History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 71

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 71

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THE PRESS

And 'tis thus with our noble profession, and thus it will ever be still;

There are some who appreciate its labors, and some who perhaps never will,

But in the great time that is coming, when loudly the trumpet shall sound,

And they who have labored and rested shall come from the quivering ground;

When they who have striven and suffered to teach and ennoble the race,

Shall march at the front of the column, each one in his God-given place,

As they pass through the gates of The City with proud and victorious tread,

The editor, printer, and "devil," will travel not far from the head.

-WILL CARLETON.

The modern newspaper is really entitled to a place as one of the wonders of the world, but

it appears with such regularity and is usually so creditable a publication that people accept it without giving especial thought to its prepara- tion. Naturally, in the publishing of a news- paper, as in all sorts of work where movable types or fallible humanity is in evidence, there are errors in public prints, but these errors are reduced to the minimum, and few people real- ize the care with which a staff of conscientious people, working in harmony, strive for ac- curacy of information and clearness of expres- sion in the presentation of matter in the ordi- nary newspapers of the day.

When Crawford county was erected early in 1820 there were few papers in the United States and the number in Ohio was extremely limited. The larger cities had indifferent pa-

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pers and even the best of them in 1820 would not compare with any degree of credit with the hundreds of newspapers published all over Ohio today, the improved methods of collecting and handling news giving to our local papers today a quality and completeness which could not have been attained in even the largest cities a hundred years ago. Ohio has progressed in the past century to a degree far exceeding the roseate dreams of the most sanguine enthus- iast in his brightest optimism. And going along with the advance of Ohio, but usually leading that advance, were the splendid papers of the state. The small cities have long enjoyed their daily papers and scarcely a community of size and importance is now without a newspa- per, usually a daily and often two dailies, speak- ing with enthusiasm for the town or city, and pointing the way to improvement in local af- fairs, whether in politics, sanitary conditions, manufacturing or commercial advantages; or boasting of the financial reliability of its in- stitutions and the progressive principles of its people.

The measure of social advancement is re- flected in the papers of the state and each community smiles to the world at large through the pages of its favorite paper. Always anx- ious to command the respect and esteem of the community, usually fighting its way to a high- er character and broader view of life and re- sponsibilities, the modern newspaper aims to be at the front in all good work; aims to give to the people inspiration and encouragement, and strives to be worthy of that community and its people.

The faithful newspaper of today becomes the reliable history of tomorrow, and the paper striving to make its columns reflect that which will be reliable history naturally has a standing which cannot be weakened. The power of the press has been the subject of song and story, but that power only comes when it reflects the conscientious ideas of the locality and in leading with good thoughts and good deeds the community where it is published. The desire for helping in the general advancement of the community has stimulated many papers to in- stitutional efforts, and today newspapers are doing more than their share to help in public enterprises; more than their share of care and

thought to the making of bigger and better communities.

And while the press in general has advanced to a remarkable degree the press of the rural sections has come to be more and more a reflex of the substantial thought and careful intelli- gence of the average American community. The larger cities reflect a condition which is restless and dangerous. Their newspapers are frequently given over to large headlines and sensations. This in itself is disturbing. The newspapers of the smaller communities are pre- pared with greater care, and show the anxiety to reflect the people with whom the paper is an institution and to give to the readers of that paper the best possible ideals.

Crawford county is especially indebted to its newspapers for their cleanness, their progres- sive character, their tireless desire to assemble news and present it in readable and creditable shape, and their unceasing efforts to build up their respective sections. To compare a coun- ty newspaper of 1800 of any county in the state, with the newspapers of Crawford county of today is certainly a comparison which reflects credit on the present Crawford county papers. The oldest papers in the county are on exhibi- tion at the office of the Hopley Printing Com- pany in Bucyrus. There are two papers framed on their walls, one of 1833 and the other of 1834, which give a good idea of the newspapers of that day. The older of these two framed copies is of the Western Journal and Bucyrus Advertiser and is dated November 30, 1833. The other copy is of The Bucyrus Journal and is dated February 1, 1834. They are both in a remarkable state of preservation and are so framed that the interested person can examine both sides of the print. There was no local news at that time and no effort to assemble local news. Occasionally a death would be recorded but in the main the papers contained items of national or international importance, clipped from some of the exchanges that had come to the editor.

