USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 14
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Immediately after the organization of this parish Rev. Mr. Searle proceeded on a missionary tour, and visited Cleveland, Liverpool, New Columbia, in Cuya- hoga county, thence to Boardman, in Trumbull county. In all these places he found such associations of church members as that at Ashtabula, and was instru- mental in organizing seven parishes, in all of which he administered the Word and sacraments.
The first diocesan convention was held at Windsor. This met at the house of Hon. Solomon Griswold. Rev. Roger Searle was called to act as president, and Rev. Philander Chase-afterwards bishop of the diocese-secretary. Mr. Chase had just arrived from Hartford, Connecticut.
Rev. Mr. Searle returned to Connecticut in the autumn of 1817, attended a general convocation as a deputy, and soon afterward resigned his rectorship, which he had held for eight years, and, with his family, moved to the Western Reserve.
A parish which should be mentioned is that at Windsor. One Episcopal family settled in this township as carly as 1800. Among them was Judge Solo- mon Griswold. He, although always ready to welcome missionaries to his home, and sympathize with them in their labors, always had a preference for his own church. He built with his own means a house of worship, which, in honor of his Christian name, was called Solomon's temple.
It was a singularly constructed building, and long stood attracting attention, both from its novel architecture and the name that had been applied to it.
The first diocesan convention held in Ohio met at the house of Mr. Griswold. Rev. Philander Chase was present. Rev. Mr. Searle continued to visit the parish.
Fuller sketches of the churches of the county may be found in the township histories in this volume. We aim here to give simply the prominent facts con- nected with the first few years of the church.
38
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
SCHOOLS.
When the pioncers of Ashtabula County came hither from their New England homes they brought with them their New England zeal for enlightenment, for intellectual, social, and religious culture. No sooner had they provided for theul- selves in their wilderness homes places of shelter and abode, and had prepared a few acres of ground as a means for their subsistence, than they turned their atten- tion to the school-house and the church.
Had the Spanish nation gained the ascendeney in America, and this region been peopled by Spaniards, the ruling passion of the dwellers upon this soil to-day would probably have been, as exemplified by the Spanish cavaliers, a thirst for gold. Had the French been successful in obtaining the control, a love for explo- ration and conquest, for glory and renown upon land and sea, would probably be the ruling motive of her people in America. But hither eame the descendants of the Pilgrim fathers with a desire to establish in this fertile region a thriving commonwealth, to people it with a hardy raee whose aims should be to subdue the forests, to found homes, to build churches and school-houses, and to make certain for their children all the blessings of which enlightenment and religion may be the source. They brought their institutions with them, and this is why to-day we find school-houses and churches so numerous in this county. Have not its inhabitants of to-day some reason to feel grateful to their fathers and forefathers ?
The school statistics for the year ending September 1, 1877, will furnish an idea of what attention is to-day bestowed upon education in this county. We give them by townships :
Ashtabula township at that date had nine school buildings, valued at $5250, with an enrollment of 506 scholars, and paid to teachers for the year previous $2063.
Austinburg had seven school buildings, valued at $6000, and paid its teachers $833. Number of scholars, 296.
Andover had nine school-houses, valued at $5500, and paid its teachers $1223. Number of scholars, 307.
Denmark had seven school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers $743. Number of scholars, 299.
Geneva township had nine school buildings, valued at $8000, and paid its teachers $1255.71. Number of scholars, 383.
Harpersfield had ten school-houses, valued at $5000, and paid its teachers $1358. Number of scholars, 339.
Jefferson had eight school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers $1221.88. Number of seholars, 265.
Kingsville had ten school-houses, valued at $6500, and paid its teachers $2189.98. Number of scholars, 356.
Lenox had eight school-houses, valued at $4600, and paid its teachers $1095. Number of scholars, 231.
New Lyme had six school-houses, valued at $3300, and paid its teachers $661.85. Number of scholars, 209.
Morgan had five school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers $835.58. Number of scholars, 127.
Monroe had twelve school-houses, valued at $7200, and paid its teachers $1167.16. Number of scholars, 45S.
Dorset had four school-houses, valued at $3000, and paid its teachers $814.63. Number of scholars, 126.
Pierpont had six school-houses, valued at $2400, and paid its teachers $1196.85. Number of scholars, 205.
