USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101
grounds, from Pemberville to North Baltimore. and from North Baltimore to Perrysburg, invaded by an army of hustling news-gatherers and printers.
The Miami of the Lake, the pioneer news- paper, was issued at Perrysburg, December 1I, 1833, by J. W. Scott and Henry Darling, the lat- ter bringing the press and type from New York. In June following, J. Austin Scott purchased the office and, with J. H. McBride and Henry Reed. Jr., as associate publishers, issued the paper reg- ularly until February, 1835, when J. H. McBride (who with Charles Wilcox, of Detroit, was the first printer), became sole owner. At that time, Capt. Allen established a paper at Vistula (Toledo , which lived but a short time. Hezekiah L. Hosmer (the old justice of the peace), H. T. Smith and William P. Rozner, were successive owners until August 18, 1838, when the name was changed to The Ohio Whig. Henry Reed, Jr., was a son of Henry and Temperance (Pratt) Reed, who lo- cated near Waterville, in 1832, on land purchased from John Pray. Samuel R. Reed became edi- tor of the Cincinnati Gazette, while Alexander, a third son of the pioneer, Henry, was connected
95
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
with the Morning Commercial of Toledo, in the "seventies." J. W. Scott moved to Toledo, where he resided many years.
The Ohio Whig was first published at Perrys- burg, August IS, 1838, by H. T. Smith, as suc- cessor of The Miami of the Lake. In its col- uinns were the professional notices of J. Purdy, of Mansfield; W. V. Way, David Allen, Henry Bennett, John M. May, Samuel M. Youngand J. C. Spink, local lawyers, as well as of A. Coffinberry, Isaac Stetson and Horace Sessions, of Defiance, and of Dr. N. Dustin. All the traders in that vicin- ity selected the Whig as an advertising medium, and, altogether, it was a popular journal until November 28, 1840, when it was merged into the Maumee River Times.
The Perrysburg News was issued June 28, 1842, by A. C. Morton. A copy of this journal could not be found, but the name and date are taken from a contemporary.
The Miami of Lake Erie was issued May 29, 1844, by W. P. Reznor; No. 7, Vol. I, bears date July 10, 1844. In March, 1846. H. L. Hosmer was proprietor; in the following month, Hosmer & Atkinson were owners.
The Fort Meigs Reveille, No. 1, Vol. I. bears date June 1, 1844, and No. 1, Vol. V, that of June 3, 1848, with the imprint of S. T. Hos- mer as publisher. This issue showed an enlarged paper of 48 columns, filled with general news and advertisements, but wanting, almost in toto, in local items. In June, it published the names of Zachary Taylor for President; Millard Fillmore for Vice-President; Seabury Ford for Governor; and was altogether in the Whig interest. J. D. Bean was the successor of Hosmer, taking charge, March 2, 1850, and telling his readers that, not only was he opposed to the extension of slavery, but also to slavery in every form. On November 9, 1850, Silmon Clark became owner, but promised not to make the Reveille partisan. On June 7, 1851, owing to the difficulty of pro- nouncing this name, it was changed to The Per- rysburg Star.
The Perrysburg Star was issued on the date above given, and continued publication until March 10, 1853, when the name was changed to The Perrysburg Journal.
The Maumee Express was founded about 1837. It was an important factor in the im- provement of the Western Reserve road, in so much, that it ridiculed the county and State for tolerating such an unruly highway. Every issue of The Express abused the road in prose and poetry, and shamed the authorities into its improvement.
The Maumee River Times followed The Ex- press as its successor on November 28, 1840. It was as much a Perrysburg as a Maumee journal. for it was published in each place. the name of location being the only difference in the dual is- sue. H. T. Smith carried on the paper until 1855, when the office was moved to Toledo. The Express, named above, was first issued March 25, 1837, by Calvin Frary and Henry Reid, Jr. J. H. Brown succeeded Frary in May. 1837, and the same month, H. L. and S. T. Hosmer, of Perrysburg, became owners, with Lawyer H. Reid, as editor.
