USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 2 > Part 24
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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
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
and Whig. John Macracon was one of the first editors of the paper, and was succeeded by A. M. Scott, who edited it until December 9, 1844, when he was himself succeeded by his predecessor, and the paper was then enlarged. In 1847, Ralph S. Hart and I. D. Stout purchased an interest in it, Mr. Wilson having previously retired. The firm name was H. D. Stout & Company, Mr. Hart being the editor of the paper and Mr. Maeracon attending to the business department. Mr. Hart was editor eighteen months. M. E. Curwen was a frequent contributor, and for some time had charge of the editorial columns. Mr. Macracon retired from the paper in February, 1849, and was followed by A. M. Scott. The paper was finally disposed of to William C. Howells & Company, in May, 1849, who published daily, tri-weekly, and weekly editions, but discontinned its publication altogether in 1850.
The Daily ('ity Item was established in 1852 by a quartette of jour- neymen printers. It was the first penny paper in Dayton. The four printers were Frank Anderton, Martin Shrenek, Charles Lewis and Fred- erick Emrick. The latter was at first the editor, but remaining only a short time, he was succeeded by John Z. Reeder, who purchased Emrick's interest. Mr. Reeder remained in this position cighteen months. Mr. Shrenek and Mr. Anderton sold their interests to Joseph Schnebly and J. S. Miller, and in this shape the paper was conducted over a year. About the time Mr. Reeder withdrew it became the property of Noah A. Albaugh, who succeeded to the editorship and also to the business management. At one time the circulation of the Item was as high as eighteen hundred copies, indicating great popularity for the times in which it was printed. Mr. Albangh conducted the paper only a short time when it was discontinued.
The Dayton Gazette was established in 1840, and was edited at first by D. W. Iddings. This was an excellent paper, and in politics was Whig. It was owned and conducted by various parties until it was purchased by W. HI. P. Deuny, who conducted it until the beginning of 1860, when it was discontinued. For a considerable portion of the time it was a daily paper, but toward the last it was a weekly.
The Dayton Democrat, daily and weekly, is the lineal descendant of a long line of newspapers which had been established in Dayton by a large number of different editors, and which, as has been seen in the preceding pages, had all passed through great vicissitudes. Previous attempts had been made to establish a paper which should be Democratie in politics, as the word Democratie would be understood at the present time, but none of these attempts had met with the encourage- mient that had been fondly hoped for, if not expected. But in 1830
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E. Lindsley, who has been mentioned as one of the successors of George S. Houston, in the publication of the Ohio Watchman, established the Dayton Republican, adopting the name of a paper which had been pub- lished previous to the Watchman, with the view of succeeding to the good will and patronage of that paper. In this connection, it may not be improper to remark that both the Democrat and the Journal, as they are published to-day, Jay claim to lineal succession from the Dayton Repertory, the first number of which appeared September 18, 1808, and which was regularly followed by the Ohio Centinel, the Ohio Republican, and the Ohio Watchman, as has been already narrated. And in a certain sense this claim is true in each case, but in a different sense in reference to each! paper, the Democrat succeeding to the Democratic politics of the Ohio Republican, while the Journal has succeeded to the politics which the name of the Ohio Republican would seem to indicate, the divergence in polities in the papers taking place about the time when the Whigs became a distinctive party in American politics.
