USA > Indiana > Marshall County > A twentieth century history of Marshall County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 40
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The Mail and Magnet.
This was the title of a paper started in Plymouth in 1874. The pro- prietors were Cliffe M. Brooke and A. B. Clark. It was started as an independent paper with republican proclivities. The editors were both young men just merging into manhood, and the paper was run on the Young Amer-
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ica high pressure principle. Mr. Clark severed his connection with the paper a few months after the first number was printed, leaving the entire management in the hands of Mr. Brooke. During the political campaign of 1874 it became the organ of the grangers, who had nominated a "People's Ticket," and succeeded in securing the endorsement of its ticket by the republican party, which made no nominations that year. The election not resulting favorably to the cause it had espoused, it soon began to show signs of weakening, and early in the spring of 1875 it was purchased by Howard Brooke, and the publication was continued by him until he sold it to Jasper Packard, October 1, 1875, when it was consolidated with the Republican, and ceased to exist.
The Indiana Greenbacker.
This paper was started in Plymouth during the campaign of 1878, as the organ of the greenback cause in Marshall county. Later it announced that it was the organ of the greenback party of the thirteenth congressional district, and still later as the organ of the party in Indiana. Michael W. Downey and David McDuffie were the first editors. They were succeeded by Phil Corcoran, he by A. W. Barlow, and he by Robert Neil. About the time this paper was started the greenback party was in the ascendancy and bid fair to become the dominant party in the county, but, failing to elect any of the ticket in 1878, the party began to show signs of going to pieces, and about 1882 the Greenbacker suspended.
A short time afterwards A. R. Zimmerman purchased the material of the Greenbacker, and started the Plymouth Independent as politically a neutral paper. During the campaign of 1896 overtures were made to Mr. Zimmerman by the republican county committee to issue the Independent as a republican daily, but the negotiations were not consummated. These negotiations coming to the knowledge of the editor of the Republican, that the making of the Independent a daily issue in the interest of the repub- lican party would be the deathknell of a republican daily issued from his office, concluded to take time by the forelock and issue a daily at once, and that was how the Daily Evening News came to be issued without previous announcement.
Mr. Zimmerman disposed of the material of his office to A. D. Smith, and not long afterwards Silas H. Joseph became proprietor ; then John C. Jilson ; after him Clinton H. Grube, and then J. C. Cully. Clay W. Metzker became proprietor in July, 1897, and employed Charles S. Price as city editor for some time. March 20, 1902, Mr. Metzker purchased the Plymouth Democrat, with which he consolidated the weekly and daily Independent, continuing the daily Independent as the daily edition of the Democrat.
The Restitution.
The Restitution is a religious paper of twenty-four columns, published by The Christian Publishing Association of Plymouth, Indiana. The printing and work on the paper for many years was done in the office of the Plymouth Democrat. It is now in its fifty-fourth volume, having formerly been published in Chicago, whence it was removed to Plymouth December 1, 1874, where it has since been issued. H. V. Reed, who brought the paper here from Chicago, was for a time the editor. He was followed by the
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late Elder S. A. Chaplin. It advocates "the restitution of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." For several years it has been published by and under the editorial management of A. R. Underwood, and is so published at the present time.
The Farmer's Monthly.
This was an octavo publication commenced in 1876 at Plymouth, Indiana, by H. V. Reed. It started out with a subscription of 700, and was in every respect an excellent publication. For want of sufficient support it was suspended some six months later.
The Church Monitor,
by Rev. J. J. Faude of the Episcopal church, Plymouth, was published about nine months in 1877. It was a quarto, neat in mechanical makeup, edited with tact and ability, but its field was limited and for want of sufficient support its publication was discontinued.
The Sunshine.
This was a Sunday-school paper started in 1876 by J. F. Wilcox, who at that time resided in Goodland, Indiana, in the interest of the Sunday- schools of the Christian church. It was printed at the Democrat office, and lived about a year, when it expired for want of financial nourishment.
The Plymouth Chronicle.
