USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 38
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The history of printing is meagerly recorded. This is true not only of printing in Hardin county, but of the world at large. It is a singular fact that the "art preservative of all arts" has failed to record its own early struggles. In fact mainly upon legendary evidence Gutenberg has been declared the inventor of printing with movable types. And although a number of local historians in the past have written of certain phases of Hardin county newspaper history, yet there has not been found recorded a connected, complete chronicle of its annals.
But research in divers sources has revealed something of interest as to the history of Kenton's newspapers, their early struggles and the part they have played in the history of the county.
The first newspaper in Hardin county was founded for a two-fold purpose-to supply the community with the news of the county, state, nation and world-at-large, and to champion the cause of the Whig politi- cal party. This party had been organized only nine years before. When the first election was held in Hardin county. in 1833, there were
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only three hundred and forty people in the whole county, enumerating men, women and children. There were only two townships in this eounty then-Pleasant and Roundhead. The former comprised all territory north of the Scioto river and the latter was all territory south of the river. All of the voters south of the river went to Jonathan Carter's cabin at Roundhead to vote, and all north went to Houser's mill one an one-half miles down the river. Until this county was organized in 1833, the voters traveled down to "Solomon's Town" near the present site of Cherokee village in Logan county to vote ; and Alexander Given, ancestor of Judge Frank Given, has told of going ten miles to cast his ballot for Henry Clay in 1832.
At the time of that first election for township officers, April 10, 1833, Roundhead township was the more populous. It cast thirty-eight votes while Pleasant cast thirty-total for county, sixty-eight votes. It is recorded by the late A. W. Munson that every voter residing in Pleasant township voted in that first election. Many living in remote parts of the county assembled at the voting place the night before election and camped ont all night, so anxious were they to be present at the opening of the polls. He states that the first election for county officers was held in October, 1833, and that the Whig party, which was then in the process of organization, elected seven of the elective officers and the Demoerat party of Jackson elected three. For a quarter of a century the offices remained divided between the two parties. At the first election Pleas- ant township divided its officers between the two parties, but before long the township became Democratie and has remained largely so since
The next year saw the formidable organization of the Whig party in the nation. It was organized of various elements to take the place of the National Republican party, which had supported Adams and Clay, "the great pacificator." Into this party came those men who invented the idea of the national convention for the nomination of presidential candidates. The name Whig was brought from England where it had long stood for the party of the common people as against the tory party of royalty-"Whig" being a contraction of "Whigamore," Scotch for "a horse-driver,"-a common person. The plural was intended to mean "the common people."
The Whig party in America was against the Jacksonian Democracy and "usurpation" which the Whigs claimed threatened "the imminent peril of our whole fabrie of constitutional liberty and national pros- perity." The Whig party stood for tariff protection, the National bank ; and some of its great leaders declared in favor of checking slavery. But the Jacksonians had their merits, too, and the close political contest in this county hastened the establishment of our newspapers. For the first ten years, from 1833 to 1843, there was no paper, political or other- wise, printed in this county. The political campaigns of each year during that time were conducted through the personal efforts of the
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political workers in each party, without the aid of an organ. In 1834, when the first election for governor took place, the national government was Democratic. The Federal offices in the county were held by Demo- crats. The contest was vigorously prosecuted by both parties. The Democrats having the advantage of the "Federal assistance" in the county, carried it for their governor, Robert Lucas, by a majority of 44.
The election of 1835 made no change in the political status of the county officials; the offices still remained shared. The election of 1836 being for national as well as for state officers, was a spirited one. The Democrats rallied around the standard of Mr. Van Buren, while the Whigs stood by their standard bearer, General W. H. Harrison, their respective candidates for President. The Whigs carried the county by a majority of 99. The Democrats gained one county officer. In 1837 matters remained with but little change, but in 1838 the Democrats carried the county for governor by 26. No change of importance took place at the election of 1839. The county offices remained divided, stand- ing now six with the Whigs and four Democrats.
