Martin Marmon House
Encyclopedia
The Martin Marmon House is a historic house near the village of Zanesfield
in Jefferson Township
, Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
. Built by pioneer settler Martin Marmon around the year 1820, it is one of the best remaining examples of Quaker
architecture.
, Martin Marmon moved to west-central Ohio from Kentucky in 1805 with his two brothers and their families; they were the first settlers in Jefferson Township after Isaac Zane, who had married into the Shawnee
people then living in the area. This emigration was typical of southern Quakers, who moved north in large numbers to escape the slavery system of the South. Their new home was close to the territory of the Shawnee, being only a short distance south of the Greenville Treaty Line
. Ten years after moving north, Martin bought the land on which he had settled from his brother Robert, who lived a short distance to the east. On this land he built the brick house in which he lived for the rest of his life.
The Martin Marmon House was the residence of a leading individual of the day. After Logan County was organized from Champaign County
in 1818, Marmon occupied many civic offices in the new county: treasurer
of Jefferson Township for twenty-five years, treasurer of Logan County for four years, and county sheriff
for five years. The Marmon brothers were also religious pioneers: they founded the Goshen Meeting of Friends in 1807, which as Goshen Friends Church remains the oldest church in what is now Logan County.
After Martin's death, his farm was sold to David Springate, an Englishman from Kent
, who settled there in 1864. At that time, the farm included 153 acre (0.61916958 km²) of land. Today, the house is part of Marmon Valley Farms, a Christian farm and retreat center. It was last used as a residence in 1971. In 1984, the Marmon House was included in the Ohio Historic Inventory survey, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1986. It is one of four houses in Logan County that is on the Register.
construction, its window arrangement, and the location of its chimney
s. While four other brick houses were built in the vicinity at the same time, none of them retain the integrity of the Quaker architecture of the Marmon House: the Robert Marmon House has been remodelled, two others have been destroyed, and the fourth features a different style of architecture. Some changes have been made to the house: a summer kitchen of uncertain date is attached to the eastern end of the house, the ground floor has been plumbed
, and the original roof has been replaced by a tin roof. Also located on the property is a shed and an early spring house
. The shed retains enough historic integrity to qualify as a contributing property
, but the spring house has been modified significantly. The house sits in an obscure location: although it is only a short distance away from U.S. Route 33
, a limited-access highway
, and just 100 feet (30.5 m) from County Road 153, it lies at the bottom of a hill in the middle of thick woods.
Zanesfield, Ohio
Zanesfield is a village in Logan County, Ohio, United States of America. The population was 220 at the 2000 census. It is the smallest incorporated village in Logan County.-History:...
in Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio
Jefferson Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 2,946 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the eastern part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
, Logan County
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built by pioneer settler Martin Marmon around the year 1820, it is one of the best remaining examples of Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
architecture.
History
A Quaker from North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Martin Marmon moved to west-central Ohio from Kentucky in 1805 with his two brothers and their families; they were the first settlers in Jefferson Township after Isaac Zane, who had married into the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
people then living in the area. This emigration was typical of southern Quakers, who moved north in large numbers to escape the slavery system of the South. Their new home was close to the territory of the Shawnee, being only a short distance south of the Greenville Treaty Line
Treaty of Greenville
The Treaty of Greenville was signed at Fort Greenville , on August 3, 1795, between a coalition of Native Americans & Frontiers men, known as the Western Confederacy, and the United States following the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. It put an end to the Northwest Indian War...
. Ten years after moving north, Martin bought the land on which he had settled from his brother Robert, who lived a short distance to the east. On this land he built the brick house in which he lived for the rest of his life.
The Martin Marmon House was the residence of a leading individual of the day. After Logan County was organized from Champaign County
Champaign County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,890 people, 14,952 households, and 10,870 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 15,890 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
in 1818, Marmon occupied many civic offices in the new county: treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of Jefferson Township for twenty-five years, treasurer of Logan County for four years, and county sheriff
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
for five years. The Marmon brothers were also religious pioneers: they founded the Goshen Meeting of Friends in 1807, which as Goshen Friends Church remains the oldest church in what is now Logan County.
After Martin's death, his farm was sold to David Springate, an Englishman from Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, who settled there in 1864. At that time, the farm included 153 acre (0.61916958 km²) of land. Today, the house is part of Marmon Valley Farms, a Christian farm and retreat center. It was last used as a residence in 1971. In 1984, the Marmon House was included in the Ohio Historic Inventory survey, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986. It is one of four houses in Logan County that is on the Register.
Architecture
Besides its association with the settlement of the Marmon Valley, the Marmon House is significant as a rare example of extant Quaker architecture; it has been assessed as being the best-preserved Quaker house in its part of Ohio. It is typical of a Quaker-style period house, with its stone foundation, its brick 2½-storyStorey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
construction, its window arrangement, and the location of its chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s. While four other brick houses were built in the vicinity at the same time, none of them retain the integrity of the Quaker architecture of the Marmon House: the Robert Marmon House has been remodelled, two others have been destroyed, and the fourth features a different style of architecture. Some changes have been made to the house: a summer kitchen of uncertain date is attached to the eastern end of the house, the ground floor has been plumbed
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
, and the original roof has been replaced by a tin roof. Also located on the property is a shed and an early spring house
Spring house
A spring house, or springhouse, is a small building used for refrigeration once commonly found in rural areas before the advent of electric refrigeration. It is usually a one-room building constructed over the source of a spring. The water of the spring maintains a constant cool temperature...
. The shed retains enough historic integrity to qualify as a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
, but the spring house has been modified significantly. The house sits in an obscure location: although it is only a short distance away from U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 is a United States federal highway that runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Richmond, Virginia, passing through Ohio and West Virginia en route. Although most odd-numbered U.S...
, a limited-access highway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
, and just 100 feet (30.5 m) from County Road 153, it lies at the bottom of a hill in the middle of thick woods.
Further reading
- Noble, Allan. Wood, Brick, and Stone: The North American Settlement Landscape. AmherstAmherst, MassachusettsAmherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
: U of MassUniversity of MassachusettsThis article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
P, 1984.