USA > Illinois > Fulton County > History of Fulton county, Illinois > Part 99
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46
Congress.
Granville Barrere, rep ..
.. 3481
N. E. Worthington, lib .... 3840
359
State Senator.
James De Witt, rep ..
3457
S. P. Cummings, lib ..
3848
391
Representatives.
John A. Gray, rep 10226} Stephen Y. Thornton, lib .5852} James M. Darnell, lib ........ 5631 Christopher Wilson, dem ... 386 State's Attorney.
Charles J. Main, rep.
.. 3474
Daniel Abbott, dem
...
.. 3874
Circuit Clerk. 400
Phil. J. Plattenburg, rep ... 3633 H. M. Baughman, dem ...... 3874 30
Sheriff.
Chas. C. Riley, rep ......
... 3526
Robert Prichard, dem ..
... 3827
301
Coroner.
Jay C. Thompkins, rep ..
.3535
Hiram Hunt, dem
.3834
299
ELECTION NOV. 4, 1873. County Judge. John H. Peirsol, ind .. 4131 County Clerk. 474
Isaiah C. Worley, people's .. 2358 John Prickett, firmer.' ..... 1884 County Treasurer.
David F. Emry, people s .. 2100 Job Walker, farmer's tick ... 2135 35
School Superintendent.
16S
V. M. Grewell, peo's tick ... 2169
Ed. Maynard, farm's tick ... 2001
ELE. TION NOV. 3, 1874. Congress.
Richard1 II. Whiting, rep ... 1815
Leonard F. Ross, ind ......... 3598
State Senator.
1783
A. B. Kirkbrille, rep.
.2313
Robert Brown, dem
.3344
1031
Representatives.
Joseph B. Negley, ind.
2460
James De Witt, rep ....
.5854
Samuel P. Cummings, dem.3821
Stephen Y. Thornton, dem. 4536}
Sheriff.
William W. Hull, rep.
... 2504
David J. Waggoner, dem ... 3116
612
Surreyor.
Edward Maynard, ind.
634
Jonas R. Rawalt, rep.
.2274
Chas. Killsa, dem ....
2610
336
Coroner.
Richard M. Horton, ind.
79S
David Armstrong, rep.
.2291
Hiram Hunt, dem
2584
293
ELECTION NOV. 2, 1875. County Treasurer.
Job. Walker, dem.
1781
521
David F. Emry, rep
1260
County Surveyor.
Chas. Killsa, dem
1719
426
Isaac David, rep.
1293
ELECTION APRIL 4, 1876. County Judge. Henry L. Bryant, dem ...... 1521 David Armstrong, rep. .. 1560 39
983
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
ELECTION NOV. 7, 1876.
President.
Samuel J. Tilden, dem ...... 4669 482
Rutherford B. Hayes, rep ... 4187 Peter Cooper, greenback ... 89 Governor.
Lewis Stuart, dem ..
... 4760
573 Shelby M. Cullom, rep ... 4187
Congress. 259
George A. Wilson, dem ...... 4537
Thomas A. Boyd, rep ......... 4278
Wm. W. Matthews, grnbk .. 127 Representatives.
William T. McCreary, dem.7057 Chas. F. Robinson, dem ..... 7026}
Henry S. Merrill, rep. .5715
John A. Leeper, rep.
.6925
State's Attorney.
Daniel Abbott, dem.
4730
554 Joseph L. Murphy, rep. 4176
Circuit Clerk.
Theophilus L. Frazier, dem.4647 427
John D. Bealım, rep .... .. 4220
Sheriff.
David J. Waggoner, dem ... 4671 511 William R. Hasson, rep ...... 4160 Coroner. 494
Iliram Hunt, den .....
4695
David Armstrong, rep.
.. 4201
ELECTION NOV. 6, 1877. County Judge.
Samuel P. Cummings, dem.296S
Henry L Bryant, ind ..... .2814 County Clerk. Isaiah C. Worley, dem ...... 5237
154
County Treasurer. Philemon Markley, dem .... 4731 Superintendent of Schools. Horatio J. Benton, dem ..... 3019 373
Mrs. Anna J. Howard, ind .. 2643
ELECTION NOV. 5, 1878. Congress. 252
George A. Wilson, dem .... 3425 Thomas A. Boyd, rep ... ...... 3173 Alex. Il. MeKeigban, gnbk. 762 Senator. Meredith Walker, dem ...... 3509 Thos. P. Duncan, rep. and greenback 3710 201
Legislature.