The first issue of the Plymouth Weekly Chronicle was published Decem- ber 3, 1902. The paper was started by Will M. Cochran, who came here from the Marion, Indiana, Chronicle. He had been a teacher in Tippecanoe and Walnut townships, Marshall county, and had an acquaintance which served him advantageously from the start. It was started as a republican paper, loyal to its party ticket, whether its editor happened to like the nominees or not, and has succeeded in securing its recognition by the leaders of the republican party as the organ of the party in Marshall county. The subscription price was fixed at $1, or $1.50 if not paid in advance. It was an eight-page, six-column paper, all printed at home. A daily was also started soon after the weekly, but was only published for a few months on account of an effort to run it on too high a standard to be supported by the people of the city.
In May, 1903, Mr. Cochran formed a stock company of some twenty or more republicans of the county, and this company continued the publica- tion until May, 1904. A few months prior to this Mr. Cochran left the paper as editor and was succeeded by Mr. Greely Davis, a former Marshall county man, who conducted the paper for the company until May.
On May 9, 1904, the plant and paper were acquired by Samuel E. Boys, of Shoals, Indiana, formerly of South Bend. Since that time he has con- ducted the publication of the paper, and no other person has had any owner- ship in it. The paper has been enlarged to a seven-column quarto, all printed at home, and January 1, 1908, the price was raised to $1.50 per year. The plant has always occupied the basement of the Sear block, at the corner of Michigan and La Porte streets, now owned by the bank of the Marshall County Trust and Savings Company.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Indiana Tocsin.
This was the title of a paper started at Mishawaka, and afterwards removed to La Porte. It was started by Wilbur F. Story, who later dis- tinguished himself as the editor of the Chicago Times. A copy of the Tocsin for February 5, 1847, has been inspected by the writer. It was a demo- cratic paper, and catered to the democrats of Marshall county for patronage. C. H. Reeve's card as attorney at law appears in the paper and a non-resident notice signed by Isaac How, clerk of Marshall county. In a somewhat lengthy article the editor announced that after the issue of two more num- bers of the Tocsin, for divers and sundry considerations the paper would be moved to Michigan City, where its name would be changed to the Mich- igan City News. The article is interesting as showing the condition of the newspaper field at that time, and as the editor tosses a bouquet at "glorious Marshall," the remainder of the article is copied as follows:
"Everyone must know that it is absolutely impossible for three papers to be supported in this county. As this paper gets nothing from the public crib, and there are but three or four business men here from whom but little job work and advertising is obtained, to live or not to live was the ques- tion presented to us. This is the only democratic paper in the three most northern counties in the state. We have nailed the democratic flag to the mast, and there we are determined it shall float as long as we have a shot in the locker. We are not willing to have it strangled by the Philistines. The peculiar situation and circumstances of this paper should induce every gen- erous democrat who would contribute his mite for the support of the prin- ciples of his party to subscribe and pay for it. With the exception of glorious Marshall-may her sunlight never be less-we are in an infected district ; whiggery, although at the last gasp, has a small majority, but large enough to deprive us of all public printing. There is not a political paper in this section but has from $200 to $500 worth of county printing, which, as it is cash, is equivalent to 200 subscribers, as there are ten chances to one if more than a fifth pay promptly. They think the printer can live altogether on faith. Some three-fourths of our subscribers are badly troubled with that kind of fever so famous for hanging on to newspaper patrons -the un-remitting fever we mean. But 'hope springs eternal in the human breast,' and we may get something yet!"
BOURBON'S NEWSPAPERS.
The Bourbon Independent.
The Bourbon Independent was established in 1865 by J. Frank Beck. It was a weekly paper, eight-column folio, independent in politics, with a leaning towards republicanism, although it announced that it was "inde- pendent in all things-neutral in nothing." It was conducted on the "pitch in" principle, and as a consequence it received only a meager patronage, and after a short and somewhat eventful career, it succumbed to financial embar- rassment, and the press and material were boxed up and shipped to Pierce- ton. Mr. Beck died November 29, 1875, at Cottonwood, Kansas, of con- sumption, at the age of thirty-nine years.
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Bourbon Mirror.
