History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 36

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123

USA > Indiana > Dearborn County > History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 36

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CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY JOURNALISM.

The early editors of the county papers labored under many disadvantages that present-day editors escape. There were no metropolitan papers in those days. The editor of the Palladium felt himself entirely on a par with the Cincinnati or Louisville editor. He received by mail his Washington news and gave up his first page. and sometimes part of his second, to it. If the Legislature was in session, the balance of the second and part of the third might be expected to be taken. His editorials were carefully prepared and were of the same character as those with a larger field. The ordinary things of every-day life right at home did not concern him much. His field was the world and he handed out the information as to what was going on, to- gether with his viewpoint in regard to its interpretation. The last of the third page would be devoted to advertisements, sheriffs' and other official publications. while the last page would be filled with choice literary gems of poetry or prose, as the editor felt disposed, followed, in perhaps the last col- umn and a half, with matters of national importance, and international affairs

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were discussed freely. The affairs of Europe were placed before its readers and the reader of a county newspaper in those days was kept better posted on European political matters than any reader of the metropolitan papers before the present war commenced.

LAWRENCEBURG PRESS.

In October, 1850. the first number of a paper, called the Independent Press, was issued by Henry L. Brown and James E. Goble, its editor being Oliver B. Torbett. It was a seven-column folio. In 1851 the plant was pur- chased by W. W. Hibben, who, after a short experience, disposed of it, on June 9, 1852, to James P. Chew. Later on, Chew sold out to Edward F. Sibley, the owner of the Aurora Standard. A year or so afterward, the Press was revived by R. D. Brown, who was followed by Thompson Brothers. afterwards of Greensburg. The paper seemed to have rather a precarious existence for several years. But, in June, 1864, Lyman Knapp issued the paper in the name of the Union Press. The Press was strictly loyal, support- ing the cause of the Union warmly, and urging that the war be vigorously prosecuted and slavery wiped out. This sheet was again purchased by James P. Chew in 1867 and the name changed to the Lawrenceburg Press. Mr. Chew conducted the Press until June 27, 1878, when he sold it to James E. Larimer. Mr. Larimer possessed a vigorous pen. His editorials were fear- less and few cared to cross lances with him. He kept up a running fire against things he deemed wrong from his first assuming charge until he laid down the weapons in 1893. In that year he disposed of his outfit to Edward S. Smashey, who continued its publication alone for several years, but some two years later sold a half interest to Union Banner Hall. Since that time the paper has had a varied experience. Hall disposed of his interest to Archi- bald Shaw, who continued until January, 1910, when George J. Cravens pur- chased the entire plant, enlarging and building it up; but, after two years of editorial work, he sold it to Albert F. Geisert, who scarcely acknowledged his ownership until he disposed of it to William G. Glover, the present owner. The Press has had a varied existence. In its earlier years it struggled for existence, but managed to keep up a semblance of life until the time of Lyman Knapp in 1864. From that time until the present it has been at the front as a vigorous, active publication, advocating the principles of the Republican party, while the Register has been equally as vigorous in its support of the Democratic party. In 1894 John Fichter, a former attache of the Press,

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started a paper called the New's. It is issued by him weekly and is independent in its political affiliations.

AURORA NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper published in Aurora was called the Indiana Signal. and was edited by L. C. Hastings. It was issued through the campaign of 1836 and closed its labors when the campaign for President closed with the election of Martin Van Buren. In 1839 a paper, called the Dearborn Demo- crat. was established in Aurora by the Aurora printing company. It was edited by Alexander E. Glenn and the paper was kept going until the cam- paign of 1840 closed. During that campaign it was edited by C. W. Hutchins. who. after the election. removed the plant to Lawrenceburg. In 1846 Nimrod Lancaster started a paper. called the Il'cstern Republican, in Lawrenceburg. The following year he removed it to Aurora. It was started as an independ- ent paper, but. in November. 1847. it appeared with Lancaster and John B. Hall as editors and announced its support of Zachary Taylor for President. In 1848 it changed hands and was called the I'estern Commercial, being pub- lished by N. W. Folbre and W. H. Murphy. It was neutral in politics and religion. In 1851 the paper became the property of Messrs. Root & Bowers and the name was changed to the Aurora Standard, with Whig politics. These gentlemen kept it for only a short time, when they sold out to their foreman. Edward F. Sibley, who continued its publication until 1857. when the paper suspended. In 1859 the Aurora Commercial was issued by W. H. Nelson, who continued it until 1861. when Edward F. Sibley again took it in charge. conducting it until 1868. when the business was taken over by John Cobb. The business was then organized into a stock company, with twenty-four members. and the name of the paper was changed to the Dearborn Independent. In April. 1873, L. W. Cobb purchased the paper and its good will and from that time until his death, in 1912, continued to edit and publish it. Since the death of Mr. Cobb his widow. Mrs. L. W. Cobb, has continued its publication very successfully.