The campaign of 1840 was in many respects the most remarkable and exciting in the history, thus far, of the country. Then it was that the plan was first inaugurated of holding mass meetings of the people, over the country, at which political speakers would proclaim their party doctrine to the people. General Harrison and Mr. Van Buren were again pitted against each other for the Presidency. This is known in history as the "Log Cabin," "Coon Skin" and "Hard Cider" campaign. It is said that this distinguishing cognomen originated in some derisive remarks by some of the opponents of the Whigs in the East and South, in which they referred to General Harrison as being ignorant and poor, living "away out West" in a log cabin where he wore a coon skin cap and drank hard cider for his beverage ; while Mr. Van Buren was an educated gentleman. lived in a magnificent mansion, wore costly apparel and chose fine, imported liquor.
General Harrison was the hero of the battle of Tippecanoe and of another battle in Canada during the second war against England.
It was a Baltimore newspaper that made the fatuous remark in the campaign that all that was needed to satisfy Harrison was a pension, a barrel of cider and a log cabin out West where he might spend the remainder of his days. This derision was a boomerang. It helped elect Harrison. The Democratic party had grown stronger and stronger. and seemed well entrenched in power. But the yeomanry of the West took up the contest, in which great masses of the people of the whole country joined. General Harrison traveled over the country, and every- where met with great ovations. The people in great numbers would assemble at each of the meetings to see, and, if possible, shake hands with "the hero of Tippecanoe." It became necessary to protect his hand by adjusting a thick piece of sole leather to the palm, so as to prevent
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violent squeezing by the sturdy farmer who wished to impress upon the old gentleman the degree of his admiration.
Our Dr. Munson once told of having stood by General Harrison's side for some time "and witnessed the masses as they passed, cach person taking the old man by the hand, many of whom would give such a grasp and violent shake as to cause him to cry out, 'Please don't squeeze my hand so hard.' "
Poetry was written in which Mr. Van Buren was referred to as the "sly fox of Kinderhook." Kinderhook was his residence in New York. Songs were sung until the people seemed wild with political enthusiasm. It was thus in Hardin county as elsewhere.
The people for months before the election gave themselves up almost entirely to the campaign, some building log cabins on wagons for big parades, many traveling far to attend political meetings, and nearly all giving time and subscriptions to the causes. All were on the "qui vive." The Whigs thought that "this arrogance and power" must be dislodged at Washington and Harrison elected. But the Democratic party was organized and fought as it never had fought before. President Andrew Jackson and his friends used all their power trying to cleet his viec president.
A mass meeting of both parties was held in Kenton on July 4, 1840, at which each party gave a free dinner. The Democratic meeting was held on the Public Square, and the Democratic hosts were marshalled by Colonel John Stevens, a militia officer of the county. The Whig meeting was held on lots now owned by Charles Van Arsdale and Joseph Tim- mons, East Franklin street.
The Whig masses were commanded by Major William Furney, also a militia officer of the county.
Each party had a number of long tables spread, all loaded with provisions furnished by the country people of each party. All were invited to partake. The Whigs were addressed by E. G. Spelman, Esq., father of Henry Spelman now of this city, while the Democrats were addressed by E. Fisher, Esq., a distinguished attorney of the village.
The campaign was vigorously proscented by both parties herc. The Whigs carried the county for their national and state ticket by a small majority. However, there was no political change in the county offices. The election of 1841 passed quietly. Each party, however, worked strenuously for the ascendency, yet the Whigs carried the county for their state ticket by 12 votes. The county offices were still divided. It was "nip and tuck."
In 1842 the Democrats carried the county for their gubernatorial candidate, Wilson Shannon, by 26 votes, yet the Whigs gained one county office-sheriff-there being now in office seven Whigs to three Democrats.