The publication of the Bourbon Mirror was commenced by Ignatius Mattingly, formerly of the Marshall County Republican, and William Geddes, his son-in-law, December 2, 1871, Mr. Mattingly assuming the editorial management of the paper. In his introductory to the reader he announced that the paper would be independent republican, but while it would firmly defend the principles of that party it would advocate purity of government, local and national, and would be prompt to expose all forms of corruption and dishonesty in the republican as well as the democratic party. And it was also promised that cliques and rings whose object might be to plunder the people or thwart their will in the selection of honest and competent nominees for office, would receive no favor or countenance. William Geddes retired from the paper October 24, 1872. Mr. Mattingly continued its pub- lication as sole proprietor until June 28, 1877, when his son, I. M. Mattingly, became associated in its publication and assumed the duties of local editor in addition to management of the mechanical department. Announcing the fact he said :
"With this number the imdersigned becomes assistant local editor of the Mirror. He does not flatter himself that the announcement will create much sensation, or be telegraphed to the city papers as an event marking an era in Bourbon journalism, but promises that he will devote his spare time to his new duties, and hopes to add somewhat to the interest of the paper, as well as an increase of patronage which is respectfully solicited." He continued as local editor until November 13, 1879, when he retired, having secured an interest in the Rochester Republican. The publication of the Mirror was continued by the elder Mattingly until about 1900, when he died. The Bourbon News, which had been started some time previously, absorbed the Mirror and the consolidated papers have since that time been published under the name of The Bourbon News-Mirror.
The Bourbon News
was started by C. M. and S. E. Harris some time in the 'gos. Diligent inquiry has failed to elicit any information in regard to its history. It was consolidated with the Mirror as above stated, and is now edited and pub- lished by S. E. Harris.
The Bourbon Democrat
was started in 1882 by Homer Melick and W. W. Mikels. It was also pub- lished for a time by Hillis & Langdon, and later by Peter Hahn, who discon- tinued it some time in 1884, since which time it has not been published.
The Bourbon Advance
was started about 1903 by A. R. Zimmerman, who continued to publish it until January, 1908, when he made the following announcement :
"The Advance will wind up its early existence on January 14, 1908, when we propose that its 'glim' shall be extinguished in a halo of glory ; for at that time we will issue a souvenir edition that in our humble opinion will be the finest ever issued in Bourbon or Marshall county. Each of our subscribers will receive a copy of this edition as a souvenir.
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"In the meantime we have completed arrangements with Mr. S. E. Harris, of the News-Mirror, to take all subscriptions paid in advance, con- tinuing them until the amount paid is liquidated. This was the only method we could see our way clearly to adopt, giving those who have upheld our hands a full return for their money.
"When we make our final bow, January 15th, we hope to cover our retreat in a manner befitting the fight we have made during the past five years."
BREMEN NEWSPAPERS.
Owing to many changes of proprietors, and being unable to find any one from whom the necessary information could be obtained upon which to write a connected history of the newspapers which have been published in Bremen since the first paper was issued from that town, the following sketch-the information gathered from many sources-must suffice :
The Bremen Clipper.
The first newspaper published in Bremen was the Bremen Clipper, published by the Macomber brothers, the first number of which was issued some time in 1872. It did not prove to be a paying investment, and after being published a short time was discontinued for want of sufficient pat- ronage to enable the publishers to pay expenses.
The Bremen Gazette
was started in 1876 by Charles W. Sweeney, in the interest of the demo- cratic party, but there did not seem to be a "long felt want" for a political paper in that region at that time, and, not receiving sufficient encouragement to justify its continuance, it was suspended not a great while afterwards.
The Bremen Banner
was started in 1878 by George and Lee Sunderland. Up to that time it was the first newspaper of any consequence that had been published in Bremen, and was fairly well patronized, but not sufficiently so to make it a paying investment, and after struggling along for about ten years it finally ceased to exist.
The Bremen Enquirer
was established in the spring of 1886 by Brook H. Bowman, who had learned the printer's trade in a Fort Wayne office. It was commenced as a seven-column folio, half printed at home; and this form was retained for several years, when it was changed to a six-column quarto, half printed at home. After conducting it a few years Mr. Bowman sold the office to Cale Sinninger, who conducted it until 1893, when he sold it back to Mr. Bow- man. Of all the editors Bremen has had Cale Sinninger has left the most vivid recollections of his editorial career of any that have flourished the edi- torial quill before or since his time. His peculiar style of editorial work was the sensational line, and he never let a good juicy piece of news pass without making the most of it. In his peculiar line he was a racy writer, and worked up a considerable circulation for his paper among those who delighted in that sort of literature and who did not care for the more
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prosaic way of writing up passing events. In 1893, Sinninger sold it back to Bowman again, who conducted it until 1902, when he sold it to Charles Scott, who conducted it as an independent paper until November 4, 1907, when he sold it to Otto Fries, who is now continuing it as a neutral paper. Politically the Enquirer has always been neutral, but has enjoyed a good measure of popularitý as a local newspaper. It has kept pace with the march of improvement, and is now equipped with power presses and all the other machinery necessary to carry on the business in a satisfactory manner to its patrons.