CHANGED CONDITIONS.

County newspapers now occupy quite a different position in relation to their subscribers and the public than did the papers of the twenties and thirties. Now, a paper may announce that it supports the Democratic or the Repub- lican party in its salutatory and gladly receive all the public business its party

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can give on account of being victorious at the polls, but a careful scrutiny of its editorial column (if it has any) will fail to find any word of defense of the party. In those former days it was quite the contrary. The editor was supposed to use his pen largely to defend the principles of his own party and to attack any and all weak places in the armor of the opposite party. The paper was the exponent of party policies and principles. The opponents of Jackson stood ready to criticize the Jacksonian policy, while Jackson's friends were ready to attack the opposition. Politics were then somewhat mixed. Calhoun was pushing his nullification ideas. while many were warmly opposed to it, seeing nothing but wreck ahead should it be pushed to its logical con- clusion. Personal politics was very common. An editor would feel perfectly free to criticise a brother editor. using all the invectives his vocabulary would admit. The public would lock on in delighted admiration and both editors would count it a good advertising medium-part of their equipment. Such quarrels scarcely ever extended beyond the editorial rooms. Perhaps they would be good friends all the while, but each took delight in seeing how much vituperation could be used in assailing his opponent in business. This has all passed away and a better conception of the duties of the newspaper and what the editor owes to his patrons has prevailed.

A TYPICAL PIONEER NEWSPAPER.

To gain some idea of a county newspaper of the pioneer days, a copy of the Indiana Palladium, issued December 9, 1826, edited by J. Spencer and D. V. Culley, has on its first page an account of the hardships of the early settlers in Kentucky from 1779 to 1781, and a campaign against the Indian town of Chillicothe, near where the town of the same name is now located in Ohio; an account of an Indian attack on a settler's house, which was driven away by the family, with great loss; some two or three clippings from other journals. The second page has an article on the extremely rapid growth of the postoffice department and the article states that thirty-six years previous (in 1790) there were only seventy-five postoffices in the whole United States and that the number now ( 1826) exceeds six thousand five hundred. The second page also has a lot of news from Europe, taking up a column; a column on General Bolivar, the liberator of Bolivia; a short account of Sir John Franklin being heard from on his Arctic expedition at Great Bear lake; an article on the deplorable condition of Greece and two items of news from New York City. The third, or editorial, page starts out with the announce-

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ment that "The early period in the week in which the mail leaves the seat of government precludes any information from the Legislature at present. In our next we shall probably be able to give our readers some information on that head." On this page also appear the new Orleans markets of November II, 1826; a steamboat accident opposite the mouth of Big Bone creek, when the steamboat "Union" burst a boiler, killing four persons and badly scalding seven ; the passengers were brought up to Cincinnati by the "General Marion." the wounded being left at farm houses near the scene of the accident; the editor has an editorial on taxes. They also discussed the temperance question in the following manner: "Ardent Spirits The members of a convention which lately met in Vermont voted not to have ardent spirits in their houses except as medicine." The editor says, "The above reminds us of an anecdote we once heard of a senator in one of the state legislatures, who, like many other spirited speakers, had occasion to use a little of the vivifying medicine. He whispered to the doorkeeper of the House, that he wished him to furnish for his use, every day a bottle of good Holland, and let it be charged among the contingent expenses of the state. 'But, ah,' said the doorkeeper, 'there is no provision by law to authorize such a charge.' 'Nonsense,' cried the legis- lator ; 'just stick it under the head of fuel.'"

