USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 65
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The Hancock Republican was established by Arnold F. Merriam, in January, 1838, and was the first Whig paper published in the county. We have been unable to find a copy of the Republican, but Mrs. Sarah A. Strother, who was then the wife of Mr. Merriam, says it was issued about one year and was about the size of the Courier. Mr. Merriam was a bright young lawyer who caine to Findlay in the spring of 1835, and practiced law until his removal to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1839, where he sold the press and material of the Republican. He married Miss Sarah A. Baldwin, of Findlay, sister of Dr. William H. Baldwin, and died in Kentucky in 1844. His widow returned to Findlay and taught school for many years, subsequently becoming the wife of Judge Robert L. Strother. She is still among the old and honored residents of the town. From a column of comments on the early press, published in the Journal, in 1852, we learn that the general appearance and typography of the Republican was very good for the time, and its columns singularly free from personal abuse.
The Hancock Farmer was started by Jacob Rosenberg, in 1842, as a Democratic paper in favor of nominating candidates by the delegate system instead of by popular vote, the latter system being then advocated by Mr. Bishop, of the Courier. The Farmer was published by Mr. Rosenberg until his death in October, 1844, and afterward by the administrator, Jacob Barnd. Early in 1845 William Mungen took possession of the office, and issued his first number February 19 of that year. Toward the close of June Mr. Mungen purchased the Courier and consolidated the papers as the Democratic Courier. The Farmer was a six-column folio, published at $2 per annum, but it did not have a very large circulation, as the county could not. support two Democratic papers at that time.
The Western Herald was the second Whig paper started in Findlay. It was established by John T. Ford in January, 1845, in the second story of
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the old frame building yet standing on the southeast corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, and known as the Baldwin Corner. The Herald was edited and published by Mr. Ford until October 5, 1845, when James M. Coffinberry obtained an interest in the paper. Mr. Coffinberry was then a talented young lawyer of Maumee City, and had previously edited the Maumee River Times. In a copy of the Courier now before us, of October 7, 1845, the new editor of the Herald is spoken of in complimentary terms. In a letter received from Judge Coffinberry, who has been a resident of Cleveland since 1855, he gives the following account of his first connection with the Herald: . "When I made the acquaintance of the Herald, in the fall of 1845, it was owned and conducted by John Tivis Ford. I purchased a half interest and we ran it jointly-he as publisher and I as editor. I subsequently bought him out and conducted it alone as long as I had money or credit to keep it going. I vainly hoped to convert the Democracy of Hancock County from the error of their ways; now I am glad to believe that they with their party everywhere will stand by their colors and live and die in the faith of true Jeffersonian Democracy. When I purchased Mr. Ford's interest the Herald was printed on a little, old, decrepit wooden Ramage press. I bought a Franklin press of John C. Gilkinson, of Mans- field, Ohio, which was quite an affair at that time and place. My predeces- sor, Ford, was an intelligent, sensible man, and afterward became a con- ductor on the Findlay branch of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad." In January, 1846, the name of the paper was changed to the Findlay Herald, and it was edited and published by Mr. Coffinberry until January, 1848, when he sold the office to Dr. David Patton, and the paper was then suspended.
In September, 1848, Robert Coulter came to Findlay, purchased the Herald office, and began the publication of a six-column folio paper called The Hancock Whig. He conducted the Whig until February, 1850, and then sold out to William P. Resznor, a man of good education and con- siderable ability, but who at times would become demented and unfit for business on account of a serious injury to his brain caused by the kick of a horse. Mr. Resznor ran the Whig only about seven months, disposing of it to George G. Lyon in September, 1850. Mr. Lyon possessed great energy, and, with the hope of benefiting the paper, changed its name to The Hancock Journal. In July, 1851, Mr. Coulter, who on selling out to Mr. Resznor, had removed to Springfield, Ohio, returned to Findlay, and again be- came editor and publisher of the paper. In his salutatory, July 25, 1851, he says: "We shall not change the heading of our paper to what it was under our former administration, but let it remain as the Hancock Journal. But this much we will say, let no one imagine that we are less a Whig than if it was entitled the Hancock Whig. The paper now contains four columns of matter more than when we published it, and the columns are considerably longer, thus increasing at least one-third the amount of reading matter." The Journal was at this time a seven-column folio 24x36 inches in size, and its annual subscription was $1.50, $2.00 and $2.50, according to time of payment. Mr. Coulter was a man of some talent, and was post- master of Findlay about six months, but he was rather fond of the intoxi- cating cup, and after publishing the paper until July, 1852, he got "to the end of his rope" and the Journal suspended publication. On the 21st of August, 1852, the office was sold by James M. Coffinberry, attorney for
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George G. Lyon and certain other creditors, and thus closed the life of another journalistic enterprise.
