S. P. Hildreth, curators. Several valuable series of lectures were delivered under the auspices of this body, by Dr. John Cotton, Dr. S. P. Hildreth, John Delafield, jr., William A. Whittlesey, John Brough and others. When this lyceum passed out of active existence, about the year 1841, another was immediately organized which was conducted on similar principles. Lectures were delivered before this organization by various members of the college faculty, and by Dr. Cotton and Judge Arius Nye.

There has probably been no period In the last forty years when there has not been in existence in Marietta, a flourishing society for the discussion of public questions and literary topics. The present literary society has a large membership, and is an institution of great value to the community.

The influence of the college has doubtless been a powerful factor in the creation of a literary spirit in Marietta. The library alone is of great value to the community. It contains upwards of fifteen thousand volumes, is the largest college library west of the Alleghanies, and with the exception of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati libraries, is probably the largest in the State. The beneficial effect of educational institutions upon the towns in which they are located is well known and needs no comment. It is proper, however, to remark that in Marietta the effect has probably been more positive than in most communities. Town and college have ever been in close sympathy. The people have supported the institution of learning with remarkable generosity, and the benefit of their gifts has been felt in a large measure by the citizens.

In the line of material improvements Marietta is fully abreast with other towns of similar size in the west. The town is dual in its character as regards appearance.

Henry and Bernard Rodick came to Marietta with their parents in the fall of 1850, from Oldenburg, North Germany. At the time of emigrating, the former was fifteen, the latter twelve years old. They had pursued the regular German course of schooling, arid after coming to America acquired the English language. At an early age both entered business, Henry with the firm of Bosworth, Wells & Company, and afterwards with A. T. Nye, in whose store he served for a period of several years until the firm of Smith & Rodick began business, in 1867. Bernard Rodick acquired most of his business experience in the slore of John M. Woodbridge, where he clerked until 1860. He then engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, as

clerk and master. He was one of the owners of the Muskingum river packet "Progress and Sechler." In 1867 he became one of the partners in the firm of Smith & Rodick.

The hardware store which, in 1867, was opened by John Smith, of Lowell, and Henry and Bernard Rodick, was transferred in 1871, by the death of Mr. Smith, to Rodick Brothers. Under their management the business has been one of the most successful mercantile enterprises in Marietta. The entire capital in 1867, was five thousand five hundred dollars, at the end of five years an inventory after the death of Mr. Smith showed a net profit of thirty-two thousand dollars.

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Viewed from the bosom of the Ohio it presents the somewhat unfavorable aspect common to the river villages. That portion of the town, however, which is made up of residences will compare favorably with that of any town in the State, and in some particulars it has no rivals, as for instance in the thoroughly home-like appearance of a majority of the houses. There is but little of modern architecture exhibited, but there are many substantial old-time houses, which have as peculiar and distinctive an expression as have human faces. Few towns have the natural picturesqueness of Marietta. The location of many of the best residences upon the gently rising hillside which terminates in the "plain" was a circumstanoe of great value aesthetically. Many beautiful situations were afforded house builders, and the frequent introduction of terraces and slone walls has created a pleasing and refreshing variety which oould never have been attained in building upon a level site. The broad, cleanly, and well shaded streets of the town are very generally commented upon by visitors, and are a source of pride to the citizens. Because of the nature of the soil, and also owing to the hilly or uneven character of the surfaoe, considerable difficulty has been experienced in constructing and maintaining good paved sidewalks, but all of the principal streets are now provided with well laid brick or stone flagged walks. Most of this work in the residence portion of the town has been acoomplished within the last twenty years. A very effective and valuable public improvement was made in 1875, Until that time the now beautiful Riverside park was an unfenced, weed- grown common or cow pasture. The project of improving the common and making it an ornament to the town was entertained by a few oitizens and favored by the city government, at the head of which, at that time, was Major Jewett Palmer. The oity council made a levy, the first year of five hundred dollars, and the succeeding year one of two hundred and fifly dollars. For this sum the long neglected and unsightly common was made the attractive pleasure ground whioh it now is. The money was expended by, and the work done under the supervision of, a committee consisting of M. P. Wells, the late Mr. Oldham and J. L, Mills.

Mr. Wells, the leading spirit in making this improvement, during his forty years residence in Marietta, has done very much to advance the condition of the place, and has been instrumental in securing many public improvements. In 1878, principally through his exertions, the Marietta Shade Tree association was organized. The object of the association was to supply the town plentifully with shade trees, and for this purpose thirty persons subscribed five dollars per year for five years, seven persons three dollars per year, and thirty persons one dollar per year. With the modest sum thus realized annually the association has, in the past three years, set out over eleven hundred small elm trees, one hundred and fifty of whioh are in the park. The improvement is one in which time must make perfect, but when those who are now children shall have reached mature life they will have oooasion to thank Mr. Wells and his companions of the Tree association for making Marietta one of the most beautiful embowered villages in Ohio.

The boat-house built in 1880 is a great ornament to the park and an establishment of decided value to the town. It was built for the joint benefit of the citizens and the college, at an expense of about two thousand seven hundred dollars. A large proportion of this amount came from heavy mercantile houses in the large cities of Ohio and the east; but the citizens made liberal contributions to the fund.

In 1878 an organization was effected which is worthy of note, because illustrating one phase of Marietta's public-spirit and growth. We refer to the military company known as the Putnam light artillery, one of the best of its kind in the State. The battery comprises seventy-seven members, and its equipment consists of four first-class twelve-pound Napoleon brass guns. The artillery company built, the same year it was organized, at a cost of more than one thousand dollars, the armory on Putnam street. The battery is kept in all respects fully up to the standard required in the regular army, and as an example of its military spirit is very creditable to the town.

Very recently there have appeared several evidences of the progressive spirit and enterprise of Marietta business men. We mention, as an example, the organization and incorporation in February, 1881, of the Marietta Electric Light company, with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. It is composed of the following gentlemen: Edward R. Dale, Murray McMillen, Robert B. Hoover, Theodore D. Dale, James W. Nye, and Reuben L. Nye.

It is not improbable that in the near future the town reaping some advantage from the construction of the ice harbor, from the restoration of those railroad privileges of which it has been unjustly deprived, and from the slowly but surely increasing importance of its manufactures, may show considerable improvement as a matter of trade, but the brightest hope of its future seems to an impartial observer to lie in the development of its educational resources, the building up of intellectual life, and the extension of a noble influence. Upon the Centennial anniversary of

American independence, when historical orations were delivered in all the principal towns and villages of the country, we doubt if any one was shown to have a fairer record in all that pertains to the highest well being of the people, than had Marietta.* There is certainly no community of equal size in the State of Ohio in which a greater number of people are living above mere sordid gain, than in Marietta.

The Centennial was celebrated In Marietta with interesting and appropriate ceremonies. The town was full of visitors who, together with the citizens, made a concourse, numbering not less than ten thousand people. A grand procession promenaded the streets for several hours after which the exercises of the day were opened at the city park. Honorable P. B. Buell was the presiding officer. The Declaration of Independence was read by W. H. Gurley, esq., and president Israel Ward Andrews, of Marietta college, the orator of the day, began the delivery of his historical address, but was compelled to stop on account of a hard rainfall. The meeting was then adjourned to the city ball, at half-past a o'clock P. M. There was a fine display of fireworks in the park in the evening, and an open air concert was given by Regnier's band. No accidents marred the pleasures of the day.