The second column has an article on Texas, taken from a paper called the Arkansas Gasette, of October 10. Some South American news follows: then a half column of Cincinnati market reports; "sugar, New Orleans, 9 cents; Havanna, white, 17 cents; loaf and lump, 19 cents; Salt, Turks Island, $1 per bushel: Kenawha, at the river, 28 cents; in store, 33 cents." Thomas Longley, sheriff of Dearborn county, has three legal notices of sheriff's sales. John B. Carrington has a short notice that he cannot attend to the gunsmith- ing which he had previously announced he was prepared to carry on. Daniel Bartholomew, justice of the peace in Aurora, announces two stray mares taken up, which he makes in two separate notices. The editor advertises fif- teen or twenty cords of wood wanted, immediately-or at such periods through the winter as will suit the purchaser-for which a liberal price will be paid. Enquire at the printing office. He also announces that "Pork will be taken at this office in payment of subscriptions to the paper, if delivered in twenty days."

Edward Ferris and Daniel Hagerman have a legal ad., stating that they have been appointed administrators of the estate of Andrew Armstrong, late of Dearborn county. Israel Noyes announces he has been appointed admin- istrator of the estate of Israel Noyes, and William Brundridge, justice of the

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peace, announces that Charles Dawson, of Logan township, has taken up a stray sorrel horse. Walden & McNeely announce a dissolution of partnership. The last page has "A Man's a Man for a' That," five stanzas; clippings from other papers take up most of the page. The board of county supervisors, John Porter, president, and James Dill, secretary, publish a report of the re- ceipts and expenditures of the county for the year ending November 25, 1826. After showing the various items, it summarizes as follows: Total expenses, $3, 102.5674 ; receipts, $2,224.0574 ; leaving a debt of $878.51. N. G. Howard has a card announcing that he is a counsellor at law, with office on High street opposite the clerk's office. Dr. J. B. Pinckard offers his pro- fessional services to the public of Dearborn county, Indiana, and Boone county, Kentucky, with an office on High street, below the market house. Dr. H. J. Bowers announces that he will be found at his office on High street, opposite to the Palladium printing office. Baxter Davis and Daniel Brown announce that they have commenced business in the mercantile line under the name and style of Davis & Brown, at their old stand, formerly occupied by Brown as a dry goods store, where they have, and intend keeping, a large and general assortment of seasonable goods, which they will sell low for cash or country produce. They will also pay cash for pork delivered in any quan- tity on, or before, the first of January next.

A PAUPER FOR SALE.

In a number of the Western Statesman, published by Milton Gregg, March 17, 1830. he announces the subscription price to be two dollars and fifty cents per year or two dollars cash in advance. John McPike was the president of the town council and advertises that sealed bids will be received for constructing a wharf and harbor between Walnut and Short streets. John P. Dunn, recorder, gives notice that an election will be held on the evening of the first Monday in April. 1830, to elect a president and five select council- men for the incorporated town of Lawrenceburg. John Vattier, M. D., tenders his services as a physician to the citizens of Aurora and vicinity. Dr. Ezra Ferris and M. F. Ferris offer their professional services to the public-"Dr. M. E. Ferris, residence on High street: Dr. Ezra Ferris, residence four miles west on the Indianapolis road." Samuel Morrison announces that he will be a candidate for the office of county clerk. and John Spencer offers himself as a candidate for sheriff. The overseers of the poor give notice that on May I, in front of the market house, they will offer a pauper for sale to the highest

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bidder. A two-column article clipped from the Saturday Evening Post, on the "Happy Influence of Female Character," is on the last page.

Arthur St. Clair Vance and Thomas B. Pinckard advertise an adminis- trator's sale of the personal estate of Samuel C. Vance, deceased, consisting of household furniture, twenty-five or thirty head of hogs, a lot of corn, ten or eleven head of horses and cattle. The editor has an editorial on the debate in Congress on the tariff laws and says, "Van Buren and Calhoun were pre- paring to destroy the protecting system."