The Perrysburg Journal, the lineal descend- ant of The Miami of the Lake, was issued March 10, 1853, and continued in the Whig interest until the beginning of the campaign of 1854, when it became a coalition paper with the newly- formed Republican party first in interest, and the new ally of that party, second. No. 1, Vol. III, was issued May 19, 1855, as an 8-page 24- column paper neatly printed. It was reduced from its former size, owing to the fact that instead of 600 paying subscriptions, only 100 were registered, and, of that number, not more than 25 paid in advance. In its pages is noticed the cholera which scourged the town in 1854; the packet sloop "Sweeper, " plying between Perrys- burg, Maumee and Toledo, and the Perrysburg Bank, of which J. S. Norton was cashier (opened in October, 1854). In May, 1856, Higgins & Holt became owners of the Journal, purchasing it of Silmon Clark. They enlarged it, and offered it to subscribers at one dollar per annum. On May ;. E. A. Higgins announced that he assumed edi- torial control, and would make his work thoroughly Republican, as he did on the Forest City Visitor, of Maumee, from October, 1855, to that date. On May 3, 1860, J. W. Bailey succeeded Hig- gins. No. 1, Vol. IX, of The Weekly Perrys- burg Journal, bears the date of May 9, 1861. and the name of J. W. Bailey, editor. In his editorial of October 17 he shows very plainly that all was not peace on the Maumee: "Sev- eral parties have visited us during the past week. and by threats and braggadocio attempted to in- timidate us in the matters of selections for our columns. Now we have no disposition to be frightened by any such contemptible swaggering. for if these individuals really wanted to figlit they would go to war. We shall invade no gen- tleman's premises for the purpose of raising a muss, and we shall endeavor to protect ourselves in every instance." On October 22, 1862. F. J. Oblinger and H. S. Chapin succeeded Bailey as owners. In May, 1865, Mr. Chapin sold his
96 .
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
interest to Oblinger, and in July, Oblinger, and Guyer were the publishers. Mr. Guyer retired in January, 1866. The long and aggressive term of James Timmons followed, and he was editor from January 3, 1868, to April 12, 1889. In his valedictory, he speaks of having purchased the remaining interest of F. J. Oblinger, January 3, 1868, and of re-associating with him on June 1, that year. About the same time he and H. S. Chapin, now of Bowling Green, owned a job office at Toledo, but so soon as Mr. Chapin determined to establish the Sunday Journal, later the Toledo Bec, Mr. Timmons disolved the partnership. On January 15, 1869, he was again sole owner of the Perrysburg Journal, and con- tinued so, until he sold to Mr. Blue. Of this young successor he speaks thus: " Ed. L. Blue is a young man who commenced at the age of fourteen years, in this office, to make a printer out of himself; who remained nine years with us, and has succeeded in what he started to accom- plish. He was born and raised here, and is as well known as ourselves in this community. We trust all will give him a liberal and healthy patronage, without which a paper cannot well succeed." To-day, April 12, 1895, after six years' trial, Mr. Blue is in possession of more than his predecessor asked for him. A venerable journal with a fair subscription list, good adver- tising patronage and well-equipped office is his, with valuable files dating back to 1869.
The Wood County Packet, a well-edited, newsy Democratic paper, was launched in 1838, No. 28 of Vol. I bearing date March 27, 1839, and the names of Gordon & Smith, publishers. This paper ceased publication in May, 1839, or, as the Ohio Whig put it, it was "swartwouted." While edited by Mr. Allen it was on amicable terms with its Whig contemporary, but under Gordon & Smith it made many enemies, among them the Whig, who wrote a congratulatory editorial on its deatlı.