The first number of the Dayton Republican appeared January 5, 1830, the publisher being E. Lindsley and the chief editor, William L. HIelfenstein. In 1834, it was discontinued, and during the same year Mr. Lindsley started the Democratic Herald, and in January, 1842, that paper was succeeded by the Western Empire. Some years afterward the Dayton. Daily Empire was started, authorities say in 1844, but Number 187 of Volume II. appears dated February 7, 1851, hence its appearance must have been irregular for some years. The terms upon which it was published were four dollars per annum, payable quarterly in advance. Previous to the establishment of the daily edition, the paper had been edited by men who afterward acquired a national reputation. Among these were John Bigler, who became governor of California, and Delazon Smith, who was one of the first United States senators from Oregon. The Daily Empire, when it first appeared, was an evening paper. It was a five-column folio, and was published by Daniel G. Fitch and George W. Clason. On July 3, 1851, the size was increased to a six-column folio, and it was then published by Fitch, Clason & Tillinghast. This firm was succeeded April 27, 1854, by Fitch, Clason & Company, the "company" being D. Clark. On July, 1854, D. G. Fitch and D. Clark became the proprietors and J. Z. Reeder assistant editor. On November 27th, follow- ing, the size of the paper was reduced to a five-column folio on account of the necessity for retrenehment. September 3, 1855, D. G. Fitch sold his interest in the paper to David Clark, thus relinquishing a position which he had filled for twenty-three years, in connection with this and other papers. J. Z. Reeder then became editor for a short time and soon after-
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ward associate editor, a position which he retained until August 17, 1857, when his connection with the paper ceased. David Clark retired from the paper April 21, 1860, having been with it since January, 1854. Ilis successors were 1. R. Kelly & Company, and J. F. Bollmeyer was placed in charge of the editorial department. William T. Logan became editor with Mr. Bollmeyer in 1862, and upon the killing of Mr. Bollmeyer November 1, 1862, by Henry M. Brown, Mr. Logan became editor of the paper and conducted it until the arrest of Hon. C. L. Vallandigham in 1863, when, on account of an article published therein, counseling resist- ance to such measures, he was also arrested and the paper suppressed.
A company was then formed under the name of the Empire Com- pany, which started a new paper, having the same name, number one of which appeared August 19, 1863. William T. Logan edited the new paper until December 21, 1863, at which time the Hubbard Brothers suc- ceeded to the proprietorship. II. U. Robinson became editor of the paper, with D. G. Fitch assistant editor, November 25, 1865 This arrangement lasted until January 26, 1867, at which time David Sheward purchased a one-half interest, and as a consequence Mr. Fitch retired. II. H. Robinson purchased an interest in the paper July 8, 1867, and on the next day J. MeLain Smith became its editor. On this day the Empire was discontinued, and the Dayton Daily Ledger took its place. After- ward the proprietorship of the Ledger passed into the hands of J. MeLain Smith & Company, and then into the hands of J. A. Cockerill & Com- pany, this firm being composed of Hon. C. L. Vallandigham and Jolm A. Cockerill, the latter being now on the New York World. Mr. Cockerill sold his one-half interest to Dennis Dwyer and James Kelly, and after Mr. Cockerill's withdrawal, Judge Elliot edited the paper for a short period. Dwyer, Kelly & Vallandigham leased the paper for six months to J. C. Ely, Edward F. Schenck, and A. J. Hiller, who changed the name of the daily to the Herald. Pending this lease the establishment was purchased by John G. Doren, who changed the name to that of the Herald and Empire, and published it under that name until it absorbed the Dayton Democrat, which had been started by J. MeLain Smith and George Neder, in 1874. Since that time both the daily and weekly editions have been published by Mr. Doren.
The Democrat, no matter under what name it has been published, has always been a Democratie paper. It has never swerved from the prin- ciples of that party as it has understood those principles. It has been also independent of the so-called party leaders, never wavering from what it considered true Democracy for the sake of pleasing some individual. This is true of all the editors of the paper, hence to mention any one as
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having followed this line would be invidious and unjust to those not mentioned. As the Journal has always been a staunch, unwavering Republican paper, so the Democrat has always been the leading and reliable Democratie paper of the county.
The Dayton Volkszeitung was started April 26, 1866, by George Neder. It was a six-column four-page paper, 22×32 inches in size. In June, 1866, a semi-weekly issue was printed in addition to the weekly, and in October following the semi-weekly issue gave place to a tri-weekly issue. This gave place to a daily paper about the 1st of September, 1876, since when both a weekly aud a daily have been continuously published. From the time it was started until 1874 the Volkszeitung was published in the United Brethren Publishing House, and in that year it was moved to the Osceola Mills Building, where it has been published ever since. On the 15th of April, 1882, a stock company was formed with a capital of ten thousand dollars, the officers of which have been ever since the organization of the company, George Neder, president, and Otto Moosbrugger, secretary and treasurer. The other dircetors are at the present time Edward Neder, Max Neder, Kuno Moosbrugger, and Angelo Moosbrugger. The paper has always been independent in politics, supporting either the Democratic or the Republican party, according to circumstances.