Chas. F. Robinson, dem .... 5255
Win. T. McCreary, dem ... 5119}
Isaac Black, rep
2855}
Hosea Davis, rep.
.8701}
sheriff.
559 George W. Standard, dem .. 2997 Oliver P. Randolph, rep ..... 3556 M. M. Johnson, greenback .. 745 Coroner. 555
Stephen B. Bennett, dem ... 3550 William B. Bolston, rep ..... 2995 W. D. Nelson, greenback ... 792
ELECTION NOV. 4, 1879. County Treasurer. Philemon Markley, dem ..... 3058 522
Riley Bristol, rep ..
........ 2536
Matthew HI. Mitchell, gnbk 324
Surveyor.
Wm. T. R Fennessy, dem .. 3062
394
Marion Ingle, rep ...
.. 2068
CHAPTER XVII.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
Fulton county has ever been ably represented in her official de- partments since the organization of the county, as the names in the following lists will show. She has ever had able, shrewd and honest men conducting her public affairs. Of the vast millions of dollars that have been handled by her County Treasurers not one dollar has ever been lost or a Treasurer's honesty questioned. Other counties have had more or less trouble from time to time with men in the various departments of her public service, but never, in the entire history of Fulton county, has a case arisen requiring the duties or aets of an official to be investigated. This is a good and honor- able record for this grand old county ; and may another three-score years roll around and all the officials who may serve the people prove as honest, as capable, as courteous, as just as those who have served during the past three-score years.
Many names will be noticed in the following list, under the differ- ent headings, that are familiar to the people of the entire county. Many of these men, by a life of usefulness and honor, have won warm and affectionate places in the hearts of the people of Fulton county. Many names here are not familiar to the present genera- tion, but were almost household words to the past. Many of these veterans have sinee ceased life's labors and left to the remaining pioneers as a pleasant souvenir a spotless reputation.
The gentlemen who at present hold official position in this county, in respect to ability, are inferior to none who have served the county in the past. There is not a county in the State of Illi- nois that can boast of more capable, courteous and faithful officials than those who at present fill the various positions of trust and re- sponsibility in this county. To them we shall ever feel grateful for the kind and courteous manner in which they treated us all dur- ing our labors in compiling this work. They have all evineed an interest in the work and were ever ready and willing to give the information and lend that aid which are so necessary in gathering and arranging a full record of the county's history. We will not mention them personally, for all have aided ns materially, and one and all alike have our warmest thanks.
We feel that brief personal sketches of these gentlemen will be
985
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
highly appreciated by the citizens of this county ; and in this con- nection we append short biographies of each of them, and further on give the name of every official who has served this county since its organization that it was possible to obtain.
S. P. Cummings, County Judge, is a man who is perhaps more widely known than any other in Fulton county. He is a native of the State of Maine and came to Fulton Co. in May, 1840, since which time he has been actively identified with its business interests. In 1850 he began merchandising and at present is the senior mem- ber of the old, established mercantile house of Green & Cummings of Astoria, the Judge's home. In 1858 he was elected to the Illi- nois Legislature, and re-elected in 1860. In 1862 he entered the army as Major of the 85th Ill. Inf. He was chosen a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1869-70, and afterwards served 2 terms in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate of the Ill. Legislature. He has represented Astoria township in the Board of Supervisors for many years ; he is President of that body and has been for several terms. Served as Justice of the Peace in Astoria for 25 years, and in 1877 was elected County Judge, which position he fills with great ability. He is 60 years of age. We present his portrait to the people of the county in this volume.
