USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > A twentieth century history of Trumbull County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 33
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the name of "The Voice from the Wilderness," or just the emblem. Probably it was the latter, and the firm members themselves chose the former.
The name the Tramp of Fame was neither suggestive nor appropriate, and it was changed by Mr. Fitch Bissell, who owned the publication in 1816. Benjamin Stevens, whose in- terest in all things in early Trumbull County was great, sng- gested to Mr. Bissell that it would suit the people of this community better if his paper bore a less high-sounding name. lle then suggested the Western Reserve Chronicle or Gazette. We are told that Mr. Bissell did not approve of this suggestion but in a few weeks accepted it and on the 4th of October. 1816, Volume 1, Number 1, of the Western Reserre Chronicle was issued.
From the first number of the Trump of Fame we quote the following :
"Trump of Fame, printed in Warren, County of Trum- bull, Ohio, by David Fleming, for Thomas D. Webb. The Trump of Fame is printed every Tuesday, and forwarded as early as possible to subscribers.
"Price to subscribers whose papers are conveyed through the postoffice, two dollars per annum, to be paid in advance, or two dollars and fifty cents, payable at the expi- ration of the year. Terms to companies who take the paper at the office and pay for them in money on their delivery or half-yearly in advance. one dollar and three-quarters.
"Post riders supplied on reasonable terms-and it is an indispensable condition that payment be made at the expira- tion of every quarter. Advertisements inserted three weeks, one dollar for every square, and twenty-five cents for each additional insertion.
"Many kinds of productions of the county will be taken in payment if delivered at the office, or at such places as may be designed by the editor.
"All letters to the editor coming through the post- office must be postpaid or they will not be attended to."
The first editorial reads:
"It may, perhaps, be expected that the editor will make some declaration of his political creed; he would be Very sorry to disappoint the publie expectation, but he has
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ever viewed those protestations of friendship or enmity made with an intention of courting the favor of any class of people, of doubtful authority. He will assure the public that he is no monarchist nor aristocrat.
"His paper shall be open to the decent communica- tion of any political faith, with liberty to himself of com- menting upon anything that shall be offered for publica- tion. As he is the nominal editor, he has determined to be the real editor. Men frequently involve themselves in pri- vate feuds, and to vent their spleen and malignity against each other make a newspaper the vehicle of their slander- ous tales. News of this kind can never be interesting to the community and they may be assured that no considera- tion, either of favor or of pecuniary kind, shall ever induce the editor to permit its insertion."
July 8th, under the head, "Hymeneal," are the marriages and they note those of England and Connecticut in particular. One reads :
"In Lincolnshire (England), Corporal Dupre to Miss N. Trollope, with a fortune of 12,000 pounds. Miss Trol- lope fell in love with him when he was on parade with the soldiers. The next morning she communicated her senti- ments to him, which he joyfully accepted, and on the fol- lowing day he led her to the altar of Hymen."
The munber of July Sth has the declaration of war drawn by Congress, and signed by Henry Clay. speaker of the house of representatives; William H. Crawford, president of senate, pro tem; approved by James Madison, dated June 18, 1812. The message of Madison is also given and signed by James Monroe, as secretary of state, also.
July 8, 1812, Adamson Bentley occupies a full half-column of the Trump of Fame, telling of one John North, who in March came through this country posing as a Baptist minister. He also posed as a single man. Bentley took great pains to find ont about him and declares him a fraud.
In a marriage notice of July 15 we find the following verse :
" Hail, wedlock ! Hail, inviolable tye! Perpetual fountain of domestic joy. Love, friendship, honor. truth, and pure delight. Harmonious, mingle in the nuptial rite."
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In the same number is announced a camp meeting, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal church. to commence the 28th of August, in Smithfield, on Mr. Marry's land, Trumbull County, Ohio, Jacob Young, Thomas JJ. Crockwill, managers.
August 19, 1812, Trump of Fame: "General Perkins has ordered a muster of the commissioned and staff officers of the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia, to be held at the house of Asael Adams, in Liberty, on the 2nd and 3rd day of September. Also, that the field officers appear with their side arms and the captains and subalterns and staff officers, with muskets, and that they perform camp duty that night."
The following advertisements are of interest :
Nathan L. Reeves, Taylor, and Ladies Habit Maker, calls his place of business The Red House.