The Home Companion was established by Samuel A. Spear, and its first number issued June S, 1854. It was a seven column folio, printed on a sheet 25x37 inches in size, and published at $1.50 per annum. In his salutatory Mr. Spear says: "We have no definite line of policy marked out, as our paper will have no party connection. We shall, however, labor earnestly to sustain the prohibitory liquor law; and will at all times advo- cate the principles of the temperance cause. We will labor, also, to pro- mote the cause of education and the elevation and improvement of our schools, as we feel deeply interested in both those subjects. We shall oppose most strenuously every measure calculated to establish a debasing sectional interest at the expense of moral principles and the common good of the country; and, of course, will be found ever ready to combat anything of the character of the Nebraska bill." Mr. Spear came to Findlay in the spring of 1851, as principal of the Findlay Academical Institute, with which he was connected four years. He was a finely educated gentleman, and established the Companion with the idea of building up an independent, literary journal; but with the beginning of Volume II, in June, 1855, the Companion came out in support of the new-born Republican party. In the spring of 1856 his brother-in-law, Hugh L. McKee, obtained an interest in the paper, and was associated with Mr. Spear about one year, retiring April 24, 1857. Previous to his connection with the Companion Mr. McKee was superintendent of the academy, having succeeded Mr. Spear in 1855.
On June 19, 1857, the name of the paper was changed to The Hancock Jeffersonian, which came out as an eight-column folio, 26x38 inches in dimensions, but remained at the old price, $1.50 per annum. In announcing the change of name Mr. Spear made the following explanation: "The title we have adopted we consider more in conformity with the position we occupy on questions of a political character. When we established our paper in this county parties had become so completely revolutionized that it was difficult to determine what position would be finally taken. We, therefore, thought it prudent not to identify our paper with any party; hence the title assumed. The formation of the Republican party, subsequently, hav- ing in view the propagation of principles essentially Republican, met our entire approbation, and we therefore gave it our hearty support, as we in- tend to do in future, as long as it preserves its integrity." The Jeffersonian was conducted by Mr. Spear until November 22, 1861, when it suspended, the editor giving as the reasons therefor the experiencing "to the fullest extent, the pressure which the local press has been suffering since the out- break of the present war," and his patrons seeming "not to realize that money is essential to the success of a publisher." In 1859 Mr. Spear be- came superintendent of the Union School District, and filled that position while at the same time conducting his paper. His last teaching was a private school in the Joy House Block. He died in Findlay, in 1863. During his connection with the press Mr. Spear was recognized as a high-minded, talented, scholarly writer of varied and wide information, while his social character was above reproach.
After a few weeks Mr. D. R. Locke, of Bucyrus, Ohio, came to Findlay and resuscitated the Jeffersonian. Under the new management the paper was reduced to a seven-column folio, because of the great increase in the
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price of printing material. Soon after taking charge of the Jeffersonian Mr. Locke commenced writing the "Nasby Papers," which won for him a national reputation. These letters first appeared in the Jeffersonian, and were extensively copied by the Republican press all over the Union. Mr. Locke is now editor and proprietor of the Toledo Blade, and one of the wealthy men of that city. In September, 1864, Irvin S. Chamberlin, of Findlay, purchased an interest in the Jeffersonian, and in February, 1865, Mr. Locke sold his remaining interest and removed to Toledo, Otis T. Locke and Irvin S. Chamberlin becoming editors and proprietors of the paper. The following April C. N. Locke's name appears in editorial connection with the Jeffersonian; but November 17, 1865, Mr. Chamberlin and C. N. Locke retired, and Messrs. L. G. Thrall and Otis T. Locke became sole- pro- prietors, the former coming here from Columbus, Ohio. For some years he had been one of the editors of the Columbus Gazette, and was afterward connected with the Ohio State Journal. The new firm at once enlarged the paper from a seven to an eight-column sheet, the same size as it had been under Mr. Spear. In July, 1866, Mr. Thrall disposed of his interest to his partner, and C. N. Locke again became one of the editors. W. G. Blymyer bought an interest in the Jeffersonian in December, 1866, and the firm was then Locke & Blymyer. In June, 1867, they enlarged the paper to a nine-column folio. C. N. Locke obtained an interest in February, 1868, and Lockes & Blymyer were editors and proprietors until the following autumn, issuing their last number September 4, 1868.