T. L. Frazier, Circuit Clerk, was born in Adams Co., Ill., in 1844, is son of Lemuel G. and Mary E. (Roberts) Frazier, natives of Md. and Ky., respectively, who emigrated to Adams Co. in 1822, there being but two families in the county at that time. The elder Frazier is still living in that county a representative pioncer. The subject of this sketch enlisted Aug. 2, 1862, in the 78th I. V. I., and served until the close of the war. His company was cap- tured at Muldrose Hill, Ky., by Morgan in the winter of 1862, and held at Benton Barracks, Mo., until exchanged; was also a partici- pant in battles of Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, and with Sherman on his march to the sea, thence to Richmond, and Washington, D. C., in the grand review; from there to Chicago, where he was mustered out June 27, 1865. He then entered Abingdon College, Knox Co., where he devoted two years to securing a literary education. He was married in 1867 to Miss Dora C. Durham, whose family were early settlers in Knox Co. After marriage he engaged for 2 years in farming, when he moved to Abingdon and started the Knox County Democrat ; afterwards formed a business relation with Mr. Heaton of that city. This was the first Democratic paper published in Knox Co. He subsequently became engaged in the mercantile trade, until 1871, when he moved to Fulton Co., and settled in Table Grove, where he became engaged in the drug and grocery business, and resided until elected to his present position as Circuit Clerk in 1876, when he settled in Lewistown. Mr. F. served as Collector of Indian Point tp., Knox Co., in 1868, and Supervisor in 1869. In 1873 was elected Supervisor of Farmers' tp., this Co., which office he filled for 4 consecutive years; also Justice of the
986
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
Peace in 1875 and '76, and until his election to his present position, which he has filled to the satisfaction of all. Elizabeth and Clifton are his living children.
M. D. Cummings, Deputy Circuit Clerk, son of Judge S. P. Cum- mings and wife, Mrs. L. M. Cummings, nee Durell, was born in Astoria, this county, Jan. 18, 1849. He was educated in the com- mon schools of this county, learned the art of telegraphy, and was operator at Beardstown prior to accepting his present position. He was united in marriage Oct. 19, 1879, with Miss Emma, daughter of David Kirkbride, the well-known pioneer landlord of Vermont. He entered the Circuit Clerk's office as Deputy in May, 1877.
Isaiah C. Worley, County Clerk, was born in Cumberland Co., Pa., Oct. 27, 1834. His parents, Daniel and Mary (Caldwell) Worley moved to Riehland Co., O., in 1836, where both of them died when Isaiah was a child. After their demise he was bound out and suffered the experiences and hardships of parentless children. He came into the county in 1849 and stopped at Farmington. July 16 of the same year he came to Lewistown, where he has since re- sided. He worked in woolen mills and clerked in stores until 1855, when he began writing in the office of Cireuit Clerk. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Co. A, 103d Ill. Inf., and served nearly 3 years, closing his military service in the Signal Service Corps. Returning home he engaged as Deputy in the office of County Clerk and served until 1873, when he was elected to the office he now holds, upon the People's ticket. In 1877 he was re-elected. His entire service of over 20 years of public life has been characterized with ability, integrity and uprightness. He mar- ried Amanda L., daughter of Charles Clark, of this city, and they have 2 children : 'Amy Mabel, born Dec. 1, 1865, and William C., born Dec. 1, 1867.
Frank P. Paull, Depaty County Clerk, was born in Cham- paign Co., O., Mirch 9, 1838, and is the only son of Robert Paull, a lineal descend.int of Paul Jones, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. P. came to this county with his parents in 1839. They settled in Bernadotte, and in 1840 erected one of the first mills in this county, which was swept away by the spring freshet of 1844. He was prominently identified with the early settlement of the county, and is at present living at Ipava. The subject of this sketch has been engaged in the County Clerk's office since his boyhood. In Sept., 1862, he engaged in the sutler's department of the 103d regt., I. V. I., and was afterward employed in the paymaster's department until the close of the war. Returning home he served as surveyor 4 years, and then accepted his present position of Deputy County Clerk. In March, 1863, he was married to Miss Margaret Shawver, a na- tive of this county, where she was born in 1838. Anna S., Bertha A., Lillie and Corda are their living children.