John Mann. jun., "Informs his friends and the publiek gen- erally that he continues to carry on the hatting business, in all its various branches at the 'sign of the hat,' at the sontheast corner of the publiek square in this town."
Ephraim Quinby and Win. W. Morsman advertise a new carding machine, which is "highly recommended."
Adamson Bentley, the Baptist minister, had to piece out his salary by engaging in business. June 16th he and Jere- miah Brooks give notice of dissolution of partnership. Many of the advertisements were for stray animals; many for giving notice of debt.
"LOST. Between Leavittsburg and Warren. a large pitch- ing fork, marked on the ferrule, I. L. A favor will be con- ferred by leaving it at the sign of the Cross Keys in Warren."
"Davis Fuller, Saddler. Informs his friends and the publick in general that he still continues the saddling business in the town of Hartford, Number 5, in the first range, etc." Hats, furr and wool hats are made by Frederick Kirtland at Parkman.
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$20 Reward will be given by the subscriber to any person who will give such information respecting the person who out the bridle of the subscriber in the evening following the 30th day of last month, as that he may be convicted, in a court of law.
Thomas D. Webb advertises for a lost book, "Crown- Cirenit Companion," with the name of Samuel Huntington written therein.
"Whereas, my wife, Phebe, has frequently wandered from the path of duty which that infallible criterion, the Word of God, plainly points out, and has conducted herself in that unbecoming manner which is a disgrace to her sex, and still persists in the constant and willful neglect of her duty as a wife, I therefore forbid all persons harboring or trust- ing her on my account and I will pay no debts of her con- tracting after this date. Azel Tracey."
"Hartford, September 18, 1827."
Under the date of October 11, 1827, Phebe replies by say- ing she often has asked for a trial among impartial men and "I am still in full communion with the Presbyterian church and enjoy the confidence of its members. The opin- ion of my neighbors, also, I am happy to present as testi- mony of my general character." Neighbors say, "We have been well acquainted with Mrs. Tracy from her youth to the present time and we believe her to be shamefully abused. and thus publicly slandered withont any just cause."
In the September 27, 1827, number of Chronicle a reward of six and one-fourth cents is offered for the return of a runaway apprentice. The notice is by Richard Iddings.
Under headline, "Beware of a Villain": "Says the things stolen were a Castor hat manufactured in Salem, N. Y., by Jno. Adams; two handkerchiefs and a pair of stockings. The name of the thief is Wmn. Briggs, who lodged with the subscriber and before daylight he decamped. Said Briggs is about seventeen, with long and remarkably slim legs. walks lame, has a down look when spoken to, is very impu-
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dent and talkative when enconraged. $5 is offered for him. A. B. F. Ormsby, Cleveland."
In 1828 we find that Hapgood & Quinby, proprietors of the Trump of Fame, advertise that a boy ran away from them named Orin Cook. Although this boy was 18 years old, he was bound ont to them. "All persons are cautioned against harboring or employing said runaway. 25e reward will be given to anyone who will bring him back, but no expenses paid." They then ask exchanges to copy.
As said above, the first number appeared in June, 1812. Eighteen months from that time James White became a mem- ber of the firm. In 1814 Mr. Webb retired, Samuel Quinby taking his place. The firm was then known as James White & Co. This company sold to Fiteh Bissell as above stated. In 1817 Samuel Quinby again owned the paper, having for assist- ant Elihu Spencer. Mr. Spencer died in two years, and George Hapgood took his place on March 14, 1819, and kept it for twenty-two years. During this long service of Mr. Hapgood. as editor, there were several changes in the ownership of the paper. After Mr. Quinby came Otis Sprague, 1819; E. R. Thompson, 1821; William Quinby, 1822; JJohn Crowell, 1828; Calvin Pease, 1830; A. W. Parker, 1832.
In 1848 the Whigs established a paper known as the Trum- bull County Whig. Later its name was changed to the Western Reserve Transcript. The Transcript of June 16th quotes this from the Mahoning Free Democrat: We have been in a good many printing offices in our time and have seen females employed in setting type in more than one, but we must say that we never knew a proprietor to employ girls to do the work who was not either too poor or to mean to pay journeymen a fair price for their labor." The editor says: "From what we can learn respeeting the young man who presides over the columns of the Free Democrat, we have set him down as a conceited ass, who will have his bray at all hazards." He then explains they do not intend to employ female workers over journeymen and that the female employees he has have got as much brains as other people. "We hold that females ought to be permitted to engage in any business for which they are physically and mentally capacitated."