The Democrat, another Perrysburg venture of 1844, was the second paper in the Democratic interest. Hickory clubs and Democratic journals were rising up everywhere, and Wood county could not afford to be an exception, although the prospects for victory here were poor, indeed. Moody and Frank Case were the publishers, dur- ing its short reign, from the fall of 1844 until after the election of 1845.
The Democratic Post was issued from the court house in 1846, but its lease of life was short.
The Northwestern Democrat was established May 22, 1853, by Albert D. Wright, to combat the threats of the Know-Nothings, and oppose
itself to the dissatisfied Democrats, who did not know whether to become Whigs, Abolitionists, Free Soilers or Know-Nothings. Wright was an earnest fellow, who, instead of flying from the cholera scourge of 1854, remained at the case until the dread disease seized upon him. He died at his post, and with him died the third or fourth Democratic journal established at Perrysburg.
The Maumee Valley Democrat wasissued Janu- ary 22, 1854, as the successor of the Northwest- ern Democrat. No. 23, Vol. I, bears date June 5, 1854, and the imprint of Lewis C. Stumm, publisher. There is only one file of this journal in possession of the county auditor -- that for 1854 ; but its publication was continued until August 23, 1857, when the office was reorgan- ized and the name of the paper changed the fol- lowing week to the Democrat.
The Republican, issued at Perrysburg in 1856. was a short-lived affair, as the Journal served all the interests of that party.
The Democrat, No. I, Vol. I, was issued at Perrysburg September 3, 1857, by Edward M. Grimes and Edward L. Moon, from the third story of J. A. Hall's building. " An independent treasury for Ohio. No more union of banks with the treasury," was its motto. On December 3, that year, E. A. Munger and W. R. Carr became owners, and February 25, 1858, Mr. Carr became sole owner. On October 7, 1858, it passed into the past.
The Independent was established at Perrysburg in 1862 by E. A. Higgins. The office was de- stroyed by fire in May, 1863; but Mr. Higgins recuperated at once, and published bis paper until 1866, when the office was moved to Toledo and the Democratic Record issued there.
The People's Press was issued at Perrysburg in 1857. On March 8, 1859, No. 21, Vol. II. was printed by J. R. Knapp, Jr., whose saluta- tory tells. of his first love-Democracy-and of his adherence to the principles of its greatest apostle, Thomas Jefferson. In a business notice he asks that all debts due the Press, prior to March S, be paid to W. R. Carr.
The Advocate was issued at Bowling Green May I8, 1866, under the motto, " Be Just and Fear Not," as an aid in the county-seat campaign. It may now be said that this journal did not omit one point in favor of Bowling Green, as the proper place for the Seat of Justice. Its opposi- tion to Perrysburg was so earnest and logical. for a time, that it exhausted itself, after the election on the question, and ceased publication. The men whose names are identified with the bond I given for the construction of suitable county
:
1
1
97
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
buildings at Bowling Green, may be named as its directors, while R. F. Hickman and John R. Mel- loy were its publishers. On July 18, 1866, S. D. Howells & Co. became publishers; in August, 1866, S. D. Howells was sole publisher. E. A. Higgins became editor in July, and continued in that position until November 30, 1866, when the Advocate ceased.
The Sentinel comes next to The Advocate, being issued February 22, 1867, by Frank C. Culley. From its beginning it has been a serious exponent of Bowling Green's interests, and championed the town and county against the whole outside world. The motto adopted March 22, 1867, was " Be just to all mankind, and fear not the malice of the unjust."
