Clay marbles were manufactured decades earlier in East Liverpool, Ohio and in Alton, Illinois

SIXTH WARD HAPPENINGS -- CLAY MARBLES,

In a recent issue of The Beacon it was stated that S. C. Dyke & Co. began the manufacture of clay marbles a few days since and it was stated that this was the first instance of marbles being made in the U. S. The facts will hardly bear this out. In 1840 and for several years following Mr. Jabis Voder manufactured clay marbles at East Liverpool, Ohio, and Mr. Henry Gibbs, of the Sixth Ward was for a time traveling salesman for him. In 1850 Mr. James Gibbs, father of Henry Gibbs, manufactured the same kind of marbles at Alton, Ill. Mr. G. with the help of his son carried on the business at Alton for a number of years. So much for the facts in the case.