O. P. Randolph, Sheriff of Fulton county, is a native of Fay- ette Co., Pa., where he was born Feb. 26, 1830; his father, Stepheu
987
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
Randolph, was a native of the same county, and a farmer. He married Miss Elizabeth Phillips, and their only child was O. P. The latter passed his youth in Pennsylvania, received a liberal edu- cation and learned the plasterer's trade. In 1850 he married Isabel Balsinger. The last four years of his life in Pennsylvania he dealt in live stock extensively and conducted a meat market in New Salem. On emigrating to Illinois he settled in Astoria tp., Fulton Co., purchasing 140 acres of land,-now increased to 220. He opened a meat market, a part of the time in partnership with M. K. Lerew in Astoria, dealt extensively in stock, and then retired to the farm again ; but in 1878 he was nominated by the Republican party for Sheriff, and he was elected by 550 majority, in a county that had always had, for 40 years, only a Democratic Sheriff. He has had 12 children, 10 of whom are living: John B. and Charles S., Deputy Sheriffs, Wm. T., Frank P., O. P., Anna B., Elizabeth, Maggie F., D. W. and Mollie D.
H. J. Benton, County School Superintendent, is a native of Phil- adelphia, Pa., and was born in 1819. He is the son of John Ben- ton, a sea captain, who died in 1822. The subject of this sketch came to this State with his widowed mother in 1835 and settled in Warsaw, Hancock county, being among the carly pioneers of that county. In 1836 he entered Jackson College, at Jacksonville, and 3 years afterward commenced teaching and has devoted 26 years of his life to his professional calling. He was married May 31, 1851, to Miss Smith, daughter of Gen. Smith, of Hancock county. She is a native of Sangamon county, Ill. They have three children,- Charles, Mary and Alice. Mr. B. has been prominently identified with the county, and has filled the office of County Superintendent of Schools since 1869.
Philemon Markley, County Treasurer, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born July 15, 1822. His parents were David and Susannah Markley, who came to this State in 1836, bringing their son Philemon. Hon. David Markley was one of the leading men of Fulton county during its carlier history. He resided at Canton, where our subject grew to manhood and embarked in active life. From the age of 12 years to 17 he clerked in a dry-goods store. He then learned the brick-mason's trade, which he continued to follow until 1877, when he was chosen by the people to handle the public funds of the county, which he has done with the signal honesty that has characterized his entire life. That he gave entire satisfaction to the public is evinced by the fact of his being elected to a second term, which he was in 1879. Mr. Markley was married in this county in 1845 to Mary G. Shinn, who was born in Virginia Nov. 24, 1828. A family of 3 children have been born to them,-Sarah, Clara and Ann, the latter deceased.
Dr. S. B. Bennett .- We refer the reader for a sketch of Dr. Ben- nett, Coroner of Fulton county, to the biographical department of the history of Fairview.
988
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
COUNTY OFFICIALS .*
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
David W. Birnes
Thomas R. Covell.
1823
Joseph Moffatt.
Henry B. Evans 1839 47
Fitch J. Porter. 1847-49
Leonard F Ross 1849-53
John H. Peirsol. 1853-61
Joseph Dyckes.
1861-69
David W. Barnes
1825
James Gardner
Daniel McNiel
Eli H. Bearce
1826-30
Elias Foster
Thomas W. Taylor
William Johnson
1830-32
Elijah Putman.
Charles Newcomb
1828-32
Elijah Willcoxen
Hugh Lamaster
1832-40
Ware Long 1832-34
John McNeil.
John McNeil
1834-36
Joseph Brown ..
Charles Newcomb
Jared Lyon 1836-38
William Johnson
John Johnston. 1838-40
John Barker 1838-41
Hiram Wentworth. 1838-39
Isaac Linley.
IS39-42
Samuel Dyer. 1840-43
John F. Randolph 1841-44
Evan Baily 18442-45
David S. Johnson. 1844-48
Parley C. Stearns. 1846-49
Jacob Sharp 1846
David S. Johnson 1847
Wm. K. Johnson. 1848
COUNTY JUDGES.
Erasmus D. Rice 1849-53
Henry L. Bryant 1853-61
John M. Lewis 1861-69
John H. Peirsol. 1869-76
Henry L. Bryant. 1876-77
Samuel P. Cummings 1877
CIRCUIT CLERKS.
Hugh R. Colter. 1823
Stephen Dewey 1823-41
tWashington J. Taylor. 1841-48
Joel Solomon .. 1841
William McComb. 1848-52
Elward Sayre. 1852-60
Alex. Hull 1860 68
Henry W. Banghman. 1868-76
Theophilus L. Frazier. 1876
t Pro tem, pending the appointment of Joel Solomon by Judge Stephen A. Douglas.
COUNTY CLERKS.