On the 17th of April, 1882, the Anzeiger was absorbed into the Volks- zeitung. The Anzeiger was started September 1, 1876. It was Democratic in politics, and was owned by Otto Moosbrugger and Charles Schenck, when first started, but Mr Schenck sold his interest to Kuno Moosbrug- ger, and the two Messrs. Moosbrugger carried on the publication of the paper until it was consolidated with the Volkszeitung.
The Daytor Daily Herald was started February 7, 1879, by Ferdinand J. Wendel, as an independent journal. At first it was published on Fourth Street, but in about two years it was removed to its present location, on the southeast corner of Second and Jefferson streets. The paper was for the first six months a seven-column folio, and then it was made an eight-column folio. At the end of about a year it was cularged to a nine-column folio, and on Saturdays, a nine-column quarto. Ferdinand J. Wendel was sole proprietor until November, 1887, when the Herald Publishing Company was incorporated, with a capital of forty thousand dollars, the incorporators being Ferdinand J. Wendel, Edward B. Grimes, George L. Grimes, Alonzo Eaton, and Samuel Kchoe. The officers of the company at first were Ferdinand J. Wendel, president; George L. Grimes, secretary, and Edward B. Grimes, treasurer. Charles J. Geyer became secretary in November, 1888, and has since been secretary and
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business manager. The president and treasurer remain as at first. The Weekly Herald was established at the same time as the daily, and is a nine-column quarto. The Herald has been one of the most successful newspaper enterprises ever established in Dayton, and the circulation of the daily is now six thousand, and that of the weekly four thousand, five hundred. Politically, the Herald remains as at first established, independ- ent, though it has a strong leaning toward the protective tariff principles of the Republican party, and advocated those principles during the presidential campaign of 1888.
The Monitor was started as a weekly paper in 1886 by G. C. Wise, C. W. Faber, and J. E. D. Ward. In the following October the Daily Monitor was started, the intention being to run merely a campaign paper. At the end of three months, however, such had been the success with which the enterprise had been crowned that a company was organized under the name of the Monitor Publishing Company, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars. G. C. Wise was general manager until May 1, 1889, and up to that time C. W. Faber was editor. Since that time C. W. Faber has been general manager, with Harry Weidner assistant manager. The Daily Monitor has always been an evening paper, and in size up to May 25, 1889, it has been a seven-column folio. On that day it was increased to an eight- column folio, except that on Saturdays it was made an eight-column quarto. The paper is Democratie in politics, aims to be a good newspaper, and on Saturdays has a special literary feature which renders it a very popular publication.
The Religious Telescope, the chief organ of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, was established in Circleville, Ohio, in 1834, the Publishing House of the Church having been founded at the same time for the special purpose of publishing this paper. The first number of the Telescope was issued December 31, 1834, with a circulation of eleven hundred and ninety-seven. The editor was the Rev. William R. Rhinchart, and the first printer was Lewis Twining. The paper from the first was respectable in size and character, and it at once became a favorite in the Church. Even if sometimes unwise in its utterances, it was bold and powerful. Early in its history it was con- frouted with the question of the abolition of American slavery. The Telescope discussed the question with fiery and scathing language. This course of the paper was not altogether satisfactory to some of its patrons, but Mr. Rhinehart was in favor of the free discussion of the question and defended it in the columns of the paper. With the issue of May 1, 1839, he resigned his editorship. In his valedictory he expressed his enthusiasm on this subject in the following words:
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" It is better, ten thousand times better, that this nation should put away the accursed thing, slavery, than that we should fall into the hands of an angry and avenging God."
The vacancy in the editorship, caused by the resignation of Rev. Mr. Rhinehart, was filled by the appointment, by the Scioto Annual Confer- ence, of the Rev. William Hanby to the position. The first number of the Telescope under Mr. Hanby appeared May 15, 1839. He was reelected in 1841. In April, 1843, Mr. Hanby said, with reference to the publica- tion of the Telescope, that it had waded through a variety of trials for the previous seven years, and had been passed by with heedless indifference by those who years before should have embraced it as a messenger of peace.
Times changed, however, the next year, and there was a marked improvement in the condition of the Telescope. There was still further improvement in 1845 and in subsequent years by reason of the adoption of the cash principle.
