Washington County

Marietta township Was organized December 20, 1790, as appears from the following record:

Resolved, That townships No. I, 2, and 3, in the eighth range, and townships No. 2 and 3 in the ninth range, be, and they hereby are incorporated and included in ore township, by the name of Marietta.

The town officers were: Anselm Tupper, town and township of Marietta were the same, William Stacy, overseers of poor; B. I. Gilman, constable.

Mr. Gilman declined acting, and Christopher Burlingame was appointed in his place.

For the first 12 years of its history the town and township of Marietta were the same but at a town meeting held September 1, 1800, Gen. Rufus Putnam, Paul Fearing, Benjamin Ives Gilman, and William Rufus Putnam, were appointed a committee to apply for inocrporation. The act creating the town of Marietta was passed November 3d, approved by the governor December 2nd, to take effect January 1, 1801. The first officials were: Gen. Rufus Putnam, chairman; David Putnam, clerk; Ichabod Nye, treasurer; Rufus Putnam, Griffin Greene, and Joseph Gilman, councilmen. The above plan of town government continued until 1S25, when another charter was obtained which changed to election of a mayor and reduced the area to about the present size.

Harniar was made the Second Ward, and Marietta east-side constituted the First and Third Wards, each being entitled to three councilmen. The nine councilmen were elected by the voters and they in turn elected the officers from their number. On account of local disaffection, the west side secured a separate corporate existence in 1837, but was re-united to Marietta in 1890. Marietta was chartered as a city of the 2nd class, October 29, 1853, and charter amendments with protective ordinances have been passed from time to time, which were all codified and published in 1893. The population of Marietta in 1880 was 5.444, and of Ilarmar 1.571, making a total of 7,015 which in 1890 had increased to 10,050 and the census of1900 gives the city 13,348.

The early history of the village has been outlined in the history of the Ohio Company. It is our purpose here to give a running sketch of the city's commercial and social development through the century.

The first store in Marietta—the first store in the Northwest Territory—was located on the corner of Muskingum and Ohio streets, and was owned by Dudley Woodbridge. Business seems to have followed the river bank both ways from this point. As we shall proceed with this sketch, the location of stores first around "the Point" and then up Muskingum street, will appear. At a later period Ohio street was the line of trade, and it was not until comparatively recent times that Front street was improved. Previous to 1830 Front street was almost a common, the grass and weeds scarcely ever being broken by a team or vehicle. It will be seen also that in the olden time Putnam street had a few stores. Business slowly advanced from the river westward, coming over the flats and creeks, forming an unbroken line of stores on one side to Putnam, which in the unseen future may become the center of trade. Greene street and the cross streets connectinig it with Ohio were avenues mainly to smaller shops and dwelling houses. In Harmar the stores were along the river as in Marietta. Furs and salt were the two most important articles of trade. The second store in Marietta was opened by Charles Greene about 1797. Later he went into the ship-building business. Other early merchants were Maj. Robert Lincoln, Col. John Mills. Col. Abner Lord, Benjamin Ives Gilman in Harmar, also Col. Levi Barber, James Whitney, Abijah Brooks, Joseph Holden, S. B. Wilson, Col. Ichabod Nye, Nathaniel Dodge, Seth Washburn, D. B. Anderson, Dr. Regnier, Dr. John Cotton, Weston Thomas, A. L. Gitto, W. and S. Slocum, Wayles and J. E. Hall, D. R Boswoith and A. P. Nye.

Ship-building was one of the first industries in Marietta of more than mere local importance, and the little city at the mouth of the Muskingum was made a port of clearance in the first years of the century from which barques and brigs sailed for ports beyond the seas laden with the produce of Southwestern Ohio.