Rome had five school-houses, valued at $5000, and paid its teachers $638.80. Number of scholars, 173.
Conneaut township had twelve school-houses, valued at $9000, and paid its teachers $1450.25. Number of scholars, 492.
Sheffield had eight school-houses, valued at $3000, and paid its teachers $1183.89. Number of scholars, 245.
Trumbull had eight school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers $1204.50. Number of scholars, 324.
Williamsfield had seven school-houses, valued at $2690, and paid its teachers 8932. Number of scholars, 269.
Wayne had eight school-houses, valued at $5500, and paid its teachers 81006.63. Number of scholars, 260.
Windsor had nine school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers 8983.50. Number of scholars, 261.
Saybrook had twelve school-houses, valued at $10,000, and paid its teachers $1733.85. Number of scholars, 465.
Orwell had nine school-houses, valued at $4000, and paid its teachers 8983.75. Number of scholars, 290.
Colebrook had eight school-houses, valued at $3800, and paid its teachers $1034.75. Number of scholars, 263.
Cherry Valley had six sehool-houses, valued at $5000, and paid its teachers $1064.37. Number of scholars, 191.
Richmond had ten school-houses, valued at $3000, and paid its teachers $1250.93. Number of scholars, 306.
Hartsgrove had nine school-houses, valued at $4500, and paid its teachers $878.70. Number of scholars, 276.
Plymouth had seven school-houses, valued at $3500, and paid its teachers $1035. Number of scholars, 214.
Ashtabula eity's school property is valued at $15,000, and the amount paid to teachers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $4111.18. ' Number of pupils, 978.
Geneva's school property is valued at 821,000, and the amount paid to teachers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $2552. Number of pupils, 391.
Jefferson's school property is valued at $14,400, and the amount paid to teachers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $2977. Number of scholars,. 347.
Kingsville Village school property is valued at $5000, and the amount paid to teachers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $745. Number of pupils, 138.
Rock Creek's school property is valued at $10,000, and the amount paid to teachers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $1598.80. Number of pupils, 209.
Conneaut's school property is valued at $8000, and the amount paid to teach- ers for the year ending September 1, 1877, was $2626.99. Number of scholars, 352.
TOTAL RESULT.
Whole number of school-houses in the county, exclusive of those of the villages. 228
Total number of scholars of the county for the year ending September 1, 1877. 10,551
Total valuation of school property, exclusive of villages. $1356.50
Total valuation of school property of the villages. 734.00
Total valuation of all school property in the county .. $2090.50
Total amount paid to teachers, exclusive of village teachers. $32,039.56
Total amount paid to teachers of the villages .. 14,610.97
Total amount paid to the teachers of the county for the year ending September
1, 1877. $46,650.53
CHAPTER XV.
THE PRESS.
JOURNALISM IN ASHTABULA .*
IN the spring of 1823, Asa W. W. Hickox and John A. Hickox commeneed the publication of the Ashtabula Recorder, the first newspaper published in this county. It was printed in the second story of a small brown building which stood near where Weiblen's saloon now is, a little north of T. N. Booth's briek store, on Main street. They published it until November 8, 1823, when John S. Hiekox retired, and Ozias Bowen, a practical printer, took his place in the firm, and the publication was continued by the new firm of Hiekox & Bowen until September 8, 1824, when Bowen withdrew. From that time to the elose of the second volume the paper was published by Asa W. W. Hickox & A. S. Park, when the establishment appears to have passed into the hands of Hugh Lowry, who published it to the elose of the third volume,-in the summer of 1826,-when its publication was discontinued. Only a few scattered numbers of it are now in existence, and, like its projectors and most of its patrons, it appears already almost to have passed into oblivion.
It was a small folio sheet, its pages measuring twelve by eighteeu inches. It was not a sensational paper. It had no special local editor or reporter, and contained, so far at least as I have had an opportunity to examine it, but little that would be of present interest. The following extraets, however, giving an account of the dedi- cation of the first " meeting-house" in the village, the wounded feelings of the editors at being obliged to suspend the publication of their paper for twenty-one days to make some repairs of their press, which now could be done in as many hours, and an advertisement which is illustrative of the humor of one of the leading citizens of that day, are perhaps worthy of a reprint :
# By O. H. Fitch, Esq.
39
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
" On Thursday last [August 12, 1820], the Baptist meeting-house, recently erected in the village, was dedicated to Almighty God as a place of religious worship. The day being pleasant, a large and respectable concourse of people gave their attendance. The dedieation sermon was preached by Elder Elisha Tucker, from Psalms xxv. 8: 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy house dwelleth.'