Seventy-five years ago the editor of a Bucy- rus paper had, seemingly no use for a pen. The scissors did the work for him. This was not- able in all the papers up to about 1860, when the use of local news became of some impor- tance. The great frost of 1858 which in July

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of that year destroyed the corn and wheat, and other crops and entailed a loss of half a million dollars on this county, was given merely a few lines. Such an item today would be treated with a full account, with details secured at first hand from as many farmers as could be reached. The advancement of newspaper work has been remarkable, and it is compara- tively easy to gather the items of the world and place them on the tea tables of the small city ; organization and improved facilities mak- ing the work a pleasure where in the old days it was a hardship.

The general use of the stereotype plate has come within the past forty years. The use of this plate in local newspapers enables the smaller publications to use "syndicate" matter simultaneously with the larger papers of the country, and deliver to the rural community each day from the county seat, as complete a paper as would be possible in the great cities of the country. Some years ago Major A. W. Diller was watching the operation of the plac- ing of stereotype plates in a newspaper form and remarked "it used to be that you edited a newspaper with a paste-pot and pair of scis- sors, but now, by heck, you do it with a saw."

Occasionally in the early days a three or four line mention was made of the death of a prom- inent citizen, and the political meeting of a party escaped with only a bare mention, if indeed it obtained any place in the paper at all, and certainly none if it were the opposition party. However, from the early files accessable at the office of the Bucyrus Journal and the Evening Telegraph it is possible to get much historical knowledge from the advertising col- ums. The changes in firms or locations, the new stores started, the erection of new build- ings, etc., are only learned by the advertise- ments. After the year 1840 political editorials became frequent. It is doubtful if the entire amount of local news published in all the Bucy- rus papers previous to the year 1850 exceeded what can be found in the leading papers of the county in any one month.

The use of stereotype plates has helped make newspapers possible in many small towns and in these later days the cost is not expensive and the value is very great. In one of the southern Ohio counties an eccentric character named Tony Barleyon owned a small newspaper. He

bought a page of two-column short stories and for six months ran them in his paper. The page contained three of the two-column stories and he would publish first one then the other of them, occasionally forgetting to change the stories from one week to the other, and this brought some comment from his friends. To vary the matter Barleyon mixed the stories up, running them in combination so that the first column of one story would be published with the second column of another.

John Moderwell is the authority for the fact that the first printing press brought to Craw- ford county was the property of William Y. McGill. It was an old Ramage press, and about 1829 he contemplated publishing a Jack- son paper, at Bucyrus, but after the first num- ber appeared the publication was discontinued. McGill must have been a man of excellent fi- nancial judgment, for he had discretion enough to foresee that, even in that day, running a newspaper in Crawford county would not be an easy road to financial prosperity, and he promptly suspended the new enterprise. He continued a resident of Bucyrus and vicinity for many years, occasionally teaching school in the village and surrounding country. April I, 1833, he acted as election clerk in Liberty township, and at the same time, his fellow cit- izens having implicit faith in him, elected him to the lucrative office of "fence viewer" of that township. This is, so far as known, the only honor or political preferment given to the man who introduced the printing press into Craw- ford county. When war was declared with Mexico, McGill left for the scene of hostili- ties, feeling, no doubt that the success he had failed to achieve with the pen might be attained by the sword, but misfortune was his lot, for while on his way home he took sick and died at Newport, Kentucky. It is doubtful if any copies of this first paper published in Crawford county were preserved.

The second attempt at journalism was made by William Crosby, who obtained possession of the McGill press and materials, and about September 1, 1831, commenced the publication of a newspaper advocating democratic princi- ples. This was called the Western Journal and Bucyrus Advertiser above spoken of and was printed and published on Sandusky avenue, a few doors north of the post office. The post

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office was at Henry St. John's store where the Bucyrus City Bank is now located, and it is likely the few doors north was about where Englehard's clothing store is at present. If this paper appeared regularly, counting from the numbers of the issues preserved and framed as above mentioned, which was No. 105, it must have been started in November, 1831, but it is doubtful if the paper was issued regularly each week, so it is possible the first number of the Western Journal might have been several months prior to this date. The paper changed names between November 30, 1833 and Febru- ary 1, 1834, for on the latter date it was known as the Bucyrus Journal.

