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504
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
1856. Spear Denison & Company-printed the directory ; Baer & Company ad- vertised the Hartford Bookstore at 168 Superior street.
1857. Directory compiled by William V. Boyd.
1859-60. Directory published by J. S. Williston & Company ; eleven firms sell- ing books ; Fairbanks, Benedict & Company, publishers and proprietors of "The Herald," also book and job printing.
CHAPTER LV.
NEWSPAPERS.
It is quite impossible to give even a list of all the newspapers that have been started in Cleveland. In the days of the hand press it took but little capital to begin a paper and itinerant printers wandered from town to town seeking favor- able locations for setting up their press and championing some cause, for these early efforts were often fiercely partisan in the cause of religion, politics or mor- als. Most of these papers failed within a year, sometimes they lived two or three years. Frequently several of them were purchased by the same proprietors and amalgamated. And in a few instances in our city, the enterprise and persistence of the editors prevailed against the years and established journals of power and wide influence.
The history of Cleveland's journalism can naturally be divided into several groups. First, the transients, the ephemera, who scarcely had their ambitious wings spread to the air, when destiny cut their career. Only the names of these papers survive, often the editors and publishers share a less kindly fate and are entirely forgotten. Second, the papers representing special interests. Third, the foreign papers that have more recently multiplied in the city. And finally the successful papers that have contributed for many years, more or less worthily, always potently, to the life of the city.
Among the short lived papers must be enumerated Cleveland's first news- paper, "The Cleveland Gazette and Commercial Register." Its first issue ap- peared on Friday, July 31, 1818. It was a tiny sheet of four pages, edited by Andrew Logan, said to have been a lineal descendant of the noted Mingo chief, Logan. He had come from Beaver, Pennsylvania, laboriously carrying his press and type with him. His type were so worn that they were almost illegible. The paper was a weekly, but often its regular days of publication were delayed by lack of paper. Thus on December 8, 1818, the editor tells his patrons that they need not expect any more copies until he returns from a trip to the nearest paper sup- ply. This took him two weeks. He was often compelled to print on half-sheets. November 9, 1819, C. V. J. Hickox was associated with Logan. On March 21, 1820, "The Gazette and Register" was discontinued. It probably succumbed to the serious competition of the newly established "Herald." 1
In 1827 the whigs of this county established "The Advertiser," a daily paper, with Madison Kelley, an able man, as editor. The Hon. John W. Allen, a worthy
1 See "Herald," Vol. I, No. 20.
:
1
From photograph courtesy (. M. Fairbanks
A. W. Fairbanks
J. A. Harris
George A. Benedict
J. H. A. Bone
Edwin W. Cowles
R. C. Parsons GROUP OF NEWSPAPER MEN
Joseph Medill
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
and energetic public man, for some years in congress, wrote the initiatory editorial, and the new journal seemed launched on a prosperous career. It was purchased some time later by the "Plain Dealer," and became violently anti whig. But the whigs were not to be outdone. On August 20, 1834, L. L. Rice, of the "Ohio Star," started the "Cleveland Whig." He associated with him a Mr. Penniman, and under the name of Rice & Penniman, one hundred and twenty-two numbers were issued, when the paper was sold, December 17, 1836, to Whittlesey & Lewis. In the summer of 1836 Colonel Charles Whittlesey established the "Daily Gazette." This paper he amalgamated with the "Cleveland Whig" under the name of "Cleveland Weekly and Daily Gazette." On March 18, 1837, this paper was consolidated with the "Herald" and published as the "Cleveland Herald and Gazette."
In May, 1836, "The Cleveland Messenger" was started by Beck & Tuttle. It died within the year.
On May 26, 1836, the first paper on the west side was published, "The Ohio City Argus" by T. H. Smead and Lyman W. Hall. It was mildly whiggish. Hall withdrew in 1836 and Smead published and edited the paper. He was a splendid craftsman, a man of unusual ability and one of the best printers in the city, be- coming associated later with Mr. Cowles as Smead & Cowles. In 1838 its name was changed to the "Ohio City Transcript." It was discontinued in 1839.
On September 10, 1836, the Cleveland "Liberalist" was issued by Dr. Samuel Underhill as editor and proprietor. It was "devoted to free enquiry"2 but was looked upon as an infidel sheet. It lived scarcely a year. In July, 1836, Rev. S. I. Broadstreet, a Presbyterian clergyman, issued "The Cleveland Journal," a religious journal. The following year Rev. O. P. Hoyt became editor, when it was consolidated with the "Observer," at Hudson. The paper was published in this city under the name "Cleveland Observer;" in 1840 it was removed to Hudson and the name again changed to "The Ohio Observer." In 1838 "The Daily Commercial Intelligencer," edited by Benjamin Andrews, was born and died.