Number 1, Vol. II, of the Bowling Green Sentinel, was issued February 20, 1868, by Frank C. Culley. The first editorial of this vol- ume dealt with the offer made by Bowling Green to build a court house, provided the removal of the county seat would be authorized. The edi- torial also referred to the rejection of the bond given by Bowling Green. On December 10, 1868, William L. Myers purchased Culley's inter- est in the Sentinel, and on January 14, 1869, R. W. Travis signs his name as publisher, and Myers as editor. On January 1, 1870, or rather on the last night of the old year, Mr. Myers died, having been editor down to October. 1869. Meanwhile the publication was continued by R. W. Travis until March 31, 1870, when the name of C. W. Evers appears as editor. Mr. Travis died April 24, 1871, before which event Mr. Evers purchased Travis' interest. The sale of the office by C. W. Evers to M. P. Brewer, took place June 20, 1872. On June 18, 1873, A. W. and W. H. Rudulph became owners. In 1874 A. W. Rudulph became sole publisher; his father, J. R. Rudulph, became owner of the interest of W. H., but his name never appeared as one of the pub- lishers. On November 11, 1875. C. W. Evers purchased the interest of J. R. Rudulph, and merged his Wood County News into and under the name of the Sentinel. In 1875 the subscrip- tion list and good will of the Weston Avalanche was purchased. On March 8, 1880, Mr. Evers became sole owner and editor, and continued in this position until early in 1884, when A. W. Rudulph repurchased the office. M. P. Brewer reinterested himself in this paper on September 1, 1884, and, in November, 1886, E. W. Poe, now the State Auditor, purchased an interest with Brewer and Rudulph. In January, 1888, Mr. Brewer became sole owner, Mr. Rudulph selling his interest in December, 1886, to take 7
charge of the Gasette, which he purchased at that time, Mr. Poe remaining until 1888. In the winter of 1888-89. A. W. Rudulph inerged the Gazette into the Sentinel, under the title, Senti- nel and Gasette, and was equally interested with Mr. Brewer in the publication of this hyphen- ated journal. On May 1, 1890, Samuel E. Vail purchased a third interest. On September 15, 1893, Mr. Rudulph sold his interest to J. M. Hoffa, and the firm of Brewer, Vail & Hoffa was formed. By a change in 1896, the firm is known as Brewer, Vail & Co. In March, 1896, John M. Hoffa retired from the Sentinel, and assumed editorial management of this paper, his present incumbency.
The Weekly Sentinel has always been Repub- lican in political affairs. It is the mother of modern journals in the Wood county of post- bellum times, and for almost thirty years has held the highest place among the newspapers. Its services to Bowling Green have been of the most useful character, and, to the county at large, incomparable in substantial results.
The Fair Daily .-- The first daily paper is- sued at Bowling Green, and, indeed, in Wood county, was the Daily Sentinel, printed on the Fair Grounds, from October 3, 1882, to the close of the fair, by C. W. Evers. It was a neat folio of sixteen columns, filled with local news -- nearly a column being devoted to the preparations, and hanging of Carl Bach. It was only a shadow of the greater daily of 1890.
The Daily Sentinel was founded June 21. 1890, by Messrs. Brewer, Rudulph & Vail, at the outset, rather as an experiment, but from the first it has had a vigorous, healthy existence.
The Buckeye Granger was issued at Perrys- burg. November 10, 1874, by N. H. Callard & Son, as a Democratic journal in general, but non- partisan in particular, always supporting good men of other parties rather than bad men of its own party. The office was well equipped, and the subscription list of 1, 200 embraced readers in this and adjoining counties. In the issue of November 11, 1875, the editor said: " Although the columns of our paper have been mainly used in advocating the principles of the Grange, vet three-fourths of our patronage has been derived from outside sources." Notwithstanding this, Mr. Callard stood by the Grange until the last, sink- ing a large sum of money, and exerting his best energies in the attempt to bolster up what he be- lieved to be a useful organization.
The Wood County Democrat was founded Oc- tober 3, 1874, by J. D. Baker, acting as agent for the proprietor, but subsequently was published
.
98
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
by J. D. Baker & Son. In February or March, 1875, they sold the office to a Bowling Green syndicate, which establishied a newsy, aggressive journal, known as the Wood County News.
