USA > Ohio > Henry County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > History of Henry and Fulton counties, Ohio : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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Tradition, we have no record, says that in 1845 there was a sickly paper, Whig in politics, printed in Napoleon by one Martin Shrenk. It was about the size of the Newsletter, the first paper printed in America, i. e., the size of a sheet of letter paper. It was named The Journal, and died " a bornin'."
On the 8th day of September, 1852, the newspaper, in fact, uttered its natal cry in Henry county. It was born in Napoleon and was christened the North- west. It entered life with "high hopes for a low heaven," praying God to " grant it patience." Alpheas M. Hollabaugh was the venturesome knight who acknowledged its paternity and assumed its support. It was an unassum- ing folio of five columns, and as a visible means of support contained less than one column of advertisements and a circulation resembling the shadows in the gloamings. Sickly as the infant was, it grew in strength, and the first volume was enlarged to a six column folio. It remained under the parental control of Mr. Hollabaugh until April 19, 1854, when he disposed of his offspring to Thomas S. C. Morrison, who saluted its readers on the 26th day of the same month, with an increased circulation and nine columns of advertising patronage.
Mr. Morrison continued in the editorial management and ownership of the paper until his death, which occurred on the 31st day of March, 1864. After
the death of Mr. Morrison the publication of the paper and its editorial man- agement was conducted by John M. Haag until the 4th of May of the same year, when a temporary suspension was had. On the 28th of the same month the office was sold at administrator's sale, and purchased by Mr. Haag, who resumed the publication of the paper on the 16th day of June, 1864, and on the 24th of August, 1865, enlarged it to a seven column folio.
On November 16, 1865, the business management passed into the hands of Messrs. Adams and Pomeroy, Mr. Haag remaining in editorial control. Mr. Adams retired December 28, 1865, when a co-partnership was formed between John M. Haag and Samuel Pomeroy, under the firm name of Haag & Pome- roy, by whom the paper was published until the 26th day of July, 1866, when Rensselaer Hudson, who purchased the interest of Mr. Pomeroy, associated him- self with Mr. Haag, and the publication was continued by Haag & Hudson until May 16, 1867, at which time Mr. Hudson retired and Mr. Haag again became the sole proprietor and editor, and so continued until March 25, 1869, when he was succeeded by E. W. Trift. On the 22d of April, 1869, the paper passed
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into the hands of Coughlin & Hubbard, the latter, William H., became the editor. On the Sth of May of that year the paper was enlarged and converted into a five column quarto. June 1, 1871, the paper was again enlarged and became a six column quarto, and so remained and was so conducted until the death of Mr. Hubbard, which occurred May 11, 1872.
After the death of Mr. Hubbard the paper passed into the management of Thomas Coughlin, who had been associated with Mr. Hubbard, and his brother Michael, by whom it was conducted until the 5th of December, 1872, when the office was sold to Messrs. Orwig & Wisler. Mr. Wisler retired in 1875, at which time the senior partner, Luther L. Orwig, became sole editor and pro- prietor and so remains.
The Northwest has well earned its present position - one of the leading country journals in the State, and an accredited mouthpiece of its party. It has had its trials and tribulations and passed through all the vicissitudes of childhood and manhood. It has had measles, whooping cough and the scarlet fever. On March 25, 1859, it first passed through that destructive element to which sinners are finally consigned, and on the morning of the next day every- thing consumable was found converted into ashes. The metal of the old Smith press, upon which the paper was printed, was picked up and drayed to the foundry, where it was cast into a cannon and became a campaign and Fourth of July thunderer. After having killed and mutilated five or six men, it exploded at a political meeting held at Chroninger's school-house, in Liberty township, in the fall of 1872, fortunately causing no serious injury. The office was again destroyed by the fire of 1869, and a complete new outfit was required. These fiery ordeals proved a benefit to the office, and it always came forth much im- proved. Mr. Haag introduced the first " jobber "-a small " Alligator " press, and soon followed with a full sized " Gordon."
After the fire of 1869 Messrs. Coughlin & Hubbard brought on a Potter cylinder and much improved the office, both for news and job printing. But to Mr. Orwig is due the credit of planting in Napoleon one of the best appointed printing offices in the State. He has added steam power and stereotyping, and is prepared to compete in fine job work with any office outside of the big cities.