E. G. De Wolfe and Dr. A. P. Miller, under the firm name of E. G. De Wolfe & Co., then purchased the office. Mr. De Wolfe was an old, practical newspaper man, and understood the business in all its details. He had occupied a responsible post on the Ohio State Journal for some two years before coming to Findlay; was recognized as an incisive, vigorous writer, of an extensive experience in newspaper work, and well fitted to fill the position of editor and publisher of one of the leading Republican papers in northwestern Ohio. On the 1st of April, 1870, the paper came out as The Findlay Jeffersonian, and enlarged to a ten-column folio. In referring to the change the editor says: "Our paper is now the largest country newspaper in the State, and we shall work hard to make it the best." In January, 1873, O. J. De Wolfe, a brother of the editor, bought Dr. Miller's interest in the Jeffersonian, and the De Wolfe brothers thus be- came associated in editing and publishing the paper. After continuing the Jeffersonian as a ten-column sheet until March 13, 1874, the publishers de- cided to reduce the paper to its former size, viz. : a nine-column folio. Two years afterward (March, 1876), O. J. De Wolfe sold out to his brother and removed to Fostoria, where he has since resided. E. G. De Wolfe con- tinued to edit and publish the Jeffersonian until April 28, 1876, after which issue he retired from the paper, having previously sold it to his old partner, Dr. A. P. Miller. During his eight years' connection with the Jeffersonian Mr. De Wolfe largely increased its influence and value, and labored earnestly and faithfully for the best interests of the town and county, the dissemination of Republican principles, and the success of his party.
Before issuing a single number Dr. Miller sold the office to A. H. Bal- sley, and May 5, 1876, the paper came out with the name of the latter at the head of its columns as editor and proprietor. Mr. Balsley is a practical printer and has for many years been in the newspaper field, as editor of the
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Grand River Review, at Painesville, Ohio; St. Clairstille Independent, Plymouth Advertiser and Fremont Journal ere coming to Findlay. He was therefore no novice, and was well qualified for the work in hand. On the 5th of June, 1881, the name was changed to the Findlay Weekly Jeffer- sonian, because the Daily was then called the Findlay Daily Jeffersonian, but no material change has been made in the size or general appearance of the paper, except that it has kept well up with the growing wants of the people. Mr. Balsley now claims a circulation for the weekly of about 2.000 copies, and a good job office is connected with the paper. The office is located in the Jeffersonian Block, on the south side of the public square. erected by Mr. Balsley since taking possession of the Jeffersonian. The Jeffersonian is a good family newspaper, and politically devoted to what its editor regards as the best interests of the Republican party. Under Mr. Balsley's management the Jeffersonian has not been so extremely partizan as previously, and while giving its support to its party, has usually treated its political opponents with an impartiality not often found in the arena of politics.
The Daily Jeffersonian is issued from the same office, and was estab- lished as an experiment November 15, 1880, and then called the Findlay Daily Jeffersonian. The little five-column folio was received with such warm favor that Mr. Balsley soon decided to make the Daily a permanent institution. Considerable credit is due to the former local editor, W. S. Hammaker, for his efforts toward building up the Daily, and making it a newsy, readable little sheet, welcome in hundreds of homes. In February, 1883, the Daily was enlarged to a six-column paper, at which size it remained till May 10, 1886, when it was enlarged to a seven-column folio. Its present circulation is placed by Mr. Balsley at about 850 copies, the great majority of which are distributed in Findlay.
The Reporter was the next journalistic enterprise established in Findlay. Its first number was issued June 18, 1872, by C. G. & J. K. Barnd, editors and proprietors, and was a five-column quarto paper published at $1.50 per annum. The Reporter was started as an independent, literary paper, and in their salutatory the editors say: "We shall reserve the liberty and exer- cise the right to comment upon all subjects, commending what we believe to be right and condemning what we regard as wrong, without stopping to ask what may be the effect upon the personal or political prospects of any man or set of men whose conduct or position bring them within the legiti- mate province of the journalist." It was a well conducted, bright paper during the early part of its existence, and soon attained a very respectable circulation. In October, 1872, it increased its subscription price from $1.50 to $2, and the following December J. K. Barnd sold out to his brother and subsequently removed to Kansas. At the close of the first volume The Reporter counted 1,400 subscribers, but unfortunately a large percentage of th em were bad pay. Nevertheless the paper was a brilliant success until early in its second year when it drifted into the Grange movement, hoping thereby to become a great organ and attain national celebrity among the farming com- munity. But the change finally proved a mistake, as in dropping, to a great extent, its independent, literary character, it also lost the majority of its paying supporters without getting an equitable return from the Grangers. The name was finally changed to the American Patron, and when the Grange movement cooled off it became the Property Journal. It was pub- lished some five years altogether, and then ceased to exist.
