RK Notes - I am compiling a list of Road Races from the 19th Century. Modern Marathon History I will assume began with the 1896 Modern Olympic Movement. I have found on occasion events that fit the description of a marathon at the time but not called marathons... but 25 mile races instead.

From the Bangor Commerical (September 13, 1884)...

The twenty-five mile race between the Indian runner White Eagle and David Bennett took place at Montreal, Canada on the 19th inst. The stakes were $200 a side, and before starting the Indian made a bet of $100 to $70 that he would win. On starting the lead was taken by the Indian, Burnett contesting himself by dogging him closely for the first fifteen miles, when he went ahead, and by the time 16 1/2 miles were completed was a lap to the good. Up to this time the pace had been warm, but Bennett now dropped into the Indian's tracks again, and for the remainder of the distance the race was slow and devoid of interest. On the last lap, coming down the homstretch, both men showed a burst of speed, but Bennett was too fast for the Indian. The time was given as 3 hours, 4 minutes and 50 seconds.