Evanescent Papers .- The Democratic party being in the majority in the county, it was difficult for the opposition, with the sparse population, to main- tain a paper ; it, however, had the pluck to make effort after effort until it finally succeeded. The Star was started as a Whig paper, in 1854, and was published by George Weimer. It glimmered for a year or so when it disappeared from the firmament.
In 1865 one L. H. Bigelow, then a druggist in Napoleon, started a Repub- lican paper called the Republican. It was printed in Toledo and had an exist- ence of only a few months, being in fact nothing but a campaign paper. It was not until the 10th of September, 1865, that a Republican organ was estab-
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
lished. At that date the publication of the Signal was commenced by George W. Redway. It was a seven column quarto and started out with about 650 subscribers. After publishing it eight weeks Mr. Redway sold the office to J. S. Fouke and D. B. Ainger, who continued its publication with varying suc- cess until January, 1870, when J. S. Fouke sold his interest to D. B. Ainger, who became sole proprietor and editor. In 1872 Mr. Ainger enlarged the pa- per to nine columns, and its circulation ran up to about 900 copies. About October 1, 1873, Mr. Fouke, who had been foreman of the office for the two previous years, bought the office of Mr. Ainger, paying him $3,500 for the same. Mr. Fouke continued its publication for eleven years, when he sold the concern to H. M. Wisler, who published it sixteen months, when he resold it to Mr. Fouke. The latter retained the office only seven months, when he sold it to J. P. Belknap, its present proprietor. It cost Mr. Redway about $1,500 for the material and expenses in establishing the Signal.
Mr. Fouke assisted Mr. Redway in getting out the two first numbers of the Signal and of the twenty-two years of its existence he was connected with it as editor and proprietor sixteen years and about two years as foreman. Mr. Redway is now, and for a number of years has been, a department clerk in Washington. Mr. Ainger is at present editor and proprieter of the Charlotte (Mich.) Republican, and is also adjutant-general of Michigan. Mr. Wisler has removed to Kansas, and Mr. Fouke still remains in Napoleon. The Signal office is, with the possible exception of the Northwest, as well equipped as any in the county. The columns of the paper contain the latest local and general news, while its editorial department faithfully and ably guards the interests of the Republican party in the county, the organ of which party the paper is, and for many years has been. The Signal is established on a safe paying basis, and is considered as one of the leading papers of the northwestern territory of the State.
The Deshler Flag. The initial number of the Flag made its appearance in October, 1876, under the proprietorship of J. P. Lockhart. After about six months the office and paper were sold to W. H. Mitchell. The latter contin- ned its publication and sole editorial management until the month of June, 1885, when it passed into the hands of George W. Wilkinson, by whom it was conducted about one year, when he retired and bought the Weekly Beacon, of North Baltimore, of which paper he is still editor and proprietor. L. S. Smith next succeeded to the proprietorship of the Flag and remained one year, after which he accepted a position on the Canton Advance, a paper published in the interest of the Prohibition party.
In June, 1887, M. G. Marron, of Wood county, leased the paper, changed its tone from neutrality to independence, and still fills its editorial chair. The Flag is a five-column quarto, enjoys a liberal advertising patronage and fair circulation. During the eleven years of its existence it has been a five, six
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and seven column folio and a five, six and seven column quarto. From the Flag office, which is remarkably well equipped, several papers have been started, notably the Wood county Herald, the Hicksville Independent, the Payne Star, the Tiffin Daily Courier and others. The last two are not now in existence.
The Holgate Times. This is the name of a five-column quarto with patent sides, published in the incorporated village of Holgate, at the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad with the "Clover Leaf" route, in the township of Pleasant. The paper was established in 1881 by William J. Johnson, and pub- lished by him for about three years, when it was purchased by William Kauf- man and William E. Decker and by them published about six months, when Mr. Decker became the sole proprietor and editor. He still continues so. The Times has a circulation of about five hundred and enjoys a healthy adver- tising patronage.