The Wood County News was issued May 5, 1875, by Manville, Evers & Co., its motto being: "The Greatest Good to the Greatest Number." It was a non-partisan journal, intensely local and always ready to defend Wood county against all her enemies, within and without. Messrs. Evers & Brewer made this paper the redoubted cham- pion of Bowling Green. The establishment of this paper was noticed inthe Sentinelof April 30, 1875, in a paragraph of which the following is a copy: "NEW PAPER .- C. W. Evers. E. W. Merry and Dr. A. J. Manville have purchased the material of the Democrat office of this place, and intend start- ing the publication of a paper of some kind, though what it is to be, politically, morally, religiously or otherwisely, we have as yet failed to ascer- tain." The Sentinel did not, evidently, look with pleasure on this new aspirant for public favor; but when the first number was issued the older journal learned its true character, and seldom challenged its editors. From the salutatory the following sentence is quoted: " On all import- ant questions of county-seat, removal, which will afford material for an animated canvass this fall, the News will be found early in the battle line in behalf of the right. We do not view the contest as a mere squabble between Bowling Green and Perrysburg. It embraces questions of broader scope and graver interests than attach simply to these towns as such." The News acted closely on this pronunciamento until the revived claims of Perrysburg to the county seat were denied, and Bowling Green was left in undisputed posses- sion of the coveted prize. The New's was con- solidated with the Sentinel, or rather the Sentinel with the News, on November 11, 1875, Manville, Evers & Co. signing the agreement on the part of the News.
-
The New Baltimore Enterprise was estab- lished in March, 1875, on the 3d or 10th of the month, but the writer has been unable to find a file of North Baltimore's first journal. The l'er- rysburg Journal, speaking of this paper under date of April 21, 1875, says: "This is the name of a new paper, just started at North Baltimore, this county, by Wiseman & Peters. It is an eight-column paper, and makes a great appear- ance, considering the hurry in getting out the first issue. Mr. Wiseman, from whoin we re- ceived a call on Tuesday, is a member of the Art Preservative, &c., and Mr. Peters is an old citi- zen and large property owner in the new and
enterprising town, whose interests they propose to represent." In June, 1875, Wiseman moved to Fostoria, purchased the Press office and com- menced the publication of the Fostoria Herald. After three years and eight months Mr. Peters moved his office to Bowling Green, and named the journal The Bowling Green Democrat.
The Bowling Green Democrat (successor of The Enterprise of 1875) was issued December 26, 1878, by D. E. & B. L. Peters. In their sa- lutatory, they speak of the desire of the party to have a Democratic journal at the county seat, and, continuing, say: "We are thankful for the liberal patronage with which we were blessed while publishing the New Baltimore Enterprise for nearly four years, * ** * and hope they will continue their patronage as we launch out in this our new field of labor. The valedictory of D. E. Peters appeared October 14, 1880, and the salutatory of William B. and Russell T. Dobson on the same date. On July 23, 1889, Henry Holterman purchased the Democrat, and issued his salutatory on July 26. The pur- chase of the office by Henry S. Chapin took place September 1, 1890, and on September 12 his salutatory was published - M. G. Marron being then reporter. In June, 1892, the inde- fatigable D. C. Voorhis became a reporter on this journal, a position he continues to hold. The circulation exceeds 3.300 copies weekly, and altogether the Democrat holds a high place as a newspaper and party journal.
The Daily Democrat (No. 1, Vol. I) was issued June 4, 1894, by Henry S. Chapin, con- tinued until November 10, 1894, and closed with No. 138, after a short but vigorous career.
The Bowling Green Journal was edited by B. C. Eberly until November, 1880, when he issued his valedictory.
The Wood County Republican was issued by G. W. Hill & Co., in September, 1884. B. C. Eberly was the editor. In November, following. his name appeared also as publisher, and so con- tinued during the short life of the Republican.