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Mr. Hapgood retired from the editorship of the Chronicle in 1841. In 1853 E. D. Howard purchased the paper, and the next year the Chronicle and the Western Reserve Transcript became the Western Reserve Chronicle and Transcript. James Dumars continued to be the editor, and the paper was published in the Empire block which had been the home of the Chronicle. In 1855 Mr. George N. Hapgood (the sons of George Hapgood Sr.) and C. A. Adams bought out the printing establishment including the paper, and restored to it its old name the West- ern. Reserve Chronicle.
Floris B. Plympton, long connected with the Commercial Gazette of Cincinnati, received his first editorial experience in Warren. He worked on one of the early papers, and after- wards was connected with the Chronicle. From the latter paper we quote the following: "Floris B. Plympton married to Cordelia A. Bushnell of Ravenna. It will be seen from the above that our whilom friend has at length adjured bach- elordom, and has exchanged the friendship of life for its love.' "
Mr. William Ritezel was the editor and proprietor of the Trumbull County Democrat. After that paper became Repub- lican, it was consolidated with the Chronicle, Mr. Ritezel becoming the junior member of the firm. This was in 1861. Soon Mr. Adams retired, and Mr. Hapgood died. Mr. Ritezel was editor and proprietor of the Weekly Western Reserve Chronicle until 1877, when a company was formed, B. J. Taylor and Frank M. Ritezel being associated with him. In 1897 the Chronicle moved into new offices built for them by Lamb & Strong, adjoining the old Ritezel homestead. Mr. Ritezel died in 1902, having been editor of the Chronicle for forty-one years,
Mr. Taylor retired in 1905, and the William Ritezel Print- ing Company was formed. The Chronicle is now owned by Frank M. Ritezel and F. M. VanGorder.
The Warren Daily Chronicle was started in 1883. It was the first daily in the city.
The early numbers of the Chronicle contain little or no local news. People were supposed to have curiosity and in- clination enough to learn the doings of their neighbors and fellow citizens themselves. Elilm Spencer was the first editor to devote space to local events.
Although the Chronicle has had among its owners and editors men of fine business ability and integrity. the two best
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known were Mr. George Hapgood and Mr. William Ritezel. They each had a long time of service, the latter nearly twice as long as the former, and they lived at such different times that there is no possibility of comparing their ability or the results which they obtained. In Mr. Hapgood's day it cost little to run a newspaper or printing office, and an energetic, clever young fellow could buy and pay for a partnership in a concern. In Mr. Ritezel's day it took a great deal of ability to properly and successfully manage a paper. In Mr. Hapgood's day there were fewer books, fewer magazines, mail facilities were small, and a successful editor must be a student. In Mr. Ritezel's day the competition was great, politics were com- plicated and it took calm judgment and a just mind to lead the dominant party of that time. Mr. Hapgood was loved and re- spected by his subscribers who were personally attached to him. Mr. Ritezel, a vigorous, conservative writer, moulded opinions of his readers, and had the respect of all of them.
Mr. Frank Ritezel, the present editor of the Chronicle, has carried out the policies of his father, and under his manage- ment the paper has grown. His work is referred to in another part of this history.
On July 1, 1909, the Western Reserve Chronicle (weekly) and the Warren Daily Chronicle will find a new home in the Masonic Temple block.
The News Letter.
Thomas J. Melain. Sr., and his brother. J. G .. established the News Letter. in 1830, which was the Democratic organ for a goodly portion of the Western Reserve. It was the strongest Democratie paper of its time and received a good financial support from Democrats. In 1839 this property was sold to Christopher Columbus Seely and William Baldwin, and the name was changed to the Trumbull Democrat. In those days it was necessary that editors and proprietors should know the printer's trade. Neither Mr. Seely nor Mr. Baldwin were printers. Mr. Baldwin died, and the men who were standing at the head of the Trumbull County Democracy, Dr. Daniel B. Woods and Sharon Cotton, bought the paper, not expecting it to be a financial snecess, but that the party might have an organ. John M. Edwards, who was for so many years identi-
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fied with and interested in jublie affairs of Trumbull and Mahoning counties, was the editor. He was of the family of the great Jonathan Edwards, of Massachusetts, and a connec- tion of John Stark Edwards, Trumbull County's first recorder. He was an able editor, but for some reason the business part of this paper was not well managed and there were frequent changes. At one time a Mr. Ilarrington owned it, and later Mr. J. B. Buttles and E. B. Eshahnan were joint proprietors, Mr. Eshalman remained in the firm but a little time, and in 1854 the paper became the property of Ritezel & Mills. Will- iam Ritezel was a practical printer and in the days immediately preceding the war he developed editorial powers. As stated above, when the question of seeession or union, slavery or free- dom, was the question, Mr. Ritezel declared himself in favor of union, and in 1861 his paper was consolidated with the Chronicle, which had already absorbed the Transcript, and this new paper retained the old name the Chronicle.
