The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-08
L Il ID M Nj A EFT A,
MARIETTA O. Nov 40 JsGs

hAklETFA, ", NOV. ~, 1915.
ED. SPIRIT: News in this part of ere
alton is really very scarce; so much so
that a correspondent is apt to make a
grand failure in attempting to indite a
readable letter. Some persons possess
the faculty in great degree of writing
an agreeable, ,gossipy letter from nothing
not so with myself; firm foundation,
with rplenty of material, is requisite to
build my epistolary castle. Marietta, as
most of your readers are well aware, is
the oldest town in the State. and proba-
bly, has rs little to show for it as any
place Of its age in the whole country.
The first settlers were descendants of
the old Plymouth Rock Puritans, those
fellows that introduced slavery into this
country, and after making fine specula-
ton from the traffic, until the South was
supplied and the business no longer prof
table to them, then and not until then
did these holy (:) men discover that s!a-
very was an objectionable sin, and they
raised their hands in holy horror at the
crime of holding "a man and brother"
in bondage AS natural consequence
this place was extremely loH during the
war, and did excellent service for their
country in those dark and bloody days,
by stoning Democratic speakers, 'squelch-
ing Copperheads,' and filing fat army
contracts. The city possesses many val
liable historical "reminiscences. and recol-
leetions of men who have figured con-
spicuously in the history of our country.
Gen st. Clair made this his headquarters
while acting as Military Governor of the
Territory. Lewis Cass studied law here,
with Benjamin l. Gilman, as also did
Thomas Ewing, Sr, and was admitted to
practice at the Washington County Bar.
Gov. John Brough's father resided
here for many years, and Jack, as the
Governor was familiarly called, was born
in the old Jail building, his father acting
in the capacity of Deputy Sheriff at the
time Here it was that Jack spent his
early life, passing his leisure hours in
the pleasant diversion of "kicking foot
ball. and other athletic sports, in hopes
of reducing the superabundant quantity
of flesh for which he was always noted.
His father filled with honor to himself,
and to the satisfaction of his neighbors,
the position of Justice of the Peace. He
died here, and lies buried in the "MOund
Cemetery" ... r..... ....
Mike Fink, the celebrated keelboats-
man, made this one of his stopping
points; and many is the anecdote related
of Wild Mike, and his wonderful skill in
shooting, by the old settlers. He had
his sweetheart at every portland between
fddling, shooting, and making love to the
girls, he passed a merry life, and was en-
We'd by every boatman from Pittsburgh
to New Orleans. Many other persons of
note resided here, but space forbids q
more extended account at this time how
ever, in the future we may resume.
An adjourned term of Court commen-
ces here tomorrow. The last term was
held here in October, but business being
greater than could he attended to at that
session, an adjourned session had to be
held.
The river has raised about FIVE feet in
the last twenty four hours, and boats of
all sizes appear to be doing good bust
ness, and l notice, they arc taking an i'm
mense quantity Of produce South. Over
eleven hundred barrels Of potatoes being
shipped from here to New Orleans at one
time.
Weather cool and agreeable.