Carrier's Address.
In the early history of the newspapers of Marshall county it was the custom of the editors to have a carrier's address prepared and published as a new year's gift to their subscribers. Before the writer is a carrier's address clipped from the Marshall County Republican of January 1, 1858. In those days the papers were delivered to town subscribers by a carrier boy, and to recompense him for his services the publisher secured someone to write a lot of doggerel, which was supposed to be poetry, and called it "The Carrier's Address." The particular address in question was run off in colors on paper of convenient size for framing ; and on January Ist of each year the carrier boy visited the subscribers living in town and offered his address for sale. He. usually received twenty-five cents apiece for them, and when he had gone the rounds he generally had his pockets full of quarters as pay for his year's labor.
This address gave a review of the noted occurrences, foreign, in the nation and state, and so on down to county and town. It was a very prolific document ; in fact it was so lengthy that it required more than a column of fine type to contain it all. The author, whose identity was carefully con- cealed, opened his poem in the orient, where he picked up a harp, which prior to that time had been untouched by any mortal hand, and, having "sighed into music," "diffused sweet accents through the favored land;" he then turned his lyre (liar ) to the "overthrow of kings and the downfall of Greece and Rome, and the march of the Pilgrim band" to "where Columbia's waters wash her smiling strand !" Here he built up a great nation, and then passed on rapidly to the consideration of the "pigmy statesmen" of that time who were said to belong to the democratic party. That was in the palmy days of Gov. Ashbel P. Willard, than whom the state never had a more distinguished statesman, whom the poet called "Bloated Willard," and Graham N. Fitch and Jesse D. Bright, and "Old Buck" (Pres. Buchanan ), and Stephen A. Douglas, and wound up with a tearful reference to "Bleed- ing Kansas."
From here the poet turned to nobler themes and paid a glowing tribute to "our sweet, lovely village," and offered his annual tribute to "our illus- trious village!" He spoke feelingly of the great fire of 1857 that destroyed much of the town "with liquid flame consuming !" But the most interesting part of this most interesting address was directed at the Democrat, which seems from some cause to have been the particular object of the poet's animosity. As a matter of great historical importance it is given here in full, as follows :
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HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY.
The Marshall County Democrat grows gradually small, And beautifully less by degrees, And if they don't take the little thing in I am really afraid it will freeze ! Its friends have been rallying all of their wits, To get up a bit of a breeze,
But its patrons hung on like death to their "bits,"
So they chopped the "thing" off to the knees.
First Editorial Meeting.
The first editorial meeting ever held in northern Indiana, or more than likely in the state, was held at Plymouth, Indiana, June 14, 1859. In the Democrat of May 12, 1859, the following announcement appeared :
"At the request of the editors at La Porte and Valparaiso, and other places, there will be a convention of the editors of northern Indiana, held at Plymouth, June 14, 1859."
The next week the following notice was published :
Editorial Convention.
The undersigned respectfully request the editors and ex-editors of northern Indiana to meet in convention at Plymouth, June 14, 1859, for the purpose of consulting upon and adopting such measures as may be thought necessary for the benefit of the craft. It is earnestly hoped that every press in northern Indiana will be represented :
JAMES L. ROCK
WHEELER & SUMMERS JOHN MILLIKAN
C. G. POWELL
J. C. WALKER
SCHUYLER COLFAX
B. B. ROOT
DANIEL MCDONALD
I. MATTINGLY
PLATT MCDONALD
REUB WILLIAMS
CHAS. K. SHRYOCK
SHAFER & DAVIS R. A. CAMERON
A. C. THOMPSON
The issue of the paper following the holding of the convention stated that "it proved to be a more interesting gathering than was anticipated by the fraternity. There were twenty-eight delegates in attendance, repre- senting twenty-three papers."