The Constitution.
Jefferson Palm was one of the early Democrats who sym- pathized largely with the South. During the high feeling in the early days of the war, he suffered much for what he believed to be right. At the close of the war, he moved to Kentucky, but there he found that the southerners had little use for northerners, no matter what their beliefs were, and he returned to Warren. Ile was one of the very first Democratic newspaper men. He was a compositor in the office of the News Letter, and afterwards, in 1840, started a periodical, Mercury, for John G. Melain. The type and fixtures belonging to this paper were moved to Youngstown and used for printing the Olire Branch. The Mercury was discontinued. When the Chronicle and the Democrat united, it left the Democratie party withont an organ. It was hard for this party to sustain a paper because there was sueli a variance of belief among the mem- bers. Many were Democratie in name only ; some were in favor of modified means of putting down the rebellion; while a few were ontright southern sympathizers. In 1862 the Democratic party founded the Constitution. Jefferson Palm was the edi- tor. More than a thousand names were entered on its subserip- tion list. In 1867 Judge Mathew Birchard and E. H. Ensign. both Democratie lawyers, bought the paper and later it became
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the property of William Birchard, the son of the former. In the early '70s Lucius Fuller, the son of Ira Fuller, one of the strongest Democrats of the county, was city editor. This paper was discontinued early in the '80s, when Mr. William Bireh- ard, because of continued ill health. retired and moved to Washington.
The Warren Record.
In 1876 the Warren Record came into existence. Jefferson Pahn. who, as we have seen, assisted in the founding of the first Democratie paper. the News Letter. the second Democratic paper, the Constitution, was editor and proprietor of the War- ren Record. Selden B. Palm, his son, was associated with him. In 1882 the Record was sold to a company, and published under the name of the Democrat. Some of the members of this com- pany were Jefferson Lamb, John R. Woods, J. W. Klump, of Mecca, and James L. Lamb. Freeman Moore was its first editor. and he was succeeded by Robert Paden. Jefferson Lamb bought this property from the other owners and M. M. Padgett became the editor. Under his editorship and Mr. Lamb's management, this property became more valuable. When Mr. Padgett left Warren to engage in newspaper work in the west. David Fisher was made editor. April 1, 1907, Horace Holbrook purchased the property of Jefferson Lamb, and is now editor and proprietor. Mr. Holbrook is a vigorous editorial writer and has caused the Republicans of Trumbull County some discomfort, and the non-partisan reader some amusement, since he became the editor.
The Warren Tribune.
In August, 1876, the Warren Tribune made its appearance. W. S. Peterson, who had been a Congregational minister and later the editor of the Canfield News, was the editor and the proprietor. Some years later his two sons, A. M. and O. M .. were associated with him. Mr. Peterson was a well educated man, was an able writer, and apparently loved a serap. It is thought that he came into Trumbull County to oppose Garfield and the machine. He had hardly gotten under way before Garfield came up as a candidate for United States senator and no longer represented this district in Congress. Warren never
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had had controversy among newspapers of one party and the Tribune made things lively for office-holders and other persons. When Mr. Peterson sold the paper, he secured a position in Washington and lived there for some time before his death.
