(Look Back with Bob Enoch - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The item about a trip down the Ohio River from Marietta, Ohio, to New Orleans in 1805, written by Cordelia Moellendick that appeared in The Parkersburg News, Jan. 17, 1937, concludes:

“After passing this point [Belpre, Ohio], only scattering clearings and here and there a solitary cabin were seen until Belleville was reached about four miles below Hockhocking River (one ‘hock’ has been dropped from this name, it is now the Hocking River).

“Visits Belleville. — This settlement was established in 1785 by a merchant from Philadelphia under the agency of Philip Wood, Esq. Later, G. Avery, an enterprising merchant located here and purchased a large tract of land. He built and launched two vessels here later. An extensive rope walk was also built. Much hemp was raised for ship rigging.

“As the Nonpariel [the name of the ship built by Gen. Rufus Putnam] floated along past towns and villages we have a description of many old and interesting places such as the Scioto salt works near Portsmouth, then called Alexandria, and Limestone, the oldest settlement and the earliest landing place for immigrants in Kentucky, and a few others.

“They put to shore at Cincinnati in order that Gen. Mansfiels and his family might leave the ship. [Gen. Mansfiels, United States surveyor general, had been a passenger since leaving Marietta.] Cincinnati was then a town of 950 population. The Nonpariel arrived at this point on May 3, 1805. [The Nonpariel had left Marietta April 21, 1805.] The peach and apple blossom time was over and summer was at hand.

“The eventful journey on the New Orleans is also interesting, but space does not permit my telling it here.”

Sea-Going Steamers. — Eds. Times. — I recently noticed an article in your paper respecting the organizing of a company for the purpose of construction sea-going steamers to run from Parkersburg to ports in the West Indies; and sir, permit me to state to the public through the columns of your paper, that I believe the undertaking would prove both successful and profitable to all parties connected therein, and permit me to give reasons why I consider the project in so favorable a light. In the first place, we have the capital here sufficient for building and fitting out such classes of steam Ships. Secondly, we have all the commodities necessary for exchanging for articles of W. Indies productions, and third; we have experienced men competent to take command of such steamers, and perform the voyage. I want to know what port in the U.S. can offer greater facilities for obtaining lumber, such as boards, scantling, staves, sugar box boards, flour oats, and bacon, than Parkersburg, all of which meet with a ready market in the West Indies, and at a large profit on the invoice cost. This Sir, is only one side of the transactions. In return for the above articles we receive sugar, coffee, molasses, fruits, &c., on the following terms: On sugar and coffee, twelve per cent, per cwt., there being 112 lbs. our weigh; molasses we can get from twelve to fourteen per cent, and other articles in proportion.

Some may object to the above undertaking on the plea of an insufficiency of water necessary to navigate the rivers to the Gulf, but I do not think the objection so very difficult to overcome. Such a vessel need not draw over 12 feet of water to render her sea-worthy, and do we not have more than that depth of water as often as twice every year, and at precisely the season a voyage thither would prove profitable, viz: in spring and autumn when the West Indies crops are in market. For fear my article may prove too lengthy, I will in some future communication state further advantages to be derived from establishing such a trade, the scoffs and sneers of the Wheeling Register to the contrary notwithstanding.

Signed…MARINER

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.