With conditions and sentiment as above described, it is easily under- stood how men could decide to give their money toward the establishing
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of a newspaper that should espouse a party's cause. The people, too, had found that traveling twenty-five miles to hear great speeches and the news of the day, or waiting until some wandering traveler should come this way with the latest information, was not satisfactory to a people busy with the building of a great, new county. They must have a newspaper or two. And the Whigs were the first into the fields with an organ. The county being so closely divided politically, and there being prospects of a great political struggle in the approaching national contest of 1844, a number of the leading Hardin county Whigs held a consultation in the early summer of 1843, at which it was decided to establish a county organ, devoted to the interests of their party through which they could not only give the people "the real news of the day," but also more fully disseminate their political doctrine among the people, "relying on their doctrines" to more effectually secure and maintain their hold upon the county.
The county in 1840 had twelve townships, as follows: Pleasant, Roundhead, Blanchard, Cessna, Dudley, Taylor Creek, Goshen, Hale, Jackson, Marion, McDonald and Washington. This new paper in 1843 was to seek patronage in a comparatively small field. The population of Hardin at that time had grown to a grand total of about 5,000 per- sons widely scattered. The whole of Pleasant township, including its village of Kenton, had less than two hundred families.
The Whig leaders who met to discuss the desirability of having a newspaper here represented over half of the electors. Their move to establish a paper was followed just one year later by action of the Democratic leaders to found another paper which should advocate the principles of the Democratic party.
The Whigs established their press for the Hardin Intelligencer at Kenton on September 7. 1843, and the first issue was printed on Saturday, October 7, 1843. Negotiations had been entered into with the owner of a Whig press located at Bucyrus, Ohio, named John Shrenk. and he agreed to move his machinery to Kenton. Accordingly the press was hauled here by wagon and set up in a log building then owned by Alex. Thompson, standing on the lot on which is now located the Belt brick building occupied by the Oak cigar store on the north side of West Franklin street, just west of the first alley. This paper was published by two brothers, John and Martin Shrenk, under the name of "Hardin Intelligencer," until after the election of 1844. John Shrenk was the editor. Such was the beginning of the county's first newspaper.
The campaign of 1843 was a spirited one. The Whigs had the advan- tage of a party organ. They gained one county official, that of treas- urer, the officers standing now: Whigs, 8; Democrats, 2. One of the political effects of the Whig paper was to stir the Democratic leaders, and they set about to procure a party organ.
It was not, however, until the spring of 1844, that the matter Vol. I-24
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assumed a definite shape. A number of the leading Demoerats of the eounty resolved to establish a paper to be devoted to the interests of their party, and not being able to find an owner of such paper who was willing to move his outfit to this "wilderness," resolved to purchase a press. They soon secured pledges on a subscription paper to an amount sufficient to buy a small press, and one of their number was sent with the paper of pledges to Columbus, Ohio, with instructions to call upon the old wheel-horse of Democracy in the state, Sam Medary, the editor of the Ohio Statesman, and if possible secure a press from him "on time." This mission was sueeessful. A small printing press was purchased, hauled here and erected in a small frame building then standing on the northwest corner of the lot, south side of West Franklin street, where now stands the Johnson and Cantwell block. The exact spot where the printing offiee stood is probably the one now covered by McCoy's drug store, seeond door west from Detroit.
The first paper issued from this office appeared in August, 1844, and was called the Hardin Democrat, edited and published by Mathias H. Nichols, an uncompromising Demoerat. And this is the genesis of the county's second newspaper.
It will thus be seen that the printing offices of the first two opposing political papers published in the county were located nearly opposite each other on West Franklin street.
The campaign of 1844 was hotly contested, the Whigs and the Intelligencer rallying around the standard of Henry Clay, and the Democrats and their press around that of James K. Polk, the candidates for president. The Whigs earried the county for their national and state tiekets, giving Clay, and Bartly for governor, a small majority. The county offiees were evenly divided.
James K. Polk was declared elected president of the nation. Mr. Shrenk was mueh disappointed. He shortly after received an offer to move his press to Upper Sandusky, and he accepted the offer, leaving the Whigs to secure another press if they desired the Intelligencer eon- tinued.