" The meeting-house, which is very respectable for size and appearance, bas been ereeted solely at the expense of one individual. It was commenced the last season, and is now entirely completed."
" MyCircumstances render it very necessary that we should procure a new stone for our press, and make some other repairs, in order that we may he enabled to do our work more satisfactorily to our own feelings, as also to render it more intelligible to our readers ; we shall therefore, however at variance with our feelings, he under the necessity of suspending the pub- lication of the Recorder until the twenty-fifth instant, which we trust will afford us sufficient time to accomplish the desired objeet."-(February 4, 1825.)
"WHAT DRUNKARD HAS LOST HIS JUG ?
" A jug containing whisky, and lying exposed in the middle of the road ealled the North ridge, leading west from this village, was picked up by the subseriber. The owner is desired to prove property, and take it from the printing-office at Ashtabula, where it is lodged for safe keeping. " MATT HUBBARD.
" ASHTABULA, September 16, 1824."
Asa W. W. Hickox, the principal founder of the Recorder, was a mild, inoffeu- sive man, without much mental or physical energy. He lived to an advanced age, occasionally holding some small office, and working a portion of the time as he had opportunity as a journeyman printer, always on the verge of poverty, as he never succeeded in accumulating property. By his familiar title of Deacon Hickox, he is still remembered by many of our eitizens. He died a few years ago in Conneaut, where he resided during the latter part of his life. John A., his nephew, left Ashtabula many years ago, and I know not what became of him. Bowen, soon after he closed his connection with the Recorder, removed to Elyria, studied law, and was, I think, for some time a judge of the supreme court of this State. Park and Lowry were afterwards connected with the Journal, and both died many years since.
Its successor, the Western Journal, was commenced in August, 1826, by R. W. Griswold, and was published by him about fifteen months, when it passed into the hands of Park & Terril, November 8, 1827 (Vol. II., No. 13), who continued its publication until November 8, 1838, when they sold the establishment to Hugh Lowry.
In the fall of 1828 the proprietors of the Western Journal, as stated before, sold the press, type, and good-will of the paper to Hugh Lowry, a practical printer, who continued the publication under the same title, and with but little change in its general appearance. Though a great improvement upon the Recorder, it was a small affair compared with the village papers at the present time. It was pub- lished in a building now composing a part of the dwelling of Mrs. Sawtell, which then stood back of the brown dwelling-house now owned by O. H. Fitch, near the Baptist church, and fronting eastward on the public square.
Great changes and improvements have been made since that time. The little Ramage press used by Lowry was made chiefly of wood, and the pressure upon the type was made by an iron screw, and it required a strong pull to make the necessary impression upon each page of the paper. It was substantially the same kind of press as was used by Franklin when working as a journeymau printer in Philadelphia. The iron presses now in use, with their complex machinery of cylinders and levers, were then unknown, and instead of the composition rollers in use, the ink was distributed upon the types by bcating them with large leather balls stuffed with wool.
The labor in the office was performed by Lowry and his two brothers, Robert and Samuel. Robert had served an apprenticeship in the trade, and was a fair workman. He was intelligent, shrewd, kind-hearted, and fond of a joke, but un- fortunately more fond of whisky, which not unfrequently sadly interfered with his type-setting. Samuel was merely an apprentice. They all died many years since.
Lowry was a bachelor when he purchased the press, but some time after married Miss Paddock. He was a close, shrewd manager, with a very limited education, but with a determined purpose to make money. To accomplish this purpose it required the most rigid economy, and he and his brother for some months kept bachelors' hall,-cooking, eating, sleeping, and working in the same room. His defective education, however, forced him to employ an editor, who for two years wrote all the editorial matter and corrected most of the proof-sheets. Yet, strange as it may seem, there was but one person, outside of the office, who knew or even suspected the writer. And who he was would probably ever have re- mained unknown, had he not been forced to resort to a suit at law to recover the very moderate sum he claimed for his editorial labor. The name and the facts were thus spread upon the records of the court, and became known to the public.