The Western Journal and Bucyrus Advertis- er was a four-page paper of four columns to the page, and the issue of Nov. 30, 1833, is No. 105. In this paper George Sweney offers for sale half a lot which is situated a short dis- tance north of Henry St. John's store, on which there is a comfortable two-story dwelling. It is probable this is the building which was the home of the paper, as it was expected in those days a party leader should furnish a home for his political paper, and as two years had elapsed with little or no rent coming in, and it would be political heresy to close up the concern, the smoothest and easiest way out of the dif- ficulty was to unload the burden on some one else. Crosby, however, was doing his best. He was offering for sale lot No. 151 in Bucyrus, which was the west 82 feet of the lot on which the Hotel Royal now stands, and ran south on Poplar street 132 feet. The advertisement states the lot "is in a healthy and flourishing part of the town." He further announces he wants some wheat on subscription, and that he will take lumber in payment for debts due him, specializing : "Oak, Ash, Poplar, Black and White Walnut, and Cherry boards; shingle and Plastering Lath-Scantling and Shingles."

Three other advertisements, all in the same issue, should be read in connection :

First-John Davis and Joseph Kirk an- nounce a dissolution of partnership in the hat- ting business.

Second-John Davis announces that he is in the hatting business at Cary's old stand, and has hats at wholesale and retail, and "war- ranted as good as any made in the western country."

Third-"All persons are cautioned against a promissory note given by me, payable to Jos. Kirk, for the sum of $175, twelve months after date, dated about the first day of October, 1833, as I shall not feel myself bound to pay the same unless compelled by law. John Davis."

Zalmon Rowse, as administrator of his brother, announces he will sell a part of the east half of the southeast quarter of section 35, Holmes township. [This was the land in North Bucyrus extending from the Tiffin road half way to Sandusky avenue]; also land on the turnpike road south of Bucyrus. [This is now in the corporation. ]

Elizabeth and William M'Curdy announce their appointment as administratrix and admin- istrator of James M'Curdy, of Liberty town- ship, deceased.

John Moderwell announces the removal of his cabinet shop to the new building on the west side of the square. [This was the lot on which the Hotel Royal now stands. Previous to this his building had been on the Rowse Block cor- ner. ]

James McCracken, as J. P., publishes an at- tachment in a suit of Abraham Yost against an absent debtor.

R. W. Musgrave and Henry St. John, mer- chants, also publish an attachment against Hen- ry Flack, an absconding debtor ; amount $100.

Advertisements are also published announc- ing that a petition will be presented to the next Legislature to form a new county. The new county was to take from what is now Craw- ford, all of Auburn and Vernon, the northern three miles of Sandusky and the eastern three miles of Cranberry, Auburn and Vernon being then in Richland county.

Another county petitioned for was to take in Auburn in Richland county and Cranberry in Crawford.

Other petitions to be presented to the Legis- lature was for the establishment of a graded state board from Mamsfield in Richland county to Bucyrus in Crawford county; also a state road "beginning at the Public Square in Ga- lion, in the county of Richland, from thence on the nearest and best ground to the town of Bucyrus."

An item in the paper states that the Ohio State Journal announces that if it receives suf-

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ficient encouragement it will publish a daily during the session of the Legislature.

In 1830 Columbus was a town of 2437 peo- ple, and it is a pleasure to state sufficient en- couragement was given, for the daily was pub- lished.

Here is the only local item in the paper :

"We have been requested to state that Rev. Mr. Dickey of the Associate Church will preach at the Court House in the village on Sunday next to com- mence at II o'clock a. m."

Two things are observable in the only local item; first, his declining to assume responsibil- ity for the item, and second the statement that the reverend gentlemen would commence preaching a II o'clock. It was a correct state- ment to make, as it gave no indication as to when he would finish, as in those early days it was nothing unusual for a minister to preach two and three hours.

The next number in existence was called the Bucyrus Journal, and is dated Feb. 1, 1834, and is No. 114, showing by the date and number that it was being published regularly each week. It again has been but one news item: .

"Died-In this vicinity on Wednesday morning last, Mr. Simeon Parcher, leaving a wife and a large family of children to mourn his loss."

This next number shows that when an ad- vertisement once got into the paper it stayed there. The legal notices of Musgrave & St. John of Abraham Yost for their absent debtors, and the administrator's notice, get their tenth publication, when the law called for but four.

John Moderwell as sheriff advertises six properties for sale, all in what is now Wyandot county.

Jacob Bryant and John Mitchell advertise a dissolution of partnership in the merchandising business.

Crosby's lot "in a healthy and flourishing part of the town" is still for sale.