The Tippecanoe campaign of 1840 brought forth "The Axe," a partisan paper, issued from April 23 until after the election. The log cabin ensignia was conspicuous on the front page, and campaign slogans and songs, rough and original, filled its columns. Two other papers began and perished in the year 1840. "The Christian Statesman" or "Christian Whig," the name seems to be in doubt, issued only one copy. "The Cleveland Agitator," an anti-slavery organ, lasted less than a year.
In 1841 Gage Mortimer Shippen began an independent paper called "The Daily Morning News." The Rev. Mr. Butts began an abolition paper "The Pal- ladium of Liberty," and David L. Wood started "The Eagle-Eyed News-Catcher," a daily. The "Daily Morning Mercury," edited by Calvin Hall, and the "Mothers and o Yung Ladies Guide," edited by Mrs. M. M .Herrick, were also started in 1841. All these papers lived less than one year.
From 1842-44 the "Cleveland Gatherer," a weekly paper, edited by E. B. Fisher, flourished.
2 City Directory, 1836.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
In 1843 the Millerites published "The Second Adventist" under the man- agement of T. H. Smead. The paper died with the futile hopes of its sub- scribers for the Second Advent.
In 1844 the "Ohio American," a liberty party sheet, was established. In 1848 it united with the "True Democrat," which later became amalgamated with the "Leader." R. B. Dennis was editor of the "American" which was published on the west side. Dennis was a man of considerable ability, and in 1870 was speaker of the Ohio house of representatives.
The campaign of 1844 brought forth the "Declaration of Independence," pub- lished by T. H. Smead, edited by Quintus F. Atkins. It was a vehement anti- slavery sheet, supporting Birney. At the end of the campaign its publication ceased.
In 1845 Peter Baxter started the "Cleveland Weekly Times" with Horace Steele as editor. The "Plain Dealer" bought it in 1848. The "Ohio Universalist and Literary Companion," a weekly, was also started on a brief career of about two years, with George H. Emeron as editor.
The "Western Reserve Magazine of Agriculture and Horticulture" was be- gun in February, 1845. It was a monthly published by M. C. Younglove. F. R. Elliott, a nurseryman, who owned a flourishing nursery on Detroit road, a mile and a half from the city, was the editor. The magazine lasted but a year.
September 10, 1845, "The Cleveland Times" was first issued by H. Steele and P. Baxter, publishers and proprietors. At first it was published as a weekly, every Wednesday. Later it was also issued as a daily. In April, 1846, R. Had- dock replaced Steele in the partnership. The paper was published in the Phoenix building. It was extremely partisan and proclaimed itself as a paper that "shall fearlessly maintain the true principles of Jeffersonian democracy and which will not vacillate in its course or truckle to political opponents for mercenary pur- poses." It was discontinued between 1848 and 1849.
The first issue of the "Daily True Democrat" was printed on January 13, 1847. E. S. Hamlin and E. L. Stevens were the editors. It was a morning paper devoted to freesoil and abolition, and unalterably opposed to the democratic party. The name was used purely in its descriptive, not its partisan sense. T. G. Turner became sole proprietor and junior editor, and in August 1848, Hamlin retired to go to Columbus to take charge of a freesoil paper with his "heart fixed on re- deeming our country from the bondage of slavery." In 1848 the paper was devoted to Van Buren and Adams. In November, 1848, James A. Biggs was made editor, to be followed in April, 1849, by John C. Vaughn, who in turn was suc- ceeded by Thomas Browne. He purchased the paper of Turner in May, 1849, and tried to make an afternoon daily of it, but was not very successful. Vaughn, a prominent freesoil politician, was recalled to the editorship and was assisted in 1851 by George Bradburn. In 1852 the paper was enlarged and three editions were issued, weekly, tri-weekly and daily. In 1853 it was consolidated with "The Forest City" and published by Gray, Medill & Cowles, on their steam press, north side of Superior street just below the old Johnson house. Later the "Leader" absorbed the paper.