Dr. E. W. H. Ellis, of Goshen, delivered an address replete with good. wholesome, practical truths, which was spoken of in the highest terms of praise. The proceedings were stenographically reported by W. H. Drapier, of the South Bend Forum.
From the stenographic report of Mr. Drapier the following extracts are made as being of special historic interest to the newspapers everywhere :
"Agreeably to an understanding between them, a number of editors and publishers residing in the northern portion of the state of Indiana assem- bled in Westervelt's hall, Plymouth, the county seat of Marshall county, on Tuesday, June 14, 1859. The convention was called to order by I. Mat- tingly, of the Marshall County Republican, upon whose motion Col. John C. Walker, of the La Porte Times, was chosen president."
On taking the chair Col. Walker made an excellent speech of a column in length, after which, on motion of Dr. Cameron of the Valparaiso Repub- lican, I. Mattingly of the Marshall County Republican, was elected vice-
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president ; Peter P. Bailey of the Fort Wayne Republican, and Daniel McDonald of the Marshall County Democrat, were named as secretaries.
On motion of Schuyler Colfax, of the St. Joseph Valley Register, the names of delegates were called for and the following gentlemen reported as present :
Marshall County-I. Mattingly and D. T. Phillips, Marshall County Republican; Daniel McDonald and Platt McDonald, Marshall County Demo- crat.
Allen County-John W. Dawson, Fort Wayne Times; Sol. D. Bayless, Indiana Freemason; Peter P. Bailey, Fort Wayne Republican.
DeKalb County-T. Y. Dickenson, Waterloo Press.
Elkhart County-E. W. H. Ellis, Goshen Times.
Huntington County -- A. C. Thompson, Huntington Democrat.
Kosciusko County-Reuben Williams and James H. Carpenter, North- ern Indianian.
La Grange County-C. D. Y. Alexander, La Grange Sentinel. Steuben County-M. G. Muggs, Steuben Republican.
Whitley County-Isaiah B. McDonald, Columbia City News.
Fulton County-Charles K. Shryock, Rochester Gasette.
Lake County-Z. T. Summers, Crown Point Register.
La Porte County-B. B. Root, La Porte Daily Union; John Millikan, Weekly Union; John C. Walker and Henry Higgins, La Porte Times; Charles G. Powell, Westville Herald.
Porter County-J. L. Rock and S. R. Bryant, Porter Democrat ; R. A. Cameron and Thompson, Valparaiso Republican.
St. Joseph County-Schuyler Colfax, St. Joseph County Register; W. H. Drapier, South Bend Forum; Archibald Beal, Mishawaka Enterprise.
Ex-Editors in Attendance.
Porter County-J. F. McCarty.
La Porte County-Richard Holmes.
Marshall County-Richard Corbaley, M. A. O. Packard, Wm. J. Burns and I. B. Halsey.
Committee on Resolutions.
On motion of Dr. Cameron the following committee on resolutions was appointed :
R. A. Cameron, Sol. D. Bayless, Schuyler Colfax, James L. Rock and E. W. H. Ellis.
The committee reported a series of resolutions, the first of which was as follows :
"Resolved, That we, the editors of northern Indiana, for the first time assembled in a convention, irrespective of party, and recognizing that much of the influence and position of the profession depend on our own conduct, do hereby recommend to each other, and to all our associates, the practice of the courtesies and virtues so admirably delineated in the oration we have this day heard."
They also recommended the members to curtail as far as possible the credit system, and urged settlements of accounts at least annually ; that patent medicine advertisements should be charged same rates as local advertise-
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ments, and pay in advance exacted; that the legislature should provide for the publication of all laws which affect the people in all the papers of the state at such rate as the legislature might determine; and that it was expe- dient to form a permanent organization to be composed of the editors and publishers of northern Indiana; and thereupon a committee to draft a con- stitution and by-laws was appointed, consisting of D. T. Phillips, P. P. Bailey and W. H. Drapier.
Schuyler Colfax offered a resolution of thanks to Col. Walker, the presiding officer, for his able address and the impartial manner in which he had performed his duties, upon which he made one of his happiest off- hand speeches, the report of which covered half a column. The resolution was adopted, after which the association adjourned to meet in Fort Wayne the first Monday in May, 1860.
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