The first ship built was a small one—a brig of 110 tons, named the "St. Clair." in honor of the Governor of the Northwest Territory. She was built for Charles Greene & Company by Stephen Devol. The 'St. Clair' took a cargo of flour and pork, and in May, 1800, cleared for Havana, Cuba, under the command of Commodore Whipply. The voyage was a remunerative one for the owners and encouraged the enterprising men of Marietta so that they continued building ships and sending them down the river to the sea. The "St. Clair," which was the first rigged vessel built upon the Ohio, was sold in Philadelphia, and her commander returned to Marietta by land.

The "St. Clair" was built near the foot of Monroe street, where Charles Gicene & Company established their shipyard. Several others were established about the same time. Benjamin Ives Gilman had one on the Harmar side of the river where the lock works are now located. Edward W. Tupper built ships at the foot of Putnam street on the Marietta side of the Muskingum. Col. Abner Lord had a shipyard near where the Phoenix Mills now stand. Col. Joseph Barker built several ships and boats about six miles up the Muskingum, among the latter the flotilla engaged by Aaron Burr.

The following is a list of the ships built at Marietta at an early period, together with the names of owners and commander-, furnished Colonel Ichabod Nye by James Whitney, Charles Greene & Company's master builder:

Brig "St. Clair,'' 110 tons. Charles Greene & Co., built by Stephen Devol, in 1800. commanded by Commodore Whippie.

Ship "Muskingum," 200 tons, built by J. Devol for R. I. Gilman. in 1801, Captain Crandon.

Brig "Eliza Greene," 130 tons, by J. Devol for Charles Greene in 1801, Captain Hodgkiss.

Brig "Marietta," 150 tons, by J. Whitney for Abner Lord in 1802, Captain O. Williams.

Brig "Dominic," 140 tons, by S. Crispin, for D. Woodbridge Jr., 1802. Captain Lattimore.

Schooner "Indiana," 80 tons, by J. Barker for E. W. Tupper in 1802. Captain Merrill.

Brig "Mary Avery," 150 tons, by D. Skilinger for G. Avery 1802, Captain Prentiss.

Ship "Temperance." 230 tons, by James Whitney for A. Lord, in 1804, Captain Williams.

Brig "Orlando," 160 tons, by J. Barker for W. Tupper, in 1803. Captain Miner.

Schooner "Whitney," by J. Whitney for A. Lord.

Schooner "McGrath," 70 tons, by J. Whitney, for A. Lord, in 1803. Captains Williams and Wilson.

Brig "Ohio," 170 tons, by J. Devol, for McFarland & Co., in 1804 Captain Rose.

Brig "Perseverance," 170 tons, by J. Whitney for B. I. Gilman, in 1805, Captain Wilson.

Ship "Rufns King," 300 tons, by J. Whitney for Clark and B. I. Gilman, in 1806, Captain Clark.

Two gun-beats, by T. Vail for E. W. Tupper, in 1806.

Ship "Tuscarawas," 320 tons, by W. McGrath,—Marshall S. Jones for A. Lord, 1806.

Ship "I. Atkinson," 320 tons, by W. McGrath, for A. Lord, 1806.

Brig; "Hope," 120 tons, by A. Miller for Charles Greene, 1806.

Ship "Francis," copper-fastened, 350 tons, by J. Whitney for B. I. Gilman, Captain Wilson. 1807.

Ship Robert Hale," 300 tons, by J. Whitney for B. I. Gilman. Captain Holden, 1807.

Brig "Golet" 120 tons, by W. McGrath for A. Lord, Captain Bennett, 1807.

Brig "Rufus Putnam," 150 tons, by W. McGrath, Colonel Lord, Captain.

Schooner "Belle," 103 tons, by J. Whitney for Gilman and Woodbridge, Captain Boyle, 1808.

Schooner "Maria" 70 tons, by J. Whitney for B. I. Gilman, 1814.

The Ship-building industry received a fatal blow in Jefferson's "Embargo Act" passed in 1808. It revived again at the beginning of the era of slack water navigation and many vessels have been built at Marietta and Harmar since 1822. The steamboats built at Marietta and Harmar up to the end of 1832 are named in the list in Chapter XI, under the heading of "Marietta Township in 1833." A list of those built since 1832 ould include the following:

Steamer "Dispatch" built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, for Knox & McKee, 1833.