The first number of the journal under its new management was issued November 15, 1828, and announced that it would support what was then termed the 10
" American System,"-the encouragement of domestic manufactures and internal improvements, aud the measures of Mr. Adams' administration.
In a statement of votes given at the presidential election that year, it appears that this county gave for Adams 1961, and for Jackson 183, and that the vote of this township, then comprising Plymouth, was for Adams 235, and for Jack- son 18. In looking over the columns of this old paper, the eye now and then rests upon some item which brings vividly before the mind the great changes which have taken place since it was written. Thus, in the paper of January 1, 1829, we notice that a petition has been presented to the legislature, from Cleve- land, for a lottery, " for the purpose of raising funds to protect that town from the encroachments of the lake, which has for several years past been making sad inroads upon the village plat." Cleveland was but a village then, less than one- third of the present size of Ashtabula.
On the 31st of the same month, the public are informed that " a new post- office has been established on the North ridge, in the town of Geneva, iu this county, and E. Mills, Esq., appointed postmaster." This was the first post-office in the locality of the present and thriving village of Geneva.
The anti-Masonic excitement caused by the alleged abduction of Morgan had reached this county some time before Lowry's connection with the Journal, aud had spread so rapidly among the people, that in the fall of 1828 a strong political party had been formed, and in November its friends established an anti-Masonic newspaper in Jefferson, under the somewhat pretentious title of The Ohio Lumi- nary. It was, however, but a small light, and the Journal for some time did not notice it, or admit the subject of political anti-Masonry into its columns.
The reason for this course was probably that Lowry, who was a Mason, did not wish to offend his subscribers who were not Masons, and who composed a large portion of his patrons. The editor, being unknown to the public, could gain no laurels by it, and was not anxious to enter upon what he knew would be a long and bitter controversy, increasing the excitement and very probably doing no good. But there was 'so much feeling on the subject among the people that it was im- practicable long to remain neutral, and ou the 4th of April, 1829, the Journal came out with an editorial article, from which the following is an extract :
" Violent party excitements, from whatever cause they may originate, are ever found to be productive of great evils to the communities iu which they exist. It is, however, frequently necessary to take a firm and decided stand in opposition to principles or measures which are supposed to be erroneous. It is a right which belongs to every citizen, of the temperate use of which he ought not to be de- prived. But when opposition degenerates into party excitement ; when the honest desire of correcting evils is perverted into a desire of gaining proselytes to a party ; and when calm reasoning aud sound arguments are converted into personal abuse and bitter invective, we believe it the duty of every good citizen to endeavor to suppress its progress." This, with the anuouncement that the columns of the Journal would thereafter be open to candid and well-written communications on the subject of the anti-Masonic excitement, drew out an abusive attack from the editor of the Luminary, and a bitter warfare between the two papers continued uutil the Luminary expired, on the 12th of June, 1830. The anti-Masonic party, however, lived for seven years thereafter, and for a time was the ruling political power of the county.
On the 13th of June, 1829, the Journal was enlarged and printed on white paper; its appearance was much improved, and its name was changed to the Ash- tabula Journal. In the winter or early spring of 1831 its printing-office was re- moved to the second story of a building on the north side of Church square, and in a few months afterwards, on account of the poor health of Lowry, its publica- tion was discontinued, and the press and printing materials sold to a party in Conneaut (theu Salem), and was used in printing the Salem Advertiser, the first newspaper published in that town.
January 1, 1853, the paper was sold to W. C. Howells & J. L. Oliver, and removed to Jeffersou.
The Democratic Free Press was started in Ashtabula, January, 1834, C. L. Clark & Company, publishers. After one year it ceased to exist.
The Ashtabula Republican was published in Ashtabula six months from June 22, 1833; Lewis B. Edwards, the editor.