The Bowling Green News was issued by "Allie " M. Higgins, January 24, 1883. It was a little sheet devoted to local news and advertising
The North Baltimore Beacon was issued No- vember 27, 1884, by A. H. Balsley & Co. The advocacy of the best interests of the village was the object of the publishers, rather. On Decem- II, John A. Sutton signed his name as editor. On October 28, 1886, John A. Sutton issued his valedictory, saying that he sold his interests in the Beacon to George W. Wilkinson, who be- came sole proprietor on November 6, that year.
1
.
1
99
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
The Illustrated Beacon was issued April 19, ISS9, and toward the close of that year, editor Wilkinson's enterprise suggested the Daily Beacon, No. 9 of which bears date January 1, . 1890. The office of the Beacon is a model one in equipment and furnishings, quite in keeping with the most progressive era of the town's history.
Wood County Agitator eked out a brief exist- ence, about the year 1884, as an advocate of the Greenback party. It was published at Bowling Green, by Drs. G. W. Vail and J. M. Barbour.
The Reporter, a people's journal, was issued at Bowling Green early in the "eighties" by George A. Darke. This paper continued for a year, and was absorbed by the Sentinel.
The Wood County Gasette was established here in October, 1884. by Anson B. Smith, now editor of the Deshler Flag, as a Democratic or- gan, to oppose the paper published by the Dob- son Brothers. He moved the office from North Baltimore, where he had conducted a journal for some time, and carried it on here until Decem- ber 6, 1886, when he sold the material to A. W. Rudulph, who published the Gazette until it was consolidated with the Sentinel. Herman J. Ru- dulph was interested in the paper from the fall of 1887.
The Daily Gasette was issued subsequently by Rudulph Bros., but the people were not then prepared for a daily journal, and that first bond fide attempt in this field was abandoned within seven months.
The Wood County News (not that of 1875) was established by Anson B. Smith, after his sale of the Gasette office to Mr. Rudulph. Going to Chicago, he purchased a new outfit, which he brought hither, and not only issued a weekly journal, but also a daily paper for a few months. He sold the plant of the Daily News to A. W. Rudulph, and moved that of the Weekly News away.
The Wood County Freie Presse suspended publication in January, 1888. Henry Holderman was editor, but W. B. & R. T. Dobson were the publishers. The Freie Presse was a venture to obtain the county printing, or rather to create a German branch of county printing; but the com- missioners, seeing that it had no general circula- tion, refused to countenance the scheme, and hence the suspension. At one time it was printed at Perrysburg, again at Bowling Green, Mr. Lally, now one of the compositors on the Journal, being one of the type-setters on the paper. .
The Bairdstown Times was established, in 1887, by G. G. Grimes, in the interest of that
village. Some two or three years after, he moved the office to North Baltimore. where the paper was issued under the title-Vorth Baltimore Times.
The North Baltimore Times is the successor of the Bairdstown Times, which was established at Bairdstown, by G. G. Grimes, in 1887, as a small advertising sheet. On his removal to North Baltimore, he found that the Times could not be made a self-supporting newspaper by him, and he sold to J. E. Schatzel, in May, 1892. C. L. Huddle purchased the office July 1, 1893, and has made this journal one of the best Demno- cratic newspapers in northwestern Ohio. The office is commodious and well equipped.
The Bloomdale Derrick was issued Decem- ber 28, 1888, by M. G. Marron, as an independ- ent journal. On July 12, 1889, the Derrick Publishing Co. appear as owners -- Messrs. Rich- ard, Campbell, Emerson, E. S. Bryant and Easley forming the company. On July 26, 1889, W. S. Richard issued his salutatory as editor, and January 5, 1893, W. A. Hurrel's partnership with Mr. Richard was announced. The senior editor was practically sole owner of the office from 1891 to January, 1893, and has dictated the policy of the Derrick since 1889, making it an independent, reliable, newsy journal, deserving the large patronage extended to it. It is safe to say that of all the men who engaged in newspaper work in this county, not one could boast of so few enemies and so many friends as the senior editor of the Derrick.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.