Here are two advertisements, which show the manners and customs of those days :

"SIX CENTS REWARD Ran away from the sub- scriber living in Bucyrus, on the 20th inst., a boy named Peter Werth, an indentured apprentice in the Wagon and Ploughmaking business. All persons are hereby count, as I will prosecute all who do so. Said boy is about 18 years old, dark complected, is fond of talking cautioned against harboring or trusting him on my ac-

with his superiors, and occasionally tries to play the fiddle; had on when he went away a dark sattinet coat- tee, white hat, and striped sattined pantaloons of a snuff color. The above reward will be given but no charges paid.

"P. S .- An additional reward of a bundle of shav- ings will be given to any person. returning said boy to the subscriber.

"GEORGE MYERS. "Bucyrus, Dec. 20, 1833-w3."

Here is Chapter Two.

"TO THE PUBLIC .- Mr. Editor: Sir: In your paper of the 21st inst. I perceive an advertisement signed by George Myers, concerning my son, Peter Werth. Now I wish to correct an error in said adver- tisement. My son did not run away as Mr. Myers states; he came home on account of some ill treatment on Saturday last. I, as his rightful guardian, com- menced a suit against Mr. Myers on Monday last ( for a non-performance of the indenture) the result of which lias been a verdict in my favor of thirty dollars.

"P. S .- Mr. Myers had better keep his shavings for the purpose of lighting candles to play cards, dice, and roulette by, and save his money also .*

"Bucyrus, Dec. 24, 1833-w4." 'JOSEPH WERTH, SR.,

Sweney has probably sold his building, as the advertisement does not appear; still the editor is struggling heroically to meet expenses as wit- ness the following :

"THE PRINTER-Wants the following articles of Country Produce in payment on subscription debts, viz .: Wheat, Rye, Corn, Oats, Buckwheat, Potatoes, Pork, Beef, Veal, Cheese, Butter, Sugar, Flax, Linnen, Linsey, Wool, Tallow, Candles, Feathers, Hay, &c., &c., or anything else which we can eat, drink, wear, or sell again. He would be glad to get lumber and building material of all kinds (if delivered soon); also a few cords of Fire Wood; for all of which the highest mar- ket price will be given. And moreover, he would not take it amiss if he could occasionally get (it would be a mighty pleasant thing) from his patrons some MONEY, for which they should most assuredly receive his hearty thanks."

While these early issues of the Bucyrus Journal and the Western Journal are not as well printed as is done today, it is a conspicuous fact that the paper holds together and the type is clear and distinct, a feature which will prob- ably not be noted about the average paper print- ed today which might be preserved for eighty years. Crosby sold the printing plant to Charles P. West, who published for about one year the Peoples Press and the Peoples Ad- vocate, both of which aimed to be neutral in

*At the March term of court in 1834, the following indictment was found. "George Myers, for suffering gaming in his outhouse."

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politics. In 1845 President Polk appointed Crosby Consul to the port of Talcahuano, Chili, in South America. Moderwell says in regard to Crosby's later history "Finding the office was not very lucrative he resigned and engaged in whale fishery, which proved to be much more profitable, and in which he was en- gaged for many years. He visited Bucyrus in October, 1867."

David R. Lightner was employed in the Peo- ple's Press office before the publication was dis- continued, and, when West sold the establish- ment to Joseph Newell arrangements were made for a new paper, to be published by Newell & Lightner. Mrs. Newell, however, op- posed this move on her husband's part, and, in order to "keep peace in the family," Newell turned the enterprise over to John Reeder, and is said to have given him ten bushels of wheat for "taking the bargain off his hands." Reeder and his son Jonathan, and his nephew Lightner, then started the Ohio Intelligencer. The first number appeared about 1836, for the 21st number of it was issued July 23, and the 42d number December 30, 1836. This paper was neutral in politics, the issue of July 23 pub- lishing both Presidential electoral tickets. The name of the firm was then D. R. Lightner & Co., but after fifty-two numbers had been is- sued John Reeder retired and his son Jonathan continued in partnership with his cousin Light- ner for several more numbers of Volume 2. Young Reeder also became discouraged and sold his interest to John Caldwell. The Ohio Intelligencer was then discontinued and Cald- well & Lightner started the Crawford Repub- lican about August 1, 1837, with Caldwell as editor and Lightner as publisher. The office was then on the corner now occupied by the J. K. Myers store. In the eighth number, dated November 4, 1837, on the first page, and No- vember 28, on the third, the proprietors make the following announcement :

"The experiment we have commenced in the pub- lishing of a Democratic paper is now in full tide of operation, and with the result so far we have no reason to complain. In addition to the old list of subscribers we have obtained about one hundred and twenty new ones, and are daily receiving more. We want two hun- dred more immediately and no labor or expense will be spared to make our paper interesting. An interesting and important crisis is now approaching in our national and state affairs, with which every man in the county should make himself acquainted, and which we will en- deavor to lay before our readers as they transpire."