The Rev. D. Edwards was elected editor of the paper in May, 1815, and reelected in 1849. He, however, immediately tendered his resigna- tion, and Mr. Danby was again elected to the place. Early in 1850 the trustees elected the Rev. John Lawrence as assistant editor, which relation he sustained until the early part of 1852. At this time Mr. Ilanby resigned and Rev. Mr. Lawrence succeeded to his place. In the following year 1858, the Telescope, with the Publishing House, was re- moved to Dayton, Ohio, from which place it has since been issued. Mr. Lawrence retained the position of editor until April 29, 1864, when the Rev. D. Berger took charge. Mr. Berger remained editor until May 20, 1869, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Milton Wright. In May, 1873, the conference determined upon having two editors and elected Mr. Wright and W. O. Tobey, who jointly assumed control of the paper July 2, 1873. In 1877, the General Conference determined to elect one editor and to give him an assistant, and elected Rev. J. W. Hott, D. D., editor, and W. O. Tobey, assistant editor. Rev. Mr. Hott was reflected editor in 1880 and again in 1885, serving until 1889, when he was chosen bishop and was succeeded in the editorship of the Telescope by Rev. I. L. Kep- hart, D. D. Rev. M. R. Drury, A. M., was chosen assistant editor in 1881, in which office he continues at the present time. The present circulation of the paper is twelve thousand, four hundred and fifty.
The size and form of the paper have frequently been changed. It was originally a folio, issued semi-monthly. July 30, 1845, it was changed to a weekly and has remained a weekly to the present time. It is now a sixteen-page quarto, and in size, appearance, and contents, ranks high among the religious journals of the country.
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Its columns have contained vigorous discussions of many current subjects, which have agitated the Church, and among its editors have been a number of able inen.
Bishop Jacob Erb, writing from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, under date of September 24, 1839, first suggested to the United Brethren Publishing House the printing of a German religious paper. The first difficulty to be overcome was the securing of German type for the office, as it was thought that the establishment could not then afford to buy it. To overcome this difficulty it was suggested that the money be collected either by subscription or donation. Bishop Erb, approving of this suggestion, set the example by himself subscribing ten dollars toward the fund. He also found that nearly all the brethren were willing to aid the subscription in this way. In addition, the bishop offered to go security for the State of Pennsylvania and the city of Baltimore, that they together would contribute three hundred dollars, provided that other States and cities, where there were churches of this denomination, would aid the cause in due proportion.
Rev. John Russel began the publication of a German paper in 1840 at Baltimore, Maryland. It was a monthly periodical and named the Busy Martha. The first number appeared March 7th. The General Con- ference of 1841 took steps toward the establishment of a printing office in Baltimore, Maryland, and John Russel, C. Staley, and II. Wigang were appointed trustees. Bishop Jacob Erb was appointed editor. One third of the subscription list of the Religious Telescope was ordered turned over to this new paper. Mr. Russel's paper, Busy Martha, was merged into this enterprise, and the first number of the paper under Bishop Erb appeared July 1, 1841. The paper was soon discontinued, however, from want of patronage.
In October, 1846, there appeared a paper called the German Telescope, by Rev. N. Altman. It was issued from the office at Circleville, Ohio. In 1817, Rev. D. Strickler was elected its editor. It was an eight-page paper. After three years, or in 1849, its name was changed to the Busy Martha. In 1851, Rev. Henry Straub became its editor, and the name Busy Martha was changed to The Frochliche Botschafter. The first number under this name appeared November 11, 1851. This paper continued under the control of Rev. Mr. Straub until August 17, 1855, when he resigned, and Julius Degmeier was chosen to the place. In December, 1858, Mr. Degmeier resigned, and in 1859 it was resolved that the paper be reduced from a weekly to a semi-monthly on account of loss of money to the office in its publication. Rev. Solomon Vonneida was appointed editor, and occupied the position until August 28, 1866. The
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paper was changed from a semi-monthly to a weekly, January 1, 1806. At that time it was removed to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and for a time edited by Rev. E. Light. The General Conference of 1809 ordered it back to Dayton, and elected Rev. William Mittendorf editor. To this position he was reelected in 1873, 1877, and 1881. In 1885 the Rev. E. Light again became editor, which position he retained until 1889, when Rev. Mr. Mittendorf was again placed in charge.