The Ashtabula Sentinel traces its birth back to January 21, 1832. Its founders were Matthew Hubbard, Wm. W. and Jas. L. Reed, Henry Hubbard, Amos C. Hubbard, Stepheu H. Farrington, Epeneteres W. Lockwood, Clark & Lee, Philo Booth, H. J. Rees, Wm. A. Field, and O. H. Fitch. The first volume was edited by the last-uamed gentleman. The second volume was published by James Graham. The third, fourth, and fifth were edited and published by O. H. Fitch. January 14, 1837, Messrs. Parkman and Fassett purchased the paper. They published it until the next March, when the latter gentleman withdrew, leaving Mr. Parkman proprictor. October 21, 1837, Mr. Parkmau sold out to his former partner, Henry Fassett, Esq. Mr. Fassett continued
40
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
the editor and proprietor until June 15, 1839, when Mr. O. H. Fitch edited the paper for one year, Mr. Fassett remaining the proprietor, and after the expiration of one year resumed the editorial charge.
Henry Fassett continued the publication up to volume ten, number thirty-four. At this date S. S. & H. Fassett beeame the publishers, with the latter as editor. From October 28, 1843, up to May 11, 1844, Messrs. Fassett & Nellis were publishers, with the former as editor. From May 11, 1844, to November 30, 1844, S. S. Fassett & Hendry were the proprietors. From the last-named date to March 20, 1848, A. & S. Hendry were the publishers, with S. Hendry as editor, and J. Burton printer. Then H. Fassett & Company obtained control, with J. A. Giddings as editor. From volume seventeen, number forty, to Oeto- ber 19, 1850, Giddings & Burton were publishers, with J. A. Giddings editor. May 10, 1851, Henry Fassett again assumed control, and July 10, 1852, sold a half-interest to W. C. Howells.
The Ashtabula Telegraph was started in the fall of 1852, N. W. Thayer being the publisher, and a man by the name of W. E. Searsdale the editor. In 1853 the office became the property of John Booth, Esq. The paper was not a paying venture, and during the time of the management of Thayer and of Booth promi- nent citizens had advanced means to keep the sheet alive, and in the fall of 1855 a consultation of these patrons was held, which resulted in the purchase of the office by the Messrs. Willard, Hendry & Morrison. These three citizens were among those who held elaims against the office, and the other creditors offered to surrender to Messrs. Willard, Hendry & Morrison their elaims, if these gentle- men would agree to publish the paper. The offer was accepted. During the proprietorship of Willard, Hendry & Morrison, R. W. Hanford was the editor- in-charge. April 12, 1856, the Telegraph passed into the hands of James Reed, Esq., the present senior proprietor. In the first ten years of his connection with journalism in Ashtabula, Mr. Reed maintained a severe struggle in behalf of measures whose leading element was the anti-slavery question. He has lived to see the principles which he so openly and fearlessly advocated firmly and perma- nently established. Mr. Reed has but one senior in journalism in the county. When he took charge of the Telegraph it was a seven-column folio. January 25, 1873, his son became his partner, and James Reed & Son the proprietors of the paper. In January, 1874, the paper was enlarged to an eight-column folio, its present size. The Telegraph is published on the Aeme eylinder-press, propelled by steam, and the entire edition is printed in about one hour and a half. The Telegraph is one of the most complete printing-offices in this part of the country. The paper has a large and growing circulation, and a future prosperous career is assured.
The Ashtabula Jeffersonian commeneed an existence October 8, 1870, J. B. Brown, proprietor and editor. It advocated the principles of the Democratic party ; but, owing to lack of patronage, ceased to exist in about one year from the date of its first issue.
The Conneaut Citizen, C. G. Griffey, editor and proprietor, was started at Conneaut, in June of 1871, continued to be published at that place for about two years, and was then removed to Ashtabula, January 1, 1873. After an issue of twenty-six numbers the office was sold to Mr. A. F. Sperry. This was an eight- column folio.
In June of 1873, Mr. Sperry began the publication of the Ashtabula News. Its first number appeared June 7 of that year. It was begun as an eight- column folio, but in September, 1877, was enlarged to a mammoth seven-column quarto. In August, 1874, Mr. Sperry sold a half-interest in the paper to N. C. Hawley, who, by reason of failing health, soon sold his interest to Mr. E. J. Griffin and A. F. Sperry, the latter becoming proprietor of a two-thirds interest in the office. The firm is now known as Sperry & Griffin. The News is the largest paper in the county, and has a weekly circulation of nine hundred copies. In polities it is independent, but not neutral. It is ably edited, and its patronage is constantly increasing.
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