W. H. Harrison advertises "for sale one hundred and fifty acres of land in the Horse-Shoe Bend of the Miami." Jabez Percival gives notice that the Medical Society will meet at the office of the president. Jacob Blasdel adver- tises his "Grist Mill For Sale" at Cambridge, July 31, 1830. Reuben Graves, president of the board of trustees of the Petersburg ( Kentucky) Academy, advertises "First session open August 16, 1830. Tuition, ten dollars per ses- sion. Curriculum calls for teaching Latin, Greek. French, Hebrew and Span- ish. Rev. Wallace Danton will have charge of the classical department." In an issue of the Statesman of June 17, 1831, T. B. Pinckard, principal, adver- tises "The Washington Agricultural School." Site of college is twenty-five acres on the Ohio river adjacent to Lawrenceburg. He advertises "Boarding on the premises, with rooms for some forty or more," and that the twenty- five acres will be turned into a botanical garden, where the principles of agriculture will be taught from nature.

The Statesman is warm for a protective system and critical of General Jackson, a warm friend of Henry Clay and has little good to say of Martin Van Buren. The advertising paid little attention to display, but to a mere statement of facts the advertiser wished to publish. It was supposed that read- ing matter was so scarce that display type was not necessary, as the readers would find it. It was a waste of space.

In 1832 Charles F. Clarkson became editor of the Western Statesman. He was an able man and afterwards developed to be the leading journalist and editorial writer of Iowa, while his son became still more widely known as a leader of the Republican party. The March 23, 1832, copy of his paper has for its first page material a poem that lambasts Martin Van Buren; an- other, on the marriage of Levi Williams and Miss Nancy Twenty-Canoes, a member of the Tuscarora tribe of Indians. The other five columns are taken up with an open letter from Mr. Holmes refusing to accept the renomination for the United States Senate from the state of Maine. The second page has the Twenty-second of February address of Daniel Webster, delivered

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at a banquet at Barnard's hotel in Washington; nearly two columns of foreign news and a column of Congressional doings. The third page has at the head of the first column, "For President, Henry Clay, of Kentucky; for Vice-Presi- dent, John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania." There is a lengthy sketch of the decision of the supreme court in regard to the treatment the state of Georgia had given the Cherokee Indians and some missionaries. About two columns are devoted to advertising, in which W. S. Durbin, father of Ex-Governor W. T. Durbin, announces that he has a fine bullock, weighing perhaps twelve hundred pounds, that he will offer for sale at the market house. L. W. Johnson has some cranberries, just from the Upper Wabash country, for sale. John Palmerton, acting colonel, has an order for the mustering of the militia. The First Battalion shall meet at the residence of Oliver Heustis, on the 5th day of May; the Second Battalion shall meet in the public square in Law- renceburg. The Thirty-fifth Regiment shall meet for muster at the home of Jacob Dils, September 7. and at the same place on the 6th of October for muster, inspection and review.

A copy of the same paper, dated October 12, 1832, gives an account of a county meeting of the National Republican party at Rising Sun, October 6, when Pinckney James presided, John Gray and Martin Stewart were vice- presidents, and Daniel S. Majors was secretary. The committee on resolu- tions was Milton Gregg, chairman; Shadrach Wilber, Thomas Tanner, Ezra Ferris and Arthur St. Clair Vance. Doctor Ferris read an address and one thousand copies of it were ordered printed for distribution. They had pretty much the same sort of a political organization in those days as now, but it went under a different name. A so-called vigilance committee was appointed for each township, and those from some of the upper townships were as follow : Lawrenceburg, Ezekiel Jackson, William Hamilton, James Thompson, Walter Hayes and Hamlet Sparks; Logan township, James McLure, Doctor Smith, John Hansell, Moses Hornaday and Robert Bradshaw; Kelso township, An- drew Anderson, Jonathan Lewis, James Godney, Robert Rowe, Jr., and Will- iam S. Ward; from Jackson township, Richard Hughs, William Lynass, George Lynass, William White and Joseph White. The paper went on to say that, notwithstanding the Methodists had a big gathering and it was muster-day at Rising Sun, the crowd in attendance on the convention was very large.