, The Unity Magazine first appeared in November, 1853. It was established according to the order of the General Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, and was issued from the Publishing House. It was at first called The Unity with God, and Magazine of Sacred Litera- ture. It was especially devoted to the promotion of Christian holiness. In 1854, the name was changed to the Unity Magazine, and still later the name of The Unity Magazine and Ladies' Companion was adopted. At the time of this change there was a change in editors from Rev. D. Edwards to the Rev. Alexander Owen. Under Rev. Mr. Owen's manage- ment, the name was changed to the Christian Repository. Its publication was continued up to the January number of its sixth volume, and in his valedietory the editor declared that the magazine had never been known to smile.
The first number of the Children's Friend, a semi-monthly Sabbath- school paper, appeared May 5, 1854, from the United Brethren Publishing House. It has always continued a semi-monthly, and is handsomely illustrated. Its editor up to July 15, 1857, was the Rev. D. Edwards. He was then succeeded by Rev. Alexander Owen, who remained editor until January, 1859, when he resigned. He was followed by the Rev. Solomon Vonneida, who was succeeded in May, 1869, by the Rev. D. Berger, D. D., who was reflected in 1873, 1877, 1881, 1885, and 1889, and is still the editor. It has a circulation of thirty-eight thousand, one hundred and sixty-six.
The Missionary Telescope was established in January, 1858, as a monthly periodical. It was the organ of the Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society of the United Brethren in Christ, and was issued from the United Brethren Publishing House. Its financial maintenance de- volved upon the missionary society, but it was soon ascertained that much as a missionary paper was needed, it could not be published on the plan then followed without loss to the society. For this reason its publica- tion was discontinued in November, 1861.
The first number of the Missionary Visitor appeared July 8, 1805. Rev. D. K. Fliekinger, the corresponding secretary of the missionary society, was the editor. It began as a semi-monthly Sabbath-school 44
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missionary paper and has continued as such ever since. It has always been handsomely illustrated, and has been the means of accomplishing much good. Rev. Mr. Flickinger ceased to be its editor in 1885, and was followed by Rev. Z. Warner, D. D., who remained until 1887, when the Rev. William McKee succeeded him. It is now edited by Rev. B. F. Booth, D. D., elected secretary of the missionary society in 1889. Its circulation is thirty-three thousand, three hundred and seventy-five.
The Jugend Pilger, an illustrated semi-monthly German Sabbath- school paper, was first issued in 1870. It was published by the United Brethren Publishing House from 1870 to 1885, and was edited by Rev. William Mittendorf. In 1885, Rev. Ezekiel Light became editor, con- tinuing until 1889, when he was succeeded by the former editor, Rev. William Mittendorf.
Our Bible Teacher was first issued from the United Brethren Publish- ing House in April, 1873, its first editor being the Rev. D. Berger, D. D., who has been continued in the office ever since. It is a monthly magazine for Sunday-schools and families, and contains comments on the international Sunday-school lessons. Originally, it contained twenty-four pages, but in 1878, its size was increased to thirty-two pages. It has a fine reputation as a scholarly and helpful lesson commentary.
The publication of Lesson Leaves for the Sunday-schools was com- menced January 1, 1873, with the introduction. of the international series of Sunday-school lessons. A Lesson Leaf was issued for every Sabbath in the year.
In 1873, Our Bible-Lesson Quarterly was first issued. This contained, with some additions, the same matter as the Lesson Leares.
In 1882, the Lesson Leares were succeeded by Our Intermediate Bible- Lesson Quarterly, intended for a younger class of scholors. They are very popular, and now have a combined circulation of 147,500. These lesson publications have been cdited from their first establishment by Rev. D. Berger, D. D., and issued from the United Brethren Publishing House.
The first number of Lessons for the Little Ones was published April 2, 1876. It is a weekly paper, and is beautifully illustrated with original cuts from drawings prepared especially for its pages by one of the best American artists. It is designed to furnish instruction and illustration upon the Sunday-school lessons, as well as general literature for the youngest classes of readers. In 1880, its circulation was 17,840, and its circulation at the present time is 45,665. This paper has always been edited by the Rev. D. Berger, D. D., and issued from the United Brethren Publishing House.
The Woman's Brangel was established in 1881, in accordance with
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