"The 'True Democrat' was published for principles and not money. It was a stanch advocate of the abolition of slavery. The publisher was poor and had
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
hard sledding. He generally went around Superior street Saturday night to bor- row money enough to pay off his hands and then he would return it early in the week. How he paid the editors and publishers I never could find out. * John C. Vaughn, one of the editors of the 'True Democrat,' was a large, handsome man, seldom without a smile on his large, dark face, a strong writer and a graceful and persuasive orator. George Bradburn wrote over the signature 'Clam Jam- phrey,' making a household word out of that harsh pseudonym. These and a few others were making the 'True Democrat' a dismal failure financially, but a mighty success politically and morally." 3
"The Temperance Artisan," a weekly, edited by B. F. Pinkham, lasted less than the year 1848. The "Spirit of Freedom" edited by self-styled "Law Re- formers" lasted only a few months. "The Temple of Honor," a monthly jour- nal in the interest of the temperance orders then in vogue, was published in 1848, but lasted less than two years. The year 1848 also saw the beginning of "The Northern Ohio Medical and Scientific Examiner," edited by John Wheeler, M. D. and C. D. Williams, M. D. It was short lived. The high school pupils edited "The School Boy" from 1848 to about 1855 or 1856. F. O. McGillicuddy was the publisher. The year 1848 is noteworthy in journalism as the year of the begin- ning of an influential German paper, "Germania," edited by E. Hessenmueller, at 24 Water street. About 1850 "The Spirit of the Lakes" was published by the Western Seamen's Friend society, Rev. R. H. Leonard, editor. By 1853 it be- came known as the "Spirit of the Lakes and Boatman's Reporter."
On January 3, 1850, a weekly family paper "The Family Visitor" was begun. Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, S. St. John and O. H. Knapp were the editors and proprie- tors. It started in ambitious fashion and its few numbers were ably edited. There were splendid articles on scientific topics, literary contributions of merit and reviews of the doings of congress and legislature. Among the Cleve- land contributors were Dr. Aiken, Rev. Perry, Rev. S. B. Canfield, Colonel Charles Whittlesey and James A. Briggs. In April, 1850, O. H. Knapp severed his connection with the paper and it was moved to Hudson and printed as a bi- monthly in the "Observer" office. In May, 1851, S. C. Bartlett became one of the editors. In May, 1852, it was again moved to Cleveland and published by Saw- yer, Ingersoll & Company, with M. C. Read as editor. It was discontinued about 1858.
"The American Advertiser," edited by H. M. Addison, who seems to have been connected with many of the unlucky journals of his day, was begun. It died within the year. "The Temperance Banner," also edited by Mr. Addi- son, met a like fate. "The Cleveland Commercial" first appeared in November, 1851. It was a "family and business journal," edited by T. B. and L. G. Hine, "advocating morality, education, temperance and equal rights for all mankind, but no organ of any sect or party." It was later purchased by H. M. 'Addison, who in 1852 also published a temperance paper called "The Harpoon," a paper that was "to be continued until the enactment of the Maine law or its equivalent by the Ohio legislature."
.
In 1853 the directory gives a long list of papers :
3 John C. Covert, "Annals Early Settlers Association," Vol. 3, p. 868.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
"The Daily and Weekly Forest City," begun in 1852, was a whig paper. Joseph and James C. Medill were publishers and editors. It united with the "True Democrat" in 1853.
"The Golden Rule," a monthly devoted to anti-slavery, temperance and morals, edited by D. F. Newton and published by D. M. Ide, flourished several years, when it was moved to Mansfield.
"Annals of Science," edited by Professor H. L. Smith and published by Har- ris, Fairbanks & Company, lasted only a year or two.
"The American Magazine," a monthly devoted to homeopathy and hydropathy, edited by J. H. Pulte, M. D. and H. P. Gatchell, M. D., lasted until about 1856.
"The New American Magazine," a monthly devoted to education and edited by B. K. Maltby, also lived a year or so.
In 1856 the proprietors of "The Leader" published the "Cleveland Com- mercial Gazette," devoted to market and commercial news. It continued to 1868.
"The Spiritual Universe" was born and died in 1857.
"The Daily Review" edited by H. N. Johnson, lasted from August 29, 1857, until 1861. It was an independent little sheet of four pages, a morning paper and sold for one cent the copy, probably the first penny paper in Cleveland. And the first Sunday paper in the city was the "Sunday Morning Review," published April 18, 1858. It was the same size and price as the other daily editions, its four puny pages comparing significantly to the unwieldly weight of the modern Sunday edition. The public were evidently not prepared for a Sunday paper, for only eleven numbers seem to have been issued.
In July, 1858, "The Cleveland Monthly Review" was published by the same proprietors. It went out of business in 1861.
October 1, 1856, "The Daily Clevelander" appeared, edited by W. J. May. It was a democratic paper expounding the cause of Millard Fillmore. It was discontinued after the election.
1856 saw among others, the following papers appear and disappear :
"The Cleveland Journal," W. A. Ingham, editor, monthly.
"The People's Record," monthly, W. H. Day, editor; "The Western Home Journal and Advertiser," semi-monthly.