Hugh R. Colter. 1823
Stephen Dewey 1824-39
James Gardner
James Birnes. 1824
Divid W. Barnes.
Stephen Phelps
James H. Stipp 1869-73
Isaiah C. Worley
1873
SHERIFFS.
Abner Eads 1823-25
O. M. Ross. 1825 27
Myron Phelps. 1827-28
Cannah Jones. 1843-46
Joseph Dyckes. 1846-50
David J. Waggoner
1850-52
Joseph Dyckes. 1852-54
David J. Waggoner. 1854-56
William M. Standard 1856-58
David J. Waggoner 1858-60
Asaph Perry 1860-62
J. F. Willcoxen. 1862-64
Robert Johnson.
1864-66
David J. Waggoner
1866-68
Silas Babbitt ...
1868-70
Robert Prichard. 1870-74
David J. Waggoner 1874-78
Oliver P. Randolph 1878
SURVEYORS.
John N. Ross 1823
Jonas Rawalt 1831-34
Hugh Lamaster. ... 1834-36
Stephen H. Pitkins 1836
Gilbert.
Vorhees
Isaiah Stillman 1847-49
Stephen H. Pitkins 1849-51
David F. Emry 1851-53
Tera Jones. 1853-56
William J. Elie. 1856-57
Harrison Rigdon 1857-59
David Shreeves. 1859-69
Francis P. Paull
1869-74
Charles Killsa.
1874-79
Win. T. R. Fennessy 1879
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.
Samuel S. Tipton. 1865
James K. Harmison -69
Horatio J. Benton 1869-73
Vincent M. Grewell 1873-77
Horatio J. Benton
1877
* In most cases the figures after the dash signify the year into which the officer served. In some instances, however, they only served to the beginning of the year denoted. It was impos- sible for us to find the name of the officer for every year, and those years for which no names are given are such as we were unable to obtain.
Jonah Marchant.
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
989
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
Joel Wright 1833
Jonas Rawalt 1833-37
Erasmus D. Rice 1837-44
Fitch J. Porter 1843-47
Martin Eichelberger 1847-49
William N. Cline. 1849-51
John W. Shinn 1851-53
EIward Sayre. 1853-54
Wm. 11. Haskell. 1854-58
S. Y. Thornton .. 1858-63
W. T. Davidson .. 1863-65
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Thomas L. Ross 1823
Robert Grant 1823-24
O. M. Ross. 1824
Robert Grant. 1824-27
Moses Hallett. 1827
Shelden Lock wood. 1828
John McNeil. 1829-31
Isaiah Stillman 1831
F. M. Snively.
1864-66
Jesse Benson .. 1832
Erasmus D. Rice 1833-37
Hirah Sanders ... 1837
Erasmus D. Rice 1837-39
John Miller. 1839-41
Franklin Foster. 1841-43
William McComb 1843-48
Robert Panll. 1848-53
George Humphrey 1853-57
Jacob Derry .. 1857-61
William C. Worley 1861-65
Charles Howard 1865-69
Evan Baily 1869-73
Job Walker. 1873-77
Philemon Markley 1877
CORONERS.
William Clark. 1823
Daniel Wells. 1836-38
Emsley Wiley 1838
Ilenry Snively
1848-52
Harrison P. Fellows 1852-54
Simmel Sivley. 1854-56
James Robb 1856-58
Zalmon A. Green. 1858-60
Isaac Cunningham. 186 1-62
H. McCanghey.
1860-64
John Serivner .. 1866-68
Joseph Barker 1868-70
Daniel Walters. 1870-72
Hiram Hunt .. 1872-78
S. B. Bennett. 1878
58
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRESS.
The printing press, the most potent agent in molding the destinies of a community or a nation, and the one perhaps the least appre- ciated for the good it does, has over exerted a healthful influence in forming the sentiments of the people of Fulton county. Prior to the date of the first issue of the pioneer paper of the county but few papers ever found their way into the homes of the early settlers. They received mail at the scattering settlements only once a week, and occasionally some religious paper or Eastern journal would be sent by friends in the more fortunate and larger towns in the South and East.