G.L.TURNER.M.D.
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
Das Ohio Volksblatt, a German Democratic weekly paper, was started in 1877 by Adolph G. Zwanzig. After publishing the paper about one year Zwanzig removed the office to Lima, where it was subsequently sold by his creditors.
The Findlay Weekly Republican was established by J. M. Beelman and James E. Griswold, and the first number issued February 6, 1879. It was then a seven-column folio and was started in opposition to the Jeffersonian, many Republicans not regarding that paper as sufficiently "stalwart " to satisfy their ideas of a party organ. In July. 1879, Mr. Griswold sold his interest to his partner, who soon afterward enlarged the Republican to an eight-column folio. On the 3d of January, 1881, E. G. De Wolfe, then postmaster of Findlay, and Jason Blackford, a member of the Findlay bar, purchased an interest in the Republican. The following October Mr. Black- ford sold out to Mr. De Wolfe, and the paper was subsequently enlarged to a nine-column folio, printed on a sheet 28x44 inches, at which size it has since remained. Capt. H. H. Alban bought Mr. Beelman's interest July 28, 1882, and the firm of De Wolfe & Alban have edited and published the paper up to the present. The long newspaper experience of Mr. De Wolfe and his well known unswerving devotion to his party, brought many sup- porters to the Republican, while the wide acquaintance of Capt. Alban largely assisted in building up a healthy subscription list. The editors of the Republican evidently believe in no half-way measures or weak-kneed policy, and while giving a large amount of local news and lending the aid of their paper to all public or private enterprises, which they look upon as a benefit to the town or county, they never forget their allegiance to those Republican principles of which their paper is such a vigorous exponent and defender. The Republican now claims a circulation of about 1,600 copies, and its proprietors run a good job office in connection with the paper.
The Findlay Daily Star was the last newspaper enterprise of the village. It was established by W. S. Hammaker, and first issued August 21, 1882. The Star was then a five-column folio, 20x24 inches in size, but November 6 following it was enlarged to a six-column folio, printed on a sheet 22x30 inches. It was a live, progressive little daily, thoroughly Democratic in politics, and during its career of less than two years became a welcome friend in 550 homes and business places. "Scott " Hammaker was a very popular ed- itor, and possessed considerable experience in newspaper work. He labored hard to furnish his patrons with a good, readable paper, and during its ex- istence it was generally recognized as such. On the 21st of April, 1884, he sold the Star to A. H. Balsley, of the Jeffersonian, and until his appoint- ment to the postmastership of Findlay, in the fall of 1885, was local editor of that paper.
The growth and improvement in the newspapers of Findlay within the past thirty years have been fully in keeping with the increase in population and general wealth of the county at large. But we think the press has out- stripped all other institutions of the county; and if the quality and size of its newspapers are accepted as indications of its prosperity, Findlay need not fear a just comparison with similar sized towns throughout the State.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXI.
FINDLAY CONTINUED.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES-FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN FINDLAY, AND NAMES OF ITS PIONEER PREACHERS-METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH- FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI-EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCHI-ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL -UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH- GERMAN REFORMED CONGREGATION-GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION-FIRST REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH-" CHURCH OF GOD"-FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH -- ST. PAUL CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION-TRINFRY MISSION OF THE PROTESTANT EPIS- COPAL CHURCH-" CHURCH OF CHRIST"-SECRET AND OTHER SOCIETIES- ODD FELLOWS-MASONS- KNIGHTS OF PYTIHAS-HARMONIA SOCIETY- KNIGHTS OF HONOR-ROYAL ARCANUM-AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR- GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-NATIONAL UNION-GOOD TEMPLARS.