When Mr. Medary consented to let the Democrat leaders here have the press which they brought from Columbus, he is said to have exclaimed "Take it along and give them hell." Whether or not there was any sueh raised or given is not on record, but Mr. Nichols continued the paper here for two years, and then moved to Lima, afterwards represent- ing that district in Congress from 1853 to 1859.
Some of the Whig leaders here at that time were: Dr. U. P. Leighton, Richard Holmes, Alexander Ballentine, Samuel Watt and John Lawrence. Shortly after Mr. Shrenk left with his press on a wagon, they decided that the Whig paper should be continued, and they raised sufficient funds to purchase a small press, which, having been brought here from Cineinnati, was set up in a small frame building where Cary's
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restaurant is now, on the east side of South Detroit street, south corner of the first alley south of the Public Square.
This printing press was hauled from Cincinnati by Hiram Furney, uncle of M. G. Furney, and all along the return trip wherever he lodged people gathered to see this wonderful press. The Whigs installed F. W. Murray of Columbus, as editor of their revived organ, and he changed the name of the paper to The Weekly News and Hardin County Repub- lican. The slavery question was agitating the people. The Hardin county Whigs were Unionists and against serfdom. A Mr. Riley assisted Mr. Murray in the publishing of their paper, which was not the all around success that the owners believed possible, and soon after the election of 1845 and 1846 they gave up their positions and left for other fields.
Then it was that the Whigs wrote to James S. Robinson, a young printer at Tiffin, and requested him to come to Kenton and assume charge of the Whig organ. Mr. Robinson was then but nineteen years of age. He was born near Mansfield, October 14, 1827, received his education in the country schools and at the age of sixteen went to Mans- field to learn type-setting in the office of the Bugle. He was soon taken into the office of the Jeffersonian now the Mansfield Herald, where he worked for three years. From June until December, 1847, he was iden- tified with the "Seneca Whig." at Tiffin, and upon hearing of the opportunity at Kenton, came here at once and was put in control of the paper, whose name he soon changed to the "Kenton Republican." It was for a time printed in the South Detroit street room. The first issue of this paper appeared on Wednesday, January 19, 1847. Mr. Robinson announced that the paper would advocate the principles of the Whig party and would be "a journal of news, politics, science, education, morals, literature, agriculture and markets." He adopted the motto : "Be just and fear not."' It was a twenty-column weekly, and cost "$1.50 in advance, $1.75 if paid within the year, or $2.00 if not paid until the end of the year."
The very first paper published here was also a twenty-column weekly, and cost "$1.00 for six months if paid within three months, otherwise $1.25 will be charged."
The Hardin papers previous to this, and at times afterwards, were not in every case great financial successes. A copy of the Intelligencer of June 8, 1844, announced: "Wanted: Bacon, potatoes and sugar in payment of subscriptions due this office." It reminds one of Walt Mason's lines, part of which run something like this:
"But, oh, for the old, old, shop, Where I printed the Punktown Dirk. And the toil and stress with the darned, old press That always refused to work!
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"And, oh, for the old, old shop, Where I set up the auction bills, And printed an ad of a liver pad, And took out my pay in pills !
"And, oh, for the old, old shop In the dusky Punktown street ! I was full of hope as I wrote my dope, Though I hadn't enough to eat !"
The fact that there have been so many different people who have, in years past, been in the newspaper business in Hardin county, too, re- minds one of the assertion of Samuel G. Blythe, the famous corres- pondent, who said of the newspaper business: "The men in it want to get out, and the men out of it want to get in, and both want to know how."
The financial slowness of some of these old newspapers bring to mind a story attributed to Mr. Murray. One day the office devil eame to him and said: "There is a tramp at the door, and he says he has had nothing to eat for six days."
"Fetch him in," said the editor, "if we can find out how he does it, we ean run this paper for another week."
But Hardin county has had some exceptionally able editors in her history, and the newspapers have worked loyally :
"By open speech and simple An hundred times made plain, To seek another's profit And work another's gain."
