Newspapers were THE media in the early America. Advertisements and notices offer a fascinating glimpse of life at the time. Here are a few such items from local papers in the early 1800s, compiled by Debbie Noland Nitsche from Andrews’ History of Marietta and Washington County. Your author’s notes are in parentheses.

From the OHIO GAZETTE and VIRGINIA HERALD October 24, 1803:

–List of letters uncalled for by Griffin Greene, Postmaster, for persons living at “Belleprie, Little Kenhawa, Kenhaway, Gallipolis, Guiandot and Big Sandy.”

–John Cline and Enos Atwater will apply “for a right of establishing a ferry from a point at Fort Harmar across the Ohio River…”

–“inhabitants of the townships of Newport and Tuskarawa, in the county of Washington,” intend to petition the Ohio legislature for a new county, with “a county seat near the mouth of Licking Creek on the Muskingum.”

From WESTERN SPECULATOR and successor AMERICAN FRIEND newspaper 1811-1820:

1811. –Joseph Buell (civic leader who served at Fort Harmar) asks for the return of “Rollin’s Ancient History” and other borrowed books. — Western Spectator (newspaper) offers books for sale. Whiskey received for books. –Enoch Shepard, Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, announces copyright of a book entitled “Thoughts on the Prophecies.”

1812 (July 29.) — Lieutenant T. E. Danielson calls for five-year volunteers for the regular army. Bounty $16; wages $5 per month.–Jason R. Curtis, Hatter, wishes to buy muskrat and rabbit fur.

1814. –Nathaniel Dodge established a ferry to Harmar. –“Races will be run on the Common of Marietta November 10 under the rules of racing in Virginia.” A purse of $70 offered (about $2100 in today’s dollars!).

1815 –Elisha Frost, Inn-keeper, has taken the public house formerly kept by Isaac Mixer, Jr. (Mixer was described as a man of “vicious character” who once sold a 7-year-old negro boy into slavery.) –Rufus W. Adams wishes to purchase 100 dozen goose quills at 6 cents a dozen. — Samuel P. Hildreth, Town Clerk, collector of non-Resident Taxes. (Hildreth was a doctor, scientist, and historian). –John Greene, 2nd., of Adams offers a reward for conviction of thief who stole five barrels of salt near the store of Augustus Stone. –David Putnam (Harmar businessman) warns the people against a horse thief who pretends to be a missionary.

1816. –John Bell, Deerfield. Lots for sale in “Malta a new town about 26 miles below Zanesville.” –Montgomery Bell, of Tennessee offers $300 reward for negro man Carey, and $50 for the boy Bob. –Joshua Shipman (master carpenter and builder), Wool carding

1817. –John Cram will receive wheat, rye, oats, and white beans in payment for debts due Oliver Dodge & Co. –Abraham Whipple (Revolutionary War naval hero), Fearing, offers to sell a farm two miles from Marietta.

1818. James Brown, Nashville, Tennessee, warns people not to harbor 22 “German servants who indentured themselves to go to Alabama Territory-and absconded at Marietta.”

1819. –W. Thomas, Jeffersonville Indiana Canal Lottery tickets for sale. (Lotteries helped finance public improvements.) –Royal Prentiss Town Clerk will lease to the highest bidder the Mound Square as a pasture for sheep only. (Our beloved Mound Cemetery leased for sheep grazing!)

1820. –Joseph Barker, Jr., Newport, is about to erect a mill to extract flax seed oil. (Local historians are working to preserve Barker Jr.’s home at Willow Island.) –Joseph Wilmott, Fearing, claims right to construct a dam at the Ox-Bow on Duck Creek.

Abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher said newspapers, by democratizing knowledge for all citizens, are “a treasure to the people.” They were also a source of curiosity and amusement.