Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-12-28
ryu the os,lipoli. Jouru.l.l

L. tfW t1S 0a4tpo1lo ao1tu14-l
BioeaArHY OF MRs. MARY MxxAeEa.
Mrs. MARY MxxAaxR, consort Of G. R
Menager, deceased. died on Sunday.
the 10th inst, at the residence of het
son-in-law, Lewis Eewsom, Of this place.
This venerable lady was a perfect en-
bodiment Of historical events. She was
fully grown and residing in France. and
saw the destruction of the Bastile in
Paris in 1888, which was the forerun-
ner Of the revolution, headed by Robes
Ipirre, Danton and their coadjutors. In
February, 1890, FIVE hundred French
emigrants, she being one Of them, left
Paris for the United States, to shun the
horrors of revolution, that might en-
danger the lives of all persons in the
kingdom. In October following the
whole FIVE hundred arrived at the site,
where they subsequently laid out the
town of Gallipolis, which was then an
unbroken forest. She was present and
saw the first tree cut down, by Col. Ro-
bert Stafford, then marker for the sur
Veyors of the Ohio Company.
She with others encamped on what is
now the Public Square, until log cabins
could be erected to shelter them from
the rigors of the approaching winter
She was theyaaghteen years Of age
The year foll5zI(ng she was married TO
Claudius R. Menager. one Of the emf
grants, an active, enterprising young
merchant; she joined him in every un-
dertaking that promised remuneration
for their labor. They soon procured a
stock of cattle. and every thing seemed
to prosper with them, until the unfortu-
nate St. Clair with his army were de-
feated, in 1871. Soon afterwards their
settlement was visited by hostile Indi-
ans, killing few of the emigrants found
outside of the garrison erected by them,
and drove of all the stock of the inhab-
itants found in the adjacent range, in
cluding a valuable pair of work oxen
and a number of milch COWS and other
cattle belonging to this couple. But
the loss was partially repaired by the
enhanced value of their merchandise,
consequent on a state of war. The
United States were frequently sending
troops down to Camp Washington, to
hold the Indians in check, thus creating
a demand for provisions of every kind.
Soon the husband of Mrs. Menager erec-
ted an extensive bake-oven, and was
daily seen with his sleeves rolled up and
working a mammoth trough full Of
dough, preparatory ts baking. His
bread was proverbially good, and be-
came so famous that not boat passed
but stock of his bread was purchased,
to last the hands until they reached Gin
cinnati. While a batch of bread had
to be baked every day, his wife, with
the assistance of his daughter, little
girl, attended to customers in the store
to their entire satisfaction. They kept
tavern at the same time, which was al
ways well supplied with all the necessa-
ries of good living. All those branches
of business they carried on, until their
store was increased in size, vieing with
the best and most valuable stocks of
goods in Ohio. In all that appertained
to the business they were engaged in,
Mrs. Menager was valuable assistant, |
always ready and willing to unite her
labors with those of her husband. She
lived to see their wealth ample and suf-
icient to afford to each an easy indie
pendence.
Some seventeen years since, this
worthy lady was afflicted with cataract
On both eyes, and despite of a surgical
operation, she continued to endure par
.ial loss of sight until her death. But
few ladies in Ohio have been more ex-
known. For many years theirs
was the only store, bakeshop and tavern
n town, and all persons passing the
country by land or water, seemed to be
to patronize them in some
'ne of their sEocations.
Mrs. Menager lived to see her four
'ons and daughter enjoying an easy in
She also lived to see her
adopted state rise as if by magic from a
to be the third state in the
galaxy of this Union.
She died in the full belief that when
III things shall be fulfilled according to
Gods eternal purposes, that the souls
If the whols human family will be gath
red to his presence to enjoy endless
happiness.
Communicated by L. NEwsoM.]