THE hardy itinerants of the Methodist Episcopal Church were the first
T to carry the glad tidings of salvation to the scattered pioneers of Hancock County, though they were soon followed by the ministers of other denomi- nations. In the spring of 1822 Rev. James Gilruth, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came from the East for the purpose of enter- ing lands in northwestern Ohio. Arriving at Fort Findlay he put up at Wilson Vance's tavern, and the following Sunday preached in Findlay by appointment to quite a good sized congregation, made up of the settlers then living in the county. Five or six years afterward Rev. Adam Poe and a companion, both Methodist ministers, preached in the old log school- house, where they also slept overnight. In August, 1828, Rev. Josiah Root, a Baptist preacher, held services in the cabin of Joseph De Witt, a blacksmith of the village, who then lived on the west side of the park. Revs. Arza Brown and Jesse Pryor, of the Methodist Circuit, preached in Findlay in the fall of 1828, and Revs. Jacob Hill and Alvin Billings, of the same denomination, early in 1829. A Presbyterian minister named Barr held several meetings in the old log schoolhouse in the spring of 1829, and organized a Bible Society, with Wilson Vance, Edwin S. Jones and John C. Wickham, directors. Rev. Barr returned the following autumn and held a two days' service in Findlay, administering communion to a few members of the Presbyterian faith, who then lived in this vicinity. About this time Findlay was visited by several Methodist ministers who were connected with the Wyandot Mission at Upper Sandusky, among whom were Revs. Jacob Hooper and William Sprague in 1829-30, and Revs. Thomas Thompson, Elnathan C. Gavitt and Benjamin Boydston in 1830-31.
There is no record in existence of the organization of the first Methodist class in Findlay, but it was probably formed in 1829, as, according to Aaron Baker, a leading pioneer of Findlay Township, a class had been organized prior to his father's settlement north of the village in the spring of 1830. Thomas Slight and wife, Jacob Foster and wife, William Hackney, John Boyd and William De Witt were perhaps the earliest members of this
.
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class. But among other pioneer Methodists who joined the class soon afterward were John Baker, Mary Baker, Isaac Baker, Catherine Swapp, Aaron Baker, Elizabeth Baker, Henry Baker, Parlee Carlin and wife, Mrs. Squire Carlin, Daniel Andreck and wife, Reuben Baker, Mary, Elizabeth and Isaiah Hartley, Sarah Foster, Robert Bonham, Nathan Frakes, Benja- min Strother, Johnson and Amos Bonham, Melinda C. Strother, Mrs. Fred- erick Duduit and Joseph D. Ford. In 1832 Fort Findlay Mission was es- tablished, and held its first quarterly meeting November 17 and 18 of that year. At that meeting a committee was appointed to estimate the cost of building a parsonage at Findlay, and another to ascertain the expense of erecting a church in "Greer's Neighborhood"-now Mt. Blanchard. The financial report at this first quarterly meeting of the Mission, from sixteen appointments-including $50 appropriated by the Missionary Soci- ety-was $68.42, the sum of $18.42 being all that was received from the classes.
Revs. Elam Day and Benjamin Allen were in charge of the Findlay Mission in 1832-33, and Revs. Day and Joseph Newson in 1833-34. On August 20, 1833, lot 145 on East Main Cross Street was purchased for $20 by the trustees of the church, and during the fall a small frame building was put up on the rear part of the lot, which was used as a meeting-house until the erection of their first church building in 1836-37. Revs. W. B. Bradford and McKendree Thrapp were the missionaries in charge in 1834- 35, and Revs. Elam Day and Mark Delaney in 1835-36. We find by the church records that in 1836-37 the name of the Mission was changed to the "Findlay Circuit," with Revs. Henry Whiteman and G. W. Breckinridge in charge. During this year a frame church, 40x50 feet, was erected on East Main Cross Street at a cost of about $700. The successive ministers for the next thirteen years were as follows: 1837-38, Revs. J. C. Conway and E. R. Hill; 1838-39, S. M. Allen and W. C. Huestis; 1839-40, James Wilson and Richard Biggs; 1841-42, John Tibbles and Henry Warner; 1842-43, Har- vey Camp and Philip Start; 1843-44, H. G. Dubois and Luke S. Johnson; 1844-45, John Orr and J. C. Russell; 1845-46, R. S. Kimber and J. S. Kalb; 1846-47, Wesley J. Wells and Samuel Mower; 1847-48, T. J. Pope and C. W. Brandeberry; 1848-49, T. J. Pope and J. Crabbs; 1849-50, W. S. Lunt and Alanson Foster.
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