This number was issued during the panic of 1837, and, money being very scarce, the pro- prietors, in order to secure patronage, pub- lished on the fourth page, in sale-bill type the following notice: "Wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats, pork, beef, butter and candles will be re- received on subscription at this office." After 52 numbers of the Crawford County Republi- can had been published Caldwell retired from the firm, and Lightner continued the paper for another year, or rather for another volume of fifty-two numbers, the last appearing January I, 1840. The Democratic brethren were not satisfied with the manageemnt of the paper un- der Lightner, who said "some declared I was not a good Democrat for publishing a com- munication from Bishop Tuttle, in which the people were advised to examine both sides." Lightner was not sorry to be relieved, and the office was transferred to Caldwell, and the pa- per discontinued for about three months. Mr. Lightner was afterward elected Mayor of Bucyrus in 1842 and re-elected in 1843. Cald- well, for many years a resident of Crawford county, removed to California, and was mur- . dered while carrying mail.

In the summer or fall of 1838 a new Whig paper, the Bucyrus Democrat, was established by John Shrenck. No. 52 of volume I was issued October 2, 1839. An examination of this issue shows that the character of Bucy- rus newspapers has improved very much dur- ing these 75 years. It would seem the sole idea for which Shrenck published the Democrat was to abuse the Democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney, Franklin Adams. This gentleman was elected by a large majority, re- elected two terms and continued for years an honored and respected citizen of the town, while the Democrat "yielded up the ghost" 70 years ago. Shrenck continued the paper sev- eral years; No. 47, of Volume 3 was issued May 4, 1842, and it was published during the political campaign of that year. After a pre- carious existence of three or four years he re- moved the press and material to Kenton and in 1845 to Upper Sandusky. The Bucyrus Dem- ocrat was the first paper published in Craw- ford county in opposition to the Democratic party.

The Democrats of Crawford county were anxious to have an organ at Bucyrus and the

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publishers of the Ohio Statesman, at Colum- bus, recommended Thomas J. Orr and John White as two printers who could conduct a paper to suit the party. About April 23, 1840, these young men having obtained possession of the printing material formerly owned by Cald- well & Lightner, started the Democratic Repub- lican, the fourth number of which appeared May 14, 1840. White then retired from the establishment; it is generally reported that the partnership was dissolved by Orr kicking White out of the office for being intoxicated. Con- sidering the present partisan meaning of the words Democratic and Republican, it appears strange that in 1840 the organ of the Crawford county Democracy should by the Democratic Republican, while the Whig paper, opposed to the Democracy should be known as the Bucy- rus Democrat. Orr continued in the newspaper business at Bucyrus for several years and at the start was supported by the Democratic party. The first volume of his Democrat Re- publican was completed May 28, 1841, and shortly after this Orr commenced issuing the paper very irregularly, for although the second volume was started June 4, 1841, it had only reached the 28th number by July 23, 1842. It had taken him eight months to issue the last fourteen numbers of the second volume. Orr was a brilliant writer, and a genial, social, whole-souled man, but could do nothing with more ease and grace than any man in the vil- lage. Everybody liked him, but the leading Democrats so seriously objected to this shift- less way of conducting a party organ, that he did better the second year, and starting Vol. 3 on April 6, 1843, he managed to get it com- pleted by June 8, 1844, publishing the 52 num- bers in a year and a record breaker for Orr. He managed to do fairly well in the summer of 1844 as it was a Presidential campaign, and he took a natural interest in politics, but after the campaign was over, and his party had won, he dropped back farther than ever in the irregular- ity of the issues. The patrons of the paper in disgust, secured another man and the Peo- ple's Forum was started in the spring of 1845, and after publishing a few more irregular num- bers, the last about July, with the fourth vol- ume lacking several numbers of completion, Orr gave his paper to William T. Giles, the only man about the establishment who did any

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 71

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302