In 1857-8 "The Buckeye Democrat" and the "Independent" came and went and "Dodge's Literary Museum," edited by the widely known, Ossian Dodge, lived about two years.
August, 1859, "The Old Soldiers Advocate," a monthly, Colonel G F. Lewis, editor and proprietor, was started. Lewis was land warrant and pension agent in Cleveland. He gave his paper away free. It was "devoted mainly to the interests of those who defended the nation during its last great struggle with England and their widows and children, who have been shamefully overlooked in order to squander millions of acres of the nation's land on smaller railroad corporations who are breaking on every hand from the weight of inherent cor- ruption and carrying down with them thousands of stock gamblers and many good men, who, like 'Poor Tray' are ruined for no other reason than being found in bad company." This reads like a thoroughly up-to-date paragraph.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
When the war broke out the "Advocate" increased in size and a charge of thirty cents a year was made, which was later increased to one dollar. In 1876 it was vigorous in behalf of Greeley. It was discontinued soon after the election.
In December, 1861, "The Army Herald" was started, C. G. Bruce, editor. In August, 1862, "The Soldiers Journal" was begun by the same editor. These papers continued until after 1865. They were published in Washington and Cleveland.
1859-60 saw the following experiments fail : "The Agitator," a semi-monthly temperance and anti-slavery paper, edited by Mrs. H. F. M. Brown; "The An- alyst" by J. A. Spencer & Company; "The National Democrat," a daily and weekly edited by C. B. Flood; "The Vanguard," an atheistic weekly, edited by William Denton, Alfred and Anna Denton Cridge; and the "Daily Dispatch" which lasted only four months. In this year two more monthly journals were begun. In 1859 the "Wool Growers Reporter," a monthly, was founded by Andrew Meader. Its scope was expanded to include manufacture of wool and it endured until the close of the war. "The Western Law Monthly" lasted only until 1860. Rufus P. Ranney was supervising editor and J. J. Elwell and M. A. King, associates.
In 1861 "The Gleaner," a literary weekly, came to grief. The war put a damper on the newspaper business but in 1865 the "Evening Dispatch," a daily edited by Julius Spencer and E. Hardy, was begun. It flourished only one year. Brainard's "Musical World" had a more substantial career.
Since the close of the war myriads of publications have come and passed away. Their enumeration would be unprofitable. The student of this class of publi- cations can find them listed in the city directories.
2. The religious and special publications: In 1854 the Publishing House of the Evangelical Association was removed to Cleveland. The business of the concern soon outgrew its small quarters on Kinsman street (now Woodland) and in 1874 a new four-story brick block was erected on Woodland avenue. To this additions have been built from time to time. The periodicals published are all of a religious nature, the principal ones being "Der Christliche Botschaf- ter" and "The Evangelical Messenger." Their circulation is general throughout the country. There are also published numerous Sunday school, young peoples' societies and missionary journals. The publishing house is managed by repre- sentatives of the denomination chosen by the General Conference.
The German Baptist Publication Society removed to Cleveland in 1872. They secured a small property on Forest street. In 1874 this building was par- tially burned and a new location was secured on Payne avenue. Its publications are of a religious nature, the principal one being "Der Sendbote."
In July, 1874, "The Catholic Universe" was founded by Rt. Rev. R. Gilmour, with Rev. T. P. Thorpe as editor. In 1877 Manly Tello became the editor.
With the rapid development of the city came multitudes of special journals, representing special trades, labor and business interests, and all the multifarious activities of a great city. The influx of the foreign population has also brought with it the demand for newspapers in their native tongue. In 1909 the following papers were published in Cleveland :
K
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
Foreign .- Three Slavonian weeklies, one Italian weekly, one Austrian weekly, four Hungarian weeklies and two dailies, one Jewish daily and two weeklies, and two Polish weeklies.
Financial, Trade etc .- Six financial weeklies and one daily, twenty-three trade journals, two labor journals, one medical journal, one legal daily, one sports- man's journal. , ,
Religious-Eleven religious journals also twelve English weeklies, four English monthlies and six English dailies.
3. The important dailies :
"THE CLEVELAND HERALD."