The Liberty Press is a six column folio, published at Liberty Center, in Liberty township. It was established and its publication commenced by Rev. J. L. Bushbridge, Nov. 17, 1881. It was by him sold August 31, 1882, and passing into the hands of N. W. Emery, who, in May, 1886, was succeeded by J. H. Russell. A few numbers were issued by Mr. Russell under the name of " Trissotin." The paper was then suspended for several weeks, when its pub. lication was resumed by J. H. Smith and D. S. Mires, under the firm name of Smith & Mires, and restored to its maiden name of Liberty Press, and is still published by them. It is neutral in politics and religion.
The German Press. The first German paper published in the county was the Democratischer Wegweiser. It was established by J. M. Haag, then of the Northwest, in 1867, was a six column folio, Democratic in politics, and was edited by Dr. John M. Evers. Its publication was continued about one year, when Mr. Evers purchased the office and removed it to Toledo.
Der Henry County Demokrat was started June 26, 1885, by C. W. Bente & Co. (M. R. Voll & F. Howe, of Wauseon), C. W. Bente, editor. About Oc- tober I Henry Holterman bought out the company and printed the inside in Napoleon, which had previously been printed in Wauseon altogether. The circulation at that time was about 450, and did not increase much until May 14, when Mr. Holterman also bought out C. W. Bente and engaged C. F. Clement as editor. From this time on Mr. Holterman, who had formerly been treasurer of the county, also gave more attention to the paper and it com- menced to boom. On June 24, 1886, Mr. Holterman also bought out the Fulton and Williams county Gazette, consolidating the three papers, there- by adding greatly to the already large circulation. On Jan. 1, 1887, C. F. Clement bought one-half interest. 21
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
CHAPTER XV.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
TT is a common remark that Henry county possesses as strong an array of medical practitioners, as any of the northwestern counties of the State, that holds no greater population than does this county. This, it is said, has charac- terized the county for many years. And it seems, too, that there has been a noticeable freedom from that branch of the profession that infests nearly every community, pretending and assuming a knowledge of the healing art, without possessing a single honest qualification therefor. This class in Henry county is noticeable for its absence. There seems to have been a com- mendable desire on the part of each of the past and present physicians of the county, to fit themselves at the best and most thorough medical institutions of the country, and in looking over the brief sketches of practitioners of the county, in this chapter, it will be found that nearly every one of them has taken a ·course of medical study at some well-established college for the instruction of physicians and surgeons.
Of the pioneer physicians of the county, there is but a single record, the duplicate for the year 1837, the only valuable document that was saved from the disastrous fire of 1847, by which the court-house was entirely destroyed. It is found that, in that year, the practicing physicians of the county were William D. Barry, Harris Howey, Lorenzo L. Patrick and Jonathan F. Evans ; at least, they were the only persons at that time assessed as physicians.
Dr. William D. Barry was, undoubtedly, the first and pioneer physician in the vicinity of Napoleon, and he is well remembered by the old residents. Af- ter having practiced medicine for a time he engaged in the legal profession, and became quite a personage in the community, holding various positions of trust. He left here many years ago and went to Illinois, where, it is understood, he still lives.
Dr. Harris Howey came to this locality from the State of New York, and was in practice for some years. While a resident of Napoleon, he married a daughter of General Leonard. In later years he emigrated west. Dr. Gibbs came to the place at an early day, and remained here until the time of his death.
The name of Dr. Lorenzo L. Patrick, recalls one of the early families of the Maumee Valley. He was practicing here as early as 1836, and continued for many years after. He was prominent in all of the affairs of the town and county, and did much toward building up and improving the county seat. He was one of the leading spirits in the movement looking to the incorporation of Napoleon, and acted as the agent of the petitioners for that purpose in the year 1853.
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Dr. Jonathan F. Evans, who is also mentioned in the old duplicate of 1837, resided in Richland township, one of three townships that were set off to the erection of Defiance county, and by that act he thenceforth became a resident of the newly created county. He had a large practice in the county, and be- came extensively acquainted, frequently being called to the county seat in line of professional duty. At one time he held the office of county commissioner of Henry county.
Dr. Bamber came to Napoleon about, or soon after, the year 1840. Ile is remembered as a good physician, and enjoyed a considerable practice, although he left and went to New York State.