The pioneers were ambitious and enterprising and ere many years had rolled around started a paper of their own. The first news- paper enterprise inaugurated in Fulton county so far as we are able learn was the Canton Herald. This was the pioneer sheet of the Military Traet. It was started by Rev. Gideon B. Perry, D. D., L. L. D., and Ptolemy Stone in 1837. Rev. Perry came to Canton shortly prior to this and became one of its leading citizens. He practiced medicine and surgery and also preached. During his residence in that city he built a church, several dwellings and en- gaged in the drug business. He died at Hopkinsville, Ky., Sept. 30, 1879, at the time Rector of Grace Episcopal Church.
The Herald evidently had but a short existence, as we find in 1840 The Western Telegraph was published at Canton. The editors of this paper, which was a six-column folio, were Stone & Christ. This was the Mr. Stone who aided Mr. Perry in founding the first paper. It appears that he was the great pioneer newspaper man of Fulton county, for ere long we find him the principal actor in another paper.
March 26, 1841, the first number of the Fulton Telegraph appeared. This paper was undoubtedly a continuation of The. Western Telegraph. It too was. a six-column folio and nicely printed. It was published by Ptolemy Stone, and edited by Davidson & Stone.
The Fulton Banner was the next publication to appear from the press of this county. This was a five-column folio and published at Lewistown, by whom we are unable to learn. Then came the Illi- nois Public Ledger, which first appeared in 1850; of this the Ful-
991
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
ton Ledger is the outgrowth. About that time and since, newspaper enterprises have sprung up in different parts of the county, many of which however to have but a short existence.
Below we give historical sketches of each of the nine weekly papers published in Fulton county.
FULTON COUNTY LEDGER.
This is one of leading Democratic journals of Central Illinois, and one of the oldest. For a period of thirty years it has greeted its readers, and for twenty-three years it has been under the supervision of its present editor and publisher, Mr. S. Y. Thornton, who is the oldest editor in Fulton county, and who ranks high in the journal- istic profession.
In October, 1850, the Illinois Public Ledger first appeared. This was a seven-column folio sheet published at Lewistown, and of which the Fulton County Ledger is the outgrowth.
The Public Ledger was a weekly published by Joseph Dyckes and S. S. Brooks. The former was proprietor and the latter editor. It was conducted for some time at Lewistown, the office standing across the street west of Mr. Nathan Beadles' residence. Soon Charles E. Griffith became editor and manager. He was an apprentice with Mr. Thornton in the same office in Pennsylvania and came and stopped at Lewistown and took Mr. Brooks' place on the Ledger, and in 1854 located at Canton with the paper. In order to induce the Ledger to be brought to Canton, Henry Walker bought a one- third interest in it, when the ownership of the paper was equally divided between Messrs. Dyckes, Griffith and .Walker. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Dyckes was bought out by John Bideman, when the firm was known as Griffin & Bideman. Mr. Dyckes did not sever his connection with the enterprise, however, until he had sunk several thousand dollars in it, he tells us. But few papers have been estab- lished without a loss, and the Ledger is not an exception.
In the fall of 1856 Mr. Thornton bought Mr. Griffith's interest, and the firm was then Thornton & Bideman. It remained thus only a short time, for in the spring of 1857 Mr. Thornton bought out Bideman and became the sole proprietor and editor. That was the last change ever made in its management. Mr. Thornton has remained steadily and faithfully at the helm ever since. He as- sumed control of it at the beginning of its sixth volume. Number one of that volume appeared Nov. 18, 1856.
The early papers of the county had no local columns or even local items. Indeed, we find copies of old publications without a single " local," or the mention of an event transpiring in this county. Now we pick up any of the papers of to-day and we may find hundreds of local notes. We can become acquainted with the news of the entire county from almost any paper published at pres- ent. The Ledger has the honor of being the pioneer in this novel
992
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY.
line of journalism, for it was the first paper in the county to intro- duce locals into its columns, which was done by its present editor. During the early history of the county but few foreign papers found their way into its borders. The people had no opportunity of getting the city dailies twice each day as they have now, but had to depend upon their own local papers for the general news of the country. Accordingly, the early papers were filled with clippings from the few foreign papers the editor was fortunate enough to get, and with choice literary selections. And we might here remark that one can find in the columns of the old files of the Ledger as choice a variety of literature, as entertaining and interesting as are to be found in any of the periodicals of this boasted day of learning.
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