In one of the issues of the paper of 1832 the editor publishes, in full, President Jackson's proclamation on the action of South Carolina in endeavor- ing to nullify the laws of the United States and in another issue the proclama-

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tion of Governor Hayne, of South Carolina, denouncing Jackson as a tyrant and urging the people of South Carolina to stand firm and pay no attention to the usurper. The country seemed to be much stirred up over the question and the true meaning of a strong central government seemed to be much con- fused among the statesman of the times. The Statesman also has an extract from an issue of the Charleston (South Carolina) Mercury, which breathed out all kinds of threats and promulgations against President Jackson. Clark- son, in his editorials, although opposed to Jackson, stood firm for his action in the nullification matter. And Webster's speech at the banquet indorses Jackson's action unequivocally. Journalism had a good field for an able editor just then and the call for able men developed such as Clarkson into a leader in after years.

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CHAPTER XXX.

CHURCHES OF DEARBORN COUNTY.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

The churches of Dearborn county have done more for the upbuilding of society in the county than any other one element. From the first, the settlers were God-fearing people. The church grew with the population. When the first pioneers erected their log cabins, the next thing that was done was to establish the church. The earliest of the churches to obtain a foothold in the county were the Methodists. Since that church was first planted in this coun- try, some one hundred and thirty years ago, Methodism has kept an even pace with the onward march of emigration. The first log cabin had hardly been roofed and the first smoke ascended from its chimney, till the fearless Methodist circuit rider, with his faithful horse and his saddle bags, Bible and hymn book, was there to share its hospitality. Unbroken forests possessed no «langers that he was afraid to face. Wild animals, raging streams, perils from the Indians or from hunger, left him undaunted. They never waited to be urged to preach the Gospel to the settlers, but, before the trees were felled, before the ground was cleared, or the first crop harvested, they were here and would collect the widely-scattered pioneers to some private house, where the bread of life would be broken to them and an organization effected. Dearborn county was in what was then called the Miami circuit when it became a county, and Elisha W. Bowman was said to have been the pastor in charge. The cir- cuit was extensive and the pastor was kept busy riding from one preaching place to another. William Burk, the presiding elder, came around every three months, when special services would be held. The people would lay aside their everyday affairs and spend two or three days in attending the meetings. Dur- ing the years 1802 and 1803, when James Hamilton and Captain Vance were busy with their plan of a city in Lawrenceburg, and when Ephraim Morrison and his sturdy family were looking about for land that they could own, after being robbed of the fruits of their labor at the mouth of Hogan creek, Rev. John Sale and Joseph Oglesby were the pastors, Sale as the senior, and (25)

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Oglesby the junior preacher, in charge of the Miami circuit. Captain Vance had scarcely selected a name for the city, that was to be, before these enter- prising men camped in the place and began to look about with an eye to the opportunities for securing a building for holding religious services. These two men were succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Lakin and Rev. Joshua Riggin in the years 1805 and 1806. In 1806 the name of the circuit was changed from Miami to the Whitewater circuit. and Thomas Hellums and Sela Paine were the preachers in charge. John Sale, one of the former pastors, was sent to the people as the presiding elder. Presiding elders served then for four years in one district, and the preachers in charge were changed every year. In 1807 Joseph Williams and Hezekiah Shaw were sent to the Whitewater circuit, and 'were followed, in 1808, by Hector Sanford and Moses Crume. Following these were Samuel H. Thomson and Thomas Nelson.

About this time the name of the district was changed and, while before this it was attached to the Ohio conference and the Ohio district, it was now re- organized and the district was called the Miami district, Whitewater circuit, of Indiana. The circuit was reduced in size, so that it was thought that one man could look after the congregations and Moses Crume was appointed its preacher in charge again, with Solomon Langdon as presiding elder.

In 1811 the circuit was again changed to the Lawrenceburg circuit, with Walter Griffith, pastor. He was succeeded by William Dixon and Moses Crume again followed Dixon, and Samuel Parker was presiding elder. In 1814 John Strange was sent to Lawrenceburg as the pastor in charge, and John Sale became the presiding elder; both of them were men of great ability as pulpit orators.

In 1816 Russell Bigelow (later a bishop) and Allen Wiley were in charge of the circuit and district and the following year Allen Wiley was returned to the circuit. In the fall of 1817, John Sale was made presiding elder, relieving Moses Crume, whose name disappears from the list of appointments for this part of the country. Moses Crume was presiding elder on the Miami circuit and three different times was he pastor of the church in Dearborn county.

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History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 36

Author: Archibald Shaw Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1123

Author: Archibald Shaw
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1123