Among the other physicians, more recent comers to the county, some of whom are still living here, although not now actively engaged in practice, may be mentioned the names of Dr. D. M. McCann, Dr. Asa H. Tyler, Dr. O. H. Tyler, Dr. Henry McHenry, Dr. Gibbons Parry, and perhaps others whose names have been forgotten. Dr. Asa H. Tyler still lives in the county, on a farm not far from Napoleon. Dr. Gibbons Parry resides in Flat Rock town - ship, not far from the village of Florida.
Present Physicians of the County. - As a matter of course there are more physicians residing at the county seat than in any other of the county's vil- lages. At Napoleon there are at the present time nine persons engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery, while the village contains a population of less than four thousand souls. Those so engaged are Drs. Eugene B. Harri- son, John M. Shoemaker, Hazael B. Powell, John Bloomfield, Alfred E. H. Maerker, James Haly, Morrison J. Marvin, Thomas C. Hunter and Mrs. Hulda H. Sheffield.
Eugene B. Harrison was born at Dover, England, on the 21st day of May, 1831. When he was less than a year old his parents emigrated to America. Eugene read medicine with his father, who was a physician of Licking county, this State, and subsequently with Dr. M. McCann, then a resident of Martins- burg, Knox county, this State. Dr. Harrison took a course of medical lectures and study at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, and commenced practice about the year 1853. In 1855 he came to Napoleon, where he has since resided, and been engaged actively in professional duty, except for a brief period of time spent in the west. In addition to his lecture course at Cincin- nati, Dr. Harrison attended the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, l'a., from which he was graduated in 1857. He is a member of the American Medi- cal Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, and the local Medical Society of Henry county.
John M. Shoemaker was born in Columbiana county, O, February II, 1834. He read medicine in the office of Dr. R. J. Hagerty, of Mount Blanch- ard, O., and attended the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in the year 1859. He practiced
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
for a short time at Mount Blanchard and at Van Buren, O., and came to Na- poleon in 1861. In 1864 he entered the army as assistant-surgeon of the Seventy-first Infantry, but was detailed as acting surgeon of the First Illinois Light Artillery, which latter position he resigned in March, 1865. He then returned to Napoleon and resumed the practice of his profession. Dr. Shoe- maker is a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medi- cal Society, the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, the Toledo Medical Soci- ety, and was formerly a member of the Indiana Medical Society, and the Northeastern Medical Society, both of the State of Indiana. . In the year 1863 Dr. Shoemaker was appointed, and has since held the position of examining surgeon for pensions.
Hazael Benjamin Powell was born in Napoleon on the 24th day of Feb- ruary, 1837. He read medicine under the instruction of Dr. Henry McHenry, for about five years, devoting such time thereto as could be spared from his duties as clerk in his father's store. He attended the medical department of the University of Michigan during the winters of the years 1857 and 1858. He afterward attended the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and was graduated from that institution in the spring of 1861. He then commenced practice at Napoleon in partnership with Dr. McHenry, and so continued until August, 1861, when he enlisted as private in Company B, Thirty-eighth In- fantry. The knowledge of his professional ability coming to the commanding officers, he was detailed to surgical duty in the hospitals at various places. He became a veteran at the expiration of his enlistment term, and was subse- quently advanced to the rank of surgeon-in-chief of the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. At the close of the war he was mustered out of service and returned to his practice at Napoleon, where he has since con- tinued.
John Bloomfield was born at Akron, O., January 1, 1842. At the age age of sixteen years he came to Damascus, in this county, where he engaged as clerk in a store. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Sixty- eighth Volunteer Infantry, and served with that regiment throughout the war. On returning to this county he purchased a farm in Harrison township where he resided until the fall of 1873, when he removed to Napoleon. The next year he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Hazael B. Powell, and continued for a period of three and one-half years. He attended the Med- ical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, and was graduated therefrom in the spring of 1879, since which time he has been engaged in practice at Napoleon.
James Haly was born at Napoleon on the 25th day of July, 1851. He commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. B. Harrison, and afterward attended lectures at the University of Michigan, and also, at the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa., graduating from the latter in- stitution in the spring of 1862. From that until the present time Dr. Haly has been a resident practitioner at Napoleon.
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HENRY COUNTY.