On October 19, 1819, was issued the first number of a paper that became one of the most forceful influences for decency in our city, for the "Herald" during its sixty-six years of independent existence, never degraded itself by assuming the hypocritical attitude of self-righteousness and flaunting at the same time, the lurid banner of vice and sensationalism. The "Herald" was founded by Eber D. Howe, whose autobiography relates the story : "I commenced looking about for material aid to bring about my plan for putting in operation the 'Cleveland Herald.' With this view I went to Erie, and confer- red with my old friend Willes, who had the year before started the 'Erie Gazette.' After due consultation and deliberation, he agreed to remove his press and type to Cleveland after the expiration of the first year in that place. So, on the 19th of October, 1819, without a single subscriber, the first number of the 'Cleveland Herald' was issued. Some of the difficulties and perplexities now to be encoun- tered may here be mentioned as matters of curiosity to the present generation. Our mails were then all carried on horseback. We had one mail a week from Buffalo, Pittsburg, Columbus and Sandusky. The paper on which we printed was transported in wagons from Pittsburg and at some seasons the roads were in such condition that it was impossible to procure it in time for publication days. Ad- vance payments for newspapers at that time were never thought of. In a few weeks our subscription list amounted to about 300, at which point it stood for about two years with no great variation. These were scattered all over the Western Reserve, except in the county of Trumbull. In order to extend our cir- culation to its greatest capacity, we were obliged to resort to measures and expe- dients which would appear rather ludicrous at the present day. For instance, each and every week after the paper had been struck off, I mounted a horse, with a valise filled with copies of the Herald and distributed them at the doors of all subscribers between Cleveland and Painesville, a distance of thirty miles, leaving a package at the latter place; and on returning divirged two miles to what is known as Kirtland Flats, where another package was left for distribution, which occupied fully two days. I frequently carried a tin horn to notify the yeomanry of the arrival of the latest news, which was generally forty days from Europe and ten days from New York. This service was performed through the fall, winter and spring, and through rain, snow and mud, with only an additional charge of fifty cents on the subscription price, and as the number of papers thus carried averaged about sixty, the profits may be readily calculated." 4
* Autobiography of Eber D. Howe, p. 23.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
The "Herald" was first "printed and published weekly by Z. Willes & Compa- ny, directly opposite the Commercial Coffee House, Superior street." In October, 1820, it was removed to "a building opposite Mowry's Tavern and a few rods from the Court House." In July, 1823, it moved again to a new building on Superior street "a few steps east of Spangler's Coffee House." In August, 1845, the office was moved into the "Merchant's exchange" and a new steam power press was in- stalled. This was a great curiosity. In January, 1851, the prosperous paper moved into a building of its own, the Herald building, 60 Bank street, a stone and brick block, four stories and basement with sand stone front, "the first stone front business block in Cleveland." The stone was quarried nine miles up the canal. The postoffice was located on the first floor.
Quaint Eber Howe sold his interest in "The Herald" in 1821 and moved to Painesville, where he edited the "Telegraph." Meanwhile the "Gazette" suc- cumbed to the vigorous competition and the "Herald" was without a rival for nearly thirteen years. In 1826 Willes, on account of poor health, was compelled to withdraw from the paper. He died in Bedford four years later. He was a native of Vermont, with the high idealism and firm dogmatism of the New Eng- lander. Jewett Paine succeeded Willes but he died within two years after his purchase of the paper, and John R. St. John became editor. In April, 1832, Ben- jamin Andrews of the "Conemaugh Republican" assumed control. He was a public-spirited man, a prominent politician, and for a while was postmaster.
In August, 1834, L. L. Rice began the publication of the "Cleveland Whig," a weekly, that became a semi weekly in March, 1835. In May, 1836, Rice also started the "Daily Gazette," which he sold to Whittlesey & Bliss, January 1, 1837. In the spring following, Whittlesey & Harris purchased both the "Gazette" and the "Herald" and combined them under the name of "The Herald and Gazette." Colonel Whittlesey dropped out the following year and Josiah A. Harris became sole editor. September 27, 1843, the name was again changed to "The Herald." Early in 1850 A. W. Fairbanks, of the "Toledo Blade" joined Harris in a printing and book binding business and in the publishing of the "Herald." In 1857 Har- ris retired from the paper after continuous service of twenty years. He was a stout hearted, honest and faithful journalist and Cleveland owes him a large debt of gratitude for his manly work. The firm of Fairbanks. Benedict & Company now operated the "Herald." In 1872 Mr. Benedict died and Fairbanks purchased his interest from the executors. In the autumn of 1877, Richard C. Parsons, one time congressman from this district, and William P. Fogg, purchased the paper and organized "The Herald Publishing Company," Parsons assuming the editor- ship and Fogg the business management. They soon relinquished these positions, the stock was scattered among various owners, the lack of personal virility brought the paper into financial straits, and in 1885, after an honorable and no- table career, it was divided between its two competitors, "The Plain Dealer" purchased the physical plant, "The Leader," secured the spiritual plant, the good name, franchise and subscribers.
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