Steamer "Philadelphia" built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, for Captain Dobbin, 1833.

Steamer "Josephine." built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, for Captain Dobbin, 1833.

Steamer "Tuscumbia" built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, for Captpin Dobbin, 1834.

Steamer "Hudson" built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, for Captain Dobbin, 1835.

Steamer "Baltimore" built at Harmar by Capt. William Knox, for Captain Weightman. 1836.

Steamer "John Mills" built at Marietta by Capt. William Knox, for Captain Bosworth, 1836.

Steamer "Stephen Girard." built at Harmar by Capt. William Knox, for James Phillips, 1834.

Steamer "Baltic" built at Harmar, 1836-37.

Steamer "John Hancock" built at Harmar by Captain J. Whitney, for parties not now remembered, 1837.

Steamer '"Eclipse" built at Harmar by J. W. Whitney for Captain Knowles, 1837.

Steamer "Orion" same place, same builder, 1837.

Steamer "Isabella" same place, same builder, 1838.

Steamer "Ann Calhoun," built at Harmar by Hook & Knox, and owned by Columbus George, 1838.

Steamer "Victoria" built at Harmar by William Knox and owned by G. Hook, of Mobile, Alabama, 1838.

Steamer "Southerner" built at Harmar by William Knox for Charles Barney, of Mobile, Alabama, 1839.

Steamer "Zanesville" built at Harmar by Whitney & Sharp, for Mr. Hutchinson and others of Zanesville, 1839.

Steamer "Gainesville" same builders, owned by George Parker and others of Gainesville, 1839.

Steamer "Elizabeth" built at Harmar by William Knox for Captain Miller, 1842.

Steamer "Winfield Scott," built at Marietta by William Knox for Captain A. DeVinney, 1847.

Steamer "Yallabusha" same place and same builders above, owned by ______, 1847.

Steamer "Empress" built at Harmar by William Knox for Captain Cox, 1848.

Steamer "J. E. Thompson" built at Harmar by William Knox for the engineers on the Muskingum, 1849.

Steamer "Little Thunder" same builder, same place, and same owners, 1849.

Steamer "Tiber" built at Harmar by William Knox for Washington Kerr, 1850.

Steamer "Buckeye Belle" same place, same builder, owned by Captain H. Stull, 1850.

Steamer "William Knox" built by William Knox, at Harmar, for Mr. Chapin and others, 1850.

Ferry steamer for McConnelsville, built by William Knox, 1850.

Steamer "Red River" built by William Knox, at Harmar, for Capt. O. Franks, 1851.

Steamer "Carrier" same place and same builder, owned by H. N. Booth, 1851.

Steamer "Edward Manning," same place and same builder, owned by Capt. E. A. Davis, 1851.

Steamer "Ohio No. 2." same place and builder, owned by Captain Blagg, 1855.

Steamer "Creole" same place and builder, owned by Captain Hill.

Steamer "Skipper" rebuilt by Knox for Capt. J. Cram and others, 1857.

Tow boat "West Columbia" built by Knox at Harmar, 1857.

Steamer "Joseph Holden" built by Knox, at Harmar, for Capt. O. Franks, 1858.

Steamer "Ohio No. 3," same place and builder, owned by Captain Blagg and others 1859.

Steamer "Fanny McBurney" same place and builder, owned bv Captain Drown and others, 1860.

Steamer "Ohio Valley" 1862.

Wharf-boat, same place and builder, owned by Hall & Best, 1865.

Steamer "J. H. Best" same place and builders, owned by J. H. Best. 1865.

Steamer "Rose Franks" and barge, same place and builder, owned by Captain Brinker, 1866.

Source: History of Marietta and Washington County, by Martin R. Andrews, MA, 1902, Transcribed by C. Anthony