Alfred E. H. Maerker was born at Posen, Germany, on the 25th day of May, 1857. At the age of fifteen years he came to this country, locating at Niles, Mich., but remained there only two years when he came to Napo- leon. He read medicine with Dr. F. B. Harrison, and afterward took a med- ical college course at Cleveland, O., graduating in 1882. From that date until the present he has practiced at Napoleon.
Morrison J. Marvin, was a native of Ohio, born in Hancock county on August 4, 1844. His early life was spent on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Tenth Ohio Cavalry, and served two years, when he was wounded and placed in a hospital, and remained there until discharged from the service. He read medicine at Findlay, O., and attended the Cleveland Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1870.
Hulda Harrington Sheffield, widow of the late William Sheffield, and the only active resident practitioner in the field of homeopathy, was born in Erie county, O., and began the study of medicine with Dr. Allen, of Defiance, some thirty years ago, not then, however, with an intention of practicing that branch of the profession. She subsequently continued her studies with Dr. Thomas C. Hunter, of Napoleon, after which she attended the Homeopathic Medical College at Cleveland, and was graduated therefrom in the spring of 1877. Since then Mrs. Sheffield has resided at Napoleon and practiced through- out the county.
Of the physicians of the county, outside the county seat, very little infor- mation is at hand, although each has been requested to furnish data, and ample time granted therefor. Of such as have answered the request a record will be found in these pages, but those who have not responded must content them- selves with a mention of their names and location of residence.
The village of Holgate, in Pleasant township, has four resident physicians : Dr. J. Townsend, Dr. J. M. Stout, Dr. J. C. Becker and Dr. J. D). Archer.
Dr. Townsend was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., August 25, 1833, and emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1844. He commenced the practice of medicine at Freeport, Wood county, in 1855, but moved to Maysville, Ind., in 1856. Ten years later he returned to Ohio and located at Edgerton, in Williams county, where he practiced until 1874, when he came to Holgate, this county.
J. Dall Archer was born October 30, 1858, in Wood county. He read medicine with Dr. W. F. Thomas, of North Baltimore, for three years, when he entered the Starling Medical College. After receiving the first degree he went to Dundee, Mich., for practice, and remained there until the year 1885, when he came to Holgate.
The prosperous village of Deshler, Bartlow township, has three resident physicians : Dr. T. M. Garrett, Dr. J. C. Donaway, and Dr. Slaughter.
Hamler, in the south part of the county, has two physicians, Dr. Elmer Cowdrick, and Dr. C. M. Townsend.
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HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES.
Liberty Center, the central and trading point of Liberty township, has three resident members of the medical profession : Dr. E. T. Martin, Dr. D. E. Haag, and Dr. Viers.
Daniel E. Haag, the twin brother to Hon. John M. Haag, of Napoleon,. was born in Pennsylvania. He read medicine with Dr. Bull, of New Phila- delphia, O. He first practiced in partnership with Prof. Pomeroy, and after- ward moved to Mt. Eaton. He came to Henry county in the spring of 1863, practicing for a time at Texas, but soon found a better field for professional labor at Liberty Center.
The enterprising village of Florida, in Flat Rock township, is the residence of four of the county's physicians, although all are not at present professionally engaged. The M.D.'s at this place are Dr. Gibbons Parry, Dr. George Parry, Dr. A. M. Pherson, and Dr. S. E. Miller. The last named, Dr. Miller, is a graduate of the Chicago Medical College.
John W. Sharp, of McClure, was born at Simcoe, Ontario, Can., on the 15th day of June, 1858. He graduated from the Toronto University in 1874, after which he entered Trinity Medical College, and was graduated therefrom in March, 1879. He then spent a year at the different hospitals, and located for practice at Ridgeville, this county, in April, 1880. In October of the same year he moved to McClure where he now resides.
At other points within the county are located practicing physicians as fol- lows : At Malinta, Dr. E. B. Mauk; at Colton, Dr. A. J. Munn; at Ridgeville, Dr. Shaffer.
The county, in former years, possessed a Medical Society, strong in point of numbers and productive of much good to the profession in general ; but owing to some cause, not susceptible of explanation, it has been allowed to decline and meetings are rarely held.
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