In the preceding paragraphs Mr. Robinson is left as editor of the Republican in 1847. On March 20, 1847, the names of "Watt and Leighton" appeared in the paper as "proprietors." On July 7, 1847, the following motto was adopted: "Aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail." Dr. U. P. Leighton became sole proprietor December 1, 1847. But at the close of Volume 1 Mr. Rob- inson's name appears as editor and proprietor. He dropped all mottoes, enlarged the paper to twenty-four columns and attached the word "the" to the name, making it read "The Kenton Republican." Its appearance was improved and its value as a newspaper enhaneed. After five years Mr. Robinson again inserted the motto: "Be just and fear not," and the day of issue was changed from Thursday to Friday.
The Demoeratie paper was not issued in the year 1847. The press, still owned by the Democratic leaders, was moved to a little building on
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the northwest corner of what is now the J. C. Miller lot which is on the southwest corner of Franklin and Market streets. The press re- mained "dormant" in that building during the campaign of 1847. With the assistance of Editor Robinson, the Whigs elected eight out of the ten county officers that year.
It is seen that the history of the early county papers is closely interwoven with the history of politics in this county and that to understand the history of some of the early papers one must investigate the governmental agitations of the times and the results of elections.
After the national defeat of the Whigs in 1844, the question of annexation of more territory, and the extension of slavery became a dis- turbing element in the two old parties; also the subject of "foreign" influence in the management of the affairs of the government was extensively agitated. The "extension" question resulted in the forma- tion of the Free Soil or Anti-Slavery party, while the "anti-foreign" agitation became the nucleus for the formation of the "American" party. These disturbing elements continued to grow until, in 1848, they had assumed such proportions as to make themselves felt in the election of that year. The "Free-Soil" or "Anti-Slavery" party had its recruits from the two old parties, chiefly in the North, while the "American" party secured additions from both sections-North and South. The campaign of this year was a heated and exciting one here and every- where. The Whigs nominated General Taylor and the Democrats General Cass for president.
The nomination of General Cass by the Democrats caused consid- erable dissatisfaction in many parts of the country, notably in New York. The disaffected element, made up largely of former supporters of the Democratic party, nominated Ex-President Martin Van Buren for pres- ident, assuming the name of "Free or Independent Democracy." This ticket was supposed to attract to its support all "antagonistic elements," both North and South. The result of this action was to distract from the support of General Cass in New York enough to defeat him and elect General Taylor. Upon the death of General Taylor, July 9, 1850, Vice President Fillmore became president. His policy did not settle these disturbing questions and the "American" party grew.
The old line Democrats of Hardin county had felt that they ought to have an organ during this presidential campaign, and so William Pepper had been induced to come here and start their press in the Fisher building on West Franklin street, where it had been dormant for a year. He came in the spring of 1848, according to one authority, and was here for two years. He called his paper the Kenton Herald.
General Cass carried Hardin county by seven votes in 1848, but the Democrats were divided, and the Whigs elected all their county can- didates. There was no change in 1849. In 1850 Mr. Pepper moved his plant to the second story of the then new Copeland (afterwards
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Davis) frame building that stood where the Kenton National Bank now is, at the southeast corner of Detroit and Franklin streets. After the eleetion of that year, there being no change in the division of the county offiees between the two parties, Mr. Pepper closed up shop and left the city. The Herald under Mr. Pepper had been rather intermittent.
The next year, 1851, Charles Warner and J. B. Atkinson seeured the press owned by the Democratic leaders. They issued a paper under the name of Democratic Expositor as lineal suecessor to the Herald. Tuesday was set as the day of issue. It was a 24-column sheet announeing itself as "a family newspaper devoted to polities, literature, art, science, agriculture, morals, education, amusements, foreign and domestie news, markets, ete."
The Kenton Republican advocated the election of General Seott, Whig, to the presidency in 1852; and the Democratic Expositor that of General Pierce, Democrat. There were also two new eleetive eounty offices, those of elerk and probate judge. The Whigs carried the county and elected both of the above officers, but the whole number of eounty offices was still divided between the parties.
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