William H. Smiley bought the Tribune in March, 1884. He became the editor and Frank D. MeLain, whose father so long before had founded the News Letter, and whose brother, Hon. Thomas J., had been a writer of a good deal of note, became the city editor. He is now with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Warren never had a brighter sheet than that edited by Mr. Smiley. He was a forceful writer, a man of great integrity, and his paper devoted to the principles of the Republican party made a place for itself in the community. Names which he gave to people and to things still exist. "Spinster" Dell will never be forgotten, and neither will the "Idler." Mr. Smiley was a self-educated man and a very talented one. He wrote verse which was very creditable. In 1891, wishing to give personal attention to some business of his in the south, he sold the Tribune to R. D. Lampson, of Ashtabula. Mr. Smiley established a daily paper which only existed a little time, but Mr. Lampson established the Daily Tribune, which has grown and expanded ever since. In 1892 Mr. Lampson sold out to C. H. Newell and H. F. Harris, and the latter were the editors until 1894, when it was purchased by W. C. Deming and F. E. Russell. At that time the Tribune Company was formed. Prior to this, the Tribune had been most of the time a success in all ways excepting that of finance. J. W. Russell was presi- dent of this company, W. C. Deming, editor, and F. E. Russell, business manager. Zell P. Hart was employed by this com- pany, and when Mr. Russell retired a new company was formed in which she and George Braden were included. Mr. Braden in the beginning attended to the advertising and like business. Later Thomas H. Deming and C. B. Rigg, who had had charge of the mechanical part of the work, bought stock in the company; Mrs. Hart became the business manager, William C. Deming retained the editorship, and Thomas Dem- ing was city editor. In 1900 W. C. Deming purchased the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Tribune, and is still its editor and presi- dent of the company. Mr. Deming removed to Cheyenne and Thomas H. Deming took his place as editor. The business management was in the hands of Mrs. Hart. In 1907 she
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married W. C. Deming, and Eugene Sabin succeeded her as the head of the business end of the Tribune. The present owners of the Tribune are W. C. Deming, Zell Hart Deming, T. II. Deming and C. B. Rigg. The present officers are president, W. C. Deming; secretary and treasurer, Zell Hart Deming; vice president, C. B. Rigg; business manager, E. P. Sabin ; edi- tor, Thomas H. Deming.
Soon after the formation of the present Tribune Company with W. C. Deming and Mrs. Hart at the head, business pros- perity began for the Tribune and has continued ever since. The paper is Republican in principle and has a wide circula- tion. It has fearlessly stood for all things progressive in the community, and has done much for Warren and Trumbull County.
The Liberty Herald.
At different times there have been papers published in Trumbull County, for a short time only. One of the early ones was the Liberty Herald, edited by Tait & Walling between 1840 and.1850.
The Cortland Gazette.
The Cortland Gazette was established and edited by John Johnson in the early '70s. The office was burned and the files destroyed in 1887 or '88.
Cortland Herald.
The Cortland Herald was established and edited by H. D. Holcomb from 1888 to 1894. H. C. Freeman purchased the property and edited the paper for five years. In 1899 it sus- pended. The following year, 1900, the plant was purchased by Carl C. Hadsell, who reorganized it and who has been conduct- ing its publication ever since.
The Niles Independent.
In 1867 the Niles Register was established, the publishers being Edward Butler and E. E. Moore. Rev. William Camp-
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bell was editor. In 1868 the name was changed to the Niles Independent by J. II. Fluhart. In 1871 M. D. Sanderson, a brother of Hon. Thomas Sanderson, of Youngstown, bought the plant and conducted the paper for several years. Later he had as a partner Captain Dyer. In May, 1876, the paper was pur- chased by McCormick & Williams, and in 1883 the interest of Mr. Williams was taken over by Mr. McCormick, who con- trolled and edited it until his death, twenty-two years ago. Mrs. Ella MeCormick assumed the editorship and business manage- ment. She is the only woman owning a newspaper in Trum- bull County. In 1894 Andrew A. Mooney, of New York, became editor, and the policy of the paper was changed from that of independent to Democracy.
Niles News.
The Niles Daily News issued its first number December 1, 1890. M. J. Flaherty, agent of the Pennsylvania Lines of the city, was the publisher. At that time the News was a four-page paper, twelve by twenty inches. In polities it was independent, but later became Republican. The following men, in the order given, have acted as editors: D. J. Williams, J. C. MeNally, Ivor J. Davis, W. C. Brown, J. McGowan, George C. Braden, and Sam E. Davison. Mr. Davison formerly lived at West Union, Ohio. The News has always had a large number of subscribers, with a fine circulation in Niles, and a general circulation in the county, particularly the lower part. It is now an eight-page paper, and is a credit to the community in which it is published.
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